Abstract: Method for reducing backlogged calls is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an initial parameter set providing an initial blocking probability and a timestamp is received. A current time index is determined based on the timestamp. Following, a current blocking probability is calculated based on the initial blocking probability and the current time index. The initial parameter set can also provide a delay period, a throughput rate, an expected new call rate and an initial backlog. The initial blocking probability can be determined, for example, from the throughput rate, expected new call rate and initial backlog. An elapsed time between the timestamp and the current system time is determined, and a current time index is determined by dividing the elapsed time by the delay period. A call request is blocked, for example, when a randomly generated number between 0 and 1 is less than the current blocking probability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless communications wherein a base station transmits a signal to sending data to a subscriber station through a signal beam that sweeps through the coverage area of the base station. User data addressed to the subscriber station is buffered until the signal beam angle of the signal beam allows efficient transmission. The base station may alter the beam sweep speed or the shape of the beam's radiation pattern over time to maximize system efficiency and capacity.

Abstract: The present invention includes a cellular pilot signal detector or searcher for use in a cellular mobile communications unit. The signal detector uses a matched filter to detect a pilot signal transmitted from a cellular base station. The matched filter includes a plurality of taps and a plurality of delays located between adjacent taps. The signal components of a received digital signal are held on the taps of the matched filter by the delays. The matched filter compares the signal components of the received signal to an expected or searched for digital pattern. The matched filter puts out a relatively large signal if the received digital signal matches the expected digital pattern. The matched filter can also be used in parallel with a correlator.

Abstract: Techniques for processing a data transmission at the transmitter and receiver. In an aspect, a time-domain implementation is provided which uses frequency-domain singular value decomposition and “water-pouring” results to derive time-domain pulse-shaping and beam-steering solutions at the transmitter and receiver. The singular value decomposition is performed at the transmitter to determine eigen-modes (i.e., spatial subchannels) of the MIMO channel and to derive a first set of steering vectors used to “precondition” modulation symbols. The singular value decomposition is also performed at the receiver to derive a second set of steering vectors used to precondition the received signals such that orthogonal symbol streams are recovered at the receiver, which can simplify the receiver processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless communications wherein a base station transmits and receives wireless signals through multiple directional antennas mounted on a rotating antenna assembly. Signal beams from each directional antenna sweep in one angular direction through multiple sector coverage areas. As a signal beam crosses from one sector to another, the routing of forward and reverse link signals associated with that signal beam are switched from the sector it is exiting to the sector it is entering.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for gain control include amplifying a signal with an amplifier having a gain represented by one of a plurality of gain curves depending on a value of a parameter, the signal being amplified at a first one of the parameter values, and controlling the gain of the amplified signal from a predetermined gain curve relating to the gain curve of the amplifier for a second one of the parameter values by adjusting a gain control signal corresponding to a point on the predetermined gain curve as a function of the first one of the parameter values, and applying the adjusted gain control signal to the amplifier. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system a method for high data rate transmission aggregates information signals processed by at least two modems, wherein the modulated information signals are transmitted using two carrier frequencies. The method provides multiple data transmissions concurrently over a broad bandwidth consistent with single transmission air-interface standards. An apparatus, mobile unit, includes a multi-link (ML) protocol processor that aggregates the information signals from the modems into a point-to-point protocol (PPP) format for interface with conventional data-based systems, such as the internet. The ML processor further receives an aggregated bundle and separates the bundle into its constituent parts for modulation by the modems.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing and sending e-mail communications using a wireless communications device are disclosed. In one embodiment, input data comprising audio, image, and/or video data is encoded and transmitted to a cellular network. An integrated e-mail processor connected to the cellular network processes the coded data into a composite e-mail message and forwards the message to a server. The server then forwards the composite e-mail message to the indicated recipient(s). In another embodiment, the wireless communications device processes the coded data into a composite e-mail message and forwards it to a server via a cellular network. In either embodiment, the server may be dedicated to the cellular network. The invention thus enables users of handheld wireless communications devices, users of other devices lacking typing keyboards, or users presently unable to use a typing keyboard to prepare and send e-mail messages.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that allow a mobile communications service provider to broadcast messages using more than one broadcast channel protocol, such that only the mobile stations designed to receive broadcast messages transmitted under each protocol are woken up to monitor their respective broadcast channel slots, thus saving battery life in mobile stations designed to receive broadcast messages transmitted using other broadcast channel protocols.

Abstract: In a dual mode Bluetooth/wireless mobile unit, the next sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup time is rescheduled to synchronize with any upcoming idle mode wireless wakeup time that will otherwise precede the Bluetooth wakeup time. The Bluetooth clock is advanced, or other reconfiguration made to the Bluetooth module, as appropriate to prevent the scanning frequency from changing during a sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup/scanning interval commencing at the resynchronized Bluetooth wakeup time.

Abstract: A hybrid access terminal is a Wireless Communication Device (WCD) capable of operating over different types of communication networks. An exemplary WCD operates on both IS-2000 and IS-856 networks, and is capable of inter-system handoffs between these two types of networks. Such capabilities enable the exemplary WCD to provide voice, data and short messaging services on IS-2000 networks, and also to provide high speed packet data service on IS-856 networks. A method of operating on different networks includes establishing a data session on the first network, detecting a request for a packet data service, handing-off the data session to a second network, detecting a dormancy of the data session, transitioning to a dormant state and initiating a Dormancy time-out period when the dormancy is detected, and monitoring both the first network and the second network for paging messages while in the dormant state.

