Abstract: A relay wireless device is subject to a handoff procedure based on a signal strength and other features of a plurality of neighbor access nodes that are within range of the relay wireless device, and based on their ability to provide services to end-user wireless devices via the relay wireless device. A first access node obtains a plurality of features of the neighbor access nodes to enable determination of an optimal donor access node to provide services to the end-user devices via the relay wireless device. The first access node may obtain the features directly from each neighbor access node or by communicating with an EMS server. The features of the neighbor access nodes include loading information for each node. The loading information may be matched to the requirements of the relay wireless device.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods to reduce interference in heterogeneous networks having a plurality of access nodes, such as combinations of macro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. are disclosed. Interference caused in sectors of two or more access nodes that face each other is minimized by dividing a total number of resource blocks into resource block sets that are uniquely numbered and allocated across each sector of each access node. The allocation is rotated based on a different time stamp or a different starting number, or may be a random sequence of sets per access node. These independent allocations for each access node generally distribute the interference across the system, and provide better interference reduction, resulting in an increase in system capacity per sector of each cell.

Abstract: A method and system for scanning for target coverage in order of signal strength threshold. In a wireless communication system that defines a plurality of wireless coverage areas, a user equipment device (UE) may seek to select one of the coverage areas in which to operate. Each coverage area may have a respective downlink receive signal strength threshold (DSST) defining a minimum downlink receive signal strength for triggering UE selection of the coverage area. While operating in the wireless communication system, the UE may be arranged to rank-order the coverage areas in order of their respective DSSTs so as to define a sequence of the coverage areas. The UE may be arranged to then scan the coverage areas in order of the defined sequence, in search of a coverage area to select to operate in.

Abstract: A method and system for a base station to manage air interface communications with a wireless client device (WCD) served by the base station, taking into account whether the WCD is a relay-WCD that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station. The base station will determine whether the served WCD is a relay-WCD, and based on a determination that the served WCD is a relay-WCD, the base station will responsively invoke a process to help expedite air interface communications with the served WCD, in an effort to reduce the total delay resulting from the wireless relay arrangement. In particular, based on the served WCD being a relay-WCD, and perhaps based on the relay-WCD facilitating a threshold extent of delay-sensitive communication, the base station will invoke transmission time interval (TTI) bundling, to help expedite the air interface communications between the base station and the relay-WCD.

Abstract: A method for donor selection in a relay access node includes identifying a plurality of candidate donor access nodes and obtaining one or more characteristics associated with each of the plurality of candidate donor access nodes. The method further includes determining a primary donor access node based on a comparison of the one or more characteristics between each of the plurality of candidate donor access nodes, and receiving a reference signal transmitted by the primary donor access node at a transmission power higher than a transmission power of downlink information transmitted by the primary donor access node. One or more quality characteristics of the primary donor access node are evaluated, and based on the one or more quality characteristics meeting a predetermined threshold, a connection to the primary donor access node is requested. Devices and systems relate to donor selection.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for segregating user equipment devices (UEs) among carriers to help facilitate operation in lean-carrier mode in which a base station (BS) engages in a reduced extent of reference signaling on a particular carrier. In practice, the BS may operate in the lean-carrier mode when bearer data is not being communicated on the particular carrier. Given this arrangement, the BS may identify one or more UEs, of a plurality of UEs served by the BS, based on each UE communicating bearer data less frequently than a threshold frequency of bearer data communication. And the BS may serve just the identified UEs on the particular carrier, thereby increasing a probability of the BS operating in the lean-carrier mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for use of DCN-ID data as a basis for service configuration and differentiation. A UE may be provisioned with a DCN-ID that correlates with a service plan to which the UE subscribes, and the UE may include the DCN-ID in an attach request that the UE sends to a NB. The NB may then map the included DCN-ID to a service configuration for the UE and take action to configure service for the UE accordingly. In an example implementation, the service configuration could include a quantity of secondary NBs to be added for concurrent service of the UE, a set of one or more DCNs in which the UE should be connected, and a set of one or more application-layer services to be provided for the UE.

Abstract: Minimizing interference in a heterogeneous wireless network includes determining a group of potentially interfering access nodes from among the plurality of neighboring access nodes, based on reference signals transmitted from each of the plurality of neighboring access nodes, and communicating additional signal information between each access node within the group of potentially interfering access nodes. The additional signal information is associated with signals transmitted from said each access node within the group. Each access node within the group performs interference minimization based on the additional signal information, thereby enabling full-duplex operation.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically managing a downlink coverage threshold that is used for triggering handover processing of a user equipment device (UE). The downlink coverage threshold is dynamically decreased upon invoking of uplink Transmission Time Interval (TTI) bundling service for the UE.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for offset decoding of resource elements in a resource block to compensate for propagation delay in uplink coordinated multipoint service. A determination may be made that the initial data symbol of a time-ordered sequence of N data symbols transmitted by a user equipment device (UE) to a base station (BS) will be received at an arrival time beyond an initial one of N equally-spaced tolerance windows for simultaneous decoding of data symbols received from UEs. If it is determined that the arrival time will be within a subsequent one of the N equally-spaced tolerance windows, then the BS may receive and decode those of the N data symbols with respective arrival times in one of the subsequent tolerance windows. Otherwise, the BS may refrain from decoding any of the N data symbols. The decode data symbols may be merged with those from another BS.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for a UE to expedite handover through advanced obtaining and reporting of a network identifier. The UE could detect for possible handover a target cell that a target base station provides. In response to the detecting, the UE could determine that the target base station is of a particular class of base stations and, responsive to determining that the target base station is of the particular class, could determine and report the network identifier to a source base station serving the UE. In this way, if the source base station does not have a record of the network identifier, the source base station would not need to request the UE to determine and report that identifier, and could instead use the reported network identifier as basis to engage in handover signaling to process handover of the UE to the target cell, thereby expediting handover.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes are related to allocating bandwidth in a wireless network. A method includes identifying a plurality of small cell relay nodes connected to a relay node. The method further includes determining priority data indicative of resource utilization by each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes and types of services utilized by wireless devices connected to each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes. Additionally, the method includes determining a priority for each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes based at least partially the priority data. The method also includes allocating backhaul bandwidth of the relay node to each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes based at least partially on the priority for each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes.

