Abstract: A wireless access point transfers first user data to a first User Equipment (UE) in first carrier-aggregated resource blocks according to an initial UE Carrier Aggregation (CA) schedule. The wireless access point transfers second user data to a wireless relay in second carrier-aggregated resource blocks according to an initial relay CA schedule. The wireless relay transfers the second user data to a second UE. The wireless access point translates the amount of first user data into a new UE CA schedule and a new relay CA schedule. The wireless access point transfers third user data to the first UE in third carrier-aggregated resource blocks according to the new UE CA schedule. The wireless access point transfers fourth user data to the wireless relay in fourth carrier-aggregated resource blocks according to the new relay CA schedule. The wireless relay transfers the fourth user data to the second UE.

Abstract: A method and system to help manage a wireless client device's (WCD's) network connection with a core network gateway, where the WCD provides wireless backhaul connectivity to the core network for a relay base station with which the WCD communicates over a communication interface. The WCD detects passage of a threshold period of absence of communication on the communication interface between the WCD and the relay base station, and upon detecting that threshold period of absence of communication on that communication interface, the WCD releases its network connection with the core network gateway. Further, the WCD dynamically sets the threshold inactivity period for this purpose based on history of communications with which the relay base station has served one or more other WCDs.

Abstract: A wireless communication system controls Carrier Aggregation (CA) at a wireless relay. A wireless access point wirelessly receives user data and transfers a first portion of the user data to a wireless User Equipment (UE) using a UE CA configuration and a second portion of the user data to the wireless relay using a relay CA configuration, wherein the wireless relay wirelessly serves additional UEs. The wireless access point determines an amount of the transferred user data and translates the amount of the transferred user data into a new UE CA configuration and a new relay CA configuration. The wireless access point wirelessly receives additional user data and transfers a first portion of the additional user data to the wireless UE using the new UE CA configuration and a second portion of the additional user data to the wireless relay using the new relay CA configuration.

Abstract: A method and system for a base station to manage air interface communications with a wireless client device (WCD) served by the base station, taking into account whether the WCD is a relay-WCD that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station. The base station will determine whether the served WCD is a relay-WCD, and based on a determination that the served WCD is a relay-WCD, the base station will responsively invoke a process to help expedite air interface communications with the served WCD, in an effort to reduce the total delay resulting from the wireless relay arrangement. In particular, based on the served WCD being a relay-WCD, and perhaps based on the relay-WCD facilitating a threshold extent of delay-sensitive communication, the base station will invoke transmission time interval (TTI) bundling, to help expedite the air interface communications between the base station and the relay-WCD.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes are related to allocating bandwidth in a wireless network. A method includes identifying a plurality of small cell relay nodes connected to a relay node. The method further includes determining priority data indicative of resource utilization by each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes and types of services utilized by wireless devices connected to each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes. Additionally, the method includes determining a priority for each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes based at least partially the priority data. The method also includes allocating backhaul bandwidth of the relay node to each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes based at least partially on the priority for each of the plurality of small cell relay nodes.

Abstract: A relay wireless device is configured to function as a relay on behalf of a donor access node. The relay wireless device determines a preferred donor access node from among a plurality of candidate donor access nodes based on a measurement of a reference signal, such as an RSRP or SINR, associated with each access node within a range of the relay wireless device. The access nodes may be prioritized based on the measurement, as well as based on a maximum number of dedicated random access preambles provided by each access node, and a default paging cycle of each access node. The access node that has the highest priority based on a good RSRP/SINR, a high number of dedicated random access preambles, and a large paging cycle, is selected as the preferred donor access node, and a connection request submitted to the preferred donor access node.

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: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding system for controlling operation of a user equipment device (UE) in a communication system comprising a first network and a second network interconnected with the first network. The UE may detect a public land mobile network identifier (PLMN ID) broadcast by a base station of the first network, where the base station does not support circuit switched fallback (CSFB) between the two networks The UE may determine, based on the detected PLMN ID, whether to operate in a first mode or a second mode, where (i) the first mode comprises, in response to the base station not supporting CSFB, the UE declining to be served by the base station and the UE instead being served directly by the second network and (ii) the second mode comprises the UE being served by the base station. The UE may then operate in the determined mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing carrier aggregation based on subframe configuration. It may be determined that conditions for a wireless device in communication with an access node meet a carrier aggregation criteria, wherein the access node and wireless device communicate using a first subframe configuration. Signal information may be received from the wireless device comprising received signal levels for a plurality of candidate secondary carriers. Subframe configurations used by the candidate secondary carriers to communicate with wireless devices may be retrieved. One or more of the plurality of candidate secondary carriers may be selected based on the received signal level information and the retrieved subframe configurations. And carrier aggregation may be activated such that the one or more selected secondary carriers are used to transmit downlink data to the wireless device.

