Abstract: A mobile user terminal 402 accesses a packet data network 450 through one or more of several network access points 404-412. One or more control points 432-440 determines which network access point or points the user terminal is to access. Control may be retained in the current control point, or transferred to another control point, whenever it is convenient. There are preferably several routers, each having an associated home agent 418-420 which determines which foreign agents need to be accessed on behalf of each user terminal. There are several foreign agents 422-430, which forward packets received from a user terminal's home agent to the control point currently controlling communications with the user terminal.

Abstract: In the present invention, high speed data is provided by transmitting data on multiple carrier frequencies, multiple code channels and/or from multiple base stations. In a first embodiment of the present invention, multiplexed code symbols are transmitted on a plurality of carrier frequencies from the same base station. In second embodiment, code symbols are transmitted on multiple carrier frequencies with at least one corner frequency providing the code symbols is a multiple code channels. In a third embodiment, a subset of the multiplexed code symbols are redundantly provided on a different carrier from at least one additional base station. In a fourth embodiment, multiplexed symbols as transmitted on different carriers from the same base station and are redundantly transmitted on another set of carriers from a different base station. In a fifth embodiment, code symbols are multiplexed onto carriers from a plurality of base stations for increased throughput.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the rate of received data in a variable rate communication system. The receiving system decodes each frame of the received signal to produce a set of normalized correlation metrics, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits, and possibly Yamamoto quality metrics, one for each possible data rate. The normalized correlation metric for each rate is calculated from a correlation value an a constant computed for that rate. The correlation value is determined from a correlation of the demodulated soft frame symbols and the re-encoded frame. The highest normalized correlation metric is selected and the CRC bit for this data rate is checked. If the CRC checks, this data rate is indicated as the received data rate. Otherwise, the next highest normalized correlation metric is selected and the process continues. If no CRC check, an erasure is indicated.

Abstract: A plurality of methods for achieving the soft or softer handoff process such that the performance of a system is improved. A first method is based on delaying the softer handoff process. A second method is based on reducing the power of transmissions from the sector having the weakest signal strength. A third method is based on eliminating transmissions from the sector having the weakest signal strength. A fourth method adds a new base station or sector only when the mobile unit is in need of additional power to operate properly. In all four methods, reverse link demodulation in each sector may continue with or without the transmission of the forward link. In all four methods the operation could be based on the signal strength of the reverse link signal or the forward link. It is also possible to combine two or more of these methods to create a hybrid method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the amount of time that a mobile station is to be out of communication with an "origination" base station while searching for a suitable system to which to perform a mobile station assisted hard handoff. After being directed to search for pilot signals in an alternate frequency band, the mobile station tunes to that alternate frequency and samples the incoming data, storing those samples in memory. When a sufficient number of samples have been stored, the mobile station retunes to the origination frequency. The forward link data is again received by the mobile station, and reverse link data can be successfully transmitted to the origination base station. After retuning to the origination frequency, a searcher in the mobile station will subsequently be employed to search for pilot signal offsets utilizing the stored data collected from the alternate frequency.

Abstract: An efficient retransmission of data using symbol accumulation wherein the packet received in error is retransmitted at a lower energy-per-bit level concurrently in the same frame with the new packet. The destination device receives the data transmission and retransmission, demodulate the signal, and separates the received data into the new and retransmitted packet. The destination device then accumulates the energy of the retransmitted packet with the energy already accumulated for the packet received in error and decodes the accumulated packet. The accumulation of the additional energy provided by the subsequent retransmissions improves the probability of a correct decoding. The throughput rate can be improved since the packet received in error is retransmitted concurrently with the transmission of the new data packet. The capacity is maximized since the retransmission of the packet received in error is at a lower energy level than that of the new packet.

Abstract: A portable communications device and accessory system which enables both voice and control commands to be communicated between a portable communication device and external accessories over a single flexible digital interface. When the portable communication device is interfaced to external accessories, such as a power booster and hands-free kit, a microprocessor configures the serial communications bus to pass both the digital voice data and digital control commands to and from the external power booster and the hands-free kit. The external hands-free kit contains its own auxiliary CODEC for encoding analog voice signals and decoding the digital voice data. When the portable communication device is not interfaced with external accessories, the microprocessor configures the serial communication bus to pass the digital voice data to and from an internal CODEC for use with the portable device's own microphone and speaker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing a base station or base station controller to adjust transmissions to fixed location subscribers in closed-loop communication systems. In a closed-loop communication system, a base station exchanges signals with both fixed location and mobile user stations. When a user or subscriber initially registers with the base station, the base station determines a status of this subscriber based on, for example, an electronic serial number transmitted to the base station. The base station compares the electronic serial number to a database (Home Location Register) which determines whether the user corresponds to a fixed station or a mobile station. If the user is a fixed station, then the base station lowers nominal and minimum power level thresholds. Based on the lowered thresholds, the base station thereafter transmits forward link signals to the fixed station at a lower power level.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and apparatus for generating a reduced peak amplitude high data rate channel comprised of a set of lower rate channels is described. The set of lower rate channels are phase rotated before being summed and transmitted. The amount of phase rotation is dependent on the number of channels used to form the higher rate channel. In an embodiment where two lower rate channels are used, the in-phase and quadrature-phase components of the two channels are complex multiplied before upconversion with an in-phase and quadrature-phase sinusoids. For a high rate channel comprised of more than two lower rate channels, the in-phase and quadrature-phase component of each channel is upconverted with a set of sinusoids that are phase offset from one another.