Abstract: A frequency-timing control loop comprising (1) a frequency control loop to acquire and track the frequency of a given signal instance in a received signal and (2) a timing control loop to acquire and track the timing of the same signal instance. The timing control loop processes data samples for the received signal to provide a first control indicative of timing error in the data samples for the signal instance. The frequency control loop includes (1) a frequency discriminator used to derive a second control indicative of frequency error in the data samples for the signal instance, and (2) a loop filter used to filter the first and second controls to provide a third control. This third control is used to adjust the frequency and phase of a periodic signal, which is used (directly or indirectly) to downconvert and digitize the received signal to provide the data samples.

Abstract: In a code division multiple access communication system, a method and apparatus provide for an efficient testing of operating behavior of a quality indicator bit. The method and the accompanying apparatus include configuring a receiver to expect to receive a communication channel at a full data rate, and transmitting a signal from a transmitter to the receiver. The signal is carrying the communication channel at a data rate other than said full data rate, and at a power level for receiving at the full data rate. Consequently, the receiver fails to receive the communication channel at the full data rate. A received signal to noise ratio of the received signal at the receiver is determined. A value of the quality indicator bit is determined based on the determined signal to noise ratio. The determined value of the quality indicator bit is communicated to the transmitter.

Abstract: A method and system for a handoff in a broadcast communication system is disclosed. A subscriber assisted handoff is impractical in a broadcast communication system due to e.g., a high signaling load, a difficulty to synchronize the broadcast transmission. On the other hand, the small number of broadcast channels enables the subscriber station to perform the handoff autonomously. To streamline the autonomous handoff decision process, several distinct sets of pilot identifiers and rules for transitioning among the sets are defined. To fully integrate broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems in a subscriber environment, a methods for various handoff scenarios are analyzed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an autonomous Pilot Strength Measurement Message (PSMM) by a mobile station traveling in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. In a multi-carrier system, the mobile station receives the pilot channel of a base station on multiple carrier frequencies simultaneously. Fading may vary from carrier frequency to carrier frequency. New pilot strength definitions are used by the mobile station in a set of rules transmitted by the base station. The set of rules determines autonomous generation and transmission of PSMMs by the mobile station upon detection of pilots.

Abstract: An improved method for facilitating handoff between an asynchronous and a synchronous base station. A method for determining a pilot channel PN offset of a pilot channel transmitted by a wireless base station. In a first embodiment, the method includes correlating a PN sequence with a received pilot signal to acquire a PN frame timing, receiving at least one search code burst aligned with the PN frame timing, the at least one search code burst signifying the pilot channel PN offset, and comparing the at least one search code burst to a set of codewords, each codeword representing a predetermined PN offset. From the search code bursts, the mobile station is able to quickly determine the PN offset of the transmitting base station, and thereby identify it. Methods for transmitting a complementary set of forward link channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optimum combiner that reduces the amount of interference imposed upon a first base station by transmissions of other base stations within the same communication system. Two antennas are used to receive transmissions within a receiving station. A rake receiver is coupled to each antenna. By optimally combining the signals that are received by each independent finger of the rake receiver, interference that is correlated between a finger associated with the first antenna and a finger associated with the second antenna can be minimized with respect to the desired signal. Optimum combining requires determination of optimum combining coefficients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for implementing an improved Control-Hold Mode that reduces the load of the reverse link and reduces the battery consumption of remote stations. While a remote station is in the improved Control-Hold Mode, the circuitry that monitors the forward packet data channels and the associated control channels are turned off. Since the forward packet data channels and their associated control channels are not monitored, the operations of the reverse channels can be gated off to predetermined duty cycles, or set on intermittent transmission modes, or shut down completely. Transitions from the Control-Hold Mode to the Active Mode can be initiated by the remote station or by a base station. When a transition is initiated by a remote station, the remote station transmits a signaling message to a serving base station and then starts operating the feedback channels before actually receiving forward link signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high data rate communication in a cellular/PCS communication system is provided. Specifically, the embodiment provides for early assignment of code channel for signaling channels (F-DCCH) in soft handoff. Thus, rather than simultaneously assigning a code channel for signaling data and another for traffic data for a particular Mobile Station (MS) in soft handoff, the code channel is assigned earlier for signaling data. Some of the unnecessary Base Station (BS) procedures with respect to the signaling data may be eliminated. An embodiment includes the concept of early signaling from the MS to request a code channel for signaling data, optionally followed by signaling (at a later time) from the MS to request a code channel for traffic data. This permits the MS to have the F-DCCH in soft handoff before having the F-DTCH (Forward Dedicated Traffic Channel) in soft handoff without requiring the BS to skip any of its procedures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for efficient processing of signal in a communication system. The processing of the signal for transmission may include encoding a block of data at an encoding rate 1/R. The encoding produces R number of data symbols for every data bit in the block of data. A block of RAM (299, 600) is partitioned into a plurality of blocks of RAM to allow reading simultaneously data symbols from the plurality of blocks of RAM to produce an in-phase and a quad-phase data symbols simultaneously. At least two scramblers (306 and 307) are used for simultaneously scrambling the in-phase and quad-phase data symbols. A Walsh covering/summing block 700 provides efficient Walsh covering and summing of signals for a combined transmission from the communication system.