Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing an indication of location service availability and the quality of available location services for a mobile station. A required location quality of service (LQoS) parameter is acquired. The required LQoS parameter may be a minimum position accuracy value, a maximum response time value, or a maximum age of position information value. An actual LQoS value is then determined. If the actual LQoS value does not satisfy the required LQoS parameter, then an indicator is provided that location services are not available for the mobile station. For example, a visual indicator may be displayed indicating that location services are not available. On the other hand, if location services are determined to be available, a relative strength measure of position accuracy is calculated and a visual indicator of the strength of the position accuracy is provided.

Abstract: A pilot assisted channel estimation process. A receiver may be configured to estimate the impulse response of a channel from a signal having pilot tones and spread-spectrum pilot signals. The receiver estimates the response of the channel from the pilot tones, and adapts the length of delay the channel response is estimated based on the spread-spectrum pilot signals.

Abstract: A tunable bandpass filter includes at least one resonator having a reactance with a resonant frequency, a ferroelectric film having a dielectric constant with a value that changes with an applied electric field, and an electric field generating device for generating relatively constant electric fields of different strengths. The ferroelectric film is electrically coupled to the resonator so that the reactance of the resonator and therefore the resonant frequency of the resonator and the passband of the filter depends on the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric film. The electric field generating device is constructed and arranged to generate relatively constant electric fields within the ferroelectric film, thereby making the resonant frequency of the resonator and the passband of the filter a function of the strength of the relatively constant electric field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling the data rates for communications to and from a base station and a plurality of remote users. The usage of the communications resource whether the forward link resource (from base station to remote users) or reverse link resource (from remote users to base station) is measured. The measured usage value is compared against at least one predetermined threshold value and the data rates of communications or a subset of communications on said communications resource is modified in accordance with said comparisons.

Abstract: A transconductance cell is disclosed. The transconductance cell may be single-ended or differential. The transconductance cell may include a tunable degeneration circuit. The tunable degeneration circuit may have a plurality of field effect transistors connected in series with each of the field effect transistors having a gate configured to receive a tuning voltage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detection and selection of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service. A cellular network may provide an advertisement for a WLAN, such as in an overhead signaling message. The advertisement may identify the Access Point(s) by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID). The remote station may then scan for the WLAN service automatically or manually.

Abstract: A system and various methods and apparatus for efficient communications of data across various protocol layers are disclosed. A control system (210, 401) segments each message of a plurality of messages into a plurality of segments. A segment identification (805) is incorporated in each segment (804) identifying each segment as one of a start segment, a middle segment and an end segment of each message. Moreover, a sequence number (806) is incorporated in each segment of the plurality of messages in a stream of messages (801). The stream of messages (801) may include control messages (802) and short message service messages (803). The plurality of segments is transmitted by a transmitter (300) in an order of the sequence number (806) from a source to a destination.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting discontinuous transmission (DTX) frames. The inventive method includes the steps of receiving data transmitted in a plurality of frames; classifying each of the frames; analyzing the classification of a number of successive frames of the received data and providing a metric with respect thereto; and determining, in response to the metric, if a frame is a discontinuous frame. In the illustrative embodiment, the step of classifying includes the step of error checking the frames using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error checking protocol. The received frames are classified as good frames (G), erasure frames (E), or discontinuous frames (D). A numerical value is assigned to each of the frames based on the classification thereof. Next, the frames are filtered to provide an output Yn=Yn?1+Xn where ‘n’ is a frame number, Yn is the filter output for a given frame n, Yn?1 is the filter output for a previous frame, and Xn is a stream of input frames.

Abstract: Techniques to determine the position of a terminal under the coverage of a repeater in a wireless communication system. In an aspect, an identification code is transmitted for each repeater and used by the terminal (or a PDE) to unambiguously identify the repeater. The identification codes for the repeaters in the system can be implemented with PN sequences at defined offsets that are specifically reserved for repeater identification. In another aspect, the identification code for each repeater is transmitted using a spread-spectrum signal designed to have minimal impact on the performance of the system and to be recoverable by the terminal in similar manner as for a forward modulated signal. In this way, no additional hardware is required for the terminal to recover the identifier signal. In one specific design, the spread spectrum identifier signal is generated in accordance with and conforms to the IS-95 CDMA standard.

