Abstract: A wireless communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing information to multiple communication units (121-129). The communication system includes a communication infrastructure (101, 102, 103, 105, 111-113, 120), a data network (107) and an information source (109). The multiple communication units each subscribe to an information service provided by the information source. The communication infrastructure creates a subscription group that includes the multiple communication units. The infrastructure receives subscriber information including at least one information unit from the information source and sets up a point-to-multipoint group call with the subscription group. The infrastructure then transmits the subscriber information to the multiple communication units. Any information unit not confirmed by the multiple communication units is re-transmit by the infrastructure.

Abstract: A method of the present invention includes the steps of identifying (801) a first frequency allocation and a second frequency allocation and programming a radio frequency device (401, 701, 901) to at least one of: a) simultaneously receive a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation; and b) simultaneously transmit a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for facilitating and performing distributed speech processing in a wireless communication system. The present invention encompasses communication infrastructure embodiments that facilitate distributed speech processing by establishing voice and data pathways to support distributed speech processing services. The present invention also encompasses a communication unit that performs distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis via the communication infrastructure. The communication unit (102) requests communication services from the communication infrastructure (101) that support both voice and data communication and utilizes a data connection to a distributed speech processing unit (116) to perform distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for facilitating and performing distributed speech processing in a wireless communication system. The present invention encompasses communication infrastructure embodiments that facilitate distributed speech processing by establishing voice and data pathways to support distributed speech processing services. The present invention also encompasses a communication unit that performs distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis via the communication infrastructure. The communication unit (102) requests communication services from the communication infrastructure (101) that support both voice and data communication and utilizes a data connection to a distributed speech processing unit (116) to perform distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes switching infrastructure (150) and at least one location area ("LA") having a multiplicity of cells (the "multiple-cell LA") (103). When a mobile (100) enters a cell belonging to the multiple-cell LA, the mobile is arranged with a cell-registration feature that enables it to register with the serving cell site, thus forming a registration with the cell site. When the mobile enters a further cell belonging to the multiple-cell LA, the mobile registers with the corresponding further cell site, thus forming a registration with the further cell site. When the switching infrastructure receives a call attempt towards the mobile, the switching infrastructure pages the mobile in only those cells in which a cell registration exists for the mobile.

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing packet data communications to a communication unit (e.g., 120). The communication system includes a system controller (102), a packet data router (101), and multiple base sites (103-109). Each base site serves a respective service coverage area (133-139) and the service coverage areas a grouped into multiple location areas (150-151). The packet data router receives a data packet intended for the communication unit and processes a transport protocol layer of the packet. The packet data router then determines whether the communication unit is presently involved in a packet data communication session based at least on information contained in the transport protocol layer of the packet.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing communication service to communication units (207-213) located within a common carrier transportation device (115). A stationary system controller (101) allocates a first set of communication resources (e.g., 140-149) to a mobile system controller (200) located at the common carrier transportation device (115). The first set of communication resources (140-149) are a subset of the communication resources assigned to a first stationary base site (109) of multiple stationary base sites (102-112) controlled by the stationary controller (101). The mobile controller (200) maps the first set (140-149) to a second set of communication resources (220-229) for use within the common carrier transportation device (115). The second set (220-229) is distinct from the first set (140-149) and is preferably selected to not interfere substantially with communication resources assigned to the stationary base sites (102-112).

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes switching infrastructure (150) and at least one location area ("LA") having a multiplicity of cells (the "multiple-cell LA") (103). When a mobile (100) enters a cell belonging to the multiple-cell LA, the mobile is arranged with a cell-registration feature that enables it to register with the serving cell site, thus forming a registration with the cell site. When the mobile enters a further cell belonging to the multiple-cell LA, the mobile registers with the corresponding further cell site, thus forming a registration with the further cell site. When the switching infrastructure receives a call attempt towards the mobile, the switching infrastructure pages the mobile in only those cells in which a cell registration exists for the mobile.

Abstract: Data to be transmitted from an information source (301), associated with a local/wide area network (303), to a target destination (317) is formatted into a plurality of data packets. Based on a message type of the data packets, either a circuit-switched network (311) or a packet-switched network (309) is selected. When the circuit-switched network is chosen, a circuit-switched channel (314) is established to the target destination, and the data packets are transmitted to the target destination via the circuit-switched channel. When the packet-switched network is chosen, a packet-switched channel (313) is established to the target destination, and the data packets are transmitted to the target destination via the packet-switched channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of testing the components of a communication system that uses an ARQ protocol is provided. A processor (117) within the communication system is designated to emulate the ARQ protocol so that the normal paths of communication through the system are tested by creating a path (405) that isolates components (103 and 105) from the remainder of the system and tests the remaining components (107 and 109) using the ARQ-emulating processor (117). The processor (117) is also used to emulate a second protocol.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) that includes a packet data routing network (101, 103) and a plurality of base sites (105-107) employs a method (400, 500) and apparatus for providing packet data to a communication unit (109). The packet data routing network (101, 103) provides a packet (201-208) of data to at least two of the base sites (105-107), one of the base sites (e.g., 105) being the site currently serving the communication unit (109) and the other base site or sites (e.g., 106, 107) being possible handoff targets. The serving base site (105) transmits at least a first portion (e.g., 201-203) of the packet (201-208) to the communication unit (109) and the communication unit (109) receives the transmitted packet or portion thereof. However, if during transmission of the packet (201-208) the communication unit (109) requires a handoff to one (e.g.

Abstract: Data to be transmitted from an information source (301) associated with a local/wide area network (303) is formatted into a plurality of data packets. Each data packet includes a first target destination identifier that uniquely identifies a target destination (323) within an RF communication system (306). A network interfacer (305) establishes connectivity between the local/wide area network and a controller (307) associated with the RF communication system. Based on the first target destination identifier, the controller determines a second target destination identifier corresponding to the target destination. A circuit-switched channel is established to the target destination using the second target destination identifier. The data packets are then transmitted via the circuit-switched channel to the target destination without either the first or second target destination identifiers being transmitted therewith.

Abstract: A method for establishing a logical connection between a plurality of sites (101-110) and either a plurality of site controllers (112-115) or a switching center (117) in a radio communication system (100) may be accomplished in the following manner. A first site (101) is selected from a first pair of sites (101,104), wherein the geographical separation (119) between the first pair of sites (101, 104) exceeds the geographical separation between any other pair of sites. Upon selecting the first site (101 ), at least a second site (106, 108) is selected to form a group of selected sites (101,106-108). The group of selected sites (101,106-108) is assigned to a first site controller (112), or a first control portion (201) of the switching center (117), such that communication resources provided by the group of selected sites (101,106-108) can be accommodated by the assigned controller (112), or control portion (201).