Measurements in communications systems

Abstract

A method of performing compressed mode measurements for selecting communication means in a communication system. The communication system comprises a network element and a plurality of communication means for serving a mobile station. The method comprises providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means; ordering the communication means based on said information; and performing compressed mode measurements at the mobile station based on said ordering.

1 . A method of performing compressed mode measurements for selecting communication means in a communication system, said communication system comprising a network element and a plurality of communication means for serving a mobile station and, said method comprising: 
 providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means;    ordering the communication means based on said information; and    performing compressed mode measurements at the mobile station based on said ordering.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the selection is for handover of the mobile station from a first communication means to a second communication means.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first communication means operates at a first frequency of a radio access technology and the second communication means operates at a second frequency of said radio access technology.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the radio access technology is code division multiple access.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the radio access technology is wideband code division multiple access.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first communication means operates in accordance with a first radio access technology, and the second communication means operates in accordance with a second, different, radio access technology.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first radio access technology is code division multiple access.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first radio access technology is wideband code division multiple access.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second communication means comprises a plurality of cells, and the compressed mode measurements comprise signal strength measurements of at least one of said plurality of cells.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the second communication means comprises a plurality of cells, and the compressed mode measurements comprise signal strength measurements of at least one of said plurality of cells, and wherein the compressed mode measurements comprise decoding a parameter associated with at least one of the plurality of cells.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the parameter is the base station identification code associated with one of the plurality of cells.  
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises at least one of the following: a real time load, a non real time load, a service priority weight or a signal to interference ratio.  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a weighting value.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communication means are ordered in a prioritised order.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the network element is a radio network controller.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information is provided by a common resource radio management.  
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the common resource radio management is a common radio management server.  
   
   
       18 . A communication system comprising: 
 a network element;    a mobile station;    a plurality of communication means, said communication means being arranged to provide communication services to said mobile station;    means for providing information associated with the plurality of communication means to the network element, said information being based on a plurality of parameters associated with each of the plurality of communication means; and    means for ordering the communication means being based on said information;    said mobile station being arranged to perform compressed mode measurements based on said ordering for selecting one of the plurality of communication means.    
   
   
       19 . A method of determining a threshold for a cell in a communication system, said communication system comprising said cell and a plurality of other cells, said method comprising the steps of: 
 collecting statistics on the handovers from said cell to said plurality of other cells;    weighting the cell load of each cell of said plurality of other cells by the percentage of handovers from said cell to respective one of said plurality of other cells; and    determining the threshold based on said weighted cell loads.    
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said weighting comprises multiplying said cell load by said percentage for each cell.  
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the threshold is determined by adding together all said weighted cell loads.