Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A dual port external wireless modem is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the external wireless modem receives command and control information over a primary serial port, and real-time data over a secondary serial port. The primary serial port is further configured to received packet switched data, such as short message service messages, while the secondary serial port is configured to received circuit switched data. An RF transceiver in the wireless modem modulates data and control received over the respective serial ports, preferably using a GSM protocol stack. According to an embodiment, the circuit switched and packet switched data received at the wireless modem can be simultaneously transmitted by the RF transceiver without interrupting the circuit switched data transfer, thereby avoiding a context switch and a loss of throughput.

Abstract: A communication protocol for use in a mobile cellular communication system using time division duplex establishes a communication channel between a user station (e.g., a handset) and a base station in a time slot by assigning a first time segment within the time slot for a user station transmission and assigning a second time segment within the time slot for a base station transmission. The protocol also provides for virtual time slots wherein a time segment assigned for periodic transmission from the base station to a given user station may be non-contiguous with respect to the time segment assigned for periodic transmissions from the user station to the base station.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A mobile antenna system may be integrated with or attached to a mobile communication device. The system may include a mobile antenna assembly and a sleeve protector. The sleeve protector and antenna assembly may be attached to an external surface of a mobile communication device or integrated into the housing of such a device. The antenna assembly may be deployed from the sleeve protector in various manners, with permanent or detachable RF connections between the antenna and the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a base station and a remote station is presented. The base station is communicatively coupled with the remote station and a reference network. The base station clock signal is compared with a reference clock signal derived from the reference network and adjusted accordingly. The adjusted base station clock signal is then used to generate timing information in the form of a preamble, which is periodically transmitted from the base station over a wireless communication network to the remote station where a clock signal is generated. The remote station compares the clock signal with the timing information and adjusts the clock signal accordingly. This is done without reference to an external clock.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a base station and a remote station is presented. The base station is communicatively coupled with the remote station and a reference network. The base station clock signal is compared with a reference clock signal derived from the reference network and adjusted accordingly. The adjusted base station clock signal is then used to generate timing information in the form of a preamble, which is periodically transmitted from the base station over a wireless communication network to the remote station where a clock signal is generated. The remote station compares the clock signal with the timing information and adjusts the clock signal accordingly. This is done without reference to an external clock.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic be messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: As part of a preferred communication protocol, base stations which are synchronized to a PSTN of a wireless communication network, periodically transmits a preamble. A remote detects the preamble and, upon verification of the data contained in the base station transmission, sets its counter to an initialized state based on the received preamble. An early/late analysis of each subsequently received base station timing pulse is used to adjust both the mobile station timing and to adjust the output frequency of the mobile station master clock and codec clock to effectively maintain end to end synchronization with the respective base station and the PSTN throughout the duration of an established communication link.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.

Abstract: A mobile communication system having a layered architecture communicates user and signaling data among components of the communication system in the form of information elements which are encapsulated within packets and which may be passed across one or more system interfaces. The mobile communication system comprises mobile user stations, base stations, and base station controllers and operates as a transparent data pipeline between application end users, such as a telephone service, connected at base station controllers and mobile user stations. In a particular embodiment, the interface between the base station and the user stations is a TDMA interface, and signaling traffic between the base station and each of the user stations is conducted in either a fast control traffic mode or a slow control traffic mode.

Abstract: A receiver and antenna selection system located at a base station preferably comprises a plurality of radio units, each connected to its own antenna. Each radio unit receives a radio message and independently derives quality metrics based on the reception quality of the radio message, as indicated, for example, by a received signal strength indication, cyclic redundancy check result, preamble correlation magnitude, and other factors. Each radio unit transfers the quality metrics as serial data to an antenna selector. The antenna selector, simultaneously for each radio unit, converts and formats the serial data into individual data words and/or bits corresponding to the quality metrics, then applies the data words and/or bits to an antenna scoring block for determining an antenna score for each antenna. A comparison block compares the antenna scores and selects the best antenna for reception and/or transmission.

Abstract: A communication protocol for use in a mobile cellular communication system using time division duplex establishes a communication channel between a user station (e.g., a handset) and a base station in a time slot by assigning a first time segment within the time slot for a user station transmission and assigning a second time segment within the time slot for a base station transmission. The protocol also provides for virtual time slots wherein a time segment assigned for periodic transmission from the base station to a given user station may be non-contiguous with respect to the time segment assigned for periodic transmissions from the user station to the base station.

Abstract: In a communication network, a synchronized over-the-air (OTA) time slot of a base station's polling loop is acquired by a remote station seeking to initiate contact with that base station, such that periodic voice frames may thereafter be transmitted at known intervals between respective radio interfaces of the remote and base stations. A vocoder in the respective remote station is then synchronized to the established remote station OTA slot timing and a vocoder associated with the respective base station is separately synchronized to the established base station OTA slot timing, wherein each respective vocoder transmits and receives voice frames across full-duplex serial interface to and from its radio interface including a locally generated synchronization ("sync") pattern appended in front of a selected number of coded (i.e., compressed) bearer information and control bytes.