Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving, by a first Home eNodeB (HeNB), a first attach request from a user equipment (UE) for attaching a subscriber associated with the UE to a small cell network; determining whether the subscriber has transitioned into the small cell network from a macro cell network; exchanging, based on the determination, a first pair of messages between the first HeNB and the UE to determine an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the subscriber; and exchanging, based on the determination, one or more second pairs of messages between the first HeNB and the UE to advance a sequence number for Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages for the UE to a value corresponding to a received sequence number for the first attach request from the UE.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first network element, a first message including a first network identifier associated with a first network. The first message further includes an indication of an association of the first network identifier with a first user equipment. The method further includes receiving, by the first network element, a second message indicative of an initiated handover of the first user equipment to a second network. The second message includes a second network identifier associated with the second network. The method further includes determining, by the first network element, whether the second network identifier matches the first network identifier, and terminating the initiated handover by the first network element when the second network identifier does not match the first network identifier.

Abstract: A method is provided in one embodiment and includes receiving a request for a session at a network element; communicating a query for whitelist data to a provisioning element; receiving the whitelist data at the network element; and communicating a message to an access point that communicated the request, where the message is indicative of whether the session is to be accepted or denied based on the whitelist data. In more specific implementations, the network element is a gateway configured to receive the whitelist data via a RADIUS access accept message. In addition, source Internet protocol (IP) address verification associated with the session can be executed before a wireless device associated with the access point is permitted access to a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the power of small cells in a coverage area includes obtaining signal strength measurements of wireless signals received from a plurality of small cells in a defined coverage area by identifying signal strength at a plurality of locations near the perimeter of the coverage area, and determining a revised transmit power of the small cells based on the determined signal strength (a) to maintain a minimum threshold of received signal while reducing the average power within the coverage area, or (b) to reduce leakage outside the perimeter of the coverage area relative to a desired threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for small cell idle mode mobility include receiving, at a first small cell of a preconfigured cluster of small cells, a mobility area update request from a user equipment (UE). The method can also include registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway, and retrieving a core network periodic timer for the UE from a mobility server. If certain conditions are met, the first small cell forwards the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway. Otherwise, the method can include the first small cell updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server, generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message, and sending a locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE along with a local periodic timer instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include assigning an identifier to each of a plurality of Home Node Bs (HNBs); receiving a cell update for a user equipment (UE) transitioning from a first HNB to a second HNB, wherein the cell update for the UE includes a first identifier associated with the first HNB and wherein the UE is in a cell paging channel (PCH) mode; determining based, at least in part, on the first identifier associated with the first HNB, whether the first HNB is operating within a cluster of HNBs including the second HNB; and withholding registration of the cell update for the UE with an HNB gateway (HNB-GW) if the first HNB is operating within the cluster of HNBs including the second HNB until packet switched (PS) traffic for the UE is received by the second HNB.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to perform location verification of a radio access point device such as femtocell. The radio access point device is configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellite transmitters to produce GPS location data representing a GPS location of the radio access point device. The radio access point device is also configured to receive wireless signals at one or more specified channels and to generate radio environment data representing characteristics of received wireless signals. A comparison is made between the GPS location data and reference GPS location data for an expected location of the radio access point device. When the GPS location data substantially matches the reference GPS location data, operations of the radio access point device are enabled and the radio environment data is stored to be used as reference radio environment data for purposes of subsequent location verification of the radio access point device.

