Abstract: An orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless access node to facilitate contention resolution between wireless communication devices is configured to receive connection requests on a random access channel transmitted from first and second wireless communication devices, transmit a resource allocation message comprising a same resource block to both the first and second wireless communication devices, and receive competing connection request messages transmitted from the first and second wireless communication devices on the same resource block. A contention resolution message is generated and transferred to the first and second wireless communication devices, wherein the first wireless communication device determines that a contention resolution identifier received in the contention resolution message is associated with the first wireless communication device and responsively decodes connection setup information.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented by a first access node in an access network, such as by an eNodeB in an LTE network, in order to determine an uplink coordinated multipoint (CoMP) mode for one or more other access nodes with which the given access node is coordinating. An example method involves: (a) determining, by a first access node, a central processing unit (CPU) load of a second access node, (b) based at least in part on the CPU load of the second access node, the first access node selecting a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) mode from a plurality of CoMP modes, and (c) sending a CoMP-mode message from the first access node, wherein the CoMP-mode message instructs the second access node to use the selected CoMP mode.

Abstract: A base station is configured for latency-based contention free preamble reuse. The base station determines the latency between it and each of a plurality of neighboring stations and, in response to receiving two different handover requests for two different UEs from two different neighboring base stations, the base station assigns one contention free preamble for use by both of the two UEs based at least in part on respective latencies from the base station to each of the two different neighboring base stations.

Abstract: A UE gauges how many UEs are currently served in each of various coverage systems, by evaluating downlink control channel signaling in each coverage system to determine from the control signaling an extent to which the signaling provides for UE scheduling and to establish a corresponding relative measure of an extent to which the coverage system is serving UEs. In an example implementation, this evaluation may involve eliminating from consideration any control channel signaling that is not associated with UE scheduling, so as to determine by exclusion an extent to which the downlink control channel signaling is associated with UE scheduling. The UE then compares such relative measures of the various coverage systems as a basis to select a coverage system in which to operate, such as by favoring operation in the coverage that thereby seems to be serving the fewest number of UEs.

Abstract: A UE may be configured to support wireless communication in two or more frequency bands. In some embodiments, the UE initiates a first wireless communication session in a first frequency band of the two or more frequency bands, and in response to initiating the wireless communication session in the first frequency band, the UE prevents itself from communicating in a second frequency band of the set of two or more frequency bands until the first wireless communication session has ended. Some embodiments further include subsequently enabling the UE to communicate in the second frequency band of the set of two or more frequency bands in response to ending the first wireless communication session in the first frequency band.

Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) network wirelessly exchanges data with User Equipment (UE) over multiple data bearers having a combination of Quality-of-Service Class Indicators (QCIs). The LTE network wirelessly receives radio measurement data from the UE for a voice communication network and for a data communication network. The LTE network determines at network-selection parameters based on the combination of the QCIs for the UE. The LTE network processes the radio measurement data based on the network-selection parameters to select the data communication network for the UE instead of the voice communication network.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning resources to user equipment devices (UEs) is disclosed. A communication system may include a wireless network that allocates, among a plurality of UEs, resources on a given carrier. The wireless network may support carrier aggregation using a combination of the given carrier and at least one other carrier. The method involves the wireless network making a determination that (i) a first UE is operating without carrier aggregation and (ii) a second UE is operating with carrier aggregation. The method further involves, in response to making the determination, the wireless network giving the first UE higher priority than the second UE for resource assignment on the given carrier.

Abstract: In order to provide better wireless service to wireless communication devices (WCDs) at different altitudes (e.g., on different levels of a high-rise structure), a radio access network (RAN) may include antennas that are configured to provide coverage at these different altitudes. The RAN may assign resources, such as transmit power or frequencies, to wireless coverage areas serving particular altitude ranges in a proportion that is commensurate with the number of WCDs being served by these particular altitude ranges. As a result, RAN and WCD performance may improve.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system and apparatus to help manage UE context records. When a network controller detects that it is at or approaching a context record storage limit, such as might be imposed by license agreement for instance, the network controller offload one or more of its stored UE context records to another network controller to be stored temporarily by the other network controller until needed, even though the other network controller is not serving the UE(s) at issue.

Abstract: A wireless communication device determines user interface activity initiated by a user application. The wireless communication device determines a timer setting based on the user interface activity initiated by the user application. The wireless communication device wirelessly transfers the timer setting to a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device exchanges wireless communications initiated by the user application with the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network uses a dormancy timer based on the user interface activity initiated by the user application.

