Method and system for delivery of assistance data

• US 20050053043A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dick, Stephen G., Rahman, Shamim Akbar, Hunkeler, Teresa Joanne, Rudolf, Marian
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/337
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for providing assistance data to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs). The assistance data includes information regarding the access point'"'"'s neighboring access points. The assistance data is transmitted to WTRUs using multicast and/or broadcast type signaling and facilitates ring and handover of WTRUs from one access point to another.

Claims

1. An access point for providing assistance data to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the access point comprising:

means for obtaining assistance data from at least one neighboring access point whose respective coverage area is adjacent to the coverage area of said access point;

wherein said assistance data includes information for facilitating handover of a WTRU from said access point to said neighboring access point from which the assistance data has been obtained; and

means for said access point to transmit said assistance data as a single message to a plurality of WTRUs operating within the coverage area of said access point.

2. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is obtained by operation and maintenance (OAM).

3. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is obtained by signaling between said access point and said neighboring access point.

4. The access point of claim 3 wherein the signaling is proprietary.

5. The access point of claim 3 wherein the signaling is performed using inter-access point protocol (IAPP).

6. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is obtained by scanning channels other than the one utilized by said access point.

7. The access point of claim 6 wherein the scanning is passive scanning.

8. The access point of claim 6 wherein the scanning is active scanning.

9. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is obtained by obtaining measurements for WTRUs operating with the coverage area of said access point.

10. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data includes operational frequency of neighboring WTRUs and access points for which the assistance data is obtained.

11. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data includes access modes used by a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

12. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data includes timing information for a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

13. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data includes configuration information for a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

14. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is transmitted at a predetermined multiple of a time period with which a beacon is being transmitted by said access point.

15. The access point of claim 14 wherein the assistance data is transmitted separately from the beacon.

16. The access point of claim 14 wherein the assistance data is transmitted together with the beacon.

17. The access point of claim 16 wherein the assistance data is added in the form of an information element (IE) to the beacon where said assistance data and beacon are transmitted together.

18. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is used for facilitating ring of the WTRU.

19. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is transmitted as a broadcast message.

20. The access point of claim 1 wherein the assistance data is transmitted as a multicast message.

21. An access point for providing assistance data to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the access point comprising:

an at least one processor configured to obtain assistance data from at least one neighboring access point whose respective coverage area is adjacent to the coverage area of said access point;

wherein said assistance data includes information for facilitating handover of a WTRU from said access point to said neighboring access point from which the assistance data has been obtained; and

wherein said processor is further configured to transmit said assistance data as a single message to a plurality of WTRUs operating within the coverage area of said access point.

22. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is obtained by operation and maintenance (OAM).

23. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is obtained by signaling between said access point and said neighboring access point.

24. The access point of claim 23 wherein the signaling is proprietary.

25. The access point of claim 23 wherein the signaling is performed using inter-access point protocol (IAPP).

26. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is obtained by scanning channels other than the one utilized by said access point.

27. The access point of claim 26 wherein the scanning is passive scanning.

28. The access point of claim 26 wherein the scanning is active scanning.

29. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is obtained by obtaining measurements for WTRUs operating with the coverage area of said access point.

30. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data includes operational frequency of neighboring WTRUs and access points for which the assistance data is obtained.

31. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data includes access modes used by a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

32. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data includes timing information for a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

33. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data includes configuration information for a neighboring access point for which the assistance data is obtained.

34. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is transmitted at a predetermined multiple of a time period with which a beacon is being transmitted by said access point.

35. The access point of claim 34 wherein the assistance data is transmitted separately from the beacon.

36. The access point of claim 34 wherein the assistance data is transmitted together with the beacon.

37. The access point of claim 36 wherein the assistance data is added in the form of an information element (IE) to the beacon where said assistance data and beacon are transmitted together.

38. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is used for facilitating ring of the WTRU.

39. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is transmitted as a broadcast message.

40. The access point of claim 21 wherein the assistance data is transmitted as a multicast message.

41. A method for providing assistance data to WTRUs in wireless networks, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining assistance data at an access point, said assistance data being related to neighboring access points having wireless coverage areas that are adjacent to a wireless coverage area of said access point; and

transmitting said assistance data as a single message from said access point to a plurality of WTRUs operating within the wireless coverage area provided by said access point.

42. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least one system controller;

a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) operating within a coverage area of an at least one first access point;

at least one neighboring access point whose coverage area is adjacent to the coverage area of the first access point;

wherein the first access point is configured to obtain assistance data related to the neighboring access point to facilitate handover of the WTRU from the first access point to the neighboring access point; and

wherein the first access point is further configured to transmit said assistance data as a single message to the plurality of WTRUs.