Abstract: One embodiment is directed to sending a request message from the base station to the UE on a downlink channel and making, by the base station, a gratuitous grant, to the UE, of resources on the uplink channel for the UE to transmit a response message on the uplink channel. The response message is responsive to the request message. The gratuitous grant is made without waiting for a request from the UE for a grant of resources on the uplink channel for the UE to transmit the response message on the uplink channel. The base station receives the response message transmitted by the UE on the uplink channel in response to the gratuitous grant. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A distributed radio access network (RAN) includes a plurality of radio points (RPs), each being configured to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one user equipment (UE). The distributed RAN also includes a baseband controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of RPs via a fronthaul network. The baseband controller is configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of successfully received packets on the fronthaul network, for a wireless channel, during a measurement interval. The baseband controller is also configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of packet losses (reflecting dropped and/or delayed packets), for the wireless channel and during the measurement interval, based on the number of successfully received packets.

Abstract: A base station for performing physical cell identifier (PCI) collision detection. The base station includes at least one processor configured to determine whether a PCI in a radio resource control (RRC) re-establishment message is the same as a PCI used by a cell implemented by the base station. The at least one processor is also configured to determine whether a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) in the RRC Re-establishment message is outside a reserved range of C-RNTIs for the cell. The at least one processor is also configured to identify a possible PCI collision for the cell when (1) the PCI in the RRC Re-establishment message is the same as a PCI used by the cell; and (2) the C-RNTI in the RRC Re-establishment message is outside the reserved range of C-RNTIs for the cell.

Abstract: A base station for performing radio environment monitoring (REM) is described. The base station includes a REM module. The REM module includes user equipment (UE) circuitry communicatively coupled to a baseband processor and a dedicated antenna. The REM module also includes the baseband processor. The baseband processor is configured to send at least one instruction to the mobile circuitry to determine a plurality of REM parameters for a frequency band (or channel, e.g., EARFCN). The mobile circuitry is configured to determine the plurality of REM parameters for the frequency band (or channel) in response to receiving the at least one instruction.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed wirelessly communicating with user equipment (UE) operating using discontinuous reception (DRX). When a rank for the UE has changed is determined and, in response when that happens, if an ON duration for a current DRX cycle for the UE will elapse during a current subframe is determined. In response to making such determination about the ON duration, a dummy assignment of resource blocks on a downlink shared channel is sent to the UE. The UE extends the ON duration of the current DRX cycle in response to the dummy assignment. If a channel quality indication (CQI) report has been made by the UE is determined and, in response thereto, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for communicating with the UE is updated based on the reported rank and reported CQI. The dummy assignment is not made for communicating actual data to the UE.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to transmitting user data to a UE from a base station on a shared downlink channel and determining if a throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than a threshold amount. If the throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, the base station provides the UE with a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplink resources when such UE is more in need of a proactive grant than other UEs. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A base station for performing physical cell identifier (PCI) collision detection. The base station includes at least one processor configured to determine whether a PCI in a radio resource control (RRC) re-establishment message is the same as a PCI used by a cell implemented by the base station. The at least one processor is also configured to determine whether a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) in the RRC Re-establishment message is outside a reserved range of C-RNTIs for the cell. The at least one processor is also configured to identify a possible PCI collision for the cell when (1) the PCI in the RRC Re-establishment message is the same as a PCI used by the cell; and (2) the C-RNTI in the RRC Re-establishment message is outside the reserved range of C-RNTIs for the cell.

Abstract: A distributed radio access network (RAN) includes a plurality of radio points (RPs), each being configured to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one user equipment (UE). The distributed RAN also includes a baseband controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of RPs via a fronthaul network. The baseband controller is configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of successfully received packets on the fronthaul network, for a wireless channel, during a measurement interval. The baseband controller is also configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of packet losses (reflecting dropped and/or delayed packets), for the wireless channel and during the measurement interval, based on the number of successfully received packets.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed wirelessly communicating with user equipment (UE) operating using discontinuous reception (DRX). When a rank for the UE has changed is determined and, in response when that happens, if an ON duration for a current DRX cycle for the UE will elapse during a current subframe is determined. In response to making such determination about the ON duration, a dummy assignment of resource blocks on a downlink shared channel is sent to the UE. The UE extends the ON duration of the current DRX cycle in response to the dummy assignment. If a channel quality indication (CQI) report has been made by the UE is determined and, in response thereto, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for communicating with the UE is updated based on the reported rank and reported CQI. The dummy assignment is not made for communicating actual data to the UE.

Abstract: A base station for performing radio environment monitoring (REM) is described. The base station includes a REM module. The REM module includes user equipment (UE) circuitry communicatively coupled to a baseband processor and a dedicated antenna. The REM module also includes the baseband processor. The baseband processor is configured to send at least one instruction to the mobile circuitry to determine a plurality of REM parameters for a frequency band (or channel, e.g., EARFCN). The mobile circuitry is configured to determine the plurality of REM parameters for the frequency band (or channel) in response to receiving the at least one instruction.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to sending a request message from the base station to the UE on a downlink channel and making, by the base station, a gratuitous grant, to the UE, of resources on the uplink channel for the UE to transmit a response message on the uplink channel. The response message is responsive to the request message. The gratuitous grant is made without waiting for a request from the UE for a grant of resources on the uplink channel for the UE to transmit the response message on the uplink channel. The base station receives the response message transmitted by the UE on the uplink channel in response to the gratuitous grant. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to transmitting user data to a UE from a base station on a shared downlink channel and determining if a throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than a threshold amount. If the throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, the base station provides the UE with a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplink resources when such UE is more in need of a proactive grant than other UEs. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless network emulation system undersamples log files when the conditions represented in the log files would require a faster refresh rate than the channel emulator can provide. A representative sample may be selected based on number of channel taps, delay spread, maximum value, or being first, last or otherwise identifiable within a group. The RF information from the selected sample is utilized as being representative of a group of related samples for a given time period corresponding to the refresh rate of the channel emulator.

Abstract: A plurality of wireless devices which communicate with at least one other device are simultaneously tested using a test regime which includes a plurality of tasks. At least one device synchronizes commencement of each task by all wireless devices. At least one device logs performance measurements of each wireless device for each task. Because the wireless devices begin each task at the same time the resulting log files facilitate per-task performance analysis for each wireless device.

Abstract: A plurality of wireless devices which communicate with at least one other device are simultaneously tested using a test regime which includes a plurality of corresponding comparative tasks. Commencement of each task by all wireless devices is synchronized. Test results are analyzed and a side-by-side comparison is provided on an overall, per task type, and per task basis.

Abstract: A wireless network emulation system undersamples log files when the conditions represented in the log files would require a faster refresh rate than the channel emulator can provide. A representative sample may be selected based on number of channel taps, delay spread, maximum value, or being first, last or otherwise identifiable within a group. The RF information from the selected sample is utilized as being representative of a group of related samples for a given time period corresponding to the refresh rate of the channel emulator.