Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) configured to support real-time communications over a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connection is described herein. When a request for a data transmission is received and a real-time communication session over the LTE connection is established, the RAN utilizes the LTE connection, not a New Radio (NR) connection, for the data transmission. When a request for a further real-time communication is received and there is an active data transmission session over the NR connection, the RAN performs at least one of ceasing to allocate traffic to the NR connection for downlink or reconfiguring the data transmission session to send data over the LTE connection.

Abstract: A telecommunication network associated with a wireless telecommunication provider can be configured to switch between New Radio (NR) Dual Connectivity (DC) and NR Carrier Aggregation (CA) in 5G cellular networks. According to examples, a UE is not limited to using a single mode (e.g., either NR CA or NR DC) that is initially selected for use by the UE. For example, a UE can be reconfigured during a session to switch from NR DC to NR CA when the UE moves toward mid-cell and/or a cell edge. In other examples, the UE can be reconfigured to switch from NR CA to NR DC when the UE moves closer to the cell. To determine when to switch, one or more network conditions (e.g., UE RF conditions) can be monitored. In some examples, a gNB can monitor power headroom reports (PHRs) received from the UE to determine when to switch.

Abstract: Integrity protection is used to assist in ensuring the secure transmission of wireless data within a cellular network. Instead of performing integrity protection on each packet data unit (PDU) transmitted/received within a PDU session, integrity protection is performed on a portion of PDUs transmitted within a cellular network. For instance, partial integrity protection may be performed on at least one predetermined PDU (e.g., the first, second, fourth, . . . ) that is transmitted via a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)/Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) during a communication session. By performing partial integrity protection, user data may be transmitted more quickly throughout the cellular network, compared to performing full integrity protection, while still providing integrity protection.

Abstract: Determining when to display a Fifth Generation (5G) service indicator is described herein. In an example, a user equipment (UE) can compare capabilities supported by the UE with capabilities available to the UE (e.g., in a geographic area of the UE) to determine whether the UE can display the 5G service indicator. In some examples, such capabilities can be determined based at least in part on E-UTRAN New Radio-Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) combinations of frequency bands.

Abstract: A network base station can select, for each of one or more attached terminals, a respective downlink transmission mode (DTM) based at least in part on respective channel condition information (CCI). The base station can determine a subframe allocation of DTMs to subframes of a radio frame, and transmit downlink data to terminals based the subframe allocation. Additionally or alternatively, the base station can receive load information from a second base station associated with a different access network and determine the subframe allocation based on the load information. The subframe allocation can associate a specific access network with each subframe. Additionally or alternatively, the base station can send the subframe allocation to the second base station. Additionally or alternatively, the base station can determine a proportion of GBR traffic of a particular DTM, determine a reference-signal transmission rate associated with that DTM, and transmit reference signals accordingly.

Abstract: Determining when to display a Fifth Generation (5G) service indicator is described herein. In an example, a network can compare capabilities supported by a user equipment (UE) with capabilities available to the UE (e.g., in a geographic area of the UE) to determine whether the UE can display the 5G service indicator. In some examples, such capabilities can be determined based at least in part on E-UTRAN New Radio-Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) combinations of frequency bands.

Abstract: Techniques for dual connectivity control based on downlink data are discussed herein. A Fourth Generation (4G) base station can receive downlink data to be transmitted to a user equipment (UE). The 4G base station can also receive data from the UE indicating that the UE is associated with a low power state. The 4G base station can further determine a capability of the base station (e.g., an available bandwidth) to transmit the downlink data to the UE. If an amount of downlink data is below a threshold, operations can refrain from establishing a dual connectivity connection. If an amount of downlink data is above a threshold, operations can include establishing a dual connectivity connection. In some cases, thresholds and/or the decision to initiate dual connectivity can be determined based on the state data associated with the UE, such as a battery status, a level of user interaction, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques for network-based and sender-based data packet prioritization for downlink transmissions are discussed herein. Packets can be tagged or associated with information indicative of a priority of the packet for downlink transmission to a user equipment (UE). A priority level can be determined based on an application identifier or type associated with a data request, a level of user interaction with the UE, network conditions, and other factors. Packets can be received by a PDCP layer of a base station for sending based on the priority. Packets may be associated with a primary priority level associated with a QCI level and a secondary priority level based on UE and/or network factors discussed herein. Packets associated with a same QCI may be prioritized to optimize transmission of downlink data associated with a single UE or between transmission of downlink data associated with a plurality of UEs.

