Method and apparatus for controlling a small cell on or off procedure

A method for controlling a small cell on or off procedure in a target small cell (TSC), the method comprising:

• receiving a request message from a Small cell specific Gate Way (S-GW), wherein the request message includes a cell state change indication parameter indicating whether a source small cell (SSC) is to be on or off and a cell on/off timer parameter indicating a time duration for a cell on process or a cell off process;
• performing a expanding process or a shrinking process according to the cell state change indication parameter;
• transmitting a first complete indication message indicating expanding a coverage of the TSC or shrinking the coverage of the TSC after complete the expanding process or the shrinking process;
• and
• receiving a second complete indication message indicating the cell on process or the cell off process is complete after the time duration indicated by the cell on/off timer parameter from the SSC.

Small cell specific Gate Way (S-GW) for controlling a small cell on or off procedure, the S-GW comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• and
• a processor for controlling the small cell on or off procedure,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a cell indication message from a Source Small Cell (SSC) by controlling the receiver, the cell indication message including a cell state change indication parameter indicating whether the SSC is to be on or off and a cell on/off timer parameter indicating a time duration for a cell on process or a cell off process;
• transmit request message requesting to expand or shrink a cell coverage of a Target Small Cell (TSC) according to the cell state change indication parameter, by controlling the transmitter;
• and
• receive a complete indication message indicating the cell on process or the cell off process is complete after the time duration indicated by the cell on/off timer parameter from the SSC, by controlling the receiver.

A target small cell (TSC) for supporting a small cell on or off procedure, the TSC comprising:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor for supporting the small cell on or off procedure,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a request message from a Small cell specific Gate Way (S-GW) by using the receiver, the request message including a cell state change indication parameter indicating whether a source small cell (SSC) is to be on or off and a cell on/off timer parameter indicating a time duration for a cell on process or a cell off process;
• perform a expanding process or a shrinking process according to the cell state change indication parameter;
• transmit a first complete indication message indicating expanding a coverage of the TSC or shrinking the coverage of the TSC after complete the expanding process or the shrinking process, by using the transmitter;
• and
• receive a second complete indication message indicating that the cell on process or the cell off process is complete after the time duration indicated by the cell on/off timer parameter from the SSC, by using the receiver.