Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining an inter-frequency handover condition for a wireless device. A serving frequency for a location based service (LBS) operating on a wireless device at a first location may be determined. A controller node may determine a path for the wireless device. The path may begin at the first location and continue through a plurality of access node clusters. Each access node cluster may comprise a positioning reference signal (PRS) frequency. The PRS frequency of the access node clusters may be different from the serving frequency. A set of criteria for performing a handover from the serving frequency to the PRS frequency of the access node cluster may be determined. One of the criteria may be performing a periodicity scan of the LBS. An inter-frequency handover of the wireless device from the serving frequency to the PRS frequency of the access node cluster may be requested.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to help facilitate transition from broadcast to unicast. A broadcast server provides a copy of session content to a unicast gateway, and a content-synchronizer keeps track of which UEs are broadcast recipients and what the progress of the broadcast is over time. In response to unicast attachment of a UE with the unicast gateway, as when the UE moves from broadcast coverage to unicast coverage, the unicast server determines based on information from the content synchronizer (i) that the UE is a broadcast recipient and (ii) the progress of the broadcast so far. The unicast gateway then begins transmitting to the UE the media content received from the broadcast server, starting at a point in the media content based on the determined progress. This process may thereby help to facilitate a seamless transition from broadcast to unicast, with at most a brief interruption.

Abstract: A method and system for conditioning grant of digital rights on receiving and validating content-distribution referrals is provided. A subscriber using a communication device may enter a request to use locked digital content, or request a content-use right. The user may be prompted to enter one or more referrals as potential other recipients of the content. An indication of the one or more referrals may be sent to a network entity, which may determine whether at least a threshold number of the entered referrals are valid. If so, a network entity may transmit to the communication device data that will facilitate use of the digital content. Additionally, a network entity may send a solicitation message to each of at least the threshold number of entered referrals. A network entity may also provide an award in return for the entered referrals.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling communication in a wireless communication network are provided. A first access node can receive an uplink scheduling request from a wireless device. The first access node can receive a first interference indicator from a second access node when the wireless device is located at the cell edge. A first scheduling scheme for the first access node and a second scheduling scheme for the second access node can be determined based on the uplink scheduling request and the interference indicator. The uplink portions of the first scheduling scheme do not overlap the uplink portions of the second scheduling scheme. The first access node can instruct the wireless device to communicate uplink data to the first access node during the uplink portions of the first scheduling scheme and to communicate uplink data to the second access node during the uplink portions of the second scheduling scheme.

Abstract: A method and system for setting a hold-timer duration is disclosed. The method involves a first network initially serving a user equipment device (UE), wherein serving the UE comprises allocating at least one resource to the UE and using the at least one resource to serve the UE. The method also involves detecting transition of the UE from being served by the first network to being served by a second network. The method further involves, after the UE transitions to the second network, applying a hold-timer having a hold-timer duration for release of the at least one resource. Further, the method involves, before setting the hold-timer duration, the first network receiving from the UE a report including an indication of radio frequency (RF) quality of the second network. The method also involves using the reported indication of RF quality as a basis to set the hold-timer duration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to help manage communication on a wireless channel. When a neighboring node detects on a wireless channel a ready-to-send (RTS) message from a transmitting node to a receiving node, the neighboring node will set itself to avoid transmission on the channel for a time period but will then determine whether it detects in that time period a further transmission from the transmitting node to the receiving node, related to the data transmission. The further transmission may be a confirmation-to-send (CoTS) message that the transmitting node sends to the receiving node in response to a clear-to-send (CTS) from the receiving node. If the determination is affirmative, then the neighboring node will continue avoiding use of the channel. But if the determination is negative, then the neighboring node will discontinue avoiding use of the channel.

Abstract: In systems and methods of frequency band selection for wireless device communication, a first frequency band comprising a first channel bandwidth is associated with a first application type and a second frequency band comprising a second channel bandwidth is associated with a second application type. When a request to establish a communication session is received at an access node from a wireless device, an application type associated with the request, a frequency band for the communication session with the wireless device based on the application type from among the first frequency band and the second frequency band, and the communication session is established between the access node and the wireless device using the selected frequency band.

Abstract: Embodiments may involve the adjustment of access parameters for a wireless communication device (WCD), based on the codec that is currently associated with the WCD. An illustrative method involves a WCD: (a) determining a codec that is associated with the WCD in a given coverage area, (b) using the associated codec as a basis for determining a setting for each of one or more access parameters for an access process of the WCD, and (c) operating according to the determined settings for the one or more access parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to help detect that a particular location determination process is unreliable and to help exclude location fixes established with that location determination process from being used as a basis to provide a location-based service. In accordance with the disclosure, a server may receive at least three location fixes for a mobile station, all corresponding with each other in time and each established with a different location determination process, and the server may determine that one of the location fixes is relatively far away from the other location fixes and therefore that the location determination process used to establish that location fix is unreliable. In response to determining that the location determination process is unreliable, the server or another entity may then exclude location fixes established with that location determination process from being used as a basis to provide a location-based service.

