LOCATION-BASED, EVENT TRIGGERED INTER-RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGY HANDOVERS FROM A CDMA MACROCELL TO A WCDMA FEMTOCELL

• US 20100124931A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskicioglu, Suat, Demetrescu, Cristian
• Granted Patent: US 9,439,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/440
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• 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 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for implementation in mobile unit that is configured to communicate with a wireless communication system that includes macrocells and femtocells. The macrocells and the femtocells use different generation radio access technologies. The method includes determining a distance between the mobile unit and the femtocell(s) and transmitting a first measurement report when the distance between the mobile unit and the femtocell(s) is less than a threshold distance. The method also includes performing an inter-radio access technology handoff from the base transceiver station to the femtocell when the distance is less than a threshold distance.

Claims

1. A method for implementation in a mobile unit that is configured to communicate with a wireless communication system that comprises at least one base transceiver station and at least one femtocell, said at least one base transceiver station using a different radio access technology than said at least one femtocell, the method comprising:

determining, at said mobile unit, a distance between said mobile unit and said at least one femtocell;

transmitting, from said mobile unit to said at least one base transceiver station, a first measurement report when said the distance between said mobile unit and said at least one femtocell is less than a threshold distance, the first measurement report comprising a first event; and

performing an inter-radio access technology handoff from said at least one base transceiver station to said at least one femtocell when the distance between said mobile unit and said at least one femtocell is less than a threshold distance.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising configuring, at said mobile unit, the first event using information generated at a base station controller and provided to said mobile unit by said at least one base transceiver station, the first event being associated with an inter-radio access technology handoff from said at least one macrocell to said at least one femtocell.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the first measurement report comprises transmitting a first measurement report comprising the first event and a request to activate an inter-radio access technology measurement.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising measuring a signal strength quality of a pilot channel transmitted by said at least one femtocell and performing the inter-radio access technology handoff when said signal strength quality is above a selected threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising transmitting a second measurement report when said signal strength quality is above a selected threshold, the second measurement report comprising at least one of a primary scrambling code, timing information, offset information, a pilot channel signal-to-noise ratio, or a pilot channel received signal channel power.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising periodically transmitting second measurement reports comprising at least one of a primary scrambling code, timing information, offset information, a pilot channel signal-to-noise ratio, or a pilot channel received signal channel power.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising identifying said at least one femtocell as at least one premier femtocell associated with said mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying said at least one femtocell as at least one premier femtocell comprises:

providing a call connection request from said mobile unit to said at least one femtocell;

receiving, at said mobile unit from said at least one femtocell in response to providing the call connection request, information indicating a location of said at least one femtocell and information indicating that said at least one femtocell is a premier femtocell associated with said mobile unit; and

storing the information indicating the location of the premier femtocell in said mobile unit.

9. A method for implementation in a base station controller that is configured for deployment in a wireless communication system that comprises at least one base transceiver station and at least one femtocell, said at least one base transceiver station using a different radio access technology than said at least one femtocell, the method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile unit, a first measurement report when a distance between said mobile unit and said at least one femtocell is less than a threshold distance, the first measurement report comprising a first event; and

performing an inter-radio access technology handoff of said mobile unit from said at least one base transceiver station to said at least one femtocell when said at least one femtocell is less than the threshold distance.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

generating, at the base station controller, a first event associated with an inter-radio access technology handoff from said at least one base transceiver station to said at least one femtocell; and

providing the first event to said mobile unit via said at least one base transceiver station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the first measurement report comprises receiving a first measurement report comprising the first event and a request to activate an inter-radio access technology measurement.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising receiving at least one second measurement report comprising information indicating results of measurement of a signal strength quality of a pilot channel transmitted by said at least one femtocell and wherein performing the inter-radio access technology handoff comprises performing the inter-radio access technology handoff when said signal strength quality is above a selected threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising receiving said at least one second measurement report when said signal strength quality is above the selected threshold, the second measurement report comprising at least one of a primary scrambling code, timing information, offset information, a pilot channel signal-to-noise ratio, or a pilot channel received signal channel power.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising periodically receiving second measurement reports comprising at least one of a primary scrambling code, timing information, offset information, a pilot channel signal-to-noise ratio, or a pilot channel received signal channel power.

15. The method of claim 9, comprising identifying said at least one femtocell as at least one premier femtocell associated with said mobile unit.