Patent ID: 7120447
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method, in a cellular network having a base station controller (BSC), for adjusting vocoder rates in a cellular communication network including a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells having a plurality of cell sectors, the method comprising: determining average sector loading for the plurality of cell sectors; determining whether a loading threshold value has been met or exceeded wherein the loading threshold value is defined in relation to a quality of service rating specified in a subscriber profile; determining for a forward link from a base station (BTS) whether a forward link vocoder rate from the BTS to a mobile station should be changed and, if so, what the changed forward link vocoder rate should be by determining, if the mobile station is in handoff, which of a plurality of cell sectors that are in handoff with the mobile station has the highest sector loading wherein the forward link vocoder rate is a function of the loading of the cell sector having the highest sector loading; and wherein the step of determining whether to change the forward link vocoder rate to the mobile station includes: