Channel measurement alternatives with packet data for the IS-136+ system

The next generation IS-136+ digital cellular system will facilitate packet data communications by utilizing modified modulation, coding and multi-slot operation. We investigate a technique for channel measurements in support of handoff and channel selection for packet-mode operation. Through simulations we study the effects of the reduced sampling rate of the received signal strength on the variance of the measurement error. We propose principles for a protocol which can support bursty received signal strength measurements and provide small reduction in the payload data throughput.