Abstract: In an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system wherein a frequency bandwidth is divided into multiple sub-bands, a method and a scheduler is provided for configuring channel quality feedback for a point-to-multipoint communication session involving multiple users equipment (UEs). The scheduler receives multiple channel quality measurements from the multiple UEs and, based on the multiple channel quality measurements, determines whether to implement a frequency selective channel quality feedback scheme or a non-frequency selective channel quality feedback scheme for the point-to-multipoint communication session. The scheduler then implements the determined channel quality feedback scheme. In another embodiment of the invention, the scheduler may determine whether to implement a frequency selective or non-frequency selective channel quality feedback scheme based on a number of UEs serviced by the scheduler.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for potentially reducing the impact of routing area updates on wireless system capacity. Logic flow diagram 10, in FIG. 1, depicts such functionality. In some embodiments, it is determined (12) whether a remote unit is within an edge portion of a routing area, while in other embodiments it is determined (12) whether the remote unit is within an end portion of a routing area update interval. It is also determined (14) whether one or more conditions are present for the remote unit to perform a resource-efficient routing update. A routing area update is then performed (16) when one or more of the conditions are present and when, depending on the embodiment, either the remote unit is determined to be within the edge portion of the routing area or the remote unit is determined to be within the end portion of the routing area update interval.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication system (100) dynamically updates paging gap times (314, 324) associated with a plurality of addresses (312, 322) of at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system included in the wireless communication system (100). The method includes updating a first paging gap time (314) associated with a first address (312) of the at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system, and updating a second paging gap time (324) associated with a second address (322) of the at least one wireless device (110), the second paging gap time (324) being different than the first paging gap time (314).

Abstract: A method (150) and device (200) for conserving energy in a power storage device of a mobile station (102, 110), including: selecting (155) an alert mode associated with a mobile station, the alert mode including at least one of: silent alert, vibrate and manual answer; detecting (160) the alert mode of the mobile station; and increasing (165) a length of a paging cycle in order to conserve power of an energy storage device associated with the mobile station (102, 110), in response to the detected alert mode. The method provides a useful compromise for energy conservation of a power storage device on one hand, while also accommodating a user's demand for a short paging interval when desired, on the other.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for improving network access through multi-stage signaling. Logic flow diagram 10 in FIG. 1 depicts functionality performed by a wireless communication system in accordance with multiple embodiments of the present invention. A network node configures (12) a shared indicator code for indicating an emergency and/or a group call access occurring in that sector. Thus, when an MS performs an emergency access, it transmits (13) an access signal on both the shared indicator code and on a randomly selected code. This more quickly notifies the network that there is at least one MS in the sector. Once aware that such an access is occurring in that sector, the network may (14) provision additional access resources, estimate the number of MSs transmitting based on the received power on that indicator code, start backing off non-emergency traffic, and/or begin transmitting communication without waiting for authentication to complete.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described which may serve to improve spreading channel code selection in wireless technologies that employ two-stage ranging. For example, some of the embodiments enable a number of spreading codes to be reused at each network node (111, 112), potentially increasing the number of codes available to each remote unit and thereby reducing the collision rate. Rather than simply selecting a spreading channel code randomly, remote units (101-103), in some embodiments, select a spreading channel code based on one or more considerations such as pilot signal strength, remote unit location, a remote unit mobility level, and a priority class associated with the remote unit. Depending on the embodiment, network nodes can partition the spreading codes into groups and then assign link bandwidth to remote units based on the group associated with the code selected by that remote unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing Scheduling Request efficiency in a wireless communication system includes a step 400 of configuring periodic timing opportunities for sending the scheduling request. A next step 402 includes detecting new data arriving in an empty queue to trigger a scheduling request. A next step 406 includes sending a scheduling request at selected SR opportunities until a response to the scheduling request is generated.

