Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting quality of service targets for applications and/or subscribers of wireless communication, by reducing or increasing quality of service targets for a group of applications based on overload or under load detection, in order to ensure that actually achieved quality of service levels are adequate, especially when supporting emergency service users.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling the operational state of a base station mounted on a vehicle based on the operational state of the vehicle. A method includes monitoring an operational state of the vehicle and switching the base station from a first operational state to a second operational state in response to the operational state of the vehicle switching from a first operational state to a second operational state.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for creating a base station neighbor list at a target base station in a wireless network including a plurality of base stations. A method includes obtaining information for creating the base station neighbor list, creating the base station neighbor list using the obtained information, and storing the base station neighbor list. The obtained information includes at least one of geographic locations of ones of the base stations, network status information associated with the wireless network, and pilot signal strength measurement feedback information. The base station neighbor list includes a subset of the base stations of the network. The base stations of the base station neighbor list may be prioritized using at least a portion of the obtained information. The base station neighbor list may be updated periodically, or in response to changes to the obtained information.

Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatuses for supporting mobility management and packet routing in ad hoc wireless networks. A method for mobility management includes detecting, at a first base station, a request by a wireless device to establish an association with the first base station where the first base station comprises a mobile base station, updating an association table of the first base station to include an association of the wireless device to the first base station, and propagating, toward a second base station, a message adapted to update an association table of the second base station, wherein the second base station is a mobile base station, wherein the message is propagated toward the second base station wirelessly. The packet routing functions of the present invention may be used independent of, or in conjunction with, the mobility management functions of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for activating a base station. A method includes transitioning the base station to a first state in which at least one base station activation activity is performed and RF transmissions are disabled, and transitioning the base station from the first state to a second state in which RF transmissions are enabled. The at least one base station activation activity may include at least one of warming at least one power amplifier, setting at least one base station configuration parameter, establishing GPS synchronization, and other base station activation activities. The base station may transition from the first state to the second state in response to a trigger.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling the operational state of a base station mounted on a vehicle based on the operational state of the vehicle. A method includes monitoring an operational state of the vehicle and switching the base station from a first operational state to a second operational state in response to the operational state of the vehicle switching from a first operational state to a second operational state.

Abstract: In the method of flexible frequency allocation, at least a portion of a frequency spectrum for a lower priority class of applications is allocated to a higher priority class of applications if overload of frequency spectrum for the higher priority class of applications is detected, an emergency situation occurs, etc.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling video streams. A method includes monitoring for an event associated with one of a plurality of video camera controllers providing a plurality of video streams where each of the video streams has a first quality level, and, in response to detecting an event associated with one of the plurality of video camera controllers, propagating a control message toward the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected, where a control message adapted for requesting the one of the video camera controllers to switch from providing the video stream using the first quality level to providing the video stream using a second quality level. The first quality level may be a low level of quality and the second quality level may be a high level of quality.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for authenticating a visiting node in a wireless network. A method includes receiving a request to transfer a user database of a visiting node, obtaining the visiting node user database from the visiting node in response to a determination to update a master user database to include the visiting node user database, and merging the visiting node user database with the master user database. The request to transfer the visiting node user database is received, from the visiting node, at a primary authentication node of the network. The visiting node user database includes entries for users associated with the visiting node. The master user database includes entries for users associated with nodes authenticated by the primary authentication node of the network.

Abstract: A technique for avoiding spurious TCP timeouts through delay injection which requires no modification of, or access to, the TCP protocol itself. More particularly, injection of additional random delay or jitter at some point in a packet's roundtrip path across a wireless communications network is employed so as to increase the variance in round trip times, without significantly increasing the average value thereof. Spurious TCP timeouts are avoided through the artificial delay injection which occurs at a network element along the communications path and without modification of, or requiring access to, the TCP protocol. Further, the injection of artificial delay is applied on a transaction-by-transaction basis. That is, the decision to inject, or not inject, the artificial delay as well as the value of the injected delay are applied to each TCP connection or TCP flow.

