Patent ID: 6240290
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
For use with a cellular wireless communication system having a plurality of geographically distributed cells, each of which contains a respective base station with which one or more mobile transceivers communicate over assigned communication channels, a method of controlling the transfer of a mobile transceiver, communicating over a first communication channel with a first base station of a first cell, to a second communication channel through which said mobile transceiver communicates with a second base station of a second cell, in the course of said mobile transceiver moving from said first cell to said second cell, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing antennas at said first and second base stations through which narrowbeam directivity patterns for said first and second communication channels may be directed toward said mobile transceiver; and(b) at said second base station, directing a narrowbeam directivity pattern of said second communication channel from said second base station toward said mobile subscriber in accordance with a steering vector measurement made upon one of said first and second communication channels by one of said first and second base stations.