Handover in LTE Using Parallel Sniffer

A base station for use in a cellular network, comprising:

• a receiver module configured to cease processing of an uplink communication from a mobile communication device within the cellular network during a sniffing window and to process a downlink communication from a second base station within the cellular network during the sniffing window, a periodicity of the sniffing window being different than a periodicity of a synchronization signal within the downlink communication;
• and
• a processor configured detect the synchronization signal within the downlink communication.

A method for detecting a synchronization signal within a downlink communication, the method comprising:

• ceasing, by a first base station, processing of an uplink communication from a mobile communication device within a cellular network during a sniffing window, a periodicity of the sniffing window being different than a periodicity of the synchronization signal;
• and
• processing, by a second base station, the downlink communication from a second base station within the cellular network during the sniffing window to detect the synchronization signal.