Abstract: Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth and frequencies among different beams. Bandwidth request data may be received and compiled from the terminals. The satellite may be configured with different beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the requests. In each of a series of one or more epochs, and according to the bandwidth requests, there may be allocations among carrier groups, traffic classes, and particular terminals. The setup of slot structure and selection of modes for particular terminals is also addressed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing dispatch call features are provided. The dispatch call features include the ability to maintain multiple simultaneous dispatch calls and the ability to manage multiple dispatch stations. The maintenance of multiple simultaneous dispatch calls feature allows a dispatch station to place a current dispatch call on-hold to either initiate a new dispatch call or to accept an incoming dispatch call. The management of multiple dispatch stations feature allows a number of dispatch stations to be associated with one or more dispatch station identifiers. When a dispatch call is made to one of the dispatch station identifiers, all associated dispatch stations are paged. The first dispatch station to respond to the page is connected to the incoming dispatch call.

Abstract: A method for searching for a base station using paging procedure in a mobile communication network has a paging agent that performs the paging procedure. The method includes: receiving, at the paging agent, subscriber information including information of a service, to which a mobile node subscribed, from a home location register while performing a location registration procedure in response to a location registration request from the mobile node; setting an available scan time based on the time required to perform the paging procedure; generating a paging request message including the available scan time and the subscriber information to send the paging request message to a base station required for paging; and generating base station information based on the subscriber information to input into the paging request message to transmit with the available scan time to the mobile node.

Abstract: A method of determining a network parameter in a telecommunication system is disclosed. The system has a coverage area including at least two sub-areas, and also includes a User Equipment (UE) being in idle mode and being registered in at least two of these sub-areas. According to the present disclosure, a network node in the system receives from the UE a time information relating to the time periods the UE has been present in each of the at least two sub-areas it is registered in, respectively, and then this time information is utilized to determine a network parameter in the system.

Abstract: A wireless communication device of the present invention receives a signal on a channel that another wireless communication device allocates to the wireless communication device from a plurality of channels. The wireless communication device includes: an update channel selector that selects a plurality of request channels that are candidates to be allocated to the wireless communication device from the channels, calculates a difference between a group of the request channels and a group of predetermined channels, and generates difference information indicative of the difference; and a multiplexer that multiplexes the difference information to a signal to be transmitted to the other wireless communication device.

Abstract: Base station apparatus (1) is provided for improving bandwidth usage in a cellular communication network serving at least one mobile terminal. The network is capable of supporting at least a first radio access technology (i.e. GSM) and a second radio access technology (LTE) and uses a predefined bandwidth range. The apparatus comprises a base band unit (3) including a counting means for determining the number of mobile terminals within a cell of the first radio access technology supporting the second radio access technology and a measuring means for determining the level of traffic carried by the first radio access technology cell; and a bandwidth assignment means for dynamically assigning a first portion of the bandwidth range to the first radio access technology and a second portion of the bandwidth range to the second radio access technology on the basis of the number of supportive mobile terminals and the level of first radio access technology traffic.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for uplink transmission using multiple antennas are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) performs space time transmit diversity (STTD) encoding on an input stream of a physical channel configured for STTD. Each physical channel may be mapped to either an in-phase (I) branch or a quadrature-phase (Q) branch. The WTRU may perform the STTD encoding either in a binary domain or in a complex domain. Additionally, the WTRU may perform pre-coding on at least one physical channel including the E-DPDCH with the pre-coding weights, and transmitting the pre-coded output streams via a plurality of antennas. The pre-coding may be performed either after or before spreading operation.

