Abstract: A method includes: receiving a burst including payload and a synchronization field, wherein the synchronization field contains a synchronization pattern; selecting, from a plurality of expected synchronization patterns, a target synchronization pattern dependent on an operating mode; comparing the received synchronization pattern against the target synchronization pattern; and if the received synchronization pattern is of the target synchronization pattern, processing the payload; otherwise, discarding the burst.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for establishing and maintaining a multicast group call. The method includes monitoring one or more link parameters for each of a plurality of communication devices associated with the multicast group call. The method further includes selecting, for each of the plurality of communication devices, a sector from a plurality of permitted sectors, the selected sector providing an associated highest signal strength for the communication device and forming a multicast communication zone based on the selected sectors.

Abstract: A method for coordinating wireless coverage between a first wireless network and a second wireless network for a communication device, wherein the communication device performs the method, which includes: detecting wireless coverage by the first wireless network; affiliating to a communication group to become a member of the communication group; receiving, from an infrastructure device coupled to the first wireless network, a set of channels on the second wireless network for the communication group, wherein the set of channels is determined based on the location of members of the communication group; detecting a loss of coverage in the first wireless network of at least one member of the communication group; and, responsive to detecting the loss of coverage, switching to a channel in the set of channels on the second wireless network for communications for the communication group.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for using effective radiated transmit power of a base station at a wireless communication device to determine whether the wireless communication device is within uplink transmission range of the base station. The wireless communication device can also use the effective radiated transmit power to adjust transmit power at the wireless communication device and save battery resources. In one implemenation, the disclosed embodiments can be applied in a two-way wireless communication system.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for using effective radiated transmit power of a base station at a wireless communication device to perform an automatic roaming method. In one implementation, the disclosed embodiments can be applied in a two-way wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method of operating a peer to facilitate fast group communication between subscribers in a peer-to-peer wide area network is disclosed. In the peer-to-peer wide area network, each of the subscribers are affiliated to a talkgroup, and further registered to at least one peer within the peer-to-peer wide area network. In operation, the peer exchanges messages with other peers to determine that one or more peers listed in a talkgroup topology is still active. When the peer receives a media for a talkgroup from a subscriber affiliated to the talkgroup, the peer duplicates the media for the talkgroup, and unicasts the duplicate media to the one or more peers that are listed as active in the talkgroup topology to enable the one or more peers to deliver the media to the respectively registered subscribers affiliated to the talkgroup.

Abstract: A method and receiver apparatus for a receiving radio unit are disclosed for use in a wireless communication system for processing transmissions from different radio units at the receiving radio unit. A first transmitting radio unit transmits first audio information (e.g., a first audio encoded frame) in a first time slot, and a second transmitting radio unit then transmits second audio information (e.g., a second audio encoded frame) in a second time slot. The receiving radio unit receives radio frequency (RF) signals comprising a first bit stream corresponding to the first audio information, and a second bit stream corresponding to the second audio information. Based on the first bit stream and the second bit stream the receiving radio unit generates a single analog audio signal that comprises combined audio information corresponding to the first audio information and the second audio information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for establishing communication pathways between infrastructure devices in a wide area communication network prior to transmission of a group message packet by a source wireless communication device (WCD). In one implementation, the infrastructure devices (IDs) can include a home ID of the source WCD, a first ID and a second ID. A home steward module (HSM) of the source WCD generates a distribution list (DL) for communications from the source WCD to a first communication group (CG), and communicates it to an envoy packet duplicator module (EPDM) located at the first ID. The first CG includes, for example, a first destination WCD. A first network socket of the EPDM is communicated from the HSM to a second envoy module (located at the second ID) for the first destination WCD. The HSM maps a second network socket for the second envoy module to an identifier of the first destination WCD, and communicates this mapping to the EPDM.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for establishing and maintaining a multicast group call. The method includes monitoring one or more link parameters for each of a plurality of communication devices associated with the multicast group call. The method further includes selecting, for each of the plurality of communication devices, a sector from a plurality of permitted sectors, the selected sector providing an associated highest signal strength for the communication device and forming a multicast communication zone based on the selected sectors.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for establishing a group call among a plurality of communication devices. The method includes initiating a group call among at least some of the plurality of communication devices, wherein each communication device uses a unicast communication link to participate in the group call. The method further includes computing one or more broadcast or multicast parameters during the group call, identifying a subset of communication devices based on the broadcast or multicast parameters, and switching the identified subset of communications devices to a broadcast or multicast communication link during the group call.

Abstract: A method for indicating availability of outbound RF resources (ORFRs) of peer base stations is provided that uses peer busy indicator (PBI) messages transmitted from one peer base station to other peer base stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for linking to a Peer-to-Peer (“P2P”) network for VOIP communications. An intermediary peer creates a map to link peers together in the P2P network. A series of messages are generated to open the ports of one peer to be accessible to other peers on the P2P network. Peers are then enabled to communicate directly with other peers. Steward peers can assume the functionality of the intermediary peer.

