Handover of a user equipment between an indoor and an outdoor network node

A method performed by a User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE, a first network node and a second network node are operable in a wireless communications system, the first network node being located indoors, the second network node being located outdoors, the method comprising:

• classifying whether the UE currently is indoors or outdoors;
• in response to first circumstances of the classified location being indoors and the second network node being the serving node of the UE, sending a message to the first or second network node, indicating the first circumstances, and receiving a return message that adjusts one or more transmission parameters, for triggering a handover of the UE from the second network node to the first network node, wherein, for the first circumstances, the transmission parameter for time-to-trigger is adjusted to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period to trigger the handover of the UE to the first network node;
• and
• in response to second circumstances of the classified location being outdoors and the first network node being the serving node of the UE, sending a message to the first or second network node indicating the second circumstances, and receiving a return message that adjusts the one or more handover parameters, for triggering a handover of the UE from the first network node to the second network node, wherein, for the second circumstances, the transmission parameter for time-to-trigger is adjusted to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period to trigger a handover of the UE to the second network node.

A first network node configured for operation in a wireless communications system at an indoors location, the first network node comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for wirelessly communicating with a User Equipment (UE);
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• when it is indicated that the UE is located indoors and is served by a second network node that is located outdoors, adjust transmission parameters for time-to-trigger to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period in the first network node to trigger a handover of the UE to the first network node;
• and
• when it is indicated that the UE is located outdoors and is served by the first network node, adjust transmission parameters for time-to-trigger is adjusted to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period in the first network node to trigger a handover of the UE to the second network node.

A User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE, a first network node and a second network node are operable in a wireless communications system, the first network node is configured to be located indoors, the second network node is configured to be located outdoors, the UE comprising:

• transceiver circuitry configured for communication with at least the first and second network nodes;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the transceiver circuitry and configured to:
• classify whether the UE currently is indoors or outdoors;
• in response to first circumstances of the classified location being indoors and the second network node being the serving node of the UE, send a message to the first or second network node, indicating the first circumstances, and receive a return message that adjusts one or more handover parameters, for triggering a handover of the UE from the second network node to the first network node, wherein, for the first circumstances, the transmission parameter for time-to-trigger is adjusted to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period to trigger the handover of the UE to the first network node located indoors;
• and
• in response to second circumstances of the classified location being outdoors and the first network node being the serving node of the UE, send a message to the first or second network node indicating the second circumstances, and receive a return message that adjusts the one or more handover parameters, for triggering a handover of the UE from the first network node to the second network node, wherein, for the second circumstances, the transmission parameter for time-to-trigger is adjusted to decrease an enter-trigger period and increase an exit-trigger period to trigger a handover of the UE to the second network node located outdoors.