Abstract: A method of controlling the power in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment of the invention, a base station determines the information rate of a signal to be transmitted to a mobile station, and obtains the variable power control scaling factor based on this information rate. The base station then transmits the variable power control scaling factor to the mobile station. The mobile station determines a target signal quality measurement for a received signal from the base station, such as a target Eb/N0, and scales the target Eb/N0 by the variable power control scaling factor. The mobile station also obtains an information rate scaling factor based on the information rate of the received signal, and further scales the target Eb/N0 by this information rate scaling factor. The mobile station then compares the target Eb/N0 to a measured Eb/N0 of the received signal.

Abstract: Performance of a wireless telecommunications systems is enhanced by communication of an actual applied forward link gain and, if necessary, an overload indicator from base stations participating in a soft handoff. Subsequently, a power control system within a selection/distribution unit determines a forward link gain acceptable to all base stations involved in a soft handoff call.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling down link transmit power during a soft hand-off in a spread-spectrum wireless system supports independent power control of multiple forward channels to reduce fading. For a soft hand-off, a mobile switching center determines if a forward control channel is transmitted from different sectors of base stations than a forward data channel is. The base stations preferably adjust transmit powers of the forward channels grouped into different physical channels by receiving power control data over the allocated reverse power control channels to compensate for fading of the forward channels during a soft hand-off.

Abstract: A method that initiates call blocking responsive to a call-quality measurement of the forward link. The call-quality measurement is a measurement of how well a mobile terminal is able to receive the forward link. One call-quality measurement is a pilot fraction of the forward link, which is a ratio of the pilot's power level to the power level of a set of forward-link signals of a base station. Call blocking is initiated when an average pilot fraction is below a pilot-fraction blocking threshold. The pilot's power level is obtained for a time period, and the signal set's power level is obtained for the same time period. The pilot fraction is determined for the time period, and then used to determine the average pilot fraction for the time period. The average pilot fraction for the current time period is based on a pilot fraction for the current time period, and an average pilot fraction for a previous time period.

Abstract: A system and method have been developed wherein a cylindrical antenna array is configured and reconfigured in a wireless communication network. Position and signal information are continuously received from wireless mobile units and are used to determine reconfigurations of antenna components of the cylindrical antenna array to enhance performance of the system. As such, base station antennas are dynamically configured to minimize such things as interference and dropped calls, and to maximize their voice quality both within a cell, and among neighboring cells.

Abstract: A power control method for reverse links used in soft handoff mode between a mobile and base stations of a CDMA wireless communication network. Each of the base stations computes a setpoint based on the quality of received frames. The lowest setpoint value is then used as a threshold for inner loop operation causing at least one of the reverse links to convey information in compliance with a target FER set by the network.

Abstract: Antenna components of a cylindrical antenna array are adjusted, to dynamically share loads among sectors of a cell or between cells. The antenna components are adjusted based on beam configuration and/or orientation for example, depending upon a monitored load, to thereby vary antenna coverage areas to adjust for varying traffic densities. Antenna components are adjusted to accommodate load variations within a cell, and/or between cells.

Abstract: A method of calculating a power threshold for a secondary communication channel capable of operating in DTX mode in forward or reverse links so that the communication channel is prevented from entering a deadlock state. Power threshold information for an associated primary channel and the secondary channel are used to update the established power threshold for the communication channel. The updated power threshold for the communication is thus calculated by combining previously established thresholds for the communication channel and associated primary channel with a current established threshold for the associated primary channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arranging transmission of overhead messages on the paging channel of a wireless communications system is described. Certain paging channel slots are established, based on a timing reference, that must contain an overhead message. In the intervening slots or slot fragments, the base station transmits mobile-directed messages, when they are available. When no mobile directed messages are available for transmission, the base station selects an overhead message from a queue for transmission on the intervening paging channel slot or slot fragment.

Abstract: A method for reducing multiple dominant pilots in a CDMA transmission system comprises linking a transceiver element with a nearby base station for transporting signals between the transceiver element and the nearby base station. Transmitting from the transceiver element forward link signals of a nearby sector associated with the nearby base station. An apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A power control method of the invention may be applied to downlink power control, uplink power control, or both to support different quality of service levels for multiple channels per a mobile station. The power control method transmits control data between a base station and a multi-channel mobile station on a single communications channel or sub-channel to minimize or reduce overhead traffic from the control data.

Abstract: Performance of a wireless telecommunications systems is enhanced by communication of an actual applied forward link gain and, if necessary, an overload indicator from base stations participating in a soft handoff. Subsequently, a power control system within a selection/distribution unit determines a forward link gain acceptable to all base stations involved in a soft handoff call.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which, in a wireless communication system, improve the quality of inter-frequency hand-offs from an existing call connection frequency to a new frequency by minimizing oscillating inter-frequency hand-offs between the existing call connection frequency and the new frequency, and by minimizing redundant and unnecessary tuning and searching at the new frequency. The present invention accomplishes this improvement by adding specific threshold comparison values (or triggers) within existing messages and through more robust data reporting, from the mobile unit to the base station, when tuning and searching is performed. Particularly, two comparative triggers provided by the present invention avoid unnecessary tuning and searching in the new frequency, thus reducing voice degradation and the risk of dropped calls while pilot searching in the current frequency.

Abstract: A fidelity measuring apparatus (103). The fidelity measuring apparatus (103) measures the fidelity of a system (101). A preprocessor (109) receives an input signal. The preprocessor (109) also receives an output signal from the system (101). The preprocessor (109) extracts a feature set from the output signal. An artificial intelligence tool (111), trained in the relationship between fidelity and the feature set, generates an output that is a measure of the fidelity of the system (101). A fidelity measuring apparatus (103b) includes a preprocessor (138) and two or more artificial intelligence tools (111-N). The artificial intelligence tools (111-N) are independently trained by input signals from different sources. An averaging circuit (140) averages the output of each artificial intelligence tool (111-N). The fidelity measuring apparatus (103b) operates to produce accurate fidelity measurements independent of the input signal, the source of the input signal and the technology of the system.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunication system power control loop includes a symbol error rate detector to detect a number of symbol errors induced during transmission, a summing node to subtract the output of the symbol error rate detector from a symbol error rate target, a multiplier to introduce an adjustment factor, and an integration element to sum the output of the multiplier with past outputs of the multiplier. The output of the integration element is a signal power to noise power ratio target which is used to control the transmission power of the mobile telecommunication system. In one embodiment the symbol error rate target is a constant or parameter set by the user. In another embodiment the symbol error rate target is adjusted automatically to maintain a constant frame error rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring at least one signal characteristic. Initially, a set of features is selected which characterize a signal. An intelligent system, such as a neural network, is trained in the relationship between feature sets and signal characteristics. The selected feature set is then extracted from a first input signal. The extracted feature set from the first signal is input to the trained intelligent system. The intelligent system creates an output signal based on the feature set extracted from the first input signal. This output signal is then used to characterize the input signal. In one embodiment, the invention assesses voice quality, typically as expressed in MOS scores, in a manner which accurately corresponds to the analysis of human evaluators. For voice signals processed by voice coders, the present invention provides a measurement technique which is independent of various voice coding algorithms and consistent for any given algorithm.