Patent ID: 6408184
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a mobile communication system having a mobile terminal positionable to be operable to communicate alternately by way of a first radio base station upon a first communication path with a correspondent entity and by way of at least a second radio base station upon at least a second communication path with the correspondent entity, the first communication path extending through a first packet data network and the second communication path extending through a second packet data network, an improvement of apparatus for determining a preferred communication path of the first and at least second communication paths, respectively, upon which to communicate information, said apparatus comprising:a detector at least coupled to receive indications of a first packet-network indicia of communication quality through the first packet data network and a second packet-network indicia of communication quality through the second packet data network, and to receive indications of a first radio-link indicia of communication quality upon a first radio link formable between the mobile terminal and the first radio base station and to receive indications of a second radio-link indicia of communication quality upon a second radio link formable between the mobile terminal and the second radio base station, said detector for forming a first communication path quality value responsive to the first packet-network indicia and the first radio-link indicia and a second communication path quality value responsive to the second packet-network indicia and the second radio-link indicia, the first communication path quality level value beyond a first threshold level when the first radio-link indicia indicates the communication quality level upon the first radio link to be of at least a minimum acceptable level and the second communication path quality level value beyond a second threshold level when the second radio-link indicia indicates the communication quality upon the second radio link to be at least the minimum threshold level; a determiner coupled to receive the first communication path quality value and the second communication path quality value, said determiner for determining the preferred communication path responsive thereto, the preferred communication path exhibiting a communication path quality level beyond the first threshold level.