Abstract: Cellular network may introduce a large number of limited access/limited range (“small”) base stations deployed by end-users such as home base nodes (HNBs) or Femtocells that provide access to access terminals (ATs) or user equipment (UE) to a core network. A selective discovery approach enables UE to discover and to use a small base station without wasting power to discover an alien base station or to search when not within range of any open small base station. Discovery can entail location-dependent determination (e.g., macro base station triangulation, global positioning system, local broadcast channel, etc.) of being within range of an open femtocell whose identity was manually learned, accessed via a distributed neighbor list, etc. The UE can advantageously tolerate small changes in location without having to relearn the identity of the femtocell. The type of access afforded is advantageously communicated to end user via a display indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate device-side access point list management. Blacklists of access points unsuitable for providing network access to a related mobile device can be maintained as well as whitelists of suitable access points. The lists can be managed using an interface provided at the mobile device. In addition, lists can be modified according to provisioned network updates. Also, the lists can be of maximum size such that older entries can be purged upon insertion of newer entries based on a number of factors; timed entry deletion is provided as well. Access points in the lists can be stored and presented according to various identifiers related to the access points.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying and/or selecting femto cells in a wireless communication environment. A mobile device can scan an Auxiliary Pilot Channel to detect auxiliary pilot channel information (e.g., a particular Walsh Code, . . . ) sent from a base station. Moreover, the identified auxiliary pilot channel information can be evaluated to detect a characteristic of the base station. For instance, the identified auxiliary pilot channel information can be compared with stored auxiliary pilot channel information (e.g., Walsh Code(s) included in a whitelist, blacklist, . . . ). Moreover, a Synchronization Channel can be read based upon the detected characteristic. Further, a Common Pilot Channel, for example, can be analyzed to search for pseudo-noise (PN) offset(s) reserved for femto cell base stations, and the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel can be initiated in response to detecting at least one reserved PN offset.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing neighbor lists to devices comprising pilot frequencies of access points in a specific geographic region. Using the neighbor list, the devices can discover the access points based on scanning the frequencies for the pilot and can determine additional communication parameters from the discovery or based on a subsequent request resulting from discovery. In this regard, access point information need not be provisioned to the devices for locating the access points, selecting/reselecting the access points, providing the access points in a list to an interface, locating the device using triangulation based on GPS position of the access points, and/or the like.

Abstract: Noise is measured at one or more base stations in a mobile communication system during periodic silence periods. A periodic silence period is defined for at least one carrier that is independent of reverse link channel frame boundaries. The radio base stations transmits silence parameters defining the periodic silence period to mobile stations, which stop transmitting during the periodic silence periods. A time reference is provided to the mobile stations to synchronize the silence periods for all mobile stations.

Abstract: A radio base station performs reverse link rate control in a wireless communication network by “stealing” bits on a forward common power control channel. The forward common power control channel is divided into a plurality of frames, with each frame including a plurality of power control groups and each power control group including a plurality of power control slots. The radio base station may dynamically select power control slots depending on user demand to be used for reverse link rate control.

Abstract: A method for advance allocation of one or more resources to a frame for a mobile communication terminal comprises transmitting resource allocation data in advance over several frames to allow for additional diversity in providing a mobile with resource allocation data.

Abstract: The present invention is related to controlling delay in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes receiving a signal from a plurality of base stations, measuring at least one signal delay of each of the plurality of base stations, reporting the measured at least one signal delay of each base station to a controller controlling the plurality of base stations, and receiving an adjusted signal from each of the plurality of base stations as a result of reporting the measured at least one signal delay, wherein each adjusted signal is received in a synchronous manner.

Abstract: A wireless communication network receives packet data transmissions from a mobile station, tracks the occurrence of retransmission requests sent to the mobile station responsive thereto, and modifies the radio link assignments for the mobile station based at least in part on said tracking. For example, a base station controller may be configured to manage the active set of a mobile station based on the number and/or frequency of NACK messages sent by the radio base stations in the mobile station's active set(s) responsive to packet data transmissions from the mobile station. The ACK/NACK response of a radio base station to mobile station transmissions may be used to detect link imbalance, identify poor reverse link channels, etc. The base station controller can add or change radio links based on the ACK/NACK response to improve reverse link performance, trigger voice call handoff, correct link imbalance, etc.

Abstract: A base station receives data frames from a mobile station and selectively gates a physical layer radio channel to provide ACK and NACK indications responsive to the receipt of the data frames from the mobile station. The physical layer radio channel is gated on to provide one of an ACK and a NACK indication to the mobile station, and is gated off to provide the other one of the ACK and NACK indications to the mobile station.

