Method and apparatus for varying apparent cell size in a cellular communication system

Claim 1

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has a traffic channel for two-way communication with a subscriber unit and a broadcast channel that is monitored by said subscriber unit for messages directed to said subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of: communicating within one of said cells on said traffic channel with said subscriber unit, said subscriber unit monitoring a signal level of said broadcast channel associated with said cell; measuring a demand for communication services within said cell; and changing said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to the measuring step, said subscriber unit being responsive to said signal level during the communicating step.

Claim 2

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has a traffic channel for two-way communication with a subscriber unit and a broadcast channel that is monitored by said subscriber unit for messages directed to said subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of: communicating within one of said cells on said traffic channel with said subscriber unit, said subscriber unit monitoring a signal level of said broadcast channel associated with said cell; measuring a demand for communication services within said cell; and changing said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to the measuring step, said subscriber unit being responsive to said signal level during the communicating step.

Claim 11

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system comprised of satellite nodes, said method comprising the steps of: communicating within a cell on a traffic channel with a subscriber unit, said subscriber unit monitoring a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with said cell; measuring a demand for communication services within said cell; and changing said signal level in response to the measuring step, said subscriber unit responsive to said signal level, wherein the measuring step comprises the step of measuring said demand for communication services in real-time and storing a parameter in said cellular communication system related to said demand, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: predicting a future demand for said communication services based on said parameter; sending a message to at least one of said satellite nodes instructing said at least one satellite node to change said signal level of said broadcast channel at a future time corresponding to said future demand; and changing by said at least one satellite node at said future time, said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to said message.

Claim 12

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system comprised of satellite nodes, said method comprising the steps of: communicating within a cell on a traffic channel with a subscriber unit, said subscriber unit monitoring a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with said cell; measuring a demand for communication services within said cell; and changing said signal level in response to the measuring step, said subscriber unit responsive to said signal level, wherein the measuring step comprises the step of measuring said demand for communication services in real-time and storing a parameter in said cellular communication system related to said demand, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: predicting a future demand for said communication services based on said parameter; sending a message to at least one of said satellite nodes instructing said at least one satellite node to change said signal level of said broadcast channel at a future time corresponding to said future demand; and changing by said at least one satellite node at said future time, said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to said message.

Claim 14

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells, each cell having a broadcast channel and a plurality of traffic channels associated therewith, said broadcast channel being monitored by subscriber units that are communicating on one of said traffic channels, said method comprising the steps of: measuring real-time demand for communication services within one of said cells, said real-time demand including subscriber units communicating on said traffic channels; and dynamically adjusting a signal level of said broadcast channel associated with said one of said cells in response to said real-time demand, the dynamically adjusting step causing at least some of said subscriber units monitoring said signal level and communicating on one of said traffic channels associated with said one cell to request a hand-off to an adjacent cell of said plurality when said adjacent cell has a higher broadcast channel signal level.

Claim 15

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells, each cell having a broadcast channel and a plurality of traffic channels associated therewith, said broadcast channel being monitored by subscriber units that are communicating on one of said traffic channels, said method comprising the steps of: measuring real-time demand for communication services within one of said cells, said real-time demand including subscriber units communicating on said traffic channels; and dynamically adjusting a signal level of said broadcast channel associated with said one of said cells in response to said real-time demand, the dynamically adjusting step causing at least some of said subscriber units monitoring said signal level and communicating on one of said traffic channels associated with said one cell to request a hand-off to an adjacent cell of said plurality when said adjacent cell has a higher broadcast channel signal level.

Claim 16

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells, each cell having a broadcast channel associated therewith, and wherein said plurality of cells moves relative to the surface of the Earth, said cells being projected by a plurality of orbiting satellites, said method comprising the steps of: measuring real-time demand for communication services within each of said cells; dynamically adjusting, for each of said cells, a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with each cell in response to said real-time demand, the dynamically adjusting step causing subscriber units monitoring said signal level to request a hand-off to an adjacent cell, determining which of said cells are planned to be turned off when cells from at least two of said satellites overlap; reducing a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with said cells to be turned off causing subscriber units located in said cells to initiate a hand-off to adjacent cells; and turning off said cells after said subscriber units transfer to said adjacent cells.

Claim 17

A method of controlling cell loading in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells, each cell having a broadcast channel associated therewith, and wherein said plurality of cells moves relative to the surface of the Earth, said cells being projected by a plurality of orbiting satellites, said method comprising the steps of: measuring real-time demand for communication services within each of said cells; dynamically adjusting, for each of said cells, a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with each cell in response to said real-time demand, the dynamically adjusting step causing subscriber units monitoring said signal level to request a hand-off to an adjacent cell, determining which of said cells are planned to be turned off when cells from at least two of said satellites overlap; reducing a signal level of a broadcast channel associated with said cells to be turned off causing subscriber units located in said cells to initiate a hand-off to adjacent cells; and turning off said cells after said subscriber units transfer to said adjacent cells.

Claim 18

A method of operating a subscriber unit that communicates with a cellular communication system on traffic channels and is responsive to signal levels of a broadcast channel wherein said subscriber unit is encouraged to seek communication services from a neighboring cell of said cellular communication system, said system predicting demand for said communication services and reducing said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to increases in said demand, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring, by said subscriber unit, said signal level of said broadcast channel associated with a cell in which said subscriber unit is located, said signal level controlled by said communication system and determined in part by said demand for communication services within said cell; and said subscriber unit initiating a hand-off request to said neighboring cell in response to decreases in said signal level.

Claim 19

A method of operating a subscriber unit that communicates with a cellular communication system on traffic channels and is responsive to signal levels of a broadcast channel wherein said subscriber unit is encouraged to seek communication services from a neighboring cell of said cellular communication system, said system predicting demand for said communication services and reducing said signal level of said broadcast channel in response to increases in said demand, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring, by said subscriber unit, said signal level of said broadcast channel associated with a cell in which said subscriber unit is located, said signal level controlled by said communication system and determined in part by said demand for communication services within said cell; and said subscriber unit initiating a hand-off request to said neighboring cell in response to decreases in said signal level.