Controlling voice-over-packet service where base stations provide overlapping coverage on overlapping RF carriers
AssigneeSprint Spectrum L.P.
InventorsHemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Shilpa K. Srinivas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Given first and second base stations that have at least partially geographically-overlapping coverage on at least partially frequency-overlapping carriers, a determination could be made that the first base station supports voice-interworking service in which served UEs could separately receive voice-over-circuit service but that the second base station does not support voice-interworking service. And in response to at least that determination, the second base station could be given priority over the first base station for providing voice-over-packet service.
Claims20
A method for controlling voice service in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a first base station that provides first coverage on a first RF carrier using a first radio access technology (RAT) and supports providing packet-data service including voice-over-packet service, the method comprising:
- detecting addition to the wireless communication system of a second base station, wherein the second base station provides second coverage on a second RF carrier using a second RAT and that also supports providing packet-data service including voice-over-packet service, wherein the second coverage at least partially geographically overlaps with the first coverage and wherein the second RF carrier at least partially overlaps in frequency with the first RF carrier to define an overlapping frequency range;
- determining (i) that the first base station supports a voice-interworking service that includes serving UEs with packet-data service while the UEs separately receive voice-over-circuit service using a third RAT but (ii) that the added second base station does not support the voice-interworking service;
- and
- responsive to the determining, configuring the wireless communication system to give the second base station priority over the first base station for providing voice-over-packet service.
A configuration server operable to control voice service in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a first base station that provides first coverage on a first RF carrier using a first radio access technology (RAT) and supports providing packet-data service including voice-over-packet service, the configuration server comprising:
- a network communication interface;
- a processing unit;
- non-transitory data storage;
- and
- program instructions stored in the non-transitory data storage and executable by the processing unit to carry out operations including:
- detecting addition to the wireless communication system of a second base station, wherein the second base station provides second coverage on a second RF carrier using a second RAT and that also supports providing packet-data service including voice-over-packet service, wherein the second coverage at least partially geographically overlaps with the first coverage and wherein the second RF carrier at least partially overlaps in frequency with the first RF carrier to define an overlapping frequency range,
- determining (i) that the first base station supports a voice-interworking service that includes serving UEs with packet-data service while the UEs separately receive voice-over-circuit service using a third RAT but (ii) that the added second base station does not support the voice-interworking service, and
- responsive to the determining, configuring the wireless communication system to give the second base station priority over the first base station for providing voice-over-packet service.
A method for controlling voice service in a system comprising a first base station that provides first coverage on a first radio-frequency (RF) carrier and a second base station that provides second coverage on a second RF carrier, the first and second RF carriers at least partially overlapping with each other in frequency to define an overlapping frequency region, and the first coverage at least partially geographically overlapping with the second coverage, wherein the first and second base stations each support providing voice-over-packet service, the method comprising:
- determining (i) that the first base station and second base station have threshold heaving loading and (ii) that the first base station supports providing voice-interworking service including providing wireless packet-data service to UEs while the UEs separately receive voice-over-circuit service, but that the second base station does not support providing the voice-interworking service;
- and
- responsive to the determining, configuring the first and second base stations to give the second base station priority over the first base station for use of the overlapping frequency region to provide the voice-over-packet service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.