US5471644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reducing audio gap in downlink during handoff of cellular radiotelphone
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-29
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Granted: 1995-11-28
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Expires: 2013-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a temporary signal connection with the communication unit from a mobile switching center (MSC) of a source base site, through the source base site to a handoff target base site and establishing a trunk connection from the MSC of the source base site to a MSC of the target base site. The method further includes the step of interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary signal connection, trunk connection, and communication unit; and re-routing the signal connection with the communication unit through the trunk connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven V. Schatz
- 👤 Thomas W. Ritchie
- 👤 Barry J. Menich
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Bonta
- 👤 Akingbade Akinniyi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04W36/08; H04W36/34; H04W36/0005; H04W36/0055; H04W36/0069; H04W36/00692
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a trunk connection between a source mobile switching center associated with the source base site and a target mobile switching center associated with the target base site; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the trunk connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the source mobile switching center through the trunk connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a trunk connection between a source mobile switching center associated with the source base site and a target mobile switching center associated with the target base site; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the trunk connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the source mobile switching center through the trunk connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection comprises establishing a signal path between a transcoder of the source base site and a transcoder of the target base site.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of interconnecting the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the trunk connection and the communication unit comprises establishing a three party connection by linking the temporary signal connection, a downlink from the trunk connection and a traffic channel assigned to the communication unit by the target base site.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as in claim 3 further comprising the steps of: receiving from the communication unit a handoff complete message; establishing a signal connection from the target mobile switching center and the target base site bypassing the three party connection; and terminating the temporary inter-base site signal connection and the three party connection.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site via a temporary trunk connection between a source mobile switching center associated with the source base site and a target mobile switching center associated with the target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a permanent trunk connection between the source mobile switching center and the target mobile switching center; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary trunk connection, the permanent trunk connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the source mobile switching center through the permanent trunk connection.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site via a temporary trunk connection between a source mobile switching center associated with the source base site and a target mobile switching center associated with the target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a permanent trunk connection between the source mobile switching center and the target mobile switching center; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary trunk connection, the permanent trunk connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the source mobile switching center through the permanent trunk connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as in claim 5 wherein the step of interconnecting the temporary trunk connection, the permanent trunk connection and the communication unit comprises establishing a three party connection by linking a downlink from the temporary trunk connection, a downlink from the permanent trunk connection and a traffic channel assigned to the communication unit by the target base site.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as in claim 6 further comprising the steps of: receiving from the communication unit a handoff complete message; establishing a signal connection from the target mobile switching center and the target base site bypassing the three party connection; and terminating the temporary inter-base site signal connection and the three party connection.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a permanent signal connection between a mobile switching center and the target base site; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the permanent signal connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the mobile switching center through the permanent connection.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a temporary inter-base site signal connection between a source base site and a target base site for routing signals from the communication unit through the target base site to the source base site; establishing a permanent signal connection between a mobile switching center and the target base site; interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the permanent signal connection and the communication unit; and routing signals from the communication unit to the mobile switching center through the permanent connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as in claim 8 wherein the step of interconnecting the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the permanent signal connection and the communication unit comprises establishing a three party connection by linking the temporary inter-base site signal connection, the permanent signal connection and a traffic channel assigned to the communication unit by the target base site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: receiving from the communication unit a handoff complete message; and terminating the temporary inter-base site signal connection and the three party connection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-27 | 1999-05-29 | 1999-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-27 | 2003-05-29 | 2003-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-27 | 2007-05-29 | 2007-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |