Method and apparatus for redirecting calls in a wireless communications system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is a directed retry message including an identification of the second cell as the cell for the mobile station to access.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 , wherein the directed retry message includes a list of cells from the cells adjacent to the first cell, wherein the list of cells are cells in which an overload state is absent.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is a channel designation message.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein the information is signal strength information for the cells.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 , wherein the signal strength information is for channels associated with the cells.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining information comprises: receiving information for cells from the mobile station.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 further comprising: allocating a voice channel in the second cell for use by the mobile station, which is currently in the first cell.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying a second cell from the cells adjacent to the first cell using the information includes: prioritizing cells based on parameters, wherein a best cell is identified; and comparing a received signal strength indicator for the cell with a threshold value; and responsive to a failure of the received signal strength indicator for the cell to meet the threshold value, ending the call.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 , wherein the information is signal strength information about channels associated with the plurality of cells adjacent to the cell.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of identifying a target cell comprises: identifying a set of cells from the plurality of cells in which an overload state is absent.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of identifying a target cell further comprises: prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on signal strengths.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 , wherein the target cell is a cell having a highest priority within the set of cells.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of identifying a target cell further comprises: prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on a type of voice channel resources requested by the mobile station.

Claim 18

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of identifying a target cell further comprises: prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on correspondence of features in the set of cells with features in the cell.

Claim 19

The method of claim 10 , wherein the message is a message directing the mobile station to retry access on the target cell.

Claim 20

The method of claim 17 , wherein the message is a directed retry message.

Claim 21

The method of claim 10 , wherein the message is a message directing the mobile station to acquire a channel on the target cell.

Claim 22

The method of claim 19 , wherein the message is a channel designation message.

Claim 23

The method of claim 10 further comprising: allocating a channel in the target cell for use by the mobile station, which is currently in the first cell.

Claim 24

A mobile switching center comprising: a network interface, wherein the network interface receives message from mobile stations; a management unit, wherein the management unit includes a plurality of modes of operation including: a first mode of operation in which the management unit monitors for access attempts by a mobile station to an overloaded cell; a second mode of operation, responsive to detecting access attempts by the mobile station, in which the management unit receives signal strength information from the mobile station for a plurality of cells adjacent to the overloaded cell and retrieves stored adjacent cell configuration information; a third mode of operation, responsive to receiving the signal strength information, in which the management unit identifies a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access based on the signal strength information and the adjacent cell configuration information, the adjacent cell configuration information identifying the target cell as providing one or more features requested by the mobile station; and a fourth mode of operation, responsive to the identification of the target cell, in which the management unit sends a message through the network interface to the mobile station directing the mobile station to the target cell.

Claim 25

A mobile switching center comprising: a network interface, wherein the network interface receives message from mobile stations; a management unit, wherein the management unit includes a plurality of modes of operation including: a first mode of operation in which the management unit monitors for access attempts by a mobile station to an overloaded cell; a second mode of operation, responsive to detecting access attempts by the mobile station, in which the management unit receives signal strength information from the mobile station for a plurality of cells adjacent to the overloaded cell and retrieves stored adjacent cell configuration information; a third mode of operation, responsive to receiving the signal strength information, in which the management unit identifies a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access based on the signal strength information and the adjacent cell configuration information, the adjacent cell configuration information identifying the target cell as providing one or more features requested by the mobile station; and a fourth mode of operation, responsive to the identification of the target cell, in which the management unit sends a message through the network interface to the mobile station directing the mobile station to the target cell.

Claim 26

The mobile switching center of claim 22 , wherein the management unit is a radio frequency management unit.

Claim 27

The mobile switching center of claim 22 , wherein the management unit is a call processing unit.

Claim 28

The mobile switching center of claim 22 , wherein the management unit identifies the target cell by identifying a set of cells from the plurality of cells in which an overload state is absent.

Claim 29

The mobile switching center of claim 25 , wherein the management unit prioritizes cells within the set of cells based on signal strengths.

Claim 30

The mobile switching center of claim 26 , wherein the target cell is a cell having a highest priority within the set of cells.

Claim 31

The mobile switching center of claim 25 , wherein the management unit prioritizes cells within the set of cells based on a type of voice channel resources requested by the mobile station.

Claim 32

The mobile switching center of claim 25 , wherein the management unit prioritizes cells within the set of cells based on correspondence of features in the set of cells with features in the cell.

Claim 33

The mobile switching center of claim 22 , wherein the third mode of operation comprises: a first submode of operation in which the management unit prioritizes cells based on parameters, wherein a best cell is identified; and a second submode of operation,.responsive prioritizing of cells, in which the management unit compares a received signal strength indicator for the cell with a threshold value; and a third submode of operation, responsive to a failure of the received signal strength indicator for the cell to meet the threshold value, in which the management unit ends the call; a fourth submode of operation, responsive to the received signal strength indicator for the cell to meeting the threshold value, in which the management unit identifies the best cell as the target cell.

Claim 34

A communications system comprising: a mobile switching center; and a plurality of base substations connected to the mobile switching center, wherein the plurality of base substations is assigned to cells in the communications system, sends messages to mobile stations, and receives messages from the mobile stations, wherein in response to detecting an access message by a mobile station to an overloaded cell, receives signal strength information from the mobile station for a plurality of cells adjacent to the overloaded cell, identifies a target cell from the plurality of cells using the signal strength information and an identification of cells from the plurality of cells having operational features requested by the mobile station, and sends a message through the mobile station directing the mobile station to the target cell.

Claim 35

A communications system comprising: a mobile switching center; and a plurality of base substations connected to the mobile switching center, wherein the plurality of base substations is assigned to cells in the communications system, sends messages to mobile stations, and receives messages from the mobile stations, wherein in response to detecting an access message by a mobile station to an overloaded cell, receives signal strength information from the mobile station for a plurality of cells adjacent to the overloaded cell, identifies a target cell from the plurality of cells using the signal strength information and an identification of cells from the plurality of cells having operational features requested by the mobile station, and sends a message through the mobile station directing the mobile station to the target cell.

Claim 36

A communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the communications system comprising: monitoring means for monitoring for an attempt by the mobile station to access a first cell in an overloaded state; obtaining means for obtaining information for cells adjacent to the first cell in response to detecting the attempt by the mobile station to access the first cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; identifying means for identifying a second cell from the cells adjacent to the first cell using the information, wherein the second cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile station based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and sending means for sending a message to the mobile station to access the second cell.

Claim 37

A communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the communications system comprising: monitoring means for monitoring for an attempt by the mobile station to access a first cell in an overloaded state; obtaining means for obtaining information for cells adjacent to the first cell in response to detecting the attempt by the mobile station to access the first cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; identifying means for identifying a second cell from the cells adjacent to the first cell using the information, wherein the second cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile station based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and sending means for sending a message to the mobile station to access the second cell.

Claim 38

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein the message is a directed retry message including an identification of the second cell as the cell for the mobile station to access.

Claim 39

The communications system of claim 33 , wherein the directed retry message includes a list of cells from the cells adjacent to the first cell, wherein the list of cells are cell in which an overload state is absent.

Claim 40

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein the message is a channel designation message.

Claim 41

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein the information is signal strength information for the cells.

Claim 42

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein the signal strength information is for channels associated with the cells.

Claim 43

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein obtaining means comprises: receiving means for receiving information for cells from the mobile station.

Claim 44

The communications system of claim 32 further comprising: allocating means for allocating a voice channel in the second cell for use by the mobile station.

Claim 45

The communications system of claim 32 , wherein the identifying means includes: prioritizing means for prioritizing cells based on parameters, wherein a best cell is identified; and comparison means for comparing a received signal strength indicator for the cell with a threshold value; and ending means for responsive to a failure of the received signal strength indicator for the cell to meet the threshold value, ending the call.

Claim 46

A communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the communications system comprising: first receiving means for receiving access to a cell by a mobile station; second receiving means for receiving information about a plurality of cells adjacent to the cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; identifying means for identifying a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access, wherein the target cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile station based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and sending means for sending a message to the mobile station to access the target cell.

Claim 47

A communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the communications system comprising: first receiving means for receiving access to a cell by a mobile station; second receiving means for receiving information about a plurality of cells adjacent to the cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; identifying means for identifying a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access, wherein the target cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile station based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and sending means for sending a message to the mobile station to access the target cell.

Claim 48

The communications system of claim 41 , wherein the information is signal strength information about channels associated with the plurality of cells adjacent to the cell.

Claim 49

The communications system of claim 41 , wherein the identifying means comprises: identifying means for identifying a set of cells from the plurality of cells in which an overload state is absent.

Claim 50

The communications system of claim 43 wherein the identifying means comprises: prioritizing means for prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on signal strengths.

Claim 51

The communications system of claim 44 , wherein the target cell is a cell having a highest priority within the set of cells.

Claim 52

The communications system of claim 43 wherein the identifying means comprises: prioritizing means for prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on a type of voice channel resources requested by the mobile station.

Claim 53

The communications system of claim 43 wherein the identifying means comprises: prioritizing means for prioritizing cells within the set of cells based on correspondence of features in the set of cells with features in the cell.

Claim 54

The communications system of claim 41 , wherein the message is a message directing the mobile station to retry access on the target cell.

Claim 55

The communications system of claim 48 , wherein the message is a directed retry message.

Claim 56

The communications system of claim 41 , wherein the message is a message directing the mobile station to acquire a channel on the target cell.

Claim 57

The communications system of claim 50 , wherein the message is a channel designation message.

Claim 58

The communications system of claim 41 further comprising: allocating means for allocating a channel in the target cell for use by the mobile station.

Claim 59

A computer program product for use in a communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; first instructions for monitoring for an attempt by the mobile station to access a first cell in an overloaded state; second instructions for obtaining information for cells adjacent to the first cell in response to detecting the attempt by the mobile station to access the first cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; third instructions for identifying a second cell from the cells adjacent to the first cell using the information, wherein the second cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and fourth instructions for sending a message to the mobile station to access the second cell, wherein the instructions are embodied in the computer readable medium.

Claim 60

A computer program product for use in a communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; first instructions for monitoring for an attempt by the mobile station to access a first cell in an overloaded state; second instructions for obtaining information for cells adjacent to the first cell in response to detecting the attempt by the mobile station to access the first cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; third instructions for identifying a second cell from the cells adjacent to the first cell using the information, wherein the second cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and fourth instructions for sending a message to the mobile station to access the second cell, wherein the instructions are embodied in the computer readable medium.

Claim 61

A computer program product in a communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; first instructions for receiving access to a cell by a mobile station; second instructions for receiving information about a plurality of cells adjacent to the cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; third instructions for identifying a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access, wherein the target cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and fourth instructions for sending a message to the mobile station to access the target cell, wherein the instruction are embodied in the computer readable medium.

Claim 62

A computer program product in a communications system for redirecting a mobile station, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; first instructions for receiving access to a cell by a mobile station; second instructions for receiving information about a plurality of cells adjacent to the cell, wherein the information includes adjacent cell configuration information; third instructions for identifying a target cell from the plurality of cells for the mobile station to access, wherein the target cell is an adjacent cell that is determined to not be in an overloaded state and is determined to provide one or more features requested by the mobile based on the adjacent cell configuration information; and fourth instructions for sending a message to the mobile station to access the target cell, wherein the instruction are embodied in the computer readable medium.