Network node and method of taking a mobility decision by considering the beamforming capabilities of the neighbouring nodes

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method (13) for enabling accurate measurement results for a communication device (16). The method comprises sending (102), by a serving node (12) serving the communication device and to a neighbour network node (13), a request for measuring on the uplink reference signals from the communication device; the serving and neighbour nodes receiving (103), from the communication device, uplink reference signals; the serving and the neighbour nodes obtaining (104) downlink beamforming weights based on the received uplink reference signals; the serving and the neighbour nodes transmitting (105), to the communication device, specific downlink reference signals adapted for the communication device by using the downlink beamforming weights; the UE transmitting (107) a downlink measurement report to the serving node; the serving node taking a mobility decision based on the UE report (108). The disclosure also relates to the corresponding network nodes, computer programs and computer program products.

Description

technical field [0001] The techniques disclosed herein relate generally to the field of wireless communications, and in particular to methods and network nodes for enabling accurate measurements for communication devices. Background technique [0002] Recent advances in antenna technology are expected to enable the deployment of increasingly advanced antennas in cellular radio networks. Antennas that are reconfigurable in terms of beam shape, so-called Reconfigurable Antenna Systems (RAS), are already in use. Beamforming and beam tracking for communicators are also gaining momentum. Furthermore, it is expected that very large antennas comprising several hundred individually steerable antenna elements will become available in the near future. [0003] Advanced antenna solutions are very promising, but they also introduce a new set of challenges that will need to be addressed. A difficulty that may arise when network nodes use different types of antenna arrangements and wit...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A difficulty that may arise when network nodes use different types of antenna arrangements and with different degrees of advanced signal processing is that measurements performed by different network nodes may not be completely comparable for different reasons

[0004] Introducing advanced adaptive antennas can eg make measurements in the downlink (i.e. from network node to communication device) less useful eg for making handover decisions

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