Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server receives a request to initiate a group communication session (GCS) over a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) with a communication group. The application server obtains location information of a set of devices participating in the GCS and determines that the GCS can be supported between the set of devices via a Personal Area Network (PAN), after which the application server transitions support for the GCS from the WWAN to the PAN. In another embodiment, an originator begins a periodic broadcast of a local PAN signal announcing the GCS after failing to set-up the GCS via the WWAN. Target device(s) in the communication group receive the local PAN signal, determine not to transmit their own local PAN signal and then convey a session acceptance message to the originator. The GCS is then established between the target device(s) and the originator over the PAN.

Abstract: A communication method of a macro base station serving a target mobile terminal in a macrocell including a picocell includes receiving information about an uplink interference of a pico base station in the picocell from the pico base station, and determining whether to perform a handover of the target mobile terminal to the pico base station based on an uplink interference of the macro base station and an uplink interference of the pico base station.

Abstract: A technique is provided for determining a location of a mobile device configured to a femtocell network. The technique includes a cluster of femtocell devices. Each of the femtocell devices is coupled to a macro network. The technique includes determining a position of mobile device coupled to a femtocell by transferring a request query to a switching device. The femtocell has been registered with the switching device.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an apparatus for reducing break duration in handover of a VoIP conversation from a packet switch domain to a circuit switch domain. The main idea is that a synchronization mechanism is introduced between the session handover procedure at IP multimedia subsystem IMS layer and a cell handover procedure at layer 2, so that enable the two handover procedures to start at or almost at the same time. When a Mobile Switching Center MSC server receives a request of handover from the source Mobility Management Entity MME, the time required from the time the MSC server transmitting a message to this message arriving at a remote end user equipment UE is computed first, and then is compared with a predetermined time required from the time the MSC server transmitting a message to this message arriving at the local UE.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of beacon synchronization for base stations, which comprises the following steps: receiving or transmitting a beacon by a first base station or a second base station; scanning at least one channel by the second base station to search for a channel of the first base station; calculating a time difference between the beacon sent by the first base station and the beacon sent by the second base station; and adjusting a time of transmitting the beacon sent by the second base station to synchronize the beacon sent by the second base station with the beacon sent by the first base station. Wherein, a wireless signal of the second base station is interfered by the first base station.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). A mobility server facilitates call handoffs for the multi-mode mobile station, from the WLAN to the WWAN and vice versa. The mobility server maintains an activity log for the multi-mode mobile station. When the multi-mode mobile station becomes involved in a call, the mobility server stores call information regarding the call in the activity log. During the call, the multi-mode mobile station transmits a handoff request. In response to the handoff request, the mobility server controls establishment of a bearer path for call handoff between the WLAN and the WWAN, based on the call information contained in the activity log.

Abstract: A cellular telephone device includes: a synchronization unit that establishes synchronization with a base station of a CDMA system beforehand to obtain synchronization information for establishing synchronization with the base station; a storage unit that stores the synchronization information; and a switching unit that establishes synchronization with a base station in a calling zone of the CDMA system corresponding to a calling zone of an LTE system based on the synchronization information, in a case in which a communication request occurs in the CDMA system in a state where a location registration is performed in the LTE system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for refinement of femtocell coverage area information in a wireless communication system, particularly in context of a femto-proxy architecture. Zones may be defined within a femtocell coverage area using beacon sources, and a zone map of zone signatures may be defined for each zone of the femtocell coverage area, according to macro signatures detected in those zones. The zone map can be used, by access terminals, the femto-proxy system, and/or the macro network, to provide functionality, including reduced power level femtocell discovery and association, enhanced network planning, improved femtocell troubleshooting, etc.

Abstract: A method for operating a femtocell in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: triggering the switching from the operation mode for providing a service to closed subscriber group (CSG) terminals which belong to a specific terminal group and to non-CSG terminals which do not belong to the specific terminal group, to the operation mode for providing the service only to said CSG terminals; and commanding said non-CSG terminals to change the operation mode, and carrying out a handover. The method of the present invention improves efficiency of femtocell operation, and reduces restrictions on terminals disposed in the vicinity of the femtocell. The method of the present invention can utilize the unused frequency range of the femtocell, thereby providing a service with a high data ratio.

