Granted Patent B2

US 8,619,702 · App. 11/305,286 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Abstract

Claims (160)

1. A method performed in a first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, the method comprising:

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, sending a communication to an access terminal over a control channel through the radio node of the second subnet without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication comprises packets.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

configuring the first radio network controller to have a border association with at least one radio node of the second subnet, the at least one radio node comprising the radio node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access terminal is in an idle state at least during the communication.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication sent over the control channel comprises a paging message.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication sent over the control channel comprises a UATI_Assignment message.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication sent over the control channel comprises a TrafficChannelAssignment message.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a notification from the access terminal at the first radio network controller, the notification comprising information identifying sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the notification comprises a route update message.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a notification from the access terminal at the first radio network controller, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, based on the pilot strengths, at least one sector to send the communication over the control channel to the access terminal.

12. A method performed in a first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, the method comprising:

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one sector of a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet;

receiving a notification from an access terminal, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal;

selecting one or more of the sectors based on the information about the pilot strengths, wherein a first sector of the one or more sectors is located in the second subnet of the radio access network and has a border association with the first radio network controller; and

after the border association has been established, sending a communication to the access terminal over a control channel through the first sector without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

13. A method performed at a first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, comprising:

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintaining an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the access terminal initially uses a first carrier in the first subnet that cannot be used in the second subnet.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first carrier comprises an operating frequency; and

wherein the first carrier operates in the first subnet and a second carrier operates in the first and second subnets.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein radio nodes of the first subnet are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and radio nodes of the second subnet are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

17. A method, comprising:

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintaining, at a first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of a second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the first subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and the second subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

19. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor to:

establish a border association between the radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, send a communication, from the radio network controller of the first subnet of the radio access network, to an access terminal over a control channel through the second subnet of the radio access network without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

20. The radio network controller of claim 19 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions that are executable by the processor to:

receive a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information identifying sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

21. The radio network controller of claim 19 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions that are executable by the processor to:

receive a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

22. The radio network controller of claim 21 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions that are executable by the processor to:

determine, based on the pilot strengths, at least one sector to send the communication over the control channel to the access terminal.

23. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one sector of a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet;

receive a notification from an access terminal at the first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal;

select one or more of the sectors based on the information about the pilot strengths, wherein a first sector of the one or more sectors is located in the second subnet of the radio access network and has a border association with the first radio network controller; and

after the border association has been established, send a communication to the access terminal over a control channel through the first sector without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

24. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

means for establishing a border association between the radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

means for sending a communication, after the border association has been established, from the radio network controller of the first subnet, to an access terminal over a control channel through the radio node of the second subnet without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

25. The radio network controller of claim 24 , further comprising:

means for receiving a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information identifying sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

26. The radio network controller of claim 24 , further comprising:

means for receiving a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

27. The radio network controller of claim 26 , further comprising:

means for determining, based on the pilot strengths, at least one sector to send the communication over the control channel to the access terminal.

28. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

means for establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one sector of a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet;

means for receiving a notification from an access terminal at the first radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal;

means for selecting one or more of the sectors based on the information about the pilot strengths, wherein a first sector of the one or more sectors is located in the second subnet of the radio access network and has a border association with the first radio network controller; and

means for sending, after the border association has been established, a communication to the access terminal over a control channel through the first sector without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

29. A system, comprising:

a first subnet of a radio access network and a second subnet of a radio access network, the first subnet comprising:

a first radio network controller configured to:

establish a border association between the radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, send a communication, from the radio network controller of the first subnet of the radio access network, to an access terminal over a control channel through the second subnet of the radio access network without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the first radio network controller is configured to receive a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information identifying sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

31. The system of claim 29 , wherein the first radio network controller is configured to receive a notification from the access terminal, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the first radio network controller is configured to determine, based on the pilot strength, at least one sector to send the communication over the control channel to the access terminal.

33. The system of claim 29 , further comprising:

a packet data serving node connected to a network, wherein the first radio network controller is connected to the packet data serving node, and wherein the at least one radio node is connected to the first radio network controller.

34. The system of claim 29 , further comprising:

the second subnet of the radio access network, comprising:

the radio node, the radio node being configured to communicate with a second radio network controller; and

the second radio network controller, wherein the second radio network controller is configured to send a second communication to a second access terminal over a second control channel through a second radio node of the at least one radio node of the first subnet of the radio access network without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the first subnet.

35. A system, comprising:

a first subnet of a radio access network and a second subnet of the radio access network, the first subnet comprising:

a first radio network controller configured to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one sector of a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet;

receive a notification from an access terminal at the first radio network controller, the notification comprising information about pilot strengths of sectors that are visible to the access terminal;

select one or more of the sectors based on the information about the pilot strengths, wherein a first sector of the one or more sectors is located in the second subnet of the radio access network and has a border association with the first radio network controller; and

after the border association has been established, send a communication to the access terminal over a control channel the first sector without the communication passing through any radio network controller of the second subnet.