Abstract: Techniques for dual connectivity control based on downlink data are discussed herein. A Fourth Generation (4G) base station can receive downlink data to be transmitted to a user equipment (UE). The 4G base station can also receive data from the UE indicating that the UE is associated with a low power state. The 4G base station can further determine a capability of the base station (e.g., an available bandwidth) to transmit the downlink data to the UE. If an amount of downlink data is below a threshold, operations can refrain from establishing a dual connectivity connection. If an amount of downlink data is above a threshold, operations can include establishing a dual connectivity connection. In some cases, thresholds and/or the decision to initiate dual connectivity can be determined based on the state data associated with the UE, such as a battery status, a level of user interaction, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques for network-based and sender-based data packet prioritization for downlink transmissions are discussed herein. Packets can be tagged or associated with information indicative of a priority of the packet for downlink transmission to a user equipment (UE). A priority level can be determined based on an application identifier or type associated with a data request, a level of user interaction with the UE, network conditions, and other factors. Packets can be received by a PDCP layer of a base station for sending based on the priority. Packets may be associated with a primary priority level associated with a QCI level and a secondary priority level based on UE and/or network factors discussed herein. Packets associated with a same QCI may be prioritized to optimize transmission of downlink data associated with a single UE or between transmission of downlink data associated with a plurality of UEs.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to handover between Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) networks. An example method includes receiving, from a User Equipment (UE), a measurement report indicating that a signal threshold has been satisfied. In response to receiving the measurement report, handover of a communication session from a first core network to a second core network may be initiated. A message confirming that the communication session has been handed over from the first core network to the second core network can be received. In response to receiving the message, handover of the communication session can be initiated between a single radio bearer associated with a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) and a dual radio bearer associated with the first RAT and a second RAT.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring and reducing signal misalignment in a dual connectivity environment are discussed herein. When using Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA), a device initially communicates with a network using a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connection. After the LTE connection is established, an LTE base station may instruct the device to measure signal strength of a neighboring New Radio (NR) cell during a specified LTE measurement gap. When the NR cell is implemented by an indoor NR base station, the NR signal may not be sufficiently synchronized with the LTE signal and the device may be unable to measure the NR signal during the measurement gap. In these cases, the device can determine the frame timing difference between the LTE and NR signals, obtain an adjusted measurement gap that reduces any measurement gap misalignment, and attempt to measure the signal strength of the NR cell using the adjusted measurement gap.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) may perform multiple searches within a specified search period to locate the wireless band that provides the most throughput. For instance, if the UE finds a low band with time remaining in the search period, the UE continues to search for a higher frequency wireless. In some examples, the UE attempts to locate a high band within a next portion of the search period. If the UE finds the high band, then the UE will use that band since it provides the most throughput of the available bands. If the UE does not find the high band, then the UE searches for a mid-band for another portion of the search time. By prioritizing higher bands over the first available band that is located in the initial search, the UE will connect to the band that provides the best user experience and the most throughput.

Abstract: An access network can allocate a bearer for a network service associated with a quality-of-service (QoS) value (QV) and a retention-priority value (RPV), and determine a bearer ID for the service based on the QV, the RPV, and a supplemental priority value (SPV) different from the QV and from the RPV. Upon handover of a terminal, session(s) carried by a bearer allocated by the terminal can be terminated. That bearer can be selected using IDs of the bearers and a comparison function that, given two bearer IDs, determines which respective bearer should be terminated before the other. Upon handover of a terminal to an access network supporting fewer bearers per terminal than the terminal has allocated, a network node can select a bearer based on respective QVs and RPVs of a set of allocated bearers. The network node can deallocate the selected bearer.

Abstract: A component of a cellular communication system is configured to prioritize data packets based on packet tags that have been associated with the data packets. The packet tags may comprise an application identifier and a customer identifier, as examples. A Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer of a radio protocol stack receives a data packet and associated packet tags and assigns the data packet to a preferred transmission queue or a non-preferred transmission queue, based on the packet tags associated with the data packet. In order to manage queue overflows, data packets of the non-preferred transmission queue may be discarded when they have been queued for more than a predetermined length of time. Data packets of the preferred transmission queue, however, are retained regardless of how long they have been queued.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide allocations of transmission slots to user equipment (UEs) is described herein. The RAN may receive indicia about RAN conditions or about UEs in a vicinity of the RAN. Responsive to receiving the indicia, the RAN may determine, based at least in part on the indicia, a first allocation of uplink and downlink transmission slots to a first UE and a second allocation of uplink and downlink transmission slots to a second UE. The first allocation may differ from the second allocation. The RAN may then provide the first allocation to the first UE and the second allocation to the second UE.

Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein are directed to allocating subframes (or slots) of radio frames for LTE uplink transmissions and NR uplink transmissions. In some instances, subframes (or slots) of radio frames may be allocated for LTE downlink transmissions and NR downlink transmissions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques described herein relate to handover between Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) networks. An example method includes receiving, from a User Equipment (UE), a measurement report indicating that a signal threshold has been satisfied. In response to receiving the measurement report, handover of a communication session from a first core network to a second core network may be initiated. A message confirming that the communication session has been handed over from the first core network to the second core network can be received. In response to receiving the message, handover of the communication session can be initiated between a single radio bearer associated with a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) and a dual radio bearer associated with the first RAT and a second RAT.

Abstract: A radio frequency front end (RFFE) is configured to support dual connectivity communications, in which two different radio access technologies such as 4th-Generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5th-Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) data connections are used simultaneously for communications between a wireless communication device and respective LTE and NR base stations. In described embodiments, the RFFE uses two power amplifiers to reduce intermodulation distortion (IMD). The two power amplifiers produce output signals for a 4G LTE uplink and a 5G NR uplink, respectively. The RFFE also has a combiner that mixes the output signals to produce a composite output signal representing both LTE and NR data. Bypass switches may be used to configure the RFFE so that it can be used for single conventional 4G LTE communications.

Abstract: A flow controller executing at a network element of a telecommunication network can use packet characteristics of a data packet to select, from a set of QoE goals, a QoE goal for the data packet. The set of QoE goals can include prioritizing throughput, prioritizing lower latency, prioritizing reliability, and/or other QoE goals. The flow controller can also determine a routing scheme associated with the selected QoE goal, and cause the data packet to be routed to a user equipment via an LTE connection and/or a 5G connection according to the routing scheme.