Abstract: A system and method is provided to enable enhanced paging for 3GPP IMS based Mobile Satellite Communication is presented. The method is achieved by utilizing the network requested secondary PDP context activation (NRSPCA) features of 3GPP release 7. NRSPCA involves interaction between P-CSCF, GGSN, and SGSN that eventually allows SGSN to identify the traffic type of the incoming call without looking at the compressed SIP messages. RAN can do enhanced paging, if necessary; based on the request secondary PDP context activation message, if the Paging Cause is indicating conversational class. In another embodiment, enhanced paging can be achieved by marking the packet with an appropriate DSCP code, which is done by the P-CSCF. SGSN can populate the paging cause with enhanced paging code based on the DSCP code provided or RAN can escalate paging to enhanced paging by examining the DSCP code.

Abstract: An approach provides a satellite air interface to efficiently support communication with a terrestrial network. One or more packets associated with a data communication session are received from a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. A frame representing the packet for transmission is generated over a satellite link to a user terminal. Signaling information for the transmission of the packet over the terrestrial network is modified or eliminated for transmission over the satellite link.

Abstract: A resource efficient approach for push-to-talk (PTT) services over a mobile communications network is provided. A remote terminal (UT) receives a command for initiating a PTT session. The UT generates a RAB binding create message, including a PTT session identifier and RAB binding information, and transmits the RAB binding create message to a wireless gateway. The UT receives a RAB binding response from the wireless gateway, and performs a protocol signaling process for establishing PDP bearers, and for establishing the PTT session on a PTT server. The UT receives a command for initiation of media transmission for the PTT session, generates talk burst (TB) request message, and transmits the request message to the wireless gateway (the TB request message is transmitted via media access control (MAC) layer control messaging). In response, the UT receives a talk burst grant message from the wireless gateway.

Abstract: Approaches for resource efficient multicast communications in mobile satellite systems are provided. A wireless gateway is configured to encapsulate multicast signaling messages received from participating remote terminals. The encapsulation is compatible with the core network of the system, whereby the signaling is passed through the core network undetected. The signaling is received by a multicast gateway, and provides necessary IP and port addressing information for the multicast gateway to encapsulate the multicast session data in a manner compatible with the core network. Upon receiving multicast session data from a multicast server, the multicast gateway replicates and encapsulates each data packet with IP and port addressing for each participating remote terminal, which is also passed through the core network undetected.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to enable enhanced paging for 3GPP IMS based Mobile Satellite Communication is presented. The method is achieved by utilizing the network requested secondary PDP context activation (NRSPCA) features of 3GPP release 7. NRSPCA involves interaction between P-CSCF, GGSN, and SGSN that eventually allows SGSN to identify the traffic type of the incoming call without looking at the compressed SIP messages. RAN can do enhanced paging, if necessary; based on the request secondary PDP context activation message, if the Paging Cause is indicating conversational class. In another embodiment, enhanced paging can be achieved by marking the packet with an appropriate DSCP code, which is done by the P-CSCF. SGSN can populate the paging cause with enhanced paging code based on the DSCP code provided or RAN can escalate paging to enhanced paging by examining the DSCP code.

Abstract: A method for iterative estimation of a set of unknown channel parameters in a beamforming network including determining a first order estimate of offsets at measurement nodes and an estimate of the confidence in the initial estimate of the measurement nodes' offsets, and iterating, until a desired estimation accuracy is obtained, determining an improved estimate of a parameter set, and the confidence in the estimates, using the prior estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and determining an improved estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and the associated confidence values using the prior estimate of the parameter set and the corresponding confidence values.

Abstract: A method for iterative estimation of a set of unknown channel parameters in a beamforming network including determining a first order estimate of offsets at measurement nodes and an estimate of the confidence in the initial estimate of the measurement nodes' offsets, and iterating, until a desired estimation accuracy is obtained, determining an improved estimate of a parameter set, and the confidence in the estimates, using the prior estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and determining an improved estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and the associated confidence values using the prior estimate of the parameter set and the corresponding confidence values.

Abstract: An approach provides for conversion of global positioning system (GPS) data. A user terminal receives positioning data from a base station, wherein the positioning data is received in a second format, and wherein the second format was derived from ephemeris data broadcast via a global positioning system (GPS) in a first format. The user terminal converts the positioning data from the second format into a third format that is compatible with a protocol of the GPS system, and determines a first fix using the third format of the positioning data.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing communications services, including determining a type of communications service present in a communications session based on quality of service parameters assigned for the communications session; and adjusting the quality of service parameters based a different type of communications service requested. The types of communications services include real-time and non-real-time communications services.

Abstract: Two types of contention channels are used to accommodate broadband packet data in a satellite communication network. A first contention channel is used by unsynchronized user terminals to access the system and request a traffic channel. The first contention channel is of a sufficient duration to accommodate a RACH message, as well as the timing uncertainty between user terminals within a given spot beam. A second contention channel is shorter in duration than the first contention channel, and is narrowband, so that more than one second contention channel may be transmitted within the bandwidth of the broadband traffic channels. The second contention channels are used by synchronized user terminals for transmitting packet RACH, or PRACH, messages. The more efficient nature of the PRACH channels accommodates the increased overhead associated with bursty packet data, without the capacity cost of the longer duration RACH channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to improving the quality of media data in video conferences having end-points with heterogeneous capability sets. Transmission modes are negotiated based on the highest capability codecs supported by each respective end-point. Each end-point communicates data based on its individually negotiated transmission mode. Data translations are implemented as necessary to ensure that each end-point receives media data according to a transmission mode that it supports. Accordingly, all end-points in a multi-point video conference employ their most capable codecs, thereby greatly enhancing the overall media quality in multi-point video conferences having heterogeneous end-points.

Abstract: An approach for minimizing response times in transporting traffic over a packet radio communication system is disclosed. A terminal transmits a packet resource request message that specifies user terminal information using a contention channel according to a prescribed protocol. A gateway station receives the packet resource request message and transmits an assignment message that specifies a channel assignment based upon the user terminal information, wherein the terminal is configured to transmit the packets over a channel is based on the channel assignment. This approach has particular applicability to a satellite communication system.

Abstract: A system and a methodology to improve the end-user quality of service both in terms of response time and reliability for the transport of in-call DTMF signals in wireless systems, particularly in geostationary mobile satellite systems. The methodology encompasses several techniques to provide acceptable end-to-end quality of service for DTMF. A technique is applicable for transport of DTMF in the wireless subscriber to network direction, where DTMF digits are carried in the form of an out-band message. The central part of the technique is to allow multiple key presses in the same message, thereby increasing efficiency and throughput in long-delay environment. Another technique utilizes the vocoder's functionality to carry DTMF in-band, thereby reducing system complexity.

Abstract: Two types of contention channels are used to accommodate broadband packet data in a satellite communication network. A first contention channel is used by unsynchronized user terminals to access the system and request a traffic channel. The first contention channel is of a sufficient duration to accommodate a RACH message, as well as the timing uncertainty between user terminals within a given spot beam. A second contention channel is shorter in duration than the first contention channel, and is narrowband, so that more than one second contention channel may be transmitted within the bandwidth of the broadband traffic channels. The second contention channels are used by synchronized user terminals for transmitting packet RACH, or PRACH, messages. The more efficient nature of the PRACH channels accommodates the increased overhead associated with bursty packet data, without the capacity cost of the longer duration RACH channel.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing communications services, including determining a type of communications service present in a communications session based on quality of service parameters assigned for the communications session; and adjusting the quality of service parameters based a different type of communications service requested. The types of communications services include real-time and non-real-time communications services.

Abstract: In a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite system, an embodiment of the present invention employs a system and method for administering mobility management issues for mobile terminals, via a network of base station controllers. The mobility management issues, for example, paging, routing, and handover of communication signals are administered between the base station systems without having to be routed through the serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN).

Abstract: First and second codeword are selected from respective first and second codebooks having an equal number of codewords and wherein the first and second codewords represent unequal numbers of elements of respective first and second sub-vectors. A codebook populating method for a split vector quantizer relies on comparing centroid calculations for the first codebook. The calculations are performed on eligible pairs of codewords. Eligible codewords are limited to those which satisfy and ordered property based on Line Spectrum Frequencies (LSF). The results of the centroid pair codeword calculations are used to populate the second codebook.

Abstract: A 1200 b/s vocoder providing a high degree of speech intelligibility and natural voice quality includes a tenth-order linear prediction analyzer, a split vector quantizer for line spectral frequencies, circuitry providing voicing classification and pitch estimation, a differential pitch and gain quantizer and a multiplexer for producing an encoded word transmitted to a receptive demultiplexer. The vocoder provides a characteristic encoded word including a first codeword, a second codeword, a pitch codeword and a gain codeword, wherein the first and second codewords are selected from respective first and second codebooks having a equal number of codewords and wherein the first and second codewords represent unequal numbers of elements of respective first and second sub-vectors. A codebook populating method for a split vector quantizer vocoder is also utilized.