Abstract: A broadband communication network uses a point and shoot approach for data transmission. A broadband information signal is transmitted from a transmitting station to a receiving station. The information signal is divided into a series of data packets, each including addressing information and data intended for a particular receiver. The information signal is parsed to extract addressing information. The addressing information parsed from the information signal is used to construct a narrow band index signal. The narrow band index signal is transmitted, along with the broadband information signal, to a plurality of receiving stations. Each receiving station demodulates and decodes the narrow band index signal. The address information contained in the index field includes pointers to data packets in the information signal.

Abstract: A method of providing push-to-talk and push-to-conference functionality in a CDMA system. Participants, in one embodiment, may be divided into active and inactive participants with active participants assigned a private uplink/downlink channel pair by the communication system. Inactive participants may be assigned a public downlink channel. In one embodiment, silent active participants of a conference or talk session are timed out and the private uplink/downlink channel pair previously assigned to such individuals are released for use elsewhere in the network or by other members of the conference. In a push-to-talk embodiment one private uplink/downlink channel pair may at any given time be passed between the presently active members of the group.

Abstract: Downlink signal bursts are transmitted from a plurality of visible satellites to a plurality of user terminals in a downlink region that is serviced by the plurality of visible satellites. A first downlink signal burst is sent from a first one of the visible satellites to a first user terminal in the downlink region. A second downlink signal burst is sent from a second one of the visible satellites to the first user terminal to be received at a time that is a function of a separation distance of the first user terminal in the downlink region from the Time Alignment Center (TAC) of the downlink region. First downlink signal bursts and second downlink signal bursts also are sent to other user terminals in the downlink region. The first and second downlink signal bursts preferably are sent over respective first and second carrier frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a wireless terminal to select a control channel from a plurality of channels provided on a plurality of respective operating frequencies in which a first group of the operating frequencies are first scanned to locate a control channel that satisfies a first set of selection criteria. During this scan, channels are identified that fail to satisfy the first set of selection criteria but that have an increased probability of satisfying a second set of selection criteria. If a channel that satisfies the first set of selection criteria is not located during the first scan, the wireless terminal determines an order in which a second group of operating frequencies are to be scanned based on the identified channels, and then scans the second group of operating frequencies in the determined order to locate a control channel that satisfies the second set of selection criteria.

Abstract: A method of providing push-to-talk and push-to-conference functionality in a CDMA system. Participants, in one embodiment, may be divided into active and inactive participants with active participants assigned a private uplink/downlink channel pair by the communication system. Inactive participants may be assigned a public downlink channel. In one embodiment, silent active participants of a conference or talk session are timed out and the private uplink/downlink channel pair previously assigned to such individuals are released for use elsewhere in the network or by other members of the conference. In a push-to-talk embodiment one private uplink/downlink channel pair may at any given time be passed between the presently active members of the group.

Abstract: Multiple-mode AMPS system/CDMA system wireless terminals attempt to acquire the CDMA system independent of receiving a Global Action (GA) overhead message from the AMPS system, while continuing to receive paging messages from the AMPS system. In response to the attempt being successful, the multiple-mode AMPS/CDMA wireless terminals transition from the AMPS system to the CDMA system. The attempting may be performed by receiving paging messages from the AMPS systems during spaced apart time intervals and attempting to acquire the CDMA system between the spaced apart time intervals. Specifically, a paging message may be received from a first frame of an AMPS control channel of the AMPS system and an AMPS sleep mode is entered thereafter. CDMA pilot acquisition data may be accumulated during the AMPS sleep mode.