Methods and apparatuses for connecting a cellular phone with a fixed phone under instruction of a small base station

The present disclosure presents methods and apparatuses for carrying out a wireless call at a small base station via one of multiple available phones, which may include a fixed phone and a cellular phone. For instance, some example methods described in the present disclosure may include establishing communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone and transmitting a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone commanding the cellular phone and fixed phone to establish a communicative connection. Furthermore, such example methods may include receiving a cellular phone call indication message from a network indicating the existence of an incoming call request for the cellular phone, transmitting a paging message associated with the incoming call request to the cellular phone, and executing a voice call, wherein the call is conducted by one of either the cellular phone and the fixed phone.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to executing a voice call from one of a fixed phone and a cellular phone.

Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications.

These developments have led to an increase in cellular phone ownership worldwide and a related demand for ease of cellular phone ownership—including when used at home. For example, by nature of their portability, cellular phones are typically smaller than home phones and are not tethered to a portion of a traditional landline phone, or “fixed phone.” These characteristics of cellular phones vis-à-vis traditional fixed home phones make cellular phones susceptible to being temporarily lost or misplaced, for example, in crevices in a recliners and couches or under desktop items. This can lead to missed incoming phone calls due to muffled ringtones or inaudible and intangible cell phone vibration. In many instances, however, though an incoming call on a cellular phone may be easily missed if the cell phone is misplaced at home, these same homes often have traditional fixed phones available that are immobile and sufficiently loud to alert a user of an incoming call on the landline. Methods for utilizing such fixed phones to ring in place of, or concurrent with, the misplaced cell phone and for executing the incoming call with the caller using the fixed phone would be advantageous for overall user experience.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and apparatuses for executing a voice call associated with a cellular phone at a small base station (e.g. a femtocell, microcell, picocell, etc.) using one of multiple available phones, which may include the cellular phone itself or a fixed phone in communicative connection with the cellular phone. For example, the present disclosure presents a method for carrying out a wireless call at a small base station, which may include establishing communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone and transmitting a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone commanding the cellular phone and fixed phone to establish a communicative connection. Additionally, the example method includes receiving a cellular phone call indication message from a network indicating the existence of an incoming call request for the cellular phone, transmitting a paging message associated with the incoming call request to the cellular phone, and executing a call associated with the incoming call request, wherein the call is conducted by one of either the cellular phone and the fixed phone depending upon which phone is answered first in time.

Additionally, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for wireless communication, which may include means for establishing communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone and means for transmitting a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone commanding the cellular phone and fixed phone to establish a communicative connection. Furthermore, such an example apparatus may include means for receiving a cellular phone call indication message from a network indicating the existence of an incoming call request for the cellular phone, means for transmitting a paging message associated with the incoming call request to the cellular phone, and means for executing a call associated with the incoming call request, wherein the call is conducted by one of either the cellular phone and the fixed phone.

In addition, the present disclosure presents an example computer program product, which may include a computer-readable medium comprising code for establishing communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone and code for transmitting a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone commanding the cellular phone and fixed phone to establish a communicative connection. Moreover, the computer-readable medium may include code for receiving a cellular phone call indication message from a network indicating the existence of an incoming call request for the cellular phone, code for transmitting a paging message associated with the incoming call request to the cellular phone, and code for executing a call associated with the incoming call request, wherein the call is conducted by one of either the cellular phone and the fixed phone.

Additionally, the present disclosure describes an example apparatus for wireless communication, which may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone and to transmit a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone commanding the cellular phone and fixed phone to establish a communicative connection. Furthermore, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a cellular phone call indication message from a network indicating the existence of an incoming call request for the cellular phone, transmit a paging message associated with the incoming call request to the cellular phone, and execute a call associated with the incoming call request, wherein the call is conducted by one of either the cellular phone and the fixed phone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for executing a call to a cellular phone via either the cell phone or a fixed phone. For example, in an aspect, a small base station (e.g. femtocell) serving the home of a cell phone user may establish a communicative connection with a fixed phone in the home. Next, the user may return home with his or her cellular phone, which may trigger either cell phone handoff from a macro network entity (e.g. a macro base station or other access point external to the home) to the small base station located in the home. Upon authentication of the cell phone by the small base station, the small base station may command the fixed phone to set up a communicative connection (e.g. a Bluetooth connection) with the cell phone or vice versa.

Thereafter, if the small base station receives an indication from a core network that an incoming call from another device directed to the cell phone exists, the small base station can page the cell phone. In some examples, the small base station may inform the fixed phone that the cell phone is being paged or has recently been paged via the previously established connection between the small base station and the fixed phone, which may cause the fixed phone to ring (e.g. concurrent to the cell phone ringing). In a further aspect, the user may answer the call using either of the cell phone and the fixed phone. Additionally, if a user answers the fixed phone, the cell phone may receive the voice data associated with the call from the small base station via a voice signal and may transmit the incoming voice signal to the fixed phone to allow the user to complete the call on the fixed phone. In alternative scenarios, the user may answer the cell phone instead of the fixed phone, at which point the cell phone or small base station may transmit a signal to the fixed phone to command the fixed phone to stop ringing.

In an optional aspect, the fixed phone may connect to more than one cell phone at any given time, but the effectiveness of such multiple connectivity may be limited in that the fixed phone may be configured to engage in only a single voice call at a given time. Furthermore, in an example additional aspect, the small base station may be configured to instruct the fixed phone to release the previously established communicative connection between the fixed phone and a cell phone if the cell phone is powered off, loses battery power, and/or exits a geographical coverage area associated with the small base station.

Referring toFIG. 1, a wireless communication system1is illustrated for executing cellular calls on one of multiple phone devices, including cellular phones and fixed phones. System1may include a cellular phone104(“cell phone”) that may communicate with one or more wireless network access devices, such as, but not limited to a macro network entity102and a small base station100. In some examples, cellular phone104may communicate with macro network entity102via a wireless link11(e.g. a cellular connection) and may communicate with small base station100via a communication link13, which may be wireless (e.g. a Bluetooth connection, cellular wireless connection, etc.) or wired (e.g. USB connection). In an aspect, wireless network entity102may be a wireless access point, such as, but not limited to, a base station (BS) or NodeB, a relay, a peer-to-peer device, a radio network controller (RNC), an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, a mobile switching center (MSC), or any other wireless network device.

In an aspect, small base station100may serve as a personal or home wireless network access point that may be configured to provide wireless network access to one or more of cellular phone104and fixed phone106. For example, small base station100may be a picocell, piconode, femtocell, femtonode, WiFi access point, etc., that can enable cellular phone104to communicate and/or that can establish and maintain one or more wireless communication links, such as wireless communication link13.

Further, in an aspect, cellular phone104may include a multi-phone device call manager108, which may be configured to manage voice communication in system1, which allows a call intended for cellular phone104to be executed by either of cellular phone104or fixed phone106. Multi-phone device call manager108may include a communication establishment component, which may be configured to trigger and otherwise manage establishment of communication links in system1. For example, in an aspect, communication establishment component110may be configured to establish and/or terminate communication link12between small base station100and fixed phone106.

In addition, communication establishment component110may be configured to establish communication link13between small base station100and cellular phone104. For example, in a non-limiting aspect, where communication link13is a wireless link, a handoff component112of communication establishment component110(and/or a handoff component located in another network device) may initiate, control, and/or perform a service handoff (or “handover”) of cellular phone104, for example, when cellular phone104moves from outside the wireless coverage area of small base station100(e.g. when being served by macro network entity102) and into the wireless coverage area of small base station100. Such a handoff may be, but is not limited to, hard handoff, soft handoff, or softer handoff. In some examples, macro network entity102may be a pre-handoff serving device and small base station100may be a post-handoff serving device to which the cellular phone104reselects, thus receiving wireless service from small base station100upon reselection. In an aspect of the present disclosure, for example, a user of cellular phone104may leave home with his or her cellular phone104and may travel outside the wireless coverage area of small base station100. In such an example, the handoff component112may later determine, based on monitoring cellular phone measurement reports and/or handover commands received from a radio network controller or other network controller (not shown) that cellular phone104has entered the wireless coverage area of small base station100, for example while or after being served wirelessly by a macro network associated with macro network entity102.

In an additional aspect, communication establishment component110may include a registration component114, which may be configured to authenticate cellular phone104. In other words, where not every wireless device is permitted to utilize small base station100for wireless communication services (e.g. where small base station100has an associated closed subscriber group (CSG) of subscribing devices), registration component114may be configured to request and receive (and/or otherwise obtain) a key, subscription code, cellular phone identifier, or other authentication information associated with cellular phone104. In addition, registration component114may be configured to cross-check such authentication information, for example, against a master key list, private key list, subscriber list, or the like to determine whether communication establishment component110is permitted to access wireless services via small base station100. If registration component114determines that permission is granted, communication establishment component110or a component therein may initiate establishment of communication link13between small base station100and cellular phone104(e.g. during handoff managed by handoff component112).

In addition, communication establishment component110may include a connection command message generating component116, which may be configured to generate a connection command message that, when transmitted and received by fixed phone106(and, in some examples, cellular phone104), commands the fixed phone (and/or the cellular phone104) to establish communication link14between fixed phone106and cellular phone104. In some aspects, connection command message generating component116may generate the connection command message after completing handoff of cellular phone104to small base station100and/or receiving or otherwise obtaining an indication from registration component114that cellular phone104is permitted to access wireless services via small base station100. In a further aspect, multi-phone device call manager108may include a connection command message transmitting component120, which may be configured to transmit the generated connection command message to one or both of fixed phone106and cellular phone104.

In addition, multi-phone device call manager108may include a cellular call indication message receiving component122, which may be configured to receive one or more cellular call indication messages from one or more macro network entities102. In an aspect, such call indication messages may indicate that an incoming call associated with cellular phone104exists on the macro network and may cause multi-phone device call manager108(e.g. at a paging message transmitting component124) to generate (or forward) a paging message to cellular phone104to inform the cellular phone104that an originating device is attempting to establish an active voice call with the cellular phone104. In a further aspect, based on receiving the paging message transmitted by paging message transmitting component124, a call execution component132may transmit one or more call establishment signals to the originating device and/or otherwise perform call establishment signaling via small base station100, the macro network of macro network entity102, and/or a core network (e.g. PSTN, the Internet) to establish an active call that may be carried out by either the cellular phone104or the fixed phone106(via communication link14) depending upon which of the fixed phone106or cellular phone104is answered first. Where the cellular phone104is answered first, call execution component126may receive outgoing voice call data generated by cellular phone104via communication link13and address, process, decode, encode, modulate, or otherwise alter or add to such outgoing call data according to one or more communication protocols or standards utilized by either or both of a macro network associated with macro network entity102or a core network (e.g. PSTN or the Internet). Upon configuring the outgoing voice call data, the call execution component may additionally transmit the configured voice call data to the macro network and/or core network for eventual reception by a destination device likewise engaged in the active voice call.

Furthermore, the call execution component126may likewise be configured to transmit outgoing voice call data received from the cellular phone104via communication link13where the fixed phone answers the call first. In such a scenario, however, the fixed phone106(e.g. via call execution component132of fixed phone106) may generate the outgoing voice call data and transmit the outgoing voice call data to the cellular phone104for forwarding to call execution component126for transmission to the other device or devices engaged in the voice call. Likewise, where the fixed phone106is answered before the cellular phone104, incoming voice call data may be received by call execution component126and transmitted to cellular phone104for further transmission to fixed phone106(and optionally, call execution component132thereof) such that the user can hear the incoming voice call when transduced into audible waves. In other words, call execution component126may interface with the macro network (e.g. via macro network entity102) and/or the core network to receive incoming voice call data originating from the other device (or devices) engaged in the active voice call and forwarded along to the fixed phone106even where the other device dialed a cellular phone number associated with cellular phone104.

In a further aspect, as introduced above, system1may include one or more fixed phone106, which may be each be a landline telephone device that may remain continuously physically connected to a telephone network (e.g. the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or the Internet for VoIP service) via a wired port while providing communication services. In some examples, the fixed phone106may include a handset that a user may place against his or her face during a call and a fixed phone base or dock that may connect to a wire connected to the port (e.g. a wall-mounted port). In some aspects, the fixed phone106may be a wireless fixed phone, meaning that the handset may communicate wirelessly with the fixed phone base or dock during the call. Alternatively, the fixed phone106may be a wired fixed telephone, wherein the handset may be connected to the fixed phone base or dock via a wire.

Furthermore, fixed phone106may be configured to communicate with cellular phone104and/or small base station100via communication links14and12, respectively. In an aspect, communication link14may be a wired connection (e.g. a USB connection) and/or a wireless connection (e.g. a Bluetooth connection). In some aspects, where a user answers an incoming call at the fixed phone, communication link14may carry incoming voice data forwarded by the cellular phone104to the fixed phone106. Additionally or alternatively, communication link14may carry outgoing user voice data generated during a call at the fixed phone to cellular phone104for eventual transmission to a receiving device partaking in the call. More specifically, the cellular phone104may receive the outgoing user voice data from the fixed phone and forward the outgoing user voice data (e.g. via communication link13) to the small base station100, which may forward the outgoing user voice data to the receiving device (e.g. via a core network such as the PSTN and/or the Internet).

In an additional aspect, communication link12may be a wired connection and/or a wireless connection (e.g. WiFi connection, Bluetooth connection). In an aspect, fixed phone106may receive one or more connection command messages from small base station100via communication link12, which may command the fixed phone106to establish communication link14with cellular phone104. In some aspects, communication link12may additionally carry incoming voice data forwarded from small base station100and/or outgoing user voice data generated and transmitted by fixed phone106during a voice call that utilizes fixed phone106.

In an aspect, to facilitate such communication, fixed phone106may include a WiFi/Bluetooth component128, which may be configured to manage wireless communication with one or both of cellular phone104and small base station100using, for non-limiting example, one or both of WiFi and Bluetooth communication standards. Specifically, WiFi/Bluetooth component128may be configured to modulate, encode, configure, parse, or otherwise alter user voice data generated at fixed phone106and transmit the altered data to one or both of cellular phone104and small base station100via communication links14and12, respectively. Furthermore, WiFi/Bluetooth component128may be configured to receive signals transmitted from cellular phone104(e.g. incoming voice data) and/or small base station100(e.g. connection control message(s)) and demodulate, decode, or otherwise alter the received signals according to, by non-limiting example, the WiFi and/or Bluetooth standards.

Additionally, fixed phone106may include a USB component130that may configured to manage wired communication with small base station100using wired communication standards over a wired communication link (e.g. communication link12), which may be a USB cable or any other wire or bus. Specifically, USB component130may be configured to modulate, encode, configure, parse, or otherwise alter user voice data generated at fixed phone106and transmit the altered data small base station100via communication link12. Furthermore, USB component130may be configured to receive signals transmitted small base station100(e.g. connection control message(s)) and demodulate, decode, or otherwise alter the received signals according to, by non-limiting example, the USB, FireWire, Ethernet, MIDI, eSATA/eSATAp, Thunderbolt, Lightning, or any other wired communication standard.

Furthermore, fixed phone106may include a call execution component132, which may be configured to execute a voice call with a receiving device also partaking in the call (not shown). In some non-limiting examples, call execution component132may be configured to establish communication link14(e.g. a wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth link) with cellular phone104, convert audio voice input into digital and/or analog electrical voice signals, encode generated electrical voice signals according to a format compatible with one or more communication standards, transmit the encoded voice signals (e.g. to cellular phone104wirelessly), decode received voice signals according to one or more communication standards, convert the decoded voice signals to audio waves (e.g. by a speaker), and end the call upon call completion, along with other tasks associated with executing a wireless or traditional wired phone call.

In an additional aspect, fixed phone106may include a ring manager134, which may be configured to manage the behavior of an audible ringer or tactile alert (e.g. vibration) generated by fixed phone106. For example, in some aspects, ring manager134may receive a message from cellular phone104via communication link14that may indicate that the cellular phone104has received a page from small base station100. Upon receiving this message, ring manager134may initiate a ring, ringtone, vibration pattern, or any other audible, visual, or tactile response that may alert a user that the cellular phone104is receiving an incoming call or related paging message. Further, where the call is answered at the fixed phone106before the fixed phone106receives a call answered message from the cellular phone via communication link14, ring manager134may itself generate a call answered message and transmit the call answered message to cellular phone104to indicate to the cellular phone that the call will be executed by the fixed phone106and that the cellular phone104should terminate the ringing process.

In yet a further aspect, system1may include one or more cellular phones104that may be configured to engage in a voice call with another device (not shown) and/or facilitate communication of voice call data, ring commands or messages, and/or other signals between small base station100and fixed phone106where the fixed phone106is engaged in the voice call (e.g. the fixed phone106is answered before the cellular phone104is answered while ringing concurrently). In an aspect, cellular phone104may be a portable device capable of communicating voice call data, paging and control messages, or the like with a macro network (e.g. a wide area cellular network) via wireless link11, and small base stations100and fixed phone106via a WiFi, Bluetooth, or similar communication link and/or a wired communication link (e.g. USB connection). In an aspect, cellular phone104may be (or may be referred to as) a user equipment (UE), mobile phone, mobile device, or any other voice call-capable wireless communication device.

