# US 2015/0105079 A1 · Handover in LTE Using Parallel Sniffer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0105079 A1 - Document ID: US20150105079A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/570,138 - Filed: 2014-12-15 - Published: 2015-04-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-05 - Assignees: Broadcom Corporation - Applicants: Broadcom Corporation - Inventors: Amir APPEL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150105079A1 ## CPC - H04W 36/0055: {Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link} - H04J 11/0093: {Neighbour cell search} - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes} - H04L 25/0202: {Channel estimation} - H04W 16/16: for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements - H04W 36/0061: {of neighbour cell information} - H04W 84/045: {using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B} - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A base station can observe downlink communications of neighboring base stations of neighboring cells to determine operational parameters of these neighboring base stations in a process called sniffing. The base station ceases downlink transmission and/or uplink reception and initiates downlink reception for a duration in time and/or over frequency to form a sniffing window to observe the downlink communications of the one or more neighboring base stations. The sniffing window represents an area in time and/or frequency where downlink communications are not transmitted. The base station determines operational parameters based upon the downlink communications of the one or more neighboring base stations that are observed during the sniffing window. The base station and/or the one or more neighboring base stations can adjust their respective operational parameters such that, on average, each of the base stations within the cellular network should have a substantially similar deviation in their operational parameters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cellular network, comprising: a first base station, within a first cell of the cellular network, configured to provide a downlink communication to a first mobile communication device within a first geographic area of coverage; and a second base station, within a second cell of the cellular network, configured to cease communication with a second mobile communication device within a second geographic area of coverage during a sniffing window and to sniff the downlink communication for a synchronization signal during the sniffing window, wherein a periodicity of the sniffing window is different than a periodicity of a synchronization signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cellular network of claim 1, wherein the second base station is further configured to determine a first operational parameter of the first base station based upon the downlink communication and to adjust a second operation parameter of the second base station in response to the first operational parameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cellular network of claim 2, wherein the first operational parameter and the second operational parameter is a first operating frequency of the first base station and a second operating frequency of the second base station, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cellular network of claim 1, wherein the sniffing window coincides with a duration in time or a range of frequencies that are not currently be used by the second mobile communication device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cellular network of claim 1, wherein the second base station is further configured to initiate receiving of the downlink communication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cellular network of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal comprises: a primary synchronization signal (PSS); or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cellular network of claim 1, wherein the periodicity of the sniffing window is less than the periodicity of the synchronization signal. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The base station of claim 8, wherein the periodicity of the sniffing window is less than the periodicity of the synchronization signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The base station of claim 8, wherein the synchronization signal comprises: a primary synchronization signal (PSS); or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The base station of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a first operational parameter of the second base station based upon the downlink communication and to adjust a second operation parameter of the base station in response to the first operational parameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The base station of claim 11, wherein the first operational parameter and the second operational parameter is a first operating frequency of the second base station and a second operating frequency of the first base station, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The base station of claim 8, further comprising: a cell scheduler configured to open the sniffing window that coincides with a duration in time or a range of frequencies that are not currently be used by the mobile communication device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The base station of claim 8, wherein the receiver module configured to cease processing of the uplink communication from a mobile communication device within the cellular network during the sniffing window in a sniffing mode of operation and to process the uplink communication from the mobile communication device in a normal mode of operation. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the periodicity of the sniffing window is less than the periodicity of the synchronization signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the synchronization signal comprises: a primary synchronization signal (PSS); or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: opening, by the first base station, the sniffing window that coincides with a duration in time or a range of frequencies that are not currently be used by the mobile communication device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining, by the first base station, a first operational parameter of the second base station based upon the downlink communication; and adjusting, by the first base station, a second operation parameter of the base station in response to the first operational parameter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the first operational parameter and the second operational parameter is a first operating frequency of the second base station and a second operating frequency of the first base station, respectively.