Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus and system for managing frequency use in a system where multiple air interface protocols are in use. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is operating under a particular air interface protocol on a particular frequency channel, the WCD detects a threshold signal under another air interface protocol, and the WCD responsively transitions from operating under the particular air interface protocol on the particular frequency channel to operating under the particular air interface protocol on a different frequency channel. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for carrier selection based on probable mobility of packet flow. A request is received from an access terminal. The request comprises a packet-flow-type indication, and indicates that the access terminal is requesting a packet flow. If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a high degree of mobility, the first access terminal is instructed to conduct the packet flow on one of a first set of one or more carriers. If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a low degree of mobility, the access terminal is instructed to conduct the packet flow on one of a second set of one or more carriers. No carriers are elements of both the first set and the second set.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for monitoring antenna deterioration. When a signal is transmitted by a base station antenna at a tower-top of a cellular base station, a measurement antenna positioned at the tower-top receives the signal. The signal is measured to determine the signal power and the actual gain of the base station antenna is determined by comparing the determined signal power to the input power of the signal before it was transmitted by the base station antenna.

Abstract: A base station may be configured to emit a plurality of beams in a given coverage area, where each beam defines a different respective sub-coverage area of the given coverage area and serves wireless communication devices (WCDs) located in the respective sub-coverage area. While emitting these beams, the base station may detect that there is a threshold number of highly-mobile WCDs located in the given coverage area. In response, the base station may activate a global beam that serves WCDs located anywhere in the given coverage area. In turn, the base station may assign at least one highly-mobile WCD located in the given coverage area to the global beam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to provide, to a wireless communication device (WCD), a mapping between a first unsupported message type and a first supported message type. One embodiment takes the form of a method that involves a base station transmitting in a coverage area, for receipt by a given WCD configured to send a first unsupported message type to the base station, a mapping that correlates the first unsupported message type with the first supported message type. As a result of transmitting the mapping, the base station receives, from the given WCD, a message of the first supported message type in the place of a message of the first unsupported message type.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may be configured to communicate with mobile stations using two or more different coordinated multipoint schemes. Further, the RAN may use different coordinated multipoint schemes for different communications with the same mobile station. In particular, methods and systems are disclosed herein that help to intelligently switch between different coordinated multipoint schemes for communications with a given mobile station, based on the remaining battery life of the mobile station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and device for secret fingerprint scanning and reporting. When a portable communication device has been lost or stolen, an entity may transmit a fingerprint scan-report trigger message to the device. In response to receipt of the fingerprint scan-report trigger message, the device then automatically invokes an integrated fingerprint scanner to scan a fingerprint of a user of the device and to report the resulting fingerprint data to a remote destination. Optimally, the scanning and reporting are done without notification to a user of the device. The method, system, and device may thereby help to identify the user of the device and to potentially recover the device.

Abstract: System and methods for switching operating modes of a radio access node to increase data throughput for a user-equipment device are described. The radio access node can detect operating conditions to trigger switching from one operating mode to another. In a first operating mode, the radio access node can transmit non-bearer data, such as synchronization signals, to a UE device using a particular forward-link air interface resources. In response to detecting the defined condition(s), the radio access node can switch to a second operating mode in which the radio access node begins transmitting bearer data using the particular forward-link air interface resources used to transmit the non-bearer data while operating in the first operating mode. Upon detecting other operating condition(s), the radio access node can switch back to operating in the first operating mode. The radio access node can be configured as an eNodeB.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically allocating backhaul bearer service based on network loading conditions to help use backhaul-network resources more efficiently. A RAN detects an event relating to bearer service establishment for a given application. Then the RAN identifies a standard bearer service for the given application, where the standard bearer service has a first quality of service. After detecting the event, the RAN determines that a load of the backhaul communication network does not exceed a load threshold. Then, based on the determination that the load of the backhaul communication network does not exceed the load threshold, the RAN selects a bearer service for the given application, where the selected bearer service has a second quality of service that is higher than the first quality of service. Next, the RAN causes the selected bearer service to be established.

Abstract: A method to help restrict operation of a mobile device in a situation where a user of the device may be distracted, such as when the user is driving a motor vehicle. The device presents the user with a test and reveals the solution to the test, and the user must then enter into the device the revealed solution within a predefined period of time. If the user enters the revealed solution within the predefined period of time, then a fair assumption is that the user is not distracted. On the other hand, if the user does not enter the revealed solution within the predefined period of time, then a fair assumption is that the user is distracted (e.g., is driving), in which case the device will responsively change an operational characteristic of the device so as to restrict the user's interaction with and operation of the device.

