Selective and efficient messaging in a mobile communications system

Abstract

A selective messaging procedure efficiently distributes messages only to eligible cells and eliminates distribution of unnecessary messaging information to ineligible cells in a mobile communications network. When information is received in the network that is intended for a mobile station located in an area containing one or more cells, the admission status associated with each of the cells in that area is determined. A message is then sent to one or more of the plural cells whose associated admission status is determined to be favorable. On the other hand, that message is not sent to any cell having an unfavorable admission status. In order to keep track of cell admission status, a list data structure is established in memory for each area and may include, for example, an admission indicator for each listed cell. Based on one or more admission criteria, an appropriate value may be stored for each admission indicator in the list. When a message for the mobile station is detected, and the area in which that mobile station is currently registered is determined, a decision is made whether to send that message to one or more cells in the area depending on the admission indicator value for the one or more cells in that area. An alternative cell list structure adds a cell to the list if the condition is met, and removes a cell from the list if the condition is not met. The admission status of each cell is regularly monitored and updated.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for selectively and efficiently communicating control information in mobile wireless networks. Background technique [0002] In a typical mobile wireless communication system, a geographical area is divided into cells served by base stations connected to the wireless network. Each user (mobile subscriber) in a mobile radio system possesses a portable radio device called a mobile station, which communicates one or more types of information, such as voice, data, images etc. Each base station includes a number of channel units containing transmitters, receivers and controllers and may be equipped with omnidirectional antennas for equal transmission in all directions within a relatively large cell, or with several directional antennas, each directional antenna Serving a specific sector. Each mobile station also includes a transmitter, receiver, contr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Thus, when the paging request is received by the radio network control node, there is considerable signaling overhead associated with distributing the paging message to all cells in the paging area

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