Abstract: Provided are an RFID operating system and an RFID system operating method for allowing multiple RFID readers to read tags without collision. The RFID system operating method includes the steps of grouping RFID readers spaced apart by more than a spacing distance capable of avoiding collision between RFID readers into a single group to determine at least one group, classifying RPM readers included in each group into at least one sub-group based on a read time of each RFID reader, and driving the RFID readers such that RPM readers belonging to at least two different sub-groups that do not collide with each other simultaneously operate. According to the present invention, switching is performed sub-group by sub-group to reduce the number of switching operations and sub-groups can simultaneously operate to decrease a read time.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus that exhibits a shorter time period required until a start of communication and causes the throughput in the wireless communication system to be less reduced. In this apparatus, when the number, N, of retransmissions notified by a response determining part (107) is zero, a subchannel-to-be-used selecting part (108) selects a subchannel, among others, which exhibits the highest order one of the reception qualities of the subchannels notified by a reception quality determining part (106), and then notifies the selected subchannel to a subchannel allocating part (113).

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enhanced Simultaneous Hybrid Dual Receive operation. A hybrid access terminal engaged in an IS-856 data communication in a hybrid IS-2000/IS-856 wireless communication system will use its high-gain antenna to conduct IS-2000 tuneaway scans when the access terminal determines that the IS-2000 signal received from its serving base station is below a level that can be reliably detected by its low-gain antenna. At the same time, the access terminal will continue to use its low-gain antenna to engage in the ongoing IS-856 communication, thereby avoiding interruption of the IS-856 communication by IS-2000 tuneaway scans, even when RF conditions are sub-optimal. The access terminal may apply a DRC offset to its DRC request when using just its low-gain antenna for IS-856 communications.

Abstract: The slot cycle index is currently negotiated by a mobile handset and a base station. However, if the slot cycle index could be selected dynamically a mobile handset that operates more efficiently for the user would result. Talk time could be maximized when the battery, or other mobile power source is low, while connect time for a mobile call could be minimized when the battery is near fully charged or at times when the user is likely to make a mobile call. Additionally, location could be used to determine the likelihood that the user will make a mobile call. However, current network usage would typically need to be considered when determining if the slot cycle index should be changed. Mobile handset users could also charged for quicker response times, or mobile handset users on more expensive plans could be given typically faster response times. Many different things can be considered in determining when to adjust slot cycle index, such as, for example, battery power, time of day, or system loading.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system, comprising: a first wireless network including a coordinator and a plurality of network devices associated with the coordinator; a second wireless network; wherein the first coordinator is arranged to notify at least one network device of the availability of data; and the at least one network device notified of the availability of data is arranged to associate with the second wireless network and to receive the data.

Abstract: Methods of camping on a hybrid cell and checking access priority and devices therefor are provided. The service of a CSG user is preferably guaranteed by adjusting a UE's camping right and a passing probability of an access priority checking according to the user's contracted characteristic and limit access information of a hybrid cell Node B. At the same time, the initial access delay of a non-CSG user is reduced, the initial access efficiency of the non-CSG user is improved, and the network resource and the UE's power are saved.

Abstract: In a non-limiting and exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for controlling co-existence of multiple radio access units. The method comprises: receiving a scheduling request comprising value information on at least some of radio independent scheduling parameters of a control interface common to a plurality of radio access units, scheduling radio access on the basis of the value information on at least some of the radio independent scheduling parameters, and sending a response to the scheduling request in a given form in accordance with the control interface common to the radio access units.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device receives and decodes a plurality of packet data bursts over a packet data channel of a serving cell. While receiving and decoding the packet data bursts, the mobile communication device also receives and decodes a plurality of broadcast data bursts over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. When a time conflict exists between receiving and decoding at least one of the packet data bursts and receiving and decoding at least one of the broadcast data bursts, the mobile communication device receives and decodes the at least one packet data burst instead of the at least one broadcast data burst when no imminent call drop between the mobile communication device and the serving cell is identified.

