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: 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: 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: 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 (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 (200) and system (100) for setting a paging indication sequence (512) in paging messages (510). In one arrangement, the method can include the steps of—in a mixed media environment—receiving (212) incoming traffic designated for one or more mobile stations (112) in a paging group in which the mobile stations are capable of operating time-critical applications and ordering the paging indication sequence of the paging messages. The ordering can be performed such that higher priority identifiers (514) associated with the time-critical applications are positioned in front of lower priority identifiers (516) to reduce the connection set-up time for the time-critical applications of the mobile stations. As an example, the time-critical applications may be real-time applications, and the lower priority identifiers may be associated with non-real-time applications.

Abstract: A method (200) and system (100) for supporting fast connection set-up in a communication network (110). The method can include the steps of - in a mobile station (114) that is capable of operating in at least two separate power saving modes, a first power saving mode and a second power saving mode, entering (212) an operational state associated with the second power saving mode and staying (214) in the first power saving mode. This process can enable the mobile station to avoid entry into the second power saving mode during the operational state. In the first power saving mode, the mobile station may remain registered with a communication network. In the second power saving mode, the mobile station may be de-registered from the communication network. The first power saving mode can be a sleep mode, and the second power saving mode can be an idle mode.

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: A mobile station establishes a schedule by which data is exchanged with an access point. The schedule allows the mobile station to use a low power mode at times outside of the scheduled service periods. However, the mobile station may occasionally need to retrieve additional data from the access point, or transmit additional data to the access point, and so initiates an unscheduled service period to do so.

Abstract: A mobile station (106) establishes a real time communication link via an access point (102) for carrying voice or other time-sensitive data. A WLAN subsystem (204) of the mobile station is normally kept in a low power state. Upon initiating a communication link the mobile station signals to the access point that unscheduled power save delivery mode will be used (614), and the access point reserves resources to assure the necessary quality of service. The mobile station initiates a frame transaction by first powering up the WLAN subsystem (712), acquiring the WLAN channel (407), and transmitting a polling frame. Upon successful receipt of the polling frame the access point prepares to reply with an aggregate response. The aggregate response commences by transmitting all data in an aggregate buffer, including both reserved and unreserved data buffers. Upon successful receipt of the aggregate response, the mobile station places the WLAN subsystem back into a low power state.