SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ASSIST A HANDOVER OPERATION OF A MOBILE STATION, INCLUDING METHODS OF PERFORMING AN INTER-BSC CELL CHANGE DURING GROUP CALLS

摘要

Systems and methods to assist a handover, or cell change, of a Mobile Station (MS) participating in a group call. A Group Call Register (GCR) includes a database accessible by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The MSC is coupled to and has an MSC service area difined by at least one Base Station Controller (BSC); the BSC has a first BSC service area at least partially defined by a first cell associated with a Base Tranceiver Station (BTS) coupled to the BSC. The database includes conventional information defining at least on Group Call Area (GCA) comprising at least the first cell, and may further include information identifying a second cell within the GCA and within a second BSC service area adjacent to the first BSC service area. The information identifying the cell(s) in the GCA is useable by the MSC and/or BSC to provide parameters associated with the second cell to an MS participating in the group call, whereby the MS can perform a cell change operation when moving from the first cell to the second cell. The parameters associated with the second cell, and can be broadcast to the MS on a control channel associated with the group call channel in the first cell.