Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically modifying beamforming weights based on MU-MIMO user device pairings. A quantity of MU-MIMO user device pairings served by a node is determined. Based on a maximum quantity of potential MU-MIMO user device pairings for the node, it is determined that a quantity of the MU-MIMO user device pairings for the node is below a threshold. Because the quantity of the MU-MIMO user device pairings is below the threshold, beamforming weights are modified to widen a vertical main lobe to increase the quantity of MU-MIMO user device pairings.

Abstract: Methods, media, and systems are provided for restricting an uplink Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) assignment based on fading, battery data, or location data associated with a user device in an mmWave system. Fading data, location data, or battery data is received from one or more user devices. Based on the received data, a determination is made using the data received (e.g., determining the battery data of the user device is below a threshold or determining the location of the user device). In response, the assignment of the user device to an uplink MIMO layer of available MIMO layers is restricted. The restricted uplink MIMO layer is a higher MIMO layer than another MIMO layer of the available MIMO layers. In response to restricting the assignment, the user device may be assigned to an available MIMO layer that is a lower MIMO layer than the restricted MIMO layer.

Abstract: Systems, methods and processing nodes are provided for prioritization of relay data packets. A processor determines one or more of a buffer status for the relay node and a load within the sector, compares the buffer status and/or the load to threshold values, and applies an updated QoS profile to the relay node when the comparisons satisfy particular criteria.

Abstract: A system may include an access node to deploy a radio air interface to provide wireless services to one or more wireless devices. The access node may include processing circuitry. The processing circuitry of the access node may monitor an amount of packet drops at a shared network device of a dual connectivity access-node-pair. The processing circuitry of the access node may dynamically adjust one or more handover parameters based on the amount of packet drops at the shared network device. The handover parameters may be adjusted to inhibit handovers to the dual connectivity access-node-pair.

Abstract: A wireless communication device optimizes network communications for a user application. The wireless communication device generates network characteristics for multiple wireless communication networks based wireless signals received from the multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication device transfers the network characteristics for the multiple wireless communication networks to the user application. The wireless communication device receives a selection of one of the wireless communication networks from the user application based on the network characteristics. The wireless communication device communicates over a radio with the selected one of the multiple wireless communication networks responsive to the selection from the user application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically selecting a dual connectivity anchor node for a user device. It is determined that the user device is located in an area having two or more nodes that are able to provide coverage to the user device in the area. From broadcast messages, it is determined whether each of the two or more nodes has a CDRX mode enabled or disabled. Then, a QCI is determined for the user device. Based on whether the each of the two or more nodes has the CDRX mode enabled and the QCI for the user device, one of the two or more nodes is selected as the dual connectivity anchor node for the user device.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling application of split-uplink mode for dual-connectivity service in a system where a first access node provides service on a first air interface and a second access node provides service on a second air interface, and where (i) in a single-connection-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, uplink user-plane communication is carried on just the second air interface and (ii) in the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, uplink user-plane communication is split between the first air interface and the second air interface. An example method includes detecting at least a predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface and responsively restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

Abstract: A system and method of managing network bandwidth is provided, in which one or more utilization thresholds are set for an access node, wherein the access node is configured to communicate using a band consisting of a first portion corresponding to communication in a first communication mode and a second communication mode and a second portion corresponding to communication in the first communication mode but not the second communication mode; and one or more utilization parameters are monitored and compared to the corresponding utilization threshold(s). Based on the comparison, the sizes of the portions may be modified and/or wireless devices seeking to join the network may be appropriately assigned.

Abstract: Methods are provided for dynamically deactivating synchronization signal block (SSB) beams based on uplink noise. Uplink noise is monitored at a cell site over a configurable period of time. Upon the uplink noise being determined to be above a threshold value, SSB beams corresponding to user equipment that are contributing to the uplink noise are determined. Based on a magnitude of the uplink noise at the cell site, one or more SSB beams of the SSB beams are dynamically deactivated at the cell site.

Abstract: A wireless communication device controls Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) layers that use a radio band. The wireless communication device determines radio band status for the radio band. The wireless communication device wirelessly indicates the radio band status for the radio band to a wireless access node. The wireless access node selects a number of the MIMO layers based on the radio band status for the radio band. The wireless communication device wirelessly receives signaling from the wireless access node that indicates the number of the MIMO layers. The wireless access node wirelessly receives user data from the wireless access node over the radio band using the number of MIMO layers in response to the signaling.

