Measurements in communications systems
A method of performing compressed mode measurements for selecting communication means in a communication system. The communication system comprises a network element and a plurality of communication means for serving a mobile station. The method comprises providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means; ordering the communication means based on said information; and performing compressed mode measurements at the mobile station based on said ordering.
1 . A method of performing compressed mode measurements for selecting communication means in a communication system, said communication system comprising a network element and a plurality of communication means for serving a mobile station and, said method comprising:
providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means;
ordering the communication means based on said information; and
performing compressed mode measurements at the mobile station based on said ordering.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the selection is for handover of the mobile station from a first communication means to a second communication means.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first communication means operates at a first frequency of a radio access technology and the second communication means operates at a second frequency of said radio access technology.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radio access technology is code division multiple access.
5 . A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radio access technology is wideband code division multiple access.
6 . A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first communication means operates in accordance with a first radio access technology, and the second communication means operates in accordance with a second, different, radio access technology.
7 . A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first radio access technology is code division multiple access.
8 . A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first radio access technology is wideband code division multiple access.
9 . A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second communication means comprises a plurality of cells, and the compressed mode measurements comprise signal strength measurements of at least one of said plurality of cells.
10 . A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second communication means comprises a plurality of cells, and the compressed mode measurements comprise signal strength measurements of at least one of said plurality of cells, and wherein the compressed mode measurements comprise decoding a parameter associated with at least one of the plurality of cells.
11 . A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the parameter is the base station identification code associated with one of the plurality of cells.
12 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises at least one of the following: a real time load, a non real time load, a service priority weight or a signal to interference ratio.
13 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a weighting value.
14 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication means are ordered in a prioritised order.
15 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network element is a radio network controller.
16 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information is provided by a common resource radio management.
17 . A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the common resource radio management is a common radio management server.
18 . A communication system comprising:
a network element;
a mobile station;
a plurality of communication means, said communication means being arranged to provide communication services to said mobile station;
means for providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information being based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means; and
means for ordering the communication means being based on said information;
said mobile station being arranged to perform compressed mode measurements based on said ordering for selecting one of the plurality of communication means.
19 . A method of determining a threshold for a cell in a communication system, said communication system comprising said cell and a plurality of other cells, said method comprising the steps of:
collecting statistics on the handovers from said cell to said plurality of other cells;
weighting the cell load of each cell of said plurality of other cells by the percentage of handovers from said cell to respective one of said plurality of other cells; and
determining the threshold based on said weighted cell loads.
20 . A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said weighting comprises multiplying said cell load by said percentage for each cell.
21 . A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the threshold is determined by adding together all said weighted cell loads.