Abstract: Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and system for managing repeat-paging processes within a radio access network. When a base station receives a paging directive, the base station begins broadcasting a first series of page messages destined to a mobile station. Response to the first base station receiving no response from the mobile station to the first series of page messages, the first base station sends a repeat-paging directive to a second base station. The repeat-paging directive directs the second base station to begin broadcasting a second series of page messages destined to the mobile station.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help to adjust, e.g., CDMA paging and access parameters in a coverage area, based on the prevalence of devices that are configured for enhanced circuit switch fallback (eCSFB) in the coverage area. For example, a base station in a radio access network (RAN) may: determine a measure of circuit switch fallback (CSFB) device prevalence in a coverage area, use the measure of CSFB-device prevalence in the coverage area as a basis for updating one or more paging parameters for communications via a paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol; and apply the one or more updated paging parameters to communications with devices via the paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing, during an external event, a wireless communication device configured to search for an available wireless communication system from among a plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a first priority order. Upon detecting that an external event has occurred, a communication network may determine, based in part on the external event, a period of time that is associated with the external event, and cause the wireless communication device to search, for the determined period of time, for an available wireless communication system from among the plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a second priority order instead of the first priority order. Upon expiration of the determined period of time, the communication network may cause the wireless communication device to search for the available wireless communication system in accordance with the first priority order instead of the second priority order.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for maintaining codec consistency across a communication session. When a communication session is set up for an access terminal (AT) operating in a wireless communication system, a network device, such a base station, can determine a coding rate to assign the AT for its air interface in a manner that accounts for network capacity variations spatially and/or temporally across the session. If the requested communication session is determined to be with a landline device, then a higher coding rate may be used than might otherwise be selected. If the requested session is with another AT, then a coding rate that best accommodates the air interfaces of both ATs may be used. If the AT is predicted to handoff to multiple sectors during the session, then a coding rate that best accommodates the air interfaces of all the predicted handoff sectors may be used.

Abstract: Described are various approaches for considering inter-base-station link congestion levels in connection with handoff of a mobile station when the source base station (or another entity) is able to select a target base station for handoff from among a plurality of base stations. In one aspect, the plurality of base stations are each communicatively linked via a respective inter-base-station link with the source base station serving the mobile station. The source base station (or another entity) selects the target base station from among the plurality of base stations based at least in part on a congestion level of each base station's respective inter-base-station link. The source base station then hands off the mobile station to the target base station.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for managing spreading codes used in communication over a radio frequency air interface. When a radio access network (RAN) is to assign a spreading code to a mobile station in the coverage area, the RAN may determine which mobile station currently having an assigned traffic channel in the coverage area has a highest forward-link signal quality, and the RAN may select a spreading code based on the spreading code of that determined mobile station's assigned traffic channel. For instance, the RAN may select a spreading code that is quasi-orthogonal to the spreading code of the determined mobile station's assigned traffic channel.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system to help manage allocation of subframes for relay communication. The allocation may alternate or rotate between which subframes per cycle are used for backhaul communication and which subframes per cycle are used for access communication. By changing the allocation of one or more subframes per cycle between backhaul and access, it becomes possible to only tentatively take away certain subframes of access communication, while reverting to use those subframes for access communication perhaps as soon as the next cycle.

Abstract: A mobile station receives forward link signals and transmits reverse link signals for a communication session conducted via a wireless network. A controller maintains a reverse-active set that defines which sectors of the wireless network are used to receive the reverse link signals. When the mobile station transmits a request signal requesting the communication session, the controller may create the reverse-active set to include the sector that received the request signal with the highest signal strength. During the communication session, the signal strengths of the reverse link signals may be monitored in each of a plurality of sectors to obtain reverse-link signal strengths. The controller may maintain the reverse-active set based on the reverse-link signal strengths, adding sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths greater than an add threshold and dropping sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths less than a drop threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for triggering the delivery of a message waiting indicator (MWI) are introduced. In a wireless communication network, a radio access network (RAN) determines that a wireless communication device (WCD), such as a mobile phone, has missed an incoming call, and responsively: (i) routes the incoming call to a message storage system to enable an originator of the call to leave a message for a user of the WCD, (ii) waits a period of time after routing the incoming call to the message storage system, and (iii) then generates and transmits a message waiting query to the message storage system without prompting from the WCD. In response to the message waiting query, the message storage system may transmit a signal indicative of the message to the RAN. Responsively, the RAN may then transmit to the WCD a message waiting indication (MWI) indicative of the message, for presentation of the MWI to the user of the WCD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting the power control settings in a wireless communication network are provided. In one embodiment, a base station determines a target access terminal's use of service so far in a billing period, wherein the target access terminal is located in a sector of the wireless communication network. The base station then determines whether the target access terminal's use of service is above a threshold value. Responsive to the base station determining that the target access terminal's use of service is above the threshold value, the base station adjusts a power control setting of one or more other access terminals located in the sector of the wireless communication network.

