Use of a common physical cell identity in a small cell network
US9544761B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W64/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dual identity cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes two identities that may be supported on the same hardware platform—a dedicated PCI (Physical Cell Identity as defined under LTE) identity and a common PCI identity. The dedicated PCI identity operates similarly to a cell in a regular RAN in which neighboring cells use unique PCIs so that user equipment (UE) may distinguish among cells. The dedicated PCI identity, when exposed to the UE, may be used to determine the position of a UE within the RAN so that cells within listening range of the UE are identified. Those identified cells (termed here as the “detected set”) can then transmit the same data and control signals to the UE using their common PCI identities. In this way, all the cells in the detected set appear to the UE as one single cell.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.