Abstract: Based on measurement reports reported to a base station by a plurality of UEs, the base station or a data system may dynamically configure a location of a physical random access control channel (PRACH) defined by the base station such that the PRACH is located in an optimal location. In one example, a data system may receive a plurality of subband CQI reports that includes one or more subband CQI values reported to the base station by each of a plurality of UEs served by the base station. The data system may determine, based on the plurality of subband CQI reports, that a particular range of resource blocks has a highest reported downlink air interface quality. And the data system may cause the base station define a PRACH instance in the particular range of resource blocks for carrying random access requests from the plurality of UEs to the base station.

Abstract: A micro cell management system and method are provided. The micro cell management system in one example includes a communication interface configured to exchange communications with one or more wireless micro cells and a processing system coupled to the communication interface. The processing system is configured to obtain GPS information for each wireless micro cell of a micro cell cluster, obtain backhaul information for each wireless micro cell of the micro cell cluster, select a master cell for the micro cell cluster, with the master cell comprising a wireless micro cell having one or both of an optimum GPS signal or an optimum backhaul signal, and configure the master cell to perform one or more of relaying GPS data to other wireless micro cells of the micro cell cluster or exchanging backhaul data for the micro cell cluster.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling broadcast of system identification. A base station may broadcast in one or more timeslots of a control channel, as a System Identifier (SID) of the base station, a particular SID, but may broadcast in one or more other timeslots of the control channel, as a SID of the base station, a different SID. In addition, when a mobile station registers to be served by the base station, the base station may determine which slot(s) of the control channel the mobile station will monitor and may broadcast in the determined slot(s) a SID that may help to keep the mobile station from transitioning to be served by a different base station.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network.

Abstract: Presently disclosed are methods and systems to dynamically adjust base station configurations based on the altitude of the base station. One embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a cellular base station system. The method includes determining that an altitude of a cellular base station exceeds a threshold. The method also includes configuring the cellular base station with one or more operational parameters based on the determined altitude. The one or more operational parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a transmit power, a carrier frequency, a handoff parameter, and a whitelist.

Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting one of a plurality of base stations for provision of timing information. A base station compares satellite signal strengths measured at satellite-positioning-system receivers of a plurality of base stations, such as the plurality of base stations in a local area network (LAN) for instance. The base station then selects one of the plurality of base stations to provide timing information based at least in part on the comparison, such as the one base station having the greatest satellite signal strength for instance. The base station then operates according to timing information indicated by satellite data from the selected base station. Advantageously, this method can help to increase the accuracy and reliability of the timing information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying customers at an establishment. In an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) receives a request from a mobile station to register for service with the LCIB. The LCIB is located at an establishment, such as a store. The LCIB then determines whether the mobile station is authorized to register with the LCIB. If the mobile station is authorized to register with the LCIB, the LCIB allows the mobile station to register. If the mobile station is not authorized to register with the LCIB, the LCIB or LCIB controller responsively (a) rejects the registration request and (b) sends a notification message to the establishment, the notification message identifying the mobile station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for changing mobile-station settings upon a mobile station handing off to a base station. In an embodiment, a base station makes a first determination that at least one of several enumerated events has occurred, and in response to making the first determination, carries out one or more of several enumerated steps. Among the several enumerated events are (i) a mobile station handing off to the base station, and (ii) the mobile station initiating a call to a voicemail system maintaining a voicemail account associated with the mobile station; and among the several enumerated steps are (i) disabling a password requirement for the voicemail account, (ii) conveying a voicemail password to the voicemail system on behalf of the mobile station, and (iii) configuring the mobile station to convey the voicemail password to the voicemail system upon the mobile station establishing a call to the voicemail system.

