Abstract: A method and system for establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a handheld communications device (HCD) and a vehicle telematics unit. In some instances, the communication may be established following a disconnection event between the telematics unit and a wireless carrier network. The SRWC may include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct as well as other suitable protocols or technologies. Once SRWC is established, the telematics unit may receive a vehicle command from the HCD and perform the command.

Abstract: In a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zones each of which comprises at least one base station, there is provided a method for providing a multicast and broadcast service to a mobile terminal capable of moving from one MBS zone to another. The method comprises the steps of: providing the mobile terminal with one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions comprising at least one multicast connection identification (MCID) associated with an MBS zone other than a current MBS zone at which the mobile terminal is currently receiving the one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions; retrieving information regarding the at least one MCID; and upon detecting that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving transmissions associated with the other MBS_ZONE, utilizing the MCID associated with that other MBS_ZONE to receive multicasting/broadcasting transmissions intended for that mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method and devices are provided for use in a wireless communications network for affecting changes in a power saving class (PSC) associated with a subscriber terminal. The method comprises the steps of: providing at least one PSC for use by said subscriber terminal; at each of said subscriber terminal and said corresponding base station, setting a counting value for said at least one PSCs to be equal to a pre-defined initial value; and upon transmitting or receiving at either one of said subscriber terminal and said base station a message identifying a change in said at least one PSC, updating operating parameters associated with said at least one PSC and increasing at the respective subscriber terminal or base station, the counting value of the corresponding one or more of said at least one PSC by a pre-determined value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compiling lists of prospective access points for offloading cellular data traffic for a vehicle, and for selecting an access point to establish a non-cellular wireless Internet connection. Vehicular data mobile access involves properties and characteristics different from those of portable user data devices, and thus exhibit different criteria for cellular data offloading. Embodiments of the invention provide vehicle metrics to be used in conjunction with data requirement metrics in compiling the access lists and making the optimum selections based on the vehicle's predicted route. A predictive look-ahead is also provided, for use when predictive routing information is not available or is unreliable.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively providing cellular offload services to mobile user data devices via vehicle-based access points. Subscribers and affiliates of vehicle-related online services register their user data devices for authorized connections. Vehicle metrics are used to determine the state of a vehicle (being driven or parked), and the metrics of the user device can be compared with the vehicle metrics to determine if the user device is inside the vehicle. Limiting access to authorized user devices reduces load on the vehicular access points and allows preventing the vehicular access points from being erroneously included on access point maps and thereby infecting the maps.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicle data communications. The system includes a vehicle communication component configured to receive data, encode the data to be transmitted, and transmit the encoded data wirelessly. A data delivery unit is configured to receive the encoded data, decode the encoded data, and present data in at least one format. A wired communication link couples the vehicle communication component and the data delivery unit. The wired communication link is configured to relay decoding information from the vehicle communication component to the data delivery unit such that the data delivery unit may decode the encoded data.

Abstract: A method is provided for combining corrupted messages received in a wireless network which comprises the following steps: (a) receiving a first message transmitted from one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein that first message is received as a corrupted message; (b) following the receipt of the first corrupted message, receiving a first plurality of messages, wherein the first plurality of messages are received as corrupted messages and wherein at least one of the first plurality of corrupted messages is essentially identical to the first message; (c) combining the first corrupted message with the at least one of the first plurality of corrupted messages that is essentially identical to that first message to form a combined message; and (d) deriving from the combined message information which was transmitted within the first message.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a handheld communications device (HCD) and a vehicle telematics unit. In some instances, the communication may be established following a disconnection event between the telematics unit and a wireless carrier network. The SRWC may include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct as well as other suitable protocols or technologies. Once SRWC is established, the telematics unit may receive a vehicle command from the HCD and perform the command.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly communicating over two wireless networks having different communication protocols using a single transceiver of a vehicle telematics unit. The method includes monitoring a first network for an incoming page using a transceiver and a first network access device (NAD); the transceiver and the first NAD may be components of a cellular device, such as a vehicle telematics unit. The method includes monitoring a second network for another incoming page using the same transceiver and a second NAD. The second NAD also may be a component of the cellular device. When a page is received over the second network, a call may be connected using the second NAD, and the first network may be periodically monitored for an incoming page without disconnecting the call of the second network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for statistical data learning under privacy constraints. The method includes: receiving, by a processor, a plurality of pieces of statistical information relating to a statistical object and aggregating, by the processor, the plurality of pieces of statistical information so as to provide an estimation of the statistical object. Each piece of statistical information includes an uncertainty variable, the uncertainty variable being a value determined from a function having a predetermined mean. The number of pieces of statistical information aggregated is proportional to the reliability of the estimation of the statistical object.

