Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for helping to manage advanced handoff to a coverage area based on correlation with a geographic region. A mobile station determines that it is in or approaching a defined geographic region, and the mobile station determines from correlation data that the geographic region is correlated with a particular cellular coverage area. The mobile station therefore requests handoff to the cellular coverage area and provides an advanced-handoff indication to cause the serving radio access network to maintain assignment of a radio connection in the coverage area longer than the network would normally, to help allow time for the mobile station to arrive at the coverage area and begin communicating on the radio connection with the network.

Abstract: An originating mobile station seeks to establish a push-to-talk (PTT) communication session with a destination mobile station. To do this, the originating mobile station transmits a first request message that requests the PTT session. Before receiving a predefined indication that the requested PTT session has been accepted, the originating mobile station transmits a first continuation message that includes first session description information to facilitate establishment of the PTT session. A PTT server receives the first request message and, before receiving the first continuation message, transmits to the destination mobile station a second request message that requests the PTT session. The PTT server then transmits a second continuation message that includes second session description information. The destination mobile station receives the second request message and, before receiving the second continuation message, transmits an acceptance message indicating acceptance of the requested PTT session.

Abstract: A mobile node and its home system generate synchronized time-based codes at periodic time intervals. Each time-based code is valid for a predetermined time period. To facilitate anonymous operation when roaming, the mobile node identifies itself with a coded identifier instead of a public identifier. The coded identifier used at a given time includes the time-based code that is valid for that given time. To authenticate the mobile node, a serving system receives authentication information from the mobile node and forwards the authentication information to a home system. The authentication information includes the current time-based code and a timestamp. The home system identifies the mobile node from the current time-based code and the timestamp. The home system then uses the authentication information to authenticate the mobile node.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed herein that may, among other benefits, help a mobile station to conserve power by intelligently determining how often to scan for incoming pages. An exemplary method may be carried out by a mobile station that has most-recently registered with a radio access network in a zone of last registration, and involves the mobile station (a) determining a location of the mobile station in relation to the zone of last registration, (b) using the location of the mobile station in relation to the zone of last registration as a basis for determining a scan period to wait between scans of the paging channel; and (c) periodically scanning the paging channel according to the determined scan period. Furthermore, an exemplary method may be carried out in order to conserve battery power when a mobile station determines that its battery power is low.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for extending MIMO service in a wireless communications system. The system comprises a base station, a remote system, and a host system communicatively coupled to the base station and the remote system. The base station is configured to generate, from a baseband signal, a downlink signal comprising a plurality of downlink signal streams, including at least a first downlink signal stream and a second downlink signal stream. Accordingly, the base station may include a first and a second antenna that are configured to transmit the first and second downlink signal streams, respectively. The remote system provides wireless service in a remote coverage area. Further, the remote system is configured to transmit a downlink signal as a plurality of downlink signal streams. The host system is communicatively coupled to the base station and to the remote system and configured to relay the downlink signal streams from the base station to the remote system.

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: Methods and systems for assigning a wireless communication device (WCD) to a wireless coverage are a based on early termination gain (ETG) are presented. In particular, a RAN may receive a request, from a WCD, for an assignment to one of a plurality of wireless coverage areas. In response to receiving the request, the RAN may select a wireless coverage area of the plurality that has a highest ETG, and assign the WCD to the selected wireless coverage area. Prior to selecting this wireless coverage area, the RAN may optionally remove one or more wireless coverage areas with high utilization from consideration.

Abstract: A plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) are accessible via a voice-over-packet (VoP) network. A wireless access point of the VoP network is provisioned with a PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier to facilitate the routing of emergency services calls from the wireless access point to the appropriate PSAP. When a mobile node transmits a message to originate a call, the wireless access point parses the message to determine whether the mobile node is requesting an emergency services call. If an emergency call is being requested, the wireless access point inserts the PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier with which it has been provisioned into the message and forwards the modified message to a proxy server. The proxy server receives the modified message and routes the call to the appropriate PSAP, based on the PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier contained therein.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to help improve accuracy of location determination for a wireless communication device. An exemplary method involves: (a) at a wireless communication device operating in a radio access network, making a determination that the wireless communication device is likely to lose global positioning system (GPS) connectivity; (b) in response to the determination, powering on a GPS receiver to receive GPS location data for the wireless communication device; and (c) powering off the GPS receiver and storing the received GPS location data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handing off packet-transmission between sectors of a wireless communication system is disclosed herein. During transmission of a packet from an access network to an access terminal, the access terminal determines that the packet should theoretically be transmitted to the access terminal in fewer timeslots in another sector than the number of allowed timeslots remaining for the packet transmission in a current sector. In response, the access terminal abandons packet transmission in the current sector and hands off to the other sector, in an effort to increase throughput and save air interface resources.