Method and apparatus for enhanced network searching in a wireless communication system

A method performed by a second terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• based on the second terminal being connected to a first terminal using short-range communication and the second terminal not being connected with a serving cell of the first terminal over a wireless network,
• transmitting capability information to the first terminal;
• receiving a list of at least one candidate cell identified based on the capability information from the first terminal;
• and
• searching for a serving cell of the second terminal based on the list of the at least one candidate cell,
• wherein the first terminal is a host device, and the second terminal is a remote device connectable with the at least one candidate cell over the wireless network, and
• wherein the list includes information of the at least one candidate cell for wireless network connection of the second terminal, based on the short-range communication connection being released.

A first terminal in a wireless communication system, the first terminal comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• identify a connection state of a second terminal,
• based on the second terminal being connected with the first terminal using short-range communication and the second terminal not being connected with a serving cell of the first terminal over a wireless network,
• receive capability information from the second terminal, and
• transmit a list of at least one candidate cell identified based on the capability information to the second terminal,
• wherein the first terminal is a host device, and the second terminal is a remote device connectable with the at least one candidate cell over the wireless network, and
• wherein the list includes information of the at least one candidate cell for wireless network connection of the second terminal, based on the short-range communication connection being released.

A second terminal in a wireless communication system, the second terminal comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• based on the second terminal being connected with a first terminal using short-range communication and the second terminal not being connected with a serving cell of the first terminal over a wireless network,
• transmit capability information to the first terminal,
• receive a list of at least one candidate cell identified based on the capability information from the first terminal, and
• search for a serving cell of the second terminal based on the list of the at least one candidate cell,
• wherein the first terminal is a host device, and the second terminal is a remote device connectable with the at least one candidate cell over the wireless network, and
• wherein the list includes information of the at least one candidate cell for wireless network connection of the second terminal, based on the short-range communication connection being released.