USRE37669EExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 73
Method and apparatus for hand-off of call in progress
Est. expiryMar 31, 2007(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:KAWANO MINORI
H04W 36/302
73
PatentIndex Score
8
Cited by
11
References
79
Claims
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a hand-off of a call-in-progress according to the present invention is arranged such that both a first ratio of a length of time, in which a measured value of SNR is below a predetermined “threshold” to a total length of the measuring time, and a second ratio of a length of time, in which a measured value of RSSI is below a predetermined “threshold”, to a total length of the measuring time are detected and that the first ratio functions mainly when the “threshold” of RSSI is predetermined to a relatively low value; and the second ratio functions mainly when the “threshold” of RSSI is predetermined to a relatively high value, thereby optimizing the hand-off timing.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1. In a small-cell mobile radio communication system having a central switching office provided with a hand-off apparatus for determining optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress and for sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off, a plurality of base stations and a mobile station,
said hand-off apparatus including:
a signal input means for receiving and amplifying a high-frequency signal from a mobile station and for converting the amplified signal into an intermediate-frequency signal;
a signal-to-noise ratio detecting means connected to said signal input means for converting the intermediate-frequency signal into a voice signal, for detecting the signal-to-noise ratio of the voice signal, and for outputting a first on-state signal when the detected signal-to-noise ratio exceeds to equals a predetermined first threshold and a first off-state signal when the detected signal-to-noise ratio is below the first threshold;
a received signal strength input detecting means connected to said signal input means for detecting and received signal strength input of the intermediate-frequency signal independently of said signal-to-noise ratio detecting means, for outputting a second on-state signal when the detected received signal strength input exceeds or equals a predetermined second threshold and a second off-state signal when the detected received signal strength input is below the second threshold; and
control logic means connection to both said signal-to-noise ratio detecting means and said received signal strength input detecting means for selecting the outputs from said signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input detecting means, for measuring a first total length of time in which at least one of the signal-to-noise ratio and the received signal strength input is below said corresponding first or second threshold, respectively, by counting said first or second off-state signals, for evaluating the ratio of said first total length of time to a predetermined measuring time of the signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input, and for sending out a hand-off signal when the evaluated ratio exceeds a predetermined third threshold thereby determining optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress.
2. A hand-off apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said signal-to-noise ratio detecting means includes:
a signal detecting means for detecting a supervisory audio tone signal in said voice signal;
a noise detecting means for detecting noise having approximately the same frequency as the supervisory audio tone signal; and
comparing means connected to both said signal detecting means and said noise detecting means for evaluating the signal-to-noise ratio from the detected supervisory audio tone signal and said noise.
3. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress in a small-cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
converting a signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal;
detecting both a signal-to-noise ratio and a received signal strength input from the intermediate-frequency signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand-off from the detected signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off,
wherein said determining step comprises
comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
either determining timing of a hand-off from the signal-to-noise ratio if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand-off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
4. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress in a small-cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
converting a signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal;
detecting both a signal-to-noise ratio and a received signal strength input from the intermediate-frequency signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand-off from the detected signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off,
wherein the timing of a hand-off is determined on the basis of the detected signal-to-noise ratio when the value of said received signal strength input is below a first threshold and determined on the basis of the detected received signal strength input when the value of said received signal strength input is above or equals said first threshold.
5. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress in a small-cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
converting a signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal;
detecting both a signal-to-noise ratio and a received signal strength input from the intermediate-frequency signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand-off from the detected signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off,
wherein the timing of a hand-off is determined by the detected received signal strength input and the detected signal-to-noise ratio, whichever is first to match or exceed said first or second predetermined values, respectively.
6. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress in a small-cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
converting a signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal;
detecting both a signal-to-noise ratio and a received signal strength input from the intermediate-frequency signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand-off from the detected signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off,
wherein the timing of a hand-off is determined from a first ratio of detected time, in which the detected signal-to-noise ratio is below a second threshold, to a measuring period of time, and from a second ratio of detected time, in which the detected received signal strength input is below a third threshold, to a measuring period of time.
7. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the timing of a hand-off is determined on the basis of any combination of said second threshold of the signal-to-noise ratio and said first ratio, and of said third threshold of the received signal strength input and said second ratio.
8. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said signal-to-noise ratio at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below said first threshold and said signal to noise ratio is less than a third threshold.
9. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 8 further comprising the step of:
E. converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal.
10. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said signal-to-noise ratio at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below said first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is less than a third threshold, wherein step D includes the steps of:
D1. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
D2. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below said third threshold; and
D3. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step D2 at least equals a first ideal value.
11. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 10 wherein step C includes the steps of:
C1. measuring said signal for a second predetermined time interval;
C2. evaluating a percentage of said second predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below said second threshold; and
C3. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C2 at least equals a second ideal value.
12. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 8 wherein said second threshold and said third threshold are equal.
13. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 8 wherein said second threshold and said third threshold are not equal.
14. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 11 wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are equal.
15. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 11 wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are not equal.
16. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off from both said generated signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein said determining step comprises:
comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength magnitude to a preset value; and
either determining timing of a hand-off from the signal-to-noise ratio if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand-off from the received signal strength magnitude if the threshold value is above the preset value.
17. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 16 further comprising the step of:
E. converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal.
18. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 16 wherein step C comprises the step of:
C1. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold.
19. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off from both said generated signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein step C comprises the step of:
C1. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold, wherein step C1 includes the step of:
C1a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C1b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below said second threshold; and
C1c. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C1b at least equals a first ideal value.
20. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 16 wherein step C comprises the step of:
C2. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is less than a second threshold.
21. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off from both said generated signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein step C comprises the step of:
C2. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is less than a second threshold, wherein step C2 includes the steps of:
C2a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C2b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below said second threshold; and
C2c. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C2b at least equals an ideal value.
22. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off according to claim 16 wherein step C comprises the step of:
C3. generating a hand-off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a second threshold.
23. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal:
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is below a second threshold and for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold, wherein said control means comprises means for comparing a predetermined threshold
value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
means for either determining timing of a hand-off from the signal-to-noise ratio if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand-off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
24. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal:
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is below a second threshold and for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold.
wherein said detecting means comprises an audio signal detecting means for detecting a supervisory audio tone signal magnitude in said voice signal and said first generating means comprises noise detecting means for detecting noise magnitude of noise having approximately the same frequency as said supervisory audio tone signal and a comparator responsive to said audio tone signal magnitude signal and said noise magnitude for generating said signal-to-noise ratio.
25. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is below a second threshold and for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold.
wherein said control means comprises:
means for measuring a time interval of predetermined duration; and
means for determining a first percentage of said time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is less than said second threshold and a second percentage of said time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is less than said third threshold.
26. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile ratio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal:
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a second threshold, wherein said control means comprises
means for comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
means for determining timing of a hand-off from the signal-to-noise ratio if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a head-off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
27. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile ratio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a second threshold,
wherein said detecting means comprises an audio signal detecting means for detecting a supervisory audio tone signal magnitude in said voice signal and said first generating means comprises noise detecting means for detecting noise magnitude of noise having approximately the same frequency as said supervisory audio tone signal and a comparator responsive to said audio tone signal magnitude signal and said noise magnitude for generating said signal-to-noise ratio.
28. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a second threshold,
wherein said control means comprises:
means for measuring a time interval of predetermined duration; and
means for determining a first percentage of said time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is less than said second threshold and a second percentage of said time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is less than said a third threshold.
29. A method for a hand-off of a call-in-progress in a small-cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
converting a signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate-frequency signal;
detecting both a signal-to-noise ratio and a received signal strength input from the intermediate-frequency signal simultaneously and independently with each other;
determining timing of a hand-off from the detected signal-to-noise ratio and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand-off signal at the determined time of a hand-off,
wherein said determining step includes the steps of measuring said intermediate-frequency signal for a first predetermined time interval;
evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below a threshold; and
determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in said evaluating step at least equals a first ideal value.
30. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is below a second threshold and for generating a hand-off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold, wherein said control means comprises means for measuring said high-frequency signal for
a first predetermined time interval;
means for evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below said second threshold; and
means for determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined by said evaluating means at least equals a second ideal value.
31. Apparatus for use in a small-cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand-off of a call-in-progress, said apparatus comprising:
means responsive to a high-frequency signal for detecting a voice signal;
first means responsive to said voice signal for generating a signal-to-noise ratio for said voice signal;
second means responsive to said high-frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude from said high-frequency signal; and
a control means responsive to said signal-to-noise ratio and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand-off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a second threshold, wherein said control means comprises
means for measuring said high-frequency signal for a first predetermined time interval;
means for evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below said second threshold; and
means for determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined by said evaluating means at least equals a second ideal value.
32. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said signal-to-noise ratio at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold;
D. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
E. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below a third threshold; and
F. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step E at least equals a second ideal value.
33. In a cellular mobile ratio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C1a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C1b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below a second threshold; and
C1c. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C1b at least equals a first ideal value.
34. In a cellular mobile ratio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C2a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C2b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal-to-noise ratio is below a threshold; and
C2c. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C2b at least equals a first ideal value.
35. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call-in-progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said signal-to-noise ratio at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below said first threshold and said signal-to-noise ratio is less than a third threshold, wherein step C includes the steps of:
C1. measuring said signal for a second predetermined time interval;
C2. evaluating a percentage of said second predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below a second threshold; and
C3. determining that said call-in-progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C2 at least equals a first ideal value.
