Abstract:
A method and a wireless transmit/receive unit perform a handoff to a target base station having enhanced capabilities. A dual mode manager triggers a capabilities query for information regarding enhanced capability of the target base station, wherein the enhanced capability includes transmission in accordance with a high speed data mode. A generator sends the query to a server connected to the Internet via a first base station not having enhanced capability. The dual mode manager receives from the server via the first base station information regarding the enhanced capability. A handoff to the target base station is initiated by the dual mode manager on a condition that the received information indicates that the target base station has enhanced capability. The dual mode manager deactivates a first mode of operation for communication with the first base station and activates the high speed data mode for communication with the target base station.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/871,154, filed May 31, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,912, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to data communication systems employing wireless subsystems and more particularly to arrangements for indicating enhanced capabilities of such subsystems to wireless handsets seeking access to those capabilities via such subsystems. 
         [0003]    In order for wireless handsets to establish a transmission path to a desired destination through a data communication system having a wireless subsystem(s), it is necessary for the wireless facilities to exchange signaling information with the handset. In the usual case where the subsystem has a base station equipped to operate in a first mode employing voice or low speed data communications (“first mode”), specific first mode signaling is used to establish the connection when the wireless handset also operates in such first mode. 
         [0004]    Dual mode wireless handsets are now available that can selectively operate either in such first mode or in a second mode that can support an enhanced capability such as transmitting and receiving high speed data messages over a wireless subsystem that has corresponding high-speed capability. This is advantageous, for example, where a dual mode handset that is initially connected in the first mode with a low-speed first base station at one cellsite is handed off to a second base station that is disposed at a second cellsite and that is collocated with a third base station capable of transmitting high speed data in the second mode. In such case, the handset can be switched into the second mode in response to signals indicative of the enhanced capability of the third base station. However, upgrading an existing base station by adding facilities to provide such enhanced signaling to a dual-mode handset can add significantly to the costs of setting up and operating the associated wireless subsystem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a more advantageous arrangement for signaling base station enhanced capabilities and associated configuration data to a dual-mode wireless handset. In an illustrative embodiment applicable to the above-mentioned handoff from the first base station to the second base station, the handset is connected through the first base station to a first server that is designated as a first Internet destination port for the handset. A separate capabilities server is designated as a second Internet destination port. The capabilities server includes a data base populated with information indicative of, e.g., enhanced capabilities present at the cellsite location of the second base station. The handset is equipped with means for generating a suitable query message which is transmitted to the data base over the second base station in the first mode after a successful handoff to retrieve the capability information for the cellsite location of the second base station. The handset further includes means which, in response to the retrieved capability information, switches the handset from the first mode to the second mode for post-handoff operation with the enhanced capability facilities (e.g., a third base station) collocated with the second base station if the retrieved capability information indicates that the third base station can operate in the second mode. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The invention is further illustrated in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a wireless data communication system in which the data capability signaling arrangement of the invention may be incorporated; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the wireless data communication system of  FIG. 1  after incorporation of a separate capabilities server included in one embodiment of the signaling arrangement of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the capabilities server of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is s block diagram of one embodiment of dual-mode handset equipped to work with the capabilities server of  FIG. 3  in implementing the signaling arrangement of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring to the drawing,  FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a data communication system  11  for transmitting data packets over a connection conventionally established between a wireless handset  12  and a server  13 . The server is shown connected to the Internet represented at  14 , and the server  13  is assigned an address that forms a remote destination port on the Internet for data from the handset  12 . 
         [0012]    The system  11  includes a first wireless subsystem  16  which, for purposes of this description, selectively provides wireless service to the handset  12 . The first subsystem  16  defines a first cellsite that includes a base station  17 . The base station  17  is supported in a radio tower  18 . The base station  17  is assumed to be initially in radio communication with the handset  12 . The subsystem  16  is coupled to the server  13  through a conventional wired network that includes the Internet  14 . 
