Network cell transitions for VoLTE devices at call initiation

• US 10,009,819 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Khay-Ibbat, Samy, Tabet, Tarik
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Parth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Kai
• Application Number:
  US14/066,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0221 power availability or consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of performing a network cell transition for a voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) capable mobile device. Initially, the mobile device can detect a call initiation event. Thereafter, the mobile device determines whether a radio signal power associated with its serving LTE network base station is less than a radio access technology (RAT) specific threshold (i.e., an LTE-specific threshold). In a scenario where the radio signal power is less than the RAT-specific threshold the mobile device can effectuate a transition to an available neighbor network base station employing a legacy RAT, prior to establishing a voice call. When the mobile device is in a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode the network cell transition may be associated with an induced network handover procedure. Alternatively, when the mobile device is in an RRC idle mode the network cell transition may be associated with network reselection procedure.

Claims

1. A method of causing a network cell transition for a mobile device at call initiation, the method comprising:

by the mobile device, while connected to a serving base station of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network that supports voice over LTE (VoLTE) communication;

determining a radio signal power metric for the serving base station and at least one neighbor base station;

detecting a call initiation event for a VoLTE call;

in response to detecting the call initiation event, evaluating the radio signal power metric for the serving base station by comparing the radio signal power metric for the serving base station to an LTE radio access technology (RAT) specific threshold, wherein the LTE RAT specific threshold is greater than a RAT generic threshold associated with measurement reporting events and applicable to multiple RATs;

when the radio signal power metric for the serving base station satisfies the LTE specific threshold, establishing the VoLTE call via the serving base station; and

when the radio signal power metric for the serving base station does not satisfy the LTE RAT specific threshold and satisfies the RAT generic threshold;

transitioning the mobile device from the serving base station to a neighbor base station of a non-LTE legacy network; and

establishing a voice call associated with the call initiation event via the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a multi-mode communication device that is capable of VoLTE communication with the serving base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network handover procedure when the mobile device is in an LTE radio resource control (RRC) connected mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network handover procedure comprises:

generating an exaggerated measurement report comprising a deflated radio signal power metric value associated with the serving base station that is lower than measured or an inflated radio signal power metric value associated with the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network that is higher than measured; and

transmitting the exaggerated measurement report to the serving base station to trigger a handover of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network prior to establishing the voice call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network reselection procedure when the mobile device is in an LTE RRC idle mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the LTE RAT specific threshold is a network cell transition threshold that is stored at the mobile device, and wherein the RAT generic threshold is a RAT generic network handover threshold.

7. A wireless communication device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) circuit;

one or more processors communicatively coupled to the RF circuit; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless communication device, while connected to a serving base station of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network that supports voice over LTE (VoLTE) communication, to;

detect a call initiation event for a VoLTE call;

measure a reference signal received power (RSRP) received from a serving base station of the LTE network;

compare the measured RSRP received from the serving base station to an LTE radio access technology (RAT) specific threshold, wherein the LTE RAT specific threshold is greater than a RAT generic threshold associated with measurement reporting events and applicable to multiple RATs;

establish the VoLTE call via the serving base station, when the RSRP equals or exceeds the LTE RAT specific threshold; and

when the RSRP received from the serving base station is less than the LTE RAT specific threshold and exceeds a RAT generic threshold;

transition from the serving base station to a neighbor base station of a non-LTE legacy network; and

establish a voice call associated with the call initiation event via the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication device is a multi-mode communication device that is capable of VoLTE communication and circuit-switched voice communication.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the transition from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network handover procedure when the wireless communication device is in an LTE radio resource control (RRC) connected mode.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the network handover procedure comprises the wireless communication device:

generating an exaggerated measurement report including a deflated RSRP associated with the serving base station that is lower than measured or an inflated RSRP associated with the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network that is higher than measured; and

transmit the exaggerated measurement report to the serving base station to trigger a handover from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network prior to establishing the voice call.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the transition from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network reselection procedure when the wireless communication device is in an LTE RRC idle mode.

12. An apparatus configurable for operation in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processors cause the mobile device, while connected to a serving base station of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network that supports voice over LTE (VoLTE) communication, to perform a method comprising;

determining a radio signal power metric for the serving base station and at least one neighbor base station;

detecting a call initiation event for a VoLTE call;

in response to detecting the call initiation event, evaluating the radio signal power metric for the serving base station by comparing the radio signal power metric for the serving base station to an LTE radio access technology (RAT) specific threshold, wherein the LTE RAT specific threshold is greater than a RAT generic threshold associated with measurement reporting events and applicable to multiple RATs;

when the radio signal power metric for the serving base station satisfies an LTE radio access technology (RAT) specific threshold, establishing the VoLTE call via the serving base station; and

when the radio signal power metric for the serving base station does not satisfy the LTE RAT specific threshold and satisfies the RAT generic threshold;

transitioning the mobile device from the serving base station to a neighbor base station of a non-LTE legacy network; and

establishing a voice call associated with the call initiation event via the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transitioning of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network handover procedure when the mobile device is in an LTE radio resource control (RRC) connected mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the network handover procedure comprises:

generating an exaggerated measurement report comprising a deflated radio signal power metric value associated with the serving base station that is lower than measured or an inflated radio signal power metric value associated with the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network that is higher than measured; and

transmitting the exaggerated measurement report to the serving base station to trigger a handover of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network prior to establishing the voice call.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transitioning of the mobile device from the serving base station to the neighbor base station of the non-LTE legacy network occurs via a network reselection procedure when the mobile device is in an LTE RRC idle mode.