Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help to adjust, e.g., CDMA paging and access parameters in a coverage area, based on the prevalence of devices that are configured for enhanced circuit switch fallback (eCSFB) in the coverage area. For example, a base station in a radio access network (RAN) may: (a) determine a measure CSFB-device prevalence in a coverage area, (b) use the measure of CSFB-device prevalence in the coverage area as a basis for adjusting one or more parameters for communications with via a first channel (e.g., a CDMA paging or access channel), and (c) apply the one or more adjusted parameters to communications with devices via the first channel.

Abstract: In systems and methods of tracking area configuration, a number of tracking area update messages received by a plurality of access nodes using a first tracking area configuration are monitored. It is determined that a number of tracking area update messages received by one of the plurality of access nodes meets an update message criteria. It is also determined that a number of connected wireless devices at the one of the plurality of access nodes meets a connection criteria. When the number of tracking area update messages meets the update message criteria and when the number of connected wireless devices meets the connection criteria, the second tracking area configuration is used at the access node.

Abstract: Active wireless devices in communication with an access node of a wireless communication system are detected and prioritized, and a group of the active wireless devices is selected. Data is provided to each selected wireless device, a burstiness metric is received based on the provided data, and a burstiness profile of the wireless communication system is determined.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for redirecting a mobile station via a traffic channel. In one embodiment, a first RAN receives a request from a mobile station to establish a traffic channel between the mobile station and the first RAN for use in a communication session. The first RAN makes a determination to not establish the communication session, but nevertheless establishes the requested traffic channel after making the determination. Then, without establishing the communication session, the first RAN redirects the mobile station via the established traffic channel to a second RAN. By establishing the traffic channel even though the RAN may be unable (or unwilling) to allow the mobile station to establish the communication session, the RAN is able to control the behavior of the mobile station in the event that the RAN cannot establish the requested communication session.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that may help to adjust concatenation of a particular type of paging-channel message, based on the paging-channel occupancy of that particular type of message. An exemplary method may involve: (a) determining a message-type paging channel occupancy (PCO) for a first of the plurality of types of paging-channel messages in the coverage area, (b) using the message-type PCO as a basis for selecting a concatenation level to be used in the coverage area for the first type of paging-channel message, where the concatenation level is selected from a plurality of possible concatenation levels, and (c) applying concatenation according to the selected concatenation level to paging-channel messages of the first type in the coverage area.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and system for managing repeat-paging processes within a radio access network. When a base station receives a paging directive, the base station begins broadcasting a first series of page messages destined to a mobile station. Response to the first base station receiving no response from the mobile station to the first series of page messages, the first base station sends a repeat-paging directive to a second base station. The repeat-paging directive directs the second base station to begin broadcasting a second series of page messages destined to the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and system for registering a client for a call-pickup service and for executing the call-pickup service for a new call placed to a given communication device. The call-pickup service may carried out, in part, by providing the client with notification of when the new call is placed to the given communication device, the client requesting that the new call be re-routed to a location other than the given communication device, and a server re-routing the new call to the location other than the given communication device. The location other than the given communication device may be the client that registers for the call-pickup service or another location.

Abstract: A request to establish a call involving a wireless communication device (WCD) served by a radio access network (RAN) may be received. The WCD may receive signals from the RAN via a plurality of wireless coverage areas at respective signal strengths. The plurality of wireless coverage areas may be defined by the RAN. A media codec to use for the call and a target bitrate for the media codec to use during the call may be determined. Based on the target bitrate, a set of n wireless coverage areas through which the WCD and the RAN communicate during the call may be selected. The value of n may be between one and a predetermined maximum number. The set of n wireless coverage areas may be selected from the plurality of wireless coverage areas.

Abstract: Assigning CDMA channel codes in a multiple beam zone sector such that they may be reused within the same sector. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes configuring directional antennas in a cell sector to provide multiple beam zones in a cell sector and assigning channel codes for use within the beam zones such that each channel code is assigned for use in only one beam zone of any set of three consecutive beam zones in the cell sector. The reassignment is preferable conditioned upon the mobility status of the user. This effectively reduces the inter-user interference by ensuring at least two intervening beam zones are located between zones that are using the same channel codes, and that the second user is not mobile. The channel codes may be Walsh codes or quasi-orthogonal functions (QOFs).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help to adjust, e.g., CDMA paging and access parameters in a coverage area, based on the prevalence of devices that are configured for enhanced circuit switch fallback (eCSFB) in the coverage area. For example, a base station in a radio access network (RAN) may: determine a measure of circuit switch fallback (CSFB) device prevalence in a coverage area, use the measure of CSFB-device prevalence in the coverage area as a basis for updating one or more paging parameters for communications via a paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol; and apply the one or more updated paging parameters to communications with devices via the paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing, during an external event, a wireless communication device configured to search for an available wireless communication system from among a plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a first priority order. Upon detecting that an external event has occurred, a communication network may determine, based in part on the external event, a period of time that is associated with the external event, and cause the wireless communication device to search, for the determined period of time, for an available wireless communication system from among the plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a second priority order instead of the first priority order. Upon expiration of the determined period of time, the communication network may cause the wireless communication device to search for the available wireless communication system in accordance with the first priority order instead of the second priority order.

