Abstract: A mobile node and its home system generate synchronized time-based codes at periodic time intervals. Each time-based code is valid for a predetermined time period. To facilitate anonymous operation when roaming, the mobile node identifies itself with a coded identifier instead of a public identifier. The coded identifier used at a given time includes the time-based code that is valid for that given time. To authenticate the mobile node, a serving system receives authentication information from the mobile node and forwards the authentication information to a home system. The authentication information includes the current time-based code and a timestamp. The home system identifies the mobile node from the current time-based code and the timestamp. The home system then uses the authentication information to authenticate the mobile node.

Abstract: Bit-stripping methods are described for protecting digital media content against illicit recording and sharing. In one such method, a client device receives the media content and performs bit stripping on the received media content, thereby creating two datasets: stripped data and recombination data. The client device then recombines the datasets to reconstitute the media content, and it plays back the media content. Preferably, the media content on the client device is not available to recording software, and either the stripped data or the recombination data is also unavailable to such software. The client device may store one of these datasets; when future playback is desired, the client device requests the other of the datasets from a server. The bit-stripping may be performed in a client-specific way to discourage sharing of datasets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for adjusting the paging-scheme settings of a switch in an effort to reduce the likelihood that a wireless device roams from a preferred to a non-preferred coverage area. One exemplary method involves: (i) a switch in a radio access network (RAN) determining that a wireless communication device (WCD) should be paged, wherein the WCD is operating in a preferred coverage area; (ii) the switch determining a likelihood of roaming for the first WCD, wherein the likelihood of roaming indicates the likelihood that the first WCD will be handed off from the preferred coverage area to a non-preferred coverage area; (iii) based at least in part on the likelihood of roaming, the switch adjusting at least one paging-scheme setting affecting attempts to page the WCD; and (iv) paging the WCD according to the at least one adjusted paging-scheme setting.

Abstract: Methods and devices for supporting simple Internet Protocol (IP) with address translation in a wireless communication device (WCD) are presented. The WCD may contain a translation module and an application module. The application module may be assigned a local IP address to which the application module binds. However, the translation module may attempt to hide the application module's use of this local address. Thus, the translation module may translate the source address of packets sent by the application module from the local IP address to a different IP address that has been assigned to the WCD by a Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP) gateway.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide a delayed zone-update process. An exemplary method may involve a user entity, which is initially operating in a first of a plurality of multi-coverage-area zones in a radio access network (RAN), subsequently determining that the user entity has moved into a second multi-coverage-area zone of the RAN, wherein the user entity is located in a first coverage area of the second multi-coverage-area zone. In response, the user entity may refrain from sending a registration message to register in the second multi-coverage-area zone until the earlier of: (i) a threshold period of time elapsing and (ii) the user entity moving into another coverage area in the second multi-coverage-area zone that is different from the first coverage area.

Abstract: Active devices in communication with an access node of the wireless communication system through a mixed carrier are determined. Based on determined channel conditions, a determined RF load, and a determined load ratio of the at least one mixed carrier, a modulation and coding scheme and a frequency band are selected. Using the selected modulation and coding scheme and frequency band, a mixed broadcast is transmitted on the mixed carrier.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamically adjusting a signal-to-noise (SNR) bias based on relative load between a macro type base station and a micro type base station of a wireless communication system. The SNR bias corresponds to a threshold differential SNR between SNRs of the macro base station and of the micro base station, wherein the SNR bias is configured to be provided to an access terminal (or user equipment) to cause the access terminal (i) to be biased to seek service from the micro base station if the access terminal detects an SNR from the micro base station that is less than the threshold differential SNR below an SNR that the access terminal detects from the macro base station, and (ii) to be biased to seek service from the macro base station otherwise. Once the SNR bias is determined based on the relative load, it is communicated to one or more access terminals.

Abstract: A method and system for determining whether an access terminal will perform a hand off to a target base station (BS) or register with a currently-serving BS and thereafter hand off to the target BS. In making that determination, the access terminal may make and compare pilot signal strength measurements. For a target BS transmitting a pilot signal detected to be stronger than a pilot signal transmitted by the currently-serving BS, the access terminal determines whether a distance between the target BS and a currently-registered BS exceeds a registration distance associated with the currently-registered BS. If the registration distance is exceeded, the access terminal registers with the currently-serving BS prior to handing off to the target BS such that the access terminal is more likely to receive page messages directed to the access terminal while it is registering with the currently-serving BS and handing off to the target BS.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). A mobility server facilitates call handoffs for the multi-mode mobile station, from the WLAN to the WWAN and vice versa. The mobility server maintains an activity log for the multi-mode mobile station. When the multi-mode mobile station becomes involved in a call, the mobility server stores call information regarding the call in the activity log. During the call, the multi-mode mobile station transmits a handoff request. In response to the handoff request, the mobility server controls establishment of a bearer path for call handoff between the WLAN and the WWAN, based on the call information contained in the activity log.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may limit the number of channel assignment messages that it transmits to a wireless communication device (WCD) when the quality of one or more wireless coverage areas available to the WCD is impaired. For example, if the paging channel utilization of a given wireless coverage area is high, or if the WCD receives a signal strength from the given wireless coverage area that is low, the RAN may refrain from transmitting a channel assignment message via the given wireless coverage area. Similarly, if the aggregate paging channel utilization of a plurality of such wireless coverage areas is high, or if the WCD receives an aggregate signal strength from the one or more wireless coverage areas that is high, the RAN may transmit channel assignment messages via a limited number of wireless coverage areas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing an enhanced best-effort quality of service (QOS) are provided. As third-party real-time applications may be unable to explicitly signal QOS requests in some environments, this enhanced best-effort QOS may be applied to real-time flows associated with third-party applications. For instance, devices in an access network may determine that a packet is part of a real-time flow of packets, and is associated with a third-party application. In response to this determination, these devices may forward the packet according to the enhanced real-time QOS.

Abstract: A service profile for a mobile station identifies at least a first set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a first radio access network and a second set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a second radio access network. A service platform, such as an application server, receives a signaling message, e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message, and the service platform identifies which radio access network is serving the mobile station based on information contained in the signaling message. The service platform then controls the provision of services to the mobile station based on the identified radio access network, in accordance with the service profile.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method that enables a radio access network (RAN) to page more mobile stations concurrently. By reducing the size of the individual page record, more page records can fit within a general page message (GPM), and thus more mobile stations can receive page messages. One method of reducing the size of an individual page record is to reduce the size of the terminal IDs that page records carry. Currently, terminal IDs are globally unique, but they can be shortened if replaced with locally unique IDs. These locally unique IDs are unique for only mobile stations in a given paging area, unique for only mobile stations assigned to a given paging channel time slot, and/or unique for only mobile stations in a subgroup of mobile stations assigned to a given paging channel time slot. The number of mobile stations in any of these groups is smaller than the number of mobile stations in the global network.

Abstract: In order to provide wireless service to wireless communication devices (WCDs) at different altitudes (e.g., on different levels of a high-rise structure), a radio access network (RAN) may include antennas aimed to direct coverage at different heights. The RAN may advertise the presence of wireless coverage areas that provide elevated coverage primarily to the WCDs above a threshold altitude. Similarly, the RAN may advertise the presence of wireless coverage areas that provide ground floor coverage primarily to WCDs below the threshold altitude. In this way, when a WCD is handed off to a new wireless coverage area, that wireless coverage area may be suited to provide coverage at the WCD's altitude.

Abstract: An originating mobile station seeks to establish a push-to-talk (PTT) communication session with a destination mobile station. To do this, the originating mobile station transmits a first request message that requests the PTT session. Before receiving a predefined indication that the requested PTT session has been accepted, the originating mobile station transmits a first continuation message that includes first session description information to facilitate establishment of the PTT session. A PTT server receives the first request message and, before receiving the first continuation message, transmits to the destination mobile station a second request message that requests the PTT session. The PTT server then transmits a second continuation message that includes second session description information. The destination mobile station receives the second request message and, before receiving the second continuation message, transmits an acceptance message indicating acceptance of the requested PTT session.

Abstract: A method and system for registering a client for a call-pickup service and for executing the call-pickup service for a new call placed to a given communication device. The call-pickup service may carried out, in part, by providing the client with notification of when the new call is placed to the given communication device, the client requesting that the new call be re-routed to a location other than the given communication device, and a server re-routing the new call to the location other than the given communication device. The location other than the given communication device may be the client that registers for the call-pickup service or another location.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for use of a femtocell in a vehicle (an “in-vehicle femtocell”) to help limit operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) positioned in the vehicle. In one implementation, registration (or registration attempts) of one or more WCDs with an in-vehicle femtocell may be used as a basis to trigger limitations on certain WCD functions in a vehicle, such as to prevent a WCD from providing text-messaging service for instance. In another implementation, a WCD may receive a signal from an in-vehicle femtocell and in response to the signal, the WCD may register with the femtocell to be served with wireless communication service by the femtocell. In addition to registering with the femtocell, the WCD may limit certain of its own functions while it is in the vehicle and being served with wireless communication service by the femtocell.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing paging-channel resources, and in particular, dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on PCO in a sector, are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (a) at an access network configured to page mobile stations via a paging channel of a sector in the access network, determining a paging channel occupancy (PCO) level for the sector; (b) using the determined PCO level as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level to be used to page mobile stations in the sector, wherein the page-concatenation level is selected from a plurality of available page-concatenation levels; and (c) applying concatenation to pages to mobile stations in the sector according to the selected page-concatenation level.

Abstract: In one aspect, an exemplary method involves a WCD: (i) determining a likelihood of roaming, wherein the likelihood of roaming indicates a likelihood that the WCD will be handed off from a preferred coverage area to a non-preferred coverage area; and (ii) using the likelihood of roaming as a basis for managing an active set of the WCD. In particular, the WCD may manage its active set by setting at least one active-set parameter affecting the number of active sectors in an active set of the WCD, and then maintaining its active set according to the setting of the at least one active-set parameter. According to an exemplary embodiment, a WCD will make an effort to increase the number of sectors in its active set when the likelihood of roaming is greater, and vice versa.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for determining initial transmit power are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves a mobile station (1) determining an interference level for the forward link; (2) if the determined interference level is greater than a threshold interference level, then determining an interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of (a) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level and (b) a predetermined constant; (3) if the determined interference level is less than the threshold interference level, then determining the interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of: (a) the maximum of: (i) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level, and (ii) zero, and (b) a predetermined constant; (4) using the determined interference correction factor as a basis for determining an initial transmit power level; and (5) transmitting an initial access probe to the base station at the determined initial transmit power level.