Abstract: Systems and methods for carrier aggregation based on subscriber category information, such as for New Radio Carrier Aggregation in a 5G Network. A call is placed via a calling device and detected at a node of a network. A user equipment capability check is performed, which determines whether the calling device supports carrier aggregation. Subscriber information is received associated with the calling device, including a quality of service (QoS) identifier associated with a subscriber category. Based on the QoS identifier, two or more carriers are selected and assigned. The QoS identifier is associated with a relative priority for assigning cells based on corresponding bandwidth. Call setup is initiated via the two or more carriers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for performing carrier aggregation in a wireless network including obtaining, at a relay access node, a control channel load level of a first carrier deployed by a donor access node, determining, at the relay access node, that the control channel load level is within an acceptable load level, and aggregating the first carrier with a second carrier deployed by the relay access node to communicate with a wireless device attached to the relay access node.

Abstract: Upon satisfying a first handover condition based on signal measurements, an identity of the one or more target access nodes is determined, the identity being associated with a latency, and a determination is made whether or not to execute the handover based on at least the identifier or the latency of the one or more target access nodes. As macrocell access nodes are known to have smaller latency than small access nodes, the macrocell access node is a preferred target, regardless of signal measurements of the small access node. In embodiments, the type or latency of the target access node is weighted higher than the signal measurement for the determination of a preferred target access node. Target access nodes may be assigned priorities based on their type, latency, and signal measurements, and highest-prioritized target access nodes may be preferred as handover targets.

Abstract: Adjusting handover thresholds includes identifying a channel bandwidth of a first carrier deployed by an access node, wherein the first carrier is one of at least two carriers deployed by the access node and, for a wireless device attached to a second carrier deployed by the access node, adjusting a handover threshold based on the channel bandwidth of the first carrier, and/or the frame configuration deployed by the second carrier. The wireless device is assigned to a high power class and capable of operating in a carrier aggregation mode utilizing the first and second carriers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for assigning wireless resources to a high power wireless device. In some embodiments, a quality of service metric used for communication between a wireless device and an access node is identified, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit an uplink signal at a first signal level that meets a power criteria. Default uplink resource are assigned to the wireless device based on the identified quality of service criteria, wherein the default uplink resources are associated with a default wireless device configured to transmit an uplink signal at a second signal level that does not meet the power criteria. And uplink communication is received at the access node from the wireless device using the assigned default uplink resources.

Abstract: Performing carrier aggregation for high-powered wireless devices that may cause interference to other wireless devices includes determining that a wireless device attached to an access node is assigned to a high power class and capable of operating in a carrier aggregation mode, initiating the carrier aggregation mode for the wireless device, and instructing the access node to utilize a frequency-division-duplexing (FDD) carrier deployed by the access node as a primary carrier for the wireless device. A handover of the wireless device to the FDD carrier may be triggered by a threshold level of interference caused by uplink transmissions from the wireless device when operating in the high-powered transmission mode on a TDD carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting relay nodes for Single-User Multiple-Input-Multiple Output (SU-MIMO). A channel orthogonality and Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) of a plurality of wireless devices located in a geographic area of an access node is determined. A relay-capable status of the plurality of wireless devices is determined. Non-relay capable wireless devices located in the geographic area are excluded from SU-MIMO. From the plurality of wireless devices, relay-capable wireless devices are selected for SU-MIMO. The selected relay-capable wireless devices are prioritized for SU-MIMO based on a channel orthogonality and SINR meeting a set threshold.

Abstract: An access node can dynamically adjust a buffer allocation of a wireless device connected thereto, based on a packet loss or other signal degradation characteristic of a wireless link between the access node and the wireless device. The wireless device may be a relay node. The signal degradation may be indicated by a packet loss of data transmitted over the wireless link. Based on the detected signal degradation, the donor access node dynamically and in real-time adjusts a size of a buffer or sub-buffer allocated to the relay node. Threshold comparisons are used to determine when and by how much to adjust the buffer size. Operations are not limited to relay node buffers, and can be applied to buffers associated with standard wireless devices based upon signal characteristics thereof, an application requirement of the devices, or a historical trend of packets losses for the wireless links associated therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for assigning wireless resources to a high power wireless device. In some embodiments, a quality of service metric used for communication between a wireless device and an access node is identified, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit an uplink signal at a first signal level that meets a power criteria. Default uplink resource are assigned to the wireless device based on the identified quality of service criteria, wherein the default uplink resources are associated with a default wireless device configured to transmit an uplink signal at a second signal level that does not meet the power criteria. And uplink communication is received at the access node from the wireless device using the assigned default uplink resources.

Abstract: A method of allocating frequency bands of an access node includes determining a number of relay wireless devices attached to a donor access node neighboring the access node and transmitting to the access node information related to the number of relay wireless devices attached to the donor access node. An inter-frequency handover threshold of the access node is altered based at least in part on the information related to the number of relay wireless devices attached to the donor access node. Systems and methods relate to allocating frequency bands of an access node.

