Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system includes a base station, a plurality of remote stations, a first channel for general page messages containing paging information and broadcast databurst message references, and an auxiliary channel for broadcast databurst notification indicators for the purpose of increasing standby time in remote stations configured to receive broadcast databurst messages.

Abstract: An improved method for facilitating handoff between an asynchronous and a synchronous base station. A method for determining a pilot channel PN offset of a pilot channel transmitted by a wireless base station. In a first embodiment, the method includes correlating a PN sequence with a received pilot signal to acquire a PN frame timing, receiving at least one search code burst aligned with the PN frame timing, the at least one search code burst signifying the pilot channel PN offset, and comparing the at least one search code burst to a set of codewords, each codeword representing a predetermined PN offset. From the search code bursts, the mobile station is able to quickly determine the PN offset of the transmitting base station, and thereby identify it. Methods for transmitting a complementary set of forward link channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which permits handoffs while the mobile station is in the system access state. This is achieved by providing for channel assignment messages to be sent over the paging channel of a plurality of base stations, which increases the probability of one of the messages getting through. In addition, this assures the mobile station will be able handoff to a different base station and have a traffic channel allocated to it on the new base station without delay. In addition, a method and apparatus which permits the mobile station to be directly assigned into a soft handoff state upon traffic channel assignment.

Abstract: A wireless communication device automatically and seamlessly switches to an alternate, available system when it is unable to complete a call origination attempt, without requiring the user to take any affirmative actions to select the alternate system. The wireless communication device stores a list of preferred communication systems. The mobile station attempts to acquire one of these preferred communication systems upon failure of the reverse link. If that is not successful, the mobile station attempts to acquire a communication system most likely to provide service. If that is also not successful, the mobile station re-attempts acquisition of the current communication system. The mobile station also re-attempts acquisition with one of the preferred communication systems after a predetermined idle time.

Abstract: A communication device including a power key located on an outer surface of the housing which may provide multiple functions, but is resistant to initiation of undesired handset functions. Control circuitry within the communication device may be configured to ignore any actuation of the power key with a duration less than a determined time period. The control circuitry performs a first function if the power key is depressed for a first duration, and performs a second function when the power key is depressed for a second duration. For example, depression of the power key for a short period of time may silence and incoming call alert, whereas depression of the power key for a longer period of time will turn the communication device on or off.

Abstract: A wireless communication device contains a prefix storage area containing one or more prefixes that may be automatically pre-pended to a destination telephone number. The destination telephone number may be entered manually by the user using a keypad or automatically entered from a telephone number storage area. The system analyzes the destination telephone number and determines whether one or more prefix pre-pending levels have been enabled. If enabled, the system automatically pre-pends the selected prefixes to the user-entered destination telephone number to generate a complete destination telephone number. The automatic pre-pending can extend to all telephone numbers entered by the user, or may be limited to telephone numbers in the telephone number storage area. Similarly, the system can be enabled continuously, or may be disabled when the user turns off the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A cellular communications system comprising; a mobile unit which designates an active set of base stations; a base station; and a base station controller which puts the base stations in the active set in common channel soft handoff.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the interference experienced by sensitive electronic devices, such as hearing aids, operative in the vicinity of CDMA user communication devices. A transmitter of the communications device is configured to transmit signal power substantially continuously at a full rate power level irrespective of the variable data rate at which the transmitter would otherwise be operative. In a first embodiment, a variable rate vocoder within the transmitter is directed to perform full-rate vocoding, irrespective of an instantaneous level of user speech. In a second embodiment, a microprocessor builds full-rate frames using repeated versions of code symbols generated by the vocoder. In a third embodiment, the microprocessor builds full rate frames by generating signaling bits of a predetermined pattern to pad otherwise non-full frames.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and improved method for providing broadcast short message services (SMS) in a communication network. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that insures the successful transmission of the broadcast message while minimizing the impact of providing the short messaging service on overall system capacity. It is further the objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for receiving broadcast messages without depriving the receiver of the benefits of slotted paging, that being the savings in power consumption.

Abstract: A snap hinge assembly for rotatably connecting a flip cover to a portable phone housing has only two parts, a hinge pin and a spring. The hinge pin is rotatably mounted in the housing and secured to the cover so as to rotate with the cover as it is opened and closed, and has a cam portion for engaging the spring. The spring is anchored in the housing and has a bearing portion for bearing against the cam portion as the pin rotates with the cover. The shape of the cam portion is such that the bearing portion is resiliently biased as the hinge pin rotates, and released at a predetermined orientation so as to snap the cover into either the open or closed position, depending on the direction of rotation of the pin. The cover is held by the engaging spring and cam surfaces in the open or closed position until positively urged towards the opposite end position.

Abstract: A ground connector and standoff apparatus or spring member for mounting between two circuit boards is of conductive material and has opposing substantially flat, parallel first and second legs and a spring link connecting the legs. In an uncompressed condition of the spring member, the legs are spaced apart a predetermined distance greater than the spacing between the two circuit boards when connected together. The first leg is connected to one of the circuit boards and the second leg bears against an opposing portion of the other circuit board to provide a ground connection when the boards are connected together, compressing the spring member. A limiter or spacer on the spring member limits compression beyond a predetermined point at which the height of the spring member is equal to a predetermined standoff between the boards.

Abstract: A hinge apparatus has relatively rotatable first and second parts, one of which is adapted to be secured to the phone housing and the other of which is adapted to be secured to a cover. One of the parts comprises a cam and the other comprises a follower, the cam having end stops corresponding to an open and a closed position of the cover relative to the housing, and a convex surface between the end stops to provide initial resistance to rotation of the cover out of the open and closed positions. The parts are spring loaded such that the cover is snapped into the open and closed positions, respectively, once the follower passes the arcuate surface of the cam.

Abstract: A test equipment interface circuit capable of acting as an interface between a wireless transceiver and a piece of test equipment for both high frequency band signals and low frequency band signals without the use of active or mechanical switches.

Abstract: A novel and improved apparatus for a wireless communication device, which provides fast detection and validation of pilot signals while minimizing the probability of false detection. In the apparatus a searcher subsystem generates a pilot energy sample corresponding to a pilot signal, which is provided to a pilot signal detection filter, comprising two parallel branches. The first branch calculates a weighted historical average of a signal strength of the pilot signal in response to the pilot energy sample, the second branch verifies the pilot energy sample in a state machine, wherein transitions of the state machine are proportional to a magnitude of the pilot energy sample. A pilot detection signal is generated if either the weighted historical average exceeds selected threshold, or a state of the state machine exceeds a maximum value of the states.

Abstract: A method and system for open loop power control in a CDMA communication system. The method and system controls the power of a mobile station transmission signal in a CDMA communication system having a base station which transmits a pilot signal. The method includes calculating, in the base station, a base station pilot transmit power value, and a base station receiver sensitivity value. The base station transmits the pilot transmit power value and the receiver sensitivity value to said mobile station. In turn, the mobile station calculates a mean output power in response to the base station pilot transmit power value and the base station receiver sensitivity value.

Abstract: A method and circuit for adaptively determining a pilot signal reacquisition time. A searcher subsystem measures a phase of the pilot signal. A control processor measures a magnitude of a shift in the pilot signal phase, compares the measured magnitude to a shift threshold, and decreases the reacquisition time if the measured magnitude is not greater than the shift threshold. The control processor also may compare the reacquisition time to a minimum reacquisition time, and decrease the reacquisition time only if the reacquisition time is greater than the minimum reacquisition time. Additionally, the control processor may increase the reacquisition time to a maximum reacquisition time if the measured magnitude is greater than said shift threshold.

Abstract: The transmitted power of a mobile telephone is established by power control bits that are transmitted in a traffic channel from a base station and that are demodulated by a rake receiver in the telephone. The rake receiver includes a plurality of demodulators that demodulate respective fingers of the traffic channel which may be caused by multipath conditions, with the power control bits from each demodulator being combined with the power control bits of the other demodulators in the rake receiver regardless of whether the demodulators are in lock with their respective fingers. The combined power control signal from a rake receiver associated with a first base station is then tested against a threshold. If the combined power is at least equal to the threshold, the combined power control signal is sent to a logic combiner. If other base stations are communicating with the mobile telephone, the combined power control signal from each of these other base stations is also sent to the logic combiner.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit having a high linearity mode of operation and a high efficiency mode of operation. The amplifier circuit comprises an amplifier having a variable active device periphery and a variable supply voltage; and a control circuit, coupled to the amplifier, for decreasing the variable active device periphery and increasing the variable supply voltage when in the high linearity mode of operation, and for increasing the variable active device periphery and decreasing the variable supply voltage when in the high efficiency mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention employs a method and apparatus for providing improved power control when changing the rate at which data is sent in a communications system. When data arrives at the transmitter for transmission at a high rate, power control feedback is changed from a slow mode (with a low bandwidth feedback channel) to a fast mode (with a high bandwidth feedback channel). This control changes even before the data is transmitted at the high rate. Once the power level is accurately estimated for data transmission at the high rate, then data transmission begins at the high rate.