초록 ▼

Methods and devices for assigning a resource to a wireless communication device (WCD) based on soft handoff capabilities are presented. In particular, a radio access network (RAN) component, such as a base station controller (BSC) may receive call initiation requests from multiple WCDs. Some of thes

Methods and devices for assigning a resource to a wireless communication device (WCD) based on soft handoff capabilities are presented. In particular, a radio access network (RAN) component, such as a base station controller (BSC) may receive call initiation requests from multiple WCDs. Some of these WCDs may be eligible for channel-assignment-into-soft-handoff (CASHO), wherein a WCD is assigned multiple traffic channels from multiple wireless coverage areas during call initiation procedures. However, the RAN component may take into account the effects of CASHO on WCDs with limited wireless coverage. Thus, if CASHO procedures could result in one or more WCDs not being assigned a traffic channel, the RAN component may refrain from performing CASHO, or at least refrain from performing CASHO to its full extent, in order to assign at least one traffic channel to other WCDs.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: a radio access network (RAN) receiving a first call initiation message from a first wireless communication device (WCD);the RAN receiving a second call initiation message from a second WCD, wherein the RAN receives both the first call initiation message and the second call in

1. A method comprising: a radio access network (RAN) receiving a first call initiation message from a first wireless communication device (WCD);the RAN receiving a second call initiation message from a second WCD, wherein the RAN receives both the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message within a 500-millisecond interval;in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message within the 500-millisecond interval, the RAN making a determination that (i) a first resource of a first wireless coverage area of the RAN cannot be assigned to both the first WCD and second WCD, (ii) the first WCD cannot be assigned any resource available in a second wireless coverage area of the RAN, and (iii) the second WCD can be allocated either or both of the first resource and a second resource available in the second wireless coverage area; andin response to the determination, the RAN allocating the first resource to the first WCD and allocating the second resource to the second WCD. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resource and the second resource are communication channels. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resource and the second resource are Walsh codes. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message, the RAN also determining that the first WCD is likely to begin roaming if the first WCD is not allocated the first resource. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first resource of the first wireless coverage area of the RAN cannot be assigned to both the first WCD and second WCD comprises determining that the first resource is the only resource of a given type available in the first wireless coverage area. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the RAN contains a first base transceiver station (BTS) that defines the first wireless coverage area, and the RAN also contains a second BTS that defines the second wireless coverage area. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the RAN contains a base transceiver station (BTS) that defines the first wireless coverage area and the second wireless coverage area. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message, the RAN also determining that channel-assignment-into-soft-handoff (CASHO) procedures are available for the second WCD but not for the first WCD. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the RAN using the first resource to conduct a first call involving the first WCD; andthe RAN using the second resource to conduct a second call involving the second WCD. 10. A method comprising: a radio access network (RAN) receiving a first traffic channel request from a first wireless communication device (WCD), wherein the first traffic channel request seeks to establish a first call for the first WCD;the RAN receiving a second traffic channel request from a second WCD, wherein the second traffic channel request seeks to establish a second call for the second WCD;the RAN making a determination that (i) the first WCD and the second WCD are both within range of a first wireless coverage area, (ii) the second WCD is also within range of a second wireless coverage area, (iii) the first WCD is not within range of the second wireless coverage area, (iv) the first wireless coverage area cannot support both the first call requested by the first WCD and second call requested by the second WCD, and (v) the RAN has received both the first traffic channel request and the second traffic channel request within a 500-millisecond interval; andin response to the determination, the RAN (i) allocating a first traffic channel from the first wireless coverage area to the first WCD, and (ii) allocating a second traffic channel from the second wireless coverage area to the second WCD. 11. A system comprising: at least one base transceiver station (BTS) configured to define a first wireless coverage area and a second wireless coverage area;at least one processor;at least one data storage; andprogram instructions, stored in the at least one data storage and executable by the at least one processor to (i) receive a first call initiation message from a first wireless communication device (WCD), (ii) receive a second call initiation message from a second WCD, wherein the RAN receives both the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message within a 500-millisecond interval, (iii) in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message within the 500-millisecond interval, make a determination that (a) a first resource of a first wireless coverage area of the RAN cannot be assigned to both the first WCD and second WCD, (b) the first WCD cannot be assigned any resource available in the second wireless coverage area, and (c) the second WCD can be allocated either or both of the first resource and a second resource available in the second wireless coverage area, and (iv) in response to the determination, allocate the first resource to the first WCD and the second resource to the second WCD. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first resource and the second resource are communication channels. 13. The system of claim 11, further comprising: program instructions, stored in the at least one data storage and executable by the at least one processor to, in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message, also determine that the first WCD is likely to begin roaming if the first WCD is not allocated the first resource. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions to determine that the first resource of the first wireless coverage area of the RAN cannot be assigned to both the first WCD and second WCD comprise program instructions to determine that the first resource is the only resource of a given type available in the first wireless coverage area. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one BTS comprises: a first BTS configured to define the first wireless coverage area; anda second BTS configured to define the second wireless coverage area. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one BTS comprises a single BTS that is configured to define the first wireless coverage area and the second wireless coverage area. 17. The system of claim 11, further comprising: program instructions, stored in the at least one data storage and executable by the at least one processor to, in response to receiving the first call initiation message and the second call initiation message, also determine that channel-assignment-into-soft-handoff (CASHO) procedures are available for the second WCD but not for the first WCD. 18. The system of claim 11, further comprising: program instructions, stored in the at least one data storage and executable by the at least one processor to (i) use the first resource to conduct a first call involving the first WCD, and (ii) use the second resource to conduct a second call involving the second WCD.