Abstract: In systems and methods of managing a handover of a wireless device, it is determined that a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) assigned to a wireless device operating on a first frequency band meets an MCS threshold. An instruction is sent to the wireless device to determine a signal level of a second frequency band when the MCS meets the MCS threshold. When the signal level of the second frequency band meets a signal level threshold, a handover is performed of the wireless device from the first frequency band to the second frequency band.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first base station to use a coverage area identifier is described. For instance, a computing system may determine that coverage provided by the first base station overlaps with coverage provided by a second base station. Further, of a plurality of third base stations that also provide coverage overlapping the coverage provided by the second base station, the computing system may identify one or more third base stations having an extent of handover with the determined second base station that is below a threshold extent of handover. The computing system may then select, as the coverage area identifier to be assigned to the first base station, a coverage area identifier that is also assigned to a particular one of the one or more identified third base stations. The computing system may configure the first base station to use the selected coverage area identifier.

Abstract: One or more random access channel (RACH) instances may be specially designated for use by mobile terminals that are in threshold poor coverage of an intended base station. Further, one or more other base stations that provide coverage overlapping with, within, or near coverage of the intended base station may be arranged to monitor the one or more specially designated RACH instances for mobile terminal access requests and, upon detecting any such access request, to forward the access request via an inter-base station link to the intended base station. The intended base station may then respond to the mobile terminal access request through a direct downlink communication to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A node in a telephone network such as a switch stores associations between called and calling parties and colored ringback media played by the called party. Later, when the same calling party calls the called party, the node retrieves the stored ringback media and forwards the media to the calling party on behalf of the called party. In one embodiment, the node comprises a switch. In other embodiments, the node is a central server caching called/calling party combinations and associated ringback media and provides the ringback media forwarding function for a distributed population of called parties. Such called parties may comprise wireless phones.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system to help manage user equipment device (UE) transmission power, specifically in a scenario where the UE was being served by a base station on a first carrier frequency and the UE is then going to communicate with a base station (whether the same or another base station) instead on a second, different carrier frequency. As disclosed, a UE may determine, based on communication by the UE on the first carrier frequency, a baseline initial transmit power for the UE to use for an initial transmission from the UE to a cellular base station on the second carrier frequency. Responsive to the second carrier frequency being different than the first carrier frequency, the UE may adjust the baseline initial transmit power to establish an adjusted initial transmit power. The UE may then engage in the initial transmission using the adjusted baseline initial transmit power.

Abstract: A system and method of providing wireless communications to a wireless device is provided. A scanning report can be received from each of a plurality of wireless devices in communication with a first access node using a first radio access technology. A second access node can be selected from among one or more second access nodes to initiate communications with the first access node over a communication link based on the scanning report from each of the plurality of wireless devices. The plurality of wireless devices can be instructed to establish communications with the second access node using a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology. A bandwidth allocation of the communication link can be adjusted based on the plurality of wireless devices.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamic swapping of uplink and downlink base stations. A user equipment device (UE) may engage in a communication session with a downlink from a first base station (e.g., eNodeB) and an uplink to second, different base station. If a determination is made that more favorable operating conditions for transmitting session communications to the UE are available on a downlink air interface from the second base station than on the downlink air interface from the first base station, the uplink and downlink may be swapped, such that after swapping, the UE may have a downlink from second base station and an uplink to the first base station.

Abstract: First data packets for a wireless device are received at a network element and are encoded into at least one second data packet, the second data packet comprising at least two of the first data packets. The at least one second data packet is sent from the network element to the wireless device. A round trip time related to the at least one second data packet, and a frequency band load of a frequency band to deliver the at least one second data packet to the wireless device are determined. A number of permitted retransmissions of the at least one second data packet from the access node to the wireless device is adjusted based on the round trip time and the frequency band load.

Abstract: A method and a communication device for accessing a communication system are disclosed. The method includes determining that an application requesting access to the communication system requires preferred access to the communication system and requesting access to the communication system using a least preferred access channel from a preferred roaming list comprising a plurality of access channels. An access node of a communication system is further disclosed. The access node includes a processor to determine whether the communication system supports a preferred access to the communication system by at least one authorized communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and transmit an indication that the communication system supports the preferred access to the communication system by the at least one authorized communication device.

Abstract: In systems and methods of selecting an access node for wireless device communication, it is determined that a first loading of a first access node meets a first loading criteria, and a wireless device is selected which is in communication with the first access node and which detects a second access node. A request is sent to the second access node to accept a handover of the wireless device, and a timer is started comprising a first timer value when the request is rejected by the second access node. A second request is sent to the second access node to accept a handover of the wireless device to the second access node when the timer expires, and the wireless device is instructed to change from communicating with the first access node to communicating with the second access node when the second request is accepted by the second access node.

Abstract: A base station that serves a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) will group the WCDs into physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) channel (PHICH) groups based on channel quality reported by the WCDs and will then differentially allocate transmission power among the PHICH groups, so as to provide higher transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported lower channel quality, while providing lower transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported higher channel quality.