Abstract: Techniques for converting short messages between different formats (e.g., from GSM SMS to CDMA SMS) such that pertinent control information is retained without changing the fundamental structure of these message formats. A new value is defined for the Msg_Encoding field in the User Data subparameter of the CDMA SMS message to indicate that the content of this message is an encapsulated GSM SMS message. The Message_Type field in the User Data subparameter may be used to carry data coding scheme information for the encapsulated GSM SMS message. At a recipient mobile station, the value in the Msg_Encoding field is checked to determine whether or not the CDMA SMS message includes an encapsulated GSM SMS message. If the answer is yes, then the user data in the CHARi fields of the CDMA SMS message is processed based on the data coding scheme information from the Message_Type field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the data rate of a reverse link communication of an access terminal includes receiving a reverse activity bit (RAB) from an access point in the communication system, and passing the RAB to a digital filter to produce a filtered RAB. In one embodiment, the reverse link data rate is determined based on the filtered value of the RAB. Furthermore, a processor in the access terminal may determine whether the access terminal is in an idle mode, and passing a non-busy state value of the RAB to the digital filter when the access terminal is in the idle mode. The filtered RAB may be compared to a threshold to determine a mode of reverse link data rate determination. The mode defines a set of criteria for an aggressiveness level of increasing or decreasing the reverse link communication data rate. The processor, therefore, determines the data rate based on the filtered reverse activity bit in accordance with the determined mode.

Abstract: A mechanism for securely locking and easily releasing a wireless device in a cradle is comprised of a release button located on an outer housing, accessible to a user. The release button extends through the outer housing to an interior in the cradle. An actuator is disposed in the housing and has an arm extending into the interior receptacle area of the cradle, wherein movement of the arm activates the mechanism. A lever is disposed within the housing and is rotatable between a first and a second position. A first end of the lever is located adjacent to the actuator, while a second end of the lever is located adjacent to the release button. A protrusion extends from the lever into the receptacle area when the lever is in the first position and is housed inside the housing when the lever is rotated to the second position. A spring connects the actuator to the lever.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing security in a group communication network provides for receiving an encryption key, encrypting media for transmission to a controller using the received encryption key, the encrypted media being directed to another communication device, and communicating the encrypted media to the controller. In one embodiment, the communicating includes wireless communication. The method and apparatus further provides for receiving encrypted media from a controller and blocking the encrypted media if the communication device is not enabled to receive encrypted-media transmission, or if the media is not encrypted based on an encryption key previously specified by the communication device. In another aspect, the communication device is a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving home agent resources in mobile Internet Protocol (IP) deployment is disclosed. In a wireless communication system supporting mobile IP, a registration request message is sent by a mobile node to a home agent. The registration request includes a care-of address. A home address is provided for the mobile node and is associated with the care-of address. The home agent provides an inactivity timer for the mobile node to monitor the communication activity of the mobile node. In addition, the home agent monitors a condition of a resource. When the condition satisfies an overload condition, the home agent starts a reclaiming resources process that utilizes the inactivity timer for the mobile node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking signals in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, a base station includes a rake antenna having multiple fingers. When any of the fingers goes out of lock, the base station waits a predetermined time period and then adjusts the lock detect filter. The adjustment is based on comparison of received signal energy to an adjusted energy threshold. The comparison may result in an increased energy level of the filter. In one embodiment, if a mobile station is in soft hand-off, the base station ignores the lock state of the fingers and transmits power control information based on the received signal energy. If the mobile station is not in soft hand-off a predetermined power control pattern is applied for gradual power adjustment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the data rate of a reverse link communication of an access terminal includes receiving a reverse activity bit (RAB) from an access network in the communication system, and passing the RAB to multiple digital filters to produce filtered RABs. The reverse link data rate is determined based on these filtered values of the RABs. From the filtered RAB values a continuous fluid power level is determined each rate update. The access terminal maps the continuous fluid power level to actual physical transmissions by dithering among discrete power levels allowed by the physical layer.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to digitally implemented GMSK modulation techniques. The digital GMSK modulation techniques make use of a lookup table (LUT) and mapping logic to digitally generate GMSK waveforms. The mapping logic can significantly reduce the size of the LUT, and thereby reduce memory requirements needed for effective digitally implemented GMSK modulation.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed wherein a gated pilot signal can be acquired faster by checking the neighbor pilot signals of the target pilot signal. A subscriber station may frequency lock onto a wrong pilot burst because a partial correlation exists between the wrong pilot burst and an adjacent pilot burst. Comparing the strength of the target pilot signal with the strength of neighbor pilot signals enables the selection of the strongest pilot signal before the timely process of frequency locking and demodulation are initiated. Grouping pilot signals with the same symbol sequence and a pseudo-random noise increment apart enables quick acquisition of a gated pilot signal.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying an interactive screen, such as an end-user license agreement or verification form, on the graphic display of a wireless device when the wireless device connects to a network server on a wireless network and attempts to access or download software applications and data. The user of the wireless device must then affirmatively interact with the interactive screen in order to access or download a software application or data from the network server. The interactive screen can be transmitted from the network server where the wireless device seeks to access or download an application or data, or can be transmitted from a separate server to the wireless device. The records of the wireless device-server interactions can be stored on a network server or other data stores on the wireless network.

