Abstract: A communication device (102), communication node (104), and method for transmitting a message are disclosed. The method includes calculating number of frames (402) in a message to be transmitted from the communication device. The method further includes determining transmission power (404) for the message based on the number of frames. The method further includes transmitting each frame of the message (406) using the determined transmission power.

Abstract: A method of selective need-based control message augmentation may include a network unit of a mobile communication system (100) generating a control message (250) for communication to a mobile unit (202), determining a handoff state transition of the mobile unit, and determining a set of signal conditions for one or more legs of an active set associated with the mobile unit. Further, the network unit at least one of selectively fast repeating the control message and selectively increasing the power gain for the control message based on the handoff state transition and the set of signal conditions.

Abstract: In a mobile communication system, an adaptive power control method may include determining by a network unit (209) of the mobile communication system a message type (252) of a control message (250) transmitted to a mobile unit (202), determining message content (254) of the control message, determining whether the control message is being retransmitted (256) and selectively increasing power gain for the control message based on at least one of the message type, the message content and whether the control message is being retransmitted.

Abstract: A method for adaptive power control in a mobile communication system (100) determines (120) whether an RF loading factor (110) is greater than a threshold value. If the RF loading factor is above the threshold value, the method reduces call quality (140). Next, a determination is made whether the RF loading factor is below a second threshold value (150). If the RF loading factor is below the second threshold value, the call quality of the mobile communication system is increased (160).

Abstract: This method (110) adaptively sends control messages and a predetermined number of fast repeats of the control messages on the traffic channel of a mobile communication system. For a control message which has already been lost (118), the system sends the control message again with a first number of fast repeats (130) if the traffic channel is operating at a full rate; and the system sends the control message with a second number of fast repeats if the traffic channel is operating at a subrate. The number of fast repeats is selectable. If the control message has not been previously sent and the traffic channel is operating at a subrate (124), the system will send the control message with a third number of fast repeats (128).

Abstract: A method for allocating network resources of a communication network (100) to a plurality of users is disclosed. The allocation method includes predicting figure access demand from users and making resource allocation decisions based, at least in part, on the predicted demand.

Abstract: A communications unit determines that a wireless link between itself and a first communications network has degraded beyond acceptable limits (FIG. 2, 200). The communications unit signals a second, unsynchronized, communications network during a pause in outgoing voice (230) in order to acquire a channel and continue the call using the second network. When the second communications network indicates that sufficient resources are available, the communications unit transmits a Handover Trigger to the second network (FIG. 4, 400). In response to the Handover Trigger, the first and second communications network establish a connection between each other (460, 470). When the connection has been established, the communications unit receives a channel assignment (500) and continues the call using the resources of the second communications network.

Abstract: A narrowband communication system provides wideband data services in a secondary service band. This limits the impact on primary services in peak traffic regions in that the primary service band is not required to download wideband data from a communication node (e.g., a satellite) to a mobile terminal. The narrowband communication system implements a handoff protocol (400) that rate negotiates a channel bandwidth of an active connection (404) to the amount of channels that are available in a new cell. The narrowband communication system preempts (414) lower priority subscribers when a higher priority (408) high-speed data terminal requires access to the system and a requested channel assignment is not available (412). The complexity of a high-speed data terminal communication chipset is reduced by a receiver design that minimizes the range of frequencies that are required to be demodulated.

Abstract: A satellite-based communications system (20) includes a communication satellite (22) using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) frame structure. The communication satellite (22) transmits first data (63) during a first sub-frame (150) and receives second data (65) during a second sub-frame (152) of a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame (144). A terrestrial repeater (30) receives the first data (63) using a first link (36) during the first sub-frame (150), delays the first data (63) by a sub-frame duration, and transmits the first data (63) to a subscriber unit (32) using a second link (42). The terrestrial repeater (30) receives the second data (65) from the subscriber unit (32) using the second link (42), delays the second data (65) by the sub-frame duration, and transmits the second data (65) using the first link (36) to the satellite (22) during the second sub-frame (152).

Abstract: A beam control subsystem (200, FIG. 2) provides acquisition, synchronization, and traffic beams (142, FIG. 1) to communication devices (130) within a footprint (144) of a system node (110), where each beam comprises a set of beamlets (140). The subsystem (200, FIG. 2) first acquires (302, FIG. 3) and synchronizes (304, FIG. 3 and FIG. 6) with each communication device. Acquisition involves selecting (402, 416, FIG. 4) and combining (404) sets of beamlets (506, 510, FIG. 5), and determining whether any devices within the sets are attempting to acquire the system. If so, synchronization is performed by varying (604, FIG. 6) beamlet weighting coefficients to find, based on modem feedback, a combination of coefficients that yields a maximum signal-to-interference+noise ratio for multiple users within a beam. The communication device is then handed off (612, 614) to a traffic beam. The subsystem (200) continues, based on modem feedback, to adapt (802, 804, FIG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing the communications traffic load handled by one or more satellites (12, 120) within a satellite communications system (10) while staying within the capacity of on-board electrical power resources (90, 92, 94, FIG. 3). A forecast of the communications traffic load for a future time period is generated, using historical traffic data. Based in part upon the current onboard power capacity, predicted solar-charging conditions, and predicted traffic load, a forecast of the battery state of charge throughout the future time period is generated. If the forecast communications traffic load exceeds the forecast level of on-board power resources for the future time period, the method and apparatus undertake various remedial measures, including flow control, moving subscribers to low power channels, and terminating subscriber connections.

Abstract: A method for allocating network resources of a communication network (100) to a plurality of users is disclosed. The allocation method includes predicting future access demand from users and making resource allocation decisions based, at least in part, on the predicted demand.

Abstract: A satellite communication system uses dual satellite coverage techniques to simulate the provision of full duplex communications in the system. Each subscriber (100) in the system communicates with two satellites (102, 104) that use complementary time division duplex (TDD) frame structures (50, 72) for communicating with the subscriber (100). In one embodiment, each satellite in the system performs a transition between a first TDD frame structure (50) and a second TDD frame structure (72) while travelling through a transition region (102) of an associated orbit (130). Preferably, the transition is performed gradually so that an abrupt reduction in system capacity is avoided. In another embodiment, individual orbital planes in the satellite system are dedicated for use with particular TDD frame structures. A subscriber thus communicates with one satellite in each of two planes during a connection.

Abstract: In a communications system, an earth-based subscriber unit (40, FIG. 1) receives at least one communications beam (50, 60, FIG. 1) transmitted from one or more moving satellite communications nodes (10, 20). The earthbased subscriber unit evaluates which communications beam should be selected based on the power received (FIG. 2, 210), Doppler frequency shift (270), link quality, (290), interference level (300), and satellite and network specific parameters (310). By considering these factors, the earth-based subscriber unit selects the communications beam (50, 60) that will provide the optimum service and reduce the likelihood that an inter-satellite hand over of the call will be required while the call is in progress.