Method and system for handover with pre-configuration of timing advance

A method comprising:

• serving by a first base station a user equipment device (UE) via an air interface extending between the base station and the UE;
• while serving the UE, receiving by the base station from the UE via the air interface a report that the UE has detected signals from a plurality of second base stations;
• responsive to the report, sending by the first base station respectively to each second base station a request for the second base station to evaluate uplink signal strength from the UE, and receiving by the first base station, respectively from each second base station, in response to the request sent to the second base station, a report indicating (i) uplink signal strength from the UE as determined by the second base station and (ii) timing advance between the UE and the second base station as determined by the second base station;
• selecting by the first base station one of the second base stations based at least in part on the selected second base station having, among the plurality of second base stations, a highest indicated uplink signal strength from the UE;
• and
• sending via the air interface from the first base station to the UE (i) a directive for the UE to hand over to the selected second base station and (ii) the timing advance received by the first base station from the selected second base station, for use of the timing advance by the UE to facilitate synchronized air interface communication between the UE and the selected second base station.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a first base station for providing first cellular coverage in which to serve user equipment devices (UEs);
• and
• a second base station for providing second cellular coverage in which to serve UEs,
• wherein the first base station includes a first controller configured to (i) transmit to the second base station a measurement request that specifies an uplink reference signal of a UE served by the first base station, (ii) receive from the second base station, in response to the measurement request, a timing-advance value determined by the second base station based on evaluation of the specified uplink reference signal, (iii) transmit to the UE a handover directive directing the UE to hand over from being served by the first base station to being served by the second base station, and (iv) provide the UE with the received timing-advance value to facilitate communication between the UE and the second base station, and
• wherein the second base station includes a second controller configured to (i) receive from the first base station the measurement request, (ii) respond to the measurement request by evaluating the specified uplink reference signal of the UE to determine the timing-advance value and by transmitting the determined timing-advance value to the first base station, and (iii) receive handover of the UE from being served by the first base station to being served by the second base station.