Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing diversity transmissions to a mobile unit from a transmitting station having at least first and second antennas by repeatedly switching between the two antennas during the transmission of information to the receiving unit. Message information is transmitted from the first antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit. After the start of the transmission of the message information from the first antenna, transmission of the message information from the first antenna to the receiving unit terminates and transmission of the message information from the second antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit is initiated. Some time after transmission of the message information from second antenna is initiated, the transmission of the message information from the second antenna to the receiving unit terminates and transmission of the message information from the first antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit is initiated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for demodulating and decoding signals on a multi-path data channel using a pilot signal and at least one additional signal as a demodulation reference. One embodiment comprises a method in which a pilot signal is used to demodulate and decode an additional signal, and then both the pilot signal and the additional signal are used to demodulate and decode a data traffic signal. A receiver receives a data traffic signal, a rate indicator signal and a pilot signal. The pilot signal is used as a demodulation reference for the rate indicator signal. After the rate indicator signal is demodulated and decoded, this signal is re-encoded and compared to the received rate indicator signal and used in combination with the pilot signal as a demodulation reference for the demodulation and decoding of the data traffic signal and to estimate SNR for power control purposes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a frame of interleaved information bits in a communications system, where the decoding of the frame of interleaved information bits may begin before all of the bits in the frame are received at a decoding site. The frame of interleaved information bits has a frame start time and a frame end time. The frame also includes a first fractional segment that has a start time that is the same as the frame start time and an end time that is before the frame end time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for efficient data rate control and power control processes by transmitting a primary and a secondary pilot channel associated with a data channel. The primary and secondary pilot channels are used for decoding the data. A ratio of power levels of the primary and secondary pilot channels is based on at least one of the data rate and payload size of the data channel. The power level of the primary pilot channel is maintained independent of at least one of data rate and payload size of the data channel. The power level of the secondary pilot channel may be adjusted based on at least one of data rate and payload size of the data channel.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting voice/data and packet data services such that packet data transmissions have less impact on voice/data transmissions. In one aspect, voice/data and packet data can be multiplexed within a transmission interval such that the available resources are efficiently utilized. In another aspect, the amount of variation in the total transmit power from a base station is controlled to reduce degradation to transmissions from this and other base stations. In a specific method for concurrently transmitting a number of types of data, a first data type (e.g., voice, overhead, and some data) and a second data type are respectively processed in accordance with first and second signal processing schemes to generate first and second payloads, respectively. First and second partitions are then defined in a transmission interval. The first and second payloads are time multiplexed into the first and second partitions, respectively, and the multiplexed payloads are transmitted.

Abstract: First and second transmission links are established with a remote station. An information signal is encoded to provide an encoded information signal having more bits than the information signal. First and second transmission signals are provided wherein each transmission signal has bits selected from the encoded information signal. Each of the first and second transmission signals is transmitted to the remote station by way of a respective one of the first and second transmission links. The remote station receives and combines the first and second transmission signals transmitted by the remote station to provide a combined encoded signal. The combined encoded signal is decoded by the remote station to provide the information signal. The first and second transmission links can be formed between the remote station and a single base station or between the remote station and two separate base stations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented to select optimal transmission formats for transmissions to a single user or simultaneous transmissions to multiple users. Priority information and channel state information associated with each user are used to determine the optimal transmit formats. In particular, said information is used to maximize a given revenue function that enhances system throughput while maintaining fairness among users. Once transmit formats are determined, any unallocated system resources, such as unused Walsh codes or transmission power, can be evenly or proportionately distributed among the users.

Abstract: First and second transmission links are established with a remote station. An information signal is encoded to provide an encoded information signal having more bits than the information signal. First and second transmission signals are provided wherein each transmission signal has bits selected from the encoded information signal. Each of the first and second transmission signals is transmitted to the remote station by way of a respective one of the first and second transmission links. The remote station receives and combines the first and second transmission signals transmitted by the remote station to provide a combined encoded signal. The combined encoded signal is decoded by the remote station to provide the information signal. The first and second transmission links can be formed between the remote station and a single base station or between the remote station and two separate base stations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for dynamically decoding acknowledgment signals. A source receives an acknowledgment signal and starts monitoring an energy value associated with the acknowledgment signal. If the energy value exceeds a predetermined threshold amount before the end of the acknowledgment signal, then the source is confident that the portion of the acknowledgment signal received up to that point could be decoded successfully. Hence, the source decodes that portion of the acknowledgment signal and disregards the remainder of the acknowledgment signal.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to communications. The systems and techniques involve transmitting a signal over a plurality of time periods, receiving a plurality of parameters each relating to the signal transmission during a different one of the time periods, filtering a first one of the parameters to generate a first filtered parameter, filtering a second one of the parameters as a function of the first filtered parameter to generate a second filtered parameter, and adjusting the signal as a function of the second filtered parameter. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for communications wherein a data packet is transmitted over at least one time slot from a transmission site, a value is computed from an initial value and information, the initial value being a function of the number of time slots of the data packet transmission, the value and the information is transmitted from the transmission site, the transmitted value and the information is received at a receiving site, the value from the received information is recalculated, and the number of time slots of the data packet transmission is determined from the calculated and recalculated values.