Abstract: A notification unit conveys a transmit timing of a signal to a target radio apparatus. A receiver receives the signal transmitted from the target radio apparatus with a neighborhood of the transmit timing conveyed. A demodulation unit derives a difference between the receive timing and an estimated timing. A determining unit determines a new transmit timing for the target radio apparatus, based on the difference and outputs the new transmit timing determined to the notification unit. When a state in which the receive timing lags the estimated receive timing occurs more than a predetermined frequency, the determining unit instructs the target radio apparatus to start a handover.

Abstract: A femtocell basestation selects its carrier frequency by detecting a carrier used by at least one other basestation in its network, and selecting its own carrier frequency such that it partially overlaps with the detected carrier. The downlink power of the femtocell basestation is set based on the degree of overlap between the selected carrier and the detected carrier, so that a user equipment having a connection to the other basestation is forced to search for the selected carrier.

Abstract: A user equipment and cell search method for the same are disclosed. The user equipment supports two or more frequency bands. The cell search method for the user equipment includes: receiving intersection data through a first frequency band; and skipping, when the received intersection data is set to a search skip value, cell searching in a second frequency band.

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes a mobile station device and a base station device. The base station device includes a cell identification information transmission unit which transmits cell identification information of base station devices transmitting radio signals of the same synchronization channel, to the mobile station device when there are at least two base station devices transmitting radio signals of the same synchronization channel within a predetermined communication area. The mobile station device includes a measurement result transmission unit which performs a measurement process based on the cell identification information of the base station devices and transmits the measurement result acquired by the measurement process to the base station device.

Abstract: A wireless communication method, apparatus, and system for simultaneous communication of a wide area network with a wireless local area network. The system having the wide area network configured to transmit control signals, the wireless local area network configured to transmit data signals, and a mobile station configured to receive control signals from the wide area network and data signals from the wireless local area network.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to maintain a plurality of connections to a plurality of wireless networks simultaneously using one radio. For instance, a device can partition in time, or “time-slice”, when it transmits and receives data such that a device can maintain a plurality of connections with a plurality of networks concurrently. With the plurality of connections, the device can receive multiple copies of data. In some embodiments, a device can compare multiple copies of data and determine which copy of data is a best representation. Once a best representation has been determined, it can be selected for further usage.

Abstract: In one aspect, an exemplary method involves a WCD: (i) determining a likelihood of roaming, wherein the likelihood of roaming indicates a likelihood that the WCD will be handed off from a preferred coverage area to a non-preferred coverage area; and (ii) using the likelihood of roaming as a basis for managing an active set of the WCD. In particular, the WCD may manage its active set by setting at least one active-set parameter affecting the number of active sectors in an active set of the WCD, and then maintaining its active set according to the setting of the at least one active-set parameter. According to an exemplary embodiment, a WCD will make an effort to increase the number of sectors in its active set when the likelihood of roaming is greater, and vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a RN node of a communications system operating on multiple carrier frequencies. The RN node hosts a first cell operating on a first carrier frequency and a second cell overlapping with the first cell and operating on a second carrier frequency. The method comprises broadcasting (501) information comprising a cell reselection priority for each of the first and the second carrier frequency in the first cell, where the priority of the first carrier frequency is the highest. The method also comprises broadcasting (502) information comprising a cell reselection priority for each of the first and the second carrier frequency in the second cell, where the cell reselection priority of the second carrier frequency is the highest. Thereby a UE will primarily perform intra-frequency cell reselection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for performing switching between a macro evolved Node B (eNB) and a home eNB (HeNB) in a mobile communication system including broadcasting, by the HeNB, a length of an HeNB ID to a UE; notifying, by the UE, an HeNB indication information containing the length of the HeNB ID to the macro eNB; transmitting, by the macro eNB, a switching request message to a mobile station mobility management entity, the message including a target ID; finding, by the MME, the HeNB or an HeNB gateway according to the target ID, and performing a switching process from the macro eNB to the HeNB. With the described switching method for the mobile communication system, UE can move between the macro eNB and the HeNB.

