Abstract: A central controller (300) receives (201), from each of a plurality of base stations certain operating information. This operating information can comprise, for example, a self-identifier, information regarding allowed wireless distance coverage, identifiers for neighboring ones of the plurality of base stations, information regarding wireless distances to neighboring base station, or loading information. This operating information is used (202) to form adjacency information regarding the plurality of base stations. This adjacency information is then used (203) (along, for example, with the aforementioned loading information) to develop a resource allocation plan as pertains to the resources. This plan is then communicated (204) to the plurality of base stations such that the latter can utilize the plan to thereby partition use of the plurality of resources to support communication needs of the base stations while avoiding undue interference with respect to the use of such resources.

Abstract: A node (200) includes a processor (201) for determining neighbor nodes in a routing path to a destination based on a routing table associated with the node (200). The node (200) includes a memory for storing a first authenticated tokens. The node includes a transmitter (203) for transmitting a first request-to-route (RTR) message including an indication specifying information units (IUs) from the first node to the neighbor nodes in a routing path from the first node to the destination. The node (200) includes a receiver (205) for receiving a neighbor reply message from one of the neighbor nodes to the first node which indicates that the neighbor node will route the information units (IUs). The transmitter (203) transmits a second authenticated tokens from the first node to one of the neighbor nodes. The second authenticated tokens are converted into a tradable entity and provide compensation to the neighbor node selected.

Abstract: A first base station communicates (102) with a second base station (wherein an ongoing communication cannot be handed over from the first base station to the second base station and wherein the first and second base station each employ, at least in part, a same set of carrier resources) to prevent interference by usage of the second base station with a user of the first base station. By one approach, this activity can be based, at least in part, upon receipt (101) of a message from an end user platform indicating that a carrier resource that is presently being used by the end user platform is being interfered with by the second base station. By another approach, this activity can take place prior to any actual such interference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a wireless communication system (100). The method and apparatus determining a delay period from among the various delay times at each of a plurality of access nodes (106-110) wherein the delay time is the time it takes for a node to receive a data packet from a source (102) through a network (104). During transmission of data from the source, the nodes receive data packets and from the data packets, the wall clock time is determined. The packets are transmitted from the nodes at a time equivalent to the wall clock time and the delay period so that the packets are synchronously transmitted from the multiple nodes.

Abstract: Timing synchronization between base stations of uncoordinated communication networks includes obtaining timing synchronization information from one base station, and adjusting a clock of the other station in response to the synchronization information. The timing synchronization information can be identified from a strongest synchronization signal from nearby uncoordinated base stations. The timing synchronization can accommodate clock offsets and frequency offsets.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating a plurality of subcarriers to a plurality of subscriber devices in a wireless network. A set of characteristics is identified (302) for a transmission on each of the plurality of subcarriers. A dynamic weight is assigned (304) to at least one subscriber device of the plurality of subscriber devices at each decision instance of the transmission corresponding to the at least subscriber device. The assignment of the dynamic weight is based on at least one of a throughput, delay, packet-loss and queue length requirement of one or more flows of the subscriber device. Further, a set of optimum values is determined (306) for the set of characteristics based on the dynamic weights and channel feedback. The plurality of subcarriers are allocated (308) to the at least one subscriber device based on at least one optimum value of the set of optimum values.

Abstract: A method (1700) and apparatus (1801) provide channel estimation with extended bandwidth filters. Antenna (1813) receives a signal such as a pilot signal and detects a bandwidth associated with the pilot signal in a detector (320). One of a plurality of filters (603, 605, 607, and 609) including extended bandwidth filters (311) and a default filter (305) can be selected by a selector (617). If the detector detects activity associated with a wider bandwidth, the filter associated with the wider bandwidth is selected over the presently selected filter. If no activity is detected, the default filter is selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resource allocation and scheduling within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During resource allocation, a maximum total system transmit power (P), a maximum number of codes available (N), a maximum number of codes for each user in the system (N=(N1, . . . , Nd)), a maximum SINR value (S=(S1, . . . , Sd)) for each user in the system, and a SINR per watt of transmit power for each user in the system (e=(e1, . . . , ed)) is received by a scheduler. Scheduler then outputs an optimal number of codes per user (n) and power levels per user to (p).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for authentication while exchanging data in a communication system includes deriving (100) an authentication signature from a shared secret, data in an existing data packet, and/or a sender identification. A next step (102) includes appending the authentication signature in an authentication field to the existing data packet. A next step (104) includes sending the data packet with the appended authentication field. A next step (106) includes receiving the data packet by a base station. A next step (108) includes verifying that the authentication field was produced by a sender possessing the shared secret. A next step (110) includes returning an acknowledgement message.

Abstract: A method for prioritizing Mobile IP between PMIP and CMIP includes the steps of connecting a mobile device (118) to a communication network (102) and determining (308) if the network provides mobility control, such as the network being PMIP-enabled. When it is determined that the network provide mobility control, the mobility function is assigned (312) to the network and is therefore given priority over the mobility function provided by the mobile device. It can be determined (304) that the mobile station also includes a mobility control so that when the network is not PMIP-enabled the mobile station controls (314) layer 3 mobility and the Mobile IP function.

Abstract: In a communication network (400), wireless access points (300) utilize one or more agents (302, 306) to support the operating needs of corresponding mobile stations. Pursuant to one approach, the agent supports translation of the mobile station's end-to-end protocol-based messages to Internet Protocol-based messages that are readily ported through an Internet Protocol-friendly communication system infrastructure that preferably eschews the use of network elements that rely upon unique and/or proprietary non-Internet Protocol interfaces. Pursuant to another approach the wireless access point is able to interact on a peer-to-peer basis with other wireless access points in order to facilitate, for example, handovers and other mobility management tasks.

Abstract: A wireless access point (300A, 300B, 300C) provides (101) a surrogate Internet Protocol address to use on behalf of a mobile station (401). That wireless access point then uses (102) that surrogate Internet Protocol address along with its own Internet Protocol address to facilitate establishing one or more data tunnels as necessary to support the communication needs of the mobile station.

Abstract: A wireless access point (200), upon determining (101) that a need exists to support a communication need of a mobile station, acquires (102) a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and automatically transmits (103) a gratuitous Address Resolution Protocol message to a local router to thereby cause the latter to correlate the first IP address to a Medium Access Control address for the wireless access point. In a preferred embodiment the wireless access point can also automatically transmit a registration request to a remote network element (such as a Home Agent) that presents this first IP address as a care-of address to use in conjunction with another IP address that serves as a home address for the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle.

Abstract: A secured message indicates that a node (104) in a network (102) is operating correctly and detecting that the node is compromised such that a device (106) should not communicate with the node. When the node is detected to be compromised, the secured message ceases to be transmitted to the node and the device. The secured message may include a time stamp portion and a security portion. A secured timestamp server (110) includes a transceiver (202) that receives notifications from a network management server (108) and transmits secured messages for use by the device. A processor (204) provides the secured message with a time stamp portion and a security portion when notifications indicate a node in the network is properly operating and ceases the transmission of the secured message when notifications indicate that the node is compromised.

Abstract: Mobile station information is exchanged between a plurality of distributed mobility agents (106, 108). The exchange is initiated by a mobility agent (106) associated with a last known network access point (110) that has communicated with the mobile station (114). The mobile station (114) is paged from at least one network access point using an available air interface technology to interface with the mobile station (114) and using the mobile station information. No centralized controller is used in the paging.

Abstract: An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information.

Abstract: In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.

Abstract: A wireless access point (102) detects an indicia of a change in wireless connectivity of a mobile station (101) with respect to itself and another wireless access point (103). The wireless access point then automatically effects at least one of establishing a communication between itself and the second wireless access point regarding the change in wireless connectivity and/or establishing a temporary data tunnel as between itself and the second wireless access point. These network elements can also act to automatically establish a data flow path for the mobile station as between the second wireless access point and a network element (such as a mobility management agent (105)) that is external to the common subnet. In a preferred approach this comprises, at least in part, automatically sending a registration request to the network element other than in response to a specific request from the mobile station to send such a registration request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a wireless communication system (100). The method and apparatus determining a delay period from among the various delay times at each of a plurality of access nodes (106-110) wherein the delay time is the time it takes for a node to receive a data packet from a source (102) through a network (104). During transmission of data from the source, the nodes receive data packets and from the data packets, the wall clock time is determined. The packets are transmitted from the nodes at a time equivalent to the wall clock time and the delay period so that the packets are synchronously transmitted from the multiple nodes.