Method and apparatus for channel management in a communication system
First Claim
1. In a communication system having a remote unit, a public network and a plurality of receivers configured for communication between the remote unit and the public network, in which communications between the remote unit and the one or more of the plurality of receivers occur over a plurality of carrier frequencies, a method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one communication link on a first receiver of the plurality of receivers;
transferring the at least one communication link from the first receiver to at least one secondary receiver of the plurality of receivers when a first quality parameter of the communication system exceeds a first threshold, the at least one secondary receiver being selectable from any of the plurality of receivers;
after the communication links have been transferred from the first receiver, using the first receiver to scan a set of the carrier frequencies that should be idle; and
executing a quality metric measuring procedure to produce a quality metric for each idle carrier frequency in the set through the first receiver.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications controller (132) transfers communication links from a first receiver (144) to a second receiver (146) when a system quality parameter exceeds a threshold. The first receiver (144) is used to perform idle carrier scanning by tuning to each idle carrier and executing a quality metric measuring procedure for the carrier or a channel on the carrier. The quality metrics are stored in memory (160) and the idle carriers are ranked according to their corresponding quality metrics. The communication controller (132) adds or replaces carriers based on their ranking. In this manner, communication channels may be more efficiently managed.
58 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. In a communication system having a remote unit, a public network and a plurality of receivers configured for communication between the remote unit and the public network, in which communications between the remote unit and the one or more of the plurality of receivers occur over a plurality of carrier frequencies, a method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving at least one communication link on a first receiver of the plurality of receivers; transferring the at least one communication link from the first receiver to at least one secondary receiver of the plurality of receivers when a first quality parameter of the communication system exceeds a first threshold, the at least one secondary receiver being selectable from any of the plurality of receivers; after the communication links have been transferred from the first receiver, using the first receiver to scan a set of the carrier frequencies that should be idle; and executing a quality metric measuring procedure to produce a quality metric for each idle carrier frequency in the set through the first receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
-
-
12. In a communication system having a remote unit, a public network and a plurality of receivers configured for communication between the remote unit and the public network, in which communications between the remote unit and the plurality of receivers occur over a plurality of carrier frequencies, a method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving at least one communication link on a first receiver of the plurality of receivers; transferring the at least one communication link from the first receiver to at least a second receiver selected from any of the plurality of receivers when a first quality parameter of the communication system exceeds a first threshold, the first quality parameter is derived from a duration of time since a quality metric measuring procedure has been executed; blocking new calls only if sufficient bandwidth is not available in the communication system to transfer the at least one communication link and when a second quality paranmeter exceeds a second threshold, the second quality parameter is derived from a duration of time since a quality metric measuring procedure on the set of idle carrier frequencies that should be idle has been executed; after the communication links have been transferred from the first receiver, using the first receiver to scan a set of carrier frequencies that should be idle; and executing a quality metric measuring procedure to produce a quality metric for each idle carrier frequency in the set through the first receiver.
-
-
13. In a communication system having a remote unit, a public network and a plurality of receivers configured for communication between the remote unit and the public network, in which communications between the remote unit and the plurality of receivers occur over a plurality of carrier frequencies, an apparatus comprising:
-
a communication controller coupled to the plurality of receivers; wherein a first receiver of the plurality of receivers establishes at least one communication link in the communication system and the communication controller transfers the at least one communication link from the first receiver to at least one secondary receiver of the plurality of receivers when a first quality parameter exceeds a first threshold in order for the communication controller to use the first receiver for scanning a set of carrier frequencies that should be idle and the communication controller executing a quality metric measuring procedure on the set of carrier frequencies that should be idle through the first receiver, the at least one secondary receiver being any available one or more receivers selected from the plurality of receivers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
-
-
19. In a communication system having a remote unit, a public network and a plurality of transceivers configured for communication between the remote unit and the public network, in which communications between the remote unit and the plurality of transceivers occur over a plurality of carrier frequencies, an apparatus comprising:
-
a communication controller coupled to the plurality of transceivers; wherein a first transceiver of the plurality of transceivers establishes at least one communication link between the remote unit and the public network; wherein the communication controller transfers the at least one communication link from the first transceiver to at least one secondary transceiver of the plurality of transceivers by transmitting a transfer message through the first transceiver to the remote unit when a first quality parameter exceeds a first threshold, the at least one secondary transceiver being selected from any of the plurality of transceivers; the communication controller blocking new calls when a second quality metric exceeds a second threshold and an idle bandwidth required for transferring the at least one communication link from the first transceiver to the at least one secondary transceiver of the plurality of transceivers exceeds an available idle bandwidth; and the communication controller executing a quality metric measuring procedure on a set of carrier frequencies that should be idle through the first transceiver.
-
Specification