Abstract: An antenna array having a central active element and a plurality of passive elements surrounding the active element is disclosed. A dielectric substrate or other slow wave structure is disposed radially outwardly from the passive elements for slowing the radio frequency waves so as to increase the antenna directivity by reducing the amount of energy radiated in the elevation direction.

Abstract: A directive antenna having plural antenna elements is arranged in a parasitic antenna array. Frequency selective components are connected to a first subset of the antenna elements. Weighting structures are connected to a second subset of the antenna elements. The first and second subsets of antenna elements may be connected by a space-fed power distribution system to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements. At least one active antenna element is active and essentially centrally located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components. Through proper control of the passive antenna elements, the cellular communication system directs an antenna beam pattern toward an antenna tower of a base station to maximize gain, and, consequently, signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, optimum reception is achieved during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station.

Abstract: A communications system improves performance of detecting a signal having an indication of a request to change communications states by making at least two positive identifications of the request in a given time frame. The system may further improve performance by applying a difference in power levels for a non-request state (i.e., steady state or ‘control hold’ state) versus a request state (i.e., ‘request to change’ state). In one particular application, a base station determines a request to change communications states with a reasonably high probability of detection and a reasonably low probability of false detection. The system has a reduced number of erroneous communications states, such as erroneous traffic channel allocations. The detection technique is compatible with 1xEV-DV systems and I-CDMA systems, but general enough to support systems employing various other communications protocols used in wired and wireless communications systems.

Abstract: A subscriber controlled registration protocol, a subscriber monitors a congestion indicator signal broadcasted by a base station with which it desires to register. If the congestion indicator signal indicates that the base station is operating in a congested state, the mobile station selects another base station in the system. Otherwise, it attempts to register with the first selected base station.

Abstract: A communication system, such as a wireless CDMA system, detects markers with fewer errors by having field units transmit the markers at different power levels (e.g., 9 dB for one marker and 11 dB for another marker). The difference in power levels of the markers allows the base station to identify the request markers using alternative criteria with a low probability of error, where the alternative criteria may include comparing the markers to respective energy level thresholds, monitoring occupancy of time slots, occupancy of mutually exclusive code channels, or combinations thereof. For example, in one particular embodiment, a request marker, which is generally a high priority marker, is transmitted with higher power, which improves the probability of detection and reduces the probability of false detection of the request marker.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to prevent unneccessary execution of TCP/IP performance enhancing algorithms in a wireless communications network. The method includes monitoring acknowledgment message traffic between a sending unit and a receiving unit and preventing forwarding of an acknowledgment message to the sending unit when the acknowledgment message is a second duplicate acknowledgment message. The apparatus includes a first endpoint unit connected between a sending unit and a receiving unit. The first endpoint unit includes a monitor component to monitor acknowledgment message traffic between the sending unit and the receiving unit and a filter unit to prevent forwarding of a duplicate acknowledgment message to the sending unit until a predefined condition is met.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a first channel is allocated for transmitting sporadically generated messages from multiple field units to a base station. The first channel is preferably divided into time slots in which a field unit transmits an access request message to the base station for establishing a communication link. In response to an access request message, feedback information is provided from the base station to multiple field units indicating whether a collision was detected on the first channel for a message transmitted in a previous time slot. In an instance when a collision is detected, the field unit will re-transmit an access request message at a previous power level setting based on a random back off time.

Abstract: A system for wireless data transmission that uses a channel bandwidth, channel separation, and radio frequency power spectrum which is compatible with existing deployments of wireless voice services. The transmitted waveforms are thus compatible with existing cellular networks. However, the time domain digital coding, modulation, and power control schemes are optimized for data transmission. Existing cellular network sites can thus be used to provide a high speed service optimized for wireless data traffic without the need for new radio frequency planning, and without interfering with existing voice service deployments.

Abstract: A technique for providing high speed data service over standard wireless connections via an unique integration of protocols and existing cellular signaling, such as is available with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) type systems through more efficient allocation of access to CDMA channels. For example, when more users exist than channels, the invention determines a set of probabilities for which users will require channel access at which times, and dynamically assigns channel resources accordingly. Channel resources are allocated according to a buffer monitoring scheme provided on forward and reverse links between a base station and multiple subscriber units. Each buffer is monitored over time for threshold levels of data to be transmitted in that buffer. For each buffer, a probability is calculated that indicates how often the specific buffer will need to transmit data and how much data will be transmitted.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a reference signal including pilot information is transmitted from a base station to one or multiple field units over a pilot channel. A message is also sent to the field units over a paging channel to indicate an effective radiated power level at which the reference signal is transmitted on the pilot channel. Based on a received power level of the reference signal at a field unit and the effective radiated power level of the reference signal, a forward path loss is estimated at the field unit for the forward link between the base station and field unit. Assuming the path loss in the reverse link is approximately the same as the estimated forward link path loss, the field unit can transmit a reply message in the reverse link so that the base station generally receives a message at a desired power level.

Abstract: An antenna with a first conductive element positioned in an lower region of the antenna, and a second conductive element positioned above the first conductive element in an upper region of the antenna. One of the conductive elements is an active element that transmits and receives signals, while the other element is a ground element.

Abstract: An adaptive antenna signal identification process to provide increased interference rejection in a wireless data network such as a wireless Local Area Network (LAN). The adaptive antenna is located at an access point and can be steered to various angle of arrival orientations with respect to received signals. Associated radio receiving equipment utilizes two distinct signal detection modes. In a first mode, the directional antenna array is set to have an omni-directional gain pattern. In this mode, certain identification parameters of an initial portion of a received signal are detected, such as a source identifier. If the received signal has not been previously detected, then the antenna array is scanned determine a direction setting that provides a best received signal metric. Once the best directional setting for the received signal, that setting is saved for future use in receiving the same signal.

Abstract: An improved data communication network including a wireless link for accessing, from an end user machine, objects in a selected web page retrievable from an Internet server by means of suitable request messages is described. The wireless link includes a subscriber unit coupled to the end user machine and a base station coupled to the server. Web page data packets retrieved from the server with the use of the request messages are intercepted and locally stored in a gateway unit on the base station side of the wireless link. The gateway unit generates, from the retrieved web page data packets, additional request messages suitable for retrieving, from the server, object data packets corresponding to the objects on the selected web page. Such retrieved object data packets are also stored in the gateway unit.

Abstract: A technique for transmission of wireless signals across CDMA radio links. Bandwidth is allocated dynamically within a session to specific CDMA subscriber unit based upon data rate determinations. Specifically, a dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm operates from limits calculated based upon available ports per subscriber, expected user bandwidth, and parallel user bandwidth versus throughput. Provisions for priority service, unbalanced forward and reverse spectrum utilization, voice prioritization, and band switching are also made.

Abstract: A technique for communicating with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-speed wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or by transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path. Alternatively, the availability of short-range, high-speed wireless communication path can be detected by simply detecting activity on it.

Abstract: A technique for allowing a first and second group of users to share access to a communication channel such as a wireless radio channel is disclosed. The first group of users can be a group of legacy users such as those that use digital CDMA cellular telephone equipment based on the IS-95 standard. The second group of users can be a group of web surfers that code their transmissions using one of multiple formats. The first group of users can share one modulation structure such as, on a reverse link, using unique phase offsets of a common pseudorandom noise (PN) code. The second group of users can share another modulation structure, but in a manner that is consistent and compatible with the users of the first group. Specifically, the users of the second group may all use the same PN code and code phase offset. Each channel used by the second group of users can be uniquely identified by a corresponding unique orthogonal code.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective programmable phase shifter. The phase of each antenna element is programmed for optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper phase of each antenna element are accommodated.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system, wireless channels are maintained for communication between users and the base station. Often, a wireless user may be switched on, but not actively sending or receiving data. Accordingly, wireless users may be “active,” and currently allocated a wireless traffic channel for sending or receiving, or “idle,” and not currently sending or receiving. A wireless user may be maintained in an idle state through a periodic sequence of synchronization messages. A method for controlling a power level of a wireless message includes determining the presence of data to be transmitted, and adjusting the power level of the synchronization message depending on the presence of data. The synchronization messages corresponding to the idle state employ a lower power level than the active state transmissions which employ a higher power level.

Abstract: A directive antenna includes plural antenna elements in an antenna assemblage. A feed network connected to the antenna elements includes at least one switch to select a state of one of the antenna elements to be in an active state in response to a control signal. The other antenna elements are in a passive state, electrically coupled to an impedance to be in a reflective mode. The antenna elements in the passive state are electromagnetically coupled to the active antenna element, allowing the antenna assemblage to directionally transmit and receive signals. The directive antenna may further include an assisting switch associated with each antenna element to assist coupling the antenna elements, while in the passive state, to the respective impedances. The antenna assemblage may be circular for a 360° discrete scan in N directions, where N is the number of antenna elements.