Abstract: In a communication system comprising a first base station of a plurality of base stations, a computing system may identify one or more other base stations of the plurality based on whether each of the one or more other base stations sits as a node on the same local area network (LAN) as the first base station, and perhaps based on other considerations, such as whether each of the one or more other base stations is geographically located near the first base station and whether each operates with a whitelist. The computing system may then cause the first base station to wirelessly transmit, to at least one user equipment device (UE) served by the first base station, a specification of the identified one or more base stations to enable the at least one UE to search for coverage of at least one of the specified one or more base stations.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided to help strike a balance between alleviating load among macro cells and reducing excessive signaling when UEs travel through small cells. In one embodiment of the method, a UE may function to receive an indication of the size of a coverage area, calculate current speed, determine that the calculated speed exceeds a threshold speed, and responsively hand over to a different coverage area. In another embodiment of the method, a RAN entity may function to estimate of the size of a coverage area, receive an indication of the current speed of a UE traveling through the coverage area, determine that the calculated speed exceeds a threshold speed, and responsively instruct the UE to hand over to a different RAN. Other examples are possible.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first base station to use a coverage area identifier is described. For instance, a computing system may determine that coverage provided by the first base station overlaps with coverage provided by a second base station. Further, of a plurality of third base stations that also provide coverage overlapping the coverage provided by the second base station, the computing system may identify one or more third base stations having an extent of handover with the determined second base station that is below a threshold extent of handover. The computing system may then select, as the coverage area identifier to be assigned to the first base station, a coverage area identifier that is also assigned to a particular one of the one or more identified third base stations. The computing system may configure the first base station to use the selected coverage area identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) stores a mapping that maps each of a plurality of ranges of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) to a respective data rate indicator in a plurality of data rate indicators. Each data rate indicator is associated with a respective modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) that supports a respective downlink data rate from a radio access network (RAN). The WCD selects a maximum data rate indicator based on a type of application on the WCD that is to receive downlink data, a priority of downlink data to be received by the application, an amount of downlink data to be received by the application, a device type of the WCD, or a subscription level of the WCD. The WCD selects an applicable data rate indicator based on a measured SNR and the mapping, such that the applicable data rate indicator does not exceed the maximum data rate indicator.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided help establish a zone-based paging configuration. In accordance with the method, a RAN entity may evaluate the level of traffic in several small cells of the RAN, identify those small cells that have at least a threshold level of traffic, and responsively construct a new tracking area that includes the identified small cells. In another aspect of the method, a UE that is registered in a current tracking area, may move into coverage of a new sector and receive from a base station associated with the new sector two or more tracking area IDs. The UE may then determine that at least one of the tracking area IDs is indicative of the tracking area in which the UE is currently registered, and responsively operate in the new sector without transmitting a tracking area update message.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically configuring femtocell pilot beacon based on macro-network load. An embodiment takes the form of a method of operating a wireless network system that includes a first base station operating on a first frequency and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second frequencies. The method includes transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second frequencies. The method further includes determining loading on each of the second frequencies and in particular that a given one of the second frequencies is more heavily loaded than at least one other, and responsively prioritizing transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the given frequency as compared to the at least one other frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for determining base station location from neighbor lists of client devices is disclosed. When base station attempts and fails to acquire a satellite-based location fix, it can identify client devices operating within its service range, and query them for their respective neighbor lists. Upon receiving neighbor lists from one or more of the queried client devices, the base station can merge the lists into a composite list. The base station can then determine the locations of the base stations in the composite list, and compute a centroid from the locations. The base station can then adopt the centroid location as its own location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using coverage or capacity classifications regarding a macro RF network to manage registration of femtocells with a service provider network (SPN) so as to avoid signaling overload are described herein. After a wide-scale power outage within an area where multiple femtocells are located, the femtocells can power on and attempt to register with the SPN at about the same time. The femtocells can scan RF signals received from the macro network and classify the received RF signals with respect to capacity or coverage of the macro network at the time of transmitting the RF signals. A device within the SPN can determine whether classification of the received RF signals is associated with dropping or accepting a registration request associated with the classified RF signals. The SPN device can accept the registration request or drop the registration request and request the femtocell to transmit another registration request.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing time-division multiplexed communications resources at a femtocell. A femtocell initially provides time-division-multiplexed wireless service to a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) using a first number of slots per cycle, each WCD in the plurality having at least one assigned slot. During the first time period, the femtocell detects a trigger. Responsive to detecting the trigger, the femtocell, in a second time period, switches to providing service using a second number of slots per cycle, the second number being less than the first number, such that a first WCD in the plurality does not have an assigned slot.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operation of densely-deployed low-cost Internet base stations (LCIBs). In an embodiment, an LCIB controller determines that a plurality of LCIBs are densely deployed. The LCIB controller then selects respective densely-deployed operational parameters for each respective LCIB in the plurality. After selecting the respective parameters, the LCIB controller configures each respective LCIB in the plurality to operate according to the respective densely-deployed operational parameters.