Patent ID: 9386563
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method implemented in a radio access network (RAN) device of a wireless communication system, wherein air-interface coding rates are assigned according to predefined capacity parameters, the method comprising: in response to receiving a request to set up a communication session between a first access terminal operating in a first wireless coverage zone and a second access terminal operating in a second wireless coverage zone, determining both (i) a first maximum air-interface coding rate from among air-interface coding rates supported on each of one or more carrier frequencies of an air interface of the first wireless coverage zone, and (ii) a second maximum air-interface coding rate from among air-interface coding rates supported on each of one or more carrier frequencies of an air interface of the second wireless coverage zone; determining a minimum air-interface coding rate from among the determined first maximum air-interface coding rate and the determined second maximum air-interface coding rate; and transmitting an instruction to each of the first access terminal and the second access terminal to use the determined minimum air-interface coding rate for air-interface communications for a duration of the communication session, wherein the communication session is a voice call, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to operate according to at least Enhanced Variable Rate Codec B (EVRC-B), including assignment of air-interface coding rates identified by predefined Capacity Operating Point (COP) parameter values ranging from a minimum COPs value to a maximum COPs value, wherein the first wireless coverage zone is a first wireless sector of the wireless communication system and the second wireless coverage zone is a second wireless sector of the wireless communication system, and wherein determining both the first maximum air-interface coding rate and the second maximum air-interface coding rate comprises: based on capacity load conditions on each of the one or more carrier frequencies of the air interface of the first wireless sector, determining a first carrier frequency of the first wireless sector that will support a coding rate corresponding to a first COP parameter value; and based on capacity load conditions on each of the one or more carrier frequencies of the air interface of the second wireless sector, determining a second carrier frequency of the second wireless sector that will support a coding rate corresponding to a second COP parameter value.