Abstract: A method includes receiving metrics associated with traffic that complies with a grade of service (GOS) associated with a customer premises equipment (CPE) device, where the metrics identify a group of cells via which the traffic is received by the CPE device. The method also includes retrieving information associated with traffic conditions within a group of base stations; initiating a load balancing operation when traffic conditions within a base station indicate that a particular cell, associated with the base station, is congested; and sending, to a set of base stations that send traffic to the CPE device, a notification, where the notification causes traffic, not destined for the CPE device, to be rerouted to another base station, which enables the base station to send traffic, that complies with the GOS, to the CPE device, or causes the CPE device to receive traffic, that complies with the GOS, from a further based station.

Abstract: A method, performed by a fixed wireless router device, may include receiving a packet from a Long Term Evolution network, where the packet is associated with a particular Long Term Evolution Quality of Service class and mapping the particular Long Term Evolution Quality of Service class to a particular Differentiated Services Core Point Quality of Service class. The method may further include assigning a Differentiated Services Core Point Quality of Service class to the packet based on the particular Differentiated Services Core Point Quality of Service class and forwarding the packet to particular device associated with a customer premises network serviced by the fixed wireless router device, based on a priority associated with the assigned Differentiated Services Core Point Quality of Service class.

Abstract: A device receives a packet provided in a wireless access network, and determines whether the packet is a payload packet or an acknowledgment (Ack) packet. The device also allocates, when the packet is an acknowledgement packet, the acknowledgment packet to an expedited priority queue, and allocates, when the packet is a payload packet, the payload packet to a regular priority queue. The device further delivers one or more acknowledgment packets provided in the expedited priority queue prior to delivering one or more payload packets provided in the regular priority queue.

Abstract: A method includes scanning beams of a multiple beam antenna to collect metrics associated with the beams; selecting a best beam based on the collected metrics or based on a manual selection received from an operator; retrieving thresholds associated with the metrics; comparing the collected metrics, associated with the selected best beam, to the retrieved thresholds; and determining whether the antenna unit is in an acceptable location based on the comparison. Another method includes scanning beams of the multiple beam antenna to collect metrics associated with the beams; selecting a best beam based on the collected metrics; determining a serving beam; comparing a set of metrics associated with the selected best beam with a corresponding set of metrics associated with the serving beam; and determining whether to switch from the serving beam to the selected best beam based on the comparison.

Abstract: A device receives an address from a computer terminal; determines a location associated with the address; and determines a current signal quality at the location by referencing a file that represents an area that includes the location. The device further determines whether the location qualifies for a fixed wireless service based on the current signal quality. The device also transmits information to the computer terminal. The information indicates whether the location qualifies for the fixed wireless service.

Abstract: One or more network devices receive, at a location outside a customer premises, a broadband signal from a base station of a wireless network and a satellite television signal from a satellite antenna. The one or more network devices combine, at the location outside the customer premises, the broadband signal with the satellite television signal in a single coaxial cable and send, via the single coaxial cable, the broadband signal and the satellite television signal to one or more devices inside the customer premises.

Abstract: A mobile device assists installation of an outdoor broadband unit on a customer premises. The device identifies one or more cell towers, associated with a broadband carrier, within a horizon of the customer premises. The device recognizes a connection with the outdoor broadband unit and receives, from the outdoor broadband unit and at multiple locations around the customer premises, RF signal readings of each of the one or more cell towers. The device provides, to a user, an indication of one or more optimal installation locations, based on the RF signal readings, for the outdoor broadband unit.

Abstract: A device monitors temperature readings from a sensor associated with an outdoor broadband unit. When the temperature readings increase above a stored threshold value, the device sends, to a device at a core network, an alert signal that invokes, at the core network, an emergency profile associated with the outdoor broadband unit. When the temperature readings decrease below the stored threshold value, the device sends, to the device at the core network, a normal signal that invokes, at the core network, a default profile associated with the outdoor broadband unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that permits base stations to adaptively set initial power levels in forward link traffic channels (i.e., base station to mobile unit) based on an interference measure, where the interference measure is the difference between the base station transmitted pilot EC/IO and the mobile unit received pilot EC/IO. The interference measure indicates how much interference is present from other base stations in the mobile unit's locale, mobile receiver noise and other similar sources. Call quality and system capacity are optimized since the initial power level is set in accordance with the interference environment. The method of the invention implements the adaptive setting by extracting the mobile unit received pilot EC/IO from the access message transmitted by the mobile unit. The interference measure is then determined and used by the base station to set the initial power level in the forward link traffic channel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining when a request for a higher transmission rate should be granted to a mobile station that currently has access to a communication system to facilitate the maintenance of a performance target (quality of service level) of the reverse link. The method for determining when a mobile station can have access to a higher transmission rate includes obtaining first and second estimated performance indicators for a reverse link of the base station that a mobile station is currently accessing. A blocking threshold value is established. Access at the requested higher transmission rate is based on a comparison of the first and second indicators relative to the established blocking threshold value. If access is denied at the requested higher rate, access will be granted at the next lower rate which will not degrade the performance of the wireless communication system.

