There is provided a method, including requesting, by a network element of a macro cell network infrastructure, a local cell access point operating within the macro cell to either activate or deactivate a local cell control plane with respect to active user equipment of the local cell, wherein the local cell access point continues to provide a user plane to the active user equipment; and receiving a response to the request.

There is provided a method, including requesting, by a network element of a macro cell network infrastructure, a local cell access point operating within the macro cell to either activate or deactivate a local cell control plane with respect to active user equipment of the local cell, wherein the local cell access point continues to provide a user plane to the active user equipment; and receiving a response to the request.

An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.

A User Equipment (UE) device operates to directly determine a target small cell for access or handover with the assistance of a macro cell network. The UE directly generates the connection and selects which small cell to access from among a subset of small cells chosen of a set of candidate small cells. The UE is provided dedicated assistance information from the evolved node B (eNB) or macro network device. The dedicated assistance information enables the UE to measure data from the candidate small cells within a heterogeneous network environment. The UE shares the measured data and connects directly to the selected small cell for an access or handover operation.

A User Equipment (UE) device operates to directly determine a target small cell for access or handover with the assistance of a macro cell network. The UE directly generates the connection and selects which small cell to access from among a subset of small cells chosen of a set of candidate small cells. The UE is provided dedicated assistance information from the evolved node B (eNB) or macro network device. The dedicated assistance information enables the UE to measure data from the candidate small cells within a heterogeneous network environment. The UE shares the measured data and connects directly to the selected small cell for an access or handover operation.

A wireless communication system using cells to provide wireless access to services, comprising a first base station installed on board a public transportation vehicle to provide a moving cell, and a second base station installed at a stop at which users enter or leave the vehicle, to provide a fixed cell. A central controller guides handovers of users entering or leaving the vehicle. The first and second base stations to provide data concerning users to the central controller, and the central controller, over many journeys of the vehicle, gathers profile data of users based on the data provided by the base stations. As the vehicle approaches a stop, the central controller makes predictions about users likely to enter and leave the vehicle, and, provides guidance to the first and second base stations for performing handovers.

A wireless communication system using cells to provide wireless access to services, comprising a first base station installed on board a public transportation vehicle to provide a moving cell, and a second base station installed at a stop at which users enter or leave the vehicle, to provide a fixed cell. A central controller guides handovers of users entering or leaving the vehicle. The first and second base stations to provide data concerning users to the central controller, and the central controller, over many journeys of the vehicle, gathers profile data of users based on the data provided by the base stations. As the vehicle approaches a stop, the central controller makes predictions about users likely to enter and leave the vehicle, and, provides guidance to the first and second base stations for performing handovers.

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for a cell to discover another cell. A method for cell discovery by a discovering cell may comprises the step of: the discovering cell receiving first discovering resource configuration information from a master cell; and the discovering cell receiving a discovering signal from at least one discovering target cell on the basis of the first discovering resource configuration information, wherein the first discovering resource configuration information may comprise information indicating a first time resource for the discovering cell to receive a discovery signal by means of a first frequency band, and information indicating a second time resource for the discovering cell to transmit downlink data to a terminal by means of the first frequency band.

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for a cell to discover another cell. A method for cell discovery by a discovering cell may comprises the step of: the discovering cell receiving first discovering resource configuration information from a master cell; and the discovering cell receiving a discovering signal from at least one discovering target cell on the basis of the first discovering resource configuration information, wherein the first discovering resource configuration information may comprise information indicating a first time resource for the discovering cell to receive a discovery signal by means of a first frequency band, and information indicating a second time resource for the discovering cell to transmit downlink data to a terminal by means of the first frequency band.

Provided are a method and a device for dynamically constructing a virtual cell. The method includes: a master station sending an event A4 to UE and receiving an A4 measurement report from the UE; and the master station adding a cell corresponding to a cell identity carried in the A4 measurement report as a slave station, herein the master station and slave stations form a first virtual cell. In the technical solution, a serving cell selected by UE may be any cell and is not necessary to be a macro cell, the master station adds a cell which satisfies an event A4 as a slave station and thereby a virtual cell is realized.