Abstract: An embodiment includes determining estimate(s) of bandwidth for class(es) of quality of service to be implemented in base station(s) for service(s) provided to user equipment by the base station(s), determining expiration time(s) for corresponding ones of the estimate(s) of bandwidth, and communicating indications of the same toward mobile backhaul node(s). At a backhaul node, the indications are received and, based on the received indications, downstream bandwidth is modified for user equipment of different quality of service classes, wherein the downstream bandwidth passes through the mobile backhaul node toward the base station(s). Apparatus, software, and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a communication network (400), wireless access points (300) utilize one or more agents (302, 306) to support the operating needs of corresponding mobile stations. Pursuant to one approach, the agent supports translation of the mobile station's end-to-end protocol-based messages to Internet Protocol-based messages that are readily ported through an Internet Protocol-friendly communication system infrastructure that preferably eschews the use of network elements that rely upon unique and/or proprietary non-Internet Protocol interfaces. Pursuant to another approach the wireless access point is able to interact on a peer-to-peer basis with other wireless access points in order to facilitate, for example, handovers and other mobility management tasks.

Abstract: A wireless access point (102) detects an indicia of a change in wireless connectivity of a mobile station (101) with respect to itself and another wireless access point (103). The wireless access point then automatically effects at least one of establishing a communication between itself and the second wireless access point regarding the change in wireless connectivity and/or establishing a temporary data tunnel as between itself and the second wireless access point. These network elements can also act to automatically establish a data flow path for the mobile station as between the second wireless access point and a network element (such as a mobility management agent (105)) that is external to the common subnet. In a preferred approach this comprises, at least in part, automatically sending a registration request to the network element other than in response to a specific request from the mobile station to send such a registration request.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, computer program products, and software for reducing interference occurring when a capacity booster cell has a coverage area within the overlapping coverage areas of more than one coverage cell are disclosed. Essentially, weights are assigned, either by individual capacity booster cells or by zone controllers with which a plurality of capacity booster cells communicate, to coverage cells. The interfering coverage cells are ranked in accordance with the assigned weights, and the metrics to be reported to each of the interfering coverage cells are adjusted in view of the assigned weights. The adjusted metrics are then reported to each of the interfering coverage cells to influence the ABS muting pattern subsequently used by each of said interfering coverage cells.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for handover management in wireless communication networks. An apparatus, such as a base station, receives information relating to load conditions and computes handover threshold information based on the information relating to the load conditions. The information relating to the load conditions may comprise information received from other base stations, and the base station may in turn share its own information. Information may be shared through direct communication between base stations, or may be managed by a controller. Handover thresholds may be set for user devices based on the load metric information.

Abstract: A wireless access point (300A, 300B, 300C) provides (101) a surrogate Internet Protocol address to use on behalf of a mobile station (401). That wireless access point then uses (102) that surrogate Internet Protocol address along with its own Internet Protocol address to facilitate establishing one or more data tunnels as necessary to support the communication needs of the mobile station.

Abstract: Mobile station information is exchanged between a plurality of distributed mobility agents (106, 108). The exchange is initiated by a mobility agent (106) associated with a last known network access point (110) that has communicated with the mobile station (114). The mobile station (114) is paged from at least one network access point using an available air interface technology to interface with the mobile station (114) and using the mobile station information. No centralized controller is used in the paging.

Abstract: A first base station communicates (102) with a second base station (wherein an ongoing communication cannot be handed over from the first base station to the second base station and wherein the first and second base station each employ, at least in part, a same set of carrier resources) to prevent interference by usage of the second base station with a user of the first base station. By one approach, this activity can be based, at least in part, upon receipt (101) of a message from an end user platform indicating that a carrier resource that is presently being used by the end user platform is being interfered with by the second base station. By another approach, this activity can take place prior to any actual such interference.

Abstract: A method for prioritizing Mobile IP between PMIP and CMIP includes the steps of connecting a mobile device (118) to a communication network (102) and determining (308) if the network provides mobility control, such as the network being PMIP-enabled. When it is determined that the network provide mobility control, the mobility function is assigned (312) to the network and is therefore given priority over the mobility function provided by the mobile device. It can be determined (304) that the mobile station also includes a mobility control so that when the network is not PMIP-enabled the mobile station controls (314) layer 3 mobility and the Mobile IP function.

