Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for wireless communications using base stations interconnected by a packet network. A base station receives communications from a wireless device in a first cell served by the base station. The wireless device may be handed off from the first base station to a second base station by a two way exchange of information between the first base station and a second base station through the packet network.

Abstract: Reliable transferring of data between mobile wireless nodes positioned at two points in a wireless network occurs through the dynamic formation of transmit/receive groups that collectively establish reliable communications. A mobile node at each point creates a neighbor list by periodically probing its surroundings to discover nearby nodes with which it can relaibly communicate. Prior to establishing a route or transmitting data, a node A first probes a distant next point in the network to determine if it can reliably communicate with that point. Upon receiving this probe and knowing one's neighbors, the nodes at this distant point dynamically form a receive group and choose a controlling node. Members of the group individually receive all future data from node A and pass the received data to the controlling node, which combines the individual signals for reliable reception.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for wireless communications using base stations interconnected by a packet network. A base station receives communications from a wireless device in a first cell served by the base station. The wireless device may be handed off from the first base station to a second base station by a two way exchange of information between the first base station and a second base station through the packet network.

Abstract: A method is provided for securely transmitting information from a telephone to a calling party over a telephone network. In accordance with the method, encrypted audio signals are received from the telephone over a communication path to an authentication mechanism that may be located in the telephone network. The communication path is then disabled by placing the telephone is a hold state. The encrypted audio signals are decrypted to yield decrypted audio signals. The decrypted audio signals are transmitted to the calling party while the communication path is disabled. Finally, a communication path is enabled from the telephone to the calling party subsequent to transmitting the decrypted audio signals. This method provides a high degree of security since the communication path between the user and the authentication mechanism is disabled when the decrypted message is transmitted to the called party.