Method and system for handover in cellular wireless using route programming and training processes

• US 8,160,613 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rockstar Bidco LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Inventors: Handforth, Martin, Duxbury, Guy, Marcanti, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US11/303,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,311 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/466, 455/412, 455/435.1, 455/437, 455/445, 455/439, 455/453, 455/513, 4554561-4563, 370/331, 370/332, 370/320, 370/338, 370/392
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data

Abstract

A method and system for managing handover where a database that receives location information about a moving object includes information regarding which base station is used in a current radio link connection and which base stations were used from historic radio link connections. Using the base station radio link history of the object and an electronic map, a processor coupled to the memory of the database selects which physical path the moving object is using. Upon matching the object'"'"'s path with a history of path routes on the list, the processor will apply an optimized handoff sequence to the moving object. The optimized route can be derived from an algorithm that processes previous historical data from moving objects traveling on the same route. Methods of providing the location of moving objects via location sensors may be used to provide the database with higher resolution information about a moving object'"'"'s location on an electronic map and allow further enhancement of the handoff optimization. Generally, location data is used to quickly determine which route the moving object is using and more quickly assign an optimized handoff sequence. Historical data along known routes can include time and spatial information to be processed by the routing algorithm. The database may reside in a central location or within each moving object or a combination of both.

Claims

1. A method of managing handover within a radio cellular environment, said method comprising:

determining an identification of a mobile station that is known to normally follow a predetermined route corresponding to said identification;

determining a direction of travel of the mobile station along the predetermined route; and

in accordance with the identification of the mobile station and with the direction of travel of the mobile station;

comparing said identification and direction of travel with a database having stored maps of route segments of the predetermined route, the route segments corresponding to unalterable sections of the predetermined route, each route segment having associated thereto a list of base stations located therealong; and

assigning a sequence of base stations corresponding to one or more of said route segments along said predetermined route, the sequence of base stations representing a sequential list of base stations to be used when the mobile station travels along the predetermined route.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identification determines information including ongoing location and relative-location information over absolute time and relative time including one or more units of time.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information includes a unique route identifier.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said information further includes geographical location information corresponding to said mobile station.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said information further includes time of day information.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information further includes speed information corresponding to movement of said mobile station.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said direction of travel is obtained from a directional indication mechanism on board a vehicle upon which said mobile station resides.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said method further includes storing locally on board said vehicle said maps that include said route segments corresponding to said sequence of base stations.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said database is centrally stored at a central server.