Abstract: Disclosed is a personal identity beacon, which can be attached to a keychain, integrated into jewelry, and the like. The personal identity beacon can include a GPS receiver and a transmitter for communicating with a wireless macro network. The subscriber is also provided with universal service identifiers (e.g., telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and the like). The beacon periodically determines its current location and forwards its determined location to the wireless macro network. A subscriber registers geographic locations for forwarding communication services, such as home, the office, and the like, and corresponding communication service identifiers.

Abstract: A system and method for handoff are provided. A mobile station performs a make-before-break handoff of a control channel between a serving and target base station and a break-before-make handoff of a traffic channel between the serving and target base stations. The traffic channel handoff is performed after the control channel handoff has completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visual light communication in an underwater environment are provided. The system can include a master control station that determines an amount of impairment of a water medium and selects one of a wired and wireless communication transceiver for exchanging communications with communication device located in the water. The system can also include a first gateway that exchanges radio frequency signals with the master control station and provides visual light communication signals to devices located in the water. The system can also include a second gateway that can exchange both visual light communication signals and acoustic communication signals with other devices located in the water.

Abstract: A wireless communication system including dispatch call controllers, signaling gateways, base stations, a first network coupling the dispatch call controllers to the signaling gateways, and a second network coupling the signaling gateways to the base stations. The signaling gateways serve as intermediaries between dispatch call controllers and base stations by translating messages received from dispatch call controllers intended for the base stations from the protocol used in the first communications network to the protocol used in the second communications network, and translating messages received from base stations intended for dispatch call controllers from the protocol used in the second communications network to the protocol used in the first communications network. The system may be configured such that each dispatch call controller has individual logical links to each of the signaling gateways, and each signaling gateway has logical links to a distinct subset of the base stations.

Abstract: A dispatch translation server (DTS) translates messages between a first dispatch communication network that uses a first protocol and a second dispatch communication network that uses a second protocol. The messages relate to the setting up of a dispatch communication session, controlling the channel floor of the dispatch communication session, and terminating the dispatch communication session.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing a forward link time slot are disclosed. Information being sent to each user sharing a time slot in a 1× evolution data only (1×EV-DO) frame is assigned a number of Walsh codes and allocated an amount of transmit power. The total amount of transmit power used by a base transceiver station for a time slot is divided among the users. The number of Walsh codes and amount of transmit power assigned to each user sharing a time slot can be based upon the RF conditions being experienced by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for placing a dispatch call from an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) to a non-iDEN network is disclosed. An inter-urban call restriction check process is performed by an iDEN dispatch call processor if a response to a query indicates that a target dispatch call processor associated with a called entity is associated with the iDEN network and the inter-urban call restriction check process is not performed by the iDEN dispatch call processor if the response indicates that the target dispatch call processor is associated with the non-iDEN network.

Abstract: A system and method for predefined dispatch talk group calls are provided. A first and second dispatch communication network use different dispatch station identifiers. Dispatch station identifiers in the format of the first network are stored in the dispatch communication server of the first network, dispatch station identifiers of the second network are stored in a dispatch communication server of the second network, and a group server of the second network includes a mapping of the dispatch station identifiers between the two networks. Providing the mapping of dispatch station identifiers in the second network allows predefined dispatch group calls between communication stations of different dispatch communication networks without requiring any changes to the addressing used in one of the dispatch communication networks.

Abstract: A wireless communication system including a carrier network, a network application server coupled to the carrier network, and a base station coupled to the carrier network. The base station is adapted to determine whether a subscriber unit is designated as having relatively high priority for accessing the carrier network; encode data for joint detection and transmit the encoded data to the subscriber unit if the subscriber unit is designated as having relatively high priority for accessing the carrier network; or transmit the data to the subscriber unit without encoding the data for joint detection if the subscriber unit is not designated as having relatively high priority for accessing the carrier network.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating vocoder resources for interconnect calls includes consideration of whether an interconnect call request occurs during a known period of heightened network activity. In an embodiment a vocoder type is assigned to a given interconnect call based on a comparison of the available capacity of the telecommunications network to one or more threshold values, and a determination on whether or not the telecommunications network is in a predefined high activity or usage period. In certain embodiments, the vocoder is adapted to operate in one of two possible types, where the first type is characterized by a higher voice quality, but a lower network capacity, than the second type.

Abstract: A wireless communication system useful in assisting and locating users of mobile communication units (MUs) with emergency situations. In one embodiment, the system includes position determining equipment (PDE) to generate position data information related to receiving an emergency call request, wherein some of the PDEs are associated with a first wireless carrier and others associated with a second carrier; and a mobile positioning center (MPC) adapted to determine an approximate location of an emergency-calling MU from the position data information received from the PDEs. In another embodiment, the system includes PDEs, wherein at least one is a standalone PDE; and an MPC. In another embodiment, the system includes a mobile switching center (MSC), bases stations restricted to emergency use only, and PDEs associated respectively with the base stations. In another embodiment, the system includes PDEs adapted to transmit position data information to an MPC via a wireless medium.

Abstract: A multicarrier base transceiver system includes first control circuitry adapted to receive first control data and voice data from a communications network and arrange the received data into a plurality of logical channels including a paging channel and a plurality of traffic channels for transmission on a first carrier. Second control circuitry is adapted to receive second control data and messaging data, arrange the received messaging data into a plurality of logical traffic channels for transmission on a second carrier, and send the received second control data to the first control circuitry. The first control circuitry transmits the first control data and second control data on the paging channel of the first carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing location based services are provided. Location based services can include establishing a call between mobile stations when the mobile stations are within a predetermined distance from each other. The location based services can also include providing an originating mobile station with a relative distance to a destination mobile station. The locations of the originating and destination mobile stations can be determined using a timing advance value and information used for a smart antenna array.

Abstract: Antenna arrangements that include two or more antennas in an enclosure are provided. Each of these antennas can be tuned to a separate frequency band and/or can support a different wireless communication technology. The downtilt of the antennas can be electrically and/or mechanically controlled, and various feeder arrangements can be employed.

Abstract: A system and method for priority dispatch communications are provided. Priority access to the communication network is provided. Additionally, barge-in for active dispatch communications in a publicly-accessible network are provided. When the user is in an active dispatch communication with another communication station, and a dispatch communication request from a second communication station is received, it is determined whether a priority value of the second communication station is higher than a priority value assigned to the user or the other communication station. When the priority value for the second communication station is higher, the dispatch communication between the user and the other communication station is suspended, and a dispatch communication is established between the user and the second communication station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying charges on a bill are provided. Each charge category is assigned an associated symbol. The associated symbol appears in proximity to the corresponding charge category on the bill. If a charge category includes charge subcategories, the symbol can also appear on the bill in proximity to the charge subcategory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing notices related to diagnostic information are provided. Diagnostic information related to a monitored device is provided to database. When it is determined that the diagnostic information indicates that service-related information should be provided to a communication station, such information is transmitted to the communication station. This information can identify one or more service providers that can address issues related to the diagnostic information.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to allow users to receive and transmit real-time traffic flow information. A service provider can utilize information gathering infrastructure to receive, store, and transmit the real-time traffic data to groups or individual users. An information-generating subscriber can provide information required to determine road traffic conditions using a cellular telephone. A system of incentives is provided to overcome the reluctance of users to transmit their individual traffic data to the service provider by assigning some amount of positive points for data transmission to a central network. Users who choose only to receive data are assigned some amount of negative points. Points are converted during the billing process to fees for using the system, whereby users who both transmit and receive data ultimately pay less for utilizing the system than users who choose only to receive data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for floor control in a multi-media push-to-talk network is disclosed. A device for communication in the multi-media network includes a floor request sensor. The floor request sensor includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The method includes sending a floor grant request message for a first media type in a multi-media dispatch communication session and a floor request message for a second media type in the multi-media dispatch communication session by a floor request sensor of a communications device to a dispatch network controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for floor control in a multi-media dispatch network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a floor request message related to a first media type at a dispatch network controller from a first user and receiving a floor grant request message related to a second media type at the dispatch network controller from the first user. The apparatus includes a dispatch network controller where the dispatch network controller receives a floor request message related to a first media type from a first user and receives a floor grant request message related to a second media type from the first user.