Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to address the need for reducing call setup delays with respect to supplemental channels. Modifications to channel assignment messaging (104), such as an enhanced ECAM, and service connection messaging (108), such as an enhanced SCM, are described. These modifications enable the assignment of SCHs (110) earlier in the call setup sequence. In addition, embodiments for determining and anticipating when such modified messaging may effectively speed the transfer of data (including VoIP) between a BS (201) and an MS (210) are described.

Abstract: A method and system establishing a floor grant in a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) communication network includes a first step of initiating a PoC session. A next step includes associating a floor grant parameter with the PoC session. A next step includes determining the floor grant parameter associated with the PoC session. A next step includes mapping the floor grant parameter to a predefined floor control scheme. A next step includes operating the PoC session with the floor control scheme. The present invention allows floor control schemes other than the commonly known floor grant to the caller initiating a PoC session.

Abstract: The need to decrease paging-related delays in wireless systems (100) is addressed by embodiments herein. A RAN (201) anticipates that an MS (120) is likely to be a target of communication not yet initiated. In one embodiment, a traffic channel is assigned to the MS, when a loading level of a serving cell of the MS is below an assignment threshold. This avoids paging-related delays for the MS should the MS become a target of communication. In another embodiment, the MS is signaled to transition to at least one operational mode in which paging-related delays for the MS are reduced. Such modes include a semi-dormant mode, an unslotted mode, a control hold mode, a speculative scanning mode, and a reduced slot cycle index (RSCI) mode. This allows the MS to begin participating in communication more quickly than it otherwise would, should communication targeting the MS be initiated.

Abstract: In general, paging-related delays are reduced by empowering an idle mobile (120) to initiate a transition to semi-dormant, unslotted mode, and/or RSCI modes, based on triggers (304) known to the MS. This is an efficient manner (in terms of both RF and battery-life cost considerations) in which to use semi-dormant and RSCI modes (306). If the MS (120) is able to anticipate a paging channel (PCH) message (for example, after sending or receiving an SMS or presence update), then the MS can intelligently reduce its slot cycle index for a short period of time, sacrificing a small amount of battery life, when the R-SCI is most likely to deliver improved service. Moreover, if the MS is low mobility (i.e. low idle handoff rate), then the MS can transition to a semi-dormant mode with very little cost, since it will not need to send many radio environment reports.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) is provided to customize services (150). The method can include conveying (204) access network information from a user device to a core network using a SIP message, and adapting (206) a service provided by the core network according to the access network information contained in the SIP message. The method can include creating a header field to convey the access network information. A roaming status indictor can be included in a SIP SUBSCRIBE, a SIP INVITE, a SIP MESSAGE or a SIP REGISTER for adapting the delivery of presence state information concerning a resource.

Abstract: A Presence Server receives presence information associated with a Presentity, wherein the presence information comprises one or more presence attributes and the Presentity is associated with a Presence Source and a first Watcher. The Presence Server further receives a request from a second Watcher to view a presence attribute of the one or more presence attributes. The Presence Server may further receive a message from the first Watcher specifying a desire to be notified of who is watching the Presentity, presence attributes being filtered, and/or throttling or deferring of presence attribute updates being implemented by the Presence Server. The Presence Server conveys to the first Watcher watcher notification information that informs of Watchers watching the Presentity, what is being watched, presence attributes being filtered, and/or throttling or deferring of presence attribute updates.

Abstract: Presence information associated with a presence entity (102) is received. A composition rule associated with the presence information is also received. The composition rule is applied to the presence information in order to determine a presence state for the presence entity (102).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcast services transmission and reception. Reception of a broadcast multicast transmission is requested. Preliminary short time updated key information is transmitted or received prior to transmitting or receiving a broadcast subscription key for the requested broadcast services transmission. An encrypted broadcast services transmission is transmitted or received. The encrypted broadcast services transmission is encrypted or decrypted using the preliminary short time updated key information.

