Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a mobile station user with information about anticipated roaming charges. The visitor communication system transmits a graded roaming signal to the mobile station user indicative of the anticipated roaming costs. The graded roaming signal is determined by contractual agreements between the visitor communication system provider and user's service provider. This information is stored in a data base at the user's home communication system and is provided to the visitor communication system upon request for authorization to provide service. The graded roaming signal is broadcast to the mobile station and displayed to allow the mobile station user to estimate the cost of the service being provided.

Abstract: A system and method for using a sectored antenna arrangement within a cellular base station to provide redundant coverage within the surrounding cell is disclosed herein. An antenna feed network connects elements of the sectored antenna arrangement to a set of communication transceivers, wherein the feed network includes a combiner array for combining selected ones of the antenna beams upon failure of one of the communication transceivers. A switch network serves to provide the resultant combined beam to an operative one of the communication transceivers.Alternately, the sectored antenna arrangement includes an antenna array having a plurality of switchable antenna elements, each connected to one of the communication transceivers. The switchable antenna elements project a set of variable-width antenna beams over the plurality of cell sectors.

Abstract: A wireless modem which enables user programming of radiotelephone features such as call waiting, MIN selection, and the like, without requiring a keypad interface. The wireless modem is comprised of decoder logic that determines if commands are present in a data stream from a computer. If commands are present, the decoder instructs a multiplexer to switch the modem commands to the modem subsystem and the radiotelephone feature commands to the radiotelephone subsystem. Each subsystem is comprised of a register that stores the command. The control logic in each subsystem then reads the command and acts upon it accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for transmitting a high rate data packet in a CDMA communication system. The transmission system transmits a first channel assignment message indicating the at least one additional channel that will be used to support the high rate data packet. The first channel assignment message is sent in advance of the onset of high rate data communications. In addition the present invention provides within the first frame of high rate data a duplicate channel assignment message. A remote receiver uses the channel assignment messages to initialize its demodulation elements to receive the additional information carried on the at least one additional channel.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and managing the loading conditions in a CDMA wireless communication system. The system comprises a load monitoring device such as a CDMA mobile station connected to a data logging and processing device such as a diagnostic monitor. The monitoring device is placed within the service area of a base station. The monitoring device periodically initiates a call, is assigned to a traffic channel normally, and logs a power control parameter such as mobile station transmit power or the number of closed-loop power control commands received per unit time. From this information, the load monitoring device can infer the real-time traffic loading conditions of the base station. If the loading of the system exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alarm may be sent to the system management center in order to take some action to limit additional loading on the base station.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a mobile station within a cellular telephone system having a plurality of base stations. A signal is transmitted from a rotating antenna. The rotating antenna has a beam which rotates around a cell in the cellular telephone system. The beam has a rotational timing that is known by the mobile station. The signal is received at the mobile station. Based on a reception time when the signal is received by the mobile station, an angular displacement value corresponding to the position of the mobile station is determined. A first round trip signal propagation time between a stationary antenna and the mobile station is measured using a voice information signal. The position of the mobile station is determined in accordance with the angular displacement value and the first round trip signal propagation time.A method for determining the position of a mobile station within a cellular telephone system having a plurality of base stations.

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 packet switching architecture provides for a switch system comprised of a cellular base station in communication with the PSTN through a switch. Data packets are routed through the switch system as necessary to effect communication between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and mobile radiotelephones disposed within the cellular coverage area surrounding the base station. A packet interconnection subsystem operates to transfer data packets between a plurality of interface ports, to which are coupled a corresponding plurality of signal lines. Within the interconnection subsystem, one or more distribution/consolidation (DISCO) interface units are mutually coupled together through a central router unit. Each DISCO interface unit is configured to consolidate the data packets received through at least two signal ports onto a consolidation bus, as well as to distribute the addressed data packets from a distribution bus to two or more of ports.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and improved method and apparatus for implementing a latch within an integrated circuit. Data is stored on a storage node via the application of either a first or second state logic source applied through a feedback inverter that maintains the storage node at a particular logic state. During logic transitions from a first state to a second state the storage node is decoupled from the first state logic source via the use of a gating circuit, and the new logic level is applied to the storage node. During logic transitions from the second state to the first state the storage node remains coupled to the second state logic source. The coupling and decoupling of the storage node from the first state logic source is performed via the use of a clock signal that has a non-overlapping cycle with respect to a second clock signal that is used to control the transitions of the state of the latch.

Abstract: A dual-band antenna coupler for use in an adapter for portable radiotelephone. A plurality of curved bands of metal are positioned on a ground plane, with at least two of the plurality of curved bands of metal being electrically isolated from the ground plane so as to couple radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the antenna of the portable radiotelephone. The isolated curved bands of metal couple RF signals between the antenna of the portable radiotelephone and first and second matching circuits designed to match the portable radiotelephone antenna at each of the respective frequency bands. A selector switch coupled to the output of the matching circuits selects the appropriate matching circuit output for connection to an external antenna. The adapter also includes at least one ground pin mounted on the ground plane. When the portable radiotelephone is interfaced with the antenna coupler, the ground pin makes electrical contact with a ground reference connection on the portable radiotelephone.

Abstract: A portable wireless communications device such as a telephone handset having a vertically corrected antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for rotation about a first pivot axis. The antenna module can be rotated into a predetermined orientation, independent of handset orientation. An antenna mounted on the module is oriented vertically when the module is in the predetermined orientation. When the antenna module is rotated for use, a mechanism incorporated in the module support structure automatically rotates the antenna module about a second pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first. This second rotation places the antenna at an angle that compensates for tilting of the handset during use about an axis parallel to the second axis, or along the first.

Abstract: A method or system (10) includes test apparatus (14) for measuring the phase imbalance in a QPSK receiver (12). A signal generator (16) provides a test signal (18) to the receiver (12), which responsively generates I channel data (20) and Q channel data (22). The system includes an oversampler (26) for producing respective sets of oversampled I and Q channel data (24) and (25). A data processing system (28) cross-correlates the sets of I and Q channel data at each of a plurality of relative phase increments, and generates a plurality of cross-correlation energy values in response to said cross-correlation. The method or system determines the phase imbalance in response to at least a largest cross-correlation energy value of said plurality of cross-correlation energy values.

Abstract: In a communications network, a network user communicates through a remote unit with another user via at least one base station. The communications network includes a first mobile switching center which controls communications through a first set of base stations including a first base station. The remote unit stores a list of active base stations which has an entry corresponding to each base station with which active communication is established. The first base station has an entry on the list of active base stations. The first base station measures a round trip delay of an active communication signal between the first base station and the remote unit. A handoff of the active communication signal is initiated if the round trip delay of the active communication exceeds a threshold if the first base station is designated as a reference base station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding QAM trellis modulated data. In the transmitter, a subset of bits of an input bit set are convolutionally encoded based upon a punctured convolutional code of a lower data rate to provide a set of coded symbols. The coded symbols and the uncoded bits of the input bit set are provided to a QAM modulator to provide a QAM modulation signal indicative of the values of coded symbols and the uncoded bits. In the receiver a QAM demodulator converts the received QAM signal to QAM signal space coordinates. A decoder employing the Viterbi algorithm is used to reconstruct a corrected estimate of the values of the coded data bits from the received signal coordinates. The corrected estimate of the values of the coded data bits are then used in conjunction with the received signal coordinates to provide corrected estimates of the values of the uncoded input bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing high rate trellis codes for PSK modulation that can be encoded and decoded using the encoder and decoder for a rate 1/2 punctured convolutional code. In particular, the design of trellis encoders and decoders for 2.sup.k -PSK modulation for rates (km-1)/km for k.gtoreq.3 and m.gtoreq.1 is provided.

Abstract: To provide an unique call ID number in a system comprised of a plurality of entities through which a connection may be established, each entity through which a connection can be initiated is capable of assigning a unique number to a new connection. For example a first entity receives a first request to initiate a first connection and assigns a first unique number to said first connection. The first unique number comprises the identity of the first entity, a time at which the first request was received, a distinction of the first request from any other request received at the first entity in a time block during which said first request was received, and an indication of a system with which the first entity is associated.

Abstract: A portable phone unit for use in satellite communication systems has a vertically correcting antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for free rotation about a pivot axis. The module contains a mechanism, such as a gravitational counterweight for urging the module to pivot into a predetermined vertical orientation regardless of the handset orientation. An antenna projects from the module in a direction which is vertically upright when the module is in its predetermined vertical orientation. A mast mounted antenna module can also be used to take advantage of dissimilar antenna segment weights for multiple frequency antennas. As the handset is moved into an angular orientation, the module pivots under the weight of the counterweight, or a portion of the antenna itself, until the antenna is oriented vertically.

Abstract: Synchronization and bit count integrity of a synchronous data stream is preserved end to end even as it is transmitted via a medium which does not preserve the synchronous nature of the synchronous data stream. A terminal equipment unit produces a constant rate bit stream which is provided to a communications unit. The communications unit produces first, second, and third data frames comprising, respectively, first, second, and third set of bits from the constant rate bit stream and first, second, and third length fields. The first, second, and third data frames are transmitted to a base unit which places the first set of bits from the first frame into a queue. A set of fill bits equal to the maximum number of bits contained in any frame is then placed into the queue. The base unit then determines the number of bits in the second set of bits of the third data frame, based on the first length field value and the third length field value.

Abstract: A combined EMI shield and brace assembly has at least two frames for placing side-by-side on a printed wiring board to surround predetermined adjacent areas on the board containing components to be shielded from one another, and a brace member securing the two frames together during reflow. Each frame has a peripheral side wall forming an enclosed area of predetermined shape and dimensions and a portion of the side wall of one frame is placed against a portion of the side wall of the other frame so that the two frames together form an enlarged enclosed area divided into two sub-areas by the adjacent side wall portions extending across the enlarged area. The brace member extends over the frames and is secured to their side walls, and may secure two or more frames together.

Abstract: A system for user-programming of system parameters of a cellular telephone. Data values for the system parameters are stored in a nonvolatile memory within the cellular telephone. A password storage area stores one or more predetermined passwords. After purchasing the telephone, the end-user calls a predetermined telephone number and receives one of the predetermined passwords. The user enables a programming mode and enters the predetermined password using the cellular telephone keypad. If the user-entered password matches the stored predetermined password, the cellular telephone allows user access to at least a portion of the system parameters in the nonvolatile memory. A counter tracks the number of user-programming attempts and terminates the programming after either a predetermined number of failures or successful programming of all the desired system parameter values.