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Reporting communication link informationRelated Patent Categories: Telecommunications, Transmitter And Receiver At Separate Stations, Having Measuring, Testing, Or Monitoring Of System Or PartReporting communication link information description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060160490, Reporting communication link information. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This invention relates to a method for reporting information on communication links, for example link quality information, in a telecommunications system such as a cellular radio telecommunications network. [0002] FIG. 1 shows schematically the configuration of a typical cellular radio telecommunications network. The network comprises a number of base-stations (BSs) 1, 2, 3 etc. Each base-station has a radio transceiver capable of transmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from the area of a cell 4, 5, 6 etc. next to the base-station. By means of these signals the base-station can communicate with a mobile station (MS) terminal 7 in that cell, which itself includes a radio transceiver. Each base station is connected to a mobile system controller (MSC) 8, which is linked in turn to the public telephone network 9 and/or to other networks such as packet data networks. By means of this system a user of the MS 7 can establish a telephone call to the public network 9 via a BS in whose cell the MS is located. [0003] The location of the MS could be fixed (for example if it is providing radio communications for a fixed building) or the MS could be moveable (for example if it is a hand portable transceiver or "mobile phone"). When the MS is moveable it may move between cells of the cellular radio system. As it moves from one cell (the "old cell") to another cell (the "new cell") there is a need to hand it over from communication with the BS of the old cell to the BS of the new cell without dropping the call due to a break in communications between the mobile station and the network. This process is known as handover. A need can also arise to hand over a MS whose location is fixed, for example if atmospheric conditions affect its communications with the old BS and call quality can be improved by handing it over to another BS or if there is a need to free up capacity of the old BS. [0004] In some systems, for example the wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) system proposed for the Universal Mobile Telephony System (UMTS), a mobile station is capable of making traffic communications with more than one base station at one time. This macrodiversity arrangement allows greater reliability of communications and can reduce the required transmission power. It also means that handovers between one base station and another can be performed in a gradual ("soft") rather than an abrupt ("hard") way. [0005] It is conventional for the system to include apparatus for controlling handover and macrodiversity. That apparatus could be on the network side (for example at the MSC) or the mobile side of the air interface between the MS and a BS, or could be distributed between the two. That apparatus conventionally receives information relating to the quality of potential communications between the MS and at least some of the BSs and optionally other information such as data on the load on at least some of the BSs. Using this information the apparatus determines which base station(s) an MS should communicate with and issues instructions to the BSs and the MS accordingly. [0006] For the W-CDMA system it is proposed, in line with existing systems such as GSM, that a mobile station will transmit to the network measurement reports on communication quality with six nearby cells. For example, according to the GSM standard a report on a nearby ("neighbouring") cell will occupy 17 reserved bits in a standard reporting message of 107 bits. The reporting message can therefore contain reports on only six nearby cells. Such reporting message is to be sent by a mobile station in each multiframe--i.e. once every 480 ms. [0007] The inventors of the present invention have identified that especially in multisystem or multiband networks and/or in cellular communication systems operating in a multilayer environment the number of cells with which the mobile station may interact might often be greater than six. It could therefore be advantageous for a mobile station to be able to transmit measurement reports for more than six cells. This would be especially advantageous in multisystem or multiband networks and/or in cellular communication systems operating in a multilayer environment. In general, multimode systems can be defined as communication environments where the mobile station may be in a service area where it can be served by more than one serving network, system, standard, frequency or the like. An example of a multiband system is a system in which a dual-band mobile station can be served by GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks operating at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Another example is a system in which a mobile station can be served by a GSM network and a UMTS/W-CDMA network, or a GSM network and a DAMPS network. [0008] It would thus be desirable for a mobile station to be able to report on potential communications links with more than six cells. One way in which this could be achieved is by lengthening the reporting message to give room for measurement reports on more than six cells. However, this would have major problems of incompatibility with existing systems. Another possibility would be for the level of reporting to be altered so as to occupy fewer than 17 bits. However, as well as problems of incompatibility with existing systems, this solution would be expected to reduce the reporting accuracy and therefore the precision of handover decisions. [0009] There is therefore a need for a practical method whereby a mobile station can transmit reporting messages on links with an increased number of cells. Such a method should preferably be capable of retaining a degree of consistency with existing standards and standardisation proposals. By this means, the method may preferably enhance multisystem, multiband and/or multimode operation. It is one aim of the present invention to at least partially address one or more of the above issues. [0010] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for reporting link information in a communication system including a communication terminal and a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link; the