Abstract: In a mobile communication system having a first communication device for communicating with a plurality of second communication devices, a method for performing handoff within the mobile communication system includes transmitting from at least one of the second communication devices to the first communication device a handoff list of second communication devices to which the first communication device is permitted to handoff. A channel assignment message is transmitted from each of the second communications devices in the handoff list. The handoff list includes base stations controlled by a single controller that determines which of the second communication devices transmits the channel assignment message. The base stations on the handoff list have pilot signals and the energy levels of the pilot signals are measured by the first communication device.

Abstract: Collisions between messages simultaneously transmitted by multiple spread-spectrum transmitters are reduced by distributing the transmissions over the available resources of the receiver. Each mobile station in a CDMA system uses one or more randomization methods to distribute its transmissions. In the first randomization, the mobile station time-delays its transmissions by a number of chips of the PN code with which it spreads the transmitted signal. In a second randomization, the mobile station randomly selects the PN code. In a third randomization, the mobile station inserts a random delay between successive message transmissions or probes if it does not receive an acknowledgement after a predetermined timeout period. A predetermined number of such transmissions is called a probe sequence. In a fourth randomization, the mobile station inserts a relatively long random delay between successive probe sequences if it does not receive an acknowledgement of any probe in the sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coordinating the time at which a mobile station performs searches for alternative systems to which a hard handoff will occur. The mobile station receives a command which instructs the mobile station as to when to tune to alternative frequencies in order to search for indicates of the presence of an alternative system. In another system which includes the present invention, predetermined times are defined with respect to a reference point in time that is common to both the origination base station and a mobile station. The mobile station tunes to alternative frequencies to perform searches only during these predetermined times. In addition, the mobile station coordinates the transmission of reports, which indicate the results of searches for alternative systems such that these reports are only transmitted from the mobile station when the mobile station is tuned to the origination frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method efficiently manage reverse link communication in a communication system having geographically distributed base stations. Coupled load information is exchanged between base stations allowing a base station to determine an appropriate allocation of reverse link channel resources to mobile stations served by the base station. Since the allocation of reverse link channels resources are controlled directly by the base station, delays due to communications with a central controller are eliminated. As a result, adverse effects of load scheduling based on obsolete reverse channel information are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and improved method for providing broadcast short message services (SMS) in a communication network. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that insures the successful transmission of the broadcast message while minimizing the impact of providing the short messaging service on overall system capacity. It is further the objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for receiving broadcast messages without depriving the receiver of the benefits of slotted paging, that being the savings in power consumption.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system includes a base station, a plurality of remote stations, a first channel for general page messages containing paging information and broadcast databurst message references, and an auxiliary channel for broadcast databurst notification indicators for the purpose of increasing standby time in remote stations configured to receive broadcast databurst messages.

Abstract: A remote station, for a wireless communication system, includes a receiver configured to receive on a first downlink a synchronization control channel on a first carrier frequency and on a second downlink a shared physical channel on a second carrier frequency different than the first carrier frequency. The shared physical channel includes a first physical shared channel having a unicast signal and a second physical shared channel having a multicast or broadcast signal, the unicast signal being multiplexed in time with the multicast or broadcast signal. The remote station includes a control processor configured to generate an acknowledgement signal on an uplink based on the unicast signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmission power in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method disclosed provides for a closed-loop power control method for variable rate transmissions. The power of transmissions is varied in accordance with the rate of the frames of data being transmitted. The transmission power between the rates can be a fixed or variable difference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmission power levels in a mobile communication system. The method provides for a closed-loop power control method. A mobile station provides information on the quality of the signal received from the base station, and the base station responds by adjusting the power allocated to that user in a shared base station signal. The transmission power is adjusted initially by a large increment and then ramped down at an increasingly decreasing rate. The mobile station also provides information to the base station as to its relative velocity and the base station adjusts its transmission power in accordance with this velocity information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for encrypting transmission traffic at separate protocol layers L1, L2, and L3 so that separate encryption elements can be assigned to separate types of transmission traffic, which allows the implementation of different levels of encryption according to service requirements. Encryption elements use variable value inputs, called crypto-syncs, along with semi-permanent encryption keys to protect from replay attacks from rogue mobile stations. Since crypto-sync values vary, a method for synchronizing crypto-syncs at the mobile station and base station is also presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing frame re-transmission in a broadcast communication system. Frame re-transmission is accomplished only when a predetermined number of negative acknowledgement messages are received with respect to one or more data frames. The predetermined number may vary in accordance with various operating parameters, such as the latency of the transmission and/or the number of wireless communication devices currently receiving a broadcast transmission.

