Abstract: An analogue mobile telesystem has traffic channel cells (C1), each of which includes a base station (A-G). These base stations handle combined control channels (PAC) for paging a mobile station (MS), and also access channels (AC) for establishing connections to or from the mobile station (MS). The mobile station has information concerning the frequencies of all of the access channels and the connections are established on duplex traffic channels (TC). The geographical area covered by respective traffic channel cells (C1) is determined by virtue of enabling all traffic channels (TC) within this area to be used for predetermined, common purposes. Each of the traffic channel cells (C1) has at least two access channels (PAC, AC) spaced apart at a desired frequency distance and having the same radio coverage as the traffic channels (TC). When desiring access, the mobile station (MS) scans the strength or power of all access channels on two separate occasions at a mutual spacing of 20 milliseconds.

Abstract: A method and system of transmitting and receiving data in a mobile telecommunications system which reduces power consumption in mobile stations operating within the system. Mobile stations are divided into a plurality of sleep groups and a sleep message, which is transmitted in the control channel Overhead Message Train (OMT) as a Global Action Overhead Message (GAOM) is introduced. The bits of the sleep message contain data fields which indicate to mobile stations in each of the sleep groups when to monitor the control channel on which the sleep message was transmitted.

Abstract: Several mobile assisted handoff methods for use in the cellular communication system comprising a plurality of cells are disclosed. First, the quality level of a cell a mobile station is presently using is measured to determine whether the quality level is above or below a threshold. If the quality level is below the threshold, a primary list of cells is assigned to the mobile station, whereas if the quality level is above the threshold, a secondary list of cells is assigned to the mobile station. The quality level of each of the assigned cells is then measured by the mobile station and reported to the communication system.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling overhead information transmission in a radicommunication system is described. By desynchronizing information trasmitted in two streams on a control channel, loads on the reverse control channel are more evenly distributed to minimize overload situations. Similarly, blocked calls can be prevented by judicious transmission timing of control filler messages relative to the overhead message trains. The relative timing of various registration parameters is also described to reduce extraneous registrations.

Abstract: A method in a cellular communication system provides selection of a channel for use in a pending communications operation, the selection reducing the likelihood of co-channel interference. In each co-channel cell, frequencies from the cell's frequency group are ordered in a sequence. A different frequency in each cell is designated as having a highest priority. Successively lower priorities are then assigned, in each cell, to remaining frequencies in sequence. Then, in each cell, selection is made by identifying the available frequency having the highest priority. The method may be modified to provide for even distribution of hardware use by changing the priorities in each cell periodically. The method may also be modified for use in a fully synchronized time division multiple access (TDMA) system by performing the above steps with respect to channels instead of frequencies. The method may further be modified for use in a pseudo-synchronized TDMA system (i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing reconfiguration of a cellular network is provided. Cell parameters of affected mobile switching centers in the network are copied to a database, and the copied parameters are stored. A set of proposed changes to the stored parameters are prepared and the consistency of the prepared set of proposed changes is verified. Any necessary alterations to the set of proposed changes responsive to the verification are made and the verified set of proposed changes are copied to the affected mobile switching centers. The verified set of proposed changes are then introduced into the network. Additionally, at all times, an up-to-date image of all the cell parameters in all the mobile switching centers in the network is maintained in a system parameter database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile communications system in which the home exchange of a mobile subscriber maintains information indicative of where the mobile subscriber might be found, Upon receipt of a call, the home exchange requests the exchange where the mobile is believed to be located to page it and then requests the answering exchange(s) to order the mobile to tune to a voice/traffic channel. Only after the successful completion of this process does the answering exchange report this to the home exchange which then orders routing of the call through the network.

Abstract: A cellular mobile radiotelephone system listens for call accesses on a control channel of an umbrella cell and on a control channel of a microcell located within said umbrella cell and responds to the call access only on the control channel of the umbrella cell. More particularly, the microcells within a particular umbrella cell are provided with listen-only control channel at the same frequency as the uplink control channel of the umbrella cell. An umbrella cell and one or several of its microcells may therefore each receive the same call accesses. During call access, the umbrella cell and each of the microcells determines the strength of the received signal and forwards this information to the system. The system selects the most appropriate cell out of the umbrella cell and the microcells to handle the call and causes the umbrella cell to respond to the call access on its downlink control channel.

