Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-configuring a communication network to support delivery of a service to an end point associated with the service is provided. A virtual network (VN) having a plurality of VN nodes is provided and associated with a respective plurality of physical network nodes of the communication network. Logical tunnels communicatively interconnect the VN nodes. VN virtual routers (v-routers) associated with the VN nodes are provided and configured to route packets between the VN nodes via the logical tunnels. Edge nodes of the communication network are configured to monitor for a packet associated with the service, and to submit the packet to the VN for handling thereby.

Abstract: Efficient D2D link integration can be achieved by allowing mobile devices to independently initiate D2D/connection-proxy discovery without re-broadcasting beacons originating from the wireless access point. A mobile station wanting to establish a D2D link may broadcast a search message to neighboring mobile stations, which may return offer messages specifying a connection quality and/or parameters of the candidate indirect connection. The requesting mobile station may then select one of the responding neighboring mobile stations through which to establish the indirect connection. Responding mobile stations may delay offer message transmission by a period that is proportional to a connection quality to reduce offer message redundancy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for an enhanced Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in a wireless communications network. In one embodiment, a number of base stations in a MBMS zone, or broadcast region, accommodate both Spatial Multiplexing (SM) enabled user elements and non-SM enabled user elements. In another embodiment, a number of base stations form a MBMS zone, or broadcast region, where the MBMS zone is sub-divided into an SM zone and a non-SM zone. In another embodiment, the wireless communications network includes multiple MBMS zones. For each MBMS zone, base stations serving the MBMS zone transmit an MBMS zone identifier (ID) for the MBMS zone. The MBMS zone ID may be used by a user element for decoding and/or to determine when to perform a handoff from one MBMS zone to another.

Abstract: Physical layer structures and access schemes for use in such networks are described and in particular initial access channel (IACH) structures are proposed. A spectrum efficient downlink (DL) IACH design supports different types of User Equipment (UE) capabilities and different system bandwidths. An IACH includes the synchronization channel (SCH) and broadcast-control channel (BCH). A non-uniform SCH for all system bandwidths is provided, as well as scalable bandwidth BCH depending on system bandwidth. An initial access procedure is provided, as well as an access procedure.

Abstract: An embodiment logical function architecture for next-generation 5G wireless networks may include a control plane comprising a software defined topology (SDT) logical entity configured to establish a virtual data-plane logical topology for a service, a software defined resource allocation (SDRA) logical entity configured to map the virtual data-plane topology to a physical data-plane for transporting service-related traffic over the wireless network, and a software defined per-service customized data plane process (SDP) logical entity configured to select transport protocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic over a physical data-plane of the wireless network. An embodiment virtual service specific serving gateway (v-s-SGW) for next-generation 5G networks may be assigned specifically to a service being provided by a group of wirelessly enabled devices, and may be responsible for aggregating service-related traffic communicated by the group of wirelessly enabled devices.

Abstract: A software designed protocol (SDP) network node includes a receiver, and a processor operatively coupled to the receiver. The receiver receives instructions, and receives packets. The processor updates a configuration of the SDP network node in accordance with the received instructions, and processes the received packets.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for use with wireless networks having one or more cell in which each cell includes a base station (BS), at least one relay station (RS) and at least one mobile station (MS). The at least one relay station can be used as an intermediate station for providing communication between the BS and MS. Methods are provided for an RS to initially access the network, access of the RS by MSs initially accessing the network, methods of allocating OFDM resources for communicating between the BS, RS and/or MS for example dividing transmission resources into uplink and downlink transmissions, and methods of inserting pilot symbols into transmission resources used by the RS. In some embodiments on the invention, the methods are consistent and/or can be used in conjunction with existing standards such as 802.16e.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution to improve coverage and cell edge performance in a mobile user communication system is the use of fixed relays, which are pieces of infrastructure without a wired backhaul connection. The relays transmit or “relay” downlink messages between the base station (BS) and mobile stations (MSs) through a multi-hop communication. The present invention is a method and system for supporting a multiple user mobile broadband communication network that includes relay techniques suitable for user equipment in the downlink communication to the user equipment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining placement of a virtual serving gateway. The method includes obtaining a set of input information. The input information includes network information and configuration information providing one or more parameters for placing the virtual serving gateway, and includes at least one mobility insensitivity criterion. Placement of the virtual serving gateway at one or more physical hosts is determined in accordance with the network information and the configuration information. The virtual serving gateway is distributively placeable across physical hosts. A set of output information is generated. The output information includes information identifying placement of the virtual serving gateway at the physical hosts, and a hosting percentage for each physical host.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which can reduce energy and overhead information by reducing the need for a UE to decode every (System Information Block) SIB from overhead signaling for every cell for every cell reselection. Instead the UE can determine information from Physical Cell ID (PCI) information received by the map download and update procedures described herein. A map contains a list of cells including cell-specific system information including location; it may also be associated with a geographic boundary. In the map, each 3GPP cell is indexed by PCI (physical cell id). In some embodiments the UE retrieves dynamic information from the Master Information Block (MIB) to determine what SIB information needs to be decoded. Furthermore, in some embodiments, this can be applied for both 3GPP cells and non-3GPP cells.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure provide techniques for dynamically configuring flow splitting via software defined network (SDN) signaling instructions. An SDN controller may instruct an ingress network node to split a traffic flow between two or more egress paths, and instruct the ingress network node, and perhaps downstream network nodes, to transport portions of the traffic flow in accordance with a forwarding protocol. In one example, the SDN controller instructs the network nodes to transport portions of the traffic flow in accordance with a link-based forwarding protocol. In other examples, the SDN controller instructs the network nodes to transport portions of the traffic flow in accordance with a path-based or source-based transport protocol.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods and devices for inserting data and pilot symbols into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frames having a time domain and a frequency domain. A method involves inserting in at least one zone of a first type a two dimensional array of data and pilot symbols in time and frequency and inserting in at least one zone of a second type a two dimensional array of data and pilot symbols in time and frequency. In some implementations the zone of the first type comprises common pilot symbols that can be detected by all receivers receiving the OFDM frame. In some implementations the zone of the second type comprises dedicated pilot symbols that are only detectable by a receiver that is aware of pre-processing used to encode the dedicated pilot symbols.