Abstract: Wireless network system including a plurality of base stations each configured to manage active links to mobile stations within a range; and a controller configured to control the base stations to provide at least two of the active links from two different base stations simultaneously to a given mobile station in integral manner for joint processing.

Abstract: An access terminal establishes a session with a first radio access network (RAN). As a result, the access terminal receives a Unicast Access Terminal Identifier (UATI) assigned by the first RAN and establishes configuration settings for radio communications between the access terminal and the first RAN. The access terminal moves from the first RAN to a second RAN. Before the access terminal has a session established with the second RAN, the access terminal receives a request from a user to originate a call. In response, the access terminal sends the second RAN a connection request that includes the UATI assigned by the first RAN. The second RAN evaluates the UATI included in the connection request and determines that it was previously assigned to the access terminal by another RAN. Based on this determination, the second RAN grants the connection request by assigning a traffic channel to the access terminal.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods to schedule a service period at a wireless network. A wireless network controller of the wireless network may set a start time of a service period. The start time is no less than a predefined time after transmitting by the wireless network controller an information element containing the service period scheduling information.

Abstract: Various techniques for handing over a wireless terminal from a serving node to a target node in a radio access network is disclosed. transferring a session in a cluster are disclosed. These techniques include exchanging messages between a wireless terminal and with a serving node to support a handover to a target node. Each of the messages includes an identifier. The wireless terminal is configured to determine whether it has received any stale messages from the target node following handover based on one or more of the identifiers.

Abstract: A base station may decide to initiate a handover of a communication with a mobile station from a first wireless link to a new wireless link and identify one or more wireless links for the handover. For each identified wireless link, the base station may then determine a channel-quality metric, a wireless-link loading metric, and perhaps a coverage-area loading metric. In turn, the base station may then select the new wireless link based on the channel-quality metric and one or both of the wireless-link loading metric and the coverage-area loading metric. For example, the base station may apply a linear function that includes as variables the channel-quality metric and the wireless-link loading metric, and the base station may select the identified wireless link that best satisfies this function. The base station may then facilitate the handover of the communication from the first wireless link to the selected new wireless link.

Abstract: Two preamble partition schemes are provided for flexible network deployment and efficient utilization of limited cell identification resources in a wireless network. In a soft partition scheme, the entire preamble sequences are partitioned into several configurable non-overlapping subsets, and each subset is associated with a corresponding cell type. In a hybrid partition scheme, a combination of fixed and configurable subsets is used for preamble partition. The partitioning information is carried in a broadcasting channel broadcasted from base stations to mobile stations. In one embodiment, after a mobile station performs scanning and synchronization with a first base station, it derives the cell type of the first base station from cell identification and partitioning information. The mobile station completes ranging and network entry with the first base station if the cell type is preferred, and starts to perform scanning and synchronization with a second base station if the cell type is non-preferred.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a user equipment for cell selection of a heterogeneous network. The UE selects, a cell with a highest signal measurement value in a carrier frequency synchronizes to the cell, and receives broadcast information of the cell. If the cell is a macro cell, the broadcast information carries an extended indicator bit and the extended indicator bit is used to identify whether a low-power cell exists in the coverage of the macro cell. If the extended indicator bit identifies that the low-power cell exists in the coverage of the macro cell, the low-power cell in the macro cell is searched for, and if a low-power cell in the macro cell satisfies an S rule, the UE selects the lower-power cell as a serving cell and camps.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating a handoff to a target sector that is not in the neighbor list of a mobile station's current source sector. In at least one embodiment, a mobile station detects (i) that a target sector is a handoff candidate and (ii) that the target sector is not listed in a neighbor list of a source sector; requests to be served by the target sector at least in part by sending an access probe to the target sector; and transitions from engaging in an active communication session via a communication path not including the target sector to doing so via a communication path that does include the target sector. The access probe may include an indication that the mobile station is in an active state. In at least one embodiment, at least one network entity may carry out the one or more network-side aspects that may facilitate the above-described method.

Abstract: A method for forwarding data during cell handover includes: forwarding, by a source base station, user plane data of Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, data units that have not been transmitted to a User Equipment, UE, to a target base station in a PDCP layer during cell handover. In addition, embodiments of the present invention further provide a system and devices for forwarding data during cell handover. In the method, a system and base stations are provided by the present invention, the data that have not been transmitted are forwarded in a layered manner respectively in at least one of the PDCP layer and RLC layer. Therefore, data transmission during cell handover is implemented and data loss due to the handover is avoided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radio communication device may be provided. The radio communication device may include a first receiver configured to receive from a first cell first data representing a content encoded using a first codec; a second receiver configured to receive from a second cell second data representing the content encoded using a second codec; and a combiner configured to combine the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. An automated private service activation (APSA) port is used for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. The APSA port provides an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints. In addition the APSA port provides space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of balancing traffic load in a wireless communication network include calculating a load metric for each of a plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of users, in operation, are in communication with a first base station using an overloaded carrier associated with the first base station. Such load metric for each user may include a plurality of metric factors related at least to an associated communication link. Based on the calculated load metric, a transfer-deserving user from the plurality of users may be determined. The transfer-deserving user may be associated with a highest value of an associated calculated load metric. For load balancing at the first base station, the associated communication link of the transfer-deserving user may be transferred from the overloaded carrier to a target carrier, wherein the target carrier may be associated with either the first base station or a second base station.

Abstract: A device receives a request for a service for a user equipment associated with a source radio access network, and establishes a connection with the user equipment via a circuit switched fallback procedure. The device also receives, from the source radio access network, information associated with one or more source cells, and provides the service to the user equipment through a target radio access network. The device further uses the information to select one of the one or more source cells for the user equipment to return after the service terminates, terminates the service, and returns the user equipment to the selected source cell.

Abstract: A positioning system (e.g., GPS) integrated in, or coupled to, a mobile device determines the position of the mobile device. An availability status manager (ASM) in a vPBX acquires the position of the mobile device. The ASM can contain rules on how to route or otherwise control incoming phone calls based on availability status of one or more mobile devices in the vPBX network. When a call is received by the vPBX, the ASM determines the availability status of the receiving mobile device based on the geographic location of the receiving mobile device. The ASM then routes the call to the receiving mobile device, to another mobile device, or to a landline based on the availability status of the receiving mobile device and the availability status based rules.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for controlling user equipment's residing in a cell. With the embodiments, a base station of a virtual cell transmits a signal including common channel information, a frequency of the signal of the virtual cell is the same as a frequency of a signal transmitted by a base station of a source cell, the common channel information includes a pilot, a location area code and an inter-frequency reselection threshold, or includes a pilot and a location area code, and the content of the common channel information guides user equipment to reside in a target cell through reselection or through location update. Moreover, according to the embodiments, the co-channel interference caused by the signal onto the source cell is small, and the interference onto normal services of the source cell is reduced. Massive configuration in the source cell is also avoided.

Abstract: A mobile station requests origination of a call and reports signal strength measurements of pilot signals from multiple sectors, where some of the sectors support a preferred air interface configuration (such as RC 11) and some do not. The signal strength measurements may be evaluated to determine which sectors to use for the call and whether to use RC 11 or a default air interface configuration (such as RC 3 or RC 4) for the call. Sectors that support the preferred air interface configuration may be evaluated using a first threshold, and sectors that do not support the preferred air interface configuration may be evaluated using a second threshold. The first threshold can be greater than the second threshold, in order to favor the use of sectors that support the preferred air interface configuration over sectors that do not.