36. In a small- cell mobile radio communication system having a central switching office provided with a hand - off apparatus for determining optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress and for sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off, a plurality of base stations and a mobile station, said hand - off apparatus including:
a signal input means for receiving a signal;
a signal quality detecting means connected to said signal input means for detecting the signal quality of the signal, and for outputting a first on - state signal when the detected signal quality exceeds or equals a predetermined first threshold and a first off - state signal when the detected signal quality is below the first threshold;
a received signal strength input detecting means connected to said signal input means for detecting received signal strength input of the signal independently of said signal quality detecting means, for outputting a second on - state signal when the detected received signal strength input exceeds or equals a predetermined second threshold and a second off - state signal when the detected received signal strength input is below the second threshold; and
control logic means connected to both said signal quality detecting means and said received signal strength input detecting means for selecting the outputs from said signal quality and received signal strength input detecting means, for measuring a first total length of time in which at least one of the signal quality and the received signal strength input is below said corresponding first or second threshold, respectively, by counting said first or second off - state signals, and for evaluating the ratio of said first total length of time to a predetermined measuring time of the signal quality and received signal strength input.
37. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality when the detected received signal strength input satisfies a predetermined condition and from the detected received signal strength input when the detected received signal strength input does not satisfy the predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off.
38. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality and detected received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off,
wherein said determining step comprises
comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
either determining timing of a hand - off from the signal quality if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand - off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
39. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off,
wherein the timing of a hand - off is determined on the basis of the detected signal quality when the value of said received signal strength input is below a first threshold and determined on the basis of the detected received signal strength input when the value of said received signal strength input is above or equals said first threshold.
40. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off;
wherein the timing of a hand - off is determined by the first occurrence of one of the following conditions ( a ) the detected received signal strength input matching or exceeding a first predetermined value and ( b ) the detected signal quality matching or exceeding a second predetermined value.
41. A method according to claim 40 , further comprising the step of:
converting the signal received from a mobile station into an intermediate - frequency signal.
42. A method according to claim 40 , wherein said detecting step includes the step of:
measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval.
43. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from a first ratio of detected time, in which the detected signal quality is below a second threshold, to a measuring period of time, and from a second ratio of detected time, in which the detected received signal strength input is below a third threshold, to a measuring period of time; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off.
44. A method as set forth in claim 43 , wherein the timing of a hand- off is determined on the basis of any combination of said second threshold of the signal quality and said first ratio, and of said third threshold of the received signal strength input and said second ratio.
45. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system, including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously and independently with each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off,
wherein said determining step includes the steps of:
measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said signal quality is below a threshold; and
determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in said evaluating step at least equals a first ideal value.
46. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said measurement of signal quality at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below said threshold and said measurement of signal quality is less than a third threshold.
47. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 46 further comprising the step of:
E. converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate - frequency signal.
48. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 46 wherein step D includes the steps of:
D 1 . measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
D 2 . evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined tine interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below said third threshold; and
D 3 . determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step D 2 at least equals a first ideal value.
49. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 46 wherein said second threshold and said third threshold are equal.
50. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 46 wherein said second threshold and said third threshold are not equal.
51. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 46 wherein step C includes the steps of:
C 1 . measuring said signal for a second predetermined time interval;
C 2 . evaluating a percentage of said second predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below said second threshold; and
C 3 . determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 2 at least equals a second ideal value.
52. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 51 wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are equal.
53. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 51 wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are not equal.
54. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from said generated measurement of signal quality when the received signal strength satisfies a predetermined condition and from said received signal strength magnitude when the received signal strength input does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
55. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from both said generated measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein said determining step comprises:
comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength magnitude to a preset value; and
either determining timing of a hand - off from the measurement of signal quality if the threshold value is below the preset value, or determining timing of a hand - off from the received signal strength magnitude if the threshold value is above the preset value.
56. In a cellular mobile radio communication system, the method according to claim 55 further comprising the step of:
D. converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate - frequency signal.
57. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold.
58. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from both said generated measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein step c comprises the steps of:
C 1 . determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold, wherein step C 1 includes the steps of:
C 1 a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C 1 b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below said second threshold; and
C 1 c. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 1 b at least equals a first ideal value.
59. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is less than a second threshold.
60. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from both said generated measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude, wherein step C comprises the steps of:
C 2 . determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is less than a second threshold, wherein step C 2 includes the steps of:
C 2 a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C 2 b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below said second threshold; and
C 2 c. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 2 b at least equals in ideal value.
61. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. generating a hand - off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality exceeding a second threshold.
62. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude; and
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is below a second threshold and for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold,
means for comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
means for either determining timing of a hand - off from the measurement of signal quality if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand - off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
63. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising;
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude; and
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is below a second threshold and for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold.
64. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude; and
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is below a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is below a second threshold and for generating a hand - off signal if said received signal strength magnitude is at least equal to said first threshold and below a third threshold,
means for measuring said high - frequency signal for a first predetermined time interval;
means for evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below said second threshold; and
means for determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined by said evaluating means at least equals a second ideal value.
65. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude;
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality exceeding a second threshold;
means for comparing a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input to a preset value; and
means for determining timing of a hand - off from the measurement of signal quality if the threshold value is below the preset value, or else determining timing of a hand - off from the received signal strength input if the threshold value is above the preset value.
66. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude;
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality exceeding a second threshold,
means for measuring a time interval of predetermined duration; and
means for determining a first percentage of said time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is less than said second threshold and a second percentage of said time interval during which said receive signal strength magnitude is less than a third threshold.
67. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining an optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a high - frequency signal;
first means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a measurement of signal quality;
second means responsive to said high - frequency signal for generating a received signal strength magnitude;
a control means responsive to said measurement of signal quality and said received signal strength magnitude for generating a hand - off signal upon the first occurrence of said received signal strength magnitude exceeding a first threshold and said measurement of signal quality exceeding a second threshold;
means for measuring said high - frequency signal for a first predetermined time interval;
means for evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below said second threshold; and
means for determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined by said evaluating means at least equals a second ideal value.
68. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said measurement of quality at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold;
D. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
E. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below a third threshold; and
F. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step E at least equals a second ideal value.
69. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C 1 a. measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C 1 b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said received signal strength magnitude is below a second threshold; and
C 1 c. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 1 b at least equals a first ideal value.
70. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the step of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C 2 a. measuring signal for a first predetermined time interval;
C 2 b. evaluating a percentage of said first predetermined time interval during which said measurement of signal quality is below a threshold; and
C 2 c. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 2 b at least equals a first ideal value.
71. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station transmitting a signal to one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said measurement of signal quality at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said received signal strength magnitude is below said first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is less than a third threshold, wherein step C includes the steps of:
C 1 . measuring said signal for a second predetermined time interval;
C 2 . evaluating a percentage of said second predetermined time interval during which received signal strength magnitude is below a second threshold; and
C 3 . determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when said percentage determined in step C 2 at least equals a first ideal value.
72. A method for a hand- off of a call - in - progress in a small - cell mobile radio communication system,
including the steps of:
receiving a signal;
detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality upon the occurrence of a first condition and the detected received signal strength input upon the occurrence of a second condition; and
sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off.
73. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station communicating a signal with one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when a predetermined threshold value for the received signal strength input at least equals a first threshold value and said received signal strength magnitude is less than a second threshold; and
D. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off when a predetermined threshold value is below said first threshold and said measurement of signal quality is less than a third threshold.
74. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station communicating a signal with one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from the first occurrence of one of the following conditions ( a ) the detected received signal strength input matching or exceeding a first predetermined value and ( b ) the detected signal quality matching or exceeding a second predetermined value.
75. A method according to claim 74 , further comprising the step of:
converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate - frequency signal.
76. A method according to claim 74 , wherein said detecting step includes the step of:
measuring said signal for a first predetermined time interval.
77. Apparatus for use in a small- cell mobile radio communication system for determining optimal timing of a hand - off of a call - in - progress, said apparatus comprising:
transceiver for communicating a signal;
means for detecting both a signal quality and a received signal strength input from the signal simultaneously with and independently of each other;
means for determining timing of a hand - off from the detected signal quality and received signal strength input on a predetermined condition;
means for sending out a hand - off signal at the determined time of a hand - off, and
wherein the timing of a hand - off is determined by the first occurrence of one of the following conditions ( a ) the detected received signal strength input matching or exceeding a first predetermined value and ( b ) the detected signal quality matching or exceeding a second predetermined value.
78. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station communicating a signal with one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another fixed station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A; and
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from said generated measurement of signal quality upon the occurrence of a first condition and from the detected received signal strength input upon the occurrence of a second condition.
79. In a cellular mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations and at least one mobile station communicating a signal with one of said plurality of fixed stations, a method for determining when a call- in - progress should be handed off from said one fixed station to another station, said method including the steps of:
A. generating a measurement of signal quality from said signal;
B. measuring a received signal strength magnitude of said signal simultaneously with, and independently of, step A;
C. determining that said call - in - progress should be handed off from said generated measurement of signal quality upon the occurrence of a first condition and from the detected received signal strength input upon the occurrence of a second condition; and
D. converting the signal received from said mobile station into an intermediate - frequency signal.Cited by (0)
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