Methods and apparatus of improving inter-sector and/or inter-cell handoffs in a multi-carrier wireless communications system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a first base station transmitter, the method comprising:
- i) operating the first base station transmitter to transmit into a first frequency band during a first period of time during which said first base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band;
ii) operating the first base station transmitter to transmit into a second frequency band during a second period of time which is shorter than said first period of time, said first base station transmitting into said second frequency band for a period of time which is less than 1/N the period of time it transmits into said first frequency band, where N is a positive value greater than 2; and
iii) repeating steps i and ii.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of operating a first base station transmitter, the method comprising:
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i) operating the first base station transmitter to transmit into a first frequency band during a first period of time during which said first base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band;
ii) operating the first base station transmitter to transmit into a second frequency band during a second period of time which is shorter than said first period of time, said first base station transmitting into said second frequency band for a period of time which is less than 1/N the period of time it transmits into said first frequency band, where N is a positive value greater than 2; and
iii) repeating steps i and ii. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A communications system, comprising:
a first base station, said first base station including;
a first transmitter for transmitting signals into first and second frequency bands; and
first transmitter control means for controlling said first transmitter to;
i) transmit into a first frequency band during a first period of time during which said first base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band;
ii) transmit into a second frequency band during a second period of time, said second period of time being at least less than one fifth said first period of time; and
iii) repeat the sequence of steps i and ii at periodic intervals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
Specification