Reporting communication link information

Abstract

A method for reporting link information in a communication system including a communication terminal and a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link; the method comprising: the communication terminal determining link information for each of the communication links; and the communication terminal periodically transmitting link messages, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links, and the link messages being formatted such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a larger set of the communication links.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for reporting link information in a communication system including a communication terminal and a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link; the method comprising:
 the communication terminal determining link information for each of the communication links; and the communication terminal periodically transmitting link message, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links, and the link messages being formatted such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a larger set of the communication links.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein link information for at least one of the communication links is contained in each of successive link messages. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claimed  2 , comprising the step of determining a subset of the communication links having the best link according to a selected measure, and wherein link information for the communication links of that subset is contained in each of successive link messages. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the subset consists of two communication links. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein periodically link messages contain link information for the same ones of the communication links. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the communication terminal is capable of transmitting the link information in a plurality of schemes according to which link information is distributed between successive link messages. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the communication system includes a control unit coupled to the transceivers, and the method comprises the step of causing at least one of the transceivers to transmit a scheme selection signal to the communication terminal indicative of the one of the plurality of schemes to be used by the communication terminal. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the scheme selection signal is transmitted on a broadcast channel. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the scheme selection signal is transmitted as part of a system information message. 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising the step of operating the communication terminal in response to the scheme selection signal so as to use the scheme indicated by the scheme selection signal. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein one of the schemes involves transmitting link information for a set of the communication links in alternate link messages. 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein one of the schemes involves transmitting link information for a set of the communication links in every third link message. 
     
     
       13. A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the link messages are transmitted over at least one of the said communication links. 
     
     
       14. A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each link message is sent in a respective multiframe of communications over the said communication links. 
     
     
       15. A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each link message contains link information of six of the communication links. 
     
     
       16. A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the link information for a communication link is indicative of the quality of communications over that link. 
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in  claim 16 , comprising the steps of receiving the link information and making a handover decision for the communication terminal on the basis of the link information. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising the step of the communication terminal signaling that it is capable of operating so as to transmit successive link messages containing link information for different ones of the communication links. 
     
     
       19. A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the step of the communication terminal signaling that is capable of operating so as to transmit successive link messages containing link information for different ones of the communication links is performed on establishments by the communication terminal of a connection with the system. 
     
     
       20. A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the communication terminal is a radio telephone. 
     
     
       21. A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein each transceiver is a base station transceiver of a radio telephone system. 
     
     
       22. A communication system comprising:
 a communication terminal;   a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link;   the communication terminal comprising link measurement means for measuring link information for each of the communication links; transmission means for periodically transmitting link messages, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links; and link message forming means for forming the link messages such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a larger set of the communication links.   
     
     
       23. A communication terminal for operation in a radio telecommunications system, the terminal comprising:
 communication means for communicating with one or more of a plurality of radio transceivers;   measurement means for measuring a quality of signals received from each of the said transceivers over a respective communication link; and   measurement message generation means for generating measurement messages for transmission by the communication means, each measurement message containing measured quality information for a first set of the communication links; the measurement message generation means being capable of generating a series of measurements messages wherein groups of successive measurement messages collectively contain measured quality information for a larger set of the communication links.   
     
     
       24. A control unit for operating in a communication system, the communication system including a communication terminal and a plurality of transceivers with each of which the communication terminal can communicate over a respective communication link, the communication system being arranged to perform a method of reporting link information comprising:
 the communication terminal determining link information for each of the communication links; and   the communication terminal periodically transmitting link messages, each link message containing link information for a first set of the communication links, and the link messages being formatted in accordance with a predetermined scheme such that groups of successive link messages collectively contain link information for a set of communication links larger than the first set of communication links;   the control unit being coupled to the transceivers and being arranged to cause at least one of the transceivers to transmit a scheme selection signal to the communication terminal indicative of the one of the plurality of schemes to be used by the communication terminal.   
     
     
       25. A method for reporting link information in a communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a network element, a first link message including first link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a first subset and second link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a second subset; and   receiving, at the network element, a second link message including the first link information about the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset and third link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a third subset, and wherein the third link information comprises an average of two or more link measurements;   wherein the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset are better according to a predetermined measure than the communication links corresponding to the transceivers not in the first subset, and wherein a total number of transceivers in the first subset is a first predetermined number,   wherein a total number of transceivers in the second subset is a second predetermined number, and wherein the first subset and the second subset have no transceivers in common, and   wherein a total number of transceivers in the third subset is the second predetermined number, wherein the first subset and the third subset have no transceivers in common, and wherein the second subset includes at least one transceiver that is not in the third subset.    
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein a sum of the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number is six.  
     
