Abstract: Systems and methods for interworking between two different networks are presented. In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication includes requesting a network access from an access point of a first network, and transmitting an EAP authentication request from the access point to a user end. An EAP authentication request response is sent from the user end to the access point. The EAP authentication request response includes an attach type indicator that indicates to a gateway associated with the access point whether the attach request is an initial attachment or a handover from a second network.

Abstract: A terminal control unit controls a 1x reception signal process unit, searches for a base station which supports a 1x method, and starts wait for occurrence of signal reception. Then, the terminal control unit periodically executes a nearby base station measuring process, controls the 1x reception signal process unit, and searches for a nearby base station which supports the 1x method. On the other hand, as regards a base station which supports an LTE method, an LTE reception signal process unit is activated to execute a search only in the case where a base station supporting the 1x method, which is used for signal reception wait, does not support the LTE method.

Abstract: A wireless base station allows a mobile device to communicate with a wireless network. An estimate of the location of the wireless base station may allow a location based service to determine the location of a mobile device. In an embodiment, location may be estimated using a collection of data samples obtained from a mobile device. These data samples may contain carrier related timing information, for example GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) timing information and received signal strength indication (RSSI). Data from the GSM timing information and RSSI may be analyzed to estimate a distance of a mobile device from a wireless base station. In another embodiment, a centroid of the data samples is computed. The centroid may then be used to estimate the direction of a cell phone tower relative to the centroid. In this way, using an estimate of distance and direction, location of wireless base station may be estimated.

Abstract: A base station (101) for a cellular communication system comprises a transceiver (301) which receives measurement reports from a plurality of user equipments (107) served by the base station (101). The measurement reports comprise receive signal quality indications (such as receive signal levels for pilot signals) for neighbor cells (A-F) of the base station (101). An overlap processor (301) determines a cell overlap indication for each of a set of neighbor cells in response to the receive signal quality indications and a handover control processor (305) performs handover control in response to the cell overlap indications. The invention may allow improved handover performance and may increase the likelihood that the target handover cell can continue to support the user equipment (101) following handover. Particularly advantageous performance can be achieved when used for congestion relief of cells.

Abstract: A communication unit is capable of communicating in a wireless communication network. The communication unit comprises a receiver for receiving timing signals from a plurality of serving wireless communication units; a frequency synchronizing circuit operably coupled to the receiver for synchronizing an operating frequency of the communication unit to a serving wireless communication unit of the plurality of serving wireless communication units Control logic is capable of controlling the frequency synchronizing circuit to adjust an operating frequency of the communication unit. The control logic is arranged to distinguish between macro cell transmissions and femto cell transmissions and in response thereto selectively use or reject timing signals from the plurality of serving wireless communication units in adjusting the operating frequency of the wireless communication unit.

Abstract: Provided are a method and a system for transmitting mobile IP packets without loss. The method includes the steps of storing, by an old radio access station, packets that are not transmitted to a mobile terminal when a handover indication message is received, and creating, by the old radio access station, a tunnel to a new radio access station, and transmitting the stored packets to the new radio access station via the tunnel when a link-layer handover procedure is completed. Thus, upon the handover of the mobile terminal, IP packets directed to the old access control router and the old radio access station are stored in the buffer and then transmitted via the tunnel after the handover, thereby preventing loss of packets during the handover. Thus, yield cannot be degraded upon the handover and seamless network connection service can be provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for a femtocell to reduce interference with an overlapping macrocell. The femtocell determines soft-frequency-reuse (“SFR”) information of the macrocell. From that information, the femtocell determines which frequency sub-channels are assigned by the macrocell for its cell-center users and which frequency sub-channels are assigned for cell-edge users. (Cell-edge users are given a higher transmission power profile in order to overcome potential interference with neighboring macrocells.) Then, the femtocell selects from the cell-center user frequency sub-channels for transmission to the femtocell's users. By transmitting on the cell-center user frequency sub-channels, the femtocell reduces interference with the overlapping macrocell. The femtocell continues to update its knowledge of the macrocell's SFR information and re-assigns frequency sub-channels as the SFR changes.

