Patent ID: 6714780
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
In a multi-beam communication system having a user terminal, a communication station, and a beam source, wherein the beam source projects a plurality of beams, and wherein a communication link between the user terminal and communication station is established on at least one of the plurality of beams, a method for reducing call dropping rates, comprising the steps of:(1) receiving at the user terminal a plurality of beam identifiers transmitted from the communication station; (2) measuring at the user terminal a beam strength of each beam identified by said plurality of beam identifiers; (3) transmitting from the user terminal to the communication station a plurality of beam strength values, wherein each of said plurality of beam strength values is a function of a measured beam strength of a beam identified by one of said plurality of beam identifiers; and receiving at the user terminal a handoff direction message transmitted by the communication station, wherein, based on said handoff direction message, the user terminal determines which beam or beams should be used for receiving information transmitted from the communication station; wherein said handoff direction message comprises a beam identifier corresponding to each beam in a new active beam set, wherein said new active beam set includes beams selected by the communication station that should be used as a communication link between the communication station and the user terminal.