Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems -> Monitor Keywords

Site News |

Monitor Keywords |

Monitor Archive |

Organizer |

Account Info |

06/25/09 - USPTO Class 455 | 69 views | #20090163209 | Prev - Next | About this Page

Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems

Title: Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090163209, Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of switching a terminal from a first wireless communication system to a second wireless communication system, comprising: obtaining at least one measurement of at least one parameter for at least one base station in the first communication system; deriving a metric based on the at least one measurement; determining whether or not the terminal is within coverage of the first communication system based on the metric; and initiating a switch to the second communication system if the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the first communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch to the second communication system is initiated only if at least one signal of sufficient signal quality is received from the second communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metric is derived based on quality of signals received by the terminal from base stations in the first communication system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metric is derived based on quality of signals received by the terminal from base stations in one or more sets selected from an active set, a candidate set, and a neighbor set.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is further based on a metric threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metric threshold is a fixed value.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the metric threshold is an adaptive value.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the metric threshold is determined based on one or more measurements obtained for the second communication system.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining is further based on a timer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the first communication system if the metric is below the metric threshold for the duration of the timer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the timer duration is an adaptive value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the timer duration is determined based on one or more measurements obtained for the first communication system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch is initiated only if at least one base station in the second communication system is received by the terminal with sufficient signal quality.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication systems provide at least one common service.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one common service includes packet data service.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication system is an IS-856 system and the second communication system is a cdma2000 system.

17. A terminal comprising: a metric computation unit operative to receive at least one measurement of at least one parameter for at least one base station in a first wireless communication system and to derive a metric based on the at least one measurement; a coverage determination unit operative to determine whether or not the terminal is within coverage of the first communication system based on the metric; and a controller operative to initiate a switch to a second wireless communication system if the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the first communication system.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the metric relates to an active set that includes base stations in the first communication system received by the terminal with sufficient signal quality.

19. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the metric is derived based on quality of signals received by the terminal from base stations in one or more sets selected from an active set, a candidate set, and a neighbor set.

20. An apparatus comprising: means for obtaining at least one measurement of at least one parameter for at least one base station in a first wireless communication system; means for deriving a metric based on the at least one measurement; means for determining whether or not the terminal is within coverage of the first communication system based on the metric; and means for initiating a switch to a second wireless communication system if the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the first communication system.

21. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to: receive at least one measurement of at least one parameter for at least one base station in a first wireless communication system; derive a metric based on the at least one measurement; determine whether or not a terminal is within coverage of the first communication system based on the metric; and initiate a switch to a second wireless communication system if the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the first communication system

22. A method of determining coverage for a terminal in a wireless communication system, comprising: obtaining at least one signal quality measurement for at least one base station in the wireless communication system; deriving a metric based on the at least one signal quality measurement; and determining whether or not the terminal is within coverage of the wireless communication system based on the metric.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the metric is derived based on signal quality measurements for base stations in one or more sets selected from an active set, a candidate set, and a neighbor set.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the metric is derived based on a sum of the at least one signal quality measurement.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the metric is derived based on the maximum of the at least one signal quality measurement.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the terminal is deemed to be outside the coverage of the wireless communication system if the metric is below a metric threshold for the duration of a timer.

27. A method of switching a terminal between a plurality of communication systems, comprising: identifying a preferred system for the terminal; determining an operating state of the terminal; determining coverage obtained by the terminal; determining current data requirements of the terminal; and switching the terminal among the plurality of communication systems based on the preferred system for the terminal, the operating state of the terminal, the coverage obtained by the terminal, and the current data requirements of the terminal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the terminal is switched to the preferred system if it is under the coverage of the preferred system.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the terminal is switched to the preferred system if it is in an idle operating state and not currently receiving service.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the preferred system is a packet data system, and wherein the terminal switches to the preferred system if there is data to send.

31. An apparatus comprising: means for identifying a preferred system for a terminal; means for determining an operating state of the terminal; means for determining coverage obtained by the terminal; means for determining current data requirements of the terminal; and means for switching the terminal among a plurality of communication systems based on the preferred system for the terminal, the operating state of the terminal, the coverage obtained by the terminal, and the current data requirements of the terminal.

32. A program recorded on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer, comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one signal quality measurement for at least one base station in the wireless communication system; deriving a metric based on the at least one signal quality measurement; and determining whether or not the terminal is within coverage of the wireless communication system based on the metric.

33. A program recorded on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer, comprising the steps of: identifying a preferred system for the terminal; determining an operating state of the terminal; determining coverage obtained by the terminal; determining current data requirements of the terminal; and switching the terminal among the plurality of communication systems based on the preferred system for the terminal, the operating state of the terminal, the coverage obtained by the terminal, and the current data requirements of the terminal.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems patent application.

Patent Applications in related categories:

20090286541 - Method and apparatus for efficient handover in lte - An efficient use of downlink (DL) air-interface bandwidth during handoff of user equipment from a source cell to a target is provided. In conjunction with a handoff message to ensure receipt, expedited status exchanges are provided so that initial communications do not require a subsequent retransmission of duplicate data. A ...

20090286542 - Method and apparatus for transitioning from a first rat to a second rat - A method, in a wireless communications device having a first protocol stack for use with a first radio access technology and a second protocol stack for use with a second radio access technology, the method for transitioning from a first radio access technology to a second radio access technology, the ...

###

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems or other areas of interest.
###

Previous Patent Application:
Communications systems
Next Patent Application:
Method and apparatus for transfer of a message on a common control channel for random access in a wireless communication network
Industry Class:
Telecommunications

###

Design/code © 2009 FreshContext LLC/Freshpatents.com. Website Terms and Conditions - Also read: About this Page
Patent data source: patents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Information published here is for research/educational purposes only (and in conjunction with our Keyword Monitor) and is not meant to be used in place of the full USPTO patent document/images or a comprehensive patent archive search. Complete official applications are on file at the USPTO and often contain additional data/images (Freshpatents is currently text-only). FreshPatents.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO or firms/individuals or products/designs/ideas related to listed patents.

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for determining coverage and switching between overlay communication systems patent info.
IP-related news and info

Results in 2.96403 seconds

Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , paws

* Protect your Inventions
* US Patent Office filing

Provisional Patent
Utility Patent

PATENT INFO