Abstract: Faults along a transmission pathway of a cell tower disrupt or prevent the cell tower from connecting user equipment (UE) to a cellular network. A cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system identify faults that occur along the transmission pathway and provide information regarding the faults to a network management center. The cell tower monitoring and diagnostic system can include multiple monitoring devices that are electrically coupled to portions of the transmission pathway. Each of the monitoring devices outputs an inquiry signal along the portion of the transmission pathway and receives a response signal in return. Each of the monitoring devices generates and transmits an output based on the response signal. A base station analyzes or evaluates the outputs from the monitoring devices to identify a fault on the transmission pathway. The base station can also determine the location and type of the fault based on the output.

Abstract: A system uses signals received from actual user equipment (UE) to build in real time a reception pattern for base stations in a cellular communication system. Each UE is assigned a unique tone to broadcast so that a controller can analyze radio coverage by analyzing which base stations received signals from each UE in a coverage area. Cellular base stations necessarily have overlapping coverage and are assigned unique channel access values to avoid repeating values from overlapping cell sites. As overlaps change in real time, in response to live events, traffic jams, site outages, and new sites, signals received from UEs in the coverage area provide a real time view of system coverage. This allows better allocation of channel access values than prior art historical performance indicators using base station and controller call errors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes establishing a communication link between a first device of a first party and a second device of a second party that allows a communication between the first party and the second party, and periodically receiving a signal from the first device indicating a remaining battery power level of the first device during the communication. The method further includes communicating an alert to the second device over the communication link to notify the second party that the first device is near a battery power loss if the remaining battery power level falls below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods of a predictive handoff that cause a handoff of user equipment from one network site to another network site. A network site connected to the user equipment monitors a quality of a signal between the network site and the user equipment and receives movement information from the user equipment. The network site selects a potential network site for the handoff of the user equipment based on the movement information and a potential signal quality between the user equipment and the potential network site. The network site coordinates the handoff and causes the selected potential network site to transmit a handoff instruction to the user equipment. The network site also instructs the user equipment to listen for the handoff instruction and the user equipment and potential network site can complete the handoff.

Abstract: Systems and methods of biometrically authenticating a user of a device. A biometric sample of a user can be analyzed to generate a user-specific biometric signature that is substantially unique to the specific user. To authenticate a user, a biometric sample can be obtained and analyzed to determine if the biometric signature is present in the sample. If so, the user can be biometrically authenticated to use the device. The device can provide a network with an indication of the authentication of the user to authenticate the device to the network. In response to the authentication, the network can provide the device access to the network, its resources, or portion(s) thereof.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes accessing a wireless access system to receive a communication service, determining a service operator of the wireless access system, and selecting a data rate based on the service operator of the wireless access system. The method also includes requesting the selected data rate for the communication service from the wireless access system, and receiving the communication service at the selected data rate from the wireless access system.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes, while at an initial location, entering a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum. In response to entering the first wireless communication mode, the method includes setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. When the timer expires, the method includes determining if a present location of the wireless communication device is beyond a threshold distance from the initial location. If the present location is beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode, and if the present location is not beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then resetting the timer for monitoring the second wireless communication mode.

Abstract: A wireless communication system provides a wireless communication service over multiple frequency band classes. The system monitors the amount of active mode users and idle mode users in the frequency band classes. The system selects one of the frequency band classes for a wireless communication device based on the amount of active mode users and idle mode users in the frequency band classes. The system provides the wireless communication service to the wireless communication device over the selected one of the frequency band classes.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for modifying a dormancy timer in a wireless communication device. In a particular embodiment, a method comprises exchanging wireless communications between a wireless device and an access node on a wireless communication network. The method further comprises determining a reverse noise indicator for the access node. The method also includes determining a modification for a dormancy timer in the wireless access node based on the reverse noise indicator, wherein the dormancy timer indicates when a communication access channel on the wireless access node that is allocated to the wireless device should be released. Additionally, the method comprises modifying the dormancy timer in accordance with the dormancy timer modification.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for modifying the data transfer rate of wireless communications transferred by a wireless device. In a particular embodiment, a method comprises exchanging wireless communications between a wireless device and an access node on a wireless communication network. The method further includes determining a reverse noise ratio for the access node. Additionally, the method includes generating a message indicating the reverse noise ratio and transferring the message to the wireless device. The method further comprises receiving the message in the wireless device and modifying a data transfer rate of the wireless communications from the wireless device based on the reverse noise ratio indicated by the message.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless communication system includes transmitting a power control code from a wireless access node to each of plurality of wireless communication devices. In each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, the method includes transmitting user communications for receipt by the wireless access node at a first transmit power level as indicated by the power control code. The method also includes transmitting a power mode instruction from the wireless access node to a subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices. In each of the subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices, the method includes transmitting the user communications for receipt by the wireless access node at a second transmit power level as indicated by interpreting the power control code with the power mode instruction.

