Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. In yet other aspects, techniques are provided to efficiency schedule data transmissions and to assign channels to users.

Abstract: Techniques to (more accurately) estimate the transmit power available for data service in a future time period (e.g., the next frame). In accordance with one aspect, variation in the available transmit power over time is estimated. A first margin is then computed and used to account for the estimated variation in the available transmit power. The available transmit power at a future time instance (e.g., the beginning of the next frame) is predicted and reduced by the first margin to derive a more accurate estimate of the available transmit power for the next frame. In accordance with another aspect, variation in the required transmit power for a particular data user is estimated and used in scheduling data transmission to this data user. A second margin can be computed and used to account for the estimated variation in the required transmit power for the data user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a favored transmission slot for communicating non-voice data in conjunction with a voice-data communication. The slot, reflecting a favored power level and transmission rate for transmitting the non-voice data on a supplemental channel, is selected based upon the transmission power levels for voice-data transmitted by a base station to a remote station on a fundamental channel. The favored transmission slot is selected without the remote station messaging information to the base station concerning frequency channel or interference information for the supplemental channel.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding apparatus, applies to individual base stations in a wireless communications systems, where each base station performs rate assignment to mobile stations optimally, but independently of the other base stations. Different base stations affect each other through other cell interference, and continuously modify their reversed link rate assignment based on the other-cell interference received and the requested rates from the mobile stations. The base stations converge to a stable condition with uncoordinated optimizations. The optimizing technique maximizes total through put in each cell (maximizing rates) while maintaining interference to other cells at a minimum level, and being subject to at least some of the following constraints: mobile station's maximum transmit power, mobile station's requested rate, discrete set of possible rates, maximum rise-over-thermal interference at the base station, and minimum required received error per bit normalized for noise.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless communications wherein a base station transmits a signal to sending data to a subscriber station through a signal beam that sweeps through the coverage area of the base station. User data addressed to the subscriber station is buffered until the signal beam angle of the signal beam allows efficient transmission. The base station may alter the beam sweep speed or the shape of the beam's radiation pattern over time to maximize system efficiency and capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a favored transmission slot for communicating non-voice data in conjunction with a voice-data communication. The slot, reflecting a favored power level and transmission rate for transmitting the non-voice data on a supplemental channel, is selected based upon the transmission power levels for voice-data transmitted by a base station to a remote station on a fundamental channel. The favored transmission slot is selected without the remote station messaging information to the base station concerning frequency channel or interference information for the supplemental channel.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding apparatus, applies to individual base stations in a wireless communications systems, where each base station performs rate assignment to mobile stations optimally, but independently of the other base stations. Different base stations affect each other through other cell interference, and continuously modify their reversed link rate assignment based on the other—cell interference received and the requested rates from the mobile stations. The base stations converge to a stable condition with uncoordinated optimizations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient candidate frequency search while initiating a handoff in a code division multiple access communication system. The method includes when the pilot signal is transmitted by the mobile station that is power controlled to a target receive level, the traffic channel power level is increased relative to the pilot channel to improve receiver performance. An improved feature is that the received pilot received at the base station stays the same while the receiver receives extra energy in the redundant traffic symbols received to enhance the probability of correctly decoding the received frame. The base station detects the absence of the mobile station transmitted signal from the frequency of interest. If the base station is aware of the starting time and duration of the absence, it can focus its detection during this predetermined time period. The performance can be improved if the absence of the signal is spread across two frames at the frame boundary.

Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. In yet other aspects, techniques are provided to efficiency schedule data transmissions and to assign channels to users.

Abstract: A method (100) for scheduling packet data transmissions in a wireless communication system wherein a per-user Priority Function (PF) is calculated as a function of packet delay time of the user. When a given user has a packet delay time violating a threshold, the PF of the user is adjusted accordingly. In one embodiment, a delay function is applied to the PF calculation, wherein the delay function considers the average requested data rate for all users in the active set having pending data and the average data rate of a given user.

Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. For example, the loading conditions of the cells can be detected, and the resources can be reallocated and/or the reuse scheme can be redefined.

Abstract: In a communication system wherein packetized data is transmitted to remote stations in a channel sensitive manner, a preamble must be transmitted with each discrete data transmission to the remote station. Method and apparatus are presented herein for generating an optimized preamble structure for use with transmissions of packetized data. An optimized preamble structure is one that is easily detectable and decodable, yet occupies a small fractional overhead of the entire transmission to the remote station. Information that needs to be carried by a preamble are used to create a basic structural unit, which is then redundantly permuted.

Abstract: Several methods and corresponding apparatus to reduce multiple access interference in code division multiple access communications systems through successive interference cancellation techniques. An estimate of reliability of cancellation of a strongest interfering signal is formed from analysis of a pilot signal associated with the strongest signal. The estimate is used to derive a weight that is multiplied by a replica of the strongest signal to provide a weighted replica. The weighted replica is subtracted from a delayed version of the received channel. As a result, interference cancellation is robustly implemented when the strongest signal replica is most likely to be accurate and is not robustly implemented when the strongest signal replica is not likely to be accurate. This avoids combining a replica of the strongest signal with the received channel when the replica is more likely to contribute additional interference rather than reduce it.

Abstract: Forward power control during a soft handoff in a wireless communication system is accomplished by tracking each power command (PC) transmitted from a mobile unit to two or more base station transceiver systems (BTSs). Each BTS may interpret power commands differently due to noise. However, the power commands are relayed to a selector along with additional data transmitted in a conventional fashion. The selector determines the power levels of each BTS and transmits power charge commands to maintain power balance between the BTSs. The BTSs may transmit each PC command to the selector or accumulate several PC commands and send a PC history to the selector. The selector generates a reference PC history, which may be one of the PC histories transmitted from a BTS, a combination thereof, the result of data processing on the one or more PC histories.

Abstract: Several methods and corresponding apparatus reduce peak to average power in signals transmitted in a wireless communications system, particularly with respect to pilot symbols transmitted from a base station to several user stations. A large peak to average amplitude of inserted pilot symbols has been found to result from a common sign chip position that exists in orthogonal codes, such as Walsh codes. In a first embodiment, the Walsh codes are multiplied by a random value of ±1. Under a second embodiment, the common sign chip position is eliminated in each Walsh code. The user station then inserts the missing chip position to regain orthogonality. In a third embodiment, the base station transmits pilot symbols, on a separate pilot channel, in only symbol positions that user stations expect to find pilot symbols. Under a fourth embodiment, each Walsh code is randomly shifted.

Abstract: The invention is a method for limiting the peak transmit power in a CDMA communication system. At least one of first and second high transmit power regions are separated into a plurality of high transmit power subregions. The high transmit power subregions of the plurality of high subregions are shifted by time offsets of differing durations to provide a plurality of time offset subregions. First and second low transmit power regions are also provided. At least one of the first and second low transmit power regions is also separated into a plurality of transmit power subregions and the low transmit power subregions are shifted by time offsets of differing time durations. The subregions can be time offset by a predetermined time duration or by a random time duration.

Abstract: Several methods and corresponding apparatus reduce peak to average power in signals transmitted in a wireless communications system, particularly with respect to pilot symbols transmitted from a base station to several user stations. A large peak to average amplitude of inserted pilot symbols has been found to result from a common sign chip position that exists in orthogonal codes, such as Walsh codes. In a first embodiment, the Walsh codes are multiplied by a random value of ±1. Under a second embodiment, the common sign chip position is eliminated in each Walsh code. The user station then inserts the missing chip position to regain orthogonality. In a third embodiment, the base station transmits pilot symbols, on a separate pilot channel, in only symbol positions that user stations expect to find pilot symbols. Under a fourth embodiment, each Walsh code is randomly shifted.