Abstract: An amplifier (300) comprising two amplifier stages (301, 303), a signal splitter (305), and a signal combiner (307) amplifies an amplitude-varying input signal (128) in the following manner. The signal splitter (305) receives a signal of varying amplitude (128) and splits the received signal into a first amplitude-varying signal (325) and a second amplitude-varying signal (327). The first amplifier stage (301) applies a first gain to the first amplitude-varying signal (325). The second amplifier stage (303) applies a second gain that is greater than the first gain to the second amplitude-varying signal (327) only when an amplitude of the second amplitude-varying signal (327) exceeds a threshold. The signal combiner (307) combines the amplified signals outputted from the amplifier stages (301, 303) to produce the amplifier output signal.

Abstract: A multi-service communication system (100) includes a packet switching network (101) and a base site (108). The packet switching network supports multiple communication services, such as voice and data. A communication link (102) having a bandwidth substantially equal to an aggregate bandwidth of radio communication resources (115-116) supported by the base site is provided between the packet switching network and the base site. Attributes of a first communication service are compared and contrasted with attributes or characteristics of a second communication service with respect to the criticality of the attributes and/or characteristics. When one attribute of the first communication service is more critical than an attribute or characteristic of the second communication service, one or more of the attributes and/or characteristics of the second communication service are modified based on the critical attribute of the first communication service.

Abstract: A dispatch controller (103) located logically external to an existing telephone network (101) is coupled to the existing telephone network. When an originating communication device (e.g., 111) desires to initiate a dispatch call, the originating device transmits a call request to the existing telephone network, wherein the call request includes an identification (ID) of the originating device and a target address associated with the dispatch controller. The existing telephone network provides the call request to the dispatch controller. Upon receiving the call request, the dispatch controller retrieves dispatch-related information from a database (105) coupled to the dispatch controller based on the originating device's ID. Based on the retrieved dispatch-related information, the dispatch controller identifies a group of target communication devices (e.g., 107-110) for the dispatch call.

Abstract: A desirable operating condition is maintained in a communication device (100) that is operating in an undesirable environment by reducing the number of radio frequency signals being amplified and subsequently transmitted by the communication device (100). The remaining radio frequency signals transmitted will be transmitted at full power, so that coverage area is maintained in a tradeoff for reduced capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method produce a plurality of output signals (917-921) with fixed phase relationships therebetween. The apparatus (900) includes a first signal generator (901), a second signal generator (903), and a signal processor (907). The first signal generator produces a first input signal (911) at a first frequency. The second signal generator produces a second input signal (915) at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is an integer multiple of the first frequency. The signal processor receives the first and second input signals and produces a plurality of output signals (917-921) having fixed phase relationships therebetween at the first frequency, wherein the fixed phase relationships are based on the integer multiple and wherein each of the output signals has a single, determinate phase relative to the phase of the first input signal.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for conveying data packets in the packet data communication system. A first communication device (101) transmits, at a first time, a first group of data packets and, at a second time prior to receiving an acknowledgment of receipt of the first group, a second group of data packets to a second communication device (105). Each data packet of the two groups includes a respective packet sequence number and the second group includes at least some data packets of the first group. The first communication device stores in memory the packet sequence numbers of the data packets in each group together with a group identifier for their respective group. Upon receiving the first group, the second group, or both, the second communication device transmits an acknowledgment of receipt of at least one of the groups, wherein the acknowledgment includes at least a receive tracking number.

Abstract: A communication system (100) that includes a plurality of communication units (101-108) and infrastructure equipment (110-115, 140, 141) employs a method and apparatus for providing communication services to a communication unit (e.g., 101). The infrastructure equipment includes a plurality of base sites (110-115) that provide communication services to corresponding service coverage areas (120-125). The service coverage areas (120-125) are further arranged into paging location areas (130-132). When the communication unit (101) becomes active in the system (100), the communication unit (101) determines its registration type. When the communication unit (101) is of a first registration type, the communication unit (101) transmits a registration message to the infrastructure equipment (e.g., 141) whenever the unit (101) enters a new location area (130-132).

Abstract: A first communication device (e.g., 103), which includes an unsuccessful transmission attempt counter (203) and an information transmitter (207), provides information to a second communication device (e.g., 105) in the following manner. The first communication device transmits information to the second communication device. The first communication device then determines whether the second communication device received at least a portion of the information. When the second communication device has not received at least the portion of the information to produce an unsuccessful transmission attempt, the first communication device determines whether a quantity of unsuccessful transmission attempts is less than a first threshold value. When the quantity of unsuccessful transmission attempts is less than the first threshold value, the first communication device retransmits the information to the second communication device.

Abstract: A communication system includes a central unit (18), a plurality of remote units and a plurality of uplink and downlink communication resources (10, 12) for communication between the central unit (18) and the plurality of remote units. A signaling channel is provided on one of the plurality of downlink communication resources (10) and traffic channels are provided on the plurality of uplink communication resource (12). Signaling information is provided on the downlink signaling channel indicating positively which of one or more of the plurality of uplink communication resources (12) is to be used for temporary transmission of message data by at least one of the plurality of remote units, independent of downlink communication resource (10) allocation.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for mitigating distortion effects and enhancing signal usability determinations in a receiver (102). The receiver receives a discrete information signal that includes a stream of information symbols. Each information symbol (124) of the stream includes two components: a desired component and an undesired component that includes interference and distortion. The receiver determines an estimate (126) of the desired component of an information symbol and an estimate (130) of the undesired component of the information symbol based on the information symbol itself and its desired component estimate. The undesired component estimate is then scaled by a scaling factor (132) that is derived based on the desired component estimate. An enhanced determination of signal usability (136) for the received symbol is finally determined based on the scaled undesired component estimate (134).

Abstract: A signal selecting system comparator (25) employs a method of switching selected first (40) and second (41) input ports to an output port (43). A block divided first signal (A) is received at the first input (40), buffered and passed to the output (43) as a block divided output signal (E). A block divided second signal (C) is received at the second input. The system waits to the next occurrence of a block boundary in the block divided output signal, identifies that the signal at the second input has priority in routing to the output; and passes the second signal to the output.

Abstract: A receiver (100) employs an apparatus (109) and method (500) for determining transmitted modulation symbols contained in a received communication signal (127). Each of a plurality of memory locations (201-208) is loaded (503) with a binary representation (120) of a corresponding portion of the received communication signal (127). At least three of the binary representations (120) are transformed (505) in parallel into signed magnitudes (121) that correspond to the received modulation symbols. The magnitudes (121) are then used (507, 509) in the search and demodulation process (113) to recover the originally transmitted modulation symbols.

Abstract: Communication services can be controlled within geographic areas (126) by a communication resource controller (101). This occurs, when the communication resource controller (101) receives the location of a particular communication unit (102, 103) and a particular service request. Having this information, the communication resource controller (101) accesses a database (124) and determines whether that particular service request is restricted in the area that the unit is located. If the service is restricted in that area, the communication unit's (102, 103) request is denied.

Abstract: A resource allocation device (101, 104) utilizes a method for allocating communication resources (124-129) among groups of communication units (106-109, 111-113, 115). The resource allocation device receives a call request from a communication unit of a first group of communication units. Responsive to the call request, the resource allocation device allocates an available communication resource to communication unit based at least on a quantity of communication resources currently being utilized by the first group of communication units.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method for providing communications to a communication device (e.g., 120) located in the communication system. The communication device (120) transmits a registration message to a system controller (101) via a first base site (104). The system controller then affiliates the communication device with the first base site and a location area (150) that includes a service coverage area (134) of the first base site. When the system controller receives a communication (e.g., a packet data communication) for the communication device, the system controller determines whether the communication was received within a predetermined period of time after a previous communication involving the communication device.

Abstract: A communication device (e.g., 106) having multiple transmission modes employs a method of transmitting user information (309, 310) and intermittent overhead data (307, 308). The communication device (106) selects from a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique. When the first transmission technique is selected and overhead data (307) is to be transmitted, the communication device (106) replaces a first predetermined amount of the user information (309) with the overhead data (307) to form a data unit. When the second transmission technique is selected and overhead data (308) is to be transmitted, the communication device (106) replaces a second predetermined amount of the user information (310) with the overhead data (308) to form the data unit, wherein the second predetermined amount is less than the first predetermined amount.

Abstract: A communication system (200) employs a method and apparatus for performing diversity voting in the communication system. A comparator (206) receives a signal frame (207-209) of code words from each of multiple signal sources (202-204). A prioritized code word of each signal frame occupies a corresponding frame position and has a respective signal quality metric associated therewith. The comparator determines whether each signal quality metric accurately represents the signal quality of its respective prioritized code word. When the signal quality metrics do not accurately represent the signal qualities of their respective prioritized code words, the comparator determines a supplemental signal quality metric for each prioritized code word. The comparator then selects one prioritized code word from all the corresponding prioritized code words based on a comparison of the supplemental signal quality metrics for input into the corresponding frame position of a voted signal frame (330).

Abstract: A dispatch radio communication system (100) that includes a dispatch processor (101) and a voice mail system (103) employs a method and apparatus for providing voice mail service in the dispatch system. The dispatch processor receives a request to communicate from a first communication unit (109), wherein the request includes a dispatch identification (ID) of a second communication unit (110) that is a target of a communication from the first communication unit. The dispatch processor then determines whether the second communication unit can participate in the communication. When the second communication unit cannot participate, the dispatch processor establishes a communication path (122, 126) between the first communication unit and a third communication unit (111) that is coupled to the voice mail system to allow a user of the first communication unit to provide a voice mail message to the voice mail system for a user of the second communication unit.

Abstract: A data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for adaptively companding (compressing and expanding) data packets therein. A first communication device (e.g., 107) generates a plurality of data packets (201-207) and selects one or more, but not all, of the data packets. The first device then performs a compression of each data packet in a first group of data packets that includes the selected data packets (202-205). The first device transmits the compressed data packets to a second communication device (e.g., 108). Upon receiving the compressed data packets, the second device determines whether the received compressed data packets include one or more of the data packets selected by the first device. When the received data packets include one or more of the selected data packets, the second device transmits a response packet (301) to the first device indicating which, if any, of the selected data packets were received.