Load balancing in a digital communications network using radio links
First Claim
1. In a digital communications network having a host computer, a communications controller (CC) connected to said host computer, a plurality of base stations (BSs) connected to said communications controller, a plurality of antennas respectively connected to and included in said base stations, each BS having a predetermined domain within which remote terminals can be attached thereto by radio links operating at a predetermined frequency, said BSs being located so as to provide overlapping domains, and a plurality of remote terminals (RTs) for communicating with said BSs by said radio links, the improvement comprising:
- each BS comprisinga radio BS transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages to and from RTs located within the predetermined domain of said BS,a digital BS processor connected to said BS transceiver for controlling operation thereof,and a digital BS storage connected to said BS processor for storing BS tables including a base station weight table (BSWT) listing a weight value for at least a portion of said plurality of said BSs and BS routines to be executed by said BS processor;
each RT comprisinga radio RT transceiver,a field strength meter connected to said RT transceiver for measuring field strengths of messages received by said RT transceiver from BSs within whose domains said RT is located,a digital RT processor connected to said transceiver for controlling operation thereof,and an RT digital storage connected to said RT processor for storing an RT table and RT routines to be executed by said RT processor;
each RT being operative to monitor messages from BSs, store within said RT table a list of BSs and signal strengths of messages received therefrom, and transmit to the one of said BSs having the strongest signal strength in said RT table a sign-on message including at least a portion of said RT table list;
each BS comprising decision making means responsive to a sign-on message directed thereto to decide which BS in said portion of said RT table list has the lowest weight value in said BSWT and thus should be attached to an RT transmitting said sign-on message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital communication network has a plurality of remote terminals (RTs) which communicate with a plurality of base stations (BSs) by radio links operating at a single frequency. Each RT monitors the signal strengths of outbound messages and keeps an ordered table indicating which BSs produce the highest strength signals. At sign-on, an RT sends a message to the BS at the top of the list. The message includes the first predetermined number of entries at the top of the list. Each BS monitors the number of RTs it can hear and the number of users attached to each BS. The BS to which the sign-on message is sent then decides on the basis of signal strength, number of users attached, and BS coverage which BS should be attached to the particular RT and then notifies a communications controller. Such decision thus levels the workload. Each RT monitors errors and requests re-evaluation of attachment when the error rate for the BS to which it is attached exceeds a predetermined value.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a digital communications network having a host computer, a communications controller (CC) connected to said host computer, a plurality of base stations (BSs) connected to said communications controller, a plurality of antennas respectively connected to and included in said base stations, each BS having a predetermined domain within which remote terminals can be attached thereto by radio links operating at a predetermined frequency, said BSs being located so as to provide overlapping domains, and a plurality of remote terminals (RTs) for communicating with said BSs by said radio links, the improvement comprising:
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each BS comprising a radio BS transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages to and from RTs located within the predetermined domain of said BS, a digital BS processor connected to said BS transceiver for controlling operation thereof, and a digital BS storage connected to said BS processor for storing BS tables including a base station weight table (BSWT) listing a weight value for at least a portion of said plurality of said BSs and BS routines to be executed by said BS processor; each RT comprising a radio RT transceiver, a field strength meter connected to said RT transceiver for measuring field strengths of messages received by said RT transceiver from BSs within whose domains said RT is located, a digital RT processor connected to said transceiver for controlling operation thereof, and an RT digital storage connected to said RT processor for storing an RT table and RT routines to be executed by said RT processor; each RT being operative to monitor messages from BSs, store within said RT table a list of BSs and signal strengths of messages received therefrom, and transmit to the one of said BSs having the strongest signal strength in said RT table a sign-on message including at least a portion of said RT table list; each BS comprising decision making means responsive to a sign-on message directed thereto to decide which BS in said portion of said RT table list has the lowest weight value in said BSWT and thus should be attached to an RT transmitting said sign-on message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification