Methods and apparatus of improving inter-sector and/or inter-cell handoffs in a multi-carrier wireless communications system
US6993333B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W36/08
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.