Radio cells
A method of providing a region of radio coverage within a wireless telecommunication network and a wireless telecommunication base station operable to provide that region of radio coverage. The base station comprises: transmission apparatus operable to provide a first region of radio coverage on a first radio frequency and a second region of radio coverage on a second radio frequency. The first region of radio coverage comprises a plurality of angularly spaced primary first radio beams and at least one secondary first radio beam. The base station is arranged to transmit the secondary first radio beam at a vertical tilt angle which differs from a tilt angle associated with the plurality of primary first radio beams. The second region of radio coverage comprises at least a primary second radio beam; that primary second radio beam is arranged to radiate from the base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams. Aspects recognize that by providing two cells on a carrier, one vertically offset with respect to another, and horizontally offsetting a cell on a second carrier it may be possible to improve overall network performance.
1. A wireless telecommunication base station operable to provide a region of radio coverage within a wireless telecommunication network, said base station comprising:
a transmission apparatus including a transmitter and a number of antennas configured to create a first region of radio coverage on a first radio frequency and a second region of radio coverage on a second radio frequency, said first region of radio coverage comprising a plurality of angularly spaced primary first radio beams and at least one secondary first radio beam; said base station being arranged to transmit said secondary first radio beam at a vertical tilt angle which differs from a tilt angle associated with said plurality of primary first radio beams;
said second region of radio coverage comprising at least a primary second radio beam and a secondary second radio beam; said primary second radio beam being arranged to radiate from said base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams, and wherein said base station is operable to set criteria for cell selection by user equipment such that user equipment are encouraged to select a small cell supported by said secondary first radio beam;
wherein said secondary first and second radio beams are arranged to radiate from said base station to bisect an angle between adjacent angularly spaced primary second and first radio beams respectively.
2. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second regions of radio coverage are arranged such that sub-sections of radio coverage on said first radio frequency are adjacent sub-sections of radio coverage on said second radio frequency.
3. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , said base station being arranged to transmit said secondary second radio beam at a vertical tilt angle which differs from a tilt angle associated with said primary second radio beam.
4. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , wherein said base station is arranged to transmit said secondary first radio beam such that it radiates from said base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams.
5. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , wherein said second region of radio coverage comprises a plurality of angularly spaced primary second radio beams.
6. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 5 , wherein said base station is arranged to transmit said secondary second radio beam such that it radiates from said base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary second radio beams.
7. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 5 , wherein each of said angularly spaced primary second radio beams is arranged to radiate from said base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams.
8. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , wherein said number of an antennas comprises a first antenna apparatus operable to transmit at least one of said angularly spaced primary first radio beams and at least one secondary first radio beam, and a second antenna apparatus operable to transmit said primary second radio beam.
9. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second antenna apparatus comprises an antenna array.
10. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second antenna apparatus comprises an antenna array operable to form at least one of said primary or secondary first and second beams by beam forming techniques.
11. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second antenna apparatus comprise a single antenna array operable to form at least one of said first and at least one of said second primary or secondary radio beams.
12. A wireless telecommunication base station according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second radio frequencies comprise different radio carriers.
13. A wireless telecommunication base station operable to provide a region of radio coverage within a wireless telecommunication network, said base station comprising:
a transmission apparatus including a transmitter and a number of antennas configured to create a first region of radio coverage on a first radio frequency and a second region of radio coverage on a second radio frequency, said first region of radio coverage comprising a plurality of angularly spaced primary first radio beams and at least one secondary first radio beam; said base station being arranged to transmit said secondary first radio beam at a vertical tilt angle which differs from a tilt angle associated with said plurality of primary first radio beams;
said second region of radio coverage comprising at least a primary second radio beam and a secondary second radio beam; said primary second radio beam being arranged to radiate from said base station between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams, and wherein said base station is operable to set criteria for cell selection by user equipment such that user equipment are encouraged to select a small cell supported by said secondary first radio beam;
wherein said first and second regions of radio coverage are arranged such that sub-sections of radio coverage on said first radio frequency are adjacent sub-sections of radio coverage on said second radio frequency; and
wherein said base station supports an identical number of primary and secondary first and second radio beams.
14. A method of providing a region of radio coverage within a wireless telecommunication network, said method comprising:
providing a transmission apparatus including a transmitter and a number of antennas; and
configuring said transmission apparatus to create a first region of radio coverage on a first radio frequency and a second region of radio coverage on a second radio frequency, said first region of radio coverage comprising a plurality of angularly spaced primary first radio beams and at least one secondary first radio beam and said second region of radio coverage comprising at least a primary second radio beam and a secondary second radio beam;
arranging transmission of said secondary first radio beam at a vertical tilt angle which differs from a tilt angle associated with said plurality of primary first radio beams;
arranging said primary second radio beam to radiate between adjacent angularly spaced primary first radio beams; and
setting criteria for cell selection by user equipment such that user equipment are encouraged to select a small cell supported by said secondary first radio beam;
wherein at least one of: (i) said secondary first and second radio beams are arranged to radiate from said base station to bisect an angle between adjacent angularly spaced primary second and first radio beams respectively; and (ii) said base station supports an identical number of primary and secondary first and second radio beams.