The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 24, 1999
Maria E. Palamara, Denville, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies, Inc., Murray Hill, CA (US);
Abstract
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.