Abstract: Wireless devices, networks and methods may operate to have a wireless device cause a base station to trigger voice call continuity handovers responsive to the quality of the cellular radio link in addition to the base station triggering such handovers based on location or mobility. Furthermore, wireless communication devices may also perform monitoring of multiple buffers operating within the wireless communication device and associated with different respective communication layers, in addition to monitoring the quality of the cellular radio link, to perform intelligent dropping/discarding and/or scheduling of packets at the wireless communications device. Any one or more of these features may improve the ability of the wireless communications device to achieve stated Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) performance benchmarks in the context of the realities of current VoLTE networks.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus, system, and method for providing aperiodic uplink grants to a UE for aperiodic communications from the UE to a base station. In some embodiments, the UE may be configured to communicate information to the base station, which may be useable by the base station to determine an uplink grant schedule for subsequent communications between the base station and the UE. This uplink grant schedule may be aperiodic, i.e., the uplink grants may be issued at non-uniform intervals of time. The UE may receive the uplink grants from the base station according to the uplink grant schedule. The UE may transmit uplink communications to the base station in response to the received uplink grants.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a link budget limited UE to improve communications performance with a cellular network. The UE may perform signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) measurements and use these measurements to adjust a received signal power value that is provided to the cellular network as a received signal power measurement. The UE may generate the received signal power value based at least in part on the SINR measurement in order to reduce the likelihood of handover when the UE has good SINR but poor received signal power. The UE may also provide preferred configuration information to the base station which enhances the performance of the UE when link budget limited. The configuration information may specify one or more parameter values designed to provide improved performance for a link budget limited device.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and network entity implement improved communication methods which enable a UE to operate using differing modes of operation without detaching from a network. The UE may send first information indicating its capabilities to the network entity and may receive a first indication based on the first information. The first indication may indicate that the UE operate according to a first mode of operation. The UE may receive a second indication based on an occurrence of a first condition detectable at the network entity. The second indication may indicate that the UE operate according to a second mode of operation different from the first mode of operation. The first condition may be an initialization of a real time data packet session for the UE or may be a first message sent by the UE in response to one or more radio conditions exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and associated method performs a voice call with a network, including exchanging voice packets, determines an uplink data transmission to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the uplink data transmission in a buffer. A base station and associated method performs a voice call with a UE, determines a downlink data transmission for the UE is to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the downlink data transmission in a buffer when the UE is a predetermined type. A UE and associated method associates with a first access point (AP), determines first performance characteristics of a connection with the first AP, determines second performance characteristics of a potential connection with a second AP, declares a radio link failure when the second performance characteristics exceed the first performance characteristics to trigger a handover procedure from the first AP to the second AP.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to broadcasting and receiving system information in a radio access network (RAN). In some embodiment, a base station is configured to broadcast different sets of first system information blocks (SIBs) for different classes of user equipment devices (e.g., traditional UEs and UEs having a limited link budget). Different classes of UEs may use the different sets of SIBs to initiate communications with the base station.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for adaptive C-DRX Management. A wireless device and a cellular base station may establish a cellular link. According to some embodiments, the base station may monitor upcoming traffic with the wireless device. Based at least in part on the upcoming traffic for the wireless device, the base station may provide a command indicating to the wireless device to enter C-DRX. The command may further indicate to the wireless device a number of C-DRX cycles through which to remain in a low power state.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a link budget limited UE to improve communications performance with a cellular network. The UE may perform signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) measurements and use these measurements to adjust a received signal power value that is provided to the cellular network as a received signal power measurement. The UE may generate the received signal power value based at least in part on the SINR measurement in order to reduce the likelihood of handover when the UE has good SINR but poor received signal power. The UE may also provide preferred configuration information to the base station which enhances the performance of the UE when link budget limited. The configuration information may specify one or more parameter values designed to provide improved performance for a link budget limited device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a link budget limited UE to improve communications performance with a cellular network. The UE may perform signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) measurements and use these measurements to adjust a received signal power value that is provided to the cellular network as a received signal power measurement. The UE may generate the received signal power value based at least in part on the SINR measurement in order to reduce the likelihood of handover when the UE has good SINR but poor received signal power. The UE may also provide preferred configuration information to the base station which enhances the performance of the UE when link budget limited. The configuration information may specify one or more parameter values designed to provide improved performance for a link budget limited device.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and additional optimization requirements. The new device category may identify the UE device as a wearable device. According to some embodiments, LTE category M may be extended to support non-MTC operations performed by wearable devices. For example, the new device category may support UE mobility and may disallow access barring. Additional extensions may be implemented in response to an indication by the UE that the UE is implementing a specific application, such as VoLTE or a near real-time application, such as audio streaming. In some scenarios, the indication may include the UE indicating a specific QCI value. In some scenarios, the indication may include the UE attaching to a specific APN.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a link budget limited UE to improve communications performance with a cellular network. The UE may perform signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) measurements and use these measurements to adjust a received signal power value that is provided to the cellular network as a received signal power measurement. The UE may generate the received signal power value based at least in part on the SINR measurement in order to reduce the likelihood of handover when the UE has good SINR but poor received signal power. The UE may also provide preferred configuration information to the base station which enhances the performance of the UE when link budget limited. The configuration information may specify one or more parameter values designed to provide improved performance for a link budget limited device.

Abstract: A link-budget-limited wireless communication device (UE) may implement improved radio link monitoring procedures for enhancing the link-budget of the UE. The UE may monitor the radio link and may determine whether the radio link can support a lowest acceptable link quality according to a hysteresis-based comparison that uses threshold values to determine error rates associated with a physical control channel. The UE may also identify itself to the network as a link-budget-limited device, and the network may enable special link-budget enhancing features for the UE, including boosting the power of the resource elements (REs) carrying physical channel signaling/data to the UE. The UE may detect the presence of power boost and may estimate/determine the power boost level.

Abstract: This application discloses various techniques for call establishment using voice-over LTE (VoLTE) in networks supporting time division (TD) and frequency division duplexed (FDD) LTE communication systems. Such techniques can include systems and methods for mobile-originated calls for a UE in a TD-LTE cell, systems and methods for mobile-terminated calls for a connected UE in a TD-LTE cell and systems and methods for mobile-terminated calls for an idle UE in a TD-LTE cell. These methods and systems can leverage component carriers from a carrier aggregating capable UE to facilitate more efficient and/or effective UE call establishment.

Abstract: A system, devices and methods for providing input from a user equipment (UE) for the selection of a carrier channel combination for use in carrier aggregation. The exemplary system includes a UE configured to perform carrier aggregation, the UE storing a radio frequency (RF) calibration table including a plurality of transmission related requirements specific to the UE, the UE configured to generate priority data for each carrier channel combination supported for use in carrier aggregation based upon the RF calibration table and a network component receiving the priority data and an indication from the UE, the network component configured to select a carrier channel combination for use in carrier aggregation based upon the priority data, the network component transmitting carrier aggregation configuration data including the selected carrier channel combination to the UE.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for adaptive C-DRX Management. A wireless device and a cellular base station may establish a cellular link. According to some embodiments, the base station may monitor upcoming traffic with the wireless device. Based at least in part on the upcoming traffic for the wireless device, the base station may provide a command indicating to the wireless device to enter C-DRX. The command may further indicate to the wireless device a number of C-DRX cycles through which to remain in a low power state.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to informing a network that a UE desires packet-switched voice communication. In some embodiments, the information transmitted to the network distinguishes between voice communications and other communications (e.g., other IMS communications) and is transmitted prior to establishment of a dedicated bearer for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling for the apparatus.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and associated method performs a voice call with a network, including exchanging voice packets, determines an uplink data transmission to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the uplink data transmission in a buffer. A base station and associated method performs a voice call with a UE, determines a downlink data transmission for the UE is to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the downlink data transmission in a buffer when the UE is a predetermined type. A UE and associated method associates with a first access point (AP), determines first performance characteristics of a connection with the first AP, determines second performance characteristics of a potential connection with a second AP, declares a radio link failure when the second performance characteristics exceed the first performance characteristics to trigger a handover procedure from the first AP to the second AP.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to broadcasting and receiving system information in a radio access network (RAN). In some embodiment, a base station is configured to broadcast different sets of first system information blocks (SIBs) for different classes of user equipment devices (e.g., traditional UEs and UEs having a limited link budget).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for adaptive C-DRX Management. A wireless device and a cellular base station may establish a cellular link. According to some embodiments, the base station may monitor upcoming traffic with the wireless device. Based at least in part on the upcoming traffic for the wireless device, the base station may provide a command indicating to the wireless device to enter C-DRX. The command may further indicate to the wireless device a number of C-DRX cycles through which to remain in a low power state.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and associated method performs a voice call with a network, including exchanging voice packets, determines an uplink data transmission to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the uplink data transmission in a buffer. A base station and associated method performs a voice call with a UE, determines a downlink data transmission for the UE is to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the downlink data transmission in a buffer when the UE is a predetermined type. A UE and associated method associates with a first access point (AP), determines first performance characteristics of a connection with the first AP, determines second performance characteristics of a potential connection with a second AP, declares a radio link failure when the second performance characteristics exceed the first performance characteristics to trigger a handover procedure from the first AP to the second AP.