User equipment handover from a network energy saving cell

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to user equipment (UE) handover from a network energy saving cell. A timeline of different events allows the UE to make a reliable decision on executing a handover to a target cell, e.g., by providing the UE with the knowledge that there is a finite time before the source cell sleeps and therefore measurement or evaluation to find a target cell for handover may continue. For example, a remaining time to sleep (RTS) value may be defined that indicates an amount of time that the source cell remains active after sending a cell switch off indication to the UE. The source cell enters sleep only after the RTS time indicated in the cell switch off indication elapses. The UE remains active in the source cell until the RTS time elapses and performs measurement and measurement evaluation of candidates.