HK1123919A - Tune-away and cross paging systems and methods - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service. This can include processes for measuring signal strength of an alternative frequency by tuning away from an existing frequency associated with an existing communications path. Such processes allow determining if the alternative frequency supports a subsequent communications path in a mobile broadband wireless application. Upon the determination, the process can automatically select the subsequent communications path based in part on the measured signal strength.

Description

Tune-away and cross-paging system and method

Technical Field

The present technology relates generally to communication systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable tuning of communication channels to alternative sectors to determine alternative frequencies, or techniques that facilitate further communication in a mobile wireless communication setting.

Background

Wireless companies are continually improving next generation networks that combine, for example, voice and data over cellular networks. Collectively, these companies have spent billions on licenses and devices in order to provide a wide array of new data-centric services to consumers. But emerging technologies can provide a jump across so-called third generation systems as they begin to appear. One of the techniques is based on the IEEE 802.20 standard, which is a member of the 802 family including the more well-known 802.11b or Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi LAN (local area network) standard has developed rapidly in recent years by providing broadband wireless connectivity for laptop computers or other mobile devices.

But the new standard may change the direction of the wireless network connection. Whereas Wi-Fi and newer 802.16 metropolitan wireless broadband systems are limited in range of coverage areas (from approximately hundreds of feet to 30 miles), respectively, 802.20 is dependent on existing cellular towers. Which has essentially the same coverage as a mobile phone system with Wi-Fi connection speed. This may illustrate why 802.20 or Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) is of interest for potential new applications.

One distinguishing factor for the new application is that it provides full mobility and national coverage for any application at broadband access speeds via cell-to-cell handoff. Thus, for example, a business traveler can access the corporate network and send information back to the office on the fly as if they were connected to the local area network in their respective office. In some cases, users obtain the same broadband internet experience they have in a cellular mobile environment through a DSL or cable modem connection. The average speed of 1.5Mb per user or the 3Mbps peak data rate is much greater than that provided by conventional systems.

One aspect of utilizing mobile broadband wireless access technology is the concept of an active set and related protocols for managing communications between an access terminal (e.g., handset) and an access network or access point (e.g., base station). The default active set management protocol provides procedures and messages used by the access terminal and access point to track the approximate location of the access terminal and maintain a radio link as the access terminal moves between coverage areas of different sectors. In general, the active set is defined as the set of pilots or sectors with assigned MACIDs for access terminals. The active set members may be synchronous or asynchronous with respect to each other. An access terminal may typically switch its serving sector at any time among these active set member sectors.

The synchronous subset of the active set consists of sectors that are synchronized with each other. Furthermore, the subset is the largest subset, i.e., all sectors that are typically synchronized with sectors in the subset are included in the subset. The different synchronization subsets ASSYNCH may be constructed using, for example, the last instance of the active set assignment message. Transmissions from an access terminal to two different synchronized subsets of the active set are considered independent of each other. For example, the access terminal reports CQI to a synchronization subset of sectors that is independent of any other synchronization subset. One area of greatest concern is how to handoff communications between frequencies on a communication channel and/or between communication technologies, which may differ between components of a given mobile broadband wireless access system.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary of various embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present invention provides systems and methods to facilitate wireless communication between wireless devices, between stations broadcasting or receiving wireless signals, and/or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, inter-frequency and inter-radio access technology tune-away mechanisms are provided to facilitate communications in a mobile broadband wireless access system. The mechanism is provided in a connected mode in which there is ongoing communication for a given channel. In general, to support the mobile communication application without utilizing dual receivers to sample and locate alternative communication paths, the tune-away mechanism allows an access terminal to dynamically cooperate with an access network to determine potential communication paths to continue a particular session.

When conditions change, the tune-away mechanism allows the current communication channel to be tuned to a subsequent frequency to determine characteristics of an alternate communication path, such as the signal strength of the path. The tune-away condition provides temporary sampling of alternate paths while mitigating disruption of current communications. The sampling allows for determining which potential frequencies are available for future communications when conditions change, such as when the mobile device moves from one point to another. In another embodiment, tune-away may be used to facilitate communication between different communication technologies or protocols used in wireless applications. For example, an existing wireless protocol may be used for the current session, but when conditions change, such as when moving from one access point to another, the actual technology or communication protocol utilized may need to be changed to facilitate future communications. In this case, tune-away is provided to support Inter-radio access technology (Inter-RAT) applications.

In addition, there is a need to receive paging messages for other communication systems in a connected mode in the communication system. This may be desirable where other communication systems provide user services (e.g., circuit-switched voice or short message services) that are not available in the currently connected communication system. The other communication system may or may not be time synchronized with the currently connected communication system. The tune-away mechanism allows a currently connected communication channel to tune to a subsequent communication channel of a different technology to listen to a paging channel for that technology. Alternatively, the Inter-RAT protocol allows for the crossing of pages between two communication systems by tunneling registration and page messages of different technologies in Inter-RAT Blob messages in the currently connected communication system.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative embodiments are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of various ways in which the embodiments may be practiced, all of which are intended to be covered.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a mobile broadband wireless access system.

Fig. 2 is an exemplary timing diagram of a tune-away component.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating scheduling timing considerations.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an inter-frequency tune-away process.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating connected mode considerations for inter-radio access technology handoff and tune-away.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an inter-radio access technology handoff process.

Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary system using signal processing components.

Fig. 8 and 9 illustrate exemplary wireless communication systems that may be used with signal processing components.

Fig. 10 is an illustration of an access point system.

Detailed Description

The present invention provides systems and methods for processing wireless signal components for mobile wireless access to broadband services. This may include a process of measuring the signal strength of an alternate frequency by tuning away from an existing frequency associated with an existing communication path. These processes allow for determining whether the alternate frequency supports a subsequent communication path in a mobile broadband wireless application. Based on the determination, the process may automatically select the subsequent communication path based in part on the measured signal strength. By tuning away in this manner to determine an alternate communication channel, inter-frequency handoff applications and inter-radio access technology handoffs may be achieved to support a wide range of wireless applications.

As used in this application, the terms "component," "mechanism," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. To illustrate, both an application running on a communication device and the device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. Also, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a wired or wireless network such as the internet).

Fig. 1 illustrates a mobile broadband wireless access system 100. The system 100 includes one or more access terminals 110 that communicate between the terminals 110 according to an access network 120, where an access network is a connection and associated electronics that links a core network to a point of presence (POP) or point of interconnection (POI) switch location. The terminal 110 may comprise virtually any type of communication device, such as a cell phone, computer, personal assistant, handheld or laptop device, and the like. In general, the access terminal 110 is in a mobile condition, where communication according to a particular access network 120 is not always possible. Accordingly, one or more tune-away mechanisms 130 can be provided to facilitate communications between the terminals 110. The tune-away mechanism essentially allows the terminal 110 and the node 120 to determine an alternate communication path by temporarily tuning away from the existing path and sampling a subsequent path suitable for ongoing communication. For example, when tuning away from a current frequency for communication, signal strength may be measured with respect to an alternate frequency. The alternate frequency may be automatically selected for future communications if an appropriate signal threshold is detected. As illustrated, a tune-away mechanism may be provided to support Inter-frequency tune-away applications at 140 and/or to support Inter-radio access technology (Inter-RAT) applications at 150.

To facilitate inter-frequency handoff between communication channels at 140, the active set is expanded to include members from one or more frequencies. This implies that the active set consists of sectors from one or more frequencies. Sectors from different frequencies may be synchronous or asynchronous with respect to each other. To facilitate adding another frequency sector to the active set, the mobile broadband wireless access system 100 provides the access network 120 with the ability to specify other frequency neighborhoods in the sector parameters message specified in an overhead message protocol. This includes the ability for active terminals 110 to report other frequency sector pilot strengths in pilot report messages specified in an active set management protocol. Another aspect includes the ability of the access network 120 to specify other frequency members in an active set assignment message specified in an active set management protocol.

In general, active terminals 110 make measurements at various times and intervals in order to report other frequency sector pilot strengths. In idle mode, where no ongoing communication is detected, the measurement can be made directly, since the receiver is available for other frequency measurements. To report pilot strength in connected mode, a dual receiver or temporary tune-away mechanism 130 is provided. Since the availability of dual receivers cannot always be assumed, the tune-away mechanism 130 is provided to facilitate determination of alternative communication paths. In addition, a similar tune-away mechanism 130 is also provided for Inter-RAT handoff 150 and is used to listen for pages that may be asynchronous to other technologies of the Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) system 100.

As described above, the MBWA system 100 supports Inter-RAT handoff in idle and connected modes. The provision of the tune-away mechanism 130 also facilitates handover from MBWA systems to other radio access technologies. The system design assumes that the handoff strategy for Inter-RAT handoff resides in access terminal 110, but other architectures are possible. In other words, the triggers for measurement and handoff decision algorithms for other technologies are typically resident in access terminal 110.

For Inter-RAT 150 technologies, other radio access technology pilot signals may be measured using the same tune-away mechanism as is provided for Inter-frequency handoffs. In addition, the sector parameters message in the overhead message protocol provides the ability to send other technology neighbor lists. These two mechanisms provide the access terminal with the ability to discover other radio access technologies in the neighborhood and measure the pilots of the other technologies.

In another embodiment, MBWA system 100 supports reception of paging messages for other radio access technologies. Two different mechanisms are typically provided, but other configurations are possible. In one case, the tune-away mechanism 130 receives a page of the other system. In another case, Inter-RAT protocols in the session layer provide for sending Inter-RAT Blob (binary large object) messages from either the access terminal 110 or the access network 120. The first case applies when the MBWA system 100 is not integrated with other radio access technologies in the core network. Thus, one way to get a page message from other technologies is to listen to its paging channel. The tune away mechanism 130 supports tune away to listen to paging channels at specific times in other radio access technologies, both synchronous and asynchronous to the MBWA system 100.

In general, the tune-away mechanism 130 can be used to sample frequencies by having knowledge of the timing of the access terminal 110 and the access network 120. This may include being able to sample the technique in a manner so as to achieve a reduction of missed pages from a purely random sample, since the system can determine sampling times that account for synchronous and asynchronous timing differences between the terminal 110 and the node 120. This may include, for example, providing a sampling schedule beyond a frequency frame or allowing sampling within a sector.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary timing diagram 200 of a tune-away component. A tune away mechanism or component typically consists of a tune away schedule and a tune away control. The tune away schedule N attribute parameter provides a component to communicate the tune away schedule between the access terminal and the access point or node. An exemplary tune-away timing schedule is depicted in diagram 200. In this schedule 200, it is assumed that the first tune-away occurs during a superframe defined by the superframe number 210 provided in the tune-away schedule N parameter. In addition, a more refined time for the first tune-away is a start superframe offset parameter 220, e.g., microseconds from the start of the superframe identified at 210. The tune away duration 230 is the duration in microseconds that the access terminal tunes away. The tune-away period parameter 240 determines the time between the initiation of successive tune-away in microseconds. The access terminal may negotiate one or more tune-away schedules, if desired. More than one schedule may be needed, for example, to monitor paging and tune-away for inter-frequency handoffs of one system.

The tune-away control mechanism described above provides at least two functions, including: enable/disable tune-away, and provide time correction of tune-away schedule. The access terminal may enable or disable the tune-away schedule at substantially any time. Further, an access terminal can enable or disable more than one schedule at the same time. The time correction is typically provided for a time-sensitive tune-away to receive pages for systems that are asynchronous to the MBWA system. In this example, whenever a new sector is added to the active set, the access terminal provides a correction factor (sector offset) in microseconds to correct the time so that the access terminal tunes away to receive pages at the correct time in the other system. The tune away request parameter and tune away response message in the default connection state protocol provide a mechanism to reliably enable/disable tune away or provide time correction of any sector in the active set.

Fig. 3 illustrates exemplary scheduling timing considerations 300. At 310, certain exemplary scheduling considerations are provided. For example, at 310, if the tune-away starts or ends in the middle of a PHY frame, the general rule is to tune away the entire frame. Referring briefly back to fig. 2, a superframe begins at 210 and begins substantially with a superframe preamble data packet followed by a series of PHY frames (e.g., 1 superframe-1 preamble followed by 12 PHY frames). Superframe boundary considerations may include that if a tune-away period causes an access terminal to lose a system information block, the access terminal should maintain the tune-away for the validity period of the system information block, which may be set to a different time, if desired. In one embodiment, the validity period may be set to two superframes, although other settings may be used.

Fig. 4-8 illustrate a tune-away process for wireless signal processing. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series or number of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the processes described herein are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated steps may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with the methodologies described herein.

Fig. 4 illustrates a message flow 400 for inter-frequency tune-away and handoff between frequencies. At 410, a system parameter is passed from an access network (network) indicating a frequency neighbor list. At 420, the access terminal calculates a time for measuring another frequency pilot and updates the tune-away attribute. An attribute update accept handshake is performed at 430, with a decision to initiate an alternate frequency measurement made at 440 and the tune away control bit set to enable. Continuing to 450, the access terminal tunes away to an alternate frequency at the beginning of the next tune-away period and retunes to the existing frequency after performing this measurement. At 460, an indication of the potential pilot frequency or pilots is sent to the access network. At 470, the active node selects an alternate frequency for the pilot based on the previous measurements at 450.

Fig. 5 illustrates one or more inter-radio access technology considerations 500 for connected mode. At 510, the access terminal makes a handoff decision between one technology and a subsequent technology. Handoff policies are typically implemented at the access terminal, and the access network may assist in the handoff process. This may include providing other RAT neighbor lists and facilitating tune-away detection procedures. At 520, the access terminal detects a trigger condition, such as detecting that the signal quality on the current channel is below a predetermined threshold. To begin measuring other techniques, a command may be sent to measure the current active set pilot strength, which may also include other triggers. For handoff to other technologies, the current active set pilot strength is determined, another RAT pilot strength is determined, and any other trigger is used to enable handoff. At 530, one or more other RAT neighbor lists may be used. This may include processing overhead message protocols, sector parameters messages, or other RAT neighbor lists as described above. At 540, a tune-away procedure may be initiated to measure other frequency pilots, which is substantially similar to the inter-frequency handoff procedure described above.

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a message flow procedure for inter-RAT handoff in connected mode. A neighbor list may be communicated from the first technology system to the access terminal. The access terminal calculates a tune-away schedule for measuring other frequency pilots and issues an attribute update request as described above with respect to fig. 4. An attribute accepted flag is sent to the access terminal, where a decision is made to initiate a tune-away measurement, and where the access terminal indicates that it wishes to tune away to measure other technologies. At 610, a tune-away to a subsequent communication technology is initiated. Signal strength measurements may be acquired during the measurement. If a suitable measurement is found, the access terminal may switch from the existing or current protocol to a subsequent protocol.

This procedure may be initiated at a predetermined tune-away interval and may be disabled as needed. At 620, a decision is made to handoff from one communication technology to another. At 630, the connection is first disconnected in the prior art communication technique. At 640, a data session is established with a subsequent communication channel or technology. At 650, mobile IP binding updates are performed and internet protocol data or other protocols are exchanged at 660.

Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary system 700 that employs wireless signal processing components. System 700 illustrates certain of the various exemplary components that may use a tune-away component as described above. These components may include a personal computer 710, a modem 720, which collectively communicate via an antenna 730. Communication may be via a base station 740, with the base station 740 communicating with one or more user sites 750 (or devices) via a private or public network. Likewise, one or more hosts 760 may be used to facilitate communications with the other respective components in the system 700. System 700 may use various standards and protocols to facilitate communication.

Fig. 8 illustrates a system 800 that can be employed in connection with tune-away. System 800 includes a receiver 802 that receives a signal from, for instance, one or more receive antennas and performs typical operations on (e.g., filters, amplifies, downconverts, etc.) the received signal and digitizes the conditioned signal to obtain samples. A demodulator 804 can demodulate and provide received pilot symbols to a processor 806 for channel estimation.

Processor 806 can be a processor dedicated to analyzing information received by receiver component 802 and/or generating information for transmission by a transmitter 814. Processor 806 can be a processor that controls one or more portions of system 800, and/or a processor that analyzes information received by receiver 802, generates information for transmission by a transmitter 814, and controls one or more portions of system 800. The system 800 can include an optimization component 808 that can optimize resource allocation during a tune-away. The optimization component 808 may be incorporated into the processor 806. It is to be appreciated that optimization component 808 can include optimization code to perform utility-based analysis in connection with assigning user devices to beams. The optimization code can employ artificial intelligence based methods in connection with performing inferences and/or probabilistic determinations and/or statistical-based determinations regarding optimizing user device beam assignments.

System (user device) 800 can additionally comprise memory 810, memory 810 can be operatively coupled to processor 806 and store, for instance, assignment information, scheduling information, and the like, wherein such information can be employed to allocate resources during a tune-away procedure. Memory 810 can additionally store protocols associated with generating lookup tables, etc., such that system 800 can use stored protocols and/or algorithms to increase system capacity. It will be appreciated that the data store (e.g., memories) components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include Read Only Memory (ROM), programmable ROM (prom), electrically programmable ROM (eprom), electrically erasable ROM (eeprom), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. For purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as Synchronous RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory 810 of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory. Processor 806 is connected to a symbol modulator 812 and transmitter 814 that transmits the modulated signal.

Fig. 9 illustrates a system that can be employed in connection with performing a tune-away and/or allocating resources during a tune-away. System 900 includes a base station 902 with a receiver 910 that receives signal(s) from one or more user devices 904 via one or more receive antennas 906 and transmits to the one or more user devices 904 via a plurality of transmit antennas 908. In one example, receive antennas 906 and transmit antennas 908 can be constructed using a single set of antennas. Receiver 910 can receive information from receive antennas 906 and is operatively associated with a demodulator 912 that demodulates received information. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, receiver 910 can be, for example, a rake receiver (e.g., a technique that uses multiple baseband correlators to individually process multipath signal components, etc.), an MMSE-based receiver, or some other suitable receiver for separating out the user devices assigned thereto. For example, multiple receivers may be used (e.g., one for each receive antenna), and these receivers may communicate with each other to provide improved estimates of user data. Demodulated symbols are analyzed by a processor 914, which processor 914 is similar to that described above with respect to fig. 8, and is coupled to a memory 916, which memory 916 stores information regarding user device assignments, lookup tables related thereto, and the like. Receiver output for each antenna can be jointly processed by receiver 910 and/or processor 914. A modulator 918 can multiplex the signal for transmission by a transmitter 920 through transmit antennas 908 to user devices 904.

Base station 902 further comprises an assignment component 922, which can be a processor distinct from processor 914 or integral to processor 914, and which can evaluate a pool of all user devices in a sector served by base station 904 and can assign user devices to beams based at least in part on location of individual user devices.

As shown in fig. 10, a radio access point may include a Main Unit (MU)1050 and a Radio Unit (RU) 1075. The MU 1050 includes the digital baseband components of the access point. For example, the MU 1050 may include a baseband component 1005 and a digital Intermediate Frequency (IF) processing unit 1010. Digital IF processing unit 1010 digitally processes radio channel data at an intermediate frequency by performing functions such as filtering, channelization, modulation, and the like. RU 1075 includes the analog radio portion of the access point. As used herein, a radio unit is the analog radio portion of an access point or other type of transceiver station that is directly or indirectly connected to a mobile switching center or corresponding device. A radio unit typically serves a particular sector in a communication system. For example, RU 1075 may include one or more receivers 1030 connected to one or more antennas 1035a-t for receiving radio communications from mobile subscriber units. In an aspect, one or more power amplifiers 1082a-t are coupled to one or more antennas 1035 a-t. An analog-to-digital (a/D) converter 1025 is connected to the receiver 1030. The a/D converter 1025 converts the analog radio communication received by the receiver 1030 to a digital input for transmission to the baseband component 1005 via the digital IF processing unit 1010. RU 1075 can also include one or more transmitter 120 connected to the same or different antenna 1035 for transmitting radio communications to access terminals. A digital-to-analog (D/a) converter 1015 is connected to the transmitter 1020. The D/a converter 1015 converts digital communications received from the baseband component 1005 via the digital IF processing unit 1010 into analog output for transmission to mobile subscriber units. In some embodiments, a multiplexer 1084 is used to multiplex the multichannel signal and to multiplex various signals including voice signals and data signals. A central processor 1080 is coupled to the main unit 1050 and the radio unit for controlling various processes including the processing of sound or data signals.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. In the case of a hardware implementation, the processing units within an access point or access terminal may be implemented within one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

When the systems and/or methods are implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, program code or code segments, they may be stored in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage component. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

In the case of a software implementation, the techniques described herein may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

What has been described above includes exemplary embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, these embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims (38)

1. A method for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service, comprising:

generating a schedule describing a frame structure timing of a first communication channel;

determining a timing difference with at least a second communication channel according to the scheduling; and

a correction time factor between the first communication channel and the second communication channel is generated to facilitate handing off communications between the channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one tune-away mechanism to support one or more technology types.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tune-away mechanism supports inter-frequency handoff within the same technology type.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tune-away mechanism supports inter-radio access technology handoff.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising adapting the tune-away mechanism to allow one or more access terminals and one or more access networks to determine an alternate communication path by temporarily tuning away from an existing path and sampling subsequent paths for use in ongoing communication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring signal strength based in part on a signal threshold.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising extending an active set comprising parameters from members of one or more frequencies, wherein the active set comprises sectors from the one or more frequencies.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising processing sectors from different frequencies, the sectors being synchronous or asynchronous with respect to each other.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a handoff policy in an access terminal for Inter-radio access technology (Inter-RAT) handoff.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising triggering measurements of other communication technologies from the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising triggering a handoff decision from the access terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising passing a neighbor list of frequencies between at least one access terminal and at least one access network.

13. A method for detecting paging in a mobile broadband wireless access system, comprising:

providing a tune-away mechanism to sample pages in a communication system;

determining a timing difference between at least two communication systems; and

sampling a paging channel according to the detected timing difference between the communication systems.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically listening to a paging channel.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising tuning away in order to listen for paging channels in other radio access technologies at a particular time that are synchronous or asynchronous to the wireless system.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a timing schedule that accounts for timing differences between at least two different timing schemes.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining paging based on a sampling interval specified by the timing schedule.

18. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for measuring signal strength;

means for tuning to an alternate communication channel to measure the signal strength;

means for determining a timing difference between the alternative communication channel and an existing communication channel; and

means for selecting the alternate communication channel based in part on the measured signal strength and the determined timing difference.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for adjusting a timing difference between the alternate communication channel and the existing communication channel.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for testing at least one threshold to measure the signal strength.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for determining at least one page during a communication session.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for initiating an Inter-frequency handoff or an Inter-radio access technology (Inter-RAT) handoff.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for transferring parameters between at least one access terminal and at least one access network.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising means for establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) data connection.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon to perform components of a wireless network, comprising:

generating a schedule describing a frame timing of a first channel;

determining a timing difference between the frame timing of the first channel and a frame timing of a second channel; and

determining a timing correction to account for the timing difference between the first channel and the second channel.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising determining a tune-away schedule N attribute parameter to communicate a tune-away schedule between an access terminal and an access network.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising determining at least one superframe parameter.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a start superframe offset parameter that specifies a time from a start of the superframe parameter.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a tune-away duration parameter that specifies how long an access terminal tunes away.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a tune-away period parameter that determines a time between the start of successive tune-away periods.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising negotiating one or more tune-away schedules.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising independently controlling one or more tune-away schedules.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising providing a time correction for each tune-away schedule.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising providing a time correction for each active set member.

35. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory comprising a tune-away schedule with respect to an access terminal; and

a processor that determines a timing difference between the access terminal and its associated access network, the processor determining a timing correction parameter in view of the time difference.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a data storage unit comprising one or more tune-away parameters to control the tune-away.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, the processor is for adjusting the timing correction parameter in view of at least one frame boundary.

38. An apparatus for allocating base station resources during a tune-away, comprising:

means for responding to a tune-away request;

means for adjusting at least one system timing parameter in view of a tune-away schedule; and

means for performing a handoff on a subsequent communication channel based in part on the tune-away request.