Abstract: A mobile device may obtain time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements from wireless signals transmitted by a plurality of nodes. The plurality of nodes may include synchronized nodes that are synchronized to a time reference and an unsynchronized node that has a time synchronization error relative to the time reference. An estimated location of the mobile device can be determined based on the TDOA measurements. Another estimated location of the mobile device can be determined based on other data, such as the mobile device scanning an object having a known location. The time synchronization error can then be determined based on a distance between these estimated locations. Once the time synchronization error has been determined, it can be used to correct subsequent TDOA measurements involving the unsynchronized node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for managing the extent of registration signaling that a communication device sends when activating a network process, based on how long the process was turned off. For instance, if the device turns off without deregistering from a communication network and then turns on while the network registration is still current, an example system or method may help the device to recognize this situation and reduce unnecessary signaling associated with restarting a network process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may take advantage of unused space in general page messages (GPMs) by including multiple instances of a given page in the same GPM, in an effort to improve the chances that the intended mobile station receives the page. An exemplary paging method involves: (a) before a transmission of a general page message (GPM) that is formatted to include up to a maximum number of page records, making a determination that less than the maximum number of page records are scheduled to be included in the GPM; (b) in response to the determination, selecting, from the page records that are scheduled to be included in the GPM, at least one page record for which to include two or more instances in the GPM; and (c) transmitting the GPM, wherein two or more instances of the at least one selected page record are included in the transmission of the GPM.

Abstract: A node in a telephone network such as a switch stores associations between called and calling parties and colored ringback media played by the called party. Later, when the same calling party calls the called party, the node retrieves the stored ringback media and forwards the media to the calling party on behalf of the called party. In one embodiment, the node comprises a switch. In other embodiments, the node is a central server caching called/calling party combinations and associated ringback media and provides the ringback media forwarding function for a distributed population of called parties. Such called parties may comprise wireless phones.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an optimized mobile-IPv6 encapsulation. A mobile node sends packets to a correspondent node by encapsulating a packet using an IPv6 routing extension header, and reverse tunneling the packet to a home agent. The home agent modifies the packet and forwards it to the correspondent node. When the correspondent node sends packets to the mobile node's home address, the home agent intercepts the packet, encapsulates the packet with an IPv6 routing extension header, and tunnels the packet to the mobile node. Consequently, because packets are tunneled using IPv6 routing extension headers, the amount of overhead in each encapsulated packet is reduced, thus increasing the available bandwidth in a network.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling broadcast of system identification. A base station may broadcast in one or more timeslots of a control channel, as a System Identifier (SID) of the base station, a particular SID, but may broadcast in one or more other timeslots of the control channel, as a SID of the base station, a different SID. In addition, when a mobile station registers to be served by the base station, the base station may determine which slot(s) of the control channel the mobile station will monitor and may broadcast in the determined slot(s) a SID that may help to keep the mobile station from transitioning to be served by a different base station.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for routing signaling traffic. One embodiment takes the form of a method that involves a networking device determining that a level of signaling traffic intended for a group of one or more destinations is greater than a threshold level, and responsive to the signaling traffic being greater than the threshold level, the networking device lowering a priority assigned to signaling traffic intended for the group of one or more destinations. The networking device may output the signaling traffic intended for the group of one or more destinations with the lowered priority.

Abstract: A method and system for vertical handoff of a mobile station from a first-protocol RAN to a second-protocol RAN. The method and system provide a make-before-break vertical handoff, by having the first-protocol RAN (i) acquire, on behalf of the mobile station, a traffic channel assignment defining one or more traffic channel parameters for air interface communication in the second-protocol RAN, and (ii) pass to the mobile station, via the first air interface protocol, the one or more traffic channel parameters so that the mobile station can then readily switch over to communication under the second-protocol RAN. Optimally, the acquisition and passing of the one or more second-protocol traffic channel parameters may occur without the mobile station having requested the handoff, without the mobile station having asked for the traffic channel assignment, and without the mobile station having yet begun communication with the second-protocol RAN.

Abstract: Methods and systems for making decisions regarding handing off a user-equipment device from a serving base station to a neighboring base station. Base stations in a wireless communication network measure parameters regarding forward-links from the base stations and reverse-links to the base stations. Each base station transmits its measured parameters to its neighboring base station(s). Each base station can determine differences between the parameters it measures and the parameters measured by a neighboring base station. The differences indicate whether the quality of service provided by the serving base station is greater than the quality of service provided by a neighboring base station. The servicing base station transmits the differences to user-equipment devices served by that base station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that may help a base station to adjust forward-link data rates in a given sector based on transmission-power variations in neighboring sectors. An exemplary method involves a base station that serves a first sector: (a) determining a respective transmission power for each of two or more channels of a second sector, (b) detecting a transmission-power difference between at least two of the channels of the second sector, and (c) in response to detecting the transmission-power difference: (i) determining a data rate control (DRC) adjustment for the first sector based at least in part on the transmission-power difference; and using the determined DRC adjustment to determine a forward-link data rate for at least one access terminal in the first sector.

