Tune-away protocols for wireless systems

• US 8,134,977 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Parekh, Nileshkumar J., Ulupinar, Fatih, Prakash, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasraian, Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US11/261,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 370/332, 370/338, 455/451.1, 455/435.2, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service. This can include processes for defining a protocol that controls whether to invoke a tune away component to determine an alternative wireless communications path. This can include defining one or more tune away parameters for the tune away component. The process can then automatically select the alternative wireless communications path based in part on the tune away procedure and at least one of the tune away parameters.

Claims

1. A method to process wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

defining a protocol that controls whether to invoke a tune away component to determine an alternative wireless communications path, the tune-away component samples both inter-frequency and inter-RAT (radio access technology) communication paths as candidate alternate communication paths;

defining one or more tune-away parameters associated with a tune-away schedule utilized in connection with the protocol, the tune-away parameters including at least a Start Super Frame Number identifying a super frame in which a first tune-away occurred and a Start Super Frame Offset indicating a time duration between the beginning of the Start Super Frame and the first-tune away;

sending a BLOB (binary large object) message from an access terminal or an access node to facilitate monitoring a page from a disparate radio access technology (RAT) in a mobile broadband wireless access system, wherein the BLOB comprises at least a message ID field and a technology type field indicating the type of the disparate radio access technology; and

selecting the alternative wireless communications path based in part on the tune-away component and at least one of the tune-away parameters, and the page from the disparate RAT.

2. The method of claim 1, the protocol is employed with at least one of an inter-frequency protocol, an inter-radio access technology protocol, or a hybrid communications protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a parameter for initiating a signal strength measurement.

4. The method of claim 1, the protocol includes at least one of a tune-away attribute and a tune-away control message.

5. The method of claim 4, the protocol includes provisions for one or more sets of parameters for tune-away.

6. The method of claim 4, the protocol includes messaging for independently controlling at least one tune-away schedule.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a tune-away control allowing for independent time adjustment of each tune-away schedule.

8. The method of claim 7, the tune-away control allowing timing control per an active set member.

9. The method of claim 4, the tune away attribute further comprising at least one of a length field, an attribute ID, a time away duration, or a time away period.

10. The method of claim 4, the tune away control message further comprising at least one of a message ID, a tune away enabled field, a number of pilots field, an active set index field, or a sector time offset field.

11. The method of claim 1, the tune away parameters further comprising one or more of the following parameters:

a message ID, a country code, a sector ID, a subnet mask, a sector signature, a latitude parameter, a longitude parameter, a registration radius, time information, date information, offset information, registration information, parameters for synchronizing systems, channel data, pilot neighbor data, a carrier ID, a sector color field, a transmit power field, a number of other technologies field, a technology occurrences field, a technology type, a technology neighbor list length, or a technology neighbor list.

12. An apparatus for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

means for defining a protocol that controls whether to invoke a tune-away component to determine an alternative wireless communications path, the tune-away component samples both inter-frequency and inter-RAT (radio access technology) communication paths as candidate alternate communication paths;

means for defining one or more tune-away parameters associated with a tune-away schedule utilized in connection with the protocol, the tune-away parameters including at least a Start Super Frame Number identifying a super frame in which a first tune-away occurred and a Start Super Frame Offset indicating a time duration between the beginning of the Start Super Frame and the first-tune away;

means for sending a BLOB (binary large object) message from an access terminal or an access node to facilitate monitoring a page from a disparate radio access technology (RAT) in a mobile broadband wireless access system, wherein the BLOB comprises at least a message ID field and a technology type field indicating the type of the disparate radio access technology; and

means for selecting the alternative wireless communications path based at least in part on the tune-away component, at least one of the tune-away parameters, and the page from the disparate RAT.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable code, the computer-executable code comprising:

code for causing a computer to define a protocol that controls whether to invoke a tune-away component to determine an alternative wireless communications path, the tune-away component samples both inter-frequency and inter-RAT (radio access technology) communication paths as candidate alternate communication paths;

code for causing a computer to define one or more tune-away parameters associated with a tune-away schedule utilized in connection with the protocol, the tune-away parameters including at least a Start Super Frame Number identifying a super frame in which a first tune-away occurred and a Start Super Frame Offset indicating a time duration between the beginning of the Start Super Frame and the first-tune away;

code for causing a computer to send a BLOB (binary large object) message from an access terminal or an access node to facilitate monitoring a page from a disparate radio access technology (RAT) in a mobile broadband wireless access system, wherein the BLOB comprises at least a message ID field and a technology type field indicating the type of the disparate radio access technology; and

code for causing a computer to select the alternative wireless communications path based at least in part on the tune-away component, at least one of the tune-away parameters, and the page from the disparate RAT.

14. An apparatus for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

a processor configured to define a protocol that controls whether to invoke a tune-away component to determine an alternative wireless communications path, the tune-away component samples both inter-frequency and inter-RAT (radio access technology) communication paths as candidate alternate communication paths;

to define one or more tune-away parameters associated with a tune-away schedule utilized in connection with the protocol, the tune-away parameters including at least a Start Super Frame Number identifying a super frame in which a first tune-away occurred and a Start Super Frame Offset indicating a time duration between the beginning of the Start Super Frame and the first-tune away;

to send a BLOB (binary large object) message from an access terminal or an access node to facilitate monitoring a page from a disparate radio access technology (RAT) in a mobile broadband wireless access system, wherein the BLOB comprises at least a message ID field and a technology type field indicating the type of the disparate radio access technology, and to select the alternative wireless communications path based in part on the tune-away component, at least one of the tune-away parameters, and the page from the disparate RAT; and

a memory coupled to the processor for storing data.