Abstract: Methods and systems for making decisions regarding handing off a user-equipment device from a serving base station to a neighboring base station. Base stations in a wireless communication network measure parameters regarding forward-links from the base stations and reverse-links to the base stations. Each base station transmits its measured parameters to its neighboring base station(s). Each base station can determine differences between the parameters it measures and the parameters measured by a neighboring base station. The differences indicate whether the quality of service provided by the serving base station is greater than the quality of service provided by a neighboring base station. The servicing base station transmits the differences to user-equipment devices served by that base station.

Abstract: A mobile station involved in a call receives a forward link signal from a radio access network (RAN) and transmits a reverse link signal to the RAN. If the mobile station detects a reception failure of the forward link signal, such as the receipt of an errored frame, the mobile station transmits a wait time to the RAN. The wait time specifies how long the reception failure can continue before the mobile station will discontinue transmitting the reverse link signal. In response, the RAN may increase the transmit power level at which the RAN transmits the forward link signal, such that a maximum transmit power level is reached during the wait time. The wait time could be based on a user preference and/or user behavior with respect to abandoning calls.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enforcing vendor-based restrictions on wireless service. One embodiment takes the form of a method that is carried out by at least one radio access network (RAN) entity and that includes receiving an access request from a mobile station via a base station, and responsively making a vendor identification to identify a vendor of the base station. The method further includes denying the access request based at least in part on the vendor identification.

Abstract: A serving base station (SBS) that provides service to a UE device can receive or determine admission capacity of a neighbor base station (NBS). The SBS can determine a reporting interval based on the admission capacity and provide the UE device with the reporting interval. Upon determining that handover from the SBS to the NBS may be necessary, the UE device can responsively start transmitting measurement data regarding the NBS to the SBS. Transmission of the measurement data can occur at intervals that equal the reporting interval. The value of the reporting interval can be conditioned on the admission capacity of the NBS. As the capacity for admitting more UE devices decreases, the likelihood of the UE device handing over to the NBS may decrease. Increasing the reporting interval for reporting measurement data regarding the NBS can reduce loading of the reverse-links to the SBS.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing paging-channel resources, and in particular, dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on PCO in a sector, are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (a) at an access network configured to page mobile stations via a paging channel of a sector in the access network, determining a paging channel occupancy (PCO) level for the sector; (b) using the determined PCO level as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level to be used to page mobile stations in the sector, wherein the page-concatenation level is selected from a plurality of available page-concatenation levels; and (c) applying concatenation to pages to mobile stations in the sector according to the selected page-concatenation level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to help minimize tuneaway time of a user equipment device (UE), by dynamically scheduling when the UE should tune away to scan for coverage of a particular wireless communication system, such as a time division duplex (TDD) system for instance. The UE may receive downlink transmissions from a TDD system and determining a downlink transmission schedule of the TDD system based on when those downlink transmissions occurred. Further, the UE may then use the determined downlink transmission schedule as a basis to schedule tuneaway of the UE from a serving system to scan for coverage of the TDD system.