Abstract: Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for performing a ranging operation according to the priority order in a mobile communication system using a BWA (Broadcast Wireless Access) scheme. The method according to the invention for performing a range operation by a subscriber terminal in a mobile communication system using the BWA (Broadcast Wireless Access) scheme comprises steps of: receiving backoff domains having the start and end values of the backoff corresponding to each ranging operation, the backoff domains being determined from a base station according to the priority order of the ranging operations between the base station and subscriber terminals; performing a ranging operation and, if it is determined that the step of performing the ranging operation fails, selecting backoff domains among the received backoff domains according to the priority order of the performed ranging operations; and, re-performing the ranging operation according to the selected backoff domains.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for service acquisition in a broadcast system. In an aspect, a method includes detecting whether a loss of service has occurred, and initiating acquisition attempts during an aggressive acquisition phase if a loss of service has occurred, wherein a backoff time interval between successive acquisition attempts is constant or increased, and wherein the aggressive acquisition phase ends when service acquisition is achieved or a selected number of acquisition attempts have been performed. An apparatus includes interface logic configured to detect whether a loss of service has occurred, and processing logic configured to initiate acquisition attempts during an aggressive acquisition phase if a loss of service has occurred, wherein a backoff time interval between successive acquisition attempts is constant or increased, and wherein the aggressive acquisition phase ends when service acquisition is achieved or a selected number of acquisition attempts have been performed.

Abstract: A method for determining scanned objects is disclosed. According to the method, a Mobile Station (MS) receives an MOB_NBR_ADV message sent by a Base Station (BS). The MOB_NBR_ADV message contains BS IDs. The method includes the following steps: setting a BS Bitmap field in a scanning process message; and mapping the BS Bitmap field to the BS IDs contained in the MOB_NBR_ADV message and determining scanned objects according to the mapping. With the method, a minimum of one bit may be mapped to one of the BS IDs, and thus scanned objects are determined. In addition, an apparatus containing BS Bitmap units is disclosed. When scanned objects are determined with the method and apparatus, the length of a scanning process message can be shortened, thus improving the air-interface resource usage of the wideband radio access system to a great extent.

Abstract: An outdoor broadband unit receives a current time and maintenance mode parameters from a network device. The outdoor broadband unit also determines a mode associated with selection of an antenna beam, provided on an antenna of the outdoor broadband unit, based on at least one of the current time and the maintenance mode parameters. The outdoor broadband unit further selects an antenna beam or a serving cell to use based on the determined mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device having two or more antennas. The wireless device substantially concurrently determines (a) using a first antenna, whether a first communications service is available for data transfer, and (b) using a second antenna, whether a second communications service is available for data transfer. After determining that at least one communications service is available for data transfer, the wireless device uses both antennas to transfer data using a selected communications service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to respond to a scanning request to further improve the utilization rate of air interface resources. A scanning response message is sent to a mobile station in response to a scanning request received from the mobile station. The scanning response message can be in the form of a MOB_SCN_RSP message that includes a BS ID sequence indication field that maps the BS IDs carried in the MOB_SCN_REQ message.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus (by example a node with a cognitive control radio CCR) receives first and second messages indicating at least one of a number of nodes per cognitive radio network and amount of traffic per cognitive radio network participating to a respective first and second cognitive control network CCN. The node selects one of the first and second cognitive control network based at least partly on at least one of the number of participating nodes and the amount of traffic per similar cognitive radio network for which the apparatus is capable of accessing. In a specific embodiment, the selection is according to a predefined set of rules, such as select only a channel that appears to be free of primary users; scan a predefmed set of frequency channels in a predefined order; and others. If there are no suitable pre-existing cognitive control networks CCNs available, there are also rules for establishing a new CCN.

Abstract: A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate paging a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network. Paging messages may be communicated directly between a wireless terminal and its peer(s). Further, the wireless terminal may monitor for incoming paging messages during subinterval(s) of a paging interval as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal. Moreover, the wireless terminal may transmit a paging message to a peer (e.g., detected and/or identified during peer discovery) during subinterval(s) of the paging interval as a function of an identifier of the peer.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling delivery of packets over a synchronous control channel in a wireless system employing the High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) standard. The synchronous channel is comprised of a plurality of slots, and a first packet is sent over the synchronous control channel in a first one of the plurality of slots along with an indication of a second one of the plurality of slots in which a second packet will be delivered. Thereafter, the second packet is sent over the control channel in the second one of the plurality of slots. Subsequent packets are handled similarly.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining channel feedback information in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system are provided. The method includes: obtaining an (N?1)th layer interference-plus-noise matrix in an LTE system, and obtaining an Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix according to the (N?1)th layer interference-plus-noise matrix; and then, calculating a Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) corresponding to the Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix according to the Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix, and determining channel feedback information according to the SINR. It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present invention, in a processing manner, a current layer interference-plus-noise matrix is calculated according to an obtained previous layer interference-plus-noise matrix through calculation in a calculation process of the channel feedback information, thus effectively reducing the calculation amount in the calculation process of the channel feedback information.

Abstract: Provided is a radio communication device which can prevent interference between SRS and PUCCH when the PUCCH transmission bandwidth fluctuates and suppress degradation of CQI estimation accuracy by the band where no SRS is transmitted. The device includes: an SRS code generation unit (201) which generates an SRS (Sounding Reference Signal) for measuring uplink line data channel quality; an SRS arrangement unit (202) which frequency-multiplexes the SRS on the SR transmission band and arranges it; and an SRS arrangement control unit (208) which controls SRS frequency multiplex so as to be uniform in frequency without modifying the bandwidth of one SRS multiplex unit in accordance with the fluctuation of the reference signal transmission bandwidth according to the SRS arrangement information transmitted from the base station and furthermore controls the transmission interval of the frequency-multiplexed SRS.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and improved method for providing broadcast short message services (SMS) in a communication network. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that insures the successful transmission of the broadcast message while minimizing the impact of providing the short messaging service on overall system capacity. It is further the objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for receiving broadcast messages without depriving the receiver of the benefits of slotted paging, that being the savings in power consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to display the availability of a wireless LAN, in which information about an area supporting a wireless local area network (LAN) is provided to a user carrying a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone through a mobile phone network in the form of text, voice or images. The apparatus includes: an input unit to receive a command to request a search for a wireless LAN available in a designated location from a user; a packet generating unit to generate an information request packet according to the received command; a communicating unit to transmit the generated information request packet and to receive a result of the requested search for the available wireless LAN, in response to the transmitted information request packet; and a display unit to display the received result of the search.

Abstract: A radio communication system whereby one or a consecutive plurality of sub-carrier frequency intervals form sub-carrier groups each of which is assigned to a different user. The radio communication system includes a radio communication apparatus and a terminal configured to receive a control signal and a data signal from the radio communication apparatus. The terminal receives the control signal and the data signal according to a notified control signal position.

Abstract: A method of indicating downlink traffic to a mobile subscriber station that is in a sleep mode includes transmitting a sleep request message to a base station (BS); entering the sleep mode in response to a sleep response message received from the BS, wherein the sleep response message includes a first SLPID; receiving a traffic indication message including a FMT field indicating formats for the traffic indication message from the BS during a listening interval of the sleep mode, wherein the FMT field indicates one of an SLPID bitmap based format and an SLPID based format, and the traffic indication message further includes a second SLPID when the SLPID based format is used; and terminating the sleep mode to receive the downlink traffic when the second SLPID in the traffic indication message is same as the first SLPID included in the sleep response message.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-cell access are provided. A method includes transmitting at least one control channel to a communications device. The at least one control channel includes control information, and the transmitting is performed by at least one cell in a subset of a cooperating set. The method also includes transmitting to the communications device based on control information transmitted to the communications device, or receiving from the communications device based on control information transmitted to the communications device. The transmitting is performed by at least one other cell in the cooperating set, or the receiving is performed by the at least one other cell in the cooperating set.