Abstract: Multipath RAKE receiver structure that allows for the concurrent demodulation of multipath signals that arrive at the receiver at arbitrarily low arrival time differences. The fingers are set to be a fixed offset from one another. One finger tracks the shift in the peak of the multipath component and the additional fixed offset fingers follow the tracking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing diversity transmissions to a mobile unit from a transmitting station having at least first and second antennas by repeatedly switching between the two antennas during the transmission of information to the receiving unit. Message information is transmitted from the first antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit. After the start of the transmission of the message information from the first antenna, transmission of the message information from the first antenna to the receiving unit terminates and transmission of the message information from the second antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit is initiated. Some time after transmission of the message information from second antenna is initiated, the transmission of the message information from the second antenna to the receiving unit terminates and transmission of the message information from the first antenna in the transmitting station to the receiving unit is initiated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless communications wherein a base station transmits a signal to sending data to a subscriber station through a signal beam that sweeps through the coverage area of the base station. User data addressed to the subscriber station is buffered until the signal beam angle of the signal beam allows efficient transmission. The base station may alter the beam sweep speed or the shape of the beam's radiation pattern over time to maximize system efficiency and capacity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the power level for a mobile station during periods when no data is being transmitted by the mobile station. In one embodiment, data is intermittently transmitted from a mobile station to a base station on a reverse-link traffic channel. When data is being transmitted on the traffic channel, the transmitted data is used by the base station to perform power control operations (e.g., incrementing or decrementing the mobile station's power level, based upon comparison of a received SNR to a target SNR). When no data is being transmitted on the traffic channel, a “zero-rate indicator” is transmitted on the rate indicator channel. The zero-rate indicator is used by the base station to perform power control. Power control based on the zero-rate indicator may use velocity profiles, reliability metrics or other techniques to control adjustment of the power level.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting voice/data and packet data services such that packet data transmissions have less impact on voice/data transmissions. In one aspect, voice/data and packet data can be multiplexed within a transmission interval such that the available resources are efficiently utilized. In another aspect, the amount of variation in the total transmit power from a base station is controlled to reduce degradation to transmissions from this and other base stations. In a specific method for concurrently transmitting a number of types of data, a first data type (e.g., voice, overhead, and some data) and a second data type are respectively processed in accordance with first and second signal processing schemes to generate first and second payloads, respectively. First and second partitions are then defined in a transmission interval. The first and second payloads are time multiplexed into the first and second partitions, respectively, and the multiplexed payloads are transmitted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transmitting a signal at a predetermined level of reliability using retransmission of erroneously transmitted frames so as to minimize total transmission energy. The transmitting station evaluates the frame error rate (FER) as a function of energy. Next, the transmitting station determines a combination of initial transmission energies and retransmission energies that will provide the target level of reliability while minimizing the total transmission energy employed in the initial transmission and the retransmissions. The transmitting station transmits a frame with an initial transmission energy. Employing conventional feedback methods the transmitting station is alerted to the occurrence of frame errors at the receiving station. The transmitting station upon notification of a frame error retransmits the frame with an energy determined to minimize the total energy required to transmit the frame with a predetermined level of reliability.

Abstract: Techniques for puncturing symbols in a communications system. S symbols are received for a frame having a capacity of N symbols, with S being greater than N. P symbols need to be punctured so that remaining symbols fit into the frame. A number of puncture distances, D1 through DN, are computed based on S and P. A particular number of symbol punctures is determined for each computed puncture distance. P1 through PN symbol punctures are then performed at the distances of D1 through DN, respectively. For a more even distribution of the symbol punctures, each of the distances D1 through DN can be selected to be greater than or equal to a minimum puncture distance Dmin defined as D min=└S/P┘, where └ ┘ denotes a floor operator. The symbol punctures at each computed distance can be performed together or distributed with symbol punctures at other distances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmit power levels of a plurality of different data streams transmitted from at least one base station to a mobile station in a mobile radio communication system is described. A stream of power control commands is formed at the mobile station in accordance with either the first or second received data stream. A power control signal is formed at the mobile station from the first stream of power control commands and transmitted to the base station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmit power levels of a plurality of different data streams transmitted from at least one base station to a mobile station in a mobile radio communication system is described. A stream of power control commands is formed at the mobile station in accordance with either the first or second received data stream. A power control signal is formed at the mobile station from the first stream of power control commands and transmitted to the base station.