Edge sector handoff determination
View Patent ↗A wireless communication device comprises a processing system and a communication transceiver. The processing system is configured to determine a location and a velocity of the wireless communication device. The communication transceiver is configured to monitor an RF signal between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node to detect a reduction in RF signal quality. If the reduction in the RF signal quality is detected, the processing system is configured to process the location to determine if the wireless communication device is proximate to an edge sector of the wireless access node, and if so, process the velocity to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node. The processing system is configured to inhibit a handoff to another wireless access node if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node, but if not moving towards the wireless access node, to initiate the handoff to the other wireless access node.
1. A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
determining a location indicator and a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device;
monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node to detect a reduction in RF signal quality;
if the reduction in the RF signal quality is detected, processing the location indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is proximate to an edge sector of the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is proximate to the edge sector, processing the velocity indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node, inhibiting a handoff to another wireless access node; and
if the wireless communication device is not moving towards the wireless access node, waiting for at least a duration of a handoff timer prior to determining a target RF signal quality of a target RF signal between the wireless communication device and the other wireless access node, calculating an RF signal ratio by dividing the RF signal quality of the RF signal between the wireless communication device and the wireless access node by the target RF signal quality, comparing the RF signal ratio to a threshold value, and if the RF signal ratio falls below the threshold value initiating the handoff to the other wireless access node.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein inhibiting the handoff to the other wireless access node comprises inhibiting the handoff to the other wireless access node for at least a duration of a handoff timer.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein inhibiting the handoff to the other wireless access node comprises inhibiting a wireless communication transceiver of the wireless communication device from activating for at least a duration of a handoff timer.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the velocity indicator comprises a velocity vector indicating a direction of velocity of the wireless communication device.
5. A wireless communication device comprising:
a processing system configured to determine a location indicator and a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device;
a wireless communication transceiver configured to monitor a radio frequency (RF) signal between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node to detect a reduction in RF signal quality;
if the reduction in the RF signal quality is detected, the processing system configured to process the location indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is proximate to an edge sector of the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is proximate to the edge sector, the processing system configured to process the velocity indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node, the processing system configured to inhibit a handoff to another wireless access node; and
if the wireless communication device is not moving towards the wireless access node, the processing system configured to wait for at least a duration of a handoff timer prior to determining a target RF signal quality of a target RF signal between the wireless communication device and the other wireless access node, calculate an RF signal ratio by dividing the RF signal quality of the RF signal between the wireless communication device and the wireless access node by the target RF signal quality, compare the RF signal ratio to a threshold value, and initiate the handoff to the other wireless access node if the RF signal ratio falls below the threshold value.
6. The wireless communication device of claim 5 wherein the processing system configured to inhibit the handoff to the other wireless access node comprises the processing system configured to inhibit the handoff to the other wireless access node for at least a duration of a handoff timer.
7. The wireless communication device of claim 5 wherein the processing system configured to inhibit the handoff to the other wireless access node comprises the processing system configured to inhibit a second wireless communication transceiver of the wireless communication device from activating for at least a duration of a handoff timer.
8. The wireless communication device of claim 5 wherein the velocity indicator comprises a velocity vector indicating a direction of velocity of the wireless communication device.
9. A method to determine handoffs for a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
in the wireless communication device:
determining a location indicator and a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device;
monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node to detect a reduction in RF signal quality;
if the reduction in the RF signal quality is detected, transferring a handoff request for delivery to a handoff determination system, wherein the handoff request includes the location indicator and the velocity indicator;
in the handoff determination system:
in response to the handoff request, processing the location indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is proximate to an edge sector of the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is proximate to the edge sector, processing the velocity indicator to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node;
if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node, inhibiting a handoff to another wireless access node by transferring a denial message for delivery to the wireless communication device; and
if the wireless communication device is not moving towards the wireless access node, waiting for at least a duration of a handoff timer prior to determining a target RF signal quality of a target RF signal between the wireless communication device and the other wireless access node, calculating an RF signal ratio by dividing the RF signal quality of the RF signal between the wireless communication device and the wireless access node by the target RF signal quality, comparing the RF signal ratio to a threshold value, and if the RF signal ratio falls below the threshold value transferring an approval message for delivery to the wireless communication device indicating approval for the wireless communication device to initiate the handoff to the other wireless access node.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the wireless communication device processing the denial message and inhibiting the handoff to the other wireless access node in response to the denial message.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the wireless communication device processing the approval message and initiating the handoff to the other wireless access node in response to the approval message.