Tune-away and cross paging systems and methods

• US 8,155,652 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Parekh, Nileshkumar J., Ulupinar, Faith, Prakash, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/835,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 455/502, 455436-444, 455/328, 455/329, 455/330, 455/331, 455/332, 455/333, 370/350, 370329-333, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/142 over the same radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service. This can include processes for measuring signal strength of an alternative frequency by tuning away from an existing frequency associated with an existing communications path. Such processes allow determining if the alternative frequency supports a subsequent communications path in a mobile broadband wireless application. Upon the determination, the process can automatically select the subsequent communications path based in part on the measured signal strength.

Claims

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

generating a schedule that describes frame structure timing of a first communications channel;

tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel temporarily to determine timing differences with at least a second communications channel in accordance with the schedule;

generating a correction time factor between the first communications channel and the second communications channel to facilitate handing off communications between the channels; and

tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel at a time based on the correction time factor to receive at least one page on the second communications channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one tune-away mechanism at the access terminal to perform the tuning away from the first communications channel temporarily, the tune-away mechanism supporting one or more technology types.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tune-away mechanism supports inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tune-away mechanism supports an inter-radio access technology handoff.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a signal strength based in part on a signal threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising extending an Active Set of parameters that include members from one or more frequencies, where the Active Set includes Sectors from the one or more frequencies.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising processing the Sectors from different frequencies that are synchronous or asynchronous with respect to each sector.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a handoff policy for an Inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) Handoff in the access terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising triggering a measurement of other communication technology from the access terminal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising triggering a handoff decision from the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising passing a Neighbor List of frequencies between the access terminal and at least one access network.

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

means for generating a schedule that describes flame structure timing of a first communications channel;

means for tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel temporarily to determine timing differences with at least a second communications channel in accordance with the schedule;

means for generating a correction time factor between the first communications channel and the second communications channel to facilitate handing off communications between the channels; and

means for tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel at a time based on the correction time factor to receive at least one page on the second communications channel.

13. The access terminal of claim 12, wherein the means for tuning the access terminal away supports inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

14. The access terminal of claim 12, wherein the means for tuning the access terminal away supports an inter-radio access technology handoff.

15. The access terminal of claim 12, further comprising means for triggering a measurement of other communication technology from the access terminal.

16. The access terminal of claim 15, further comprising means for triggering a handoff decision from the access terminal.

17. An access terminal for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

a memory configured to store a schedule that describes flame structure timing of a first communications channel; and

a processor configured to tune the access terminal away from the first communications channel temporarily to determine timing differences with at least a second communications channel in accordance with the schedule, and to generate a correction time factor between the first communications channel and the second communications channel to facilitate handing off communications between the channels, wherein the processor is further configured to tune the access terminal away from the first communications channel at a time based on the correction time factor to receive at least one page on the second communications channel.

18. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to support inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

19. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to support an inter-radio access technology handoff.

20. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to trigger a measurement of other communication technology from the access terminal.

21. The access terminal of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to trigger a handoff decision from the access terminal.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising code, which, when executed by an access terminal, cause the access terminal to perform operations for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

code for generating a schedule that describes frame structure timing of a first communications channel;

code for tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel temporarily to determine timing differences with at least a second communications channel in accordance with the schedule;

code for generating a correction time factor between the first communications channel and the second communications channel to facilitate handing off communications between the channels; and

code for tuning the access terminal away from the first communications channel at a time based on the correction time factor to receive at least one page on the second communications channel.

23. The access terminal of claim 22, wherein the code for tuning the access terminal away supports inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

24. The access terminal of claim 22, wherein the code for tuning the access terminal away supports an inter-radio access technology handoff.

25. The access terminal of claim 22, further comprising code for triggering a measurement of other communication technology from the access terminal.

26. The access terminal of claim 25, further comprising code for triggering a handoff decision from the access terminal.