Apparatus and method for transmitting beacon signals in a communication system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of beacon signals in a wireless communication system, comprising:
- a single transmitter adapted to transmit spread spectrum signals and further adapted to transmit the plurality of beacon signals, the beacon signals having a corresponding plurality of different frequencies, the beacon signals utilized primarily to initiate handoff of a mobile station from a first frequency to a second frequency, the transmitter adapted to scan the beacon signal frequencies;
a global positioning system (GPS) timing synchronization block coupled to the transmitter, the GPS timing synchronization block adapted to provide timing information; and
a controller adapted to control the time during which the transmitter transmits the beacon signals at the corresponding plurality of different frequencies.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single transmitter (109) controlled to transmit at appropriate beacon signal frequencies (F1-F3) is scanned through each of the frequencies (F1-F3) so that a mobile station (101) can determine when a hard handoff to different frequencies (F4-F6) is required. The beacon signal transmitter (109) is controlled by a controller (112) to transmit beacon signals which include a pilot channel only, pilot/sync channels, pilot/page/sync channels common to each of the frequencies (F1-F3), or pilot/page/sync channels different for each of the frequencies (F1-F3). Additional control is provided by the controller (112) such that each of frequencies (F1-F3) is further transmitted to different sectors (A1-A3) when the coverage area supported by a target base-station (106) is sectorized.
95 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of beacon signals in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a single transmitter adapted to transmit spread spectrum signals and further adapted to transmit the plurality of beacon signals, the beacon signals having a corresponding plurality of different frequencies, the beacon signals utilized primarily to initiate handoff of a mobile station from a first frequency to a second frequency, the transmitter adapted to scan the beacon signal frequencies; a global positioning system (GPS) timing synchronization block coupled to the transmitter, the GPS timing synchronization block adapted to provide timing information; and a controller adapted to control the time during which the transmitter transmits the beacon signals at the corresponding plurality of different frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless communication system for handing off a mobile station from a first frequency to a second frequency, the communication system comprising:
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at a target coverage area; means for transmitting a plurality of beacon signals at a corresponding plurality of different frequencies, said means for transmitting adapted to transmit spread spectrum signals and further adapted to scan the beacon signal frequencies; means, coupled to the means for transmitting, for providing GPS timing information; means for controlling the time at which the transmitter transmits the beacon signals having the corresponding plurality of different frequencies; at a mobile station; means, based on a received one of the beacon signals, for determining that handoff from the first frequency to the second frequency is required and for initiating the handoff; at a controller; means for instructing the mobile station to handoff from the first frequency the second frequency based on information related to the initiation of the handoff. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of beacon signals in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a single transmitter adapted to transmit spread spectrum signals and further adapted to transmit the plurality of beacon signals, the beacon signals having a corresponding plurality of different frequencies, the beacon signals utilized primarily to initiate handoff of a mobile station from a first frequency to a second frequency, the transmitter adapted to scan the beacon signal frequencies; a GPS timing synchronization block coupled to the transmitter, the GPS timing synchronization block adapted to provide timing information; and a controller adapted to control the transmitter to transmit the beacon signals at times different from one another.
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15. A method of transmitting a plurality of beacon signals in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:
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using a transmitter adapted to transmit spread spectrum signals, transmitting the beacon signals, the beacon signals having a corresponding plurality of different frequencies, the beacon signals utilized primarily to initiate handoff of a mobile station from a first frequency to a second frequency, the transmitter adapted to scan the beacon signal frequencies; providing GPS timing information to the transmitter; and controlling the time during which the transmitter transmits the beacon signals at the corresponding plurality of different frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification