UNITA' DI ABBONATO PER TELECOMUNICAZIONI RADIO CELLULARI, ATTA A VALUTARE LE OPPORTUNITA' DI TRASFERIMENTO DELLE CHIAMATE FRA CELLA

摘要

A cellular telecommunication network (10) includes base stations located in satellites (12) orbiting the earth and includes any number of subscriber units (26). Each satellite (12) receives cell cluster lists (54) that are valid for cells (28) the satellite (12) projects toward the earth and for predetermined periods of time. Each cell cluster list (54) includes target cell entries (60) that identify cells (28) into which subscriber units (26) operating in a local cell (28) may request a hand-off. The entries (60) identify communication channels associated with the target cells. Upcoming communication channel changes are indicated as separate entries (60) for identical cells (28). Subscriber units (26) receive the list (54) and evaluate the communication channels for the local cell and the target cells in order to make a hand-off decision.