Asynchronous transfer mode wireless communications systems with handoff and method of operation

摘要

A radio communications system (10) having a mobile station (30) and at least two base stations (13, 14). ATM radio channels (31, 32) are provided between the remote station and base stations. Each of the ATM channels supports communication though ATM cells over a common frequency band. At least one ATM node (21) is coupled to the base stations. A base station controller (11) is coupled to the ATM node. The base station controller has a combiner (303) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations and an ATM signalling circuit (330) for sending ATM commands to the ATM node for dividing cell streams at the ATM node to the first and second base stations. The remote station (30) has a logic unit (520) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations during a handoff from the first base station to the second base station. <IMAGE>