Communication system, and base station controller comprising a multiple technology vocoder

• Main Authors: LEWIS, LARRY D, MIZELL, JERRY L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 21.04.2010
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

A base station (14a,14b) includes a multiple technology vocoder (28) having a plurality of vocoder resource modules (34-42) that are individually selectable to facilitate support by the base station of corresponding communication protocols serviceable by the base station within each coverage area. A buffer and associated buffer manager (30, 46) are responsive to messages such that memory space is partitioned appropriately to support a specific nature of the communication protocol identified within the message. A selection manager (32, 44) then acts to provide a path between buffered messages and an appropriately selected vocoder resource module. In an inter-cell/protocol handoff between base stations having dissimilar vocoders, support of a subscriber unit operating using a first communication protocol is maintained at a base station not having the necessary vocoder by the re-routing and remote processing of messages from the subscriber unit to a secondary base station able to provide the requisite vocoder processing capability.