Abstract: A system and method for synchronized and coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for controller operation includes determining a beam cycle pattern, sharing the beam cycle pattern with neighboring controllers, receiving beam information from a communications device, generating scheduling information from the beam cycle pattern and beam cycle patterns from other controllers, receiving a transmission intended for the communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The beam cycle pattern includes a list of beam patterns transmitted by the controller, and the transmission is transmitted using the scheduling information and the received beam information.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling coordinated beam switching scheduling and switching is provided. A method for controller operation includes selecting beams for transmission in a beam cycle pattern, transmitting the selected beams in the beam cycle pattern, scheduling a subset of the plurality of communications nodes based on received transmissions for the subset of communications nodes and channel information reports from the plurality of communications nodes, and transmitting the received transmissions to the scheduled subset of the plurality of communications nodes. The selecting is based on measurements of received signal power to noise made by a plurality of communications nodes, and the channel information reports are based on measurements of received signal power plus received interference power to noise made by each of the plurality of communications nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronized and coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for controller operation includes determining a beam cycle pattern, sharing the beam cycle pattern with neighboring controllers, receiving beam information from a communications device, generating scheduling information from the beam cycle pattern and beam cycle patterns from other controllers, receiving a transmission intended for the communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The beam cycle pattern includes a list of beam patterns transmitted by the controller, and the transmission is transmitted using the scheduling information and the received beam information.

Abstract: A system and method for communications using time-frequency space enabled coordinated beam switching are provided. A method for transmitting information includes selecting a beam from a set of beams, determining a set of users out of a plurality of users, the set of users preferring the selected beam and for each user in the set of users, selecting a first available subframe-subband pair that maximizes the user's channel quality. The method also includes scheduling the selected subframe-subband pairs, and transmitting information related to the scheduled subframe-subband pairs to the users in the set of users.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system. A method for controller operation includes indicating that the controller is operating in a cooperative beam switching mode, transmitting a beam formed reference signal (BFRS), from each communications device being served by the controller, receiving a measurement of a communications channel between the controller and the communications device and an indicator indicating a transmission unit corresponding to the measurement of the communications channel, receiving a transmission intended for a communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The BFRS is beam formed using a plurality of beam patterns, the beam pattern used in beam forming the BFRS changes once per transmission unit, and the transmission is transmitted using measurement of the communications channel and the indicator from the communications device.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced parallel receiving interworking in a wireless communications network. A method for controller operation where the controller serves a communications device having at least two receivers includes detecting that the communications device has at least one receiver tuned to a current radio access technology (RAT) and at least one receiver tuned to an alternate RAT, adjusting a network parameter to alter the communication network's performance, and readjusting the network parameter back to its original value in response to determining that the communications device no longer has any receiver tuned to the alternate RAT. The adjusted network parameter impacts only the communications device.

Abstract: Congestion control provides congestion control for one or more shared resources in a wireless communication network. In one exemplary embodiment, a congestion controller manages congestion of shared packet data channels by under-serving selected ones of the data connections sharing the packet data channel. Such selective under-serving may be effected by biasing scheduling of service on the packet data channel toward maximum throughput scheduling such that connections associated with poor radio conditions are naturally under-served. Further, the controller may manage congestion of other shared resources, such as shared transmit power resources, wherein congestion of the shared power resource is managed by under-allocating transmit power to selected ones of the connections. Congestion is sensed, for example, by monitoring transmit buffer occupancy levels, and/or reserve power levels.

Abstract: Congestion control provides congestion control for one or more shared resources in a wireless communication network. In one exemplary embodiment, a congestion controller manages congestion of shared packet data channels by under-serving selected ones of the data connections sharing the packet data channel. Such selective under-serving may be effected by biasing scheduling of service on the packet data channel toward maximum throughput scheduling such that connections associated with poor radio conditions are naturally under-served. Further, the controller may manage congestion of other shared resources, such as shared transmit power resources, wherein congestion of the shared power resource is managed by under-allocating transmit power to selected ones of the connections. Congestion is sensed, for example, by monitoring transmit buffer occupancy levels, and/or reserve power levels.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced parallel receiving interworking in a wireless communications network. A method for controller operation where the controller serves a communications device having at least two receivers includes detecting that the communications device has at least one receiver tuned to a current radio access technology (RAT) and at least one receiver tuned to an alternate RAT, adjusting a network parameter to alter the communication network's performance, and readjusting the network parameter back to its original value in response to determining that the communications device no longer has any receiver tuned to the alternate RAT. The adjusted network parameter impacts only the communications device.

