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To: Ruffian who wrote (16958)	10/22/1998 3:43:00 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 152472

From Ericy report: --------------------------------------------------------------- "Ericsson has received word that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has validated a total of 36 new and amended claims in one of Ericsson's key patents on 'soft handoff', an Ericsson invention that is essential to the practice of U.S. wireless telecommunications standard IS- 95. Over the past three months the U.S. Patent Office has allowed three such Ericsson patents. The successful reissue of these three patents confirms that Ericsson is the true inventor of the 'soft handoff' and 'macrodiversity' concepts that are fundamental to IS-95." --------------------------------------------------------------- They are going for broke. The June 1989 patent is pretty easy to read. Like analogue systems for years before, you have to hand the call off to another station. So they don't get to patent the concept of shifting the transaction from one base station to another. They are claiming a patent on a method. One single method. Not the concept of checking signal strengths etc and swapping to the stronger one. The details of the method is what matters. They are referring to a single channel swap - so that if an adjacent cellsite has the same channel free, the cellphone can use that one. I suppose that gives a smoother handover, with less snap crackle and pop, dead time and dropped calls. The mechanism, which is what a patent describes, is completely different for cdmaOne. All warm fuzzies, across the whole bandwidth. No nasty channel switching and dead time with snap crackle pop followed by a dropped call. Software cunningly measures a few decibels then the handset is smoothly sailing in the new zone, with a friendly wave goodbye from Babe. Ericy, to use an analogy, is trying to claim the concept of an engine. "A method to propel an object. This method, using pistons, steam and coal is designed to blah blah blah." Oh, oh looks like we can forget about inventing a diesel engine. No Otto cycles. No rotary engines or two strokes. No gas turbines. No fuel cells and electric motors. Oh, maybe fuel cells are okay if they don't use fossil fuels. Having become an expert since reading the discussions here, it seems that Ericy is staking their future on this patent dispute. And they don't have a leg to stand on. I'm such an expert now that I think I'll go sit some bar exams. Funny that the patent office would award QUALCOMM patents on handoff too, when they had just issued what Ericy claims is the same thing just a few months before. Ericy 'has received word'. What does that mean? A whisper on the grapevine or the real deal - hardcopy pieces of Patent Office wax sealed parchment. In any event, these reissues seem to be just a bundling of existing stuff related to TDMA so that it is all in one parchment, not any approval or acknowledgement that 'hey, you guys really invented cdma in mobile'. Maybe they have managed to hook the magic words 'cdma' 'soft handoff' 'power control' 'near far problem' into their TDMA claims. That wouldn't be hard, and could fool some people on a jury [if that's how these things are handled] into thinking that it does sorta sound the same as what QUALCOMM is doing. "Can we see those two sticks in the bathtub again please your honor". "If it don't fit, you must acquit!" "Looks like waves to me Martha. What about you Fred? Yeah - sho' 'nuff, that's one of them thar cellfone critter" Mqurice

To: Ruffian who wrote (16958)	10/22/1998 3:46:00 PM
From: bananawind	Respond to of 152472

Further to Michael's post, check out: patents.ibm.com US5640414: Mobile station assisted soft handoff in a CDMA cellular communications system Inventor(s): Blakeney, II; Robert D., San Diego, CA Karmi; Gadi, San Diego, CA Tiedemann, Jr.; Edward G., San Diego, CA Weaver, Jr.; Lindsay A., San Diego, CA Applicant(s): QUALCOMM Incorporated, San Diego, CA Publication Date: June 17, 1997 Application Date: April 11, 1994 Application Number: US1994000226222 IPC Class (Ed. 6): H04K 001/10; US Class: 375/200; 379/059; 379/060; 455/033; 455/034; 380/034; Field of Search: 455-33,34,56 ; 380-034 ; 370-18,21,22 ; 375-1,68 ; 379-60,59 ; Abstract: In a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum cellular communication system in which a mobile station user communicates with another system user via at least one base station, wherein each base station transmits a common pilot signal of a different code phase with respect to other base stations in said system, a method for directing communications between said mobile station user and said base stations. The mobile station monitors the signal strength of pilots and reports the measured signal strength to a system controller via the base station through which it is communicating. Command messages from the system controller to a new base station and the mobiles station establishes communication through the new base station in addition to the communication through the current base station. When the mobile station detects the falling below a predetermined level of the signal strength of a pilot corresponding to at least one of the base stations through which the mobile station is communicating, the mobile station reports the measured signal strength indicative of the corresponding base station to the system controller via the base stations through which it is communicating. Command messages from the system controller to the identified base station and the mobiles station terminates communication through the corresponding base station while communications through the other base station or base stations continue. Exemplary Claim(s): Show all 15 claims We claim: 1. In a cellular communication system in which a mobile user communicates with other users via at least one base station, wherein each of a plurality of base stations within said system transmits a unique pilot signal, a mobile station transceiver comprising: a pilot signal strength measurement circuit for measuring strength of base station transmitted pilot signals and for generating a first signal strength message when one or more of said measured pilot signals, from base stations not currently in communication with said mobile station transceiver, exceed a first predetermined level; a mobile station transmitter for transmitting said first signal strength message to at least one of said base stations with which said mobile user is currently in communication; and a mobile station receiver for receiving a first direction signal from at least one of said base stations with which said mobile user is currently in communication; wherein in response to said first received direction signal communication is established between said mobile station transceiver and at least one of said base stations from which were received said measured pilot signals exceeding said first predetermined level. This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/134,356 filed Oct. 8, 1993, now abandoned which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/847,148 filed Mar. 5, 1992 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,261.

To: Ruffian who wrote (16958)	10/22/1998 3:52:00 PM
From: bananawind	Respond to of 152472

And then going back to the 261 patent: patents.ibm.com US5267261: Mobile station assisted soft handoff in a CDMA cellular communications system Inventor(s): Blakeney, II; Robert D., San Diego, CA Karmi; Gadi, San Diego, CA Tiedemann, Jr.; Edward G., San Diego, CA Weaver, Jr.; Lindsay A., San Diego, CA Applicant(s): Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, CA Publication Date: Nov. 30, 1993 Application Date: March 5, 1992 Application Number: US1992000847148 IPC Class (Ed. 5): H04K 001/00; US Class: 375/001; 455/033.1; 455/034.1; 455/056.1; 455/034.2; 379/060; Field of Search: 379-060 ; 375-001 ; 455-33,34,56 ; Abstract: In a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum cellular communication system in which a mobile station user communicates with another system user via at least one base station, wherein each base station transmits a common pilot signal of a different code phase with respect to other base stations in said system, a method for directing communications between said mobile station user and said base stations. The mobile station monitors the signal strength of pilots and reports the measured signal strength to a system controller via the base station through which it is communicating. Command messages from the system controller to a new base station and the mobiles station establishes communication through the new base station in addition to the communication through the current base station. When the mobile station detects the falling below a predetermined level of the signal strength of a pilot corresponding to at least one of the base stations through which the mobile station is communicating, the mobile station reports the measured signal strength indicative of the corresponding base station to the system controller via the base stations through which it is communicating. Command messages from the system controller to the identified base station and the mobiles station terminates communication through the corresponding base station while communications through the other base station or base stations continue. We claim: 1. In a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum cellular communication system in which a mobile station user communicates with another system user via at least one base station, wherein each base station transmits a common pilot signal of a different code phase with respect to other base stations in said system, a method for directing communications between said mobile station user and said base stations comprising the steps of: measuring at a mobile station signal strength of base station transmitted pilot signals; communicating a signal strength message, from said mobile station via at least one base station said mobile station is in communication with, when at least one measured pilot signal each corresponding to a base station to which said mobile station is not currently in communication with, exceeds a first predetermined level; communicating, from at least one of said base stations said mobile station is in communication with and each base station corresponding to said mobile station measured pilot signal exceeding said first predetermined level, a direction message; and establishing, at said mobile station in response to said direction message, communications through each base station corresponding to said mobile station measured pilot signal exceeding said first predetermined level.

To: Ruffian who wrote (16958)	10/22/1998 3:57:00 PM
From: bananawind	Respond to of 152472

and finally the 501 patent: patents.ibm.com US5101501: Method and system for providing a soft handoff in communications in a CDMA cellular telephone system Inventor(s): Gilhousen; Klein S., San Diego, CA Padovani; Roberto, San Diego, CA Wheatley, III; Charles E., Del Mar, CA Applicant(s): Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, CA Publication Date: March 31, 1992 Application Date: Nov. 7, 1989 Application Number: US1989000433030 IPC Class (Ed. 5): H04Q 007/00; H04M 011/00; US Class: 455/033; 455/034; 455/056; 379/060; 375/001; Field of Search: 455-17,32-34,54,56,67 ; 379-59,60,63 ; 375-001 ; Abstract: In a cellular telephone system a system for directing communications between a mobile user and cell-sites as a mobile user changes cell-site service areas. The mobile user includes an apparatus for, while in communication with another system user via one cell-site, determining a transition of the mobile user from the cell-site service area to the service area of another cell-site. The system includes circuitry responsive to the indication for coupling communications between the mobile user and the other system user via the new cell-site while the mobile user also remains in communication with the system user via the first cell-site. The system further includes apparatus responsive to the coupling of the communications between the mobile user and the other system user via the new cell-site for terminating the communications between the mobile user and another system user via cell-site with communications continuing between the mobile user and the system user via the new cell-site. Exemplary Claim(s): Show all 23 claims We claim: 1. In a cellular telephone system in which a mobile system user and another system user communicate user information signals therebetween via at least one of a plurality of geographically separated cell-sites each defining a respective geographic service area, a system for directing communications between said mobile system user and said another system user via said at least one of said plurality of cell-sites as said mobile system user changes cell-site service areas, comprising: means for, while said mobile system user is in a service area of one cell-site and communicating user information signals with said another system user via said one cell-site, determining a transition of said mobile system user from said one cell-site service area to a service area of another cell-site, and for providing a handoff request identifying said another cell-site; means responsive to said handoff request for coupling a communication of said user information signals between said mobile system user and said another system user via said another cell-site while said mobile system user and said another system user continue in communication of said user information signals via said one cell-site such that said mobile system user and said another system user concurrently communicate said user information signals through said one cell-site and said another cell-site; and means responsive to said coupling of communication of said user information signals between said mobile system user and said another system user via said another cell-site for terminating said communication of said user information signals between said mobile system user and said another system user via said one cell-site with said communication of said user information signals continuing between said mobile system user and said another system user via said another cell-site.