Methods and network nodes for enhanced radio resource deployment

A method, performed in a second access node arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology, of controlling usage of radio resources for at least one user equipment (UE) being within a coverage of the second access node, wherein the at least one UE is also within the coverage of a first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology and wherein there is a communications interface arranged for direct communication between the second access node and the first access node, the method comprising:

• detecting a report triggering event;
• responsive to detecting the report triggering event, sending resource management related information relevant for the at least one UE to the first access node over the communications interface;
• and
• receiving radio resource control information from the first access node over the communications interface, the radio resource control information comprising information on a transmission power level and an operating frequency to be used by the second access node in communicating with the at least one UE and coordinately generated based on the resource management related information for the second access node, radio link related information relevant for radio link connections to the first access node, and the resource management related information for the first access node.

A first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology, and being configured to control usage of radio resources for at least one user equipment (UE) being within a coverage of the first access node, wherein the at least one UE is also within coverage of one or more second access nodes arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology, the first access node comprising:

• a radio transceiver arranged for radio link communication with the at least one UE, operating as a dual-mode UE, within a coverage area of the first access node over a first radio access technology;
• a communication interface arranged for direct communication with the one or more second access nodes;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• retrieve, from a second access node of the one or more second access nodes, resource management related information of the second access node of the one or more second access nodes relevant for the at least one UE over the communications interface;
• coordinately control radio resources provided to the at least one UE by both the first access node and the second access node, based on the retrieved resource management related information and internal resource management related information for the first access node;
• and
• transmit radio resource control information to the second access node over the communications interface, the radio resource control information comprising information on a transmission power level and an operating frequency to be used by the second access node in communicating with the at least one UE and coordinately generated based on the resource management related information for the second access node, radio link related information relevant for radio link connections to the First access node, and the resource management related information for the first access node.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for controlling usage of radio resources for at least one user equipment (UE) being within a coverage of a first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology, wherein the at least one UE is also within coverage of one or more second access nodes arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology and wherein there is a communications interface arranged for direct communication between the first access node and a second access node of the one or more second access nodes, the computer program comprising computer readable code that, when run in at least one processor of the first access node, causes the first access node to:

• retrieve, from the second access node, resource management related information of the second access node relevant for the at least one UE over the communications interface;
• coordinately control radio resources provided to the at least one UE by both the first access node and the second access node, based on the retrieved resource management related information and internal resource management related information for the first access node;
• and
• transmit radio resource control information to the second access node over the communications interlace, the radio resource control information comprising information on a transmission power level and an operating frequency to be used by the second access node in communicating with the at least one UE and coordinately generated based on the resource management related information for the second access node, radio link related information relevant for radio link connections to the first access node, and the resource management related information for the first access node.

A second access node arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology, and configured to control usage of radio resources for at least one user equipment (UE) being within a coverage of the second access node, wherein the at least one UE is also within the coverage of a first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology, the second access node comprising:

• a radio transceiver arranged for radio link communication with the at least one UE, operating as a dual-mode UE, within a coverage area of the second access node over a second radio access technology;
• a communication interface arranged for direct communication with the first access node;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• detect a report triggering event;
• responsive to detecting the report triggering event, send resource management related information relevant for the at least one UE to the first access node over the communications interface;
• and
• receive radio resource control information from the first access node over the communications interface, the radio resource control information comprising information on a transmission power level and an operating frequency to be used by the second access node in communicating with the at least one UE and coordinately generated based on the resource management related information for the second access node, radio link related information relevant for radio link connections to the first access node, and the resource management related information for the first access node.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for controlling usage of radio resources for at least one user equipment (UE) being within a coverage of a second access node, wherein the at least one UE is also within the coverage of a first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology and wherein there is a communications interface arranged for direct communication between the second access node and the first access node, the computer program comprising computer readable code that, when executed by processing circuitry in the second access node, causes the second access node to;

• detect a report triggering event;
• responsive to detecting the report triggering event, send resource management related information relevant for the at least one UE to the first access node over the communications interface;
• and
• receive radio resource control information from the first access node over the communications interface, the radio resource control information comprising information on a transmission power level and an operating frequency to be used by the second access node in communicating with the at least one UE and coordinately generated based on the resource management related information for the second access node, radio link related information relevant for radio link connections to the first access node, and the resource management related information for the first access node.