Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for spatial redundancy in cellular networks

US5950134A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
6References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 8, 1997
Grant dateSep 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W36/322
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A cellular network includes a mobile switching center and a network of cells through which one or more mobile stations can move. Each of the cells is managed by a base station, while a plurality of base stations are controlled by a control processor within the mobile switching center. Spare stations are introduced at strategic locations in the cellular network. As mobile stations move through the network of cells communicating with various base stations and spare stations the mobile switching center receives reports from spare stations relating to the status of various parameters characterizing conditions within the network of cells. The mobile switching center determines the position and velocity of mobile stations moving through the network of cells based on incoming reports. The assignment of a call associated with a mobile station can be changed from a base station to a spare station, and can then be changed from the spare station to another base station if the base station fails or becomes overloaded.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.