US6178166B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for group calls in a wireless CDMA communication system
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1999-05-28
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2019-05-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and apparatus for group calls in wireless CDMA communication systems, addressing the need for reliable and efficient reverse power control in CDMA group calls. A communication infrastructure ( 108-110 ) upon receiving a group call request from a communication unit (e.g., 103 ), allocates a single voice channel (e.g., 120-121 ) in each cell that provides service to one or more communication units of the group ( 101 ). The communication infrastructure further allocates a reverse power control channel (e.g., 125-127 ) to each communication unit of the group. Thus, each communication unit of the group receives voice information for the group call via the voice channel in that communication unit's site or cell, and each communication unit receives inbound (i.e., reverse) power control information via the reverse power control channel allocated to that communication unit. In this manner, the present invention efficiently provides reverse power control information to multiple communication units and, therefore, facilitates the establishment of group calls in CDMA systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy J. Wilson
- 👤 Hua Xu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/06; H04W4/08; H04W52/00; H04W52/04; H04W52/06; H04W52/14; H04W52/146; H04W52/30; H04W52/32; H04W52/38; H04W72/00; H04W72/04; H04W72/044; H04W72/0473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure to establish a group call, wherein the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of base transceiver systems, and wherein each base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, provides wireless communication service to any communication unit, of a plurality of communication units, that is in the service coverage area of that base transceiver system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a requesting communication unit of a group, a request for a group call with other communication units of the group, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of communication units are logically arranged into the group; allocating a single voice channel for the group call at each base transceiver system of the plurality of base transceiver systems that is providing communication service to at least one communication unit of the group, wherein the voice channel at each base transceiver system is allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively; and allocating a power adjustment channel for the group call for each communication unit of the group at the base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, that is providing communication service to that communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel for each communication unit of the group is allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure to establish a group call, wherein the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of base transceiver systems, and wherein each base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, provides wireless communication service to any communication unit, of a plurality of communication units, that is in the service coverage area of that base transceiver system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a requesting communication unit of a group, a request for a group call with other communication units of the group, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of communication units are logically arranged into the group; allocating a single voice channel for the group call at each base transceiver system of the plurality of base transceiver systems that is providing communication service to at least one communication unit of the group, wherein the voice channel at each base transceiver system is allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively; and allocating a power adjustment channel for the group call for each communication unit of the group at the base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, that is providing communication service to that communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel for each communication unit of the group is allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of notifying each communication unit of the group of the identity of the single voice channel allocated for the group call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of notifying each communication unit of the group of the identity of the power adjustment channel allocated for that communication unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending to each communication unit of the group power adjustment information via the power adjustment channel allocated for that communication unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of sending voice information to the communication units of the group via the single voice channel allocated for the group call at each base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, that is providing communication service to at least one communication unit of the group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: receiving, from each communication unit of the group, power adjustment information corresponding to the single voice channel allocated for the group call at the base transceiver system that is providing communication service to that communication unit; and receiving, from each communication unit of the group, power adjustment information corresponding to the power adjustment channel allocated for that communication unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of adjusting, responsive to the power adjustment information received from each communication unit of the group, transmission power of the single voice channel at each base transceiver system that is providing communication service to at least one communication unit of the group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of increasing the transmission power of the single voice channel at a base transceiver system, of the plurality of base transceiver systems, when at least one communication unit of the group indicates that greater transmit power of the single voice channel at the base transceiver system is needed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of adjusting, responsive to the power adjustment information from each communication unit of the group, transmission power of the power adjustment channel allocated for that communication unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving from a communication unit of the group voice information for the group call.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for a communication unit of a plurality of communication units that are logically arranged into a group to participate in a group call with the other communication units of the group, wherein a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure provides wireless communication service to the communication unit, the method comprising steps of: receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to a group call via a voice channel allocated for the group call, wherein the voice channel was allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively; receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, inbound power adjustment information via a power adjustment channel allocated for the communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel and the voice channel are separate CDMA channels and wherein the power adjustment channel was allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively; and transmitting, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, outbound power adjustment information corresponding to the voice channel and to the power adjustment channel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for a communication unit of a plurality of communication units that are logically arranged into a group to participate in a group call with the other communication units of the group, wherein a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure provides wireless communication service to the communication unit, the method comprising steps of: receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to a group call via a voice channel allocated for the group call, wherein the voice channel was allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively; receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, inbound power adjustment information via a power adjustment channel allocated for the communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel and the voice channel are separate CDMA channels and wherein the power adjustment channel was allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively; and transmitting, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, outbound power adjustment information corresponding to the voice channel and to the power adjustment channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of transmitting, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, a request for the group call.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of adjusting, responsive to the inbound power adjustment information, transmission power of the outbound power adjustment information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of transmitting, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to the group call.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of adjusting, responsive to the inbound power adjustment information, transmission power of the voice information corresponding to the group call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
A wireless CDMA communication infrastructure comprising: a first base transceiver system capable of receiving, from a requesting communication unit of a group of communication units, a request for a group call with the other communication units of the group; a second base transceiver system capable of providing wireless communication services to at least one communication unit of the group of communication units; and a controller, coupled to the first base transceiver system and the second base transceiver system, capable of allocating a single voice channel for the group call at the first base transceiver system and a single voice channel at the second base transceiver system, and capable of allocating a single power adjustment channel for the group call for each communication unit of the group, wherein the voice channel at the first base transceiver system and the voice channel at the second base transceiver system are allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively and wherein the power adjustment channel for each communication unit of the group is allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
A wireless CDMA communication infrastructure comprising: a first base transceiver system capable of receiving, from a requesting communication unit of a group of communication units, a request for a group call with the other communication units of the group; a second base transceiver system capable of providing wireless communication services to at least one communication unit of the group of communication units; and a controller, coupled to the first base transceiver system and the second base transceiver system, capable of allocating a single voice channel for the group call at the first base transceiver system and a single voice channel at the second base transceiver system, and capable of allocating a single power adjustment channel for the group call for each communication unit of the group, wherein the voice channel at the first base transceiver system and the voice channel at the second base transceiver system are allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively and wherein the power adjustment channel for each communication unit of the group is allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
137 words
A communication unit comprising: a transmitter; a receiver capable of receiving, from a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to a group call via a voice channel allocated for the group call, and capable of receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, inbound power adjustment information via a power adjustment channel allocated for the communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel and the voice channel are separate CDMA channels, wherein the voice channel was allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively, and wherein the power adjustment channel was allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively; and a processor, coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, capable of instructing the transmitter to transmit, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, outbound power adjustment information corresponding to the voice channel and to the power adjustment channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
137 words
A communication unit comprising: a transmitter; a receiver capable of receiving, from a wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to a group call via a voice channel allocated for the group call, and capable of receiving, from the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, inbound power adjustment information via a power adjustment channel allocated for the communication unit, wherein the power adjustment channel and the voice channel are separate CDMA channels, wherein the voice channel was allocated for the conveyance of non-power-adjustment information exclusively, and wherein the power adjustment channel was allocated for the conveyance of power adjustment information exclusively; and a processor, coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, capable of instructing the transmitter to transmit, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, outbound power adjustment information corresponding to the voice channel and to the power adjustment channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The communication unit of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further capable of instructing the transmitter to adjust, responsive to the inbound power adjustment information, transmission power of the outbound power adjustment information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication unit of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further capable of instructing the transmitter to transmit, to the wireless CDMA communication infrastructure, voice information corresponding to the group call.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The communication unit of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further capable of instructing the transmitter to adjust, responsive to the inbound power adjustment information, transmission power of the voice information corresponding to the group call.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |