Abstract: A method and system for proactively managing a base station neighbor list. A base station or other network node tracks changes to the base station's neighbor list and identifies a recurring pattern of changes, in correspondence with a particular time of day for instance. The base station or other node then proactively changes the base station's neighbor list in anticipation of a recurrence of the identified pattern, such as in anticipation of recurrence of the time of day for instance. Advantageously, this method can help to reduce the extent to which the base station engages in an automatic neighbor relation process, and thus reduce the extent of signaling and other issues associated with engaging in that process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 11, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Daniel Vivanco, Krishna Sitaram, Chunmei Liu, Hemanth B. Pawar
Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for scheduling resources for relay nodes in a wireless network include identifying a relay node attached to an access node in the wireless network, determining a transmit power associated with the relay node, and prioritizing resources allocated towards the relay node based on the transmit power. The transmit power includes a transmit power of a radio air interface deployed by the relay node.
Abstract: A base station may use another base station's carrier-aggregation policy for a cell and carrier-aggregation capability information for a UE as a basis to control handover of the UE from the base station to the other base station. As one example, a first base station may receive, from a UE, a report that the UE has detected coverage of a target cell. The target cell may be provided by a second base station, and the first base station may determine whether the target cell can be aggregated with one or more other cells and whether the UE supports carrier aggregation. The first base station may then select a handover threshold based on the determination, and use the selected handover threshold as a basis to control handover of the UE from being served by the first base station to being served by the second base station.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Dhaval Mehta, Jasinder P. Singh, Udit Thakore, Sanghoon Sung
Abstract: A method and system for dynamically reconfiguring an air interface that defines a continuum of frames each divided into a sequence of transmission time intervals (TTIs). The air interface is initially configured according to a first radio access technology (RAT). The base station then detects that at least a threshold extent of wireless client devices (WCDs) served by the base station on the air interface support operation according to a second RAT. And in response, the base station reconfigures the air interface so that certain TTIs per frame instead operate on a second RAT, with the remaining TTIs per frame still operating on the first RAT. The base station then serves WCDs that support the second RAT in the TTIs now configured according to the second RAT, while continuing to serve other WCDs according to the first RAT in the remaining TTIs configured according to the first RAT.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2018
Date of Patent:
August 4, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Roger Bartlett, Lyle T. Bertz, Ronald R. Marquardt
Abstract: A system for updating a preferred nodes list for a wireless device in a wireless network includes a server in communication with a plurality of nodes each configured to deploy a radio air interface to provide wireless services to wireless devices. The server includes a processor configured to instruct, in response to a trigger, a first node to send a message to a wireless device connected to the first node. The message instructs the wireless device to contact the server for an updated preferred nodes list. The processor receives a request for the updated preferred nodes list from the wireless device, and provides the updated preferred nodes list to the wireless device. The updated preferred nodes list enables the wireless device to change from connecting to the first node included in the preferred nodes list to connecting to a second node included in the updated preferred nodes list.
Abstract: When a WCD is within coverage of multiple base stations, the minimum service-beam beamwidths of the base stations will be taken into account as a basis to select a base station to serve the WCD. For instance, the minimum service-beam beamwidths of the base stations could be compared, and the base station having the narrowest minimum service-beam beamwidth could be selected. In addition, this could be done specifically for a WCD that will engage in guaranteed-bit-rate (GBR) communication, such as a voice or video call or online gaming for instance. Beamforming could be particularly helpful for such a WCD, as the beamforming could help ensure that transmissions to the WCD meet the bit-rate guarantee. And beamforming with a narrower service-beam beamwidth could better help achieve that goal.
Abstract: Systems and methods are described for assigning wireless resources to a high power wireless device. In some embodiments, a quality of service metric used for communication between a wireless device and an access node is identified, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit an uplink signal at a first signal level that meets a power criteria. Default uplink resource are assigned to the wireless device based on the identified quality of service criteria, wherein the default uplink resources are associated with a default wireless device configured to transmit an uplink signal at a second signal level that does not meet the power criteria. And uplink communication is received at the access node from the wireless device using the assigned default uplink resources.
Abstract: When a UE is served with dual-connectivity service on a first radio access technology (RAT) concurrently with a second RAT, and when a serving base station faces a choice of which additional carrier to add to the UE's connection according to the first RAT for carrier-aggregation service of the UE according to the first RAT, the selection of an additional first-RAT carrier will be made based on a consideration of the carrier's load attributable to first-RAT-only service as compared with dual-connectivity service. For instance, the base station could select an additional first-RAT carrier based on the carrier's load attributable to first-RAT-only service, perhaps for high-priority first-RAT-only service, being threshold low. Or the base station could exclude from the selection a candidate first-RAT carrier based the carrier's load attributable to such first-RAT-only service being threshold high. The base station could then configure carrier-aggregation service of the UE accordingly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Hemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Shilpa K. Srinivas
Abstract: A base station will group UEs together for MU-MIMO service with the grouping being based at least in part on the UEs of the group being at least a threshold Euclidian distance from each other. Further, the base station could dynamically set the threshold Euclidian distance based on consideration of coverage quality. And the base station could additionally base the UE grouping on the UEs of the group having threshold angular separation, having reported threshold high SINR, and/or on one or more other factors.
