Abstract: The method provides for establishing a communication session in a hierarchical communication system between a source party and at least one destination party. Hierarchical communication systems generally have communication nodes at different levels of hierarchy. In one embodiment, connection information for the communication session is stored if establishing the communication session is blocked at a node as a result of a blocking condition at the blocking node. Establishment of the communication session is initiated based on the stored connection information if the blocking condition no longer exists at the blocking node.

Abstract: Resource allocation in a wireless data system determines a load condition of the system and adapts a target quality of service (QoS) characteristic, accordingly. Data transmission parameters may be assigned, or adapted, for the wireless units based on the adapted target QoS characteristics. Resources are allocated to data transmissions between wireless units based on these parameters. As the system load decreases, the target QoS characteristic is adapted so that more resources will be allocated to the wireless unit, and the QoS will improve. The adapted QoS threshold may be a data error rate or target fill efficiency for each wireless unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for utilizing SCH resources more efficiently for supplemental channels (SCH) by minimizing gaps between data bursts due to overhead delays. Such gaps are minimized using a supplemental channel sharing algorithm to prospectively assign SCH resources supporting existing SCHs and to schedule future issuance of DNRs such that currently unavailable SCH resources may be prospectively assigned based on states of the SCH resources, wherein an existing SCH is a SCH over which a data burst is currently being transmitted.

Abstract: A method of applying one of several resource distribution algorithms to an incoming call to a communication system. The applied resource distribution algorithm is based on resource parameters obtained from a main scheduler of the communication system. Some of the resource parameters include the type of call, the resource usage and the resource allocation scheme. The resource parameters generally describe the amount of resources that are currently being used by the system and which resources are available to the incoming call. The method of the present invention admits the incoming call to the communication system in accordance with one of the resource distribution allocation schemes. In this manner, the resources of the communication system can be efficiently and fairly distributed to different types of users requesting admission to the communication system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling transmission power of a wireless unit. The method includes providing a power control in a reverse link to a network that transmits data on a traffic channel in a bursty manner based on a performance metric of a channel with continuous transmission of other data than on the traffic channel. To provide a power control in a reverse link of a spread-spectrum wireless data network a method and an apparatus are provided for combining performance of a quality of service from at least one of a first quality feedback channel and a second quality feedback channel with that of a pilot channel and providing an outer-loop power control in said reverse link for a wireless communication on a traffic channel based on said combined performance of the quality of service to control transmission power of a wireless unit.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for providing group calling in a wireless network. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising receiving a request to participate a group call from a mobile device located in a wireless service area, determining whether a threshold number of other mobile devices in the wireless service area are participating in the group call, if the threshold number of the other mobile devices are participating in the group call, designating the requesting mobile device to receive a multicast transmission of the group call, and if the threshold number of other mobile devices are not participating in the group call, designating the requesting mobile device to receive a unicast transmission of the group call.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for wireless communication between a wireless unit and a set of base stations. The method includes signaling the wireless unit about a plurality of transmissions of same packet data from the set of base stations to enable a soft handoff on a forward link. The plurality of transmissions of same packet data having an unsynchronized relationship. The wireless unit may use a detection/demodulation function, which is capable of simultaneously receiving and decoding signals from two or more sectors (base stations). Instead of soft-combining signals received from multiple cell sectors, the wireless unit independently decodes the received signals. Since soft combining of transmissions is avoided, there is no need to synchronize their transmissions of the same data to a particular wireless unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a radio frequency resource between a first and a second wireless unit and a base station to provide overload control of the radio frequency resource based on an estimate thereof. For example, when feedback information is unavailable for the radio frequency resource at the base station. The method includes estimating the radio frequency resource used by the first and second wireless units in a wireless data network. The method further includes providing an overload control at the base station based on the estimated radio frequency resource. Based on this estimated radio frequency resource, a command may be issued by the base station on a reverse link. For example, a rise over thermal resource may be estimated to issue a rate control command to a wireless unit. By providing a desired timely rate control command on the reverse link, the base station may control a data rate of the wireless unit, maximizing throughput of the reverse link.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for reducing packet assistant channel power usage in a wireless telephone system. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising measuring a power usage for a packet assistant channel, determining whether the power usage is above a threshold, and discontinuing transmission over the packet assistant channel for a period of time if the power usage is above the threshold.

Abstract: At least one traffic flow belonging to one of a plurality of service classes may be admitted based on at least one admission condition and overload state associated with the service class to which the at least one traffic flow belongs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining when a request for a higher transmission rate should be granted to a mobile station that currently has access to a communication system to facilitate the maintenance of a performance target (quality of service level) of the reverse link. The method for determining when a mobile station can have access to a higher transmission rate includes obtaining first and second estimated performance indicators for a reverse link of the base station that a mobile station is currently accessing. A blocking threshold value is established. Access at the requested higher transmission rate is based on a comparison of the first and second indicators relative to the established blocking threshold value. If access is denied at the requested higher rate, access will be granted at the next lower rate which will not degrade the performance of the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A communications system includes a base station and a plurality of remote stations wirelessly communicating with the base station and transmitting a requested service rate to the base station. The base station allocates a next transmission of data to the remote stations based on a scheduling operation. The scheduling operation includes determining an average service rate for each remote station and determining a priority value for each remote station based on the requested service rate and average service rate. In allocating the next transmission of data, at least one of the average service rate and the priority value is modified to thereby control data throughput of the communications system.