Abstract: A method of reducing error in transmissions received in a receiver is provided. A transmission containing a synchronization signal is inputted through a first filter to a synchronization correlator, to generate a timing error of the synchronization signal. An amount of delay of the synchronization signal sufficient to reduce the timing error is determined. The transmission is delayed by the amount of delay by being passed through at least a second, variable filter whose delay is determined using a stochastic gradient algorithm. The synchronization correlator may also generate a deviation error of the synchronization signal and determine an amount of deviation correction sufficient to reduce the deviation error as well as generating a frequency error of the synchronization signal and determining an amount of frequency correction sufficient to reduce the frequency error.

Abstract: A signal is provided to each of nominal, higher and lower primary filters in a receiver. The nominal, higher and lower primary filters have different center frequencies and a bandwidth B1 and bandwidths B2, respectively and a bandwidth offset B0, with B2=B1+B0. Signal recovery is performed on the output of each primary filter to obtain recovered signals and error values each associated with one of the primary filters. Each error value is provided to a secondary and tertiary filter, to generate a signal criterion, and whose output is measured to generate a quality metric, respectively, associated with each recovered signal. The recovered signal associated with the nominal primary filter and any other recovered signal having an associated signal criterion below a threshold value is selected and the selected recovered signal which has the lowest associated quality metric is chosen.

Abstract: A method and system for peer to peer wide area network communication is provided. A peer in the network receives one or more media and one or more associated control signaling from any one of a plurality of Logical Media/Control Channels, wherein each Logical Media/Control Channel is associated with a Transport Resource on a base station; formats the media into a Formatted Media Packet; formats the control signaling into an Internet Peer to Peer Control Signaling; concatenates the Formatted Media with the Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling to form a Concatenated Packet comprising an Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling and a Media Packet; duplicates the Concatenated Packet, thereby forming a duplicated Concatenated Packet comprising at least one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and transmits the duplicated Concatenated Packets via the wide area network.

Abstract: A method and system for peer to peer wide area network communication is provided. A peer in the network receives one or more media and one or more associated control signaling from any one of a plurality of Logical Media/Control Channels, wherein each Logical Media/Control Channel is associated with a Transport Resource on a base station; formats the media into a Formatted Media Packet; formats the control signaling into an Internet Peer to Peer Control Signaling; concatenates the Formatted Media with the Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling to form a Concatenated Packet comprising an Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling and a Media Packet; duplicates the Concatenated Packet, thereby forming a duplicated Concatenated Packet comprising at least one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and transmits the duplicated Concatenated Packets via the wide area network.

Abstract: A method for managing floor control in a network is disclosed. The method includes beginning a ballot timer when at least one of a) a first node packet is created at the node and b) a second node packet is received at the node from a second node. The first node packet comprises a first timestamp and the second node packet comprises a second timestamp. The ballot timer runs for a first predefined time interval. The method further includes determining a floor holder upon expiration of the first predefined time interval based upon an earliest time of the first timestamp and the second timestamp. Further, the node and the second node have a same absolute timing reference.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a number of phase reference points in a data frame is provided. When a sequence of data bits is to be transmitted, the sequence is precoded into data symbols and organized as data frames. For each data frame, an x number of phase reference points at predetermined intervals within the data frame are required to allow a receiver to sufficiently estimate channel effects on the transmitted data frame. To set the phase reference points, one of the phase reference points is first selected. An x-1 number of pilot symbol sets are then created and inserted into the data frame such that each of the other reference points has the same phase state as the selected phase reference point.

Abstract: A device uses a method for assigning a traffic channel in a wireless communication system. The method includes: receiving on a control channel a first message that includes a request for a traffic channel having a traffic channel structure; determining a delay in arrival of the first message; comparing the delay in arrival to a threshold value for the traffic channel structure; and when the delay in arrival exceeds the threshold value, assigning an available traffic channel in response to the request, wherein the traffic channel has a delay tolerance that exceeds the delay in arrival.

Abstract: When a sequence of data bits is to be transmitted, the sequence is precoded into data symbols and organized as data frames. For each data frame, a number of phase reference points at predetermined intervals within the data frame are required to allow a receiving device to sufficiently estimate channel effects on the transmitted data frame. If a data frame has a field where inclusion of pilot symbols is undesirable, and if a phase reference point is required within that field, a set of pilot symbols associated with that phase reference point is generated and inserted into the data frame prior to the beginning of the field. The values for each of the pilot symbols in the set are chosen so as to force the phase reference point to a desired phase state.