Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to manage paging channels in a wireless communication network. When the network encounters a situation where the network is to transmit an access response message in a coverage area to a mobile station, the network will determine whether the mobile station is in an access handoff state. If not, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on a paging channel selected based on the mobile station's identifier. Otherwise, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on both that paging channel and a default paging channel (e.g., primary channel) selected without consideration of the mobile station's identifier. This process can help avoid an access handoff failure. Further, a radio access network may opt to use the default paging channel in response to the wireless coverage area having a different number of paging channels than an adjacent coverage area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for an access-provisioning node, which may help mobile stations utilize network resources more efficiently when accessing a radio access network. An exemplary method involves: (a) at an access-provisioning node installed in a coverage area of a radio access network, determining a verified transmit power for reverse-link communications from the system-information node to a base station in the radio access network, wherein the reverse link communications are carried out under a first wireless protocol; and (b) the access-provisioning node transmitting a transmit-power message under a second wireless protocol, wherein the second wireless protocol is a short-range wireless protocol, and wherein the transmit-power message comprises an indication of the verified transmit power for use by a mobile station to set an initial transmit power of the mobile station.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) includes a first wireless access point that radiates to define a first wireless coverage area, and a second wireless access point that radiates to define a second wireless coverage area. A dual-mode wireless communication device (WCD), capable of communicating via both the first and second wireless coverage areas registers with the first wireless access point. As part of the registration process, or at some point thereafter, the first wireless access point transmits information that identifies the second wireless coverage area. The first wireless access point also transmits a WCD identifier received from the WCD during the registration process to the second access point, so that the second access point can add the WCD identifier to its whitelist. Thus, via the second wireless coverage area, the WCD can register with the second wireless coverage area.

Abstract: A base station determines occupancy of a channel used for message communication and transmits channel occupancy data to access terminals operable to transmit messages via the channel. An access terminal receives characters for sending a text message via the channel and determines whether the channel occupancy exceeds an occupancy threshold. If the channel occupancy exceeds the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via multiple messages. Each of those messages including a number of characters that does not exceed a maximum number of characters associated with the threshold. If the channel occupancy does not exceed the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via a single message so long as the number of characters does not exceed a maximum number of characters for sending a complete text message to the base station via a single message.

Abstract: In system and method of prioritizing a voice mail message, a voice mail message is received comprising caller information and chronological information, a voice mail priority is associated with the first voice mail message based on at least one of a matching criteria, a call history criteria, a chronological criteria, a frequency metric, and a missed call value, and a voice mail list is ordered according to the voice mail priority.

Abstract: An access terminal establishes a session with a first radio access network (RAN). As a result, the access terminal receives a Unicast Access Terminal Identifier (UATI) assigned by the first RAN and establishes configuration settings for radio communications between the access terminal and the first RAN. The access terminal moves from the first RAN to a second RAN. Before the access terminal has a session established with the second RAN, the access terminal receives a request from a user to originate a call. In response, the access terminal sends the second RAN a connection request that includes the UATI assigned by the first RAN. The second RAN evaluates the UATI included in the connection request and determines that it was previously assigned to the access terminal by another RAN. Based on this determination, the second RAN grants the connection request by assigning a traffic channel to the access terminal.

Abstract: A mobile node is associated with a username assigned by the mobile node's wireless service provider and a nickname selected by the mobile node's user. The nickname is different than the username. When the mobile node logs on for packet data services, the mobile node is assigned a home address and an on-line registration is established in a DNS server. The on-line registration associates the nickname with the home address. The DNS server may then be queried to determine that the mobile node with that nickname is on-line and/or to determine how to reach the mobile node with that nickname. When the mobile node goes off-line, the on-line registration may be changed to an off-line registration that associates the nickname with an address of a messaging server. The messaging server may receive messages for the mobile node and/or provide messages indicating that the mobile node is off-line.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing predictive personality negotiation during session negotiation. In an embodiment, an EV-DO access node negotiates a first session with an access terminal, which involves negotiating a comprehensive set of personalities with the access terminal for the first session. The access node then records a list of personalities actually used by the access terminal during the first session. That list is a subset of the comprehensive set. The access node then negotiates a second session with the access terminal, which involves negotiating only that subset of personalities with the access terminal for the second session.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing wireless service using multiple protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier. According to an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) provides wireless service on an RF carrier using a first wireless-communication protocol and provides wireless service on the RF carrier using a second wireless-communication protocol, where providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the second wireless-communication protocol occur at different times. The LCIB may alternate between providing wireless service using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service using the second wireless-communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating a handoff to a target sector that is not in the neighbor list of a mobile station's current source sector. In at least one embodiment, a mobile station detects (i) that a target sector is a handoff candidate and (ii) that the target sector is not listed in a neighbor list of a source sector; requests to be served by the target sector at least in part by sending an access probe to the target sector; and transitions from engaging in an active communication session via a communication path not including the target sector to doing so via a communication path that does include the target sector. The access probe may include an indication that the mobile station is in an active state. In at least one embodiment, at least one network entity may carry out the one or more network-side aspects that may facilitate the above-described method.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for forward-link data-rate request determination based on neighbor load. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of base stations will determine an initial requested forward-link data rate by measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the forward link from its serving base station. The access terminal will then use information indicative of forward-link traffic load of its neighboring base stations to modify its initial determination, whereby the access terminal will increase its initial determination if the average forward-link traffic load of its neighboring base stations is below a threshold load. The access terminal will then transit its forward-link data-rate request (initial or increased) to its serving base station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for considering macro-network reverse-link conditions when selecting a power level at which to send an initial access probe to a femtocell. In at least one embodiment, a mobile station receives an indication of macro-network reverse noise, and then selects an initial-access-probe transmit power level based at least in part on the value of the received indication. The mobile station then sends an initial access probe to a femtocell at the selected power level. The mobile station may receive indications of macro-network reverse noise such as a reverse noise rise (RNR), reverse frame error rate (RFER), reverse activity bits (RAB), suggested macro-network initial-access-probe transmit power levels, etc.

Abstract: A method and system for managing access probe transmission in a wireless communication system. Upon determining that an external impact event, such as a severe weather event, natural disaster, criminal activity, has occurred, base stations may wirelessly broadcast a control signal that causes certain wireless communication devices served by the base stations to suppress transmission of access probes, while allowing other wireless communication devices served by the base stations to still transmit access probes. In a given coverage area, suppression of access probe transmission by one or more wireless communication devices may thereby free up access channel capacity to facilitate calls or other communications by other wireless communication devices, such as first-responder devices for instance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and device for secret fingerprint scanning and reporting. When a portable communication device has been lost or stolen, an entity may transmit a fingerprint scan-report trigger message to the device. In response to receipt of the fingerprint scan-report trigger message, the device then automatically invokes an integrated fingerprint scanner to scan a fingerprint of a user of the device and to report the resulting fingerprint data to a remote destination. Optimally, the scanning and reporting are done without notification to a user of the device. The method, system, and device may thereby help to identify the user of the device and to potentially recover the device.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems are provided for limiting mobile station operation when multiple mobile stations are moving together in a group. Such group movement includes but is not limited to movement in a vehicle. According to disclosed methods, a determination is made that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, and in response to the determination, operation of one or more of the mobile stations is limited.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for providing pre-call-connection messaging services to calling parties. In at least one embodiment, a first call-setup request is received from a calling party, reflecting a request that an active call be set up between the calling party and a called party. Responsive to the first call-setup request, at least one network device starts to attempt to establish the active call between the calling and called parties at least in part by transmitting a second call-setup request to the called party. Prior to receiving a response to the second call-setup request, the at least one network device starts to record a message for the called party while continuing to attempt to establish the call. If the active call is not successfully established prior to an affirmative termination of the message recording, the recorded message is thereafter made accessible to the called party.

Abstract: A mobile station requests origination of a call and reports signal strength measurements of pilot signals from multiple sectors, where some of the sectors support a preferred air interface configuration (such as RC 11) and some do not. The signal strength measurements may be evaluated to determine which sectors to use for the call and whether to use RC 11 or a default air interface configuration (such as RC 3 or RC 4) for the call. Sectors that support the preferred air interface configuration may be evaluated using a first threshold, and sectors that do not support the preferred air interface configuration may be evaluated using a second threshold. The first threshold can be greater than the second threshold, in order to favor the use of sectors that support the preferred air interface configuration over sectors that do not.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating an access probe transmitted by a wireless communication device (WCD) in a wireless communication system are disclosed. When an access probe is received by a radio access network (RAN), the RAN determines if the WCD that transmitted the access probe is physically located outside a predetermined distance from the RAN. If the WCD is located outside the predetermined distance from the RAN, the RAN evaluates whether a threshold air interface condition is met as part of a determination to accept the access probe and establish communication between the RAN and the WCD.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for utilizing the mobile-station simultaneous hybrid dual receive (SHDR) capability to improve femtocell performance. A femtocell provides service to one or more SHDR mobile stations, each having (1) a transmit and primary receive chain (T×R×0) for communicating with and via the femtocell and (2) a secondary receive chain (R×1) for monitoring a macro network, including monitoring a detected signal strength of one or more pilot channels of one or more macro-network coverage areas. The femtocell receives reports from at least the SHDR mobile stations to which the femtocell is providing service, the reports reflecting at least the detected signal strengths of the respective macro-network pilot channels. The femtocell uses the received reports for making and carrying out decisions as to whether or not to instruct one or more SHDR mobile stations to handoff to the macro network.

Abstract: A method and system to generate a communication system performance indicator log mask is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a processing unit, a request for a performance indicator log mask associated with a performance indicator of a communication system, retrieving, by the processing unit, a plurality of log mask values associated with the performance indicator from a storage unit, and combining, by the processing unit, the plurality of log mask values to generate the performance indicator log mask.