Handover between wireless telecommunication networks/systems
First Claim
1. A method of initiating a network-assisted handover of a communication transaction from a serving wireless network to a neighboring wireless network that employs communication protocols different from those of the serving wireless network, said serving wireless network including a serving core network portion and a serving radio access network portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) sending a message from a mobile station to a controller of the core network portion of the serving wireless network which includes an indication that the mobile station is capable of communicating with the neighboring wireless network, wherein the neighboring wireless network including a neighboring core network portion and a neighboring radio access network portion, the neighboring core network portion and the neighboring radio access network portion being separate from the serving core network portion and the serving radio access network portion;
(b) providing to the controller of the core network portion of the serving wireless network information concerning whether a user of the mobile station may utilize the neighboring wireless network;
(c) using the information of steps (a) and (b), generating a parameter by the controller of the core network of the serving wireless network for assisting the controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network in determining initiation of a handover; and
(d) sending the parameter from the controller of the core network portion to the controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a wireless telecommunication system of performing network-assisted handover of calls between a serving network and another wireless network that employs communication protocols different from those of the serving network. A message is sent from a mobile station of a user to the serving wireless network, which includes an indication that the mobile station is capable of communicating with the neighboring wireless network. Information relating to the communication characteristics of the neighboring wireless network is also sent from the serving wireless network to the mobile station. Using the information relating to the communication characteristics of the neighboring wireless network, the mobile station receives radio signals from the neighboring wireless network. The quality of the radio signals between the mobile station and the neighboring wireless network is measured. The serving wireless network sends a message to the neighboring wireless network to request a handover of the communication transaction when the quality of the radio signals between the neighboring wireless network and the mobile station meets a predetermined minimum threshold. Then a handover of the communication transaction from the serving wireless network to the neighboring wireless network is executed after the neighboring wireless network has established a communication channel for the mobile station pursuant to the handover request.
182 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of initiating a network-assisted handover of a communication transaction from a serving wireless network to a neighboring wireless network that employs communication protocols different from those of the serving wireless network, said serving wireless network including a serving core network portion and a serving radio access network portion, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) sending a message from a mobile station to a controller of the core network portion of the serving wireless network which includes an indication that the mobile station is capable of communicating with the neighboring wireless network, wherein the neighboring wireless network including a neighboring core network portion and a neighboring radio access network portion, the neighboring core network portion and the neighboring radio access network portion being separate from the serving core network portion and the serving radio access network portion;
(b) providing to the controller of the core network portion of the serving wireless network information concerning whether a user of the mobile station may utilize the neighboring wireless network;
(c) using the information of steps (a) and (b), generating a parameter by the controller of the core network of the serving wireless network for assisting the controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network in determining initiation of a handover; and
(d) sending the parameter from the controller of the core network portion to the controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15)
(e) monitoring a quality of radio signals between the mobile station and the neighboring wireless network; and
(f) determining by the controller of the radio access network portion that a handover to the neighboring wireless network is necessary in response to the quality of radio signals between the mobile station and the neighboring wireless network meeting at least one handover criteria and the parameter generated in said step (c).
-
-
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller of the radio access network is configured for determining that a handover to the neighboring wireless network is necessary in response to the quality of radio signals between the mobile station and the neighboring wireless network meeting at least one handover criteria and the parameter generated by the controller of the core network portion.
-
10. A wireless telecommunication system for performing initiation of a network-assisted handover of a communication transaction between a serving wireless network and a neighboring wireless network that employs communication protocols different from those of the serving wireless network, wherein the serving wireless network includes a serving core network portion and a serving radio access network portion, said system comprising:
-
(a) a mobile station for sending a message which includes an indication that the mobile station is capable of communicating with the neighboring wireless network, wherein the neighboring wireless network includes a neighboring core network portion and a neighboring radio access network portion, said neighboring core network portion and said neighboring radio access network portion being separate from said serving core network portion and said serving radio access network portion;
(b) a controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network for communicating with the mobile station and for determining initiation of a handover; and
(c) a controller of the core network portion of the serving wireless network, the controller being configured to receive information concerning whether a user of the mobile station may utilize the neighboring wireless network and the message from the mobile station indicating that the mobile station is capable of communicating with the neighboring wireless network, the controller being further configured to generate a parameter, based on the received information and the message from the mobile station, for assisting said controller of the radio access network portion of the serving wireless network in determining initiation of a handover. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification