Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to providing variable rate broadcast services with soft handoff in wireless communications. In an embodiment, a plurality of access points (e.g., servicing various cells in a broadcast area) may transmit a broadcast content in accordance with a rate set. The rate set may include a plurality of distinct data rates each associated with a transmission format, configured to allow the broadcast packets transmitted by the access points to be incrementally combined (e.g., on a per-slot basis at a subscribing AT). The data rates and corresponding transmission formats in the rate set may be selected in relation to the supportable data rates of the cells in the broadcast area, as well as the requirements for supporting soft handoff in these cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interleaving systematic bits and parity bits to generate an output sequence that can be transmitted in multi-slot packets from a base station to a remote station in a wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a memory element and a control element coupled to the memory element, wherein the control element is configured to demultiplex the systematic bits and parity bits into sequences, wherein the systematic bits and parity bits are sequentially distributed among the sequences. The control element is further configured to reorder the sequences based on an index set, to group the sequences into segments and to interleave each of the segments forming matrices having elements. The control element is also configured to modulate the elements of the matrices, and to truncate the modulated elements of each matrix, so as to produce the output sequence which comprises truncated modulating elements from each matrix of the matrices.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for reporting and compiling connection failures in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, when an access terminal experiences a connection failure (e.g., an unintended one), the access terminal may generate a connection failure record associated with the event, and send a message containing the connection failure record to an access network it has since established the connection. The access network may send a message containing a connection failure report acknowledgement (ACK) message to the access terminal, upon reception of the connection failure report message. The network operators may use the connection failure records thus compiled to identify problematic spots in the system and improve the quality of service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating a transmission power required for data transmission in a communication system are disclosed. A terminal determines a quality metric of a communication link, over which data are to be transmitted, and modifies the determined quality metric by a quality metric margin. The terminal then estimates the maximum rate of data in accordance with the modified quality metric. Alternatively, the terminal estimates transmission power required for data transmission with a data rate in accordance with the modified quality metric. The quality metric margin may be a pre-determined or dynamically adjusted. The terminal dynamically adjusts the quality metric margin in accordance with a result of comparison of a transmit power corresponding to the estimated maximum rate of data with an actual transmit power used to transmit the data.

Abstract: A communication system including a closed loop power control system. Prior to allowing a handoff to a new base station, the subscriber station verifies that its reverse link signal is being received by the destination base station with sufficient energy. The determination is made based on the received reverse link power control commands from the base station. Moreover, a handoff may be forced when the base station providing the best forward link signal is not receiving the reverse link signal from the subscriber station with sufficient energy.

Abstract: A pilot reference transmission scheme well suited for high data rate wireless communication systems is disclosed. To maximize the amount of interference from transmissions from neighboring transmission sources (e.g., access points or base stations) during the pilot interval, and hence minimize the amount of interference from non-transmitting sources during the data intervals, the pilot references are transmitted in bursts at predetermined time intervals, and the pilot bursts from the access points are synchronized. This results in maximum interference contributions from non-transmitting neighboring access points, facilitating reliable estimation of worst case carrier-to-interference (C/I), and further allows the receiving devices (e.g., access terminals) to easily recognize the bursts as pilot reference. In one embodiment, each access point transmits the pilot bursts at or near its maximum transmit power level and no user-specific data is transmitted during the pilot bursts.