Abstract: A receiver chain (53) for use in a wireless communication system includes a compact, highly correlated, multi-element antenna. The multiple antenna elements (34) and (35) are configured to receive a signal from at least one base station. The highly correlated signals output from the antenna elements (34 and 35) are optimally combined in a controller (55) using a set of weighting factors. The set of weighting factors for each base station signal is determined in response to the spatial signatures of the received signals.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an antenna beam pattern is used to send a communication signal to a user. For example, the antenna beam pattern can be formed using adaptive antenna array technology on the forward link of a wireless communication system. A control signal from the user is used to determine a statistic. For example, the control signal can be a power control bit sent by the user on the return link. The statistic can be an average of the power control bit values over a specified time interval. The statistic is used to narrow the antenna beam pattern and direct it toward the user. For example, a dithering algorithm can be used to optimize the antenna beam pattern. After a call is completed, an optimized antenna beam pattern specific to each user can be stored for the next call to make the optimizing process faster and more efficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending information to a target mobile station includes determining whether the information should be sent as short data burst messages while the target mobile station is in dormant mode, and sending the information to the target mobile station as short data burst messages, without waiting for the traffic channel to be reestablished.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a base station having a plurality of transmit antennas transmits pilot signals to a subscriber station. The subscriber station performs channel measurements on the signals received from the base station through at least two transmit paths and sends path characteristic information for each path to the base station. The base station uses the path characteristic information to determine how best to transmit data from the multiple transmit antennas to a single receive antenna at the subscriber station. Through the use of pre-correction techniques, data signals are transmitted through the multiple transmit antennas such that signals received through the multiple transmit paths can be demodulated and decoded as a single signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a decision feedback equalizer wherein a correction term is used to compensate for slicer errors, thus avoiding error propagation. Filter coefficients for the equalizer are selected so as to minimize a cost function for the equalizer. The cost function calculation includes a correction term. The correction term is a function of the energy of the filter coefficients. In one embodiment, the cost function includes a Mean Squared Error (MSE) calculation. The equalizer includes a coefficient generator responsive to the correction term. The correction term may depend on the Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio (SINR) at the output of the equalizer.

Abstract: A composite signal has two components, each carrying a stream of information that may be digital. In one application of a method according to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the components is delayed such that a time relation between the streams of information is altered. The components are transferred via a common signal path such that upon transfer, the original time relation between the streams of information may be restored.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for generating position assistance information that can be used by a subscriber unit of a wireless communication system. In accordance with this disclosure, a position determination entity (PDE), e.g., which may be coupled to one or more of the base stations, implements techniques that can improve the position assistance information, and therefore improve the ability of the subscriber unit to quickly and accurately identify its location using the positioning satellites. In particular, the PDE receives information from the subscriber unit indicative of signals detected by the subscriber unit in the wireless communication system, and then divides an area where the subscriber unit is suspected to be into a plurality of sectors. The PDE scores the sectors based on the information received from the subscriber unit, wherein a score for a respective sector indicates a likelihood that the subscriber is in the respective sector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing latency in a group communication network provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and the PTT latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active. The method and apparatus provides for exchanging the group call signaling through the use of the short data burst (SDB) message signaling. The method and apparatus provides for re-establishing dedicated traffic channels for the talker mobile and the dormant listener mobiles advantageously in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques for providing secure processing and data storage for a wireless communication device. In one specific design, a remote terminal includes a data processing unit, a main processor, and a secure unit. The data processing unit processes data for a communication over a wireless link. The main processor provides control for the remote terminal. The secure unit includes a secure processor that performs the secure processing for the remote terminal (e.g., using public-key cryptography) and a memory that provides secure storage of data (e.g., electronics funds, personal data, certificates, and so on). The secure processor may include an embedded ROM that stores program instructions and parameters used for the secure processing. For enhanced security, the secure processor and memory may be implemented within a single integrated circuit. Messaging and data may be exchanged with the secure unit via a single entry point provided by a bus.

Abstract: A digital PLL includes an adaptive PFD, an adaptive loop filter, an iDAC, an ICO, and a divider. The adaptive PFD receives a reference signal and a feedback signal, determines phase error between the two signals, and provides a PFD value for each phase comparison period. The magnitude of the PFD value is adjusted to achieve fast frequency acquisition and reduced jitter. The adaptive loop filter updates its output whenever a PFD value is received, widens the PLL loop bandwidth if a large phase error is detected, and narrows the loop bandwidth if a small average phase error is detected. The iDAC, which can be implemented with both steered and single-ended current sources, converts the loop filter output into analog current. The ICO provides an oscillator signal having a phase determined by the iDAC output. The divider divides the oscillator signal by a factor of N and provides the feedback signal.