Abstract: A communication system communicates position request and information over a communication channel that is used for communicating roaming data between mobile stations. Over the communication channel, a first local PLMN transmits a position request to a second remote PLMN covering a remote service area within which a roaming mobile station is positioned. In response to the position request, the second PLMN transmits position information related to the roaming mobile station to the first PLMN, preferably, over the same communication channel.

Abstract: A wireless communications systems for servicing mobile subscribers which dynamically optimizes the absolute number of channels reserved for use only as guard channels to minimize the blocking of handoff as well as new calls even under widely varying traffic and mobility conditions. This is accomplished by periodically first incorporating values, representative of traffic and mobility data typically collected in cellular systems, obtained over a given period of time, into an equation developed by the present inventors and calculating the number of guard channels needed to obtain assumed values of new and handoff call blocking; second changing the number of guard channels to the calculated value; and then third gathering data for a new period of time before returning to the first step.

Abstract: A method and system, for use with wireless communications systems having a cellular architecture, for achieving near real time reservation of channels in a first cell for servicing call-in-progress handoffs from other cells such that blocked calls originating within a first cell and blocked handoff of calls-in-progress from other cells are held within acceptable levels. The method and system specify that a minimum number of unutilized channels in a first cell be reserved for servicing call-in-progress handoffs. In the event that a request for a call-in-progress handoff from one of the other cells into the first cell cannot be serviced due to a lack of unutilized channels, the specified minimum number of reserved channels is dynamically adjusted upward and the request for a call-in-progress handoff that could not be serviced is enqueued. Enqueued requests are serviced in a first in first out fashion as unutilized channels become available.

Abstract: A multi-site trunked radio communication system (100) in accordance with a preferred method (500) assigns communication resources (117-124) in response to an assigned or requested service level. The service level is determined based upon a number of parameters (128) including affiliated communication site, time, user override service data, network override service data and other service mode assignment data. The parameters are used to dynamically generate and periodically update a subscriber unit service participation mode (SPM) for each subscriber unit (114-116) operating in the communication system. Additionally, an existing service participation mode assignment may be overridden by the user from the subscriber unit and/or by a network operator/manager.

Abstract: To enable the antenna of a central station of a point-to-multipoint radio relay system to be operated with as little transmitting power as possible and to assure high transmission quality, the antenna produces a characteristic composed of a plurality of sectors which are so designed with regard to their direction and their opening angle that each individual sector is restricted as narrowly as possible to the area occupied by one or a plurality of subscriber stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing a distributed location register (20 or 22) within a wireless communication system (10) is accomplished by a distributed location register which receives a request for updating communication parameters of a particular communication entity, which may be a communication device, group of communication devices, or grouping of groups of communication devices, or for retrieval of communication parameters of the particular communication entity. To process the request, the distributed location register (20 or 22) interprets it to identify one of a plurality of communication service registers (28-32, 102-112, or 136-140) which stores the communication entity's communication parameters. Having identified a particular communication service register, the communication service register receives, and subsequently processes, the request to retrieve the communication parameters of interest and/or update the communication parameters of interest.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for enabling a subscriber to determine the current time period, e.g., peak or off-peak, for that subscriber based upon the broadcasted system date and time prior to answering or placing a call on a mobile terminal. The Mobile Station (MS), or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card within the MS, can be programmed with the relevant time periods for that subscriber, e.g., dates and hours for peak and off-peak time periods. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a time period application within the SIM card receives the system information from the air interface and compares it with the stored time period information associated with the subscriber to determine the current time period. The SIM card can then instruct the MS to display the current time period, along with the amount of air time usage associated with that time period.

Abstract: A method for grouping and ungrouping omni-cells in a mobile communications system using a common PN-offset in one channel so as to manage a plurality of cells in a manner similar to a method by which an omni-cell is managed using a unique PN offset. Cell grouping is performed by generating a common PN offset in each of the cells to be grouped by selecting an unused path in each channel of each cell, and then changing the unique PN offset of each of the cells to the common PN offset of the selected path.

Abstract: In a method for compensating D.C. offset in a direct conversion receiver by a signal (IF.sub.-- I, IF.sub.-- Q) received and demodulated in one of the channels of the reception frequency band of a radio communication system, a correction signal (Q.sub.control) is produced from the signals in the channels of the reception frequency band. The correction signal (Q.sub.control) is combined with the demodulated signal. The apparatus for implementing the method comprises means (12, 17, 18, 19) for producing the correction signal, and means (15, 16) for combining the correction signal with the received and demodulated signal.

Abstract: Pass band characteristics of an averaging filter is controlled in accordance with a predicted bandwidth occupied for propagation loss fluctuation that is obtained by a propagation loss fluctuation bandwidth predicting unit. For the prediction of the propagation loss fluctuation bandwidth, a fluctuation rate of pilot signal reception levels is measured by a mobile station as well as the radius of a cell and the height of an antenna. The pass band of the averaging filter is broaden with the prediction that the faster the pilot signal reception levels fluctuate and the smaller the cell radius is, the faster the propagation loss fluctuates.

