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US 7,925,292 B2Granted
Methods, devices and systems relating to reselecting cells in a cellular wireless communications system
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsNicholas John Tebbit, Simon James Walke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Signals of different cells in a cellular wireless communications system are observed during associated intervals to predict a signal behavior in future. A target cell is selected by observing over time signal characteristics of potential target cells. Thereafter a target cell is selected by using the observed characteristics to predict which potential target cell will in future satisfy certain criteria.
Claims29
A cell reselection method for selecting a target cell in a cellular wireless communications system, comprising:
- observing over time signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells;
- observing a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- starting a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- determining that at least one timer has reached expiration;
- predicting, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- delaying a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one timer if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
4 more elements
A cellular wireless communications system comprising plural cells, including a serving cell and plural potential target cells, and a mobile station operable according to the cellular wireless communications system, the system comprising:
- a first process to observe over time signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells, wherein the first process is arranged to:
- observe a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- start a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- determine that at least one timer has reached an expiration;
- and
- a second process to select a target cell by using the observed characteristics to predict which potential target cell will in future satisfy certain criteria, wherein the second process is arranged to:
- predict, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- delay a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one timer if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
6 more elements
A cellular mobile communications apparatus adapted for operation in a cellular wireless communications system, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiver arranged to receive cell signals, the signals having certain characteristics;
- and
- a processor arranged to operate processes for selecting a target cell, the processes comprising:
- a first process to observe over time the signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells, wherein the first process is arranged to:
- observe a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- start a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- determine that at least one timer has reached an expiration;
- and
- a second process to select a target cell by using the observed characteristics to predict which potential target cell will in future satisfy certain criteria, wherein the second process is arranged to:
- predict, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- delay a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one timer if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
9 more elements
At least one processor chip for selecting a target cell in a cellular wireless communications system, comprising:
- a first chip component for observing over time signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells;
- a second chip component for observing a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- a third chip component for starting a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- a fourth chip component for determining that at least one timer has reached expiration;
- a fifth chip component for predicting, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- a sixth chip component for delaying a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one timer if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
4 more elements
A computer readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for selecting a target cell in a cellular wireless communications system, the instructions comprising:
- a first program portion operable to cause a computer to observe over time signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells;
- a second program portion operable to cause the computer to observe a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- a third program portion operable to cause the computer to start a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- a fourth program portion operable to cause the computer to determine that at least one timer has reached expiration;
- a fifth program portion operable to cause the computer to predict, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- a sixth program portion operable to cause the computer to delay a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one timer if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
4 more elements
A mobile communications apparatus for selecting a target cell in a cellular wireless communications system, comprising:
- means for observing over time signal characteristics of cells, the cells including at least potential target cells;
- means for observing a first indicator, which is indicative of the signaling level of a serving cell of the system, and observing second indicators, each one being indicative of a signaling level of one of the potential target cells;
- means for starting a timer for any potential target cell having a second indicator that indicates the signaling level of the respective potential target cell is better than the signaling level of the serving cell as indicated by the first indicator;
- means for determining that at least one timer has reached expiration;
- means for predicting, upon the expiration of the at least one timer, an indicator value at a future time for any cell having a running or expired timer, wherein the predicting is based on the observing of the second indicators;
- and
- means for delaying a cell reselection to a target cell to a time later than the expiration of the at least one tinier if any potential target cell having an unexpired running timer has a best predicted indicator value at the future time.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.