Method and apparatus providing handoff of a mobile station between base stations using parallel communication links established with different time slots

Claim 3

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; and wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and combining, in the mobile station, the information received through the at least one first time slot with the information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 4

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; and wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and combining, in the mobile station, the information received through the at least one first time slot with the information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 2 and further including the steps of: transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to a cellular communication control node from the first base station; determining at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the control node to the mobile station via the first base station and the first downlink communication channel.

Claim 6

A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 2 and further including the steps of: determining at the first base station, based at least in part on the indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the first base station to the mobile station via the first downlink communication channel; wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first downlink communication channel and the first uplink communication channel use different frequencies.

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first downlink communication channel and the first uplink communication channel use the same frequencies.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first time slot and the second time slot occur within a single frame and are offset from one another by a predetermined period of time, and wherein the third time slot and the fourth time slot occur within the same frame.

Claim 11

A method as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a step of combining the information received through the at least one second time slot with the information received through the at least one fourth time slot.

Claim 12

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel, the method further including the steps of: transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to a cellular communication control node from the first base station; determining at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the control node to the mobile station via the first base station and the first downlink communication channel; wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command; and wherein the step of communicating information includes the steps of: continuing to monitor, at the mobile station, a signal received from at least the second downlink communication channel; communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and also to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to the cellular communication control node from at least one of the first base station and the second base station; determining at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; sending a second command from the control node to the mobile station via at least one of the first base station and the second base station; and executing the step of terminating in response to the mobile station receiving the second command.

Claim 13

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel, the method further including the steps of: transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to a cellular communication control node from the first base station; determining at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the control node to the mobile station via the first base station and the first downlink communication channel; wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command; and wherein the step of communicating information includes the steps of: continuing to monitor, at the mobile station, a signal received from at least the second downlink communication channel; communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and also to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to the cellular communication control node from at least one of the first base station and the second base station; determining at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; sending a second command from the control node to the mobile station via at least one of the first base station and the second base station; and executing the step of terminating in response to the mobile station receiving the second command.

Claim 14

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel add at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel, the method further including the steps of: determining at the first base station, based at least in part on the indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the first base station to the mobile station via the first downlink communication channel; wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command; wherein the step of communicating information includes the steps of: continuing to monitor, at the mobile station, a signal received from at least the second downlink communication channel; communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and also to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; determining at one of the first base station and the second base station, based at least in part on the indication of the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; sending a second command to the mobile station from at least one of the first base station and the second base station; and executing the step of terminating in response to the mobile station receiving the second command.

Claim 15

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel add at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel, the method further including the steps of: determining at the first base station, based at least in part on the indication of the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and sending a first command from the first base station to the mobile station via the first downlink communication channel; wherein the mobile station executes the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station in response to receiving the command; wherein the step of communicating information includes the steps of: continuing to monitor, at the mobile station, a signal received from at least the second downlink communication channel; communicating an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and also to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; determining at one of the first base station and the second base station, based at least in part on the indication of the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; sending a second command to the mobile station from at least one of the first base station and the second base station; and executing the step of terminating in response to the mobile station receiving the second command.

Claim 16

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; determining at the mobile station, based at least in part on the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and executing, at the determined time to initiate handover, the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station; and wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and combining, in the mobile station, the information received through the at least one first time slot with the information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 17

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of bidirectionally communicating information includes the steps of: monitoring, at the mobile station, a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; determining at the mobile station, based at least in part on the monitored signal, a time to initiate a handover of the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and executing, at the determined time to initiate handover, the step of establishing bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station; and wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and combining, in the mobile station, the information received through the at least one first time slot with the information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 18

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of communicating information includes the steps of: continuing to monitor, at the mobile station, a signal received from at least the second downlink communication channel; determining at the mobile station, based at least in part on the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and executing, at the determined time to handover, the step of terminating.

Claim 19

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also simultaneously communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station using the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station.

Claim 20

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also simultaneously communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; and terminating bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station using the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station.

Claim 21

A cellular communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station including transceiver means for bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being controlled to also establish bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being further controlled to communicate information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel, wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to terminate bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the mobile station further comprises means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 22

A cellular communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station including transceiver means for bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being controlled to also establish bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being further controlled to communicate information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel, wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to terminate bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the mobile station further comprises means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 23

A cellular communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station including transceiver means for bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being controlled to also establish bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being further controlled to communicate information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel, wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to terminate bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of: means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said transceiver means is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 24

A cellular communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station including transceiver means for bidirectionally communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being controlled to also establish bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel, said transceiver means being further controlled to communicate information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel, wherein said transceiver means is further controlled to terminate bidirectional communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established bidirectional communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of: means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said transceiver means is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 25

A system as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising: a cellular communication control node that is bidirectionally coupled to said first base station and to said second base station; means for transferring the communicated indication of the monitored signal to said cellular communication control node from at least one of the first base station and the second base station; means for determining, at the control node, based at least in part on the transferred indication of the monitored signal, a time to handover the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; and means for sending a handover command from the control node to the mobile station.

