Abstract: A system and method for displaying a customized banner on a wireless communication device (WCD) indicating call quality. A WCD operating in a wireless communication system that include a first base station can receive from the first base station a first message that includes a first specific indication confirming that a particular mode of high quality voice communication has become active on an end-to-end basis for an existing voice call between the WCD and a different WCD operating in the wireless communication system. In response to determining that the first message includes the first specific indication, the WCD can a particular icon signifying that the particular mode of high quality voice communication has become active.

Abstract: A system and method for customizing call setup based on predicted call quality is disclosed. When a radio access network (RAN) device receives a request to set up a call between an originating wireless communication device (WCD) and a terminating WCD, the RAN device can predict that the call will use particular coding technique. The prediction can be made prior to alerting either of the originating or terminating WCDs of the new call, and can be based on a historical call record of calls originated by the originating WCD and/or terminated by the terminating WCD. The RAN device can then alert at least one of the originating WCD or the terminating WCD of the call with an alerting signal that indicates the particular coding technique will be used for the call.

Abstract: A UE gauges how many UEs are currently served in each of various coverage systems, by evaluating downlink control channel signaling in each coverage system to determine from the control signaling an extent to which the signaling provides for UE scheduling and to establish a corresponding relative measure of an extent to which the coverage system is serving UEs. In an example implementation, this evaluation may involve eliminating from consideration any control channel signaling that is not associated with UE scheduling, so as to determine by exclusion an extent to which the downlink control channel signaling is associated with UE scheduling. The UE then compares such relative measures of the various coverage systems as a basis to select a coverage system in which to operate, such as by favoring operation in the coverage that thereby seems to be serving the fewest number of UEs.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for preventing or allowing a base station (BS) to perform a particular BS function are described. The BS and/or a base station controller (BSC) determine and compare a location of the BS to respective location(s) of one or more other BSs. The BS and/or BSC determine whether the BS location is at least a threshold distance respectively from each of one or more other BSs. If the BS location is at least a threshold distance respectively from each of one or more other BSs, the BS and/or BSC sets at least one parameter to prevent the BS from performing the particular BS function. If the BS location is less than the threshold distance respectively from at least one of the one or more other BSs, the BS and/or BSC sets at least one parameter to allow the BS to perform the particular BS function.

