Methods and apparatus for enhancing data rates in a small-cell wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the methods and apparatus utilize “quasi-licensed” CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) wireless spectrum in conjunction with 3GPP wireless communication network (e.g. 4G LTE or 5GNR) for the delivery of services to a number of enhanced fixed wireless apparatus (CPEe/FWAe) at user or subscriber premises. The various CPEe/FWAe report Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) data to their respective serving base stations, and each base station maps the CQI value to a prescribed configuration (e.g., to the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS)) adaptively for the transmission of the data to the CPEe/FWAe. In one implementation, the base stations update the CQI to MCS values adaptively according to ACK/NACK requests received from the CPEe/FWAe.

A dual band LTE small cell base station communicates on both licensed bands and unlicensed bands. The small cell base station modifies the communication protocol utilized by the licensed band to enable communication over an unlicensed band. This modification involves replacing the physical (PHY) layer of the licensed band communication protocol with the PHY layer of a to-be-used protocol in an unlicensed band.

A dual band LTE small cell base station communicates on both licensed bands and unlicensed bands. The small cell base station modifies the communication protocol utilized by the licensed band to enable communication over an unlicensed band. This modification involves replacing the physical (PHY) layer of the licensed band communication protocol with the PHY layer of a to-be-used protocol in an unlicensed band.

A first base station receives, from a second base station, at least one listen before talk (LBT) parameter based on one or more results of one or more LBT processes performed by the second base station on one or more unlicensed cells. Based on the one or more results of the one or more LBT processes performed by the second base station transmit, a request for a handover of a wireless device to the second base station is transmitted to the second base station. A response confirming the request for the handover is received from the second base station.

A method and apparatus for dimensioning a plurality of base stations to be installed within an area such as an enterprise location or a floor space within an enterprise location of an enterprise network. The wireless communication network is a spectrum-controlled network such as a Citizen's Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network that is spectrum-controlled by a spectrum access server, and the base stations may comprise CBRS devices (CBSDs). A method of allocating radio bands among the base stations is described that effectively utilizes the available spectrum. A domain proxy is connected to communicate with the spectrum access server on behalf of the CBSDs, to inquire regarding spectrum and request spectrum grant.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining spectrum availability within a radio band managed by a Spectrum Management Entity (SME), and allocating available spectrum to Base Station/Access Points (BS/APs) of an Enterprise Network (EN). The EN includes a domain proxy that sends a registration request to the SME indicating a maximum EIRP for the BS/APs. After receiving registration, the Domain Proxy sends a spectrum inquiry and receives a response specifying available spectrum. If less than the entire requested spectrum is available, then the maximum EIRP indication is reduced, and a next iteration is performed re-registering the BS/APs and requesting spectrum. Iterations are repeated until the entire requested spectrum is available, and then spectrum is allocated to the BS/APs. Each iteration of channel availability is stored, and channels are allocated utilizing a Self-Organizing Network (SON) technique responsive to the stored channel availability. The EN may comprise a CBRS Network.

Networking systems and methods here include utilizing an exchange service in communication with a network service, the network service being in communication with a first network and a second network, the exchange service configured to, receive a formation request to form a consortium of networks among the first network and second network, send provision information to a first AP in the first network regarding the second network and a second AP in the second network regarding the first network.

Networking systems and methods here include utilizing an exchange service in communication with a network service, the network service being in communication with a first network and a second network, the exchange service configured to, receive a formation request to form a consortium of networks among the first network and second network, send provision information to a first AP in the first network regarding the second network and a second AP in the second network regarding the first network.

A method and apparatus for performing spatial reuse (SR) enhancement in a multiple-station environment are provided. The method includes: in response to a wireless communications device receiving a receiving packet, checking SR limitation to perform first stage SR determination; in response to the SR limitation conforming to a predetermined condition, triggering a transmitting module to start performing second stage SR determination; scanning at least one contention queue within the transmitting module to obtain an index of a candidate station from the contention queue; obtaining latest information of the candidate station from an internal database of the wireless communications device based on the index, to calculate a threshold dedicated to the candidate station according to the latest information of the candidate station; and comparing a strength indicator corresponding to the receiving packet with the threshold to generate a comparison result, to control triggering of SR backoff according to the comparison result.

A first base station receives, from a second base station, at least one listen before talk (LBT) parameter based on one or more results of one or more LBT processes performed by the second base station on one or more unlicensed cells. Based on the one or more results of the one or more LBT processes performed by the second base station transmit, a request for a handover of a wireless device to the second base station is transmitted to the second base station. A response confirming the request for the handover is received from the second base station.