Abstract: A method of the present invention includes the steps of identifying (801) a first frequency allocation and a second frequency allocation and programming a radio frequency device (401, 701, 901) to at least one of: a) simultaneously receive a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation; and b) simultaneously transmit a first signal within the first frequency allocation and a second signal within the second frequency allocation.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for facilitating and performing distributed speech processing in a wireless communication system. The present invention encompasses communication infrastructure embodiments that facilitate distributed speech processing by establishing voice and data pathways to support distributed speech processing services. The present invention also encompasses a communication unit that performs distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis via the communication infrastructure. The communication unit (102) requests communication services from the communication infrastructure (101) that support both voice and data communication and utilizes a data connection to a distributed speech processing unit (116) to perform distributed voice recognition and distributed speech synthesis.

Abstract: A terminating switching center (101-103) receives an initial address message from an originating switching center (101-103). Responsive to the initial address message, the terminating switching center establishes communications with a wireless unit (118-120). When a called party category corresponding to the wireless unit is compatible with a calling party category included in the initial address message, the terminating switching center instructs at least one terminating transcoder (121-123) to operate in a transparent mode. An answer message including the called party category is sent back to the originating switching center. When the calling and called party categories are compatible, the originating switching center instructs at least one originating transcoder (121-123) to operate in a transparent mode. Additionally, communication path identifiers are included in the messages exchanged.

Abstract: A communication system employs a method and apparatus for exchanging communicated signals between a communication unit (e.g., 17) and a central site (205). A remote base site (65) or the central site (205) determines whether a signal must be exchanged between the communication unit (17) and the central site (205). When a signal is to be exchanged, the remote base site (65) allocates a first radio frequency communication resource (75) for use in exchanging the signal between the communication unit (17) and the remote base site (65) and a second radio frequency communication resource (74) for use in exchanging the signal between the remote base site (65) and the central site (205).

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing packet data communications to a communication unit (e.g., 120). The communication system includes a system controller (102), a packet data router (101), and multiple base sites (103-109). Each base site serves a respective service coverage area (133-139) and the service coverage areas a grouped into multiple location areas (150-151). The packet data router receives a data packet intended for the communication unit and processes a transport protocol layer of the packet. The packet data router then determines whether the communication unit is presently involved in a packet data communication session based at least on information contained in the transport protocol layer of the packet.

Abstract: Data to be transmitted from an information source (301), associated with a local/wide area network (303), to a target destination (317) is formatted into a plurality of data packets. Based on a message type of the data packets, either a circuit-switched network (311) or a packet-switched network (309) is selected. When the circuit-switched network is chosen, a circuit-switched channel (314) is established to the target destination, and the data packets are transmitted to the target destination via the circuit-switched channel. When the packet-switched network is chosen, a packet-switched channel (313) is established to the target destination, and the data packets are transmitted to the target destination via the packet-switched channel.

Abstract: A dispatch radio communication system (100) that includes a dispatch processor (101) and a voice mail system (103) employs a method and apparatus for providing voice mail service in the dispatch system. The dispatch processor receives a request to communicate from a first communication unit (109), wherein the request includes a dispatch identification (ID) of a second communication unit (110) that is a target of a communication from the first communication unit. The dispatch processor then determines whether the second communication unit can participate in the communication. When the second communication unit cannot participate, the dispatch processor establishes a communication path (122, 126) between the first communication unit and a third communication unit (111) that is coupled to the voice mail system to allow a user of the first communication unit to provide a voice mail message to the voice mail system for a user of the second communication unit.

Abstract: Communication systems having single switching center configurations (100) or multiple switching center configurations (200) detect the occurrence of a mobile-to-mobile call using control messages. When it is determined that the call is mobile-to-mobile, a switching center (101) in the single switching center configuration instructs transcoders (121-123) to operate in a transparent mode. Likewise, when it is determined that the call is mobile-to-mobile, multiple switching centers (201-203) the multiple switching center configuration instruct transcoders (221-223) to operate in the transparent mode. While operating in the transparent mode, the transcoders do not convert compressed digital voice (402) to non-compressed digital voice (401) and vice versa, but do allow the compressed digital voice to pass through as bit-stuffed compressed digital voice (403) and vice versa.

