Abstract: A method is provided of detecting one of a set of preamble sequences in a spread signal. The method includes: (a) correlating the received spread signal with sequences of a first orthogonal Gold code (OGC) set in accordance with a first fast transform to provide a preamble signal; (b) correlating the preamble signal with the set of preamble sequences in accordance with a second fast transform to generate a set of index values; (c) forming a decision statistic based on the set of index values: and (d) selecting, as the detected one of the set of preamble sequences, a preamble sequence corresponding to the decision statistic.

Abstract: In a UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system, a wireless receiver comprises a convolutional decoder, a processor and memory. The convolutional decoder processes a received signal and provides a Yamamoto-Itoh (YI) metric to the processor. The processor (a) retrieves, from a look-up table stored in the memory, a compensation factor as a function of the YI metric value provided by the Viterbi decoder; (b) retrieves, from another look-up table stored in the memory, an initial BER estimate as a function of the YI metric; and (c) modifies the initial BER estimate with the retrieved compensation value to provide a BER estimate.

Abstract: A rate feedback and adaptation scheme or system uses a rate of rate feedback asymmetrical with the rate of data rate adaptation. In particular, the rate adaptation system provides a rate of rate feedback slower than the rate of rate adaptation. Thus, by allowing the base station to change the data rate more frequently than the individual wireless units reports the rate information, the rate adaptation system can provide improved flexibility and more efficient use of wireless resources while reducing the processing and transmission overhead required to report the rate information. For example, every 3 slots, a wireless unit can calculate and report a rate for the wireless unit to use on a shared channel to send data. The base station receives the rates from the wireless units seeking to send data over the shared channel and selects a wireless unit to use the shared channel.

Abstract: A UNMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system comprises a common control point, a number of base stations, K, and a mobile terminal. During a soft handoff involving the K base stations and the mobile terminal, the common control point receives individual user channel transmit powers from each of the K base stations. In addition, the common control point receives two parameters from the mobile terminal—the identity of that base station involved in the soft handoff that has the strongest received signal at the mobile terminal and, on an average, a value representing how much stronger the received SNR was in comparison to the SNR target maintained by the mobile terminal. The common control point then decides on a downlink reference user channel transmit power for each of the base stations as a function of the individual user channel transmit powers reported by each base station involved in the soft handoff and the information provided from the mobile terminal.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc mobile network, a geometry-based routing protocol (GRP) is used to route traffic from a source node to a destination node. In the GRP, each node maintains a location list, which comprises location information for a number of nodes of the ad-hoc mobile network. Periodically, each node transmits to its direct neighbors (i.e., those nodes with which it has a point-to-point link) (a) its location, and (b) its location list. Each node that receives a location list from an adjacent node merges the received location list into its own location list such that location information for existing nodes, and/or newly identified nodes, is current.

Abstract: An uplink and downlink channel structure supports a shared downlink data channel. The new structure accommodates advanced physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer techniques, such as incremental redundancy (IR), fast adaptation to channel conditions, and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna configuration. The proposed changes are intended to lead to a downlink structure that achieves higher spectral efficiency for the packet oriented services over then shared downlink channel. Additionally, the new structure uses the base station transmit power information and of the channelization (OVSF) code space more efficiently.

Abstract: In a wireless communications system, a base station employs a bit error rate (BER) based Reverse Outer Loop Power Control (ROLPC) technique. The ROLPC technique uses either instantaneous or weakly filtered values of the BER for comparison with a BER target value for adjusting a target signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The BER target value is varied as a function of a second order statistic (e.g. variance, standard deviation) of the received SNR. In another embodiment, a symbol error count based ROLPC technique uses adaptive SER targets. In particular, a base station uses a 2nd order statistic, e.g., standard deviation (variance), to identify, or act as a signature of, a particular cellular (wireless) communications environment. The base station monitors the standard deviation of the symbol error count of a received signal (transmitted from a mobile station).

Abstract: A universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) receiver uses Pilot Symbol Assisted Modulation (PSAM) in demodulating a received Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) signal. The UMTS receiver uses a ratio of the transmitted energy per pilot symbol to the transmitted energy per data symbol as an index into a look-up table to return a value for a scale factor for use in demodulation of the received signal, which provides better performance during periods when the fading distribution is unknown.

Abstract: An adaptive quality control loop for link rate adaptation that selectively adjusts channel condition thresholds based on delay sensitivity of data packets being transmitted. For wireless communication systems incorporating an error correction scheme using re-transmissions, the quality control loop adaptively adjusts channel condition thresholds more frequently for delay sensitive data packets, such as video, and less frequently for delay insensitive data packets, such as text messaging. Channel condition thresholds may be adjusted using fixed or variable steps based on error detection results.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc mobile network, a geometry-based routing algorithm (GRA) is used to route traffic from a source node to a destination node. In the GRA, a source node maintains location information and routing information for all nodes in a local area and approximate location information for at least some nodes outside the local area. If the source node has to send a packet to a destination node outside their local area, then the source node uses the approximate location information of the destination node to identify which node in its local area is closer to the destination node than the source node. The source node then sends the packet to the identified local node for further routing.

Abstract: In an IP addressing aspect of the invention, a method for use in facilitating transfer of packets in an Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system, wherein the communications system includes a plurality of network nodes and a plurality of mobile user stations, comprises the steps of: (i) inserting an address option field in a packet header of a packet to be transferred in the communications system, the address option field including supplemental address related data for facilitating transfer of packets in the communications system; and processing the packet within at least one of a network node and a mobile user station in the communications system in accordance with the supplemental address related data in the address option field of the packet header. The address option field may comprise an address type field, an address length field and an address data field.

Abstract: A wireless data communication system simultaneously transmits data signals from more than one antenna with a deterministic, time-dependent phase difference between the signals. In one example, more than one antenna transmits the same data signal with a phase difference between the transmitted signals. In another example multiple users' data signals are simultaneously transmitted using a corresponding plurality of beams that each use at least two transmitting antennas. Transmissions to multiple users on a shared packet data channel can be scheduled at the same time. In one example, the phase difference is periodic and the beams are orthogonal to maximize system throughput even when one or more users is stationary or slowly moving.

Abstract: In a mobility management aspect of the invention, several unique mobility management control messages are defined for use in performing various mobility management functions in the communications system with respect to the mobile user stations and network nodes. These messages may comprise: (i) a Location Update Message (LUM); (ii) a Location Confirm Message (LCM); (iii) a Location Query Message (LQM); (vi) a Location Reply Message (LRM); (v) a Registration Message (RM); and (vi) a Registration Reply Message. One or more of these messages are used in the IP-based system to perform mobility management functions such as location management, mobile access and in-call mobility management.

Abstract: In an IP addressing aspect of the invention, a method for use in an Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system, comprises the steps of: (i) assigning a temporary location IP address (e.g., LIPA) to a mobile user station in the communications system, the address being a combination of an identifier of the mobile user station (e.g., MID) and an identifier of a network node in the communications system with which the mobile user station is currently associated (e.g., RID); and transferring packets to and from the mobile user station in accordance with the temporary location IP address. The method may further comprise the step of changing the temporary location IP address assigned to the mobile user station when the station becomes associated with another network node of the communications system, the changed address being a combination of the identifier of the mobile user station and an identifier of the new network node.

Abstract: A packet switched communications system is provided in which a station communicates with at least one user over downlink communication channel, the downlink communication channel being divided into a plurality of frames and each frame including a plurality of data packets. Each data packet is directed to a predetermined user and includes transmission power control information for said user. An extended transmission power control information field is provided in at least one data packet in every frame, which includes transmission power control information for 10 at least one other user of the communication system.

Abstract: In a UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system, a wireless receiver implements “effective signal-to-noise (Eb/No) based BER estimation.” In particular, the wireless receiver comprises a rake receiver, a processor and memory. The rake receiver processes a received signal and provides signal-to-noise ratio values for each slot of each received frame of the received signal. The processor converts these signal-to-noise ratio values for each received frame into an effective signal-to-noise ratio value for the received signal. The processor then uses the effective signal-to-noise ratio value as a pointer, or index, into a look-up table (stored in the memory) and retrieves a BER estimate therefrom.

Abstract: An adaptive quality control loop for link rate adaptation that selectively adjusts channel condition thresholds based on delay sensitivity of data packets being transmitted. For wireless communication systems incorporating an error correction scheme using retransmissions, the quality control loop adaptively adjusts channel condition thresholds more frequently for delay sensitive data packets, such as video, and less frequently for delay insensitive data packets, such as text messaging. Channel condition thresholds may be adjusted using fixed or variable steps based on error detection results.

Abstract: An adaptive quality control loop for link rate adaptation based on modulation and/or coding schemes (also referred to as “MCS levels”) and one or more spreading codes that adaptively selects channel condition thresholds in real-time without measuring all the factors that affect selecting optimal channel condition thresholds. The adaptive quality control loop involves adjusting the channel condition thresholds with variable up and down steps based on target quality metrics along with measurements such as error detection results, relative frequencies of visiting each MCS level, and transmitted data rates, wherein the target quality metrics can be a block error rate or bit error rate target criterion. If the target quality metric is a block error rate target criterion, the variable step is determined using a desired MCS error rate based on MCS probabilities, MCS error rates and the block error rate target criterion.

Abstract: An adaptive quality control loop for link rate adaptation that adaptively selects optimal channel condition thresholds in real-time without measuring all the factors that affect selecting channel condition thresholds. The adaptive quality control loop involves adjusting the channel condition thresholds with variable up and down steps based on target quality metrics along with measurements such as error detection results, relative frequencies of visiting each modulation and/or coding schemes (also referred to as “MCS levels”) and transmitted data rates. In one embodiment, the adaptive quality control loop comprises the step of adjusting a channel condition threshold based on a error detection result for a data packet transmission using a variable step. The channel condition threshold is associated with an MCS level used in the data packet transmission.

Abstract: The method of estimating a signal-to-noise ratio (SINR) estimates either the polarities or bit values of a plurality of received data symbol samples. Then an SINR estimate is generated based on the plurality of received data symbol samples and the estimated polarities or bit values of the plurality of received data symbol samples such that the SINR estimate is not substantially dependent on a polarities or a bit value of the plurality of received data symbol samples.