MOBILE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM THEREOF FOR EARLY MEASURING SIGNAL OF A BASE STATION

• US 20080146233A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Original Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Inventors: Chang, Chia-Hsiang, Tsai, Kun-Chan
• Granted Patent: US 8,107,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data

Abstract

A positioning module positions a location of a mobile communication apparatus. A processor determines whether the location falls within a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is equal to or greater than an effective communication coverage of a neighboring base station. If the processor determines that the location is within the predetermined range, a signal detection module measures the signal from the neighboring base station. By detecting the signals of the neighboring base stations earlier, the present invention is able to function while the mobile communication apparatus moves at high speeds and successfully switch the connections between the base stations.

Claims

1. A method for early measuring a signal of a base station, comprising the steps of:

positioning a location of a mobile communication apparatus;

determining whether the location is within a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is equal to or greater than an effective communication coverage of the base station; and

measuring the signal of the base station if the location is determined within the predetermined range.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is one of a received signal strength (RSSI), a received signal code power (RSCP), and a carrier-to-noise ratio (E_c/N₀).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

calculating a moving speed of the mobile communication apparatus; and

determining whether the moving speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined moving speed;

wherein the positioning step is executed if the moving speed is determined equal to or greater than the predetermined moving speed.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, the determining step further comprising the steps of:

storing a base station deployment map, wherein the base station map records a location and the effective communication coverage of the base station; and

setting the predetermined range according to the effective communication coverage of the base station.

5. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for a mobile communication apparatus to execute a method for early measuring a signal of a base station, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a location of the mobile communication apparatus;

determining whether the location is within a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is equal to or greater than an effective communication coverage of the base station; and

measuring the signal of the base station if the location is determined within the predetermined range.

6. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the signal is one of a received signal strength, a received signal code power, and a carrier-to-noise ratio.

7. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 5, the method further comprising the steps of:

calculating a moving speed of the mobile communication apparatus; and

determining whether the moving speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined moving speed;

wherein the positioning step is executed if the moving speed is determined equal to or greater than the predetermined moving speed.

8. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 5, the determining step further comprising the steps of:

storing a base station deployment map, wherein the base station map records a location and the effective communication coverage of the base station; and

setting the predetermined range according to the effective communication coverage of the base station.

9. A mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

a positioning module for positioning a location of the mobile communication apparatus;

a processor for determining whether the location is within a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is equal to or greater than an effective communication coverage of a base station; and

a signal detection module for measuring a signal of the base station if the processor determines that the location is within the predetermined range.

10. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal is one of a received signal strength, a received signal code power, and a carrier-to-noise ratio.

11. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a calculating module for calculating a moving speed of the mobile communication apparatus, wherein the processor determines whether the moving speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined moving speed, and the positioning module is executed to position the location of the mobile communication apparatus if the moving speed is determined equal to or greater than the predetermined moving speed.

12. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a memory for storing a base station deployment map, wherein the base station deployment map records a location and the effective communication coverage of the base station, and the processor sets the predetermined range according to the effective communication coverage of the base station.

13. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the base station deployment map is transmitted to the memory by a mobile communication operator.

14. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the base station deployment map is downloaded into the memory via a network by a user.

15. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the base station deployment map is stored in the memory while the mobile communication apparatus is manufactured.