System, devices and methods using an indication of complementary access availability in measurement reports sent by mobile terminals

• US 20060121935A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Dalsgaard, Lars, Yeo, Whui Mei, Talvia, Samuli
• Application Number:
  US11/291,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0069 Cell search, i.e. determining cell identity [cell-ID] design of multiplexing codes H04J13/00; processing access restriction or access information H04W48/16; discovery of network devices for network data management H04W8/005; sounding signals for channel estimation H04L25/0226; structure of reference signals in multicarrier modulation systems H04L27/2613; frame, time or carrier synchronisation in multicarrier modulation systems H04L27/2655
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• 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

Interconnected first and second radio access technology (RAT) systems simultaneously communicate with mobile terminals each capable of operating in both the first and second RAT systems. A given mobile terminal is capable of detecting it is within range of an access point of the second RAT while the terminal is in communication with an access point of the first RAT. It exchanges registration signals (412, 414) with the access point of the second RAT and only then does it provide an identification signal (430) indicative of registration therein to the access point of the first RAT. There it is used in determining whether to handover the terminal to the second RAT. Using this approach, there is no need for a complex measurement reporting system and, as another benefit, mobile terminals without dual-RAT capabilities are relieved of unnecessary radio measurements.

Claims

1. Method for use in a mobile communications terminal (10) capable of operating in both a first radio access technology system and in a second radio access technology system, comprising:

receiving a signal (19) from a first access point of said second radio access system while said terminal is in radio communication with a second access point of said first radio access technology system, for exchanging registration signals (412, 414) between said terminal and said second access point prior to reporting any radio measurements of said second access point to said first access point and for subsequently providing an identification signal (430) identifying said second access point to said first access point of said first radio access technology system for use in determining whether to handover said terminal to said second access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identification signal identifies said second access point by means of an index.

18. Integrated circuit comprising means for carrying out the steps of claim 1 in said mobile communications terminal.

21. Computer program comprising coded instructions for at least temporary storage on a computer readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 1 in said mobile communications terminal.

3. Mobile communications terminal (10) capable of operating in both a first radio access technology system and in a second radio access technology system, comprising:

a signal processor (402), responsive to a signal indicative of said terminal entering within range of a second access point of said second radio access technology system while said terminal is in communication with a first access point of said first radio access technology system, for exchanging registration signals (412, 414) between said terminal and said second access point prior to reporting any radio measurements of said second access point to said first access point and for subsequently providing to said first access point an identification signal (430) indicative of identification information of said second access point after registration of said terminal at said second access point is completed said identification information for use in determining whether to handover said terminal to said second access point.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein said identification signal identifies said second access point by means of an index.

5. Method for use in a first access point of a first radio access technology system while in radio communication with a mobile communications terminal (10) capable of operating in both said first radio access technology system and in a second radio access technology system at a same time, comprising:

receiving an initial measurement report with an identification of a second access point of said second radio access technology in a signal from said terminal indicative of a measurement and identification information of said second access point of said second radio access technology system with which said terminal has registered,

receiving other measurement reports from said terminal only after receipt of said initial measurement report,

deciding whether to handover said terminal from said first access point of said first radio access technology system to said second access point of said second radio access technology system based at least in part on said measurement report or reports, and

communicating a handover command to said terminal in case a decision is made to handover to said second access point of said second radio access technology system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said identification signal identifies said second access point of said second radio access technology system by means of an index.

19. Integrated circuit comprising means for carrying out the steps of claim 5 in said first access point.

22. Computer program comprising coded instructions for at least temporary storage on a computer readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 5 in said first access point.

7. Radio access point of a first radio access technology system communicating with a mobile communication terminal capable of operating in both said first radio access technology system and in a second radio access technology system, comprising:

means for receiving an initial measurement report with an identification of an access point of said second radio access technology system in a signal from said terminal indicative of a measurement and identification information of said access point of said second radio access technology system with which said terminal has registered;

means for receiving other measurement reports from said terminal only after receipt of said initial measurement report;

means for deciding whether to handover said terminal from said first radio access technology system to said second radio access technology system based at least in part on said measurement report or reports; and

means for communicating a handover command to said terminal in case a decision is made to handover said terminal to said second radio access technology system.

8. The radio access point of claim 7, wherein said identification signal identifies said access point of said second radio access technology system by means of an index.

