Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Systems and methods for selecting a donor for a relay wireless device
    Patent number: 10298313
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include systems, methods, and nodes for selecting a donor for a relay wireless device. Signal levels corresponding to signals received at a relay wireless device from a plurality of access points are determined. Signal information is received from the plurality of access points, wherein the signal information comprises a group identification for each access point. The signal information for the access points may then be compared to a donor criteria. And the access point corresponding to the greatest signal level that also comprises signal information that meets the donor criteria may be selected as the donor for the relay wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Hemanth Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Pratik Kothari
  • Systems and methods for providing group call service areas
    Patent number: 10299084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing group call service areas. It may be detected at a wireless device that participation in a group call with a first group call identification is available, wherein the detecting is based on entry into a service area for the group call. The wireless device may be automatically registered to join the group call. A user of the wireless device may be notified that participation in the group call is available. The wireless device may join the group call after receiving an indication from the user, wherein joining the group call includes receiving downlink group call voice data from an access node in communication with the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Sunyong Park
  • Systems and methods for mitigating interference from neighbors
    Patent number: 10299145
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sanghoon Sung, Dhaval Mehta, Udit Thakore
  • Reducing latency in an unlicensed frequency spectrum
    Patent number: 10292137
    Abstract: Reducing latency in a wireless network includes initiating a sensing period for measuring signal indicators of a plurality of frequency channels of an unlicensed spectrum, determining that one of the plurality of frequency channels is able to sustain a traffic load, interrupting the sensing period, and scheduling one or more cellular subframes during the remainder of the sensing period using the one of the plurality of frequency channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Luca Zappaterra, Yu Zhou, Muhammad Ahsan Naim
  • Systems and methods for scheduling transmissions from an access node
    Patent number: 10291541
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling transmissions from an access node in a communication network. A plurality of data packets may be received at a buffer of an access node. A discard timer may be started on receipt of the data packets. When the discard packet timer expires, a number of data packets in the buffer and an associated aggregated queuing delay may be determined. The aggregated queuing delay may be compared to target block error rate (BLER). The target BLER may be modified when the aggregated queuing delay and the number of data packets exceed a target threshold. Data packets may be transmitted from the access node using the modified BLER.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sanghoon Sung, Tri Duong, Udit Thakore, Yu Wang
  • Prioritizing uplink grants to mobile devices assigned to frequencies subject to group delay variation
    Patent number: 10292160
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for prioritizing uplink grants to mobile devices based on group delay variation considerations. A base station may receive (i) a first random access channel (RAC) request from a first user equipment device (UE) assigned to operate in a first frequency band of a wireless communication network and (ii) a second RAC request from a second UE assigned to operate in a different, second frequency band of the wireless communication network, both request being for uplink communications. Upon determining that the first frequency band is more susceptible to group delay variation based impairments than the second frequency band, the base station prioritizes an uplink channel grant of the first RAC request over an uplink channel grant of the second RAC request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Sreekar Marupaduga
  • Systems and methods for Donor Access Node selection
    Patent number: 10292095
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for donor access node (DeNB) selection at a relay access node (AN). A plurality of DeNBs may be identified, the DeNBs being located within a radio range of the relay AN. A metric may be calculated at the relay AN and used by the relay AN to select multiple, preferred DeNBs from the plurality of DeNBs. The relay AN may simultaneously request a connection to each of the multiple, preferred DeNBs. Data signals may be combined for transport at the relay AN and sent to end-user wireless devices, the multiple, preferred DeNBs, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Justin Sungki Park, Brent Scott
  • Systems and methods for determining a transmission scheme for a broadcast
    Patent number: 10278193
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a transmission scheme for a broadcast. Channel quality indicators may be tracked for a plurality of wireless devices. An average channel quality indicator may then be calculated based on the tracking for each of the plurality of wireless devices that subscribes to a broadcast transmission. A transmission scheme for the broadcast transmission may then be determined based on the average channel quality indicators, the transmission scheme comprising at least a modulation and coding scheme for the broadcast transmission. A set of access nodes may then be instructed to transmit the broadcast using the determined transmission scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Volkan Sevindik
  • Dynamic cell range expansion
    Patent number: 10278124
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating a bias value based on radio frequency signal power measurements. A wireless communication device (WCD) measures the powers of radio frequency signals received by the WCD, including a first radio frequency signal transmitted by a first base station of a wireless network and a second radio frequency signal transmitted by a second base station of the wireless network. The first base station transmits radio frequency signals at a higher power than the second base station. The WCD calculates a bias value based on at least one of the measured powers of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal. The bias value, in combination with the measured powers of the first and second radio frequency signals, can be used to select one of the first and second base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Yu Zhou, Daniel Vivanco, Krishna Sitaram
  • Systems and methods for latency reduction for group calls
    Patent number: 10271375
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing latency for a group call. A group call random access (RACH) preamble selected from a subset of predetermined random access preambles associated with a group call may be received at an access node from a first wireless device, wherein the group call random access preamble indicates to the access node that a group call is to be established. A RACH response may be transmitted to the first wireless device comprising an uplink resource grant associated with a group call setup, wherein the uplink resource grant is greater than uplink resource grant associated with a default RACH response. And the group call may be established by communicating with the first wireless device based on the uplink resource grant associated with group call setup, wherein the group call is established between at least the first wireless device and a second wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Sunyong Park
  • Dynamic offloading of one or more UEs to a different carrier in response to a threshold high number of UEs being served with TTI bundling
    Patent number: 10271340
    Abstract: Methods and systems to help manage wireless communication with UEs in a manner that takes into account an extent of TTI bundling on a given carrier frequency. When a base station is serving a threshold high number of TTI-bundling-UEs on a first carrier frequency, the base station will reduce the number of TTI-bundling-UEs on the first carrier frequency by offloading one or more of the TTI-bundling-UEs from the first carrier frequency to a second carrier frequency. Further, to avoid increasing the number of TTI-bundling-UEs served on the first carrier frequency, when the base station detects a trigger event for enabling TTI bundling for an additional UE served on the first carrier frequency, the base station will offload the additional UE from the first carrier frequency to the second carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Hemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Shilpa K. Srinivas
  • Providing cellular service on partially-overlapping carriers
    Patent number: 10264581
    Abstract: A method and system to help facilitate efficient use of frequency spectrum. A base station will provide service on two carriers that partially overlap with each other in frequency. To facilitate this, the base station could shift the frame timing of one carrier in relation to the other carrier, so as to minimize or avoid overlap of the carriers' downlink control channels. Further, the base station could control service on each carrier in a manner that helps avoid resource conflicts within the overlapping frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Shahzada Rasool, Muhammad A. Naim
  • Providing cellular service on a guest carrier fully encompassed by a host carrier
    Patent number: 10264464
    Abstract: A base station will be configured to provide service on a host carrier that has a particular frequency range and, concurrently, on a guest carrier that has a narrower frequency range and that is defined as a portion of and fully within the host-carrier's frequency range. With this arrangement, a portion of the host-carrier's air interface resources would thus also be air interface resources of the guest carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Roger Bartlett, Arun Rajagopal
  • Power control for high power class wireless devices
    Patent number: 10264534
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for performing uplink power control of a high-powered wireless device in a wireless network based on first determining that a wireless device is capable of operating in a high-powered transmission mode, performing real-time adjustments to one or both of a pathloss scaling parameter or a power headroom level scaling parameter associated with the high-powered wireless device, and instructing the high-powered wireless device to utilize a transmit power level based on the adjusted one or both of the pathloss scaling parameter or the power headroom level scaling parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Justin Sungki Park
  • Method and system for controlling WCD core-network connection based on communications served by base station for which WCD provides wireless backhaul connectivity
    Patent number: 10264596
    Abstract: A method and system to help manage a wireless client device's (WCD's) network connection with a core network gateway, where the WCD provides wireless backhaul connectivity to the core network for a relay base station with which the WCD communicates over a communication interface. The WCD detects passage of a threshold period of absence of communication on the communication interface between the WCD and the relay base station, and upon detecting that threshold period of absence of communication on that communication interface, the WCD releases its network connection with the core network gateway. Further, the WCD dynamically sets the threshold inactivity period for this purpose based on history of communications with which the relay base station has served one or more other WCDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga, Vanil Parihar, Nitesh Manchanda
  • Optimizing LTE transmit diversity implementation based on wireless device transmit power and power headroom
    Patent number: 10243627
    Abstract: A method of controlling a system for transmitting data. The method includes transmitting data using a plurality of transmit paths, receiving at the access node a transmit power and an available transmit power of a wireless device, monitoring at the access node the received transmit power and the received available transmit power over a period of time, determining at the access node the received transmit power meets a first criteria and the received available transmit power meets a second criteria, and reducing transmit paths from the access node in response to determining the received transmit power meets the first criteria and the received available transmit power meets the second criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga, Patrick Himmelberg, Clark Halferty
  • Minimizing interference in different sectors of wireless networks
    Patent number: 10237754
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes minimize interference in a wireless network. Minimizing interference includes determining that an angle between a first formed beam directed towards a wireless device and a relay signal directed towards a relay node is equal to or is less than a threshold angle. The wireless device can operate in a first area of network coverage, and the relay node operates in a second area of the network coverage. The first formed beam can interfere with the relay node upon the angle being equal to or less than the threshold angle. Minimizing interference also includes switching a connection of the relay node from a first access node to a second access node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Hemanth Pawar, Shilpa Kowdley, Krishna Sitaram, Chunmei Liu
  • Dynamic multi-antenna communication
    Patent number: 10236965
    Abstract: According to exemplary embodiments described herein, communicating via a plurality of antennae includes transmitting different data streams from each of a first antenna and a second antenna in a first transmission mode, and transmitting identical data streams from a third antenna and one of the first and second antennae in a second transmission mode. The first and second antennae are horizontally stacked relative to each other and the third antenna is vertically stacked relative to both the first and second antennae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Krishna Sitaram, Chunmei Liu, Hemanth Pawar, Pratik Kothari
  • Packet gateway reassignment
    Patent number: 10237796
    Abstract: An example embodiment may involve receiving an attach request related to a WCD. It may be determined that the WCD already has an established bearer session with a first PGW device. Possibly in response to receiving the attach request from the WCD and the WCD already having the established bearer session with the first PGW device, a request for PGW device assignment may be transmitted to a server device. A response from the server device may be received, where the response may indicate assignment of a second PGW device. A create session request may be transmitted to an SGW device. Reception of the create session request may cause the SGW device to establish, for the WCD, a new bearer session to the second PGW device. Establishment of the new bearer session may involve the second PGW device retrieving, from the first PGW device, context information related to the WCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Mark R. Bales
  • Coordinated multipoint set selection based on donor status
    Patent number: 10237759
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that can help to more effectively select a cooperating set of cells for coordinated multipoint (CoMP) service. One illustrative method involves: (a) determining a donor status of a first base station that serves a first cell, wherein the donor status indicates whether or not the first base station is configured as a donor base station for at least one relay node, and (b) based at least in part on the determined donor status of the first base station, determining whether or not to include the first cell in a CoMP cooperating set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Sreekar Marupaduga