Patent ID: 6041235
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A handover method, said handover method comprising:measuring at a mobile station at least a reception level of a signal of a serving cell;measuring at a mobile station a reception level of signals from a limited number of cells adjacent to said serving cell;detecting a need for handover;selecting with the aid of measurements at least one adjacent cell as a candidate cell for handover;assigning, from said adjacent cells to be measured, to at least one candidate cell, one or more reference cells possessing a signal profile similar to that of a more remote cell which is a potential source of co-channel or adjacent channel interference in the respective candidate cell, but which is not directly measurable by said mobile station in said serving cell;estimating an interference level caused by at least one other cell in said at least one candidate cell, if said at least one other cell is a potential source of interference in said candidate cell; andutilizing said estimated interference level as an additional criterion for selection of a target cell for handover so that a possibility of handover to a cell with a high interference level is diminished.