SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTIMODE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION HANDOFF

• US 20090279503A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Naguib, Ayman Fawzy, Lee, Kuo-Chun, Chin, Tom
• Application Number:
  US12/176,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for base-station-assisted handover between WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) or 1xRTT (one times Radio Transmission Technology, or 1x) networks during normal operation of a dual-mode mobile station (MS) are provided. By having a base station (BS) using one radio access technology (RAT) broadcast information about a BS in a neighboring cell employing a different RAT, the methods and apparatus may improve service continuity during handover.

Claims

1. A method for performing handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs), comprising:

while communicating via the first RAT, receiving neighbor indication information about network service via the second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different;

scanning for the second RAT using the received information; and

determining whether to handover to network service via the second RAT based on results of the scanning.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the received information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the received information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a new sector broadcast message comprises the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

12. A computer-program apparatus for performing handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs) comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for, while communicating via the first RAT, receiving neighbor indication information about network service via the second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different;

instructions for scanning for the second RAT using the received information; and

instructions for determining whether to handover to network service via the second RAT based on results of the scanning.

13. The computer-program apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the received information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

14. The computer-program apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

15. The computer-program apparatus of claim 13, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

16. The computer-program apparatus of claim 15, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

17. The computer-program apparatus of claim 13, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

18. The computer-program apparatus of claim 17, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

19. The computer-program apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the received information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

20. The computer-program apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

21. The computer-program apparatus of claim 19, wherein a new sector broadcast message comprises the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

22. The computer-program apparatus of claim 19, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

23. An apparatus for performing handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs), comprising:

means for receiving neighbor indication information about network service via the second RAT while communicating via the first RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different;

means for scanning for the second RAT using the received information; and

means for determining whether to handover to network service via the second RAT based on results of the scanning.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the received information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the received information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive a new sector broadcast message that includes the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

34. A receiver for wireless communication, comprising:

communication logic configured to receive neighbor indication information about network service via a second ratio access technology (RAT) while communicating via the first RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different;

scanning logic configured to scan for the second RAT using the received information; and

handover-determination logic configured to determine whether to handover to network service via the second RAT based on results of the scan.

35. The receiver of claim 34, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the received information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

36. The receiver of claim 35, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

37. The receiver of claim 35, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

38. The receiver of claim 37, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

39. The receiver of claim 35, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

40. The receiver of claim 39, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

41. The receiver of claim 34, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the received information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

42. The receiver of claim 41, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

43. The receiver of claim 41, wherein the communication logic is configured to receive a new sector broadcast message that includes the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

44. The receiver of claim 41, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

45. A mobile device, comprising:

a receiver front end for communicating via a first radio access technology (RAT);

communication logic configured to receive neighbor indication information about network service via a second RAT while communicating via the first RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different;

scanning logic configured to scan for the second RAT using the received information; and

handover-determination logic configured to determine whether to handover to network service via the second RAT based on results of the scan.

46. The mobile device of claim 45, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the received information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

47. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

48. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

49. The mobile device of claim 48, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

50. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

51. The mobile device of claim 50, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

52. The mobile device of claim 45, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the received information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

53. The mobile device of claim 52, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

54. The mobile device of claim 52, wherein the communication logic is configured to receive a new sector broadcast message that includes the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

55. The mobile device of claim 52, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

56. A method for assisting handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs), comprising:

communicating via the first RAT; and

transmitting information about network service via the second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the transmitted information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the transmitted information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new sector broadcast message.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

67. A computer-program apparatus for assisting handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs) comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for communicating via the first RAT; and

instructions for transmitting information about network service via the second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different.

68. The computer-program apparatus of claim 67, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the transmitted information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

69. The computer-program apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

70. The computer-program apparatus of claim 68, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

71. The computer-program apparatus of claim 70, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

72. The computer-program apparatus of claim 68, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

73. The computer-program apparatus of claim 72, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

74. The computer-program apparatus of claim 67, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the transmitted information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

75. The computer-program apparatus of claim 74, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

76. The computer-program apparatus of claim 74, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new sector broadcast message.

77. The computer-program apparatus of claim 74, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

78. An apparatus for assisting handover between network service via first and second radio access technologies (RATs), comprising:

means for communicating via the first RAT; and

means for transmitting information about network service via the second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the transmitted information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

85. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the transmitted information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

87. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information as a new sector broadcast message.

88. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

89. A transmitter for wireless communication, comprising:

communication logic configured to communicate via a first radio access technology (RAT); and

transmission logic configured to transmit information about network service via a second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different.

90. The transmitter of claim 89, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the transmitted information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

91. The transmitter of claim 90, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

92. The transmitter of claim 90, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

93. The transmitter of claim 92, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

94. The transmitter of claim 90, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

95. The transmitter of claim 94, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

96. The transmitter of claim 89, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the transmitted information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

97. The transmitter of claim 96, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

98. The transmitter of claim 96, wherein the transmission logic transmits the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information as a new sector broadcast message.

99. The transmitter of claim 96, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.

100. A base station, comprising:

communication logic configured to communicate via a first radio access technology (RAT); and

a transmitter front end for transmitting information about network service via a second RAT, wherein the first and second RATs are different.

101. The base station of claim 100, wherein the first RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the second RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and the transmitted information is CDMA Neighbor Indication information.

102. The base station of claim 101, wherein the second RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) or CDMA 1x.

103. The base station of claim 101, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a new information element (IE) in an existing Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

104. The base station of claim 103, wherein the existing MAC management message is at least one of a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message or an Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message.

105. The base station of claim 101, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information is transmitted as a newly defined Media Access Control (MAC) management message.

106. The base station of claim 105, wherein the CDMA Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a CDMA protocol revision, a band class, a channel number, a system identification number (SID), a network identification number (NID), a packet zone identifier (ID), and a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

107. The base station of claim 100, wherein the first RAT is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), the second RAT is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the transmitted information is WiMAX Neighbor Indication information.

108. The base station of claim 107, wherein the first RAT is CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

109. The base station of claim 107, wherein the transmitter front end transmits the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information as a new sector broadcast message.

110. The base station of claim 107, wherein the WiMAX Neighbor Indication information comprises at least one of a frequency assignment (FA) index, a bandwidth, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame duration, a ratio of cyclic prefix (CP), an operator identifier (ID), and a preamble index.