Claim 26

A cellular Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station that includes means for bidirectionally communicating with said first and second base stations, wherein a handover of said mobile station between base stations is accomplished in three phases, wherein in a first phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates user information and also signalling information only with said first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a first uplink communication channel, wherein in a third phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information only with said second base station using at least one time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a second uplink communication channel, and wherein in a second phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information with said first base station using said at least one time slot in said first downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel while also bidirectionally communicating said user information and also signalling information with said second base station using said at least one time slot in said second downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said second uplink communication channel; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said means for bidirectionally communicating is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one time slot in the second uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through theist least one third time slot.

Claim 27

A cellular Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station that includes means for bidirectionally communicating with said first and second base stations, wherein a handover of said mobile station between base stations is accomplished in three phases, wherein in a first phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates user information and also signalling information only with said first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a first uplink communication channel, wherein in a third phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information only with said second base station using at least one time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a second uplink communication channel, and wherein in a second phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information with said first base station using said at least one time slot in said first downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel while also bidirectionally communicating said user information and also signalling information with said second base station using said at least one time slot in said second downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said second uplink communication channel; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said means for bidirectionally communicating is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one time slot in the second uplink communication channel; wherein the system further comprises: means for communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through theist least one third time slot.

Claim 28

A cellular Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station that includes means for bidirectionally communicating with said first and second base stations, wherein a handover of said mobile station between base stations is accomplished in three phases, wherein in a first phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates user information and also signalling information only with said first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a first uplink communication channel, wherein in a third phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information only with said second base station using at least one time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a second uplink communication channel, and wherein in a second phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information with said first base station using said at least one time slot in said first downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel while also bidirectionally communicating said user information and also signalling information with said second base station using said at least one time slot in said second downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said means for bidirectionally communicating is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel.

Claim 29

A cellular Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communications system, comprising: a first base station serving a first communications cell; a second base station serving a second communications cell; and a mobile station that includes means for bidirectionally communicating with said first and second base stations, wherein a handover of said mobile station between base stations is accomplished in three phases, wherein in a first phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates user information and also signalling information only with said first base station using at least one time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a first uplink communication channel, wherein in a third phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information only with said second base station using at least one time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one time slot in a second uplink communication channel, and wherein in a second phase said mobile station bidirectionally communicates said user information and also signalling information with said first base station using said at least one time slot in said first downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel while also bidirectionally communicating said user information and also signalling information with said second base station using said at least one time slot in said second downlink communication channel and said at least one time slot in said first uplink communication channel; wherein the mobile station is further comprised of means for monitoring a signal received at least from the second downlink communication channel; and wherein said means for bidirectionally communicating is controlled to communicate an indication of the monitored signal to at least one of the first base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel and the second base station through the at least one time slot in the first uplink communication channel.

Claim 30

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and in the mobile station, forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 31

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating voice information from the first base station to the mobile station through the at least one first time slot in the first downlink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the second base station to the mobile station through the at least one third time slot in the second downlink communication channel; and in the mobile station, forming an audio signal from the voice information received through the at least one first time slot and also from the voice information received through the at least one third time slot.

Claim 32

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating voice information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and combining the voice information received through the at least one second time slot with the voice information received through the at least one fourth time slot.

Claim 33

In a cellular communications system, a method for performing a handover of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, comprising the steps of: communicating information between the mobile station and the first base station using at least one first time slot in a first downlink communication channel and at least one second time slot in a first uplink communication channel; establishing communication between the mobile station and the second base station using at least one third time slot in a second downlink communication channel and at least one fourth time slot in a second uplink communication channel; communicating information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and terminating communication between the mobile station and the first base station while maintaining the established communication with the second base station, thereby handing over the mobile station from the first base station to the second base station; wherein the step of communicating information further includes the steps of: communicating voice information from the mobile station to the first base station through the at least one second time slot in the first uplink communication channel while also communicating the same voice information from the mobile station to the second base station through the at least one fourth time slot in the second uplink communication channel; and combining the voice information received through the at least one second time slot with the voice information received through the at least one fourth time slot.