Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and systems for maximizing bandwidth utilization. Once a mobile device has attempted to communicate data through an LTE-based wireless communications network, a carrier bandwidth of a carrier is determined. A standard cell structure is then selected based on the carrier bandwidth such that the standard cell structure is capable of operating at a larger bandwidth than the carrier bandwidth. One or more resource blocks are identified that are not needed to communicate data to and from the mobile device. These resource blocks are zero padded. An identification of these unused resource blocks is communicated to the master information block, which broadcasts this information to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method includes communicating to a plurality of user equipment (UE) in a cell using beamforming. The plurality of UE includes a first group of UE in a first sector of the cell and a second group of UE in a second sector of the cell. The method further includes monitoring positions of the plurality of UE in the cell. In addition, the method includes determining that at least one UE of the first group of UE is in a first region of the first sector, which indicates that a beamform corresponding to the at least one UE has a potential of interfering with one or more other beamforms corresponding to the second group of UE. Based on the at least one UE being in the first region of the first sector, beamforming is disabled to the at least one UE.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically activating and deactivating power boosting operations in a mobile communications network. A determination of whether a power boosting operation is appropriate or not is made based on the network's coverage contiguity characteristics. Power boosting operations are activated when the network exhibits contiguous coverage and deactivated when the network's coverage is non-contiguous.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying and managing wireless devices that are performing tethering services are described. The system may include a database and server. The database stores records of services subscribed by wireless devices in a wireless network. The server may poll the database to generate a list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to a tethering service. In turn, the server receives notification messages from each wireless device that is tethering at least one other network element. The wireless devices are identified as unauthorized by the server when the notification message indicates existence of a configured network address translation table at the wireless device and the wireless device is located on the list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to the tethering service.

Abstract: A method includes communicating data to a plurality of user equipment (UE) in a cell using a plurality of beamforms. Each of the plurality of beamforms has a main lobe and side lobes, where the main lobe is directed toward a corresponding UE of the plurality of UE. For each beamform of the plurality of beamforms, a position of the beamform is determined. Furthermore, it is determined that one or more small cells of the plurality of small cells are available to serve the corresponding UE based on determining that the one or more small cells are positioned within the main lobe of the beamform using the determined position of the beamform and one or more positions of the one or more small cells. Based on the one or more small cells being determined as available to serve the corresponding UE, beamforming is disabled to the corresponding UE from the cell, thereby preventing the side lobes of the beamform from interfering with other radio communications in the cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing linear network coding to efficiently transfer data packets among components within a telecommunications network are provided. In embodiments, a gateway and source cell of a telecommunications network may utilize linear network coding to create a linear combination of data packets (“encoded data packets”). The encoded data packets may be sent to a target cell, where the target cell may decode the data packets. The target cell may send the decoded packets in sequential order to a user device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for updating an out-of-date source neighbor list. In embodiments, the method includes maintaining a master neighbor list comprising a plurality of neighbor lists created by self-organizing network (SON) Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR). Cell pairs in the master neighbor list with zero handover counts are identified. Each cell pair may comprise a source cell and a potential neighbor cell. A distance between each source cell and each corresponding potential neighbor cell having zero handover counts is determined. For each cell pair, a PCI (Physical Cell Identity) associated with a potential neighbor cell is identified. For each potential neighbor cell, an identity of a source neighbor cell in a source neighbor list corresponding to each source cell is determined, wherein the source neighbor cell having and the potential neighbor cell have a matching PCI. The distance between the source cell and the source neighbor cell is determined.

Abstract: A base station's neighbor list may become outdated as nearer base stations are deployed. Because mobile devices report non-unique identifiers of surrounding base stations, a serving base station may confuse a newer neighboring base station with an out-of-date neighboring base station having the same non-unique identifier. The base station may attempt to hand over the mobile device to the wrong base station based on its outdated neighbor list. The mobile device may notify the serving base station of the failure and the associated non-unique identifier. When again attempting to hand over a mobile device to the target base station having that non-unique identifier, the serving base station may, based on knowing the previous handover failed, request the mobile device to provide the unique identifier of the target base station. If the unique identifier does not match the information in the neighbor list, the base station can update the neighbor list.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing optimal neighbor data utilizing a user device are provided. Aspects of the present invention relate to a source cell providing instructions to a user device instructing the user device to determine neighbor relation data, such as an internet protocol address, of a target cell. Additional aspects of the present invention concern a user device utilizing a neighbor relation table to determine neighbor relation data, such as an internet protocol address, of a target cell.

Abstract: A base station's neighbor list may become outdated as nearer base stations are deployed. Because mobile devices report non-unique identifiers of surrounding base stations, a serving base station may confuse a newer neighboring base station with an out-of-date neighboring base station having the same non-unique identifier. The base station may attempt to hand over the mobile device to the wrong base station based on its outdated neighbor list. A determination may be made that first and second base stations share an identical non-unique identifier. A determination may be made that the first and second base stations' neighbor lists include an identical unique identifier associated with a third base station. The earlier of the two base stations is determined, and the neighbor relationship between the earlier base station and the third base station is removed from their associated neighbor lists.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically activating and deactivating power boosting operations in a mobile communications network. A determination of whether a power boosting operation is appropriate or not is made based on the network's coverage contiguity characteristics. Power boosting operations are activated when the network exhibits contiguous coverage and deactivated when the network's coverage is non-contiguous.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying and managing wireless devices that are performing tethering services are described. The system may include a database and server. The database stores records of services subscribed by wireless devices in a wireless network. The server may poll the database to generate a list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to a tethering service. In turn, the server receives notification messages from each wireless device that is tethering at least one other network element. The wireless devices are identified as unauthorized by the server when the notification message indicates existence of a configured network address translation table at the wireless device and the wireless device is located on the list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to the tethering service.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and systems for maximizing bandwidth utilization. Once a mobile device has attempted to communicate data through an LTE-based wireless communications network, a carrier bandwidth of a carrier is determined. A standard cell structure is then selected based on the carrier bandwidth such that the standard cell structure is capable of operating at a larger bandwidth than the carrier bandwidth. One or more resource blocks are identified that are not needed to communicate data to and from the mobile device. These resource blocks are zero padded. An identification of these unused resource blocks is communicated to the master information block, which broadcasts this information to the mobile device.