Handover for Wireless Devices with Reduced Capabilities

Abstract

A first base station may receive, from a second base station, a message comprising information element(s) indicating that a wireless device of a reduced capability type is allowed access via a first cell of the second base station. The first base station may transmit, to the second base station, a handover request message based on the information element(s) indicating that a wireless device of the reduced capability type is allowed access via the first cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first base station from a second base station, a message comprising one or more information elements indicating that a wireless device of a reduced capability type is allowed access via a first cell of the second base station;   wherein the reduced capability type is associated with reduced capabilities compared to a non-reduced capability type; and   transmitting, by the first base station to the second base station, a handover request message based on the one or more information elements indicating that a wireless device of the reduced capability type is allowed access via the first cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced capabilities comprise one or more of:
 a reduced bandwidth;   a reduced number of antennas; and   a half-duplex operation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is an application protocol message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the application protocol message is an Xn setup message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the Xn setup message is an Xn setup request message or an Xn setup response message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the handover request message indicates a request for handover to the first cell of the second base station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the handover request message is associated with a wireless device of the reduced capability type. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover request message indicates a request for handover to the first cell of the second base station. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the handover request message is associated with a wireless device of the reduced capability type. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving a handover request acknowledge message in response to transmitting the handover request message. 
     
     
         11 . A base station comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the base station to:
 receive, from a target base station, a message comprising one or more information elements indicating that a wireless device of a reduced capability type is allowed access via a first cell of the target base station; 
 wherein the reduced capability type is associated with reduced capabilities compared to a non-reduced capability type; and 
 transmit, to the target base station, a handover request message based on the one or more information elements indicating that a wireless device of the reduced capability type is allowed access via the first cell. 
   
     
     
         12 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the reduced capabilities comprise one or more of:
 a reduced bandwidth;   a reduced number of antennas; and   a half-duplex operation.   
     
     
         13 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the message is an application protocol message. 
     
     
         14 . The base station of  claim 13 , wherein the application protocol message is an Xn setup message. 
     
     
         15 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein the Xn setup message is an Xn setup request message or an Xn setup response message. 
     
     
         16 . The base station of  claim 15 , wherein the handover request message indicates a request for handover to the first cell of the target base station. 
     
     
         17 . The base station of  claim 16 , wherein the handover request message is associated with a wireless device of the reduced capability type. 
     
     
         18 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein the handover request message indicates a request for handover to the first cell of the target base station. 
     
     
         19 . The base station of  claim 18 , wherein the handover request message is associated with a wireless device of the reduced capability type. 
     
     
         20 . The base station of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to receive a handover request acknowledge message in response to transmitting the handover request message.