Abstract: Methods and systems for managing access of a communication resource in a licensed assisted access (LAA) network. Each transmission point (TP) of a plurality of TPs provides a first set of information indicative of expected usage of a first communication resource by each TP. Information is transmitted to the TPs to cause each TP to align usage or reservation of the first communication resource with any other TP belonging to a first radio access cluster (RAC) to which the given TP belongs, the first RAC being one in a first set of one or more RACs, wherein each of the plurality of TPs belongs to a respective RAC in the first set of RACs and each RAC in the first set of RACs contains one or more TPs.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure provide techniques for computing Vandermonde-subspace frequency division multiplexing (VFDM) precoders for secondary network transmissions that mitigate interference between secondary communication signals, while avoiding interference with the primary system altogether. A precoder for a secondary user (SU) is computed on accordance with a nullspace induced by cyclic prefixes communicated over a primary data channel, a primary interference channel between a second user (SU) and the primary receiver, and a secondary interference channel between the SU and a neighboring SBS. The precoder provides both frequency domain precoding and spatial domain precoding on secondary transmission signals communicated from the SU.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for adaptive user equipment (UE) cooperation mode selection in wireless networks. An adaptive UE cooperation strategy is implemented, which adaptively switches between a Decode-and-Forward (D&F) mode and a soft UE combining mode that involves combining, at the TUE, signals from multiple cooperating UEs (CUEs). A method by a network component includes obtaining access link qualities for links between a base station and a plurality of CUEs for a target UE (TUE). A UE cooperation mode or a hybrid UE cooperation mode is then selected from a plurality of supported UE cooperation modes according to the access link qualities of the CUEs. At least one of the CUEs is then instructed to cooperate in forwarding the signals to the TUE using the selected UE cooperation mode. The CUEs can dynamically opt out of the UE cooperation according to the channel quality of the CUEs or TUE.

Abstract: A method for operating a cooperating user equipment (CUE) includes receiving a plurality of video packets that are hierarchically modulated (HM), with each video packet corresponding to a separately encoded video layer that is encoded with a rateless code, and decoding the plurality of video packets. The method also includes generating one or more supplemental packets to assist in the decoding of the plurality of video packets, and transmitting the one or more supplemental packets.

Abstract: Soft information for achieving interference cancellation in downlink transmissions can be communicated over device-to-device (D2D) links, thereby allowing paired user equipments (UEs) to receive downlink transmissions over the same radio resources. More specifically, paired UEs that receive transmissions over the same time-frequency resources may exchange soft or hard information over D2D links in order to facilitate interference cancellation. The D2D links may be unidirectional or bidirectional, and may be established over in-band or out-of-band resources. Paired UEs may be in the same or different cells, and may receive their respective transmissions from the same or different transmit point. UEs may be paired with one another based on various criteria, e.g., interference cancellation capabilities, scheduling metrics, etc.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving, by a network device, a cooperation candidate set (CCS) and determining a cooperation active set (CAS). The CCS includes a plurality of potential cooperating user equipment (CUEs) for selection to the CAS, and the plurality of potential CUEs is selected from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) in the network. The CAS is a set of CUEs selected from the CCS. A target user equipment (TUE) and the set of CUEs form a virtual multipoint transceiver.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided to support network communications with groups of UEs. The embodiments include a two-level group-based hybrid-automatic repeat request (HARQ) mechanism and acknowledgement (ACK)/negative ACK (NACK) feedback. An embodiment method includes receiving, at a UE within a virtual multi-point (ViMP) comprising UEs, a data packet for a target UE (TUE) that is broadcasted from a base station (BS) to the ViMP node, decode the data packet, and upon successfully decoding the data packet, broadcasting the data packet to the UEs within the ViMP node until a timer pre-established by the BS expires or an ACK message is received from the TUE or the ViMP node. In an embodiment, broadcasted data received in the ViMP node is re-broadcasted upon receiving a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message from the TUE, a beacon UE, or any of the UEs within the ViMP node.

Abstract: A method for partitioning a communications network includes selecting, by a controller, a starting communications controller for a first region in the communications network according to an interference level. The method also includes including, by the controller, a first neighboring communications controller in the first region if an average inter-cell interference level of the starting communications controller and the first neighboring communications controller exceeds a first threshold and closing the first region if the average inter-cell interference level of the starting communications controller and the first neighboring communications controller fails to exceed the first threshold. The method further includes storing information about the first region in a memory.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided to support network communications with groups of UEs. The embodiments include a two-level group-based hybrid-automatic repeat request (HARQ) mechanism and acknowledgement (ACK)/negative ACK (NACK) feedback. An embodiment method includes receiving, at a UE within a virtual multi-point (ViMP) comprising UEs, a data packet for a target UE (TUE) that is broadcasted from a base station (BS) to the ViMP node, decode the data packet, and upon successfully decoding the data packet, broadcasting the data packet to the UEs within the ViMP node until a timer pre-established by the BS expires or an ACK message is received from the TUE or the ViMP node. In an embodiment, broadcasted data received in the ViMP node is re-broadcasted upon receiving a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message from the TUE, a beacon UE, or any of the UEs within the ViMP node.

Abstract: Soft information for achieving interference cancellation in downlink transmissions can be communicated over device-to-device (D2D) links, thereby allowing paired user equipments (UEs) to receive downlink transmissions over the same radio resources. More specifically, paired UEs that receive transmissions over the same time-frequency resources may exchange soft or hard information over D2D links in order to facilitate interference cancellation. The D2D links may be unidirectional or bidirectional, and may be established over in-band or out-of-band resources. Paired UEs may be in the same or different cells, and may receive their respective transmissions from the same or different transmit point. UEs may be paired with one another based on various criteria, e.g., interference cancellation capabilities, scheduling metrics, etc.

Abstract: A method and a device for adaptive channel access are disclosed. In an embodiment includes adaptively adjusting, by a small base station (SBS), access parameters for small cells to ensure quality of service (QoS) to cellular users while minimizing collision probability for WiFi users.

Abstract: An embodiment method includes selecting, by a network infrastructure manager, a first user equipment (UE) as a destination UE and selecting a second UE as a relay UE for the destination UE. The method further includes negotiating installation of a virtual range extender (vREX) UE on the destination UE, and negotiating installation of a vREX forwarding agent (FA) on the relay UE. The vREX FA is configured to act as a FA for the vREX UE.

Abstract: Multi-spectrum relays may improve the throughput and resource utilization of networks by relaying data from a transmit point to a receive point using both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A multi-spectrum relay may receive data from the transmit point on one band, and relay the data to the receive point on another band. The multi-spectrum relay may cache data for re-transmission. Various frequency allocation schemes may be used to leverage the capabilities of multi-spectrum relays. When the complementary band includes higher frequencies than the primary band, access links between a base station and cell-edge users may carry wireless transmissions over the primary band, while access links between relays and cell-edge users may carry wireless transmissions over the complementary band.

Abstract: A method and system at a network element for providing a soft airtime share of unlicensed spectrum to at least one transmission point. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of transmission points, sensing results, selecting a group of candidate channels, grouping subsets of transmission points into radio access clusters, receiving, from each radio access cluster, a report, and allocating a soft airtime share to a radio access cluster for a channel at a time. Also, at a transmission point, a method and system for obtaining a soft airtime share of a channel in unlicensed spectrum. The method includes sensing a plurality of channels, providing a report, receiving a message assigning at least one radio access cluster, contending with other radio access clusters to send a beacon, receiving coordination beacons from neighboring clusters, self-scheduling and reporting in accordance with the received coordination beacons, and receiving an airtime share.

Abstract: In a wireless (e.g., machine-to-machine) network, items of user equipment compete for wireless communication resource slots (“resources”). In a contention period, an item of user equipment (a UE) sends a first signal to a base station using a first resource. The first resource is mapped to a second resource in a data transmission period. If the base station successfully receives the first signal, it sends a second signal to the UE to confirm that the UE has been awarded the second resource and can transmit data in the data transmission period.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes compiling, by a network device, a cooperation candidate set (CCS) and determining a cooperation active set (CAS). The CCS includes a plurality of potential cooperating user equipment (CUEs) for selection to the CAS, and the plurality of potential CUEs is selected from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) in the network. The CAS is a set of CUEs selected from the CCS. A target user equipment (TUE) and the set of CUEs form a virtual multipoint transceiver.

Abstract: A method at a network element for providing data access to a network. The method comprising establishing a primary communication channel with the network with a first wireless interface of said network element, establishing a complementary communication channel with one or more of a group of delay tolerant devices with a second wireless interface of said network element, receiving data from respective delay tolerant devices in the group, aggregating the received data and transferring said aggregated data on the established primary communication channel to the network. In an embodiment the primary and complementary channels correspond respectively to first and second spectrums, which may in turn be, respective, licensed and unlicensed spectrums.

Abstract: A method at a network element, and a system, for resource reservation in an unlicensed spectrum band. The method includes determining quality of service requirements of traffic queued for a network operator. Further, the method includes reserving resources in the unlicensed spectrum band for the network operator in accordance with the quality of service requirements to form a coordination frame for the traffic, where the coordination frame has a flexible proportion of the resources from the unlicensed spectrum.

Abstract: A method and system at a network element for providing a soft airtime share of unlicensed spectrum to at least one transmission point. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of transmission points, sensing results, selecting a group of candidate channels, grouping subsets of transmission points into radio access clusters, receiving, from each radio access cluster, a report, and allocating a soft airtime share to a radio access cluster for a channel at a time. Also, at a transmission point, a method and system for obtaining a soft airtime share of a channel in unlicensed spectrum. The method includes sensing a plurality of channels, providing a report, receiving a message assigning at least one radio access cluster, contending with other radio access clusters to send a beacon, receiving coordination beacons from neighboring clusters, self-scheduling and reporting in accordance with the received coordination beacons, and receiving an airtime share.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for adaptive user equipment (UE) cooperation mode selection in wireless networks. An adaptive UE cooperation strategy is implemented, which adaptively switches between a Decode-and-Forward (D&F) mode and a soft UE combining mode that involves combining, at the TUE, signals from multiple cooperating UEs (CUEs). A method by a network component includes obtaining access link qualities for links between a base station and a plurality of CUEs for a target UE (TUE). A UE cooperation mode or a hybrid UE cooperation mode is then selected from a plurality of supported UE cooperation modes according to the access link qualities of the CUEs. At least one of the CUEs is then instructed to cooperate in forwarding the signals to the TUE using the selected UE cooperation mode. The CUEs can dynamically opt out of the UE cooperation according to the channel quality of the CUEs or TUE.