Method for enhanced handover detection for mobile networks, a mobile terminal, an access point and program modules therefor

• US 20060088005A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Fiat, Lionel
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for determining the appropriate moment for carrying out a handover of a connection of a mobile terminal in a mobile network whereby if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from an access point to the mobile terminal, probe data are sent from the access point to said mobile terminal and/or if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from said mobile terminal to said access point, probe data are sent from the mobile terminal to said access point, a mobile terminal, an access point and program modules therefor.

Claims

1. A method for determining the appropriate moment for carrying out a handover of a connection of a mobile terminal in a mobile network from an access point to another access point wherein if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from the access point to the mobile terminal, probe data are sent from said access point to said mobile terminal and/or if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from said mobile terminal to said access point, probe data are sent from said mobile terminal to said access point.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sending of probe data from said access point to said mobile terminal is initiated through sending said probe data from another mobile terminal to said access point.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said access point determines the certain time interval taking into account the traffic classes of the user related data that are exchanged between said access point and said mobile terminal.

4. A mobile terminal for communicating within a mobile network comprising access points wherein the mobile terminal comprises means for sending probe data to an access point if no user related data or no probe data have been sent from the mobile terminal to the access point for a certain time interval.

5. A program module to be executed in a mobile terminal for communicating within a mobile network comprising access points wherein if the program module is activated, probe data are sent from the mobile terminal to an access point if no user related data or no probe data have been sent from the mobile terminal to the access point for a certain time interval.

6. An access point for communicating within a mobile network comprising at least one mobile terminal wherein the access point comprises means for sending probe data to a mobile terminal if no user related data or no probe data have been sent from said access point to the mobile terminal for a certain time interval.

7. A program module to be executed in an access point for communicating within a mobile network comprising at least one mobile terminal wherein if the program module is activated, probe data are sent from the access point to a mobile terminal if no user related data or no probe data have been sent from said access point to the mobile terminal for a certain time interval.