Abstract: Wireless mobile unit communication initiation is provided in a radio network that has a plurality of base stations, each providing wireless communication services in a respective geographic coverage. The wireless communication is established by first transmitting an omnidirectional sounding pulse from a wireless mobile unit. Information related to the detected sounding pulse is communicated to an interface by each base station detecting the sounding pulse. One of the base stations that detected the sounding pulse is selected for mobile unit communication based on the communicated information and directs a communication beam to the mobile unit to establish wireless communication. Alternatively, one or more of the base stations that detected the sounding pulse direct a communication beam to the mobile unit and the mobile unit selects unit the base station with which it is to establish wireless communication.

Abstract: The network communication system includes a wireless interface to exchange wireless signals during at least one network connection, and a handover controller that uses a route profile identifying access points distributed over a given route or region that are capable of supporting the network connection, and to handover the network connection between access points as the device travels along the given route or through a region according to the route profile.

Abstract: In a method for communication by radio a first network radio station allocates radio resources to a subscriber station and communicates with the subscriber station using a portion of the radio resources. A second network radio station uses another portion of the radio resources to send a signaling signal which is intended exclusively for the subscriber station. The first network radio station and/or the second network radio station receives a message from the subscriber station, acknowledging receipt of the signaling signal. In response to the message from the subscriber station, the communication of the subscriber station is handed over from the first network radio station to the second network radio station.

Abstract: A communication resource allocation method for solving resource request imbalance content in a cell is provided. Considering a propagation environment, the base station allocates a whispering resource to a whispering area, the whispering resource being one part of the communication resource and the whispering area being a peripheral area of the first base station, and allocates a speaking resource to a speaking area, the speaking resource being other parts of the communication resource and the speaking area being a border area of a cell. When the resource request of the whispering area is increased, the base station further allocates a part of the speaking resource to the whispering area or increases a ratio of the whispering resource. When the resource request of the speaking area is increased, the base station controls a threshold value for identifying the whispering and speaking areas or increases a ratio of the speaking resource.

Abstract: An integrated access system of a wireless and wired network is provided. The system includes a basic network and a newly-added network, wherein the newly-added network includes an access processing device combination and a terminal communication device, the access processing device combination combines with a communication device of the basic network, to realize service functions of the newly-added network via information interaction with the terminal communication device.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating home, or other public network access by a wireless device. The access is made in order to access public-network services by the wireless device when connecting to the public network by way of another network. Access availability by way of 802.1x-capable wireless local area networks, if any, is determined. A listing is made of networks through which connections are able to be made. And, if operator policy permits, a public-network access attempter attempts to make communication connections by way of non-802.1x-capable wireless local area networks, if any. Identification is made of network access availability, and such identified network access is displayed to provide a user of the wireless device with an opportunity to select in what manner to connect to the public network.

Abstract: A computer readable medium has machine readable instructions that can include a fingerprint detector to evaluate input data relative to mobility fingerprint data that defines at least one predetermined zone that is a proper subset of overlap in coverage areas between first and second radio technologies to determine whether to trigger a handover between the first and second radio technologies for a mobile unit based on an evaluation of the mobility fingerprint data relative to the input data

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for distributed power control in a network is provided. The method determines a transmit power for a plurality of transmitting nodes such that signals sent from each of the transmitting nodes are received at a receiving node at a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) set point. Additionally, the method increases the SINR at the receiving node of one or more transmitting nodes of the plurality of transmitting nodes, and decreases the SINR at the receiving node of one or more other transmitting nodes of the plurality of transmitting nodes; wherein a total increase in SINR by the one or more transmitting nodes is substantially equal to total decrease in SINR by the one or more other transmitting nodes.

Abstract: A mobile station will sort wireless coverage sectors in order of distance of the sectors from the mobile station, and the mobile station will then scan for pilot signals from the sectors in the sorted order. The invention can be applied advantageously to provide an order of scanning remaining set sectors in a mobile station operating according to a code division multiple access protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for session restoration upon return to EV-DO. In one embodiment, a first radio network controller (RNC) receives from an access terminal a session-establishment request, where the session-establishment request requests establishment of a session for the access terminal. The first RNC determines that the session-establishment request indicates that the access terminal does not currently have a session, and responsively queries a second RNC to determine whether the access terminal currently has a session with the second RNC, which the access terminal does. After querying the second RNC, the first RNC receives session data from the second RNC, where the session data corresponds to the session that the access terminal currently has with the second RNC. The first RNC uses the received session data to set up a session with the first RNC for the access terminal.

Abstract: There is provided a base station control apparatus and a base station control method in which a frame is segmented in a situation in which interference may occur. A BS controller divides and controls a base station into three sectors and controls communications with terminal stations (TSs). A control unit determines whether or not the TS is in at least any of a state in which the TS is interfered within a certain sector by any other sector and a state in which the TS is located in a boundary between a plurality of sectors, and segments a communication frame for a TS which is determined as being in at least any of a state in which the TS is interfered within a certain sector by any other sector and a state in which the TS is located in a boundary between a plurality of sectors.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) radio-frequency (RF) adaptation using stationary transceivers. In an embodiment, an LCIB emits a pilot beacon having an adjustable transmission-power level. The LCIB repeatedly wirelessly sends transmissions for receipt by each transceiver in a set of one or more stationary transceivers while increasing the power level at which the transmissions are sent. The transceivers are arranged to wirelessly send acknowledgements to the LCIB upon successful receipt of the transmissions. The LCIB receives at least one acknowledgement from a subset of the transceivers, and responsively sets the pilot-beacon transmission-power level equal to an operating value, which the LCIB selects based at least in part on a minimum transmission-sending power level needed to receive an acknowledgement from each transceiver in the subset.

Abstract: A signal compression method and apparatus for a base transceiver system (BTS) in a wireless communication network provides efficient transfer of compressed signal samples over serial data links in the system. For the uplink, an RF unit of the BTS compresses signal samples resulting from analog to digital conversion of an analog signal received via an antenna. The RF unit transfers the compressed signal samples over the serial data link to the base station processor where they are decompressed prior to the normal signal processing operations. For the downlink, the base station processor compresses signal samples and transfers the compressed signal samples over the serial data link to the RF unit. The RF unit decompresses the compressed samples and converts the decompressed samples to an analog signal for transmission over an antenna. Compression and decompression can be incorporated into operations of conventional base stations and distributed antenna systems.

Abstract: A method of providing packet data service is based on selectively switching packet data traffic for a mobile station operating in a boundary region between two service areas from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel, or vice versa. For example, a source base station can be configured to switch packet data traffic for a mobile station from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel as it approaches a shared channel service boundary. Additionally, the source base station can be configured to change the packet data service to the mobile station from a dedicated packet data channel to a shared packet data channel, such as when the mobile station moves back into the source base station's service area.

Abstract: The invention relates to cooperation between first and second wireless access networks that can be used to obtain energy reduction for or traffic routing within the overall telecommunications infrastructure while still enabling acceptable network coverage and satisfactory performance by the telecommunications infrastructure as a whole. The cooperation refers to the fact that the wireless access networks provide duplicate coverage in a particular area when both wireless access networks are active, and that traffic can be switched between the cooperating networks in order to temporarily adjust (e.g. switch off) resources of one or the wireless access networks. In this manner, energy reduction and/or traffic routing can be obtained under the constraint that sufficient service coverage and capacity remains at an acceptable quality.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a wireless communication device and method for using the device. The wireless communications device may be used by accessing information in memory, the information relating to a first communications network. The information, along with one or more reference signals from a second communications network, is used to determine whether the wireless communications device is in the vicinity of the first communications network.

