Abstract: A radio communication system assigns use of a radio frequency communication resource comprising multiple communication channels in a way that minimizes the likelihood that a weakly received signal will be interfered with by a strongly received signal in an adjacent communication channel. The communication system determines a signal strength of a signal received from a user of the communication resource and, based on the signal strength determination, assigns the user one or more of the communication channels that are then available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for robust initialization of a digital control apparatus that is coupled to a plurality of devices (e.g., 112, 114, and 116) having a plurality of boot routines (118) in memory (e.g., 108) with each of the boot routines being associated with one of the devices. A boot marker (120) in memory (e.g., 108) that is capable of selectively associating a boot routine with a device (e.g., 112, 114, or 116) and a controller (104) that initializes the devices based on which of the boot routines is associated with the boot marker.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for providing a communication service to a communication unit (112) with acceptable audio quality, when a serving site (109) does not have sufficient resources. To obtain the required communication resources, base sites (106-108) whose wireless coverage areas overlap the serving base site are considered. Before selecting an alternate base site to provide the communication service, the present invention, in contrast to the prior art, determines whether the alternate base site is capable of providing the communication service to the communication unit with an acceptable level of quality. If it is, the alternate base site is selected to provide the communication service to the communication unit.

Abstract: A communication device (100) receives a first portion of an information packet via a primary communication resource (102). During a time period otherwise allocated for receiving a second portion of the information packet, the communication device (100) determines the signal quality of one or more other communication resources. The communication device then requests retransmission of the second portion of the information packet.

Abstract: A method of the present invention includes the steps of identifying (801) a first frequency allocation and a second frequency allocation and programming a radio frequency device (401, 701, 901) to at least one of: a) simultaneously receive a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation; and b) simultaneously transmit a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for providing dispatch group and individual call services on a CDMA communication system. Generally, the present invention discloses modifications to the IS-95 CDMA standard such as substituting a dispatch identifier (e.g., 201) for the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) used to generate CDMA long-code masks (e.g., 211). In the present invention, transmitted voice information is encoded using a long-code mask thus derived. In addition, a dispatch identifier is used to determine (306 and 404) the appropriate paging resource for transmitting and receiving dispatch call pages.

Abstract: To address the need for a method to determine an optimal quantity of channel resources to reserve for data services in communication systems that support both data and voice services, the present invention provides two methods. The methods determine a minimum quantity of voice channel resources that are required to provide an acceptable voice quality of service. The methods also determine an additional quantity of data channel resources needed to provide data services. The methods then determine whether encroachment by the voice services onto the data channel resources requires that a number of the data channel resources be reserved for data services exclusively. Finally, if data channel resources need to be reserved, the methods determine a minimum number of data channel resources to reserve to provide an acceptable data quality of service.

Abstract: A communication device employs a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving information in a time slot. When transmitting, the communication device generates user information symbols and positions the symbols in a first portion of the time slot. The first portion of the time slot occupies less time than the time slot. The communication device then transmits the user information symbols during the first portion of the time slot only. When receiving, a communication device decodes and then encodes a received time slot, presuming the received time slot is not a truncated time slot. The communication device determines an error metric for the encoded time slot and, based on the error metric, determines whether the encoded time slot is a truncated time slot. When the encoded time slot is a truncated time slot, the communication device processes the user information symbols in the received time slot.

Abstract: A system (FIG. 2) and method for billing in a radio telecommunications network, comprising: means (HLR) for storing billing class identifier information associated with a predetermined subscriber or subscriber services; and charging gateway means for receiving call information together with the relevant billing class identifier information and for passing the call information to a relevant billing system.

Abstract: Interleaving within a communication system occurs by finding a minimum value (m) such that that N<=2n×(2m−1), wherein N is an interleave block length, and n is a predetermined fixed value. A maximum-length sequence generator is initialized to 1 and a bit reverse sequence generator is initialized to 0. An n bit output is determined from the bit reverse sequence generator, and an m bit output is determined from the maximum length sequence generator. Finally, the n bit output is used as a most significant bit and the m bit output is used as a least significant bit for an interleaver address.

Abstract: A PC board assembly employs an apparatus and method for securing a PC board to a base plate. Multiple compression force distributors are each attached at one end to the PC board. Each compression force distributor is preferably implemented as a compressible standoff that includes two end portions and a compressible body portion. The compressible body portion transfers a compression force applied to one end portion to the other end portion for application to the PC board. The PC board is positioned upon the base plate and the compression force is applied to the standoffs. During application of the compression force, the compressible body portions of the standoffs compress in only one direction toward the base plate, thereby distributing the compression force to the PC board to secure the board to the base plate. The method and apparatus may also be used to secure electrical components to the base plate.

Abstract: A method for controlling an adaptive antenna array (50) is provided and includes receiving a plurality of signals, each signal including a series of signal data symbols (42) and signal non-data symbols (38, 40) divided into symbol transmission units with the signal non-data symbols (38, 40) disposed among the signal data symbols (42) in each unit and each signal related to the other signals of the plurality of signals as reflections of an original signal. The method also includes separating the signal non-data symbols (38, 40) from the signal data symbols (42), and comparing the signal non-data symbols (38, 40) to a set of known non-data symbols. The method further includes determining a set of weights according to the comparison of the signal non-data symbols (38, 40) to the set of known non-data symbols, the weights to be combined with the signal data values (42) to limit the effect of interference on the signal data symbols (42).

Abstract: A non-polarized laser trim chip stub in accordance with the invention includes a trimmable top conductor (12) capable of being trimmed to alter the electrical properties of the chip stub, a bottom conductor (58) having at least a first conductive portion (68) and a second conductive portion (72), a dielectric (44) separating said top conductor from said bottom conductor, and conductive passages (42) electrically connecting the top conductor or a portion thereof to the bottom conductor or a portion thereof. In alternate embodiments, the non-polarized laser trim chip stub's top conductor (102) is separated into a trimmable stub portion (110) and an end portion (112), and the bottom conductor (150) may be separated into three conductive portions (160, 162 and 164) to allow for the middle portion (162) to be used as a heat sink to aid in the dissipation of heat generated during high power applications.

Abstract: A method and system for retransmitting data packets in a communication system having variable data rates is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, data packets are packetized to an atomic packet size equal to that of a lowest rate packet. If a data packet requires retransmission at a rate different than that at which the data packet was initially transmitted, the rate is dynamically changed based upon a multiple of the atomic packet size.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for arbitrating service requests in a more efficient and scalable manner. The present invention provides a hierarchical system for arbitrating service requests in which secondary arbitrators (104 and 105) that have incomplete information and authority evaluate service requests before forwarding them up the hierarchy to a primary arbitrator (102) that has complete information and arbitration authority. If a secondary arbitrator has sufficient information to deny a service request without forwarding the request, it will. Thus, the hierarchy of secondary arbitrators acts to filter service requests from the primary arbitrators.

Abstract: Caller-related information, such as a telephone number, in a voice mail message intended for a communication unit (102) is extracted from the voice mail message and converted into an alpha-numeric string by a converter device (112). The alpha-numeric string is conveyed by a messaging device (110) to the communication unit and stored in the communication unit. Using the stored caller-related information, a user of the communication unit is able to repeatedly initiate a call to the caller identified by the caller-related information without having to access a voice mail device or enter the caller-related information manually.

Abstract: A base site (104) generates a pseudo-random signal based on at least one system parameter known to both the base site and a communication unit (112). The base site (104) then transmits the pseudo-random signal to the communication unit via an idle communication resource (102). Upon receiving the pseudo-random signal, the communication unit (112) determines at least one characteristic of the idle communication resource (102) using the pseudo-random signal.

Abstract: In a wireless CDMA system, responsive to receiving a request for a group call for a given talk group, a controller (12) allocates an outbound group call channel to the group (202), and uniquely assigned inbound and outbound channels to each subscriber unit in the group (203). Each subscriber unit in the group receives an identification of its uniquely assigned inbound and outbound channels (303). Via its uniquely assigned outbound channel, a given subscriber unit receives inbound control information (304) from the controller. By providing each subscriber unit in the group with a uniquely assigned outbound channel, in addition to the outbound group call channel, control information is readily provided to multiple subscriber units, thereby facilitating the establishment of group calls in CDMA systems.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for facilitating and performing distributed speech processing in a wireless communication system. The present invention encompasses communication infrastructure embodiments that facilitate distributed speech processing by establishing voice and data pathways to support distributed speech processing services. The present invention also encompasses a communication unit that performs distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis via the communication infrastructure. The communication unit (102) requests communication services from the communication infrastructure (101) that support both voice and data communication and utilizes a data connection to a distributed speech processing unit (116) to perform distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis.

Abstract: A radio frequency mechanical filter (10) of the resonant type employs a plurality of parallel spaced-apart resonators (40) disposed within a housing (16) defining a cavity. The resonators are supported at their first ends (46) to one wall (20) of the housing (16), with the remaining ends of the resonators being unsupported. A TEFLON support bracket (12) is disposed across the resonators (40) at points between the ends (44, 46) of the resonators. In one form, the support bracket (12) is movable along the length of the resonators to change the center frequency and bandwidth response of the filter.