Frequency band class control for a wireless communication device

• US 8,351,953 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Khanka, Bhagwan Singh, Goyal, Anoop Kumar, Pawar, Hemanth Balaji, Srinivas, Shilpa Kowdley
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US13/441,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455450-454
• US Class Current: 455/451
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 of the wireless resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

In a wireless communication system, a wireless access node provides a wireless communication service to wireless communication devices over a first frequency band class and over a second frequency band class. A control system identifies a subset of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class that have been in an idle mode for a time period that exceeds a threshold. The wireless access node transfers a signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices to transition from the first frequency band class to the second frequency band class. The wireless access node then provides the wireless communication service to at least some of the subset of the wireless communication devices over the second frequency band class.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication system comprising:

in a wireless access node, providing a wireless communication service to wireless communication devices over a first frequency band class and over a second frequency band class;

in a control system, identifying a subset of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class that have been in an idle mode for a time period that exceeds a threshold;

in the wireless access node, transferring a signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices to transition from the first frequency band class to the second frequency band class; and

in the wireless access node, providing the wireless communication service to at least some of the subset of the wireless communication devices over the second frequency band class.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the subset of the wireless communication devices comprises tracking ones of the wireless devices that are in the idle mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the subset of the wireless communication devices comprises identifying ones of the wireless devices that are operable to receive the communication service over the first frequency band class and the second frequency band class.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the subset of the wireless communication devices comprises selecting ones of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class based on quality of service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the wireless communication service comprises providing a Long Term Evolution communication service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the wireless communication service comprises providing a voice telephony service.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a condition with the first frequency band class, and wherein identifying and transferring the signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices comprises identifying and transferring the signal responsive to detecting the condition.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein detecting the condition comprises detecting, for the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class, at least one of:

numbers of devices, bandwidth usage, power levels, and noise levels.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a condition with the second frequency band class, and wherein identifying and transferring the signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices comprises identifying and transferring the signal responsive to detecting the condition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein detecting the condition comprises detecting, for the wireless communication devices operating over the second frequency band class, at least one of:

numbers of devices, bandwidth usage, power levels, and noise levels.

11. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless access node configured to provide a wireless communication service to wireless communication devices over a first frequency band class and over a second frequency band class;

a control system configured to identify a subset of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class that have been in an idle mode for a time period that exceeds a threshold; and

the wireless access node configured to transfer a signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices to transition from the first frequency band class to the second frequency band class and to provide the wireless communication service to at least some of the subset of the wireless communication devices over the second frequency band class.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to track ones of the wireless devices that are in the idle mode.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to identify ones of the wireless devices that are operable to receive the communication service over the first frequency band class and the second frequency band class.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to identify the subset of the wireless communication devices based on quality of service.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication service comprises a Long Term Evolution communication service.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication service comprises a voice telephony service.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to detect a condition with the first frequency band class and to identify the subset of the wireless communication devices responsive to detecting the condition.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 17 wherein the condition comprises, for the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class, at least one of:

numbers of devices, bandwidth usage, power levels, and noise levels.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to detect a condition with the second frequency band class and to identify the subset of the wireless communication devices responsive to detecting the condition.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 19 wherein the condition comprises, for the wireless communication devices operating over the second frequency band class, at least one of:

numbers of devices, bandwidth usage, power levels, and noise levels.