Methods and systems for controlling hard and soft handoffs in radio communications systems

US6539227B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Ulrich Jetzek · Wendelstein, DE
• Petter Blomberg · Sundbyberg, SE
• Lars Johansson · Linköping, SE
• Sture Jonsson · Cañete, CL
• Peter Butovitsch · Bromma, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W36/302
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for controlling handoffs in radiocommunication systems using a softzone concept are described. Soft handoff is permitted between members of a particular softzone, but not between members of different softzones. Hard handoff is permitted between members of different softzones, but not between members of the same softzone.