Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for a wireless communication between at least one mobile station and a base station in a cellular system. The method comprises providing a desired spreading in time and frequency domains to transmit data using at least two carriers in a transmission on an uplink to the base station. Either the base station may provide an indication to the mobile station to enable the desired spreading, or alternatively, the mobile station may request it. A spread-spectrum cellular system may enable a mobile station to provide a two-dimensional spreading, which distributes spreading in time and frequency directions. A single two-dimensional spreading code or at least two one-dimensional spreading codes may provide a two-dimensional spreading. In this way, in an uplink transmission using a multi-carrier, code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) protocol, by varying the data portions being spread in time and frequency domains a joint spreading may result.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling communications between a base station and a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting dedicated rate control information to the mobile device within a common rate control communications system. For example, dedicated rate control information may be embedded in a data packet and delivered to the mobile device over a data channel. The mobile device may be configured to extract the embedded dedicated rate control information from the data packet and use the information to control aspects of its transmission, such as time slot and rate.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling communications between a base station and a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting a pilot signal having at least one transmitted characteristic over a channel. A data rate control signal is received, indicating a variation between the transmitted characteristic and a corresponding actual characteristic of the pilot signal received at a remote location. The data rate control signal is modified based on a coefficient related to the bandwidth of the channel, and a transmission rate is determined based on the modified data rate control signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling communications between a base station and a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting information between the base station and the mobile device over a plurality of sub-channels where each sub-channel has a different carrier frequency. A first portion of the sub-channels are used for legacy mobile devices, and a second portion of the sub-channels is used by new mobile devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a wireless communications system. The method comprises dynamically selecting one of a first and second transmission time interval for communications over a channel between a first and second device based on at least one operating characteristic of the channel.