Patent ID: 6675015
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A radio communication system having network infrastructure including a first base station and at least a second base station, the first base station defining a first coverage area and the second base station defining a second coverage area, each of the first and at least second base stations respectively, selectably operable to communicate with a mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is positioned in a corresponding one of the first coverage area and the second coverage area, the radio communication system comprising apparatus for facilitating handover of communications between the first and second base stations when the mobile terminal moves between the first and second coverage areas, respectively, said apparatus comprising:an information collector forming part of the network infrastructure and embodied at the first base station, said information collector suitable for collecting information associated with the second base station, the information collected directly from the second base station during operation of the radio communication system, the information associated with the second base station usable by the mobile terminal during effectuation of the handover of communication; and a collected-information signal generator also forming part of the network infrastructure, embodied at the first base station and coupled to receive the information collected by said information collector directly from the second base station, said collected-information signal generator suitable for generating and broadcasting a collected-information signal to the mobile terminal to be detectable by the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is positioned within the first coverage area, prior to initiation of effectuation of handover of communications, the information contained in the collected-information signal used by the mobile terminal to pre-synchronize the mobile terminal with the second base station, thereby to facilitate subsequent effectuation of handover of communications between the first base station and the second base station.