Abstract: A wireless communication network wirelessly transmits data signals to wireless communication devices. The wireless communication network wirelessly transmits reference signals to the wireless communication devices at an initial reference signal power level. The wireless communication network determines an amount of the wireless communication devices that wirelessly receive the data signals. The wireless communication network determines a new reference signal power level based on the amount of the wireless communication devices that wirelessly receive the data signals. The wireless communication network wirelessly transmits additional reference signals to the wireless communication devices at the new reference signal power level.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system including a first access node and a second access node, where the first and second access nodes cooperatively support providing user equipment devices (UEs) with dual-connectivity service, where data flows between the first and second access nodes, and where a proper subset of the data flowing between the first and second access nodes is user-plane data of the dual-connectivity service, a method includes (i) detecting that a total volume of the user-plane data that flows between the first and second access nodes is at least as high as a predefined threshold, and (ii) based on at least the detecting, blocking new establishment of the dual-connectivity service.

Abstract: A wireless access node controls the transmit power of wireless User Equipment (UEs). The access node wirelessly receives uplink data from the wireless UEs over wireless uplinks and transfers the uplink data to a communication network. The access node determines individual uplink signal strengths, interference levels, and error rates for the wireless UEs. The access node determines individual power instructions for the wireless UEs based on their uplink signal strengths, interference levels, and error rates. The wireless access node wirelessly transfers the individual power instructions to the individual wireless UEs. The individual wireless UEs control their transmit power responsive to the individual power instructions.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling configuration of dual connectivity for a user equipment device (UE), where the dual connectivity includes the UE being served cooperatively by (i) a first access node over a first air-interface connection between the UE and the first access node and (ii) a second access node over a second air-interface connection between the UE and the second access node. An example method includes (a) predicting whether both (i) in the dual connectivity, a data split will put a threshold greater portion of data flow of the UE on the second air-interface connection than on the first air-interface connection and (ii) coverage strength of the UE from the second access node will be threshold lower than coverage strength of the UE from the first access node and (b) using the prediction as a basis to control whether or not to establish the dual connectivity for the UE.

Abstract: A method and system to control modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for air-interface communication over an air interface between an access node and one or more user equipment devices (UEs) served by the access node. A method includes detecting that a backhaul connection through which the access node communicates is threshold heavily loaded, and, in response, suppressing the MCS used for air-interface communication over the air interface between the access node and one or more UEs served by the access node. Further, the method could apply in a scenario where multiple access nodes share the backhaul connection, in which case one access node could detect that the backhaul connection is threshold heavily loaded and could responsively cause another access node to suppress MCS used for the other access node's air-interface communication.

Abstract: A method and system to dynamically reassign RF spectrum from a first access node to a second access node, where the first access node provides service on a first carrier having a carrier bandwidth. An example method includes (i) selecting a frequency portion of the carrier bandwidth to reassign, the selecting being based on the frequency portion having higher determined noise than one or more other frequency portions of the carrier bandwidth, and (ii) based on the selecting, reassigning the selected frequency portion from the first access node to the second access node to be used by the second access node as at least part of a second carrier on which to provide service. Upon reassigning of the selected frequency portion, the second access node could then provide service on the reassigned portion and the first access node could continue to provide service on a remainder of the first carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically capping an MCS index. A determination that one or more user devices are serviced by a sector of a cell site that has a Sector Power Ratio (SPR) above a threshold is made. Based on the SPR being above the threshold, the MCS index of the one or more user devices is capped. In response to the capped MCS index, a first Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) value is assigned to at least one of the one or more user devices based on a triangulation area corresponding to a location of the at least one of the one or more user devices.

Abstract: A system may include an access node to deploy a radio air interface to provide wireless services to one or more wireless devices. The access node may include processing circuitry. The processing circuitry of the access node may monitor an amount of packet drops at a shared network device of a dual connectivity access-node-pair. The processing circuitry of the access node may dynamically adjust one or more handover parameters based on the amount of packet drops at the shared network device. The handover paramters may be adjusted to inhibit handovers to the dual connectivity access-node-pair.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically reallocating available transmit power on a dual connectivity user device. A retransmission rate is monitored for the user device that can simultaneously communicate using two or more wireless communication protocols. It is determined that the retransmission rate for the user device is above a threshold for communications using a first wireless communication protocol, such as LTE. Channel assignment of a second wireless communication protocol, such as 5G, is reduced, thus allowing the user device to reallocate a portion of the transmit power previously allocated for the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol to improve the retransmission rate for the first wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: In a wireless access node, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) circuitry identifies a noise metric for the wireless access node. The PDCP circuitry receives Downlink (DL) user data for User Equipment (UE). The PDCP circuitry allocates a first portion of the DL data and a second portion of the DL data based on the noise metric. The PDCP circuitry transfers the first portion of the DL data over first Radio Link Control (RLC) circuitry to first MAC circuitry. The PDCP circuitry transfers the second portion of the DL data over second RLC circuitry to second MAC circuitry. The first MAC circuitry schedules wireless delivery of the first portion of the DL data and transfers the first portion of the DL data to the UE over first Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry. The second MAC circuitry schedules wireless delivery of the second portion of the DL data and transfers the second portion of the DL data to the UE over second PHY circuitry.