Selectable mode vocoder management algorithm for CDMA based networks

A method, in a base station controller (BSC), for adjusting vocoder rates in a cellular communication network including a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells having a plurality of cell sectors, the method comprising:

• determining sector loading for the plurality of cell sectors;
• determining whether a loading threshold value has been met or exceeded wherein the loading threshold value is defined in relation to a quality of service rating specified in a subscriber profile;
• determining whether a forward link vocoder rate from a BTS should be changed;
• selecting a group of mobile stations for which the forward link vocoder rate should be changed wherein the group of mobile stations consist of mobile stations that are closer to a perimeter of the cell than to a base station wherein the group of mobile stations comprises mobile stations whose vocoder rate has not been changed for a specified amount of time;
• determining what the changed forward link vocoder rate should be by determining the forward link vocoder rate for each mobile station within the selected group of mobile stations wherein, if the mobile station is in handoff, evaluating the sector loading within each cell sector of the plurality of cell sectors that are in handoff with the mobile station, and selecting the forward link vocoder rate as a function of the loading of the cell sector having the highest sector loading;
• and
• wherein the group of mobile stations comprises mobile stations that are establishing a call, mobile stations that are in handoff, and mobile stations that are in an existing call.

A base station controller (BSC), comprising:

• a bus;
• a processor coupled to communicate over the bus;
• a network port for coupling the BSC to a wireless communication network to enable the BSC to communicate with a base transceiver station (BTS);
• and
• a memory coupled to the bus, the memory including computer instructions that define logic for:
• calculating a loading metric;
• calculating a loading threshold for all traffic in a cell sector wherein the loading threshold value is defined in relation to a quality of service rating specified in a subscriber profile;
• determining whether the calculated loading metric exceeds the calculated blocking threshold;
• and
• assigning a new forward link vocoder rate to at least one mobile station if the mobile station closer to a perimeter of a cell served by the base station than to the base station and if a specified period of time has elapsed since the vocoder rate was last changed and determining what the changed forward link vocoder rate should be including determining the forward link vocoder rate for each mobile station within the selected group of mobile stations wherein, if the mobile station is in handoff, evaluating the sector loading within each cell sector of the plurality of cell sectors that are in handoff with the mobile station, and selecting the forward link vocoder rate as a function of the loading of the cell sector having the highest sector loading.

A method, in a cellular communication network including a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells having a plurality of sectors, for dynamically adjusting voice quality between a base station and a mobile station in a cell served by the base station, the method comprising:

• defining a plurality of loading threshold values that correspond to quality of service ratings;
• determining that at least one of the plurality of loading threshold values has been met or exceeded;
• determining that a specified amount of time has elapsed since a vocoder rate has last changed to dynamically adjust voice quality;
• determining that the vocoder rate should be changed only if the specified amount of time has elapsed since the vocoder rate was last changed and only if the mobile station is closer to a perimeter of the cell than to the base station;
• and
• determining a new vocoder rate and changing the vocoder rate to the new vocoder rate and determining the forward link vocoder rate for each mobile station within a selected group of mobile stations wherein, if the mobile station is in handoff, evaluating the sector loading within each cell sector of the plurality of cell sectors that are in handoff with the mobile station, and selecting the forward link vocoder rate as a function of the loading of the cell sector having the highest sector loading.