Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may base the number of wireless coverage areas that it uses for substantially simultaneous communication with a wireless communication device (WCD) on the location and/or movement of the WCD. Thus, for instance, if the WCD has been in a particular geographical location for a period of time, the RAN may use fewer wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD. But, if the WCD has not been in any particular geographical location for the period of time, the RAN may use more wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD. Similarly, if the WCD is moving at a speed at or below a given velocity, the RAN may use fewer wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD. But, if the WCD is moving at a speed above the given velocity, the RAN may use more wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that can be carried out in an access network comprising a plurality of coverage areas, each coverage area being served by an RNC. The method involves making a determination that an access terminal is located in an inter-RNC boundary zone, and then, during a communication session: (i) determining that a handoff from a source coverage area to a target coverage area should be performed; (ii) determining whether or not the target coverage area is served by the same RNC as the source coverage area; (iii) if the target coverage area is not served by the same RNC as the source coverage area, delaying handoff until a current segment of the communication session is complete; and (iv) if the target coverage area is served by the same RNC, handing off the communication session to the target coverage area.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for paging a mobile station are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves: (i) before transmission of a page to a mobile station by an access network, the access network (a) determining a page-type of the page to the mobile station; (b) based at least in part on the page-type, determining whether to disable or enable page-concatenation for the page; and (c) if concatenation is enabled, then concatenating the page, and otherwise refraining from concatenating the page; and (ii) the access network transmitting the page to the mobile station. In an exemplary embodiment, determining the page-type of the page may involve determining whether the page is a voice-service page or a data-service page and/or determining whether or not the page is an intersystem page. Further, concatenation may be enabled if the page is a voice-service page, and disabled if the page is a data-service page.

Abstract: A mobile device requests streaming media content while being served by a first radio access network in a market area. A content streaming system obtains the requested media content, adapts the media content using a first total bandwidth availability curve (TBAC) to provide adapted media content, and streams the adapted media content to the mobile device. The first TBAC is determined from actual or projected network conditions in the market area. While receiving the media content, the mobile device roams to a second radio access network in the market area. The mobile device provides a roaming indication to the content streaming system. In response to the roaming indication, the content streaming system adapts the media content using a second TBAC to provide roaming-adapted media content and streams the roaming-adapted media content to the mobile device. The second TBAC indicates reduced bandwidth availability relative to the first TBAC.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide dynamic determination of a control-channel bit rate. An access node provides service on a carrier comprising active and idle timeslots, active timeslots comprising a data channel for carrying a control channel at a bit rate that can be set to a lower value or a higher value, and traffic channels. The access node determines whether the number of active timeslots over a time period is less than a first threshold. If so, the access node sets the bit rate to the lower value. If not, the access node sets the bit rate to the higher value if at least one of the following is true: (a) control-channel occupancy exceeds a second threshold, (b) the amount of data in a traffic buffer exceeds a third threshold, and (c) control-channel occupancy exceeds a fourth threshold and the amount of data in the traffic buffer exceeds a fifth threshold.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for intelligent power control in a wireless communication system. In accordance with an example embodiment, a first device will operate in a dynamic-power state in which it transmits a power-increment command or power-decrement command in response to each of periodic comparisons of a signal power level of a signal received from a second device with a threshold power level. While operating in the dynamic-power state, the first device will recognize when it has transmitted a threshold number of alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands, and responsively will transition to operating in a steady-power state in which it continues to transmit alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands even if it detects that the second device has ceased responding to the alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for data communication between a wireless-communication system and one or more wireless-communication devices. The wireless-communication system broadcasts a standard pilot signal over a pilot channel. The method comprises (a) the wireless-communication system transmitting a first broadcast-mode message in a coverage area of the wireless-communication system, wherein the first broadcast-mode message indicates that the wireless-communication system will be operating in an alternative broadcast mode, and (b) the wireless-communication system operating in the alternative broadcast mode. Operating in the alternative broadcast involves (i) generating a modified pilot signal comprising the standard pilot signal and a data message inserted in the standard pilot signal and (ii) broadcasting the modified pilot signal via the pilot channel, which enables a wireless-communication device receiving the modified pilot signal to extract the data message therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems to determine whether to upgrade the infrastructure of a wireless communication network. The invention is directed to generating an alert signal indicating that an additional data line between a packet-switched network and the wireless communications network should be installed. The alert signal may indicate that an additional data line should be installed. Alternatively, the alert signal may enter an automated order for the installation of an additional data line.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving the performance of a radio access network (RAN) are presented. In particular, for a given WCD, a RAN may detect a pattern of forward link buffer occupancy and reverse link buffer occupancy that is indicative of the given WCD's reverse link data rate suffering from the effects of the WCD's forward link being congested. Accordingly, the RAN may allocate additional forward link capacity to the given WCD, so that the given WCD may be able to receive more data on the forward link. As a result, the WCD may also be able to transmit at a higher reverse link data rate.

Abstract: An intermediary such as a gateway will intercept a markup document being sent in a response message from a web server to a client station and will determine that the client station does not have stored locally the set of objects necessary to render the markup document. The intermediary will then modify the response message to include both the markup document and the necessary set of objects. Upon receipt of the response, the client station will extract and store the objects as non-cached objects, to be used when rendering the markup document. Preferably the client station is a cell phone.

Abstract: Wireless devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants are automatically provisioned with a user interface skin, application logic, and/or wireless communications services based on demographics data acquired from the subscriber/user of the device. A computing system that implements the provisioning features acquires the demographics data and categorizes the subscriber/user into one of a predetermined demographics type or category, e.g., Baby Boomer, Teenager, Female-led family, Retiree, etc. Such demographic categories may also include business professions, e.g., Health Professional, Claims Adjuster, Attorney, Stock Broker, Real Estate Broker, etc. Such provisioning with a user interface skin, application logic, and/or services may occur initially, e.g., at the time of sale, and/or may occur later on as the subscriber demographics change and such changes are recorded in a subscriber profile database.

Abstract: A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address.

Abstract: Disclosed in this document is an improved mechanism for notifying mobile stations that they should not seek to initiate a communication in a given wireless coverage area. The solution is to use a specially designated PN-offset as the indicator that a problem situation exists in the coverage area and that a mobile station should not seek to initiate communication in the coverage area. When a RAN detects a problem condition in a coverage area, the RAN changes the PN-offset of the coverage area to be a reserved PN-offset, and mobile stations are programmed to not seek service on any reserved PN-offset. Advantageously, the process helps stop mobile stations from operating in a problem coverage area without requiring the mobile stations to first lock onto the PN-offset of the coverage area and to then receive some sort of overhead message directing the mobile stations to not operate in the coverage area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for setting a volume level of ringback media presented to a calling party. The method may include receiving at a ringback server an indication of ambient noise at a client device, using the received indication as a basis to set a volume level of the ringback media, and transmitting the ringback media at the volume level, for receipt by the client device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for planning a service provider network. At one or more low-cost Internet base stations (LCIBs) operating within a building, one or more wireless signals are detected. The wireless signals are provided by one or more macro base stations. The wireless signals are detected by the LCIB on an LCIB wireless-communication interface. For each detected wireless signal, one or more signal-strength values are determined. The determined signal-strength values are sent from the LCIB via an LCIB packet-communication interface to one or more network entities. The signal-strength values are used to plan the service provider network, by generating one or more network-planning directions and/or one or more network-coverage maps.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamic adjustment of the pilot-channel, paging-channel, and sync-channel transmission-power levels based on forward-link and reverse-link RF conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, a base station provides service on a carrier in a wireless coverage area, and computes both an Ec/Ior value and a reverse noise rise (RNR) value for the carrier. Based at least in part on the Ec/Ior value and at least in part on the RNR value, the base station adjusts at least one of a pilot-channel power level, a paging-channel power level, and a sync-channel power level for the carrier. As an example, if (a) Ec/Ior is above a first threshold and (b) RNR is below a second threshold, the base station may increase all three of the power levels, so as to improve service quality and coverage, among other advantages.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for network-side setup of a packet-data communication session on behalf of a mobile station, followed by transfer of the communication session to the mobile station. A radio access network (RAN) receives from the mobile station an origination message comprising a code and a called-party identifier, the code indicating that the mobile station is requesting that, on behalf of the mobile station, the RAN set up a packet-based communication session between the mobile station and an endpoint associated with the identifier. Responsive to the origination message and on behalf of the mobile station, the RAN sends to the endpoint an invitation to participate in the communication session. Responsive to the endpoint accepting the invitation, the RAN sends to the mobile station information enabling the mobile station to engage in messaging with the endpoint related to the communication session and/or participate in the communication session with the endpoint.

Abstract: A method for communicating location to an emergency service system. A wireless communication device (WCD) such as a cell phone attains a GPS location fix when outdoors and then uses a compass and pedometer to determine its direction(s) and distance(s) of travel reaching a position inside a building. When a user of the WCD places an emergency call, the WCD conveys an indication of its indoor location in a signaling message to an emergency service center, and an intermediation system such as an IMS system translates the indoor location indication to a textual description of a portion of the building (e.g., room, cubicle, zone, etc.) that encompasses the indicated location. An emergency service operator can thus receive the building portion description, to facilitate emergency service response. Further, a similar process can then be repeated during the call, to provide an updated building portion description to the operator.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing a presence service that is useful for mobile telecommunications devices. A plurality of outgoing presence updates are sent to a presence client. The system monitors the level of network traffic and determines whether the client is in a region of high network load, and if so, the system throttles the outgoing presence updates during the condition of high network load. The level of throttling may depend at least in part on the amount of time that has elapsed since the presence client began a presence session, and/or the amount of time that has elapsed since an incoming presence update was received from the presence client. In determining the latter amount of elapsed time, the system may consider only the amount of time elapsed since an incoming non-automatic presence update was received from the presence client.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for carrier selection based on type of packet flow. Service is provided to access terminals on a plurality of carriers in a wireless coverage area. A request is received from a first access terminal. The request indicates that the first access terminal is requesting a packet flow, and the request comprises a packet-flow-type indication. It is determined whether the packet-flow-type indication is associated with an expedited-forwarding quality of service (QoS). If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with an expedited-forwarding QoS, it is further determined that, among the plurality of carriers, a first carrier has the fewest ongoing packet flows having the packet-flow-type indication; responsively, the first access terminal is instructed to conduct the requested packet flow on the first carrier.