System and method for multimode device handover

A multimode third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) communications apparatus capable of operating in either a 3G network or a 4G network when in an area with overlapping 3G and 4G coverage, the apparatus comprising:

• a 3G transceiver configured to transmit and receive information over a 3G network;
• a 4G transceiver configured to selectively transmit and receive data over a 4G network;
• a processor operatively coupled to the 3G transceiver and the 4G transceiver and which is configured to determine a loading condition of each of a 3G base station and a 4G base station associated with the overlapping 3G and 4G coverage area;
• and
• a memory device operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein, responsive to a determination by the processor that each of the 3G and 4G base stations are loaded less than a first user determined load factor, the processor is configured to compare one or more 4G Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) with one or more corresponding 3G Data Rate Control (DRC) indices stored in corresponding mapping tables in the memory;
• wherein the processor evaluates the comparison result to determine which of the 4G and 3G networks allows a higher data throughput,
• wherein, if the 4G network allows the higher data throughput, the processor enables control signals that transfer or maintain communication of the dual mode communications device with a 4G base station associated with the 4G coverage, and
• wherein, if the 3G network allows the higher data throughput, the processor enables different control signals that transfer communication of the dual mode communications device to a 3G base station associated with the 3G coverage.

A computer-readable medium comprising computer readable code physically embodied thereon which, when executed by a processor arranged in a multimode third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) communications device capable of operating in either a 4G network or a 3G network mode causes the processor to carry out the functions of:

• determining a loading condition of each of a 4G base station and a 3G base station associated with an overlapping 3G and 4G coverage area;
• responsive to a determination that each of the 3G and 4G base stations are loaded less than a first user inputted load factor, using a processor to compare one or more 4G Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) with one or more corresponding 3G Data Rate Control (DRC) indices stored in corresponding mapping tables in a memory;
• evaluating the comparison result with the processor to determine which of the 4G and 3G networks allows a higher data throughput;
• handing off the dual mode communications device to a 4G base station associated with the 4G coverage if the 4G network allows the higher data throughput;
• and
• otherwise, handing off the dual mode communications device to an 3G base station associated with the EvDO coverage.

A method of over-the-air provisioning of program functionality and data stored in a multimode third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) communications device capable of

• sending program instruction updates to the multimode device over a communications link operating in either a 4G network or a 3G network mode, the method comprising:
• from a base station (BS), wherein the program instruction updates include computer code that, when executed by a processor:
• determines a loading condition of each of a 4G base station and a 3G base station associated with an overlapping 3G and 4G coverage area,
• compares one or more 4G Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) with one or more corresponding 3G Data Rate Control (DRC) indices stored in corresponding mapping tables in a memory if each of the 3G and 4G base stations are loaded less than a first user inputted load factor,
• determines which of the 3G and 4G networks allows a higher data throughput,
• causes the dual mode communications device to transfer to a 4G base station associated with the 4G coverage if the 4G network allows the higher data throughput or causes the dual mode communications device to transfer to an 3G base station associated with the 3G coverage if the 3G network allows the higher data throughput;
• sending data updates to the dual-mode device over the communications link from the BS, wherein the data updates comprise 4G Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) mapped to one or more corresponding 3G Data Rate Control (DRC) indices;
• and
• storing the program instruction updates and the data updates in a memory in the dual mode communications device.