Abstract: A media access gateway includes a wireless network interface, a tunneling module, a proxy mobility agent module, and an address assignment module. The wireless network interface establishes a link with a wireless terminal. The tunneling module establishes tunnels with first and second local mobility anchors, associated with first and second packet data networks, respectively. The proxy mobility agent module stores a mapping of assigned addresses to local mobility anchor identifiers. The proxy mobility agent selects a first or second local mobility anchor in response to the mapping and a source address of the wireless terminal, and the tunneling module tunnels the packet to the selected local mobility anchor. The address assignment module transmits an address assignment message, which includes the first assigned address and a prefix usage indicator, to the wireless terminal. The first assigned address includes a network-based or client-based mobility address according to the prefix usage indicator.

Abstract: Node, computer software and method for preventing an external party (114) to map an identity of a network cell (122) of a telecommunication network (112 or 120) with a corresponding geographical location of the network cell (122). The method includes receiving at a base station (200) of the telecommunication network (112 or 120) system information from a radio network controller (203) of the telecommunication network (112 or 120); extracting, at the base station (200), the identity of the network cell (122) from the received system information; changing, at the base station (200), the identity or one of multiple parts of the identity of the network cell (122); and sending the changed identity or the one of multiple parts of the identity to a user terminal (80).

Abstract: A method and system for processing failure of a handover to a CSG cell are provided, which are used to solve the technical problem of the interface signaling consumption and network performance degradation caused by the handover of a UE to a non-member CSG cell. When the UE is not an authorized subscriber of a target CSG cell, a core network notifies a source NodeB of the non-member failure information, thereby enforcing the UE to update an allowed CSG list to prevent the source NodeB or a source Radio Network Controller (RNC) or a source HNB from sending a handover required signaling to identical target cells, or prevents the UE from sending a handover request to identical target cells frequently by setting a delay timer, or the source NodeB or the source RNC or the source home NodeB prevents the UE from handing over to a neighboring CSG cell with identical CSG Identity (ID) under the condition of being able to acquire the CSG ID of the target CSG cell.

Abstract: Provided is a base station for operating a Cooperative Multi-Points Transmission and Reception (CoMP). A base station of a serving cell may perform scheduling according to an Inter-cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) scheme from a point in time when a service is provided to a user equipment (UE). When a Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) coordination is required, the base station of the serving cell may perform the PMI coordination in interoperation with a neighboring cell. In addition, when a status of the UE satisfies a particular condition, the base station of the serving cell may perform the aforementioned ICIC scheme and the PMI coordination. Also, the base station of the serving cell may perform the aforementioned ICIC scheme and the PMI coordination together.

Abstract: Providing an inter-femto Base Station (fBS) network to facilitate low interference, low power cellular access utilizing two or more fBSs is provided herein. For example, a group of fBSs can be inter-connected by a wired and/or wireless communication network. Multiple fBSs then can link with a mobile device and coordinate cellular traffic amongst the fBS network to facilitate hand-off related communication. Additionally, cellular traffic can be forwarded from one or more fBSs to an appropriate fBS designated to carry cellular traffic for each mobile device. Furthermore, by inter-connecting multiple fBSs, multi-base station cellular-type hand-off can be supported by the fBS network, while preserving predetermined cellular interface constraints associated with such mobile devices.

Abstract: A method of handling minimization of drive tests, hereafter called MDT, for a mobile device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a MDT measurement configuration from a first RAT, starting a timer for a MDT measurement logging corresponding to a timer value in the MDT measurement configuration, and keeping the timer running when the mobile device performs an inter-RAT procedure to move from the first RAT to a second RAT.

Abstract: An algorithm which considers the individual power consumption profiles for different types of base stations in a heterogeneous cellular network, and determines which base stations can be switched OFF in line with the traffic demand. The algorithm predicts (302) a spatially-accurate network load; calculates (304) the best serving BS for each load region; investigates (308-318) toads on Pico cells with respect to a threshold, and ranks (320) candidate Pico cells to be switched OFF in order of least power efficiency and most resource efficiency. Pico cells determined to remain on are fully loaded (322) allowing more candidates to be switched OFF (324). The algorithm optimizes the energy efficiency of the heterogeneous, cellular network, enabling the activation of the minimum number of base stations to support the predicted traffic demand for a given time period and allowing significant energy savings for the operator.

