Abstract: In various embodiments, a system and method for improving a noise figure (NF) of a time division duplex (TDD) communications system includes a pre-amplified antenna unit having a plurality of antennas and associated low-noise amplifiers (LNA). Each of the associated LNA's is arranged to receive signals from a phase-matched pair of antennas selected from the plurality of antennas. For each of the phase-matched antenna pairs, a variable negative gain circuit may be coupled to a TDD signal output of the associated LNA such that a remote radio head (RRH) may be suitably coupled to an output of the variable gain circuit. The variable gain circuit is configured to provide a negative gain to the TDD signal appropriate to ensure that a dynamic range of the RRH is not reduced from a desired dynamic range due to excess gain provided by the LNA.

Abstract: A base station may decide to initiate a handover of a communication with a mobile station from a first wireless link to a new wireless link and identify one or more wireless links for the handover. For each identified wireless link, the base station may then determine a channel-quality metric, a wireless-link loading metric, and perhaps a coverage-area loading metric. In turn, the base station may then select the new wireless link based on the channel-quality metric and one or both of the wireless-link loading metric and the coverage-area loading metric. For example, the base station may apply a linear function that includes as variables the channel-quality metric and the wireless-link loading metric, and the base station may select the identified wireless link that best satisfies this function. The base station may then facilitate the handover of the communication from the first wireless link to the selected new wireless link.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forwarding message packets over a network having at least one dedicated priority route. The priority messages are identified and only those priority messages having a length less than or equal to a threshold message length are transmitted over the priority route.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) is linked with a remote LAN to transport data packets therebetween. The WLAN includes a cellular-enabled WLAN device for communicating with a cellular network and the cellular network includes a bridge. A bridge identifier associated with the bridge is established within the cellular network. The cellular-enabled WLAN device and the remote LAN are interconnected with the bridge in response to the cellular-enabled device signaling the cellular network with the bridge identifier. The cellular-enabled WLAN device echoes WLAN network packets originating in the WLAN to the bridge. The remote LAN receives the echoed WLAN network packets from the bridge. Packets originating in the remote LAN are echoed by the bridge to the cellular-enabled WLAN device. The cellular-enabled WLAN device receives the echoed remote LAN network packets from the bridge and transmits them within the WLAN.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing an initial network entry and/or handover (INE/HO) Link Budget (LB) Bottleneck in a communications network, for example, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network described in the IEEE 802.16 specification, is arranged such that a Base Station (BS) may allocate bandwidth with repetition across at least two frames on Initial Network Entry/Handover (INE/HO) by a Mobile Station. By doing so, the BS may achieve increased system gain on INE, while reducing the number of subchannels conventionally associated with repetition, thereby reducing the system noise floor during INE/HO.

Abstract: A base station may decide to initiate a handover of a communication with a mobile station from a first wireless link to a new wireless link and identify one or more wireless links for the handover. For each identified wireless link, the base station may then determine a channel-quality metric, a wireless-link loading metric, and perhaps a coverage-area loading metric. In turn, the base station may then select the new wireless link based on the channel-quality metric and one or both of the wireless-link loading metric and the coverage-area loading metric. For example, the base station may apply a linear function that includes as variables the channel-quality metric and the wireless-link loading metric, and the base station may select the identified wireless link that best satisfies this function. The base station may then facilitate the handover of the communication from the first wireless link to the selected new wireless link.

Abstract: A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to die unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

Abstract: A system and method use multiple access technologies at an access device to increase capacity and throughput. The system comprises an access device configured to communicate with a wireline switch and a wireless switch. The access device may use one or more access technologies, including digital subscriber line protocols (xDSL), multipoint multichannel distribution system (MMDS), hybrid fiber coax (HFC), satellite, and other access technologies. Preferably the access device uses inverse multiplex asynchronous transfer mode (IMA) to inversely multiplex and multiplex wireline communications and wireless communications. The wireline switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireline communications. The wireless switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireless communications.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system and method for improving a noise figure (NF) of a time division duplex (TDD) communications system includes a pre-amplified antenna unit having a plurality of antennas and associated low-noise amplifiers (LNA). Each of the associated LNA's is arranged to receive signals from a phase-matched pair of antennas selected from the plurality of antennas. For each of the phase-matched antenna pairs, a variable negative gain circuit may be coupled to a TDD signal output of the associated LNA such that a remote radio head (RRH) may be suitably coupled to an output of the variable gain circuit. The variable gain circuit is configured to provide a negative gain to the TDD signal appropriate to ensure that a dynamic range of the RRH is not reduced from a desired dynamic range due to excess gain provided by the LNA.

Abstract: A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to die unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

Abstract: Access is controlled to wireless access points connected in a wireless local area network (WLAN) providing telecommunications service for authorized users with wireless handsets. Identities of priority users are configured for a predetermined access point. Wireless users within range are associated to the predetermined access point. Bandwidth consumption data is aggregated corresponding to the associated wireless users. The aggregated consumption data is compared with a predetermined bandwidth capacity of the predetermined access point. If the aggregated consumption data is not less than the predetermined bandwidth capacity then use of the access point by a non-priority associated user having an identity that is not configured as one of the priority users is limited.

Abstract: A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to the unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless admission control. The system monitors the air interface load in various wireless coverage areas, such as sectors for instance. When the load exceeds a designated level, the system begins making call admission decisions based on whether the calls involve mobile wireless devices (such as handheld cell phones) or fixed wireless devices (such as wall-mounted cell phones or wireless local loop hubs). Further, the system may additionally base its admission decisions on the type of bearer traffic carried by the calls, such as whether the calls carry voice, fax or data traffic.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes first and second communication systems and a controller. The first communication system receives a first control signal indicating a first power level and receives first communications. The first communication system formats the first communications into a first communication signal having the first power level and a first communication protocol, and transfers the first communication signal. The second communication system receives a second control signal indicating a second power level and receives second communications. The second communication system formats the second communications into a second communication signal having the second power level and a second communication protocol, and transfers the second communication signal. The controller transfers the control signals, and combines the first communication signal and the second communication signal to form a wireless communication signal, and transfers the wireless communication signal.

Abstract: A system that can receive information from a plurality of simultaneous remote conferences and scan the information for a key indicia. Upon determining that a key indicia is present in the information, the system is operative to alert a user.

Abstract: A communication system and method enable the dynamic use of multiple access technologies and multiple standards using a software functionality approach. An access device configured to communicate dynamically using multiple access technologies and multiple standards has a network interface, a central core, and a service hub with a premises interface. The network interface is configured to transmit communications to, and/or receive communications from, a network using multiple network access technologies. The service hub with the premises interface is configured to transmit communications to, and/or receive communications from, a premises device using multiple premises access technologies. The central core is configured to format communications received or to be transmitted for multiple access technologies and multiple standards and to control the interface from which the communication will be transmitted.

Abstract: A system and method for overlaying signals comprises an incumbent system, an overlay system, and a multi-access controller. The incumbent system is configured to format a first signal according to a protocol used with an incumbent protocol, such as a protocol used with a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) system, and transmits the formatted first signal as an incumbent signal to the controller. The overlay system is configured to format a second signal according to a protocol used for an overlay protocol, such as a protocol used with a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and transmits the formatted second signal to the controller as an overlay signal. The controller overlays the incumbent signal with the overlay signal to create a wireline complementary signal and transmits the wireline complementary signal via a network. Other access signals may be mixed with the complementary signal, such as by the controller, to create a mixed complementary signal.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a communication signal comprises transmitting a data signal over a wavelength on a single fiber strand and transmitting a radio frequency signal over another wavelength on the same single fiber strand. A system for transmitting the data signal and the radio frequency signal over wavelengths in a single fiber strand include one or more nodes in which at least one node transmits the data signal over a wavelength on the single fiber strand and transmits the radio frequency signal over another wavelength on the same single fiber strand. Another node receives the data signal and the radio frequency signal over the wavelengths on the single fiber strand. A cross connect for connecting the data signal and the radio frequency signal includes a data matrix configured to cross connect the data signal and a radio frequency matrix configured to cross connect the radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A system and method for overlaying signals comprises an incumbent system, an overlay system, and a multi-access controller. The incumbent system is configured to format a first signal according to a protocol used with an incumbent protocol, such as a protocol used with a multi-point multi-channel distribution service (MMDS) system, and transmits the formatted first signal as an incumbent signal to the controller. The overlay system is configured to format a second signal according to a protocol used for an overlay protocol, such as a protocol used with a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and transmits the formatted second signal to the controller as an overlay signal. The controller overlays the incumbent signal with the overlay signal to create a wireless complementary signal and transmits the wireless complementary signal via a network.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a central service node, a plurality of base stations, and a fiber network. The central service node is configured with a baseband data system, a central RF system, and a central optical system. The base stations are each configured with a base station optical system, a base station RF system, and a base station transceiver system. The baseband data system in the central service node processes baseband data. The central RF system converts the baseband data into electronic RF data. The central optical system converts the electronic RF data into optical RF data. The fiber network exchanges the optical RF data between the central service node and the base stations. The base station optical system converts the optical RF data into the electronic RF data. The base station RF system modifies frequencies of the electronic RF data.