Abstract: A wireless-communication system includes a first network and a second network (e.g., an EV-DO network and a 1xRTT network, respectively). A wireless-communication-system entity determines that a mobile station is engaged in a first type of communication (e.g., a voice call) via the first network. In response to making the determination, the entity configures the second network to send second-network data (e.g., 1xRTT page messages) to the mobile station via an inter-network connection interface.

Abstract: In systems and methods for reducing network traffic generated by a plurality of wireless devices operating over a communication network, an indication is received at an access node when a plurality of wireless devices assigned to a subscriber operate simultaneously as active wireless devices over a communication network. A priority list of the active wireless devices arranged according to the highest priority based on operating parameters of the active wireless devices is compiled. One of the active wireless devices is selected as a wireless host device based on the active wireless devices based upon the compiled priority list. Channel state data received from the active wireless devices at the access node is correlated to determine whether the active wireless devices and the wireless host device are in close proximity with each other. A wireless connection is established between the wireless host device and the active wireless devices, that are found to be in close proximity of wireless host device.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided help establish a zone-based paging configuration. In accordance with the method, a RAN entity may evaluate the level of traffic in several small cells of the RAN, identify those small cells that have at least a threshold level of traffic, and responsively construct a new tracking area that includes the identified small cells. In another aspect of the method, a UE that is registered in a current tracking area, may move into coverage of a new sector and receive from a base station associated with the new sector two or more tracking area IDs. The UE may then determine that at least one of the tracking area IDs is indicative of the tracking area in which the UE is currently registered, and responsively operate in the new sector without transmitting a tracking area update message.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for managing transmission of air interface measurement reports from a UE to its serving base station. In accordance with the disclosure, a UE will generally transmit such measurement reports on subcarriers having particular subcarrier spacing. However, if and when the UE detects threshold poor air interface performance, such as threshold weak signal strength from its serving base station, the UE will responsively transition to instead transmit measurement reports to its serving base station on subcarriers having smaller subcarrier spacing.

Abstract: A method and system for preserving context records is disclosed. The method is operable in a communication system including a wireless network serving user equipment devices (UEs), where the wireless network stores, for each UE served by the wireless network, a context record for the UE. The method involves the wireless network detecting a trigger condition comprising a condition selected from the group consisting of (i) a threshold number of context release messages being transmitted between at least two network entities in the wireless network, wherein the threshold number is greater than one and (ii) a network entity beginning a shut-down process. The method further involves, in response to detecting the trigger condition, the wireless network (i) detaching from the wireless network each UE being served by the wireless network at the time of detecting the trigger condition but (ii) preserving the context records for the detached UEs.

Abstract: A communication link is established between a first wireless device and a communication network using a network communication protocol when it is determined at the first wireless device that a communication link with an access node is not detected. The first wireless device transmits an indication that the first wireless device can provide wireless communications to a second wireless device using a cellular radio access technology. In response to a communication channel request from the second wireless device, the first wireless device grants a communication channel to the second wireless device, and the second wireless device is assigned a network address. A request is received at the first wireless device to establish a communication session for the second wireless device over the communication network, and the communication session is established by the wireless device for the second wireless device over the communication network.

Abstract: When a first loading of a first access node is determined to meet a loading criteria, a handover criteria is decreased for a second access node comprising a coverage area at least a portion of which is within a coverage area of the first access node. A handover is performed of at least one of a plurality of wireless devices from the first access node to the second access node when a signal level of the second access node received at the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices meets the decreased handover criteria. Changes are determined in the first loading and in a throughput provided to the at least one of the wireless devices, and the handover criteria for the second access node is adjusted based on the changes in the first loading and the throughput provided to the at least one wireless device.

Abstract: One embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a gateway. The method includes the gateway receiving a message that was originated by a wireless communication device (WCD) being served by an access network. Next, the gateway may identify a given air-interface resource on which the access network is serving the WCD. After receiving the message, the gateway may use the given air-interface resource to determine one or more rules for decrementing an account balance associated with the WCD. The gateway may then decrement the account balance associated with the WCD in accordance with the determined one or more rules.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically configuring femtocell pilot beacon based on macro-network load. An embodiment takes the form of a method of operating a wireless network system that includes a first base station operating on a first frequency and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second frequencies. The method includes transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second frequencies. The method further includes determining loading on each of the second frequencies and in particular that a given one of the second frequencies is more heavily loaded than at least one other, and responsively prioritizing transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the given frequency as compared to the at least one other frequency.