     
       27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first predetermined number is four.  
     
     
       28. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined measure is received signal strength.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined measure is bit error rate.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined measure is frame error rate.  
     
     
       31. The method of claim 25, wherein the average of the two or more link measurements is an average of two link measurements.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 25, wherein the average of the two or more link measurements is an average of more than two link measurements.  
     
     
       33. A method for reporting link information in a communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a network element, a number of link messages equal to a first number of measurements of a first communication link, wherein each link message from the number of link messages includes only one of the first number of measurements, wherein all of the first number of measurements are transmitted in the link messages, and wherein only one link message from the number of link messages includes an average of a second number of measurements;   wherein the second number is equal to a number of measurements of a second communication link;   wherein the link message that includes the average of the second number of measurements also includes at least one of the first number of measurements, wherein the first number is greater than the second number, and wherein the second number is greater than or equal to two; and   facilitating, at the network element, a handover decision based on the receiving link messages.    
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first number is four.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33, wherein the second number is two.  
     
     
       36. The method of claim 33, wherein the first number is four and the second number is two.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 33, wherein each measurement of the first communication link is better according to a predetermined measure than each measurement of the second communication link.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined measure is received signal strength.  
     
     
       39. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined measure is bit error rate.  
     
     
       40. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined measure is frame error rate.  
     
     
       41. A network element comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a measurement report from a communication terminal, wherein the measurement report includes only one measurement chosen from a first number of measurements of a first communication link and further includes an average of a second number of measurements of a second communication link, wherein the first number is greater than the second number, and wherein the second number is greater than or equal to two; and   a processor configured to process the measurement report to facilitate a handover decision.    
     
     
       42. The network element of claim 41, wherein the second number is two.  
     
     
       43. The network element of claim 41, wherein each measurement in the first number of measurements is better than each measurement in the second number of measurements according to a predetermined measure.  
     
     
       44. The network element of claim 43, wherein the predetermined measure is received signal strength.  
     
     
       45. A network element comprising:
 a receiver configured to:
 receive a first link message including first link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a first subset and second link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a second subset; and 
 receive a second link message including the first link information about the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset and third link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a third subset, and wherein the third link information comprises an average of two or more link measurements; 
   wherein the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset are better according to a predetermined measure than the communication links corresponding to the transceivers not in the first subset, and wherein a total number of transceivers in the first subset is a first predetermined number,   wherein a total number of transceivers in the second subset is a second predetermined number, and wherein the first subset and the second subset have no transceivers in common, and   wherein a total number of transceivers in the third subset is the second predetermined number, wherein the first subset and the third subset have no transceivers in common, and wherein the second subset includes at least one transceiver that is not in the third subset.    
     
     
       46. The network element of claim 45, wherein the second number is two.  
     
     
       47. The network element of claim 45, wherein the predetermined measure is received signal strength.  
     
     
       48. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a first link message including first link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a first subset and second link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a second subset; and   instructions to receive a second link message including the first link information about the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset and third link information about communication links corresponding to transceivers in a third subset, and wherein the third link information comprises an average of two or more link measurements;   wherein the communication links corresponding to the transceivers in the first subset are better according to a predetermined measure than the communication links corresponding to the transceivers not in the first subset, and wherein a total number of transceivers in the first subset is a first predetermined number,   wherein a total number of transceivers in the second subset is a second predetermined number, and wherein the first subset and the second subset have no transceivers in common, and   wherein a total number of transceivers in the third subset is the second predetermined number, wherein the first subset and the third subset have no transceivers in common, and wherein the second subset includes at least one transceiver that is not in the third subset.    
     
     
       49. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a number of link messages equal to a first number of measurements of a first communication link, wherein each link message from the number of link messages includes only one of the first number of measurements, wherein all of the first number of measurements are transmitted in the link messages, and wherein only one link message from the number of link messages includes an average of a second number of measurements;   wherein the second number is equal to a number of measurements of a second communication link;   wherein the link message that includes the average of the second number of measurements also includes at least one of the first number of measurements, wherein the first number is greater than the second number, and wherein the second number is greater than or equal to two; and   instructions to facilitate a handover decision based on the received link messages.