Abstract: A method of managing handovers between a plurality of relay access nodes, the method includes monitoring a latency of a donor access node communicating with the plurality of relay access nodes; determining that a quality of service corresponding to a wireless device communicating with a relay access node of the plurality of relay access nodes meets a quality of service criteria; and in response to the latency meeting a threshold, instructing the relay access node to handover the wireless device to a target access node, or instructing the donor access node to handover the relay access node to the target access node, where the target access node is the donor access node, a neighboring access node, or a second relay access node served by the neighboring access node.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on user device activity. An average synchronization signal transmission periodicity may be modified in response to determinations about the mobility of user devices, in response to determinations about the synchronization sensitivity of content being transmitted to user devices, or both. The modified beam sweeping protocol may responsively increase or decrease the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of a sector using one or more distinct beamforms, increasing the synchronization efficiency of limited synchronization signals being transmitted to the cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating the placement of a small cell, wherein at least one of a first set of parameters is determined at each of a first and a second location, at least one of a second set of parameters is determined at each of the first and the second location, and a recommended small cell placement location is generated based on at least one of the determined first set of parameters and the determined second set of parameters.

Abstract: A first UE can receive a request to communicate from a second UE. The first UE and the second UE can exchange a first cryptographic key and a second cryptographic key associated with the first and the second UE, respectively. The first UE can receive an encrypted unique identifier associated with the second UE, where the unique identifier identifies a second wireless telecommunication network serving the second UE. The first UE can authenticate the second UE by sending the encrypted unique identifier to a first wireless telecommunication network and sending a request to confirm that the unique identifier is valid. The first UE can receive, from the first wireless telecommunication network, a confirmation that the unique identifier is valid. Upon receiving the confirmation, the first UE can engage in a communication with the second UE.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on user device activity. An average synchronization signal transmission periodicity may be modified in response to determinations about the mobility of user devices, in response to determinations about the synchronization sensitivity of content being transmitted to user devices, or both. The modified beam sweeping protocol may responsively increase or decrease the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of a sector using one or more distinct beamforms, increasing the synchronization efficiency of limited synchronization signals being transmitted to the cell.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

Abstract: Monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector to determine whether or not to enable/disable inter-band carrier aggregation. If the pairing efficiency (whether predicted or actual) is high, inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled, and if the pairing efficiency is low, then inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled. The inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. The MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.

Abstract: A voice coding rate is selected for a voice call involving a user equipment (UE) device based on an air interface efficiency of the base station serving the UE device. The air interface efficiency of the base station is determined based on at least one of (i) a beamforming capability of the base station, (ii) a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) capability of the base station, or (iii) an antenna configuration of the base station. The voice coding rate could be selected by either the UE device or by the base station. The UE device transmits to the base station during the voice call one or more voice frames that convey voice data coded at the selected voice coding rate. During the voice call, a new air interface efficiency may be determined, and a new voice coding rate may be selected based on the new air interface efficiency.

Abstract: A voice coding rate is selected for a voice call involving a user equipment (UE) device based on an air interface efficiency of the base station serving the UE device. The air interface efficiency of the base station is determined based on at least one of (i) a beamforming capability of the base station, (ii) a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) capability of the base station, or (iii) an antenna configuration of the base station. The voice coding rate could be selected by either the UE device or by the base station. The UE device transmits to the base station during the voice call one or more voice frames that convey voice data coded at the selected voice coding rate. During the voice call, a new air interface efficiency may be determined, and a new voice coding rate may be selected based on the new air interface efficiency.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic beam sweeping a synchronization signal based on historical usage patterns. In response to determining a recurring pattern of a plurality of user devices being disposed within a certain portion of a sector during a time period, a modified beam sweeping protocol may be implemented. The modified beam sweeping protocol decreases the average periodicity of a series of synchronization signals that are transmitted to a distinct portion of the sector using a distinct beamform, increasing the likelihood of synchronization between user devices and a network, decreasing interference and other undesirable network conditions.

Abstract: Performing handovers based on RACH capabilities includes instructing neighboring access nodes to share RACH capabilities with each other, identifying a RACH capability of wireless devices attached to a serving access node, and selecting a target access node based on matching the RACH capabilities. The RACH capabilities are associated with a format and/or a range or distance of RACH transmissions.

Abstract: A wireless communication network configured to share a wireless resource block that comprises a same time interval and a same radio subcarrier. The wireless communication network comprises network circuitry and transceiver circuitry. The network circuitry determines UE locations and determines UE correlation factors between the UEs based on the UE locations. The network circuitry associates the UE correlation factors with Three-Dimensional (3D) geographic containers based on the first UE locations and generates container correlation factors for the Three-Dimensional (3D) geographic containers responsive to the associations. The network circuitry selects UEs for the shared wireless resource block. The transceiver circuitry wirelessly transfers user data to the selected UEs over the shared wireless resource block that comprises the same time interval and the same radio subcarrier.

Abstract: Monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector to determine whether or not to enable/disable inter-band carrier aggregation. If the pairing efficiency (whether predicted or actual) is high, inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled, and if the pairing efficiency is low, then inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled. The inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. The MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.

Abstract: A method of managing handovers between a plurality of relay access nodes, the method includes monitoring a latency of a donor access node communicating with the plurality of relay access nodes; determining that a quality of service corresponding to a wireless device communicating with a relay access node of the plurality of relay access nodes meets a quality of service criteria; and in response to the latency meeting a threshold, instructing the relay access node to handover the wireless device to a target access node, or instructing the donor access node to handover the relay access node to the target access node, where the target access node is the donor access node, a neighboring access node, or a second relay access node served by the neighboring access node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding apparatus to help manage wireless communication between a base station and a device served by the base. In accordance with the disclosure, when a base station transitions from serving the device on just a first carrier to serving the device on a combination of the first carrier and a second carrier, the base station will responsively take action to improve downlink communication to the device on the first carrier. In particular, the base station will respond to the occurrence of that transition by starting to beamform downlink transmission to the device on the first carrier.

Abstract: A voice coding rate is selected for a voice call involving a user equipment (UE) device based on an air interface efficiency of the base station serving the UE device. The air interface efficiency of the base station is determined based on at least one of (i) a beamforming capability of the base station, (ii) a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) capability of the base station, or (iii) an antenna configuration of the base station. The voice coding rate could be selected by either the UE device or by the base station. The UE device transmits to the base station during the voice call one or more voice frames that convey voice data coded at the selected voice coding rate. During the voice call, a new air interface efficiency may be determined, and a new voice coding rate may be selected based on the new air interface efficiency.