Abstract: A system and method for communications using time-frequency space enabled coordinated beam switching are provided. A method for transmitting information includes selecting a beam from a set of beams, determining a set of users out of a plurality of users, the set of users preferring the selected beam and for each user in the set of users, selecting a first available subframe-subband pair that maximizes the user's channel quality. The method also includes scheduling the selected subframe-subband pairs, and transmitting information related to the scheduled subframe-subband pairs to the users in the set of users.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling coordinated beam switching scheduling and switching is provided. A method for controller operation includes selecting beams for transmission in a beam cycle pattern, transmitting the selected beams in the beam cycle pattern, scheduling a subset of the plurality of communications nodes based on received transmissions for the subset of communications nodes and channel information reports from the plurality of communications nodes, and transmitting the received transmissions to the scheduled subset of the plurality of communications nodes. The selecting is based on measurements of received signal power to noise made by a plurality of communications nodes, and the channel information reports are based on measurements of received signal power plus received interference power to noise made by each of the plurality of communications nodes.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of operating a base station configured to support a plurality of user devices on a plurality of channels is disclosed. The method includes finding an interference level for each channel, comparing the interference level for each channel with an interference threshold, and determining up to a first number of channels whose interference metric exceeds the interference threshold to determine a set of unsuitable channels. The method also includes determining a set of usable channels, where the usable channels include the plurality of channels that are not determined to be unsuitable channels. The usable channels are allocated to the plurality of user devices.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system. A method for controller operation includes indicating that the controller is operating in a cooperative beam switching mode, transmitting a beam formed reference signal (BFRS), from each communications device being served by the controller, receiving a measurement of a communications channel between the controller and the communications device and an indicator indicating a transmission unit corresponding to the measurement of the communications channel, receiving a transmission intended for a communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The BFRS is beam formed using a plurality of beam patterns, the beam pattern used in beam forming the BFRS changes once per transmission unit, and the transmission is transmitted using measurement of the communications channel and the indicator from the communications device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide MAC logic enabling the use of two or more reverse link rate controls at the same time in one or more sectors of a radio base station. That enables the base station to control reverse link loading via reverse link rate control, while assigning mobile stations to the type of reverse link rate control best suited to their needs. For example, the base station MAC logic may implement both a common rate controller that generates per-sector rate control commands, and a dedicated rate controller that generates per-user rate control commands and assign mobile stations having relatively lax reverse link service needs to the common rate controller, while assigning mobile stations having more demanding reverse link service requirements to the dedicated rate control. More than two rate controls can be implemented, and exemplary choices include per-user, per-sector, per-group, and scheduled rate control in any combination.

Abstract: A “primal ascent” technique for scheduling the shared use of a limited resource may be applied to scheduling users in a high data rate (HDR) communication network, such as in a HDR network based on the TIA/EIA/IS-856 air interface standard. In a HDR network, active users share the air interface, and the network delivers data to individual users through the air interface one at a time. The primal ascent approach to user scheduling accommodates a flexible range of utility function types, including non-differentiable types, where utility functions describe the cost, benefit, or revenue gain associated with serving users. Primal ascent techniques allow service providers to, among other things, use different types of utility functions for differentiating between user types or associated grades of service, and allow them to use utility functions that change over time.

Abstract: Admission to one or more shared resources in a wireless network is based on whether such admission would unduly comprise the network's ability to meet one or more Quality-of-Sevice (QoS) constraints associated with users of the shared resources. Therefore, use of a resource, such as the shared use of a high-speed packet data channel, may be scheduled for current and newly admitted users in consideration of the QoS constraints associated with those users. By evaluating the QoS penalty that would be incurred with the admission of a prospective new user, an admission controller determines whether such admission would unduly comprise an associated resource scheduler's ability to meet the QoS constraints associated with user's of the shared resource. Thus, new users are admitted or blocked based on the penalty incurred. Users may be preferentially admitted by tolerating higher penalties for some users, such as those in a preferred user class.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide MAC logic enabling the use of two or more reverse link rate controls at the same time in one or more sectors of a radio base station. That enables the base station to control reverse link loading via reverse link rate control, while assigning mobile stations to the type of reverse link rate control best suited to their needs. For example, the base station MAC logic may implement both a common rate controller that generates per-sector rate control commands, and a dedicated rate controller that generates per-user rate control commands and assign mobile stations having relatively lax reverse link service needs to the common rate controller, while assigning mobile stations having more demanding reverse link service requirements to the dedicated rate control. More than two rate controls can be implemented, and exemplary choices include per-user, per-sector, per-group, and scheduled rate control in any combination.

Abstract: Described is a method for controlling nodes in a network including the steps of sending a proposed maximum working rate to a plurality of nodes, computing the number of responses received from the nodes by a central controller in a set period and adjusting the maximum working rate sent to the nodes based on the number of responses received.

Abstract: Congestion control provides congestion control for one or more shared resources in a wireless communication network. In one exemplary embodiment, a congestion controller manages congestion of shared packet data channels by under-serving selected ones of the data connections sharing the packet data channel. Such selective under-serving may be effected by biasing scheduling of service on the packet data channel toward maximum throughput scheduling such that connections associated with poor radio conditions are naturally under-served. Further, the controller may manage congestion of other shared resources, such as shared transmit power resources, wherein congestion of the shared power resource is managed by under-allocating transmit power to selected ones of the connections. Congestion is sensed, for example, by monitoring transmit buffer occupancy levels, and/or reserve power levels.

Abstract: Admission to one or more shared resources in a wireless network is based on whether such admission would unduly comprise the network's ability to meet one or more Quality-of-Sevice (QoS) constraints associated with users of the shared resources. Therefore, use of a resource, such as the shared use of a high-speed packet data channel, may be scheduled for current and newly admitted users in consideration of the QoS constraints associated with those users. By evaluating the QoS penalty that would be incurred with the admission of a prospective new user, an admission controller determines whether such admission would unduly comprise an associated resource scheduler's ability to meet the QoS constraints associated with user's of the shared resource. Thus, new users are admitted or blocked based on the penalty incurred. Users may be preferentially admitted by tolerating higher penalties for some users, such as those in a preferred user class.