Self-learning geographicaly aware handoff method and system

• US 20060227744A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Metke, Anthony R., Ekl, Randy L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data

Abstract

A self-learning geographically aware handoff method and system is disclosed. The system includes a handoff manager (108), which receives information about a position and movement of the mobile nodes (102a, 102b, 102c and 102d) present in the mobile network (100). The handoff manager learns the coverage capabilities of the access points (104a, 104b, 104c and 104d) in the mobile network. It then determines a second access point, to which a mobile node will handoff to, based on the learned coverage capabilities. The handoff manager then informs the mobile node about the second access point.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a mobile node to handoff from a first access point in a mobile network, the mobile network enabling communication between a plurality of mobile nodes, the method comprising:

a. receiving information about a position and movement of each mobile node present in the mobile network;

b. learning coverage capabilities of a plurality of access points in the mobile network, wherein the information about the position and movement of each mobile node is utilized for learning the coverage capabilities;

c. determining a second access point based on the coverage capabilities of the plurality of access points in the mobile network; and

d. informing the mobile node about the second access point, wherein the mobile node makes a handoff to the second access point.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the movement of the mobile node comprises information about a velocity of the mobile node.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. receiving information about a second position of the mobile node, wherein the mobile node decides to handoff at the second position;

b. mapping the information about the second position of the mobile node to a geographic location of the mobile node.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. receiving an information about Received Signal Strength (RSS) and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the mobile node; and

b. mapping the information about RSS and SNR of the mobile node to a geographic location of the mobile node.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising:

a. adjusting a frequency at which the mobile node sends information about a position and movement.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. predicting at least one of a handoff-position and a handoff-time, wherein the mobile node makes a handoff to the second access point at the handoff-position and the handoff-time; and

b. informing at least one of the handoff-position and the handoff-time to the mobile node.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising reserving a set of resources at the second access point for the handoff.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initiating a context transfer.

9. A method of enabling a mobile node to handoff from a first access point in a mobile network, the mobile network enabling communication between a plurality of mobile nodes, the method comprising:

a. receiving an information about a position and movement of each mobile node present in the mobile network;

b. learning coverage capabilities of a plurality of access points in the mobile network, wherein the information about the position and movement of each mobile node is utilized for learning the coverage capabilities;

c. building a coverage map based on the coverage capabilities of the plurality of access points in the mobile network;

d. maintaining a history table for each mobile node present within the mobile network;

e. determining a second access point based on the history table; and

f. informing the mobile node about the second access point, wherein the mobile node makes a handoff to the second access point.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising maintaining information wherein the information comprises at least one of model number and serial number.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

a. receiving an information about a second position of the mobile node, wherein the mobile node decides to handoff at the second position; and

b. mapping the information about the second position of the mobile node to a geographic location of the mobile node.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

a. receiving an information about RSS and SNR of the mobile node at a second position of the mobile node; and

b. mapping the information about RSS and SNR of the mobile node to a geographic location of the mobile node.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

a. adjusting a frequency at which the mobile node sends information about a position and movement.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein building the coverage map comprises:

a. dividing the mobile network into a plurality of micro cells;

b. mapping each mobile node into a micro cell; and

c. mapping each micro cell to at least one access point, the at least one access point providing coverage to the mobile node present in the micro cell.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein an RSS indicator exists for each access point in the micro cell.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein maintaining the history table comprises:

a. updating the history table based on the information received from each mobile node; and

b. updating a prediction matrix based on the history table.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising:

a. predicting at least one of a handoff-position and a handoff-time based on the prediction matrix, wherein the mobile node makes a handoff to the second access point at the handoff-position and the handoff-time; and

b. informing at least one of the handoff-position and the handoff-time to the mobile node.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising reserving a set of resources at the second access point for the handoff.

19. The method according to claim 9 further comprising initiating a context transfer.

20. A system for enabling a mobile node to handoff from a first access point in a mobile network, the mobile network enabling communication between a plurality of mobile nodes, the handoff manager comprising:

a. means for receiving information about positions and movements of each mobile node in the mobile network;

b. means for learning coverage capabilities of a plurality of access points in the mobile network;

c. means for determining a second access point based on the coverage capabilities of the plurality of access points in the mobile network; and

d. means for informing the mobile node about the second access point, wherein the mobile node makes a handoff to the second access point.