Abstract: Techniques for minimizing call setup latency are disclosed. In one aspect, a channel assignment message is sent with a flag to direct the use of previously negotiated service parameters. This aspect eliminates the need for service negotiation messages. In another aspect, a channel assignment message is sent with an active set identifier instead of an active set and its parameters. This aspect reduces the transmission time of the channel assignment message. In yet another aspect, call setup without paging is facilitated by a mobile station (106) sending a pilot strength measurement message between active communication sessions, such that a channel assignment message can be used for mobile station terminated call setup without the need for mobile station paging and related messages.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to carrier allocation and management in multi-carrier communication systems. In some embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to an access terminal on a forward link may be determined by an access network, and the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on a reverse link may be based on a cooperative process between the access terminal and the access network. In other embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on the reverse link may also be determined by the access network, e.g., in relation to the scheduling information received from the access terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting PPP instances from a packet data services network includes a mobile station configured to send an origination message to a packet data service node (PDSN) at which it has arrived upon leaving the vicinity of another PDSN. The message informs the new PDSN of the new location of the mobile station and indicates both the number of dormant PPP instances associated with the mobile station and a service reference identifier for each such PPP instance. A flag within the message may be used to indicate whether the PPP instances are dormant (i.e., whether the mobile station is engaged in a call). Communications channel resources of packet data services nodes are optimized by reducing the information included in messages from the Packet Control Function network element to the Packet Data Service Node network element, and by reducing the use of Mobile Internet Protocol agent advertisement.

Abstract: A method and system for providing asymmetric modes of operation in multi-carrier wireless communication systems. A method may assign a long code mask (LCM) to an information channel associated with a plurality of forward link carriers to transmit data from an access network to an access terminal; and multiplex the information channel on a reverse link carrier. The information channel may include one of data source channel (DSC), data rate control (DRC) and acknowledgment (ACK) information, and the multiplexing may be code division multiplexing (CDM). The AN may instruct the AT on whether to multiplex the DSC information based on feedback from the AT. The method may further offset the ACK information on the reverse link to reduce the reverse link peak to average, CDM the information channel on an I-branch and on a Q-branch, and transmit the code division multiplexed information channel on the reverse link carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting PPP instances from a packet data services network includes a mobile station configured to send an origination message to a packet data service node (PDSN) at which it has arrived upon leaving the vicinity of another PDSN. The message informs the new PDSN of the new location of the mobile station and indicates both the number of dormant PPP instances associated with the mobile station and a service reference identifier for each such PPP instance. A flag within the message may be used to indicate whether the PPP instances are dormant (i.e., whether the mobile station is engaged in a call).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for secure transmissions. Each user is provided a registration key. A long-time updated broadcast key is encrypted using the registration key and provided periodically to a user. A short-time updated key is encrypted using the broadcast key and provided periodically to a user. Broadcasts are then encrypted using the short-time key, wherein the user decrypts the broadcast message using the short-time key. One embodiment provides link layer content encryption. Another embodiment provides end-to-end encryption.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing call setup latency are disclosed. In one aspect, a channel assignment message is sent with a flag to direct the use of previously negotiated service parameters. This aspect eliminates the need for service negotiation messages. In another aspect, a channel assignment message is sent with an active set identifier instead of an active set and its parameters. This aspect reduces the transmission time of the channel assignment message. In yet another aspect, call setup without paging is facilitated by a mobile station (106) sending a pilot strength measurement message between active communication sessions, such that a channel assignment message can be used for mobile station terminated call setup without the need for mobile station paging and related messages.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient storage and retrieval of Preferred Roaming Lists are disclosed. In one aspect, PRL entries are stored in two tables. One table contains records that are common to two or more PRL entries. Another table stores any information that is unique to a PRL entry, as well as an indicator of which common record is associated with it. The common record is concatenated with the unique information to generate the uncompressed PRL entry. Various other aspects of the invention are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of reducing the memory requirements for storing a PRL. In addition, time required to download the compressed PRL is reduced.

Abstract: Operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode using only overhead channels; and substantially free running a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving ambiguity in reception of multiple retransmitted frames includes ascertaining for each data frame received from a transmitter whether the frame is a retransmitted frame. If the frame is a retransmitted frame, the frame may be stored in a resequencing buffer. If an abort timer associated with the second round of retransmission has been set for the retransmitted frame, an associated negative-acknowledgment-list (NAK-list) entry is not removed from a NAK list until the abort timer has expired. If the abort timer has not been set for the retransmitted frame, the associated NAK-list entry is removed from the NAK list. The method and apparatus may reside in a transport function in which a transmitter sends data frames to a receiver in accordance with the Radio Link Protocol interface. The transport function may reside in, e.g., a data-capable cellular or satellite-based base station and subscriber unit.

Abstract: A high data rate system capable of inter-frequency handoffs with little or no interruption in data service. The access network sends data from the first sector to the access terminal at the first frequency. The access terminal measures a parameter of a signal received at the access terminal from the second sector at the second frequency, wherein a pre-active set of the access terminal includes the second sector, and wherein an active set of the access terminal consists of one or more sectors operating in the first frequency. The access terminal then sends a data source control message corresponding to the second sector to the access network, after which the access terminal switches the pre-active set and the active set.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for reporting and compiling connection failures in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, when an access terminal experiences a connection failure (e.g., an unintended one), the access terminal may generate a connection failure record associated with the event, and send a message containing the connection failure record to an access network it has since established the connection. The access network may send a message containing a connection failure report acknowledgement (ACK) message to the access terminal, upon reception of the connection failure report message. The network operators may use the connection failure records thus compiled to identify problematic spots in the system and improve the quality of service.

Abstract: Access terminal identification management providing a minimum distance between subnets before reusing subnet identifiers. Mobility criteria evaluation determines when to reassign an access terminal identifier. In one embodiment, the mobility criteria is whether any member of the active set for the access terminal belongs to an originating subnet. In an alternate embodiment, the criteria is whether the access terminal has traveled more than a minimum distance from the originating subnet. When a mobility criteria is violated, the access network assigns a new identifier. In one embodiment, the access terminal identifier is a long code mask based on a subnet identifier. Identifier management applies when crossing sector boundaries in a cellular system, and serves to reduce the ambiguity of mapping CC values to full UATI values, and to avoid overlapping assignments.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient storage and retrieval of Preferred Roaming Lists are disclosed. In one aspect, PRL entries are stored in two tables. One table contains records that are common to two or more PRL entries. Another table stores any information that is unique to a PRL entry, as well as an indicator of which common record is associated with it. The common record is concatenated with the unique information to generate the uncompressed PRL entry. Various other aspects of the invention are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of reducing the memory requirements for storing a PRL. In addition, time required to download the compressed PRL is reduced.

Abstract: The present patent application comprises a method and apparatus for multiplexing reverse link feedback channels on a single reverse link frequency supporting multiple forward link frequencies for forward link channels, comprising assigning the reverse link frequency to a mobile station, assigning one or more of the forward link frequencies to the reverse link frequency, and code division multiplexing a plurality of the reverse link feedback channels on the reverse link frequency

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting PPP instances from a packet data services network includes a mobile station configured to send an origination message to a packet data service node (PDSN) at which it has arrived upon leaving the vicinity of another PDSN. The message informs the new PDSN of the new location of the mobile station and indicates both the number of dormant PPP instances associated with the mobile station and a service reference identifier for each such PPP instance. A flag within the message may be used to indicate whether the PPP instances are dormant (i.e., whether the mobile station is engaged in a call).

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for grouping pilot signals and using such grouping for pilot strength reporting and set management in multi-carrier communication systems. In one embodiment, an access network may assign a group identifier (or “group ID”) to each of the pilot signals associated with the sector, e.g., based on the coverage areas of the pilot signals, and transmit the pilot signals with the corresponding group IDs. PN offset may be used as the group ID. An access terminal may group the pilot signals received into one or more pilot groups in accordance with their group IDs, and select a representative pilot signals from each pilot group for pilot strength reporting. The access terminal may also use the pilot grouping to perform effective set management.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for performing seamless handoff of a mobile station (MS) between Radio Access Networks (RANs) that use different types of wireless interfaces. The described embodiments enable an MS to handoff between different RANs without causing routing ambiguity, and without substantial loss of network data. Upon moving from the coverage area of a first RAN using a first wireless interface to the coverage area of a second RAN using a second wireless interface, an MS determines whether routing ambiguity may result from the change of RAN and, based on the determination, triggers a re-registration of its network address. A foreign agent (FA) within a packet data serving node (PDSN) monitors network address re-registrations in order to determine whether multiple RAN-PDSN (R-P) connections are being created for the same MS. Based on this determination, the PDSN terminates redundant R-P network connections resulting from movement of the MS between different RANs.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a new set of radio link protocols (RLPs) configured to provide for efficient data transmission in a multi-link communication system. In an embodiment, an upper-layer packet is segmented into link-layer packets to be transmitted over a plurality of communication links, each including a first sequence number in accordance with a predetermined order. A second sequence number is further added to each link-layer packet to be transmitted for the first time. The second sequence number is configured to be in a sequence space associated with a particular communication link, and may be used for detection of missing packets.

Abstract: To access a first communication system, a terminal determines a transmission time for an access probe, an expected response time from the system, and a protected time interval based on the transmission time and/or expected response time. The terminal determines a starting time for sending the access probe such that the protected time interval does not overlap a tune-away interval in which the terminal is to monitor anther frequency/air-interface. This starting time may be set initially to the end of a prior access probe plus a pseudo-random wait duration and may be advanced forward or moved backward in time, if needed, by a time duration selected such that the protected time interval does not overlap the tune-away interval.