Intra-Frequency and Inter-Frequency Measurements in a Radio Communication System

• US 20090253458A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cellular Communications Equipment LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Pan, Jianming, Dillinger, Markus, Luo, Jijun, Schulz, Egon, Slanina, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements

Abstract

In a method for wireless communication, a receiver receives a first signal at a first radio frequency and determines the reception level of the first signal. The receiver receives data during a reception level of the first signal at the first radio frequency. The receiver decides, based on the determined reception level, whether at least one measurement is to be taken on a second signal transmitted at a second radio frequency. A radio station carries out the method.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for communicating by radio, comprising:

providing a wireless transceiver capable of communicating at a first radio frequency using a first radio technology protocol, and at a second radio frequency using a second radio technology protocol;

receiving a first signal at the first radio frequency at the transceiver;

determining a received level of the first signal at the transceiver;

receiving threshold information at the transceiver, at the first radio frequency, the threshold information relating to the received level of the first signal; and

deciding at the transceiver, by using the received level and the threshold information, whether to carry out a measurement on a second signal radiated at the second radio frequency.

14. A method for communicating by radio, comprising:

receiving a first signal at a first radio frequency at a receiver;

determining a received level of the first signal at the receiver;

receiving threshold information at the receiver, at the first radio frequency, the threshold information relating to the received level of the first signal; and

deciding at the receiver, by using the received level and the threshold information, whether to carry out a measurement on a second signal radiated at a second radio frequency.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the receiver carries out a measurement on the second signal if the received level is greater than a value indicated by the threshold information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the receiver decides to carry out no measurement on the second signal if the received level is less than a value indicated by the threshold information.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the threshold information is broadcast by the transmitter of the first signal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the first signal is radiated inside a first radio coverage area,

the second signal is radiated inside a second radio coverage area, and

the first radio coverage area and the second radio coverage area overlap.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein

the first radio coverage area is a subset of the second radio coverage area or the second radio coverage area is a subset of the first radio coverage area.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the threshold information relates to the received level comprises a measure of the received level of the first signal at the edge of the second radio coverage area.

21. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second signal is broadcast by using a different radio technology protocol than the first signal.

22. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the receiver carries out at a signal level measurement on the second signal, and

the measurement is used for deciding about a change from the first to the second radio frequency.

23. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the threshold information is received by the receiver and a different mobile unit, and

the threshold information directly indicates to the different mobile unit that the different mobile unit should not make a measurement on the second signal.

24. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the threshold information is first determined with cooperation from a plurality of radio stations which carry out measurements on messages broadcast at the first and at the second radio frequencies.

25. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the receiver decides to carry out no measurement on the second signal if the received level is less than a value indicated by the threshold information.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the threshold information is broadcast by the transmitter of the first signal.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein

the first signal is radiated inside a first radio coverage area,

the second signal is radiated inside a second radio coverage area, and

the first radio coverage area and the second radio coverage area overlap.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein

the first radio coverage area is a subset of the second radio coverage area or the second radio coverage area is a subset of the first radio coverage area.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the threshold information relates to the received level comprises a measure of the received level of the first signal at the edge of the second radio coverage area.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the second signal is broadcast by using a different radio technology protocol than the first signal.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein

the receiver carries out at a signal level measurement on the second signal, and

the measurement is used for deciding about a change from the first to the second radio frequency.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein

the threshold information is received by the receiver and a different mobile unit, and

the threshold information directly indicates to the different mobile unit that the different mobile unit should not make a measurement on the second signal.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the threshold information is first determined with cooperation from a plurality of radio stations which carry out measurements on messages broadcast at the first and at the second radio frequencies.

34. A radio station for a radio communication system, comprising;

a receiver to receive a first signal at a first radio frequency and receive threshold information at the first radio frequency, the threshold information relating to a received level of the first signal;

a determination unit to determine a receive signal strength of the first signal; and

a decision unit to decide whether to perform a measurement on a second signal radiated at a second radio frequency.