Abstract: A UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) core network supports the negotiation of asymmetric traffic classes with a mobile station (MS) (or user equipment (UE)). A new quality of service (QoS) information element (IE) is defined that allows for the MS to negotiate for asymmetric traffic classes.

Abstract: A UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) core network supports the negotiation of variable quality of service (QoS). A QoS information element (IE) is defined that supports downgradeable QoS requirements by allowing multiple traffic classes to be specified in a priority order. Similarly, a QoS information element (IE) is defined that supports upgradeable QoS requirements.

Abstract: Overhead is reduced and packet transport efficiency is increased for a flow of switched packets from a router by identifying a plurality of packets having a common destination node within a network and transmitting at least one control message to establish the flow of switched packets; the at least one control message including: (i) a label mapping message corresponding to the flow of switched packets and (ii) a header removal field. Packet headers corresponding to packets of a switched packet flow are not parsed, therefore either the entire header, or a portion of the header, may be removed from each packet assigned a label. A header removal field is shared among routers while signaling to establish a labeled flow. The header removal field is used to provide header structure information to those routers which will be utilized for transport of the subsequent labeled flow. Packet transport densities are monitored at individual routers.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing access priority in a MAC protocol of a communications system such as, for example, with respect to UMTS RACH. Particularly, the invention introduces several access priority methodologies including: (i) random chip delay access priority (RCDAP); (ii) random backoff based access priority (RBBAP); (iii) variable logical channel based access priority (VLCAP); (iv) UMTS-specific variable logical channel based access priority (VLCAP′); (v) probability based access priority (PBAP); and (vi) retransmission based access priority (REBAP). Each methodology associates some parameter or parameters to access priority classes in order to influence the likelihood of a remote terminal completing a successful access request to a base station.

Abstract: An ATM switch for directing traffic flow of native ATM cell traffic and frame based packets between an input and an output port of the switch comprises a device for receiving native ATM cells and transporting the native ATM cells to the output port for output at a switch output rate; a device for receiving the frame based packets; a device for segmenting each received frame based packet into a corresponding plurality of ATM cells and transmitting the plurality of ATM cells to the output port at an ATM cell transmission rate; and a control device for controlling the ATM cell transmission rate to enable reduction of ATM cell loss at the output port and corresponding frame relay packet loss at the expense of packet delay.

Abstract: In a method for admitting new connections based on measured quantities in a wireless communications network having a base station and remote hosts, the base station measures and computes performance metrics to determine whether admission of the new connection could cause a failure to meet the Quality of Service (QoS) promised to already admitted connections. Only if the QoS can be maintained is the new connection is admitted. In one embodiment, the base station may optionally disconnect one or more already admitted lower priority connections if doing so will allow a higher priority new connection to be admitted without loss of QoS to the remaining already admitted connections. In one embodiment, each connection request specifies the average bit rate required and a traffic burstiness factor, the base station measures the number of bytes sent by each connection for a certain period of time and a burstiness factor for the traffic in either direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring packet data incorporates a “hand-off” feature that allows the transfer of an existing PPP connection from one packet server to another packet server. Such a hand-off control message or call continue transaction can be initiated by any of the servers involved in the transactions. For instance, assume an initial arrangement where a point-to-point call is set up and in progress between a user and a private network via a first packet server (e.g., a first Serving LAC) and a second packet server (e.g., an Anchor LAC). If, for example, the user moves out of the region served by the first packet server into a region served by a third packet server (e.g., a second Serving LAC), then a hand-off control message transaction, according to the invention, is initiated. Either the second Serving LAC or the Anchor LAC may initiate the call continue transaction.

Abstract: A method for data transmission in a wireless communication network utilizes an on-demand multiple access method with a fair queuing service discipline for efficient utilization of the limited bandwidth available in the network by sharing bandwidth among the remote hosts. In one embodiment, the base station broadcasts the system virtual time and the assigned shares of service classes to each of the wireless remotes. Each remote host computes its own service tag and reports it to the base station, which assigns transmit permits based on the service tag values and the available data slots. If a packet is lost or in error, the sending remote recomputes the service tag values of all its queued packets, including the packet whose transmission failed. Alternatively, the remote informs the base station of its queue size and the base station computes service tags for each remote based on the service shares of the remote and the available data slots.

Abstract: The power level for uplink data transmission in a wireless communications network utilizing an on-demand multiple access method with a fair queuing service discipline (ODMAFQ) for efficient utilization of the limited bandwidth available in the wireless network is established curing the initial access request message. The power level in a wireless network having a base station and several remote hosts is established by first transmitting a short connection request message to the base station from one of the remote hosts at an initial power level that is set relative to the nominal open loop power level. If the first remote host's transmission is unsuccessful, the power level is incremented by a power increment amount that may be predetermined, and the steps of transmitting and incrementing are repeated until the transmission from remote host to base station is successful.

Abstract: In a method for controlling admission of remote hosts to a base station in a wireless communications network based on usage priority, there are at least two user priority classes and the base station admits a threshold number of remote hosts of the lower priority class and a maximum total number of remote hosts. When a base station receives a connection request from a new user of the higher priority class, if the current total number of admitted users is less than the maximum allowable, the new user of class is admitted, otherwise, the base station checks to see if any lower priority class users are currently admitted and allow disconnection. If so, the base station disconnect the lower priority user and admits the new user. In one embodiment, the base station disconnects the “least recently used” admitted lower priority user that allows disconnection.

Abstract: In a method for conflict resolution among remote hosts in a wireless network where remotes make bandwidth requests to the base station via uplink frames partitioned into one or more reservation minislots, a collision occurs where two or more remotes have transmitted a request in the same minislot. Each remote is characterized by a stack level, and only remotes with a stack level equal to 0 are permitted to transmit access request packets. Newly active remotes are allowed to join in with those remotes already having stack level 0 during any particular conflict resolution period by setting their stack levels to 0 and entering the request state. If the stack level of a remote is 0, the remote randomly picks a minislot for transmission of an access request. If the outcome is SUCCESS, and the queue at the remote is empty, the remote transmits the current packet after receiving a transmit permit and exits the request state.