Tune-away and cross paging systems and methods

• US 20070097931A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ulupinar, Fatih, Prakash, Rajat, Parekh, Nileshkumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service. This can include processes for measuring signal strength of an alternative frequency by tuning away from an existing frequency associated with an existing communications path. Such processes allow determining if the alternative frequency supports a subsequent communications path in a mobile broadband wireless application. Upon the determination, the process can automatically select the subsequent communications path based in part on the measured signal strength.

Claims

1. A method to process wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

generating a schedule that describes frame structure timing of a first communications channel;

tuning away from the first communications channel temporarily to determine timing differences with at least a second communications channel in accordance with the schedule; and

generating a correction time factor between the first communications channel and the second communications channel to facilitate handing off communications between the channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one tune-away mechanism to perform the tuning away from the first communications channel temporarily the tune-away mechanism supports one or more technology types.

3. The method of claim 2, the tune-away mechanism supporting inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

4. The method of claim 2, the tune-away mechanism supporting an inter-radio access technology handoff.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising adapting the tune-away mechanism to allow one or more access terminals and one or more access networks to determine alternative communications paths by temporarily tuning away from an existing path and sampling a subsequent path for employment in on-going communications.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a signal strength based in part on a signal threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising extending an Active Set of parameters that include members from one or more frequencies, where the Active Set includes Sectors from the one or more frequencies.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising processing the Sectors from different frequencies that are synchronous or asynchronous with respect to each sector.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a handoff policy for an Inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) Handoff in an access terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising triggering a measurement of other communication technology from the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising triggering a handoff decision from the access terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising passing a Neighbor List of frequencies between at least one access terminal and at least one access network.

13. A method for detecting pages in a mobile broadband wireless access system, comprising:

providing a tune-away mechanism to sample for a page in a communications system, the tune-away mechanism briefly tunes to a disparate frequency to sample the page;

determining the timing differences between at least two communications systems; and

sampling for a paging channel in accordance with the detected timing differences between the communications systems.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically listening to a Paging Channel.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising tuning away for listening to paging channels at specific times in other radio access technologies that are synchronous or asynchronous to a wireless system.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a timing schedule that accounts for timing differences between at least two different timing schemes.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a page based on a sampling interval specified by the timing schedule.

18. A wireless communications system, comprising:

means for measuring a signal strength;

means for temporarily tuning away from an existing communication channel to an alternative communication channel to measure the signal strength of the alternative communication channel;

means for determining timing difference between the alternative communication channel and the existing communications channel; and

means for selecting the alternative communications channel base in part on the measured signal strength and the determined timing difference.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for adjusting timing differences between the alternative communication channel and the existing communication channel.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for testing at least one threshold for measuring the signal strength.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for determining at least one page during a communications session.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for initiating an inter-frequency handoff or an inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) handoff.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for passing parameters between at least one access terminal and at least one access network.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) data connection.

25. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon to execute components of a wireless network, comprising:

generating a schedule that describes frame timing of a first channel;

tuning away from the first channel temporarily to determine a timing difference between the frame timing of the first channel and frame timing of second channel;

determining a timing correction to account for the timing difference between the first channel and the second channel; and

handing off communications from the first channel to the second channel.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising determining a Tune Away Schedule N attribute parameter to communicate tune away schedule(s) between access terminals and access networks.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising determining at least one Super frame parameter.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a Start Super frame Offset parameter that specifies time from a beginning of the Super frame parameter.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a Tune Away Duration parameter that specifies how long an access terminal tunes away.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a Tune Away Periodicity parameter that determines a time between a start of successive tune away periods.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising negotiating one or more tune away schedules.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising independently controlling one or more tune away schedules.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising providing a time correction per a tune-away schedule.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising providing a time correction per an active set member.

35. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that includes a schedule for a tune-away to at least one communication channel of a disparate technology type with respect to an access terminal; and

a processor that determines timing differences between the access terminal and an access network associated therewith, the processor determines a timing correction parameter in view of the timing differences and hands-off communication to the communication channel of a disparate technology type.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a data storage unit that includes one or more tune away parameters to control the tune-away.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, the processor is employed to adjust the timing correction parameter in view of at least one frame boundary.

38. An apparatus for allocating base station resources during a tune-away, comprising:

means for responding to a tune away request to a communications channel of a disparate frequency;

means for adjusting at least one system timing parameter in view of a tune away schedule; and

means for performing a handoff to a subsequent communications channel based in part on the tune away request.