Handoffs and Handoff Selection in a Wireless Access Network
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Abstract
The present invention facilitates handoffs for a mobile terminal in a wireless access network that is capable of supporting different types of handoffs. The different handoff types may include soft handoffs and fast base station switching (FBSS). In operation, context information associated with supporting wireless communications between the wireless access network and the mobile terminal are determined. Based on whether the context information is shared between base stations involved in the handoff or transferred from one base station to another of the base stations involved in the handoff, a particular handoff type is selected from the different handoff types that are available. Selecting the specific type of handoff to use may also be based on the level of context information that is available, the actual content of the context information, application preferences, channel conditions, base station or mobile terminal capabilities, or any combination thereof.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method for facilitating a handoff for a mobile terminal in a wireless access network capable of supporting a plurality of different handoff types, the method comprising,
at a base station: -
determining context information associated with supporting wireless communications between the wireless access network and the mobile terminal; and selecting a handoff type from the plurality of handoff types based on the context information used by the base stations involved in a handoff, wherein the selecting of a handoff type is performed by at least one of a group comprising one of the base stations involved in the handoff, or the wireless access network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A base station comprising:
a processor and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores a set of instructions executable by the processor, and further wherein the set of instructions performs a method for facilitating a handoff for a mobile terminal in a wireless access network capable of supporting a plurality of different handoff types, wherein the method comprises; at a base station; determining context information associated with supporting wireless communications between the wireless access network and the mobile terminal; and selecting a handoff type from the plurality of handoff types based on the context information used by the base stations involved in a handoff, wherein the selecting of a handoff type is performed by at least one of a group comprising one of the base stations involved in the handoff, or the wireless access network. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions executable by a processor,
wherein the set of instructions performs a method for facilitating a handoff for a mobile terminal in a wireless access network capable of supporting a plurality of different handoff types, wherein the method comprises: at a base station; determining context information associated with supporting wireless communications between the wireless access network and the mobile terminal; and selecting a handoff type from the plurality of handoff types based on the context information used by the base stations involved in a handoff, wherein the selecting of a handoff type is performed by at least one of a group comprising one of the base stations involved in the handoff, or the wireless access network. - View Dependent Claims (40)
Specification