Abstract: To take advantage of hierarchical cell layers, an inter-layer handoff system determines a cell layer for servicing a wireless unit at least as a function of the duration that the wireless unit is in a cell or set of cells of a cell layer. For example, as a function of the duration that the wireless unit is in the cell or set of cells for a first cell layer, a determination is made as to whether the wireless unit should be serviced by a cell or set of cells of a second cell layer. As such, wireless units moving at higher speeds which will be handed off frequently in a smaller cell layer(s) are serviced by a larger cell layer(s). Thus, the hierarchical cellular communications system can have the increased capacity provided by the smaller cell layer(s) while reducing the number of handoffs which would occur of the faster moving wireless units in the smaller cell layer(s).

Abstract: A method for determining the reverse link data Rate Limit for mobile stations active on the reverse link of a High Data Rate system is disclosed. In the ideal case, the Rate Limit is based on only the number of mobile stations located in a common sector that are actually active on the reverse link. Currently, the Rate Limit is determined from the total number of mobile stations in a common sector where the total includes mobiles that are transmitting and receiving. Thus, the current method includes mobile stations that are active on the forward link and may not be active on the reverse link. In this invention, a more optimum method of estimating the reverse link loading is obtained from calculations which includes only the mobile stations which are active on the reverse link. An estimate of the reverse link loading of the mobile stations in a common cell is obtained by adding together the data rates of the data sent from each mobile in a common sector during a common frame.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating between nodes in a communications network. The network includes nodes that broadcast and receive data packets over a radio channel. The system includes a distributed trunking method that distributes the communications between the nodes over multiple channels. Voice and other data may be broadcast over data channels, while information regarding the availability of the data channels is broadcast over a control channel. Access to the control channel is controlled using a protocol that may include carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or a hybrid of CSMA/TDMA.

Abstract: A method and communication device for media access control feedback over a packet channel divided in channel time slots is provided. The channel time slots are divided into sub-channel time slots. A packet channel feedback field associated with each sub-channel time slot is defined. Acknowledgments are indicated using the packet channel feedback field. An active mobile identity associated with an active mobile station may be assigned which would then be included in the packet channel feedback field. A plurality of active mobile identities may be assigned and some of the active mobile identities may be reserved for special functions. The assigned active mobile identity is used, among other things, to identify an active mobile station to receive packet data signals. The active mobility identity is invalidated after one transaction of packet data signals or invalidated after a short number of such transactions.

Abstract: A system and a method for reverse link power control in a wireless communications network generates power adjust commands for mobiles being served by a network base station in a centralized manner by considering overall system performance when an increased interference condition is detected. In one implementation, a base station power control processor adopts a modified reverse inner loop power control (RILPC) and/or a reverse outer loop power control (ROLPC) algorithm when an increased interference condition is detected. According to the modified RILPC algorithm, a percentage of power-up adjust commands which would normally be generated when Eb/No measurements for served mobiles do not meet target Eb/No levels are converted to power down-adjust commands, thereby forcing some mobiles to reduce transmit power, at least temporarily, to constrain interference. When the increased interference condition persists, the percentage of power-up adjust commands which are converted to power-down commands may be changed.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating between nodes in a communications network. The network includes nodes that broadcast and receive data packets over a radio channel. The system includes a distributed trunking method that distributes the communications between the nodes over multiple channels. Voice and other data may be broadcast over data channels, while information regarding the availability of the data channels is broadcast over a control channel. Access to the control channel is controlled using a protocol that may include carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or a hybrid of CSMA/TDMA.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating between nodes in a communications network. The network includes nodes that broadcast and receive data packets over a radio channel. The system includes a distributed trunking method that distributes the communications between the nodes over multiple channels. Voice and other data may be broadcast over data channels, while information regarding the availability of the data channels is broadcast over a control channel. Access to the control channel is controlled using a protocol that may include carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or a hybrid of CSMA/TDMA.

Abstract: A method for controlling access of a subscriber station to a wireless communications system facilitates the maintenance of a performance target of the reverse link and desired geographic coverage of the reverse link. The method for controlling access of a subscriber station to a wireless communications system includes measuring a first performance indicator and a second performance indicator for a reverse link associated with a subscriber station seeking access to a wireless communications system. A blocking threshold value is established based upon the measured second performance indicator and may be adjusted to allow more or less blocking based on any additional metrics that characterize the performance of the current subscriber stations. The decision to grant or deny access of the subscriber station to the wireless communications system is determined based on a comparison of the measured first performance indicator to the established blocking threshold value.