Cell selection
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorSunil Keshavji Vadgama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cell selection techniques for use in cellular communications systems are disclosed. A decision as to whether to use a cell for data transmission is made in dependence on a measure of a congestion level in the cell. The decision may either be part of a cell selection decision, or used to override a cell selection decision. The techniques may be used in fast cell site selection.
Claims36
A cellular communications system for carrying out a site selection diversity method, the system comprising:
- a user equipment comprising a processor operable periodically to select a cell for data transmission from a plurality of cells, and a transmitter operable to transmit a result of the selection to a base station;
- and
- a plurality of base stations, each of which comprises a receiver operable to receive a result of a selection, a transmitter operable to transmit data to the user equipment, and a controller operable to determine whether or not the base station is a selected base station and to control the transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station;
- wherein the processor in the user equipment is operable to select a cell for data transmission based on measures of congestion levels in the cells.
A base station which carries out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the base station comprising:
- a measurement unit operable to measure a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- a transmitter operable to transmit a measure of a congestion level to a user equipment;
- a receiver operable to receive a result of a selection from the user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- and
- a controller operable to determine whether or not the base station is a selected base station, and to control transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station.
A user equipment which carries out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the user equipment comprising:
- a measurement unit operable to measure congestion levels in a plurality of cells;
- a processor operable to select a cell from the plurality of cells based on measures of congestion levels in the cells;
- and
- a transmitter operable to transmit a result of the selection to a base station.
A base station which carries out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the base station comprising:
- a measurement unit operable to produce a measure of a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- a receiver operable to receive a result of a selection from a user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- a transmitter operable to transmit data to a user equipment;
- and
- a controller operable to determine whether or not the base station is a selected base station, and to control the transmission of data to the user equipment in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station and in dependence on the measure of a congestion level in the cell.
A cellular communications system for carrying out a site selection diversity method, the system comprising a base station and a user equipment, the base station comprising:
- a measurement unit operable to produce a measure of a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- a receiver operable to receive a result of a selection from the user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- a transmitter operable to transmit data to the user equipment;
- and
- a controller operable to determine whether or not the base station is a selected base station, and to control the transmission of data to the user equipment in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station and in dependence on the measure of a congestion level in the cell;
- and the user equipment comprising:
- a receiver operable to receive transmission signals from a plurality of base stations;
- a processor operable to produce measures of qualities of signals received from the base stations, and to select a cell based on measures of signal qualities;
- and
- a transmitter operable to transmit a result of a cell selection decision to the base stations.
A cellular communications system for carrying out a site selection diversity method, the system comprising:
- a user equipment comprising means for periodically selecting a cell for data transmission from a plurality of cells, and means for transmitting a result of the selection to a base station;
- and
- a plurality of base stations, each of which comprises means for receiving a result of a selection, means for determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station, and means for controlling transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station;
- wherein the selecting means in the user equipment is arranged to select a cell for data transmission based on measures of congestion levels in the cells.
A base station for carrying out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the base station comprising:
- means for measuring a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- means for transmitting a measure of a congestion level to a user equipment;
- means for receiving a result of a selection from the user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- means for determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station;
- and
- means for controlling transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station.
A user equipment for carrying out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the user equipment comprising:
- means for measuring congestion levels in a plurality of cells;
- means for selecting a cell from the plurality of cells based on measures of congestion levels in the cells;
- and
- means for transmitting a result of the selection to a base station.
A base station for carrying out a site selection diversity method in a cellular communications system, the base station comprising:
- means for producing a measure of a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- means for receiving a result of a selection from a user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- means for determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station;
- and
- means for controlling transmission of data to the user equipment in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station and in dependence on the measure of a congestion level in the cell.
A site selection diversity method for use in a cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- in a user equipment, periodically selecting a cell for data transmission from a plurality of cells and transmitting a result of the selection to a base station;
- and
- in a base station, receiving a result of a selection, determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station, and controlling transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station;
- wherein a cell for data transmission is selected based on measures of congestion levels in the cells.
A site selection diversity method for use in a base station of a cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of, in the base station:
- producing a measure of a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- receiving a result of a selection from a user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station;
- and
- controlling transmission of data to the mobile unit in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station.
A site selection diversity method for use in a user equipment of a cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of, in the user equipment:
- measuring congestion levels in a plurality of cells;
- selecting a cell from the plurality of cells based on measures of congestion levels in the cells;
- and
- transmitting a result of the selection to a base station.
A site selection diversity method for use in a cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- producing a measure of a congestion level in a cell served by the base station;
- receiving a result of a selection from a user equipment, the result of a selection indicating a base station to be used for data transmission;
- determining whether or not the base station is a selected base station;
- and
- controlling transmission of data to the user equipment in dependence on whether or not it is determined that the base station is a selected base station and in dependence on the measure of a congestion level in the cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.