Abstract: In a wireless network or other communication system, admission of users to the system involves use of a first scheduler, which makes actual scheduling decisions for admitted users, and a second scheduler, which emulates the operation of the first scheduler. The first scheduler is configured to manage access to network resources for users already admitted to the system. The first scheduler is coupled to an admission control module which contains the second scheduler. The second scheduler, also referred to herein as a virtual scheduler, emulates operation of the first scheduler, under an operating scenario involving admission of at least one additional user to the system, in order to generate a performance metric. The performance metric is used to make an admission control decision regarding admission of the at least one additional user to the system.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming, configuring, and managing a dynamic wireless network. A dynamic wireless network may be formed from at least one wireless node. The dynamic wireless network uses a Role Assignment Protocol (RAP) adapted for assigning one or more roles to each of the at least one wireless node. The dynamic wireless network uses a Network Configuration Protocol (NCP) adapted for configuring each of the at least one node at least according to the assigned role(s). A dynamic wireless network may be modified in response to one or more conditions, such as a wireless node joining the dynamic wireless network, a wireless node leaving the dynamic wireless network, wireless nodes moving within the dynamic wireless network, and the like. A dynamic wireless network may be split into multiple dynamic wireless networks and, similarly, multiple dynamic wireless networks may merge to form one dynamic wireless network.

Abstract: In a wireless network or other communication system, admission of users to the system is based on predicted scheduling gain. A scheduler is configured to manage access to network resources for users already admitted to the system. An admission control module is coupled to the scheduler, and determines a predicted scheduling gain of the scheduler under an operating scenario involving admission of at least one additional user to the system. The predicted scheduling gain is processed to generate at least one performance metric which is used to make an admission control decision regarding admission of the at least one additional user to the system.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling video streams. A method includes monitoring for an event associated with one of a plurality of video camera controllers providing a plurality of video streams where each of the video streams has a first quality level, and, in response to detecting an event associated with one of the plurality of video camera controllers, propagating a control message toward the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected, where a control message adapted for requesting the one of the video camera controllers to switch from providing the video stream using the first quality level to providing the video stream using a second quality level. The first quality level may be a low level of quality and the second quality level may be a high level of quality.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for activating a base station. A method includes transitioning the base station to a first state in which at least one base station activation activity is performed and RF transmissions are disabled, and transitioning the base station from the first state to a second state in which RF transmissions are enabled. The at least one base station activation activity may include at least one of warming at least one power amplifier, setting at least one base station configuration parameter, establishing GPS synchronization, and other base station activation activities. The base station may transition from the first state to the second state in response to a trigger.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for adjusting the transmit power of a base station. In one embodiment, the transmit power of a base station is adjusted using rate metrics. A method according to one embodiment includes adjusting a transmit power of a target base station based on a per-user rate metric associated with the target base station and at least one per-user rate metric associated with at least one other base station. The per-user rate metrics may be based on any base station metrics, such as average system throughput of the base station, aggregate cell capacity of the base station, and the like. The per-user rate metrics may be computed or estimated using feedback information from wireless user devices. In one embodiment, the transmit power of a base station is adjusted using other information, such as geographic distances between base station, signal strength measurements received at base stations from other base stations, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for authenticating a visiting node in a wireless network. A method includes receiving a request to transfer a user database of a visiting node, obtaining the visiting node user database from the visiting node in response to a determination to update a master user database to include the visiting node user database, and merging the visiting node user database with the master user database. The request to transfer the visiting node user database is received, from the visiting node, at a primary authentication node of the network. The visiting node user database includes entries for users associated with the visiting node. The master user database includes entries for users associated with nodes authenticated by the primary authentication node of the network.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for creating a base station neighbor list for a target base station in a network comprising a plurality of base stations. A method includes obtaining signal strength measurement information associated with a set of candidate base stations, creating the base station neighbor list by selecting ones of the candidate base stations for inclusion in the base station neighbor list in a manner for substantially maximizing a number of locations in the coverage area of the target base station receiving signal coverage from at least a threshold number of selected ones of the candidate base stations, and storing the base station neighbor list. The base station neighbor list may be updated periodically, or in response to changes to signal strength measurement information. The base station neighbor list is distributed from the base station to wireless user devices served by the base station for use by the wireless user devices in making handoff decisions.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for creating a base station neighbor list at a target base station in a wireless network including a plurality of base stations. A method includes obtaining information for creating the base station neighbor list, creating the base station neighbor list using the obtained information, and storing the base station neighbor list. The obtained information includes at least one of geographic locations of ones of the base stations, network status information associated with the wireless network, and pilot signal strength measurement feedback information. The base station neighbor list includes a subset of the base stations of the network. The base stations of the base station neighbor list may be prioritized using at least a portion of the obtained information. The base station neighbor list may be updated periodically, or in response to changes to the obtained information.

Abstract: In the method of packet transmission, data packet fragments received from a first mobile station are sent to a second mobile station without assembling and re-fragmenting the received data packet fragments if the first and second mobile stations are in a same cell.