Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a multi-layer tracking area code assignment in a wireless communication network are disclosed. A controller node is configured assign a first code to a first group of access nodes located in a geographic area. A signal load of updates for the first group of access nodes is monitored by the communication network. The controller node determines a set of criteria for assigning a second code to at least one access node in a second group of access nodes. The second group of access nodes are located in the same geographic area as the first group of access nodes. The controller node assigns the second code to the at least one access node for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may determine that a quality-of-service (QOS) load of a first base station exceeds a QOS load high threshold. The RAN may further determine that a set of wireless communication devices (WCDs) served by the first base station are located within a geographic area nearby a second base station. The RAN may additionally determine that the set of WCDs are responsible for at least a predefined portion of the QOS load of the first base station, and may power on the second base station. If at some point a second QOS load of the second base station falls below a QOS load low threshold, the RAN may facilitate handover of at least one of the WCDs served by the second base station from the second base station to the first base station, and may power off the second base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing access node neighbor relations. An application requirement associated with a wireless device in communication with a first access node may be determined. A neighbor reporting criteria may be calculated based on the determined application requirement. The first access node may then receive an identifier of a second access node from the wireless device. The second identifier may be transmitted from the wireless device in response to a reporting event triggered based on a first signal level of the first access node, a second signal level of the second access node, and the neighbor reporting criteria. It may be determined, based on the second identifier, if a communication link between the first access node and the second access node has been previously established. If not, a communication link between the first access node and second access node may be established.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate selection of a donor base station to serve a relay node (RN). In particular, a base station system (BSS) may include a plurality of base stations each operable to serve user equipment devices (UEs) and operable to serve an RN. The RN is in turn operable to serve UEs. According to the disclosure, a controlling entity may determine both (i) a type of content communicated between the BSS and UEs served by the BSS (BSS-served content type) and (ii) a type of content communicated between the RN and UEs served by the RN (RN-served content type). Based on both the determined BSS-served content type and the determined RN-served content type, the controlling entity may select one of the plurality of base stations to serve the RN and may cause the selected base station to serve the RN.

Abstract: A method and system for managing capacity of a base station's air interface. The base station identifies a served user equipment device (UE) based at least in part on the UE being located in an area of overlap between coverage of the base station and coverage of another base station. The base station then increases an order of modulation of air interface communication between the base station and the identified UE, so as to help free up some air interface capacity. Further, in view of the possible decrease in reliability of communication due to the increased order of modulation, the base station may also invoke use of Coordinated Multipoint Communication (CoMP) for the UE to help improve air interface communication between the base station and the UE.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing beamforming during carrier aggregation. It may be determined that conditions at an access node and a first wireless device meet a beamforming criteria, wherein the access node and the first wireless device communicate using carrier aggregation including a first frequency band comprising a primary carrier and a second frequency band comprising a component carrier. Data may be communicated between the access node and a second wireless device over the second frequency band, wherein the second wireless device is proximate to the first wireless device. Beamforming signal conditions may be determined for the first wireless device on the first frequency band and the second wireless device on the second frequency band.

Abstract: Wireless devices with similar air-interface conditions (e.g., signal strength, modulation and coding scheme, etc.) can be configured to function as relays. To select which wireless device(s) to pick to function as a relay on behalf of an access node, the type of data traffic going to/from these devices is examined. This examination is used to determine which wireless device to select as a relay. In other words, when several wireless devices are situated so that they have similar radio frequency (RF) conditions, the type and/or amount of traffic they are sending or receiving is used to determine which of the wireless devices to select to function as a relay.

Abstract: A method and system for managing voice codec rate used for voice communication by a user equipment device (UE). In accordance with the disclosure, the voice codec rate will be established (e.g., set or modified) based on a consideration of what type or types of non-voice communication the UE will engage in or is engaging in concurrently with the voice communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a carrier for a wireless device. Data may be communicated between a wireless device and a wireless communication network over a first carrier. It may be determined whether the wireless communication network provides a fallback protocol for switching the wireless device from the first carrier to a second carrier. The wireless device may be instructed to communicate with the wireless communication network over the second carrier when it is determined that the wireless communication network does not provide the fallback protocol.

Abstract: A method and system for managing quantity of carriers to aggregate together in carrier aggregation service, based at least in part on consideration of the type of content that will be communicated to or from the user equipment device (UE) at issue. A base station serving the UE may determine a type of content that will be communicated between the base station and the UE and, based at least on the determined type of content, may decide whether to apply carrier aggregation and, when the decision is to apply carrier aggregation, determine, based at least on the determined type of content, how many component carriers to aggregate together in the carrier aggregation service of the UE. The base station may then modify an air interface connection with the UE to encompass the determined number of component carriers.