Abstract: An embodiment includes determining estimate(s) of bandwidth for class(es) of quality of service to be implemented in base station(s) for service(s) provided to user equipment by the base station(s), determining expiration time(s) for corresponding ones of the estimate(s) of bandwidth, and communicating indications of the same toward mobile backhaul node(s). At a backhaul node, the indications are received and, based on the received indications, downstream bandwidth is modified for user equipment of different quality of service classes, wherein the downstream bandwidth passes through the mobile backhaul node toward the base station(s). Apparatus, software, and computer program produces are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, computer program products, and software for reducing interference occurring when a capacity booster cell has a coverage area within the overlapping coverage areas of more than one coverage cell are disclosed. Essentially, weights are assigned, either by individual capacity booster cells or by zone controllers with which a plurality of capacity booster cells communicate, to coverage cells. The interfering coverage cells are ranked in accordance with the assigned weights, and the metrics to be reported to each of the interfering coverage cells are adjusted in view of the assigned weights. The adjusted metrics are then reported to each of the interfering coverage cells to influence the ABS muting pattern subsequently used by each of said interfering coverage cells.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing the use of almost blank subframes in wireless communication systems. Base stations in a wireless network monitor load information affecting network nodes. Load information may be in the form of load metric information. The load information may be exchanged between system elements, and an almost blank subframe proportioning may be updated by one or more of the base stations, and information relating to the updated proportioning. The updated almost blank subframe proportioning may be used in scheduling and load metric calculation, as well as almost blank subframe patterning. Updating of almost blank subframe information and load metric information may be performed iteratively.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for handover management in wireless communication networks. An apparatus, such as a base station, receives information relating to load conditions and computes handover threshold information based on the information relating to the load conditions. The information relating to the load conditions may comprise information received from other base stations, and the base station may in turn share its own information. Information may be shared through direct communication between base stations, or may be managed by a controller. Handover thresholds may be set for user devices based on the load metric information.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing the use of almost blank subframes in wireless communication systems. Base stations in a wireless network monitor load information affecting network nodes. Load information may be in the form of load metric information. The load information may be exchanged between system elements, and an almost blank subframe proportioning may be updated by one or more of the base stations, and information relating to the updated proportioning. The updated almost blank subframe proportioning may be used in scheduling and load metric calculation, as well as almost blank subframe patterning. Updating of almost blank subframe information and load metric information may be performed iteratively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described to enable improved inter-network/inter-technology handover of mobile devices. A network device (131, 132) collects dynamic information corresponding to mobile devices (101, 102), such as wireless measurement information at the device's location, and/or information corresponding to wireless network nodes (121-124), such loading levels/loading distributions. The network device then sends some or all of the dynamic information collected and/or statistical information generated from the dynamic information collected to a neighboring network information server (150) for access by other communication networks. By maintaining dynamic and/or statistical information in a neighboring network information server, such information can be made available to all the communication networks in a given region. One potential benefit to making this information available is improved inter-network handoff decision-making.

Abstract: An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handing over a mobile station (106) from a serving base station (104a) to a target base station (104b) within a wireless communication system (100) is described. A session is established between the mobile station and the serving base station and it is determined that the mobile station is to be handed over from the serving base station to the target base station. The target base station notifies the serving base station of identifying data of the target base station and added to the identifying data is a message to be sent to mobile station regarding the handover of the mobile station. The serving base station sends the message including the identifying data to the mobile station and the mobile station is handed over from the serving base station to the target base station using the identifying data of the target base station.

Abstract: A central controller (300) receives (201), from each of a plurality of base stations certain operating information. This operating information can comprise, for example, a self-identifier, information regarding allowed wireless distance coverage, identifiers for neighboring ones of the plurality of base stations, information regarding wireless distances to neighboring base station, or loading information. This operating information is used (202) to form adjacency information regarding the plurality of base stations. This adjacency information is then used (203) (along, for example, with the aforementioned loading information) to develop a resource allocation plan as pertains to the resources. This plan is then communicated (204) to the plurality of base stations such that the latter can utilize the plan to thereby partition use of the plurality of resources to support communication needs of the base stations while avoiding undue interference with respect to the use of such resources.

Abstract: A wireless access point (200), upon determining (101) that a need exists to support a communication need of a mobile station, acquires (102) a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and automatically transmits (103) a gratuitous Address Resolution Protocol message to a local router to thereby cause the latter to correlate the first IP address to a Medium Access Control address for the wireless access point. In a preferred embodiment the wireless access point can also automatically transmit a registration request to a remote network element (such as a Home Agent) that presents this first IP address as a care-of address to use in conjunction with another IP address that serves as a home address for the mobile station.