Methods and apparatus for downlink macro-diversity in cellular networks

An end node in a communications system, comprising:

• means for maintaining a plurality of communications links, a first communications link being between said end node and a first access node, and a second communications link being between said end node and a second access node;
• means for initiating selective packet replication from a mobility agent node to the second access node;
• means for monitoring which one of said plurality of communications links is preferred for transmitting packets to said end node at any given time;
• means for requesting transmission of packets from said first access node by sending a first signal to said first access node when the first communications link is preferred, the first signal indicating that a flow of packets should be forwarded to the end node by the first access node;
• and
• means for requesting termination of transmission of packets from said first access node by sending a second signal to said first access node when the second communications link is preferred, the second signal indicating that the flow of packets should be discarded by the first access node for at least a portion of time during which time packets are being received by said end node from said second access node.

A computer-program product for an end node in a communications system, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon capable of being executed by a computer, the instructions comprising:

• code for maintaining a plurality of communications links, a first communications link being between said end node and a first access node, and a second communications link being between said end node and a second access node;
• code for initiating selective packet replication from a mobility agent node to the second access node;
• code for monitoring which one of said plurality of communications links is preferred for transmitting packets to said end node at any given time;
• code for requesting transmission of packets from said first access node by sending a first signal to said first access node when the first communications link is preferred, the first signal indicating that a flow of packets should be forwarded to the end node by the first access node;
• and
• code for requesting termination of transmission of packets from said first access node by sending a second signal to said first access node when the second communications link is preferred, the second signal indicating that the flow of packets should be discarded by the first access node for at least a potion of tune during which time packets are being received by said end node from said second access node.