초록 ▼

A method and apparatus that uses the location of a mobile terminal to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in a handoff of the mobile terminal. The location of the mobile terminal in communication with a first receiver is determined. It is also determined whether the

A method and apparatus that uses the location of a mobile terminal to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in a handoff of the mobile terminal. The location of the mobile terminal in communication with a first receiver is determined. It is also determined whether the mobile terminal should participate in a handoff. The later can be determined based on the location of the mobile terminal, or it can be determined in any other way. If mobile terminal should participate in the handoff, the location of the mobile terminal is used to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in the handoff. The characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or transmitter can be obtained from a database that correlates the location of the mobile terminal and the characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or candidate transmitter. The mobile terminal can then be handed off to the candidate receiver. Optionally, the mobile terminal can then perform measurements of the wireless communication system using the candidate receiver, and then be handed off to the first receiver. An optimal receiver for participation in the handoff is identified based on the measurements of the wireless communication system. The mobile terminal is then handed off to the optimal receiver. Using the location of the mobile terminal to direct it to the candidate receiver for participation in the handoff is particularly advantageous for two adjacent or overlapping wireless communication systems that operate at different frequency bands, or comply with different wireless communication standards, or both.

대표청구항 ▼

A method and apparatus that uses the location of a mobile terminal to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in a handoff of the mobile terminal. The location of the mobile terminal in communication with a first receiver is determined. It is also determined whether the

A method and apparatus that uses the location of a mobile terminal to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in a handoff of the mobile terminal. The location of the mobile terminal in communication with a first receiver is determined. It is also determined whether the mobile terminal should participate in a handoff. The later can be determined based on the location of the mobile terminal, or it can be determined in any other way. If mobile terminal should participate in the handoff, the location of the mobile terminal is used to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in the handoff. The characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or transmitter can be obtained from a database that correlates the location of the mobile terminal and the characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or candidate transmitter. The mobile terminal can then be handed off to the candidate receiver. Optionally, the mobile terminal can then perform measurements of the wireless communication system using the candidate receiver, and then be handed off to the first receiver. An optimal receiver for participation in the handoff is identified based on the measurements of the wireless communication system. The mobile terminal is then handed off to the optimal receiver. Using the location of the mobile terminal to direct it to the candidate receiver for participation in the handoff is particularly advantageous for two adjacent or overlapping wireless communication systems that operate at different frequency bands, or comply with different wireless communication standards, or both. rom said second access point to said crossover node. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining said crossover node is initiated at said third access point. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said of determining a crossover node further comprises the steps of: determining a provisional crossover node; determining whether a hierarchical path is available in said hierarchical network; determining whether another network switch can further modify the existing path; and determining an optimal crossover node. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said provisional crossover node is an ingress border of a peer group in which ancestors of said second access point and said third access point are siblings, and said provisional crossover node is said crossover node. 11. The method of claim 9, said provisional crossover node is the first access point. 12. The method of claim 9, said provisional crossover node is said crossover node. 13. The method of claim 9, said optimal crossover node is said crossover node. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of determining optimal crossover node further comprises the steps of: (ii) determining a shortest path between said first access point and said third access point along said plurality of interconnectable access points and network nodes; (iii) determining a portion of said shortest path and said existing connection that coincide; (iv) determining a network switch on said coinciding portion of said shortest path and said existing connection that is farthest from said first access point, said network switch being said crossover node; (v) selecting the next lower level in said hierarchical network and apply the iteration of step (ii), (iii), (iv); and (vi) iteratively repeating steps (ii)-(v) until the lowest physical level in the hierarchical network has been reached. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said crossover determination is initiated from said second access point. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said crossover determination is initiated from said third access point. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said hierarchical connection-oriented mobile network is a PNNI hierarchical network and said step of determining a crossover node comprises the steps of: determining whether said second access point is closer to said first access point or to said third access point; and determining a crossover node under PNNI constraints. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first access point is said crossover node. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second access point is closer to said third access point than to said first access point, and said crossover node is an ingress border of a peer group in which ancestors of said second access point and said third access point are siblings. 20. A method for rerouting an existing connection in a hierarchical connection-oriented communications network to a new desired connection, wherein said existing connection is between a first network switch and a second network switch, and said new connection is desired between said first network switch and a third network switch, said connection-oriented communications network comprising a plurality of interconnectable network switches, said method comprising the steps of: determining a crossover node, said crossover node being a network switch located along the path of said existing connection, said step of determining the crossover node including selecting a level in said hierarchical connection-oriented mobile network at which ancestors of said second access point and third access points are siblings; and setting up a new connection path between said crossover node and said third network switch. 21. The method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising the step of determining an old segment path between said crossover node and said second network switch. 22. The method of claim 20, and wherein said step of determining a crossover node further comprises the st