Abstract: Embodiments use the principles of self-organizing networks to allocate resources to allow spectrum owners to share spectrum with wireless carriers according to defined license conditions. A spectrum licensee holds the licensing conditions of the spectrum licensed by the spectrum owners. This licensed spectrum is referred to as secondary spectrum. A self-organizing network server requests access to secondary spectrum. The spectrum licensee grants access to the secondary spectrum along with the licensing conditions for access. The self-organizing network server monitors the conditions associated with the license and/or delegates the responsibility for monitoring conditions associated with the license to others. When the license conditions are met, enhanced Node B systems may begin using the secondary spectrum according to the license conditions. When the license conditions are no longer met, enhanced Node B systems discontinue use of the secondary spectrum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an IRP manager configured to query at least one eNB to determine physical layer cell identification and/or LTE band information associated with one or more cell coverage areas associated with the at least one eNB and determine an optimal physical layer cell identification and LTE band for at least one cell associated with the at least one eNB. The optimal physical layer cell identification and/or LTE band may be based on, for example, network topology statistics (e.g., current cell coverage area, etc.), traffic load, etc. The optimal physical layer cell identification and/or LTE band information may be utilized by at least one UE within a coverage area of a WLAN AP to provide cell connection in the event the at least one UE falls outside the coverage area of a WLAN AP.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques for coverage adjustment in evolved universal terrain radio access networks (E-UTRANs) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive data representative of first and second radio link failure (RLF) reports including information related to respective disconnections of first and second user equipment (UEs) from an E-UTRAN. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the E-UTRAN based at least in part on the first and second RLF reports, and may perform an automated coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) action to reconfigure cell resources of the E-UTRAN based on the identified hole. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for improved coverage estimation of wireless cellular networks through User Equipment (UE) idle mode measurement and reporting. A UE may include a signal measurement module to measure a reference signal received power (RSRP) of a serving cell of the UE, the UE in an idle mode, and to determine if the RSRP is below a threshold value. The UE may also include a cell search and selection module to search for a neighbor cell in response to determining that the RSRP is below the threshold value, and to camp on the neighbor cell if the search succeeds. The UE may further include a data logging module to log information associated with the neighbor cell, if the neighbor cell search succeeds and to log information associated with the serving cell, if the neighbor cell search fails.

Abstract: A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to connect to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) cell in a cellular network. Logged minimization of drive test (MDT) measurements can be recorded at the UE at a selected rate when the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode in a first LTE cell in a cellular network. A change in a UE state of the RRC idle mode can be identified. The Logged MDT measurements can stop being recorded at the UE when the UE state changes from a camped normally UE state to another UE state of the RRC idle mode. The Logged MDT measurements can resume being recorded when the UE state changes to the camped normally UE state of the RRC idle mode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe apparatuses and methods for mobility management entity (MME) overload or underload mitigation using an MME virtual network function (VNF). Various embodiments may include one or more processors to execute instructions to process a notification from a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to determine instantiation of a MME as a VNF, add the MME to an MME pool, and assign a value to an application parameter of the MME VNF. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Technology for a virtualized network function manager (VNFM) in a mixed wireless network operable to facilitate instantiation of a virtualized network function (VNF) instance is disclosed. The VNFM can receive a request to instantiate a new VNF instance from a network manager (NM) via a network function virtualization (NFV) orchestrator (NFVO), the request including VNF instantiation information. The VNFM can send a request to a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) for allocating virtual resources for the new VNF instance based on the VNF instantiation information. The VNFM can receive an acknowledgement from the VIM after successful allocation of the virtualized resources for the new VNF instance. The VNFM can instantiate the new VNF instance and send an acknowledgement of the new VNF instance to the NFVO, wherein the new VNF instance is operable to ease congestion at an overloaded non-virtualized network element in the mixed wireless network.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication between an element manager and a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP). The WLAN AP may be configured with one or more counters. The one or more counters may measure events, such as data transmission and/or reception at the WLAN AP or a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) procedure by the WLAN AP. The element manager may be configured to read one or more of these counters and compute one or more values based on the values read from the one or more counters. The element manager may be configured to communicate the one or more computed values to a network manager. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques for identifying coverage holes in a radio access technology (RAT) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive a first report, including one or more measurements taken by a first user equipment (UE), in response to an event related to a handover of the first UE between a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may receive a second report including one or more measurements taken by a second UE in response to an event related to a handover of the second UE between the first RAT and a third RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the first RAT based at least in part on the first and second reports. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for improved coverage estimation of wireless cellular networks through User Equipment (UE) idle mode measurement and reporting. A UE may include a signal measurement module to measure a reference signal received power (RSRP) of a serving cell of the UE, the UE in an idle mode, and to determine if the RSRP is below a threshold value. The UE may also include a cell search and selection module to search for a neighbor cell in response to determining that the RSRP is below the threshold value, and to camp on the neighbor cell if the search succeeds. The UE may further include a data logging module to log information associated with the neighbor cell, if the neighbor cell search succeeds and to log information associated with the serving cell, if the neighbor cell search fails.

