Abstract: A first enhanced Node B (eNB) and method for contention-free handoff return in a wireless network are provided. The first eNB in one example embodiment includes a transceiver system configured to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and configured to receive signal strength information from the UE, with the processing system being further configured to obtain a pre-handoff CF preamble for handoff of the UE from the first eNB to the second eNB, provide the pre-handoff CF preamble to the UE, generate a post-handoff CF preamble for the UE where the UE can use the post-handoff CF preamble to return from the second eNB to the first eNB, and provide the post-handoff CF preamble to the UE.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for managing release of air interface traffic channels are described. When a radio access network (RAN) is deciding whether to release traffic channels assigned to one or more of a plurality of mobile stations, the RAN may prioritize the release of the assigned air interface traffic channels based on reported air interface conditions. For instance, when the RAN is deciding whether to release a traffic channel from a first mobile station or a second mobile station, the RAN may determine to release the assigned traffic channel from the first mobile station if the first mobile station is experiencing worse air interface conditions.

Abstract: During a communication session, a filter in the RAN may filter signals sent over the communication pathway. When the filter filters signals sent over communication pathway, it may also cause some filter loss in the signals. The amount of the filter loss may vary as a function of frequency. Before the start of a communication session, the RAN may determine a filter loss for a given frequency. Because a higher filter loss indicates the RAN will transmit (or receive) a weaker signal, it may be undesirable to transmit signals to WCDs that are located a far distance from the RAN with frequencies having high filter losses. Thus, once the RAN has determined a filter loss for a given frequency, the RAN may reserve the given frequency for use in communication between the RAN and at least one WCD based on a distance between the WCD and the RAN.

Abstract: A wireless network includes first-configuration sectors with a first frequency assignment and second-configuration sectors with a second frequency assignment. When served by a first-configuration sector that borders a second-configuration sector, the mobile station receives (i) a neighbor list that identifies neighbor sectors of the primary sector, including the second-configuration sector, (ii) a primary-sector reference distance between a transmitter for the primary sector and a reference point in the primary sector, and (iii) a neighbor-sector reference distance between a transmitter for the second-configuration sector and the reference point. Based on the reference distances, the mobile station calculates a border distance between the primary sector's transmitter and a border between the sectors. The mobile station compares its distance from the primary sector's transmitter to the primary-sector reference distance and/or border distance.

Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol evolved Node-B (eNB) and method for dynamic modulation change while generating a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in a LTE wireless network are provided. The eNB in one example embodiment includes a transceiver system configured to receive a packet and a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) from a User Equipment (UE) and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and configured to determine whether padding is needed in the MAC PDU, if padding is needed, select a slower modulation scheme and coding rate than is specified by the CQI, wherein the selected slower modulation scheme and coding rate are selected so as to substantially eliminate padding in the MAC PDU, and transmit the MAC PDU using the selected slower modulation scheme and coding rate.

Abstract: An enhanced Node B (eNB) and method for interference mitigation at a cell edge region in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network are provided. The eNB in one example embodiment includes a transceiver system for communicating with a User Equipment (UE) registered with the eNB and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and configured to receive a signal strength and an interference information from the UE via the transceiver system, with the processing system configured to determine if the UE is located at a cell edge region of the eNB, determine if the UE is experiencing interference, and allocate by Resource Elements (REs) in the communications being transferred from the eNB to the UE if the UE is located at the cell edge region and if the UE is experiencing an unacceptable level of interference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for symmetrical implementation of inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in a radio access network (RAN) having a first base station serving a first set of access terminals and a second base station serving a second set of access terminals. In an embodiment, a network entity makes both a first determination that each access terminal in the first set is receiving at least a threshold-strong signal from the second base station and a second determination that each access terminal in the second set is receiving at least a threshold-strong signal from the first base station. Responsive to making these determinations in combination, the network entity manages an assignment of reverse-link resource blocks in the RAN such that no reverse-link resource blocks are assigned to both an access terminal in the first set and an access terminal in the second set.

Abstract: A RAN includes a first coverage area and a second coverage. An access terminal, initially engaged in a call via the first coverage area, determines a call type of the call and adjusts, based on the determined call type, one or both of a first value for a first threshold and a second value for a second threshold. While engaged in the call, the access terminal determines that (i) a signal strength of a signal received from the first coverage area is less than the first threshold, and (ii) a signal strength of a signal detected from the second coverage area is greater than the second threshold. In response to making both determinations, the access terminal hands off the call from the first coverage area to the second coverage area.

Abstract: A RAN may receive a call establishment request, on a first frequency, seeking to establish a call involving a WCD. In response to receiving the request, the RAN may select a plurality of wireless coverage areas, each defined using the first frequency. The RAN may determine that utilization of a first wireless coverage area of the selected wireless coverage areas meets a utilization threshold. In response, the RAN may determine that a strength at which the WCD receives signals from the first wireless coverage area exceeds the strengths at which the WCD receives signals from other wireless coverage areas in the plurality of wireless coverage areas by at least a signal strength differential value. Accordingly, the RAN may assign, to the WCD, a traffic channel from a second wireless coverage area, defined using a second frequency, for supporting the call.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may be configured to identify a set of wireless coverage areas in which to transmit inter-frequency search directives. Identifying the set of coverage areas may involve determining which of the coverage areas defined by the RAN have threshold weaker coverage on one carrier frequency than on another carrier frequency of that coverage area. For each coverage area of the set, the RAN may identify one or more WCDs operating in the coverage area that are operating on the coverage area's carrier frequency that has the weaker coverage. Based on the identifying of the WCDs, the RAN may send to each identified WCD an inter-frequency search directive to cause the WCD to scan for and report to the RAN a measurement of coverage on one or more carrier frequencies other than the carrier frequency on which the WCD is currently operating.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for redirecting a mobile station via a traffic channel. In one embodiment, a first RAN receives a request from a mobile station to establish a traffic channel between the mobile station and the first RAN for use in a communication session. The first RAN makes a determination to not establish the communication session, but nevertheless establishes the requested traffic channel after making the determination. Then, without establishing the communication session, the first RAN redirects the mobile station via the established traffic channel to a second RAN. By establishing the traffic channel even though the RAN may be unable (or unwilling) to allow the mobile station to establish the communication session, the RAN is able to control the behavior of the mobile station in the event that the RAN cannot establish the requested communication session.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for handling of frequency bands in neighbor lists in wireless communication devices are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a wireless communication device is presented which includes scanning a first frequency band of a source sector based on a neighbor list, and dropping the first frequency band of the source sector from an access list based on a first drop threshold included in the neighbor list. The method also includes scanning a second frequency band of the source sector and the second frequency band of a target sector based on the neighbor list, and adding the second frequency band of the source sector and the second frequency band of the target sector to the access list based on second and third add thresholds included in the neighbor list.

