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 system and method of scheduling communication in a wireless communication network are provided. A first access node can determine a scheduling scheme based on data addressed to wireless devices in communication with the first, second, and third access nodes. The data addressed to the wireless devices in communication with the first access node can be transmitted during a first subframe of the scheduling scheme where the first access node does not transmit data addressed to the wireless devices in communication with the first access node during a second subframe of the scheduling scheme. The second and third access nodes can be instructed to assign data addressed to wireless devices that do not meet a signal condition threshold to be transmitted during the first subframe and to assign data addressed to wireless devices that meet the signal condition threshold to be transmitted during the second subframe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for managing coverage area changes using base station signaling. The method may involve a first base station increasing the distance of coverage of the first base station on a first carrier frequency such that the extended coverage extends to a coverage area of a second base station on the first carrier frequency. The second base station may also be providing the coverage area on a second carrier frequency. The method may also involve causing one or more UEs being served by the second base station on the second frequency to prioritize operating on the first carrier frequency of the second base station over operating on the second carrier frequency of the second base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing beam forming at multiple access nodes. A first access node may receive a signal level from a wireless device that fails to meet a signal level criteria. It may be determined that beam forming is enabled at the first access node. Beam forming data may then be communicated between the first access node and a second access node. It may also be determined whether coordinated multipoint transmissions are enabled at the first access node. Beams transmitted from the first access node and the second access node may be adjusted based on whether coordinated multipoint transmissions are enabled from the first access node.

Abstract: A method for controlling a UE situated in both a coverage area of a first base station and a coverage area of a second base station involves detecting that the UE is ping-ponging between being served by the first base station and being served by the second base station and determining that the second base station is a relay base station. Further, the method involves, responsive to detecting the ping-ponging and determining that the second base station is a relay base station, (a) determining a carrier on which the first base station provides service and on which the second base station does not provide service, and (b) based on the first base station providing service on the determined carrier and the second base station not providing service on the determined carrier, causing the UE to be served by the first base station on the determined carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for release of a UE's context record in response to failure of air interface communication. As disclosed, a wireless communication system includes a base station that has a protocol stack defining a series of logical processing layers through which the base station sequentially processes data for transmission to a UE. The layers include an upper layer and a physical layer at which the base station processes the data for communication over an air interface to the UE. Accordingly, the base station detects failure of air interface communication between the base station and the UE. In response to detecting the failure, and without waiting to detect at the upper layer a further failure corresponding with the failure of the air interface communication, the base station transmits to a network controller a UE-context release request requesting release of bearer context that was established for the UE.

Abstract: A method and system for managing quantity of carriers to aggregate together in carrier aggregation service, based at least in part on consideration of the type of content that will be communicated to or from the user equipment device (UE) at issue. A base station serving the UE may determine a type of content that will be communicated between the base station and the UE and, based at least on the determined type of content, may decide whether to apply carrier aggregation and, when the decision is to apply carrier aggregation, determine, based at least on the determined type of content, how many component carriers to aggregate together in the carrier aggregation service of the UE. The base station may then modify an air interface connection with the UE to encompass the determined number of component carriers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting packet loss in a communication network are provided. A first network element can determine that a first group of packets meets an observation threshold. The observation threshold can comprise a predetermined number of packets in a sequence. A first timer can be initiated when the first group of packets meets the observation threshold. A first packet can be detected at the first network element after the first timer is initiated. The first timer can be re-initiated when the first packet is detected at the first network element before the first timer expires and the first packet comprises a packet in the sequence greater than a last detected packet. A first packet loss can be determined when the first packet is not a next packet in the sequence.

Abstract: A controller may use allocate a set of carriers between two or more base stations based on the respective backhaul capacities of the base stations. An example method involves determining a first backhaul capacity of a first base station, determining a second backhaul capacity of a second base station, and allocating carriers of a set of carriers between the first base station and the second base station based at least one a comparison between the determined first backhaul capacity and the determined second backhaul capacity.

Abstract: A first wireless device is served with an access node. The access node has a first coverage area. A second wireless device is served with a sub-cell access node. The sub-cell access node has a second coverage area that is contained within the access node coverage area. Based on the determination to reduce the load on the sub-cell access node, a handover of a wireless device from the sub-cell access node to the access node is caused by reducing the transmit power used by the sub-cell access node. Based on a comparison of a first signal quality indicator associated with a first sub-cell access node to a second signal quality indicator associated with a second sub-cell access node, a transmit power from the first access node is reduced.

