RU2337506C2 - Method and device for data transfer speed control during bumpless service transfer and switching between cells - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, communication.

SUBSTANCE: data transfer speed control involves receiving transmissions from multiple base stations, where at least one received transmission includes confirmation message. Further speed control command included in base station transmission is defined and applied for data transfer speed control. Data transfer speed control also involves receiving transmissions from multiple base stations. Then several speed control commands included in multiple base station transmissions are defined, combined and applied for data transfer speed control.

EFFECT: connection speed control.

38 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Priority claiming

This patent application claims priority in accordance with provisional application No. 60 / 511,254, entitled "DATA RATE CONTROL IN SHO AND DURING CELL-SWITCHING", filed October 14, 2003, and provisional application No. 60 / 529,135, called "DATA RATE CONTROL IN SHO AND DURING CELL-SWITCHING "filed December 11, 2003, the rights to both of which belong to the applicant of this application, and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to wireless communications, and more particularly to controlling a data rate in a wireless communication system.

State of the art

Wireless communication systems are used for many applications, including, for example, paging, wireless local area telephone lines (WLL), Internet telephony, wireless telephone and satellite communication systems. An example of a wireless telephone system is a cellular telephone system for remote subscribers, who are often mobile. In a typical cellular telephone system, mobile subscribers or mobile stations transmit and receive signals from various base stations within the wireless network infrastructure of a communication system while the mobile station is moving.

Modern wireless communication systems, such as cellular telephone systems, are usually designed to provide multiple users or subscribers with access to a common communication environment. Various technologies have been developed for such multiple access wireless communication systems, including code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and frequency division multiple access (FDMA). In accordance with such multiple access technologies, the signals transmitted and received between multiple users and the wireless network infrastructure are encoded, modulated, decoded and demodulated, thereby enabling simultaneous communication between multiple users and providing relatively high throughput for communication systems.

In a CDMA-based wireless communication system, the available radio frequency (RF) spectrum is effectively shared by a plurality of users. In wireless communication systems, voice messages are usually transmitted, and systems with advanced capabilities for providing data services have also recently become available. An example of such communication systems providing data services can be represented by a high-speed data transmission system (HDR, VSP) that complies with the Telecommunications Industry Association / Electronic Industries Alliance (TIA / EIA) cdma2000 High Data Rate Air Interface Specification IS-856, January 2002 (standard IS-856).

In a wireless communication system, such as a system based on CDMA or the other multiple access technologies mentioned above, users are often mobile. During movement, users can move outside the service area of the base station sector or outside the service area of the base station itself. When a user, often called a mobile subscriber or a mobile station, enters or leaves different service areas so that the user leaves one service area and enters another, a technique known as handover is performed to maintain communication. Upon handover, the mobile station begins to communicate with the sector of the base station, hereinafter referred to as the base station, in the service area to which the subscriber enters, and ceases communication with the base station in the service area that he leaves. Using a technology called soft handoff, during handover, the mobile station is simultaneously in communication with two base stations. In other words, the mobile subscriber maintains communication with the base station, the service area of which the mobile subscriber leaves, while establishing communication with the base station, in the service area of which he enters. Using this technology, both base stations jointly or independently decode the transmission of mobile stations. Communication with both base stations during soft handoffs reduces the chance of losing a call or other inadvertent disconnection.

The data rate that can be supported by each of the two base stations involved in the handover may be different, for example, due to the congestion level of the corresponding base station. The level of congestion in the system can be determined by monitoring the user data rate and signal strength necessary to obtain the required quality of service (QoS, QoS). The communication channel from the mobile service to the base station is called a reverse communication channel or an upward communication channel. In a CDMA wireless system, the throughput of the reverse link is limited by the level of mutual interference, and one of the indicators of the degree of cell congestion is the total received power above the thermal noise level of the base station. The total received power above the thermal noise level is usually called the "elevation above thermal noise" (ROT, ITS) and corresponds to the load of the reverse communication channel. As a rule, it is required to maintain the ROT at a level close to the set value. If the ROT is too high, the coverage area of the cell, that is, the distance at which communication with the base station of the cell can be maintained, decreases and the reverse link becomes less stable. A reduced coverage area (for example, due to an excessively high ROT value) can adversely affect the data rate that can be supported in the cell, and call loss may occur in mobile stations located at the cell boundary. The cell service area decreases with a high ROT due to an increase in the amount of energy transmitted to the mobile stations to provide the required energy level in the base station. Typically, mobile subscribers are somewhat limited by the level of transmitted energy that they possess, and thus, the requirement to increase transmission power corresponds to a decrease in range. A low ROT may indicate that the reverse link is not heavily loaded, which indicates that the potentially available option to increase the data rate is not used.

If the base station and the mobile subscriber involved in the handover can support different data rates, then the data rate of the mobile station during the handover may not be optimal. For example, if the base station to which the mobile service is being transferred can support a higher data rate than is currently being used by the mobile subscriber, then the mobile subscriber may be operating at a lower data rate than possible, and may underutilization of system resources. If the base station to which the mobile subscriber is transmitted cannot support the same high data rate at which the mobile subscriber operates, then the mobile subscriber can create an increased level of interference for other users and can degrade system performance. A form of data rate control in the soft handoff area can be achieved by agreement between base stations. However, negotiation between base stations through an infrastructure or a direct communication channel between base stations may be slow, or negotiation support may not be provided between two base stations.

Thus, in the art there is a need to improve control of the transmission rate of distributed data during a handover in a wireless communication system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving the above problems using a method and apparatus for controlling a data rate in a wireless communication system during a handover. A transmission of a mobile station is received and decoded by a plurality of base stations located in the mobile station handover list. Any base station in the handover list that successfully decodes the transmission of a message transmits to the mobile station a confirmation of receipt of information on the downlink. The mobile station then determines a data rate control command based on signals transmitted from base stations that include an acknowledgment message. The mobile station adjusts its data rate in accordance with the speed control command.

In another aspect of the base station, which is not the base station that transmitted the confirmation message, it may be necessary to transmit a command to the mobile station to establish the desired data rate. The base station that is to transmit the data rate setting command may be a primary base station that has a defined quality of service (QoS) and other scheduling information, or the base station may be a non-primary base station that is heavily congested and which needs to be reduced in speed data transmission. The mobile station may then use the command to establish the desired data rate in determining the data rate based on the data rate commands from the primary base station and from non-primary base stations.

Controlling the data rate in a wireless communication system during a handover may include receiving transmitted messages from a plurality of base stations, then determining a plurality of data rate control commands by corresponding received messages from a plurality of base stations. The data rate control commands can then be combined, which allows you to adjust the data rate in accordance with the combined speed control commands. In the case of an automatic repeat of the request (ARQ, APS), non-congested base stations can decode the transmitted data independently during transmission of service and can transmit acknowledgment (ACK) asynchronously. Asynchronous ACK transmission causes synchronization problems when transmitting a speed control command. Base stations that do not acknowledge ACK transmission may not transmit a speed control command, which can be interpreted as the HOLD state of the speed control command. Aspects related to this scenario are described, which effectively provides the ability to combine speed control commands during handover when receiving ACKs from multiple uncoordinated base stations.

The combination of speed control commands may include applying weights to the received speed control commands. For example, a speed control command of a primary base station may be assigned a greater weight than teams from non-primary base stations. The combination of data rate commands may also include establishing a rate control command based on the required quality of service for the primary base station so that the primary base station controls the increase in data rate and non-primary base stations provide data rate control based on the system load.

An additional aspect of combining data rate control commands from a plurality of base stations includes reducing a data rate if at least one of the data rate commands is directed to reducing a data rate. Another aspect of combining data rate control commands includes maintaining a data rate if none of the data rate setting commands indicate a decrease in data rate and at least one of the data rate setting commands is a command for maintaining a data rate data, for example, if the command to establish the data rate is a zero command. Another aspect of combining data rate control commands includes maintaining a data rate if none of the data rate commands is aimed at reducing the data rate, increasing the data rate, or is not a command to maintain the data rate, but instead This is another command, such as a null command. Another aspect of combining rate control commands includes increasing a data rate if none of the data rate commands is aimed at reducing the data rate or is not a command to maintain the data rate and at least one data rate command is directed to increase the data transfer rate.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments that illustrate aspects of the invention by way of example.

Brief Description of the Drawings

1 shows portions of a communication system 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device during a handover between two base stations.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a technology for combining data rate control indicators for general / group data rate control.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a technology for combining data rate control for a dedicated data rate channel.

5 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The word “exemplary,” as used herein, means “serving as an example, occasion, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be considered preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

1 shows portions of a communication system 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The communication system 100 includes infrastructure 101, a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) or mobile stations (MSs, MSs) 104 and 105, and landline communication devices 122 and 124. In general, WCDs can be either mobile or fixed, and the term “WCD” will be used as a term for “MS” and “mobile subscriber,” and vice versa.

Infrastructure 101 includes components such as a base station 102, base station controllers 106, mobile switching centers 108, a switched network 120, and the like. In one embodiment, the base station 102 is integrated with the base station controller 106, and in other embodiments, the base station 102 and the base station controller 106 are separate components. Different types of dial-up networks 120 can be used to route signals in the communication system 100, for example, dial-up network 120 may be a public switched telephone network (PSTN, CTOP).

The term "forward link" refers to the signal path from infrastructure 101 to WCD 104, 105, and the term "reverse link" refers to the signal path from WCD to infrastructure. As shown in FIG. 1, WCD 104 and 105 receives signals 132 and 136 on the forward link and transmits signals 134 and 138 on the reverse link. In general, signals transmitted from WCD 104 and 105 are intended to be received by another communication device, such as another remote module, or landline device 122 and 124, respectively, and are routed through a switched network 120. For example, if signal 134 transmitted from the initiating WCD 104, is intended to receive the destination WCD 105, this signal is sent through the infrastructure and the signal 136 is transmitted via a direct communication channel to the destination WCD 105. Typically, a communication device, such as a WCD, or a landline device can be both the initiator and destination for the signals.

Examples of WCD 104 include cell phones, wireless personal computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other wireless devices. The communication system 100 may be designed so that it supports one or more wireless communication standards. For example, standards may include such standards as TIA / EIA - 95-B (IS-95), TIA / EIA - 98-C (IS -98), cdma2000, Wideband (wideband) CDMA (WCDMA) and others.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a WCD 202 during a handover between two base stations 204 and 206. As shown in FIG. 2, a WCD 202 is connected to two base stations 204 and 206. In this illustration, the primary base station 204 (BS1) is a base station in the coverage area of which WCD 202 is currently located, and non-primary base station 206 (BS2) is a base station in whose coverage area is WCD 202.

Third Generation 2 Partnership Project (3GPP2), which is a collaboration project to install specifications for third generation (3G) communications systems, combining the interests of North America and Asia to develop global specifications for the development of the ANSI / TIA / EIA- cellular interconnect network in cellular radio telecommunications 41 of the third generation, received proposals for the development of technology for controlling the data transfer rate from one or more base stations during the transmission of services. In accordance with these proposals, the base station controlling the WCD transmits a special transmission rate control command (bit with three states), which can be one of UP, HOLD or DOWN (UP, HOLD or DOWN), which means increasing, holding or decreasing speed or traffic to pilot ratio at the next transmission. If the WCD is in soft handoff, baud control commands may be received from different base stations. Transmission rate control commands from different base stations can be combined to obtain effective transmission rate control commands. The disadvantage of this approach is when the base station and WCD use technologies called hybrid automatic request for retransmission of data (HARQ, GASM) to improve system performance. When HARQ mode is enabled, the mobile station transmits the same or different encoded copy of the same packet until the base station confirms the transmission of the packet. The mobile station transmits a new packet with a new data rate only when it successfully transmits the previous packet or transmits the previous packet the maximum allowed number of times. A mobile station successfully transmits a packet if it receives an ACK from at least one soft handoff base station. Due to this, the base station transmits a UP or DOWN speed control command in soft handoff mode only when it has successfully decoded the packet, and transmits an ACK message on the forward acknowledgment channel (F-ACKCH, P-FACH) of the base station. The HOLD command corresponds to the absence of transmission on the speed control channel and saves energy when the base station does not expect a new transmission from the mobile station. Since the quality of the transmitted message received by different base stations may be different, not all base stations from the soft handoff list of mobile stations transmit ACK to the mobile subscriber at the same time. A dedicated data rate control approach that works without HARQ can be redefined in a system that simultaneously uses both soft handoff between different base stations and HARQ to improve performance. In an example embodiment, the WCD monitors forward speed control channels (F-RCCH, P-COCUS) of the base station when it receives a confirmation message (ACK) on the forward acknowledgment channel (F-ACKCH) from the base station. A problem with this approach may arise if the WCD 202 is in soft handoff with the primary base station 204 and the non-primary base station 206, and the WCD 202 receives ACKs only from the non-primary base station 206. Even though 204 is the primary base station and can receive more interference power from the WCD 202, the lightly loaded base station 206 can decode the transmissions of the mobile station and transmit the transmission rate control command along with the ACK, which asks the WCD 202 to execute the UP command in relation to depending on its data transfer rate. If this occurs, the primary base station 204 may not be able to control the data rate of the WCD 202 using rate control commands.

An exception to this rule occurs after the last transmission corresponding to the data packet is transmitted, at which time the WCD monitors all F-RCCHs that are assigned to the WCD, regardless of whether the WCD receives the ACK command from the BS or not. However, this circuitry is very sensitive to errors in the transmission of control signals, including errors of the reverse packet data control channel (R-PDCCH, O-PDCCH) and forward acknowledgment channel errors (F-ACKCH). For example, the R-PDCCH contains control information indicating data rates of a data / packet channel, and a packet transmission number (also called a subpacket number). The subpacket number indicates how many times the packet was transmitted, and it could not be successfully decoded at the base station. If the subpacket number is equal to the maximum number of allowed transmissions, then the current transmission of the packet channel is the last transmission for the correct delivery of the packet to the BS. If the BS cannot decode the R-PDCCH transmission from the WCD, then the BS will not have information that the subpacket is the last subpacket and that the speed control indicator should be transmitted to the MS. The MS will interpret the lack of F-RCCH transmission as a HOLD command. The HOLD command does not allow the WCD to increase the data rate, even though the BS did not intend to transmit the HOLD command, and can support traffic with a higher data rate.

In another embodiment, the mobile station only monitors the data rate control command from the primary base station. With this approach, non-primary base stations can receive mutual interference from the mobile station, and are not able to control the mobile station. In addition, the mobile station moves, while it can enter the service area of another base station and can switch between cells. During cell-to-cell switching, the MS communicates with the primary BS1 204, transmitting a predetermined number of switching frames indicating that the non-primary BS2 206 will become the primary base station. Switching between base stations is downloaded when the MS receives the switch completion indicator from the old primary BS1 204 or when a predetermined number of switch frames is sent. The operation of controlling the data rate from the primary base station is not explicitly determined during the switching interval. The following is a description of some of the different techniques that can be used during soft handoffs and switching between cells where various problems are presented, along with ways to solve these problems.

Case 1

In this embodiment, the mobile station (MS) receives a confirmation message (ACK) transmitted by the base station (BS) if the decoded transmitted message corresponds to a packet that has not been transmitted the maximum allowed number of times. When the MS receives the ACK, it adjusts its data rate in accordance with the bit (s) of the rate control transmitted from the BS, which confirms the transmission. The speed control bits received by the mobile station from base stations that did not transmit ACK are ignored. The mobile station monitors the speed control bit from all base stations only when the previous transmission matches the packet that was transmitted the maximum allowed number of times.

This approach has several advantages. One of them is that the previous transmission is not the last transmission of the packet, the base station can decide on the data rate for the next transmission only if it confirms the previous transmission with an ACK message and waits for a new transmission. In addition, when the base station does not acknowledge the previous transmission from the mobile station with an ACK message, it cannot transmit any of the data rate control commands, which thus ensures efficient use of power and confidence that the speed control bits will be ignored and not will be interpreted as a HOLD command by the mobile station. Another advantage is that with this technology, the same interaction occurs with both primary and non-primary base stations. Therefore, even when the primary base station changes during switching between cells, the speed control operation from the base stations during soft handoff is not affected.

Using this technique, a problem may arise if there are unbalanced loads between the base stations involved in the handover. For example, a problem may arise if, for example, the MS 202 performs a soft handoff from the primary station BS 204 to the non-primary BS 206 and the primary BS 204 is fully loaded over the reverse link (ROT) of 7 dB, while non-primary BS 206 has a relatively lightly loaded reverse link, such as a ROT of 2 dB. In such an example of load imbalance, the MS 202 may have a better return link to the non-primary BS 204, since less interference is applied to the signal from the MS 202. On the other hand, the reverse communication channel with the primary BS 204 may be weak, even though the primary BS 204 may have a better forward communication channel with the MS 202. In such a scenario, the non-primary BS 206 may decode the data packet of the MS 202 and transmit an ACK confirmation message in MS 202. Since the non-primary BS 206 is underloaded, it can transmit data rate control bits (bits) to the MS to increase the data rate. The primary BS 204, on the other hand, may be fully loaded or congested, and if it receives a transmission from MS 202 with a small signal-to-noise ratio, it may not be able to decode this transmission and transmit an ACK acknowledgment. If the primary BS 204 does not decode the transmission from the MS 202, it does not transmit the data rate control command to the MS 202, thus losing control of the transmission of the MS 202, even though it receives more interference from the MS 202. If the MS 202 adjusts its data rate in accordance with the bit (s) of the speed control transmitted by the lightly loaded BS 206, and increases its data rate, this can lead to an overload of the primary BS 204, which receives more and more interference from MS 202 over which it does not have opportunities to exercise hell suitable approach control. One solution to this problem is for the BS 204 to decode packets transmitted by the MS 202 on the Packet Data Back Channel (R-PDCCH) and check the data rate. If the data rate of the MS 202 is higher than that required by the primary BS 204, the BS 204 can control the data rate of the MS 202 by sending a request to the non-primary BS 206 to send RC bits (bits) (MS) to the MS to reduce the data rate MS. The primary BS can transmit the request to the non-primary BS directly, either through the infrastructure of the data transmission system or the direct communication channel between the base stations, or using other methods appropriate to the configuration of the system.

Another problem when using this technique (transmitting ACK confirmation from a BS to an MS) is that both the primary BS 204 and the non-primary BS 206 must know the QoS requirements for the mobile station. In most scenarios, the non-primary BS 206, which decodes MS transmissions only in rare cases, does not have accurate QoS information and current MS 202 requirements. In the absence of QoS requirements, the MS 202 non-primary BS 206 will not be able to transmit the appropriate data rate control command to MS, while the primary and non-primary BS do not coordinate this information through the channel of direct communication between base stations for the exchange of this information.

Case II

In a second embodiment, the MS 202 adjusts its data rate in accordance with the RC bit (s) from the primary BS 204. In other words, the MS 202 adjusts its data rate in accordance with the bit rate (s) of the BS transmitted 204, which currently designated as primary BS, even if ACK confirmation is received from non-primary BS 206. This technique has the advantage that if the primary BS is not required to change the data rate, it will not transmit control bits (s) speed, which the MS considers a HOLD command, and saves energy in the direct communication channel (FL, PC) BS. Thus, even if the non-primary BS 206 transmits ACK acknowledgment to the MS, the non-primary BS 206 does not transmit the bit (s) of the speed control to the MS. If the primary BS 204 is overloaded, it can transmit the DOWN speed control bit (s), and the MS adjusts its data rate accordingly, even if the non-primary BS sends an ACK acknowledgment. According to this embodiment, only the primary BS 204 should contain QoS information and update the current requirements for the mobile station.

The problem with using this technique is that the non-primary BS 206 does not have the ability to control the power that it receives when transmitting the MS and which acts as a hindrance when receiving transmissions of other MS. In the event of an unbalanced propagation loss between the forward communication channel and the reverse communication channel, the non-primary BS receives uncontrolled power from the MS. According to an embodiment, this problem can only be solved when the non-primary BS 206 requests the primary BS 204 to transmit the DOWN speed control command. The non-primary BS can transmit the request to the primary BS directly, either through the infrastructure of the communication system or the direct communication channel between the base stations, or using other methods appropriate to the configuration of the system.

With this approach to speed control, the data rate control algorithm is not completely defined in a mobile communication environment when the MS 202 performs a cell switching function. Before switching between cells, the BS 204 is a primary BS, while the BS 206 is a non-primary BS. Due to the movement of the mobile service, the received signal of the non-primary BS 206 may become stronger than the signal of the primary BS 204. Therefore, during cell switching, the MS 202 transmits switching frames indicating 206 as its new primary BS. Before the switching frames are decoded by the base station, the BS 204 considers itself to be the primary BS for the MS 202. The problem arises because the MS 202 does not know when to begin to read the BS 206 as its new primary BS and begin to perceive the RS bit from the BS 206. This problem may be resolved when the MS 202 receives the speed control commands of both the primary and non-primary BSs when switching between cells and uses the OR-of-HOLD rule, according to which the MS will maintain its data rate if any of BS sends command HOLD, after which the OR-of-DOWN rule is used when the MS decreases its data rate if any of the BS sends a command to reduce the data rate. This approach provides two BSs with greater control over the transmission of MS 202. In yet another embodiment that solves this problem, MS 202 receives a data rate control command from only the previous primary BS 204 during the switching period. Only when the last switch indicator is transmitted or the MS 202 receives a switch confirmation, does it begin to receive a speed control command from the BS 206, the new primary BS. The BS 206 begins to transmit a speed control command when it decodes a shift indicator. During the period from when the switch indicator is decoded by the BS to the moment the MS receives the acknowledgment, the MS 202 receives the speed control bit (s) from the BS 204, while the BS 206 transmits the speed control bit (s). Since the lack of speed control transmission in the forward speed control channel (F-RCCH) from the BS 204 will be interpreted by the MS 202 as a HOLD message, none of the base stations will be able to change the data rate of the MS 202 during this interim period.

Case III

Using this technique, all cell sectors in the active set MS are involved in controlling the data rate of the MS. This control is considered symmetric with the active members of the MS set controlling the increase in MS speed using the OR-of-DOWN rule followed by the OR-of-HOLD rule. Such a technique has the advantage that all BSs communicating with the MS will participate in controlling the data rate during the transmission of the MS, and thus, any individual MS will have a lesser effect on the ROT of the base station, and there will be greater control over it . This technique works in the same way as in soft handoffs and when switching between cells.