Abstract: Controlling the uplink transmission power includes dynamically activating and deactivating a high-power transmission mode of the wireless devices in response to changes in a network topology, such as presence or absence of different types of access nodes, and signal level measurements of reference signals transmitted from said different types of access nodes. Such dynamic control of the uplink transmission power in real time minimizes interference that may be caused to uplink transmissions of other wireless devices in the network, and mitigates unnecessary power consumption for wireless devices capable of utilizing the high-power mode.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable storage media for scheduling physical resource blocks are provided. Base stations, of a communication radio access network, may be configured with schedulers that assign one or more physical resource blocks to a communication channel of a wireless device based on distance or power. The physical resource blocks allow the wireless device to communicate with the base station. Some resource blocks may be monitored across multiple sites to determine whether an aggregate power for the resource blocks exceeds a threshold. When the aggregate power threshold is surpassed, the schedulers may limit or prevent use of the identified resource blocks.

Abstract: A relay wireless device is configured to function as a relay on behalf of a donor access node. The relay wireless device determines a preferred donor access node from among a plurality of candidate donor access nodes based on a measurement of a reference signal, such as an RSRP or SINR, associated with each access node within a range of the relay wireless device. The access nodes may be prioritized based on the measurement, as well as based on a maximum number of dedicated random access preambles provided by each access node, and a default paging cycle of each access node. The access node that has the highest priority based on a good RSRP/SINR, a high number of dedicated random access preambles, and a large paging cycle, is selected as the preferred donor access node, and a connection request submitted to the preferred donor access node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting relay nodes for Single-User Multiple-Input-Multiple Output (SU-MIMO). A channel orthogonality and Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) of a plurality of wireless devices located in a geographic area of an access node is determined. A relay-capable status of the plurality of wireless devices is determined. Non-relay capable wireless devices located in the geographic area are excluded from SU-MIMO. From the plurality of wireless devices, relay-capable wireless devices are selected for SU-MIMO. The selected relay-capable wireless devices are prioritized for SU-MIMO based on a channel orthogonality and SINR meeting a set threshold.

Abstract: A relay node is enabled to transmit, to an end-user wireless device, any data packets remaining in a buffer associated with the end-user wireless device, prior to executing a handover of the end-user wireless device. Upon initiating a handover, the relay node adjusts a scheduling operation to use a lowest-possible modulating coding scheme (MCS) in order to transmit the remaining buffered data to the end-user wireless device. Moreover, the scheduling operation is adjusted to ignore any subsequent channel quality indicator (CQI) reports from the end-user wireless device, thereby ensuring that the end-user wireless device has a higher chance of receiving the data. When the buffer is empty, the handover is executed.

Abstract: Upon a determination that a relay backhaul link of a relay node is using excessive resources of a donor access node, wireless devices attached to the relay node are offloaded to other access nodes such as neighbor access nodes or to a different frequency band deployed by the donor access node or its neighbors. A donor access node transmits a congestion indicator to the relay node. The relay node transmits updated measurement parameters to end-user wireless devices connected thereto. An end-user wireless device reports back to the relay node in the event it measures a signal strength that is stronger than the current signal strength. This measurement event triggers a handoff of the end-user wireless device, thereby helping to alleviate the resource utilization of the air-interface of the donor access node.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes are related to improving service in a wireless network. The method includes determining a frame configuration and bandwidth for a plurality of communication bands available for communication with a wireless device. The method includes generating a reselection priority based on one or more of the frame configuration and bandwidth for each of the plurality of communication bands. The reselection priority of each of the plurality of communication bands is based on a suitability of one or more of the frame configuration and bandwidth to service uplink traffic. The method includes transmitting the reselection priority to the wireless device. The wireless device utilizes the reselection priority in communication band reselection based on uplink traffic generated by the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for minimizing interference caused by high-powered wireless devices to other wireless devices in the network by determining that a first wireless device assigned to a first power class is located in a potential interference zone of a coverage area of an access node, and deactivating a high-powered transmission mode of the first wireless device. The high-powered transmission mode utilizes a first transmission power level that is associated with the first power class. The potential interference zone is defined based on standard-powered uplink transmissions that have a high noise or low SINR.

Abstract: Described embodiments can help a user equipment (UE) participate in a handover procedure that is carried out by the UE's serving base station. In particular, when a neighbor sector is heavily loaded, the base station that serves the neighbor sector may vary the power in at least one reference signal in each subframe in the neighbor sector, thereby providing an indication of the heavy traffic load to UEs that receive the subframe. When a UE is being served by a different base station than the base station that serves the neighbor sector, and the UE detects such load information for a neighbor sector, the UE may report the load information to its serving base station, or may simply refrain from sending a signal strength report that could trigger a handover to the neighbor sector.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that may help a base station to adjust forward-link data rates in a given sector based on transmission-power variations in neighboring sectors. An exemplary method involves a base station that serves a first sector: (a) determining a respective transmission power for each of two or more channels of a second sector, (b) detecting a transmission-power difference between at least two of the channels of the second sector, and (c) in response to detecting the transmission-power difference: (i) determining a data rate control (DRC) adjustment for the first sector based at least in part on the transmission-power difference; and using the determined DRC adjustment to determine a forward-link data rate for at least one access terminal in the first sector.