Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing mobile-station-assisted low-cost-Internet-base-station—(LCIB) location determination. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives location information over an air interface from a mobile station, the location information reflecting a location of the mobile station. In response to receiving the location information, the LCIB uses the location information to determine its location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for multi-carrier capacity increase in low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) systems by logical grouping of base stations. In an embodiment, an LCIB controller determines that a set of multiple LCIBs should be logically grouped, and selects operational parameters for each LCIB in the set. The LCIB controller designates one LCIB as a primary LCIB, thereby designating the others as secondary LCIBs. The controller configures the primary LCIB to broadcast a pilot beacon that includes at least some of the operational parameters selected for each LCIB, and to operate using the parameters selected for the primary LCIB. The controller also configures each secondary LCIB to not broadcast a pilot beacon, and to operate using the parameters selected for the respective secondary LCIB.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamic adjustment of threshold payload size for triggering an auxiliary pilot. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station may operate in a state in which (i) the access terminal transmits a primary beacon signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and, (ii) upon a condition that the access terminal will transmit a packet having a size larger than a threshold packet size, the access terminal activates and transmits a secondary beacon signal on the air interface communication link to the base station concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal. While operating in the state, upon receiving a first particular sequence of power-control commands from the base station, the access terminal will decrease the threshold packet size by a decremental amount.

Abstract: A base station almanac (BSA) includes entries for a plurality of repeaters. An entry for a repeater includes location-determination parameters associated with that repeater, such as (i) a repeater forward link calibration (FLC) value that correct for transmission delay associated with the repeater and (ii) a center point of the repeater's coverage area. A measured power level and a measured phase of a wireless signal transmitted by a base transceiver station (BTS) and received by the mobile station are obtained. An expected received power level is calculated based on the measured phase and the transmit power level of the BTS. If the measured power level exceeds the expected received power level by at least a predetermined amount, then it is determined that the mobile station received the wireless signal via a repeater and one or more location-determination parameters associated with the repeater are used to determine the mobile station's location.

Abstract: A method and system for brokering a media file from a media provider to a media requester. A media provider, such as a camera phone, captures a media file. A media requester provides an event-definition record to a network entity so as to request a media file. The network entity requests that the media provider provide media files that meet criteria defined by the event-definition record. The media provider provides a media file and media file data associated with the media file to the network entity. The network entity compares the media file data to the event-definition record, and provides the media file to the media requester if the media file data matches the event-definition record. An enterprise operating the network entity brokers the sale of the media file, in part, by collecting a payment from a media requester user and making a payment to a media provider user.

Abstract: A mobile telephone is provided with an emergency beacon. When the telephone's user dials an emergency number, such as 9-1-1, the telephone detects that an emergency number has been dialed, and it activates the beacon. The beacon may be a radio beacon, and, if the telephone is GPS-equipped, the radio beacon may send out the mobile telephone's location. Safety personnel can locate the caller by following the beacon to the caller. Other optional features include an audio emergency beacon and/or a visual emergency beacon, such as a strobe, in addition to or in place of a radio beacon. In one embodiment, the beacon is not activated unless the mobile telephone is unable to complete the call to the emergency number. In another embodiment, the beacon is activated without receiving any remote authorization from, for example, a 9-1-1 call center.

Abstract: A dispatch client device that also has a local wireless transceiver will monitor the energy level on the local transceiver side and use the energy level as a basis to function as a floor control client on a dispatch side. For example, upon receipt of a dispatch-session invitation from a dispatch server, the client may accept the invitation only if the energy level is low enough (indicating that no one is currently talking on the local side) and may then bridge the dispatch communications with the local communications, and otherwise the client may reject the invitation. As another example, if the device detects sufficient energy on the local side (indicating someone on the local side has begun talking), the device may responsively request the floor on the dispatch side and then bridge the local communications with the dispatch communications. The device may apply a standard non-squelch circuit for energy detection.

Abstract: A method for selecting a frequency band, from among a plurality of frequency bands controllable by a radio network controller (RNC), to carry a data communication. The method may include obtaining frequency band usage measurements for a plurality of frequency bands, and using the frequency band usage measurements to select a particular frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands to carry the data communication. Frequency band usage measurements may be based on how many idle slots (and/or data channels) are carried through each of the plurality of frequency bands during a measurement time period. A comparison of the frequency band usage measurements can be used to determine which frequency band sent the greatest number of idle slots (or the fewest number of data channels). The method provides for selecting a frequency band best suited (e.g., has the most available capacity for carrying a data communication) for carrying the data communication.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamic adjustment of the reverse-link frame-error-rate (RFER) target based on reverse-link RF conditions. In an embodiment, a base station provides service to at least one mobile station on a carrier in a wireless coverage area using a first RFER target. The base station calculates a reverse noise rise (RNR) value for the carrier, and then selects a second RFER target based at least in part on the calculated RNR value. The base station then provides service to at least one mobile station on the carrier in the wireless coverage area using the second RFER target.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for digital rights management for mobile devices. An account is maintained for a subscriber. The account is associated with a mobile video player (MVP) and a digital video recorder (DVR). The MVP is served by a wireless carrier, and the DVR is connected to a packet-data network. A first content request is received from the MVP. The first content request identifies requested content and includes an identifier of the MVP that was added to the first content request by the wireless carrier to verify that the MVP sent the first content request. The identifier of the MVP is used to identify the account. A second content request, which identifies the requested content, is sent to the DVR. The requested content is received from the DVR, and then sent to the MVP via the wireless carrier, for receipt and playing by the MVP for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method for imposing a communication policy for a mobile node. During Mobile-IP (MIP) registration for the mobile node, when a MIP home agent sends an access request to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, the AAA server will select a pool of IP addresses corresponding with a communication policy for the mobile node and will direct the home agent to assign an IP address selected from that pool. Thereafter, when the home agent receives a communication to or from the IP address, the home agent may then determine the applicable communication policy by determining the pool from which the IP address was selected, and the home agent may apply that communication policy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for managing handoff of an access terminal in a radio access network (RAN). An access terminal may detect a handoff trigger, determine whether there is an ongoing data transfer in progress, determine an amount remaining in the data transfer, compare the amount remaining to a threshold amount, and delay or cancel the handoff if the amount remaining is below the threshold amount. Additionally, the access terminal may consider signal strength of the current (source) coverage area in determining whether to delay or cancel the handoff.

Abstract: A computer system receives communications from wireless communications devices reporting on problems with communications with content servers on a network such as application servers or web site servers. The central computer system generates reports summarizing the reported problems. Such summary reports can be used internally by a wireless service provider or made available to the proprietor of the content server. The wireless communications devices include an interactive application that facilitates generation of a report and transmission of the report to the computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system is managed by a provider of wireless communications services.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station is able to wirelessly communicate with a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and with a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WLAN includes a “virtual” visitor location register (VVLR) for storing information about multi-mode mobile stations being served by the WLAN. The VVLR communicates with a home location register (HLR) in the WWAN in order to facilitate roaming between the WWAN and WLAN by the multi-mode mobile station.

Abstract: A method and system for conveying location-granularity preferences with location-based service requests. A client station will detect a request to initiate a voice call, and before actually initiating the call the client station will send a message into a network indicating how to carry out a location-based service. In this manner, each time the client station accesses a location-based service, the client station will automatically send the instruction message to the service provider directing the provider how to carry out the service. Upon receiving the instructions, the location-based service provider may proceed to determine the location of the client station. The location-based service provider may then adjust the location of the client station according to the instructions. The service provider could then return the location of the client station, adjusted according to the instructions, directly to a location-based application, to provide the requested location-based service to the client station.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for managing voice mail boxes. A group voice mail account will be defined to include a general mailbox and two or more sub-mailboxes. For each sub-mailbox, the voice mail account will define a respective pass code that can be used as a key for gaining management access to that sub-mailbox and to the general mailbox but not to any other one of the sub-mailboxes. When the voice mail system receives from a user the pass code associated with a given sub-mailbox, the voice mail system will thus allow the user to manage greetings and/or messages associated with the given sub-mailbox and greetings and/or messages associated with the general mailbox, but the voice mail server will not allow the user to manage greetings or messages associated with other mailboxes. Further, upon gaining access to manage the general mailbox, the user may create additional sub-mailboxes.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting web content through intermediation between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system within an HTTP communication path between a content server and a client station receives a markup language that is being transmitted via the HTTP communication path from the content server to the client station. The intermediation system then detects a markup-insertion instruction within the markup language and responsively inserts new markup language into the set of markup language, so as to establish a modified set of markup language. The intermediation system then sends the modified markup language along the HTTP communication path to the client station.

Abstract: A method and system for determining whether to allow a base station to carry out at least one particular base station function and for configuring the system, based on the determination, to allow the base station to carry out the at least one particular base station function or to prevent the base station from carrying out the at least one particular base station function. The determination may be carried out at the base station or at a base station controller (BSC). The determination may be based, at least in part, on whether data provided to the BSC from the base station comprises spoofed GPS data. Configuring the system may include setting at the base station or at the BSC at least one parameter to either allow the base station to carry out the base station function(s) or to prevent the base station from carrying out the base station function(s).

Abstract: A base station almanac (BSA) stores directional forward link calibration (FLC) values that correct for differences between the listed locations of base station antennas and the actual locations of the antennas. Each directional FLC value is specific to wireless signals that are transmitted from a particular base station antenna and propagate toward a particular receiving area. A mobile station operating in a receiving area measures a wireless signal from a base station antenna located outside of the receiving area to obtain a signal measurement. The location of the mobile station is determined by applying a positioning algorithm that uses the signal measurement corrected by the directional FLC value for that particular combination of base station antenna and receiving area.

Abstract: A method and system for setting buffer size on a wireless communication device (WCD). A network entity receives a streaming-media-session initiation message from the WCD. The network entity determines a WCD buffer size, based at least on one or more features of the WCD, and sends to the WCD a directive to use the determined WCD buffer size. In one example, the network entity may determine the WCD buffer size based at least on media player version in use on the WCD and make and model of the WCD.