Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that support the aggregation of acknowledgement messages and control messages. Advantageously, acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement indications for multiple client nodes are combined into a single aggregated message which is broadcast or multicast to the multiple client nodes. Based on unique identifiers assigned to each client node, client nodes are grouped such that the aggregated acknowledgement messages can be efficiently encoded to conserve both network capacity when they are transmitted, as well as processing capacity when they are parsed by the client nodes. If code division multiple access (CDMA) technology is used, the aggregated acknowledgment message can be transmitted without CDMA spreading to effectively broadcast or multicast it to multiple client nodes. A similar technique can be employed for the efficient broadcast or multicast of aggregated control messages.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using DRCLocks for conducting call admission control. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals on a carrier in a coverage area, where the plurality of access terminals does not include a first access terminal. The access node receives a request for new service on the carrier in the coverage area from the first access terminal over an air interface, and responsively determines whether an aggregate-DRCLock condition is met. If the aggregate-DRCLock condition is met, the access node denies the request for new service.

Abstract: A method includes communicating data to a plurality of user equipment (UE) in a cell using a plurality of beamforms. Each of the plurality of beamforms has a main lobe and side lobes, where the main lobe is directed toward a corresponding UE of the plurality of UE. For each beamform of the plurality of beamforms, a position of the beamform is determined. Furthermore, it is determined that one or more small cells of the plurality of small cells are available to serve the corresponding UE based on determining that the one or more small cells are positioned within the main lobe of the beamform using the determined position of the beamform and one or more positions of the one or more small cells. Based on the one or more small cells being determined as available to serve the corresponding UE, beamforming is disabled to the corresponding UE from the cell, thereby preventing the side lobes of the beamform from interfering with other radio communications in the cell.

Abstract: Data identifying a plurality of wireless coverage areas in a region may be obtained. The data may identify geographic locations of the wireless coverage areas. Possibly based on the data, the wireless coverage areas may be arranged into a plurality of mutually exclusive tracking area groups. Each of the tracking area groups may include multiple wireless coverage areas and may be identified by respective unique tracking area identifiers. The tracking area groups may form a geographically-defined sequence across the region. A numerical sequence of wireless coverage area identifiers may be assigned to the wireless coverage areas in the region, one wireless coverage area identifier per wireless coverage area. The wireless coverage areas of the tracking area groups may be provisioned to use the assigned wireless coverage area identifiers.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using packet-transport metrics for setting DRCLocks. In an embodiment, an access node provides packet-data service to access terminals, which comprises (a) providing wireless service over an air interface in a wireless coverage area and (b) providing transport service over a packet-data network. The access node measures, over at least the packet-data network, each packet-transport metric in a set of one or more packet-transport metrics. The access node sets a DRCLock for at least one of the access terminals based at least in part on the one or more measured packet-transport metrics.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding system for TTI bundling based on communication type. The method may involve receiving an indication of a wireless communication, where the wireless communication may be of a particular quality of service and a particular type. The method may further involve responsive to receiving the indication, (i) determining the particular type of the wireless communication and (ii) determining, based at least in part on the determined particular type of the wireless communication, TTI bundling with a bundling size, N, should be invoked for transmitting data of the wireless communication, where N>1. And the method may involve responsive to determining that TTI bundling with the bundling size N should be invoked for transmitting data of the wireless communication, invoking TTI bundling with the bundling size N for transmitting the data of the wireless communication.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first base station to use a coverage area identifier is described. For instance, a computing system may determine that coverage provided by the first base station overlaps with coverage provided by a second base station. Further, of a plurality of third base stations that also provide coverage overlapping the coverage provided by the second base station, the computing system may identify one or more third base stations having an extent of handover with the determined second base station that is below a threshold extent of handover. The computing system may then select, as the coverage area identifier to be assigned to the first base station, a coverage area identifier that is also assigned to a particular one of the one or more identified third base stations. The computing system may configure the first base station to use the selected coverage area identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically configuring femtocell pilot beacon based on macro-network load. An embodiment takes the form of a method of operating a wireless network system that includes a first base station operating on a first frequency and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second frequencies. The method includes transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second frequencies. The method further includes determining loading on each of the second frequencies and in particular that a given one of the second frequencies is more heavily loaded than at least one other, and responsively prioritizing transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the given frequency as compared to the at least one other frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling transmissions between an access node and wireless devices. A location may be determined for a plurality of small cells within an access node signal area. Based on the determined locations, a frame structure may be selected for the access node used to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices. Data may then be communicated between the access node and a plurality of wireless devices based on the selected frame structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling transmissions from an access node. A location may be determined for a plurality of small cells within an access node signal area. Based on the determined locations, a scheduling algorithm may be selected for the access node, where the scheduling algorithm may comprise one of a low proportional fairness scheduling algorithm, a medium proportional fairness scheduling algorithm, and a high proportional fairness scheduling algorithm. Data may then be transmitted from the access node to a plurality of wireless devices based on the selected scheduling algorithm.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for receiving at a network gateway a message generated in response to a content request, wherein the content request was generated by a client device in response to invocation of an invalid bookmarked link on a browser. The gateway may then modify the message by inserting bookmark-update data that instructs the client device to update the bookmarked link. Finally, the gateway may send the modified message to the client device, whereby the client device may update the bookmarked link.

