Patent ID: 6101383
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a network comprising a number of radio base stations and a mobile station for radio communication with the base stations, a method comprising the following steps:allocating a communication channel for communication between a first one of the base stations and the mobile station;dividing the time after the allocation of the communication channel into a plurality of measuring periods;measuring, in the mobile station, signal strengths of broadcast channel (BCCH) carriers transmitted by base stations in the vicinity of the first base station;forming average values of the signal strengths measured for each of the BCCH carriers during each of the plurality of measuring periods;communicating, after the completion of one of the plurality of measuring periods, the signal strength average values of the strongest identified BCCH carriers to the first base station;pointing out, in the mobile station, an unidentified BCCH carrier which, based on the measured signal strengths, is predicted soon to be one of the strongest BCCH carriers, taking into account the signal strength average values over one of the plurality of measuring periods; andinitiating, in the mobile station, the identification of the BCCH carrier pointed out, causing identity information carried by said unidentified BCCH carrier to be read by the mobile station.