Communications system

A target base station for use in a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the target base station comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store instructions;
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive a configuration request message sent by a source base station;
• send, towards the source base station, a configuration response message having address information relating to the target base station;
• and
• include information in said configuration response message indicating whether or not the target base station supports use of an X2 gateway device through which an X2 connection can be established between the source base station and the target base station.

A source base station for use in a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the source base station comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store instructions;
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• discover a neighbouring target base station;
• send, without performing a network address discovery procedure for the target base station, an X2 setup request to an X2 gateway device associated with the source base station;
• and
• include an identifier for the target base station for use by the X2 gateway device to determine if the target base station supports X2 connection setup through the X2 gateway device.

An X2 gateway device for use in a communication system having a plurality of base stations, the X2 gateway device comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store instructions and base station data for registered base stations, the base station data including network address data and identifier data for each registered base station;
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• register one or more base stations with the X2 gateway device;
• receive an X2 setup request message from a source base station that is registered with the X2 gateway device, the X2 setup request message including an identifier for a target base station;
• and
• use the identifier for the target base station in the received X2 setup request message to determine if the base station data in said memory includes a network address for the target base station.

A source base station for use in a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the source base station comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store instructions;
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• discover a neighbouring target base station;
• send an X2 neighbour notify message to an X2 gateway device associated with the source base station, the X2 neighbour notify message including an identifier for the target base station for use by the X2 gateway device to determine if the target base station supports X2 connection setup through the X2 gateway device;
• and
• receive a notification from the X2 gateway device indicating whether or not the target base station supports X2 connection through the X2 gateway device.

An X2 gateway device for use in a communication system having a plurality of base stations, the X2 gateway device comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store instructions and base station data for registered base stations, the base station data including network address data and identifier data for each registered base station;
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• register one or more base stations with the X2 gateway device;
• receive an X2 neighbour notify message from a source base station, the X2 neighbour notify message including an identifier for a target base station;
• use the identifier for the target base station in the received X2 neighbour notify message to determine if the base station data in said memory includes a network address for the target base station;
• and
• send the source base station a notification indicating whether or not the target base station supports X2 connection through the X2 gateway device depending on whether or not the base station data in said memory includes a network address for the target base station.

A source base station for use in a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the source base station comprising:

• means for discovering a neighbouring target base station;
• and
• means for sending, towards the target base station, a configuration request message for requesting network address information relating to the target base station;
• wherein the means for sending is arranged to include information in said configuration request message indicating whether or not the source base station supports use of an X2 gateway device through which an X2 connection can be established between the source base station and the target base station.

A method performed by a source base station of a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the method comprising:

• discovering a neighbouring target base station;
• sending, towards the target base station, a configuration request message for requesting network address information relating to the target base station;
• and
• including information in said configuration request message indicating whether or not the source base station supports use of an X2 gateway device through which an X2 connection can be established between the source base station and the target base station.

A method performed by a target base station of a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the method comprising:

• receiving a configuration request message sent by a source base station;
• sending, towards the source base station, a configuration response message having address information relating to the target base station;
• and
• including information in said configuration response message indicating whether or not the target base station supports use of an X2 gateway device through which an X2 connection can be established between the source base station and the target base station.

A method performed by a source base station of a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the method comprising:

• discovering a neighbouring target base station;
• sending, without performing a network address discovery procedure for the target base station, an X2 setup request to an X2 gateway device associated with the source base station;
• and
• including in the X2 setup request, an identifier for the target base station for use by the X2 gateway device to determine if the target base station supports X2 connection setup through the X2 gateway device.

A method performed by an X2 gateway device of a communication system having a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:

• registering one or more base stations with the X2 gateway device;
• storing base station data for registered base stations, the base station data including network address data and identifier data for each registered base station;
• and
• receiving an X2 setup request message from a source base station that is registered with the X2 gateway device, the X2 setup request message including an identifier for a target base station;
• and
• using the identifier for the target base station in the received X2 setup request message to determine if the base station data in said memory includes a network address for the target base station.

A method performed by a source base station of a communication system having a plurality of other base stations, the method comprising:

• discovering a neighbouring target base station;
• and
• sending an X2 neighbour notify message to an X2 gateway device associated with the source base station, the X2 neighbour notify message including an identifier for the target base station for use by the X2 gateway device to determine if the target base station supports X2 connection setup through the X2 gateway device;
• and
• receiving a notification from the X2 gateway device indicating whether or not the target base station supports X2 connection through the X2 gateway device.

A method performed by an X2 gateway device of a communication system having a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:

• registering one or more base stations with the X2 gateway device;
• storing base station data for registered base stations, the base station data including network address data and identifier data for each registered base station;
• receiving an X2 neighbour notify message from a source base station, the X2 neighbour notify message including an identifier for a target base station;
• using the identifier for the target base station in the received X2 neighbour notify message to determine if the stored base station data includes a network address for the target base station;
• and
• sending the source base station a notification indicating whether or not the target base station supports X2 connection through the X2 gateway device depending on whether or not the stored base station data includes a network address for the target base station.