Inter-Radio Access Technology Measurement System and Method

Abstract

A network access device is provided with one or more processors configured for macrotechnology-based transmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions, wherein at least one of the gaps is used by the multi-mode user equipment for measurement of a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network.

1 . A network, comprising one or more processors configured to:
 define a gap pattern usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology; and   transmit, to a user equipment, information of the gap pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive, from the user equipment, a request to define the gap pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to direct the user equipment to use a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement. 
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the microtechnology comprises one of:
 a Wireless Fidelity network;   a wireless local access network using a home base station;   a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and   a Wireless Local Area Network; and   wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of:
 a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; 
 a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; 
 a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; 
 a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); 
 a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; 
 a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and 
 a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network. 
   
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 defining a gap pattern usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology;   transmitting information of the gap pattern from a network to a user equipment; and   using the gap pattern at the user equipment for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement and microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein defining the gap pattern is based on a request from the user equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 using a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the microtechnology comprises one of:
 a Wireless Fidelity network;   a wireless local access network using a home base station;   a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and   a Wireless Local Area Network; and   wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of:
 a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; 
 a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; 
 a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; 
 a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); 
 a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; 
 a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and 
 a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network. 
   
     
     
         9 . A user equipment comprising one or more processors configured to:
 receive information of a gap pattern from a network, wherein the gap pattern is usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology; and   use the gap pattern for microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement.   
     
     
         10 . The user equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to send a request to generate a gap pattern usable by the plurality of radio access technologies. 
     
     
         11 . The user equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 use a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.   
     
     
         12 . The user equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the microtechnology comprises one of:
 a Wireless Fidelity network;   a wireless local access network using a home base station;   a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and   a Wireless Local Area Network; and   wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of:
 a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; 
 a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; 
 a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; 
 a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); 
 a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; 
 a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and 
 a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network.