Abstract: Maps of high wireless device movement and high wireless device traffic are created. These maps are correlated over selected periods of time to determine when, and where, large numbers of wireless devices are both moving and creating problematic traffic. Stationary wireless devices using an access node in the problem area are identified before the selected time period (e.g., 30 minutes before commuting time). These stationary wireless devices are handed over to a reserved frequency band. During the selected time period, wireless devices requesting access in the problem area are denied access using the reserved frequency band and are instead forced to use another frequency band.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting carrier frequencies to use as a user equipment device's (UE's) primary component carrier (PCell) and secondary component carrier (SCell) for carrier aggregation service, based on consideration of the type of content that will be transmitted to or from the UE. A base station that is arranged to operate on a plurality of carrier frequencies may determine a type of content that will be communicated between the base station and a UE being served by the base station. Based on the determined type of content, the base station may select a first carrier frequency of the plurality to use as a PCell and may further select a second carrier frequency of the plurality to use as an SCell. The base station may then provide the UE with carrier aggregation service concurrently on the PCell and SCell.

Abstract: Disclosed are a methods and systems for selecting a carrier aggregation approach. In particular, a wireless communication system includes a base station configured to serve a UE with carrier aggregation service on a TDD carrier and an FDD carrier. Accordingly, the system determines a type of content that will be transmitted between the base station and the UE and, based on the type of content, the system selects an approach for serving the UE with the carrier aggregation service. This selection is between the base station (i) carrying out uplink communication using only the TDD carrier and carrying out downlink communication using only the FDD carrier and (ii) carrying out downlink communication using only the TDD carrier and carrying out uplink communication using only the FDD carrier. Based on the selecting, the system configures the base station to serve the UE with the carrier aggregation service using the selected approach.

Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed methods and systems, while providing a service that enables user equipment devices (UEs) being served by a first network to engage in signaling with a second network via the first network, a controller or other network entity may detect a failure of paging in the first network. In response to detecting the failure of paging, the first network may then cause one or more UEs being served by the first network to transition from operating in a first mode that uses the given service to operating in a second mode that does not use the given service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for protecting carrier aggregation. Data may be communicated between an access node and a wireless device using carrier aggregation such that communications is performed over a primary carrier and a secondary carrier. It may be determined that conditions for one or more of the access node and the wireless device meet a beamforming criteria. It may then be determined whether an adjustment to a configuration for the carrier aggregation is available for the wireless device. The configuration to the carrier aggregation may be adjusted when the adjustment is determined to be available.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating multimode 3G/4G communications devices in an overlapping 3G/4G coverage area (e.g., WiMAX or LTE/CDMA-EvDO) include determining a loading condition of the 3G and 4G base stations. If the 3G and 4G base stations are lightly loaded, one or more 4G Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) are compared with one or more corresponding 3G Data Rate Control (DRC) indices to determine which of the 3G and 4G networks allows a higher data throughput. The dual mode communications device is handed off to a 4G base station associated with the 4G coverage if the 4G network allows the higher data throughput; otherwise, the dual mode communications device is handed off to a 3G base station. User priorities, application categories, and/or MIMO and diversity modes may be used to determine handoff if the base stations are more than lightly loaded.

Abstract: A customized paging area is created for a wireless device comprising a first access node and at least one second access node proximate to the first access node. A unique identifier is associated with the determined first access node and the determined at least one second access node of the customized paging area. When the wireless device communicates with a third access node which is not associated with the unique identifier, a second customized paging area is created for the wireless device comprising a third access node and at least one fourth access node proximate to the third access node. A second unique identifier is associated with the determined third access node and the determined at least one fourth access node of the customized paging area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for configuring a unique access node identifier. A preliminary identifier may be assigned to a first access node. A request for information to establish a communication link between the first access node and a second access node may be received such that the request includes the preliminary access node identifier. The first access node may be instructed to discover a number of a plurality of neighbor access nodes proximate to the first access node based on the received request. Identifiers for the discovered neighbor access nodes may be determined. A second access node identifier may be assigned to the first access node that is different from the first access node identifier and the identifiers for the discovered neighbor access nodes, wherein the second access node identifier may be assigned when the number of discovered neighbor access nodes meets a criteria.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding system for controlling how a user equipment device (UE) served by a base station of a first network is concurrently served by a second network, where the first network is interconnected with the second network. In an example method, if the UE determines that the UE provides connectivity between at least one other device and the base station, the UE then causes itself to be served by the second network in a first mode in which the UE is registered with the second network via the first network. Whereas, if the UE determines that the UE does not provide such connectivity, the UE then instead causes itself to be served by the second network in a second mode in which the UE is registered with the second network directly via the second network rather than via the first network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for balancing control channel resource allocations between base stations. As disclosed, a first base station provides a first downlink control channel including a first set of air interface resources and a second base station provides a second downlink control channel including a second set of air interface resources, the first set of air interface resources and the second set of air interface resources being mutually exclusive. Upon detecting a threshold difference between (i) an extent of a capacity of the first downlink control channel being unused and (ii) an extent of a capacity of the second downlink control channel being unused, the system may change allocation resources between downlink control channels such that (i) capacity of one of the first and second downlink control channels is increased and (ii) capacity of the other one of the first and second downlink control channels is decreased.