Abstract: A reverse link load control strategy utilizes a total call load metric in place of a reverse signal strength indicator metric for managing reverse link resources. In a disclosed example, a load control module (40) measures the reverse signal strength indicator (62) and measures an active cell load (64) using known techniques. A relationship between the reverse signal strength indicator, the active cell load, an other cell load component and a jammer component provides the ability to determine the other cell load component and the jammer component. Once the other cell load component has been determined, a total call load based upon the active cell load component and the other cell load component provides a useful metric for allocating reverse link resources between existing users and for determining whether to allow a new user, for example.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a power level of communications over a channel in a wireless communications network. In the method, a determination (e.g., by a radio network controller (RNC)) is made regarding a number of base stations actively communicating with a mobile station. For example, the determination may indicate whether the mobile station is engaged in soft handoff or simplex mode. One of a plurality of power control algorithms (e.g., a fixed offset power control algorithm, a channel quality indicator (CQI) power control algorithm, etc.) is selected based on the determination. A power level of communications over the channel (e.g., a downlink communications channel to the mobile station) is then adjusted in accordance with the selected power control algorithm.

Abstract: In the method, a phase of at least one signal transmitted from a transmit antenna of a base station is shifted based on a sweeping frequency having a differentiating component.

Abstract: In an aspect of the method, a received data packet is decoded in order to determine a packet error rate value, and an average package error value for N received data packets is updated based on the determined packet error rate value. The updated average packet error rate value is then compared against a threshold value and a data rate request is issued based on this comparison. In another aspect, a response to a transmitted data packet is received, the response being related to an average packet error rate value. The average packet error rate value is compared against a threshold and a data rate is modified based on the comparison. In each of the above aspects, a data rate control margin that is used to overcome channel estimate errors resulting from transmission delays may be dynamically adjusted, e.g., in real time, in order to optimize system resources.

Abstract: A disclosed method of communicating includes using a group identifier within a multi-user packet (MUP) to indicate at least one packet within the MUP is intended for a plurality of members of a group corresponding to the group identifier. In a disclosed example, the group identifier comprises a group MAC identifier that is included in a header of the MUP. Mobile stations receiving the MUP process the MUP to determine whether any individual user identifier or any group MAC identifier within the MUP indicates that an associated packet is intended for that mobile station. If so, the mobile station proceeds to process the associated packet or packets from within the MUP.

Abstract: A wireless communication network (20) utilizes a hard handoff procedure for switching between cells serving a mobile station (40). In a disclosed example, the existing link between the mobile station (40) and a serving base station (38) is not released until a new link between a target base station (32) and a mobile station (40) is established. At the same time, however, the mobile station maintains only one base station or link within its active set at all times. The disclosed example is useful for dedicated channel and shared channel communications in CDMA systems, for example.

Abstract: The invention operates to determine a measure of one or more input data parameters, such as input data rate and input data buffer fill at the beginning of a data burst. The invention then proceeds to the selection of an operating data rate for the data burst as a function of the input data parameter measures. In a further step, the invention proceeds to a selection of a duration for the data burst as a function of the selected operating data rate and an end-of-burst data residue parameter.

Abstract: A method of processing, in parallel fashion, messages from a User Equipment (UE) in soft handoff with a plurality of base stations of a wireless communication system. Measurement Messages from the User Equipment are received and stored in a message buffer for a defined period of time. Later arriving messages replace previous messages during the defined period of time. When the defined period of time elapses, the latest stored message is processed in parallel fashion in a processing pipeline with other messages for the UE and other UEs. The latest message is processed by first converting it to soft handoff actions and inserting such actions into a processing pipeline. A conflict table is generated during the parallel processing of the soft handoff actions to avoid the processing of messages that conflict with each other. Conflicting messages are put into a pending state and remain in such state until they are canceled by subsequent messages or the conflict no longer exists.

Abstract: A method of processing, in parallel fashion, messages from a User Equipment (UE) in soft handoff with a plurality of base stations of a wireless communication system. Measurement Messages from the User Equipment are received and stored in a message buffer for a defined period of time. Later arriving messages replace previous messages during the defined period of time. When the defined period of time elapses, the latest stored message is processed in parallel fashion in a processing pipeline with other messages for the UE and other UEs. The latest message is processed by first converting it to soft handoff actions and inserting such actions into a processing pipeline. A conflict table is generated during the parallel processing of the soft handoff actions to avoid the processing of messages that conflict with each other. Conflicting messages are put into a pending state and remain in such state until they are canceled by subsequent messages or the conflict no longer exists.

Abstract: In an aspect of the method, a received data packet is decoded in order to determine a packet error rate value, and an average package error value for N received data packets is updated based on the determined packet error rate value. The updated average packet error rate value is then compared against a threshold value and a data rate request is issued based on this comparison. In another aspect, a response to a transmitted data packet is received, the response being related to an average packet error rate value. The average packet error rate value is compared against a threshold and a data rate is modified based on the comparison. In each of the above aspects, a data rate control margin that is used to overcome channel estimate errors resulting from transmission delays may be dynamically adjusted, e.g., in real time, in order to optimize system resources.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for recreating radio frequency (RF) conditions of a cellular network extracts significant RF effects from field test data, and recreates variable RF attenuation using a multi-channel attenuator. A field data processor converts the field test data to time-varying attenuator control values for each channel of the multi-channel attenuator. Accordingly, a mobile in the lab which is connected to the multi-channel attenuator sees the same carrier and interference levels that were observed in the field environment, allowing cellular communication equipment testing without repeated field testing.

