Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing cellular handoff

• US 7,974,241 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayza R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/864,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/335, 370/338, 370/395.21, 455/405, 455/432, 455/436, 455/446, 455/453, 455/456, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing cellular handoff. According to embodiments, a method for providing a cellular handoff is provided. According to the method, a first group of users is associated with a first class of service and a first cellular tower. A second group of users is associated with a second class of service. Whether to hand off the first group of users from the first cellular tower to a second cellular tower is determined based on real-time quality of service provided to at least one of the first group of users and the second group of users. In response to determining to hand off the first group of users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower, a handoff of the first group of users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower is performed.

Claims

1. A method for providing cellular handoff, comprising:

associating a group of first users with a first subscribed quality of service;

associating a first group of second users and a second group of second users with a second subscribed quality of service, the second subscribed quality of service lower than the first subscribed quality of service;

assigning the group of first users with the first subscribed quality of service and the first group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a first cellular tower;

assigning the second group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a second cellular tower;

determining a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users;

determining whether the real-time quality of service provided by the cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service; and

in response to determining that the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service, performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower even when the handoff causes a second real-time quality of service provided by the second cellular tower to the first group of second users to fall below the second subscribed quality of service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users comprises determining the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users based on a load placed on the first cellular tower.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower comprises forcing the handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower comprises encouraging the handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower by increasing a likelihood that the handoff will occur.

5. A system for providing a cellular handoff, comprising:

a memory for storing a program containing code for providing the cellular handoff;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to;

associate a group of first users with a first subscribed quality of service,

associate a first group of second users and a second group of second users with a second subscribed quality of service, the second subscribed quality of service lower than the first subscribed quality of service,

assign the group of first users with the first subscribed quality of service and the first group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a first cellular tower;

assign the second group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a second cellular tower,

determine a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users,

determine whether the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service, and

in response to determining that the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service, perform a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower even when the handoff causes a second real-time quality of service provided by the second cellular tower to the first group of second users to fall below the second subscribed quality of service.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein to determine a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users, the processor is further operative to:

determine the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users based on a load placed on the first cellular tower.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein to perform a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower, the processor is further operative to:

encourage the handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower by increasing a likelihood that the handoff will occur.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to provide cellular handoff, the instructions causing the processor to perform the following:

associating a group of first users with a first subscribed quality of service;

associating a first group of second users and a second group of second users with a second subscribed quality of service, the second subscribed quality of service lower than the first subscribed quality of service;

assigning the group of first users with the first subscribed quality of service and the first group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a first cellular tower;

assigning the second group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a second cellular tower;

determining a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users;

determining whether the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service; and

in response to determining that the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service, performing a handoff of the first group of users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower even when the handoff causes a second real-time quality of service provided by the second cellular tower to the first group of second users to fall below the second subscribed quality of service.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein determining a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users comprises determining the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users based on a load placed on the first cellular tower.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower comprises forcing the handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower comprises encouraging the handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower.