Abstract: Methods and systems for merging active dispatch talk groups, which are supported on different call handlers, are provided. The merged talk group can be supported by a single dispatch call handler, or the different dispatch call handlers can support the merged talk group in a master/slave relationship. An identification of the merged talk group is stored for a predetermined amount of time, thereby allowing the merged talk group to be reactivated.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting and receiving RF service signals between a base transceiver station (BTS) of a wireless communication system and subscriber units within a structure. In the forward link, the system demodulates the RF service signal from a BTS to recover a digital service signal; conditions the digital service signal for transmission via the powerline of a structure; and modulates an RF carrier with the digital service signal to generate the RF service signal for wireless transmission to subscriber units within the structure. In the reverse link, the system demodulates the RF service signal from subscriber unit(s) to generate a digital service signal; conditions the digital service signal for transmission via the powerline; and modulates an RF carrier with the digital service signal to generate the RF service signal for transmission to the BTS. Another embodiment eliminates the modulation of an RF carrier with the digital service signal to generate an RF service and vice-versa at the BTS.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is disclosed, including a network; and a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTS) coupled to the network, wherein at least one of the base transceiver station (BTS) is adapted to receive a request to communicate with a mobile communication unit (MU) from the network; determine whether to establish a dedicated voice channel or a dedicated packet data channel with the mobile communication unit (MU) on the basis of the request: and if the dedicated voice channel is established, receive voice information from the network and send the voice information to the mobile communication unit (MU) by way of the dedicated voice channel; or if the packet data channel is established, receive packet data from the network, encode the packet data for joint detection, and send the encoded packet data to the mobile communication unit (MU) by way of the dedicated packet data channel.

Abstract: The coverage radii for a number of wireless transmission stations is calculated based on one or both of a link budget analysis and a propagation model. At least one coverage gap may then be identified within a given coverage area of a communications network, and locations selected for new wireless transmission stations based on a location selection criteria. The previously-identified coverage gap information is updated to take into account the wireless coverage to be provided by the new wireless transmission station, after which additional passes of the coverage area may be performed to identify locations for additional new wireless transmission station based on both the location selection criteria and on the updated coverage gap.

Abstract: Methods and systems for priority access to control channels are provided. A mobile stations is assigned a user priority value. The mobile station selects a retry algorithm from a plurality of retry algorithms based on the assigned user priority value. Alternatively, the assigned user priority value can be used as a seed value for a single retry algorithm. Mobile stations with higher priority values will attempt to access the control channel within shorter time periods and more frequently than those with lower priority values.

Abstract: Methods and systems for IMEI registration are provided. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when an IMEI registration fails due to a network failure, the mobile station implements a back-off algorithm for future IMEI registration attempts. Specifically, the present invention provides a back-off algorithm which determines a different amount of time for the time period between each unsuccessful IMEI registration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating dispatch communications are provided. Buttons related to dispatch communications can be displayed when dispatch call addresses are received by a mobile station. Additionally, selection menus with options related to dispatch communications can be displayed in a call history display when a dispatch communication is selected. When a contact with a dispatch communication address is selected, a selection menu with options related to dispatch communications can be displayed.

Abstract: A communication system that is particularly suited to switch a half duplex session to a full duplex session. The system includes a dispatch call controller that sets up a half duplex session; and a VoIP server that receives a request to switch the half duplex session to a full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and sets up the full duplex session between the subscriber units. In another embodiment, the dispatch call controller receives the request to switch to the full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session. In yet another embodiment, a service broker receives the request, instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session, and instructs the dispatch call controller to terminate the half duplex session.

Abstract: A communication system that facilitates the transmission of audio messages via dispatch communications to subscriber units as members of a distribution list. The system includes a network device (e.g., a message application server) adapted to receive a dispatch communication including an audio message from an originating subscriber unit intended for member(s) of a distribution list; post the audio message for retrieval by the members of the distribution list; send respective notifications of the posting of the audio message to the members of the distribution list; receive requests for the audio message from the members of the distribution list; and send respective dispatch communications including the audio message to the requesting members of the distribution list.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power saving functions of wireless communication stations are provided. A radio interface layer is provided between an operating system and a wireless modem. The radio interface layer controls reinitialization of the operating system and wireless modem when a notification associated with a dispatch communication service is received from a wireless communication network.

