Abstract: A method and system for controlling wireless communication over an air interface between a base station and a user equipment device (UE) served by the base station. In examples, the base station is configured to use a particular modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to transmit downlink control signals over the air interface to the UE without the base station beamforming the downlink control signals to the UE. Responsive to the base station determining that the UE is experiencing threshold poor RF conditions on the air interface, the base station reconfigures itself to beamform downlink control signals to the UE. And, given that the base station is reconfigured to beamform downlink control signals to the UE, the base station further reconfigures itself to use a higher-order MCS to transmit downlink control signals to the UE.

Abstract: A method and system for proactively managing a base station neighbor list. A base station or other network node tracks changes to the base station's neighbor list and identifies a recurring pattern of changes, in correspondence with a particular time of day for instance. The base station or other node then proactively changes the base station's neighbor list in anticipation of a recurrence of the identified pattern, such as in anticipation of recurrence of the time of day for instance. Advantageously, this method can help to reduce the extent to which the base station engages in an automatic neighbor relation process, and thus reduce the extent of signaling and other issues associated with engaging in that process.

Abstract: In a long term evolution (LTE) network, coordinated multipoint (CoMP) and transmission time interval (TTI) bundling can both help to improve uplink communications, but both can also place a burden on network resource. Further, since both utilize redundancy to improve uplink communications, albeit in different ways, use of CoMP and TTI bundling may be considered unnecessary. Accordingly, example methods and systems are provided that may help to balance the application of TTI bundling and CoMP.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for providing a quality of service (QoS) to wireless devices attached to a relay access node include determining that a first amount of a first traffic type between a donor access node and a first one or more wireless devices in communication with the donor access node via the relay access node exceeds a threshold amount, and adjusting a quality of service (QoS) parameter of a wireless backhaul link between the relay access node and the donor access node from a first default QoS parameter to a new QoS parameter.

Abstract: Link adaptation for an uplink channel is dynamically performed based on changes in uplink resources in the wireless network, the changes based on frame configuration. If the ratio of uplink to downlink subframes in the new frame configuration is smaller, the throughput is increased by increasing a modulation and coding scheme of the uplink channel, and transmit power of wireless devices. If the ratio of uplink to downlink subframes is increased in the new frame configuration, the throughput is decreased, and the wireless device is instructed to transmit using reduced transmit power.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for minimizing interference caused by high-powered wireless devices to other wireless devices in the network by determining an increase in a number of high-powered wireless devices attached to a serving access node causing a corresponding increase in a potential interference to standard-powered wireless devices attached to the serving access node. In response to determining this increase, the methods include activating a coordinated transmission mode for one or more standard-powered wireless devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for controlling base station buffering of data. In an example method, the base station serves a wireless communication device (WCD) over an air interface, where the air interface encompasses a quantity of channels on which the base station serves the WCD, where the base station is configured to buffer, in a data buffer, data awaiting transmission to the WCD, where the buffer has a fullness-threshold defining a maximum quantity of data that the base station will buffer for the WCD, and where the base station is configured to respond to the quantity of data in the buffer meeting the fullness-threshold by increasing the quantity of channels. Then, while serving the WCD, the base station determines an extent to which the WCD provides connectivity between at least one other device and the base station, and sets and applies the fullness-threshold based on the extent.

Abstract: Interference caused between neighboring access nodes deploying wireless air-interface resources in different frame configurations while using the same frequency sub-band is mitigated by modifying the subframes deployed by a first access node by muting the subframes in the first frame configuration. Wireless resources from a different frequency sub-band can be aggregated towards the interfering subframes. A third access node adjacent to the first access node may deploy wireless resources in the first frame configuration and using the second frequency sub-band. A determination of how to reconfigure the interfering subframes is based on numbers of wireless devices in potential interference zones between each access node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding apparatus to help manage wireless communication between a base station and a device served by the base. In accordance with the disclosure, when a base station transitions from serving the device on just a first carrier to serving the device on a combination of the first carrier and a second carrier, the base station will responsively take action to improve downlink communication to the device on the first carrier. In particular, the base station will respond to the occurrence of that transition by starting to beamform downlink transmission to the device on the first carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling traffic in an almost blank subframe (ABS). Data transmissions to a wireless device in communication with a first access node are scheduled during an ABS scheduled by a second access node. At least one wireless device that meets a criteria is selected from a plurality of wireless devices in communication with the second access node. Data is transmitted from the second access node to the selected wireless device during the scheduled ABS using beamforming.

