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A wireless packet data communications system that includes a number of modem pool transceivers (MPTs), one or more modem pool controllers (MPCs), and one or more servers. Each MPT receives and processes data packets to generate a modulated signal (e.g., a CDMA spread spectrum signal) suitable for tr

A wireless packet data communications system that includes a number of modem pool transceivers (MPTs), one or more modem pool controllers (MPCs), and one or more servers. Each MPT receives and processes data packets to generate a modulated signal (e.g., a CDMA spread spectrum signal) suitable for transmission over a terrestrial communications link. Each MPC provides call related processing for one or more MPTs. The servers couple to the MPTs and MPCs via an Internet Protocol (IP) back-bone and provide management of the communications system. The IP back-bone further interconnects the MPTs with one or more data networks and includes a number of routers that route data packets between the data networks and the MPTs. Each MPT can couple to two or more routers for redundancy. Each MPT is operated as an element in an IP network and is associated with an IP address that identifies the MPT. One to three MPTs can be deployed at each cell site to provide wireless data service coverage for up to three sectors at the cell site. The MPCs can either be centralized and coupled to the MPTs via the IP back-bone or distributed about the communications system.

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1. A wireless packet data communications system comprising:a plurality of modem pool transceivers, each modem pool transceiver configured to receive and process data packets to generate a modulated signal suitable for transmission over a wireless terrestrial communications link; one or more modem po

1. A wireless packet data communications system comprising:a plurality of modem pool transceivers, each modem pool transceiver configured to receive and process data packets to generate a modulated signal suitable for transmission over a wireless terrestrial communications link; one or more modem pool controllers operatively coupled to the plurality of modem pool transceivers, each modem pool controller configured to provide call related processing for one or more modem pool transceivers; and one or more servers operatively coupled to the modem pool transceivers and modem pool controllers via an Internet Protocol (IP) back-bone, the one or more servers configured to provide management of the communications system. 2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein each modem pool transceiver is operated as an element in an IP network and is associated with an IP address that identifies the modem pool transceiver.3. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the IP back-bone interconnects the plurality of modem pool transceivers with one or more data networks.4. The communications system of claim 1, wherein each modem pool transceiver is configured to transmit to one receiving access terminal at any particular moment.5. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the IP back-bone includesa plurality of routers coupled to the plurality of modem pool transceivers and configured to route data packets between the data networks and the modem pool transceivers. 6. The communications system of claim 5, wherein each modem pool transceiver couples to at least two routers for redundancy.7. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modem pool controllers are centralized and couple to the plurality of modem pool transceivers via the IP back-bone.8. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modem pool controllers are distributed about the communications system.9. The communications system of claim 1, wherein each modem pool controller is further configured to maintain a protocol stack for each session between an access terminal and the one or more modem pool transceivers associated with the modem pool controller.10. The communications system of claim 9, wherein the protocol stack for an inactive access terminal is stored in a memory.11. The communications system of claim 1, wherein one to three modem pool transceivers are deployed at a cell site to provide wireless data service coverage for up to three sectors at the cell site.12. The communications system of claim 1, wherein each modem pool transceiver is operable to hand-off a particular access terminal to another modem pool transceiver having an improved communications path.13. The communications system of claim 1, and operable to support over-the-air activation of an access terminal.14. The communications system of claim 13, wherein the over-the-air activation is supported using an anonymous login.15. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the modem pool transceivers are deployable in similar manner as base station transceivers that conform to IS-95 CDMA standard.16. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the modulated signal is a CDMA spread spectrum signal.17. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the modulated signal has a peak data rate of at least 2.4 Mbps.18. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more servers includea RADIUS server operative to provide authentication, authorization, and accounting functions for the communications system. 19. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more servers includean OAM&P server operative to provide configuration and management functions for the communications system. 20. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more servers includean account server operative to store user profile information for users in the communications system. 21. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the one or more servers includea DHCP server operative to dynamically assign IP addresses for access terminals in the communications system. 22. The communications system of claim 1, and operative to provide wireless Internet services.23. A wireless packet data communications system operative to provide wireless Internet services, comprising:a plurality of modem pool transceivers, each modem pool transceiver configured to receive and process data packets to generate a modulated signal suitable for transmission over a terrestrial communications link, wherein the modulated signal is a CDMA spread spectrum signal and has a peak data rate of at least 2.4 Mbps, and wherein each modem pool transceiver is further operated as an element in an Internet Protocol (IP) network and is associated with an IP address that identifies the modem pool transceiver; one or more modem pool controllers operatively coupled to the plurality of modem pool transceivers, each modem pool controller configured to provide call related processing for one or more modem pool transceivers; a plurality of routers coupled to the plurality of modem pool transceivers and configured to route data packets between one or more data networks and the modem pool transceivers; and a local area network (LAN) operatively coupled to one or more of the routers, the LAN including a first server operative to provide authentication, authorization, and accounting functions for the communications system, and a second server operative to provide configuration and management functions for the communications system. 24. An access terminal for use in a wireless packet data communications system, comprising:an RF module configured to receive a modulated signal over a wireless communications link and to condition the received signal to generate a conditioned signal; a modem block coupled to the RF module and configured to demodulate the conditioned signal to generate data; and a processor core coupled to the modem block and configured to receive and process the data into packets suitable for transmission to a receiving device, and wherein the access terminal is operated as an element in an Internet Protocol (IP) network and is associated with an IP address that identifies the access terminal. 25. The access terminal of claim 24, further comprising:an interface unit coupled to the processor core and configured to provide an Ethernet or serial interface to the receiving device. 26. The access terminal of claim 24, wherein the access terminal is assigned a unique identifier and password used to authenticate the access terminal to the communications system.27. The access terminal of claim 24, and operative to receive data at a peak data rate of at least 2.4 Mbps.28. A method for providing wireless packet data services in a communications system, the method comprising:initiating a session between an access terminal and the communications system; receiving a request for a data transmission from the communications system; retrieving, from a data network, data indicated by the request; processing and modulating the retrieved data to generate a modulated signal suitable for transmission over a wireless terrestrial communications link; and transmitting the modulated signal, and wherein the access terminal is operated as an element in an Internet Protocol (IP) network and is associated with an IP address that identifies the access terminal. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the initiating includesauthenticating the access terminal via a secure message exchange. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the secure message exchange is accomplished using a Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP).31. The method of claim 28, wherein the initiating includesassigning the access terminal with a static or dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address for the session. 32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:activating and configuring the access terminal prior to the initiating. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the activating and configuring includesassigning a unique identifier and password to the access terminal to be used for each session.