Method And Apparatus For Triggering Cell Reselection Based On A Resource Suspension

Abstract

A mobile communications device determines, while in a CELL_FACH state, that uplink transmissions from the mobile communication device are causing interference to a neighbor cell different from a serving cell of the mobile communication device; and thereafter modifies a network resource that may be causing the interference. In specific non-limiting embodiments, the resource is an E-DCH and the modifying is suspending or releasing the E-DCH; the determination of interference is from received interference data that indicates a level of the interference or from the device by comparing one or more parameters against respective one or more reselection criteria thresholds (e.g., transmit power and path loss). In other non-limiting embodiments, when an amount of data exceeds a predetermined threshold the E-DCH is suspended or released, and the device reselects from the serving cell, prior to transferring the data.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a mobile communication device, the method comprising:
 while the mobile communication device is operating in a cell forward access channel (CELL_FACH) state, determining that uplink transmissions from the mobile communication device are causing interference to a neighbor cell different from a serving cell of the mobile communication device; and   modifying by the mobile communication device a network resource that may be causing the interference.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein it is determined from received interference data that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell, the received interference data indicating a level of the interference. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device determines that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell by comparing one or more parameters against respective one or more reselection criteria thresholds, the reselection criteria thresholds including at least one of:
 transmit power of the uplink transmissions; and   path loss between the mobile communication device and the neighbor cell.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network resource comprises an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) and the modifying is selected from among suspending the E-DCH and releasing the E-DCH. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 based on the suspended or released E-DCH, causing a reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the E-DCH is suspended or released based on, and the reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell is based on, an amount of data to be transmitted to and/or from the mobile communications device exceeding an uplink buffer or other predetermined limit; and   the E-DCH is suspended or released, and the reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell, occurs prior to transmission of the data.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for controlling a mobile communication device, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory including computer program code, and circuitry;   where the at least one memory and the computer program code is configured with the circuitry to cause the mobile communication device at least to:   while the mobile communication device is operating in a cell forward access channel (CELL_FACH) state, determine that uplink transmissions from the mobile communication device are causing interference to a neighbor cell different from a serving cell of the mobile communication device; and   modify by the mobile communication device a network resource that may be causing the interference.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it is determined from received interference data that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell, the received interference data indicating a level of the interference. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the mobile communication device determines that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell by comparing one or more parameters against respective one or more reselection criteria thresholds, the reselection criteria thresholds including at least one of:
 transmit power of the uplink transmissions; and   path loss between the mobile communication device and the neighbor cell.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the network resource comprises an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) and the modifying is selected from among suspending the E-DCH and releasing the E-DCH. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 based on the suspended or released E-DCH, causing a reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the E-DCH is suspended or released based on, and the reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell is based on, an amount of data to be transmitted to and/or from the mobile communications device exceeding an uplink buffer or other predetermined limit. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 ; wherein:
 the E-DCH is suspended or released, and the reselection of the mobile communication device from the serving cell, occurs prior to transmission of the data.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable memory on which is stored computer readable program instructions which, when executed by a mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device to at least:
 determine, while the mobile communication device is operating in a cell forward access channel (CELL_FACH) state, that uplink transmissions from the mobile communication device are causing interference to a neighbor cell different from a serving cell of the mobile communication device; and   modify a network resource that may be causing the interference.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 14 , wherein the network resource comprises an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) and the modifying is selected from among suspending the E-DCH and releasing the E-DCH. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 14 , wherein it is determined from received interference data that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell, the received interference data indicating a level of the interference. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 14 , wherein the mobile communication device determines that the uplink transmissions are causing interference to the neighbor cell by comparing one or more parameters against respective one or more reselection criteria thresholds, the reselection criteria thresholds including at least one of:
 transmit power of the uplink transmissions; and   path loss between the mobile communication device and the neighbor cell.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 14 , wherein the network resource comprises an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) and the modifying is selected from among suspending the E-DCH and releasing the E-DCH. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 18 , wherein the E-DCH is suspended or released based on an amount of data to be transmitted to and/or from the mobile communications device exceeding an uplink buffer or other predetermined limit. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable memory according to  claim 19 , wherein the executed program instructions further cause the mobile communication device to reselect the mobile communication device from the serving cell after the E-DCH is suspended or released but prior to transmission of the data.