Abstract: A method and system for ensuring that handoff requests take priority over new cell requests to engage voice channels assigned to a particular target cell are provided. A certain number of channels are reserved for handoff requests. However, if no channels, reserved or unreserved, are available, handoff requests to a particular target cell are stored in a corresponding queue for a predetermined period of time. Thus, when voice channels become available, they are seized in order to satisfy the handoff requests stored in that queue. If the handoff queue is empty, new call requests to a target cell may be assigned to available voice channels.

Abstract: In a mobile radiotelephone system, a base station, upon receiving a service request from a mobile station, ascertains whether the service request can be accepted according to the availability of voice channels in the base station, and, if the service request cannot be accepted, compares a measured signal strength of the service request with at least one threshold value. If the signal strength exceeds the threshold, the mobile station is directed to retry the service request on one or more of a first set of channels assigned to neighboring base stations. Otherwise, the mobile station is directed to retry the service request on one or more of at least a second set of channels assigned to neighboring base stations. Accordingly, directed retries nearer the interior of a cell may be restricted or eliminated, whereas directed retries toward the periphery of the cell may be freely allowed or less severely restricted.

Abstract: According to the cellular mobile radiotelephone call access method of the present invention, a directed retry message is sent in response to an attempted call access in a first cell experiencing congestion. A subsequent retry and a second cell of the attempted call access is detected, and, if a traffic channel allocated to the first cell is then available, a traffic channel allocated to the first cell is assigned from the second cell. The call is therefore established in the original cell more often, and interference is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile communications system in which the home exchange of a mobile subscriber maintains information indicative of where the mobile subscriber might be found. Upon receipt of a call, the home exchange requests the exchange where the mobile is believed to be located to page it and then requests the answering exchange(s) to order the mobile to tune to a voice/traffic channel. Only after the successful completion of this process does the answering exchange report this to the home exchange which then orders routing of the call through the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a cellular mobile radio telephone system for determining which of one of several mobile generated transmissions received in a mobile switching center, sent from the same mobile station via more than one base station, should be accepted. A determination is made based on the relative signal strengths of the signals received by the base stations and by the relative time of occurrence of the mobile generated transmissions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving reliable transmission of signalling messages in a cellular system in which the frequency plan, frequency/time slot allocation plan, code channel allocation plan, or dynamic/adaptive channel allocation rule of the system is violated by allowing adjacent base stations to reuse particular frequencies/time slots/channels for signalling a particular mobile station. In situations where signalling messages, such as handoff commands, which are communicated between a base station and a mobile station are not properly received by the mobile station, an alternate communications channel will be established to ensure the reception of these messages. The alternate channel is provided by repeating the message through a channel associated with a base station which has better radio characteristics. The channel selected for transmission of the message by the new base station will be on the same frequency/time slot/code as used by the established connection.

Abstract: A mobile communications system in which a mobile subscriber may roam includes a number of exchanges having coverage areas in which the mobile subscriber may roam. An interrogation exchange receives incoming calls to the mobile subscriber and requests information as to the location of the mobile subscriber from its home exchange. The home exchange includes a list of a plurality of possible exchanges in which the mobile subscriber may be located which is used to supply information as to the location of the mobile subscriber. The home exchange initiates and coordinates the paging process and reacts according to the outcome of this process.

Abstract: A method for use in a cellular radio telephone system for controlling, in at least one mobile station, rescanning operations of paging channels in the system, wherein the mobile station is operationally connected to at least one base station. The method involves broadcasting a rescan message from the base station to the mobile station at predetermined intervals during operation of the base station. Pages to be sent to the mobile stations are stored immediately following broadcast of the rescan message until such time as all mobile stations have had an adequate opportunity to carry out the rescanning operation.