Enhanced mobile base station

A method, comprising:

• at a processor configured to provide a cellular base station functionality, the processor being part of a mobile base station, the processor coupled to a first access radio for providing a cellular access network inside and outside a vehicle, the processor further coupled to a first cellular backhaul radio for providing a backhaul connection to a cellular network via a cell, the processor further coupled to a global positioning system (GPS) module for determining a location of the mobile base station:
• permitting a mobile device to attach to the mobile base station;
• attaching, at the mobile base station, to a macro cell for providing backhaul to the mobile device using the mobile base station for access;
• receiving a first tracking area code from the macro cell;
• transmitting a second tracking area code to the mobile device, the second tracking area code corresponding to a tracking area managed by a coordinating node;
• detecting, at the mobile base station, a transition from a stationary state to a moving state of the mobile base station;
• and
• sending a tracking area update message to a core network to transition to the tracking area managed by the coordinating node,
• thereby avoiding unnecessary tracking area updates for the mobile device.