Patent ID: 6169898
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a multi-user, radio communication system having a fixed network including a plurality of spaced-apart, fixed-site transceivers positioned throughout a geographic area, each fixed-site transceiver defining a coverage area in which communications with a mobile station are permitted pursuant to a service subscription, a combination with the fixed network of apparatus for maintaining a selected QoS (quality of service) of the communications of the mobile station as the mobile station travels throughout the geographic area encompassed by the radio communication system, said apparatus comprising: a service subscription register associated with the mobile station, said service subscription register for storing an indication of a selected QoS level of which communications with the mobile station are to be maintained, the indication of the selected QoS level indexed together with an identifier which identifies the mobile station; a resource reserver coupled to receive information representative of the indication of the selected QoS level stored at said service subscription register and to the plurality of spaced-apart, fixed-site transceivers, said resource reserver for selectively reserving resources at a selected at least one of the fixed-site transceivers for communications by the mobile station, said selected at least one of the fixed-site transceivers defining at least one coverage area other than the coverage area in which the mobile station is currently operating, the resources caused to be selectively reserved, and time periods during which the resources are caused to be selectively reserved, responsive to the QoS level associated with the mobile station, the resources reserved by said resource reserver for assuring that the selected QoS level of the communications by the mobile station is available to the mobile station.