Abstract: Systems and methods for OFDM channelization are provided that allow for the coexistence of sub-band channels and diversity channels. Methods of defining diversity sub-channels and sub-band sub-channels are provided and systematic channel definition and labeling schemes are provided.

Abstract: A wireless communication access path exists between an ingress station and an egress station. A logical communication tunnel is established between the ingress and egress stations directly or through any number of intermediate relay stations to handle session flows of PDUs. As PDUs arrive, the ingress station may determine and add information bearing on an identified QoS associated with the PDU to the PDUs before they are delivered to the downstream egress station(s) or intermediate relay station(s). The information may be used by the downstream stations to schedule the PDUs for further delivery. The information may also be used by the egress station to schedule the PDUs for delivery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a preamble that is inserted into an OFDMA frame and has a common sequence for all the base stations participating in a transmission. The subscriber station performs fine synchronization using the common sequence on the common preamble, and the resulting peaks will provide the locations of candidate base stations. The base station specific search is then performed in the vicinities of those peaks by using base station specific pseudo-noise sequences. With this two stage cell search, the searching window is drastically reduced. The preamble is matched to known values by a respective receiver to decode the signals and permit multiple signals to be transferred from the transmitter to the receiver. The preamble may comprise two parts, Preamble-1 and Preamble-2, which may be used in different systems, including multioutput, multi-input (MIMO) systems.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing traffic over a wireless link through the compression or suppression of high layer packets carrying predictable background data prior to transportation over a wireless link. The methods include intercepting application layer protocol packets carrying the predictable background data. In embodiments where the background data is periodic in nature, the high layer packets may be compressed into low-layer signaling indicators for communication over a low-layer control channel (e.g., an on off keying (OOK) channel). Alternatively, the high layer packets may be suppressed entirely (not transported over the wireless link) when a receiver side daemon is configured to autonomously replicate the periodic background nature according to a projected interval. In other embodiments, compression techniques may be used to reduce overhead attributable to non-periodic background data that is predictable in context.

Abstract: A channel descriptor management message is transmitted on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal. The channel descriptor management message provides a format for a frame. The frame includes a resource space. The channel descriptor management message defines a plurality of channels within the resource space and allocates at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. Subsequent resource allocation messages may refer to a location within a channel rather than a location within the entire resource space.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that enable an OFDM transmitter to be used for transmitting conventional OFDM or a form of transformed OFDM. A technique is provided for transforming a coded and modulated sequence of samples prior to an IFFT that enables the transformed sequence of samples to be transmitted using conventional OFDM or transformed OFDM. The selection of a transform function for transforming the coded and modulated sequence of samples may be based on optimizing the transform function for particular operating conditions between the transmitter and receiver. In some embodiments of the invention OFDM and time transformed OFDM are multiplexed in time and/or frequency in a transmission frame. In some embodiments of the invention a pilot pattern is provided in which the pilot are sent using OFDM and data is sent using OFDM and/or transformed OFDM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving channel estimation within an OFDM communication system. Channel estimation in OFDM is usually performed with the aid of pilot symbols. The pilot symbols are typically spaced in time and frequency. The set of frequencies and times at which pilot symbols are inserted is referred to as a pilot pattern. In some cases, the pilot pattern is a diagonal-shaped lattice, either regular or irregular. The method first interpolates in the direction of larger coherence (time or frequency). Using these measurements, the density of pilot symbols in the direction of faster change will be increased thereby improving channel estimation without increasing overhead. As such, the results of the first interpolating step can then be used to assist the interpolation in the dimension of smaller coherence (time or frequency).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling data packets transmitted via a communication tunnel are provided. Tunnel parameters corresponding to transmission of data packets via the communication tunnel are monitored, and aggregation parameters are adjusted based on the tunnel parameters. Based on the current aggregation parameters, the data packets can be aggregated into aggregate data packets for transmission via the communication tunnel. The aggregation parameters can be an aggregation window size. The tunnel parameters can be: end-to-end packet delay of the communication tunnel; throughput of the communication tunnel; and status of one or more queues, such as queue size, belonging to routers of the communication tunnel.