Abstract: A method and system for remote troubleshooting of a wireless communication device, such as a cell phone. The cell phone is programmed with server logic, such as a Telnet server application and an FTP server application. A computer at a customer service center for instance is programmed with client logic, such as a Telnet client application and an FTP client application. When a customer service representative receives a call reporting trouble with the cell phone, the representative may conveniently operate the client logic on the computer to log into the cell phone server logic, via a packet-switched network such as the Internet and via a wireless access network (and thus an air interface) serving the cell phone. Through that connection, the customer service representative can thereby cause the cell phone to perform various performance evaluations and can download the evaluation results to conveniently facilitate troubleshooting of the cell phone trouble.

Abstract: Methods and systems for carrier frequency management based on slot contention are provided. A radio access network (RAN) may radiate on one or more carrier frequencies to define wireless coverage areas. Each wireless coverage area may provide network access for one or more wireless communication devices (WCDs). In order to efficiently manage these carrier frequencies, the RAN may measure a slot contention metric for each carrier frequency. Based on the measured slot contention metrics, the RAN may perform a carrier frequency management function affecting at least one of the carrier frequencies. Carrier frequency management functions may include, but are not limited to, assigning a WCD to a carrier frequency, taking a carrier frequency out of service, and placing a new carrier frequency in service.

Abstract: A femtocell base station determines the capacity of its backhaul connection by exchanging test packets with a test server. Based on the backhaul capacity that it determines, the femtocell base station selects a maximum forward link data rate and a maximum reverse link data rate for communications with a mobile station. The femtocell base station adjusts the forward-link rate algorithm used by the mobile station so as to prevent the mobile station from requesting a forward link data rate that exceeds the maximum forward link data rate. The femtocell base station may also adjust the reverse-link rate algorithm used by the mobile station so as to prevent the mobile station from transmitting at a data rate that exceeds the maximum reverse link data rate.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which a wireless communication device that is registered for service with a roaming carrier network engages in peer-to-peer communication, via the roaming carrier network, with a home carrier server to notify the home carrier server of the device's roaming status and location, and the device then receives in response from the home carrier server a directive to register with and be served by a nearby home carrier base station instead.

Abstract: Wireless access terminals operating in a radio access network (RAN) may move from one coverage area to another coverage area formed by base stations within the RAN. The RAN tracks the location of the access terminals so that RAN can efficiently route communications, such as page messages, to a base station serving the access terminals. From time-to-time, the access terminals can send route-update messages to inform the RAN of their locations. Sending the route-update messages can increase the loading on base station channels that carry the messages. Methods, systems, and devices for delaying transmission of the route-update messages are described. Delaying or not delaying transmission of the route-update messages may be dependent on occupancy of access channels of a base station and whether the access terminals are mobile at the time the route-update messages are to be sent.

Abstract: A method and system for differential billing based on the access network through which data traffic flows between a subscriber and a service provider. The service provider may measure the amount of data traffic that flows to and from the subscriber and may determine which access network the traffic flows through on its way between the subscriber and the service provider. Based at least in part on the identity of the access network used, the service provider may determine a fee to charge the subscriber for handling the measured data flow.

Abstract: An exemplary power control command (PCC) transmission scheme is disclosed. In a first aspect, an access terminal may decrease the rate at which to send PCCs directed to an access network in time periods during which a reverse noise on the wireless link over which the access terminal and access network are communicating is greater than a threshold value. In a second aspect, the access terminal may suspend transmission of a first type of PCCs (e.g., either “power up” or “power down” PCCs) directed to the access network in time periods during which the access network's forward transmission power to the access terminal is at boundary level. The exemplary PCC transmission scheme may thus enable the access terminal to decrease the amount of PCC data sent to the access network, which may in turn decrease the reverse noise on the wireless link and thereby improve reverse-link communication.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to help improve accuracy of location determination for a wireless communication device. An exemplary method involves: (a) at a wireless communication device operating in a radio access network, making a determination that the wireless communication device is likely to lose global positioning system (GPS) connectivity; (b) in response to the determination, powering on a GPS receiver to receive GPS location data for the wireless communication device; and (c) powering off the GPS receiver and storing the received GPS location data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handing off packet-transmission between sectors of a wireless communication system is disclosed herein. During transmission of a packet from an access network to an access terminal, the access terminal determines that the packet should theoretically be transmitted to the access terminal in fewer timeslots in another sector than the number of allowed timeslots remaining for the packet transmission in a current sector. In response, the access terminal abandons packet transmission in the current sector and hands off to the other sector, in an effort to increase throughput and save air interface resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for more efficiently scheduling transmission of page messages over a paging channel in a radio access network (RAN). The RAN, which generally assigns slotted messages a higher transmission priority than non-slotted messages, may determine a level of occupancy of the paging channel either periodically, continuously, or responsive to a triggering event. Thereafter, the RAN may compare the level of occupancy to a load threshold, which may either be based on (i) a predicted probability of non-slotted messages that will result from slotted messages in the RAN, or (ii) a ratio of non-slotted messages to slotted messages in the RAN. If the load threshold is based on the ratio, the RAN may determine the load threshold before making the comparison. After making the comparison, the RAN may assign non-slotted messages a higher transmission priority than slotted messages if the level of occupancy exceeds the load threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the volume on a mobile station earpiece based on reverse frame data rate. In an embodiment of the invention, a mobile station transmits a plurality of reverse frames over a specified period of time. For each frame in the plurality of reverse frames, the mobile station measures a reverse frame data rate. The mobile station then uses the measured reverse frame data rates to calculate an average reverse frame data rate for the reverse frames transmitted over the specified period of time. Next, the mobile station adjusts the volume level of an earpiece based at least in part on the average reverse frame data rate.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for paging a mobile station are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments may help to improve the paging success rate for pages such as data-service pages and/or intersystem pages. An exemplary method involves: (i) before transmission of a page to a mobile station by an access network, the access network determining a page-type of the page; (ii) based at least in part of the page-type, determining a page-transmission power for the page; and (iii) the access network transmitting the page at the selected transmission-power level. To determine the page-type, an access network may determine whether the page is a voice-service page or a data-service page and/or determine whether or not the page is an intersystem page. In an exemplary embodiment, the page transmission for data-service pages is preferably greater than that for voice-service pages.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up a communication with a given mobile station served by a RAN that defines one or more coverage areas. The RAN may receive an indication of a location of the given mobile station. The RAN may then use the location of the given mobile station to identify one or more wireless coverage areas associated with the given mobile station. The RAN may also receive a request to set up a communication with the given mobile station. In response, the RAN may assign a channel for the communication to the given mobile station in each identified wireless coverage area without first paging the given mobile station.

Abstract: An access terminal may be operating in a first mode in which it sends DSC transmissions that each indicate a cell in which the access terminal will be requesting data after sending the transmission. The access terminal may then detect that it is located at a boundary between two cells. In response, the access terminal may switch from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode by reducing a number of timeslots that each DSC transmission occupies and beginning to alternate between sending a DSC transmission indicating the first cell and a DSC transmission indicating the second cell. In turn, the BTSs serving the two cells may receive these DSC transmissions and responsively switch from operating in a first mode to operating in a second mode in which both BTSs continue receiving the access terminal's data (e.g., by suspending the sending of “ForwardStopped” messages to an RNC).

Abstract: A method for streaming multimedia content in a wireless communication system. The exemplary method includes receiving, in a data network, a request from a mobile device to stream multimedia content to the mobile device from the data network, where the request is transmitted over a wireless connection. The method further includes streaming a portion of the requested multimedia content from the data network to the mobile device. The method also includes detecting termination of the wireless connection during the streaming and retaining information in at least one of a device in the data network and the mobile device, where the information indicates a point in the multimedia content stream where the termination of the wireless connection occurred. The method still further includes re-establishing the wireless connection and resuming streaming of the multimedia content based on the retained information.

Abstract: Femtocell radio access network (RAN) devices are typically small, low-cost base stations that may be deployed in areas, for example, where macro-cellular RAN coverage is poor or congested. Thus, wireless communication devices (WCDs) using femtocell devices may benefit from improved wireless coverage, while traffic is offloaded from the macro-cellular RAN. As the use of femtocell devices in residences and businesses continues to grow, it may be advantageous to allow WCD users to use telephony devices coupled to the femtocell device to answer incoming calls for their WCDs. For example, a femtocell device may receive an incoming call request for a WCD, determine that the WCD is eligible for an extended handset service, and then cause a telephony device to alert for the incoming call request.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for testing radio-frequency handoffs between two radio-frequency sources by a wireless communication device within an enclosed test chamber. The test chamber may include at least two radio-frequency antennas defining at least two radio-frequency coverage areas that are partially separated by a radio-frequency barrier wall. A wireless communication device may be moved within the test chamber while radio-frequency conditions and handoff status may be monitored by a control system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems using a Media Channel Descriptor (MCD) file to manage media streams in a coverage area of a wireless access network. For example, an exemplary method involves (a) receiving a request for a media stream in the first format (that was specified by the MCD file), wherein the request is received from an access terminal that is operating in a coverage area of a wireless access network; (b) in response to the request, initiating a media stream in the first format, to the access terminal; (c) making a determination as to whether or not, with the media steam in the first format, traffic in the coverage area has reached a threshold level; and (d) in response to the determination that the traffic in the coverage area has reached the threshold level, modifying the MCD file to indicate a second format for new media streams.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively conducting reverse-link power control and call admission control. In an embodiment, a base station identifies a set of mobile stations more likely than others to experience a dropped call. For each mobile station in the set, the base station relaxes at least one reverse-link power-control setting, to foster an increased actual and/or allowed reverse-link transmission-power level. The base station thereafter detects the dropped-call rate exceeding a first threshold, and responsively decreases the degree to which at least one setting was relaxed. The base station thereafter detects the dropped-call rate exceeding a higher threshold, and responsively drops at least one active call and/or blocks at least one new call.

Abstract: A method for handling registration requests in a cellular wireless communication system. The method includes determining that a transmission-success rate of messages sent via the forward-link of an air interface is less than a threshold success rate. The method further includes, in response to the determination that the system has less than a threshold transmission success rate, increasing a frequency at which mobile stations register with the cellular wireless communication system via the air interface.