User device, access node device, central network controller and corresponding methods

An access node device for a radio communication network, the access node device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a broadcast beacon signal from a user device synchronised with the radio communication network;
• and
• a processor configured to derive information from the received broadcast beacon signal and to use the derived information in a network procedure of the radio communication network,
• wherein when the user device is connected to at least one access node device of the radio communication network, identity information of the user device is omitted from the broadcast beacon signal, and the broadcast beacon signal is not addressed to a specific access node device of the radio communication network.

A central network controller for a radio communication network, the central network controller comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive, from at least one access node device of the radio communication network, information derived from a beacon signal originally broadcasted by a user device;
• and
• a processor configured to based on the information received from the at least one access node device decide which access node device of the radio communication network shall connect to the user device, and to assemble connection setup information indicating at least one access node device of the radio communication network to which the user device shall establish a connection;
• wherein the transceiver is further configured to forward the connection setup information to at least one access node device which shall establish a connection to the user device;
• and
• wherein when the user device is connected to at least one access node device of the radio communication network, identity information of the user device is omitted from the beacon signal, and the beacon signal is not addressed to a specific access node device of the radio communication network.

A method, comprising:

• synchronising, by a user device, with a radio communication network;
• and
• broadcasting, by the user device, a beacon signal comprising at least one reference signal to one or more access node devices of the radio communication network;
• wherein when the user device is connected to at least one access node device of the radio communication network, identity information of the user device is omitted from the beacon signal, and the beacon signal is not addressed to a specific access node device of the radio communication network.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by an access node device for a radio communication network, a broadcast beacon signal from a user device synchronised with the radio communication network;
• deriving, by the access node device, information from the received broadcast beacon signal;
• and
• using, by the access node device, the derived information in a network procedure of the radio communication network;
• wherein when the user device is connected to at least one access node device of the radio communication network, identity information of the user device is omitted from the broadcast beacon signal, and the broadcast beacon signal is not addressed to a specific access node device of the radio communication network.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a central network controller for a radio communication network, from a plurality of access node devices of the radio communication network, information derived from a beacon signal originally broadcasted by a user device;
• deciding, by the central network controller, based on the information received from at least one access node device which access node device shall connect to the user device;
• assembling, by the central network controller, connection setup information indicating at least one access node device of the radio communication network to which the user device shall establish a connection;
• and
• forwarding, by the central network controller, the connection setup information to at least one access node device which shall establish a connection to the user device;
• wherein when the user device is connected to at least one access node device of the radio communication network, identity information of the user device is omitted from the beacon signal, and the beacon signal is not addressed to a specific access node device of the radio communication network.