Furthermore, cellular phone104may be configured to communicate with fixed phone106and/or small base station100via communication links14and13, respectively. In an aspect, cellular phone104may receive one or more connection command messages from small base station100via communication link13, which may command the cellular phone104to establish communication link14with fixed phone106. In an aspect, to facilitate voice call communication with small base station100and/or fixed phone106, cellular phone104may include a WiFi/Bluetooth component128, which may be configured to manage wireless communication with one or both of fixed phone106and small base station100using, for non-limiting example, one or both of WiFi and Bluetooth communication standards. Specifically, WiFi/Bluetooth component128may be configured to modulate, encode, configure, parse, or otherwise alter user voice data generated at cellular phone104and transmit the altered data to small base station100via communication link13. Furthermore, WiFi/Bluetooth component128may be configured to receive signals transmitted from fixed phone106(e.g. outgoing voice call data for forwarding to small base station100) and/or small base station100(e.g. connection control message(s)) and demodulate, decode, or otherwise alter the received signals according to, by non-limiting example, the WiFi and/or Bluetooth standards.

Additionally, cellular phone104may include a USB component130that may be configured to manage wired communication with fixed phone106(and, potentially, small base station100) using wired communication standards over a wired communication link (e.g. communication link14), which may be a USB cable or any other wire or bus. Specifically, USB component130may be configured to modulate, encode, configure, parse, or otherwise alter user voice data generated at cellular phone104and transmit the altered data to small base station100via communication link13, which, in some examples, may be a wired link. Furthermore, USB component130may be configured to receive signals transmitted by small base station100(e.g. connection control message(s)) and demodulate, decode, or otherwise alter the received signals according to, by non-limiting example, the USB, FireWire, Ethernet, MIDI, eSATA/eSATAp, Thunderbolt, Lightning, or any other wired communication standard.

Furthermore, cellular phone104may include a call execution component132, which may be configured to execute a voice call with another device also partaking in the call (not shown). In some non-limiting examples, call execution component132may be configured to establish communication link14(e.g. a wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth link) with fixed phone106, convert audio voice input into digital and/or analog electrical voice signals, encode generated electrical voice signals according to a format compatible with one or more communication standards, transmit the encoded voice signals (e.g. to small base station100), decode received voice signals according to one or more communication standards, convert the decoded voice signals to audio waves (e.g. by a speaker), and end the call upon call completion, along with other tasks associated with executing a wireless or traditional wired phone call. Furthermore, call execution component132of cellular phone104may be configured to receive outgoing voice call data signals from the fixed phone106destined for another device with which the call is being engaged, and forward or otherwise transmit this received voice call data to the small base station100for eventual transmission to this other device (or devices). Likewise, call execution component132of cellular phone104may be configured to receive incoming voice call data from small base station100, which may have been generated and originally transmitted by the other device engaged in the voice call. Where the fixed phone106is engaging in the voice call (e.g. the fixed phone106was answered first), the call execution component132of cellular phone104may forward or otherwise transmit this incoming voice call data to the fixed phone106via communication link14. Furthermore, call execution component132of cellular phone104may be configured to terminate the voice call where either another component of cellular phone104or the fixed phone106indicates that the voice call should be terminated.

In an additional aspect, cellular phone104may include a ring manager134, which may be configured to manage the behavior of an audible ringer or tactile alert (e.g. vibration) generated by cellular phone104, for example, when the cellular phone104receives a paging message. or “page,” from small base station100. Additionally, ring manager134may be configured to generate a fixed phone ring command upon receiving such a paging message and may transmit this fixed phone ring command to fixed phone106. In an aspect, the fixed phone ring message may command the fixed phone106or a component therein (e.g. ring manager134) to initiate a ring, voice call alert, vibration, or any other audible, visual, or tactile alert substantially concurrent to the cellular phone104ringing due to receiving the paging message.

Further, where the voice call associated with the paging message is answered at the cellular phone104before the fixed phone106answers the call (e.g. the cellular phone has not received an answered message from the fixed phone106before the call is answered at the cellular phone104) ring manager134may itself generate a call answered message and transmit the call answered message to fixed phone106to indicate to the fixed phone106that the call will be executed by the cellular phone104and that the fixed phone106(e.g. via ring manager134of fixed phone106) should terminate the ringing process.

In addition, for purposes of the present disclosure, the communication technology or radio access technology (RAT) used for communication between one or more of cellular phone104, fixed phone106, small base station100, and/or macro network entity102may be of a 3G technology type, such as, but not limited to, data optimized (DO), WCDMA, Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TDS-CDMA), or any other third-generation mobile communications technology. Additionally, in some examples, the communication technology may be a 2G technology type, such as, but not limited to, GSM, GPRS, or EDGE. Furthermore, example RAT types may include more advanced RATs, such as, but not limited to, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Time-Division Long-Term Evolution (TD-LTE), or any other fourth-generation mobile communications technology. Alternatively or additionally, any other communication technology type may be used for such communication.

Referring toFIG. 2, in one aspect, any of small base station100, macro network entity102, cellular phone104, and fixed phone106ofFIG. 1may be represented by a specially programmed or configured computer device200. Computer device200includes a processor202for carrying out processing functions associated with one or more of components and functions described herein. Processor202can include a single or multiple set of processors or multi-core processors. Moreover, processor202can be implemented as an integrated processing system and/or a distributed processing system. Additionally, processor202may be configured to concatenate data received over a frame or several frames during a communication, such as, but not limited to, a voice call.

