Location-based cell determination for mobile communication networks

• US 20060229087A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, John P. III, Fuller, Marvin U. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/103,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters

Abstract

The geographic location of user equipment operating in a cellular communication network is determined, and handover is performed at least in part in response to the geographic location of the user equipment.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

determining a geographic location of a user equipment (UE) operating in a cellular communication network; and

selecting a cell to which to hand over the UE at least partly in response to the geographic location of the UE.

2. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting a cell to which to hand over the UE partly in response to the geographic location of the UE and partly in response to signal measurements.

3. The communication method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the selecting step comprises weighting a selection algorithm to favor a cell nearer to the UE over a cell farther from the UE.

4. The communication method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the selecting step comprises weighting the selection algorithm to favor a cell in which the UE is located over a cell in which the UE is not located.

5. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

storing information representing a geographic cell map; and

comparing information representing the location of the UE with the information representing a geographic cell map to identify the cell within which the UE is located.

6. A communication system, comprising:

locating means for determining a geographic location of a user equipment (UE) operating in a cellular communication network; and

handover means for selecting a cell to which to hand over the UE at least partly in response to the geographic location of the UE.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handover means selects a cell to which to hand over the UE partly in response to the geographic location of the UE and partly in response to signal measurements.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handover means comprises a processor system for performing a weighted selection algorithm favoring a cell nearer to the UE over a cell farther from the UE.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the handover means comprises a processor system for performing a weighted selection algorithm favoring a cell in which the UE is located over a cell in which the UE is not located.

10. The communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locating means comprises:

storage means for storing information representing a geographic cell map; and

comparison means for comparing information representing the location of the UE with the information representing a geographic cell map to identify the cell within which the UE is located.

11. A communication system, comprising:

a location detection system for determining a geographic location of a user equipment (UE) operating in a cellular communication network; and

a network entity for selecting a cell to which to hand over the UE at least partly in response to the geographic location of the UE.

12. The communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the network entity selects a cell to which to hand over the UE partly in response to the geographic location of the UE and partly in response to signal measurements.

13. The communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the network entity comprises processor system for performing a weighted selection algorithm favoring a cell nearer to the UE over a cell farther from the UE.

14. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the network entity comprises a processor for performing a weighted selection algorithm favoring a cell in which the UE is located over a cell in which the UE is not located.

15. The communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the location detection system comprises:

a memory for storing information representing a geographic cell map; and

a processor system for comparing information representing the location of the UE with the information representing a geographic cell map to identify the cell within which the UE is located.

16. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

measuring signals communicated between a user equipment (UE) operating in a cellular communication network and one or more base transceiver stations; and

selecting a cell to which to hand over the UE partly in response to signal measurements and partly in response to at least one other information factor.

17. The communication method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the other information factor comprises a geographic location of the UE.

18. The communication method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the selecting step comprises weighting a selection algorithm to favor a cell nearer to the UE over a cell farther from the UE.