However, when using such a technique, many problems arise, in particular, in scenarios where many base stations with soft handoff are not located close to each other, and decoding solutions for each of them are not known to other base stations at a time when each of BS makes its decision on data rate control. For example, in a system with a hybrid automatic request for retransmission of data (HARQ), the MS does not transmit a new packet until it receives ACK confirmation from one of the base stations during soft handoff, or until the MS transmits the packet maximum allowed number of times. Therefore, when the previous transmission is not the last transmission of the packet, the base station does not know whether it can schedule a new transmission for the MS until it decodes the previous transmission and sends an ACK confirmation to the mobile station. In the absence of this information, the BS, which does not transmit acknowledgment of previous transmissions to the mobile stations, may transmit a HOLD command to save energy in the forward link. However, in accordance with the OR-of-HOLD rule, MS will not be able to increase its data transfer rate until it receives ACK confirmation from all base stations simultaneously. To solve this problem, the base station, which does not transmit ACK confirmation to the MS, must constantly transmit the UP speed control command (increase). This includes times when the MS does not transmit anything on its reverse packet channel, since the base station may not be able to distinguish between the lack of transmission and undecoded transmission. This approach is extremely inefficient in energy use, since each BS is wasting energy on the forward link while transmitting the UP speed control command continuously until the base station transmits ACK confirmation to the mobile station.

Case IV

In this embodiment, all cell sectors in the active set of MSs are controlled to increase the transmission rate of the MSs using the OR-of-DOWN rule, followed by the OR-of-HOLD rule similar to Case III. However, unlike Case III, the control is asymmetric in this case, since the primary BS provides fundamental control by increasing the data rate of the MS, while non-primary BSs provide congestion control. In other words, the primary sector transmits to the MS a speed control command with three states (-1, 0, +1) based on the required QoS, where the lack of transmission (0) of the speed control bit in the speed control channel corresponds to the HOLD command. The non-primary BS transmits the ON-OFF speed control bit (-1, 0), where the absence of transmission (0) corresponds to the UP command or does not matter, while the ON state corresponds to the DOWN command. The non-primary BS may transmit a speed control command based on the congestion level of the corresponding non-primary BS. The non-primary BS sends the UP speed control command to the MS if the non-primary BS is not overloaded, and the DOWN speed control command if the non-primary BS is overloaded. For example, a non-primary BS may transmit an UP speed control command if its ROT indicates a low congestion level, and a DOWN speed control command if its ROT indicates a high congestion level. In this embodiment, the speed control bit from the BS 206 may be common to all mobile stations 202 for which the BS 206 is not primary.

It should be noted that the approach described above allows you to spend a very small amount of energy on the direct communication channel of non-primary base stations, since the UP command corresponds to the absence of transmission of the speed control bit. A DOWN command from a non-primary BS can only be transmitted if the system is heavily overloaded, thus providing some control for non-primary base stations, which is indicated as a drawback for case II. For example, if it is determined that the sector ROT exceeds a predetermined value, for example, 7 or 8 dB, then the non-primary BS is considered overloaded, and it transmits a speed control command -1, which represents the speed control command DOWN. Otherwise, the non-primary BS is considered unloaded and transmit a speed control command equal to 0, which represents the UP command. Since it is less likely that the system will be overloaded for a long period of time, the DOWN command is rarely transmitted. For most of the time, in this embodiment, the non-overloaded BS will transmit a data rate command representing 0, which corresponds to the absence of a command transmission. Since the non-overloaded BS does not transmit a speed control command, this technique will therefore not consume too much energy from the non-primary sector.

Since this approach is asymmetric, the transmission rate control in soft handoffs must be indicated, as when switching between cells in case II. When switching between cells, you can use a more conservative approach. In an embodiment, the MS decodes the data rate control bit (s) from both the primary BS 204 (the base station whose service area the MS leaves) and the non-primary BS 206 (the base station whose service area includes the MS), as a value with three states -1, 0, or 1, representing DOWN, HOLD, UP, respectively. The cell switching operation begins when the MS transmits the CELL_SWITCH_INDICATOR signal (cell switching indicator), which designates the BS 206 as its new primary BS. During the period from the beginning of the switching operation until the MS receives the END_SWITCH_INDICATOR (end of switching indicator) (confirmation from the base station indicating that the switching operation is completed) or the NUM_SOFT_SWITCHING_FRAMES indicators (number of soft switching frames) are not transmitted, the MS uses the same logic for interpreting the bit (s) of the speed control from both stations BS 204 and BS 206. During this period, the MS applies the OR-of-HOLD rule, followed by the OR-of-DOWN rule for speed control commands from BS 204 and BS 206. During the switching period, the MS 202 is not able to increase the speed, even if the new primary BS 206 transmits an UP command in accordance with the OR-of-HOLD rule. Thus, this approach is conservative during the switching period.

In yet another embodiment, during the switching period, the MS 202 interprets the speed control command from the BS 204 as a three-state command (-1, 0, 1), while it interprets the speed control command from the BS 206 as an ON-OFF command ( -1, 0) (enable / disable). After MS 202 receives END_SWICH_INDICATOR, which designates BS 206 as its new primary BS, or transmits NUM_SOFT_SWITCHING_FRAMES, which indicate switching, MS begins to interpret the speed control command from BS 204 as ON-OFF, and speed control commands from BS 206 as commands with three states. This approach is more aggressive than the technology described earlier, because it allows the BS 204 to increase the data rate of the MS 202 until it decodes CELL_SWITCH_INDICATOR. During the period that the CELL_SWITCH_INDICATOR is decoded by the BS until the time when the MS receives END_SWITCH_INDICATOR, the MS 202 cannot increase the data rate even if the new primary BS 206 transmits an UP command because the speed control command from the previous primary BS 204 will be interpreted by MS as a HOLD command.

