Abstract: A mobile station and a radio access network (RAN) use a single-channel forward link and a single-channel reverse link for a communication session. If the quality of the communication session degrades, the single-channel forward link is replaced with a multi-channel forward link and/or the single-channel reverse link is replaced with a multi-channel reverse link. The multi-channel forward link may include a first forward link channel and a second forward link channel, each with a higher coding gain than that of the single-channel forward link, to provide an aggregate data rate that is substantially the same as that of the single-channel forward link. The multi-channel reverse link may include a first reverse link channel and a second reverse link channel, each with a higher coding gain than that of the single-channel reverse link, to provide an aggregate data rate that is substantially the same as that of the single-channel reverse link.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for determining initial transmit power are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves a mobile station (1) determining an interference level for the forward link; (2) if the determined interference level is greater than a threshold interference level, then determining an interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of (a) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level and (b) a predetermined constant; (3) if the determined interference level is less than the threshold interference level, then determining the interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of: (a) the maximum of: (i) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level, and (ii) zero, and (b) a predetermined constant; (4) using the determined interference correction factor as a basis for determining an initial transmit power level; and (5) transmitting an initial access probe to the base station at the determined initial transmit power level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to manage paging channels in a wireless communication network. When the network encounters a situation where the network is to transmit an access response message in a coverage area to a mobile station, the network will determine whether the mobile station is in an access handoff state. If not, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on a paging channel selected based on the mobile station's identifier. Otherwise, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on both that paging channel and a default paging channel (e.g., primary channel) selected without consideration of the mobile station's identifier. This process can help avoid an access handoff failure. Further, a radio access network may opt to use the default paging channel in response to the wireless coverage area having a different number of paging channels than an adjacent coverage area.

Abstract: An access terminal establishes a session with a first radio access network (RAN). As a result, the access terminal receives a Unicast Access Terminal Identifier (UATI) assigned by the first RAN and establishes configuration settings for radio communications between the access terminal and the first RAN. The access terminal moves from the first RAN to a second RAN. Before the access terminal has a session established with the second RAN, the access terminal receives a request from a user to originate a call. In response, the access terminal sends the second RAN a connection request that includes the UATI assigned by the first RAN. The second RAN evaluates the UATI included in the connection request and determines that it was previously assigned to the access terminal by another RAN. Based on this determination, the second RAN grants the connection request by assigning a traffic channel to the access terminal.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating an access probe transmitted by a wireless communication device (WCD) in a wireless communication system are disclosed. When an access probe is received by a radio access network (RAN), the RAN determines if the WCD that transmitted the access probe is physically located outside a predetermined distance from the RAN. If the WCD is located outside the predetermined distance from the RAN, the RAN evaluates whether a threshold air interface condition is met as part of a determination to accept the access probe and establish communication between the RAN and the WCD.

Abstract: A mobile station that is being served by a current sector receives a neighbor list that identifies a plurality of neighboring sectors and a respective priority for each neighboring sector. For each neighboring sector, the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal at a respective scanning frequency during a measurement interval. The scanning frequency for a sector defines how frequently the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal during the measurement interval. The mobile station selects a scanning frequency for a neighboring sector based on at least a signal strength of the current sector and the neighboring sector's priority. When the current sector's signal strength is high, the mobile station scans for high-priority sectors more frequently than low-priority sectors. When the current sector's signal strength is low, the mobile station scans for low-priority sectors more frequently than high-priority sectors.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for initiating a handoff of an access terminal based on EV-DO DRCLock. In an embodiment, an access node (i) makes a determination that a DRCLock is set for at least a threshold number of coverage areas in an active set for an access terminal operating on a first carrier in a first wireless network, and (ii) in response to making the determination, initiates a handoff of the access terminal from the first carrier to at least one of (a) a second carrier and (b) a second wireless network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for identifying and selectively controlling reverse-noise contribution on a per-access terminal basis. In an embodiment, an access node provides wireless service to access terminals, and measures reverse noise rise (RNR) during at least one turn of a round-robin process involving access terminals taking turns transmitting data or taking turns not transmitting data. The access node thereby determines a respective RNR contribution of at least one access terminal based at least on the measurement of RNR taken during the access terminals' turns. A high-contributor set of one or more access terminals is identified and then instructed to reduce reverse-link transmission power.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to service-tier-based regulation of reverse-link activity at an access terminal operating in a wireless access network. An exemplary method involves (a) receiving one or more reverse activity bits from a wireless access network; (b) based 5 at least in part on the received reverse activity bits, determining a Quick Reverse Activity Bit (QRAB) and/or a Filtered Reverse Activity Bit (FRAB); (c) applying a first service-tier filter to the determined QRAB, wherein the first service-tier filter corresponds to a service tier for which the access terminal is authorized; and (d) based at least in part on the service-tier filtered QRAB, determining an adjustment to reverse-link activity of the access terminal. The method may further involve applying a second service-tier filter to the determined FRAB and using the service-tier filtered QRAB in determining the adjustment to reverse-link activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for allocating power among concurrent transmission attempts from a radio access network (RAN). In practice, the RAN encounters a situation where the RAN is going to engage concurrently in at least a transmission attempt of a first message and a transmission attempt of a second message. The RAN then determines an attempt number of the first transmission attempt and an attempt number of the second transmission attempt. The RAN then compares the determined attempt numbers and, based on the comparison, allocated a limited quantity of transmission power among the first transmission attempt and the second transmission attempt. For instance, based the comparison a greater portion of the transmission power may be allocated to one of the transmission attempts and a correspondingly lesser portion of the transmission power may be allocated to the other transmission attempt.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining which page attempt to shed. In accordance with these methods, when a page attempt from a first sequence directed to a first access terminal (AT) contends with a page attempt from a second sequence directed to a second AT for transmission over the air interface of a RAN, the RAN determines which sequence has been shed to a greater extent. The RAN then transmits the page attempt from the sequence that has been shed to a greater extent and sheds the page attempt from the sequence that has been shed to a lesser extent. The methods advantageously help to avoid one sequence of page attempts being disproportionately shed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for providing multiple reverse-activity bits (RABs) in a coverage area. An exemplary method involves (a) providing EV-DO service in a wireless coverage area; (b) measuring reverse noise rise (RNR) in the wireless coverage area; (c) comparing the measured RNR to each of a plurality of RNR thresholds, wherein each RNR threshold corresponds to one of a plurality of RABs; (d) using the RNR threshold corresponding to each RAB as compared to the measured RNR as a basis for determining whether to set or clear the particular RAB; and (e) providing the plurality of RABs in the wireless coverage area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system to help manage transmission power for wireless communications. A radio access network (RAN) will artificially increase target frame error rate (FER) for certain mobile stations in a coverage area for just a portion of a defined call drop timer period, and the RAN will automatically revert to apply a baseline target FER for a duration sufficient to allow recovery of the mobile station's communications before expiration of the call drop timer period. By increasing the target FER for the mobile stations, noise on the air interface can be reduced. And by reverting the target FER to its baseline level for a sufficient duration, call drops resulting from the increased target FER can be avoided.