Abstract: Quality of Service (QoS) priority values and thresholds are defined for various service types assignable to user equipment (UE devices) including multiple bandclass devices. The QoS thresholds can be used for determining whether resources of a default or alternate bandclass should be used for a new call request or whether a timer should be initiated to wait for additional resources to become available. A default QoS priority values can be assigned to each service type and used for voice calls requested by UE devices. QoS priority values with lower priority can be used for data calls. The priority of priority values can decrease as the data rate for the data calls increases. Thresholds for blocking call requests can be increased or decreased to improve likelihood that resources for call requests with higher priority service types are granted at the expense granting resources for call requests with lower priority service types.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method the present method may help to minimize or avoid ping-ponging between coverage areas of a wireless communication system, by having a radio access network (RAN) give special consideration to power control commands after receipt of a wireless communication device's (WCD's) handoff request. After the RAN receives the WCD's request for handoff from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, the RAN evaluates power control commands from the WCD for the first coverage area for a time period after the handoff request and, based on the evaluation, determines whether the WCD continues to experience poor RF conditions in the first coverage area 22. If so, the RAN may then allow the handoff (e.g., if other conditions such as channel resource availability are met). And otherwise, the RAN may abort the handoff.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting the power control settings in a wireless communication network are provided. In one embodiment, a base station determines a target access terminal's use of service so far in a billing period, wherein the target access terminal is located in a sector of the wireless communication network. The base station then determines whether the target access terminal's use of service is above a threshold value. Responsive to the base station determining that the target access terminal's use of service is above the threshold value, the base station adjusts a power control setting of one or more other access terminals located in the sector of the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for management of neighbor scanning in a cellular wireless communication system is disclosed. A radio access network (RAN) sends, and a mobile device receives, a neighbor list update message containing a plurality of different neighbor lists each listing available neighboring coverage areas communicating on respective communication channels. While the mobile device is engaged in a call, the mobile device selects one of the neighbor lists based on a service type of the engaged call. The mobile device scans the neighbors listed in the selected neighbor list for signal strengths sufficient to trigger a hand off. The mobile device sends a report indicating measured signal strengths of signals from the neighbors to the RAN, which then instructs the mobile device to hand off the engaged call.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for allocating power among concurrent transmission attempts from a radio access network (RAN). In practice, the RAN encounters a situation where the RAN is going to engage concurrently in at least a transmission attempt of a first message and a transmission attempt of a second message. The RAN then determines an attempt number of the first transmission attempt and an attempt number of the second transmission attempt. The RAN then compares the determined attempt numbers and, based on the comparison, allocated a limited quantity of transmission power among the first transmission attempt and the second transmission attempt. For instance, based the comparison a greater portion of the transmission power may be allocated to one of the transmission attempts and a correspondingly lesser portion of the transmission power may be allocated to the other transmission attempt.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively conducting reverse-link power control and call admission control. In an embodiment, a base station identifies a set of mobile stations more likely than others to experience a dropped call. For each mobile station in the set, the base station relaxes at least one reverse-link power-control setting, to foster an increased actual and/or allowed reverse-link transmission-power level. The base station thereafter detects the dropped-call rate exceeding a first threshold, and responsively decreases the degree to which at least one setting was relaxed. The base station thereafter detects the dropped-call rate exceeding a higher threshold, and responsively drops at least one active call and/or blocks at least one new call.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for overriding a most-recently-used (MRU) table for system acquisition. In an embodiment, a mobile station maintains an MRU table populated with data identifying one or more networks to which the mobile station was most recently connected, and the mobile station is arranged to conduct system acquisition by referencing the MRU table prior to referencing a preferred roaming list (PRL). The mobile station receives an MRU-override instruction from a wireless network, and modifies its MRU table according to the instruction, producing a modified MRU table, and conducts at least one subsequent system acquisition with reference to the modified MRU table.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for EV-DO femtocells to use proximity to prioritize service to access terminals. In an embodiment, a femtocell assigns a first range of MAC IDs to a first group of access terminals, where the first group is those access terminals that are less than a threshold distance from the femtocell. The femtocell assigns a second range of MAC IDs to a second group of access terminals, where the second group is those access terminals that are more than the threshold distance from the femtocell. The femtocell repeatedly transmits (1) a first reverse activity bit (RAB) to the first group and (2) a second RAB to the second group, and measures reverse noise rise (RNR) on a femtocell carrier. If the measured RNR is greater than the threshold, the femtocell responsively (1) clears the first RAB and (2) sets the second RAB.