Abstract: Registration attempts by a terminal using a contention protocol to communicate with a central system are controlled by transmitting a registration index from the central system to the terminal at specified temporal periods, and modifying the value of the registration index when the terminal should attempt to register with the central system. A mode flag is transmitted from the central system to the terminal at predetermined temporal intervals, and the value of the mode flag is modified when the central system is recovering from a disaster so that the terminal refrains from immediately attempting to register with the central system. During disaster recovery, the terminal is able to associate itself with one of a plurality of sub-intervals. The central system transmits a sub-interval designator to the terminal at regular temporal periods during disaster recovery. The central system modifies the value of the sub-interval designator after a predetermined number of the regular temporal periods.

Abstract: A communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule. The frequency band search schedule has a first or home band and a several other frequency bands in a predetermined order. The order of the frequency bands may be programmed by the user or by a home service provider over the air. The communication device searches for an acceptable service provider by examining the home band and then the other bands listed in the frequency band search schedule. The bands are examined in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule. An acceptable service provider is identified by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers.

Abstract: A frequency correction process involves the steps of generating a plurality of tone values for a plurality of tone bins, where the plurality of tone bins includes a first set of tone bins assigned to a first frequency range and a second set of tone bins assigned to a second frequency range; performing complex conjugate multiplication between the tone values of the first and the second sets of tone bins; identifying a maximum value from results of the complex conjugate multiplication; and shifting receiver frequency based on a location of the maximum value relative to a predetermined pilot tone location.

Abstract: In a wireless communications system, a data link layer and a medium access control layer are connected to each other by data and control paths, where the data path is operable to exchange frames between the data link layer and the medium access control layer and the control path is operable to exchange control messages between the data link layer and the medium access control layer. The data link layer includes a queue for storing frames received from the medium access control layer and the medium access control layer includes a queue for storing frames received from the data link layer. The data link layer is adapted to pass new data frames from a higher layer relative to the data link layer into the data link layer queue and to suspend a retransmission timer upon a congestion message received from the medium access control layer, the congestion message being responsive to a level of stored frames in the medium access control queue.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling congestion in a wireless communication system. The method generally comprises the steps of: (a) the medium access control layer detecting congestion; (b) the medium access control layer communicating a control message with the data link control layer indicating a congested state; (c) in the congested state, the data link layer placing frames received from a higher layer into a data link layer queue and suspending frame transmission to the medium access control layer; and (d) upon receipt of a control message indicating an uncongested state, the data link control layer sending frames to the medium access control layer.

Abstract: Automated activation and provisioning technologies can be applied in a variety of scenarios. For example, an automated activation and provisioning server can translate user desired features into associated provisioning directives. The directives can then be sent to elements of a wireless communications network support system. Activation and provisioning for a rich set of features can thus be achieved without manual intervention or reaction to the user's choices. Receipt of the user's choices can be accomplished in real time via a user interface of a mobile wireless device or a web-based user interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the current data communication capabilities of the North American Terrestrial System (NATS) Network is presented. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an airborne data server (ADS) is added to the airborne architecture of the current NATS Network and a ground data gateway (GDG) is added to the ground-based architecture of the current NATS Network. The ADS functions as a router/gateway connected to many local area networks (LANs) aboard the aircraft. The ADS provides for the automation of data services such as scheduling, routing and translation. The GDG is the central hub for the network and dispatcher of data to customer premises or to the aircraft.

Abstract: A TDMA wireless communication system adjusts the power control target and transmission power based upon link quality to enhance voice capacity. The power can be adjusted in response to the average SNIR and number of decoding errors in a link quality reporting period. The power control target can be increased and decreased in discrete intervals after evaluating the number of decoding errors in the reporting period. The transmission power can be adjusted towards the new power control target based upon the average SNIR.

Abstract: A cellular/wireless foreign subscriber is enabled to use her/his own cellular/wireless telephone instrument in a local cellular/wireless (C/W) network/system by entry of a code and a PIN into the local network/system desired to be used. The local C/W network/system algorithmically responds to the code and PIN by changing characteristics of the radio equipment of the local C/W network/system to accommodate operation of the subscriber's cellular/wireless telephone instrument with the network/system desired to be used.

Abstract: Methods and systems monitor a period of time associated with using a wireless device when the wireless device is integrated with a vehicle. The methods and systems can include a wireless network that communicates with the wireless device. The methods and systems can further include a computer server communicating with the wireless network that monitors a period of time associated with the wireless device while the wireless device is integrated with the vehicle. Revenue associated with the time period may be used to determine a revenue split between a wireless service provider and at least one other party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for programming a cellular telephone with activation parameters. A cellular telephone to be programmed is connected to a computer via communications interface. A user input device is provided to allow a user to provide programming information, including a cellular telephone type, to the computer. A visual representation of the cellular telephone type is displayed on a display monitor o allow the user to interactively verify the inputted programming information. Upon such user verification, the computer determines activation parameters and transmits the activation parameter to the cellular telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the user provided programming information. In one embodiment, the user enters a cellular telephone number to be assigned to the cellular telephone. The computer looks up a system identification associated with the cellular telephone number in memory unit.

Abstract: An intelligent roadway system is configured to detect and track a usage of a roadway by a vehicle by identifying a wireless device carried on the vehicle. The account of the user, associated with the wireless device, is charged for the usage of the roadway based on the detected information through the wireless device. Road services, such as directions, road conditions, weather forecast and traffic status may also be provided interactively through the wireless device while the vehicle is on the roadway.

Abstract: An improved multi-antenna receiver is realized for detecting signals transmitted by a multi-antenna transmitter by summing signals received at the plurality of receiver antennas after multiplying each by a respective constant. The summed signal is applied to a maximum likelihood detector. The respective constants, &lgr;j, where j is an index designating a particular receiver antenna, are determined by evaluating the largest eigenvector of the matrix A, where &Lgr; is a vector containing the values &lgr;j, and A is a matrix containing elements &agr;ij, which is the transfer function between the ith transmitter antenna to the jth receiver antenna. The &agr;ij terms are determined in the receiver in conventional ways.

Abstract: A device communicates with a telecom system to establish a call or data session. The communication includes an identifier used by the telecom system to obtain account information and/or preauthorization from a fund guardian. The fund guardian maintains account information about the device and/or subscriber associated with the identifier. A fund guardian authorizes a call access cost or data session access cost. The telecom system facilitates the call or data session between the device and a destination address until the authorized access costs are expired. A reauthorization can occur prior to expiration. An access rate negotiation may also include a bandwidth negotiation.

Abstract: A mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station's landline number.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal device such as a cellular telephone is provided with a preliminary identifier stored in memory. The identifier allows access to a cellular network for verification and provides essentially unique identification by the network, but is insufficient to allow further use of the network. During verification, the identifier is analyzed by a cellular network processor and a determination is made whether the cellular telephone should have restricted access to the network. Upon favorable completion of the identifier analysis, a signal may be transmitted to the cellular telephone that allows the cellular telephone to have less restricted access to the network.

Abstract: A system for processing a batch which is distributed into a plurality of independent segments. A preferred embodiment of this invention calls for implementation on a symmetrical multiprocessing platform, however, the invention is also applicable to massively parallel architectures as well as uniprocessor environments. Each segment comprises a plurality of discrete events, each discrete event comprising a plurality of sub-events to be processed. The system operates to process each discrete event within each segment sequentially and each sub-event within each discrete event sequentially. The plurality of segments may be processed on an uniprocessor, an SMP system or an MPP system. By balancing the number of discrete events in each segment using a “course grain” approach, a flexible but efficient use of processor availability is obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hold termination message service in a communications network. An on-hold telephone call between a hold initiating party and a holding party is monitored at a network node for a hold termination signal, such as a DTMF signal, from the holding party. A hold termination message can be recorded when the hold termination signal is detected. The hold termination message is then delivered from the network node to the hold initiating party.

Abstract: An iterative method involves performing a coarse frequency correction process which adjusts receiver frequency so that a pilot tone signal is within a predetermined frequency range and, after performing the coarse frequency correction process, performing a fine frequency correction process which adjusts receiver frequency so that the pilot tone signal is substantially aligned with a pilot tone reference within the predetermined frequency range. By performing these processes, the receiver frequency may be adjusted so that the alias pilot tone signal is substantially aligned with the pilot tone reference and the pilot tone signal is undesirably shifted outside the predetermined frequency range. To eliminate this condition, the method further involves performing the coarse frequency correction process again and, after performing the coarse frequency correction process again, performing the fine frequency correction process again.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a data link layer tunneling technique is disclosed for improving the throughput of high speed data in a noisy wireless environment. The method for recovering lost frames transmitted between a packet sending unit and a packet receiving unit in a data communications system, and generally comprises the steps of: (a) identifying a failure to successfully receive a missed frame at the packet receiving unit; (b) establishing a logical tunnel channel at the packet receiving unit to acknowledge the next successfully received frame; (c) starting a first timer at the packet receiving unit; (c) upon receiving a tunnel establishment request from the packet receiving unit, the packet sending unit resending the missed frame on the logical tunnel channel and starting a second timer; and (d) the packet sending unit resending the missed frame a specified number of times until receiving an acknowledgement from the packet receiving unit.