Abstract: A mobile station receives forward link signals and transmits reverse link signals for a communication session conducted via a wireless network. A controller maintains a reverse-active set that defines which sectors of the wireless network are used to receive the reverse link signals. When the mobile station transmits a request signal requesting the communication session, the controller may create the reverse-active set to include the sector that received the request signal with the highest signal strength. During the communication session, the signal strengths of the reverse link signals may be monitored in each of a plurality of sectors to obtain reverse-link signal strengths. The controller may maintain the reverse-active set based on the reverse-link signal strengths, adding sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths greater than an add threshold and dropping sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths less than a drop threshold.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided to enable the selection of a cell tower sector that is used by the mobile device to provide higher quality signals in a current frame. Signal quality data is retrieved for a previous quantity of frames, and indicates the signal quality of signals communicated from multiple sectors to a mobile device during soft handoff. A sector that has been communicating higher quality signals is then selected. Loading, signal-to-noise ratio, and a number of traffic channels may be used independently or in conjunction to determine which sector to select. For time slots of a current frame, an overall power control command is communicated to each sector that corresponds to a power control command assigned to the selected sector.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for shifting the phase of a PN long code for access attempts by an access terminal in a wireless communication network. An access terminal may seek to acquire access from a base station that is detected by the access terminal above a threshold power level, even if the access terminal is further away from the base station than a threshold distance beyond which access is not normally granted. According to one embodiment, the access terminal will, upon determining that it is beyond the threshold distance, embed in an access request message an apparent distance that is smaller than the threshold distance, by phase-shifting a timing signal and encoding the access request message with the phase-shifted timing signal. The access terminal will then transmit the access request message on an air interface communication link to the base station.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamic adaptation of reverse-link power control based on the distribution of ATs implementing different protocol versions. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station may operate in a first state in which, at least, the access terminal uses a first protocol for determining and adjusting transmission power on a reverse link of an air interface with the base station. While operating in the first state, responsive to receiving a protocol version message from the base station on a forward link of the air interface, the access terminal will transition to operating in a second state in which, at least, the access terminal uses a second protocol for determining and adjusting transmission power on the reverse link of the air interface with the base station. The first protocol is different from the second protocol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for determining whether to accept an access request from an AT. In an embodiment of the invention, a base station receives an access request from an AT that is located within a sector served by the base station. In response to receiving the access request, the base station obtains the physical location of the AT within the sector. The base station then determines whether to accept the access request based on the physical location of the AT within the sector.

Abstract: A method and system for determining that a given channel defined by a first protocol radio link is overloaded, transmitting a first type of message to a wireless communication device operating on the first protocol radio link, and thereafter transmitting a message of a second type to the wireless communication device via a second protocol radio link. The message of the first type is encoded to cause the wireless communication device to switch from operating on the first protocol radio link to operating on the second protocol radio link and to cause the wireless communication device to switch back to operating on the first protocol radio link upon receipt of the message of the second type. The wireless communication device may present the message of the second type to a user of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: System and methods for generating and transmitting dynamic route-update-radius parameters are described. The parameters are dynamic in that the parameters may be modified from time-to-time. Modification of the parameters may be triggered by a radio access network (RAN) determining that a coverage area formed by the RAN is handling more than a threshold amount of communications to and/or from access terminals operating in the coverage area. The RAN may transmit the dynamic route-update-radius parameters so as to prevent some access terminals from registering with the coverage area while the coverage area is handling more than the threshold amount of communications. While the coverage area is handling a reduced amount of communications, such as less than a threshold amount of communications, the access network may transmit default route-update-radius parameters to coverage areas remote from that coverage area.