Abstract: Carriers used at an access terminal may be selectively controlled by dynamically determining whether one or more carriers from which the access terminal receives data should be shut off based on one or more real-time conditions at the access terminal. Processing capabilities and memory usage at the access terminal are compared to predetermined thresholds to determine whether the one or more carriers should be shut off, whether entirely or partially. Shutting off a carrier may comprise reducing the number of slots (up to a total of all available slots) that a carrier may use to transmit data to the access terminal during a given time period. If it is determined that the one or more carriers should be entirely or partially shut off then the access terminal transmits a message notifying an access node to shut off the transmission of the one or more carriers to the access terminal. Since less data will be received, processing and/or memory capabilities may be directed to other applications.

Abstract: A broadband service is provided by allocating air interface resources in a wireless network that conforms to the 1xEV-DO standard. The air interface resources are characterized by various quality of service (QoS) parameters, such as bandwidth, packet priority and error rate. Packetized information is transmitted in data flows between a base station and cell phones. A particular QoS level is reserved for each of the data flows that support the broadband service. An operating system on a cell phone monitors one data flow as well as another data flow in the opposite direction. When the base station runs out of an air interface resource, the base station suspends the QoS reservation of a data flow. The operating system determines that the QoS reservation in one direction has been suspended and sends an unsolicited message to the base station releasing the QoS reservation in the opposite direction, thereby conserving network resources.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate triggering multi-carrier requests at a mobile device and granting or denying the request at the access point. The mobile device can determine when to request additional carriers from the access point based on communication parameters, such as buffer levels, inflow/outflow data rates, PA headroom for handling an additional carrier, a timer for requesting the carrier, a maximum number of allocable carriers, and/or the like. Upon receiving the request, the access point can grant or deny the request based at least in part on subscriber level of the mobile device, available resources in the access point, reverse link throughput, and/or the like. Allocating additional carriers to the mobile device can increase throughput for communicating with the access point.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to packet scheduling techniques for prioritizing packets in the first generation (1X) evolution data optimized (EV-DO) network or similar networks that do not provide quality of service (QoS) support at the media access control (MAC) level. The techniques make use of a plurality of prioritized queues that are organized into packet flows. The different packet flows associate packets having similar or identical radio link protocols (RLPs) in order to achieve the necessary error detection for such related packets. The different queues define packet priorities base on packet type, in order to give transmission priority to certain types of packets over other types of packets. By separating the packets into different prioritized queues and associating several queues into common packet flows, prioritization can be achieved along with an efficient implementation of different error detection schemes.

Abstract: In a method for managing quality of service (QoS) resources during handoff across communication systems having different grades of QoS awareness, an access terminal (AT) determines that handoff has occurred from a QoS unaware system to a QoS aware system. The AT also determines whether there are any allocated, unrequested QoS resources. If one or more allocated, unrequested QoS resources are identified, the AT requests that the QoS aware system release the one or more allocated, unrequested QoS resources. The AT also determines whether there are any requested, unallocated QoS resources. If one or more requested, unallocated QoS resources are identified, the AT requests that the QoS aware system allocate the one or more requested, unallocated QoS resources to the application.

Abstract: More seamless handoff between access networks is achieved by saving session information for each access network upon being handed off from the access network and invoking the saved session information upon being handed back to the access network. An access terminal establishes a first session with a first access network, which may entail performing QoS negotiation with the first access network and setting up packet filters at a packet data gateway. The access terminal exchanges data with the first access network in accordance with the configuration of the first session. The access terminal saves the first session configuration after being handed off to a second access network, establishes a second session with the second access network, and exchanges data with the second access network in accordance with the configuration of the second session. The access terminal uses the saved first session configuration upon being handed back to the first access network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing efficiency of data packet transmission comprising receiving a TCA message and a new pilot signal; determining if the TCA message includes at least one scheduler tag; performing one of the following: determining if there are other pilot signals associated with the at least one scheduler tag or determining if the new pilot signal is in a softer handoff with a member of an active set; and performing one of the following: associating the new pilot signal to the at least one scheduler tag or creating a new scheduler group and associating the new pilot signal with it. In one aspect, one of the following additional steps is performed: determining if all the other pilot signals are newly added to the at least one scheduler tag or determining if at least one of the other pilot signals is associated with the active set.

