Softer handoff in a base station employing virtual channel elements
US6519456B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W36/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A base station architecture splits modem functionality into modulator and demodulator entities, each configured to handle multiple telephone calls. A high-speed digital bus with associated routing elements connects multiple-channel (i.e., multiuser) modulator and demodulator elements. The modulator and demodulator elements may be physically separated, residing on different cards, and even different shelves, within the base station. During softer handoff between forward channels of the base station, multiple modulator elements use the address of a demodulator element in communication with a mobile subscriber unit. A base station controller broadcasts forward-link frames to all modulator elements. The multiple modulator elements simultaneously receive forward-link frames from the base station controller. The multiple modulator elements filter these forward-link frames and accept only those to be transmitted to the particular mobile subscriber unit in communication with the demodulator element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.