Controlling base station router device definition codes
View Patent ↗A wireless communication system ( 20 ) allows for using base station router devices ( 30, 32 ) for in building communications using a mobile station ( 22 ). Automatically configuring a definition code such as primary scrambling codes or pseudo random noise offsets of the base station router devices ( 30, 32 ) facilitates minimizing or avoiding false handovers between a macrocell base station ( 24 ) and one of the base station router devices ( 30, 32 ). In a disclosed example, a controller ( 26 ) such as a radio network controller communicates with at least one of the base station router devices ( 30, 32 ) for automatically changing a definition code used by such a device to avoid correspondence between definition codes within a selected range.
1. A method, comprising:
automatically configuring a definition code of a base station router device to be distinguishable from a definition code of another base station router device within a selected range;
determining whether the base station router device is involved in at least a selected number of false handovers; and
changing the definition code if the selected number of false handovers is reached.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining a location of the base station router device; and
setting the definition code to be distinguishable from any other known base station router devices within the selected range of the determined location.
3. The method of claim 2 , comprising
maintaining a database of definition codes for a plurality of base station router devices having known locations;
using the database when setting the definition code.
4. The method of claim 2 , comprising
changing the definition code from a current code.
5. The method of claim 2 , comprising
detecting at least one signal from the base station router device associated with an initial use of the base station router device; and
determining the location and setting the definition code responsive to the detected at least one signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising
sending at least one signal from the base station router device that provides an indication of a current definition code; and
receiving an indication whether to change the definition code from the current definition code.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining whether the definition code of the base station router device is the same as a definition code of another base station router device to which handover was desired during at least one of the selected number of false handovers; and
changing the definition code of one of the base station router devices so that the definition codes are different.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising
detecting a false handover;
prompting a mobile station device to repeatedly monitor common pilot channel transmissions associated with the definition code until at least the selected number of false handovers occurs.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising
communicating between the base station router device and a wireless communication system controller through an IP network.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the definition code comprises one of a scrambling code or a pseudo random noise offset.
11. A communication system, comprising:
a plurality of base station router devices; and
at least one controller that determines whether any first ones of the plurality of base station router devices has the same definition code as any second ones of the plurality of base station router devices within a selected range and instructs at least one of the first one or the second one of the base station router devices to change its definition code, wherein the at least one controller determines whether any of the base station router devices has been involved in at least a selected number of false handovers before instructing at least a corresponding one of the base station router devices to change its definition code.
12. The system of claim 11 , comprising
a database containing indications of the plurality of base station router devices, a corresponding plurality of respective definition codes and a corresponding plurality of respective locations and wherein the at least one controller uses the database for determining whether to instruct any of the base station router devices to change its definition code.
13. A communication system, comprising:
a plurality of base station router devices; and
at least one controller that determines whether any first ones of the plurality of base station router devices has the same definition code as any second ones of the plurality of base station router devices within a selected range and instructs at least one of the first one or the second one of the base station router devices to change its definition code wherein the at least one controller detects an initial use of one of the base station router devices, determines a location of the one of the base station router devices and determines whether a current definition code of the one of the base station router devices corresponds to a definition code of any other base station router devices within the selected range of the determined location.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller communicates with the one of the base station router devices for changing the definition code of the one of the base station router device if the definition code corresponds to the definition code of any other base station router devices within the selected range of the determined location.
15. A base station router device, comprising
a communication portion for communicating with at least one controller associated with a wireless communication system, the base station router device changing a current definition code of the base station router device responsive to the at least one controller having determined that the base station router device was involved in at least a selected number of false handovers and communicating an instruction to the base station router device for changing the definition code.