Abstract: A cell selection apparatus is used in the environment in which multiple communication systems coexists and at least one of the communication systems use guard intervals inserted in the transmission signal. The apparatus includes delay profile creation means (722) for creating a delay profile from a received radio signal and detecting amplitudes and timing of multipath arriving waves; comparison means (728) for comparing at least one delay quantity of the multipath arriving waves with a guard interval of a signal used in at least one of said multiple communication systems; and determination means (730) for determining a cell provided by one of the communication systems to which a mobile terminal is to be connected based on the comparison result.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for a femtocell to reduce interference with an overlapping macrocell. The femtocell determines soft-frequency-reuse (“SFR”) information of the macrocell. From that information, the femtocell determines which frequency sub-channels are assigned by the macrocell for its cell-center users and which frequency sub-channels are assigned for cell-edge users. (Cell-edge users are given a higher transmission power profile in order to overcome potential interference with neighboring macrocells.) Then, the femtocell selects from the cell-center user frequency sub-channels for transmission to the femtocell's users. By transmitting on the cell-center user frequency sub-channels, the femtocell reduces interference with the overlapping macrocell. The femtocell continues to update its knowledge of the macrocell's SFR information and re-assigns frequency sub-channels as the SFR changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for defining terminal behavior in a case where the terminal detects that it cannot receive the HS-DSCH from a serving cell reliably when the DCCH is mapped to HS-DSCH (e.g. does not receive any radio link control (RLC) acknowledged mode feedback for the uplink measurement reports or in general the common pilot channel (CPICH) level drops too low in the serving HS-DSCH cell). The terminal is autonomously moved to a cell forward access channel (CELL_FACH) state and uplink signaling is initiated on a random access channel (RACH) to inform a network node and ask for HS-DSCH re-establishment in a suitable cell (preferably in the one being strongest one in the active set or according to the measurements done prior the connection from the serving HS-DSCH cell was lost), or setting up a regular R?99/R?5 DPCH in order to restore the RRC signaling connection in the CELL_DCH state.

Abstract: Techniques involving beamforming are disclosed. For example, For instance an apparatus may select a first mobile station served by a first base station and a second mobile station served by a second base station. Based on this selection, a quality metric may be determined that is based on a strength of a user link and a strength of an interfering link. The user link is associated with service of the first mobile station and the interfering link is associated with service of the second mobile station. When the quality metric is greater than a predetermined threshold, the apparatus may designate the first and second mobile stations as suitable for beamforming service in a same resource allocation. Also, techniques are disclosed for determining whether a mobile station is a cell edge mobile station.

Abstract: A method for providing mobility control information to a communications device includes determining, for a transceiver device of a communication system, mobility control information of at least one further transceiver device and broadcasting system information from the transceiver device on a basic broadcast control channel, wherein the system information comprises the mobility control information of the at least one further transceiver device.

Abstract: A method and system supporting handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning is disclosed. A mobile multimedia handset may engage in the exchange of a multimedia information stream via a first wireless network, and may sniff a portion of radio frequency spectrum for a second wireless network. Information about available services and network quality of service for the second network may be received by querying the second wireless network or from advertising by the second wireless network. Hand-off between the two networks may be based upon the results of the comparison and one or more user-defined criteria, and the handoff may be synchronized according to predefined events in the stream of multimedia information.

Abstract: A device includes a first wireless transceiver initiating a communication session; and a second wireless transceiver. The device shifts the communication session to the second wireless transceiver if a signal strength of the first wireless transceiver is below a predetermined level and the signal strength is not expected to increase above the predetermined level.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques and technologies for providing mobile wireless broadband coverage. In one implementation, Wireless Wide Area Broadband (WWAB) network elements are provided in a Vehicular Area Network (VAN) that also includes a Mobile Network Controller (MNC). The WWAB network elements in the VAN include at least one WWAB base station (BS). A mobility protocol tunnel is provided between a Mobility Management Server (MMS) and the MNC to make mobility of the WWAB network elements in the VAN transparent to the WWAB network elements in the fixed infrastructure. The WWAB BS and the MNC can allow a WWAB-enabled mobile station (MS) to connect to WWAB network elements in the fixed infrastructure.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling cell reselection on a computing device are disclosed. The method comprises detecting the mobile device operating under a potential over-shuttling reselection condition, and making a determination as to whether the mobile computing device operation is operating under the over-shuttling reselection condition based on pre-determined criteria.

Abstract: In methods and systems for adjusting forward link transmit power of wireless coverage areas, forward link signal strength is observed to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and/or an observed frame error rate (FER) for the received signal. A determination is made whether to request a forward link power adjustment. If the determination is that a forward link power adjustment is required, a request may be made into a radio access network (RAN) to adjust power. The RAN may select a subset of wireless coverage areas in which to adjust power. If further power adjustment is required, a further request may be made into the RAN, and the RAN may select a different subset of wireless coverage areas in which to adjust power.

