초록 ▼

A floating call anchor is used to improve the efficiency of utilization of wireless and backhaul resources in cellular communication systems. For conditions under which soft handoff can be effectively used to conserve wireless resources, data transmitted from a first mobile unit (MU) via a wireless

A floating call anchor is used to improve the efficiency of utilization of wireless and backhaul resources in cellular communication systems. For conditions under which soft handoff can be effectively used to conserve wireless resources, data transmitted from a first mobile unit (MU) via a wireless signal are received by one or more base transceiver stations (BTSs) and sent to a base station controller (BSC) or other device remote from the BTSs. The data are then sent from the remote device to the BTS(s) transmitting data to a second MU. If the two MUs engaged in communication are within the same cell or adjacent cells, and the savings of backhaul resources outweighs the additional wireless resource costs associated with performing the call anchor function at a BTS, then a single BTS is used to communicate with both MUs. This single BTS performs the call anchor function.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A communication system, comprising:a base transceiver station engaged in wireless communication with a first mobile unit and carrying data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit; anda communication device in communication with the base transceiver station over a

1. A communication system, comprising:a base transceiver station engaged in wireless communication with a first mobile unit and carrying data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit; anda communication device in communication with the base transceiver station over a local network, wherein one of the base transceiver station and the communication device are dynamically selected, by a selection procedure, to perform a call anchor function for the data, the selection procedure comprising:determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of a traffic characteristic of the data and a characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units;using the communication characteristic to determine a wireless savings amount comprising an amount of wireless resource savings associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;using the communication characteristic to determine a backhaul cost amount comprising an amount of backhaul resource cost associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;selecting the communication device if the wireless savings amount exceeds the backhaul cost amount; andselecting the base transceiver station if the backhaul cost amount exceeds the wireless savings amount.2. A communication system, comprising:a base transceiver station engaged in wireless communication with a first mobile unit and carrying data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit; anda communication device in communication with the base transceiver station over a local network, wherein a call anchor function for the data is dynamically relocated to one of the base transceiver station and the communication device by a selection procedure during data transmission between the first and second mobile units, the selection procedure including determining a communication characteristic having at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data, anda characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units;wherein the selection procedure is performed for a first communication session, thereby generating a first selection result, the selection procedure being further performed for a second communication session, thereby generating a second selection result, and the first and second selection results being independent from each other.3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the selection procedure is performed exactly once for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the selection procedure is performed at least twice for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.5. A method for communicating, comprising:using a base transceiver station to engage in wireless communication with a first mobile unit;using the base transceiver station to carry data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;using a communication device to communicate with the base transceiver station over a local network;determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data, anda characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units;using the communication characteristic to dynamically select one of the base transceiver station and the communication device to perform a call anchor function for the data, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic comprises:using the communication characteristic to determine a wireless savings amount comprising an amount of wireless resource savings associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;using the communication characteristic to determine a backhaul cost amount comprising an amount of backhaul resource cost associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;selecting the communication device if the wireless savings amount exceeds the backhaul cost amount; andselecting the base transceiver station if the backhaul cost amount exceeds the wireless savings amount.6. A method for communicating, comprising:using a base transceiver station to engage in wireless communication with a first mobile unit;using the base transceiver station to carry data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;using a communication device to communicate with the base transceiver station over a local network;determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data, anda characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units; andusing the communication characteristic to dynamically relocate a call anchor function for the data to one of the base transceiver station and the communication device during data transmission between the first and second mobile units;wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed for a first communication session, thereby generating a first selection result, the step of dynamically selecting being further performed for a second communication session, thereby generating a second selection result, and the first and second selection results being independent from each other.7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed exactly once for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed at least twice for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.9. A communication system, comprising:means for engaging in wireless communication with a first mobile unit, the means for engaging in wireless communication comprising means for carrying data transmitted in a communication session between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;means for communicating with the means for engaging in wireless communication;means for determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of a traffic characteristic of the data and a characteristic of wireless communication between the means for engaging in wireless communication and at least one of the first and second mobile units;means for using the communication characteristic to dynamically select one of the means for communicating and the means for engaging in wireless communication to include means for anchoring the communication session, wherein the means for using the communication characteristic to dynamically select comprises:means for using the communication characteristic to determine a wireless savings amount comprising an amount of wireless resource savings associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;means