Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate allocating power levels in a wireless communication network. A metric based upon spectral efficiency can be employed in connection with optimizing power allocation. Further, power for transmitters to utilize can be assigned as a function of time. Moreover, a single sub-carrier network and/or a multiple sub-carrier networks can leverage one or more power allocation schemes.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate supporting narrowband and wideband operation within a wideband wireless communication environment. For example, wideband operation can be enhanced by enabling faster communication of information as compared to narrowband operation, transfer of supplemental data available to wideband devices, and the like. Pursuant to another example, timing of information transfer can be scheduled over a plurality of subbands to enable a narrowband device to obtain a set of information over one of the subbands during a set of time intervals, while a wideband device can receive the set of information over the plurality of subbands during a reduced set of time intervals.

Abstract: In a system having a base station transmitter for transmitting data blocks to one or more mobile stations over a radio link, there is a method for determining an uplink transmit power level at which to transmit a current data block over a radio link from the mobile to the base transmitter station. The method evaluates airlink quality measurements in the radio link over a measurement interval, wherein each time a message is sent to the mobile station, it is evaluated whether a specified number of uplink blocks have been transmitted by the mobile station since the start of the measurement interval. Based on the evaluated airlink quality measurement, the method determines the uplink transmit power level that the mobile should be using for the current block, and adjusts the transmit power level, if necessary, for the current block.

Abstract: In the method, information from a user is transmitted over one or more communication channels of a wireless communication system by code multiplexing transmissions in the code domain. The method may include code multiplexing a first information from the user over a first channel with a second information from the user over a second channel, and determining a transmission format for the first and second channels. The transmission format may be determined based on one or more of available transmit power, transmission time interval, a coding dimension used for multiplexing, and transmit power used per code. The first information and second information are transmitted over the respective channels based on the determined transmission format.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient communication of backlog information, e.g., backlog information indicating amounts of uplink traffic waiting to transmitted by a wireless terminal are described. Delta backlog reports are used in addition to absolute backlog reports, thus reducing control signaling overhead, at least some information communicated in a delta backlog report being referenced with respect to a previously transmitted backlog report. A base station uses received backlog information from wireless terminals in determining scheduling of uplink traffic channel segments In some embodiments, the absolute backlog report uses a first fixed size report format, while the delta backlog report using a second fixed size report format, said second size being different from said first fixed size.

Abstract: A method for transmitting control information in a wireless communication network is provided in which one or more prescribed fields in an existing control channel structure are modified to enable express signaling directly between a base station and at least one mobile station without the need to traverse a backhaul path between the base station and the base station controller. More specifically, prescribed fields in the control channel are modified to carry one or more prescribed message identifiers that convey different types of information, e.g., an identifier for indicating which mobile station is the intended recipient, an identifier for indicating the type of message being transmitted (e.g., broadcast, multicast, etc.), a message identifier indicating the available Walsh space for data transmission, and so on. In this manner, existing control channel structures and formats can accommodate many different signaling functions directed to either single or multiple mobile stations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described where loading information regarding loading conditions at a neighboring base station is received at a first base station and then communicated, e.g., broadcast, by the first base station to mobiles within the cell in which the first base station is located. Since the neighbor base station's loading information is being communicated to a mobile currently connected to the first base station via a reliable communications channel of the first base station, the mobile can be expected to be able to reliably recover loading factor information corresponding to not only the first base station but to the neighboring base station. By utilizing such loading factor information, the mobile can generate an improved uplink interference report. The first base station receives such interference reports from wireless terminals in its cell, facilitating efficient resource allocation and interference control.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to wireless terminal reporting alternative selection for a fixed bit size control information request report, e.g., a 4 bit uplink traffic channel request report, are described. A wireless terminal maintains a plurality of different request groups corresponding to uplink traffic to be transmitted. The same request report format includes a plurality of reporting alternatives, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups. Backlog can and sometimes does exist simultaneously corresponding to request groups corresponding to different reporting alternatives. The wireless terminal uses priority information associated with the request groups having non-zero backlog to select a reporting alternative. In some embodiments, at least some of the request groups have priorities which are calculated by the wireless terminal and change as a function of determined transmission deadline information.

Abstract: A base station receives loading information indicative of the loading of other base stations and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of the received loading factor information. The base station may decrease/increase a current power budget dedicated to downlink traffic channel segments in response to detecting an increase/decrease in loading at an adjacent base station. Thus, base stations operate in a cooperative manner reducing power output, in at least some cases, where loading at a neighboring base station increases thereby reducing the interference to the base station with the increased load. A base station can consider possible alternative transmission power levels, estimated levels of interference, and/or possible alternative data rates in making trade-off decisions regarding downlink power budget.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to reporting transmission backlog information are described. A wireless communications device maintains and updates transmission backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups. Different request groups may correspond to different uplink traffic queues. For a request reporting opportunity, the communications device selects a request group from among the plurality of different transmission request groups as a function of: request group changes in backlog with respect to previously reported requests, the changes taking into consideration base station allocation of transmission resources; and request group priority information. A request report is generated conveying backlog information corresponding to the selected request group, and the generated report is transmitted over a wireless communications link.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining, communicating, and/or using delay information and described. A wireless terminal determines delay information corresponding to queued information that it intends to transmits. The delay information includes a minimum time to a transmission deadline indicating a minimum amount of time remaining before information will be discarded if not transmitted. The determined delay information is communicated to a base station in a control information report. Alternatives formats for the control information report are possible including a report type conveying only delay information and a report type conveying delay information and queue backlog count information jointly coded. A base station uses received delay information received from one or more wireless terminals to efficiently schedule uplink traffic channel segments.