Abstract: A TDMA radio communication system provides communication service to a plurality of mobile communication units through use of a TDMA frame. The TDMA frame includes a plurality of timeslots that are distributed across a TDMA frame duration and are used to facilitate communications involving a first mobile and a second mobile. Audio delays are reduced using a method that includes the steps of measuring a hold time for each of the mobiles, and determining a present aggregate hold time based at least in part on the measured hold times. When the present aggregate hold time exceeds the TDMA frame duration, the method provides for the re-assignment of at least one of the mobiles to an alternate timeslot within the TDMA frame.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) that includes a packet data routing network (101, 103) and a plurality of base sites (105-107) employs a method (400, 500) and apparatus for providing packet data to a communication unit (109). The packet data routing network (101, 103) provides a packet (201-208) of data to at least two of the base sites (105-107), one of the base sites (e.g., 105) being the site currently serving the communication unit (109) and the other base site or sites (e.g., 106, 107) being possible handoff targets. The serving base site (105) transmits at least a first portion (e.g., 201-203) of the packet (201-208) to the communication unit (109) and the communication unit (109) receives the transmitted packet or portion thereof. However, if during transmission of the packet (201-208) the communication unit (109) requires a handoff to one (e.g.

Abstract: A radio frequency backbone communication system is offered for exchanging, a plurality of communicated signals between a central site (205) and a plurality of communication units (16-18) through a plurality of remote base sites (60-66). The system includes at least one mobile function transceiver (201-204) located at the central site (205), transceiving a communicated signal of the plurality of communicated signals on a shared communication resource of a base site of the plurality of base sites (60-66) and, means for synchronizing a transceiver at the base site to the communicated signal of the at least one mobile function transceiver (201-204).

Abstract: Data to be transmitted from an information source (301) associated with a local/wide area network (303) is formatted into a plurality of data packets. Each data packet includes a first target destination identifier that uniquely identifies a target destination (323) within an RF communication system (306). A network interfacer (305) establishes connectivity between the local/wide area network and a controller (307) associated with the RF communication system. Based on the first target destination identifier, the controller determines a second target destination identifier corresponding to the target destination. A circuit-switched channel is established to the target destination using the second target destination identifier. The data packets are then transmitted via the circuit-switched channel to the target destination without either the first or second target destination identifiers being transmitted therewith.

Abstract: A communication system employs a method for exchanging communicated signals between a remote base site (e.g., 63) and a central site (205) on a communication resource (e.g., 77) assigned to the remote base site (63). The central site (205) or the remote base site (63) determines that a signal must be exchanged between the remote base site (63) and the central site (205). The remote base site (63) then allocates the communication resource (77) for exchanging the signal from those communication resources (e.g., 76 and 77) assigned to the remote base site (63) for exchanging signals with communication units (e.g., 18) in the service coverage area (53) of the remote base site (63).

Abstract: The method of conveying control and program information between cellular radiotelephone controllers and of detecting information errors is disclosed. When a program memory information error is detected, a predetermined amount of memory information is conveyed from a first controller to a second controller. If a comparison of checksums of a predetermined amount of memory information stored at the second controller and the memory information received from the first controller matches, additional memory information is conveyed. If a match is not found, the predetermined amount of memory information is reconveyed from the first controller to the second controller.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for interfacing between a cell site controller, a cell system controller, and the radio transceivers of a cellular radiotelephone system is disclosed. To convey control information to the radio transceivers, the cell site controller enables one of a redundant pair of control data buses to a selected transceiver by placing an enable signal on the enable line unique to the selected transceiver. Control data is then coupled to the common enabled control data bus for conveyance to the selected transceiver. The transceiver mutes the message data port it may be using and transponds the control data information it receives. When the enable signal is removed, the transceiver unmutes the message data port. Program information is transferred between the cell system controller and cell site controllers as memory blocks which may be retransferred upon detection of a checksum mismatch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing voice channel transceivers as temporary scanning receivers in a handoff event for a cellular radiotelephone system is disclosed. Voice channel transceiver identifications are stored in link lists according to priority, sectorization, and last use. When a signal strength measurement is required, those cell sectors having available voice channel transceivers are identified and a table providing optimum transceiver selection is utilized to select those voice channel transceivers which will make the signal strength measurement.