T-mobile Innovations LLC

Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

T-mobile Usa, Inc.

Sougata Saha

Sreekar Marupaduga

Anurag Thantharate

Atul Kulkarni

Kavitha Swaminathan

Saravana Velusamy

Hannah J Sifuentes

Rajveen Narendran

Nick J Baustert

Nicholas John Baustert, Jr

Beth D Webb

Ryan Christopher Lindstrom

Andrew Lawrence Liszewski

Chris David Hiesberger

Mohammed Samiuddin

Hannah Sifuentes

A method and system for dynamically controlling connectivity of a user equipment device (UE) when the UE has standalone connectivity with a first access node under a first radio access technology (RAT). An example method includes the UE detecting that the UE is within threshold strong coverage of a second access node under a second RAT, and the UE making a selection between (i) responsively handing over from the first access node to the second access node and (ii) having dual-connectivity with the first access node and the second access node. Further, the example method includes the UE informing the first access node of the UE's selection, perhaps together with an inter-RAT measurement report reporting that the UE is within threshold strong coverage of the second access node, and the first access node responsively taking action in accordance with the UE's selection.

UE-controlled selection between inter-RAT handover and inter-RAT dual connectivity

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.

Wireless communication network optimization for user applications in wireless user equipment (UE)

A wireless communication system determines a first network slice and a second network slice to serve a user application. The wireless communication system identifies a performance level for the first network slice to serve the user application. The wireless communication system exchanges first user data using the first network slice to serve the user application. The wireless communication system determines actual performance of the first network slice to serve the user application. The wireless communication system compares the actual performance of the first network slice to the performance level for the first network slice, and in response, stops the exchange of the first user data to serve the user application using the first network slice and starts an exchange of second user data to serve the user application using the second network slice.

Network slicing in a wireless communication network

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for facilitating optimized cell selection for airborne user devices, such as wirelessly connected unmanned aerial vehicles. One or more synchronization signals may be modified to include one or more parameters that would improve airborne cell selection, including radiation center height, vertical beamwidth, horizontal beamwidth and frequency band availability. By optimizing cell selection and therefore reducing unnecessary handovers, the airborne user device will spend less battery power and processing resources, improving overall performance.

Cell selection management for airborne mobile stations

A wireless communication network serves a wireless User Equipment (UE) over wireless network slices using different handover types. The wireless communication network selects one of the wireless network slices for the wireless UE. The wireless communication network identifies one of the different handover types for the wireless UE based on the selected one of the wireless network slices. The wireless communication network serves the wireless UE over the selected one of the wireless network slices. The wireless communication network wirelessly hands-over the wireless UE from a source wireless access node to a target wireless access node using the identified one of the different handover types.

Handover control in a wireless user equipment (UE)

Attaching to additional access nodes and performing handovers responsive to path loss measurements and uplink transmit power levels meeting different thresholds. A wireless device attached to a first access node is experiencing one or more of a threshold path loss or a threshold uplink transmit power is instructed to enable dual connectivity, wherein the wireless device remains attached to the first access node. Embodiments include 5G EN-DC systems that are collocated or distributed.

Dual connectivity based on path loss and transmit power

A wireless communication network serves a wireless User Equipment (UE) over a working network slice and a protect network slice. The wireless communication network receives UE capability data from the wireless UE that indicates the working network slice and the protect network slice. The wireless communication network determines UE context for the working network slice and for the protect network slice. The wireless communication network exchanges initial user data with the wireless UE over the working network slice based on the UE context. The wireless communication network exchanges additional user data with the wireless UE over the protect network slice based on the UE context when performance of the working network slice triggers a slice switch based on the UE context.

When a first radio of a UE has an air-interface connection with an access node on a first carrier and the UE encounters a trigger for the UE to scan for and report to the access node coverage on a second carrier, a second radio of the UE, rather than the first radio of the UE, will conduct the scanning, and the first radio of the UE will then report to access node over the air-interface connection on the first carrier a result of the scanning conducted by the second radio. Optimally, the first radio of the UE thus need not tune away from its air-interface connection with the access node in order for the UE to scan for target coverage on the second carrier. And the process could thereby help avoid the interruption of communication between the UE and the access node on the air-interface connection over the first carrier.