Abstract: A plurality of candidate access terminals for participation in a multi-user packet-based (MUP-based) communication is determined. Two or more candidate access terminals are grouped into a MUP-based group, the grouping based on a hybrid automatic repeat request behavior of the plurality of candidate access terminals. Data is sent to the MUP-based group using a multi-user packet.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device, where a wireless access node provides wireless access to communication services over a wireless link for the wireless communication device. The method includes transferring data in a series of frames to the wireless access node over a reverse link portion of the wireless link, where each frame comprises a series of subframes, and transferring a present frame at a first power level. The method also includes, during transfer of the present frame at the first power level, monitoring control information transferred by the wireless access node on a forward link portion of the wireless link, and in response to receiving a power change instruction in the control information, interrupting transfer of the subframes of a present frame at the first power level and restarting transfer of the subframes of the present frame at a second power level.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device to select an overhead time cycle of a series of repeating overhead time cycles associated with a wireless access node, where each overhead time cycle comprises a plurality of time slots, and where the wireless access node transfers overhead information during individual ones of the time slots. The method includes receiving correlation information for each of the overhead time cycles, where the correlation information associates a noise range with each of the overhead time cycles. The method also includes determining a noise level at the wireless communication device of wireless communications of the wireless access node, processing the noise level and the correlation information to select one of the overhead time cycles, monitoring the time slots of the selected one of the overhead time cycles for the overhead information from the wireless access node, and ignoring the time slots during the non-selected overhead time cycles.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication system, where a wireless access system provides wireless access to communication services for wireless communication devices. The method includes receiving a request to initiate a first communication session for a first wireless communication device, processing past dropped communication session information for the first wireless communication device to select a radio configuration type of wireless access resources for the first communication session, and providing the wireless access resources for the first communication session to the first wireless communication device using the selected radio configuration type.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes entering an active state in a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum, and in response, setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. If the timer expires during the active state in the first wireless communication mode, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode. If the wireless communication device transitions from the active state to an idle state in the first wireless communication mode before the timer expires, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to the second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring the information for the second wireless communication mode.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication system. The method includes determining a first round trip delay threshold to initiate handoff messaging, and determining round trip delay metrics for a plurality of handoffs in a wireless access sector. The method also includes processing the first round trip delay threshold and the round trip delay metrics for the wireless access sector to determine a second round trip delay threshold and wirelessly transferring the second round trip delay threshold to a wireless communication device in the wireless access sector, where the wireless communication device uses the second round trip delay threshold to initiate handoff messaging in the wireless access sector.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes establishing an assisted wireless link between the wireless communication device and an assisted wireless communication device, where the assisted wireless link comprises a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum, and establishing a transport wireless link between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node, where the transport wireless link comprises a second wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a second frequency spectrum.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of operating a communication system. The communication system includes wireless access nodes and a network control system, where user devices and the wireless access nodes communicate over wireless links, and the wireless access nodes and the network control system communicate over individually associated backhaul links. The method includes transferring forward communications in a forward direction from the network control system to a first one of the wireless access nodes over a forward link portion of a first backhaul link associated with the first wireless access node, and transferring reverse communications in a reverse direction from the first wireless access node to the network control system over a reverse link portion of the first backhaul link.

Abstract: A communication system provides a wireless communication session to a user device over a forward link and a reverse link. A wireless network determines that drop notification and protection is effective for the session and detects session loss on the reverse link. The network transfers a session loss indication to the user device to over the forward link and transfers a protection notice to the other communication end-point. The user device receives the session loss indication over the forward link and notifies the user. The user device transfers recovery probes over the reverse link. The network detects session recovery on the reverse link and transfers a session recovery indication to the user device over the forward link. The network transfers a recovery notice to the communication end-point. The user device receives the session recovery indication over the forward link and notifies the user of the session recovery.