Abstract: The air interface between a first node and a second node will span a frequency bandwidth defining two distinct portions, and acknowledgement message transmission such as Hybrid-ARQ message transmission will make use of those distinct portions to distinguish ACKs from NACKs. In particular, ACKs may be restricted to being transmitted within one portion of the frequency bandwidth, while NACKs may be restricted to being transmitted in different portion of the frequency bandwidth. Consequently, when the first node transmits data to the second node and receives an acknowledgement message sent in response from the second node, the first node may determine, based on which portion of the frequency bandwidth the first node received the acknowledgement message in, whether the acknowledgement message is an ACK or rather a NACK.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating mitigation of interference using beamforming techniques are provided. In some embodiments, interference periodicity and interference duration associated with interference of a radar beam are used to determine an extent of time during which a lobe of a communication tower is to be modified in power, direction, or a combination thereof. Upon an occurrence of the extent of time, the lobe of the communication tower is modified in power, direction, or a combination thereof so that the lobe does not interfere with a radar beam emitted from a radar remote from the communication tower.

Abstract: A method and a communication device for accessing a communication system are disclosed. The method includes determining that an application requesting access to the communication system requires preferred access to the communication system and requesting access to the communication system using a least preferred access channel from a preferred roaming list comprising a plurality of access channels. An access node of a communication system is further disclosed. The access node includes a processor to determine whether the communication system supports a preferred access to the communication system by at least one authorized communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and transmit an indication that the communication system supports the preferred access to the communication system by the at least one authorized communication device.

Abstract: A source eNodeB initiates a handover of a user equipment. The source eNodeB receives preamble usage data transferred by a set of neighboring eNodeBs. The source eNodeB processes the preamble usage data to select a target eNodeB from the set of neighboring eNodeBs. The source eNodeB sends a handover request for delivery to the target eNodeB.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) may determine that the WCD has bearer traffic queued for transmission to a radio access network (RAN). The WCD may be configured to transmit the bearer traffic and neighbor reports over a reverse-direction channel of the RAN. The neighbor reports may contain information related to wireless coverage areas. One or more characteristics of the bearer traffic may also be determined. Based on the one or more characteristics of the bearer traffic, the neighbor reports may be scheduled to be transmitted over the reverse-direction channel at a particular rate. The WCD may transmit the neighbor reports over the reverse-direction channel at the particular rate.

Abstract: A base station that serves a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) will group the WCDs into physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) channel (PHICH) groups based on channel quality reported by the WCDs and will then differentially allocate transmission power among the PHICH groups, so as to provide higher transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported lower channel quality, while providing lower transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported higher channel quality.

Abstract: A wireless access node to improve data transmission throughput comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless access node transmits a first data packet comprising a preamble for delivery to a wireless communication device during a first timeslot, monitors for a response transmitted from the wireless communication device during a predetermined number of timeslots, and if the response transmitted from the wireless communication device is not received during the predetermined number of timeslots, modify the preamble to generate a modified preamble, retransmit the first data packet with the modified preamble for delivery to the wireless communication device during a second timeslot, and if an acknowledgement of receipt of the first data packet with the modified preamble is received from the wireless communication device during the predetermined number of timeslots, transmit a second data packet for delivery to the wireless communication device during a third timeslot.

Abstract: In a wireless communication network, a network control system receives a request for a media session with a wireless communication device. The control system responsively determines if the wireless device is idle and determines if a source base station serving the wireless device can support the media session. If the wireless device is idle and the source base station does not support the media session, then the control system identifies a target base station to support the media session. The control system transfers a first redirect message for delivery to the wireless device through the source base station and transfers a second redirect message for delivery to the target base station. The redirect messages have session information for the media session. The target base station receives an acceptance of the media session from the wireless device and exchanges media for the media session responsive to the acceptance.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system and method to schedule transfers of first and second user communications between the FDM communication system and a Wireless Communication Device (WCD) are provided. The OFDM communication system in one example includes an OFDM scheduling system to process Quality-of-Service Class Identifiers (QCIs) and determine if the first user communication having a first QCI can be scheduled subsequently and if the second user communication having a second QCI can be scheduled in place of the first user communication, and if the first user communication can be scheduled subsequently and the second user communication should be scheduled in place of the first user communication, then schedule the second user communication in place of the first user communication. An OFDM transceiver wirelessly transfers the second user communication in place of the first user communication between the OFDM communication system and the WCD based on scheduling.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing enhanced access class barring in LTE are provided. In embodiments, the method includes receiving, on a mobile device, a SIB2 message. A barring factor associated with the SIB2 message is identified. In embodiments, the barring factor is dynamic based on traffic parameters associated with a network. An upper limit for a random number is set on the mobile device and the random number is generated. The random number is generated and compared to the barring factor. If the random number is less than the barring factor, access to the network is provided to the mobile device. In embodiments, an additional random number is generated for special users or devices if the random number is greater than or equal to the barring factor.