Abstract: A base station includes: a reception unit for receiving a first adjacent cell list which is a list of cells adjacent to a cell managed by an adjacent base station from the adjacent base station; and a control unit for employing the first adjacent cell list as a second adjacent cell list that is a list of cells adjacent to a cell managed by the base station itself.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for covert transmission of an assistance request message from a wearable computing device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wearable computing device receives a covert input and transmits a corresponding assistance request message without presenting an indication that such a request message is being, or has been, transmitted. Thus, a user in an emergency situation, which may worsen if a corresponding perpetrator detects a call for emergency assistance, can use the wearable computer device to send an assistance request message in a covert manner.

Abstract: A method of a user equipment (UE) for beam management in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a base station (BS), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling and a medium access control channel element (MAC CE) signaling including a beam indicator over a downlink channel for the beam management, identifying the beam indicator based on the RRC signaling and the MAC CE signaling, and determining the beam indicator for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a common physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and a fallback unicast PDSCH.

Abstract: A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), for managing subscription to policy counters maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference. The method comprises receiving a Multiple Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the Multiple Users subscription trigger identifying a reference network policy and a subject network policy. The method further comprises sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (214), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for the subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to policy counters maintained at the OCS.

Abstract: In a case where a communication apparatus fails in authentication when acquiring communication parameters from another communication apparatus and where it is determined that an authentication request signal received from the other communication apparatus has been transmitted by unicast, the communication apparatus notifies said other communication apparatus of an error. On the other hand, even in a case where the communication apparatus fails in authentication, when it is determined that the authentication request signal received from the other communication apparatus has not been transmitted by unicast, the communication apparatus does not notify said other communication apparatus of an error.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for authenticating parties who communicate via unauthenticated channels. A user authentication verification service receives a request to confirm the identity of a party who communicates via an unauthenticated channel. The user authentication verification service may identify a computing device associated with the claimed user identity, and may determine that the computing device (or an application installed on the computing device) can be used to authenticate the user. The user authentication verification service may thus transmit a push notification or other request to the computing device to request authentication from the user that the party claims to be or represent. The user authentication verification service may then receive information from the computing device, confirm that the information authenticates that the party is the user (or is acting on behalf of the user), and authorize communication via the unauthenticated channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for management of network slices in a communication network such as a 5th generation wireless communication network are provided. Management planes may be provided which are separate from the plurality of network slices. A connection manager residing in a management plane receives an indication that a mobile device is to be associated with the communication network. The connection manager may reside at an access node or in the core network. A network slice is determined, and the connection manager transmits instructions, to one or more network nodes, to associate the mobile device with the network slice. The instructions may be provided to a local connection manager. The slice may be requested explicitly by the mobile device, or determined based on device and/or network requirements.

Abstract: A method for implementing networking of an access network includes: implementing networking of small cells within a range covered by a macro coverage cell to form a distributed cell when number of the small cells within the range covered by the macro coverage cell reaches a threshold; and communicating the small cells in the distributed cell with neighboring cells or core network CN through the macro coverage cell in the distributed cell, where the neighboring cells include another distributed cell, a conventional cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing time-shifted data downloads over cellular networks are disclosed. The downloads can be selected using an application or other data consuming application with a “download later” feature, or similar. The application can register with a data shifting service (DSS) to receive a low-priority, or “0-rated,” download of the data. The DSS can place the application in queue waiting for predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization to fall below a predetermined level). Upon occurrence of the predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization falling below a predetermined rate), the DSS can inform the application that a low-priority download window is available. The application can then download the data from a content provider. The DSS can enable cellular networks to increase average network utilization, while reducing peak demand. The system may offer low-priority downloads at reduced cost, or free, to incentivize use of the DSS.