Abstract: A method for receiving data, including receiving a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Packet from a lower layer, checking all stored PDCP Packets with having a Sequence Number (SN) lower than the SN of the received PDCP Packet and all stored PDCP Packets with SN(s) sequentially increasing one by one starting from the SN of the received PDCP Packet, and delivering said all stored PDCP Packets to an upper layer. By this method, the communication efficiency in a handover is improved.

Abstract: A method used in a receiver includes measuring first Received Signal Strength Indications (RSSIs) in respective first communication channels, which are located in a given frequency band and which each have a first channel bandwidth. Based on the first RSSIs, second RSSIs are computed for respective second communication channels, which are located in the given frequency band and which each have a second channel bandwidth that is larger than the first channel bandwidth. At least one of the first and second communication channels over which to receive signals at the receiver are selected using the first and second RSSIs.

Abstract: Using client-server session parallelism (CSSP), a client device establishes multiple network communication sessions with different remote servers and requests the same unsegmented data item from each server. Whichever copy of the unsegmented data item is received earliest at the client device is provided to an application. The CSSP software may be part of a network stack, or it may be part of a particular application such as a browser or a media player. The servers are not necessarily CSSP-aware, but when they are, sessions may be load-balanced. CSSP sessions may also be transferred to other CSSP-aware servers in view of server loads, imminent server reboots, or other events. A CSSP client may notify a CSSP server of status information describing session(s) established at the client with other server(s), allowing the server to reallocate bandwidth to other clients when the CSSP client has sufficient alternate data sources.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to handover for user equipment between femtocell base stations having different closed subscriber group (CSG) identifiers. A method may be provided for allowing handover of user equipment between base stations belonging to different organizations. The method may include collecting, by a first base station, information corresponding to identifiers of neighbor base stations, selecting handover-allowable base stations from the neighbor base stations having an organization identifier different from that of the first base station, and enabling handover for the user equipment from the first base station to a second base station based on the selected handover-allowable base stations for a handover request of the user equipment from the first base station to the second base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system delivering neighbor information (NBR-INF) and a base station and a wireless communication device thereof are proposed. The wireless communication system includes at least a mobile station and a base station. The base station decides delivering the NBR-INF triggered by events, determines type of the NBR-INF to be delivered and determines a delivery rule of the NBR-INF to be delivered. The mobile station, wirelessly connected to the at least a base station, receives the NBR-INF delivered from the at least a base station, and decides to completely renew or partially update its own neighbor information contents.

Abstract: In a handover control method of a mobile station device, it is determined that whether or not the mobile station device is within the CSG cell. In addition, it is determined that whether or not the CSG cell is an HPLMN, in case that it is determined that the mobile station device is within the CSG cell. In addition, a neighboring cell measurement is executed and handover is performed, in case that it is determined that the CSG cell is the HPLMN, and in case that the mobile station device is set to measure the neighboring cell. In addition, the neighboring cell is not measured, in case that it is determined that the CSG cell is not the HPLMN, and even in case that the mobile station device is set to measure the neighboring cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing macro-femto bas station interference are disclosed. In one aspect, macro-femto interference is reduced by configuring t macro bases station to avoid using resources allocat to the femto base station.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer program product for configuring remote antenna units with communication properties in a radio access communication system employing a distributed antenna system (DAS) are provided. The method including configuring each of the one or more remote antenna units with remote-antenna-unit-specific communication properties dynamically during communication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a wireless expansion network. In an aspect, an apparatus includes an expansion circuit configured to identify at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink (DL) channel that are provided by one of a primary network and an expansion network, and a processing circuit configured to switch to the at least one of the selected UL and DL channels. An apparatus includes means for obtaining link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network, means for identifying clients that are assigned transmission channels on both the primary network and the expansion network based on the link parameters, and means for transmitting messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission channels.