Abstract: A system for switching an uplink waveform for a wireless device in a wireless network includes an access node configured to deploy a first radio air interface to provide wireless services to the wireless device. The access node includes a processor configured to receive a signal indicating a channel condition from the wireless device. The processor is also configured to determine whether to switch the uplink waveform for the wireless device based on the signal indicating the channel condition.

Abstract: In an wireless communication system, base stations will be set to prioritize serving one type of user equipment device (UE) over another type of UE, and each base station's respective prioritization will be conveyed to UEs to facilitate base station selection. That way, when a UE faces a choice of whether to connect with one base station or another, the UE could determine which base station gives higher priority to the UE's type and could connect with that base station, even if the UE detects stronger coverage of the other base station. And if the UE finds itself in coverage of a base station that gives lower priority to the UE's type than to another UE type, the UE could still connect with that base station unless the UE finds another base station that gives higher priority to the UE's type.

Abstract: An interference level is determined in an uplink portion of a wireless communication link between a wireless device and an access node. A traffic class of data is identified in a first portion of the uplink portion, and resource blocks in a second portion of the uplink portion are selected based on the determined interference level and the identified traffic class. The wireless device is sent an allocation of the selected resource blocks in the second portion of the uplink portion, and control channel information is received from the wireless device in the uplink portion in the selected resource blocks.

Abstract: A method and system to help provide efficient configuration of reference signal transmission in a wireless communication system. A processing system evaluates handover history between sectors in the system, considering the reference signal configurations of the sectors between which handovers have occurred, as a basis to determine what reference signal configurations to implement in one or more sectors. And the processing system may then cause the sectors to implement the determined reference signal configurations. Further, the processing system may iteratively repeat this process, to help optimize reference signal configurations throughout the region.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for selecting and configuring a distribution of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers among one or more carriers. For a first candidate distribution, a base station may determine a first total throughput of communications between the base station and a user equipment device (UE). And for a second candidate distribution, the base station may determine a second total throughput of communications between the base station and the UE. Then, the base station may determine that the first total throughput is higher than the second total throughput and may responsively configure MIMO service of the UE with MIMO communication on at least two layers distributed across one or more carriers in accordance with the first distribution.

Abstract: A frame configuration is assigned in a relay enabled communication network. A macro coverage latency is determined. The macro coverage latency is a latency of a communication between the wireless device and a network node when the wireless device is not communicating through the relay node. A relay coverage latency is determined. The relay coverage latency is a latency of a communication between the wireless device and the network node when the wireless device is communicating through the relay node. Based on a comparison of the macro coverage latency and the relay coverage latency, a frame configuration is selected for a communication through the relay node.

Abstract: A method and system to help provide efficient configuration of reference signal transmission in a wireless communication system. A processing system evaluates the configurations of various sectors within a region, taking into account distances between the sectors and azimuths of the sectors, to determine for at least one sector an aggregate interference score with respect to one or more nearby sectors having the same reference signal as the sector. And based on the aggregate interference score, the processing system may then reconfigure reference signal transmission of the sector, such as by changing the reference signal configuration of the sector for instance. Further, the processing system may iteratively repeat this process for numerous sectors within a region, to help optimize reference signal configurations throughout the region.

Abstract: A method and system for managing channel state reporting rate for transmission of channel state reports from a wireless communication device (WCD) to its serving base station based. The channel state reports provide metrics regarding a wireless communication channel between the WCD and the base station, and the channel state reporting rate defines how often the WCD will transmit such reports. Per the disclosure, the channel state reporting rate could be set to a higher value (for more frequent channel state reporting) if the WCD provides such connectivity and a lower value (perhaps a default value) if not, and the reporting rate could be set higher as the WCD provides connectivity for a greater number of other devices.

Abstract: A system for selecting a sub-carrier spacing includes an access node configured to deploy a radio air interface to provide wireless services to a plurality of wireless devices. The access node includes a processor configured to determine a value of at least one parameter relating to at least one of radio frequency impairment, mobility, and service latency. The processor is also configured to compare the value of the at least one parameter with a predetermined threshold. The processor is further configured to select the sub-carrier spacing from a plurality of sub-carrier spacings based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV at night and illuminates the solar-powered UAV's solar panels to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge mid-flight. The secondary UAV could be equipped with a directional light source for providing light of a color and intensity selected for optimal absorption by the solar cells of the solar-powered UAV. As the secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV, the secondary UAV could thus direct its light source at the solar-powered UAV for absorption by the solar cells, to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge. Further, the secondary UAV could potentially recharge multiple solar-powered UAVs during a single nighttime mission.

Abstract: When a network entity receives packets transmitted from a user equipment device (UE), the network entity will detect that a threshold number of those packets exceed the network entity's maximum transmission unit (MTU), and the network entity will responsively cause the UE to reduce the UE's MTU. In particular, the network entity will responsively transmit to the UE, within a header of a packet carrying bearer data to the UE, a directive for the UE to decrease the UE's MTU.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an access node includes prioritizing a plurality of wireless devices. The method also includes monitoring a position of a relay-capable wireless device and positions of the prioritized wireless devices. The method also includes determining the position of the relay-capable wireless device meets a first distance criteria and the position of prioritized wireless devices meets a second distance criteria. The method also includes assigning the relay-capable wireless device to a carrier aggregation configuration or an antenna diversity configuration based on the position of the relay-capable device and the position of the prioritized wireless devices. The method also includes assigning the prioritized wireless devices to the diversity configuration or the carrier aggregation configuration based on the position of the prioritized wireless devices.

Abstract: An exemplary method involves a user equipment (UE) receiving a communication-origination request to initiate a communication with a given counterpart. In response, the UE: (a) uses historical communication data for one or more previous communications as a basis for evaluating whether the UE is likely to be assigned a particular codec, from a plurality of possible codecs, for communication with the given counterpart; (b) based on results of the evaluation, determines a respective setting for each of one or more access parameters affecting a likelihood of successfully establishing the communication with the given counterpart; and (c) performs the communication-origination process according to the determined settings for the one or more access parameters, to initiate the requested communication with the given counterpart.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help a base station provide high-speed data communication under a protocol such as LTE or WiMAX, even when a GPS signal is not available to the base station.

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: Systems and methods are described for determining an access node for a wireless device. A first signal may be transmitted from a first access node with an increased signal level. An indication of a first adjustment factor based on the increased first signal level may also be transmitted from the first access node. Signal information may then be received from a wireless device, where the signal information includes a determined first signal level associated with the first access node and a determined second signal level associated with a second access node. The determined first signal level from the signal information may comprise a received signal level of the first signal decreased by the first adjustment factor. Based on the signal information, one of the first access node and the second access node may be selected for communication with the wireless device and the wireless device may be instructed to communicate with the selected access node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing a maximum allowable transmit power of a wireless device. Instructions to reduce a maximum transmit power of wireless devices operating at a carrier band edge of a band channel maybe received at an access node. Power headroom reports may be collected from the wireless devices. The wireless devices may be classified based on the collected power headroom reports. Power reduction may be imposed on wireless devices classified as low power wireless devices and wireless devices classified as high power wireless devices may be handed off to a neighboring band channel.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for pooling network devices and updating service plans in a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to group network devices based on a location identifier of each network device. The base station may pool network resources of network devices in each group. The base station, in turn, updates the service plans for customers having addresses that correspond to the location identifiers to reflect the grouped network devices and the pooled resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for preventing premature processing during beam forming. It may be determined, at an access node, that a wireless device has received data using a beam formed transmission from the access node. A gap may be calculated between a reported signal level for the wireless device and a transmission scheme used to transmit downlink data to the wireless device. A threshold value may then be adjusted based on the calculated gap, where the threshold value is used to determine when the wireless device scans a plurality of frequency bands. The adjusted threshold value may be transmitted to the wireless device.

Abstract: Allocating resources in a wireless network includes monitoring usage of each of a control channel and a data channel, determining that at least the usage of the data channel exceeds a capacity of the data channel, determining a usage of each of the control channel and the data channel operating in MU-MIMO mode, determining that the usage of the control channel in the MU-MIMO mode exceeds a first capacity of the control channel, determining a usage of each of the control channel and the data channel operating in both the MU-MIMO mode and an enhanced control mode, and adjusting a size of the portion of resources of the data channel allocated for control information upon determining that the second usage of one of the control channel or the data channel exceeds a second capacity of one of the control channel or the data channel.