HANDOFF TO BASE STATION HAVING ENHANCED CAPABILITIES

• US 20120289234A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: HELLER, Howard A., FARLEY, Kevin L., PROCTOR, James A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,974,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and a wireless transmit/receive unit perform a handoff to a target base station having enhanced capabilities. A dual mode manager triggers a capabilities query for information regarding enhanced capability of the target base station, wherein the enhanced capability includes transmission in accordance with a high speed data mode. A generator sends the query to a server connected to the Internet via a first base station not having enhanced capability. The dual mode manager receives from the server via the first base station information regarding the enhanced capability. A handoff to the target base station is initiated by the dual mode manager on a condition that the received information indicates that the target base station has enhanced capability. The dual mode manager deactivates a first mode of operation for communication with the first base station and activates the high speed data mode for communication with the target base station.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a wireless handset for handoff to a base station having enhanced capabilities, comprising:

using a dual mode manager to trigger a capabilities query for information regarding enhanced capability of a target base station for handoff, wherein the enhanced capability includes transmission in accordance with a high speed data mode;

sending the query to a server connected to the Internet via a first base station not having enhanced capability;

receiving information from the server via the first base station, the received information regarding the enhanced capability;

initiating handoff to the target base station on a condition that the received information indicates that the target base station has enhanced capability; and

using a dual-mode manager to deactivate a first mode of operation for communication with the first base station and to activate the high speed data mode for communication with the target base station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the query includes location information regarding location of the wireless handset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the query includes location information regarding location of the first base station.

4. A wireless handset, comprising:

a dual mode manager configured to trigger a capabilities query for information regarding enhanced capability of a target base station for handoff, wherein the enhanced capability includes transmission in accordance with a high speed data mode;

a capabilities query generator configured to send the query to a server connected to the Internet via a first base station not having enhanced capability;

the dual mode manager further configured to receive information from the server via the first base station, the received information regarding the enhanced capability;

to initiate handoff to the target base station on a condition that the received information indicates that the target base station has enhanced capability;

to deactivate a first mode of operation for communication with the first base station; and

to activate the high speed data mode for communication with the target base station.

5. The wireless handset of claim 4, wherein the query includes location information regarding location of the WTRU.

6. The wireless handset of claim 4, wherein the query includes location information regarding location of the first base station.