Inter-radio access technology measurement system and method

• US 8,089,933 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Cai, Zhijun, Suzuki, Takashi, Wu, Wei, Womack, James Earl, Young, Gordon Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/868,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/331, 370/252, 370/253, 370229-238, 455436-444
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A macrotechnology-based system is provided. The system includes a processor configured to promote macrotechnology-based transmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions, at least one of the gaps used by the multi-mode user equipment for measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology-based network.

Claims

1. A macrotechnology-based system, comprising:

a processor configured to promote macrotechnology-based transmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions, wherein at least one of the gaps is used by the multi-mode user equipment for measurement of a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network, wherein the processor is further configured to increase the size of a previously existing gap to form an increased-size gap, wherein the previously existing gap is in the plurality of gaps, and wherein the increased-size gap allows for both the first signal strength measurement and a second signal strength measurement of a macrotechnology-based network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the increased-size gap is generated based upon a request received from the multi-mode user equipment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to perform any one of:

defining a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and a macrotechnology.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the microtechnology is one of:

a Wireless Fidelity network,

a wireless local access network using a home base station,

a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B, and

a Wireless Local Area Network; and

wherein the macrotechnology is one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network,

a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network;

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and

a 1×

Evolution-Data Optimized network.

5. A method for measuring signal strength, comprising:

transmitting from a macrotechnology-based system a macrotechnology-based signal to a multi-mode user equipment, wherein the macrotechnology-based signal comprises a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions;

using at least one of the gaps at the multi-mode user equipment for measuring a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network; and

increasing the size of a previously existing gap to form an increased-size gap, wherein the previously existing gap is in the plurality of gaps, and wherein the increased-size gap allows for measuring both the first signal strength and a second signal strength of a macrotechnology-based network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the increased-size gap is generated based upon a request received from the multi-mode user equipment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

defining a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and a macrotechnology.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

using a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

using idle time within a data portion of the data transmission, discontinuous reception (DRX) period, to make the microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the microtechnology is one of:

a Wireless Fidelity network,

a wireless local access network using a home base station,

a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B, and

a Wireless Local Area Network; and

wherein the macrotechnology is one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network,

a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network;

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and

a 1×

Evolution-Data Optimized network.

11. A multi-mode user equipment comprising:

one or more components configured to;

receive a macrotechnology-based signal comprising a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions;

use at least one of the gaps for measuring a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network; and

use an increased-size gap for measuring both the first signal strength and a second signal strength of a macrotechnology-based network.

12. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 11, wherein the increased-size gap is generated based upon a request from the multi-mode user equipment.

13. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 11, wherein the one or more components are further configured to:

request a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and a macrotechnology;

use a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform the microtechnology-based signal strength measurement; and

use idle time within a data portion of the data transmission, discontinuous reception (DRX) period, to make the microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement.

14. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 11, wherein the microtechnology is one of:

a Wireless Fidelity network,

a wireless local access network using a home base station,

a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B, and

a Wireless Local Area Network; and

wherein the macrotechnology is one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network,

a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network;

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and

a 1×

Evolution-Data Optimized network.