Predictive mobility in cellular networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing wireless communications. In the methods, systems, and devices, a subset of a set of neighboring cells is identified for measurement by a mobile device. The subset of neighboring cells is identified based on historical information associated with mobility patterns of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing wireless communications, comprising:
 identifying a subset of a set of neighboring cells for measurement by a mobile device, the identification based on historical information associated with mobility patterns of the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a network entity, the mobile device, or a combination of the two. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the historical information from a server, the historical information comprising a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time collected by the server.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the historical information further comprises a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collecting and storing at the mobile device a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time, the historical information comprising the serving cell history.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 collecting and storing at the mobile device a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device, the historical information comprising the history of neighboring cells.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subset comprises a single neighboring cell, the method further comprising:
 measuring a signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell; and   performing a handover or cell reselection of the mobile device to the single neighboring cell when the signal strength is greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining not to perform measurements of neighboring cells other than the single neighboring cell when the signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell is greater than the threshold level.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying the subset comprises:
 determining a quality metric for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a quality metric greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the quality metric of each neighboring cell is based on at least a data rate associated with the neighboring cell, or an ability of the neighboring cell to perform offloading to an alternate radio access technology, or a projected amount of time for which the mobile device will remain connected to the neighboring cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 ranking the neighboring cells in the subset according to their respective quality metrics.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining a confidence level for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the quality metric of each cell being based on at least the confidence level of that cell, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a confidence level greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 identifying one of the neighboring cells in the subset with a confidence level greater than a threshold level; and 
 performing a blind handover of the mobile device to the one neighboring cell. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a frequency with which measurements are performed by the mobile device for the neighboring cells based on the historical information.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 excluding at least one of the neighboring cells from the subset based at least on a current speed of the mobile device and a signal strength of the at least one of the neighboring cells.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the neighboring cells is excluded based on a determination that performing a handover to the at least one of the neighboring cells will result in a ping pong effect. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting at least one cell measurement associated with handover or reselection based on the historical information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting at least one handover or reselection criterion parameter based on the historical information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selectively enabling or disabling an air interface of the mobile device based on the historical information and a current location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a route and schedule between a first location and a second location. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a location and a period of time during which the mobile device remains at the location. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for managing wireless communications, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to:   identify a subset of a set of neighboring cells for measurement by a mobile device, the identification based on historical information associated with mobility patterns of the mobile device.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of: a network entity or the mobile device. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 receive the historical information from a server, the historical information comprising a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time collected by the server.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the historical information further comprises a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 collect and store at the apparatus a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time, the historical information comprising the serving cell history.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 collect and store at the apparatus a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device, the historical information comprising the history of neighboring cells.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the subset comprises a single neighboring cell and the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 measure a signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell; and   perform a handover or cell reselection of the mobile device to the single neighboring cell when the signal strength is greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 determine not to perform measurements of neighboring cells other than the single neighboring cell when the signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell is greater than the threshold level.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to identify the subset by:
 determining a quality metric for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a quality metric greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the quality metric of each neighboring cell is based on at least a data rate associated with the neighboring cell, or an ability of the neighboring cell to perform offloading to an alternate radio access technology, or a projected amount of time for which the mobile device will remain connected to the neighboring cell. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 rank the neighboring cells in the subset according to their respective quality metrics.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 determine a confidence level for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the quality metric of each cell being based on at least the confidence level of that cell, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a confidence level greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 identify one of the neighboring cells in the subset with a confidence level greater than a threshold level; and 
 perform a blind handover of the mobile device to the one neighboring cell. 
 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 determine a frequency with which measurements are performed by the mobile device for the neighboring cells based on the historical information.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 exclude at least one of the neighboring cells from the subset based at least on a current speed of the mobile device and a signal strength of the at least one of the neighboring cells.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one of the neighboring cells is excluded based on a determination that performing a handover to the at least one of the neighboring cells will result in a ping pong effect. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 adjust at least one cell measurement associated with handover or reselection based on the historical information.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 adjust at least one handover or reselection criterion parameter based on the historical information.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 selectively enable or disable an air interface of the mobile device based on the historical information and a current location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a route and schedule between a first location and a second location. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a location and a period of time during which the mobile device remains at the location. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus for managing wireless communications, comprising:
 means for identifying a subset of a set of neighboring cells for measurement by a mobile device, the identification based on historical information associated with mobility patterns of the mobile device.   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of: a network entity or the mobile device. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for receiving the historical information from a server, the historical information comprising a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time collected by the server.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the historical information further comprises a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for collecting and storing at the mobile device a serving cell history of the mobile device over a predetermined period of time, the historical information comprising the serving cell history.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for collecting and storing at the mobile device a history of neighboring cells for the mobile device, the historical information comprising the history of neighboring cells.   
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the subset comprises a single neighboring cell, the apparatus further comprising:
 means for measuring a signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell; and   means for performing a handover or cell reselection of the mobile device to the single neighboring cell when the signal strength is greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 means for determining not to perform measurements of neighboring cells other than the single neighboring cell when the signal strength associated with the single neighboring cell is greater than the threshold level.   
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the means for identifying the subset comprises:
 means for determining a quality metric for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a quality metric greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the quality metric of each neighboring cell is based on at least a data rate associated with the neighboring cell, or an ability of the neighboring cell to perform offloading to an alternate radio access technology, or a projected amount of time for which the mobile device will remain connected to the neighboring cell. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 means for ranking the neighboring cells in the subset according to their respective quality metrics.   
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 means for determining a confidence level for each of the neighboring cells in the set, the quality metric of each cell being based on at least the confidence level of that cell, the subset comprising the neighboring cells that have a confidence level greater than a threshold level.   
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54  further comprising:
 means for identifying one of the neighboring cells in the subset with a confidence level greater than a threshold level; and 
 means for performing a blind handover of the mobile device to the one neighboring cell. 
 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for determining a frequency with which measurements are performed by the mobile device for the neighboring cells based on the historical information.   
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for excluding at least one of the neighboring cells from the subset based at least on a current speed of the mobile device and a signal strength of the at least one of the neighboring cells.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the at least one of the neighboring cells is excluded based on a determination that performing a handover to the at least one of the neighboring cells will result in a ping pong effect. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for adjusting at least one cell measurement associated with handover or reselection based on the historical information.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for adjusting at least one handover or reselection criterion parameter based on the historical information.   
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 means for selectively enabling or disabling an air interface of the mobile device based on the historical information and a current location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a route and schedule between a first location and a second location. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the mobility patterns of the mobile device comprise a location and a period of time during which the mobile device remains at the location. 
     
     
         64 . A computer program product for managing wireless communications, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
 identify a subset of a set of neighboring cells for measurement by a mobile device, the identification based on historical information associated with mobility patterns of the mobile device.