Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes entering an active state in a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum, and in response, setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. If the timer expires during the active state in the first wireless communication mode, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode. If the wireless communication device transitions from the active state to an idle state in the first wireless communication mode before the timer expires, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to the second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring the information for the second wireless communication mode.

Abstract: A mobile station transmits a message by transmitting an access probe that includes the message preceded by a preamble. The mobile station selects the length of the preamble from among a first preamble length and a second preamble length. The second preamble length is greater than the first preamble length. The mobile station makes the selection based, at least in part, on the distance between the mobile station and the mobile station's primary base transceiver station (BTS). If the distance is greater than a threshold distance, the mobile station selects the second preamble length. If the distance is less than the threshold distance, the mobile station selects the first preamble length, provided that an idle handoff to a neighboring BTS that is more than the threshold distance away is unlikely.

Abstract: During a first time interval, an access point transmits orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals using a first cyclic prefix length. The access point receives a plurality of signal reports, such as Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs), from user devices being served by the access point. Based on the signal reports, the access point determines a distribution of signal qualities experienced by the user devices. The access point selects a second cyclic prefix length based, at least in part, on the distribution of signal qualities. The access point transmits OFDM signals using the second cyclic prefix length during a second time interval.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for selectively scheduling control channel messages ahead of traffic channel data. When a RAN in a wireless communication system operating at least according to IS-856 determines that a delay condition exists in the transmission of a particular control packet to access terminals, the RAN will determine if there is a particular traffic packet in active transmission that is classified according to best effort service (or similarly-characterized service class), and further if at least a threshold number of a nominal number of time-slot segments of the particular traffic packet remain untransmitted. If such a traffic packet is identified, the RAN will cancel transmission of the particular traffic packet and replace it with immediate transmission of the particular control packet.

Abstract: A wireless communication device determines a latitude indicator, longitude indicator, and received signal strength for its current location. The devices processes the latitude indicator, longitude indicator, and received signal strength to estimate its elevation at the location. The device also processes its handover history to determine a handover probability factor. The device then processes the estimated elevation and handover probability factor to estimate if the device is located in a building above an elevation level. If the estimate indicates that the device is located within the building above the elevation level, then the device modifies a handover parameter to inhibit handover attempts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a transmit power of a forward link or reverse link signal make use of variable adjustment parameters. The wireless signal is received to obtain a received signal. An observed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and an observed frame error rate (FER) for the received signal are determined. In an outer loop process, an adjustment increment is selected based on how much the observed FER differs from the target FER, and the target SNR is adjusted by the adjustment increment. In an inner loop process, a power adjustment command is selected based on a comparison between the observed SNR and a target SNR. The power adjustment command instructs the transmitter of the wireless signal to either increase or decrease the transmit power of the wireless signal. The power adjustment increment may also depend on the observed FER.

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 wireless communication system comprises a macrocell base station and a communication control system, wherein picocell base stations inhibit wireless communications during a first set of time slots and transfer the wireless communications during a second set of the time slots. The macrocell base station is configured to transfer wireless communication signals at a first power level to a plurality of wireless communication devices during the first set of the time slots. The communication control system configured to determine a quantity of the wireless communication devices that are within a distance threshold of the macrocell base station. The macrocell base station is configured to transfer additional wireless communication signals at a second power level during the second set of the time slots to at least some of the wireless communication devices if the quantity exceeds a quantity threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mitigating the impact of handoffs to non-preferred wireless coverage areas are presented. In particular, a RAN may determine that a first wireless communication device (WCD) and a second WCD are contending for a resource of a preferred wireless coverage area, and that both of the WCDs are likely to be handed off to different non-preferred wireless coverage areas if they are not granted the resource. Both WCDs may be subscribed to a home wireless service provider that also controls and/or operates the preferred wireless coverage area. The RAN may compare the roaming fees of a first non-preferred wireless coverage area with the roaming fees of a second non-preferred wireless coverage area. Based on the outcome of this comparison, the RAN may allocate the resource to the WCD that would likely incur higher roaming fees to the home wireless service provider if that WCD were to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area.

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: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes establishing an assisted wireless link between the wireless communication device and an assisted wireless communication device, where the assisted wireless link comprises a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum, and establishing a transport wireless link between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node, where the transport wireless link comprises a second wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a second frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A method and system for using call drop and re-origination data to trigger handoff of wireless communication devices. Handoff trigger data is established in response to detecting that at least one mobile station experienced a call drop and then quickly re-originated on a sector that was not included in the mobile station's active set at the time of the call drop. The handoff trigger data correlates a location where the call drop occurred with the sector on which re-origination occurred. When another mobile station is thereafter engaged in a call at or near that location and does not have the sector in its active set, a serving radio access network may direct the mobile station to handoff to the sector, in an effort to prevent a call drop.

Abstract: A method and system for vertical handoff of a mobile station from a first-protocol RAN to a second-protocol RAN. The method and system provide a make-before-break vertical handoff, by having the first-protocol RAN (i) acquire, on behalf of the mobile station, a traffic channel assignment defining one or more traffic channel parameters for air interface communication in the second-protocol RAN, and (ii) pass to the mobile station, via the first air interface protocol, the one or more traffic channel parameters so that the mobile station can then readily switch over to communication under the second-protocol RAN. Optimally, the acquisition and passing of the one or more second-protocol traffic channel parameters may occur without the mobile station having requested the handoff, without the mobile station having asked for the traffic channel assignment, and without the mobile station having yet begun communication with the second-protocol RAN.

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: A method and system is disclosed for enhanced idle-state sector selection during hybrid-mode operation of an access terminal. A hybrid access terminal engaged in an IS-856 data communication session in a hybrid IS-2000/IS-856 wireless communication system will, responsive to a handoff of the IS-856 session, select a sector for its next, upcoming IS-2000 idle-state scan prior to the start of the scan. The selection will be made during an interval between IS-2000 idle-state scans, thereby reducing or eliminating the possible need for idle-state handoffs during idle-state scans, and resulting in shorter idle-state scans and better IS-856 performance.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication system, wherein a series of repeating overhead time cycles each comprise a plurality of time slots, and wherein the wireless communication system exchanges overhead information with wireless communication devices during individual ones of the time slots. The method includes assigning one of the overhead time cycles to one of the wireless communication devices, wherein the one of the wireless communication devices monitors the overhead time slots during the assigned one of the overhead time cycles and does not monitor the overhead time slots during the non-assigned overhead time cycles. The method also includes exchanging user communications with the wireless communication devices, monitoring loading information for the overhead time cycles, and monitoring movement information of the one of the wireless communication devices.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mitigating the impact of handoffs to non-preferred wireless coverage areas are presented. In particular, a RAN may determine that a first wireless communication device (WCD) and a second WCD are contending for a resource of a preferred wireless coverage area, and that both of the WCDs are likely to be handed off to non-preferred wireless coverage area(s) if they are not granted the resource. Both WCDs may be subscribed to a home wireless service provider that also controls and/or operates the preferred wireless coverage area. The RAN may compare historical call length data of the first WCD with historical call length data of the second WCD. Based on the outcome of this comparison, the RAN may allocate the resource to the WCD that would likely incur higher roaming fees to the home wireless service provider if that WCD were to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area.

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.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enhanced Simultaneous Hybrid Dual Receive operation. A hybrid access terminal engaged in an IS-856 data communication in a hybrid IS-2000/IS-856 wireless communication system will use its high-gain antenna to conduct IS-2000 tuneaway scans when the access terminal determines that the IS-2000 signal received from its serving base station is below a level that can be reliably detected by its low-gain antenna. At the same time, the access terminal will continue to use its low-gain antenna to engage in the ongoing IS-856 communication, thereby avoiding interruption of the IS-856 communication by IS-2000 tuneaway scans, even when RF conditions are sub-optimal. The access terminal may apply a DRC offset to its DRC request when using just its low-gain antenna for IS-856 communications.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided to determine which sector the mobile device will bias during soft handoff. Signals are received from multiple sectors, and for a first quantity of time slots of a frame, the signals are inspected to determine whether a quality threshold is met. Based on whether the quality threshold is met, each sector is assigned a power control command indicating that either a decrease or increase of output power is recommended when a subsequent signal is sent to the mobile device. For a second quantity of time slots, the overall power control command sent to the sectors corresponds to the power control command assigned to the sector that has communicated the highest quality signals for the first quantity of time slots of the frame.