Methods for combining multiple speed control indicators

A generalized technique for combining multiple speed control indicators involves applying weighting factors to different received speed control commands. For example, a larger base weight may be assigned to the primary base station than the non-primary base station in the active set MS. Weighted speed command indicators can then be combined to produce the total speed command, which is used to control the data rate from the MS. As described above, Case III corresponds to the case when equal weights are applied to speed control commands received from all base stations from an active set of mobile stations. Case IV is a special weighing case applied to speed control commands, where a weight of 0 is applied to the HOLD command from the non-primary BS. Various special cases of weighting technology for interpreting and combining MS data rate control indicators adopted from members of its active set are described below.

Rules for combining data rate control for general / in group speed control

If the MS receives an ACK confirmation message or after its last subpacket, the MS decodes the rate control indicators from all F-RCCHs that have been assigned to the MS by members of the active set of MS. Each speed control indicator has three states: DOWN, HOLD and UP. The effect of the speed control commands is to change the authorized T / P (T / P, traffic to pilot ratio) by a certain amount, where the authorized T / P is the maximum allowed traffic to pilot ratio allowed for the mobile station during transmission, and is used as an indicator of the MS data rate that it can support. In one embodiment, the MS combines all the speed control indicators that it adopts based on the following OR-of-DOWN rules:

If any indicator is a DOWN, then MS reduces its authorized T / P ratio by a certain amount from the current level.

If there is no DOWN indicator and at least one of the indicators is HOLD, then the MS maintains the current authorized T / P ratio.

Otherwise, all indicators are UP, and MS increases its authorized T / P ratio by a predetermined amount from the current level.

It was noted that the predetermined amount by which the MS increases or decreases its current authorized T / P ratio may be the same or may be different depending on the current authorized T / P MS ratio.

Rules for combining speed control for special speed control

For special speed control, if the MS receives an ACK acknowledgment from the BS on the F-ACKCH, it decodes all the F-RCCHs that are assigned to the MS, regardless of whether the MS receives the ACK acknowledgment from the BS or not. The reliability of a communication system using such a reception procedure can be improved by using the following weighting techniques.

The speed control indicator from the primary BS has three states: RATE_DECREASE, RATE_HOLD and RATE_INCREASE (reduce speed, hold speed and increase speed).

The non-primary BS rate control indicator has two states: RATE_DECREASE and RATE_HOLD. This can be interpreted as a weighting technique when the speed control status indicator RATE_HOLD and RATE_INCREASE from a non-primary BS is assigned a weight coefficient of ZERO.

MS combines the required speed control indicators based on the following rules:

If any indicator is RATE_DECREASE, then MS reduces its speed by the required value, for example, by one.

If none of the indicators is RATE_DECREASE and at least one indicator is RATE_HOLD, then the MS maintains the current state.

If none of the indicators is RATE_DECREASE or RATE_HOLD and at least one indicator is RATE_INCREASE, then MS increases its speed by the required value, for example, by one.

Otherwise, all speed control indicators are RATE_HOLD and MS supports the current data rate.

It should be noted that the MS combines the required speed control indicators, which may include speed control indicators of all members of the active set of MS or include speed control indicators of only some members of the active set of MS.

The procedure to be performed during switching between cells for special speed control:

After the MS initiates a cell-to-cell switching operation by sending CELL_SWITCH_INDICATOR, the MS assumes that each speed control indicator from both the old primary BS and the new primary BS has three states: RATE_DECREASE, RATE_HOLD and RATE_INCREASE. The speed control indicators from all other non-primary BSs remain unchanged and have two states: RATE_DECREASE and NULL_INDICATION. Speed control indicators are combined using the same combination rules as described above.

After receiving END_SWITCH_INDICATOR or after transmitting NUM_SOFT_SWITCHING_FRAMES, the MS assumes that the speed control indicator from the new primary BS has three states: RATE_DECREASE, RATE_HOLD and RATE_INCREASE. Speed control indicators from all other non-primary BSs, including the old primary BS, have two states: RATE_DECREASE and NULL_INDICATION. Speed control indicators are combined based on the same combination rules as described above.

An alternative approach is to determine the F-RCCH states from the non-primary BS, “in progress”, based on what is received from the associated F-ACKCH from the associated BS. The following procedure is used for this approach.

If ACK confirmation is received from the F-ACKCH, then the MS interprets that the corresponding F-RCCH of the same non-primary BS has three states: RATE_DECREASE, RATE_HOLD and RATE_INCREASE.

If ACK acknowledgment was not received from the F-ACKCH (after the last subpacket), then the MS interprets that the corresponding F-RCCH of the same non-primary BS has two states: RATE_DECREASE and NULL_INIDICATION.

All other combination rules remain the same as described above.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a methodology for combining speed control indicators for general / group speed control. In the general / group rate control scheme, one speed control command is transmitted, which is monitored by all mobile stations or a group of mobile stations in the coverage area of the base station. The flow begins at block 302. At block 304, the MS decodes rate control indicators received from members of the MS active set for the BS. In block 306, the MS determines whether one of the speed control indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_DECREASE (speed control command DOWN). If at least one of the indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_DECREASE, the output is YES, then the flow continues at block 308. At block 308, the MS reduces its authorized T / P level (traffic to pilot ratio) by a predetermined amount . The sequence of operations then continues at block 310, where the combining process ends.

Returning to block 306, if none of the indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_DECREASE, that is, the result is “NO”, then the flow continues to block 312. In block 312, the MS determines whether one of the speed control indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_HOLD (HOLD speed control command). If at least one of the indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_HOLD, the result is “YES”, then the flow continues at block 314. At block 314, the MS maintains its current authorized T / P level. The flow then continues to block 310, where the process ends.

