Methods and apparatus of improving inter-sector and/or inter cell handoffs in a multi-carrier wireless communications system
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- means for causing a base station transmitter to transmit ordinary signaling into a first frequency band during a first period of time, wherein the base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band during the first period of time; and
means for causing the base station transmitter to transmit a beacon signal into the second frequency band during a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted at higher power than the ordinary signaling;
wherein the first and second periods of time repeat at a fixed periodicity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band.
182 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for causing a base station transmitter to transmit ordinary signaling into a first frequency band during a first period of time, wherein the base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band during the first period of time; and means for causing the base station transmitter to transmit a beacon signal into the second frequency band during a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted at higher power than the ordinary signaling; wherein the first and second periods of time repeat at a fixed periodicity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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circuitry configured to cause a base station transmitter to; transmit ordinary signaling into a first frequency band during a first period of time having a first duration, wherein the base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band during the first period of time; and transmit a beacon signal into the second frequency band during a second period of time having a second duration that is shorter than the duration of said first period of time, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted at higher power than the ordinary signaling; wherein the first and second periods of time repeat at periodic intervals. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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transmitting, from a base station transmitter, ordinary signaling into a first frequency band during a first period of time, wherein the base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band during the first period of time; and transmitting, from the base station transmitter, a beacon signal into the second frequency band during a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted at higher power than the ordinary signaling; wherein the first and second periods of time repeat at a fixed periodicity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
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code for causing a base station transmitter to transmit ordinary signaling into a first frequency band during a first period of time, wherein the base station transmitter does not transmit into a second frequency band during the first period of time; and code for causing the base station transmitter to transmit a beacon signal into the second frequency band during a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted at higher power than the ordinary signaling; wherein the first and second periods of time repeat at a fixed periodicity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification