Patent ID: 7711367
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a handover in a communications system that provides a plurality of channels comprising at least one high-speed data channel that supports real-time, high-speed data communications, the method comprising: communicating data to a first base station that is configured to transmit the data to a mobile unit over said at least one high-speed data channel during real-time, high speed communication; receiving feedback of channel conditions from the first base station and at least one second base station, wherein the feedback indicates channel conditions determined using measurements of at least one of the plurality of channels other than said at least one high-speed data channel; and initiating a soft handover such that the mobile unit is in concurrent communication with the first and second base stations using channels other than said at least one high-speed data channel selecting, subsequent to initiating the soft handover and at a radio network controller that is communicatively coupled to the first and second base stations, a switchover time for a hard handover of said at least one high speed data channel, the switchover time indicating a time at which the first base station stops transmitting data to the mobile unit over said at least one high-speed data channel and the second base station starts transmitting data to the mobile unit over said at least one high-speed data channel, and wherein said switchover time is selected to reduce service interruption during real-time, high speed communication by selecting the based on channel conditions associated with the communications to the first and second base stations; transmitting a first message from the radio network controller to the first and second base stations, the first message indicating the switchover time; stopping communication between the mobile device and the first base station at the switchover time; and starting communication between the mobile device and the second base station at the switchover time.