Method and arrangement for optimal scheduling of slotted-mode related measurements in a cellular radio system

• US 6,532,226 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Toskala, Antti, Lehtinen, Otto-Aleksanteri
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/435,910
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 370/347, 370/341, 370/442, 370/522, 370/524, 370/321, 370/337, 370/336, 370/338, 370/503, 370/345, 370/343, 370/509, 370/331, 370/332, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/442, 455/552
• US Class Current: 370/347
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst

Abstract

The timing of frames associated with a certain first communication connection (301) and allocated for measurement and reception of signalling (302, 303) external to said first communication connection is defined in a cellular radio system. Transmission associated with communication connections is essentially continuous and consists of consecutive frames. Measurement and reception of signalling external to a communication connection necessitates an interruption in the otherwise continuous transmission associated with the communication connection. According to the invention, there is established (701) knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection. Further there is identified (702), on the basis of said established knowledge, a future frame (305, 307, 308, 310) associated with the first communication connection that will coincide in time (304, 306, 309) with said future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection. The identified future frame will be defined as a frame allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to the first communication connection.

Claims

1. A method for defining the timing of frames associated with a certain first communication connection and allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to said first communication connection in a cellular radio system, comprising the steps of

arranging the transmission associated with communication connections to be essentially continuous and to consists of consecutive frames;

arranging for the measurement and reception of signalling external to a communication connection to necessitate an interruption in the otherwise continuous transmission associated with the communication connection;

establishing knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection;

identifying, on the basis of said established knowledge, a future frame associated with the first communication connection that will coincide in time with said future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection; and

defining the identified future frame as a frame allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to the first communication connection.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

establishing knowledge that indicates a regular future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection,

identifying, on the basis of said established knowledge,

a future frame associated with the first communication connection and

a repetition cycle so that the identified frame and a certain number of its repetitions that occur after an integer number of repetition cycles will coincide in time with future occurrences of signalling external to the first communication connection and

defining the identified future frame and said certain number of its repetitions as frames allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to the first communication connection.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

establishing knowledge that indicates a regular future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection,

identifying, on the basis of said established knowledge,

a future frame associated with the first communication connection and

a repetition cycle so that the identified frame and a certain number of its repetitions that occur after an integer number of repetition cycles will coincide in time with future occurrences of signalling external to the first communication connection,

determining a certain maximum duration of frame allocations associated with the first communication connection and

defining the identified future frame and such a number of its repetitions that does not exceed said maximum duration of frame allocations as frames allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to the first communication connection.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said maximum duration of frame allocations is determined as a maximum number of repetitions of the identified frame that occur after an integer number of repetition cycles.

5. A method according to claim 3, additionally comprising the step of requiring a device performing the measurement and reception of signalling external to said first communication connection to report the results of such measurement and reception, so that said maximum duration of frame allocations corresponds to the time until the reporting of the results will take place.

6. A method according to claim 3, additionally comprising the step of requiring a device performing the measurement and reception of signalling external to said first communication connection to report the results of such measurement and reception, so that said maximum duration of frame allocations is determined as a maximum number of repetitions of the identified frame that occur after an integer number of repetition cycles after the reporting of the results has taken place.

7. A method according to claim 1, corresponding to defining the timing of frames associated with a certain first communication connection between a first base station of a first cellular radio system and a mobile terminal, said frames being allocated for measurement and reception of signalling from a second base station of a second cellular radio system, whereby the step of establishing knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection comprises the substeps of

establishing knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station and

providing said first base station with the established knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the substep of providing said first base station with the established knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station corresponds to establishing a direct communication connection between the first and second base stations.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said direct communication connection is a wireline connection configured at both base stations to communicate information about the timing of signalling from said second base station.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said direct communication connection is a radio connection in which a radio receiver coupled to the first base station receives the signalling transmitted by said second base station.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the substep of providing said first base station with the established knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station corresponds to establishing a communication connection between the first and second base stations over other parts of the first and second cellular radio systems.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein the substep of providing said first base station with the established knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station corresponds to establishing a common time base for signalling from said second cellular radio system and synchronising the operation of the first cellular radio system to said common time base.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein the substep of providing said first base station with the established knowledge about the timing of signalling from said second base station corresponds to receiving at the first base station reports from a number of mobile terminals, said reports indicating the timing of signalling from said second base station.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reports indicate the timing of signalling from said second base station indirectly by indicating either successful or unsuccessful reception of signalling from said second base station during previously allocated frames for measurement and reception of signalling external to said first communication connection.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said reports indicate the timing of signalling from said second base station directly by indicating its relation to the frames associated with the first communication connection.

16. A network element of a cellular radio system, comprising

means for indicating certain frames—

associated with an essentially continuous first communication connection consisting of consecutive frames between a base station and a mobile terminal—

as allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to said first communication connection,

means for establishing knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection,

means for identifying, on the basis of said established knowledge, a future frame associated with the first communication connection that will coincide in time with said future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection and

means for defining the identified future frame as a frame allocated for measurement and reception of signalling external to the first communication connection, and for communication such a definition to the mobile terminal.

17. A network element according to claim 16, wherein for establishing knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection it comprises a wireline connection to a base station of another cellular radio system.

18. A network element according to claim 16, wherein for establishing knowledge that indicates at least one future occurrence of signalling external to the first communication connection it comprises a radio receiver for receiving signalling transmitted by a base station of another cellular radio system.