Abstract: Methods for marking and verifying an authentication status of a wireless communication device are disclosed. When a wireless communication device is authenticated in a first wireless communication network, copies of a token, are stored in memory accessible by the wireless communication device and in memory accessible by a clearinghouse server. The clearinghouse server also stores a correlation between the token and the identity of the server that authenticated the wireless communication device. When the wireless communication device moves from the first network to a second network, the WCD transmits the token to a server in the second network, which can then query the clearinghouse server to determine the identity of the server that authenticated the WCD in the first network, confirm the authentication status of the wireless communication device, and allow the WCD to access a resource in or via the second network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using coverage or capacity classifications regarding a macro RF network to manage registration of femtocells with a service provider network (SPN) so as to avoid signaling overload are described herein. After a wide-scale power outage within an area where multiple femtocells are located, the femtocells can power on and attempt to register with the SPN at about the same time. The femtocells can scan RF signals received from the macro network and classify the received RF signals with respect to capacity or coverage of the macro network at the time of transmitting the RF signals. A device within the SPN can determine whether classification of the received RF signals is associated with dropping or accepting a registration request associated with the classified RF signals. The SPN device can accept the registration request or drop the registration request and request the femtocell to transmit another registration request.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may receive a call setup request from a wireless communication device (WCD). The call setup request may indicate that the WCD supports a first media codec. The RAN may obtain a set of candidate wireless coverage areas for serving the WCD. A first subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas may support the first media codec, and a second subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas might not support the first media codec. The RAN may assign traffic channels to the WCD, such that the assigned traffic channels include traffic channels from at least two of the first subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas, but do not include traffic channels from any of the second subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas. The RAN may communicate with the WCD substantially simultaneously via the assigned traffic channels using the first media codec.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transmission of communications during a silence interval are described. A base station (BS) provides timing data to an access terminal (AT) and AT uses timing data to synchronize with BS to carry our silence and non-silence intervals for an RF air interface. AT attempts to initiate communications by transmitting an access probe (AP) to BS during a non-silence interval. Other ATs may transmit communications to BS during non-silence interval. If BS acknowledges AP during non-silence interval, AT does not transmit during a subsequent silence interval. If AP was for an emergency communication and BS does not acknowledge AP sent during non-silence interval, AT transmits another AP during the subsequent silence interval to initiate emergency communication. If AP was not for emergency communication, AT does not transmit AP during the subsequent silence interval. The other ATs do not transmit communications to BS during the subsequent silence interval.

Abstract: A UE may be configured to support wireless communication in two or more frequency bands. In some embodiments, the UE initiates a first wireless communication session in a first frequency band of the two or more frequency bands, and in response to initiating the wireless communication session in the first frequency band, the UE prevents itself from communicating in a second frequency band of the set of two or more frequency bands until the first wireless communication session has ended. Some embodiments further include subsequently enabling the UE to communicate in the second frequency band of the set of two or more frequency bands in response to ending the first wireless communication session in the first frequency band.

Abstract: A first cell is selected as a center cell for testing. Downlink transmissions from a one or more surrounding cells are loaded with test load levels. The downlink transmissions, when loaded with test load levels, include a selected amount(s) of the data portions of their transmission frames carrying orthogonal channel noise (OCN). A performance indicator of the center cell is measured/determined while the surrounding cell(s) are transmitting test load levels and while the center cell is communicating user traffic between the center cell and a first plurality of wireless devices. The test load levels of the surrounding cells may also include user traffic in addition to the OCN.

Abstract: A method and systems for managing paging congestion are described. A RAN may receive data indicating that a base station located at a particular geographic location is registering with the RAN. Responsive to receiving the data, the RAN may make a determination of whether a number of base stations in a particular tracking area that corresponds with the particular geographic location is greater than a threshold number of base stations. And responsive to making a determination that the number of base stations is greater than the threshold number of base station: the RAN may create a new tracking area having a new tracking area identity (TAI), the RAN may provision the base station with the new TAI rather than the particular TAI, and the RAN may provide the base station with a tracking area list that includes both the new TAI and a particular TAI identifying the particular tracking area.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a communication system are provided. A network node of the first network can receive a request from a wireless device associated with the first network to establish a data communication session over a second network through an access node of the second network. A status of the access node of the second network can be determined based on an access node identifier. A location of the wireless device can be determined at the network node of the first network. A network condition of the first network can be determined based on the location of the wireless device. The request to establish the data communication session over the second network can be granted when the network conditions of the first network are less than a threshold and the access node of the second network does not have an approved roaming status.

Abstract: A power control command (PCC) transmission scheme is disclosed. In one embodiment, the PCC transmission scheme may involve an access network engaging in a respective communication session with each of a plurality of access terminals on a given wireless link and sending a respective series of PCCs directed to each of the plurality of access terminals on the given wireless link. Based on a power utilization of the given wireless link, the access network may then decide to adjust a transmission rate at which to send PCCs directed to a set of access terminals in the plurality of access terminals. In turn, the access network may send the respective series of PCCs directed to each of the set of access terminals at the adjusted transmission rate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding apparatus for enhanced scheduling of resources based on use of carrier aggregation. The method involves determining that (i) an individual UE is being served with carrier aggregation or with greater than a threshold amount of frequency and (ii) a processor load of the base station is greater than a threshold load. The method then involves, responsive to the determining that the individual UE is being served with carrier aggregation or with greater than a threshold amount of frequency and that the processor load of the base station is greater than the threshold load, causing the base station to allocate an extent of resources to the individual UE without using FSS.