Multi-frequency real-time data stream handoff
View Patent ↗A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A time sensitive data stream is sent to a wireless device via a first wireless station. A handoff criteria is determined to have been satisfied. Based on the handoff criteria being satisfied, at least one control message is sent that instructs the wireless device to increase a buffer size associated with the time sensitive data stream.
1. A method of operating a communication system, comprising:
transmitting, via a first wireless station using a first frequency, a time sensitive multicast data stream to a wireless device that is changing position relative to a sector boundary; and
instructing the wireless device to increase an internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream when a handoff criteria is satisfied;
interrupting a receipt of the time sensitive multicast data stream transmitted via the first wireless station at the wireless device and instructing the wireless device to scan for a second wireless station using a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency;
instructing the second wireless station to allocate a buffer associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream and broadcast the time sensitive multicast data stream using the second frequency; and,
transmitting, via the second wireless station, the time sensitive multicast data stream to the wireless device and instructing the wireless device to decrease the internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handoff criteria is based on at least one of an indicator of a likelihood of a handoff and an indicator of received signal strength.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
handing off the wireless device to the second wireless station.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
based on the handoff of the wireless device from the first wireless station to the second wireless station, sending at least one control message that instructs the second wireless station to decrease the buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time sensitive multicast data stream is associated with a video data stream.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
based on the handoff criteria no longer being satisfied, sending at least one control message that instructs the wireless device to decrease the internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream.
7. A system for operating a wireless device, comprising:
a controller configured to:
transmit, via a first wireless station using a first frequency, receiving, at a wireless device, a time sensitive multicast data stream to a wireless device that is changing position relative to a sector boundary;
increase an internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream at the wireless device when a handoff criteria is satisfied;
interrupt a receipt of the time sensitive multicast data stream transmitted via the first wireless station at the wireless device;
instruct the wireless device to scan for a second wireless station using a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency;
instruct the second wireless station to allocate a buffer associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream and broadcast the time sensitive multicast data stream using the second frequency; and,
transmit, via the second wireless station, the time sensitive multicast data stream to the wireless device.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the handoff criteria is based on an indicator of a likelihood of a handoff and an indicator of received signal strength.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
end a communication session with the first wireless station; and
establish a second communication session with the second wireless station.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
based on establishment of the second communication session with the second wireless station, decrease, by the wireless device, the internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the time sensitive multicast data stream is associated with a video data stream.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
based on the handoff criteria no longer being satisfied, decrease, by the wireless device, the internal buffer size associated with the time sensitive multicast data stream.