Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically adjusting the beamform of an antenna array. An intended beamform, which should ideally be propagated by an antenna array based on a supply of a first set of signals, may not be realized if one or more antenna elements of the antenna array are experiencing a fault. Utilizing various methods, one or more faulty antenna elements of the antenna array are identified and a second set of signals is calculated that, when propagated by one or more operational antenna elements, yield an optimized beamform, wherein the optimized beamform at least partially recovers a portion of a coverage gap.

Abstract: Access nodes in a network are configured to periodically measure cell loads and exchange cell load measurements with neighbors. At each access node, cell loads are compared with load thresholds, and with neighboring loads, to determine whether or not load balancing operations should be triggered. Load balancing operations include reducing or increasing an effective coverage area of one or both of the congested cell and the neighbor cell by adjusting a handover threshold parameter, such as a threshold signal level. Adjusting thresholds at a congested cell triggers more handovers from the congested cell to the non-congested cell. Similarly, adjusting thresholds at a non-congested cell prevents handovers from the non-congested cell to the congested cell.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamic performance of antenna calibration. To ensure channel reciprocity of downlink and uplink channels, antenna calibration must be performed with some degree of regularity. The present disclosure includes systems and methods for performing antenna calibration, wherein noise levels are determined at various subframes of wireless telecommunication frame structures as a basis for determining when the calibration signal should be transmitted in an OFDM symbol. Utilizing the disclosed systems and methods yields preferred antenna calibration, avoiding gain degradations caused by decreases in propagation performance.

Abstract: When a base station groups a given user equipment device (UE) together with one or more other UEs for multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) service, the base station will predict a level of RF correlation between the given UE and the one or more other UEs of the group (e.g., based angular separation between beam direction of the UE and beam direction of each of the one or more other UEs). And the base station will use that predicted level of RF correlation as a basis to adjust a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) that the base station and the given UE will use for data communication with each other, so as to help improve data communication between the base station and the given UE in the presence of the predicted RF correlation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing conflicts between a load balancing protocol and a neighbor relations protocol. Network characteristics for an access node in communication with a plurality of wireless devices may be determined. The plurality of wireless devices may be classified into a high priority class and a low priority class based on a traffic requirement for each of the wireless devices. The determined network conditions my then be compared to a criteria. Based on the comparison, the high priority class of wireless devices may be instructed to perform one of a neighbor relations protocol and a load balancing protocol.

Abstract: Access nodes in a network are configured to periodically measure cell loads and exchange cell load measurements with neighbors. At each access node, cell loads are compared with load thresholds, and with neighboring loads, to determine whether or not load balancing operations should be triggered. Load balancing operations include reducing or increasing an effective coverage area of one or both of the congested cell and the neighbor cell by adjusting a handover threshold parameter, such as a threshold signal level. Adjusting thresholds at a congested cell triggers more handovers from the congested cell to the non-congested cell. Similarly, adjusting thresholds at a non-congested cell prevents handovers from the non-congested cell to the congested cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for load balancing between frequency bands based on bandwidth capacity. A load for a first frequency band and a load for a second frequency band may be determined, wherein a cell communicates with wireless devices over the first and second frequency bands. The determined loads may be adjusted based on a channel width for each frequency band and a duplexing scheme for each frequency band. And the adjusted loads may be balanced between the first frequency band and the second frequency band by instructing wireless devices in communication with the cell to change frequency bands used for communicating with the cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for handoff of a wireless device. A total delay budget may be configured to a first access node. Scheduler delays associated with each of multiple scheduling buffers can be measured. An average scheduling delay for multiple wireless devices may be calculated based on the measured scheduler delays. The average scheduling delay may be compared to the total delay budget for the first access node and, when the average scheduling delay exceeds the total delay budget, a second access node may be selected for offload of at least one wireless device of the multiple wireless devices.

Abstract: In an example method, a donor base station determines that an air interface, over which the donor base station serves a relay-UE and plurality of second UEs, is threshold highly congested and that a relay base station is serving a threshold high number of first UEs. The relay base station is coupled to a relay-UE that provides wireless connectivity for the relay base station and that is served by the donor base station. Responsive to at least the determining that the air interface is threshold highly congested and that the relay base station is serving a threshold high number of first UEs, the donor base station (i) selects one or more of the plurality of second UEs and (ii) hands over the selected one or more second UEs to another base station other than the donor base station.

Abstract: UEs capable of RF relay are enabled and disabled under certain conditions. The access node can control the on and off duration of the UE functioning as an RF relay. The access node may only enable RF relay when there is a need by another UE for the RF relay. The UEs selected to relay (or to not relay) may be selected based on their location (e.g., close to a UE that is experiencing poor signal strength). In an embodiment, the RF relay function of UEs are successively turned on by the access node. This causes these UEs to relay the access node's beacon signal. If, after a period of time, the wireless network performance is not improved, these UEs are commanded to disable their RF relays. If the wireless network performance is improved, the UE may be allowed to continue as an RF relay.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide individual idle-mode cell reselection priority lists to wireless devices dynamically, based on real-time load conditions for frequency bands deployed within a wireless network. Load equalization operations include classifying frequency bands into congested, target, or non-congested bands, grouping similar bands, comparing loads across the various bands in to a threshold, and adjusting the priority of each frequency band accordingly. The adjusted priorities are transmitted to each wireless device as the wireless device enters idle mode.

