Abstract:
A cellular communications network includes a plurality of cells whose base stations (122) have smart antenna capabilities and conventional sector antenna capabilities. At mobile station (142) call setup, the call is initially set up on a sector antenna supported, looser frequency reuse plan assigned, measurement traffic channel frequency provided by the serving base station. Higher quality direction of arrival angle measurements (210) are then made at the serving base station to identify a particular smart antenna narrow beam which could serve the mobile station. A replacement frequency supported by that narrow beam is then selected (214), and an intra-cell handoff of the call is ordered (216). In the event mobile station location information is needed (e.g., based on the call type or call priority), neighbouring base stations are instructed (304) to make (306) and report (308) on direction of arrival angle measurements towards the mobile station. The reported angles are then processed (310) using triangulation (or other suitable) techniques, in view of known base station geographic location, to determine an approximate location of the mobile station.
Abstract:
A cellular communications network includes a plurality of cells (112) whose base stations (114) have smart antenna capabilities. In connection with a potential mobile station (116) hand-off, the smart antenna capable base stations for the hand-off candidate cells report (228) not only on measured traffic channel verification signal strength, but also on measured direction of arrival azimuth orientation angle and/or identity of a particular one of the separate narrow beams which would be needed to serve that mobile station after hand-off. A particular one of the candidate cells is then selected (232) as the target cell for hand-off, and instructions (234, 236) concerning implementation of the hand-off are provided to that target cell. These hand-off implementation instructions include the direction/beam information previously supplied by that target cell. The particular one of the beams specified by the received direction/beam information is then activated (238) in the target cell and a hand-off of the mobile station to that cell is ordered (240).
Abstract:
A system and method of service provisioning in an integrated telecommunications network (402) having a packet-switched network portion (PSN) (102) and a circuit-switched network (CSN) portion (404) with a gateway (108) disposed therebetween. A service node (408) comprising a Service Control Point (SCP), a Service Data Point (SDP), or both is provided with an interface operable with the PSN portion (102). A first entity (e.g., served entity) is capable of accessing the service node (408) for the purpose of invoking a service. A return result (706, 726) from the service node (408) is provided, based on the decision of what action is to be taken with respect to the service request (704, 724), to the first entity which then determines how the action is to be effectuated. An indication is thereafter provided by the first entity to a second entity (e.g., re-routing entity) preferably using H.450.X messages. In response, the second entity (i.e., re-routing or switching entity) takes an appropriate service action based on the return result obtained from the service node (408). In a presently preferred exemplary embodiment, legacy service nodes built on the basis of WIN/IN service architecture are utilized for the provisioning of Value-Added Services (VAS) or Supplementary Services (SS) in VoIP networks operable with the H.450.X Recommendations.
Abstract:
A system and method of ensuring that a called mobile station's expected service type matches a calling party's service type in a radio telecommunications network in which both voice service and data service are provided. A service code generator (51) in a serving mobile switching center (MSC)(22) generates a service code that indicates the calling party's service type. The service code is sent in a page (29) from the serving MSC to the mobile station (24), and includes the service code. An expected service code generator in the called mobile station generates an expected service code that indicates the called mobiles station's expected service type. The expected service code is sent in a page response (32) from the mobile station to a border MSC (26) that borders the serving MSC. The border MSC (26) extracts the expected service code and sends it to the serving MSC (22) where it is compared with the calling party's service code. If the service codes match, the call is connected to be mobile station. If the service codes do not match, the mobile station is denied access to the radio telecommunications network.
Abstract:
A cellular communication system and method for determining cell relations between cells is disclosed. The cellular communication system transmits signals from one or more transmitters, for example, mobile stations or base stations, over a plurality of radio frequency channels that are assigned to the cells. The transmitted signals over the plurality of radio frequency channels are received at each one of the cells and their received signal strengths are measured at corresponding measurement times. The received signal strength measurements and corresponding measurement times are processed to determine whether a measured received signal strength at a corresponding measurement time is based on a transmission from a single transmitter in a cell. The measurements corresponding to signals found originated from single transmitters are used for determining the cell relations in terms of such parameters as path gain values or C/I ratios.
Abstract:
A cellular communications network includes a plurality of cells (100) whose base stations have both sector (104) and smart (110) antenna capabilities. While engaged in a call (200), mobile station (114) downlink signal strength measurements (202, 204) are made on its own serving traffic channel and the control channels of neighboring cells. These measurements are then adjusted (210) by one or more factors which take into account the operational and physical differences between sector antenna and smart antenna. For example, the signal strength measurements may be appropriately adjusted by measured differences in gain between the smart antenna and sector antenna, output pow er backoff values associated with smart antenna and sector antenna support of t he traffic channels in comparison to the control channels, and power control attenuation applied to the traffic channels. The resulting adjusted downlink signal strength measurements may then be compared against each other (as off - set by any imposed hysteresis value) to more precisely locate the mobile station and uniformly, predictably and accurately identify when it is appropriate to authorize a hand-off.
Abstract:
A cellular communication system and method for determining cell relations between cells is disclosed. The cellular communication system transmits signals from one or more transmitters, for example, mobile stations or base stations, ove r a plurality of radio frequency channels that are assigned to the cells. The transmitted signals over the plurality of radio frequency channels are received at each one of the cells and their received signals strengths are measured at corresponding measurement times. The received signal strength measurements and corresponding measurement times ar e processed to determine whether a measured received signal strength at a corresponding measurement time is based on a transmission from a single transmitter in a cell. The measurements corresponding to signals found originated from single transmitters are used for determining the cell relations in terms of such parameters as path gain values or C/I ratios.