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: Methods and systems are provided for initiating a handoff of an access terminal based on EV-DO DRCLock. In an embodiment, an access node (i) makes a determination that a DRCLock is set for at least a threshold number of coverage areas in an active set for an access terminal operating on a first carrier in a first wireless network, and (ii) in response to making the determination, initiates a handoff of the access terminal from the first carrier to at least one of (a) a second carrier and (b) a second wireless network.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to service-tier-based regulation of reverse-link activity at an access terminal operating in a wireless access network. An exemplary method involves (a) receiving one or more reverse activity bits from a wireless access network; (b) based 5 at least in part on the received reverse activity bits, determining a Quick Reverse Activity Bit (QRAB) and/or a Filtered Reverse Activity Bit (FRAB); (c) applying a first service-tier filter to the determined QRAB, wherein the first service-tier filter corresponds to a service tier for which the access terminal is authorized; and (d) based at least in part on the service-tier filtered QRAB, determining an adjustment to reverse-link activity of the access terminal. The method may further involve applying a second service-tier filter to the determined FRAB and using the service-tier filtered QRAB in determining the adjustment to reverse-link activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for allocating power among concurrent transmission attempts from a radio access network (RAN). In practice, the RAN encounters a situation where the RAN is going to engage concurrently in at least a transmission attempt of a first message and a transmission attempt of a second message. The RAN then determines an attempt number of the first transmission attempt and an attempt number of the second transmission attempt. The RAN then compares the determined attempt numbers and, based on the comparison, allocated a limited quantity of transmission power among the first transmission attempt and the second transmission attempt. For instance, based the comparison a greater portion of the transmission power may be allocated to one of the transmission attempts and a correspondingly lesser portion of the transmission power may be allocated to the other transmission attempt.

Abstract: Methods and devices for a radio access network (RAN) to select a wireless communication device (WCD) for handoff to a given sector are presented. In particular, the RAN may receive resource requests from a first WCD and a second WCD, both WCDs contending for a resource of the given sector. Based on the each WCD's active sets of sectors, the RAN may grant the resource to one of these WCDs. Preferably, the RAN grants the resource to the WCD that is more likely to benefit from use of the resource.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a transmit power of a forward link or reverse link signal make use of variable adjustment parameters. The wireless signal is received to obtain a received signal. An observed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and an observed frame error rate (FER) for the received signal are determined. In an outer loop process, an adjustment increment is selected based on how much the observed FER differs from the target FER, and the target SNR is adjusted by the adjustment increment. In an inner loop process, a power adjustment command is selected based on a comparison between the observed SNR and a target SNR. The power adjustment command instructs the transmitter of the wireless signal to either increase or decrease the transmit power of the wireless signal. The power adjustment increment may also depend on the observed FER.

Abstract: A mobile station receives forward link signals and transmits reverse link signals for a communication session conducted via a wireless network. A controller maintains a reverse-active set that defines which sectors of the wireless network are used to receive the reverse link signals. When the mobile station transmits a request signal requesting the communication session, the controller may create the reverse-active set to include the sector that received the request signal with the highest signal strength. During the communication session, the signal strengths of the reverse link signals may be monitored in each of a plurality of sectors to obtain reverse-link signal strengths. The controller may maintain the reverse-active set based on the reverse-link signal strengths, adding sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths greater than an add threshold and dropping sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths less than a drop threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mitigating the impact of handoffs to non-preferred wireless coverage areas are presented. In particular, a RAN may determine that a first wireless communication device (WCD) and a second WCD are contending for a resource of a preferred wireless coverage area, and that both of the WCDs are likely to be handed off to different non-preferred wireless coverage areas if they are not granted the resource. Both WCDs may be subscribed to a home wireless service provider that also controls and/or operates the preferred wireless coverage area. The RAN may compare the roaming fees of a first non-preferred wireless coverage area with the roaming fees of a second non-preferred wireless coverage area. Based on the outcome of this comparison, the RAN may allocate the resource to the WCD that would likely incur higher roaming fees to the home wireless service provider if that WCD were to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mitigating the impact of handoffs to non-preferred wireless coverage areas are presented. In particular, a RAN may determine that a first wireless communication device (WCD) and a second WCD are contending for a resource of a preferred wireless coverage area, and that both of the WCDs are likely to be handed off to non-preferred wireless coverage area(s) if they are not granted the resource. Both WCDs may be subscribed to a home wireless service provider that also controls and/or operates the preferred wireless coverage area. The RAN may compare historical call length data of the first WCD with historical call length data of the second WCD. Based on the outcome of this comparison, the RAN may allocate the resource to the WCD that would likely incur higher roaming fees to the home wireless service provider if that WCD were to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area.