Patent ID: 7974241
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for providing cellular handoff, comprising: associating a group of first users with a first subscribed quality of service; associating a first group of second users and a second group of second users with a second subscribed quality of service, the second subscribed quality of service lower than the first subscribed quality of service; assigning the group of first users with the first subscribed quality of service and the first group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a first cellular tower; assigning the second group of second users with the second subscribed quality of service to a second cellular tower; determining a real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users; determining whether the real-time quality of service provided by the cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service; and in response to determining that the real-time quality of service provided by the first cellular tower to the group of first users falls below the first subscribed quality of service, performing a handoff of the first group of second users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower even when the handoff causes a second real-time quality of service provided by the second cellular tower to the first group of second users to fall below the second subscribed quality of service.