Abstract: A wireless communication network controls wireless base stations that serve wireless relays that serve wireless User Equipment (UEs). In a relay control system, data transceivers receive configuration data that was transferred by the wireless relays and that indicates their individual wireless media services. Relay control circuitry allocates individual carrier aggregation Quality-of-Service (QoS) levels to the individual wireless relays based on the individual wireless media services. The relay transceivers transfer the individual carrier aggregation QoS levels for the individual wireless relays to the wireless base stations. The wireless base stations serve the wireless relays with the individual carrier aggregation QoS levels. The wireless relays serve the wireless UEs with the wireless media services.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for scheduling resources for relay nodes in a wireless network include identifying a relay node attached to an access node in the wireless network, determining a transmit power associated with the relay node, and prioritizing resources allocated towards the relay node based on the transmit power. The transmit power includes a transmit power of a radio air interface deployed by the relay node.

Abstract: A source wireless access node serves User Equipment (UEs) over a Three-Dimensional (3D) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna array and over a Two-Dimensional (2D) MIMO antenna array. The source wireless access node wirelessly exchanges user data with the UEs over the 3D MIMO antenna array. The source wireless access node detects a loss-of-synchronization. The source wireless access node detects an interference condition at neighbor wireless access nodes. When the interference condition at the neighbor wireless access nodes and the loss-of-synchronization at the source wireless access node occur simultaneously, the source wireless access node network disables the 3D MIMO antenna array and wirelessly exchanges additional user data with the UEs over the 2D MIMO antenna array. When the neighbor interference condition or the loss-of-synchronization terminate, the source wireless access node enables and uses the 3D MIMO antenna array.

Abstract: A system for allocating uplink resources to relay nodes in a wireless network includes an access node configured to deploy a first radio air interface. The system also includes a relay node configured to attach to the first radio air interface and to deploy a second radio air interface to which one or more end-user wireless devices are attached. The system further includes one or more other end-user wireless devices attached to the first radio air interface. The system further includes a processor configured to determine a type of traffic related to the one or more end-user wireless devices served by the relay node. The processor is further configured to selectively issue an extended uplink grant to the relay node based on the type of traffic.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting relay nodes for Single-User Multiple-Input-Multiple Output (SU-MIMO). A channel orthogonality and Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) of a plurality of wireless devices located in a geographic area of an access node is determined. A relay-capable status of the plurality of wireless devices is determined. Non-relay capable wireless devices located in the geographic area are excluded from SU-MIMO. From the plurality of wireless devices, relay-capable wireless devices are selected for SU-MIMO. The selected relay-capable wireless devices are prioritized for SU-MIMO based on a channel orthogonality and SINR meeting a set threshold.

Abstract: An access node can dynamically adjust a buffer allocation of a wireless device connected thereto, based on a packet loss or other signal degradation characteristic of a wireless link between the access node and the wireless device. The wireless device may be a relay node. The signal degradation may be indicated by a packet loss of data transmitted over the wireless link. Based on the detected signal degradation, the donor access node dynamically and in real-time adjusts a size of a buffer or sub-buffer allocated to the relay node. Threshold comparisons are used to determine when and by how much to adjust the buffer size. Operations are not limited to relay node buffers, and can be applied to buffers associated with standard wireless devices based upon signal characteristics thereof, an application requirement of the devices, or a historical trend of packets losses for the wireless links associated therewith.

Abstract: A wireless access node transmits an available Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (PLMN ID) associated with available wireless channels to a wireless device. The wireless access node receives the available PLMN ID from the wireless device and responsively exchanges signals with the wireless device over the available wireless channels. The wireless access node identifies a transition condition for the wireless communication device and responsively transfers a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) and a hidden PLMN ID to the wireless communication device. The hidden PLMN ID is associated with hidden wireless channels. The wireless access node receives the PCI and the hidden PLMN ID from the wireless communication device and responsively exchanges signals with the wireless communication device over the hidden wireless channels.

Abstract: A system for scheduling resources in a wireless network is provided. The system includes an access node configured to deploy a first radio air interface. The system also includes a relay node configured to attach to the first radio air interface and to deploy a second radio air interface to which one or more end-user wireless devices are attached. The system further includes a processor configured to perform operations including determining an indicator of congestion at the relay node, prioritizing traffic based on the indicator of congestion and a channel bandwidth between the relay node and the access node, and scheduling resources based on the prioritized traffic.

Abstract: A wireless relay manages Radio Frequency (RF) interference. A wireless access point in the relay wireless exchanges user data with wireless user devices using an amount of Carrier Aggregation Secondary Component Carriers (CA SCCs) in an RF band. A wireless network transceiver in the relay wireless exchanges the user data with a wireless communication network using a number of RF channels in the RF band. In response to excessive RF interference, the wireless access point wireless exchanges subsequent user data with the wireless user devices using a lower amount of the CA SCCs in the RF band. In response to the excessive RF interference, the wireless network transceiver wireless exchanges the subsequent user data with the wireless communication network using a lower number of RF channels in the RF band.

Abstract: A method and system for managing channel state reporting rate for transmission of channel state reports from a wireless communication device (WCD) to its serving base station based. The channel state reports provide metrics regarding a wireless communication channel between the WCD and the base station, and the channel state reporting rate defines how often the WCD will transmit such reports. Per the disclosure, the channel state reporting rate could be set to a higher value (for more frequent channel state reporting) if the WCD provides such connectivity and a lower value (perhaps a default value) if not, and the reporting rate could be set higher as the WCD provides connectivity for a greater number of other devices.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an access node includes prioritizing a plurality of wireless devices. The method also includes monitoring a position of a relay-capable wireless device and positions of the prioritized wireless devices. The method also includes determining the position of the relay-capable wireless device meets a first distance criteria and the position of prioritized wireless devices meets a second distance criteria. The method also includes assigning the relay-capable wireless device to a carrier aggregation configuration or an antenna diversity configuration based on the position of the relay-capable device and the position of the prioritized wireless devices. The method also includes assigning the prioritized wireless devices to the diversity configuration or the carrier aggregation configuration based on the position of the prioritized wireless devices.

Abstract: A method of allocating frequency bands of an access node includes determining a number of relay wireless devices attached to a donor access node neighboring the access node and transmitting to the access node information related to the number of relay wireless devices attached to the donor access node. An inter-frequency handover threshold of the access node is altered based at least in part on the information related to the number of relay wireless devices attached to the donor access node. Systems and methods relate to allocating frequency bands of an access node.

Abstract: A wireless access node transmits an available Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (PLMN ID) associated with available wireless channels to a wireless device. The wireless access node receives the available PLMN ID from the wireless device and responsively exchanges signals with the wireless device over the available wireless channels. The wireless access node identifies a transition condition for the wireless communication device and responsively transfers a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) and a hidden PLMN ID to the wireless communication device. The hidden PLMN ID is associated with hidden wireless channels. The wireless access node receives the PCI and the hidden PLMN ID from the wireless communication device and responsively exchanges signals with the wireless communication device over the hidden wireless channels.

Abstract: A wireless communication network controls wireless base stations that serve wireless relays that serve wireless User Equipment (UEs). In a relay control system, data transceivers receive configuration data that was transferred by the wireless relays and that indicates their individual wireless media services. Relay control circuitry allocates individual carrier aggregation Quality-of-Service (QoS) levels to the individual wireless relays based on the individual wireless media services. The relay transceivers transfer the individual carrier aggregation QoS levels for the individual wireless relays to the wireless base stations. The wireless base stations serve the wireless relays with the individual carrier aggregation QoS levels. The wireless relays serve the wireless UEs with the wireless media services.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include systems, methods, and nodes for selecting a donor for a relay wireless device using feedback. Signals may be scanned for at a relay wireless device to determine potential donor access nodes. The relay wireless device may communicate with the potential donor access nodes such that a power head room report is generated for each potential donor access node. A donor access node may be selected from among the potential donor access nodes based on the generated power head room reports. Backhaul data may be communicated between the relay wireless device with the selected donor access node.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for controlling whether a UE is served by a relay base station, based on consideration of the maximum-supported MCS of the relay base station's associated UE-relay. The method could apply where the UE is already served by the relay base station, in which case the question could be whether the UE continues being served by the relay base station or rather hands over to another base station. Or the method could apply where the UE is not yet being served by the relay base station, in which case the question could be whether the UE should initially attach with or hand over to the relay base station. Further, the method could be carried out by the UE and/or by a base station or other network entity.

Abstract: One or more packets to be transmitted to or from a user equipment (UE) device are determined to have a particular packet length, e.g., based on a vocoder to be used for a voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) call. An initial modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is selected for transmission of the packets based on channel conditions. The initial MCS is replaced by an alternative MCS having a lower efficiency than the initial MCS in response to a determination that the alternative MCS would require the same number of resource blocks to transmit a packet having the particular packet length as the initial MCS. One or more resource blocks are allocated for transmission of the one or more packets having the particular packet length using the alternative MCS. Indications of the allocated one or more resource blocks and the alternative MCS are transmitted to the UE.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enhances the management of signaling resources of a wireless provider network using hidden public land mobile network (PLMN) signals. In one implementation, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) access node provides hidden and non-hidden PLMNs to wireless communication devices. During the communications for the wireless communication devices, the LTE access node identifies a transition condition for the network and a physical cell identifier (PCI) associated with a hidden PLMN. Once the PCI is identified, the PCI is provided to at least a subset of the wireless communication devices, permitting the subset to communicate using channels associated with the hidden PLMN.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling application of MU-MIMO. The disclosure provides for considering the quantity of data buffered for transmission over the air between the base station and each of various UEs, and selecting UEs to be subject to MU-MIMO service based on the quantity of data buffered. For example, a base station could prefer application of MU-MIMO for UEs that have more data buffered for transmission than other UEs. Or the base station could condition application of MU-MIMO to a pair of UEs on a determination that each UE of the pair has at least a threshold quantity of data buffered for transmission.

Abstract: A wireless data network controls Quality-of-Service (QoS) delivered to wireless relays. The wireless relays attach to wireless base stations in the wireless data network and transfer configuration data indicating their media services to the wireless data network. A relay QoS control system in the wireless data network receives the configuration data and allocates individual QoS levels to the wireless relays based on their media services. The relay QoS control system transfers the individual relay QoS levels for the wireless relays to the wireless base stations. The wireless relays exchange user data with wireless user devices to deliver the media services. The wireless base stations exchange the user data with the wireless relays to deliver the media services based on the individual QoS levels for the wireless relays.