Systems and methods for selectively pre-registering data paths for mobile stations

1. A method for pre-registering at least one data path for a mobile station, the method comprising:

a serving base station receiving a mobile-originated handoff-request message from a mobile station, wherein the mobile-originated handoff-request message identifies a plurality of target base stations;

the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct each respective target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station; and

in response to the determining whether to instruct, the serving base station (i) sending to at least one of the identified target base stations a serving-to-target handoff-request message that indicates that the serving base station is instructing that target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station, and (ii) sending to at least one of the identified target base stations a serving-to-target handoff-request message that indicates that the serving base station is instructing that target base station not to pre-register a data path for the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

the serving base station receiving a pilot-signal-strength message from the mobile station, wherein the pilot-signal-strength message comprises a measurement of a pilot signal emitted by the given target base station; and

the serving base station determining to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the measurement of the pilot signal emitted by the given target base station is above a threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

the serving base station identifying a quality of service (QoS) subscriber profile for the mobile station; and

the serving base station determining to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the QoS subscriber profile meets one or more predetermined criteria.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

the serving base station determining a likelihood that the mobile station will hand off to the given target base station; and

the serving base station determining to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the determined likelihood is above a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

the serving base station determining a distance between the serving base station and the given target base station; and

the serving base station determining to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the distance between the serving base station and the given target base station is below a threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

each identified target base station receiving a serving-to-target handoff-request message, and responsively using the received serving-to-target handoff-request message to determine whether to pre-register a data-path for the mobile station.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

each identified target base station sending a data-path-request message to an access service network gateway when the respective received serving-to-target handoff-request message indicates that the serving base station is instructing the identified target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

the access service network gateway receiving the data-path-request message from the one or more identified target base stations, and responsively sending a data-path-reply message to each such target base station, wherein each data-path-reply message establishes that a path for data-packet communication has been pre-registered.

9. A system comprising:

a communication interface;

a processing unit;

data storage; and

program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processing unit to (i) receive a mobile-originated handoff-request message from a mobile station, wherein the mobile-originated handoff-request message identifies a plurality of target base stations, (ii) responsively determine whether to instruct each respective target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station, (iii) send to at least one of the identified target base stations, a serving-to-target handoff-request message indicates that the serving base station is instructing that target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station, and (iv) send to at least one of the identified target base stations a serving-to-target handoff-request message that indicates that the serving base station is instructing the target base station not to pre-register a data path for the mobile station.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program logic executable by the processing unit to determine whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

program logic executable by the processing unit to (i) receive a pilot-signal-strength message from the mobile station, wherein the pilot-signal-strength message comprises a measurement of a pilot signal emitted by the given target base station, and (ii) determine to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the measurement of the pilot signal emitted by the given target base station is above a threshold value.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program logic executable by the processing unit to determine whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

program logic executable by the processing unit to (i) identify a quality-of-service (QoS) subscriber profile for the mobile station, and (ii) determine to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the QoS subscriber profile meets one or more predetermined criteria.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein program logic executable by the processing unit to determine whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

program logic executable by the processing unit to (i) determine a likelihood that the mobile station will hand off to the given target base station, and (ii) determine to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the determined likelihood is above a threshold value.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein program logic executable by the processing unit to determine whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

program logic executable by the processing unit to (i) determine a distance between the serving base station and the given target base station, and (ii) determine to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the distance between the serving base station and the given target base station is below a threshold value.

14. A method comprising:

a serving base station maintaining a record, wherein the record comprises (i) an identification of a target base station and (ii) a number of times mobile stations being served by the serving base station have handed off to the target base station;

receiving a message from a first mobile station, wherein the message comprises an indication that the first mobile station is handing off to the target base station; and

the serving base station updating the record;

the serving base station receiving a mobile-originated handoff-request message from a second mobile station, wherein the mobile-originated handoff-request message identifies the target base station; and

the serving base station responsively using the record to determine whether to instruct the target base station to pre-register a data path for the second mobile station.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the serving base station using the record to determine whether to instruct the target base station to pre-register a data path for the second mobile station comprises:

the serving base station determining to instruct the target base station to pre-register a data path for the second mobile station when the record meets at least one specified criteria.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the serving base station sending a serving-to-target handoff-request message to the target base station, wherein the serving-to-target handoff-request message indicates whether the serving base station is instructing the target base station to pre-register a data path for the second mobile station.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the serving base station responsively determining whether to instruct a given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station comprises:

the serving base station determining a distance between the mobile station and the given target base station; and

the serving base station determining to instruct the given target base station to pre-register a data path for the mobile station when the distance between the mobile station and the given target base station is below a threshold value.