US6088591A — Cellular system hand-off protocol

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a first base station and a plurality of associated base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said plurality of base stations respectively communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method comprising the steps of: each of said plurality of associated base stations conveying information to said first base station related to said respective communication thereof; said first base station receiving said information in a memory and transmitting selected information to an associated mobile device registered with said first base station, wherein the selected information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station; said mobile device registering with one of the reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations based on the selected information.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a first base station and a plurality of associated base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said plurality of base stations respectively communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method comprising the steps of: each of said plurality of associated base stations conveying information to said first base station related to said respective communication thereof; said first base station receiving said information in a memory and transmitting selected information to an associated mobile device registered with said first base station, wherein the selected information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station; said mobile device registering with one of the reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations based on the selected information.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of communication channels is represented by at least one of a unique hop sequence, a unique modulation type, and a unique PN code.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said information is conveyed to said first base station in a packet format.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said first base station selects its own communication channel based at least in part on the information received from said plurality of associated base stations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said first base station selects its own communication channel such that it is different than the communication channel upon which any of said plurality of associated base stations are operating.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said information received by said first base station includes hop sequence information and timing information.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 6, wherein said information received by said first base station further includes test pattern interval information.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 6, wherein said information received by said first base station further includes beacon interval information.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 160 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method of informing a mobile device registered to a first of said plurality of base stations of respective communication channel information related to a plurality of associated base stations, comprising the steps of: each of said plurality of associated base stations conveying information to said first base station related to said respective communication channel thereof; said first base station receiving said information; and said first base station transmitting a selected portion of said information to said mobile device wherein the selected portion of said information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 160 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method of informing a mobile device registered to a first of said plurality of base stations of respective communication channel information related to a plurality of associated base stations, comprising the steps of: each of said plurality of associated base stations conveying information to said first base station related to said respective communication channel thereof; said first base station receiving said information; and said first base station transmitting a selected portion of said information to said mobile device wherein the selected portion of said information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of associated base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 9, wherein said step of transmitting at least a portion of said information occurs prior to said mobile device registering with one of said plurality of associated base stations.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of communication channels is represented by at least one of a unique hop sequence, a unique modulation type, and a unique PN code.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile device is a mobile terminal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 9, wherein said information is conveyed to said first base station in a packet format.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 9, wherein said selected portion of said information transmitted to the mobile device includes hop sequence information and timing information.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said mobile device jumps directly to the communication channel which one of said plurality of associated base stations is expected to be at based at least in part on the hop sequence information and the timing information transmitted.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 190 words

A cellular communication system, comprising: a backbone; a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on one of a plurality of different communication channels; at least one mobile device, each of said mobile devices communicating with said backbone via registration with a selected one of said plurality of base stations, each of said base stations including: wireless communication means for communicating information between said backbone and any of said at least one mobile devices which are registered to said base station; means for conveying communication channel information to other of said plurality of base stations in said cellular communication system; means for receiving communication channel information from said other base stations; and means for wirelessly transmitting a selected portion of said communication channel information received to mobile devices currently registered to said base station, wherein said selected portion of said communication channel information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said currently registered base station.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 190 words

A cellular communication system, comprising: a backbone; a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on one of a plurality of different communication channels; at least one mobile device, each of said mobile devices communicating with said backbone via registration with a selected one of said plurality of base stations, each of said base stations including: wireless communication means for communicating information between said backbone and any of said at least one mobile devices which are registered to said base station; means for conveying communication channel information to other of said plurality of base stations in said cellular communication system; means for receiving communication channel information from said other base stations; and means for wirelessly transmitting a selected portion of said communication channel information received to mobile devices currently registered to said base station, wherein said selected portion of said communication channel information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said currently registered base station.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of communication channels is represented by at least one of a unique hop sequence, a unique modulation type, and a unique PN code.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 16, wherein said information received from said other base stations includes hop sequence information and timing information related to said other base stations communication channel.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said information received from said other base stations further includes test pattern interval information.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said information received from said other base stations further includes beacon interval information.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 80 words

The system of claim 16, wherein each of said base stations further includes: means of wirelessly transmitting a roaming counter to said mobile devices currently registered to said base station, said information wirelessly transmitted to mobile devices currrntly registered to said base station includes a roaming counter including a value representing a number of times a respective mobile terminal previously registered to said base station roamed to another of said plurality of base stations over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 226 words