Abstract: A method for controlling delay tolerant access of a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device based on a backoff mechanism is provided. The method includes receiving, at a terminal, a paging message including an access barring information update indicator from a base station, and receiving a System Information Block (SIB) including updated access barring information, the SIB being received regardless of modification periods. The terminal receives the SIB including the updated access barring information immediately without waiting for the arrival of next modification period, resulting in improvement of access barring efficiency.

Abstract: A method, wireless device, and information processing system dynamically update spectrum sensing groups in a wireless communication system. A set of wireless devices (114) currently allocated to a spectrum sensing group is identified. Each wireless device (114, 116, 118) in the set performs spectrum sensing on one or more wireless communication channels. Spectrum sensing performance data (144) is analyzed for each such wireless device (114) in the set. The spectrum sensing performance data (144) indicates wireless communication performance of a wireless device (114) associated with the spectrum sensing performance data with respect to detecting a transmitted signal on the one or more communication channels. Wireless device membership of the set of wireless devices (114, 116, 118) allocated to the spectrum sensing group is dynamically adjusted based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for that provides a re-entry procedure following a radio frequency outage in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes providing (204) a entity identification for a base station (102-106) or a paging controller (108) to a mobile station (110) during initial entry of the mobile station to a wireless communication network. The method also includes storing (206) mobile station context information at an entity corresponding to the entity identification. After a radio frequency outage occurs after the initial entry of the mobile station into the network, a notification is sent (218) that indicates that the mobile station is re-entering the wireless communication network. Based on the notification that there has been a radio frequency outage, the mobile station context information is obtained (220) to assist the mobile station to re-enter the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing wireless vehicle to vehicle communications is configured to maximize the amount of data that can be transferred from one vehicle to another during a transient encounter by adaptively adjusting the message packet size and data modulation rate during an inter-vehicle communication session.

Abstract: A method of controlling paging flow in a network for cellular communications is described, which comprises the steps of: at a control node, receiving a request for paging a mobile station; determining a location area in which the paging shall be performed; checking whether the number of paging transactions which are ongoing for the location area is lower than at least one maximum number of ongoing paging transactions allowed for the location area; after a determination that the number of ongoing paging transactions is lower than the maximum number, updating the number of ongoing paging transactions for the location area and processing the paging request. Preferably, if the number of ongoing paging transactions is not lower than the maximum number, it is checked whether the paging request is a particular LCS transaction and, if so, the request is placed in a buffer and served with priority as soon as the number of ongoing paging transactions returns to be lower than the maximum number.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to a wireless communication system. Theses systems and methods include providing information from a base station to a mobile device than enables the mobile device to use at least one DCI format. In some embodiments, this information is provided by receiving data over a wireless communication channel. The transmitted data comprises identification information that identifies the format of the transmitted data being transmitted. These systems and methods may also include identifying the format of the transmitted data and processing the transmitted data using the identified format of the transmitted data.

Abstract: An access gateway comprises a processor. The processor is operable to determine a message type of a received packet. The processor is further operable to apply a paging rule. The paging rule is related at least in part to the message type of the received packet. The processor is further operable to determine whether to send a request to transition the mobile device to an active state based on the paging rule. The processor is further operable to send a request, when appropriate, to transition the mobile device to an active state.

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communication circuitry. The wireless communication circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to antennas by switching circuitry. Multiple radio access technologies may be supported. A device may include first and second antennas. Control circuitry can configure the transceiver circuitry and switching circuitry to support operation of the device in active and idle modes for each radio access technology. In some configurations, both antennas may be used to support operations associated with one of the radio access technologies. In other configurations, the first antenna may be used to support operations with a first of the radio access technologies while the second antenna is used to support operations with a second of the radio access technologies.

