US 5,711,001 AGranted

Method and circuit for acquisition by a radio receiver

AssigneeMotorola, Inc.

InventorsChristopher F. Bussan, Patrick J. Marry, Duane C. Rabe, Charles P. Binzel, Arvind S. Arora

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Abstract

A method and associated circuitry for acquiring a channel of a set of frequency channels by a radio receiver. The radio receiver scans selected control channels and measures the power levels of signals generated upon the respective ones of the control channels and stores values. An attempt to effectuate a communication link with a transmitter which transmits a data signal upon one of the control channels is only attempted if the measured power level on such control channel increases beyond a certain amount. The tuning frequency of the tuning circuitry can be retuned when the tuning circuitry is initially tuned to receive a communication signal transmitted by a transmitter of a less-than-most desired network of transmitters according to a second embodiment.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for camping a radio receiver to receive a communication signal transmitted upon a channel of a set of channels defined upon a frequency band by a transmitter of a group of remotely-positioned transmitters, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring power levels of communication signals transmitted upon individual ones of channels of a set of channels;
(b) selecting channels upon which communication signals are transmitted of measured power levels above at least a minimum power level to form a first subset of channels;
(c) after said step (b) determining whether a communication link is effectuated with transmitters which transmit communication signals upon the channels of the first subset of channels;
(d) storing measured power levels of channels;
(e) re-measuring power levels of communication signals transmitted upon the individual ones of the channels of the set of channels,
(f) selecting channels re-measured in said step (e) having communication signals exhibiting power levels above a level related to the previously measured power levels stored in said step (d),
(g) forming a second subset of channels using at least those channels selected in step (f),
(h) determining whether a communication link is effectuated between the radio receiver and individual ones of the transmitters which transmit communication signals upon the channels of the second subset of channels,
(i) when said step (f) determines that a communication link is effectuated, camping the radio receiver to a channel of the second subset of channels, and
(j) when said step (i) determines that a communication link is not effectuated, returning to step (d) of storing.

7 more elements

In a cellular communication system having a plurality of spaced-apart base stations wherein each of the spaced-apart base stations transmits communication signals on a control channel of a set of control channels defined upon a frequency band, and a radio transceiver having tuning circuitry and being operative to receive a communication signal transmitted upon a control channel by a base station of the plurality of base stations when positioned within the transmission range of the base station, a method for tuning the tuning circuitry of the radio transceiver to a frequency channel of the set of frequency channels, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring power levels of communication signals transmitted upon individual ones of frequency channels of a set of frequency channels;
(b) selecting frequency channels upon which communication signals are transmitted of measured power levels above at least a minimum power level to form a first subset of frequency channels;
(c) storing measured power levels of frequency channels;
(d) re-measuring power levels of communication signals transmitted upon the individual ones of the frequency channels of the set of frequency channels,
(e) selecting frequency channels re-measured in said step (d) having communication signals exhibiting power levels above a level related to the previously measured power levels stored in said step (c),
(f) forming a second subset of frequency channels using at least those frequency channels selected in step (e),
(g) determining whether a communication link is effectuated between the radio receiver and individual ones of the transmitters which transmit communication signals upon the frequency channels of the second subset of frequency channels, and
(h) when said step (g) determines that a communication link is effectuated, selecting tuning of the radio receiver to a frequency channel of the second subset of frequency channels.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/657,694Filed 29 May 1996 · continuation
Priority: 8 May 1992
Granted: 20 Jan 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04W 48/20
Access restriction ; Network selection; Access point selection: selecting an access point
H03J 1/0091
Using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor: provided with means for scanning over a band of frequencies
H04W
Wireless communication networks
H03J
Tuning resonant circuits

Family

Serial880,808Parent of this continuation · filed 8 May 1992
Serial51,108Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Apr 1993
Serial268,389Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Jun 1994
Serial379,858Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Jan 1995
US 5,711,001 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.