Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Clark Douglas Halferty

Andrew Mark Wurtenberger

Caleb Sisson Hyde

Bryan Barbee

Sreekar Marupaduga

Siddharth S Oroskar

Jasinder P Singh

Rajveen Narendran

Ivy Yvonne Kelly

Patrick Himmelberg

Christopher Michael Yenney

Kelley W Ireland

Gregory Thomas Nohalty

Caleb Sission Hyde

A method of controlling a system for transmitting data. The method includes transmitting data using a plurality of transmit paths, receiving at the access node a transmit power and an available transmit power of a wireless device, monitoring at the access node the received transmit power and the received available transmit power over a period of time, determining at the access node the received transmit power meets a first criteria and the received available transmit power meets a second criteria, and reducing transmit paths from the access node in response to determining the received transmit power meets the first criteria and the received available transmit power meets the second criteria.

Optimizing LTE transmit diversity implementation based on wireless device transmit power and power headroom

A method and system to control WCD handover. A first base station will request load information from a second base station, and, based at least in part on a result of that request, the first base station will control handover of the WCD. The first base station may decline to hand over the WCD to the second base station in response to determining that the first base station did not responsively receive load information from the second base station. Further, the first base station may determine a level of confidence in load information of the second base station based on whether the first base station received load information of the second base station and based on whether the first and second base stations are provided by the same vendor, and the first base station may then use that level of confidence as a basis to control handover of the WCD.

Controlling handover based on confidence in response to load-information request

In a wireless communication network, a pair of eNodeBs exchange X2 signaling over a primary X2 signaling link. The eNodeBs implement a secondary X2 signaling link when the primary X2 signaling link goes down. The eNodeBs serve multiple wireless communication device groups with a Device-to-Device (D2D) communication service. The eNodeBs detect a performance loss of the primary X2 link, and the eNodeB with the most device groups selects a group to implement the secondary X2 link. The eNodeBs establish the secondary X2 signaling link through the selected device group. The eNodeBs exchange X2 signaling over the secondary X2 signaling link through the selected wireless communication device group. The selected device group uses the D2D communication service to exchange the X2 signaling over the secondary X2 signaling link.

Wireless signaling between wireless e-Node-B base stations over device-to-device (D2D) user equipment (UE) groups

Described embodiments can help a user equipment (UE) participate in a handover procedure that is carried out by the UE's serving base station. In particular, when a neighbor sector is heavily loaded, the base station that serves the neighbor sector may vary the power in at least one reference signal in each subframe in the neighbor sector, thereby providing an indication of the heavy traffic load to UEs that receive the subframe. When a UE is being served by a different base station than the base station that serves the neighbor sector, and the UE detects such load information for a neighbor sector, the UE may report the load information to its serving base station, or may simply refrain from sending a signal strength report that could trigger a handover to the neighbor sector.

Reference signal power variation to indicate load information

Methods, devices, and products provide for restricting access to mature content by individuals for whom access to the mature content is designated as inappropriate. A content filter receives a communication, determines that the communication includes an image, and extracts the image. The image is scanned for mature content. A content restrictor component restricts access by various classes of users to the mature content.

Restricting mature content at a network element having an image scanner

A method, system, and medium are provided for locating a lost mobile device utilizing a radio frequency signal associated with the lost mobile device. One embodiment of the method includes activating a signal on a lost mobile device. An identifier associated with the lost mobile device allows a locating mobile device to receive the signal from the lost mobile device and filter out interference. The strength of the signal is determined and a location of the lost mobile device is communicated to a user based on the strength of the signal.

Locating a nearby mobile device without using GPS

A method of operating a wireless transmission system having antenna elements that are driven by corresponding antenna ports is disclosed. The method includes, in a base system, transmitting a first antenna port configuration for receipt by a remote radio head. The method also includes, in the remote radio head, allocating first communication signals among the antenna ports based on the first antenna port configuration, and transmitting the first communication signals to the antenna ports for wireless transfer to user devices. The method also includes, in the base system, identifying active sets that indicate active pilot signals for the user devices, processing the active sets to identify a second antenna port configuration, and transmitting the second antenna port configuration for receipt by the remote radio head. The method also includes, in the remote radio head, allocating second communication signals among the antenna ports based on the second antenna port configuration.

Configuration of remote radio head antenna ports

A wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to receive data via a communication network and to receive a data restriction message that instructs the wireless communication device to limit a rate at which the data is provided to a user. The processing system is configured to determine individual amounts of the data associated with a plurality of applications of the wireless communication device, identify an application of the plurality of applications associated with an individual amount of the data that meets a criterion, and limit a delivery rate at which application data associated with the application is provided to the user based on the data restriction message.

Application data rate limiting in a wireless communication device

Disclosed is a method and apparatus and system for managing frequency use in a system where multiple air interface protocols are in use. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is operating under a particular air interface protocol on a particular frequency channel, the WCD detects a threshold signal under another air interface protocol, and the WCD responsively transitions from operating under the particular air interface protocol on the particular frequency channel to operating under the particular air interface protocol on a different frequency channel. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference.

Method and apparatus for frequency management

A user communication device establishes a first call with a first caller. During the first call, the user communication device receives a call alert for a second call from a second caller. In response to receiving the call alert during the first call, the user communication device presents an option to the user to combine the first caller audio with second caller audio and to transfer the user audio for delivery to the second caller and not to the first caller. The user communication device receives an instruction from the user, and in response, receives and transfers the user audio for delivery to the second caller and not to the first caller. The user communication device receives and plays the first caller audio and the second caller audio.

Communication device audio control to combine incoming audio and select outgoing audio destinations

A communication system for providing access to an information service includes a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface is configured to receive a request for an information session between a communication device and a virtual destination identified in the request. The virtual destination is associated with service destinations that provide the information service. The processor is configured to select one destination from the service destinations based on a type of the information session. The service destinations include a voice platform and a text message platform and the type of the information session is a voice session or a text message session. The processor is also configured to initiate the information session between the communication device and the one destination.

Adaptive information service access

A wireless control system for managing traffic in a multi-band wireless network is disclosed. The wireless control system configured to receive measurements that indicate channel performance information and round trip delay information for wireless communication devices operating within a first frequency band of the multi-band wireless network, process the channel performance information and the round trip delay information to determine a probability of successful frequency transfer, identify a subset of the wireless communication devices with probabilities of successful transfer that exceed a transfer threshold, and remove from the subset wireless communication devices whose velocity exceeds a movement threshold. The wireless control system also receives loading information for the first frequency band, processes the loading information to determine if the loading information exceeds an offload threshold, and if so then identifies a first wireless communication device from the modified subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices and transfers an instruction to modify an operating frequency of the first wireless communication device from the first frequency band to the second frequency band.

Interband traffic management in a multi-band wireless network

Disclosed is a method, system, and device for secret fingerprint scanning and reporting. When a portable communication device has been lost or stolen, an entity may transmit a fingerprint scan-report trigger message to the device. In response to receipt of the fingerprint scan-report trigger message, the device then automatically invokes an integrated fingerprint scanner to scan a fingerprint of a user of the device and to report the resulting fingerprint data to a remote destination. Optimally, the scanning and reporting are done without notification to a user of the device. The method, system, and device may thereby help to identify the user of the device and to potentially recover the device.

Growing community of inventors

Lee's Summit, MO, United States of America

Clark Douglas Halferty