Abstract: A network management system for managing communications in a cellular communication network comprising an access point operably coupled to an access controller. The network management system comprises an access controller configuration logic module arranged to configure the access controller with configuration information. The network management system further comprises an access point configuration logic module arranged to configure the access point with configuration information comprising, at least in part, configuration information intended for the access controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for small cell idle mode mobility include receiving, at a first small cell of a preconfigured cluster of small cells, a mobility area update request from a user equipment (UE). The method can also include registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway, and retrieving a core network periodic timer for the UE from a mobility server. If certain conditions are met, the first small cell forwards the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway. Otherwise, the method can include the first small cell updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server, generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message, and sending a locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE along with a local periodic timer instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to perform location verification of a radio access point (RAP) device such as femtocell. The RAP is configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellite transmitters to produce GPS location data representing a GPS location of the RAP. The RAP is also configured to receive wireless signals at one or more specified channels and to generate radio environment data representing characteristics of received wireless signals at the specified channels in a vicinity of the RAP. A comparison is made between the GPS location data and reference GPS location data for an expected location of the RAP. When the GPS location data substantially matches the reference GPS location data, operations of the RAP are enabled and the radio environment data is stored to be used as reference radio environment data for purposes of subsequent location verification of the RAP.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a handover request from a first radio network to handover a user equipment (UE) to a second radio network, wherein the handover request includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) for a user associated with the UE and a pseudo cell identifier (ID); determining a target channel configuration for the UE using the pseudo cell ID; querying a third radio network using the user IMSI to determine a location of the UE, wherein at least one access point in the third radio network is in communication with the UE; and selecting a particular target access point in the second radio network for handover of the UE based, at least in part, on the location of the UE, the target channel configuration for the UE and a location of the particular target access point.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving, by a first Home eNodeB (HeNB), a first attach request from a user equipment (UE) for attaching a subscriber associated with the UE to a small cell network; determining whether the subscriber has transitioned into the small cell network from a macro cell network; exchanging, based on the determination, a first pair of messages between the first HeNB and the UE to determine an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the subscriber; and exchanging, based on the determination, one or more second pairs of messages between the first HeNB and the UE to advance a sequence number for Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages for the UE to a value corresponding to a received sequence number for the first attach request from the UE.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first network element, a first message including a first network identifier associated with a first network. The first message further includes an indication of an association of the first network identifier with a first user equipment. The method further includes receiving, by the first network element, a second message indicative of an initiated handover of the first user equipment to a second network. The second message includes a second network identifier associated with the second network. The method further includes determining, by the first network element, whether the second network identifier matches the first network identifier, and terminating the initiated handover by the first network element when the second network identifier does not match the first network identifier.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a handover request from a first radio network to handover a user equipment (UE) to a second radio network, wherein the handover request includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) for a user associated with the UE and a pseudo cell identifier (ID); determining a target channel configuration for the UE using the pseudo cell ID; querying a third radio network using the user IMSI to determine a location of the UE, wherein at least one access point in the third radio network is in communication with the UE; and selecting a particular target access point in the second radio network for handover of the UE based, at least in part, on the location of the UE, the target channel configuration for the UE and a location of the particular target access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for small cell idle mode mobility include receiving, at a first small cell of a preconfigured cluster of small cells, a mobility area update request from a user equipment (UE). The method can also include registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway, and retrieving a core network periodic timer for the UE from a mobility server. If certain conditions are met, the first small cell forwards the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway. Otherwise, the method can include the first small cell updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server, generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message, and sending a locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE along with a local periodic timer instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.

Abstract: Communication parameter selection techniques are presented to reduce interference in small cells of wireless networks. A list of neighboring radio access points with respect to a particular radio access point in a wireless network is obtained. The list includes a unique identifier for each neighboring radio access point. A set of candidate communications parameters are obtained for use in the wireless network by the particular radio access point. A prediction is made of candidate communications parameters in the set of candidate communications parameters which can be used by the neighboring radio access points. The communication parameters in the set of candidate communication parameters which are available for use by the particular access point are determined based on the predicted set of communications parameters. A communication parameter is selected for use by the particular radio access point based on the communication parameters determined to be available for use.

Abstract: A network management system for managing communications in a cellular communication network comprising an access point operably coupled to an access controller. The network management system comprises an access controller configuration logic module arranged to configure the access controller with configuration information. The network management system further comprises an access point configuration logic module arranged to configure the access point with configuration information comprising, at least in part, configuration information intended for the access controller.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes establishing a plurality of persistent connections with a plurality of devices at a server; receiving presence data associated with the plurality of devices; responding to heartbeat messages provided by the plurality of devices; receiving a status change notification from a particular one of the devices; and updating status data and heartbeat data for the particular one of the devices. In more particular embodiments, the method includes encoding messages communicated on the persistent connections using an extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP). The method may also include communicating script configuration data over a particular one of the persistent connections for execution by the particular device. The persistent connections may be secured using transport layer security (TLS).