Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining aneuploidy and/or fetal fraction in maternal samples comprising fetal and maternal cfDNA by massively parallel sequencing. The method comprises a novel protocol for preparing sequencing libraries that unexpectedly improves the quality of library DNA while expediting the process of analysis of samples for prenatal diagnoses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the mitigation of interference in the uplink of a small cell caused by macrocell user equipment in the case where the macrocell cannot identify the interfering macrocell user equipment because the user equipment cannot detect and report the small cell's downlink due to the small cell's uplink/downlink coverage imbalance. In an embodiment, the smell cell provides the macrocell with a notification of the interference, the configuration information about its Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), and a plurality of unique preambles and transmission times for non-contention-based transmissions on the small cells PRACH. The macrocell orders each of one or a plurality of macrocell user equipment to transmit one of the unique preambles on the small cell's PRACH. The small cell reports to the macrocell the detected preamble transmissions, which allows the macrocell to identify interfering user equipment and perform corrective actions.

Abstract: Communication equipment communicates in a licensed frequency band using a licensed band physical channel structure (licensed structure) and communicates in an unlicensed frequency communication band using an unlicensed band physical channel structure (unlicensed structure) where the unlicensed structure includes at least the same symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions as in the licensed structure. The symbol times and subcarriers form a plurality of time-frequency communication resource elements. A set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form a licensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the licensed structure. The same set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form an unlicensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the unlicensed structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transparent handovers of mobile relays on high-speed vehicles. In an embodiment, a base station of a wireless communications network transmits identification data to a mobile relay on a high-speed vehicle. The identification data identifies base stations which are configured for transparent handovers. The network also receives data indicative of a scheduled path of the high-speed vehicle, which it uses to select a target base station for communication with the mobile relay. Once the target base station has been selected, the network begins servicing the mobile relay from the second base station, without requiring any measurement values from the mobile relay and without handover signaling.

Abstract: A proxy multicast-broadcast single-frequency network (MBSFN) subframe conforming to a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication specification is transmitted within an MBSFN proxy region that at least partially overlaps with a non-LTE service area of a non-LTE access node providing wireless service to user equipment (UE) devices in the non-LTE service area. The non-LTE access node provides wireless service in accordance with a non-LTE communication specification that is different from the LTE communication specification. The MBSFN proxy region is smaller than, and is within an LTE service area of an LTE access node that provides wireless service to UE devices within the LTE service area in accordance with the LTE communication specification. The proxy MBSFN subframe is transmitted with a timing and frequency such that a UE device receiving service from the LTE access node is capable of receiving the MBSFN subframe.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for determining the fraction of fetal nucleic acids in a maternal sample comprising a mixture of fetal and maternal nucleic acids. The fraction of fetal nucleic acids can be used in determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy.

Abstract: Uplink signals transmitted from each of a plurality of UE devices being served by a serving eNB are received at a neighbor cell eNB. Information regarding the uplink signals received by the neighbor cell eNB is then sent to the serving eNB. The UE devices are identified based on the information. An aggregate load level of the UE devices is determined based on resource load requirements of each UE device. In some instances, it is determined which of a plurality of deactivated neighbor cells should be activated based on load levels associated with one or more UE devices that are determined to be near each of the plurality of deactivated neighbor cells.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for determining the fraction of fetal nucleic acids in a maternal sample comprising a mixture of fetal and maternal nucleic acids. The fraction of fetal nucleic acids can be used in determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy.

