Network entry procedure in multi-channel mobile networks
View Patent ↗A technique for network entry in multi-channel mobile systems is described. The procedure utilizes the channel specific information sent in the beacon of each channel to select a subset of suitable channels. It then proceeds to scan these channels to gather information on perceived interference and received signal strength. Based on collected information the device picks the most suitable channel for joining the network. Since the channels to be scanned are pre-selected based on information seen in the beacon, the overall scan latency is reduced, thereby leading to a faster and more successful network entry.
1. A network entry system for mobile node handsets when entering a network for selecting between multiple channels of multiple base stations having a medium access control protocol used for forwarding Internet Protocol packets between multiple base stations and mobile nodes in voice over the Internet protocol systems on a wireless network comprising:
multiple base stations in electrical communication with the Internet;
one or more mobile nodes in wireless electrical communication with one of said multiple base stations said multiple base stations and said one or more mobile nodes each having a medium access control protocol;
each of said multiple base stations having multiple channels transmitting a beacon signal containing base station ID, interference estimate, residual voice capacity, residual data capacity, percentage of registered mobile nodes, and timing information;
said medium access control protocol having hyper-frames comprised of super-frames;
wherein when one of said one or more mobile nodes powers up said mobile node scans for a beacon signal for all channels available at a scan rate of once per super-frame for base station ID, interference estimate, residual voice capacity, residual data capacity, and percentage of registered mobile nodes from said beacons of each of said multiple base stations in mobile nodes' electrical communication range and said mobile node stores said base station ID, interference estimate, residual voice capacity, residual data capacity, and percentage of registered mobile nodes of said multiple base stations and said mobile node uses said stored base station ID, interference estimate, residual voice capacity, residual data capacity, and percentage of registered mobile nodes of said multiple base stations to determine a subset of said available channels to be scanned when said mobile node begins network entry; and,
wherein when said mobile node begins network entry said mobile node scans said subset of available channels to select a channel with the best signal strength and interference estimate and said mobile node uses said stored timing information of said beacon of said selected channel to synchronize with said selected channel.
2. The network entry system for mobile node handsets for selecting between multiple channels of multiple base stations of claim 1 wherein if said handset did not detect any channels it will shut down for a period of time then restart and repeat scanning for said beacon signals.