US6421328B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Neighborhood list assimilation for cell-based microsystem
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
•
Filing: 1998-05-28
•
Granted: 2002-07-16
•
Expires: 2018-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for assembling a microsystem neighbor list that defines control channel usage within a common operational band used by the microsystem, the overlying macrosystem and any computer microsystems. Such a method can be implemented by a frequency planning controller within the microsystem, the microsystem itself or, in the case of the computer-controlled microsystem, in a computer program product defining such method. Assembly of the microsystem neighbor list includes defining preferred and non-preferred members, wherein the preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list include at least one control channel identified within the common operational band which determined to be available for use by the microsystem. The non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list will include control channels being used by adjacent macrocells of the overlying microsystem, or any competing microsystems. The assembled microsystem neighbor list may be broadcast throughout the service area of the microsystem in order to apprise all registered mobiles of active/backup control channel information (thereby improving control channel allocation flexibility control channel recovery operations), as well as control channel information for the competing Microsystems or adjacent macrocells (to improve switchover to such systems when requested by a mobile operator). Other disclosed aspects include ongoing maintenance through verification of preferred and non-preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Larribeau
- 👤 Luong Duy Duong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W16/00; H04W16/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for assembling a microsystem neighbor list for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, comprising the steps of: acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; designating the available control channel as a preferred member of the microsystem neighbor list and designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and broadcasting the microsystem neighbor list within the microsystem via the available control channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for assembling a microsystem neighbor list for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, comprising the steps of: acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; designating the available control channel as a preferred member of the microsystem neighbor list and designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and broadcasting the microsystem neighbor list within the microsystem via the available control channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the macrosystem neighbor list comprises a macrocell neighbor list issued by a macrocell of the macrosystem, the macrocell being geographically proximate the microsystem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the microsystem resides at least partly within a service area of the macrocell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining step comprises the steps of: scanning a first set of candidate channels within the operational band of the overlying macrosystem; measuring a signal characteristic for each scanned candidate channel; comparing the measured signal characteristics to obtain a second set of candidate channels whose measured signal characteristics do not exceed a tolerance threshold; and selecting the available control channel from the second set of scanned candidate channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the signal characteristic is a perceived RSSI measurement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first set of candidate channels comprises any frequency pair defined by the operational band of the overlying macrosystem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first set of candidate channels is selected from a plurality of control channels defined within the operational band of the overlying macrosystem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said designating step comprises designating each of the second set of candidate channels as preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining step comprises selecting an available control channel from a set of candidate channels specified by the acquired macrosystem neighbor list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the microsystem is a PSP-POF compatible microsystem; and wherein said broadcasting step comprises the steps of: converting the microsystem neighbor list into a PSP-POF table, all preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list being converted into PSP entries of the PSP-POF table, all non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list being converted into POF entries of the PSP-POF table; and broadcasting the PSP-POF table to at least one mobile registered on the microsystem via an active one of the preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the microsystem is an IS-136 compliant cellular microsystem.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the microsystem neighbor list comprises plural preferred members; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: designating a first one of the preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list as an active control channel for the microsystem; measuring a signal characteristic of the active control channel; determining whether the measured signal characteristic exceeds a predefined error threshold indicating a likelihood of co-channel interference; and designating another one of the preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list as the active control channel when it is determined that the measured signal characteristic exceeds the error threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of removing the first one of the preferred members from the microsystem neighbor list when it is determined that the measured signal characteristic exceeds the error threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: determining another available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem; and designating the another available control channel as a preferred member of the microsystem neighbor list.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of verifying all non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A frequency planning controller for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, comprising: means for acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; means for determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; means for designating the available control channel as a preferred member of a microsystem neighbor list; means for designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and means for uploading the microsystem neighbor list to the microsystem.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
A frequency planning controller for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, comprising: means for acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; means for determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; means for designating the available control channel as a preferred member of a microsystem neighbor list; means for designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and means for uploading the microsystem neighbor list to the microsystem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A microsystem, comprising: the frequency planning controller of claim 16 ; and a base station responsive to said frequency planning controller uploading means for broadcasting the uploaded microsystem neighbor list within a service area of the microsystem.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying computer-readable program code executable by a computer to perform method steps for assembling a microsystem neighbor list for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, said method steps comprising: acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; designating the available control channel as a preferred member of the microsystem neighbor list and designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and directing the microsystem to broadcast the microsystem neighbor list.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying computer-readable program code executable by a computer to perform method steps for assembling a microsystem neighbor list for a cell-based microsystem operating within an overlying macrosystem, said method steps comprising: acquiring a macrosystem neighbor list for the overlying macrosystem; determining an available control channel within an operational band of the overlying macrosystem for use by the microsystem; designating the available control channel as a preferred member of the microsystem neighbor list and designating all preferred members of the macrosystem neighbor list as non-preferred members of the microsystem neighbor list; and directing the microsystem to broadcast the microsystem neighbor list.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4771448A
Cited
US5537610A
Cited
US5717688A
Cited
US5499386A
Cited
US5673307A
Cited
WO1996031075A1
Cited
US5761623A
Cited
US5828661A
Cited
US6108322A
Cited
US5946621A
Cited
US5982758A
Cited
US5953661A
Cited
US5987332A
Cited
US5960347A
Cited
US5999522A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-15 | 2006-01-14 | 2006-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-15 | 2010-01-14 | 2010-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-15 | 2014-01-14 | 2014-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |