Abstract: A base station provides service on a host carrier, the host carrier having a host-carrier frequency range that defines a host-carrier bandwidth. Further, the base station provides service on a guest carrier concurrently with the base station providing service on the host carrier, the guest carrier having a guest-carrier frequency range that is defined fully within and as a portion of the host-carrier frequency range and that defines a guest-carrier bandwidth narrower than the host-carrier bandwidth. And the base station dynamically varies the guest-carrier bandwidth based at least on variation in quantity of client devices connected with the base station on the host carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamical calibration of phase signals and/or amplitudes in a telecommunication system. Calibration of phases is a necessary measure to ensure proper phasing and, as a result, emission of correct beamforming patterns. Without correct phasing (and emission of correct beamforming patterns), performance of a telecommunication network may suffer and user satisfaction may decrease. However, calibration provides a period of time where service is not provided and should not be done too often as it will decrease service provided and, likely, satisfaction of service received if there are frequent periods of outages. By utilizing specific telecommunication metrics, such as temperature, performance, or error vector magnitude, necessary calibrations may be identified and evaluated such that a determination regarding an optimal calibration time is made to balance providing service and a period of service outage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system for reducing tropospheric ducting and tropospheric refraction in a wireless telecommunication network. A base station or network component receives weather information and determines if conditions are right for tropospheric ducting or tropospheric refraction. A simultaneous rise in UL interference, call failure rates, and call drop rates in adjacent markets can indicate tropospheric ducting. A rise in UL interference, call failure rates, and call drop rates by devices in one market can indicate tropospheric refraction. Where these UL interferences, call failure rates, and call drop rates occur daily for a similar duration each day, they are treated as being caused by tropospheric propagation and a mitigation routine is implemented through antenna down-tilt.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating frequencies based on group delay variation considerations include a base station that operates in a frequency range comprising a first set of frequency groups and a second set of frequency groups, where frequency groups of the first set are less susceptible to group delay variation based impairments than the frequency groups of the second set. In response to a requirement to transmit data between the base station and a particular UE, the base station determines whether the particular UE is receiving wireless service directly from the base station or via a relay associated with the base station, and when the particular UE is receiving wireless service via the relay, the base station allocates one or more frequency groups from the first set of frequency groups to use for transmitting data between the base station and the particular UE to satisfy the requirement.

Abstract: In a wireless network comprising a plurality of carriers available for carrier aggregation transmissions between a base station and UE, the base station: (i) determines whether a requirement exists to transmit data between the UE and the base station via a carrier aggregation transmission; (ii) in response to determining that the carrier aggregation transmission requirement exists, selects a primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers from the plurality of carriers for the carrier aggregation transmission based on one or more of each carrier's group delay, group delay variation, or insertion loss; (iii) allocates the selected primary and secondary component carriers to the carrier aggregation transmission; (iv) informs the UE of the allocation; and (v) executes the carrier aggregation transmission according to the allocation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modifying spacing in between a plurality of antenna dipole columns on an antenna associated with a wireless communications network. A first signaling technology currently employed by a base station is determined, where the first signaling technology requires each of the antenna dipole columns to be separated from one another by a first distance. It is then determined that a second signaling technology is to be employed by the base station, the second signaling technology requiring each of the antenna dipole columns to be separated from one another by a second distance. A signaling message is communicated to a movement mechanism, causing at least one of the antenna dipole columns to move so that the columns are spaced at the second distance from one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing UE handover based on group delay variation include a base station (i) selecting a target neighbor sector from a plurality of neighbor sectors for the handover, where each neighbor sector has a group delay metric, and where the target neighbor sector is selected from the neighbor sectors based at least in part on each neighbor sector's group delay variation and (ii) initiating handover of the UE to the target neighbor sector. Some embodiments include creating a neighbor relations table (NRT) comprising at least some of the neighbor sectors, and prioritizing the NRT based on group delay and/or group delay variation. In some embodiments, selection of the target neighbor sector for the handover is additionally based on neighbor sector handover success rates and Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) values for neighbor sectors reported by the UE for which the handover is to be performed.

Abstract: During the operation of a radio access network (RAN), the RAN will determine a measure of capacity of a frequency channel based on a modulation quality (Rho) of the frequency channel and will intelligently manage use of the frequency channel based on the determined Rho. Through this process, the RAN may thereby attempt to serve each WCD with an appropriate level of service by reducing a maximum load level for the frequency channel. In response to a WCD attempting to register on a frequency channel, the RAN may determine if registering the WCD would cause a current load level to exceed the maximum load level of the frequency channel. If registering would cause a current load level of the frequency channel to exceed the maximum load level, the RAN may cause the WCD to register on a different frequency channel. If not, the RAN may allow the registration.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate differential routing of voice handover traffic and non-voice handover traffic. In particular, a wireless communication system may include a controller, a backhaul interface that passes through the controller, an inter-base-station interface that does not pass through the controller, as well as first and second base stations that are communicatively linked via (i) the backhaul interface and (ii) the inter-base-station interface. With this arrangement, the system may encounter a trigger to configure transmission of handover signaling between the first and second base stations, and may responsively configure itself to transmit (i) via the inter-base-station interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of ongoing voice communications and (ii) via the backhaul interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of communications other than ongoing voice communications.