Abstract: A method to facilitate handover includes detecting that a mobile unit resides within at least one predetermined zone where a handover event from a first radio technology to a second radio technology may need to occur, the second radio technology being different from the first radio technology.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the optimization of relay station handovers and location update in a wireless network. According to an example embodiment, a request to handover a plurality of mobile stations from a first base station to a second base station may be sent. An identifier associated with the second base station for each of the plurality of mobile stations may be received. In another example embodiment, each of the identifiers is forwarded to the mobile station corresponding to the connection identifier. In another example embodiment, a location update may be performed by sending a message to a network device, such as a target base station, to provide location update information for a plurality of mobile stations. In this manner, one message may be transmitted over a wireless link to facilitate a handover or location update for a plurality of mobile stations.

Abstract: A method and system for interworking between cellular networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs) are disclosed. At least one cellular network, at least one WLAN and an IP network are deployed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) first establishes a connection to a WLAN and a tunnel between an access point (AP) and a packet data gateway (PDG) is established. The PDG further establishes a tunnel to an IP network. The WTRU then invokes a service which is delivered through the WLAN. As signal quality from the AP degrades below a predetermined threshold, a handover from the WLAN to the cellular network is performed. A new connection to the cellular network may be established either before or after breaking the current connection to the WLAN or the two connections may be maintained simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a distributed wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, at least one information processor is coupled to and accessible over a communication network, such as the internet. Network bandwidth is provided to a first user of at least two end users for a first fee and to a second user of the at least two end users for a second fee. The bandwidth is provided by at least one network service provider. Further, at least two wireless gateway devices are each respectively operated by the end users, and the wireless gateway devices are configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a transmission range and to communicate with the at one least information processor. Also, at least two wireless receiving devices are provided that are operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range.

Abstract: A method for controlling a handoff in an optical distributed network system using MIMO (multi input multi output) is disclosed. The method includes steps of classifying a channel into a first channel and a second channel, and setting an active cell, receiving and measuring a signal strength of a predetermined cell, and determining on/off of the predetermined cell, when the predetermined cell turns on, releasing the first channel of the active cell, switching a path to a first channel of the predetermined cell, and keeping the second channel of the active cell, receiving and measuring a signal strength of the active cell, and when the measured signal strength is a preset critical value or less, turning off the active cell and when the active cell turns off, releasing the second channel of the active cell, and switching the path to a second channel of the predetermined cell.

Abstract: An adaptive handover method in a heterogeneous network environment collects estimation information for a channel environment and integrates with a wireless device's geographic information to decide two groups of recursive parameters and a channel theoretical signal model. The model and the first group of recursive parameters are used to execute recursive iteration for a signal strength decay theoretical value. The obtained actual signal strength decay value from channel estimation, the second group of recursive parameters and the signal strength decay estimation value at previous iteration are used to execute channel-tracking recursive iteration for obtaining a signal strength decay tracking value. The current network status and the signal strength decay tracking value are used to predict and analyze system performance of heterogeneous networks. A decision is made based on each heterogeneous network's analyzed result, and an adaptive handover procedure is prepared by following the decision.

Abstract: A method for mobile communication handover and a system and a base station thereof are disclosed in the embodiments of present invention, wherein the method includes steps: on the basis of first link which only bears DCH service and has already existed, adding a second link bearing DCH and E-DCH services and a third link bearing any service; making softer combining for the DCH service of the first link and the second link; in the case of failing to add the third link, informing radio network controller by carrying the DCH softer combining information and E-DCH service addition information which are not in a same diversity indication choice field in link addition failure message. The embodiment of present invention could enhance the successful ratio of communication handover, and maintain communication continuously.

Abstract: A cell reselection method in a wireless communication system is described. A method of performing cell reselection based on priorities by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system includes selecting one or more candidate cells satisfying a first criterion associated with priorities among a serving cell and neighbor cells, and camping on a cell satisfying a second criterion for cell reselection among the one or more candidate cells.

Abstract: A method of providing a handover service to a mobile communication terminal supporting multi-modal communications, and a mobile communication terminal for performing the method are provided. More particularly, a method of eliminating an interruption of a data transmission service occurring during a handover between different communication networks, and a terminal for performing the method are provided. A method of providing a handover service of a mobile communication terminal supporting multi-modal communications can include: transmitting and receiving data to/from a corresponding node via a first access network and a second access network while simultaneously maintaining an association with the first access network and the second access network, determining a point in time of completing a handover registration, and releasing an association with the first access network after the point in time of completing the handover registration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communications system including a plurality of base station apparatuses which are located at geographically dispersed locations and perform a wireless communication with a mobile device. The system further includes a maximum ratio combining unit which performs maximum ratio combining processing regarding a signal the base station apparatuses receive from the mobile device, and a selection combining unit which performs selection combining processing regarding the signal from the mobile device. A selection unit included in the system selects one or both of the maximum ratio combining unit and the selection combining unit according to at least one of an external factor and a change of a distribution state of the mobile device under communication.