method comprising: the communication terminal determining link information for each of the communication links; and the communication terminal periodically transmitting link messages, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links, and the link messages being formatted such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a larger set of the communication links. [0011] The said larger set is suitably larger than the first set of the communication links. The method preferably includes the step of defining the said larger set, for example by selecting communication links to form the said larger set. [0012] Preferably link information for at least one of the communication links is contained in each of successive link messages. For instance, each successive link message may contain link information for one, two or more of the communication links, whilst link information for others of the communication links is not contained in every link message. That latter link information may be sent in link messages spaced apart by a set amount, for example every two or three link messages, or as determined by a less strict periodic or aperodic scheme. [0013] It is thus preferred that successive link messages contain link information for at least one communication link in common. It is also preferred that link messages spaced apart by a set interval--for example by one, two or three other messages--regularly contain link information for the same ones of the communication links. [0014] The method may comprise the step of determining a subset of the communication links having the best link according to a selected measure, and wherein link information for the communication links of that subset is contained in each of successive link messages. The subset preferably consists of one communication link, or alternatively of two communication links. [0015] It is preferred that periodically link messages contain link information for the same ones of the communication links. [0016] The communication terminal is preferably capable of transmitting the link information in a plurality of schemes according to which link information is distributed between successive link messages. Such schemes may involve transmitting link information for a set of the communication links in alternate link messages, or in every third link message. [0017] The communication system suitably includes a control unit (e.g. an MSC or the like) coupled to the transceivers. The method suitably comprises the step of causing at least one of the transceivers to transmit a scheme selection signal to the communication terminal indicative of the one of the plurality of schemes to be used by the communication terminal. The scheme selection signal may be transmitted on a broadcast channel. The scheme selection signal may be transmitted as part of a system information message. The method may suitably comprise the step of operating the communication terminal in response to the scheme selection signal so as to use the scheme indicated by the scheme selection signal. [0018] The link messages may be transmitted over at least one of the said communication links. The link messages may be each sent in a respective multiframe. (The multiframe may be defined by reference to normal communications over the said communication links). [0019] Each link message preferably contains link information for six of the communication links, and most preferably for only six of the communication links. [0020] The link information for a communication link is preferably in some way indicative of the quality of communications over that link. The link information may, for example be indicative of received signal strength information for communications over the link--for example of the strength of received broadcast signals over the link. [0021] The method may suitably comprise the steps of receiving the link information and making a handover decision for the communication terminal on the basis of the link information. That decision may be made at an MSC or like equipment. [0022] The method may comprise the step of the communication terminal signalling that it is capable of operating so as to transmit successive link messages containing link information for different ones of the communication links. That signalling may be performed on establishment by the communication terminal of a connection with the system. [0023] According to the present invention from a second aspect there is provided a communication system comprising: a communication terminal; a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link; the communication terminal comprising link measurement means for measuring link information for each of the communication links; transmission means for periodically transmitting link messages, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links; and link message forming means for forming the link messages such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a larger set of the communication links. [0024] According to the present invention from a third aspect there is provided a communication terminal for operation in a radio telecommunications system, the terminal comprising: communication means for communicating with one or more of a plurality of radio transceivers; measurement means for measuring a quality of signals received from each of the said transceivers over a respective communication link; and measurement message generation means for generating measurement messages for transmission by the communication means, each measurement message containing measured quality information for a first set of the communication links; the measurement message generation means being capable of generating a series of measurement messages wherein groups of successive measurement messages collectively contain measured quality information for a larger set of the communication links. Continue reading about Reporting communication link information... Full patent description for Reporting communication link information Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Reporting communication link information patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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 Reporting communication link information or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and system for multiple 60ghz system antennae Next Patent Application: System and method for monitoring communication Industry Class: Telecommunications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Reporting communication link information patent info. 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