Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.

Abstract: Wireless terminals and base stations support multiple modes of dedicated control channel operation wherein wireless terminals are allocated different amounts of dedicated uplink resources for reporting control information. A set of dedicated control channel segments is utilized by a wireless terminal to communicate uplink control information reports to its serving base station attachment point. Full tone and split-tone modes of dedicated control channel operation are supported. In full tone mode, a single wireless terminal is allocated each of the dedicated control channel segments associated with a single logical tone. In split tone mode, dedicated control channel segments associated with a single logical tone are allocated between different wireless terminals, with each of the multiple wireless terminals receiving a different non-overlapping subset of the dedicated control channel segments. Logical dedicated control channel tones can be dynamically reallocated for full-tone mode use or split tone mode use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for early determination of an operation mode in a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system are provided. A User Equipment (UE) determines a mode of operation of a NB-IoT network before decoding a broadcast channel which indicates the mode of operation, based on at least one synchronization signal received at the UE, wherein the mode of operation indicates what bandwidth resources are used in the network. The UE processes signals based on the determined mode of operation.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient and accurate frequency scans in Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems are provided. In an example, a user equipment (UE) searches for a cell on at least one of a plurality of frequency rasters based on a multi-stage search technique, wherein each stage of the multi-stage search searches the at least one frequency raster based on a different set of search parameters. The UE detects a cell on at least one of the frequency rasters based on the searching.

Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.

Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for early determination of an operation mode in a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system are provided. A User Equipment (UE) determines a mode of operation of a NB-IoT network before decoding a broadcast channel which indicates the mode of operation, based on at least one synchronization signal received at the UE, wherein the mode of operation indicates what bandwidth resources are used in the network. The UE processes signals based on the determined mode of operation.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient and accurate frequency scans in Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems are provided. In an example, a user equipment (UE) searches for a cell on at least one of a plurality of frequency rasters based on a multi-stage search technique, wherein each stage of the multi-stage search searches the at least one frequency raster based on a different set of search parameters. The UE detects a cell on at least one of the frequency rasters based on the searching.

Abstract: Techniques for efficiently sending reports in a wireless communication system are described. Reports may be sent repetitively in accordance with a reporting format. A terminal receives an assignment of a control channel used to send reports and determines a reporting format to use based on the assignment. The reporting format indicates a specific sequence of reports sent in specific locations of a control channel frame. The terminal generates a set of reports for each reporting interval and arranges the set of reports in accordance with the reporting format. The terminal repetitively sends a plurality of sets of reports in a plurality of reporting intervals. Reports may also be sent adaptively based on operating conditions. An appropriate reporting format may be selected based on the operating conditions of the terminal, which may be characterized by environment (e.g., mobility), capabilities, QoS, and/or other factors.

Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.

Abstract: Wireless terminals and base stations support multiple modes of dedicated control channel operation wherein wireless terminals are allocated different amounts of dedicated uplink resources for reporting control information. A set of dedicated control channel segments is utilized by a wireless terminal to communicate uplink control information reports to its serving base station attachment point. Full tone and split-tone modes of dedicated control channel operation are supported. In full tone mode, a single wireless terminal is allocated each of the dedicated control channel segments associated with a single logical tone. In split tone mode, dedicated control channel segments associated with a single logical tone are allocated between different wireless terminals, with each of the multiple wireless terminals receiving a different non-overlapping subset of the dedicated control channel segments. Logical dedicated control channel tones can be dynamically reallocated for full-tone mode use or split tone mode use.

Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.

Abstract: Wireless terminals and base stations support multiple modes of control channel operation wherein wireless terminals are allocated different amounts of uplink resources for reporting control information. A set of control channel segments is utilized by a wireless terminal to communicate uplink control information reports to its serving base station attachment point. Full tone and split-tone modes of control channel operation are supported. In full tone mode, a single wireless terminal is allocated each of the control channel segments associated with a single logical tone. In split tone mode, control channel segments associated with a single logical tone are allocated between different wireless terminals, with each of the multiple wireless terminals receiving a different non-overlapping subset of the control channel segments. Logical control channel tones can be dynamically reallocated for full-tone mode use or split tone mode use.

Abstract: In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new type of diversity, referred to as multiple carrier diversity by utilizing multiple carriers, assigning different power levels to each carrier frequency at each base station, and/or offsetting sector antennas. The cell and/or sector coverage areas can be set so as to minimize or eliminate overlap between cell and/or sector boundary regions of different carrier frequencies. Mobile nodes traveling throughout the system can exploit multiple carrier diversity by detecting carriers and selecting to use a non-boundary carrier based on other system criteria in order to improve performance. Boundary carriers may, but need not be, identified and excluded from consideration for use by a wireless terminal.

Abstract: A base station uses a common link layer controller for multiple physical attachment points to facilitate concurrent wireless connections between different sector physical attachment points and a wireless terminal using the same link layer link. A wireless terminal maintains multiple simultaneous wireless connections for the same link layer link. A packet of user data is fragmented into a plurality of grouping of MAC frames, thus a packet portion can be communicated over a connection. A single packet is sometimes communicated with different portions conveyed over different wireless connections. Automatic repeat request, using the common link layer controller, allows for retransmission of a packet portion over a different connection than it was initially transmitted over. A wireless terminal sends connection request messages including lists of link layer identifiers associated with the wireless terminal. A base station responds with an indication of whether logical link state was already present.

Abstract: Techniques for paging terminals in a wireless (e.g., OFDMA) communication system to achieve both fast paging response and low power consumption for the terminals are described. A terminal receives paging indicator from a base station. If the paging indicator indicates that the terminal is potentially being paged, then the terminal receives at least one paging message from a paging channel. The terminal determines whether any one of the at least one paging message is for the terminal e.g., based on identification information included in each paging message. If a paging message indicates that the terminal is paged, then the terminal sends an acknowledgement for the paging message. The base station may estimate the timing of the terminal based on the acknowledgement and may send timing adjustment to the terminal. The terminal may adjust its timing based on the timing adjustment and may be able to quickly access the system with no contention.

Abstract: Group communications methods and apparatus are described. Multiple modes of group communications signaling are supported. In a first mode, copies of packets are separately transmitted to each group member in a sector or cell. In a second mode a copy of a packet is directed to multiple group members at the same time. Transitions between the two modes may be determined as a function of the cost of operating in each of the modes in terms of system cost and/or the number of group members in a cell or sector being serviced by a transmitter.

Abstract: Latency in receiving and detecting paging messages at a wireless terminal is reduced by employing a unique “super” paging time slot format. A paging super time slot includes a plurality of prescribed time slots. Each wireless terminal is associated with cyclically recurring super time slots. A super slot is associated with one or more wireless terminals. A base station always selects the first available time slot in a super time slot to transmit a paging message to a wireless terminal that is associated with the super time slot. Each wireless terminal monitors every time slot in the associated super time slot until either detecting reception of its associated paging message or detecting an empty time slot. In another embodiment of the invention, a unique partially overlapping super time slot format is employed in which a super time slot has at least one time slot common to its adjacent super time slots.

Abstract: In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new type of diversity, referred to as multiple carrier diversity by utilizing multiple carriers, assigning different power levels to each carrier frequency at each base station, and/or offsetting sector antennas. The cell and/or sector coverage areas can be set so as to minimize or eliminate overlap between cell and/or sector boundary regions of different carrier frequencies. Mobile nodes traveling throughout the system can exploit multiple carrier diversity by detecting carriers and selecting to use a non-boundary carrier based on other system criteria in order to improve performance. Boundary carriers may, but need not be, identified and excluded from consideration for use by a wireless terminal.

Abstract: A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.