US 6,205,336 B1 · Method and system for improving network resource utilization in a cellular communication system

Abstract

A hierarchically structured cellular network is disclosed. When an active mobile station requests a service that requires the use of a network resource not available in the cell handling the ongoing call (or, alternatively, during call set up), the network checks for cells on the higher levels to determine if the required resource is available. If the resource is available in a higher level cell, the call is handed over to that cell and the resource is allocated to the call. The call can be maintained in the higher level cell until the resource is no longer needed, or a “better” cell capable of providing the required resource is found.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for utilizing communication resources in a layered cellular network, wherein a mobile station is not at the edge of a cell comprising the steps of:

invoking a circuit-switched data transmission service associated with a communication resource during a call in a first layer cell;
determining whether said communication resource is available during said call in said first layer cell;
if said communication resource is not available during said call in said first layer cell, determining whether said communication resource is available during said call in a second layer cell;
if said communication resource is available during said call in said second layer cell, handing off said call from said first layer cell to said second layer cell.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for improving network resource utilization in a cellular communication system

Life of this patent

Method and system for improving network resource utilization in a cellular communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19