Abstract: Systems and methods relating to performing individual transmit and/or receive measurements for each antenna element in an antenna array implemented on an Substrate Integrated Antenna Array (SIAA) are disclosed. In some embodiments, an SIAA comprises a substrate, one or more antenna elements at a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive via fence having a first side electrically coupled to ground within the substrate and a second side at the surface of the substrate, the electrically conductive via fence separately circumscribing each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements within the substrate. The SIAA enables the use of a respective test structure to perform per-antenna element measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to performing individual transmit and/or receive measurements for each antenna element in an antenna array implemented on an Substrate Integrated Antenna Array (SIAA) are disclosed. In some embodiments, an SIAA comprises a substrate, one or more antenna elements at a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive via fence having a first side electrically coupled to ground within the substrate and a second side at the surface of the substrate, the electrically conductive via fence separately circumscribing each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements within the substrate. The SIAA enables the use of a respective test structure to perform per-antenna element measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to performing individual transmit and/or receive measurements for each antenna element in an antenna array implemented on an Substrate Integrated Antenna Array (SIAA) are disclosed. In some embodiments, an SIAA comprises a substrate, one or more antenna elements at a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive via fence having a first side electrically coupled to ground within the substrate and a second side at the surface of the substrate, the electrically conductive via fence separately circumscribing each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements within the substrate. The SIAA enables the use of a respective test structure to perform per-antenna element measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to performing individual transmit and/or receive measurements for each antenna element in an antenna array implemented on an Substrate Integrated Antenna Array (SIAA) are disclosed. In some embodiments, an SIAA comprises a substrate, one or more antenna elements at a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive via fence having a first side electrically coupled to ground within the substrate and a second side at the surface of the substrate, the electrically conductive via fence separately circumscribing each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements within the substrate. The SIAA enables the use of a respective test structure to perform per-antenna element measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location of a wireless device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operation of a central processing node for a shared cell of a cellular communications network includes obtaining signal strength measurements for a signal received from a wireless device at multiple Reception/Transmission (R/T) points in the shared cell. The signal strength measurements are simultaneous signal strength measurements made on signal discrimination space resources in an uplink of the shared cell. Further, the signal discrimination space resources are matched to capabilities of power meters utilized to generate the signal strength measurements. The method further includes identifying one or more of the R/T points having the best signal strength measurements and estimating a location of the wireless device based on known locations of the identified R/T point(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location of a wireless device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operation of a central processing node for a shared cell of a cellular communications network includes obtaining signal strength measurements for a signal received from a wireless device at multiple Reception/Transmission (R/T) points in the shared cell. The signal strength measurements are simultaneous signal strength measurements made on signal discrimination space resources in an uplink of the shared cell. Further, the signal discrimination space resources are matched to capabilities of power meters utilized to generate the signal strength measurements. The method further includes identifying one or more of the R/T points having the best signal strength measurements and estimating a location of the wireless device based on known locations of the identified R/T point(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a virtual macro cell in a heterogeneous cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, micro cells served by multiple micro base stations are aggregated to provide a virtual macro cell. Each micro base station provides service to one or more low mobility user equipments (LMUs) located within the micro cell of the micro base station using one or more first resources (e.g., a first carrier) that are allocated to LMUs. In addition, each micro base station cooperates with the other micro base station(s) in the virtual macro cell to provide service to one or more high mobility user equipments (HMUs) located within the virtual macro cell using one or more second resources (e.g., a second carrier) that are allocated to HMUs. By utilizing the virtual macro cell for HMUs, handover and paging overhead are reduced for the heterogeneous cellular communications network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomously determining overlapping coverage in a cellular communications network. In one embodiment, the cellular communications network is a heterogeneous cellular communications network. In one embodiment, a network node of a cellular communication system obtains information (e.g., pilot reports) indicative of a perceived coverage of one or more covering cells at wireless devices within a measuring cell over a measurement interval. The network node determines overlapping coverage of the measuring cell and the one or more covering cells based on the information indicative of the perceived coverage of the one or more covering cells at the wireless devices.

