Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software to manage communication paths for wireless communication devices. In one example, a method of operating a mobility management entity includes receiving a plurality of status reports from a plurality of packet data network gateways, and identifying a communication request for a wireless communication device. The method further includes determining a communication path for the wireless communication device based on the plurality of status reports, and initiating a communication for the wireless communication device via the communication path.

Abstract: In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE gateway system exchanges registration data with User Equipment (UE) over a non-LTE network. The LTE gateway system transfers networking data to an LTE control system responsive to an IMS media session for the UE, and transfers an instruction to remove the networking data from the LTE control system responsive to termination of the IMS media session. The LTE control system receives an LTE initial access message and if the networking data characterizes the IMS media session over the non-LTE network through the LTE gateway system, then transfers a session transfer message to the LTE gateway system to switch communication access from the non-LTE network to the LTE network. The LTE control system receives an LTE session termination message and responsively transfers an LTE reattach message to the LTE gateway system to force the UE to reattach to the LTE network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for assigning a profile to a wireless device in a communication network. Usage data associated with a wireless device may be received at a first access node. A first bearer profile may be assigned to a data transmission path. The usage data may be monitored for a set of criteria for a predetermined time period. A second bearer profile may be assigned to the data transmission path based on the usage data associated with the wireless device when the set of criteria is met. The wireless device may be detached from the communication network. The wireless device may be updated with the second bearer profile.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of selecting a quality of service (QoS) level for a bearer. According to the disclosure, a network controller may track a level of congestion of a base station and report that congestion information to a policy server. Thereafter, the policy server may receive a message indicating that a new bearer is needed for a communication session with a user equipment device (UE) being served by the base station. In response, the policy server may select a QoS level for the new bearer based at least in part on the based station's level of congestion (and also perhaps based on a type of the communication session), and the policy server may then invoke use of the selected QoS level for the new bearer.

Abstract: A customized paging area is created for a wireless device comprising a first access node and at least one second access node proximate to the first access node. A unique identifier is associated with the determined first access node and the determined at least one second access node of the customized paging area. When the wireless device communicates with a third access node which is not associated with the unique identifier, a second customized paging area is created for the wireless device comprising a third access node and at least one fourth access node proximate to the third access node. A second unique identifier is associated with the determined third access node and the determined at least one fourth access node of the customized paging area.

Abstract: In a communication system, a translation server individually associates session control servers with transfer control servers. One of the session control servers receives a registration for a User Equipment (UE) over a first network. The translation server associates the UE with the session control server in the data structure. The session control server exchanges first control signaling with the UE to establish a media session over the first network. The translation server receives a session transfer request for the UE from a second network. The translation server processes the data structure to identify the transfer control server that is associated with the session control server that is associated with the UE. The translation server transfers the session transfer request to the transfer control server. The transfer control server exchanges second control signaling with the second network to transfer the media session from the first network to the second network.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate differential routing of voice handover traffic and non-voice handover traffic. In particular, a wireless communication system may include a controller, a backhaul interface that passes through the controller, an inter-base-station interface that does not pass through the controller, as well as first and second base stations that are communicatively linked via (i) the backhaul interface and (ii) the inter-base-station interface. With this arrangement, the system may encounter a trigger to configure transmission of handover signaling between the first and second base stations, and may responsively configure itself to transmit (i) via the inter-base-station interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of ongoing voice communications and (ii) via the backhaul interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of communications other than ongoing voice communications.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to help register a UE with a different network in the event of an unsuccessful registration with a fallback network. In accordance with the disclosure, a UE may be registered on a first network and may then seek to register with a second network via the first network. The first network may attempt to register the UE with the second network, but the attempt to register the UE with the second network may ultimately fail. In response to such failure, the first network may discontinue providing service to the UE. Discontinuing the providing of service to the UE on the first network may result in the UE seeking to register directly with the second network or with a different network. By registering directly with the second network, or a different network, the UE may be able to initiate and/or receive voice calls via that network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system connects User Equipment (UE) to Mobility Management Entities (MMEs). The wireless communication system receives a connection message from the UE. The wireless communication system connects the UE to a first MME responsive to the connection message. The wireless communication system performs MME re-selection for the UE responsive to the connection message. The wireless communication system connects the UE to a second MME responsive to the MME re-selection.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for providing data quotas based a quota query load. In one example, a method of operating a communication system includes transferring a quota request for a wireless communication device from a packet data network gateway to an online charging server. The method further includes, in the online charging server, receiving the request, identifying a data quota based on a quota query load, and transferring the data quota to the packet data network gateway to be implemented for the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which (i) a user equipment device registers with a first radio access network (RAN) that provides connectivity with a transport network, (ii) once registered with the first RAN, the device then registers via the first RAN and transport network with a call server, and (iii) in response to the device registering with the call server, but before the device then engages in a call served by the call server, the device registers via the first RAN with a second RAN. The method may thereby help to expedite later handover of a call served by the call server from being via the first RAN to being via the second RAN. Further, by the second RAN registration being conducted in response to registration of the device with the call server, the method may help to ensure usefulness of the registration of the device with the second RAN.

Abstract: A method and system for managing connectivity when a signaling controller is going to be taken out of service. The method involves determining that a WCD served by the signaling controller provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station, and responsively taking action to proactively transition that WCD from being served by the signaling controller to being served by a different signaling controller without the WCD detaching and reattaching. This may enable the WCD to maintain its network connectivity, including its assigned network address, and may thus enable the relay base station to maintain its network connectivity as well, thereby helping to maintain connectivity for WCDs served by the relay base station and continuity of interfaces between the relay base station and other core network entities.

Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system to perform a Mobility Management Entity (MME) reselection for a User Equipment (UE). The LTE communication system receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection message for a communication session from the UE. The LTE communication system assigns a MME to the UE. The LTE communication system transfers a request for a user profile associated with the UE. The LTE communication system receives the user profile associated with the UE. The LTE communication system performs the MME reselection based on the user profile to determine another MME to serve the UE. The LTE communication system transfers indication of the other of MME the UE. The LTE communication system receives signaling indicating the other MME transferred from the UE. The LTE communication system assigns the UE to the other MME for the communication session.

Abstract: A Mobility Management Entity (MME) of a wireless network and verification method for verifying a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) of a roaming Wireless Communication Device (WCD) are provided. The MME in one example includes an interface configured to receive a roaming request of the roaming WCD and a processing system coupled to the interface. The processing system is configured to obtain a home CQI of the roaming WCD, compare the home CQI to a contract-stipulated CQI for the roaming WCD, and use the contract-stipulated CQI for the roaming WCD if the home CQI differs from the contract-stipulated CQI.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of imposing a policy rule for excessive usage in an access network. According to the disclosure, a policy enforcement point (PEP) may detect that usage by a given client device is threshold high and responsively request, from a policy decision point (PDP), a policy directive that specifies a policy rule to apply to the given client device. However, thereafter, the PEP may determine that the requested policy directive has not been received from the PDP and then responsively apply, to the given client device, a default policy rule for threshold-high usage.

Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) Serving Gateway (S-GW) to indicate mode transitions of a wireless communication device comprises a communication transceiver and a processing system. The communication transceiver is configured to establish a default bearer between the LTE S-GW and an LTE Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) for the wireless communication device, establish a bearer channel between an LTE access node and the LTE S-GW, and exchange data over the bearer channel responsive to the wireless communication device entering an active mode. The processing system is configured to release the bearer channel between the LTE access node and the LTE S-GW responsive to the wireless communication device entering an idle mode, generate mode transition records indicating idle-to-active mode transitions and indicating active-to-idle mode transitions of the wireless communication device, and direct the communication transceiver to transfer the mode transition records.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system to help manage resources in a wireless communication system. When a first access network has allocated a resource for use in serving a UE and the UE has then transitioned from being served by the first access network to being served by a second access network, a determination may be made that (i) the UE has then moved into particular coverage of the second access network and (ii) the first access network does not have a coverage area that corresponds with that particular coverage area of the second access network. In response, the first access network may then release the resource that it had allocated for use in serving the UE. In a scenario where the first access is configured to normally release the resource upon expiration of a resource-release timer, the release in response to the determination may advantageously occur before the timer expires.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) is configured to receive and maintain concurrently in data storage at least two different IMS transfer-addresses, such as one for use when the WCD's transition between radio access networks (RANs) is a single-radio transition and the other for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is a dual-radio transition, and/or one for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is packet-to-packet and the other for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is packet-to-circuit. Upon transitioning between RANs, the WCD may then select the appropriate one of these IMS transfer-addresses and transmit the selected IMS transfer-address to a network node to facilitate handover of an ongoing call to be via the WCD's new serving RAN.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for implementing default data quotas for wireless devices. In one example, a packet data network gateway is configured to identify a communication for a wireless device and transfer a quota query for the wireless device to an online charging server. The packet data network gateway is further configured to receive actual and default quota information from the online charging server and implement the default quota information when the communication link between the gateway and the online charging server is interrupted.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for providing default policy information from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). In one example, a PCRF is configured to identify an interruption in communications with an online charging server. Responsive to this identification, the PCRF transfers a default policy requirement notification to a packet data network gateway. Based on the default policy requirement notification, the packet data network gateway transfers a default policy rule request to the PCRF. In response to the request, the PCRF identifies default policy rules and transfers the default policy rules to the packet data network gateway to be implemented.