Abstract: A method and devices are provided for use in a wireless communications network for affecting changes in a power saving class (PSC) associated with a subscriber terminal. The method comprises the steps of: providing at least one PSC for use by said subscriber terminal; at each of said subscriber terminal and said corresponding base station, setting a counting value for said at least one PSCs to be equal to a pre-defined initial value; and upon transmitting or receiving at either one of said subscriber terminal and said base station a message identifying a change in said at least one PSC, updating operating parameters associated with said at least one PSC and increasing at the respective subscriber terminal or base station, the counting value of the corresponding one or more of said at least one PSC by a pre-determined value.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining data indicative of at least a speed of a mobile communication device. A communication scheme for reporting a position of the mobile communication device is determined, based on at least the speed. The mobile communication device is caused to report its position in accordance with the determined communication scheme.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. The method disclosed includes providing synchronization information to enable the plurality of Base Stations to start transmitting MBS data at a synchronized starting time point. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station may initiate a process to recover the missing MBS data and/or to obtain information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS.

Abstract: One or more vehicle communication systems associated with one or more vehicles may be activated. The one or more vehicles may, for example, include a gateway vehicle. A backhaul connection between a vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle and a cellular infrastructure may be established. Signals from the cellular infrastructure may be received at the vehicle communication system associated with gateway vehicle. Using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle, the signals received from the cellular infrastructure may be transmitted. Signals from one or more mobile devices may be received using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle. The signals received from the one or more mobile devices may be transmitted to the cellular infrastructure using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle.

Abstract: A load balancing system for a wireless network comprises: a base station parameter extraction unit able to extract base station availability parameters of currently available base stations; and a base station quality of service selector associated with said base station parameter extraction unit configured to determine from said parameters which of said available base stations is able to provide a currently required quality of service. The system requests resources from one such base station, thereby to ensure that mobile stations are distributed in a balanced manner between the available base stations. As well as quality of service, interference with other links may be taken into account, and uplinks and downlinks may be considered separately.

Abstract: A load balancing system for a wireless network comprises: a base station parameter extraction unit able to extract base station availability parameters of currently available base stations; and a base station quality of service selector associated with said base station parameter extraction unit configured to determine from said parameters which of said available base stations is able to provide a currently required quality of service. The system requests resources from one such base station, thereby to ensure that mobile stations are distributed in a balanced manner between the available base stations. As well as quality of service, interference with other links may be taken into account, and uplinks and downlinks may be considered separately.

Abstract: In a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zones each of which comprises at least one base station, there is provided a method for providing a multicast and broadcast service to a mobile terminal capable of moving from one MBS zone to another. The method comprises the steps of: providing the mobile terminal with one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions comprising at least one multicast connection identification (MCID) associated with an MBS zone other than a current MBS zone at which the mobile terminal is currently receiving the one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions; retrieving information regarding the at least one MCID; and upon detecting that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving transmissions associated with the other MBS_ZONE, utilizing the MCID associated with that other MBS_ZONE to receive multicasting/broadcasting transmissions intended for that mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. The method disclosed includes providing synchronization information to enable the plurality of Base Stations to start transmitting MBS data at a synchronized starting time point. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station may initiate a process to recover the missing MBS data and/or to obtain information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. The method disclosed includes providing synchronization information to enable the plurality of Base Stations to start transmitting MBS data at a synchronized starting time point. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station initiates a process to recover the missing MBS data or to obtain within a pre-determined time interval, information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS.

Abstract: A load balancing system for a wireless network comprises: a base station parameter extraction unit able to extract base station availability parameters of currently available base stations; and a base station quality of service selector associated with said base station parameter extraction unit configured to determine from said parameters which of said available base stations is able to provide a currently required quality of service. The system requests resources from one such base station, thereby to ensure that mobile stations are distributed in a balanced manner between the available base stations. As well as quality of service, interference with other links may be taken into account, and uplinks and downlinks may be considered separately.