Abstract: A method for managing access channel traffic during congested network conditions is disclosed. A wireless connection device (WCD) sends a service request to a particular base station for a particular quantity of network resources. Upon the particular base station determining that it is too loaded with network traffic to accommodate the service request, the base station saves an indication of the WCD's connection request, and responds with a communication to instruct the WCD to idle and wait for a page from the base station. The WCD, upon receiving the communication, does not send a service request for a greater quantity of network resources than the particular quantity until the WCD receives a page. Once the base station determines it has sufficient network resources to allocate to the WCD, the base station sends a page to the WCD, which causes the WCD to send another service request.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and system for managing frequency use in a system while engaged in multiple communications. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is engaging in a first communication on a first frequency, the WCD receives a request for the WCD to engage in a second communication. Responsive to receiving the request, the WCD hands off the first communication from the first frequency to a second frequency and engages in the second communication on the first frequency. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling communication in a wireless communication network are provided. An access node can determine a scheduling scheme based on an indication of data addressed to wireless devices. The scheduling scheme can comprise a first subframe and a second subframe comprising a first and second resource block. The scheduling scheme can be communicated. Data addressed to the wireless devices in communication with a first access node can be transmitted during the first subframe and the first resource block of the second subframe. A second access node can be instructed to assign data addressed to wireless devices that meet a signal condition threshold to be transmitted during the second resource block of the second subframe and to assign data addressed to wireless devices that do not meet the signal condition threshold to be transmitted during the first subframe and the first resource block of the second subframe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handing off packet-transmission between sectors of a wireless communication system is disclosed herein. During transmission of a packet from an access network to an access terminal, the access terminal determines that the packet should theoretically be transmitted to the access terminal in fewer timeslots in another sector than the number of allowed timeslots remaining for the packet transmission in a current sector. In response, the access terminal abandons packet transmission in the current sector and hands off to the other sector, in an effort to increase throughput and save air interface resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining candidates for handover of wireless devices in a wireless network. An application requirement, a mobility, and an activity factor associated with wireless devices in communication with a first access node may be used to classify wireless devices. The first access node may then receive signal information and identifiers of second access nodes from the wireless devices. The second access node identifiers may be transmitted in response to a reporting event based on a first signal level of the first access node and second signal levels of the second access nodes. A communication link between the first access node and each second access node may be used to transmit second access node network characteristics to the first access node in order to determine if the second access node is a candidate for handover of wireless devices having classification criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for pre-configuring a UE with timing advance for use in communication with a handover target. When a UE is being served by a source base station, the source base station transmits to a target base station a measurement request that specifies an uplink reference signal that the UE will provide, and the target base station evaluates that uplink reference signal to determine a timing advance for the UE and reports the timing advance in a response to the source base station. As the source base station then directs the UE to hand over to the target base station, the source base station then provides the UE with an indication of the timing advance provided by the target base station. The UE may then transition to be served by the target base station and to make use of the indicated timing advance.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for managing release of air interface traffic channels are described. When a radio access network (RAN) is deciding whether to release traffic channels assigned to one or more of a plurality of mobile stations, the RAN may prioritize the release of the assigned air interface traffic channels based on reported air interface conditions. For instance, when the RAN is deciding whether to release a traffic channel from a first mobile station or a second mobile station, the RAN may determine to release the assigned traffic channel from the first mobile station if the first mobile station is experiencing worse air interface conditions.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically controlling the transmission of reverse-link control signals to help reduce interference on the reverse link. A RAN identifies a mobile device whose transmission of reverse-link control signals best represents the reverse-link air interface condition of each other mobile device in a plurality of mobile devices. Then the RAN causes each mobile device in the plurality other than the identified mobile device to not send its respective reverse-link control signal at a given time, thereby reducing the number of mobile devices that transmit reverse-link control signals at the given time.

Abstract: As a communication device receives packet data via a first access network, the communication detects that packet data arriving via a second access network is duplicative of the packet data that the communication device is receiving via the first access network. In response to detecting such duplication, the communication device discontinues being served by the first access network and continues with communication via the second access network.

Abstract: A system and method for reuse of identifiers for contention-free random access requests by wireless communication devices (WCDs) to a network are disclosed. A base station can configure two or more air-interface resources for concurrent, non-interfering transmissions by two or more different WCDs of identical random access requests to the base station. The base station may then assign an identical identifier for contention-free random access requests to two or more WCDs, while assigning the WCDs different ones of the two or more air-interface resources configured for the concurrent, non-interfering transmissions. The two or more WCDs can then concurrently transmit identical contention-free random access requests that do not interfere with one another. By way of example, the air-interface resources can be different instances of a physical random access channel, each instance corresponding to a different resource block of a common uplink subframe in a long-term evolution (LTE) system.

Abstract: A wireless network receives one or more data segments transmitted by a wireless communication device (WCD) in or more transmission time intervals (TTIs), estimates a size of a next data segment to be transmitted by the WCD based at least in part on sizes of the one or more data segments transmitted by the WCD, and allocates a quantity of uplink resources (e.g., a number of physical resource blocks) to the WCD for use in one or more subsequent TTIs (e.g., TTIs used for TTI bundling) based at least in part on the estimated size of the next data segment. The network may refer to an algorithm, such as a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) congestion control algorithm, that specifies how sizes of successive data segments increase over time to predict the size of the next data segment based on the sizes of the one or more data segments.