Patent ID: 6205129
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
In a mobile radio communication system having a plurality of base stations and a mobile station, a method for controlling a data rate associated with transmission of information from one of the base stations to the mobile station, wherein the mobile station receives information from the one base station either in a variable rate mode or a fixed rate mode, the transmission rate of information from the one base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode varying between successive data transmit intervals associated with the mobile station, and the transmission rate of information from the one base station to the mobile station in the fixed rate mode remaining fixed between successive data transmit intervals associated with the mobile station, comprising the steps of:(A) transmitting data from a first base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode until the first base station is unable to receive variable data rate control information from the mobile station;(B) when the first base station is unable to receive the variable data rate control information from the mobile station, attempting at the mobile station to remain in the variable rate mode by searching for a second base station that will support data transmissions to the mobile station in the variable rate mode and, if the mobile station is able to locate the second base station that will support data transmissions to the mobile station in the variable rate mode, then transmitting data from the second base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode and terminating the transmission of data from the first base station to the mobile station in the variable rate mode; and(C) if the mobile station is unable to locate the second base station that will support data transmissions to the mobile station in the variable rate mode, transmitting data to the mobile station from either the first base station or a different base station in the fixed rate mode.