Abstract: System and method for transferring data from a first subscriber identity module (SIM) card to a second SIM card are provided. The first SIM card is inserted into a wireless telephone. Software is downloaded to the wireless telephone. The software converts the data from a format of the first SIM card to a format of the second SIM card. The second SIM card is inserted into the wireless telephone, and the converted data is written to the second SIM card.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting group communications are provided. A group list management server (GLMS) stores communications group definitions in documents, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) documents. The communications group can include communication addresses for different types of communication applications, including electronic mail, voice telephone, data, instant messaging, voice dispatch, short messaging service (SMS), and multimedia service (MMS). Various methods for managing communications groups and features provided for communications groups are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for providing information to a mobile station in a wireless network are provided. According to the method, a mobile station receives a control channel message wrapped in a unified control channel from a base station, and the mobile station determines a transmission type for incoming data, based upon the unified control channel. For a mobile station that operates with multiple transmission types, the mobile station does not have to monitor each of the control channels that the mobile station can receive, because the unified control channel tells the mobile station which transmission type to listen to. Therefore, the battery life of the mobile station can be extended, because the mobile station does not have to monitor numerous control channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a mobile universal communication gateway are provided. The mobile universal communication gateway can bridge a mobile station located in a personal area network with one or more wide area networks. The mobile universal communication gateway can select one or more backhaul communication links to the one or more wide area networks based on a variety of factors such as available bandwidth, access cost, traffic loads and the like. The mobile universal communication gateway can also include a non-volatile storage area to store information for mobile stations of the personal area network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a manually adjustable directional antenna are disclosed. The device includes a housing and the housing includes a wireless modem, a directional antenna and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the directional antenna via a mounting pipe. Alternatively, the housing includes a directional antenna, an adjustment mechanism, and a connector, which couples the directional antenna to an external modem. The adjustment mechanism may be an adjustment knob for the directional antenna within the housing or a rotatable turntable used to support and rotate the entire housing, including the directional antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing in-building wireless communications are provided. A master base transceiver station can include a standards-compliant powerline modem coupled to one or more slave base transceiver stations and/or antenna modules. A bridge can be provided that includes a standards-compliant powerline modem coupled to one or more base transceiver stations. The standards-compliant powerline modems communicate standards-compliant digital signals over powerlines. The master base transceiver station or bridge is coupled to a mobile switching center/base station controller via a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting video are provided. The system determines the type of encoded video frames. Each of the video frames is then placed in a network transport packet. A priority level of the network transport packet is set based on the determined type of the video frame. The system can apply error correction coding to video frames of a lower priority level.

Abstract: A method for providing enhanced service in an IP-based core network having a collapsed wireless system architecture comprises using a modified proxy-call session control function in a broadband wireless router to monitor the IP-based core network and, based on the amount of available resources, either accepting a call or rejecting the call into the network. Additionally, depending on an amount of available resources in the IP-based core network a quality of a call-in-progress or a user application may be adjusted.

Abstract: Dispatch communication testing may be automated by actuating an electrically-controlled switch coupled to an initiating dispatch device to automatically generate dispatch test events. In one embodiment, user-defined test parameters may be used to determine exactly when the switch is to be actuated. The resulting test events may then be recorded and compared to corresponding recognized dispatch events, where the recognized dispatch events are those dispatch activities that were actually carried out by either the initiating dispatch device or a target dispatch device. One or more performance characteristic for the initiating dispatch device and/or the dispatch communication network may then be determined based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for congestion mitigation in wireless communication networks are provided. The congestion mitigation can include assignment of a new user class, a mobile station identifier, a mobile station identifier and a reserved traffic channel and/or an alternative access channel in another wireless communication network. These congestion mitigation techniques can be employed for selected mobile stations when an activity on an access channel is above a threshold level.