US6216004B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cellular communication system with common channel soft handoff and associated method
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1998-07-13
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Granted: 2001-04-10
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Expires: 2018-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A cellular communications system comprising;a mobile unit which designates an active set of base stations;a base station; anda base station controller which puts the base stations in the active set in common channel soft handoff.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward G. Tiedemann, Jr.
- 👤 Sandip Sarkar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/16; H04W36/18; H04W36/24; H04W36/30; H04W36/304; H04W52/00; H04W52/02; H04W52/0209; H04W52/0212; H04W52/0216; H04W24/00; H04W24/10; H04W36/08; H04W52/0225; H04W52/0245; H04W68/00; H04W68/02; H04W68/025; H04W76/00; H04W76/20; H04W76/28; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of control signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit a first set of base stations for which the received power level of the received control signal exceeds a prescribed level; sending a power measurement message from the mobile unit to at least one base station in the set that identifies the base stations in the identified first set; sending to the mobile unit by at least one base station a message that specifies a second set of base stations that are permitted to transmit to the mobile unit in soft handoff; and communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations that are members of both the first set and the second set; wherein at least one member of the second set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of control signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit a first set of base stations for which the received power level of the received control signal exceeds a prescribed level; sending a power measurement message from the mobile unit to at least one base station in the set that identifies the base stations in the identified first set; sending to the mobile unit by at least one base station a message that specifies a second set of base stations that are permitted to transmit to the mobile unit in soft handoff; and communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations that are members of both the first set and the second set; wherein at least one member of the second set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control signals monitored by the mobile unit are pilot signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control messages communicated to the mobile unit includes a paging message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control message communicated to the mobile unit includes a forward common control channel message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control message communicated to the mobile unit includes a paging message and a forward common control channel message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further including: designating time intervals during which a paging message may be sent to the mobile unit; and wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations involves communicating a paging message during a designated time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 further including: designating time intervals during which a paging message may be sent to the mobile unit and designating time intervals during which a forward common control channel message may be sent to the mobile unit; and wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations involves communicating a paging message during a designated time interval and communicating a forward common control channel message during a designated time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 further including: the mobile unit and at least one base station separately designating the same time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit; and wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations involves communicating a paging message during a designated time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further including: the mobile unit and at least one base station separately designating the same time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit based at least in part upon identity of the mobile unit; and wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations involves communicating a paging message during a designated time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 1 further including: sending a mobile unit identification message from the mobile unit to at least one base station in the set that identifies the mobile unit to the at least one base station; designating time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit based at least in part upon identity of the mobile unit; wherein designating time intervals involves the mobile unit and at least one base station separately arriving at the same time intervals based at least in part upon identity of the mobile unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 1 further including: entering a sleep mode by the mobile unit when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel and temporarily awakening from the sleep mode by the mobile unit from time to time when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff occurs while the mobile unit is temporarily awake when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 1 further including: designating time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit; entering a sleep mode by the mobile unit when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel and temporarily awakening from the sleep mode by the mobile unit during a designated time interval; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff occurs while the mobile unit is temporarily awake during a designated time interval when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further including: designating time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations occurs during a designated time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message includes a quick page message and a corresponding forward common control channel message; and further including: designating time intervals during which a quick page message and a corresponding forward common control channel message may be sent to the mobile unit; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations may occurs during the time intervals designated for quick page messages and corresponding forward common control channel messages.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of control signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit an Active Set of base stations based upon power levels of the received control signals; sending messages from the mobile unit to at least one base station that identify the Active Set; sending a handoff permission message from at least one base station to the mobile unit that specifies a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit control signals to the mobile unit in soft handoff; and communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations that are members of both the Active Set and the set of permitted base stations; wherein at least one member of the permitted set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of control signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit an Active Set of base stations based upon power levels of the received control signals; sending messages from the mobile unit to at least one base station that identify the Active Set; sending a handoff permission message from at least one base station to the mobile unit that specifies a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit control signals to the mobile unit in soft handoff; and communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations that are members of both the Active Set and the set of permitted base stations; wherein at least one member of the permitted set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15 further including: designating time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations occurs during a designated time interval.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 15 further including: identifying by the mobile unit an Candidate Set of base stations based upon power levels of the received control signals; and sending messages from the mobile unit to at least one base station that identify the Candidate Set; wherein membership of the mobile unit Active Set and the Candidate Set may change between a time when the mobile unit sends a message that identifies the active Set or the Candidate Set and the time when a control message is communicated in soft handoff.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 15 further including: designating time intervals during which a control message may be sent to the mobile unit; entering a sleep mode by the mobile unit when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel and temporarily awakening from the sleep mode by the mobile unit during a designated time interval; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff occurs while the mobile unit is temporarily awake during a designated time interval when the mobile unit does not have an assigned traffic channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the control message includes a quick page message and a corresponding forward common control channel message; and further including: designating time intervals during which a quick page message and a corresponding forward common control channel message may be sent to the mobile unit; wherein communicating a control message to the mobile unit in soft handoff from multiple base stations may occur during the time intervals designated for quick page messages and corresponding forward common control channel messages.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of pilot signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit a first set of base stations based for which the received pilot signal power level exceeds a prescribed level; sending a message from the mobile unit to at least one base station in the set that identifies the base stations in the identified first set; sending a handoff permission message from at least one base station to the mobile unit that specifies a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit page signals and a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit forward common control channel messages to the mobile unit in soft handoff; designating time intervals during which a page signal and a corresponding forward common control channel message may be sent to the mobile unit; communicating a page signal to the mobile unit from single base station during a designated time interval or from multiple base stations in soft handoff during such designated time interval depending upon overlap of the constituents of the first set and the permitted sets; and communicating a corresponding forward common control message from a single base station during a designated time interval or from multiple base stations in soft handoff during such designated time interval depending upon overlap of the of the first set and the permitted sets; wherein at least one member of the permitted set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of transmission of control information between a mobile unit and a base station in spread spectrum communications system: monitoring by a mobile unit the power level of pilot signals received from multiple base stations; identifying by the mobile unit a first set of base stations based for which the received pilot signal power level exceeds a prescribed level; sending a message from the mobile unit to at least one base station in the set that identifies the base stations in the identified first set; sending a handoff permission message from at least one base station to the mobile unit that specifies a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit page signals and a set of base stations that are permitted to transmit forward common control channel messages to the mobile unit in soft handoff; designating time intervals during which a page signal and a corresponding forward common control channel message may be sent to the mobile unit; communicating a page signal to the mobile unit from single base station during a designated time interval or from multiple base stations in soft handoff during such designated time interval depending upon overlap of the constituents of the first set and the permitted sets; and communicating a corresponding forward common control message from a single base station during a designated time interval or from multiple base stations in soft handoff during such designated time interval depending upon overlap of the of the first set and the permitted sets; wherein at least one member of the permitted set of base stations is determined based on independent soft handoff information other than the information provided by the mobile unit relating to the power level of control signals.
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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) | 2004-04-09 | 2004-10-09 | 2005-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-09 | 2008-10-09 | 2009-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-09 | 2012-10-09 | 2013-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |