US Patent 8472950 Location-based microcell search

A network device may store information identifying a coverage area associated with each of one or more cells that are associated with the network device. The network device may receive information identifying a geographic location of a user device. The network device may compare the geographic location of the user device to one or more of the stored coverage areas. The network device may also determine, based on the comparing, that the user device is within a particular coverage area of a particular cell, of the one or more cells. The network device may further send, to the user device, and based on determining that the user device is located within the particular coverage area of the particular cell, an instruction for the user device to connect to the particular cell, where the user device is to attempt to connect to the particular cell in response to the instruction.