Method and radio access node for incorporating a moving cell in a wireless communication network
A method for incorporating a moving cell in a hierarchy of cells in a wireless cellular communication network, wherein each cell is associated with a neighbor cell list comprising identification of one or more neighboring cells. The method includes determining a need for an update of one or more neighbor cell lists following relocation of the moving cell from a first location having a first set of neighboring cells to a second location having a second set of neighboring cells. A neighbor cell list is generated for the moving cell including identification of each cell in the second set of neighboring cells. The neighbor cell list is updated for each cell in the second set of neighboring cells to include the moving cell. Each radio access node serving one or more cells in the second set of neighboring cells are informed on the updated neighbor cell list.
1. A method of incorporating a moving cell in a hierarchy of cells in a wireless cellular communication network, wherein each cell is served by a radio access node and is associated with a neighbor cell list comprising identification of one or more neighboring cells, the method comprising:
determining a need for an update of one or more neighbor cell lists based on a relocation of the moving cell from a first location having a first set of neighboring cells to a second location having a second set of neighboring cells, wherein determining the need for the update includes retrieving from a global positioning system, a position for the moving cell and comparing the moving cell position with known positions of neighboring cells;
generating a neighbor cell list for the moving cell including identification of each cell in the second set of neighboring cells;
updating a neighbor cell list for each cell in the second set of neighboring cells to include the moving cell; and
informing each radio access node serving one or more cells in the second set of neighboring cells on the updated neighbor cell list.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the neighbor cell list for the moving cell is performed based on at least one user equipment reporting.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second set of neighboring cells includes cells that have an overlapping coverage area with the moving cell.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein updating the neighbor cell list for each cell in the second set of neighboring cells includes sending data on the moving cell identity to one or more entities responsible for updating neighbor cell list content.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein updating the neighbor cell list for each cell in the second set of neighboring cells further includes compiling the neighbor cell lists in a neighbor cell list database and storing the neighbor cell list database in a physical or virtual server.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein informing a radio access node serving a respective cell on the updated neighbor cell list includes propagating a copy of at least each updated neighbor cell list to the radio access node serving the respective cell and storing the copy in the radio access nodes.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein informing a radio access node serving a respective cell on the updated neighbor cell list includes ordering each radio access node in the second set of neighboring cells to retrieve a copy of a respective neighbor cell list from a neighbor cell list data base.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the neighbor cell list for the moving cell is generated within a predetermined first time period from the relocation of the moving cell.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an information regarding content of the neighbor cell lists is communicated to the second set of neighboring cells within a predetermined second time period following generating the neighbor cell list for the moving cell.
10. A radio access node serving a moving cell in a hierarchy of cells in a wireless cellular communication network, comprising:
a measurement unit performing neighboring cell measurements;
the measurement unit retrieving a position for the moving cell from a global positioning system;
a memory including a neighbor cell list of one or more cell(s) neighboring the moving cell;
a processor determining a need for an update of the neighbor cell list based on relocation of the moving cell from a first location having a first set of neighboring cells to a second location having a second set of neighboring cells and updating the neighbor cell list in the memory, wherein determining the need for the update includes comparing the moving cell position with known positions of neighboring cells; and
a transceiver sending the updated neighbor cell list to a server including neighbor cell lists for each cell in the wireless cellular communications network.