Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John D. Crane
  • Patent number: 6587442
    Abstract: A method for efficient power control in a (CDMA based) fixed wireless system. The method comprises the steps of (1) monitoring a transmission link of the fixed wireless system for an occurrence of a fade, (2) recording a number of power increases to the transmission link due to said fade, and (3) reducing the power to an appropriate level when said fade is over. The adjusting step includes the steps of determining an appropriate power-down step size, which results in saving power, wherein the step size is influenced by a frame error rate (FER) and selected to maintain a desired FER, and dynamically decreasing the power by the appropriate power-down step size, thereby conserving power and increasing system capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Nishith D. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 6587447
    Abstract: A method for controlling unnecessary power increases and call drop during discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode of a frame-based transmission system. The method comprises the steps of (1) detecting, at a receiver end of the transmission system a status of a transmitted frame indicating one of two possible transmission modes including (a) when a gating-off of the traffic channel occurs, and (b) when no gating-off of traffic occurs and normal traffic is being transmitted, and (2) controlling a change in the receiver target bit energy to noise spectrum density ratio Eb/No in response to the detection step so that a receiver target Eb/No is increased only when the detecting step does not indicate a gating-off of traffic has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Yiping Wang, David Paranchych, Ashvin Chheda
  • Patent number: 6587464
    Abstract: A method and system for partial reporting of missing sequence numbered information frames within a telecommunication system using selective reject (SREJ) frames. Upon receiving a sequence numbered information frame from a transmit terminal, a receive terminal determines if it is out of sequence. If the sequence numbered information frame is out of sequence, the receive terminal further checks the sequence numbered information frame to see if a poll bit has been set. If the poll bit is not set, the receive terminal further checks to see if the sequence numbered information frame is new or retransmitted. If the sequence numbered information frame is new, a list of missing sequence numbers is constructed beginning with the missing sequence number one greater than the largest number in the receive queue and ending with N(S)−1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Brown, Richard K. Doll, Martin Louis Joseph Gallant, Scott William Noble
  • Patent number: 6578082
    Abstract: A distributed flow control system and method for GPRS networks to control and regulate data flow between multiple sources and a single destination within a GPRS network. The present system and method ensures the departing traffic from all of the sources conforms to the peak and average rate requirements that have been set forth by the BSS/PCU. A leaky bucket flow control mechanism is used at each respective one of the multiple sources for controlling flow of data from each respective source to the single destination. A maximum bucket size of a leaky bucket and a bucket leak rate are defined for each leaky bucket flow control mechanism. A multiplier (L) is estimated and determined for each respective source based on recent data arrival behaviors of the multiple sources. When a frame of the data is sent from the respective source to the single destination, a number of bytes equal to the size of the transmitted frame times the multiplier L is added to the leaky bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Joseph S. Ho, Yixin Zhu, Mark Eric Hanson
  • Patent number: 6563919
    Abstract: A gateway cluster has a number of gateways for different types of communication protocols. The respective gateways convert network messages to normalized messages by querying the categories, data, and network types of the normalized data for the mobile systems from which the network messages were generated. A database system stores normalized data in categories. The normalized data include data relating to the mobile systems and network types for the data. A unified mobility manager is coupled to and in communications with the gateway cluster and the database system. The unified mobility manager receives and processes the normalized messages, performs operations based on the normalized messages and on the categories, the data, and the network types of the normalized data, and formulates normalized responses responsive to the normalized messages. The normalized responses are converted to network responses at the gateways, and the network responses are sent to the respective mobile systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Lakshminarasimhan Aravamudhan, John P. Larkins, Rohit Gupta, Haitao Li
  • Patent number: 6560459
    Abstract: The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A method for evaluating frequency plans for a CDMA based communication system having fixed base radio telephones is provided. The method begins by determining locations of a plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas provide a coverage area for radio telephones. Then the method generates locations of radio telephones within the coverage area. Next, a distance from each radio telephone to the antennas is calculated. Then frequencies are allocated to the antennas. The resulting communication parameters between the radio telephones and the antennas are evaluated. Next, the coverage area which provides optimum power control to each radio telephone is determined. A frequency reuse factor is calculated to determine the efficiency of the allocated frequencies such that frequency allocation plans can be analyzed to determine efficient frequency planning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Tony W. Wong