Returning to block 312, if none of the indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_HOLD, the result is “NO”, then all indicators should be AUTHORIZED_T2P_INCREASE (UP command for speed control), since indicators can be only one of the three values AUTHORIZED_T2P_DECREASE, AUTHORIZED_T2P_P2P2. Therefore, at block 312, if none of the indicators is AUTHORIZED_T2P_HOLD, the flow continues at block 316. At block 316, the MS increases its authorized T / P ratio by a predetermined amount. The flow then continues to block 310, where the process ends.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a methodology for combining speed control for an approach with special speed control. In a special speed control approach, a separate speed control command specific to each mobile station is transmitted for all MSs. The flow begins at block 402. At block 404, the MS decodes speed control indicators received from the primary and non-primary BS. The speed control indicator from the primary BS may be RATE_DECREASE, RATE_HOLD or RATE_INCREASE. The non-primary BS rate control indicator may be RATE_DECREASE or NULL_INDICATION. The flow continues at block 406. At block 406, the MS determines whether one of the rate control indicators is RATE_DECREASE. If at least one of the indicators is RATE_DECREASE, the result "YES" comes from block 406, then the process continues at block 408. At block 408, the MS reduces its data rate. For example, an MS may decrease its data rate by one. The processing sequence then continues at block 410, where the combining process ends.

Returning to block 406, if none of the indicators is RATE_DECREASE, the result “NO” comes from block 406, then the flow continues to block 412. In block 412, the MS determines whether the speed control indicator represents RATE_HOLD from the primary BS. If at least one of the indicators is RATE_HOLD, then the flow continues at block 414. At block 414, the MS maintains its current data rate. The sequence of operations then continues at block 410, where the process ends.

Returning to block 412, if none of the indicators is RATE_HOLD, the result is “NO”, then the sequence of operations continues to block 416. In block 416, since none of the indicators is RATE_DECREASE and the indicator from the primary BS is not RATE_HOLD, MS is increasing its data rate. The sequence of operations then continues at block 410, where the process ends.

5 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 502 includes a network interface 506, a digital signal processor 508 (DSP, DSP), a main processor 510, a storage device 512, a software product 514, and a user interface 516.

Signals from the infrastructure are received using the network interface 506 and transmitted to the main processor 510. The main processor 510 receives these signals and, depending on the signal content, responds with appropriate actions. For example, the main processor 510 can determine the data rate in accordance with the received signals themselves, or it can send the received signals to the DSP 508 to determine the data rate .

In one embodiment, the network interface 506 may be a transceiver and an antenna designed to interface with the infrastructure via a wireless channel. In another embodiment, the network interface 506 may be a network interface card used to interface with landline infrastructure.

Both the main processor 510 and the DSP 508 are connected to the memory 512. The memory 512 can be used to store data during the WCD operation, as well as to save program code that is executed by the main processor 510 or DSP 508. For example, the main processor, The DSP, or both, can be run by program instructions that are temporarily stored in the memory 512. The main processor and the DSP can also include their own program memory. When program instructions are executed, the main processor 510 or DSP 508, or both, perform their functions, such as compressing or decompressing data packets. Thus, in the programming steps, they perform the functions of the respective main processor or CPU and DSP so that each of the main processor and DSP can perform the functions of determining the data rate if necessary. The programming steps can be obtained from the software product 514. The software product 514 can store and transmit the programming steps to the memory 512 for implementation by a main processor, a CPU, or both.

The software product 514 may be semiconductor memory chips, such as RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM memory (EPROM, erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM memory (EEPROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), registers, as well as other data storage devices such as a hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, DVD drive or other form of data storage device known in the art, on which Rum can store computer readable instructions. In addition, the software product 514 may be a file source including program steps that were received from the network and stored in a storage device and then executed. Thus, the processing steps necessary for carrying out the operations in accordance with the invention can be embodied as a software product 514. Fig. 5 shows an exemplary data storage device connected to the main processor, as a result of which the main processor can read information from and write information to the data storage device. Alternatively, the data storage device may be implemented as a single unit with a main processor.

A user interface 516 is connected to both the main processor 510 and the DSP 508. For example, the user interface may include a keypad or special function keys or buttons that are connected to the main processor 510 and which the user can use to request a specific operation using initialization devices. The user interface 516 may also include a speaker that is connected to the DSP 510 and is used to output audio data to the user.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that can be referenced in the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination of them.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the embodiments described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of functions performed. The embodiment of such a function in the form of hardware or software depends on the specific application and design restrictions imposed on the entire system. Skilled artisans may perform the described functions in various ways for each particular application, but such decisions regarding the embodiment should not be interpreted as being outside the scope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied or implemented using a general purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete logic elements or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or using any combination of them designed to implement Ia functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or using any other such configuration.

The method or technique described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The program module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, in registers, on a hard disk, on a removable disk, on a CD-ROM, or on any other form of storage medium known in the art this technical field. An exemplary storage medium is connected to the processor such that the processor can read information from and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. ASICs can be installed in the user terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may be installed as discrete components in a user terminal.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided in order to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to limit the embodiments presented here, but should correspond to the broadest possible scope consistent with the principles and new features disclosed herein.

Claims (38)