Abstract: A channel search method for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is provided, the channel search method including: collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a wireless local area network (WLAN) service via a channel connection with a WLAN node; and determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information. A channel search system for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is also provided, the channel search system including: a channel information collection unit for collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a WLAN service via a channel connection with a WLAN node and a search order determination unit for determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information.

Abstract: A system for communicating with wireless devices. The systems includes radio groups whose MIMO physical sectors overlap. The MIMO physical sectors communicate using different channels. The MIMO physical sectors overlap to form an area of overlap. Each radio group includes directional antennas and radios. Radios are selectively coupled to the antennas. The antennas that are oriented so that the physical sectors of the antennas overlap to operate as MIMO antennas and form the MIMO physical sector for the radio group. The antennas operate as a MIMO antenna.

Abstract: In a radio access network (24) a femto radio base station (28f) comprises a resident receiver (54) which acquires system information broadcast in a radio access network (24). At least part of the system information is used for building, at the femto radio base station (28f), a neighbor data structure (59) comprising information for neighboring cells. The neighbor data structure (59) is then used for building a neighbor list. The neighbor list is subsequently transmitted from the femto radio base station (28f) to a user equipment unit (30) served by the femto radio base station (28f). In some example embodiments and modes, the femto radio base station (28f) reports the neighbor data structure to a network node (26, 100) other than the femto radio base station. The other node (26, 100) uses the neighbor data structure for building the neighbor list at the other node.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for permitting a mobile terminal having multiple, heterogeneous network connections (e.g., multiple wired or wireless transceivers of various types) to set up and maintain virtual connections over multiple networks to either the same or to multiple destinations. The mobile terminal can “load-share” traffic, i.e., it can distribute segments of traffic over a full set of heterogeneous networks, significantly improving the reliability and availability of communications. In a first embodiment, a mobile terminal is configured with multiple radio frequency (RF) transceivers. Operating system software is provided for dynamically establishing and maintaining traffic flow for user applications over multiple communications paths, and for automatically adapting to variations in the networking environment, application traffic flow requirements, end user preferences, or mobility.

Abstract: In a communications network having a plurality of nodes, a method of suppressing re-transmission of a message by a receiving node is disclosed. The receiving node receives a message from each of a plurality of transmitting nodes. Each of the receiving node and the transmitting nodes has a coverage area bounded by a perimeter. For each of the plurality of transmitting nodes, it is determined which portion of the perimeter of the coverage area of the receiving node is within the coverage area of the respective transmitting node. Re-transmission of the message by the receiving node is suppressed when the perimeter of the coverage area of the receiving node is completely within the combined coverage areas of the plurality of transmitting nodes.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing slot wastage by overlapping HARQ regions in a communication system. A control region allocation (CRA) utility defines a group of HARQ regions for transmission of control data. A HARQ region definition includes a starting symbol and a starting sub-channel number for the HARQ region, a number of symbols and a number of sub-channels to define the dimensions of the region and the slot duration for each sub-burst in a sequence of allocated sub-bursts. The CRA utility overlaps one HARQ region with the other to minimize slot wastage. The slots that carry data in one HARQ region overlap un-used slots in another HARQ region or are overlapped with a dummy allocation in the other HARQ region. Since mobile stations do not carry data for the slots with a dummy allocation, the overlap of HARQ regions avoids conflict with the HARQ operation.

Abstract: According to the invention, a reduced set of transport format combinations is signalled to a subscriber station which has established a link to a second radio communication system in a second signalling channel of said second radio communication system. The transport format indicator is then selected from the reduced set of transport format combinations and used to initiate a link transfer to the first signalling channel of a first radio communication system. A full set of transport format combinations is subsequently signalled to the subscriber station in the first signalling channel.