System and method for handover execution in a wireless environment

• US 7,200,398 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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
• Application Number:
  US11/012,405
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 455/428, 455445-446, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455436-439, 370330-334, 370/46
• 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. An apparatus for executing a handover in a wireless environment, comprising:

a mobile station operable to receive and to recognize a handover command message at a physical layer of a mobile station for initiating a handover execution, the handover command message being communicated by a mobile network that is coupled to 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 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, the mobile station is also operable to receive a cease signal that indicates to the mobile station to stop communicating the physical layer bursts, the mobile station operable to respond to the cease signal by ending a transmission of the physical layer bursts and to establish a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network, and wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network can couple to a voice path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

2. The apparatus 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 apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mobile station is further operable to update 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 apparatus of claim 3, wherein the update is executed by the data link layer of the mobile station.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is 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.

6. The apparatus 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.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is further operable to indicate an intention to establish the new communications link via an interlayer signaling primitive.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station may cut through to the voice path or a new data path involving the mobile network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the new communications link is not established, the mobile station is operable to resume an original data link over an original frequency and continue suspended signaling.

10. An apparatus for executing a handover in a wireless environment, comprising:

a mobile station operable to receive and to recognize a handover command message at a physical layer of a mobile station for initiating a handover execution, the handover command message being communicated by a mobile network that is coupled to 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, 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, wherein once a 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, and wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station may cut through to a new voice path or a new data path involving the mobile network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobile station is further operable to respond to the handover command message 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile station is further operable to receive a cease signal that indicates to the mobile station to stop communicating the physical layer bursts, the mobile station operable to respond to the cease signal by ending a transmission of the physical layer bursts and to establish a new communications link over the handed to frequency with the mobile network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein once the new communications link is established the mobile station and the mobile network can couple to a voice path such that a wireless communication associated with the mobile station and the mobile network is facilitated.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobile station is further operable to update 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.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the update is executed by the data link layer of the mobile station.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobile station is 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.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobile station is further operable to indicate an intention to establish the new communications link via an interlayer signaling primitive.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein if the new communications link is not established, the mobile station is operable to resume an original data link over an original frequency and continue suspended signaling.