Abstract: A method and system for resolving handover in the presence of coverage area identifier conflict is disclosed. In a market area in which an LTE RAN and CDMA RAN operate, a base station receives a PCI that indicates a particular one of the LTE coverage areas detected by a mobile terminal. The base station determines that at least two of the LTE coverage areas have the particular PCI. Thereafter, the base station determines which one of the LTE coverage areas is the particular LTE coverage area that was indicated by the particular PCI based at least in part on a particular PN offset that indicates a particular CDMA coverage area of the CDMA RAN. The base station then arranges for handover to the particular LTE coverage area.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for managing CDMA reference cell identifiers (IDs) in a long-term-evolution (LTE) network using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). A network node subscribes to RF coverage information and location information of eNodeBs and CDMA base stations within the network. After receiving this information from the eNodeBs and the CDMA base stations, the network node uses the information to determine CDMA base stations that are in proximity to each eNodeB. The eNodeBs in the network subscribe to CDMA reference cell IDs of those CDMA base stations that have been determined by the network node to be in proximity to the respective eNodeB. After receiving the CDMA reference cell IDs from the network node, the eNodeB utilizes the received information to select a CDMA base station to utilize when a network customer's UE requires circuit-switched services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for balancing wireless network load between band classes using automatic neighbor relations or another similar protocol. Serving cells may use neighbor lists to determine a number of first neighboring cells associated with band classes, the band classes being defined by signal frequencies. Over one or more periods of time, each of the serving cells may receive network characteristics for second neighboring cells. The neighbor lists may be reconfigured based on the network characteristics, and a number of second neighboring cells in each of the band classes in the reconfigured neighbor lists may be compared with the number of first neighboring cells in each of the band classes to determine a preferred band class for each serving cell or within a cluster of serving cells. Wireless devices may be instructed to initiate wireless connections with cells outside the preferred band class.

Abstract: A method to dynamically configure a base station based on evaluation of whether nearby and/or neighboring base stations operate on a preferred coverage frequency. For instance, the base station could be configured to broadcast as a start-scanning threshold value a relatively high value in response to determining that a base station operating on the preferred coverage frequency is located within a predefined threshold distance. Further, the base station could be configured to broadcast as the start-scanning threshold value an intermediate value in response to determining that no nearby base station operates on the preferred coverage frequency but at least one base station that is a handover neighbor operates on the preferred coverage frequency. And the base station could be configured to broadcast as the start-scanning threshold value a relatively low value in response to determining that no nearby base stations or handover neighbors operate on the preferred coverage frequency.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing frequencies in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. The frequency-hopping pilot beacon may prioritize transmission on particular frequencies according to usage of one or more particular applications by mobile devices served by the femtocell. The femtocell and/or femtocell control elements in the macro-network may determine that one or more particular applications are used by mobile devices served by the femtocell, identify one or more frequencies associated with the one or more frequencies, and then cause the femtocell to prioritize transmission on the identified one or more frequencies as compared to other frequencies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding system to help improve inter-frequency handoff. While a radio access network (RAN) is serving one or more devices, the RAN will receive from the device(s) one or more reports of air interface quality on each of a plurality of potential target frequency channels. Dynamically based on the reported air interface quality information, the RAN will then select a given one of the potential target frequency channels to be a preferred target frequency channel. When a given device is fading from coverage, the RAN will then direct the device to scan for coverage on the preferred target frequency channel that was selected based on the earlier reported measures of air interface quality, so as to facilitate inter-frequency handoff.

Abstract: A mobile station receives forward link signals and transmits reverse link signals for a communication session conducted via a wireless network. A controller maintains a reverse-active set that defines which sectors of the wireless network are used to receive the reverse link signals. When the mobile station transmits a request signal requesting the communication session, the controller may create the reverse-active set to include the sector that received the request signal with the highest signal strength. During the communication session, the signal strengths of the reverse link signals may be monitored in each of a plurality of sectors to obtain reverse-link signal strengths. The controller may maintain the reverse-active set based on the reverse-link signal strengths, adding sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths greater than an add threshold and dropping sectors that report reverse-link signal strengths less than a drop threshold.