Abstract: A device (132) for dynamically selecting a wireless communication mode for wirelessly communicating information to at least two wireless communication devices (104, 106) includes a packet data comparator (324) adapted to compare data packets in multiple data streams, each stream designated for transmission to a different one of multiple destination devices and also to identify at least two of the packets having identical information in at least a portion of the packets. The device (132) also includes an output (312) for sending the at least a portion of the packets having the identified identical information to the at least two wireless communication devices in the multicast mode, and also for sending a remainder of the data streams to the at least two wireless communication devices in a unicast mode.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: In implementing a method of updating presence information for a plurality of presentities in a communication system, a presence server: defines a group of presentities that share the same value for a first presence attribute; receives an update of the value of the first presence attribute for one of the presentities in the group; and applies the update of the value to all of the presentities in the group.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling Buffer Status Reports in a Long Term Evolution communication system includes a step (400) of determining a higher than normal likelihood of receiving a first buffer status report on a first uplink grant. A next step (402) includes increasing a reliability of the first uplink grant in response the higher than normal likelihood. Other next steps can include detecting (404) that the first Buffer Status Report transmission Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process failed and triggering (406) a second Buffer Status Report transmission in the user equipment in a next uplink grant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing power control using idle-mode user equipment attached to a cell in a wireless communication system. First and second higher power level thresholds for signal transmissions of a cell are defined, wherein the first power level has a defined offset higher than a minimum required power level, and wherein the first and second power level thresholds define an operating power band therebetween. The user equipment measures a signal transmission power level. If the idle-mode user equipment determines that the signal transmission power level falls outside of the operating power band, then a message is sent to affect a change in signal transmission power level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that includes a user equipment (104) sending a first buffer status report to an eNode B (102) to (210) indicate an amount of data in a buffer that is to be sent. After the first buffer status report is sent, the amount of data in the buffer can change (216) so that the user equipment sends (218) a second buffer status report to indicate the change in the amount of data in the buffer that is to be sent.

Abstract: A communication device converts a bit stream to multiple symbols and provides encryption at a physical layer by shifting a phase of each symbol of the multiple symbols to produce multiple encrypted symbols. Each encrypted symbol of the multiple encrypted symbols is modulated with an orthogonal subcarrier to produce at least one modulated subcarrier and the at least one modulated subcarrier is then transmitted via a wireless link. On a receive side, a receiving communication device receives the transmitted, encrypted symbols and provides decryption at a physical layer by shifting a phase of each encrypted symbol in correspondence with the phase used to encrypt the symbol at the transmit side.

Abstract: A system (100) includes a mobile station (125) to initiate an outgoing communication anywhere in a coverage area (115). A base station (110) and a radio access network (105) provide wireless service to the mobile station (125). The mobile station is paged in the sectors overlapping with only the clean zone. The mobile station (125) is paged in the sectors overlapping with the hot zone if the mobile station has predetermined trusted characteristics, or the mobile station is located within a clean zone of sectors overlapping with the hot zone, and an incoming communication for the mobile station originates from a predetermined trusted source. Existing calls to the mobile station are terminated in response to the existing call exceeding a predetermined threshold time limit, or a detected amount of voice activity in the existing call being below a predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing overhead for signaling where the method includes sending a user bit map field (802) for initiating assignment of users to resources corresponding to bit positions in a resource bit map field (804), and sending the resource bit map field wherein the resource bit map field is a message indicating which resources are assigned to mobile stations. The method and apparatus include sending an indicator bit (808) wherein the indicator bit indicates one of a portion of the user bit map field is being used for purposes other than initiating assignment of users to resources corresponding to bit positions in a resource bit map field and a portion of the resource bit map field is being used purposes other than indicating which resources are assigned to mobile stations (101).

Abstract: The described method provides for an efficient method for user equipment (104) to identify when it is in proximity to an assigned femtocell (108) in order to be handed over to a femtocell from a macro cell. As the user the equipment moves within a macro cell (106) that is defined by a serving base station (102), it is determined (202) that it is in the range of or in proximity to the femtocell to which it is registered or subscribed. Upon notification that it is near the femtocell, the user equipment sends (204) a message to the serving base station of the macro cell indicating the user equipment has identified its femtocell. The serving base station then sends (208) a message to femtocell to turn on the femtocell so that a handover of the user equipment from the macro cell and serving base station and the femtocell can be initiated. The serving base station sends (212) a response to the user equipment indicating that the femtocell is ready to receive the user equipment as a part of handover procedure.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that minimizes access message collisions when multiple mobile stations attempt to access a network after updating configuration information and/or access parameters information via a same overhead message by providing for each such mobile station to determine whether, or when, to convey an access message based on a time period corresponding to a wait for the overhead message by the mobile station.

Abstract: A network entity and method for eliminating ranging collisions for a group call in a communication network includes a step 300 of provisioning a pre-established rule for all members of a group, the rule including a common random number generator seed. A next step 302 includes initiating a group communication to subscriber units belonging to a group. A next step 304 includes generating a list of unique ranging codes for the members of the group using the common seed. A next step 306 includes each member of the group transmitting on its unique ranging code.

Abstract: A system [100] includes a target set of communication devices [105] for a group call. An originator communication device [102] transmits a group call initiation for the group call. A communication and processing device [125] sequentially invites the target set of communication devices in response to detecting at least one predetermined characteristic of the group call. The sequentially inviting the communication devices comprises (a) initially inviting a first subset [130] of the target set of communication devices that comprising required communication devices, (b) subsequently invites a second subset [135] of the target set of communication devices in response to determining that the group call will be initiated, and (c) joins targets of the second subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message to a communication session involving first targets of the first subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message.