Employing different signal thresholds based on type of information transmitted

• US 20070049206A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jabbary, Mohammad
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is disclosed for determining whether to transmit from a first unit to a second unit, where the transmission is one of a first type and a second type. In the method, a signal from the second unit is received at the first unit, and the strength of the signal as received at the first unit is measured. A determination is made of whether the transmission is of the first type or the second type, and a first threshold is selected if the transmission is of the first type, or else a second threshold is selected if the transmission is of the second type. The measured signal strength is then compared to the selected threshold, and the transmission proceeds only if the measured signal strength exceeds the selected threshold.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method for determining whether to transmit information from a first communication unit to a second communication unit, the transmission being one of a plurality of types, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from the second communication unit at the first communication unit;

measuring a strength of the received signal;

determining a type of transmission from said plurality of transmission types;

selecting a threshold corresponding to the determined type;

comparing the measured signal strength to the selected threshold; and

proceeding with the transmission only if the measured signal strength exceeds the selected threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission type is one of a voice communication and a message data transmission.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining the type of transmission;

selecting a voice threshold if the transmission is a voice communication; and

selecting a data threshold if the transmission is a message data transmission.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein message data is transmitted using a data transmission protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data transmission protocol is a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold for data transmission is lower than the threshold for voice transmission.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein data transmission takes place if the measured signal strength satisfies the threshold for voice communication.

15. A cellular communication system comprising:

a stationary communication unit; and

a mobile communication unit wherein a type of transmission permitted from the mobile communication unit to the stationary communication unit is based on evaluating a signal received from the stationary communication unit at the mobile communication unit by;

measuring a strength of the received signal; and

comparing the received signal strength with two pre-specified threshold values.

16. The cellular communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

permitting a second type of transmission if the received signal strength exceeds a higher of the two pre-specified threshold values.

17. The cellular communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

permitting a first type of transmission if the received signal strength falls between the two pre-specified threshold values.

18. The cellular communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

preventing a transmission if the received signal strength falls below a lower of the two pre-specified threshold values.

19. The cellular communication system of claim 15, wherein the stationary communication unit is a radio transceiver cellular tower.

20. The cellular communication system of claim 15, wherein the mobile communication unit is a cellular telephone.