Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

T-mobile Innovations LLC

Nextel Communications Inc.

Amrit Kumar Chandra

Jay Ronald Chernoff

Kristian Kai Johns

David Zhijun Sun

Charles Anthony Manganiello

Liang Li

Neehar S Kulkarni

Mayur Shirwadkar

Vanil Parihar

Saravana Velusamy

Zheng Fang

Zheng Cai

Yu Wang

Ramesh Kalathur

Howard Alan Seid

Chuck A Manganiello

A system for updating a preferred nodes list for a wireless device in a wireless network includes a server in communication with a plurality of nodes each configured to deploy a radio air interface to provide wireless services to wireless devices. The server includes a processor configured to instruct, in response to a trigger, a first node to send a message to a wireless device connected to the first node. The message instructs the wireless device to contact the server for an updated preferred nodes list. The processor receives a request for the updated preferred nodes list from the wireless device and provides the updated preferred nodes list to the wireless device. The updated preferred nodes list enables the wireless device to change from connecting to the first node included in the preferred nodes list to connecting to a second node included in the updated preferred nodes list.

Systems and methods for updating preferred nodes lists for wireless devices in a wireless network

A method and system for controlling bearer establishment in a wireless communication system in which a donor base station serves a relay over a first air interface and in which the relay is configured to serve UEs over a second air interface. An example method includes (i) detecting a flow of voice traffic on a relay-bearer communication path that extends between the relay and a gateway system via the donor base station, where the voice traffic is digitized voice data being communicated in a VoIP call of a UE served by the relay and (ii) responsive to at least the detecting of the flow of the voice traffic over the relay-bearer communication path, triggering dynamic establishment for the relay of a dedicated VoIP relay bearer that extends between the relay and the gateway system via the donor base station, for carrying the continued voice traffic of the UE's VoIP call.

Dynamically establishing relay voice-bearer in response to detecting of voice communication on other relay bearer

A wireless communication relay tests data throughputs over a Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) network XCVR and a wireline network XCVR. The testing over the wireline network XCVR comprises a test of the data throughputs through a Local Break-Out (LBO) router or an N3 Interworking Function (N3IWF). The relay selects one of the 5GNR network XCVR and the wireline network XCVR based on the data throughput testing and indicates the selected network XCVR to a user XCVR. The user XCVR exchanges user data with the wireless UE and exchanges the user data with the selected one of the 5GNR network XCVR and the wireline network XCVR. The selected one of the 5GNR network XCVR and the wireline network XCVR exchanges the user data with one or more data communication networks.

Wireless communication relay service over multiple network transceivers

Recovering bearers after a service interruption of a relay node includes receiving, at a relay gateway, an instruction to modify bearers from a mobility management entity (MME), the instruction identifying one or more bearers that were in use by the relay node prior to the service interruption, identifying, at the relay gateway, at least one additional bearer in use prior to the service interruption not identified in the instruction received from the MME, and instructing the MME to create the at least one additional bearer. The at least one additional bearer can include a non-GBR bearer, such as a bearer with QCI ofused for VoLTE.

Recovering bearers after service interruption of relay nodes

A method and system for controlling configuration of a relay, where the relay has a coverage footprint and provides service on a first air interface having a frequency bandwidth, and where the relay is served by a donor access node over a second air interface on which the donor access node provides service. Per the disclosure, an entity detects that load on the second air interface on which the donor access node provides service is threshold high, and in response to at least that detecting, the relay is made to reduce the coverage footprint of the relay and/or to reduce the frequency bandwidth of the first air interface on which the relay provides service.

Reducing scope of service of relay in response to donor access node air-interface load

In a wireless communication relay, a network transceiver wirelessly detects wireless access points. The network transceiver beamforms wireless test signals and wirelessly transmits the beamformed wireless test signals to the wireless access points. A user transceiver in the relay wirelessly detects cross-relay interference levels when the network transceiver wirelessly transmits the beamformed wireless test signals to the wireless access points. The user transceiver transfers the cross-relay interference levels for the wireless access points to the network transceiver. The network transceiver selects one of the wireless access points based on the cross-relay interference levels for the wireless access points. The network transceiver wirelessly exchanges user data with the selected one of the wireless access points and exchanges the user data with the user transceiver. The user transceiver exchanges the user data with the network transceiver and wirelessly exchanges the user data with the wireless user devices.

