Method and system for facilitating inter-system handover

• US 20050107085A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Fatih
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/439
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for facilitating inter-system handover by a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The WTRU is capable of communicating in multiple wireless communication systems using different wireless communication protocols. A first wireless communication system provides a hot spot within the coverage area of a second wireless communication system. A base station in a cell in the second wireless communication system generates and transmits a message to inform the WTRU of the existence of the hot spot located in the vicinity of the cell. The WTRU receives the message and is therefore informed of the existence of the hot spot in the vicinity of the cell.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating inter-system handover by a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which is capable of communicating in two wireless communication systems using different wireless communication protocols, and one wireless communication system provides a hot spot within the coverage area of the other wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a message by a base station in a cell to inform a WTRU of the existence of a hot spot located in the vicinity of the cell;

transmitting the message from the base station to the WTRU; and

receiving the message at the WTRU and recognizing the existence of the hot spot in the vicinity of the cell.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

performing physical measurements on messages transmitted from the hot spot;

determining whether the measurement results satisfy a predetermined criteria; and

establishing a connection to the hot spot if the predetermined criteria are satisfied,

the performing, determining, and establishing steps being performed at the WTRU.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the message via a broadcast channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the message via a dedicated channel dedicated to the WTRU.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the message to a subset of WTRUs located in the cell.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is included in a neighbor cell list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one of a location, identity, frequency band, and security level of the hot spot.

8. A system for facilitating inter-system handover between two wireless communication systems using two different wireless communication protocols, the system comprising:

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to communicate with both a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system;

the first wireless communication system providing a hot spot in a coverage area of the second wireless communication system; and

the second wireless communication system comprising a plurality of cells, a base station of each of the plurality of cells comprising a means for generating and transmitting a message to inform the WTRU of the existence of the hot spot located in the vicinity of the cell.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the WTRU further comprises a means for performing a measurement on messages transmitted from the hot spot, whereby the WTRU establishes a connection to the hot spot if the measurement satisfies predefined criteria.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted via a broadcast channel.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted via a dedicated channel dedicated to the WTRU.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted to a subset of WTRUs located in the cell.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is included in a neighbor cell list.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the message includes at least one of a location, identity, frequency band, and security level of the hot spot.