Abstract: A device, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for mitigating signal interference at a base station. Signal interference can be generated from subcomponent levels at a base station (e.g., electronic antenna motors) due to non-optimal designs or electric ground interferences. Generally, when power is provided to such subcomponent(s), a noise or harmonic can be inadvertently generated, falling into one of the operating bands of the base station, and negatively impacting system performance. As such, embodiments can be configured to dynamically ascertain a noise baseline associated with the base station, determine that one or more of the subcomponents are at fault for interfering with the base station operating band(s), and mitigate the interfering signal for a period that least impacts system performance.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a base station may be configured to serve a user equipment device (UE) over two or more beams using different modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) in response to determining that another base station is concurrently serving another UE at nearly the same location. For instance, a first base station may initially serve a first UE over two beams using the same MCS on both beams. The first base station may then determine that a second base station is serving a second UE at nearly the same location. And in response, the first base station may then change the MCS on at least one of the two beams so that the first base station then serves the first UE using different MCSs on the two beams. Serving the first UE with different MCSs concurrently on multiple beams may help to improve the first UE's reception.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods for selecting channel bandwidths to a user equipment (UE) device for carrying out a communication session. Selection of the channel bandwidth can be based on a data-usage tendency of the UE device. The data-usage tendency can indicate a data-usage rate of the UE device or a set of user equipment devices similar to the UE device. The channel bandwidth can comprise a plurality of subcarriers. Two or more of the subcarriers can be adjacent to one another or be separated by one or more subcarriers of a channel bandwidth assigned or assignable to another UE device for another communication session. A processor that selects the channel bandwidth can further base its selection on a service plan associated with the UE device and load conditions of frequency bands of a radio access network.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing the potential of interference between a cell tower and a neighboring EMR source. At a base station, such as an eNodeB, it is determined that a sector of the cell tower has the potential for interference with the EMR source based on, for instance, monitoring of network parameters, a computation of the sector's azimuth, and a distance between the sector and the EMR source. Time intervals are computed corresponding to when the EMR source emits EMR in a direction of the sector of the base station, Uplink and downlink transmissions to and from the sector of the cell tower are ceased during the computed time intervals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for detecting cell site component faults are provided. An unmanned aerial vehicle may be utilized to collect heat signature information about remotely located cell towers. The heat signature information is analyzed to detect any anomalies at the remote cell site that may indicate an antenna, radio, or cable connector are malfunctioning or need repair, for example. When an anomaly is detected, an indication of the anomaly and information to identify one or more components that correspond to the anomaly are communicated.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for mitigating radio-frequency (RF) interference at a remote radio head (RRH) of a base station due to non-linearity in at least one of the RRH components. RF-interference indicators received from one or more user devices are monitored. When the RF-interference indicators indicate that RF interference at the RRH is above a predefined threshold, then a power amplifier associated with the RRH is adjusted to operate in a saturation mode thereby reducing the generation of inter-modulation products and reducing RF interference at the RRH. When the RF-interference indicators indicate that RF interference at the RRH is below the predefined threshold, then the power amplifier is adjusted to operate in an active mode thereby optimizing signal gain.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically changing an orientation of dipole elements on an antenna associated with a wireless communications network. A reference signal is received at a base station from a user device that indicates an angle of arrival corresponding to the user device. Based on the angle of arrival and other factors, it is determined that a first pair of dipole elements having a first orientation is to be moved to have a second orientation. By way of a motorized element, first pair of dipole elements is physically moved from the first orientation to the second orientation.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) determines whether transmission time interval (TTI) bundling is warranted for a wireless communication device (WCD) based on information contained in one or more reports from the WCD. The information may include a reference-signal value, such as a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), in a measurement report, an amount of data indicated in a buffer status report as being buffered by the WCD for transmission via one or more bearers in a bearer group, and a service class associated with the bearer group. If the RAN determines that TTI bundling is warranted for the WCD, the RAN may further select a TTI bundle size for the WCD. The RAN may select the TTI bundle size from among a plurality of values, which values may include a standard TTI bundle size and a smaller TTI bundle size.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimization of the functionality of a radio tower comprising multiple radios. A baseband unit receives data on an uplink data transmission from a first radio but not from a second radio present at the radio tower. The baseband unit processes the data and transmits, on a downlink data transmission, the data to the first radio and to the second radio. Both radios may have a combined quantity of radio ports whose channels are combined by way of a combiner such that the quantity of channels become equivalent to the quantity of antenna ports on the antenna at the radio tower.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically adjusting drop-timer thresholds based on loading. An embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by at least one network entity in a communication system that also includes a radio access network (RAN) providing wireless service to access terminals in a coverage area, in part by enforcing a drop timer having an associated start threshold and an associated stop threshold. The method includes determining a current level of load in the coverage area, and further includes adjusting one or both of the start threshold and the stop threshold based at least in part on the determined current level of load in the coverage area.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided to help mitigate the potential quality-of-service degradation associated with fast-moving UEs operating in a network that provides higher-bandwidth frequency channels in some but not all wireless coverage sectors. In accordance with the method, a base station may evaluate a UE's current speed and, when that speed exceeds a threshold speed, the base station may instruct the UE to register on a low-bandwidth channel rather than a higher-bandwidth channel. Registering for service on a low-bandwidth channel instead of a higher-bandwidth channel may help ensure that the UE maintains a consistent quality of service as the UE moves from coverage area to coverage area. Further, the base station may also query nearby base stations to determine whether there exists a sufficient number of base stations that operate on higher-bandwidth channels. If so, the base station may instruct the UE to use a higher-bandwidth channel.