Abstract: A wireless communications system comprises wireless local area network (WLAN), WLAN controller coupled to the WLAN, a core network, a RADIUS based interface, and an interface between the WLAN controller and the PCRF. The WLAN controller is configured to transmit, via the RADIUS based interface, to the AAA, a request to authenticate a user equipment (UE) currently accessing the core network, wherein the first message comprises an identifier identifying the UE. The PCRF is configured to transmit, via the interface between the WLAN controller and the PCRF, a policy associated with the UE, wherein the policy indicates a quality of service (QoS) subscribed for by a user of the UE in the core network. The WLAN controller is further configured to manage resources within the WLAN, based on the policy, to establish a session between the UE and the WLAN.

Abstract: A wireless communications system comprises wireless local area network (WLAN), WLAN controller coupled to the WLAN, a core network, a RADIUS based interface, and an interface between the WLAN controller and the PCRF. The WLAN controller is configured to transmit, via the RADIUS based interface, to the AAA, a request to authenticate a user equipment (UE) currently accessing the core network, wherein the first message comprises an identifier identifying the UE. The PCRF is configured to transmit, via the interface between the WLAN controller and the PCRF, a policy associated with the UE, wherein the policy indicates a quality of service (QoS) subscribed for by a user of the UE in the core network. The WLAN controller is further configured to manage resources within the WLAN, based on the policy, to establish a session between the UE and the WLAN.

Abstract: Based on measurement reports reported to a base station by a plurality of UEs, the base station or a data system may dynamically configure a location of a physical random access control channel (PRACH) defined by the base station such that the PRACH is located in an optimal location. In one example, a data system may receive a plurality of subband CQI reports that includes one or more subband CQI values reported to the base station by each of a plurality of UEs served by the base station. The data system may determine, based on the plurality of subband CQI reports, that a particular range of resource blocks has a highest reported downlink air interface quality. And the data system may cause the base station define a PRACH instance in the particular range of resource blocks for carrying random access requests from the plurality of UEs to the base station.

Abstract: A mechanism for S1 handover triggered by a target eNodeB. When a UE is being served by a source eNodeB and detects threshold strong coverage of a target cell, the UE sends an RRC connection request to the target eNodeB and informs the target eNodeB that the UE is being served by the source eNodeB. In response, the target eNodeB engages in a process to invoke handover of the UE to the target eNodeB, without the target eNodeB having received from the MME or from the source eNodeB a handover request for the handover of the UE.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling broadcast of system identification. A base station may broadcast in one or more timeslots of a control channel, as a System Identifier (SID) of the base station, a particular SID, but may broadcast in one or more other timeslots of the control channel, as a SID of the base station, a different SID. In addition, when a mobile station registers to be served by the base station, the base station may determine which slot(s) of the control channel the mobile station will monitor and may broadcast in the determined slot(s) a SID that may help to keep the mobile station from transitioning to be served by a different base station.

Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting one of a plurality of base stations for provision of timing information. A base station compares satellite signal strengths measured at satellite-positioning-system receivers of a plurality of base stations, such as the plurality of base stations in a local area network (LAN) for instance. The base station then selects one of the plurality of base stations to provide timing information based at least in part on the comparison, such as the one base station having the greatest satellite signal strength for instance. The base station then operates according to timing information indicated by satellite data from the selected base station. Advantageously, this method can help to increase the accuracy and reliability of the timing information.

