Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) contains both a WAN modem (122) and a PAN modem (134) which operate on interfering radio frequencies. To mitigate interference, and still permit real-time communication operation, the PAN is prevented from transmitting while the WAN is receiving (714). The PAN carries the real-time data via an active link (144) between the PAN modem and a remote device (142). The active link uses a retransmission protocol, which allows recovery of suppressed packets within a given period. The PAN modem is disabled for periods shorter than a maximum time which guarantees success transmission or retransmission of the PAN data. To further aid successful operation of the PAN retransmission operation, the WAN base station aggregates data into a single downlink burst.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) includes both a wide area network (WAN) radio modem (122), and a personal area network (PAN) radio modem (134), which operate on similar frequencies. When the both the WAN and PAN modems are operating and carrying time-sensitive data, the WAN modem disables transmission by the PAN modem when the WAN modem is due to receive data from a WAN base station (406), including neighbor scans. The duration and frequency of disabling the PAN modem is controlled so that the retransmission is successful.

Abstract: A method (300) and system (200) for adding a connection identifier to an existing power saving class. The method can include the steps of—at a mobile unit (212) that is associated with at least one existing power saving class—generating (310) a type-length-value that specifies the identification of the existing power saving class, and integrating (312) the type-length-value into a dynamic service message request. The method can also include the step of transmitting (314) the dynamic service message request to a base station (210) such that the connection identifier will be automatically added to the existing power saving class without requiring deactivation or redefinition of the existing power saving class.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system for improving transmission or receipt of channel descriptors. The method can include the steps of—in a wireless communication system (100) that periodically broadcasts regular channel descriptors (310) at a set interval (312)—changing (212) a modulation scheme and transmitting (216) one or more supplementary channel descriptors (314) during the set interval between regular channel descriptors. The method can also include the step of periodically transmitting (214) a channel descriptor count (412) that provides an indication of the changed modulation scheme.

Abstract: An access point utilizes information (11) as provided by various subscriber units to provide a message (12) (as included with, for example, a beacon transmission) that reflects near term likely utilization of a shared communication resource. A subscriber unit (20) can then utilize that information to schedule its own monitoring activity. This, in turn, permits the subscriber unit to similarly schedule power saving activities to accommodate this reception schedule.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) includes a wide area network (WAN) modem (122) for communicating over a wireless WAN. During a voice call, the WAN modem operates in a power save mode (206) but must occasionally scan for handover candidate base stations (208). The modem goes directly from the power save mode to a scan mode at an agreed upon time, first selected by the mobile communication device, but which may be modified by the base station.

Abstract: A method (300) and system (200) for adding a connection identifier to an existing power saving class. The method can include the steps of—at a mobile unit (212) that is associated with at least one existing power saving class—generating (310) a type-length-value that specifies the identification of the existing power saving class, and integrating (312) the type-length-value into a dynamic service message request. The method can also include the step of transmitting (314) the dynamic service message request to a base station (210) such that the connection identifier will be automatically added to the existing power saving class without requiring deactivation or redefinition of the existing power saving class.

Abstract: This application describes an enhanced passive scanning method for a wireless local area network, including the steps of transmitting at least one of a beacon signal or a gratuitous probe response in a WLAN channel by an access point. The gratuitous probe response is a supplemental beacon signal that is transmitted at intervals between the occurrence of regular beacon signals, but contains only essential information to allow mobile station manage roaming and timing.

Abstract: The application provides an enhanced passive scanning method for a wireless local area network, including the steps of receiving (405) at least one of a beacon signal (342, 348) or a gratuitous probe response (344), updating (435) a site timing table entry in a site timing table based on the received beacon signal (342, 348) or gratuitous probe response (344), setting (445) a scan start time based on entries in the updated site timing table, and determining (450) a power mode for a wireless communication device based on the scan start time. An enhanced passive scanning system (200, 500, 600) and computer usable medium for enhanced passive scanning is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for coordinating a sleep mode wake-up time. The method can include the steps of entering (214) a sleep mode and selecting (214) a paging group, advising (216) a base station (110) of the sleep mode and the selection of the paging group and coordinating (218) a wake-up time of the sleep mode with a second power saving mode that includes a common availability time (312) for mobile stations (116) communicating with the base station to detect signals from the base station. As an example, the second power saving mode (300) can be an idle mode, and the common availability time can be a listening interval of the idle mode.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for improving the efficiency of a mobile station (112) during a listening interval (310). The method can include the step of setting (212) a paging message indicator (414) or a neighbor advertisement message indicator (416) in which the paging message indicator indicates whether a paging message (314) is the last paging message designated for the mobile station in the listening interval and the neighbor advertisement message indicator indicates the presence of a neighbor advertisement message (316). The method can also include the step of transmitting (214) the paging message indicator or the neighbor advertisement message indicator to the mobile station. Based on these indicators, the mobile station can selectively enter a sleep state during and/or after the listening interval to conserve battery life.

Abstract: A mobile terminal (302, 304) wakes up from a low power state and initiates a frame exchange in a wireless local area network that supports voice traffic by transmitting a polling frame (602). If the mobile terminal had voice data to send, it is included in the polling frame. In response to receiving the polling frame, the access point transmits a delay frame (604) to acknowledge receipt of the polling frame. If the access point has data for the polling mobile terminal, it transmits a non-delay frame (606) including the voice data, otherwise it transmits a null frame (702). The mobile terminal acknowledges the data from the access point (608), and goes back to sleep until the beginning of the next service interval.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) includes a wide area network (WAN) modem (122) for communicating over a wireless WAN. During a voice call, the WAN modem operates in a power save mode (206) but must occasionally scan for handover candidate base stations (208). The modem goes directly from the power save mode to a scan mode at an agreed upon time, first selected by the mobile communication device, but which may be modified by the base station.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) includes both a wide area network (WAN) radio modem (122), and a personal area network (PAN) radio modem (134), which operate on similar frequencies. When the both the WAN and PAN modems are operating and carrying time-sensitive data, the WAN modem disables transmission by the PAN modem when the WAN modem is due to receive data from a WAN base station (406), including neighbor scans. The duration and frequency of disabling the PAN modem is controlled so that the retransmission is successful.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) contains both a WAN modem (122) and a PAN modem (134) which operate on interfering radio frequencies. To mitigate interference, and still permit real-time communication operation, the PAN is prevented from transmitting while the WAN is receiving (714). The PAN carries the real-time data via an active link (144) between the PAN modem and a remote device (142). The active link uses a retransmission protocol, which allows recovery of suppressed packets within a given period. The PAN modem is disabled for periods shorter than a maximum time which guarantees success transmission or retransmission of the PAN data. To further aid successful operation of the PAN retransmission operation, the WAN base station aggregates data into a single downlink burst.

Abstract: A method of providing RF signal quality information which includes the step of a probe request generator (110) monitoring a channel for probe requests being transmitted by a station (115) and/or probe responses being transmitted by an access point (105). The probe request generator can determine a time period between the successive probe request transmissions received from the station or successive probe responses received from the AP. The probe request generator can generate a series of probe requests (150) having the determined time period between successive probe request transmissions. The series of probe requests signal an access point (105) to transmit probe responses (155) which are detectable by the station.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for consolidating PSCs. In particular, in a mixed media environment having a plurality of application connections associated with different PSCs, the method can include the steps of identifying (210) a primary application connection, defining (210) a consolidated PSC based on a demand property of the primary application connection and consolidating (212) at least some of the remaining application connections with the consolidated PSC. As such, the consolidated PSC may be associated with multiple application connections. The method can also include the steps of deactivating (218) the consolidated PSC when a deactivation indicator is received and reactivating (224) the consolidated PSC when a reactivation indicator is received.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (600) and device (100) for collision avoidance. The method can include the step of—in a multi-mode device (100) —conducting (630) a communication in accordance with an 802.16 communications protocol in which the 802.16 communication protocol communication includes only listening frames (530). The method can also include the step of conducting (640) in the multi-mode device another communication in accordance with a Bluetooth communications protocol that supports extended synchronous connection-oriented mode. The method can also include the step of arranging (640) transmissions of the Bluetooth communication to avoid collisions with transmissions of the 802.16 communication.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (600) and device (100) for collision avoidance using sleep frames (720). The method can include the step of—in a multi-mode device (100)—conducting (630) a communication in accordance with an 802.16 communications protocol in which the 802.16 communication protocol communication includes both listening frames (710) and sleep frames. The method can also include the step of conducting (640) in the multi-mode device another communication in accordance with a Bluetooth communications protocol that supports extended synchronous connection-oriented mode. The method can also include the step of arranging (640) transmissions of the Bluetooth communication to avoid collisions with transmissions of the 802.16 communication.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for consolidating PSCs. In particular, in a mixed media environment having a plurality of application connections associated with different PSCs, the method can include the steps of identifying (210) a primary application connection, defining (210) a consolidated PSC based on a demand property of the primary application connection and consolidating (212) at least some of the remaining application connections with the consolidated PSC. As such, the consolidated PSC may be associated with multiple application connections. The method can also include the steps of deactivating (218) the consolidated PSC when a deactivation indicator is received and reactivating (224) the consolidated PSC when a reactivation indicator is received.