Abstract:
A method and system for controlling connectivity of a user equipment device (UE). When a UE is served with dual connectivity by a first access node over a first connection in accordance with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second access node over a second connection in accordance with a second RAT, initiation of a voice call for the UE will be detected. And in response to at least detecting the initiation of the voice call for the UE, the first access node will invoke transition of the UE from being served with the dual connectivity over the first connection and the second connection to instead being served with standalone connectivity over the first connection.
Abstract:
When a donor base station serves a relay on a wireless backhaul connection that encompasses at least two carriers, and where the relay includes a relay base station and a relay-WCD, communications over the wireless backhaul connection will be distributed among the carriers based on whether the communications are control-plane communications with the relay base station or rather user-plane communications with a WCD served by the relay base station. For instance, all such control-plane communication could be carried on one of the carriers, and all such user-plane communication could be carried instead on another of the carriers.
Abstract:
A method and system for a base station to manage air interface communications with a wireless client device (WCD) served by the base station, taking into account whether the WCD is a relay-WCD that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station. The base station will determine whether the served WCD is a relay-WCD, and based on a determination that the served WCD is a relay-WCD, the base station will responsively invoke a process to help expedite air interface communications with the served WCD, in an effort to reduce the total delay resulting from the wireless relay arrangement. In particular, based on the served WCD being a relay-WCD, and perhaps based on the relay-WCD facilitating a threshold extent of delay-sensitive communication, the base station will invoke transmission time interval (TTI) bundling, to help expedite the air interface communications between the base station and the relay-WCD.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods and systems for setting a timeout period. In particular, a BS may have data storage defining a buffer. Also, the BS may be configured to (i) provide an air interface through which the BS serves UEs, (ii) buffer data packets destined to individual UEs, and (iii) apply a buffer timeout process according to which the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for a timeout period. As such, the BS may make a determination that a served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay-BS, and may set the timeout period based on the determination. When the BS then applies the buffer timeout process, the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for the timeout period set based on the determination.
Abstract:
A method and system for transferring buffered downlink data for a wireless communication device (WCD) from a source base station to a target base station as part of a handover of the WCD from the source to the target base station. The source base station may have downlink data for transmission to the WCD buffered during the handover. A determination may be made as to whether or not the target base station is a relay base station with a wireless backhaul. If the target base station is determined to be a relay base station with a wireless backhaul, then the source base station may refrain from transmitting at least one portion of the buffered data to the target base station.
Abstract:
A method and system for pre-configuring a UE with timing advance for use in communication with a handover target. When a UE is being served by a handover source, the handover source transmits to a handover target a measurement request that specifies an uplink reference signal that the UE will provide, and the handover target evaluates that uplink reference signal to determine a timing advance for the UE and reports the timing advance in a response to the handover source. As the handover source then directs the UE to hand over to the handover target, the handover source provides the UE with an indication of the timing advance provided by the handover target. The UE may then transition to be served by the handover target and to make use of the indicated timing advance.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods and systems to help conserve battery life of a user equipment device (UE). In particular, the UE may make a determination that a remaining battery life is threshold low. In response to making the determination, the UE may engage in a scanning-limiting process that involves (i) the UE identifying on the list each carrier frequency higher than the serving carrier frequency and (ii) based on the identifying, the UE excluding each identified higher carrier frequency from the list, so that, in response to detecting a trigger to scan carrier frequencies in search of target coverage for possible handover, the UE scans each carrier frequency on the list that is lower than the serving carrier frequency but forgoes scanning each identified higher carrier frequency. Further, once the UE detects the trigger, the UE may responsively scan carrier frequencies in accordance with the scanning-limiting process.
Abstract:
A method and system for pre-configuring a UE with timing advance for use in communication with a handover target. When a UE is being served by a source base station, the source base station transmits to a target base station a measurement request that specifies an uplink reference signal that the UE will provide, and the target base station evaluates that uplink reference signal to determine a timing advance for the UE and reports the timing advance in a response to the source base station. As the source base station then directs the UE to hand over to the target base station, the source base station then provides the UE with an indication of the timing advance provided by the target base station. The UE may then transition to be served by the target base station and to make use of the indicated timing advance.