Abstract: Small cell discovery signals are transmitted within a subframe allocated for transmission of Device-to-Device (D2D) discovery signals. In accordance with a communication standard, communication resources are organized into frames having subframes for communication within a cellular communication system. Wireless service is provided to mobile UE devices in different sized cells that may overlap. In addition, at least some mobile UE devices can communicate with each other using D2D communication resources. D2D discovery signals are transmitted by mobile UE devices to facilitate the discovery of the mobile UE devices by other mobile UE devices. The communication standard allocates one or more subframes within a frame of a frequency defined communication resource for transmission of the D2D discovery signals. The small cell discovery signals are also transmitted within the subframe to facilitate recognition that a small cell mobile UE device is within the small cell service area.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage area configuration transition includes expanding the coverage of a compensation service area, utilizing one or more carriers that are not being utilized by an energy saving service area. Once all of the user equipment devices (UE devices) being served by the energy saving service area are handed over, the energy saving service area may be deactivated. In some case, the UE devices are handed over in stages, which incrementally reduces the energy consumed by the energy saving service area.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage area configuration transition includes incrementally expanding a compensation service area to include at least a portion of an area covered by the energy saving service area. For example, the compensation service area can be expanded to cover a first cell edge of an energy saving service area, and any UE devices located within the first cell edge can be handed over to the compensation service area. After the UE devices in the first cell edge are handed over, the energy saving service area can be reduced such that a second cell edge is created. The process of handing over the additional UE devices to the compensation service area and reducing the energy saving service area can be repeated as many times as necessary to handover all of the UE devices being served by the energy saving service area.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a UE device being served by a serving communication station is instructed to transmit an uplink signal in accordance with an uplink signal configuration. The uplink signal configuration information is sent to a non-serving communication station in an inactive state where the non-serving communication station cannot provide wireless service. The uplink signal configuration information allows the non-serving communication station to configure its receiver to receive the up-link signal from the UE. Based, at least in part, on information pertaining to the uplink signal received by the non-serving communication station and then sent to the serving communication station, the serving communication station determines whether the UE device is sufficiently near to the non-serving communication station to receive wireless service from the non-serving communication station, in which case the non-serving communication station is activated.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage area configuration transition is performed when it is determined that the resources allocated to a compensation service area have sufficient available capacity to serve one or more UE devices being served by an energy saving service area, A coverage area configuration transition includes reducing the coverage of an energy saving service area and expanding the coverage of a compensation service area. A compensation communication station providing the compensation service area sends a request for a coverage area configuration transition to an energy saving communication station. The energy saving communication station may reject the coverage area configuration transition or may accept it and send an expansion notification to the compensation communication station, where the notification at least indicates that the compensation service area can be expanded.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a presence of an object-of-interest in a system is provided. The method includes imaging the first object-of-interest including an identifier, wherein the imaging generates a first set of image data and determining the portion of the image data including the identifier based on a predetermined location. The method further includes dividing the portion of the image data including the identifier into at least two segments Next, the presence of the object-of-interest is determined by determining if intensity values within each segment exceed a presence threshold.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage transition Is performed where a compensation service area is expanded to cover an energy saving service area and the energy saving service area is deactivated The coverage transition is managed by transferring user equipment devices (UE devices) from an energy saving service area to a transition service area that at least partially overlaps with the energy saving service area. The UE devices may be transferred using a handover procedure between communication stations where each UE device is assigned communication frequencies for communication with the transition communication station that are not used by the energy saving communication station or the compensation service area, thereby avoiding, or at least minimizing, interference.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage area configuration transition is performed where a compensation service area is expanded to cover at least a portion of an energy saving service area of an energy saving cell employing the same frequency channel as the compensation service area. An energy saving communication station providing the energy saving cell is configured to deactivate the energy saving service area. Handovers to the compensation service area are prepared for the UE devices in the energy saving service area. The energy saving communication station sends a expansion notification to a compensation communication station where the notification at teas!indicates that the compensation service area can be expanded. The energy saving communication station transmits handover commands to the UE devices prior to expansion of the compensation service area and reduction of the energy saving service area.

Abstract: In a communication system that includes at least a first base station (206) having a first geographical service area (12) and second base station (210) having a second geographical service area (16) that overlaps at least partially with the first geographical service area (12), a relaying mobile wireless communication device (202) receiving service from the second base station (210) receives and forwards scheduling information (204) to the second base station (210), where the scheduling information (204) is transmitted by the first base station (206) and identifies communication resources that will be used for wireless communication with the first base station. Based at least on the scheduling information, the second base station (210) schedules communication resources to mobile wireless communication devices (202, 212) receiving service from the second base station (210) such that interference is reduced, minimized, or eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for verifying the integrity of biological source samples subjected to multistep bioassays that comprise massively parallel sequencing of the sample genomic nucleic acids. The integrity of the biological source samples is verified using unique marker nucleic acids that are combined with the biological source sample, and are sequenced concomitantly with the genomic nucleic acids of the biological source sample. The method provides verification of individual samples in single- and multiplex massively parallel sequencing assays.

Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a coverage area configuration transition includes expanding the coverage of a compensation service area, utilizing one or more carriers that are not being utilized by an energy saving service area. Once all of the user equipment devices (UE devices) being served by the energy saving service area are handed over, the energy saving service area may be deactivated. In some case, the UE devices are handed over in stages, which incrementally reduces the energy consumed by the energy saving service area.

Abstract: Small cell discovery signals are transmitted within a subframe allocated for transmission of Device-to-Device (D2D) discovery signals. In accordance with a communication standard, communication resources are organized into frames having subframes for communication within a cellular communication system. Wireless service is provided to mobile UE devices in different sized cells that may overlap. In addition, at least some mobile UE devices can communicate with each other using D2D communication resources. D2D discovery signals are transmitted by mobile UE devices to facilitate the discovery of the mobile UE devices by other mobile UE devices. The communication standard allocates one or more subframes within a frame of a frequency defined communication resource for transmission of the D2D discovery signals. The small cell discovery signals are also transmitted within the subframe to facilitate recognition that a small cell mobile UE device is within the small cell service area.