Abstract: Methods are provided for delivering packet data to a mobile station following inadvertent loss of a data-link-layer connection between a wireless-network entity and the mobile station. A first data-link-layer connection is established between (i) a wireless-network entity in a wireless network and (ii) a mobile station. The wireless-network entity responsively stores connection data pertaining to the first data-link-layer connection. An error condition is detected. Detecting the error condition comprises detecting that the wireless-network entity is incorrectly no longer storing the connection data pertaining to the first data-link-layer connection. Responsive to detecting the error condition, a second data-link-layer connection is established between the wireless-network entity and the mobile station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing wireless service using multiple protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier. According to an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) provides wireless service on an RF carrier using a first wireless-communication protocol and provides wireless service on the RF carrier using a second wireless-communication protocol, where providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the second wireless-communication protocol occur at different times. The LCIB may alternate between providing wireless service using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service using the second wireless-communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing a low-cost-Internet-base-station-(LCIB) user-adaptation algorithm. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives usage attempts from a plurality of mobile stations. The LCIB stores records corresponding to the usage attempts, where each record identifies the corresponding mobile station from which the corresponding usage attempt was received. The LCIB uses the records to classify each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations as authorized or rather as unauthorized. The LCIB then configures its coverage area so as to exclude the unauthorized mobile stations.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing global neighbor lists to support low-cost Internet base stations (LCIBs). In a macro wireless-communication network, each sector has a neighbor list that contains the pseudorandom number (PN) offsets of surrounding sectors. To account for LCIBs, a global neighbor list, configurable across sectors, access networks, markets, and/or vendors, is introduced. The global list may be maintained on an access network or on a separate server that interfaces with access networks. The global list may be incorporated at the beginning, in the middle (i.e. at specific priority levels), or at the end of each respective sector's neighbor list. If a given sector's neighbor list is full, it could be left unmodified, or some global-list entries could displace some existing entries. Other than incorporating entries from the global list, each macro sector's neighbor list remains, for the most part, independently modifiable.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) radio-frequency (RF) adaptation using stationary transceivers. In an embodiment, an LCIB emits a pilot beacon having an adjustable transmission-power level. The LCIB repeatedly wirelessly sends transmissions for receipt by each transceiver in a set of one or more stationary transceivers while increasing the power level at which the transmissions are sent. The transceivers are arranged to wirelessly send acknowledgements to the LCIB upon successful receipt of the transmissions. The LCIB receives at least one acknowledgement from a subset of the transceivers, and responsively sets the pilot-beacon transmission-power level equal to an operating value, which the LCIB selects based at least in part on a minimum transmission-sending power level needed to receive an acknowledgement from each transceiver in the subset.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for network-side setup of a packet-data communication session on behalf of a mobile station, followed by transfer of the communication session to the mobile station. A radio access network (RAN) receives from the mobile station an origination message comprising a code and a called-party identifier, the code indicating that the mobile station is requesting that, on behalf of the mobile station, the RAN set up a packet-based communication session between the mobile station and an endpoint associated with the identifier. Responsive to the origination message and on behalf of the mobile station, the RAN sends to the endpoint an invitation to participate in the communication session. Responsive to the endpoint accepting the invitation, the RAN sends to the mobile station information enabling the mobile station to engage in messaging with the endpoint related to the communication session and/or participate in the communication session with the endpoint.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) for a macro-network-to-LCIB handoff of an active mobile station. In one embodiment, a handoff request is received from a mobile station, the handoff request indicating that the mobile station is requesting that a first pseudorandom number (PN) offset be added to an active set for the mobile station, the active set comprising one or more macro-network sectors. It is determined that the first PN offset is associated with an LCIB pilot beacon, and a candidate set of LCIBs is responsively identified, the candidate set consisting of substantially all of the LCIBs that are located in the one or more macro-network sectors in the active set. It is determined whether the mobile station is an authorized mobile station of exactly one LCIB in the candidate set and, if so, the mobile station is directed to handoff to that LCIB.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing wireless service using multiple protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier. According to an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) provides wireless service on an RF carrier using a first wireless-communication protocol and provides wireless service on the RF carrier using a second wireless-communication protocol, where providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the second wireless-communication protocol occur at different times. The LCIB may alternate between providing wireless service using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service using the second wireless-communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing an alternative timing source for low-cost-Internet-base-station-(LCIB) systems. In accordance with an embodiment, an LCIB has an internal clock. The LCIB is arranged to receive a GPS signal, and to treat timing information embedded in the GPS signal as the LCIB's primary source of timing information for calibrating the internal clock. The LCIB detects a loss of the GPS signal, and responsively uses a macro-network receiver to receive macro-network timing information from a macro network, which is a terrestrial wireless network. The LCIB uses the macro-network timing information to calibrate the internal clock.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing wireless service using multiple protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier. According to an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) provides wireless service on an RF carrier using a first wireless-communication protocol and provides wireless service on the RF carrier using a second wireless-communication protocol, where providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the second wireless-communication protocol occur at different times. The LCIB may alternate between providing wireless service using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service using the second wireless-communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a low cost Internet base station (LCIB) to grant a client device temporary access to a wireless network. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a request from a client device. The request includes a feature code, an access code, and a client-device identifier. The feature code in the request indicates that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network. Upon detecting the feature code in the request, the LCIB compares the access code in the request with a stored access code. If the access code from the request matches the stored access code, the LCIB grants the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis. Alternatively, if the access code from the request does not match the stored access code, the LCIB denies the client device access to the wireless network.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating location of a wireless communication device communicating via a communication path that includes a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The delay associated with a communication propagating through a fiber optic cable can be used to more accurately determine inputs used when locating a device using triangulation. The delay introduced by the cable may vary with the temperature of the cable. Therefore, the temperature associated with the cable is measured and used to determine a delay associated with the fiber optic cable. An indicator of the delay may then be used by a positioning system to more accurately locate a wireless communication device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing an alternate operational-data transmission scheme for LCIB systems. According to an embodiment, an LCIB provides service to at least one mobile station on a first wireless network, the provision of service comprising (i) providing an air interface according to a first wireless technology, (ii) providing a backhaul connection over a packet-data network to a service-provider network, and (iii) bridging the air interface and the backhaul connection. The LCIB collects operational data, which the LCIB transmits to a server over a second wireless network according to a second wireless technology, where the second wireless network is different than the first wireless network, and the second wireless technology is different than the first wireless technology.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manually configuring low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) coverage using an associated mobile station. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a user command of a first type, responsively enters a coverage-configuration mode, and then receives from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station. Responsively, the LCIB engages in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each call comprising the LCIB identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold. The LCIB sets a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon (i.e. configures its coverage) based at least in part on the maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating interference by low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) pilot beacons with macro-network communications. In one embodiment, an LCIB transmits a pilot beacon on the forward link of a carrier at a first power level. While transmitting the pilot beacon on the forward link of the first carrier, the LCIB measures a current reverse-noise rise (RNR) on the reverse link of the carrier. The LCIB determines that the current RNR is greater than an RNR threshold, and responsively transmits the pilot beacon on the carrier at a second power level, which is lower than the first power level.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating interference by low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) pilot beacons with macro-network communications. In an embodiment, an LCIB transmits a pilot beacon having a power level that is adjustable on a per-carrier basis. The LCIB determines that it does not have any registered mobile stations, and responsively turns the power level down or off while monitoring reverse-noise rise (RNR) on one or more carriers. The LCIB then detects a threshold RNR on a carrier, and responsively carries out a sub-process a first number of times on the carrier. The sub-process comprises (a) gradually increasing the power level while continuing to monitor RNR, (b) detecting a sudden RNR decrease, and responsively turning the power level down or off while continuing to monitor RNR, and then (c) detecting an RNR increase. The LCIB waits for the RNR to return to normal before increasing the power.