Abstract: To address the need to support multiple packet data service instances in a more efficient manner, various signaling enhancements are provided. These enhancements will result in faster packet data call setups, reactivations, and dormant handoffs of multiple service instances while reducing over-the-air signalling. For originations of multiple packet data service connections, the mobile (101) requests the setup of up to six service instances with a single origination message (e.g., 400). For packet data dormant handoffs, the mobile requests the handoff of up to six service instances using a single message. And for reactivations, the mobile requests the reconnection of multiple, dormant packet data service instances with a single message.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptive broadcast transmission. A broadcast transmission can be received. Insufficiency of a broadcast channel quality can be determined. A negative acknowledgement signal can be sent on a common uplink channel in response to determining the broadcast channel quality is insufficient. The negative acknowledgement signal can be received on the common uplink channel at another location, the negative acknowledgement signal indicating broadcast channel quality is insufficient. The broadcast channel quality can be adjusted in response to receiving the negative acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing radio environment reporting on a reverse common signaling channel. When a dedicated RF connection between a remote unit (RU) (118) and infrastructure equipment (109) is being released, the RU receives a first message from the infrastructure instructing the RU to perform occasional pilot strength reporting on the reverse common signaling channel (r-csch) while the RU is in the idle state. In the preferred embodiment, the pilot strength reporting is limited by a maximum number of reports and/or a time limit to preserve battery life and prevent r-csch congestion in the system. Preferably, a Radio Environment Report Message, referred to generally herein as a second message, carries radio environment information (REI), such as pilot strength and phase of the best pilots measured, and helps the infrastructure both with tracking the RU location and with selecting a strong set of pilots for channel assignment.

Abstract: Channel assignment is performed by utilizing a base station controller (BSC) or a base station depending upon a mobile unit's RF environment and/or the type of call being made. By performing call setup in this manner, mobiles that access with no soft handoff requirement (approximately 50% of mobile in IS-2000 systems) will have faster setup times.

Abstract: A method for supporting rescue channels in a communications system. The rescue channel feature supports the use of pre-allocated radio resources at neighboring BSs 104, 106 in order to attempt to recover a voice call in danger of being dropped. The MS 114 disables its transmitter upon detection of a loss of forward frames from the network. Once the source BS 102 detects a loss of transmission from the MS 114, it may attempt to re-establish communication with the MS 114 by performing soft handoff additions to rescue cells at neighboring BSs. The neighboring BSs are the MS's neighbor list, last reported Extended Pilot Strength Measurement Message (EPSMM), and possibly other factors.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: The need to reduce the cost associated with signaling mobiles (120) across multiple cells (101–108) is addressed by embodiments of the present invention. A targeted MS is initially paged only in those cells in which the paging channel loading level is below a particular paging threshold. Similarly for short messaging, the RAN transmits the short messaging to the MS only in those cells in which the paging channel loading level is below a short messaging threshold. Therefore, the MS can be signaled in under-loaded cells first, were the effect on system capacity and performance is negligible. When successful, the MS signaling is achieved at a lower cost to the system than when loaded cells are involved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for operating in reduced slotted mode. Following the release of the traffic channel, a mobile station (102) and base station (108) operate with a shorter slot cycle governed by a reduced slot cycle index value. The mobile station and base station operate using the reduced slot cycle index value until a particular time occurs governed by a reduced slotted timer value or for a period of time governed by the reduced slotted timer value. The invention provides faster call setup for mobile station terminated calls, without requiring registration with a MSC (110) to change between the reduced slot cycle index value and the registered slot cycle index value.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for operating in reduced slotted mode. Following the release of the traffic channel, a mobile station (102) and base station (108) operate with a shorter slot cycle governed by a reduced slot cycle index value. The mobile station and base station operate using the reduced slot cycle index value until a particular time occurs governed by a reduced slotted timer value or for a period of time governed by the reduced slotted timer value. The invention provides faster call setup for mobile station terminated calls, without requiring registration with a MSC (110) to change between the reduced slot cycle index value and the registered slot cycle index value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing radio environment reporting on a reverse common signaling channel. When a dedicated RF connection between a remote unit (RU) (118) and infrastructure equipment (109) is being released, the RU receives a first message from the infrastructure instructing the RU to perform occasional pilot strength reporting on the reverse common signaling channel (r-csch) while the RU is in the idle state. In the preferred embodiment, the pilot strength reporting is limited by a maximum number of reports and/or a time limit to preserve battery life and prevent r-csch congestion in the system. Preferably, a Radio Environment Report Message, referred to generally herein as a second message, carries radio environment information (REI), such as pilot strength and phase of the best pilots measured, and helps the infrastructure both with tracking the RU location and with selecting a strong set of pilots for channel assignment.

Abstract: To address the need to support multiple packet data service instances in a more efficient manner, various signaling enhancements are provided. These enhancements will result in faster packet data call setups, reactivations, and dormant handoffs of multiple service instances while reducing over-the-air signalling. For originations of multiple packet data service connections, the mobile (101) requests the setup of up to six service instances with a single origination message (e.g., 400). For packet data dormant handoffs, the mobile requests the handoff of up to six service instances using a single message. And for reactivations, the mobile requests the reconnection of multiple, dormant packet data service instances with a single message.