         [0013]    The handset  12  may be switched, or handed off, from the then-connected base station  17  in the wireless subsystem  16  to a base station  21  in a second wireless subsystem  22  that defines a second cellsite. The base station  21  is supported in a radio tower  23 . The handoff is accomplished in a conventional manner in accordance with the relative strength of a beacon or pilot signal transmitted to the handset  12  from the respective base stations  17  and  21 . In particular, if the signal strength from the base station  21  as measured at the handset  12  is determined to be sufficiently greater than that of the base station  17  for more than a certain period of time, the handset may request a handoff from the base station  17  to the base station  21 . For this purpose, the handset  12  generates a handoff request signal which is thereafter executed by the base stations  17  and  21 . Upon completion of such handoff, packets may be transmitted from the handset to the server  13 , and vice versa, through the base station  21  and the Internet  14 . 
         [0014]    Most wireless subsystems of the type represented at  16  and  22  operate in a first low-speed voice/data mode. In like manner, at least older forms of wireless handsets also operate in such first mode, and the low-speed radio connections established between the handset and each of the associated wireless subsystems are implemented, in part, by signaling from the applicable base station(s) in such subsystem to the handset. Conventionally, such signaling includes, among other things, an indication of data speed capability of the subsystem. Because of the widespread use of cellular technology employing such first mode, it has been common to utilize dedicated facilities in each base station to provide the required signaling for such low speed connections to the handset. 
         [0015]    With the advance of technology, many networks like the system  11  are now enhanced with separate, colocated systems capable of high speed data transmission. Certain handset implementations, like the implementation described below in connection with  FIG. 4 , are equipped with facilities to selectively operate such handset in either the first low-speed voice/data mode or a second high-speed data mode. The availability of second mode operation of the handset, while enabling more efficient data transfer and exploitation of the higher transmission rates now available on many data networks, presents certain problems and complications in setting up the wireless connections for the transfer of data packets between the handset  12  and the server  13 . 
         [0016]    In particular, when both wireless subsystems  16  and  22  of  FIG. 1  employ cellular technology exclusively in the first mode, they can utilize standard signaling facilities to establish low speed connections both before and after a handoff of the handset  12  between the affected base stations  17  and  21 . However, if the subsystem  22  that is to receive the handoff is enhanced with facilities that can support the second mode (e.g., an additional enhanced base station  24  as represented in  FIG. 2 ), it is necessary when such handoff takes place to signal the handset  12  that this cellsite location supports operation in the second mode. This is required so that the handset may be switched into its corresponding second mode of operation to take advantage of the enhanced data capabilities at the new location. 
         [0017]    Unfortunately, the first mode base station  21  operates independent of the second mode base station  24  at the same location and therefore is not aware that the enhanced capability is available. In addition, the first mode base stations  17  and  21  have no such signaling method to notify the handset  12  of this enhanced capability. Upgrading the first mode base station signaling facilities to permit the signaling of the availability of the enhanced capability would greatly increase the operating costs of the wireless subsystem. 
         [0018]    In accordance with the invention, a superior and more economical way is provided for implementing enhanced capability signaling to permit efficient connection of a wireless dual-mode handset to an associated wireless subsystem for operation in a selected one of the first and second modes. Illustratively, a capabilities server  31  ( FIG. 2 ) is connected to the Internet  14  as a second destination port for the handset  12  through the system  11 . Like the server  13 , the capabilities server  31  is assumed to be initially accessible from the handset  12  through the low-speed base station  17  that is then in radio communication with the handset  12 . The capabilities server  31  contains a data base  32  ( FIG. 3 ) that is populated with capability data indicative of the enhanced capabilities (illustratively high speed data) present at cellsites within the system  11 , including the cellsite represented by the wireless subsystem  22 . 
