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 is directed to a cellular mobile radio telephone system in which mobile stations may select either analog or digital control channels. Analog and dual-mode mobile stations are equipped to become multi-mode mobile stations which monitor both analog and digital control channels depending on the selected mode. Downlink multi-mode mobile stations, while required to use analog control channels for call access, may nonetheless scan digital control and paging channels to receive downlink control and paging communications from the land-based system. Bi-directional multi-mode mobile stations have the same capabilities as downlink mobiles but also are equipped to transmit control information to the land station over the uplink digital control channel. If no digital control channel is available, the multi-mode mobile stations scan primary and secondary sets of analog control channels.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out an authentication check in a mobile telephone system in which an authentic base station serves a plurality of mobile stations. A prior method carried out a unidirectional check from the base to a calling mobile, permitting a false base to carry out a false authentication check by collecting a number of so-called RAND-Response pairs. To avoid this problem, another unidirectional, base-to-mobile, authentication check and an authentication check from the mobile to the base are carried out. In one embodiment, only the bi-directional authentication check is carried out.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out an authentication check in a mobile telephone system in which an authentic base station serves a plurality of mobile stations. A prior method carried out a unidirectional check from the base to a calling mobile, permitting a false base to carry out a false authentication check by collecting a number of so-called RAND-Response pairs. To avoid this problem, another unidirectional, base-to-mobile, authentication check and an authentication check from the mobile to the base are carried out. In one embodiment, only the bi-directional authentication check is carried out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for communication and handoff in a cellular mobile radio system and a base station and a mobile station for communication and handoff in such a system, in which time slot identifier codes are transmitted in bursts in times slots in frames of radio channels used for time division communication channels, the time slot identifier codes being indicative of burst time slot in a frame but not of transmitter or receiver entity or radio channel, the time slot identifier codes being used for burst synchronization and determining bursts the signal strength of which to be measured for the purpose of possible handoff.

Abstract: In a mobile radio communications system, critical signaling messages, e.g., handoff messages, transmitted on a fast associated control channel and/or a slow associated control channel belonging to a digital traffic channel, are more heavily data protected than speech using convolutional coding and interburst interleaving. The coding and interburst interleaving are carried out so as to maintain compatibility with an exiting frame structure.

Abstract: Disturbances to DTMF signaling between mobile stations and the land-based system caused by handoff are minimized. DTMF signals are transmitted in real time between a mobile station and its associated base station. However, if during a DTMF transmission between a base station and the mobile switching center a handoff is requested, the handoff is delayed by a specified time in order to allow completion of the DTMF transmission. Alternatively, both base stations involved in the handoff transmit overlapping DTMF tones until the handoff is completed. If the handoff is requested before the start of the DTMF tone transmission, the DTMF transmission is delayed until the handoff is completed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing mobile stations in a cellular mobile radio system to different sets of control channels, depending on whether the land system and the mobile stations have digital capabilities. The mobile stations operate to initially scan the same primary set of control channels and to read one of them, and to make a determination, based on the value of certain bits transmitted over the control channel and also the digital capabilities of the type of mobile station involved, whether to continue operation on the primary set of control channels, or whether to scan and read any secondary set of control channels. If a mobile station with digital capabilities decides to scan the secondary set of control channels, but does not find such channels, the mobile station determines that there are no secondary sets of control channels. In this case, if the mobile has analog capabilities, the mobile station will return to scanning the primary set of control channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for communication and handoff in a cellular mobile radio system and a base station and a mobile station for communication and handoff in such a system, in which time slot identifier codes are transmitted in bursts in times slots in frames of radio channels used for time division communication channels, the time slot identified codes being indicative of burst time slot in a frame but not of transmitter or receiver entity or radio channel, the time slot identifier codes being used for burst synchronization and determining bursts the signal strength of which to be measured for the purpose of possible handoff.