System and Method for Inter-Radio Access Technology Signal Measurement

• US 20090092107A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: SUZUKI, Takashi, WU, Wei, CAI, Zhijun, WOMACK, James Earl, YOUNG, Gordon Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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 multi-mode user equipment is provided. The multi-mode user equipment includes a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology-based network during a portion of a macrotechnology-based communication from a network component to the multi-mode user equipment. The signal strength of the microtechnology-based network is measured during a portion of the macrotechnology-based communication when no user data is being transmitted.

Claims

1. A multi-mode user equipment, comprising:

a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology-based network during a portion of a macrotechnology-based communication from a network component to the multi-mode user equipment, the signal strength of the microtechnology-based network measured during the portion of a macrotechnology-based communication when no user data is being transmitted.

2. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 1, wherein the portion of a macrotechnology-based communication when no user data is being transmitted being defined as a gap in data transmission.

3. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 2, wherein the gap is generated by one of:

the network component assigning the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment, and

the multi-mode user equipment requesting the gap from the network component and the network component assigning the gap in response to the request.

4. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 2, wherein the gap is generated based on the capabilities of the multi-mode user equipment.

5. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 3, wherein the network component assigns the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment by one of:

defining a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and a macrotechnology,

using gaps previously designated for a macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement, and

increasing a size of a previously existing gap to allow for both the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and a macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement.

6. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 5, wherein the microtechnology is one of:

a Wireless Fidelity network;

a wireless local access network using a home base station;

a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and

a Wireless Local Area Network.

7. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 5, wherein the macrotechnology is one of:

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network;

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;

a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and

a 1×

Evolution-Data Optimized network.

8. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode user equipment is unable to simultaneously communicate with the macrotechnology-based network and measure the microtechnology-based signal strength.

9. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 1, wherein the portion of a macrotechnology-based communication when no user data is being transmitted to the multi-mode user equipment being defined as a discontinuous reception (DRX) period.

10. A method for measuring signal strength, comprising:

creating a gap in a data transmission of a macrotechnology-based communication; and

measuring a signal strength of a microtechnology-based network during the gap in the data transmission of the macrotechnology-based communication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the gap is created by one of:

a network component assigning the gap without input from user equipment, and

a multi-mode user equipment requesting the gap from the network component and the network component assigning the gap responsive to the request.

12. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 10, wherein the gap is generated based on the capabilities of the multi-mode user equipment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the network component assigns the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment by defining a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and a macrotechnology.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the network component assigns the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment by using a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the network component assigns the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment by using discontinuous reception (DRX) period idle time within a data portion of the data transmission to make the microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the network component assigns the gap without input from the multi-mode user equipment by increasing a size of a previously existing gap to allow for both the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and the macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the microtechnology is one of:

a Wireless Fidelity network,

a wireless local access network using a home base station,

a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B, and

a Wireless Local Area Network; and

and wherein the macrotechnology is one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network,

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network,

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network,

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network,

a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network,

a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network, and

a 1×

Evolution-Data Optimized network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-mode user equipment is a multi-mode device unable to simultaneously communicate with the macrotechnology-based network and measure the microtechnology-based signal strength.