Tailored hierarchical cell structures in a communications system
First Claim
1. A method of selecting a server for use by a designated one of a number of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, the method comprising the steps of:
- for each of the mobile units, assigning to each cell a category of preference for selection with respect to each other cell within the system, wherein for at least one of the cells, the assigned category of preference associated with a first mobile unit is different from the assigned category of preference associated with a second mobile unit;
determining for the designated mobile unit the assigned category of preference for each of a number of candidate cells; and
selecting for the designated mobile unit as serving cell a first one of the candidate cells based upon whether the first one of the candidate cells has a higher category of preference than another of the candidate cells,wherein the category of preference is a relative priority designation that is a function of a current server cell identity, andwherein the relative priority designation indicates one of n+m+1 possible priority levels relative to a currently serving cell, wherein n of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level below the currently serving cell, one of the possible priority levels indicates "equal priority with the currently serving cell", and m of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level above the currently serving cell, wherein n and m are each integers greater than or equal to zero.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A server for use by a designated one of a number of mobile units in a cellular communications system including a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another may be selected by, for each of the mobile units, assigning to each cell a category of preference for selection with respect to each other cell within the system, wherein for at least one of the cells, the assigned category of preference associated with a first mobile unit is different from the assigned category of preference associated with a second mobile unit. Then, for the designated mobile unit, the assigned category of preference for each of a number of candidate cells is determined. A first one of the candidate cells is then selected as serving cell for the designated mobile unit based upon whether the first one of the candidate cells has a higher category of preference than another of the candidate cells. Because categories of preference may differ for different mobile units, location-based services, based on categories of subscribers, may be provided. In other embodiments, a radio network may be optimized with respect to varying capabilities of installed radio base equipment.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of selecting a server for use by a designated one of a number of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, the method comprising the steps of:
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for each of the mobile units, assigning to each cell a category of preference for selection with respect to each other cell within the system, wherein for at least one of the cells, the assigned category of preference associated with a first mobile unit is different from the assigned category of preference associated with a second mobile unit; determining for the designated mobile unit the assigned category of preference for each of a number of candidate cells; and selecting for the designated mobile unit as serving cell a first one of the candidate cells based upon whether the first one of the candidate cells has a higher category of preference than another of the candidate cells, wherein the category of preference is a relative priority designation that is a function of a current server cell identity, and wherein the relative priority designation indicates one of n+m+1 possible priority levels relative to a currently serving cell, wherein n of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level below the currently serving cell, one of the possible priority levels indicates "equal priority with the currently serving cell", and m of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level above the currently serving cell, wherein n and m are each integers greater than or equal to zero.
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2. A method of assigning a cell for use by a designated one of a plurality of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, wherein the plurality of mobile units includes at least one mobile unit of a first mobile type that has a predefined capability, and at least one mobile unit of a second mobile type that does not have the predefined capability, and the plurality of cells includes at least one cell of a first cell type that supports the predefined capability and at least one cell of a second cell type that does not support the predefined capability, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the first mobile type; and b) attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the second mobile type, wherein; step a) comprises the steps of; defining a first level of cells to be cells of the first cell type; defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; defining a third level of cells to be no cells; attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and step b) comprises the steps of; defining a first level of cells to be no cells; defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; defining a third level of cells to be cells of the first type; attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A method of assigning a cell for use by a designated one of a plurality of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, wherein the plurality of mobile units includes at least one mobile unit of a first mobile type associated with a predefined user group, and at least one mobile unit of a second mobile type that is not associated with the predefined user group, and the plurality of cells includes at least one cell of a first cell type that is associated with the predefined user group and at least one cell of a second cell type that is not associated with the predefined user group, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the first mobile type; and attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the second mobile type, wherein; step a) comprises the steps of; defining a first level of cells to be cells of the first cell type; defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; defining a third level of cells to be no cells; attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and step b) comprises the steps of; defining a first level of cells to be no cells; defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; defining a third level of cells to be cells of the first type; attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit; and if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned, then attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for selecting a server for use by a designated one of a number of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, the apparatus comprising:
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means for assigning to each cell a category of preference for each of the mobile units, the category of preference indicating a preference level for selection with respect to each other cell within the system, wherein for at least one of the cells, the assigned category of preference associated with a first mobile unit is different from the assigned category of preference associated with a second mobile unit; means for determining for the designated mobile unit the assigned category of preference for each of a number of candidate cells; and means for selecting for the designated mobile unit as serving cell a first one of the candidate cells based upon whether the first one of the candidate cells has a higher category of preference than another of the candidate cells, wherein the category of preference is a relative priority designation that is a function of a current server cell identity, and wherein the relative priority designation indicates one of n+m+1 possible priority levels relative to a currently serving cell, wherein n of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level below the currently serving cell, one of the possible priority levels indicates "equal priority with the currently serving cell", and m of the possible priority levels each indicate a priority level above the currently serving cell, wherein n and m are each integers greater than or equal to zero.
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9. An apparatus for assigning a cell for use by a designated one of a plurality of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, wherein the plurality of mobile units includes at least one mobile unit of a first mobile type that has a predefined capability, and at least one mobile unit of a second mobile type that does not have the predefined capability, and the plurality of cells includes at least one cell of a first cell type that supports the predefined capability and at least one cell of a second cell type that does not support the predefined capability, the apparatus comprising:
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first means for first attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the first mobile type; and second means for attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the second mobile type, wherein; the first means comprises; means for defining a first level of cells to be cells of the first cell type; means for defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; means for defining a third level of cells to be no cells; means for attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; means for attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned; and means for attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned; and the second means comprises; means for defining a first level of cells to be no cells; means for defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; means for defining a third level of cells to be cells of the first type; means for attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; means for attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned; and means for attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for assigning a cell for use by a designated one of a plurality of mobile units in a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of cells having different service areas with respect to one another, wherein the plurality of mobile units includes at least one mobile unit of a first mobile type associated with a predefined user group, and at least one mobile unit of a second mobile type that is not associated with the predefined user group, and the plurality of cells includes at least one cell of a first cell type that is associated with the predefined user group and at least one cell of a second cell type that is not associated with the predefined user group, the apparatus comprising:
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first means for attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the first mobile type; and second means for attempting to assign a cell of the second cell type to the designated mobile unit before attempting to assign a cell of the first cell type to the designated mobile unit if the designated mobile unit is of the second mobile type, wherein; the first means comprises; means for defining a first level of cells to be cells of the first cell type; means for defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; means for defining a third level of cells to be no cells; means for attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; means for attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned; and means for attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned; and the second means comprises; means for defining a first level of cells to be no cells; means for defining a second level of cells to be cells of the second type; means for defining a third level of cells to be cells of the first type; means for attempting to assign a cell from the first level of cells to the designated mobile unit; means for attempting to assign a cell from the second level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first level of cells has been assigned; and means for attempting to assign a cell from the third level of cells to the designated mobile unit if no cell from the first or second levels of cells has been assigned. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification