Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mobile station hard handoff from a source base station to a target base station of a Flex Duplex call in a CDMA wireless communication network that includes a step of establishing Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station. A next step includes sending the Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station to the target base station. A next step includes configuring the mobile station and the target base station for the handoff of the call using the Flex Duplex capabilities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mobile station hard handoff from a source base station to a target base station of a Flex Duplex call in a CDMA wireless communication network that includes a step of establishing Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station. A next step includes sending the Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station to the target base station. A next step includes configuring the mobile station and the target base station for the handoff of the call using the Flex Duplex capabilities.

Abstract: A communication system provides a clear channel link for transport of encrypted payload across a network of the communication system. When a source access network receives, via an air interface, a frame that is formatted pursuant to an air interface protocol and that comprises encrypted payload, the source access network demultiplexes the frame to separate the encrypted payload and assembles an Intersystem Link Protocol (ISLP) frame that comprises the encrypted payload. The source access network adds a link layer header to the ISLP frame that identifies one or more of frame type information and a sequence value associated with the frame and conveys the ISLP frame and added header across the network, for example, to a destination access network. Based on the added header, the source and destination access networks are able to perform clear channel synchronization.

Abstract: A apparatus and method for using an asynchronous channel for mobile handoff in a communication system includes a first step of operating a mobile unit on a forward link channel and a reverse link channel, wherein the forward and reverse link channels are different. A next step includes dropping the forward link while maintaining a connection to the reverse link channel. A next step includes acquiring a pilot signal of a new forward link channel targeted for handoff while maintaining the previous reverse link channel. A next step includes measuring a pilot signal power level of the targeted channel. A next step includes re-acquiring the previous forward link. A next step includes reporting the pilot signal power level of the targeted channel on the re-acquired forward link.

Abstract: To address the need for improved public long code mask (PLCM) management during handoffs, embodiments of the present invention enable a mobile station (MS) (101) to use a different PLCM when communicating with the target base station (BS) (130) than is used when communicating with the serving BS (120). The embodiments provide for signaling between the serving and target BSs, via the mobile switching center (MSC) (115), by which the target BS can provide a new PLCM for communication between the MS and the target BS. By allowing each target BS to allocate and communicate PLCMs for hand-off MSs, today's PLCM sharing, and thus the cross-talk problem, can be avoided.

Abstract: A apparatus and method for using an asynchronous channel for mobile handoff in a communication system includes a first step of operating a mobile unit on a forward link channel and a reverse link channel, wherein the forward and reverse link channels are different. A next step includes dropping the forward link while maintaining a connection to the reverse link channel. A next step includes acquiring a pilot signal of a new forward link channel targeted for handoff while maintaining the previous reverse link channel. A next step includes measuring a pilot signal power level of the targeted channel. A next step includes re-acquiring the previous forward link. A next step includes reporting the pilot signal power level of the targeted channel on the re-acquired forward link.

Abstract: A mobile station typically determines whether to drop a communication link and/or a base transceiver station (BTS) based on a performance of an associated forward link. In order to avoid dropping a communication link that has a weak forward link but a strong reverse link, a communication system is provided that determines whether the reverse link is still good before determining to drop the communication link. In one embodiment, the communication system determines whether reverse link is still good based on a quality metric associated with the reverse link and quality metric(s) associated with one or more other reverse links that are in a soft-handoff mode with reverse link. In another embodiment, the communication system determines whether reverse link is still good by comparing a quality metric associated with the reverse link to a threshold.

Abstract: A communication system provides a clear channel link for transport of encrypted payload across a network of the communication system. When a source access network receives, via an air interface, a frame that is formatted pursuant to an air interface protocol and that comprises encrypted payload, the source access network demultiplexes the frame to separate the encrypted payload and assembles an Intersystem Link Protocol (ISLP) frame that comprises the encrypted payload. The source access network adds a link layer header to the ISLP frame that identifies one or more of frame type information and a sequence value associated with the frame and conveys the ISLP frame and added header across the network, for example, to a destination access network. Based on the added header, the source and destination access networks are able to perform clear channel synchronization.

Abstract: When performing a soft-handoff, a communication system determines whether to engage in an analysis of a reverse link associated with a base station under consideration to be added to an active set of a mobile station (MS). Upon determining not to analyze the reverse link, the communication system adds the base station to the active set without evaluating the associated reverse link. Upon determining to engage in a reverse link analysis, the communication system evaluates the reverse link in order to assure that a communication link is not terminated, or dropped, as part of the soft-handoff until such time as the communication system may confirm that an acceptable quality reverse link is being added. The communication system then determines whether to add the base station to the active set based upon the evaluation.

Abstract: When performing a soft-handoff, a communication system determines whether to engage in an analysis of a reverse link associated with a base station under consideration to be added to an active set of a mobile station (MS). Upon determining not to analyze the reverse link, the communication system adds the base station to the active set without evaluating the associated reverse link. Upon determining to engage in a reverse link analysis, the communication system evaluates the reverse link in order to assure that a communication link is not terminated, or dropped, as part of the soft-handoff until such time as the communication system may confirm that an acceptable quality reverse link is being added. The communication system then determines whether to add the base station to the active set based upon the evaluation.

Abstract: A mobile station typically determines whether to drop a communication link and/or a base transceiver station (BTS) based on a performance of an associated forward link. In order to avoid dropping a communication link that has a weak forward link but a strong reverse link, a communication system is provided that determines whether the reverse link is still good before determining to drop the communication link. In one embodiment, the communication system determines whether reverse link is still good based on a quality metric associated with the reverse link and quality metric(s) associated with one or more other reverse links that are in a soft-handoff mode with reverse link. In another embodiment, the communication system determines whether reverse link is still good by comparing a quality metric associated with the reverse link to a threshold.

Abstract: To address the need for improved public long code mask (PLCM) management during handoffs, embodiments of the present invention enable a mobile station (MS) (101) to use a different PLCM when communicating with the target base station (BS) (130) than is used when communicating with the serving BS (120). The embodiments provide for signaling between the serving and target BSs, via the mobile switching center (MSC) (115), by which the target BS can provide a new PLCM for communication between the MS and the target BS. By allowing each target BS to allocate and communicate PLCMs for hand-off MSs, today's PLCM sharing, and thus the cross-talk problem, can be avoided.

Abstract: A handoff method in a cellular network for switching from an old base transceiver station (BTS) to a target BTS in an uninterrupted manner is provided according to the invention. The method includes the steps of determining the target BTS, establishing communication between the mobile station and the target BTS, wherein the mobile station receives communications continuously from both the old BTS and the target BTS, and terminating the transmission to the old BTS. The terminating step does not occur until after establishing communication between the mobile station and the target BTS.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining a need to retransmit a message that includes a user frame from a base station (104) in a communication system (100). A signaling message is inserted into the user frame. The user frame is transmitted from the base station (104) and received at a mobile unit (102). The mobile unit (102) transmits an erasure indicator bit to indicate that the user frame was received by the mobile unit (102). The base station (104) receives the erasure indicator bit. It is then determined, based at least in part upon the erasure indicator bit, whether the signaling message was accurately transmitted by the base station (104) and received by the mobile unit (102). If the signaling message was not accurately transmitted and received, the base station (104) will retrieve the stored signaling message and retransmit the signaling message to the mobile unit (102).

Abstract: A mobile station (115) and its supporting infrastructure equipment negotiate service configurations based on the service option capabilities of both the mobile station (115) and the infrastructure equipment. This negotiation process is performed via a traffic channel which is primarily intended for carrying vocoded voice information. The infrastructure equipment manages the capabilities of the transcoder circuits and checks the transcoder availability before proposing or accepting a particular service configuration. When a mutual service configuration is reached, the infrastructure equipment reallocates a new transcoder circuit based on its service option capability and the precheck of the transcoder availability and informs the mobile station (115) when to reset its layer 2 (L2) sequence number via an ACTION.sub.-- TIME parameter. After switching transcoders, the infrastructure equipment and the mobile station (115) reset their respective sequence numbers at the ACTION.sub.