Cross-relay interference mitigation in wireless relays that serve wireless user devices

Relaying data comprises assigning a first network address to a relay wireless device attached to an access node, wherein the relay wireless device is communicatively coupled to one or more wireless access points (WAPs); and instructing the relay wireless device to correspondingly assign one or more additional network addresses to the one or more WAPs, wherein the relay wireless device is configured to relay data between the access node and one or more end-user wireless devices attached to any of the one or more WAPs. Port NAT and DHCP are leveraged at the relay UE according to embodiments described herein.

Relaying data to multiple access points

A wireless relay mitigates cross-relay interference when serving wireless user devices. A network transceiver detects wireless access points and determines signal strengths for the wireless access points. The network transceiver transmits test signals to the wireless access points and directs a user transceiver to detect interference levels during the test. The network transceiver uses the interference level reported by user transceiver to calculate the interference level it would receive from the transmitter of user transceiver with a certain algorithm. The network transceiver selects wireless access points based on their signal strength and calculated cross-relay interference levels. The network transceiver exchanges user data with the selected wireless access points. The user transceiver exchanges the user data with the wireless user devices.

Selecting a donor access node for a relay node based on a number of component carriers includes identifying one or more potential donor access nodes deploying one or more carriers, measuring a reference signal strength for each of the one or more potential donor access nodes, determining which of the one or more potential donor access nodes deploys a highest number of component carriers, and sending a request to attach to the potential donor access node deploying the highest number of component carriers and having a reference signal strength that meets a reference signal criteria.

Donor selection for relay nodes based on a number of component carriers

A wireless communication relay wirelessly serves User Equipment (UEs) with wireless data services. Relay circuitry tests data throughputs over a Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) network Transceiver (XCVR), Long Term Evolution (LTE) network XCVR, and wireline network XCVR. The relay circuitry selects sets of network XCVRs for the user XCVRs based on the data throughput testing. The relay circuitry indicates the selected network XCVRs to the user XCVRs. The user XCVRs wirelessly exchange user data with the wireless UEs and exchange the user data with the selected network XCVRs. The selected network XCVRs exchange the user data with one or more data communication networks.

Selecting a donor access node for a relay node includes identifying operating frequencies for carriers deployed by the relay node, and determining backhaul frequencies that minimize interference with the operating frequencies, including identifying frequency bands that are separated from the one or more operating frequencies by at least a threshold amount. Primary and secondary carriers can be identified and communicated with potential donor access nodes.

Donor selection for relay nodes based on frequency separation

Systems, methods, and processing nodes for selecting a donor access node for a relay node comprising a plurality of directional antennae include instructing the relay node to attach to a first preferred donor access node using a first antenna of the plurality of directional antennae. While maintaining the connection with the first preferred donor access node using the first antenna, the relay node can scan for potential donor access nodes using one or more remaining antennae of the plurality of directional antennae and, upon identifying a second preferred donor access node from the potential donor access nodes, to perform a handover from the first preferred donor access node to the second preferred donor access node.

Donor selection for relay nodes comprising directional antennae

Systems, methods, and processing nodes for communicating using at least two different radio access technologies (RATs) include determining whether or not an access node is capable of communicating using the at least two RATs (e.g. using 4G LTE and 5G NR, also known as 5G EN-DC), and instructing the access node to broadcast an indicator, wherein receiving the indicator, a wireless device can attach to both first and second RATs. The wireless device is further instructed to prioritize which combination of RATs to attach to based on a signal level transmitting using each RAT.

Communicating via at least two different radio access technologies

A wireless data relay has radio circuitry to wirelessly scan a frequency band having frequency channels. The radio circuitry attaches to a wireless network over the frequency band. The radio circuitry receives signaling from the wireless network indicating allowed frequency channels and transfers the signaling to control circuitry. In the wireless data relay, the control circuitry processes the signaling to direct the radio circuitry to use the allowed frequency channels instead of the frequency band. In response, the radio circuitry wirelessly scans the allowed frequency channels instead of the frequency band. The radio circuitry wirelessly re-attaches to the wireless communication network over the allowed frequency channels. The radio circuitry exchanges user data with the UEs. The radio circuitry exchanges the user data with the wireless network over the allowed frequency channels.

Frequency channel lock in wireless data relays

Systems and methods are provided for optimizing a relay node in a wireless communication network. A plurality of base stations may be provided as well as at least one antenna at a relay node, the antenna operably coupled to a rotation mechanism. The plurality of base stations can be scanned by the antenna, the scanning using one or more control parameters dictating a portion of a scanning process. Based on the scanning, an optimal base station may be determined and/or an optimal antenna position may be determined. The antenna can adjust to the optimal position and/or can attach to the optimal base station to provide an optimal backhaul link.

Growing community of inventors

Ashburn, VA, United States of America

Amrit Kumar Chandra