Method and apparatus for performing distribution in a communication system

• US 6,072,790 A
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lei, Peter, Stewart, Randall R., Neumiller, Phillip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schuppner, Suibel M. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/311,450
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 370/401, 370/335, 370/428, 370/332, 370/331, 455/422, 455/445, 455/458, 455/560
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A switch (101) performs distribution functions by distributing packets to base stations that were most recently heard from. More particularly, as a gateway (115) provides frames to the switch (101), the switch (101) distributes the frames to all base stations in communication with a remote unit (113). In order to determine the plurality of base stations requiring the frames, an identification of base stations (on a per-call basis) currently backhauling data to the switch (101) for the call is maintained. The switch (101) then distributes frames received from the gateway (115) to those base stations currently providing uplink frames to the switch (101) for the particular call.

Claims

1. A method for identifying base stations for distribution of downlink data within a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a base station, a first packet that is to be routed to a selection function;

determining a call identification and a base station identification from the first packet;

determining a current time the first packet was received;

storing the call identification, the base station identification, and the current time the first packet was received in a buffer;

receiving a second packet that is to be distributed to a plurality of base stations involved in a call;

analyzing the buffer to determine base stations existing on the buffer identified with the call; and

distributing the second packet to the base stations existing on the buffer identified with the call wherein base stations existing on the buffer are those who have transmitted packets to the distribution function within a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving, from the base station, the first packet comprises the step of receiving, from the base station a first backhauled packet.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of eliminating base stations from the buffer that have been existing on the buffer for greater than a predetermined amount of time.

4. An apparatus for performing distribution in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a logic unit having a first packet received from a base station as an input and outputting a call identification, a base station identification from the first packet, and a time the first packet was received;

a buffer storing the call identification, base station identification from the first packet, and the time the first packet was received; and

a routing function having a second packet as an input and an output comprising the second packet, wherein the second packet is output to a plurality of base stations that are determined based on a content of the buffer wherein base stations existing on the buffer are those who have transmitted packets to the distribution function within a predetermined time period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the received first packet comprises a packet that is to be routed to a selection function.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second packet comprises a packet that is to be distributed to a plurality of base stations in soft handoff with a call.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of base stations are in soft handoff with a remote unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first packet is a backhauled packet.