Patent ID: 8676218
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for use in providing coverage for at least part of a coverage hole in a first cell or cell sector of a cellular wireless network, in which method a second cell or cell sector is selected, from a group of cells or cell sectors of the cellular wireless network which neighbour the first cell or cell sector, to adapt its coverage so as to cover at least part of the coverage hole in the first cell or cell sector, the method comprising: carrying out an identification process using data relating to a cell or cell sector in the said group to identify a cell or cell sector suitable for selection as the said second cell or cell sector, the identification process being carried out on one or more cells or cell sectors in the said group in turn, wherein the identification process comprises: finding a cell or cell sector in the group which fulfils a predetermined criterion indicative of actual or probable signal strength of a signal from the cell or cell sector at the said coverage hole; and determining whether a first transmission parameter setting for the cell or cell sector found to fulfil the predetermined criterion can be adjusted such that the cell or cell sector can provide coverage for at least part of the coverage hole in the first cell or cell sector, and, when that is the case, identifying the cell or cell sector as a cell or cell sector suitable for selection as the said second cell, wherein, in a case where transmission data readings for the cells or cell sectors in the said group are reliable, then the said predetermined criterion is highest strength of signal from the cell or cell sector at the coverage hole, and the cells or cell sectors in the group are considered in descending order of signal strength.