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Base station based methods and apparatus for supporting break before make handoffs in a multi-carrier system

  • US 20060073836A1
  • Filed: 11/21/2005
  • Published: 04/06/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a second network point of attachment in a communications system including a first network point of attachment, the first network point of attachment using signals in a first frequency band to communicate with a mobile node having a communications link with said first network point of attachment over which data can be communicated, the method comprising:

  • transmitting beacon signals having a predetermined frequency into said first frequency band on a periodic basis, said first frequency band being a frequency band into which said second network attachment point does not transmit user data; and

    using a second frequency band which is different from said first frequency band for establishing and maintaining communications links with mobile nodes over which user data can be communicated, said step of using a second frequency band including assigning segments of an uplink communications channel to mobile nodes, the uplink communications channel having a structure that includes a periodic repeating pattern of access segments and traffic segments, access segments being segments into which mobile nodes that do not have an existing wireless communication link established with said second network attachment point can send at least one signal to said network attachment point over the air to establish a wireless communications link with the second network attachment point, each access segment occurring at a fixed time offset from the point at which one of said beacon signals is transmitted into said first frequency band by said second network attachment point.

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