Abstract: A method and system to manage coordinated transmission of data in a wireless communication system. When a serving base station receives data of a particular class for transmission to a user equipment device (UE), the serving base station transmits the received data to the UE and sends a proper subset of the received data to a neighboring base station for the neighboring base station to also transmit to the UE optimally concurrently with the serving base station's transmission of the proper subset. To help comply with a policy in place at the neighboring base station, the serving base station decides how much of the received data to send to the neighboring base station as the proper subset by (i) determining what scheduling weight the neighboring base station is set to apply for data of the particular class and (ii) applying that determined scheduling weight to the received data.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for providing system-acquisition parameters on standardized frequencies. One embodiment takes the form of a method for assisting mobile devices with system acquisition. The method includes, in each of two or more wireless coverage areas, broadcasting from a radio access network (RAN) on each of one or more predefined frequencies one or more sets of one or more system-acquisition parameters. The method also includes configuring one or more mobile devices with logic executable for, in response to detecting a triggering event, retrieving at least one of the sets of system-acquisition parameters on at least one of the predefined frequencies, and then using at least one retrieved set of system-acquisition parameters to attempt to acquire system connectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for dynamically adjusting modulation and encoding scheme (MCS) and transport block size (TBS) used for downlink transmissions from a base station (BS) to a user equipment device (UE) based on a frequency of retransmission requests from the UE. The BS may identify the UE as belonging to a first class of UEs designated as being capable of receiving data at a first data rate that is higher than a second data rate designated for UEs of a second class, for the same downlink channel quality reported by the UE. Based on the identification, the BS may select a MCS and TBS for the UE corresponding to the first data rate. Upon receiving more than a threshold number of retransmission requests from the UE, the BS may switch to using the second, lower data rate. The first and second classes could correspond to later and earlier technology generations, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting relay nodes for Single-User Multiple-Input-Multiple Output (SU-MIMO). A channel orthogonality and Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) of a plurality of wireless devices located in a geographic area of an access node is determined. A relay-capable status of the plurality of wireless devices is determined. Non-relay capable wireless devices located in the geographic area are excluded from SU-MIMO. From the plurality of wireless devices, relay-capable wireless devices are selected for SU-MIMO. The selected relay-capable wireless devices are prioritized for SU-MIMO based on a channel orthogonality and SINR meeting a set threshold.

Abstract: Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) can improve uplink service in cellular networks. However, uplink CoMP can also burden an access network, such as by increasing processing loads at base stations and/or increasing traffic on backhaul links between base stations. Accordingly, exemplary methods and systems help to dynamically select an uplink CoMP mode for a user equipment (UE) based on various factors, such as whether the UE is located at a border cell, whether or not carrier aggregation is being utilized for downlink communications with the UE, and/or whether or not the UE is a heavy data user, among other possible factors.

Abstract: In an example method, a base station determines that a UE is CSFB capable and that the base station is currently serving a relay on a first carrier of a plurality of carriers. The base station provides a coverage area on which to serve UEs, and the coverage area operates on the plurality of carriers. Based on at least the determining that the UE is CSFB capable and that the base station is currently serving the relay on the first carrier, the base station assigns the UE to operate on a carrier of the plurality of carriers other than the first carrier rather than having the UE operate on the first carrier on which the base station is currently serving the relay.

Abstract: A relay wireless device is configured to function as a relay on behalf of a donor access node. The relay wireless device determines a preferred donor access node from among a plurality of candidate donor access nodes based on a measurement of a reference signal, such as an RSRP or SINR, associated with each access node within a range of the relay wireless device. The access nodes may be prioritized based on the measurement, as well as based on a maximum number of dedicated random access preambles provided by each access node, and a default paging cycle of each access node. The access node that has the highest priority based on a good RSRP/SINR, a high number of dedicated random access preambles, and a large paging cycle, is selected as the preferred donor access node, and a connection request submitted to the preferred donor access node.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include systems, methods, and nodes for determining a frequency band for wireless backhaul. It may be determined that a utilization of a frequency band used for backhaul between a relay wireless device and an access node meets a criteria. An overhead may be calculated for a set of frequency bands available for use as backhaul between the relay wireless device and the access node, wherein the calculated overhead for a particular one of the set of frequency bands is based on at least one of a number of wireless devices that use the particular frequency band for carrier aggregation and a number of wireless devices that receive a beamformed signal over the particular frequency band. One of the set of frequency bands may be selected based on the calculated overhead. And the relay wireless device may be instructed to communicate wireless backhaul to the access node over the selected frequency.