Abstract: A method for handling registration requests in a cellular wireless communication system. The method includes determining that a transmission-success rate of messages sent via the forward-link of an air interface is less than a threshold success rate. The method further includes, in response to the determination that the system has less than a threshold transmission success rate, increasing a frequency at which mobile stations register with the cellular wireless communication system via the air interface.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing a presence service that is useful for mobile telecommunications devices. A plurality of outgoing presence updates are sent to a presence client. The system monitors the level of network traffic and determines whether the client is in a region of high network load, and if so, the system throttles the outgoing presence updates during the condition of high network load. The level of throttling may depend at least in part on the amount of time that has elapsed since the presence client began a presence session, and/or the amount of time that has elapsed since an incoming presence update was received from the presence client. In determining the latter amount of elapsed time, the system may consider only the amount of time elapsed since an incoming non-automatic presence update was received from the presence client.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus includes: a scan processing unit that scans for wireless communication apparatuses that are present in a range within which wireless communication is possible; a list generation unit that generates a list of the wireless communication apparatuses that are detected by the scan by the scan processing unit; a transmission unit that transmits the list that is generated by the list generation unit to an information processing apparatus; and a reception unit that receives connection destination related information that relates to a connection destination, which is transmitted from the information processing apparatus based on a comparison result of the list and the list from another terminal apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for triggering and synchronizing a machine type communication (MTC) device are described. MTC devices may operate in a time controlled mode, where the MTC device attaches to a network at specified intervals to report to a network. The time controlled mode may include two time controlled cycles, a reporting cycle and a control cycle. Methods are also described for communicating the reporting and control cycles between the MTC device and the network or MTC server. These cycles may be communicated on an application layer, by an MTC server using an MTCsp interface or via MTC configuration. In addition, triggering cycles may be sent via the Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) layer by extending discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles or by allowing a network to send the cycles over a broadcast channel by defining new System information block (SIB) information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for network initiated attachment are provided. A machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is in a detached state. A MTC server sends a trigger request to the MTC WTRU via a network entity, such as a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a mobility management gateway (MME), a Serving General packet radio service Support Node (SGSN), or a combination thereof. The network entity stores, updates, or obtains information associated with a current, former, or default connection status of the WTRU. The information is obtained from the WTRU attach request message, subscription information, locally stored information, or a combination thereof. The subscription information includes a subscription profile. The WTRU, upon receiving the trigger request, performs a network attachment procedure, enters an attached state and communicates with the MTC server. The WTRU performs a network detach procedure and enters a detached state after completing communications with the MTC server.

Abstract: Provided is a method of assigning a frequency channel using efficient spectrum sensing in a multiple Frequency Assignment (FA) system.

Abstract: A terminal device free of interference between an RACH and a PUSCH or the like even when a base station device with a large coverage is installed. In the device, a configuration number extraction unit (103) extracts a configuration number from a BCH received by a BCH reception unit (102). A control unit (104) determines the corresponding RACH format (the necessity of repetition, the CP length TCP, the second preamble length TPRE2, and the GT length TGT) according to the configuration number, notifies a repetition unit (109) of the result of the judgment of necessity of repetition, notifies the repetition unit (109) of the second preamble length TPRE2, notifies a CP addition unit (110) of the CP length TCP, and notifies a GT addition unit (112) of the GT length TGT. When the repetition unit (109) receives the notification of performing the repetition, it performs the repetition according to the second preamble length received from a TPRE2 determination section (154).

Abstract: A communications system for allowing a host system such as a GNSS satellite receiver to obtain a data communications connection is provided, comprising: a processor board connecting a cellular module, a WiFi module, and a radio module; and a communications selection means for automatically determining which module is capable of obtaining a data communications connection, wherein the communications selection means includes an algorithm that scans through the modules in a pre-defined order in search of the preferred communications connection, wherein the algorithm includes instructions to stop scanning when a module has found a valid connection. In one embodiment, the communications system further comprises a GNSS module connected to the processor board.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving on a control channel signaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, where the control channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum. The method further includes scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the received signaling software, detecting one or more services operating in the television spectrum, and selecting a service of the detected one or more services operating in the television spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.