         [0019]    The manner in which the dual mode handset  12  may access the necessary connection data from the data base  32  in connection with a handoff of such handset from the base station  17  to the base station  21  will now be explained in connection with  FIGS. 2-4 . It will be assumed, as in  FIG. 1 , that an initial low speed (first mode) wireless connection is established between the handset and the base station  17  using first mode data capability resident in dedicated facilities in the base station  17 . Such connection may extend between a suitable transceiver (not shown) in the base station  17  and a conventional first mode radio circuit  33  ( FIG. 4 ) in the handset  12 . 
         [0020]    In response to a sufficient degree and duration of signal strength difference between the base stations  17  and  21 , a handoff occurs in a conventional manner utilizing the existing first mode signaling. Upon completion of such handoff, a new location detection signal from a generator  36  in the handset  12  is applied to a dual-mode manager  37  in the handset. The dual-mode manager  37  triggers a capabilities query generator  38  whose content constitutes a request to the data base  32  ( FIG. 3 ) in the server  31  to retrieve capability information regarding the cellsite associated with the base station  21 . Preferably, the content of the data base query message includes, e.g., the cellsite location to which the handset is presently coupled and the current specific latitude-longitude location of the handset itself. 
         [0021]    The data base query is transmitted, via the new low speed connection to the base station  21  and the Internet  14 , to the server  31  ( FIG. 3 ), where it is applied through suitable data base interface software  41  to the data base  32 . The retrieved capability data from the database  32  is transmitted back through the interface software  41 , the Internet  14  and the base station  21  to radio circuit  33  ( FIG. 4 ) in the handset  12 , where it is coupled to the dual-mode manager  37 . 
         [0022]    If the capability data retrieved from the data base  31  indicates that the new cellsite where base station  21  is located includes enhanced facilities (e.g., the base station  24  that is operable in the second high-speed mode), the manager  37  disconnects the handset  12  from the base station  21  and connects it to the base station  24  in a conventional manner. In addition, the manager  37  deactivates the first mode radio circuit  33  and activates a second mode radio circuit  51  in the handset  12  to enable high speed operation over a new radio path through the third base station  24 . (Advantageously, registration of the handset pursuant to standard Mobile IP protocols as described, e.g., in Internet RFC 2002 and associated documents would be useful in maintaining connectivity to the server  13  following the switching of the handset to the base station  24 ). The capability data necessary to establish a high speed data connection between the handset  12  and the base station  24  may be easily accessed from the handset  12  through the public infrastructure of the Internet without the complications and expense that would be necessary if such data were available only through dedicated signaling added to the existing first mode base stations  17  and  21 . 
         [0023]    Preferably, the data base  31  may further include configuration data including a listing of base stations that border the base station  21  as well as other suitable RF characteristics useful to implement connections to the wireless subsystem  22  in the second mode. An advantage of the present invention is that the above-mentioned handset facilities shown in  FIG. 4  in connection with the set-up of a high speed connection with the wireless subsystems  16  and  22  can be implemented in software. Also, while the capabilities server  31  is represented in  FIGS. 2-3  as being a destination port of the Internet, it can be located anywhere on the wired portion of the network  11  or indeed on any other network that is accessible from the handset  12 . 
         [0024]    It will be further appreciated that the advantages of the invention may be utilized in connection with base stations in a single wireless subsystem (e.g., the subsystem  22 ), without any external handoff between such subsystem and another subsystem such as that depicted at  16 . In such case, signals from the handset may be used to query the database server  31  over the low-speed base station  21  of the wireless subsystem  22 . An indication from the data base  32  of high speed data capability of the subsystem  22  can then be used by the handset  12  to initiate high speed data service through the base station  24 . 
         [0025]    It should also be noted that although the enhanced capability described herein is a high speed data capability, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the techniques described in this invention can also be used to signal any other type of enhanced capability operational at the cellsite location, for example, location tracking and location based applications. 
         [0026]    In the foregoing, the invention has been described, in part, in connection with an exemplary embodiment thereof. Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the scope of the appended claims not be limited to or by the specific disclosure herein contained.