Methods and apparatus for selecting between multiple carriers based on signal energy measurements

Abstract

Carrier frequency selection and handoff initiation methods in wireless communications systems employing multiple carrier frequencies are described. Although the receiver is tuned to a single band, based on the relative energy of one or more beacon signal components corresponding to the currently used carrier and one or more beacon signal components corresponding to an alternative carrier, a carrier selection and a handoff determination is made. Mobile nodes can use a single RF chain with a controllable RF filter to receive and process a signal within a first selected carrier band including components from different transmitters, e.g., a first signal component identified with the first currently selected band and a second signal component identified with a second alternative band. The signal components, e.g., beacon signal components from different transmitters may be obtained from a signal which corresponds to multiple symbol transmission time periods. Separate signal energy measurements are performed on the first and second signal components. The signal component energy is compared, and a determination is made as to whether a handoff should be initiated.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to communication systems, and more particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining carrier availability, selecting a carrier, and / or determining when to initiate a transfer from, for example, one network attachment point associated with one carrier to, for example, another carrier. A method and device for switching another network connection point of the network. Background technique [0002] From an implementation point of view, it may be beneficial to use different carriers in different parts of the communication system, eg because of the authority to use different frequencies in different geographic locations and / or because it is desirable to minimize signal interference by using different carriers. A spread spectrum wireless communication system can use different carriers throughout the system, where each carrier is associated with a different frequency band. In some wireless communication syste...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This approach is undesirable because the WT interrupts the normal communication session during the search interval, spends time retuning filters such as RF filters to make adjustments to each search frequency, spends time waiting for a detected carrier, Collects and evaluates any received signals, such as pilot signals, and then spends time retuning to the initial carrier settings

Images