Abstract: Presented are methods and apparatus for decoupling transport and control (T&C) functions from a plurality of eNBs and collecting the T&C functions in a centralized entity for managing the T&C functions for a larger pool of eNBs. An enhanced interface and protocol is defined for allowing the new T&C pool entity to communicate with the eNBs over a shared IP based network. The redistributed functionality provides for optimizing both data compression capabilities and security by compressing data earlier in its transmission path and by encrypting data before it is sent to an eNB.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomously determining overlapping coverage in a cellular communications network. In one embodiment, the cellular communications network is a heterogeneous cellular communications network. In one embodiment, a network node of a cellular communication system obtains information (e.g., pilot reports) indicative of a perceived coverage of one or more covering cells at wireless devices within a measuring cell over a measurement interval. The network node determines overlapping coverage of the measuring cell and the one or more covering cells based on the information indicative of the perceived coverage of the one or more covering cells at the wireless devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a virtual macro cell in a heterogeneous cellular communications network are disclosed. In general, micro cells served by multiple micro base stations are aggregated to provide a virtual macro cell. Each micro base station provides service to one or more low mobility user equipments (LMUs) located within the micro cell of the micro base station using one or more first resources (e.g., a first carrier) that are allocated to LMUs. In addition, each micro base station cooperates with the other micro base station(s) in the virtual macro cell to provide service to one or more high mobility user equipments (HMUs) located within the virtual macro cell using one or more second resources (e.g., a second carrier) that are allocated to HMUs. By utilizing the virtual macro cell for HMUs, handover and paging overhead are reduced for the heterogeneous cellular communications network.

Abstract: Presented are methods and apparatus for decoupling transport and control (T&C) functions from a plurality of eNBs and collecting the T&C functions in a centralized entity for managing the T&C functions for a larger pool of eNBs. An enhanced interface and protocol is defined for allowing the new T&C pool entity to communicate with the eNBs over a shared IP based network. The redistributed functionality provides for optimizing both data compression capabilities and security by compressing data earlier in its transmission path and by encrypting data before it is sent to an eNB.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a modulated optical signal using a laser cascaded with an amplitude modulator. A phase drive signal VF(t) is derived for driving the laser to generate an optical carrier signal with a desired phase ?(t). An amplitude drive signal VS(t) is then derived for driving the amplitude modulator to impose a desired amplitude S(t) onto the optical carrier signal generated by the laser. The amplitude drive signal VS(t) is compensated for amplitude modulation of the optical carrier signal generated by the laser.

Abstract: A frequency-agile optical transceiver includes a shared local oscillator (LO), a coherent optical receiver and an optical transmitter. The LO operates to generate a respective LO optical signal having a predetermined LO wavelength. The coherent optical receiver is operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO signal to selectively receive traffic of an arbitrary target channel of an inbound broadband optical signal. The optical transmitter is also operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO to generate an outbound optical channel signal having a respective outbound channel wavelength corresponding to the LO wavelength.

Abstract: Polarization Dependent Effects (PDEs), including Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) and Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) imposed on optical signals conveyed through an optical link are compensated by processing an input signal in the electrical domain prior to transmission. A compensation function is derived that at least partially compensates the PDEs. The communications signal is then processed in the electrical domain using the compensation function to generate an electrical predistorted signal. The electrical predistorted signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical link. The PDEs of the optical link operate of the predistorted optical signal such at that substantially undistorted optical signal is received at a receiving end of the link.

Abstract: A frequency-agile optical transceiver includes a shared local oscillator (LO), a coherent optical receiver and an optical transmitter. The LO operates to generate a respective LO optical signal having a predetermined LO wavelength. The coherent optical receiver is operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO signal to selectively receive traffic of an arbitrary target channel of an inbound broadband optical signal. The optical transmitter is also operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO to generate an outbound optical channel signal having a respective outbound channel wavelength corresponding to the LO wavelength.

Abstract: A frequency-agile optical transceiver includes a shared local oscillator (LO), a coherent optical receiver and an optical transmitter. The LO operates to generate a respective LO optical signal having a predetermined LO wavelength. The coherent optical receiver is operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO signal to selectively receive traffic of an arbitrary target channel of an inbound broadband optical signal. The optical transmitter is also operatively coupled to the LO, and uses the LO to generate an outbound optical channel signal having a respective outbound channel wavelength corresponding to the LO wavelength.

Abstract: Polarization Dependent Effects (PDEs), including Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) and Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) imposed on optical signals conveyed through an optical link are compensated by processing an input signal in the electrical domain prior to transmission. A compensation function is derived that at least partially compensates the PDEs. The communications signal is then processed in the electrical domain using the compensation function to generate an electrical predistorted signal. The electrical predistorted signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical link. The PDEs of the optical link operate of the predistorted optical signal such at that substantially undistorted optical signal is received at a receiving end of the link.

Abstract: A mobile communications system having a plurality of cells, with each cell being divided into a number of sectors. Each sector is allocated one of a corresponding number of channels of different frequencies. In addition, a plurality of time groups are defined, and a channel reuse pattern is provided that is based on both channel frequencies and time groups. In one arrangement, a 1/3 channel reuse pattern is provided to carry traffic signals in the system. For control signals, which are more susceptible to interference, a higher effective channel reuse pattern (e.g., 3/9 or 4/12) based on both frequency and time is employed.