Abstract:
A method and system for managing broadcast of notifications indicating whether system information has changed, so as to enable served devices to determine when to read and store updated system information. A radio access network tracks changes in system information on a per wakeup cycle basis, so as to determine whether system information has changed since a last instance of broadcasting such a notification in a particular wakeup cycle. If system information has changed, the network responsively broadcasts an indication that system information has changed, so as to cause devices operating on that wakeup cycle to read and store the updated system information. Whereas, if system information has not changed, the network responsively broadcasts an indication that system information has not changed (or forgoes broadcasting an indication that system information has changed), so that devices operating on that wakeup cycle can avoid reading and storing the system information.
Abstract:
A wireless communication device (WCD) may be able to acquire wireless service from preferred wireless coverage areas that are managed by the WCD's service provider. In some cases, the WCD may instead use wireless service from non-preferred wireless coverage areas of the service provider's roaming partners. In order to save roaming fees, the service provider's RAN may determine when the WCD is likely to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area. In response to this determination, the RAN may transmit a redirect message to the WCD, causing the WCD to switch from one preferred wireless coverage area to another preferred wireless coverage area. In some situations, the RAN may transmit such a redirect message because the WCD has reported that it has a low remaining battery life.
Abstract:
A method and system for dynamically adjusting reverse-link ACK transmission power based on forward-link timeslot utilization. A radio access network (e.g., a base station) may monitor timeslot utilization on the forward link and, upon detecting that the timeslot utilization is threshold high, may cause one or more served access terminals to increase their ACK transmission power, thereby possibly helping to minimize re-transmissions for data packets that have already been successfully received, and thus helping to minimize unnecessary use of potentially scarce forward-link timeslots.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for managing usage of traffic-channel resources in an access network, which are preferably resources that are reserved during a traffic channel assignment (TCA) process. An exemplary method comprises (i) a base station determining a usage level of at least one traffic-channel resource in a coverage area of the access network; (ii) based at least in part on the determined usage level, updating one or more TCA parameters affecting expected usage of the traffic-channel resource resulting from the TCA process; and (iii) performing the TCA process according to the updated TCA parameters. Preferably the usage level is determined for Medium Access Control Identifiers (MAC_IDs). Further, the access-channel occupancy (ACO) may be determined and the base station may further base the updating of TCA parameters on the ACO. In an exemplary embodiment, the updated TCA parameters include the TCA count and/or the TCC wait timer.
Abstract:
A wireless communication system uses a series of repeating overhead time cycles that each comprise a plurality of time slots. The system exchanges overhead information with wireless communication devices during individual time slots. The communication system wirelessly receives a registration request for wireless communication service from a wireless communication device. The communication system processes loading information for the overhead time cycles or a quality of service level of the wireless communication device to assign the wireless communication device to one of the overhead time cycles. The communication system wirelessly indicates the assigned overhead time cycle to the wireless communication device. The communication device monitors the overhead time slots during the assigned one of the overhead time cycles and does not monitor the overhead time slots during the not assigned overhead time cycles.
Abstract:
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes, while at an initial location, entering a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum. In response to entering the first wireless communication mode, the method includes setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. When the timer expires, the method includes determining if a present location of the wireless communication device is beyond a threshold distance from the initial location. If the present location is beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode, and if the present location is not beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then resetting the timer for monitoring the second wireless communication mode.
Abstract:
A wireless access node comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to exchange wireless communications with a plurality of wireless communication devices over a plurality of wireless communication channels. The processing system is configured to monitor a loading level on the wireless communication channels to determine when the loading level exceeds a loading threshold, and when the loading level exceeds the loading threshold, calculate an efficiency of an interference cancellation process, compare the efficiency of the interference cancellation process to an efficiency threshold, and if the efficiency of the interference cancellation process falls below the efficiency threshold, modify a frame offset in use by the wireless communication devices on at least one reverse link communication channel.
Abstract:
A method to manage a call in a communication system and an access node of the communication system are disclosed. The method includes receiving, by the communication system, a call request for a voice call from a first device to communicate with a second device, wherein the second device is a subscriber of the communication system, and transmitting, by the communication system to the first device, a first message comprising an indication that the second device is operating in a text message-only mode, when the second device is roaming and a roaming usage of the second device meets a roaming criteria. The access node may be configured to transmit to the first device the first message, when the first device requests to establish a call with the second device through the access node, the second device is roaming, and a roaming usage of the second device meets the roaming criteria.
Abstract:
A mobile station and a radio access network (RAN) use a single-channel forward link and a single-channel reverse link for a communication session. If the quality of the communication session degrades, the single-channel forward link is replaced with a multi-channel forward link and/or the single-channel reverse link is replaced with a multi-channel reverse link. The multi-channel forward link may include a first forward link channel and a second forward link channel, each with a higher coding gain than that of the single-channel forward link, to provide an aggregate data rate that is substantially the same as that of the single-channel forward link. The multi-channel reverse link may include a first reverse link channel and a second reverse link channel, each with a higher coding gain than that of the single-channel reverse link, to provide an aggregate data rate that is substantially the same as that of the single-channel reverse link.
Abstract:
A communication transceiver transmits an overhead message including a version number associated with a first version of the overhead message. A processing system determines control channel occupancy and reverse noise generated by a plurality of wireless communication devices, compares the control channel occupancy to an occupancy threshold and the reverse noise to a reverse noise threshold, and updates the version number resulting in an updated version number if a criteria is met. The criteria is met if the control channel occupancy fails to exceed the occupancy threshold and the reverse noise exceeds the reverse noise threshold. The communication transceiver then transmits the overhead message including the updated version number if the criteria is met.