Abstract: A microcellular communications network includes a plurality of base station units and corresponding antenna units. The microcells connected to their respective base station units over a telephone system. The microcells providing received signal strength indication (RSSI) level signals and Supervisory Audio Tone (SAT) frequencies to the base station for hand-in evaluation. The base stations having a scanning receiver for processing the RSSI level signals and SAT frequencies and for performing hand-in for neighboring cells.

Abstract: In cellular communication systems, hand-offs are performed to maintain links as subscriber units (110) and beams move relative to each other. The hand-off determination procedure (500) is performed in overlap regions (240, 340). Candidate beams are identified and hand-off types are determined based on the satellite (120) associated with the candidate beam. Thresholds are established and changed to optimize a hand-off request determination procedure (500). Two hand-off types are considered. An inter-satellite hand-off is requested (514) when the current beam and the candidate beam are on different satellites (120). An intra-satellite hand-off is requested (510) when the current beam and the candidate beam are on the same satellite (120). Thresholds are dynamically changed and algorithms are used to minimize the number of inter-satellite hand-offs.

Abstract: Accurate calculation of the probability of outage for a cell within a CDMA network is utilized to relate cell coverage to cell capacity. Based on a desired probability of outage, the coverage of the cell may be calculated for an average number of users within the cell. The calculation is independent of the admission policy employed to achieve the specified average number of users. The resulting closed form expression for the tradeoff between coverage and carried traffic allows an optimal design of a CDMA network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a cellular mobile radio system and for identifying monitored radio elements within the network with respect to other network entities. The logical and physical topology of a cellular mobile radio system is determined by monitoring messages passed across a communications interface in the system. Embodiments of the invention associate common information occurring in different messages, and over time, establish the topology of a network, even though messages passed across the monitored interface do not comprise unique system-wide addressing information. In particular, the present method provides a mapping between radio elements (TRX) and other network entities (TEI, CI, and LAI) in a GSM type cellular system by monitoring messages across the Abis and A interfaces.

Abstract: An autonomous interrogatable information and position device combines the functionality of a satellite communications device capable of sending and receiving voice and digital data messages, a geo-location device capable of self-determining its positional location; an input/output port configured to allow attachment of the device to external local site sensors or equipment in order to obtain external local site sensor data or control the equipment, and a control processor capable of monitoring and responding to positional location information, input sensor data, and incoming voice and digital data messages.

Abstract: TIA IS-136 specifies the assignment to mobile stations of a unique international mobile station identification (IMSI) in addition to a mobile identification number (MIN). The IMSI number is communicated from the mobile station to the network, and is processed by the network to provide for non-ambiguous subscriber identification. Accordingly, the IMSI number is transmitted by the mobile station during registration, and processed during authentication to insure accurate and unique subscriber identification. Once registered with an IMSI instead of a MIN, the network utilizes the IMSI during subsequent call handling to insure, for example, proper call delivery and handoff.

Abstract: A wireless base station receiver receives weak signals from mobile units at a first position using a first receiver configuration and strong signals from mobile units at a second position using a second receiver configuration. The base station receiver includes an input terminal to receive an inbound signal from each mobile unit. A diplexer is coupled to the input terminal and configured to receive the inbound signal and to pass a first frequency band of the inbound signal as a first signal, and to pass a second frequency band of the inbound signal as a second signal. An attenuator is coupled to the diplexer and configured to attenuate the second signal to create a third signal. A downconverter is coupled to the diplexer and the attenuator and configured to downconvert the first signal and the third signal to provide a downconverted inbound signal. An analog to digital converter coupled to the downconverter and configured to convert the down converted inbound signal to a digital signal.

Abstract: The base station controller monitors the reverse link frame error rate of all the base stations involved in a soft hand-off with a radiotelephone. The average reverse link frame error rates of these base stations are then computed and the lowest of the average error rates is found. The last known transmit power of the base station having the lowest average error rate is determined. The transmit power of those base stations having a higher average reverse link frame error rate than the best base station are adjusted to the last known transmit power of the best base station.

Abstract: In a fixed cellular telephone system, the taking of a standard wireline telephone set off-hook triggers the establishment of a voice/traffic channel connection between a connected fixed cellular terminal and the cellular system switch. Digits of the telephone number of the party to which the call is directed are entered through the telephone set. These digits are then transmitted by the fixed cellular terminal to the serving cellular network switch as out of band data messages transported over a control channel supported by the established voice/traffic channel connection. The data message digits are then converted to dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones, with the tones processed in a conventional manner to complete the call connection to the called party.

Abstract: A new audio wireless transmission and reception system for providing spectators at a sporting event audio perspective of the event. The inventive device includes a parabolic dish having a length of wire extending outwardly therefrom. The parabolic dish serves to receive audio signals. A transmitter is connected to the length of wire from the parabolic dish. The transmitter serves to transmit the audio signals received from the parabolic dish. The transmitter is removably positioned within a carrying case. The carrying case is positionable on a back of a technician directing the parabolic dish. A headset radio is adapted for being worn on a head of a wearer. The headset radio is programmed for receiving the audio signals from the parabolic dish via the transmitter.