US 6,205,193 B1 · Systems and methods for fast terminal synchronization in a wireless communication system

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for synchronization of a mobile terminal to a communication system which provide faster access to the communication system and reduced risk of non-productive battery power consumption. In particular, the methods and systems of the present invention test one candidate carrier from a list of candidate carriers and perform a power profile to obtain an indication of signal strength of the carrier. This signal measurement is then compared to a threshold criteria. If the criteria is satisfied, the mobile terminal attempts synchronization with that carrier and, if successful, establishes a connection with the communication system. If the criteria is not satisfied, another candidate carrier is selected and tested similarly. Furthermore, the methods and systems of the present invention provide for tiered searching for a valid carrier with each level providing an increased likelihood of finding a carrier while, potentially, requiring a greater amount of time to obtain synchronization. The methods and systems of the present invention also provide a hierarchical approach to searching when no carrier has been identified which reduces the rate of battery power consumption while the mobile terminal is attempting to synchronize with a communication system.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for synchronization with a transmitter of a mobile terminal having a list of candidate carriers comprising the steps of:

selecting a first carrier from the list of candidate carriers;
generating a power profile of the first carrier based on readings of a first number of multiframes;
comparing the power profile of the first carrier to a first threshold criteria;
synchronizing to the first carrier if the power profile of the first carrier satisfies the first threshold criteria;
selecting a second carrier from the list of candidate carriers if the power profile of the first carrier does not satisfy the first threshold criteria;
generating a power profile of the second carrier based on readings of a second number of multiframes, the second number being greater than the first number;
comparing the power profile of the second carrier to a second threshold criteria;
and
synchronizing to the second carrier if the power profile of the second carrier satisfies the second threshold criteria.

6 more elements

A method for synchronization with a transmitter of a mobile terminal having a list of candidate carriers comprising the steps of:

selecting a first carrier from a first candidate subset of the list of candidate carriers;
generating a power profile of the first carrier;
comparing the power profile of the first carrier to a first threshold criteria;
synchronizing to the first carrier if the power profile of the first carrier satisfies the first threshold criteria;
selecting a second carrier from a second candidate subset of the list of candidate carriers if the power profile of the first carrier does not satisfy the first threshold criteria;
generating a power profile of the second carrier;
comparing the power profile of the second carrier to a second threshold criteria;
and
synchronizing to the second carrier if the power profile of the second carrier satisfies the second threshold criteria.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for fast terminal synchronization in a wireless communication system

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for fast terminal synchronization in a wireless communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18