Computer device200further includes a memory204, such as for storing data used herein and/or local versions of applications being executed by processor202. Memory204can include any type of memory usable by a computer, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof.

Further, computer device200includes a communications component206that provides for establishing and maintaining communications with one or more parties utilizing hardware, software, and services as described herein. Communications component206may carry communications between components on computer device200, as well as between computer device200and external devices, such as devices located across a communications network and/or devices serially or locally connected to computer device200. For example, communications component206may include one or more buses, and may further include transmit chain components and receive chain components associated with a transmitter and receiver, respectively, or a transceiver, operable for interfacing with external devices. In an additional aspect, communications component206may be configured to receive one or more pages and/or page indicators from one or more subscriber networks and may also be configured to execute wired and/or wireless communication of a voice call between two or more devices. In an aspect, communications component206may represent or may include call execution component126of small base station100and/or call execution component132of one or both of fixed phone106and cellular phone104.

Additionally, computer device200may further include a data store208, which can be any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, that provides for mass storage of information, databases, and programs employed in connection with aspects described herein. For example, data store208may be a data repository for applications not currently being executed by processor202.

In a small base station or femtocell implementation, such as for small base station100ofFIG. 1, computer device200may include a multi-phone device call manager108(FIG. 1), such as in specially programmed computer readable instructions or code, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof.

Referring toFIG. 3, an example methodology300for executing a voice call associated with a cellular phone using either the cellular phone or a fixed phone communicatively connected to the cellular phone is presented. In an aspect, methodology300may be performed by components associated with a small base station (e.g. femtocell, personal wireless network access point, or small base station100ofFIG. 1). Additionally, the methodology300is shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, it is to be appreciated that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In an aspect, at block302, a small base station (e.g. small base station100and/or communication establishment component110therein,FIG. 1) may establish communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone. In an aspect, establishing communication with the cellular phone may include a handoff component (e.g. handoff component112of small base station100ofFIG. 1) handing off the cellular phone from a network entity (e.g. a macro network entity such as macro network entity102) to the small base station, wherein the network entity previously served as a serving cell for the cellular phone. For example, this may occur when a cellular phone user is outside the coverage area of the small base station (e.g. outside of the home of the user where the small base station coverage area is substantially similar to the area covered by the home) and returns to the small base station coverage area to which the cellular phone is a subscriber (e.g. the user returns home with the cellular phone on his or her person). In some examples, establishing communication with the cellular phone may further include a registration component (e.g. registration component114) registering the cellular phone with the small base station and/or determining, for example, based on the registration, whether or not the cellular phone is a subscriber device associated with the small base station. In a related aspect, the registration component may further deny communication establishment with the cellular phone where the cellular phone is not determined to be a subscriber device.

Additionally, at block304, the small base station and/or a component therein (e.g. connection command message generating component116and/or connection command message transmitting component120ofFIG. 1) may generate and/or transmit a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone. Furthermore, at block306, the small base station or component therein (e.g. cellular call indication message receiving component122ofFIG. 1) may receive a cellular phone call indication message, for example, from a macro network or core network. Based upon receiving the cellular phone call indication message at306, the small base station or a component therein (e.g. paging message transmitting component124) may generate and/or transmit a paging message to the cellular phone, for example, to inform the cellular phone that an incoming call is waiting or impending and destined for or associated with the small base station.

In some aspects, based on receiving the paging message from the small base station, the cellular phone may initiate a ringing process at the cellular phone to alert the user of the incoming call. Additionally, the cellular phone may substantially concurrently generate and transmit a ring command to the fixed phone, which, when received by the fixed phone, may cause the fixed phone to ring substantially concurrently with the ringing of the cellular phone.

Additionally, in an aspect, the small base station (e.g. utilizing call execution component126) may execute a call at block310, which may be a voice call. In some aspects, executing the call at block310may include forwarding outgoing voice call data generated and/or originating at the fixed phone or the cellular phone (depending upon which of the fixed phone or the cellular phone are answered first in time) to another communication device partaking in the voice call. Furthermore, executing the call at block310may include forwarding incoming voice call data from the other communication device on the call to the cellular phone, which may further transmit or otherwise forward the incoming voice call data to the fixed phone via a communicative connection when the fixed phone was answered first in time. In an additional aspect, executing the call at block310may include terminating the call upon an indication from one or more of the fixed phone, the cellular phone, and the other phone partaking in the voice call.

Referring toFIG. 4, an example system4is displayed for executing a voice call using one of multiple possible phones in a system, which may include a fixed phone and a cellular phone. For example, system4can reside at least partially within one or more small base stations (e.g. small base station100ofFIG. 1). It is to be appreciated that system4is represented as including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System4includes a logical grouping400of electrical components that can act in conjunction. For instance, logical grouping400can include an electrical component402for establishing communication with a cellular phone and a fixed phone. In an aspect, electrical component402may comprise communication establishment component110(FIG. 1). In addition, logical grouping400can include an electrical component404for transmitting a connection command message to each of the cellular phone and the fixed phone. In an aspect, electrical component404may comprise one or both of connection command message generating component116and connection command message transmitting component120(FIG. 1). In an additional aspect, logical grouping400can include an electrical component406for receiving a cellular phone call indication message. In an aspect, electrical component406may comprise cellular call indication message receiving component122ofFIG. 1. Furthermore, logical grouping400can include an electrical component408for transmitting a paging message to the cellular phone. In an aspect, electrical component408may comprise paging message transmitting component124ofFIG. 1. In addition, logical grouping400can include an electrical component410for executing a call, such as a voice call. In an aspect, electrical component410may comprise call execution component126ofFIG. 1.

