Method and apparatus for improving neighbor searching performance

• US 6,278,703 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Neufeld, Arthur James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Brenda H.
• Application Number:
  US09/457,095
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 370/320, 370/324, 370/329, 370/333, 370/334, 370/335, 370/336, 370/341, 370/342, 370/343, 370/345, 370/337, 455/437, 455/572, 455/574, 455/525
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a system for mobile wireless communication, it is desirable to minimize the period of time during which the RF circuitry is powered (i.e. the RF power period). A novel method and apparatus for pilot monitoring during standby mode defers processing of pilot search results until the RF power period has passed. This approach allows more searches to be performed without extending the RF power period, thus improving idle handoff performance without reducing battery charge life.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a radio signal and outputting a digital data signal, the digital data signal comprising a plurality of pilot signals, said receiving being performed while a RF stage is in a powered state;

deriving a plurality of search results in a consecutive order, each of the plurality of search results being derived from the digital data signal; and

processing the plurality of search results,

wherein deriving the plurality of search results is performed while the RF stage is in the powered state and processing the plurality of search results is performed while the RE stage is in an unpowered state.

2. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising transferring a plurality of search parameters from a data memory directly to a searcher for deriving the plurality of search results, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals,

wherein deriving the plurality of search results occurs according to the plurality of search parameters.

3. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising transferring the plurality of search results into a data memory;

wherein transferring the plurality of search results occurs before processing the plurality of search results.

4. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising:

transferring a plurality of search parameters from a data memory directly to a searcher for deriving the plurality of search results, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals; and

transferring the plurality of search results into a data memory,

wherein deriving the plurality of search results occurs according to the plurality of search parameters, and

wherein transferring the plurality of search results occurs before processing the plurality of search results.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one among transferring the plurality of search parameters and transferring the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of search results comprises a measure of a strength of the corresponding one of the pilot signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one among transferring the plurality of search parameters and transferring the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a radio signal and outputting a digital data signal, the digital data signal comprising a plurality of pilot signals, said receiving being performed while a RF stage is in a powered state;

receiving the digital data signal and outputting a plurality of search results in a consecutive order, each of the plurality of search results corresponding to one of the plurality of pilot signals; and

processing the plurality of search results,

wherein said processing of a first one of the plurality of search results occurs at a time when the RF stage is in an unpowered state, said first one being earlier in said consecutive order than another among the plurality of search results.

9. The method according to claim 8, said method further comprising transferring a plurality of search parameters from a data memory directly to a searcher for deriving the plurality of search results, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals,

wherein deriving the plurality of search results occurs according to the plurality of search parameters.

10. The method according to claim 8, said method further comprising transferring the plurality of search results into a data memory;

wherein transferring the plurality of search results occurs before processing the plurality of search results.

11. The method according to claim 8, said method further comprising:

transferring a plurality of search parameters from a data memory directly to a searcher for deriving the plurality of search results, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals; and

transferring the plurality of search results into the data memory,

wherein deriving the plurality of search results occurs according to the plurality of search parameters, and

wherein transferring the plurality of search results occurs before processing the plurality of search results.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one among transferring the plurality of search parameters and transferring the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of search results comprises a measure of a strength of the corresponding one of the pilot signals.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one among transferring the plurality of search parameters and transferring the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a radio signal and outputting a digital data signal, the digital data signal comprising a plurality of pilot signals, a RF stage of said receiving unit having a powered state and an unpowered state;

a searcher for outputting a plurality of search results in a consecutive order, each of the plurality of search results being derived from the digital data signal; and

a processing unit for receiving and processing the plurality of search results,

wherein the searcher outputs the plurality of search results at a time when said RF stage of said receiving unit is in the powered state and said processing unit processes the plurality of search results when said RF stage of said receiving unit is in the unpowered state.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for receiving a plurality of search parameters from said processing unit,

wherein said searcher derives the plurality of search results according to the plurality of search parameters, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for storing the plurality of search results,

wherein storing the plurality of search results occurs before receiving and processing the plurality of search results.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for receiving a plurality of search parameters from said processing unit and for storing the plurality of search results,

wherein said searcher derives the plurality of search results according to the plurality of search parameters, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals, and

wherein storing the plurality of search results occurs before receiving and processing the plurality of search results.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one among receiving the plurality of search parameters and storing the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of search results comprises a measure of a strength of the corresponding one of the pilot signals.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one among receiving the plurality of search parameters and storing the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a radio signal and outputting a digital data signal, the digital data signal comprising a plurality of pilot signals, a RF stage of said receiving unit having a powered state and an unpowered state;

a searcher for receiving the digital data signal and outputting a plurality of search results in a consecutive order, each of the plurality of search results corresponding to one of the plurality of pilot signals; and

a processing unit for processing the plurality of search results,

wherein said processing unit processes a first one of the plurality of search results at a time when said RF stage of said receiving unit is in the unpowered state, said first one being earlier in said consecutive order than another among the plurality of search results.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for receiving a plurality of search parameters from said processing unit,

wherein said searcher derives the plurality of search results according to the plurality of search parameters, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for storing the plurality of search results,

wherein storing the plurality of search results occurs before receiving and processing the plurality of search results.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, said apparatus further comprising:

a data memory for receiving a plurality of search parameters from said processing unit and for storing the plurality of search results,

wherein said searcher derives the plurality of search results according to the plurality of search parameters, the plurality of search parameters including a plurality of code offsets, each of the plurality of code offsets corresponding to one of the pilot signals, and

wherein storing the plurality of search results occurs before receiving and processing the plurality of search results.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one among receiving the plurality of search parameters and storing the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of search results comprises a measure of a strength of the corresponding one of the pilot signals.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least one among receiving the plurality of search parameters and storing the plurality of search results is controlled by a direct memory access controller.