Abstract: A communication system (28), comprises a master device (44) and slave device (30). Consequential to negotiations within the system (28) and having regard to system capacity and a relative hierarchy that exists between on-going communications, a bandwidth used for an on-going communication between the master device (44) and the slave device (30) is modified in proportion to a substantially instantaneous data rate requirement of the communication. As such, the system allows fluctuations in the amount of information, transmitted in a fixed time through an optimization of an available and dynamically varying bandwidth, while biasing the communication resource in relation to the relative hierarchy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enabling a mobile station to transfer its communications between two dissimilar communications systems, for example, between a first communications system having a time continuous structure, such as a CDMA system, and an alternate communications system having a time discontinuous structure, such as a TDMA system. In one embodiment, the mobile station initiates a time-compressed mode of operation of the first system in which, for a portion of each frame, transmission is disabled, accesses the second system during the disabled periods and specifies to the first system frame structure information of the second system. The first system adjusts the time-compressed mode of operation so that communication with the mobile station occurs during `N` time slots of each frame, the widths and positions of each slot within each frame being set in order to avoid contention with communications to and from the second system.

Abstract: A radio communications device is arranged to communicate time divided signals (60 and 70) over first (40) and second (50) time discontinuous systems having first and second frame structures respectively. Switching device (120) switches between communicating signals (60) over the first system (40) during time periods of the first frame structure and communicating signals (70) over the second system (50) during time periods of the second frame structure. Hence over a given period of time the device simultaneously communicates time divided signals over the first (40) and second (50) systems.

Abstract: A method for a network in a multi-network system to obtain access information for a subscriber unit (104) (SU) involves requesting (1306) access information from an access server (110) which determines (1208) whether a group to which the SU belongs can access the network or another network from the SU location. The access server (110) can also send (1228) information to a network which describes which other networks the SU group can access from the SU location. An access server apparatus (1800) includes a processor (1802) for making access decisions in a multi-network system, a memory device (1804) for storing access information (1100) for various networks, and at least one network interface (1806). A gateway (GW) apparatus (2000) contacts an access server (110) to obtain access information. An SU apparatus (1900) includes a processor (1902) for using information from the access server (110) to access a network.

Abstract: A method for handing off calls between differing radio telecommunication networks recognizes (302) a desire for an inter-network hand-off. When a Subscriber Unit (120) (SU) identifies (304) a new network, a hand-off with the new network can be requested (320). When the SU (120) does not identify (304) a new network, the old network requests (314) location information relevant to an inter-network hand-off from a Location Inter-Working Server (200) (LIWS). The LIWS (200) provides information about other networks which provide service to the SU location and, when another network provides service to the SU location, a hand-off with the other network can be requested (320).