Abstract: Maps of high wireless device movement and high wireless device traffic are created. These maps are correlated over selected periods of time to determine when, and where, large numbers of wireless devices are both moving and creating problematic traffic. Stationary wireless devices using an access node in the problem area are identified before the selected time period (e.g., 30 minutes before commuting time). These stationary wireless devices are handed over to a reserved frequency band. During the selected time period, wireless devices requesting access in the problem area are denied access using the reserved frequency band and are instead forced to use another frequency band.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for routing data traffic based on network conditions. Network conditions for a communication network may be monitored, where the communication network comprises a first access node and a second access node that are in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link. The monitored network conditions may include at least a utilization of the second communication link. It may be determined that the network conditions meet a criteria. A first classification may be assigned to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria. The first access node may be instructed to transmit the message over the first communication link based on the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria and to transmit the message over the second communication link when the network conditions fail to meet the criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling wireless resources with coordinated multipoint transmissions. It may be determined that a signal level for a wireless device in communication with an access node does not meet a signal level criteria. Based on the determination, an access node may be instructed to transmit information to the wireless device using a coordinated multipoint transmission. A number of wireless devices in communication with the access node that comprise an application requirement that meets an application requirement criteria may further be determined. Then, the access node may be instructed to schedule wireless transmissions using at least one of semi-persistent scheduling and delay based scheduling based on the determined number of the plurality of wireless devices and the instruction to transmit using the coordinated multipoint transmission.

Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, a method and system are provided for managing signaling in a wireless communication network. In some aspects, a base station serves a user equipment device (UE) over an air interface connection between the base station and the UE, and a bearer extends between the UE and a gateway. An example method may involve determining a quality of service (QoS) level of the bearer, and responsively selecting a channel state information (CSI) reporting rate based on the determined QoS level. Further, in some aspects, responsive to the selection of the CSI reporting rate, the method may involve causing the UE to periodically report CSI to the base station according to the selected CSI reporting rate. The method may be performed, in whole or in part, by the UE, the base station, and/or another entity in the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting carrier frequencies to use as a user equipment device's (UE's) primary component carrier (PCell) and secondary component carrier (SCell) for carrier aggregation service, based on consideration of the type of content that will be transmitted to or from the UE. A base station that is arranged to operate on a plurality of carrier frequencies may determine a type of content that will be communicated between the base station and a UE being served by the base station. Based on the determined type of content, the base station may select a first carrier frequency of the plurality to use as a PCell and may further select a second carrier frequency of the plurality to use as an SCell. The base station may then provide the UE with carrier aggregation service concurrently on the PCell and SCell.

Abstract: In one aspect, an exemplary method involves a WCD: (i) determining a likelihood of roaming, wherein the likelihood of roaming indicates a likelihood that the WCD will be handed off from a preferred coverage area to a non-preferred coverage area; and (ii) using the likelihood of roaming as a basis for managing an active set of the WCD. In particular, the WCD may manage its active set by setting at least one active-set parameter affecting the number of active sectors in an active set of the WCD, and then maintaining its active set according to the setting of the at least one active-set parameter. According to an exemplary embodiment, a WCD will make an effort to increase the number of sectors in its active set when the likelihood of roaming is greater, and vice versa.

Abstract: An improved method for controlling how long a device will occupy a wireless channel, based on consideration of QoS class of communication on the channel. With respect to a communication that the device detects on the channel, the device could determine QoS class by detecting a sequence of energy levels in association with the detected communication, the sequence of energy levels indicating the QoS class. The disclosed method could be applied by a cellular base station to control how long the base station will provide cellular service on the channel, where the channel is also used for other communications such as WiFi communications for instance.

Abstract: Disclosed are a methods and systems for selecting a carrier aggregation approach. In particular, a wireless communication system includes a base station configured to serve a UE with carrier aggregation service on a TDD carrier and an FDD carrier. Accordingly, the system determines a type of content that will be transmitted between the base station and the UE and, based on the type of content, the system selects an approach for serving the UE with the carrier aggregation service. This selection is between the base station (i) carrying out uplink communication using only the TDD carrier and carrying out downlink communication using only the FDD carrier and (ii) carrying out downlink communication using only the TDD carrier and carrying out uplink communication using only the FDD carrier. Based on the selecting, the system configures the base station to serve the UE with the carrier aggregation service using the selected approach.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help to dynamically schedule data transmissions in accordance with a fairness policy between different classes of a users. An example method may be implemented in an access network that is configured for carrier-aggregation service via a plurality of component carriers in a given coverage area, and involves: (i) determining a usage level in the given coverage area, and (ii) determining that the usage level in the given coverage area is greater than a threshold usage level and responsively: (a) determining relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between two or more classes of user equipment (UE) that have established data connections in the coverage area, and (b) adjusting a per-carrier scheduling ratio for the given coverage area based on the relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between the two or more UE classes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sub-band selection for a wireless device during connection. An access node may receive a RACH preamble message from a wireless device. It may be determined that a received signal level associated with the message does not meet a signal level criteria. The wireless device may be instructed to transmit signal information to the access node. A sub-band that comprises a signal level that meets the signal level criteria may be selected. The wireless device may then be instructed to communicate with the access node using the selected sub-band when requesting a connection.