Abstract: Access nodes in a network are configured to periodically measure cell loads and exchange cell load measurements with neighbors. At each access node, cell loads are compared with load thresholds, and with neighboring loads, to determine whether or not load balancing operations should be triggered. Load balancing operations include reducing or increasing an effective coverage area of one or both of the congested cell and the neighbor cell by adjusting a handover threshold parameter, such as a threshold signal level. Adjusting thresholds at a congested cell triggers more handovers from the congested cell to the non-congested cell. Similarly, adjusting thresholds at a non-congested cell prevents handovers from the non-congested cell to the congested cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for routing data traffic based on network conditions. Network conditions for a communication network may be monitored, where the communication network comprises a first access node and a second access node that are in communication using a first communication link and a second communication link. The monitored network conditions may include at least a utilization of the second communication link. It may be determined that the network conditions meet a criteria. A first classification may be assigned to a message when it is determined that the network conditions meet the criteria. The first access node may be instructed to transmit the message over the first communication link based on the first classification when the network conditions meet the criteria and to transmit the message over the second communication link when the network conditions fail to meet the criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sub-band selection for a wireless device during connection. An access node may receive a RACH preamble message from a wireless device. It may be determined that a received signal level associated with the message does not meet a signal level criteria. The wireless device may be instructed to transmit signal information to the access node. A sub-band that comprises a signal level that meets the signal level criteria may be selected. The wireless device may then be instructed to communicate with the access node using the selected sub-band when requesting a connection.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for improving uplink performance of an antenna array configured for downlink beam forming. Beam forming requires an antenna element spacing that results in correlated downlink signals. Uplink reception preferably uses an element spacing such that uplink signals are uncorrelated. For an eight-element antenna configured for beam forming, using eight-branch combining to produce a single resultant signal is thus less than optimal. In an embodiment, non-adjacent elements in the antenna array, which receive uncorrelated signals, may be combined in pairs with two-branch combining. The four resultant signals may then be combined using four-branch combining to provide a single resultant signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a common subframe pattern in a wireless communication network. Frame numbers associated with a plurality of access nodes operating on the same frequency channel in a coverage area are synchronized. A unique almost blank subframe (ABS) ratio associated with each of the plurality of access nodes is determined. A common subframe pattern may be generated based on the determined unique ABS ratios. The common subframe pattern may be provided to each of the plurality of access nodes operating in the coverage area. Traffic may be scheduled using the generated common subframe pattern and the synchronized frame numbers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a modulation and coding scheme for a small cell. A small cell may receive a first signal level for a first signal received at a wireless device and a second signal level for a second signal received at the wireless device, wherein the received first signal is from the small cell and the received second signal is from a macro cell. The small cell may also receive a channel quality indicator from the wireless device that indicates a channel quality for communications between the wireless device and the small cell. A signal level metric may be calculated based on the first signal level, the second signal level, and the received channel quality indicator. A modulation and coding scheme for a transmission from the small call may be determined, wherein the transmission is associated with an almost blank subframe transmission from the macro cell.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for improving uplink performance of an antenna array configured for downlink beam forming. Beam forming requires an antenna element spacing that results in correlated downlink signals. Uplink reception preferably uses an element spacing such that uplink signals are uncorrelated. For an eight-element antenna configured for beam forming, using eight-branch combining to produce a single resultant signal is thus less than optimal. In an embodiment, non-adjacent elements in the antenna array, which receive uncorrelated signals, may be combined in pairs with two-branch combining. The four resultant signals may then be combined using four-branch combining to provide a single resultant signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the latency of instant communication session establishment are presented. According to various preferred embodiments, a RAN, may receive a setup request message via a packet-switched network. The RAN may determine, from a quality of service (QOS) indication contained in the setup request message, that the setup request message is requesting establishment of a instant communication session. The RAN may further determine an intended destination wireless communication device (WCD) for the setup request message. Based on the QOS indication and/or a profile indicating the destination WCD's capabilities, the RAN may pre-allocate resources for the instant communication session in parallel to paging the destination WCD. In this way, the latencies associated with these procedures are overlapped, thus reducing the overall latency of instant communication session establishment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for selecting coverage areas as candidates for a handoff, and in particular, for a bidirectional handoff. An exemplary method may involve (a) engaging in a communication session via an access network, wherein an uplink connection is provided for uplink traffic in the communication session and a downlink connection is provided for downlink traffic in the communication session; (b) determining uplink-resource demand and downlink-resource demand of the communication session; (c) using the uplink-resource demand of the communication session as a basis for selecting one or more coverage areas in the access network as candidates for an uplink handoff of the uplink connection; and (d) using the downlink-resource demand of the communication session as a basis for selecting one or more coverage areas in the access network as candidates for a downlink handoff of the downlink connection.