Abstract: Minimizing interference including obtaining interference measurements for transmission angles of an interference-causing side lobe of a formed beam directed towards a wireless device in a beamforming mode, and determining threshold angles wherein an operating mode of another wireless device subject to the interference is switched to from a default mode to a carrier aggregation mode utilizing a different frequency than the formed beam. Upon the transmission angle of the formed beam meeting a second threshold angle, the operating mode of the other wireless device is switched back to the default mode.

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 may be determined at an Access Node (AN) for a condition. The one or more UEs may be inspected for a criteria. At least one of the one or more UEs whose data content meets the criteria may be scheduled with at least one other UE for Uplink (UL) Multi-User Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) pairing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling service by a base station when the base station is serving both a first UE without carrier aggregation and a plurality of second UEs with carrier aggregation. As a basis for invoking carrier aggregation service for the first UE, the base station selects one of the second UEs to transition from being served by the base station with carrier aggregation to being served by the base station without carrier aggregation. The base station makes such a selection based at least in part on a modulation and coding scheme that the base station uses to serve the selected one of the second UEs. The base station transitions from serving the selected second UE with carrier aggregation to serving the selected second UE without carrier aggregation. And the base station transitions from serving the first UE without carrier aggregation to serving the first UE with carrier aggregation.

Abstract: A base station may manage transmissions between the base station and wireless communication devices (WCDs), where the base station serves the WCDs over an air interface, and where the base station is configured to engage in downlink transmission using a particular quantity of transmit antennas. In one example, the base station determines that each of at least one WCD currently being served by the base station is configured to support a particular modulation scheme. And in responsive to the determining, the base station reduces the quantity of transmit antennas and engages in the downlink transmission using the reduced quantity of transmit antennas.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include systems, methods, and nodes for selecting a donor for a relay wireless device. Signal levels corresponding to signals received at a relay wireless device from a plurality of access points are determined. Signal information is received from the plurality of access points, wherein the signal information comprises a group identification for each access point. The signal information for the access points may then be compared to a donor criteria. And the access point corresponding to the greatest signal level that also comprises signal information that meets the donor criteria may be selected as the donor for the relay wireless device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating a bias value based on radio frequency signal power measurements. A wireless communication device (WCD) measures the powers of radio frequency signals received by the WCD, including a first radio frequency signal transmitted by a first base station of a wireless network and a second radio frequency signal transmitted by a second base station of the wireless network. The first base station transmits radio frequency signals at a higher power than the second base station. The WCD calculates a bias value based on at least one of the measured powers of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal. The bias value, in combination with the measured powers of the first and second radio frequency signals, can be used to select one of the first and second base stations.

Abstract: Methods and systems to help manage wireless communication with UEs in a manner that takes into account an extent of TTI bundling on a given carrier frequency. When a base station is serving a threshold high number of TTI-bundling-UEs on a first carrier frequency, the base station will reduce the number of TTI-bundling-UEs on the first carrier frequency by offloading one or more of the TTI-bundling-UEs from the first carrier frequency to a second carrier frequency. Further, to avoid increasing the number of TTI-bundling-UEs served on the first carrier frequency, when the base station detects a trigger event for enabling TTI bundling for an additional UE served on the first carrier frequency, the base station will offload the additional UE from the first carrier frequency to the second carrier frequency.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes minimize interference in a wireless network. Minimizing interference includes determining that an angle between a first formed beam directed towards a wireless device and a relay signal directed towards a relay node is equal to or is less than a threshold angle. The wireless device can operate in a first area of network coverage, and the relay node operates in a second area of the network coverage. The first formed beam can interfere with the relay node upon the angle being equal to or less than the threshold angle. Minimizing interference also includes switching a connection of the relay node from a first access node to a second access node.

Abstract: According to exemplary embodiments described herein, communicating via a plurality of antennae includes transmitting different data streams from each of a first antenna and a second antenna in a first transmission mode, and transmitting identical data streams from a third antenna and one of the first and second antennae in a second transmission mode. The first and second antennae are horizontally stacked relative to each other and the third antenna is vertically stacked relative to both the first and second antennae.

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.