Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing collisions on an enhanced access channel in a high bandwidth wireless network during a push-to-talk (PTT) communication between a plurality of user devices. A random delay field is introduced to a set of access parameters and the random delay is generated at each user device when the user devices are ready to transmit an access probe through the enhanced access channel to a base station. At the end of the random delay, the user devices send the access probe through the enhanced access channel to the base station. A maximum random delay field may be set by the base station.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for providing a greater reliability for a direct-communication, such as push-to-talk communication, being bridged between members of a communicating group of wireless telecommunication devices. Each wireless telecommunication device, such as a cellular telephone or PDA, of a plurality periodically informs a group communication server of the presence of that wireless telecommunication device on the wireless telecommunication network such that upon receipt of a request from a wireless telecommunication device to bridge a direct communication, the group communication server will attempt to bridge the requested direct communication with the target set of wireless telecommunication devices only if at least one of the wireless telecommunication devices of the target set has indicated its presence on the wireless telecommunication network.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server determines a priority associated with a given multicast message for transmission to at least one access terminal, configures the given multicast message to indicate the priority of the given multicast message and forwards the configured multicast message to an access network for transmission to the at least one access terminal a number of times based at least in part on the indicated priority. Alternatively, the application server can indicate, in the configured multicast message, the number of times to transmit the given multicast message. The priority, or number of times to transmit the given multicast message, can be conveyed to the access network by a flag inserted into the configured multicast message by the application server. The access network determines the number of times to transmit the given multicast message to the at least one access terminal based on the flag.

Abstract: Aspects of mobile communication for establishing a receive-only group communication, such as a Push-to-Talk (PTT) call or multicast call with a plurality of wireless communication devices that are in a receive-only mode are disclosed. When a group call between wireless communication devices starts from an originating device, in one embodiment indicating a receive-only group with which a group call is to be established, one or more receive-only wireless communication devices are determined and invited to participate in the group call. The traffic channel to the receive-only wireless communication device is transitioned to a uni-directional, forward-only traffic channel such that media is provided from the originating wireless communication device to the receive-only wireless communication device via the uni-directional traffic channel.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing communication latency including monitoring a communication channel for a plurality of indicators wherein a first indicator represents a desired communication operation; basing a communication operation upon a second indicator that indicates that the communication operation has an optimistic probability of success; and initiating an operation optimistically when at least the second indicator confirms that the operation optimistically initiated was a correct operation based upon the second indicator confirming the desired communication operation represented by the first indicator.

Abstract: Permitting a mobile host to roam in a foreign network, with multiple access node handoffs, while permitting foreign network multicasting by (i) having the mobile node (MN) use a persistent address, for purposes of multicasting, and (ii) relaxing or modifying reverse path forwarding checks, and (iii) modifying the forwarding of multicast packets sent from a non-local source address. The persistent address, used in mobile networks as the source address in the IGMP Membership reports and the multicast packets, may be the permanent and hence stable host home address (HoA). This enables the HoA to be supported as a source address by foreign agents (FAs) and multicast routing protocols in foreign networks.

Abstract: Aspects of mobility management within a wireless communications network including a plurality of sectors are disclosed. In an example, the wireless communications network includes a first cluster of sectors with at least one target sector and at least one supporting sector. The multicast communication session is carried within both the target and supporting sectors. In another example, a second cluster can be included within the network for supporting the same multicast communication session that includes its own target and supporting sectors. In this example, the first cluster transmits multicast media on a first interlace-multiplex (IM) pair of a downlink broadcast channel (BCH) and the second cluster transmits multicast media on a second IM pair of the downlink BCH. If sectors of the first and second clusters overlap, the network controls a manner in which the first and second clusters carry the multicast media.

Abstract: A system and method for providing group communication services. Each of a plurality of communication devices coverts information signals into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be routed to the plurality of communication devices. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.

Abstract: MIP Home Agent (HA) architectures are described that decompose, e.g., split, packet forwarding control functionality from actual data packet forwarding operations performed by a conventional MIP HA. This places MIP routing control in a node which is distinct from the tunnel end-points which perform packet forwarding operations to direct packets including a mobile's Home Address. Tunneling establishment and control functionality is implemented by what is referred to herein as decomposed HA (DHA) while data packet forwarding and redirection is performed, under the control of the DHA, by a tunneling agent (TA) node. The tunneling agent node serves as the data packet redirection node for a mobile as it moves from one location to another and may be located outside of a firewall used to protect the DHA. Tunnel endpoint nodes (Mobile Nodes and/or Access Nodes) send tunnel packets to the tunnel agent whilst directing control signaling packets to the DHA.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for announcing a call to an access terminal in a wireless communications system. Receiving, at an access network, a request to call a given access terminal and determining whether a cluster to which the given access terminal belongs is known at the access network by querying a location database. The location database includes a list of access terminals and clusters, which themselves include sectors of the wireless communications system. Thereafter, transmitting an announce message announcing the requested call to the given access terminal based on the determination of whether the cluster is known to the access network.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing call setup latency for geographically dense groups including updating client location information using at least one application server while the client moves from one sector to another to provide a location update; identifying and updating parameters including location update information uniquely identifying a sector from which a client is receiving communication service; and determining at least one geographically dense call group; and choosing at least one designated responder to the at least call group. A client per cluster is selected as a designated responder for that cluster and when the server needs to set up a geographically dense group call, a random number is included corresponding to the designated responder for that group in a call setup message.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a multi-carrier communications system are described. Various approaches to a phased system deployment and system configurations resulting from different levels of deployment are described. In addition mobile node and methods of operating mobile nodes in communications systems that may have different levels of deployment in different cells are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptively enabling a PTT communication with efficient resource allocation in a radio access network. After a user uses a mobile device to activate a PTT call, the mobile device checks the network condition before transmitting a PTT call origination request to a PTT server. The mobile device monitors the network condition by tracking the failure rate of prior network resource requests. If the failure rate is below a threshold, the PTT call origination request is sent to a network server before or at the same time with a quality-of-service (QoS) network resource request.

Abstract: A wireless communication device that dynamically escalates media transmission handling on the resident computer platform operating system through passing priority data bundles that include media directly from an application programming interface to the wireless communication interface. The application programming interface generates an outgoing priority data bundle including media, and a media handler directs the outgoing priority data bundle directly to the wireless communication interface for transmission without handling of the outgoing priority data bundle by other software layers of the operating system. The same priority handling can be done with incoming data bundles received at the wireless communication interface and being sent to an application programming interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scheduling mobile stations (MSs) to download data to and/or to control the rate of downloading to an MS from a base station (BS) as a function of downlink channel condition information are described. Artificial channel variations, which can be measured at the MS, and feedback to a BS for scheduling purposes, are introduced through the use of two or more transmitter antennas at a BS. Each of the antennas transmits a signal at the same frequency having the same information content, e.g., modulated data. However the signals are made to differ with time in their phase and/or amplitude. Multiple signals having the same transmission frequency and information content are received and interpreted as a single composite signal by a receiving MS.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently updating location information of a mobile device in a wireless communication network, such as a cellular network, is disclosed. The mobile device sends its location information through a route update message to a base station controller. This route update message is sent over the access channel if the traffic channel is not up. When the base station controller realizes the mobile device has changed its location, the base station notifies the change to a location server, which sends a location update message to an application server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for aggregating IP packets over an access link between a wireless access router and a core node and for managing resource allocation to access link packet aggregates, e.g., as a function of the status of wireless communications links used to couple mobile nodes to the access router are described. Improved aggregate resource control messages and use of such messages are described. Some of the new messages allow aggregate resources for both upstream and downstream aggregates to be controlled in a single message. A single message may include information corresponding to multiple aggregates and/or multiple constituent flows included in an aggregate with aggregate direction information being included. Use of tunnels to communicate management messages, e.g., messages used to control resource allocation to aggregates is also described. Propagation of access link aggregate information is communicated to tunnel end nodes which generate packets that are communicated over the access link.

Abstract: First and second transmitters transmit signals communicating the same information, e.g., program segment, but at different times. Different carriers may, but need not be, used by the different transmitters. If a wireless terminal can not recover broadcast segment information from one carrier, the wireless terminal can switch to another transmitter and recover the information, e.g., on another carrier, since the broadcasts are intentionally offset in time. In some embodiments, the timing is offset such that a single channel receiver is able to recover signals corresponding to the same program segment from two sources, and perform a decoding and information recovery using input from both sources, where recovery using input from a single source is not possible. Symbol level timing synchronization of base stations is not required thereby allowing for simpler implementations and/or lower overhead, as compared to systems which require base stations to be synchronized to the symbol timing level.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus that retrieve data from one or more wireless communication devices that are at least members of a communication group without user intervention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a request for data is sent to an intermediate device, which forwards the request to a target wireless device. The target wireless device determines if the request is allowed and preferably responds with the requested data or a failure notice. The location of the requested data may be known to the requesting device and included in the request, or it may be known to the target wireless device, which locates the data upon receiving the request. In another embodiment the requesting device and the target wireless device directly communicate without the intervention of an intermediate device. The data requested can help the requesting device or its user determine if and when to initiate group communications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining, selecting and indicating a preferred communications link with an access node, e.g., base station, are described.