Additionally, system4can include a memory412that retains instructions for executing functions associated with the electrical components402,404,406,408, and410, stores data used or obtained by the electrical components402,404,406,408, and410, etc. While shown as being external to memory412, it is to be understood that one or more of the electrical components402,404,406,408, and410can exist within memory412. In one example, electrical components402,404,406,408, and410can comprise at least one processor, or each electrical component402,404,406,408, and410can be a corresponding module of at least one processor. Moreover, in an additional or alternative example, electrical components402,404,406,408, and410can be a computer program product including a computer readable medium, where each electrical component402,404,406,408, and410can be corresponding code.

FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus500employing a processing system514for carrying out aspects of the present disclosure, such as methods for improved cell (e.g. CSG cell) scanning and discovery through maintenance of a fingerprinting database. In this example, the processing system514may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by a bus502. The bus502may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system514and the overall design constraints. The bus502links together various circuits including one or more processors, represented generally by the processor504, and computer-readable media, represented generally by the computer-readable medium506, and one or more components described herein, such as, but not limited to, the multi-phone device call manager108. The bus502may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further. Furthermore, the bus502may link processor504, computer-readable medium506, and bus interface508to a multi-phone device call manager108, which may be the multi-phone device call manager108ofFIG. 1. A bus interface508provides an interface between the bus502and a transceiver510. The transceiver510provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. Depending upon the nature of the apparatus, a user interface512(e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

The processor504is responsible for managing the bus502and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium506, such as, but not limited to software or other machine-executable instructions for performing the functions of multi-phone device call manager108described throughout the present disclosure. It should be noted that the multi-phone device call manager108architecture is implemented, in an example, by software executed by a processor504at, for example, the network (e.g. Node B) and/or UE. Additionally, the software, when executed by the processor504, causes the processing system514to perform the various functions described infra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium506may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor504when executing software.

The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a broad variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards.

By way of example and without limitation, the aspects of the present disclosure illustrated inFIG. 6are presented with reference to a UMTS system600employing a W-CDMA air interface, which may facilitate execution of one or methods contemplated by the present disclosure. A UMTS network includes three interacting domains: a Core Network (CN)604, a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)602, and User Equipment (UE)610. In an aspect, UE610may be cellular phone104(FIG. 1), and UMTS602may comprise first and/or second cells and/or network entities serving these or other cells. In this example, the UTRAN602provides various wireless services including telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and/or other services. The UTRAN602may include a plurality of Radio Network Subsystems (RNSs) such as an RNS607, each controlled by a respective Radio Network Controller (RNC) such as an RNC606. Here, the UTRAN602may include any number of RNCs606and RNSs607in addition to the RNCs606and RNSs607illustrated herein. The RNC606is an apparatus responsible for, among other things, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing radio resources within the RNS607. The RNC606may be interconnected to other RNCs (not shown) in the UTRAN602through various types of interfaces such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, or the like, using any suitable transport network.

Communication between a UE610and a NodeB608may be considered as including a physical (PHY) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. Further, communication between a UE610and an RNC606by way of a respective NodeB608may be considered as including a radio resource control (RRC) layer. In the instant specification, the PHY layer may be considered layer 1; the MAC layer may be considered layer 6; and the RRC layer may be considered layer 3. Information hereinbelow utilizes terminology introduced in the RRC Protocol Specification, 3GPP TS 65.331 v9.1.0, incorporated herein by reference.

The geographic region covered by the RNS607may be divided into a number of cells, with a radio transceiver apparatus serving each cell. A radio transceiver apparatus is commonly referred to as a NodeB in UMTS applications, but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a base station (BS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), or some other suitable terminology. For clarity, three Node Bs608are shown in each RNS607; however, the RNSs607may include any number of wireless Node Bs. The Node Bs608provide wireless access points to a CN604for any number of mobile apparatuses. Examples of a mobile apparatus include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a notebook, a netbook, a smartbook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, or any other similar functioning device. The mobile apparatus is commonly referred to as a UE in UMTS applications, but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. In a UMTS system, the UE610may further include a universal subscriber identity module (USIM)611, which contains a user's subscription information to a network. For illustrative purposes, one UE610is shown in communication with a number of the Node Bs608. The DL, also called the forward link, refers to the communication link from a NodeB608to a UE610, and the UL, also called the reverse link, refers to the communication link from a UE610to a NodeB608.

The CN604interfaces with one or more access networks, such as the UTRAN602. As shown, the CN604is a GSM core network. However, as those skilled in the art will recognize, the various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented in a RAN, or other suitable access network, to provide UEs with access to types of CNs other than GSM networks.

The CN604includes a circuit-switched (CS) domain and a packet-switched (PS) domain. Some of the circuit-switched elements are a Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), a Visitor location register (VLR) and a Gateway MSC. Packet-switched elements include a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR and AuC may be shared by both of the circuit-switched and packet-switched domains. In the illustrated example, the CN604supports circuit-switched services with a MSC612and a GMSC614. In some applications, the GMSC614may be referred to as a media gateway (MGW). One or more RNCs, such as the RNC606, may be connected to the MSC612. The MSC612is an apparatus that controls call setup, call routing, and UE mobility functions. The MSC612also includes a VLR that contains subscriber-related information for the duration that a UE is in the coverage area of the MSC612. The GMSC614provides a gateway through the MSC612for the UE to access a circuit-switched network616. The GMSC614includes a home location register (HLR)615containing subscriber data, such as the data reflecting the details of the services to which a particular user has subscribed. The HLR is also associated with an authentication center (AuC) that contains subscriber-specific authentication data. When a call is received for a particular UE, the GMSC614queries the HLR615to determine the UE's location and forwards the call to the particular MSC serving that location.