Abstract: A relay node is enabled to transmit, to an end-user wireless device, any data packets remaining in a buffer associated with the end-user wireless device, prior to executing a handover of the end-user wireless device. Upon initiating a handover, the relay node adjusts a scheduling operation to use a lowest-possible modulating coding scheme (MCS) in order to transmit the remaining buffered data to the end-user wireless device. Moreover, the scheduling operation is adjusted to ignore any subsequent channel quality indicator (CQI) reports from the end-user wireless device, thereby ensuring that the end-user wireless device has a higher chance of receiving the data. When the buffer is empty, the handover is executed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for setting a timeout period. In particular, a BS may have data storage defining a buffer. Also, the BS may be configured to (i) provide an air interface through which the BS serves UEs, (ii) buffer data packets destined to individual UEs, and (iii) apply a buffer timeout process according to which the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for a timeout period. As such, the BS may make a determination that a served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay-BS, and may set the timeout period based on the determination. When the BS then applies the buffer timeout process, the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for the timeout period set based on the determination.

Abstract: A gateway or other entity will detect when the number of relay base stations served by a relay-WCD changes and will responsively modify a configuration of a bearer that extends between the relay-WCD and the gateway. For instance, in response to detecting an increase in the number of relay base stations served by the relay-WCD, the entity could increase a guaranteed minimum bit rate and/or other quality of service level of the bearer. Or in response to detecting a decrease in the number of relay base stations served by the relay-WCD, the entity could decrease a guaranteed minimum bit rate and/or other quality of service level of the bearer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate variation of timer duration. In particular, a relay node (RN) may be configured to be served by a base station (BS) over a relay backhaul air interface and may be configured to serve user equipment devices (UEs) over a relay coverage air interface. Also, the RN may be configured (i) to detect when a threshold error in communication occurs on the relay backhaul air interface, (ii) in response to detecting the threshold error in communication, to start a timer that runs for a timer duration, and (iii) to respond to expiration of the timer duration by engaging in management of the relay backhaul air interface. With these arrangements, the RN may determine a count of how many UEs are being served by the RN over the relay coverage air interface and may set the timer duration based on the determined count of UEs.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include systems, methods, and nodes for distributing relay wireless devices across an access node. Network identification numbers associated with at least two wireless devices may be determined. At an access node, a traffic class identifier and frequency band may be assigned to the at least two wireless devices, wherein each frequency band available for communication at the access node is assigned at most a maximum number of wireless devices comprising a network identification number that meets the criteria. Data may then be communicated between the access node and the at least two wireless devices according to the assigned traffic class identifiers and frequency bands, wherein the wireless devices comprise relay wireless devices that relay data between the access node and one or more small cells.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a base station to manage air interface communications with a user equipment device (UE) served by the base station. The base station will determine whether the served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station and whether the relay base station serves at least a threshold extent of delay-sensitive communication traffic. Based on a determination that the served UE is a relay-UE and that the relay base station serves at least the threshold extent of delay-sensitive communication traffic, the base station will responsively cause the relay-UE to be served by the base station on a particular carrier frequency, in an effort to reduce a total delay resulting from the wireless relay arrangement.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) registers with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The UE registers with an Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) over the LTE network. The UE registers with a Wireless Fidelity (WIF) network. The UE receives a status request from the LTE network responsive to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite for the UE received at the IMS. The UE transfers a status response to the LTE network that indicates the WIFI network responsive to the status request. The UE receives the SIP invite from the IMS over the WIFI network. The UE exchanges user data for the media session over the WIFI network.

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 wireless network access point and User Equipment (UEs) communicate over Base Station-to-Device (BS2D) traffic links. The wireless network access point receives status reports from the UEs that form a Device-to-Device (D2D) communication group. The wireless network access point filters the UEs in the D2D communication group based on a signal strength threshold and a buffer capacity threshold to identify a candidate set of the UEs. The wireless network access point further prioritizes the candidate set based on buffer status reporting frequency of the UEs to select one of the UEs as the D2D communication master for the D2D communication group.

Abstract: Upon a determination that a relay backhaul link of a relay node is using excessive resources of a donor access node, wireless devices attached to the relay node are offloaded to other access nodes such as neighbor access nodes or to a different frequency band deployed by the donor access node or its neighbors. A donor access node transmits a congestion indicator to the relay node. The relay node transmits updated measurement parameters to end-user wireless devices connected thereto. An end-user wireless device reports back to the relay node in the event it measures a signal strength that is stronger than the current signal strength. This measurement event triggers a handoff of the end-user wireless device, thereby helping to alleviate the resource utilization of the air-interface of the donor access node.

Abstract: A wireless communication network selects Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) for wireless relays. A wireless network controller determines the amount of wireless access Access Point Names (APNs) that are served by a User Equipment (UE) in the wireless relay. The network controller selects an MCS for the UE in the wireless relay based on the amount of the wireless access APNs served by the UE. The network controller directs a wireless base station and the UE in the wireless relay to use the selected MCS. The UE in the wireless relay exchanges user data with the multiple wireless access points that serve other UEs. The UE in the wireless relay exchanges the user data with the wireless base station using the selected MCS. The network controller may comprise a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Mobility Management Entity (MME), and the wireless access points may comprise LTE eNodeBs.