Abstract: Carriers used at an access terminal may be selectively controlled by dynamically determining whether one or more carriers from which the access terminal receives data should be shut off based on one or more real-time conditions at the access terminal. Processing capabilities and memory usage at the access terminal are compared to predetermined thresholds to determine whether the one or more carriers should be shut off, whether entirely or partially. Shutting off a carrier may comprise reducing the number of slots (up to a total of all available slots) that a carrier may use to transmit data to the access terminal during a given time period. If it is determined that the one or more carriers should be entirely or partially shut off then the access terminal transmits a message notifying an access node to shut off the transmission of the one or more carriers to the access terminal. Since less data will be received, processing and/or memory capabilities may be directed to other applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing efficiency of data packet transmission comprising receiving a TCA message and a new pilot signal; determining if the TCA message includes at least one scheduler tag; performing one of the following: determining if there are other pilot signals associated with the at least one scheduler tag or determining if the new pilot signal is in a softer handoff with a member of an active set; and performing one of the following: associating the new pilot signal to the at least one scheduler tag or creating a new scheduler group and associating the new pilot signal with it. In one aspect, one of the following additional steps is performed: determining if all the other pilot signals are newly added to the at least one scheduler tag or determining if at least one of the other pilot signals is associated with the active set.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate triggering multi-carrier requests at a mobile device and granting or denying the request at the access point. The mobile device can determine when to request additional carriers from the access point based on communication parameters, such as buffer levels, inflow/outflow data rates, PA headroom for handling an additional carrier, a timer for requesting the carrier, a maximum number of allocable carriers, and/or the like. Upon receiving the request, the access point can grant or deny the request based at least in part on subscriber level of the mobile device, available resources in the access point, reverse link throughput, and/or the like. Allocating additional carriers to the mobile device can increase throughput for communicating with the access point.

Abstract: In a method for managing quality of service (QoS) resources during handoff across communication systems having different grades of QoS awareness, an access terminal (AT) determines that handoff has occurred from a QoS unaware system to a QoS aware system. The AT also determines whether there are any allocated, unrequested QoS resources. If one or more allocated, unrequested QoS resources are identified, the AT requests that the QoS aware system release the one or more allocated, unrequested QoS resources. The AT also determines whether there are any requested, unallocated QoS resources. If one or more requested, unallocated QoS resources are identified, the AT requests that the QoS aware system allocate the one or more requested, unallocated QoS resources to the application.

Abstract: A broadband service is provided by allocating air interface resources in a wireless network that conforms to the 1xEV-DO standard. The air interface resources are characterized by various quality of service (QoS) parameters, such as bandwidth, packet priority and error rate. Packetized information is transmitted in data flows between a base station and cell phones. A particular QoS level is reserved for each of the data flows that support the broadband service. An operating system on a cell phone monitors one data flow as well as another data flow in the opposite direction. When the base station runs out of an air interface resource, the base station suspends the QoS reservation of a data flow. The operating system determines that the QoS reservation in one direction has been suspended and sends an unsolicited message to the base station releasing the QoS reservation in the opposite direction, thereby conserving network resources.

Abstract: More seamless handoff between access networks is achieved by saving session information for each access network upon being handed off from the access network and invoking the saved session information upon being handed back to the access network. An access terminal establishes a first session with a first access network, which may entail performing QoS negotiation with the first access network and setting up packet filters at a packet data gateway. The access terminal exchanges data with the first access network in accordance with the configuration of the first session. The access terminal saves the first session configuration after being handed off to a second access network, establishes a second session with the second access network, and exchanges data with the second access network in accordance with the configuration of the second session. The access terminal uses the saved first session configuration upon being handed back to the first access network.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to packet scheduling techniques for prioritizing packets in the first generation (1X) evolution data optimized (EV-DO) network or similar networks that do not provide quality of service (QoS) support at the media access control (MAC) level. The techniques make use of a plurality of prioritized queues that are organized into packet flows. The different packet flows associate packets having similar or identical radio link protocols (RLPs) in order to achieve the necessary error detection for such related packets. The different queues define packet priorities base on packet type, in order to give transmission priority to certain types of packets over other types of packets. By separating the packets into different prioritized queues and associating several queues into common packet flows, prioritization can be achieved along with an efficient implementation of different error detection schemes.

Abstract: During an initial sending and receiving of QoS parameters between a QoS-based application and a data stack controller of a mobile terminal, the parameters are stored to a data stack of the mobile terminal. The parameters are used in an initial negotiation between the data stack controller and a base station. Subsequent re-negotiations of parameters between the data stack controller and other base stations does not require any subsequent re-sending and re-receiving of QoS parameters between the application and the data stack controller as any subsequent re-negotiations are implemented by retrieving the parameters from the data stack. As such, the application is “kept blind” of later re-negotiations between the data stack controller and base stations and continues its operation without disruption even during re-negotiations at handoffs between QoS and non-QoS aware base stations as the application receives QoS support during operation or operates under “best effort” conditions.