Abstract: A method and system for using a handoff threshold associated with a slot cycle index to determine whether to perform access terminal handoff from a current pilot signal to a target pilot signal. The determination may be conditioned on whether the current pilot signal and target pilot signal are transmitted from base stations within a common subnet. If the base stations are within a common subnet, handoff of the access terminal is based on a default handoff threshold. On the other hand, if the base stations are not within a common subnet, then the determination of whether to perform access terminal handoff from a current pilot signal to a target pilot signal may be made based on the handoff threshold associated with the slot cycle index. As a result, ping-ponging of the access terminal from one subnet to another may be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up a communication with a given mobile station served by a RAN that defines one or more coverage areas. The RAN may receive an indication of a location of the given mobile station. The RAN may then use the location of the given mobile station to identify one or more wireless coverage areas associated with the given mobile station. The RAN may also receive a request to set up a communication with the given mobile station. In response, the RAN may assign a channel for the communication to the given mobile station in each identified wireless coverage area without first paging the given mobile station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing predictive personality negotiation during session negotiation. In an embodiment, an EV-DO access node negotiates a first session with an access terminal, which involves negotiating a comprehensive set of personalities with the access terminal for the first session. The access node then records a list of personalities actually used by the access terminal during the first session. That list is a subset of the comprehensive set. The access node then negotiates a second session with the access terminal, which involves negotiating only that subset of personalities with the access terminal for the second session.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for considering macro-network reverse-link conditions when selecting a power level at which to send an initial access probe to a femtocell. In at least one embodiment, a mobile station receives an indication of macro-network reverse noise, and then selects an initial-access-probe transmit power level based at least in part on the value of the received indication. The mobile station then sends an initial access probe to a femtocell at the selected power level. The mobile station may receive indications of macro-network reverse noise such as a reverse noise rise (RNR), reverse frame error rate (RFER), reverse activity bits (RAB), suggested macro-network initial-access-probe transmit power levels, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and device for secret fingerprint scanning and reporting. When a portable communication device has been lost or stolen, an entity may transmit a fingerprint scan-report trigger message to the device. In response to receipt of the fingerprint scan-report trigger message, the device then automatically invokes an integrated fingerprint scanner to scan a fingerprint of a user of the device and to report the resulting fingerprint data to a remote destination. Optimally, the scanning and reporting are done without notification to a user of the device. The method, system, and device may thereby help to identify the user of the device and to potentially recover the device.

Abstract: A method and system for managing access probe transmission in a wireless communication system. Upon determining that an external impact event, such as a severe weather event, natural disaster, criminal activity, has occurred, base stations may wirelessly broadcast a control signal that causes certain wireless communication devices served by the base stations to suppress transmission of access probes, while allowing other wireless communication devices served by the base stations to still transmit access probes. In a given coverage area, suppression of access probe transmission by one or more wireless communication devices may thereby free up access channel capacity to facilitate calls or other communications by other wireless communication devices, such as first-responder devices for instance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus and system for managing frequency use in a system where multiple air interface protocols are in use. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is operating under a particular air interface protocol on a particular frequency channel, the WCD detects a threshold signal under another air interface protocol, and the WCD responsively transitions from operating under the particular air interface protocol on the particular frequency channel to operating under the particular air interface protocol on a different frequency channel. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for disabling text-entry capabilities. In one embodiment, a mobile station detects that it is being supported by a given single hand of a user and not by two hands of the user. The mobile station also detects that it is being operated by the single given hand of the user and not by two hands of the user. Optionally, the mobile station also determines that it is moving at greater than a threshold rate or detects more than a threshold degradation in text-entry proficiency. In response to detecting at least that the mobile station is being supported and operated by the single given hand of the user and not by two hands of the user, the mobile station disables one or more text-entry capabilities.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing reclamation of EV-DO sessions based on latency-sensitivity. In an embodiment, an EV-DO access node (e.g. an RNC) maintains a plurality of sessions respectively associated with a plurality of access terminals. The plurality of sessions consists of a first number of sessions, each having an associated degree of latency-sensitivity. The access node compares the first number with a session-reclamation threshold. If the access node determines that the first number exceeds the session-reclamation threshold, the access node responsively reclaims one or more of the sessions that have been inactive for at least a threshold amount of time in ascending order of latency-sensitivity, without notifying the one or more associated access terminals.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamic determination of EV-DO control-channel bit rate based on forward-link timeslot utilization. Service is provided to access terminals on a carrier in a wireless coverage area. The carrier comprises timeslots that can be active or idle. Active timeslots comprise a data channel; idle timeslots do not. The data channel is arranged to transmit user-traffic information, and also to transmit control-channel information at a bit rate that can be set to a first or second value, where the second value is greater than the first value. A number of active timeslots on the carrier in the coverage area over a time period is determined. It is further determined whether that number is less than a threshold number. If so, the bit rate is set to the first value; if not, the bit rate is set to the second value.