Abstract: In wireless communications, it is necessary to monitor the transmission quality of communications channels to maintain system performance and operation. The invention provides a way of measuring bit error rates in channels at the receiver, without diminishing channel throughput by inserting quality monitoring data into the signal at the transmitter.

Abstract: A dynamic shared forward link channel (or “data” channel) is used to send multicast data to a group of wireless devices, e.g., using a common long code mask for the data channel. Reference power control (PC) bits are also sent on the data channel and used for signal quality estimation. A shared forward link control channel is used to send user-specific signaling to individual wireless devices, e.g., using time division multiplexing (TDM) and a unique long code mask for each wireless device. A shared forward link indicator channel is used to send reverse link (RL) PC bits to the wireless devices, e.g., using TDM. The data channel is jointly power controlled by all wireless devices receiving the data channel. The control and indicator channels are individually power controlled by each wireless device such that the signaling and RL PC bits sent on these channels for the wireless device are reliably received.

Abstract: A mobile device comprises a receiver unit that has at least two receivers to implement multi-antenna receive diversity. A control unit estimates, at the mobile, an amount of utilization by a traffic channel of the mobile of total transmission power capacity at a base station. The mobile applies multi-antenna receive diversity in the mobile device based on the power capacity utilization. The mobile estimates an amount of power a network is transmitting to the mobile relative to a pilot reference. Other indicators are based on quality of the traffic channel between the mobile and the network, capacity limiting resources, a number of sectors in a soft hand-off in a wireless system, etc. The indicators are used to control application of multi-antenna receive diversity in a mobile device.

Abstract: Receiver diversity in a wireless device is controlled in response to operating conditions, transmission requirements, and control settings. The control of diversity reduces power consumption by enabling receive diversity on given conditions. Operating conditions, transmission requirements, and control settings are used separately or used in conjunction to determine whether benefits of multi-antenna receive diversity, such as higher link capacity, higher data throughput, lower transmit power, and lower error rate, warrant the higher power cost of the diversity.

Abstract: Access to a variable rate multiple access system is controlled based upon a current loading. The current loading level is used to determine a transmission rate set point. The transmission rate set point may include a maximum transmission rate and a transmission probability. The transmission rate set point is passed to the remote unit which may access the system. A remote unit with data to send determines a desired transmission data rate. If the desire transmission data rate is equal to or greater than the maximum transmission data rate, the remote unit transmits at the maximum transmission data rate with a probability equal to the transmission probability.

Abstract: Signaling for each multicast/broadcast service is sent in group page messages in PCH slots assigned to the wireless devices and/or PCH slots designated for use for the service. Each group page message contains an identifier for a service. The designated PCH slots for different services may be overlapping to reduce the number of times the wireless devices need to wake up to receive page messages or staggered to reduce collision among the services. The wireless devices may be informed of a group page message being sent on the PCH for a given service by use of paging indicators that are assigned to the wireless devices and/or broadcast indicators that are assigned to the service. The paging indicators may be sent in QPCH slots assigned to the wireless devices and/or QPCH slots designated for use for the service. The BI bits are sent on the designated QPCH slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmission power levels in a mobile communication system. The method provides for a closed-loop power control method. A mobile station provides information on the quality of the signal received from the base station, and the base station responds by adjusting the power allocated to that user in a shared base station signal. The transmission power is adjusted initially by a large increment and then ramped down at an increasingly decreasing rate. The mobile station also provides information to the base station as to its relative velocity and the base station adjusts its transmission power in accordance with this velocity information.

Abstract: A power control system for use in facilitating transition to an active state suitable for use in a wireless communication system. In one aspect, the system includes a first transceiver, such as a BTS, having the ability to initiate transmission of a power control function. The transceiver comprises a generator for generating a power control arrangement and a transmitter for transmitting the power control arrangement. The system further includes a second transceiver, such as a terminal, for receiving the power control arrangement and coherently combining the power control arrangement to determine a state transition indication. The second transceiver includes a transmitter that transmits a selected waveform subsequent to the coherent combining. The first transceiver receives the selected waveform, determines a power level associated therewith, and provides feedback to the second transceiver.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing signaling in cellular telephone system providing broadcast services to fully integrate broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems. The signaling method coordinate interaction between an access network and the subscriber station to allowing the subscriber station to decode the broadcast service, to receive paging messages while receiving the broadcast service, to properly transition between operation states, and other functions known to one of ordinary skill in the art.