1. A method for controlling the transmission rate of a transmission data in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising the steps of receiving transmissions from a plurality of base stations in which each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes an acknowledgment message; applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions; and setting the transmission data rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the steps of receiving, applying and establishing are performed in a mobile station. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which the steps of receiving, applying and establishing are performed at the base station. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation message is received from only one of the plurality of base stations. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one of the plurality of base stations transmits a received acknowledgment message, and wherein the data rate during the handover is set in accordance with the data rate control indicator of the last received transmission in which the message is included confirmations. 6. The method according to claim 1, in which one of the many base stations, which is not the base station from which the confirmation message was received, transmits a command of the desired data rate to the base station from which the confirmation message was received. 7. The method according to claim 6, in which the base station from which the confirmation message was received uses the command of the desired data rate when determining the indicator of the data rate control. 8. A method for controlling the transmission rate of a transmission data in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising the steps of receiving transmissions from multiple base stations, each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator; applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from multiple base stations; and establishing a data rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of base stations is designated as a primary base station. 10. The method according to claim 9, in which an indicator of controlling the transmission rate of transmission data received from the primary base station is assigned a higher weight coefficient than an indicator of controlling the transmission rate of transmission data obtained from non-primary base stations. 11. The method of claim 8, in which the primary base station transmits defining a data rate control indicator based on the required quality of service. 12. The method according to claim 8, in which the application of weighting factors to indicators for controlling the data rate further comprises combining a plurality of indicators for controlling the data rate. 13. The method according to item 12, in which the combination of multiple indicators for controlling the data transfer speed is performed during an asymmetric operation. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the primary base station controls increasing the data rate. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-primary base station provides system congestion information. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the plurality of data rate control indicators further comprises reducing a transmission data rate if at least one of the data rate control indicators is directed to reducing a transmission data rate. 17. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the plurality of data rate control indicators further comprises maintaining a transmission data rate if none of the data rate control indicators is directed to reducing a transmission data rate, and at least one The baud rate indicator is designed to maintain the baud rate. 18. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the plurality of data rate control indicators further comprises maintaining a transmission data rate if none of the data rate control indicators is directed to reducing a transmission data rate, increasing a transmission data rate, or maintaining the data transfer rate. 19. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the plurality of data rate control indicators further comprises increasing a data transfer rate if none of the data rate control indicators is directed at reducing a transmission data rate or maintaining a transmission data rate , and at least one data rate control indicator is aimed at increasing the data transfer rate. 20. A device for controlling the transmission rate of a transmission data in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising a receiver configured to receive transmissions from a plurality of base stations, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes a confirmation message; and a processor configured to apply weights to the indicators for controlling the data rate of the received transmissions, and to establish the transmission rate of the transmission data during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling the data rate. 21. The device according to claim 20, in which the receiver and processor are included in the mobile station. 22. A device for controlling the transmission rate of a data transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising a receiver configured to receive transmissions from multiple base stations, wherein each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator; a processor configured to apply weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from a plurality of base stations, and to establish a transmission rate for transmission data during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling data rate, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover. 23. The device according to item 22, in which the application of weights to the indicators for controlling the data rate further comprises a combination of indicators for controlling the data rate. 24. The device according to item 23, in which the combination of indicators for controlling the data transfer speed is performed during an asymmetric operation. 25. The device according to paragraph 24, in which the primary base station controls the increase in data rate. 26. The device according to paragraph 24, in which the non-primary base station provides information about system congestion. 27. The device according to item 23, in which the combination of indicators for controlling the data rate further comprises reducing the data rate of the transmission data, if at least one indicator of the control of the data transfer rate is aimed at reducing the data transfer speed. 28. The device according to item 23, in which the combination of indicators for controlling the data rate further comprises maintaining the data rate of the transmission data, if none of the indicators of the data rate control is aimed at reducing the transmission speed of the data transmission, and at least one indicator baud rate control is aimed at maintaining the baud rate. 29. The device according to item 23, in which the combination of indicators for controlling the data transfer rate further comprises maintaining the transmission rate of the data transmission, if none of the indicators for controlling the data transfer rate is aimed at reducing the transmission speed of the transmission data, increasing the transmission speed of the data transmission, or maintaining the data transfer rate. 30. The device according to item 23, in which the combination of indicators for controlling the transmission rate of the transmission data further comprises increasing the transmission rate of the transmission data, if none of the indicators of the transmission data rate is aimed at reducing the transmission rate of the transmission data, or to maintain the transmission speed of the transmission data, and at least one data rate control indicator is aimed at increasing the transmission rate of the data transmission. 31. A computer-readable storage medium that implements a method for controlling the transmission rate of a transmission data in a wireless communication system during a handover, the method comprising the steps of receiving transmissions from a plurality of base stations in which each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes an acknowledgment message; applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions; and establishing a data rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators. 32. A computer-readable storage medium that implements a method for controlling a data rate of a transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, the method comprising the steps receiving transmissions from multiple base stations, each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator; applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from multiple base stations; and establishing a data transfer rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover. 33. A device for controlling the transmission rate of a data transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising means for receiving transmissions from a plurality of base stations, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes an acknowledgment message; and means for applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions, and means for establishing a transmission data rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators. 34. A device for controlling the transmission rate of a transmission data in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising means for receiving transmissions from a plurality of base stations, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator; means for applying weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from multiple base stations, and means for establishing a transmission data rate during a handover based on weighted data rate control indicators, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover. 35. A mobile station, configured to control the data rate of a transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising an antenna; a receiver configured to receive transmissions from multiple base stations via an antenna, each received transmission includes a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes an acknowledgment message; and the main processor, configured to apply weights to the indicators for controlling the data rate of the received transmissions, and to establish the transmission rate of the transmission data during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling the data rate. 36. A base station configured to control a data rate of a transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising an antenna; a receiver configured to receive transmissions from a plurality of base stations via an antenna, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator, and at least one of the transmissions further includes an acknowledgment message; and a base station controller configured to apply weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions, and to establish a transmission rate for transmission data during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling the data rate. 37. A mobile station, configured to control a data rate of a transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising: an antenna; a receiver configured to receive transmissions from multiple base stations via an antenna, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator; a main processor configured to apply weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from a plurality of base stations, and to establish a data rate for transmission during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling data rate, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover. 38. A base station configured to control a data rate of a transmission in a wireless communication system during a handover, comprising an antenna; a receiver configured to receive transmissions from multiple base stations via an antenna, each received transmission including a data rate control indicator; a base station controller configured to apply weights to indicators for controlling the data rate of received transmissions from a plurality of base stations, and to establish a data rate for transmission during a handover based on weighted indicators for controlling the data rate, wherein the data rate is set from a first data rate for one base station to another data rate for another base station during a handover.

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