Use of secondary radio to avoid measurement gap on primary air interface connection

Selecting combinations of antennae of a wireless device based on transmission type includes determining a transmission type of a transmission between the wireless device and an access node and, based on the transmission type, instructing the wireless device to utilize different antenna configurations, including 5G EN-DC, MIMO, mm-wave, and other combinations. The different antenna configurations comprise different combinations of antennae of the wireless device.

Selecting antenna configurations based on transmission type

Methods are provided for enabling network operators to play a key role in allowing Cellular Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to recharge batteries based on RF parameters and/or a class of service the UAVs provide to users/customers. For example, a particular mobile network operator (MNO) has a UAV charging station deployed in it leased towers where it has base stations (eNB/gNB) deployed. The MNO can provide charging as a service to the UAVs. When more than one drone is requesting a charge, the MNO can prioritize which UAV has the highest priority. In some aspects, the MNO can prioritize the UAVs for charging based on a Quality of Service identifier. Additionally or alternatively, the MNO can prioritize the UAVs for charging based on a Network Slice Selection Assistance Information indicator.

Network-assisted charging prioritization for cellular unmanned aerial vehicles

A wireless User Equipment (UE) uses different handover types for different user applications that are served by different wireless network slices. The wireless UE executes a selected one of the user applications and selects one of the wireless network slices to serve the selected one of the user applications. The wireless UE selects one of the handover types for the selected one of the wireless network slices. The wireless UE wirelessly exchanges application data for the selected one of the user applications with a wireless communication network. The wireless UE and the wireless communication network use the selected one of the handover types for the wireless exchange of the application data. The selected one of the wireless network slices processes the application data in the wireless communication network for the selected one of the user applications.

A wireless access node wirelessly broadcasts System Information Blocks (SIBs) that indicate individual slice characteristics for wireless network slices. A wireless UE wirelessly receives the SIBs, selects one of the slices based on user requirements for a user application and the individual slice characteristics for the slices, and transfers UE capability information that indicates the selected slice to the wireless access node. The wireless access node transfers the UE capability information to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). The AMF authorizes the wireless UE for the selected slice and selects Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters for the wireless UE that correspond to the individual slice characteristics for the selected slice. The AMF transfers signaling to the wireless access node to serve the wireless UE per the selected QoS parameters. The wireless access node wirelessly exchanges user data with the wireless UE per the selected QoS parameters.

Wireless network slice selection in wireless user equipment (UE)

A wireless communication network serves a wireless User Equipment (UE) over a backhaul link. A wireless network core identifies a wireless access node and a radio band for the wireless UE. The wireless network core selects a backhaul data rate for the wireless UE based on the radio band for the wireless UE. The wireless network core exchanges user data with the wireless access node over the backhaul link using the selected backhaul data rate. The wireless access node exchanges the user data with the wireless network core over the backhaul link using the selected backhaul data rate. The wireless access node wirelessly exchanges the user data with the wireless UE over the radio band.

Wireless data service using dynamic data rates based on serving radio bands and historical data rates

A primary wireless access node receives signaling that indicates primary power headroom for a User Equipment (UE) when transmitting to the primary wireless access node and secondary power headroom for the UE when transmitting to a secondary wireless access node. The primary wireless access node determines a primary uplink grant and a secondary uplink grant for the UE and transfers the secondary uplink grant amount to the secondary wireless access node. The primary wireless access node wirelessly transfers the primary uplink grant to the UE and wirelessly receives primary user data from the UE based on the primary uplink grant. The secondary wireless access node receives the secondary uplink grant from the primary wireless access node. The secondary wireless access node wirelessly transfers the secondary uplink grant to the UE and wirelessly receives secondary user data from the UE based on the secondary uplink grant.

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Overland Park, KS, United States of America

Sougata Saha