A base station for use in a cellular communication system, comprising said base station along with a plurality of similar associated base stations each of which are coupled to a backbone, with each of said plurality of similar associated base stations each of which arc coupled to a backbone, with each of said plurality of similar associated base stations potentially serving as a respective wireless communication link between said backbone and at least one mobile device registered thereto, said base station comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said backbone and any of said at least one mobile devices which are registered to said base station; means for conveying communication channel information to other of said plurality of similar associated base stations in said cellular communication system; means for receiving communication channel information from said other plurality of similar associated base stations; and means for wirelessly transmitting a selected portion of said communication channel information received from said other plurality of similar associated base stations to said at least one mobile device currently registered to said base station wherein said selected portion of said communication channel information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said currently registered base station.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 226 words

A base station for use in a cellular communication system, comprising said base station along with a plurality of similar associated base stations each of which are coupled to a backbone, with each of said plurality of similar associated base stations each of which arc coupled to a backbone, with each of said plurality of similar associated base stations potentially serving as a respective wireless communication link between said backbone and at least one mobile device registered thereto, said base station comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said backbone and any of said at least one mobile devices which are registered to said base station; means for conveying communication channel information to other of said plurality of similar associated base stations in said cellular communication system; means for receiving communication channel information from said other plurality of similar associated base stations; and means for wirelessly transmitting a selected portion of said communication channel information received from said other plurality of similar associated base stations to said at least one mobile device currently registered to said base station wherein said selected portion of said communication channel information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said currently registered base station.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 66 words

The base station of claim 22, further comprising: means for wirelessly transmitting a roamed to counter to said mobile devices currently registered to said base station, wherein said roamed to counter includes a value representing a number of times a respective mobile terminal previously registered to said base station roamed to another of said plurality of similar associated base stations over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 50 words

The base station of claim 22, further comprising: means for wirelessly transmitting updated information to said mobile devices currently registered to said base station, wherein said updated information includes updated communication channel information related to at least a portion of said at least one plurality of similar associated base stations.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The base station of claim 22, wherein said communication channel information includes hop sequence information and timing information.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 15 words

The base station of claim 22, wherein communication channel information is conveyed in packet format.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method of transferring communication channel information, comprising the steps of: transmitting to a first of said plurality of base stations communications channel information related to of at least one of said plurality of base stations by a mobile device receiving said communication channel information by said first base station; and transmitting selected portions of said communication channel information to an associated mobile device registered with said first base station, wherein the selected information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and a plurality of base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method of transferring communication channel information, comprising the steps of: transmitting to a first of said plurality of base stations communications channel information related to of at least one of said plurality of base stations by a mobile device receiving said communication channel information by said first base station; and transmitting selected portions of said communication channel information to an associated mobile device registered with said first base station, wherein the selected information is associated only with a reduced set of the plurality of base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the first base station.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 27, wherein said mobile device was previously registered with another of said plurality of base stations.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of: determining at said first base station a roam to indicator indicative of which of said plurality of associated base stations said mobile terminal registered therewith was previously registered.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 27, wherein said communication channel information includes hop sequence information and timing information.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 67 words

A method of facilitating a mobile terminal's ability to lock on to a base station communication channel upon said mobile terminal passively scanning for said communication channel by listening for beacons transmitted by said base station, said method comprising the step of decreasing an interval between which beacons are transmitted by said base station if current traffic load on said base station is below a predetermined threshold.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 67 words

A method of facilitating a mobile terminal's ability to lock on to a base station communication channel upon said mobile terminal passively scanning for said communication channel by listening for beacons transmitted by said base station, said method comprising the step of decreasing an interval between which beacons are transmitted by said base station if current traffic load on said base station is below a predetermined threshold.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 157 words

A mobile device for use in a cellular communication system, said cellular communication system comprising a backbone and a plurality of base stations coupled thereto, said mobile device capable of communicating with said backbone via one of said plurality of base stations to which the mobile device is currently registered; said mobile device comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said mobile device and said backbone; means for receiving roaming information from said one base station, said roaming information including communication channel information related to other of said base stations wherein said roaming information includes only communication channel information related to base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the one base station; and means for jumping directly to a communication channel at which one of said other base stations is expected to be based in part on received roaming information.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 157 words

