Abstract: Using a scheduler, communication may be scheduled between an access node and a plurality of wireless devices, wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise one or more relay wireless devices or device to device (D2D) wireless devices. Using the scheduler, at least one relay wireless device or D2D wireless device may be scheduled using a semi-persistent scheduler comprising an adjusted periodicity, wherein a default periodicity used by the semi-persistent scheduler for end-user wireless devices is different from the adjusted periodicity. Data may be communicated between the access node and the at least one relay wireless device or D2D wireless device using the adjusted periodicity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling base station selection for service of a user equipment device (UE). When the UE is within coverage of a first base station and within coverage of a second base station, a determination could be made as to whether the UE should be served by the first base station or rather by the second base station, with the determination being based at least on a comparison of (i) maximum number of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) layers that the first base station supports per UE with (ii) maximum number of MIMO layers that the second base station supports per UE. Action could then be taken to cause the UE to be served in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically adjusting the power supplied to each of a first node and a second node of an antenna array. The dynamic adjustment of power is based on one or more network factors, wherein the network factors may comprise device penetration, call failures, and connection drops experience between a plurality of user devices and each of the first node and the second node. The first node may communicate with user devices using a first protocol and the second node may communicate with user devices using a second protocol wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different.

Abstract: A method and system to help control transmission over an air interface from a base station to a served WCD. When the base station has a threshold small quantity of data to transmit over the air to a WCD, the base station will schedule the transmission to occur in a downlink PRB of a special subframe, rather than in a PRB of a regular downlink subframe. As the downlink PRB of the special subframe likely has fewer useable resource elements than the PRB of the regular downlink subframe, this process could help to minimize waste of air interface resources resulting from not making use of resource elements in an allocated PRB.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling application of MU-MIMO. The disclosure provides for considering a device's mobility as a basis to decide whether to provide the device with MU-MIMO service. For instance, a base station could determine which of the base station's served devices are each stationary or moving less than a threshold extent. And on at least that basis, the base station could select each such device to receive MU-MIMO service. Or faced with a choice between devices to receive MU-MIMO service, the base station could compare the devices' speed of movement and could select the devices that have lower speed of movement to receive MU-MIMO service.

Abstract: Methods, processing nodes, and systems are provided for managing relay nodes in a wireless network. A number of relay nodes attached to a donor access node can be determined. A number of latency sensitive wireless devices attached to the relay nodes can be determined. A latency sensitive wireless device can be a wireless device running a latency sensitive application. A latency sensitive relay node can be a relay node attached to the donor access node having an attached latency sensitive wireless device. A maximum number of relay nodes attached to the donor access node can be set, for example, based on the number of latency sensitive wireless devices attached to latency sensitive relay nodes.

Abstract: When a base station is going to offload a UE from a carrier and is faced with a choice of whether to transition the UE from that carrier to a first carrier or rather to a second carrier, the base station will select the first carrier as the target carrier based at least on a determination that the first carrier has higher insertion loss than the second carrier. In addition, to help offset service of the UE on the high-insertion-loss carrier, the base station may block other UEs from being served on the first carrier.

Abstract: A wireless access point wirelessly serves User Equipment (UEs) with a wireless communication service using carrier aggregation and intermodulation interference mitigation. The wireless access point transfers user data to the UEs using carrier aggregation over a primary Long Term Evolution (LTE) band that transports LTE primary component carriers, secondary LTE bands that transport LTE secondary component carriers, and secondary Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) bands that transport 5GNR secondary component carriers. The wireless access point measures intermodulation interference in the secondary 5GNR bands. The wireless access point terminates at least some of the LTE secondary component carriers in the secondary LTE bands when the intermodulation interference in the secondary 5GNR bands exceeds an interference threshold.

Abstract: A base station that is configured to provide first-RAT service on multiple carriers will reserve at least one of the carriers for use in providing UEs with dual-connectivity service on the first RAT and a second RAT, and the base station will reserve at least one other of the carriers for use in providing UEs with standalone first-RAT service. For instance, a 4G base station that is configured to provide 4G service on multiple 4G carriers could reserve at least one of those 4G carriers for use in providing UEs with EN-DC service (where each UE would be served concurrently on a 5G carrier as well) and could reserve another one of those 4G carriers for use in providing UEs with standalone 4G service.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling broadcast of system messaging from a relay, where the relay provides service on a first air interface and is configured to periodically broadcast on the first air interface a system message useable by WCDs to facilitate acquisition of wireless connectivity with the relay, and where the relay is served by a donor base station over a second air interface on which the donor base station provides service. Per the disclosure, an entity detects that resource utilization on the second air interface on which the donor base station provides service is threshold high, and in response to at least that detecting, the relay is made to temporarily discontinue the periodic broadcast of the system message on the first air interface so as to prevent the acquisition of connectivity with the relay.

