Cell selection in mobile communications
First Claim
1. Cell selection apparatus for use in mobile communications equipment to select a cell from a candidate set of cells to support subsequent communication between a cellular network and the equipment, said apparatus being triggerable, by a transition of the equipment out of an existing connected mode state in which communication is supported by a serving cell or an active set of one or more cells, to select said cell, wherein the apparatus is adapted to use as said candidate set a set of cells comprising at least one cell which is not a cell supporting the existing connected mode state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mobile user equipment for use in a cellular communications environment performs an improved cell selection on transitions out of a connected mode state. The transitions might be from one connected mode state to another or from a connected mode state to idle mode. The improvement in cell selection lies in assembling the list of candidate cells prior to cell selection. In the prior art, the list of candidate cells would usually be restricted to the serving cell or active cells supporting communication between the equipment and the network prior to transition. In embodiments of the invention, the list might comprise cells which are not the serving cell or which are outside the active set, for example a network-preferred cell or cells neighbouring the serving cell or cells of the active set.
113 Citations
32 Claims
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1. Cell selection apparatus for use in mobile communications equipment to select a cell from a candidate set of cells to support subsequent communication between a cellular network and the equipment, said apparatus being triggerable, by a transition of the equipment out of an existing connected mode state in which communication is supported by a serving cell or an active set of one or more cells, to select said cell,
wherein the apparatus is adapted to use as said candidate set a set of cells comprising at least one cell which is not a cell supporting the existing connected mode state.
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21. A method of selecting a cell of a cellular network to support subsequent communications between the network and mobile communications equipment on transition of the equipment out of an existing connected mode state in which communication is supported by a serving cell or an active set of one or more cells, which method comprises the steps of:
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i) assembling a candidate list of cells; and
ii) selecting a cell from the candidate list, wherein step i) comprises identifying for said candidate list at least one cell which is not a cell supporting the existing connected mode state, said at least one cell meeting one or more predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Cell selection apparatus for use in mobile communications equipment to select a serving cell from a candidate set of cells of a mobile communications network, on transition of the equipment from a state in which it has a dedicated channel to a state in which it is camped on a serving cell in the network,
wherein the apparatus comprises a candidate set assembler for assembling a candidate set of cells for use in selection by the selection apparatus, the set comprising at least one cell from the group comprising: -
a) a cell identified to the mobile communications equipment by the network;
b) a cell neighbouring a cell of an active set supporting said dedicated channel;
c) a cell identified by information stored by the mobile communications equipment; and
d) a cell identified by system information received by the mobile communications equipment.
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31. Cell selection apparatus for use in mobile communications equipment to select a serving cell from a candidate set of cells, on transition of the equipment from a connected state in which it is camped on a pre-transition serving cell either to a different connected state in which it is camped on a post-transition serving cell or to idle mode,
wherein the apparatus comprises a candidate set assembler for assembling a candidate set of cells, the set comprising at least one cell from the group comprising: -
a) a cell identified to the mobile communications equipment by the network;
b) a cell neighbouring said pre-transition serving cell;
c) a cell identified by information stored by the mobile communications equipment; and
d) a cell identified by system information received by the mobile communications equipment.
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32. A method of selecting a cell of a cellular network to support subsequent communications between the network and mobile communications equipment on transition of the equipment out of an existing connected mode state, which method comprises the steps of:
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i) assembling a candidate list of cells; and
ii) selecting a cell from the candidate list, wherein step i) comprises identifying for said candidate list at least one cell which is not a cell supporting the existing connected mode state, said at least one cell meeting one or more predetermined criteria.
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Specification