Abstract: A method of managing handovers between a plurality of relay access nodes, the method includes monitoring a latency of a donor access node communicating with the plurality of relay access nodes; determining that a quality of service corresponding to a wireless device communicating with a relay access node of the plurality of relay access nodes meets a quality of service criteria; and in response to the latency meeting a threshold, instructing the relay access node to handover the wireless device to a target access node, or instructing the donor access node to handover the relay access node to the target access node, where the target access node is the donor access node, a neighboring access node, or a second relay access node served by the neighboring access node.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting User Equipment(s) (UEs) for pairing in a cellular network. A channel orthogonality of one or more UEs located within a radio range of a first Access Node (AN) may be determined. The one or more UEs may be prioritized for Uplink (UL) Multi-User Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) pairing when a channel orthogonality meets a set channel orthogonality condition. A second AN located within the radio range of the first AN may be detected. At least one of the prioritized UEs located within a radio range of the second AN may be selected for de-prioritization. The prioritized UEs may be paired to share a same set of resource blocks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on user device activity. An average synchronization signal transmission periodicity may be modified in response to determinations about the mobility of user devices, in response to determinations about the synchronization sensitivity of content being transmitted to user devices, or both. The modified beam sweeping protocol may responsively increase or decrease the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of a sector using one or more distinct beamforms, increasing the synchronization efficiency of limited synchronization signals being transmitted to the cell.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling uplink air-interface communication over an air interface from a given user equipment device (UE) to the access node, where the uplink air-interface communication normally operates with a modulation order corresponding with a most recently determined channel quality of the given UE. An example method includes (i) detecting at least a threshold high rate of uplink voice muting on the air interface, and (ii) responsive to at least the detecting of the threshold high rate of uplink voice muting on the air interface, suppressing the modulation order used for the uplink air-interface communication from the given UE to the access node over the air interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on user device activity. An average synchronization signal transmission periodicity may be modified in response to determinations about the mobility of user devices, in response to determinations about the synchronization sensitivity of content being transmitted to user devices, or both. The modified beam sweeping protocol may responsively increase or decrease the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of a sector using one or more distinct beamforms, increasing the synchronization efficiency of limited synchronization signals being transmitted to the cell.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector to determine whether or not to enable/disable inter-band carrier aggregation. If the pairing efficiency (whether predicted or actual) is high, inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled, and if the pairing efficiency is low, then inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled. The inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. The MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.

Abstract: Subcarrier spacing is selected based on a change in an antenna configuration of an access node, wherein a spectral efficiency of the access node is reduced by the change in the antenna configuration. For example, the change in the antenna configuration is based on the access node deploying additional radio air interfaces using a limited quantity of antenna elements. The subcarrier spacing for at least one radio air interface is increased based on the reduction in spectral efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transmitting a beamformed signal to a wireless device proximate to an antenna system. An uplink signal may be received at an access node from a wireless device in communication with the access node. It may be detected that the wireless device is proximate to an antenna system, wherein the antenna system does not comprise the access node. The detection may be based on a determined location for the wireless device, an indication from the antenna system, a retrieved signal level metric for the wireless device, and the like. It may be then determined that a beamformed signal is to be transmitted to the wireless device based on the detecting. And the beamformed signal may be transmitted from the access node to the wireless device.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on historical usage patterns. In response to determining a recurring pattern of a plurality of user devices being disposed within a certain portion of a sector during a time period, a modified beam sweeping protocol may be implemented. The modified beam sweeping protocol decreases the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of the sector using a distinct beamform, increasing the likelihood of synchronization between user devices and a network, decreasing interference and other undesirable network conditions.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: Monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector to determine whether or not to enable/disable inter-band carrier aggregation. If the pairing efficiency (whether predicted or actual) is high, inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled, and if the pairing efficiency is low, then inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled. The inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. The MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.

Abstract: A method of managing handovers between a plurality of relay access nodes, the method includes monitoring a latency of a donor access node communicating with the plurality of relay access nodes; determining that a quality of service corresponding to a wireless device communicating with a relay access node of the plurality of relay access nodes meets a quality of service criteria; and in response to the latency meeting a threshold, instructing the relay access node to handover the wireless device to a target access node, or instructing the donor access node to handover the relay access node to the target access node, where the target access node is the donor access node, a neighboring access node, or a second relay access node served by the neighboring access node.

Abstract: Selecting a subcarrier spacing for a wireless sector includes determining a predominant traffic type within the wireless sector, the predominant traffic type being based on traffic requirements of a plurality of wireless devices operating within the wireless sector, and selecting a subcarrier spacing for the wireless sector based on the predominant traffic type. Guaranteed bit rate, low-latency, VoIP, and heavy traffic types result in selection of wider subcarrier spacings, so as to limit inter-subcarrier interference.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes are related to selective resource allocation in a wireless network. An exemplary method includes determining, at an access node, wireless services utilized by a plurality of wireless devices connected to the access node. The wireless services include a first type of wireless service and a second type of wireless service. The method also includes determining whether a first percentage of the plurality of wireless devices utilizing the first type of wireless service relative to the second type of wireless service is greater than or equal to a service type threshold. The method also includes selecting a dynamic allocation scheme if the first percentage of the plurality of wireless devices utilizing the first type of wireless service relative to the second type of wireless service is greater than or equal to the service type threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for activating beamforming based on monitoring uplink conditions of one or more wireless devices attached to a serving access node, wherein the one or more wireless devices are assigned to a high power class and, upon determining uplink conditions meeting a threshold, activating a beamforming transmission mode of the serving access node. The uplink conditions meeting the threshold trigger at least one of the one or more wireless devices to transmit using a high powered transmission mode.