Patent ID: 8942129
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. In a radio access network (RAN) that radiates to define a plurality of wireless coverage areas each operating on a plurality of carrier frequencies, a method comprising: the RAN identifying a set of the wireless coverage areas in which to transmit inter-frequency search directives, wherein identifying the set of wireless coverage areas comprises (i) determining which of the wireless coverage areas each have threshold weaker wireless performance on one carrier frequency of the coverage area than on another carrier frequency of the coverage area and (ii) deeming to be members of the set only the determined wireless coverage areas; and for each wireless coverage area of the identified set, the RAN (i) identifying one or more wireless communication devices (WCDs) operating in the coverage area that are operating on the coverage area's carrier frequency that has the weaker wireless performance and (ii) based at least in part on the identifying of each of the one or more WCDs, sending to each identified WCD an inter-frequency search directive to cause the WCD to scan for and report to the RAN a measurement of wireless coverage on one or more carrier frequencies other than that on which the WCD is operating.