Abstract: Inter-frequency handoffs in a CDMA or other wireless communication system are controlled using a noise-limited coverage trigger metric which is able to distinguish between same-frequency cell boundaries and other-frequency cell boundaries in the system. The trigger metric may be generated as a function of an average signal-to-noise measure for pilot signals received at a mobile station of the system and a linear sum of the signal-to-noise measures. The signal-to-noise measures may be generated in the mobile station and included in messages transmitted from the mobile station to one or more base stations of the system. The trigger metric is used to control a handoff from a current frequency to a new frequency in an ongoing call. The trigger metric may alternatively be based on a measure of mobile receive power alone.

Abstract: Inter-frequency handoffs in a CDMA or other wireless communication system are controlled using a noise-limited coverage trigger metric which is able to distinguish between same-frequency cell boundaries and other-frequency cell boundaries in the system. The trigger metric may be generated as a function of an average signal-to-noise measure for pilot signals received at a mobile station of the system and a linear sum of the signal-to-noise measures. The signal-to-noise measures may be generated in the mobile station and included in messages transmitted from the mobile station to one or more base stations of the system. The trigger metric is used to control a handoff from a current frequency to a new frequency in an ongoing call. The trigger metric may alternatively be based on a measure of mobile receive power alone.

Abstract: Inter-frequency handoffs in a CDMA or other wireless communication system are controlled using a noise-limited coverage trigger metric which is able to distinguish between same-frequency cell boundaries and other-frequency cell boundaries in the system. The trigger metric may be generated as a function of an average signal-to-noise measure for pilot signals received at a mobile station of the system and a linear sum of the signal-to-noise measures. The signal-to-noise measures may be generated in the mobile station and included in messages transmitted from the mobile station to one or more base stations of the system. The trigger metric is used to control a handoff from a current frequency to a new frequency in an ongoing call. The trigger metric may alternatively be based on a measure of mobile receive power alone.

Abstract: A method for reducing multiple dominant pilots in a CDMA communication system comprises determining nulls of a first cell and pointing a sector antenna of a neighboring second cell towards one of said nulls of the first cell. A system is also described.

Abstract: Telecommunications processing is applied to a reference signal to generate a signal under test. A fidelity measure is generated characterizing the fidelity of the signal under test relative to the reference signal. A control signal is generated from the fidelity measure, where the control signal is used as a feedback signal to adjust the telecommunications processing. In one embodiment, the reference signal is a speech signal and the signal under test is a decoded speech signal generated by encoding, transmitting, and decoding the reference speech signal. The fidelity signal is an average mean opinion score (MOS) and the control signal is used to control the speech decoding processing. For example, the speech decoding processing may involve a speech decoder followed by a post filter, and the control signal is the cut-off frequency of the post filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring at least one signal characteristic. Initially, a set of features is selected which characterize a signal. An intelligent system, such as a neural network, is trained in the relationship between feature sets and signal characteristics. The selected feature set is then extracted from a first input signal. The extracted feature set from the first signal is input to the trained intelligent system. The intelligent system creates an output signal based on the feature set extracted from the first input signal. This output signal is then used to characterize the input signal. In one embodiment, the invention assesses voice quality, typically as expressed in MOS scores, in a manner which accurately corresponds to the analysis of human evaluators. For voice signals processed by voice coders, the present invention provides a measurement technique which is independent of various voice coding algorithms and consistent for any given algorithm.

Abstract: An improved decision-directed control circuit is disclosed which supplies adjustments to adaptive circuitry in a communications system. The improvement is achieved by only supplying adjustments when there is a high probability that the adjustment is correct. In the disclosed embodiments, this high probability equates, at a minimum, to times when the adaptive circuit output has an amplitude which lies outside of a range extending from the largest to the smallest value of the digital signal. This adjustment approach can be used to adjust a variety of adaptive circuits including transversal equalizers, timing recovery circuits, cross-polarization cancellers and carrier recovery circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mounting device for a marine propulsion device comprising a first bracket adapted to be attached to a boat and having upper and lower parts, a second bracket adapted to support a marine propulsion device and having upper and lower parts, an upper link pivotally connected at its end to the upper parts of the first and second brackets, a lower link pivotally connected at its ends to the lower parts of the first and second brackets, whereby to permit swinging of the second bracket relative to the first bracket between raised and lowered positions, a linkage for selectively holding the second bracket in the first and second positions including a slot and a stud engaged in the slot, a spring for selectively and yieldably biasing one of the slot and the stud for engagement with the other so as to selectively retain the second bracket in either of the raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a tilt hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly connected between a first member adapted to be attached to a boat and a second member connected to the first member for vertical swinging movement relative to the boat, and a trim hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly connected to the first and second members. Also provided is a hydraulic system connected to the tilt and trim hydraulic cylinder-piston assemblies for pressurization thereof.In one embodiment, the trim assembly includes a cylinder, a piston assembly located in the cylinder and having a first piston with a port therein and a second piston spaced axially from and fixedly connected to the first piston, together with a piston rod, means connecting the piston assembly to the piston rod for limited relative movement therebetween, valve means normally closing the port, and means for operating the valve means to open the port upon movement of the piston assembly to a predetermined position.