Abstract: In a communication system comprising a first base station of a plurality of base stations, a computing system may identify one or more other base stations of the plurality based on whether each of the one or more other base stations sits as a node on the same local area network (LAN) as the first base station, and perhaps based on other considerations, such as whether each of the one or more other base stations is geographically located near the first base station and whether each operates with a whitelist. The computing system may then cause the first base station to wirelessly transmit, to at least one user equipment device (UE) served by the first base station, a specification of the identified one or more base stations to enable the at least one UE to search for coverage of at least one of the specified one or more base stations.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided to help strike a balance between alleviating load among macro cells and reducing excessive signaling when UEs travel through small cells. In one embodiment of the method, a UE may function to receive an indication of the size of a coverage area, calculate current speed, determine that the calculated speed exceeds a threshold speed, and responsively hand over to a different coverage area. In another embodiment of the method, a RAN entity may function to estimate of the size of a coverage area, receive an indication of the current speed of a UE traveling through the coverage area, determine that the calculated speed exceeds a threshold speed, and responsively instruct the UE to hand over to a different RAN. Other examples are possible.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first base station to use a coverage area identifier is described. For instance, a computing system may determine that coverage provided by the first base station overlaps with coverage provided by a second base station. Further, of a plurality of third base stations that also provide coverage overlapping the coverage provided by the second base station, the computing system may identify one or more third base stations having an extent of handover with the determined second base station that is below a threshold extent of handover. The computing system may then select, as the coverage area identifier to be assigned to the first base station, a coverage area identifier that is also assigned to a particular one of the one or more identified third base stations. The computing system may configure the first base station to use the selected coverage area identifier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically configuring femtocell pilot beacon based on macro-network load. An embodiment takes the form of a method of operating a wireless network system that includes a first base station operating on a first frequency and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second frequencies. The method includes transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second frequencies. The method further includes determining loading on each of the second frequencies and in particular that a given one of the second frequencies is more heavily loaded than at least one other, and responsively prioritizing transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the given frequency as compared to the at least one other frequency.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing time-division multiplexed communications resources at a femtocell. A femtocell initially provides time-division-multiplexed wireless service to a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) using a first number of slots per cycle, each WCD in the plurality having at least one assigned slot. During the first time period, the femtocell detects a trigger. Responsive to detecting the trigger, the femtocell, in a second time period, switches to providing service using a second number of slots per cycle, the second number being less than the first number, such that a first WCD in the plurality does not have an assigned slot.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling broadcast of system identification. A base station may broadcast in one or more timeslots of a control channel, as a System Identifier (SID) of the base station, a particular SID, but may broadcast in one or more other timeslots of the control channel, as a SID of the base station, a different SID. In addition, when a mobile station registers to be served by the base station, the base station may determine which slot(s) of the control channel the mobile station will monitor and may broadcast in the determined slot(s) a SID that may help to keep the mobile station from transitioning to be served by a different base station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing carriers in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. A femtocell receives registration requests from a number of mobile devices requesting to hand off service from a macro-network carrier to the femtocell. The femtocell identifies the macro-network carrier that each mobile device has handed off from. The femtocell then uses that information to prioritize future broadcasts of its frequency-hopping pilot beacon on those macro-network carriers on which the most mobile devices have handed off from. The prioritization could take the form of broadcasting more often on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle, or broadcasting for a longer continuous period of time on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing frequencies in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. The frequency-hopping pilot beacon may prioritize transmission on particular frequencies according to usage of one or more particular applications by mobile devices served by the femtocell. The femtocell and/or femtocell control elements in the macro-network may determine that one or more particular applications are used by mobile devices served by the femtocell, identify one or more frequencies associated with the one or more frequencies, and then cause the femtocell to prioritize transmission on the identified one or more frequencies as compared to other frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a number of unauthorized wireless communication devices (WCDs) on a femtocell. A femtocell may initially provide wireless service on a first femtocell carrier. The femtocell may subsequently receive a registration request from a WCD on the first femtocell carrier. The femtocell may then determine whether the WCD is authorized to receive wireless services from the femtocell. Responsive to making a determination that the WCD is not authorized to receive wireless services, the femtocell may switch to providing service on a second femtocell carrier different than the first.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding system to help improve inter-frequency handoff. While a radio access network (RAN) is serving one or more devices, the RAN will receive from the device(s) one or more reports of air interface quality on each of a plurality of potential target frequency channels. Dynamically based on the reported air interface quality information, the RAN will then select a given one of the potential target frequency channels to be a preferred target frequency channel. When a given device is fading from coverage, the RAN will then direct the device to scan for coverage on the preferred target frequency channel that was selected based on the earlier reported measures of air interface quality, so as to facilitate inter-frequency handoff.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding wireless communication device (WCD) arranged to control how often the device engages in background communication. For example, the WCD may programmatically evaluate a history of transmission power that it has used for transmitting to a serving radio access network. Based on that history of transmission power, the device may then determine how often it should engage in background communications and may set itself to engage in background communications at that determined frequency.

Abstract: Femtocell radio access network (RAN) devices are typically small, low-cost base stations that can be deployed in areas where macro-cellular RAN coverage is poor or congested. Thus, wireless communication devices (WCDs) using femtocell devices may benefit from improved wireless coverage, while traffic is offloaded from the macro-cellular RAN. It is desirable to use femtocell devices to their full extent, but also to give the owners of these femtocell devices control over which WCDs may use of femtocell services. Accordingly, femtocell devices may be provisioned with a “greylist” that specifies which WCDs are granted full femtocell services, and which WCDs are granted limited or no femtocell services.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing a number of unauthorized wireless communication devices (WCDs) using a femtocell. A femtocell may transmit a pilot beacon on a macro-network carrier, and may transmit one or more overhead channels on a femtocell carrier. Subsequently, the femtocell may receive a registration request from a WCD. The femtocell may then determine whether the WCD is authorized to receive wireless services from the femtocell, and if it is not so authorized, the femtocell may, during a subsequent slot associated with the unauthorized WCD in a periodically recurring slot cycle, responsively disable at least one of (i) its pilot channel and (ii) one or more of its overhead channels. As a result of the disabling, the unauthorized WCD may move away from the femtocell, perhaps handing off to the macro network.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for adjusting wireless access coverage based on backhaul capacity. A base station, such as a femtocell, will determine the capacity of its backhaul connection in the downlink direction. The base station will then adjust the power level of it forward link to help ensure that the forward-link data rate to an access terminal is approximately matched to the determined capacity of its backhaul connection. In an example embodiment, the base station will adjust the power level of its pilot until the access terminal is requesting a forward-link data rate commensurate with the downlink rate on the backhaul connection.