Patent ID: 6058289
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
A low power mobile unit for receiving on a forward channel and transmitting on a reverse channel over a wireless cellular communication network, the low power mobile unit comprising;(a) a receiver for receiving over forward channels, the receiver for periodically receiving notification messages from a current forward channel and for periodically measuring signal quality of at least the current forward channel of the forward channels;(b) a transmitter for transmitting over reverse channels; and(c) a management entity coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the management entity of the low sower mobile unit for:(1) periodically receiving notification messages from the receiver, the notification messages including client numbers client numbers having been received from a current, each such client number in the notification messages being associated with a mobile unit for which data is pending, the low power mobile unit determining if its client number is within the notification message;(2) periodically receiving from the receiver an indication of the signal quality of the current forward channel;(3) (i) periodically comparing the signal quality of the current forward channel with the signal quality of at least one other forward channel, (ii) periodically identifying a new forward channel having the highest signal quality, and (iii) if the receiver receives a notification message with the client number associated with the low power mobile unit or if the management entity determines that the signal quality of the current forward channel is below a minimum quality level, then providing the transmitter with a cell transfer message to be transmitted over a reverse channel associated with the new forward channel to change communication channels, otherwise, the management entity continuing to have the low power mobile unit communicate with the cellular network over the current forward channel.