System and method for maintaining communication channels through coverage gaps

• US 20060205402A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Banavar, Guruduth Somasekhara, Ebling, Maria Rene
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment

Abstract

A system and method for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage includes identifying a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area and notifying system users of the existence of the coverage gap. Connection information is distributed to other base stations to automatically reconnect parties upon exiting the coverage gap.

Claims

1. A method for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage, comprising:

identifying a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area;

notifying system users of the existence of a coverage gap; and

reconnecting parties upon exiting the coverage gap.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a coverage gap includes calculating a gap length between coverage areas.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of notifying includes notifying users of the gap length.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes displaying information regarding the coverage gap on a display of a mobile communication device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes audibly rendering information regarding the coverage gap on a speaker of a mobile communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the coverage gap includes a region where signal strength is below a threshold value.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconnecting includes distributing connection information to other base stations.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of distributing includes distributing the connection information to probable next base stations.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting unused connection information from base stations for disposal.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area includes employing positioning information to detect a coverage gap.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing user options for taking action while in the coverage gap.

12. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage as recited in claim 1.

13. A method for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage, comprising:

detecting a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area;

notifying system users of the existence of the coverage gap prior to entering the coverage gap;

prompting system users entering the coverage gap to select an option for handling a current communication in view of the coverage gap;

distributing connection information to possible next cell stations;

automatically reconnecting the communication based on the connection information distributed to the next cell stations upon exiting the coverage gap.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of detecting a coverage gap includes employing statistical data for predicting when a coverage gap is entered.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of detecting a coverage gap includes calculating a gap length between coverage areas.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of notifying includes notifying users of the gap length.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of notifying includes visually displaying information regarding the coverage gap on a mobile communication device.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of notifying includes audibly rendering information regarding the coverage gap on a speaker of a mobile communication device.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the coverage gap includes a region where signal strength is below a threshold value.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of distributing includes distributing the connection information to adjacent base stations.

21. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of collecting unused connection information from base stations for disposal.

22. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of detecting a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area includes employing positioning information to detect a coverage gap.

23. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage as recited in claim 13.

24. A system for restoring communications through breaks in wireless coverage, comprising:

a location module, which determines a position of a user relative to a coverage gap region and provides notification that a coverage gap is approaching;

a selection mechanism, which records a user option and triggers an action upon notification of the existence of the approaching coverage area gap; and

a distribution mechanism, which distributes connection information to candidate cells such that when the user exits the coverage gap communications interfered with by entering the coverage gap region are reestablished.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the location module includes a program that determines a position of a user based on at least one of map information, global position satellite, signal strength, e9ll and distances between cell stations.

26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the location module anticipates a coverage gap based upon a comparison between a coverage area map and a user'"'"'s position.

27. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the location module further provides an estimation of gap length or time.

28. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the system includes a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device including an alert mechanism to alert a user of an approaching coverage gap.

29. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the selection mechanism permits a user to select terminating a call upon entry into the coverage area gap.

30. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the selection mechanism permits a user to select to reconnect a call upon exiting the coverage area gap.

31. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the distribution mechanism collects additional copies of connection information in the candidate cells where the connection information was not used to reestablish the connection.

32. A method for communicating breaks in wireless coverage, comprising:

identifying a coverage gap in a wireless coverage area; and

notifying system users of the existence of a coverage gap.