Abstract: A plurality of report dictionaries, e.g., uplink transmission backlog request report dictionaries, are supported in a wireless communications system. Each report dictionary provides bit mapping definition information corresponding to a set of fixed bit size request reports. Different report dictionaries are structured to accommodate different reporting conditions, needs, and/or requirements. A communications device selects a report dictionary, e.g., on a per connection basis, to be used in communicating transmission backlog information, from among the plurality of possible report dictionaries. Information characterizing active traffic flows such as the number of distinct quality of service profiles and/or the current mixture of best effort and latency constrained traffic flows is used in performing the selection of a report dictionary. The selected report dictionary is subsequently utilized to generate reports and interpret information communicated in those generated reports.

Abstract: A portable wireless terminal generates and transmits a beacon signal. The beacon signal includes a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including one or more beacon symbols. A beacon symbol is transmitted using the air link resources of a beacon symbol transmission unit at a relatively high transmission power level with respect to user data symbols transmitted from the same wireless terminal, thus facilitating easy detection by other wireless terminals. The beacon symbols of the beacon signal occupy a small fraction of the total available air link resources. Beacon signals can, and sometimes do, convey wireless terminal identification information, via the location of the beacon symbols within the portion of the air link resource reserved for beacon symbol transmission units.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining, communicating, and/or using delay information are described. A wireless terminal determines delay information corresponding to queued information that it intends to transmit. The delay information includes a maximum queuing delay indicting a maximum amount of time data to be transmitted has been waiting to be transmitted. The determined delay information is communicated to a base station in a control information report. Alternatives formats for the control information report are possible including a report type conveying only delay information and a report type conveying delay information and queue backlog count information jointly coded. A base station uses received delay information received from one or more wireless terminals efficiently schedule uplink traffic channel segments.

Abstract: An access node, e.g., base station, determines a configuration of an end node, e.g., wireless terminal, intended to support a specific traffic flow and sends a configuration command to the wireless terminal. A base station may determine one or more parameters associated with classification, queue management, scheduling, and/or automatic repeat request, and then send a configuration command to the wireless terminal instructing it to implement a configuration operation. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal sets the value of an internal parameter to a value directly provided by the base station in a configuration command. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal determines and sets the value of an internal parameter as a function of information included in the configuration command from the base station.

Abstract: Wireless terminal beacon signaling is used to achieve timing synchronization between two wireless terminals in a wireless communication system, e.g., in an ad hoc network lacking a centralized timing reference. An exemplary timing structure used by an individual wireless terminal includes a beacon transmission time interval, a beacon monitoring time interval and a silence time interval. A first wireless terminal monitoring for beacon signals from other wireless terminals, detects a beacon signal portion from a second wireless terminal and determines a timing adjustment as a function of the detected beacon signal portion. The first wireless terminal applies the determined timing adjustment, e.g., time shifting its timing structure, such that its beacon signal can be detected by the second wireless terminal.

Abstract: In a method of tracking a user in a communication network supporting a broadcast-multicast service, the network classifies groups of users into tracking areas. Movement of a user may be tracked as the user crosses a boundary between two tracking areas in the network. The method may enable a balance to be achieved between use of uplink overhead and the level or granularity of tracking desired, so as to conserve radio resources.

Abstract: In a method of receiving signaling information in a communication network supporting a broadcast-multicast service, a first channel containing at least one indicator related to signaling information for a broadcast-multicast service is decoded to determine whether to monitor a second channel for the signaling information.

Abstract: Techniques for efficiently sending reports in a wireless communication system are described. Reports may be sent repetitively in accordance with a reporting format. A terminal receives an assignment of a control channel used to send reports and determines a reporting format to use based on the assignment. The reporting format indicates a specific sequence of reports sent in specific locations of a control channel frame. The terminal generates a set of reports for each reporting interval and arranges the set of reports in accordance with the reporting format. The terminal repetitively sends a plurality of sets of reports in a plurality of reporting intervals. Reports may also be sent adaptively based on operating conditions. An appropriate reporting format may be selected based on the operating conditions of the terminal, which may be characterized by environment (e.g., mobility), capabilities, QoS, and/or other factors.

Abstract: An uplink dedicated control channel reporting structure includes a plurality of different bit size reports, e.g. 1 bit, 3 bit and 4 bit reports, for reporting a wireless terminal's backlog information of uplink traffic request group queues. Smaller bit size reports are transmitted more frequently than larger reports. A 1 bit request report indicates whether or not there are any MAC frames of information to be communicated in a set of two request group queues. A 3 bit request report indicates an amount of backlog information corresponding to a first set of request group queues and a second set of request group queues. A 4 bit request report indicates an amount of backlog information corresponding to a set of request group queues. The 4 bit request report is capable of reporting information on any of a plurality of uplink traffic channel request group queues being maintained by the wireless terminal.