  • Patent number: 6556556
    Abstract: An improved method and system for limiting data packet transmission within a digital mobile telephone communication network, such as a code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile telephone communication network, by discarding unsuccessfully transmitted radio link protocol frames is disclosed. A code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile telephone communication network includes a mobile telephone, a base station, a mobile switching center, and a network Interworking Function. Within the CDMA mobile telephone communication network, each point-to-point protocol data packet is typically divided into multiple radio link protocol frames before their transmissions over an air link. In accordance with a method and system of the present invention, a marker bit is provided for each of the radio link protocol frames. The marker bit can be part of the frame header and will be removed before air link transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Sanjoy Kumar Sen, Arun Arunachalam, Kalyan Basu
  • Patent number: 6545984
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the topology of a CDMA network with respect to both neighbor and target lists is disclosed. The method first defines a language that creates an input source file for communicating the layout of the CDMA network. The language expresses the sector-neighbor list relationships of all sectors in the CDMA network. Next, the method parses and builds a directed graph from the input source file to perform topology analysis of the CDMA network. The method then analyzes the input source file and directed graph for possible errors in the network layout that will lead to dropped calls. The method renders a report to the user about those error conditions and emits a file to be used as input into the CDMA database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Steven Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 6522885
    Abstract: A method and system for use with wireless communications systems having a plurality of groups of channels, and wherein the method and system assign specific groups of channels such that channel interference is minimized. The method and system accomplish their objects via the use of communications equipment adapted to do the following: define a geographic area; map the defined geographic area with at least one high bandwidth cell cluster wherein each cell has at least one sector; and eliminate channel adjacencies by selectively assigning channels, drawn from the plurality of groups of channels, to the at least one high bandwidth cell cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Yuqiang Tang, Roderick Djurkovic
  • Patent number: 6507735
    Abstract: A mobile switching center receives a call to a wireless telephone unit and determines if the wireless telephone unit is available to receive calls. If the wireless unit is unavailable, the mobile switching center forwards the call to a wireless service node, preferably immediately and without providing any ring back tone to the calling party. The wireless service node prompts the calling party to speak a message for transmission to the wireless telephone unit. The wireless service node converts the message spoken by the calling party from a speech message to a text message and forwards text message to a short message service center for transmission to the wireless unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Steven F. Baker, Kevin Swank
  • Patent number: 6487197
    Abstract: As a telecommunications device goes off-hook a simultaneous connection is made to a local exchange and a data network removing the necessity to dial, or input numbers to access the data network. Upon connection to the local data network, a modem tone is returned to the telecom device. Connection to the local exchange causes a dial tone to be returned to the DSLAM in the local change. The device receives the modem tone, the dial tone is blocked by the DSLAM and a data communication session begins. If the device transmits DTMF signals within 20 seconds, the call reverts to a standard switched call, dropping the connection with the local data network. If no DTMF signals are sent within 20 seconds, the DSLAM releases the connection with the local Exchange and the data communications session continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Bennett Elliott
  • Patent number: 6487183
    Abstract: A method for implementing an activity based resource assignment medium access control (MAC) protocol to allocate resources to subscribers in an interactive, multimedia, broadband satellite communications system. A plurality of channels is provided with at least one of said plurality of channels being assigned to each of a plurality of terminals. Utilization of the channel resources by the plurality of terminals is monitored and an evaluation is conducted of system needs based on the levels of activity and utilization of channel resources by the terminals. Requests for system resources by the terminals are communicated to a resource controller which calculates the system needs. The resource controller is utilized to adjust the channel resources based on the levels of activity and utilization of resources by the terminals. The adjustment provides active terminals as much resources as required during duration of their activity, subject to resource availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Wing F. Lo, Jeff L. Watson
  • Patent number: 6484145
    Abstract: A method and system for priority access channel allocation within a telecommunication subsystem in which channel access requests are categorized within a prioritization system that includes a first priority level, and a second priority level which is lower than in priority with respect to the first priority level. A targeted blocking rate is first assigned to the first priority level. During active operation of the telecommunication subsystem, a statistical estimation of an actual traffic intensity for the first priority level is performed. Thereafter, the targeted blocking rate and estimated traffic intensity are utilized in computing a blocking threshold for the first priority level. This blocking threshold defines a number of channels, n, to which access by the second priority level will be blocked, such that the first priority level may achieve its assigned targeted blocking rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Sandra Lee Home, Cheng-Nan Chern
  • Patent number: 6477375
    Abstract: A method and system for improving overall system capacity in GSM networks by reducing the number of visitor location register queries is disclosed. The method and system determines if subsequent calls for a mobile terminal which has been detached by its subscriber from the GSM network should require querying of its visiting mobile switching center and HLR based on the call arrival characteristics of the subscriber. A “call-arrival-after detach” counter is created at the home location register and visitor location register for tracking the number of incoming calls that occur during the interval when the subscriber has detached. The value of this counter is compared for every incoming call to a threshold level value for determining if the call is to be forwarded. The threshold level value is determined on the past call arrival characteristics of the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Joseph S. M. Ho, Hector Maturino
  • Patent number: 6473097
    Abstract: The present invention installs an IP intranet functionality in a Mobile Switching Center for supporting wireless data and multimedia services within an operator community of interest. An IP network is introduced between a multimedia device and the Internet. The intranet provides a subnetwork and service context for wireless telco operators. Upon initiation of a service session by a multimedia terminal, the Mobile Switching Center presents the subscriber with an operator “intranet homepage” that serves as the primary navigator and launch pad for traversing the operator intranet or for launching a session on the Internet. If the initiating device is a voice only terminal, the Mobile Switching Center enables connection to another voice only terminal as usual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Bennett Elliott
  • Patent number: 6470181
    Abstract: A combination of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) capabilities including Short Message Service (SMS), Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) allows an advertiser to pay a portion of the airtime cost of a call originated by a mobile subscriber after that subscriber has listened to a recorded advertisement. The combination delivers a text message that associates with a recorded audio advertisement. The text message, which may be referred to later, is stored by the subscriber's handset and may be a transcript of the audio advertisement, provide additional details of the audio advertisement or it may contain an electronic coupon associated with the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Stewart Hodde Maxwell
  • Patent number: 6463305
    Abstract: A cellular telephone power management system is described that can be actuated without the telephone becoming active for making or receiving calls. The management system provides the user with a useful indication of the power available in the telephone battery based on utilization since the last complete battery charge. Additionally, the available power indication is provided in a form which specifies available talk time and available standby time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: John D. Crane
  • Patent number: 6459696
    Abstract: A method and system for avoiding data loss in communications systems. The method and system achieve their objects via communications equipment adapted to do the following: designate a first data-producing system controlled by a first clock; designate a second data-producing system controlled by a second clock; record a timing mismatch between the first clock and the second clock; and dynamically adjust data flow between the first and the second system in response to the recorded timing mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Frank Carpenter, Patrick Jackson, Dave Lauson, Henry Wong
  • Patent number: 6434147
    Abstract: A method and system for sequential ordering of missing sequence numbered information frames within a telecommunication system using selective reject (SREJ) frames is disclosed. Upon receiving a sequence numbered information frame from a transmit terminal, a receive terminal determines if it is out of sequence. If the sequence numbered information frame is out of sequence, the receive terminal further checks the sequence numbered information frame to see if a poll bit has been set. If the poll bit is not set, the sequence numbered information frame further checks to see if the sequence numbered information frame is new or retransmitted. If the sequence numbered information frame is new, a list of missing sequence numbers is constructed in ascending sequential order beginning with the missing sequence number one greater than the largest number in the receive queue and ending with N(S)−1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Netwoks Limited
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Brown, Richard K. Doll, Martin Louis Joseph Gallant, Scott William Noble
  • Patent number: 6434140
    Abstract: The SS7 interface of a conventional GPRS-136 or GPRS-136HS network is replaced with an IP interface. An IP interface is placed between the ANSI TIA/EIA-41 circuit-switched network and the GPRS-136 packet-switched network. This interface can handle both signaling and bearer traffic and thereby overcomes the limitations imposed by the current SS7 interface, which can handle only signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barany, Jayshree Bharatia