Abstract: A method and system of paging a mobile station. In response to receiving a request to set up a communication with a mobile station, a radio network controller (RNC) may identify a last-known location of the mobile station. The RNC may then identify two or more paging areas based on the mobile station's last-known location. In turn, the RNC may determine an indication of traffic for each of the identified paging areas. For example, the RNC may determine an indication of traffic for a paging area by (a) determining a number of communication requests received by BTSs located in the paging area within a given time period, (b) determining a number of BTSs located in the paging area, and (c) dividing the number of communication requests by the number of BTSs. Thereafter, the RNC may page the mobile station in the identified paging area having the highest indication of traffic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for selectively enabling and disabling secondary-band radios via primary-band signaling. In one embodiment, at least one RAN entity provides service to a multi-band-capable access terminal that comprises a first radio arranged to communicate over a first radio band and a second radio arranged to communicate over a second radio band, wherein the access terminal is arranged to prefer the first radio band to the second. The at least one RAN entity makes a secondary-radio-disabling determination, which includes determining that the access terminal is located in a vicinity of a particular set of one or more base stations that operate on the second radio band. Responsive to making the secondary-radio-disabling determination, the at least one RAN entity sends to the first radio over the first radio band a command that the multi-band-capable access terminal disable the second radio.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, for facilitating providing network transfer messages based on network conditions are provided. In embodiments, one or more network-condition data that indicate a network condition of a first wireless network being used by a mobile device are received. The network-condition data are utilized to determine a transmission time attribute that indicates a time or a frequency at which to transmit a set of network transfer messages that provide an indication for the mobile device to seek a second wireless network. The set of network transfer messages are transmitted in accordance with the determined transmission time attribute.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a wireless communication device (WCD) to utilize one or more search windows to capture both an earliest-received signal and a strongest received signal. In an embodiment, in a first time period, the WCD detects an arrival time of an earliest-received signal and an arrival time of a strongest received signal in one or more search windows for each of at least one set of signals. The WCD then centers a first search window based on the arrival time of the earliest-received signal and centers a second search window based on the arrival time of the strongest received signal for each of the at least one set of signals. In a second time period, the WCD searches for signals using the first and second search windows.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus or system is disclosed for managing operating in a cellular wireless communication system. The method involves detecting a threshold transition of user devices (generally any wireless communication devices) that are actively operating in a given wireless coverage area into a state of soft handoff between the given coverage area and another coverage area, and perhaps a resulting threshold increase in total transmission power in the given coverage area, and responsively forcing out of the given coverage area at least one user device that is in soft handoff with the given coverage area. The method may thereby help to avoid or minimize an undesirable cyclic power increase effect that could lead to power overload.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling switching of an access terminal between cells of an access network that includes a first BTS serving a first cell and a second BTS serving a second cell. While the first BTS is receiving from the access terminal one or more consecutive requests for current service in the first cell and serving the access terminal, the second BTS receives from the access terminal a request for future service in the second cell. In response, the second BTS prepares to serve the access terminal in the second cell. After the second BTS has finished preparing, the first BTS sends to the access terminal an instruction to stop sending requests for current service in the first cell (e.g., a DRCLock bit message). The second BTS then receives from the access terminal a request for current service in the second cell, and begins serving the access terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on RF conditions being experienced by a mobile station are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (i) determining that a mobile station should be paged, wherein the mobile station is operating in a coverage area of an access network; and (ii) in response: (a) using at least one indication of RF conditions for the mobile station as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level for a page to the mobile station; and (b) transmitting the page to the mobile station, wherein the page is transmitted in a page message having the selected page-concatenation level. In an exemplary embodiment, the indication of RF conditions may be a determination that a mobile station is located near the border of a coverage area, which is made based on an elapsed time since the mobile station's last-received registration message.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing paging-channel resources, and in particular, dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on PCO in a sector, are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (a) at an access network configured to page mobile stations via a paging channel of a sector in the access network, determining a paging channel occupancy (PCO) level for the sector; (b) using the determined PCO level as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level to be used to page mobile stations in the sector, wherein the page-concatenation level is selected from a plurality of available page-concatenation levels; and (c) applying concatenation to pages to mobile stations in the sector according to the selected page-concatenation level.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for determining initial transmit power are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves a mobile station (1) determining an interference level for the forward link; (2) if the determined interference level is greater than a threshold interference level, then determining an interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of (a) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level and (b) a predetermined constant; (3) if the determined interference level is less than the threshold interference level, then determining the interference correction factor to be equal to the minimum of: (a) the maximum of: (i) the threshold interference level minus the determined interference level, and (ii) zero, and (b) a predetermined constant; (4) using the determined interference correction factor as a basis for determining an initial transmit power level; and (5) transmitting an initial access probe to the base station at the determined initial transmit power level.

Abstract: During a first time interval, an access point transmits orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals using a first cyclic prefix length. The access point selects a second cyclic prefix length based, at least in part, on the load of the access point. The access point transmits OFDM signals using the second cyclic prefix length during a second time interval. The load of the access point may be determined based on the amount of downlink data being buffered in the access point for transmission to one or more user devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing paging-channel resources, and in particular, dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on PCO in a sector, are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (a) at an access network configured to page mobile stations via a paging channel of a sector in the access network, determining a paging channel occupancy (PCO) level for the sector; (b) using the determined PCO level as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level to be used to page mobile stations in the sector, wherein the page-concatenation level is selected from a plurality of available page-concatenation levels; and (c) applying concatenation to pages to mobile stations in the sector according to the selected page-concatenation level.

Abstract: A mobile station that is being served by a current sector receives a neighbor list that identifies a plurality of neighboring sectors and a respective priority for each neighboring sector. For each neighboring sector, the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal at a respective scanning frequency during a measurement interval. The scanning frequency for a sector defines how frequently the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal during the measurement interval. The mobile station selects a scanning frequency for a neighboring sector based on at least a signal strength of the current sector and the neighboring sector's priority. When the current sector's signal strength is high, the mobile station scans for high-priority sectors more frequently than low-priority sectors. When the current sector's signal strength is low, the mobile station scans for low-priority sectors more frequently than high-priority sectors.

Abstract: During a first time interval, an access point transmits orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals using a first cyclic prefix length. The access point receives a plurality of signal reports, such as Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs), from user devices being served by the access point. Based on the signal reports, the access point determines a distribution of signal qualities experienced by the user devices. The access point selects a second cyclic prefix length based, at least in part, on the distribution of signal qualities. The access point transmits OFDM signals using the second cyclic prefix length during a second time interval.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamically selecting a paging-concatenation level for a page based on one or more properties of the page. An exemplary method involves, at a wireless communication network that is configured to provide service to at least one wireless-communication device, using at least one property of a page record as a basis for selecting a paging-concatenation level for the page record, and paging the wireless-communication device by transmitting a page message that includes the page record, wherein the page message is of the selected paging-concatenation level. Various properties of the page record, such as the paging-attempt status and/or the target mobile station of the page, among others, may be used to select the paging-concatenation level.