Method and Apparatus for Supporting Packet Data Services in Service Area Boundary Regions

Abstract

A method of providing packet data service is based on selectively switching packet data traffic for a mobile station operating in a boundary region between two service areas from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel, or vice versa. For example, a source base station can be configured to switch packet data traffic for a mobile station from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel as it approaches a shared channel service boundary. Additionally, the source base station can be configured to change the packet data service to the mobile station from a dedicated packet data channel to a shared packet data channel, such as when the mobile station moves back into the source base station's service area.

1 . A method of providing packet data service to a mobile station at a source base station comprising:
 establishing fundamental channel service with the mobile station;   handing off the mobile station to a target base station and subsequently establishing supplemental channel service with the mobile station via the target base station; and   receiving the mobile station in handoff from the target base station and switching packet data traffic for the mobile station from the supplemental channel service to a shared packet data channel service, wherein packet data traffic is sent to the mobile station on a shared packet data channel that carries high-rate packet data traffic for a plurality of mobile stations according to time-multiplexed transmissions of individual user data on a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carrier signal.   
     
     
         2 . A method of providing packet data service to a mobile station comprising:
 serving the mobile station from a source base station on a shared packet data channel, wherein the shared packet data channel carries high-rate packet data traffic for a plurality of mobile stations according to time-multiplexed transmissions of individual user data on a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carrier signal;   monitoring reception conditions at the mobile station relative to the source base station and one or more neighboring base stations; and   selectively changing from serving the mobile station from the source base station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station from the source base station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions, wherein said selectively changing comprises determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether network resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring reception conditions at the mobile station relative to the source base station and one or more neighboring base stations comprises monitoring reported signal strengths transmitted by the mobile station for an active set of base stations currently defined for the mobile station. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selectively changing from serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions comprises continuing service as needed on the shared packet data channel for so long as at least one radio link of sufficient quality remains between the source base station and the mobile station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selectively changing from serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions comprises determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether reception conditions at the mobile station are better with respect to the source base station or with respect to one or more of the neighboring base stations. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said selectively changing comprises determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether CDMA spreading code resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said selectively changing comprises determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether power resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel. 
     
     
         8 . A base station controller configured to provide packet data service to a mobile station at a source base station, comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:
 establish fundamental channel service with the mobile station;   hand off the mobile station to a target base station and subsequently establishing supplemental channel service with the mobile station via the target base station; and   receive the mobile station in handoff from the target base station and switching packet data traffic for the mobile station from the supplemental channel service to a shared packet data channel service, wherein packet data traffic is sent to the mobile station on a shared packet data channel that carries high-rate packet data traffic for a plurality of mobile stations according to time-multiplexed transmissions of individual user data on a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carrier signal.   
     
     
         9 . A base station controller configured to provide packet data service to a mobile station, comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:
 serve the mobile station from a source base station on a shared packet data channel, wherein the shared packet data channel carries high-rate packet data traffic for a plurality of mobile stations according to time-multiplexed transmissions of individual user data on a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carrier signal;   monitor reception conditions at the mobile station relative to the source base station and one or more neighboring base stations; and   selectively change from serving the mobile station from the source base station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station from the source base station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions, wherein said selectively changing comprises determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether network resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel.   
     
     
         10 . The base station controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to monitor reception conditions at the mobile station relative to the source base station and one or more neighboring base stations by monitoring reported signal strengths transmitted by the mobile station for an active set of base stations currently defined for the mobile station. 
     
     
         11 . The base station controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to selectively change from serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions by continuing service as needed on the shared packet data channel for so long as at least one radio link of sufficient quality remains between the source base station and the mobile station. 
     
     
         12 . The base station controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to selectively change from serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel to serving the mobile station on a dedicated packet data channel based on the reception conditions by determining whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether reception conditions at the mobile station are better with respect to the source base station or with respect to one or more of the neighboring base stations. 
     
     
         13 . The base station controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to determine whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether CDMA spreading code resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel. 
     
     
         14 . The base station controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to determine whether to switch a packet data service for the mobile station from the shared packet data channel to the dedicated packet data channel based on determining whether power resources are better utilized by serving the mobile station on the shared packet data channel or on the dedicated packet data channel.