Dual connectivity of user equipment to macro and small cell in long term evolution system

• Main Authors: Gao Long, Acharya Joydeep, Gaur Sudhanshu
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.07.2017
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

A communications system includes a macro base station, a plurality of UEs (user equipment), a plurality of small cells, and a network through which the macro base station, the UEs, and the small cells communicate with each other, the small cells within a macro coverage area of the macro base station. The macro base station comprises a processor, a memory, and a small cell on/off module which is operable, for each small cell of the plurality of small cells, to: determine an interference metric for the small cell; if the determined interference metric meets a preset condition for the small cell, then determine a loss in signal strength to the UEs associated with the small cell caused by switching off the small cell; and judge whether to switch off the small cell based on at least one of the determined interference metric or the determined loss in signal strength.