WIRELESS HAND-OVER IN MOBILE DEPLOYMENTS

• US 20090245199A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feige, Gaetan, Pathan, Arnavkumar M., Kruys, Johannes Petrus
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data

Abstract

The network communication system includes a wireless interface to exchange wireless signals during at least one network connection, and a handover controller that uses a route profile identifying access points distributed over a given route or region that are capable of supporting the network connection, and to handover the network connection between access points as the device travels along the given route or through a region according to the route profile.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a wireless interface to exchange wireless signals during at least one network connection; and

a handover controller that makes use of a route profile identifying access points distributed over a route that are capable of supporting the network connection, and to handover the network connection between identified access points according to the route profile as the device travels along the predetermined route.

2. The device of claim 1 where the route profile includes a route map identifying locations of access points along the predetermined route and characteristics of the identified access points including at least one of a channel associated with the access points, a number of users of the access points, or a number of packet-switched hops from the access points to a network backbone.

3. The device of claim 2 where the handover controller is configured to handover the network connection between identified access points according to the route map.

4. The device of claim 1 where the handover controller is configured to monitor a signal strength of wireless signals from at least one of the access points and to handover the network connection to another access points identified in the route profile responsive to the monitored signal strength.

5. The device of claim 4 where the handover controller is configured to maintain an association with the access point when there are fluctuations in the monitored signal strength due to movement of the device while in proximity to the access point.

6. The device of claim 5 where the handover controller is configured to invoke a hysteresis timer responsive to the fluctuations in the monitored signal strength and the route profile, the hysteresis timer to indicate to the handover controller when to switch.

7. The device of claim 1 where the handover controller is configured to determine the location of the device relative to the access points identified in the route profile, and to handover the network connection to another identified access point according to the location of the device relative to the access points identified in the route profile.

8. A method comprising:

exchanging wireless signals during at least one network connection;

identifying access points distributed over a predetermined route that are capable of supporting the network connection; and

handing-over the network connection between identified access points as the device travels along the predetermined route.

9. The method of claim 8 includes accessing a route map that identifies locations of access points along the predetermined route and characteristics of the identified access points including at least one of a channel associated with the access points, a number of users of the access points, or a number of packet-switched hops from the access points to a network backbone.

10. The method of claim 8 includes

monitoring a signal strength of wireless signals from at least one of the access points;

and

handing-over the network connection to another identified access point responsive to the monitored signal strength.

11. The method of claim 10 includes maintaining an association with the access point when there are fluctuations in the monitored signal strength due to movement of the device while in proximity to the access point.

12. The method of claim 8 includes invoking a hysteresis timer responsive to the fluctuations in the monitored signal strength and the route profile, the hysteresis timer to indicate to the handover controller when to switch.

13. The method of claim 8 includes

determining the location of the device relative to the identified access points;

and

handing-over the network connection to another identified access point responsive to the location of the device relative to the identified access point.

14. A device comprising:

a wireless interface to exchange wireless signals during at least one network connection; and

a handover controller to identify access points within a geographical region that are capable of supporting the network connection and to handover the network connection between identified access points as the device travels in the geographical region.

15. The device of claim 14 where the handover controller is configured to monitor a location of the device in the geographical region and to determine at least one the identified access points to handover the network connection according to the location of the device.

16. The device of claim 15 where the handover controller is configured to monitor a signal strength of wireless signals from at least one of the access points and to handover the network connection to another identified access point responsive to the monitored signal strength.

17. The device of claim 16 where the handover controller is configured to maintain an association with the access point when there are fluctuations in the monitored signal strength due to movement of the device while in proximity to the access point.

18. The device of claim 17 where the handover controller is configured to invoke a hysteresis timer responsive to the fluctuations in the monitored signal strength and the route profile, the hysteresis timer to indicate to the handover controller when to switch.

19. The device of claim 14 where the route profile includes a route map identifying locations of the access points in the geographical region and characteristics of the identified access points including at least one of a channel associated with the access points, a number of users of the access points, or a number of packet-switched hops from the access points to a network backbone.

20. The device of claim 19 including a memory to store a route map having access point characteristics, where the handover controller is configured to handover the network connection between identified access points according to the route map.