Abstract: A method of forming a transistor includes forming a source/drain implant in the initial processing stages just after the formation of the isolation and active regions on the substrate. A dielectric layer is then formed on the surface of the substrate, portions of which are then etched to define a channel opening for the device. A uniform nitride layer is formed over the surface of the substrate. The nitride layer is then etched to create nitride sidewall spacers. Additionally, the channel region is then etched to remove the doped portions of the active region. A gate dielectric is then formed, the gate dielectric including a nitrogen bearing oxide and a high K material. A gate conductor is then formed upon the high K material. A silicidation step is then performed. In alternative embodiments, the source/drain region is not formed and the source and drain are doped after the gate is complete. In the embodiment, the gate resides upon the active region and etching into the active region is not required.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of transistors formed to include insulative punchthrough regions. Each of the plurality of transistors includes a channel formed upon a substrate, an insulative punchthrough region formed below the channel, a source formed upon the insulative punchthrough region residing adjacent a first end of the channel, a drain formed upon the insulative punchthrough region residing adjacent a second end of the channel, a gate oxide formed above the channel and a gate conductor formed above the gate oxide. Isolation regions may also be formed in the substrate that have an etch stop defination that was formed upon formation of the insulative punchthrough region. A voltage threshold region may be formed between the gate oxide and the channel and lightly doped regions may be formed adjacent the channel. The insulative punchthrough region may be and oxide layer formed within the substrate in an oxygen implant step that also formed the etch stop defination.

Abstract: A wireless communication system facilitates communication with subscribing units within a respective service area and supports at least one communication protocol revision. The system communicates with a subscribing unit operating within a respective service area to determine the communication protocol revisions supported by the subscribing unit. Subsequently, the subscribing unit and base station communicate according to a supported communication protocol revision. The base station and subscribing unit may further communicate to indicate extended services supported by the subscribing unit and the methods of delivering the extended services to the subscribing unit. The extended services may include caller line ID, message waiting indications and short message services among other extended services. In addition to a base station, the wireless communication system may include a mobile switching center that is in communication with the base station.

Abstract: A method of making a MOS transistors in an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of doped source and drain regions adjacent respective gate structures that include gate dielectrics, gate conductors and spacers. The plurality of doped source and drain regions are formed at different depths, at different doses and with differing dopants. In one embodiment, first doped source and drain regions are formed at a first depth, at a first dose using a first dopant while second doped source and drain regions are formed at a second depth, at a second dose using a second dopant. The first depth is shallower than the second depth so that the first doped source and drain regions serve as sacrificial doped regions that are consumed in a silicidation process when they are converted into a silicide by being combined with a silicidation metal. However, the second doped source and drain regions maintain their doping profiles and dopant levels.

Abstract: A personal mobility system determines a terminal address corresponding to a called user based upon a personal identifier of the called user. The personal mobility system operates in conjunction with a plurality of heterogeneous networks to provide the terminal address corresponding to the called user, independent of the particular network within which the called user currently operates. The personal mobility system includes a personal mobility user application and a personal mobility server application. The personal mobility user application receives a request from a calling user, the request including the personal identifier of a called user. The personal mobility server application couples to the personal mobility user application and includes a plurality of user records. Each user record is respective to a user and is indexed by a respective personal identifier. Further, each user record includes a plurality of terminal records with each of the terminal records including a respective terminal address.

Abstract: A wireless communication system facilitates wireless communication with a mobile unit operating within a respective service area. The wireless communication system includes a mobile switching center and a plurality of base stations with each base stations coupled to the mobile switching center and providing wireless coverage within a respective portion of the service area. The mobile unit wirelessly connects to at least two of the base stations (or sectors of the base stations) that transmit to the mobile unit via respective forward links at respective transmit levels. These respective transmit levels are based upon forward link requirements of the mobile unit. The mobile unit transmits to the at least two base stations/sectors via a respective plurality of reverse links. Forward link transmit levels may be determined based upon the quality of corresponding reverse link transmissions or from the quality of pilot signals or forward link transmissions received by the mobile unit.

Abstract: A wireless communication system constructed according to the present invention assigns mobile units to equalize loading among a plurality of mobile switching centers. The wireless communication system includes the plurality of mobile switching centers and a base station system which includes a plurality of base station controllers, each of which couples to a plurality of base stations. A plurality of mobile units served by the system are assigned to the mobile switching centers so that loading is equalized. In one particular construction of the wireless communication system, a dispatching switch couples the base station system to the plurality of mobile switching centers and performs the assignments of the mobile units. In an example of operation, upon attachment of a mobile unit, the dispatching switch determines loading of each of the mobile switching centers.

