MACRODIVERSITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING MACRODIVERSITY MODE BASED ON OPERATING CATEGORY OF WIRELESS UNIT

摘要

A macrodiversity control system provides a wireless unit with a macrodiversity mode depending on the operating category of the wireless unit. For example, a wireless communications system can have wireless units operating in categories related to the mobility of the wireless unit, such as fixed, limited fixed (mobility within the home cell) and/or fully mobile. For a wireless unit, the macrodiversity mode of the wireless unit can be established depending on the operating category for the wireless unit. Where the wireless unit is fixed and has good reception from a home base station, particularly in regions close to the home base station, macrodiversity for the wireless unit can be restricted. Because the mobility of the wireless unit is restricted in the fixed (or limited fixed) mode, the fading of signals between the home base station and the wireless unit should not be severe, thereby macrodiversity is disabled. Where the reception is poor, particularly in a region near the edge of the cell, the macrodiversity for the fixed (or limited fixed) wireless unit is enabled. The fixed (or limited fixed) wireless unit at the edge of the cell can benefit from macrodiversity, but because the wireless unit is fixed (or limited fixed), the fixed (or limited fixed) wireless unit is not handed off to another base station (or can only be handed off to a limited set of base stations).