Abstract: A method for providing an assignment acknowledgement includes receiving a forward link overhead channel message at an access terminal (AT), the overhead channel message including parameters used to indicate which shared control channel (SCCH) message data blocks are to be acknowledged by the AT and the timing for transmitting the assignment acknowledgment. The method further includes receiving a forward link SCCH signal having SCCH data blocks, decoding the SCCH data blocks according to parameters provided by the overhead channel message, detecting a change in access terminal assignment for the AT based upon the SCCH signal, and receiving forward link packet data, or transmitting reverse link data packet at the AT via the assigned data channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide MAC logic enabling the use of two or more reverse link rate controls at the same time in one or more sectors of a radio base station. That enables the base station to control reverse link loading via reverse link rate control, while assigning mobile stations to the type of reverse link rate control best suited to their needs. For example, the base station MAC logic may implement both a common rate controller that generates per-sector rate control commands, and a dedicated rate controller that generates per-user rate control commands and assign mobile stations having relatively lax reverse link service needs to the common rate controller, while assigning mobile stations having more demanding reverse link service requirements to the dedicated rate control. More than two rate controls can be implemented, and exemplary choices include per-user, per-sector, per-group, and scheduled rate control in any combination.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-carrier CDMA network grants radio link resources to a mobile station by maximizing soft handoff conditions, by preserving frequency continuity with the mobile station, or by load balancing across carrier frequencies in two or more cells, or by some combination thereof. The network identifies carrier frequencies having two or more CDMA channels for assignment to the mobile station. If one of those frequencies was used by the mobile station to request resources, it may be advantageous to select that frequency; otherwise or instead, the choice is narrowed to the carrier frequency or frequencies having the greatest number of available radio links. From that point, the choice may be further narrowed, for example, by selecting the carrier frequency having the most favorable CDMA channel loading across two or more cells. In another embodiment, such multi-carrier load balancing is the basis of carrier frequency selection.

Abstract: A method for switching group assignment of an access terminal (AT) includes receiving a control message indicating a current group to which the AT is assigned and an assigned group to which the AT is to be switched, and decoding data in a next-received group interlace which corresponds to the assigned group.

Abstract: A method for transmitting information for a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) capable of receiving a specific MBMS service without any difficulty in a when a terminal subscribed to the specific MBMS service moves from an to the, in which when the terminal moves from the to the, the terminal or the transmits to the state information of a terminal-related MBMS service which the is providing, and the provides the MBMS service to the terminal by setting a dedicated channel with the terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a deterministic power control mechanism for the transmission of mobile station power control commands based on transmitting non-power control commands for which mobile stations exhibit deterministic, observable responses at related transmit powers, e.g., at the same power. For example, a wireless network base station may adjust the target used for sending power control commands to a given mobile station by observing whether that mobile station correctly responds to rate control or retransmit control commands sent at the same transmit power. The mobile station's response (or non-response) to such non-power control commands is readily observable and can be taken as an indication of whether the power target is sufficient for current radio conditions. Although not so limited, this approach may be particularly beneficial where non-power control commands are sent along with the power commands on a sub-channel of a common power control channel.

Abstract: An improved approach to noise estimation permits, for example, tighter closed-loop power control in a wireless communication network with attendant improvements in transmit power efficiency and network capacity. In an exemplary embodiment, the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a data signal is estimated based on noise samples obtained from one or more other signals received in association with the data signal. In general, these associated signals are characterized by the receiver's ability to extract like valued samples from them, such that pairs of these like valued signal samples may be subtracted, thereby canceling their deterministic signal components and leaving only difference values representative of the non-deterministic noise components of the signal samples.

Abstract: A method of reverse link power control for a reverse packet data channel in a wireless communication system allows a mobile station to autonomously change its data transmission rate. The mobile station transmits packet data over a reverse packet data channel having a data rate variant transmit power level that varies based on a transmit data rate on the packet data channel. The mobile station further transmits control signals over a reverse control channel associated with the reverse packet data channel. The transmit power level of the reverse control channel is such that the transmit power level does not vary with the transmit data rate on the packet data channel. The radio base station measures the strength of the received signals on the reverse control channel, compares the measured strength to a power control set point, and generates a power control signal responsive to the comparison of the control signal to the power control set point.

Abstract: A method for generating a transmission slot includes receiving a transmission slot that includes a plurality of data regions and a plurality of control regions, in which each of the data regions include digital spread spectrum data. The method further includes substituting each of the plurality of data regions with at least one OFDM symbol having variable duration, in which each of the at least one OFDM symbol has a cyclic prefix extension (CPE).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to enable a network to more efficiently determine whether additional reverse links can be assigned. Various methods are presented that allow a network to determine either the transmission power or power headroom of a mobile terminal based on information that is provided at session startup and information provided periodically. The number of additional reverse links that can be assigned to the mobile can then be estimated from the transmission power and headroom of the mobile terminal.