Abstract: Systems and methods are described for mitigating interference from neighbors. Interference may be monitored at a first access node, wherein the monitoring includes detecting an interference pattern over at least two monitored subframes. The interference pattern may be analyzed to identify one or more interference sources, wherein a first interference pattern indicates interference caused by a neighboring access node and a second interference pattern indicates interference caused by one or more wireless devices communicating with a neighboring access node. The identified interference sources may be instructed to adjust transmissions based on the monitored interference.
Abstract: When a base station that does not support downlink beamforming is serving a UE and a guaranteed-bit-rate (GBR) bearer is established for the UE, the base station will detect the establishment of the GBR bearer for the UE and will responsively trigger handover of the UE to another base station selected based on the other base station supporting downlink beamforming. With this process, handing the UE over to a base station that supports downlink beamforming may thereby help to ensure successful transmission to the UE at the GBR associated with the bearer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 16, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Sreekar Marupaduga, Roger Bartlett, John W. Prock, Mark Wade
Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes are configured to adjust antenna systems of a wireless device by receiving mobility information form a wireless device in a wireless network. Responsive to receiving the mobility information, an operating parameter of a multi-element antenna serving the wireless device is adjusted.
Abstract: When a UE is served by a first radio access network (RAN) and is engaged in a voice call such as a VoIP call, a determination will be made that the UE is at an edge of coverage (e.g., threshold poor coverage) of the first RAN and that there is no other adjacent coverage of the first RAN that could support the voice call. In response, signaling will cause a second RAN to page the UE via the first RAN so as to cause the UE to transition from being served by the first RAN to being served by the second RAN. More generally, when a UE has poor coverage of its serving RAN, another RAN will pull the UE to the second RAN by paging the UE to trigger transition of the UE from to the second RAN.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Hemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Shilpa K. Srinivas
Abstract: Methods and systems for balancing traffic in a wireless network by controlling DAS and an access node of a macro nodes to direct a wireless device to the system with the lowest latency, according to a priority of an application of a wireless device. The method includes receiving an indicator of an application type, or a bearer type, from a wireless device, determining a processing delay of a distributed antenna system, determining a priority of the received signal, and in response to the processing delay of the distributed antenna system meeting a first criteria and a quality of service indicator meeting a second criteria, directing the wireless device to an access node.
Abstract: A base station dynamically controls whether or not to serve a WCD on an in-band carrier defined within occupied bandwidth of a host carrier, with the dynamic controlling being based on whether the base station is operating in a capacity-mode on the host carrier, such as whether the base station has beamforming enabled on the host carrier and/or the base station is serving one or more relay nodes on the host carrier. If the base station is operating in a capacity-mode on the host carrier, then the base station could responsively transition a WCD from being served on the in-band carrier to instead being served on a guard-band carrier defined within a guard-band of the host carrier, or to being served on another carrier that is not an in-band carrier defined in the occupied bandwidth of the host carrier.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 5, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Sreekar Marupaduga, Bryan T. Barbee, Andrew M. Wurtenberger
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Sreekar Marupaduga, Rajveen Narendran, Ryan P. Dreiling, Paul Andreas
Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for configuring service of a user equipment device (UE). When the UE has dual-connectivity service, such as EN-DC service, high quality on one of the UE's air-interface connections could result in transition of the UE to operate in discontinuous reception (DRX) mode on the UE's other air-interface connection.
Abstract: A mechanism for controlling configuration of dual connectivity for a UE that has a first connection with a first access node. The first access node could make a determination what type of UE the UE is, such as whether the UE is a relay-UE or rather an end-user UE for instance. Based on the determined type, the first access node could then control whether to apply blind addition or rather threshold-based addition in adding for the UE a second connection with a second access node. For instance, if the UE is an end-user UE rather than a relay-UE, then the first access node could apply blind addition rather than threshold-based addition, and if the UE is a relay-UE rather than an end-user UE, then the first access node could apply threshold-based addition rather than blind addition.
Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for adjusting allocation of uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) air interface resources to user equipment devices (UEs) in a wireless communication system configured for dynamic allocation of relative amounts UL and DL time division duplex (TDD) air interface resources. The wireless communication system may determine usage demand for UL air interface resources relative to DL air interface resources as a function of time of day. Then, based on the usage demand, a schedule may be created for assigning a ratio of UL TDD allocation to DL TDD allocation. Finally, dynamic TDD allocation may be applied to set relative amounts of UL and DL air interface time for UEs served by the wireless communication system according to the schedule, instead of applying unscheduled dynamic TDD allocation of relative amounts of UL and DL air interface time.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 6, 2018
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2020
Assignee:
Sprint Spectrum L.P.
Inventors:
Nagi A. Mansour, Akin Ozozlu, Noman M. Alam
Abstract: Performing carrier aggregation for high-powered wireless devices that may cause interference to other wireless devices includes determining that a wireless device attached to an access node is assigned to a high power class and capable of operating in a carrier aggregation mode, initiating the carrier aggregation mode for the wireless device, and instructing the access node to utilize a frequency-division-duplexing (FDD) carrier deployed by the access node as a primary carrier for the wireless device. A handover of the wireless device to the FDD carrier may be triggered by a threshold level of interference caused by uplink transmissions from the wireless device when operating in the high-powered transmission mode on a TDD carrier.