36. A radio network controller configured to operated in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintain, at the radio network controller of a first subnet of a radio access network, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the access terminal initially uses a first carrier in the first subnet that cannot be used in the second subnet.

37. The radio network controller of claim 36 , wherein the first carrier comprises an operating frequency; and

wherein the first carrier operates in the first subnet and a second carrier operates in the first and second subnets.

38. The radio network controller of claim 36 , wherein radio nodes of the first subnet are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and radio nodes of the second subnet are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

39. The radio network controller of claim 38 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

40. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

means for establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

means for maintaining, at the radio network controller after the border association has been established, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the access terminal initially uses a first carrier in the first subnet that cannot be used in the second subnet.

41. The radio network controller of claim 40 , wherein the first carrier comprises an operating frequency; and

wherein the first carrier operates in the first subnet and a second carrier operates in the first and second subnets.

42. The radio network controller of claim 40 , wherein radio nodes of the first subnet are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and radio nodes of the second subnet are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

43. The radio network controller of claim 42 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

44. A system, comprising:

a first subnet of a radio access network, comprising:

a first radio network controller, wherein the first radio network controller is configured to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintain an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio rode of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the access terminal initially uses a first carrier in the first subnet that cannot be used in the second subnet.

45. The system of claim 44 , wherein the first carrier comprises an operating frequency; and

wherein the first carrier operates in the first subnet and a second carrier operates in the first and second subnets.

46. The system of claim 44 , wherein radio nodes of the first subnet are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and radio nodes of the second subnet are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

47. The system of claim 46 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

48. The system of claim 44 , further comprising:

a packet data serving node connected to a network, wherein the first radio network controller is connected to the packet data serving node; and

wherein the first subnet further comprises:

at least one radio node configured to communicate with the first radio network controller, wherein the at least one radio node is connected to the first radio network controller.

49. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor to:

establish a border association with a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintain, at the radio network controller, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the first subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and the second subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

50. The radio network controller of claim 49 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

51. A radio network controller configured to operated in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

means for establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

means for maintaining, after the border association has been established, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the first subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and the second subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

52. The radio network controller of claim 51 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

53. A system, comprising:

a first subnet of a radio access network, comprising:

radio nodes, wherein at least one radio node of the radio nodes is configured to communicate with a first radio network controller; and

the first radio network controller, wherein the first radio network controller is configured to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one sector of a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, maintain an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet of the radio access network;

wherein the radio nodes of the first subnet comprise at least some radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a first 1xEV-DO standard and the second subnet comprises radio nodes that are configured in accordance with a second 1xEV-DO standard.

54. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard and the second 1xEV-DO standard comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard.

55. A method performed in a radio access network including a first and a second subnet, in which the first subnet includes a first radio network controller, and in which radio nodes in the first subnet are configured in accordance with one 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard, and radio nodes in the second subnet are configured in accordance with another 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard, the method comprising;

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one border radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the border radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, enabling the first radio network controller to maintain an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first subnet to a coverage area of the border radio node of the second subnet;

wherein the access terminal uses a carrier in the first subnet that cannot be used in the second subnet.

56. A method performed in a radio access network including a first and a second subnet, in which the first subnet includes both a first radio network controller and radio nodes that are configured in accordance with one 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard, and the second subnet includes radio nodes configured in accordance with another 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-0 standard, the method comprising:

establishing a border association between the first radio network controller and at least one border radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the border radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

after the border association has been established, enabling the first radio network controller to maintain an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from the coverage area of the first subnet to the coverage area of the border radio node of the second subnet.

57. A radio network controller configured to operate in a first subnet of a radio access network, the radio network controller comprising:

means for establishing a border association between the radio network controller and a radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

means for maintaining, after the border association has been established, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of a first subnet to a coverage area of the radio node of the second subnet;

wherein radio nodes in the first subnet are configured in accordance with a 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard, and radio nodes in the second subnet are configured in accordance with another 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev. 0 standard.

58. A system comprising,

a packet data serving node connected to a network;

at least two subnets, each subnet comprising:

at least one radio network controller connected to the packet data serving node; and

at least one radio node connected to a radio network controller in the same subnet;

wherein a first radio network controller located in a first subnet is configured to:

establish a border association between the first radio network controller and a border radio node of a second subnet, the border association being established based at least in part on a proximity of the border radio node to a subnet boundary between the first subnet and the second subnet; and

maintain, after the border association has been established, an open traffic channel with an access terminal when the access terminal moves from a coverage area of a first subnet to a coverage area of the border radio node of the second subnet;

wherein radio nodes in the first subnet are configured in accordance with a 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev-A standard, and radio nodes in the second subnet are configured in accordance with another 1xEV-DO standard that comprises the 1xEV-DO Rev. 0 standard.

Assignments (8)