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:
Sep. 24, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2012
Dae-sik OH, Overland Park, KS (US);
Michael C. Delaet, Foster City, CA (US);
Robert C. Pippert, Lenexa, KS (US);
Dae-Sik Oh, Overland Park, KS (US);
Michael C. DeLaet, Foster City, CA (US);
Robert C. Pippert, Lenexa, KS (US);
Sprint Spectrum L.P., Overland Park, KS (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for providing a pilot-beacon on behalf of one or more base stations, such as one or more femtocells. A pilot-beacon transmitter, separate from the base stations, determines the locations of coverage areas of the base stations and then dynamically configures a pilot-beacon radiation pattern to encompass (approximately) the determined coverage areas. That way, a mobile station may detect the pilot beacon and initiate scanning of coverage provided by the base stations. Optimally, the method can be used to provide a pilot beacon for femtocells, thereby avoiding the need for the femtocells to include pilot beacon transmission functions and thus possibly decreasing the cost of the femtocells. The pilot-beacon transmitter or another entity may also be configured to receive and forward GPS signals to the base stations, possibly offsetting GPS timing based on measured delays for communication with the base stations.