System and method for inter-radio access technology signal measurement
View Patent ↗A multi-mode user equipment is provided. The multi-mode user equipment includes a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology based communication during a portion of a macrotechnology based communication, wherein the portion is assigned by a macrotechnology based network component.
1. A multi-mode user equipment, comprising:
a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology based communication during a portion of a macrotechnology based communication, wherein the portion is assigned by a macrotechnology based network component,
wherein the gap is one of:
a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and macrotechnology,
a gap previously designated for a macrotechnology-based signal strength, wherein no macrotechnology measurement is made;
a previously existing gap enlarged to allow for both a microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and a macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement in a single gap; or
an idle time during a data string of a discontinuous reception (DRX) communication.
2. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 1 , wherein the portion is defined as a gap in data transmission, wherein the gap is generated by the network component without input from the multi-mode user equipment.
3. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 2 , wherein the microtechnology is one of:
a Wireless Fidelity network;
a wireless local access network using a home base station;
a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and
a Wireless Local Area Network.
4. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 2 , wherein the macrotechnology is one of:
a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;
a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;
a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network; a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;
a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;
a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and
a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network.
5. The multi-mode user equipment of claim 1 , wherein the multi-mode user equipment is unable to simultaneously communicate with the macrotechnology-based network and measure the microtechnology-based signal strength.
6. A method for signal strength measurement, comprising:
measuring a signal strength of a microtechnology based communication during a portion of a macrotechnology based communication, wherein the portion is assigned by a macrotechnology based network component,
wherein the gap one of:
a new common measurement gap pattern usable by both a microtechnology and macrotechnology,
a gap previously designated for a macrotechnology-based signal strength, wherein no macrotechnology measurement is made;
a previously existing gap enlarged to allow for both a microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and a macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement in a single gap; or
an idle time during a data string of a discontinuous reception (DRX) communication.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
generating the portion by the network component without input from the multi-mode user equipment, wherein the portion is defined as a gap in data transmission.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the microtechnology is one of:
a Wireless Fidelity network;
a wireless local access network using a home base station;
a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and
a Wireless Local Area Network.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the macrotechnology is one of:
a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network;
a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;
a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network; a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;
a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network;
a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and
a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network.