Abstract: Technology for communicating access point (AP) information for traffic offloading is disclosed. A request may be received, at a wireless local area network (WLAN) domain manager (DM) from an evolved node B (eNB), for access point (AP) information about one or more WLAN access points (APs) for traffic offloading. The access point (AP) information may be obtained for the one or more WLAN APs, at the WLAN DM, based on at least in part operations and management (OAM) reports from the one or more WLAN APs containing the AP information. The AP information may be communicated, from the WLAN DM to the eNB via a network manager (NM), about the one or more WLAN APs to enable traffic offloading from the eNB to at least one of the WLAN APs.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described related to generating and using a user equipment (UE) location distribution in a wireless communication network. In embodiments, an evolved Node B (eNB) may determine an angle of arrival (AoA) and a timing advance (Tadv) for individual UEs of a plurality of UEs that are in a connected mode with the eNB. The eNB may assign the individual UEs to one of a plurality of bins to generate a UE location distribution. Individual bins of the plurality of bins may correspond to a range of values for the AoA and a range of values for the Tadv to indicate a physical location of the corresponding UEs. The eNB may transmit the UE location distribution to a network management entity, which may adjust one or more parameters of the eNB, based on the UE location distribution, using a capacity and coverage optimization (CCO) function.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication between an element manager and a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP). The WLAN AP may be configured with one or more counters. The one or more counters may measure events, such as data transmission and/or reception at the WLAN AP or a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) procedure by the WLAN AP. The element manager may be configured to read one or more of these counters and compute one or more values based on the values read from the one or more counters. The element manager may be configured to communicate the one or more computed values to a network manager. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, virtualized network function resources may be managed in a network. Performance measurements may be received for at least one mobility management entity (MME) in an MME pool, or for other network elements. If at least one of the performance measurements exceeds at least one predetermined threshold, instantiation of a new mobility management entity virtual network function (MME VNF) may be requested, and the MME VNF may be instantiated in response to the request. One or more user equipment (UE) devices managed by the MME pool may be connected to the added MME VNF.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques for identifying coverage holes in a radio access technology (RAT) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive a first report, including one or more measurements taken by a first user equipment (UE), in response to an event related to a handover of the first UE between a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may receive a second report including one or more measurements taken by a second UE in response to an event related to a handover of the second UE between the first RAT and a third RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the first RAT based at least in part on the first and second reports. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to connect to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) cell in a cellular network. Logged minimization of drive test (MDT) measurements can be recorded at the UE at a selected rate when the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode in a first LTE cell in a cellular network. A change in a UE state of the RRC idle mode can be identified. The Logged MDT measurements can stop being recorded at the UE when the UE state changes from a camped normally UE state to another UE state of the RRC idle mode. The Logged MDT measurements can resume being recorded when the UE state changes to the camped normally UE state of the RRC idle mode.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described related to generating and using a user equipment (UE) location distribution in a wireless communication network. In embodiments, an evolved Node B (eNB) may determine an angle of arrival (AoA) and a timing advance (Tadv) for individual UEs of a plurality of UEs that are in a connected mode with the eNB. The eNB may assign the individual UEs to one of a plurality of bins to generate a UE location distribution. Individual bins of the plurality of bins may correspond to a range of values for the AoA and a range of values for the Tadv to indicate a physical location of the corresponding UEs. The eNB may transmit the UE location distribution to a network management entity, which may adjust one or more parameters of the eNB, based on the UE location distribution, using a capacity and coverage optimization (CCO) function.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques for coverage adjustment in evolved universal terrain radio access networks (E-UTRANs) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive data representative of first and second radio link failure (RLF) reports including information related to respective disconnections of first and second user equipment (UEs) from an E-UTRAN. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the E-UTRAN based at least in part on the first and second RLF reports, and may perform an automated coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) action to reconfigure cell resources of the E-UTRAN based on the identified hole. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques are described for supporting WLAN offloading. In some embodiments, a network management system (NMS) for WLAN offloading may include a network manager (NM); a first element manager (EM), coupled to the network manager, to communicate with the network manager and one or more WLANs; and a second EM, coupled to the NM, to communicate with the NM and one or more base stations of a cellular network. Coverage areas of at least one access point (AP) of the one or more WLANs are overlaid with at least one cell of the cellular network to support a WLAN offloading operation. Further, the NM is to activate the WLAN offloading operation based at least in part on at least one indicator received from the one or more WLANs. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A technology that is operable to select a radio node on a communications network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is configured with circuitry configured to determine when to offload data traffic of the UE to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) in a multi-radio access technology (RAT) communications network based on radio access network (RAN) assistance information communicated via the operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) system. A status is identified of one or more WLAN APs in the multi-RAT communications network using the RAN assistance information. A radio node is selected in the cell of the multi-RAT communications network for communication based on selected criteria.