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: A method and system for controlling application of MU-MIMO. The disclosure provides for considering a device's block error rate (BLER) as a basis to decide whether to provide the device with MU-MIMO service. For instance, a base station could determine which of the base station's served devices each have threshold low BLER. And on at least that basis, the base station could select each such device to receive MU-MIMO service. Or faced with a choice between devices to receive MU-MIMO service, the base station could compare the devices' levels of BLER and could select the devices that have lower BLER to receive MU-MIMO service.

Abstract: An antenna array in a wireless base station has a New Radio (NR) portion and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) portion. Baseband circuitry determines NR User Equipment (UE) loading and LTE UE loading on the antenna array. The baseband circuitry determines an NR power level and an LTE power level based on the NR UE loading and the LTE UE loading. Radio circuitry drives the NR portion of the antenna array at the NR power level and drives the LTE portion of the antenna array at the LTE power level. The baseband circuitry may also re-allocate antenna elements between the NR elements and the LTE elements in the antenna array based on antenna element loss, UE loading, and control channel usage. The baseband circuitry may also separately implement Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) on the NR and LTE portions of the antenna array.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling service of user equipment devices (UEs) by a base station in a wireless communication system. In an example arrangement, the base station detects that uplink noise on its air interface is threshold high and that multiple UEs being served by the base station are threshold distant from the base station. In response to detecting this combination of factors, the base selects at least one of the threshold distant UEs for the base station to stop serving, with the selection being based on the UE having highest uplink transmission power among the multiple served UEs that are threshold distant from the base station, and the base station then causes handover of the selected UE from the base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication network redirects User Equipment (UE) from a source frequency band to a target frequency band. An originating wireless repeater in a wireless repeater chain wirelessly receives wireless source signals including source overhead over the source frequency band and wirelessly receives wireless target signals including target overhead over the target frequency band. The originating wireless repeater wirelessly transmits the wireless source signals including the source overhead over the source frequency band and wirelessly transmits the wireless target signals including the target overhead over the target frequency band. A terminating wireless repeater in the wireless repeater chain wirelessly receives the wireless target signals including the target overhead over the target frequency band and wirelessly transmits the wireless target signals including the target overhead over the target frequency band.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling application of MU-MIMO. The disclosure provides for considering a device's power headroom as a basis to decide whether to provide the device with MU-MIMO service. For instance, a base station could determine which of the base station's served devices each have threshold low power headroom. And on at least that basis, the base station could select each such device to receive MU-MIMO service. Or faced with a choice between devices to receive MU-MIMO service, the base station could compare the devices' levels of power headroom and could select the devices that have lower power headroom to receive MU-MIMO service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing configured and/or dynamically adjustable coverage in wireless communications networks is disclosed. A broadcast cell may include one or more antennas used to provide one or more sectors of coverage in the network. Each antenna may include at least one radio and at least one corresponding signal transmitting and receiving component that is in communication with the radio, allowing a signal generated by the radio to be broadcast by the signal transmitting and receiving component to form at least a portion of a sector of coverage provided by the antenna. Additionally, the signal generated by the radio may be modifiable, allowing the beam of coverage emitted by the signal transmitting and receiving component to be adjusted (e.g., in any one of an x, y, and/or z-plane) for a particular operating environment.

Abstract: System, methods, and computer-readable media herein dynamically assign bands to primary and secondary component carriers for inter-carrier aggregation capable devices. In embodiments, an inter-carrier aggregation capable device is identified as being within a coverage area of a cell site component that is controlled by a base station. When the device is within a predefined distance of the cell site component, throughput of the device is analyzed. When the throughput indicates that the device is impacted by noise and/or interference at the cell site, the base station assigns a band to a primary component carrier based on the sector power ratio (SPR) of a corresponding antenna.

Abstract: A wireless communication network aggregates wireless network control signaling through a hub User Equipment (UE) using Carrier Aggregation (CA). The wireless access node selects the hub UE and directs the hub UE to aggregate the wireless network control signaling for other UEs by using CA traffic channels with the wireless access node. The hub UE exchanges the wireless network control signaling with the other UEs over wireless links. The hub UE aggregates the wireless network control signaling. The hub UE and the wireless access node exchange the aggregated wireless network control signaling over the CA traffic channels.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for dynamically optimizing the use of full-power broadcast beamforming within a wireless communication network are provided herein. Though full-power broadcast beamforming may result in increased interference and decrease throughput, the increased coverage area provided by full-power broadcast beamforming is favored under certain conditions, including the locations of user devices within a network cell. Accordingly, location data may be received from user devices within a network cell utilizing a plurality of beams, and the locations of each of the user devices may be used to determine whether to enable full-power broadcast beamforming where each beam within plurality of beams is at a maximum signal strength. Upon determining to enable full-power broadcast beamforming, a signal weight for one or more of the beams may be adjusted to full power.