Abstract: A method for distributing paging load in a multicell wireless communication system establishes a plurality of location areas, with each location area including at least one cell. A load limit is based upon the greatest number of pages that may be transmitted in a particular cell over a given time period for cells of the multicell wireless communication system is determined. A paging load for the cellular wireless communication system is determined based upon historical loading and/or simulations and projections. A plurality of location areas are determined so that the paging load is distributed among the plurality of location areas such that a partial paging load respective to each cell of the multicell wireless communication system is less than a respective load limit. Boundaries of the location areas are then chosen to substantially minimize registration load within the multicell wireless communication system.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations, a plurality of base station controllers and a plurality of mobile switching centers. The plurality of base stations each support wireless communications within a respective cell and service load therein relating to subscribing units operating therein. Each of the base station controllers couples to a plurality of base stations and each of the mobile switching centers couples to at least one base station controller. The plurality of base station controllers and the plurality of mobile switching centers are managed to dynamically route load between the base station controllers and the mobile switching centers in an effort to equalize load on the plurality of mobile switching centers. At least one base station controller of the plurality of base station controllers may route its load to a first mobile switching center during a first period and route its load to the second mobile switching center during a second period.

Abstract: A wireless communication system facilitates wireless communication with a subscribing unit operating within a respective service area. At least one base station supports wireless communication within the service area in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols. In a broadcast message, a transmitting base station indicates to the subscribing unit the plurality of frequency bands and the plurality of communication protocols available. The subscribing unit receives the broadcast message and communicates with the base station on one of the plurality of frequency bands according to one of the plurality of communication protocols. In another embodiment, the system includes a plurality of base stations providing overlying coverage within the service area. In such systems, multiple broadcast message may provide information regarding the overlying coverage provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing the paging load in a cellular communication system is described. The cell C with the largest paging load L is first identified. Since this cell is usually included in more than one paging zone, the paging zones including cell C are identified. Thereafter, cell C is removed tentatively from each identified zone and a ratio R calculated which represents the decrease in loading on cell C due to being removed from zone z divided by the maximum increase in loading on any other cell in the network. The zone for which the ratio R is the largest is the best candidate for removing cell C therefrom. After doing so tentatively, the cell C' with the largest paging load L' thereon is identified. If the loading L is greater than L', cell G is removed permanently from the zone having the highest ratio R therefor and the process is repeated until L' is greater than L at which point the process is stopped without removing cell C from the zone with the highest ratio R.

Abstract: A satellite communication system provides multicast messaging services to subscriber units. Upon receipt of a multicast communication page from a satellite communication system network, a subscriber unit waits for a random delay period and then responds with an acknowledge signal. Based upon the time of receipt of the acknowledge signal, e.g., within one of a plurality of time periods, the satellite communication system network assigns the subscriber unit to one of a plurality of traffic channels. The satellite communication system infrastructure then sends a multicast communication message to the subscriber unit on the assigned traffic channel. The subscriber unit then waits for a random delay period and then responds with an acknowledge signal. The satellite communication system network then receives the acknowledge signal.

Abstract: A location appending system appends location information concerning a mobile unit to a communication passing through a gateway between a wireless network and the Internet, the communication sent by the mobile unit. The location appending system includes a gateway interface, an Internet request parsing unit, a location determination unit and a wireless network interface. The gateway interface allows the location parsing system to operate in conjunction with the gateway. The Internet request parsing unit parses communications passing through the gateway and determines which of the communications require location information. The location determination unit identifies the associated mobile unit and produces a locate request that includes the identity of the mobile unit. The wireless network interface forwards the locate request to the wireless network receives a locate response from the wireless network. The location determination then determines the location information based upon the locate response.

Abstract: A wireless communication system constructed according to the present invention assigns each serviced mobile unit to a serving mobile switching center to minimize mobility management overhead and to equalize loading among a plurality of mobile switching centers. The wireless communication system includes the plurality of mobile switching centers and a base station system which includes a plurality of base station controllers, each of which couples to a plurality of base stations. A plurality of mobile units served by the system are assigned to the mobile switching centers so that loading is equalized. In one particular construction of the wireless communication system, a dispatching switch couples the base station system to the plurality of mobile switching centers and performs the assignments of the mobile units. In an example of operation, upon attachment of a mobile unit, the dispatching switch determines loading of each of the mobile switching centers.

Abstract: A self engineering system includes a data acquisition module, a self engineering engine, and a control module. The data acquisition module couples to the communication system and receives current operating data of the communication system. The self engineering engine receives the current operating data and determines new operating parameters of the communication system based upon the current operating data and current operating parameters. The control module implements the new operating parameters within the communication system. The self engineering system may include an expert system that receives the current operating data and, based upon the current operating data and the current operating parameters of the communication system, produces the new operating parameters. The expert system includes a fact library, a knowledge base and an inference engine. The fact library includes configuration data, historical operating data, the current operating parameters and proposed operating parameters.

Abstract: While setting up a fixed wireless system, each subscriber radiotelephone is configured to a permanent home cell. Subscribers located at the border of a cell may be configured to multiple cells for better coverage. The signal levels at the border subscriber's position are received and the mean values of each determined. These mean values are listed in descending order. If the largest mean value is greater than a predetermined threshold, the subscriber is configured to only the home cell. If the largest mean value is within a predetermined range, the second largest mean value is evaluated to determine if it is within the predetermined range. If so, the subscriber is configured to both serving cells. If the second largest mean value is outside the predetermined range, the subscriber is configured to only the home cell.