Systems and methods for managing access node neighbor relations

A system for managing access node neighbor relations, the system comprising:

• a first access node and a controller, the controller configured to:
• determine an application requirement associated with a wireless device in communication with a first access node, the application requirement comprising one or more quality of service conditions for communication between the wireless device and the first access node;
• calculate a neighbor reporting criteria based on the application requirement and a handover criteria used to determine when to handover the wireless device from the first access node, wherein the neighbor reporting criteria comprises a signal level threshold used to trigger a neighbor reporting event at the wireless device and establish one or more neighbors for the first access node based on an automatic neighbor relations protocol;
• receive from the wireless device an identifier of a second access node in response to a reporting event triggered at the wireless device based on a first signal level of the first access node, a second signal level of the second access node, and the neighbor reporting criteria;
• and
• establish a communication link between the first access node and the second access node based on the identifier when it is determined that the communication link has not previously been established between the first access node and the second access node, wherein the communication link is established based on the automatic neighbor relations protocol.