Handover optimization in a wireless network

• US 20070258407A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pichna, Roman, Li, Zexian
• Application Number:
  US11/429,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0055 Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0064 of control information between different access points

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the optimization of handovers and ranging in a wireless network. According to an example embodiment, an information request may be received, which may include a handover information request, such as a ranging request for handover. Resources for handover information requests may be allocated or applied at a higher priority level than at least some non-handover information requests. Further, a mobile station may perform ranging with a base station, wherein a first value of a retransmission timer at the mobile station is used for non-handover ranging, and a second value of the retransmission timer that is less than the first value is used for handover ranging. Further, a ranging request message including a ranging purpose indication indicating a ranging purpose may be received. Resources for processing the ranging request message may be allocated at a priority level based on the ranging purpose indication.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an information request;

determining that the information request includes a handover information request; and

allocating resources at a higher priority level than a priority level used for information requests other than handover information requests.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving the information request comprises:

receiving a ranging request message, wherein a value included in a ranging purpose indication indicates a ranging request message for handover.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the receiving the information request comprises receiving the information request, wherein a field included in a header of the information request indicates a handover ranging request message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the receiving the information request comprises receiving the information request, wherein the field included in the header includes a connection identifier indicating a handover ranging request message.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

processing the handover information request at a higher priority level than a priority level used for information requests other than handover information requests.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

sending a ranging response message including a challenge in response to the handover information request.

7. An apparatus provided in a mobile station for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a memory coupled to the controller; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller; and

the apparatus is adapted to;

perform ranging with a base station to adapt one or more parameters between the mobile station and the base station, wherein

a first value of a retransmission timer at the mobile station is used for non-handover ranging, and a second value of the retransmission timer that is less than the first value is used for handover ranging.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second value of the retransmission timer is generated based on a time for transmission and a time of processing a message at the base station.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the retransmission timer indicates a waiting time for determining a lack of receipt of a response from the base station before retransmitting a message to the base station.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second value of the retransmission timer indicates a waiting time for determining a lack of receipt of a ranging response message from the base station before retransmitting a ranging request message indicating handover to the base station.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second value of the retransmission timer indicates a waiting time for determining a lack of receipt of a ranging response message from the base station before retransmitting a ranging request message, wherein a value included in a ranging purpose indication included in the ranging request message indicates a handover ranging request message.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second value of the retransmission timer indicates a waiting time for determining a lack of receipt of a ranging response message from the base station before retransmitting a ranging request message, wherein a field included in a header of the information request indicates a handover ranging request message.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the field included in the header includes a connection identifier indicating a handover ranging request message.

14. In a wireless network, a method comprising:

receiving a ranging request message including a ranging purpose indication indicating a ranging purpose; and

allocating resources for processing the ranging request message at a priority level based on the ranging purpose indication.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the ranging purpose indication indicates a handover.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the ranging request message including the ranging purpose indication indicating the handover is processed at a higher priority level than an other ranging request message including an other ranging purpose indication indicating a location update request.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the ranging purpose indication indicates an emergency call or any call from a high priority user terminal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the ranging request message including the ranging purpose indication indicating the emergency call is processed at a higher priority level than other ranging request messages.

19. The method of claim 14 and further comprising processing the ranging request message at a priority level based on the ranging purpose indication.

20. The method of claim 14 and further comprising sending a ranging response message in response to the receiving the ranging request message.