System and method for handover execution in a wireless environment

• US 6,862,082 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Wenfeng, Sayers, Ian, Xu, Xiaode, Pines, Howard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, CongVan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/972,406
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-443, 455/428, 455445-446, 455/433, 455/432.1, 370330-334, 370/469
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment

Abstract

A method for handover execution in a wireless environment is provided that comprises communicating, by a mobile network, a handover command message to a physical layer of a mobile station to initiate a handover execution. The handover command message is received by the physical layer, which responds by tuning to a handed to frequency and by communicating physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network. The method also includes communicating a cease signal to stop communicating the bursts to the mobile station, which responds by ending the transmission of the bursts and by establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network. The mobile station and mobile network may then couple to a voice or data path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

Claims

1. A method for handover execution in a wireless environment, comprising:

receiving and recognizing a handover command message at a physical layer of a mobile station to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being communicated by a mobile network, the physical layer of the mobile station responding to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling, by tuning to a handed to frequency, and by communicating physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency to the mobile network such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications; and

receiving a cease signal, at the mobile station to stop communicating the physical layer bursts, the mobile station responding to the cease signal by ending the transmission of the physical layer bursts and by establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a voice path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the handover command message to initiate the handover execution to the physical layer comprises communicating the handover command message through a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message that is communicated by the mobile network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising completing a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is communicated by the mobile network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein once the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network, the mobile station communicates a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution.

6. A method for handover execution in a wireless environment, comprising:

receiving and recognizing a handover command message from a mobile network to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being received by a physical layer of a mobile station;

responding to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling;

tuning, by the physical layer, to a handed to frequency;

communicating, by the physical layer, physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency to the mobile network such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network;

receiving, from the mobile network, a cease signal indicating to stop communicating the physical layer bursts;

ending, by the physical layer, the transmission of the physical layer bursts; and

establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a data path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the handover command message to initiate the handover execution is communicated through a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising updating, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising completing a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is received by the physical layer of the mobile station.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein once the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network, the mobile station communicates a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution.

11. Software embodied in a computer readable media for performing handover execution in a wireless environment, the software operable to:

receive and recognize a handover command message at a physical layer of a mobile station to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being communicated by the mobile station, the physical layer of the mobile station responding to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling, by tuning to a handed to frequency, and by communicating physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency to a mobile network such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications; and

receive a cease signal at the mobile station to stop communicating the physical layer bursts, the mobile station responding to the cease signal by ending the transmission of the physical layer bursts and by establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a data path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

12. The software of claim 11, wherein the software that is operable to communicate the handover command message to initiate the handover execution to the physical layer of the mobile station comprises a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

13. The software of claim 12, further operable to update, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message.

14. The software of claim 11, further operable to complete a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is communicated by the mobile network.

15. The software of claim 11, wherein the mobile station comprises software operable to communicate a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution after the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network.

16. Software embodied in a computer readable media for performing handover execution in a wireless environment, the software operable to:

receive and recognize a handover command message from a mobile network to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being received by a physical layer of a mobile station;

respond to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling;

tune to a handed to frequency;

communicate physical layer bursts to the mobile network over the handed to frequency such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network;

receive, from the mobile network, a cease signal indicating to stop communicating the physical layer bursts;

end the transmission of the physical layer bursts; and

establish a new communications link with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a data path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications.

17. The software of claim 16, wherein the software operable to receive the handover command message to initiate the handover execution is in response to a communication from the mobile network, and wherein the software is further operable to communicate the handover command message through a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

18. The software of claim 17, further operable to update, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message that is received by the physical layer of the mobile station.

19. The software of claim 16, further operable to complete a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is received by the physical layer of the mobile station.

20. The software of claim 16, wherein the mobile station comprises software operable to communicate a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution after the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network.

21. A system for handover execution in a wireless environment, comprising:

means for receiving and recognizing a handover command message at a physical layer of a mobile station to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being communicated by a mobile network, the physical layer of the mobile station responding to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling, by tuning to a handed to frequency, and by communicating physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency to the mobile network such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications; and

means for receiving a cease signal, at the mobile station to stop communicating the physical layer bursts, the mobile station responding to the cease signal by ending the transmission of the physical layer bursts and by establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a voice path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for communicating the handover command message to initiate the handover execution to the physical layer comprises means for communicating the handover command message through a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for updating, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message that is communicated by the mobile network.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for completing a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is communicated by the mobile network.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein once the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network, the mobile station communicates a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution.

26. A system for handover execution in a wireless environment, comprising:

means for receiving and recognizing a handover command message from a mobile network to initiate a handover execution, the handover command message being received by a physical layer of a mobile station;

means for responding to the handover command message by communicating with a data link layer and a radio resource management (RRM) layer of the mobile station such that the RRM layer suspends its non-handover signaling;

means for tuning, by the physical layer, to a handed to frequency;

means for communicating, by the physical layer, physical layer bursts over the handed to frequency to the mobile network such that initial timing advance and power control setting characteristics are determined by the mobile network;

means for receiving, from the mobile network, a cease signal indicating to stop communicating the physical layer bursts;

means for ending, by the physical layer, the transmission of the physical layer bursts; and

means for establishing a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network couple to a data path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated, wherein the physical layer corresponds to layer one communications, the data link layer corresponds to layer two communications, and the RRM layer corresponds to layer three communications.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the handover command message to initiate the handover execution is communicated through a radio resource management (RRM) layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer associated with the mobile network.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for updating, by the data link layer of the mobile station, an internal state as if the mobile station had received one or more frames that included the handover command message.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for completing a handover decision associated with the mobile station and the mobile network before the handover command message is received by the physical layer of the mobile station.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein once the new communications link is established between the mobile station and the mobile network, the mobile station communicates a signal to the mobile network indicating completion of the handover execution.