Methods and apparatus for selecting a base station transceiver system based on service communication type

• US 20050090277A1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hossain, Asif, Islam, M. Khaledul
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/525
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for selecting a base station transceiver system for communication with a Third Generation (3G) (or better) mobile station are described. In one illustrative example, one or more base station transceiver systems are identified for communication with the mobile station through a scanning process. A first base station transceiver system is identified as providing a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better, whereas a second base station transceiver system is identified as failing to provide the 3G or better communication service (e.g. it may provide a Second Generation (2G) communication service). The first system is selected for communication over the second system based at least in part on identifying that the second system fails to provide the 3G or better communication service. For example, the first system may be chosen over the second system if the first system has a signal quality that is better than a minimum threshold, even if its signal quality is worse than that of the second system. Advantageously, even if an available 2G system has a better signal quality, preference for an adequate 3G or better system is given to ensure that a preferred data service is made available to the mobile station.

Claims

1. In a mobile station, a method of selecting a base station transceiver system for communication with the mobile station comprising:

scanning to identify one or more base station transceiver systems for communication with a mobile station;

identifying, at the mobile station, that a first base station transceiver system provides a predetermined communication service;

identifying, at the mobile station, that a second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service; and

causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication over the second base station transceiver system based at least in part on identifying that the second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication further comprises:

causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication over the second base station transceiver system if the first base station transceiver system has a signal quality that is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at least in part by a mobile station and further comprises:

initially establishing communication with the second base station transceiver system; and

wherein the act of causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication comprises the further act of facilitating a handoff to the first base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at least in part by a mobile station and further comprises:

initially establishing communication with the first base station transceiver system which provides the predetermined communication service; and

wherein the act of causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication comprises the further act of refraining from handing-off to the second base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at least in part by a mobile station, and further comprises:

wherein the act of causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication comprises the further acts of producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for the second base station transceiver system.

7. A method of selecting a base station transceiver system for communication, comprising:

scanning to identify one or more base station transceiver systems for communication with a mobile station;

identifying, at the mobile station, at least one base station transceiver system that fails to provide a predetermined digital communication service; and

producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for at least one base station transceiver system based on its failure to provide the predetermined digital communication service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Second Generation (2G) communication service.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is sent as part of one of an origination message, a page response message, and a pilot strength measurement message.

11. A mobile station, comprising:

a controller;

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry coupled to the controller;

the RF transceiver circuitry including a receiver and a transmitter;

the mobile station using the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry to select a base station transceiver system for communication by;

scanning to identify one or more base station transceiver systems for communication;

identifying that a first base station transceiver system provides a predetermined communication service;

identifying that a second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service; and

causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication over the second base station transceiver system based at least in part on identifying that the second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service.

12. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the predetermined communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

13. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for selecting the first base station transceiver system for communication over the second base station transceiver system if the first base station transceiver system has a signal quality that is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

14. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

initially establishing communication with the second base station transceiver system; and

facilitating a handoff to the first base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

15. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

initially establishing communication with the first base station transceiver system which provides the predetermined communication service; and

refraining from handing-off to the second base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

16. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for the second base station transceiver system, for causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication.

17. The mobile station of claim 11, which is compatible with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems.

18. A mobile station, comprising:

a controller;

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry coupled to the controller;

the RF transceiver circuitry including a receiver and a transmitter;

the mobile station using the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry to select a base station transceiver system for communication by;

scanning to identify one or more base station transceiver systems for communication;

identifying at least one base station transceiver system that fails to provide a predetermined digital communication service; and

producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for the at least one base station transceiver system based on its failure to provide the predetermined digital communication service.

19. The mobile station of claim 18, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

20. The mobile station of claim 18, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Second Generation (2G) communication service.

21. The mobile station of claim 18, wherein the list is sent as part of one of an origination message, a page response message, and a pilot strength measurement message.

22. The mobile station of claim 18, which is compatible with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems.

23. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a first wireless network associated with a first base station transceiver system;

a second wireless network associated with a second base station transceiver system;

a mobile station including;

a controller;

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry coupled to the controller;

the RF transceiver circuitry including a receiver and a transmitter;

the mobile station using the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry to select a base station transceiver system for communication by;

scanning to identify one or more base station transceiver systems for communication;

identifying that the first base station transceiver system provides a predetermined communication service;

identifying that the second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service; and

causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication over the second base station transceiver system based at least in part on identifying that the second base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for selecting the first base station transceiver system for communication over the second base station transceiver system if the first base station transceiver system has a signal quality that is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

initially establishing communication with the second base station transceiver system; and

facilitating a handoff to the first base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

initially establishing communication with the first base station transceiver system which provides the predetermined communication service; and

refraining from handing-off to the second base station transceiver system if a signal quality of the first base station transceiver system is better than a minimum threshold, even if the signal quality is worse than that of the second base station transceiver system.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station uses the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry further for:

producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for the second base station transceiver system, for causing the first base station transceiver system to be selected for communication.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 23, which is compatible with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

30. A wireless communication system, comprising:

one or more base station transceiver systems associated with one or more wireless communication networks;

a mobile station including;

a controller;

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry coupled to the controller;

the RF transceiver circuitry including a receiver and a transmitter;

the mobile station using the controller and the RF transceiver circuitry to select a base station transceiver system for communication by;

scanning to identify the one or more base station transceiver systems for communication;

identifying at least one base station transceiver system that fails to provide a predetermined digital communication service; and

producing and sending a list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to a serving base station transceiver system which excludes an identifier for the at least one base station transceiver system based on its failure to provide the predetermined digital communication service.

31. The wireless communication system of claim 30, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Third Generation (3G) communication service or better.

32. The wireless communication system of claim 30, wherein the predetermined digital communication service comprises a Second Generation (2G) communication service.

33. The wireless communication system of claim 30, wherein the list is sent as part of one of an origination message, a page response message, and a pilot strength measurement message.

34. The wireless communication system of claim 30, which is compatible with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

35. The wireless communication system of claim 30, wherein the serving base station transceiver system utilizes the list of one or more handoff candidate identifiers to select one of the base station transceiver systems for communication with the mobile station.