Abstract: Selectively assigning uplink transmission layers for uplink transmissions from wireless devices to access nodes based on any combination of uplink usage characteristics and signal conditions. Wireless devices configured to transmit uplink data on one or more orthogonal transmission layers from each antenna. Instructing wireless devices to add transmission layers is based on an uplink usage and other characteristics such as type of transmission, time of day, distance from serving access node, etc.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processing nodes for managing a wireless communication session perform and/or comprise: setting a signal loss threshold; comparing a signal characteristic with the signal loss threshold, wherein the signal characteristic corresponds to a duplex communication between a wireless communication device and an access node in a first frame configuration format; and in response to a determination that the signal characteristic exceeds the signal loss threshold, causing the wireless communication device and the access node to switch from the first frame configuration format to a second frame configuration format.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing uplink interference in a high noise environment. In response to determining that an observed received signal strength indicator (RSSI) exceeds a reference RSSI, a user device may be determined to be disposed in a high noise environment. In order to mitigate the impact of the high noise environment on the uplink, one or more interference mitigation procedures may be executed that may directly, or result in, the handoff of the user device from a first cell with a greater noise to a second cell with less noise.

Abstract: A serving access node is determined as being capable of transmitting a mMIMO signal, responsive to which handover parameters are adjusted for wireless devices attached to the serving access node and receiving the mMIMO signal. Wireless devices attached to a sector deployed by a first access node and not the mMIMO signal are configured to utilize different handover parameters such that the non mMIMO wireless devices request handovers using standard signal level thresholds.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for configuring an eNodeB for improved circuit-switched-fallback (CSFB) service. The method includes detecting that, during past CSFB call setup for UEs served by the eNodeB, UEs reported as a strongest fallback coverage area a fallback coverage area that is not included in the eNodeB's CSFB-candidate data. And the method includes responsively (i) determining, based on location information and based on an identifier of the reported fallback coverage area, a node of the fallback network that the eNodeB's network can contact to facilitate CSFB call setup in the reported fallback coverage area, and (ii) adding to the CSFB-candidate data a record of the reported coverage area in association with a node identifier of the determined node, the added record being thereafter useable by the eNodeB to facilitate CSFB call setup in the reported fallback coverage area for a UE served by the eNodeB.

Abstract: Beamforming in massive MIMO networks includes monitoring a signal condition such as pathloss of wireless devices and, based thereon, selecting a type of reference signal for the wireless devices, the type selected from among a non-precoded reference signal, a beamformed reference signal, or a standard reference signal. Further, an MCS of the wireless devices is monitored and, based thereon, the type of reference signal is adjusted.

Abstract: A method for controlling handover of a user equipment device (UE) between (i) a first cell site that provides dual-connectivity service on a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT and (ii) a second cell site that provides standalone first-RAT service, wherein the handover includes transitioning the UE from source first-RAT service to target first-RAT service. The method includes setting a handover threshold to use as a basis to evaluate whether target first-RAT coverage detected by the UE is sufficiently stronger than source first-RAT coverage detected by the UE, where setting the handover threshold includes setting the handover threshold to a value selected based on whether the UE has detected that second-RAT coverage of the first cell site meets a defined threshold measurement threshold. Further, the method includes applying the set handover threshold as a basis to control whether to invoke the handover of the UE.

Abstract: A method for controlling handover of a user equipment device (UE) between (i) a first cell site that provides dual-connectivity service on a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT and (ii) a second cell site that provides standalone first-RAT service, wherein the handover includes transitioning the UE from source first-RAT service to target first-RAT service. The method includes setting a handover threshold to use as a basis to evaluate whether target first-RAT coverage detected by the UE is sufficiently stronger than source first-RAT coverage detected by the UE, where setting the handover threshold includes setting the handover threshold to a value selected based on whether the UE has detected that second-RAT coverage of the first cell site meets a defined threshold measurement threshold. Further, the method includes applying the set handover threshold as a basis to control whether to invoke the handover of the UE.

Abstract: A method and system to help provide efficient configuration of reference signal transmission in a wireless communication system. A processing system evaluates handover history between sectors in the system, considering the reference signal configurations of the sectors between which handovers have occurred, as a basis to determine what reference signal configurations to implement in one or more sectors. And the processing system may then cause the sectors to implement the determined reference signal configurations. Further, the processing system may iteratively repeat this process, to help optimize reference signal configurations throughout the region.

Abstract: A method and system to help provide efficient configuration of reference signal transmission in a wireless communication system. A processing system evaluates the configurations of various sectors within a region, taking into account distances between the sectors and azimuths of the sectors, to determine for at least one sector an aggregate interference score with respect to one or more nearby sectors having the same reference signal as the sector. And based on the aggregate interference score, the processing system may then reconfigure reference signal transmission of the sector, such as by changing the reference signal configuration of the sector for instance. Further, the processing system may iteratively repeat this process for numerous sectors within a region, to help optimize reference signal configurations throughout the region.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for configuring an eNodeB for improved circuit-switched-fallback (CSFB) service. The method includes detecting that, during past CSFB call setup for UEs served by the eNodeB, UEs reported as a strongest fallback coverage area a fallback coverage area that is not included in the eNodeB's CSFB-candidate data. And the method includes responsively (i) determining, based on location information and based on an identifier of the reported fallback coverage area, a node of the fallback network that the eNodeB's network can contact to facilitate CSFB call setup in the reported fallback coverage area, and (ii) adding to the CSFB-candidate data a record of the reported coverage area in association with a node identifier of the determined node, the added record being thereafter useable by the eNodeB to facilitate CSFB call setup in the reported fallback coverage area for a UE served by the eNodeB.

Abstract: A method for donor selection in a relay access node includes identifying a plurality of candidate donor access nodes and obtaining one or more characteristics associated with each of the plurality of candidate donor access nodes. The method further includes determining a primary donor access node based on a comparison of the one or more characteristics between each of the plurality of candidate donor access nodes, and receiving a reference signal transmitted by the primary donor access node at a transmission power higher than a transmission power of downlink information transmitted by the primary donor access node. One or more quality characteristics of the primary donor access node are evaluated, and based on the one or more quality characteristics meeting a predetermined threshold, a connection to the primary donor access node is requested. Devices and systems relate to donor selection.

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.