Abstract: Techniques for conveying reports for SMS messages in wireless communication networks that utilize CDMA air interface (e.g., GSM1x and CDMA networks). Two new messages SMS Deliver Report Message and SMS Submit Report Message are defined for CDMA SMS. These report messages may be used to more fully convey the information in the SMS-Deliver-Report TPDU and SMS-Submit-Report TPDU defined in GSM SMS. A new Report_Req field is also provided in the Reply Option subparameter of the SMS Deliver Message and SMS Submit Message defined in CDMA SMS. This new field may be used to request a report for an SMS message to be sent by the message's recipient. Each report message may include (1) a first value indicative of whether the SMS message was received correctly or in error, (2) a second value indicative of a type of error, if any, encountered for the SMS message, and (3) user data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a data transmission in a communication system are disclosed. Each of a subset of plural access terminals desiring to transmit user data in an interval transmits a request to transmit in the interval to an access network. The access network makes a decision to schedule at least one of the subset of the plural access terminals to transmit in the interval in accordance with the request. At least one access point of the access network transmits the decision to the plural access terminals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for cancellation of jammer signals in a radio frequency receiver. A radio frequency signal contains both a desirable signal and an undesirable jammer signal. The combined signal is processed with a filter (104) to extract only the undesirable jammer signal. The jammer signal is then added (104) back to the combined signal to effectively cancel the jammer signal. The system may be implemented using a feedforward approach or a feedback approach. The resultant clean signal is processed in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to implement a “virtual” real-time clock at a terminal based on time information from multiple communication systems. At least one system (e.g., GPS) provides “absolute” time information for the virtual real-time clock, and at least one other system (e.g., a cellular system) provides “relative” time information. The virtual real-time clock is “time-stamped” with absolute time as it becomes available from the first system. Relative time (which may be received from multiple asynchronous transmitters) is mapped to the timeline of the virtual real-time clock as it is received from the second system. Absolute time at any arbitrary time instant on the timeline may then be estimated based on the absolute time from the first system and the relative time from the second system. Absolute times from the first system for two or more time instants may also be used to calibrate the relative time from the second system.

Abstract: A visit to an overhead channel to obtain base station identifiers is made if it is necessary to do so. Base station identifiers are indicative of an approximate location of a terminal. The determination to update the base station identifiers may be made by monitoring one or more base stations in the terminal's active set. In another aspect, the terminal can originate a new data call immediately after the necessary base station identifiers have been obtained from the overhead channel, without having to wait for the expiration of a timer (e.g., the dormant timer). Moreover, by maintaining the data session when terminating the data call for the overhead visit, data communication may be more quickly resumed, for a new data call originated after the overhead visit, using the same configured protocols.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a number of memory bitcells. Each bitcell includes: a latch having a sense node; a programming transistor having an efficient saturation region of operation; and a fuse connected to the programming transistor at a first terminal of the fuse. A programming voltage can be supplied to the fuse at a second terminal of the fuse; and a logic gate circuit is connected to the gate of the programming transistor. The logic gate circuit is operated at the programming voltage so that the logic gate circuit drives the programming transistor in the efficient saturation region when programming the fuse. The bitcell also includes a fuse-sensing circuit having no more than one transistor. Operation in the efficient saturation region allows the programming transistor to be small. Combined with using no more than one sensing transistor, significant reduction in area of the bitcells on the chip is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed by which a base transceiver station (BTS) may be uniquely identified. When attempting to determine the location of a mobile unit using signal from multiple BTSs, it is critical that the BTSs be uniquely identified and their position accurately determined. In many cases, the signals received from the BTSs provide limited identification information and cannot be used to uniquely to identify the BTS from which a signal has been received. The present invention uses available information to generate a candidate list and to determine therefrom the most likely candidates for the Measurement BTSs. Based on this information, the system analyzes cell coverage overlap and relative phase delay to determine the likelihood of a candidate BTS being the actual BTS from which a signal is received. As candidate BTSs are uniquely identified, it is possible to use this additional identification information in an iterative process to further identify additional candidate BTSs.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for measuring the performance of a communications channel is disclosed which includes receiving a signal from the communications channel, filtering the signal, estimating a bias introduced by the filtering of the signal, and computing a parameter of the communications channel as a function of the estimated bias. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting and multiplexing a plurality of interfaces is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, three serial communications ports are interfaced such that any two may be interconnected for communications. A novel circuit comprising a plurality of buffers is employed to allow selection of the interconnection scheme by a controller. The design is scalable and is characterized by low cost, low printed circuit board area requirements, and graceful function. In the preferred embodiment, a PDA, wireless transceiver, and cradle interface of a personal communications device are effectively interconnected and multiplexed.

Abstract: Changing a mode of operation of a destination communication device by establishing a voice service option communication channel over a network between an initiating device and a destination device. Using the voice service option communication channel, a predetermined sequence of data is transmitted from the initiating device to the destination device. The predetermined sequence of data specifies a different operation mode of the destination device. The destination device receives the data packet and determines if it is a predetermined sequence of data. If the data packet is a predetermined sequence of data then the destination device examines the sequence of data and changes its operational mode in response to the predetermined sequence of data. The predetermined sequence of data may be transmitted in compliance with a TTY standard for data communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform position determination in a wireless (e.g., cellular) communication network with repeaters. A signal received by a terminal is initially identified as being from a repeater. A position and a position uncertainty for the identified repeater are obtained (e.g., from a repeater database) and provided as the position estimate and position uncertainty for the terminal if (1) a more accurate position estimate for the terminal cannot be obtained, (2) the terminal is deemed to be in an indoor environment, or (3) the terminal is located sufficiently close to the identified repeater. If information for additional delays associated with the identified repeater is available, then the position estimate for the terminal may be derived based on a “compensated” time measurement for the identified repeater (i.e., with the additional delays removed) and time measurements for at least two other transmitters received by the terminal.