Abstract: Separate power control for the forward voice channel and forward data channel is provided without using additional bandwidth or decreasing the amount of pilot signal provided from the mobile to the base station. Alternating voice and data power control commands or information are transmitted in the pilot channel by a mobile to a base station. In one embodiment, the power control portion of a first pilot channel segment is used to provide power control for the forward voice channel and then in the following pilot channel segment, the power control portion is used to provide power control for the forward data channel. In other embodiments, other than a 50/50 mix between voice and data power control is provided in the mobile's pilot channel. For example, forward voice channel power control commands may be transmitted two or more times for each transmission of forward data channel power control commands.

Abstract: A base station assembles a frame including information bits at a vocoding rate for downlink transmission over a traffic channel as channel bits at a channel rate. The base station places at least one rate-indicating bit at a beginning of the frame for indicating the vocoding rate. The mobile station evaluates the downlink transmission with consideration of the vocoding rate indicated by the at least one rate-indicating bit. The mobile station can determine the vocoding rate by decoding the beginning of the frame to permit power control in less than one frame duration from initial receipt of the frame at the mobile station.

Abstract: A base station in a soft handoff adjusts its transmit power level by a first amount if the base station is participating in a soft handoff and by a second amount if the base station is not participating in the soft handoff, i.e. in simplex mode. The first and second amounts are different. In one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment is performed by using a down-step size that is larger in magnitude than an up-step size when the base station is in soft handoff. The transmit power level is then adjusted by the smaller up and larger down step sizes when the base station receives an indication to adjust the transmit power level. The step sizes used when the base station is in simplex mode is larger than the up-step size and smaller than the down step size.

Abstract: A method that adjusts the power level of a set of forward-link signals of a base station responsive to the loading of the forward link as determined by a power level measurement of the signal set. One power level measurement is a pilot fraction of the forward link. Other power level measurements, such as the signal set's power level, can be used, alone or in combination, instead of or in addition to the pilot fraction of the forward link to adjust the power level of the signal set. The power level of the signal set can be changed in any manner, including by scaling it by a scaling factor, or by increasing the power level by a fixed or a variable amount. The power level measurement of the signal set is obtained during a current time period. The scaling factor that will be used in the subsequent time period is determined using the power level measurement. In one embodiment of the invention, the scaling factor can be obtained from a look-up table that is based on the power level measurement.

Abstract: A method of controlling the power in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment of the invention, a base station determines the information rate of a signal to be transmitted to a mobile station, and obtains the variable power control scaling factor based on this information rate. The base station then transmits the variable power control scaling factor to the mobile station. The mobile station determines a target signal quality measurement for a received signal from the base station, such as a target Eb/N0, and scales the target Eb/N0 by the variable power control scaling factor. The mobile station also obtains an information rate scaling factor based on the information rate of the received signal, and further scales the target Eb/N0 by this information rate scaling factor. The mobile station then compares the target Eb/N0 to a measured Eb/N0 of the received signal.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling down link transmit power during a soft hand-off in a spread-spectrum wireless system supports independent power control of multiple forward channels to reduce fading. For a soft hand-off, a mobile switching center determines if a forward control channel is transmitted from different sectors of base stations than a forward data channel is. The base stations preferably adjust transmit powers of the forward channels grouped into different physical channels by receiving power control data over the allocated reverse power control channels to compensate for fading of the forward channels during a soft hand-off.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arranging transmission of overhead messages on the paging channel of a wireless communications system is described. Certain paging channel slots are established, based on a timing reference, that must contain an overhead message. In the intervening slots or slot fragments, the base station transmits mobile-directed messages, when they are available. When no mobile directed messages are available for transmission, the base station selects an overhead message from a queue for transmission on the intervening paging channel slot or slot fragment.

Abstract: A power control method of the invention may be applied to downlink power control, uplink power control, or both to support different quality of service levels for multiple channels per a mobile station. The power control method transmits control data between a base station and a multi-channel mobile station on a single communications channel or sub-channel to minimize or reduce overhead traffic from the control data.