Abstract: In a telecommunication system comprising a multicast group (110) and a base station (200), a signal performance value (304) is received from at least two members of the multicast group (110) to generate a set of signal performance values (306). A group leader (310) of the multicast group (110) is selected as a function of the set of signal performance values (306) to acknowledge multicast transmissions from the base station (200) to the multicast group (110).

Abstract: In a telecommunication system comprising a multicast group (110) and a base station (200), a signal performance value (304) is received from at least two members of the multicast group (110) to generate a set of signal performance values (306). A group leader (310) of the multicast group (110) is selected as a function of the set of signal performance values (306) to acknowledge multicast transmissions from the base station (200) to the multicast group (110).

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) that includes a plurality of communication units and a fixed infrastructure comprising a packet data routing system (101, 103) and a plurality of base sites (111-119), emloys a method and apparatus for paging a communication unit (110). The fixed infrastructure (101, 103, 111-119) transmits a paging message to a communication unit (110) of the plurality of communication units. In response to receiving the paging message, the communication unit (110) transmits an acknowledgment. If the fixed infrastructure (101, 103, 111-119) fails to receive the acknowledgment within a certain waiting period, the fixed infrastructure (101, 103, 111-119) waits at least until the expiration of a backoff period before again transmitting a paging message, wherein the length of time of the backoff period is based on a metric of known system behavioral patterns.

Abstract: To address the need for conveying data to a base site (110) and communication unit (104) without substantially introducing congestion or delay to the network used, the present invention provides two methods and a data gateway apparatus. The data gateway (116) upon receiving a data packet addressed to a communication unit (104), divides the data packet into data blocks and generates transmission data packets which can be transmitted from a base site (110) to the communication unit (104) in individual time slots. The transmission data packets, being smaller than the data packet, do not introduce substantial delay to an infrastructure network (114) and are conveyed over time to prevent congestion.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method for providing communications to a communication device (e.g., 120) located in the communication system. The communication device (120) transmits a registration message to a system controller (101) via a first base site (104). The system controller then affiliates the communication device with the first base site and a location area (150) that includes a service coverage area (134) of the first base site. When the system controller receives a communication (e.g., a packet data communication) for the communication device, the system controller determines whether the communication was received within a predetermined period of time after a previous communication involving the communication device.