Abstract: A device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: calculate a number of devices which are estimated to access at a same time to an apparatus that provides a service corresponding to the event when a signal as a trigger for occurrence of an event is received, calculate a standby time from an occurrence time of the event based on the number of devices and a condition related to the service or the apparatus, and access to the apparatus after staying in standby from the occurrence time of the event until the standby time elapses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for proactively populating an application with information that was previously viewed by a user in a different application are disclosed herein. An example method includes: while displaying a first application, obtaining information identifying a first physical location viewed by a user in the first application. The method also includes exiting the first application and, after exiting the first application, receiving a request from the user to open a second application that is distinct from the first application. In response to receiving the request and in accordance with a determination that the second application is capable of accepting geographic location information, the method includes presenting the second application so that the second application is populated with information that is based at least in part on the information identifying the first physical location.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including determining, according to first information associated with a first wireless access device and second information associated with a second wireless access device, to facilitate communication between a first wireless communication device in a first geographic area and a network via the second wireless access device, and, in response, directing, according to a directional capability of the second wireless access device, the second wireless access device to cover a first portion of the first geographic area associated with the first wireless communication device, and directing the second wireless access device to facilitate the communication between the first wireless communication device and the network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for detecting anomalies in the recorded consumption of data volume and charging of data services in a communication network is described. Data records for each session may be captured from multiple sources. The data records may comprise parameters indicating usage volume pertaining to services being consumed for each session. Further, the data records may be aggregated and reconciled to detect volume gap in each session. Each session may be categorized into a session category based upon the detection of the volume gap. The data records may further be enriched by tagging each data record with the session category. The data records enriched may then be aggregated across the parameters. Finally, a root-cause parameter for the volume gap pertaining to each session may be identified by computing a total volume, a total volume gap and a probability of gap root-cause for each parameter using the aggregated data records.

Abstract: In an embodiment, conductive structural members of a device acting as NFC antenna are described. According to an embodiment, a device comprises: two conductive structural members, each comprising a first electrical end and a second electrical end, a dielectric isolation being configured between the first electrical end of the first structural member and the first electrical end of the second structural member; two NFC antenna feeds, the first feed being electrically coupled with the first electrical end of the first member, the second feed being electrically coupled with the first electrical end of the second member; two grounding components, one each grounding the second electrical end of the conductive structural members; at least one additional antenna feed configured for a frequency other than that of NFC, coupled to either of the two members.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for management of network slices in a communication network such as a 5th generation wireless communication network are provided. Management planes may be provided which are separate from the plurality of network slices. A connection manager residing in a management plane receives an indication that a mobile device is to be associated with the communication network. The connection manager may reside at an access node or in the core network. A network slice is determined, and the connection manager transmits instructions, to one or more network nodes, to associate the mobile device with the network slice. The instructions may be provided to a local connection manager. The slice may be requested explicitly by the mobile device, or determined based on device and/or network requirements.

Abstract: Information about a signal device is received at a first location in a first physical environment. The signal device broadcasts a signal to a computing device. A first indication is received from the computing device. The first indication includes a first strength of signal of the signal device received by the computing device. Whether the first strength of signal is above a threshold is determined. A second location is determined. The second location is where the computing device is located when the first strength of signal is above the threshold. The second location is within the first physical environment. A first visual representation of the first physical environment is displayed. The first visual representation includes one or more of the following: the signal device at the first location, at least one physical item found in the physical environment, a broadcasting power of the signal device, and the second location.

Abstract: Security and surveillance system based on smart phones devices, of the type of devices having capacity for communications with a wide area network, such as the Internet or telephony, being able to load and run an operating procedure as a module or downloadable application, and being provided with services such as a screen, a photo camera, GPS; for example: smart phones, tablets, GPS, etc.; wherein said module includes procedures for enabling and make the phone services accessible and a bidirectional communication with a remote control center or a specific user, via the Internet; said module or modules including different security procedures linking the device with a security data base having geolocated data which adapt the response to the emergencies occurred by means of procedures protocols.

Abstract: Information about a signal device is received at a first location in a first physical environment. The signal device broadcasts a signal to a computing device. A first indication is received from the computing device. The first indication includes a first strength of signal of the signal device received by the computing device. Whether the first strength of signal is above a threshold is determined. A second location is determined. The second location is where the computing device is located when the first strength of signal is above the threshold. The second location is within the first physical environment. A first visual representation of the first physical environment is displayed. The first visual representation includes one or more of the following: the signal device at the first location, at least one physical item found in the physical environment, a broadcasting power of the signal device, and the second location.

Abstract: Systems for and methods of delivering telephone calls using the combination of a data channel and a voice channel are disclosed. A data channel connection with the telephone handset may provide pre-call information used to set up incoming and outgoing calls which are ultimately connected using a voice channel. Use of the pre-call information may permit the same handset to be associated with multiple secondary telephone numbers from which calls appear to have been made and to which calls appear to have been placed.

Abstract: Selecting serving cells in air to ground communication systems efficiently and with maximum knowledge of forward and return link channel conditions allows maximum throughput available to a user at any point in time, particularly in the presence of high interference. Airborne based and ground based systems may collect forward and return link channel conditions and develop user capacity estimates to be used by aircraft and ground based transceivers. Such user capacity estimates may be shared among distributed air-to-ground networks to ensure the latest channel conditions are available for serving cell selection decisions.