Method and apparatus for communication management

A method performed by a communication management node for a communication network, the method comprising:

• generating a configuration of a pairing between a first cell and a second cell, wherein one or more of:
• the second cell is a mainlobe indicator cell for the first cell, wherein inclusion of measurement results for the second cell in a measurement report from a terminal device indicates that the terminal device is in coverage of a mainlobe of an antenna for the first cell;
• a boresight direction of an antenna for the first cell and a boresight direction of an antenna for the second cell are the same;
• or
• inclusion of measurement results for the second cell in a measurement report from a terminal device is a prerequisite for a terminal device to be handed over to the first cell;
• and
• transmitting the configuration to a network node of the communication network.

A network node for a communication network, the network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the network node is configured to:
• receive a measurement report from a terminal device;
• make a decision as to whether or not to hand the terminal device over from a source cell to a target cell according to handover criteria, wherein the handover criteria comprises whether or not the measurement report includes measurement results for both the target cell and an assistant cell that is paired with the target cell, wherein according to the handover criteria, if the measurement report includes measurement results for the target cell but not for the assistant cell, the decision is to not hand the terminal device over to the target cell;
• and
• instruct, or refrain from instructing, the terminal device to hand over from the source cell to the target cell according to the decision.

A communication management node for a communication network, the communication management node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the communication management node is configured to:
• generate a configuration of a pairing between a first cell and a second cell, wherein one or more of:
• the second cell is a mainlobe indicator cell for the first cell, wherein inclusion of measurement results for the second cell in a measurement report from a terminal device indicates that the terminal device is in coverage of a mainlobe of an antenna for the first cell;
• a boresight direction of an antenna for the first cell and a boresight direction of an antenna for the second cell are the same;
• or
• inclusion of measurement results for the second cell in a measurement report from a terminal device is a prerequisite for a terminal device to be handed over to the first cell;
• and
• transmit the configuration to a network node of the communication network.