for using the communication characteristic to determine a backhaul cost amount comprising an amount of backhaul resource cost associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;means for selecting the communication device if the wireless savings amount exceeds the backhaul cost amount; andmeans for selecting the base transceiver station if the backhaul cost amount exceeds the wireless savings amount.10. A communication system, comprising:means for engaging in wireless communication with a first mobile unit, the means for engaging in wireless communication comprising means for carrying data transmitted in a communication session between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;means for communicating with the means for engaging in wireless communication;means for determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data, anda characteristic of wireless communication between the means for engaging in wireless communication and at least one of the first and second mobile units; andmeans for using the communication characteristic to dynamically relocate a call anchor function for the data during data transmission between the first and second mobile units to one of the means for communicating and the means for engaging in wireless communication, wherein the means for using the communication characteristic comprises:first means for generating a first anchoring means selection result for a first communication session; andsecond means for generating a second anchoring means selection result for a second communication session, the first and second anchoring means selection results being independent from each other.11. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second means for generating generates exactly one anchoring means selection result.12. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second means for generating generates at least two anchoring means selection results.13. A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions operable to direct a processor to perform the steps of:using a base transceiver station to engage in wireless communication with a first mobile unit;using the base transceiver station to carry data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;using an communication device to communicate with the base transceiver station;determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of a traffic characteristic of the data and a characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units; andusing the communication characteristic to dynamically select one of the base transceiver station and the communication device to perform a call anchor function for the data, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic comprises:using the communication characteristic to determine a wireless savings amount comprising an amount of wireless resource savings associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;using the communication characteristic to determine a backhaul cost amount comprising an amount of backhaul resource cost associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;selecting the communication device if the wireless savings amount exceeds the backhaul cost amount; andselecting the base transceiver station if the backhaul cost amount exceeds the wireless savings amount.14. A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions operable to direct a processor to perform the steps of:using a base transceiver station to engage in wireless communication with a first mobile unit;using the base transceiver station to carry data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit;using a communication device to communicate with the base transceiver station over a local network;determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data,a characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units; andusing the communication characteristic to dynamically relocate a call anchor function for the data during data transmission between the first and second mobile units to one of the base transceiver station and the communication device;wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed for a first communication session, thereby generating a first selection result, the step of dynamically selecting being further performed for a second communication session, thereby generating a second selection result, and the first and second selection results being independent from each other.15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed exactly once for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the step of using the communication characteristic is performed at least twice for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.17. A communication system, comprising:a first network;a gateway connecting the first network to a second network;a mobile unit;a base transceiver station engaged in wireless communication with the first mobile unit and carrying data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit, the base transceiver station being in communication with the first network;a communication device in communication with the base transceiver station over the first network, wherein one of the base transceiver station and the communication device is dynamically selected, by a selection procedure, to perform a call anchor function for the data, the selection procedure comprising;determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of a traffic characteristic of the data and a characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile unitsusing the communication characteristic to determine a wireless savings amount comprising an amount of wireless resource savings associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;using the communication characteristic to determine a backhaul cost amount comprising an amount of backhaul resource cost associated with performing the call anchor function by the communication device;selecting the communication device if the wireless savings amount exceeds the backhaul cost amount; andselecting the base transceiver station if the backhaul cost amount exceeds the wireless savings amount.18. A communication system, comprising:a first network;a gateway connecting the first network to a second network;a first mobile unit;a base transceiver station engaged in wireless communication with the first mobile unit and carrying data being transmitted between the first mobile unit and a second mobile unit, the base transceiver station being in communication with the first network; anda communication device in communication with the base transceiver station over the first network, wherein a call anchor function for the data is dynamically relocated during data transmission between the first and second mobile units to one of the base transceiver station and the communication device by a selection procedure, the selection procedure comprising determining a communication characteristic comprising at least one of:a traffic characteristic of the data, anda characteristic of wireless communication between the base transceiver station and at least one of the first and second mobile units;wherein the selection procedure is performed for a first communication session, thereby generating a first selection result, the selection procedure-being further performed for a second communication session, thereby generating a second selection result, and the first and second selection results being independent from each other.19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the selection procedure is performed exactly once for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the selection procedure is performed at least twice for at least one of the first and second communication sessions.