9. A system comprising a first radio access technology system and a second radio access technology system interconnected by a circuit switched or packet switched network, or both, for simultaneously communicating with a mobile terminal capable of operating in both said first radio access technology system and in said second radio access technology system, wherein said mobile terminal comprising:

a signal processor (402), responsive to a signal indicative of said terminal entering within range of an access point of said second radio access technology system while said terminal is in communication with an access point of said first radio access technology system, for exchanging registration signals (412, 414) between said terminal and said access point of said second radio access technology system and for providing to said access point of said first radio access technology system an identification signal (430) indicative of identification information of said access point of said second radio access technology system after registration is completed to said access point of said second radio access technology system, said identification information for use by said first radio access technology system in determining whether to handover said terminal to said second radio access technology system; and

wherein an access point of said first radio access technology system comprises;

means for receiving an identification signal from said terminal indicative of identification information of an access point of said second radio access technology system with which said terminal has registered;

means for deciding whether to handover said terminal from said first radio access technology system to said second radio access technology system; and

means for communicating a handover command to said terminal in case a decision is made to handover said terminal to said second radio access technology system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said identification signal identifies said access point of said second radio access technology system by means of indexing.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said first radio access technology system is also for communicating with a mobile terminal only capable of operating in said first radio access technology system wherein a broadcast channel used by said first radio access technology system to distribute common information to mobile terminals on a regular basis includes a neighbor list to inform the mobile terminals about surrounding cells, and wherein said neighbor list includes an indexed list of frequencies without any dummy carrier listed for any measurement by any mobile terminal including said mobile terminal only capable of operating in said first radio access technology system.

12. Method for use in a communications system comprising both a first access point of a first radio access technology system and a second access point of a second radio access technology system, said method for reducing power consumed in a mobile terminal of said communications system accessing said first access point, said method comprising:

conducting radio measurements concerning said second access point if said mobile terminal is equipped with radio access technology according to said second radio access technology system,

reporting said radio measurements to said first access point only if said mobile terminal decides to report said radio measurements to said first access point, wherein

said radio measurements are for use in said first access point or in said first radio access technology system in determining whether to handover said mobile terminal to said second access point of second radio access technology system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said mobile terminal decides to report said measurement to said first access point if it becomes registered in said second radio access technology system via said second access point.

14. Apparatus for use in a communications system comprising both a first access point of a first radio access technology system and a second access point of a second radio access technology system, said system having reduced power consumption in a mobile terminal of said communications system accessing said first access point and reporting radio measurements of neighboring cells to said first access point, said apparatus comprising:

measurement means for conducting said radio measurements concerning said second access point of said mobile terminal is equipped with radio access technology according to said second radio access technology system; and

reporting means having said reduced power consumption by reporting said radio measurements to said first access point only if said mobile terminal decides to report said radio measurements to said first access point, wherein said radio measurements are for use in said first access point or in said first radio access technology system in determining whether to handover said mobile terminal to said second access point of said second radio access technology system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for deciding to report said measurement to said first access point of said mobile terminal becomes registered in said second radio access technology system via said second access point.

16. Method for use in an unlicensed mobile radio access point, comprising:

receiving a register request message by radio from a mobile terminal,

processing said register request message, and

sending a register accept message by radio to said mobile terminal including an information element having an indexed identification of said unlicensed mobile access point so as to facilitate identification of said unlicensed mobile access point by a licensed mobile access point via said mobile terminal for use in evaluating a possible handover from said licensed access point to said unlicensed mobile access point.

20. Integrated circuit comprising means for carrying out the steps of claim 16 in said unlicensed mobile radio access point.

23. Computer program comprising coded instructions for at least temporary storage on a computer readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 16 in said unlicensed mobile radio access point.

17. Unlicensed mobile radio access point, comprising:

means for receiving a register request message by radio from a mobile terminal;

means for processing said register request message; and

means for sending a register accept message by radio to said mobile terminal including an information element having an indexed identification of said unlicensed mobile access point so as to facilitate identification of said unlicensed mobile access point by a licensed mobile access point via said mobile terminal for use in evaluating a possible handover from said licensed access point to said unlicensed access point.

24. Data structure for at least temporary storage in an unlicensed mobile radio access point and in a mobile terminal during communication of a register accept message over a radio link from said unlicensed mobile radio access point to said mobile terminal, said data structure comprising an information element having an indexed identification of said unlicensed mobile access point so as to facilitate identification of said unlicensed mobile access point by a licensed mobile access point via said mobile terminal for use in evaluating a possible handover from said licensed access point to said unlicensed mobile access point.