A mobile device for use in a cellular communication system, said cellular communication system comprising a backbone and a plurality of base stations coupled thereto, said mobile device capable of communicating with said backbone via one of said plurality of base stations to which the mobile device is currently registered; said mobile device comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said mobile device and said backbone; means for receiving roaming information from said one base station, said roaming information including communication channel information related to other of said base stations wherein said roaming information includes only communication channel information related to base stations which are predetermined to have a cell area selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of the one base station; and means for jumping directly to a communication channel at which one of said other base stations is expected to be based in part on received roaming information.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 53 words

The mobile device of claim 32, further comprising: means for moving quickly through at least one other communication channel at which said one base station is expected to be in the event said mobile device is not able to lock on to said one base station upon jumping directly to said communication channel.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 32 words

The mobile device of claim 32, further comprising: means for prioritizing an order in which to attempt to lock on to said other base stations based in part on said roaming information.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 58 words

The mobile device of claim 34, wherein said order selected is based in part on a roam counter information included in said roaming information, said roam counter information having values representing the number of times mobile terminals previously registered to said one base station roamed to each of said other base stations over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 18 words

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein said communication channel information includes hop sequence information and timing information.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 19 words

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein said mobile device is a mobile terminal having a bar code scanner.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 15 words

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein said roaming information is received in packet format.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 172 words

A mobile device for use in a cellular communication system, said cellular communication system comprising a backbone and a plurality of base stations having respective cell areas coupled thereto, said mobile device capable of communicating with said backbone via one of said plurality of base stations to which the mobile device is currently registered, said mobile device comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said mobile device and said backbone; means for receiving communication information, including hop sequence information related to other of said base stations from said one base station; means for storing said hop sequence information; means for computing a communication channel at which at least one of said other base stations is expected to be based on said hop sequence information, wherein said communication information includes a roam counter valve indicative of which of said plurality of base stations have cell areas selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said one base station; and means for jumping directly to the communication channel.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 172 words

A mobile device for use in a cellular communication system, said cellular communication system comprising a backbone and a plurality of base stations having respective cell areas coupled thereto, said mobile device capable of communicating with said backbone via one of said plurality of base stations to which the mobile device is currently registered, said mobile device comprising: wireless communication means for communicating information between said mobile device and said backbone; means for receiving communication information, including hop sequence information related to other of said base stations from said one base station; means for storing said hop sequence information; means for computing a communication channel at which at least one of said other base stations is expected to be based on said hop sequence information, wherein said communication information includes a roam counter valve indicative of which of said plurality of base stations have cell areas selected from one of adjacent to and overlapping with the cell area of said one base station; and means for jumping directly to the communication channel.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 19 words

The mobile device of claim 39, wherein said mobile device is a mobile terminal having a bar code reader.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 37 words

The mobile device of claim 39, wherein said mobile device further comprises: means for determining whether said at least one other base station is communicating on said communication channel by listening for beacons on said communication channel.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 41 words

The mobile device of claim 41, further comprising: means for moving quickly through at least one other communication channel at which said one other base station is expected to be in the event said mobile device does not receive a beacon.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 49 words

The mobile device of claim 39, wherein said mobile device further comprises: means for determining whether said at least one other base station is communicating on said communication channel by transmitting a probe packet on said communication channel and waiting a predetermined period of time to receive a response.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 41 words

The mobile device of claim 43, further comprising: means for moving quickly through at least one other communication channel at which said one other base station is expected to be in the event said mobile device does not receive a response.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 137 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and first and second base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said first and second base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method comprising the steps of: conveying from said second base station to said first base station information related to said second base station's hopping sequence; receiving said information by said first base station; storing said information in memory associated with said first base station; computing within said first base station a communication channel upon which said second base station is expected to be, based on said information stored in said first base station; transmitting from said first base station to a registered mobile device said communication channel computed; and receiving said communication channel computed by said mobile device.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 137 words

In a cellular communication system comprising a backbone, and first and second base stations each coupled to said backbone, each of said first and second base stations communicating on a selected one of a plurality of communication channels, a method comprising the steps of: conveying from said second base station to said first base station information related to said second base station's hopping sequence; receiving said information by said first base station; storing said information in memory associated with said first base station; computing within said first base station a communication channel upon which said second base station is expected to be, based on said information stored in said first base station; transmitting from said first base station to a registered mobile device said communication channel computed; and receiving said communication channel computed by said mobile device.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 45, wherein said mobile device jumps directly to a current communication channel upon which said second base station is expected to be based on said received communication channel and listens for beacons on said current communication channel to determine whether said second base station is currently communicating on said current communication channel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cellular system hand-off protocol

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