Abstract: In a system and method of determining bandwidth requirements of an intermediate network between a first network and a second network, determining data throughput characteristics of each of a plurality of carriers in communication with the intermediate network, determining a load balancing efficiency metric based on the determined carrier data throughput characteristics, estimating a multiplexing factor based on the load balancing efficiency metric and a total number of the plurality of carriers, and determining an actual bandwidth requirement of the intermediate network based on the multiplexing factor and a theoretical maximum bandwidth of the intermediate network.

Abstract: A banded billing system for telecommunication service is disclosed. A carrier's billing system maintains in data storage a banded-pricing schedule that divides a continuum of minutes of use into a series of contiguous, mutually-exclusive minute-ranges and that specifies for each minutes-range a respective cost. At the end of a billing period, the billing system determines a number of minutes of telecommunication service used by a given subscriber during the billing period. The billing system then queries the banded-pricing schedule to determine which minute-range the number of minutes falls into, and to determine the cost specified by the banded-pricing schedule for that minute-range. The billing system then bills the determined cost to the subscriber, for use of the telecommunication service in the billing period.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding system for management of neighbor scanning in a cellular wireless communication system. A radio access network (RAN) sends, and a mobile station receives, a neighbor list update message (NLUM) containing a plurality of different neighbor lists. The mobile station then selects one of the neighbor lists based on a determined first rank-ordering of its active set members. Once the mobile station selects one of the neighbor lists, the mobile station scans the neighbors listed in the selected neighbor list in accordance with the selected neighbor list. If the mobile station detects a change in rank-ordering from the determined first rank-ordering to another rank-ordering, the mobile station may select and transition to another one of the neighbor lists and may begin to scan the neighbors listed in the selected other neighbor list in accordance with the selected other neighbor list.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for parsing a coverage area identifier. An example method is operable in a wireless communication system having a base station and a wireless communication device (WCD), the base station radiating to define multiple coverage areas in which the WCD can operate. The method involves: the WCD operating within one of the multiple coverage areas; the WCD receiving from the base station a coverage area identifier of the coverage area in which the WCD operated; the WCD determining a group to which the base station belongs; the WCD using the determined group as a basis to select a parsing technique from multiple parsing techniques; and the WCD using the selected parsing technique to parse the received coverage area identifier so as to extract from the received coverage area identifier one or more attributes of the coverage area in which the WCD operated.

Abstract: Presently disclosed are systems and methods for wireless communication devices (WCDs) to share relevant performance-metric data with nearby devices having similar configurations. One embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a WCD. The method includes receiving into a first WCD from a second WCD, via a direct wireless link between the WCDs, data indicating a configuration of the second WCD. The method also includes making a determination as to whether the configuration of the second WCD is at least threshold similar to the configuration of the first WCD and, if so, sharing with the second WCD, via the direct wireless link, performance-metric data for the wireless communication network.

Abstract: In systems and methods of detecting unauthorized tethering by a wireless device, plurality of wireless devices in communication with an access node is detected, and a suspect device list of wireless devices which are not authorized for tethering is determined from among the plurality of detected wireless devices. Based on a resource usage pattern of the at least one wireless device, at least one wireless device is removed from the suspect device list. For each wireless device remaining on the suspect device list a software indicator is examined, and a list of wireless devices performing unauthorized tethering is created based on the examined software indicators.

Abstract: Methods and systems use traffic channels to extend wireless coverage areas. In an embodiment, an access node transmits a standard pilot signal over a pilot channel. The access node initially operates in a standard transmission mode, wherein the access node transmits a standard traffic signal over a traffic channel at a first power level. The access node makes a determination to operate in an alternative transmission mode involving the access node generating and transmitting a modified traffic signal comprising (i) a standard traffic signal and (ii) a modified pilot signal. The access node transmits the modified traffic signal at a second power level that is greater than the first power level.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically allocating backhaul bearer service based on network loading conditions to help use backhaul-network resources more efficiently. A RAN detects an event relating to bearer service establishment for a given application. Then the RAN identifies a standard bearer service for the given application, where the standard bearer service has a first quality of service. After detecting the event, the RAN determines that a load of the backhaul communication network does not exceed a load threshold. Then, based on the determination that the load of the backhaul communication network does not exceed the load threshold, the RAN selects a bearer service for the given application, where the selected bearer service has a second quality of service that is higher than the first quality of service. Next, the RAN causes the selected bearer service to be established.

Abstract: To display a multimedia presentation together with location-based content, a client device reports its location to a content server. The device receives and displays video content from the content server. The device also receives location-based information related to the multimedia presentation. This location-based information may be textual data in an XML (extensible markup language) format. In some embodiments, the multimedia presentation is video content that includes an advertisement for a good or service, and the location-based content identifies a nearby establishment offering the good or service. The client device renders the video and textual data together.