Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing carriers in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. A femtocell receives registration requests from a number of mobile devices requesting to hand off service from a macro-network carrier to the femtocell. The femtocell identifies the macro-network carrier that each mobile device has handed off from. The femtocell then uses that information to prioritize future broadcasts of its frequency-hopping pilot beacon on those macro-network carriers on which the most mobile devices have handed off from. The prioritization could take the form of broadcasting more often on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle, or broadcasting for a longer continuous period of time on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up a communication with a given mobile station served by a RAN that defines one or more coverage areas. The RAN may receive an indication of a location of the given mobile station. The RAN may then use the location of the given mobile station to identify one or more wireless coverage areas associated with the given mobile station. The RAN may also receive a request to set up a communication with the given mobile station. In response, the RAN may assign a channel for the communication to the given mobile station in each identified wireless coverage area without first paging the given mobile station.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for including an IMSI in an EVDO access request. When an access terminal determines that any access request it makes will be sent to a micro-type base station, the access terminal will include its IMSI in any EVDO access request. When a micro-type base station receives an EVDO access request containing an IMSI of the requesting access terminal, the micro-type base station will use the included IMSI to establish and identify a data connection to a PDSN.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for including an IMSI in an EVDO access request. When an access terminal determines that any access request it makes will be sent to a micro-type base station, the access terminal will include its IMSI in any EVDO access request. When a micro-type base station receives an EVDO access request containing an IMSI of the requesting access terminal, the micro-type base station will use the included IMSI to establish and identify a data connection to a PDSN.

Abstract: Dynamic assignment of channel elements for operating as failover Overhead Channel Group channel elements. Preferred methods include configuring channel elements on a primary channel card to serve as an overhead channel group for each carrier in each sector, and, in the event of a primary channel card failure, dynamically configuring failover channel elements on an additional channel card to serve as an overhead channel group. These failover channel elements are preferably not reserved, and are merely channel elements that are not otherwise presently assigned to process traffic. Preferred methods also provide criteria for selecting which CEs to re-assign to the OCG.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up a communication with a given mobile station served by a RAN that defines one or more coverage areas. The RAN may receive an indication of a location of the given mobile station. The RAN may then use the location of the given mobile station to identify one or more wireless coverage areas associated with the given mobile station. The RAN may also receive a request to set up a communication with the given mobile station. In response, the RAN may assign a channel for the communication to the given mobile station in each identified wireless coverage area without first paging the given mobile station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for testing radio-frequency handoffs between two radio-frequency sources by a wireless communication device within an enclosed test chamber. The test chamber may include at least two radio-frequency antennas defining at least two radio-frequency coverage areas that are partially separated by a radio-frequency barrier wall. A wireless communication device may be moved within the test chamber while radio-frequency conditions and handoff status may be monitored by a control system.

Abstract: Determining RF capacity of a wireless network and measuring BTS performance. Preferred methods include collecting forward link data at a BTS transmit port, where the data includes the power level associated with each Walsh code of each sector for each carrier over a predetermined time interval, and then processing the data by identifying each channel as using either second generation CDMA technology (a “2G” call) or third-generation technology (a “3G” call). Voice and data may also be identified. The power level may be determined by measuring a signal level (e.g., dB), and subsequently accounting for any RF losses through a calibration step, and finally converting the power-per-Walsh code to an absolute power level (e.g., dBm, or watts). The average user power per link (ppl) is then determined and the number of users per technology (2G versus 3G) is also determined.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a streaming media session in which a media server streams media to a wireless communication device via a radio access network. The radio access network controls the streaming media session by (i) generating a media control signal based, at least in part, on an air interface state between the radio access network and the device and (ii) sending the media control signal to the media server. By sending the media control signal, the radio access network enables adjustment of at least one parameter of the streaming media session. Further, the radio access network may send the media control signal when prompted by the media server.

Abstract: Managing channel element licenses for base transceiver stations. Preferred methods include license accounting at a BSC or MTS level, thereby providing better utilization of BTS channel element licenses in a wireless communication network. The BTS notifies a license manager whenever a channel element is put into use by transmitting a first channel element utilization message. If the number of available license has been not been exceeded, the license manager transmits a channel element utilization authorization message. If, on the other hand, the number of available license has been exceeded, the license manager transmits a channel element utilization denial message, instruction the BTS to terminate the call setup. Alternative embodiments include the BTS requesting a license using a first channel element utilization message and awaiting authorization prior to utilization of the channel element.

Abstract: Channel elements at a cell site in wireless network are managed by reserving a portion of the channel elements for handling certain types of calls for which the reserved channel elements are capable of handling. At least some of the non-reserved channel elements will typically lack the capabilities of the reserved channel elements, due to there being previous generation or older technology. For example, in a cell cite having both 3G and 2G channel elements, a percentage of the 3G channel elements, such as 15 percent, are reserved for certain types of calls, such as 3G data call origination and 3G voice hand-ins. These are types of calls that the 2G channel elements do not support. The remaining 3G channel elements are not reserved. If the non-reserved channel elements are fully utilized, the reserved channel elements may, or may not, be released for general usage so as to prevent a blocking of calls, depending on quality of service considerations for the site.