US6108322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of enabling handoff
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1996-06-28
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Granted: 2000-08-22
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Expires: 2016-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method improves the decoding rate and reliability of adjacent cell base stations by expediting the decode process if the signal quality of a traffic channel is within a predetermined range. In particular, adjacent control channels are monitored and decoded at a rapid rate by ignoring the speech traffic channel information. The speech is interrupted (526) and the channel information is decoded (526) when, for example, the bit error rate or frame error rate of the traffic channel (TCH) is deteriorating while another channel has a better signal. The scheduling of speech channel interruptions (522) may also occur when insufficient neighbor cell information is available at the beginning of a call or immediately after handover. The lost speech signal could be recovered (536) using conventional speech extrapolation techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Mike Kotzin
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Bonta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/0005; H04W36/0083; H04W36/0085; H04W36/0094; H04W72/00; H04W72/50; H04W72/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of monitoring channels by a mobile unit in a communication system transmitting frames of information, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring the signal quality of a current traffic channel; determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; ignoring information received on a current traffic channel during a time slot assigned to said mobile unit for receiving information; monitoring a control channel during the time slot assigned to said mobile unit for receiving information; and maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of monitoring channels by a mobile unit in a communication system transmitting frames of information, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring the signal quality of a current traffic channel; determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; ignoring information received on a current traffic channel during a time slot assigned to said mobile unit for receiving information; monitoring a control channel during the time slot assigned to said mobile unit for receiving information; and maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring the signal quality comprises evaluating the bit error rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 wherein said step of determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range comprises determining whether the signal quality is below a predetermined threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 wherein said step of determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range comprises determining whether the signal quality is above a predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 wherein said step of ignoring information comprises ignoring speech traffic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 further including a step of using error correction to recover information lost while monitoring a control channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 further comprising a step of determining whether a new call is initiated or a recent handoff was performed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring a control channel comprises monitoring a control channel of a TDMA communication system having a plurality of base station which are synchronized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 8 wherein said step of monitoring a control channel comprises decoding a base station ID code transmitted in SCH frames which periodically repeat after a predetermined number of frames.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 9 wherein said step of ignoring information comprises a step of waiting until a predetermined TCH frame of said current traffic channel is aligned with a SCH frame of said control channel to ignore speech traffic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 9 further including a step of building a list of base stations from strongest to weakest according to signal strength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of monitoring channels of claim 11 further including a step of requesting a hand off if another base station has a stronger signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of monitoring channels by a mobile unit in a GSM communication system, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring the signal quality of a current traffic channel; determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; ignoring information received during a predetermined TCH frame when said predetermined TCH frame aligns with a predetermined SCH frame; decoding a base station ID of said predetermined SCH frame; and maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of monitoring channels by a mobile unit in a GSM communication system, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring the signal quality of a current traffic channel; determining that the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; ignoring information received during a predetermined TCH frame when said predetermined TCH frame aligns with a predetermined SCH frame; decoding a base station ID of said predetermined SCH frame; and maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of initiating a hand off by a mobile terminal in a communication system having a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a downlink on a current traffic channel assigned to a first base station of said plurality of base stations; monitoring the signal quality of the current traffic channel; monitoring a control channel during an assigned time slot if the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; maintaining a list of the signal strength of said plurality of base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available; and requesting a hand off if the signal quality of another base station of said plurality of base stations is greater than the signal quality of the current traffic channel.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of initiating a hand off by a mobile terminal in a communication system having a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a downlink on a current traffic channel assigned to a first base station of said plurality of base stations; monitoring the signal quality of the current traffic channel; monitoring a control channel during an assigned time slot if the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; maintaining a list of the signal strength of said plurality of base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available; and requesting a hand off if the signal quality of another base station of said plurality of base stations is greater than the signal quality of the current traffic channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 14 wherein said step of monitoring the signal quality comprises evaluating the bit error rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 14 wherein said step of monitoring a control channel comprises decoding a base station ID code transmitted in SCH frames which periodically repeat after a predetermined number of frames.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 16 further including a step of ignoring information comprising a step of waiting until a predetermined TCH frame of said current traffic channel is aligned with a predetermined SCH frame of said control channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 17 further including a step of building a list of base stations of said plurality of base stations from strongest to weakest according to signal strength.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 14 further including a step of requesting a hand off if another base station of said plurality of base stations has a stronger signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of initiating a hand off of claim 14 further including a step of using error correction to recover information lost while monitoring another traffic channel.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of initiating a hand off by a mobile terminal in a GSM communication system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a downlink on a current traffic channel; estimating the signal quality of the current traffic channel; waiting until a predetermined TCH frame of said current traffic channel is aligned with a predetermined SCH frame of a control channel; monitoring said control channel during an assigned time slot to receive information if the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; decoding a base station ID code transmitted in said predetermined SCH frame; maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available; and requesting a hand off if the signal quality of another base station is greater than the signal quality of the current traffic channel.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of initiating a hand off by a mobile terminal in a GSM communication system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a downlink on a current traffic channel; estimating the signal quality of the current traffic channel; waiting until a predetermined TCH frame of said current traffic channel is aligned with a predetermined SCH frame of a control channel; monitoring said control channel during an assigned time slot to receive information if the signal quality of the current traffic channel is within a predetermined range; decoding a base station ID code transmitted in said predetermined SCH frame; maintaining a list of the signal strength of new base stations to determine whether a stronger base station is available; and requesting a hand off if the signal quality of another base station is greater than the signal quality of the current traffic channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-22 | 2004-02-21 | 2004-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-22 | 2008-02-21 | 2008-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-22 | 2012-02-21 | 2012-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |