METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOWNLINK MACRO-DIVERSITY IN CELLULAR COMMUNICATION NETWORKS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC H04W40/00 H04B7/216 

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: invention provides a form of downlink macro-diversity in packet-switched cellular communication networks. This allows packets to be selectively delivered from a network/internetwork to an end node, e.g., a wireless communication device or terminal, over a set of available link-layer connections to/from the end node, through one or more access nodes, e.g., base stations. Downlink macro-diversity is particularly important when the link-layer connections between the end node and the corresponding access node, e.g., the access links, are subject to independent or partially correlated time variations in signal strength and interference. According to the invention, the end node dynamically selects the downlink to be used from a set of available access links on a per packet basis in accordance with prevailing channel conditions, availability of air-link resources and other constraints.

EFFECT: invention improves stability and efficiency of communication, overall utilisation of air-link resources and quality of service provided at the end node.

37 cl, 8 dwg