The CN604also supports packet-data services with a serving GPRS support node (SGSN)618and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN)620. GPRS, which stands for General Packet Radio Service, is designed to provide packet-data services at speeds higher than those available with standard circuit-switched data services. The GGSN620provides a connection for the UTRAN602to a packet-based network622. The packet-based network622may be the Internet, a private data network, or some other suitable packet-based network. The primary function of the GGSN620is to provide the UEs610with packet-based network connectivity. Data packets may be transferred between the GGSN620and the UEs610through the SGSN618, which performs primarily the same functions in the packet-based domain as the MSC612performs in the circuit-switched domain.

An air interface for UMTS may utilize a spread spectrum Direct-Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) system. The spread spectrum DS-CDMA spreads user data through multiplication by a sequence of pseudorandom bits called chips. The “wideband” W-CDMA air interface for UMTS is based on such direct sequence spread spectrum technology and additionally calls for a frequency division duplexing (FDD). FDD uses a different carrier frequency for the UL and DL between a NodeB608and a UE610. Another air interface for UMTS that utilizes DS-CDMA, and uses time division duplexing (TDD), is the TD-SCDMA air interface. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although various examples described herein may refer to a W-CDMA air interface, the underlying principles may be equally applicable to a TD-SCDMA air interface.

An HSPA air interface includes a series of enhancements to the 3G/W-CDMA air interface, facilitating greater throughput and reduced latency. Among other modifications over prior releases, HSPA utilizes hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), shared channel transmission, and adaptive modulation and coding. The standards that define HSPA include HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access, also referred to as enhanced uplink, or EUL).

HSDPA utilizes as its transport channel the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The HS-DSCH is implemented by three physical channels: the high-speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH), the high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH), and the high-speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH).

Among these physical channels, the HS-DPCCH carries the HARQ ACK/NACK signaling on the uplink to indicate whether a corresponding packet transmission was decoded successfully. That is, with respect to the downlink, the UE610provides feedback to the node B608over the HS-DPCCH to indicate whether it correctly decoded a packet on the downlink.

HS-DPCCH further includes feedback signaling from the UE610to assist the node B608in taking the right decision in terms of modulation and coding scheme and precoding weight selection, this feedback signaling including the CQI and PCI.

“HSPA Evolved” or HSPA+ is an evolution of the HSPA standard that includes MIMO and 64-QAM, enabling increased throughput and higher performance. That is, in an aspect of the disclosure, the node B608and/or the UE610may have multiple antennas supporting MIMO technology. The use of MIMO technology enables the node B608to exploit the spatial domain to support spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and transmit diversity.

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) is a term generally used to refer to multi-antenna technology, that is, multiple transmit antennas (multiple inputs to the channel) and multiple receive antennas (multiple outputs from the channel). MIMO systems generally enhance data transmission performance, enabling diversity gains to reduce multipath fading and increase transmission quality, and spatial multiplexing gains to increase data throughput.

Spatial multiplexing may be used to transmit different streams of data simultaneously on the same frequency. The data steams may be transmitted to a single UE610to increase the data rate or to multiple UEs610to increase the overall system capacity. This is achieved by spatially precoding each data stream and then transmitting each spatially precoded stream through a different transmit antenna on the downlink. The spatially precoded data streams arrive at the UE(s)610with different spatial signatures, which enables each of the UE(s)610to recover the one or more the data streams destined for that UE610. On the uplink, each UE610may transmit one or more spatially precoded data streams, which enables the node B608to identify the source of each spatially precoded data stream.

Spatial multiplexing may be used when channel conditions are good. When channel conditions are less favorable, beamforming may be used to focus the transmission energy in one or more directions, or to improve transmission based on characteristics of the channel. This may be achieved by spatially precoding a data stream for transmission through multiple antennas. To achieve good coverage at the edges of the cell, a single stream beamforming transmission may be used in combination with transmit diversity.

Generally, for MIMO systems utilizing n transmit antennas, n transport blocks may be transmitted simultaneously over the same carrier utilizing the same channelization code. Note that the different transport blocks sent over the n transmit antennas may have the same or different modulation and coding schemes from one another.

On the other hand, Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) generally refers to a system utilizing a single transmit antenna (a single input to the channel) and multiple receive antennas (multiple outputs from the channel). Thus, in a SIMO system, a single transport block is sent over the respective carrier.

Referring toFIG. 7, an access network700in a UTRAN architecture is illustrated. The multiple access wireless communication system includes multiple cellular regions (cells), including cells702,704, and706, each of which may include one or more sectors. The multiple sectors can be formed by groups of antennas with each antenna responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell. For example, in cell702, antenna groups712,714, and716may each correspond to a different sector. In cell704, antenna groups718,720, and722each correspond to a different sector. In cell706, antenna groups724,726, and728each correspond to a different sector. The cells702,704and706may include several wireless communication devices, e.g., User Equipment or UEs, which may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell702,704or706. For example, UEs730and732may be in communication with NodeB742, UEs734and736may be in communication with NodeB744, and UEs738and740can be in communication with NodeB746. Here, each NodeB742,744,746is configured to provide an access point to a core network for all the UEs730,732,734,736,738,740in the respective cells702,704, and706.

As the UE734moves from the illustrated location in cell704into cell706, a serving cell change (SCC) or handover may occur in which communication with the UE734transitions from the cell704, which may be referred to as the source cell, to cell706, which may be referred to as the target cell. Management of the handover procedure may take place at the UE734, at the Node Bs corresponding to the respective cells, at a radio network controller606(FIG. 6), or at another suitable node in the wireless network. For example, during a call with the source cell704, or at any other time, the UE734may monitor various parameters of the source cell704as well as various parameters of neighboring cells such as cells706and702. Further, depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE734may maintain communication with one or more of the neighboring cells. During this time, the UE734may maintain an Active Set, that is, a list of cells that the UE734is simultaneously connected to (i.e., the UTRA cells that are currently assigning a downlink dedicated physical channel DPCH or fractional downlink dedicated physical channel F-DPCH to the UE734may constitute the Active Set).

