Patent ID: 7016322
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A base transceiver station (BTS) comprising: a wireless interface operable to receive information from a mobile unit using a wireless link between the wireless interface and the mobile unit; a processor operable to: determine a metric associated with the wireless link; generate a graded packet encoding the information and the metric, wherein the metric enables elements of a core packet network to select between multiple packets encoding the information; monitor the metric associated with the wireless link; determine that the metric associated with the wireless link has degraded below a predetermined threshold: withdraw from a selection group associated with the mobile unit; and instruct the wireless interface to discontinue receiving further information from the mobile unit; and a network interface operable to communicate the graded packet to the core packet network; wherein the processor is further operable to: monitor a second metric associated with a second wireless link between the wireless interface and a second mobile unit; determine that the second metric associate with the second wireless link has exceeded a predetermined threshold; register with a selection group associated with the second mobile unit; and instruct the wireless interface to begin receiving information from the second mobile unit.