Technique for operating communication devices in a heterogeneously deployed network

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the communication pattern is defined by at least one of discontinuous reception, DRX, cycles and discontinuous transmission, DTX, cycles.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the first serving node (14) is associated with at least one of a larger nominal transmit power and a larger nominal coverage area than the second serving node (12).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the first and second serving nodes (12, 14) are deployed to define a soft cell for the wireless communication device (20).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the wireless communication device (20) is connected to the first serving node (14) via an anchor carrier configured to primarily transmit control information.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the wireless communication device (20) is connected to the second serving node (12) via a booster carrier configured to primarily transmit user data.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• detecting the event comprises receiving an indicator message from the first serving node (14), the indicator message indicating the required extension of the communication period with the first serving node (14).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• detecting the event comprises determining that at least one of user data and control information is received from the first serving node (14) after a predefined point in time.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the notification message is configured as a Medium Access Control, MAC, message, or as a physical layer flag.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the method is performed by the wireless communication device (20).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein

• the notification message signals one or more of a start, an end and a duration of the required extension of the communication pause with the second serving node (12).

A method of operating a serving node (12) in a heterogeneously deployed network (10) comprising first and second serving nodes (12, 14) of different nominal transmit powers and at least partially overlapping coverage areas, wherein a wireless communication device (20) is simultaneously connected to the first and second serving nodes (12, 14) and alternately communicates with the first and second serving nodes (12, 14) in accordance with a communication pattern comprising communication periods and communication pauses, the method being performed by the second serving node (12) and comprising:

• receiving (506) a notification message from at least one of the wireless communication device (20) and the first serving node (14), the notification message being indicative of a required extension of a communication pause with the second serving node as an extension of a communication period between the wireless communication device (20) and the first serving node (14) is required;
• and
• extending the (508) communication pause in response to receipt of the notification message.

A computer program product comprising program code portions for performing the steps of any of the preceding claims when the computer program product is executed on one or more processing devices.

A serving node (12) for use in a heterogeneously deployed network (10) comprising first and second serving nodes (12, 14) of different nominal transmit powers and at least partially overlapping coverage areas, wherein a wireless communication device (20) is simultaneously connected to the first and second serving nodes (12, 14) and alternately communicates with the first and second serving nodes (12, 14) in accordance with a communication pattern comprising communication periods and communication pauses, the serving node being the second serving node and comprising:

• an interface (30) configured to receive a notification message from at least one of the wireless communication device (20) and the first serving node (14), the notification message being indicative of a required extension of a communication pause with the second serving node (12) as an extension of a communication period between the wireless communication device (20) and the first serving node (14) is required;
• and
• a controller (32) configured to extend the communication pause in response to receipt of the notification message.