The modulation and multiple access scheme employed by the access network700may vary depending on the particular telecommunications standard being deployed. By way of example, the standard may include Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB). EV-DO and UMB are air interface standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) as part of the CDMA2000 family of standards and employs CDMA to provide broadband Internet access to mobile stations. The standard may alternately be Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) employing Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and other variants of CDMA, such as TD-SCDMA; Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) employing TDMA; and Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, and Flash-OFDM employing OFDMA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, and GSM are described in documents from the 3GPP organization. CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from the 3GPP2 organization. The actual wireless communication standard and the multiple access technology employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

The radio protocol architecture may take on various forms depending on the particular application. An example for an HSPA system will now be presented with reference toFIG. 8.FIG. 8is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the radio protocol architecture for the user and control planes.

Turning toFIG. 8, the radio protocol architecture for the UE and node B is shown with three layers: Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3. Layer 1 is the lowest lower and implements various physical layer signal processing functions. Layer 1 will be referred to herein as the physical layer 806. Layer 2 (L2 layer)808is above the physical layer 806 and is responsible for the link between the UE and node B over the physical layer 806.

In the user plane, the L2 layer 808 includes a media access control (MAC) sublayer810, a radio link control (RLC) sublayer812, and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)814sublayer, which are terminated at the node B on the network side. Although not shown, the UE may have several upper layers above the L2 layer 808 including a network layer (e.g., IP layer) that is terminated at a PDN gateway on the network side, and an application layer that is terminated at the other end of the connection (e.g., far end UE, server, etc.).

FIG. 9is a block diagram of a NodeB910in communication with a UE950, where the NodeB910may be the NodeB1008inFIG. 6and/or macro network entity102ofFIG. 1, and the UE950may be the UE610inFIG. 6and/or cellular phone104ofFIG. 1. In the downlink communication, a transmit processor920may receive data from a data source912and control signals from a controller/processor940. The transmit processor920provides various signal processing functions for the data and control signals, as well as reference signals (e.g., pilot signals). For example, the transmit processor920may provide cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes for error detection, coding and interleaving to facilitate forward error correction (FEC), mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), and the like), spreading with orthogonal variable spreading factors (OVSF), and multiplying with scrambling codes to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates from a channel processor944may be used by a controller/processor940to determine the coding, modulation, spreading, and/or scrambling schemes for the transmit processor920. These channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal transmitted by the UE950or from feedback from the UE950. The symbols generated by the transmit processor920are provided to a transmit frame processor930to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor930creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor940, resulting in a series of frames. The frames are then provided to a transmitter932, which provides various signal conditioning functions including amplifying, filtering, and modulating the frames onto a carrier for downlink transmission over the wireless medium through antenna934. The antenna934may include one or more antennas, for example, including beam steering bidirectional adaptive antenna arrays or other similar beam technologies.

At the UE950, a receiver954receives the downlink transmission through an antenna952and processes the transmission to recover the information modulated onto the carrier. The information recovered by the receiver954is provided to a receive frame processor960, which parses each frame, and provides information from the frames to a channel processor994and the data, control, and reference signals to a receive processor970. The receive processor970then performs the inverse of the processing performed by the transmit processor920in the NodeB910. More specifically, the receive processor970descrambles and despreads the symbols, and then determines the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the NodeB910based on the modulation scheme. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by the channel processor994. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data, control, and reference signals. The CRC codes are then checked to determine whether the frames were successfully decoded. The data carried by the successfully decoded frames will then be provided to a data sink972, which represents applications running in the UE950and/or various user interfaces (e.g., display). Control signals carried by successfully decoded frames will be provided to a controller/processor990. When frames are unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver processor970, the controller/processor990may also use an acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocol to support retransmission requests for those frames.

In the uplink, data from a data source978and control signals from the controller/processor990are provided to a transmit processor980. The data source978may represent applications running in the UE950and various user interfaces (e.g., keyboard). Similar to the functionality described in connection with the downlink transmission by the NodeB910, the transmit processor980provides various signal processing functions including CRC codes, coding and interleaving to facilitate FEC, mapping to signal constellations, spreading with OVSFs, and scrambling to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates, derived by the channel processor994from a reference signal transmitted by the NodeB910or from feedback contained in the midamble transmitted by the NodeB910, may be used to select the appropriate coding, modulation, spreading, and/or scrambling schemes. The symbols produced by the transmit processor980will be provided to a transmit frame processor982to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor982creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor990, resulting in a series of frames. The frames are then provided to a transmitter956, which provides various signal conditioning functions including amplification, filtering, and modulating the frames onto a carrier for uplink transmission over the wireless medium through the antenna952.

The uplink transmission is processed at the NodeB910in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE950. A receiver935receives the uplink transmission through the antenna934and processes the transmission to recover the information modulated onto the carrier. The information recovered by the receiver935is provided to a receive frame processor936, which parses each frame, and provides information from the frames to the channel processor944and the data, control, and reference signals to a receive processor938. The receive processor938performs the inverse of the processing performed by the transmit processor980in the UE950. The data and control signals carried by the successfully decoded frames may then be provided to a data sink939and the controller/processor, respectively. If some of the frames were unsuccessfully decoded by the receive processor, the controller/processor940may also use an acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocol to support retransmission requests for those frames.

The controller/processors940and990may be used to direct the operation at the NodeB910and the UE950, respectively. For example, the controller/processors940and990may provide various functions including timing, peripheral interfaces, voltage regulation, power management, and other control functions. The computer readable media of memories942and992may store data and software for the NodeB910and the UE950, respectively. A scheduler/processor946at the NodeB910may be used to allocate resources to the UEs and schedule downlink and/or uplink transmissions for the UEs.

Several aspects of a telecommunications system have been presented with reference to a W-CDMA system. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards.