Reference signal enhancement in a wireless communication network

1. A method of operating a primary access node to wirelessly serve User Equipment (UEs), the method comprising:

a radio wirelessly transmitting reference signals at an initial reference power level, wirelessly exchanging data signals with the UEs at data power levels, and exchanging corresponding data with baseband circuitry;

the baseband circuitry exchanging the corresponding data with the radio, exchanging the corresponding data with one or more network elements, and exchanging signaling with secondary access nodes, wherein the secondary access nodes wirelessly exchange additional data with the UEs and exchange the additional data with the one or more network elements responsive to the signaling;

the baseband circuitry determining an amount of the secondary access nodes and determining individual amounts of the UEs that wirelessly exchange the additional data with individual ones of the secondary access nodes;

the baseband circuitry determining a new reference power level, to enhance the reference signals, based on the amount of the secondary access nodes and the individual amounts of the UEs;

the baseband circuitry determining secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs;

the radio wirelessly transmitting the reference signals at the new reference power level; and

the baseband circuitry signaling the secondary reference power levels to the individual ones of the secondary access nodes, wherein the individual ones of the secondary access nodes transmit corresponding secondary reference signals at a corresponding one of the secondary reference power levels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the baseband circuitry determining the individual amounts of the UEs that wirelessly exchange the additional data with the secondary access nodes comprises determining individual amounts of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected UEs that wirelessly exchange the additional data with the individual ones of the secondary access nodes; and

the baseband circuitry determining the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes and the individual amounts of the UEs comprises determining the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes and the individual amounts of the RRC Connected UEs.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the baseband circuitry determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs comprises determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the RRC connected UEs.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseband circuitry determining the new reference power level to enhance the reference signals comprises increasing the initial reference power level when at least one of the amount of the secondary access nodes or the individual amounts of the UEs increases.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseband circuitry determining the new reference power level to enhance the reference signals comprises decreasing the initial reference power level when at least one of the amount of the secondary access nodes or the individual amounts of the UEs decreases.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the baseband circuitry determining historical UE amounts that are served by the individual ones of secondary access nodes at a current day, date, and time and wherein:

the baseband circuitry determining the new reference power level comprises determining the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes, the individual amounts of the UEs, and the historical UE amounts.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the baseband circuitry determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes comprises determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs and the individual historical UE amounts.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the baseband circuitry determining an amount of interference at the radio; and wherein:

the baseband circuitry determining the new reference power level comprises determining the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes, the individual amounts of the UEs, and the amount of the interference at the radio.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

the baseband circuitry determining individual amounts of secondary interference at the individual ones of the secondary access nodes and wherein:

the baseband circuitry determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes comprises determining the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs and the individual amounts of secondary interference.

10. The method for claim 1 , wherein the primary access nodes comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) access node and the secondary access nodes comprise Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) access nodes.

11. A primary access node to wirelessly serve User Equipment (UEs), the primary access node comprising:

a radio configured to wirelessly transmit reference signals at an initial reference power level, wirelessly exchange data signals with the UEs at data power levels, and exchange corresponding data with baseband circuitry;

the baseband circuitry configured to exchange the corresponding data with the radio, exchange the corresponding data with one or more network elements, and exchange signaling with secondary access nodes, wherein the secondary access nodes are configured to wirelessly exchange additional data with the UEs and exchange the additional data with the one or more network elements responsive to the signaling;

the baseband circuitry configured to determine an amount of the secondary access nodes and determine individual amounts of the UEs that wirelessly exchange the additional data with individual ones of the secondary access nodes;

the baseband circuitry configured to determine a new reference power level, to enhance the reference signals, based on the amount of the secondary access nodes and the individual amounts of the UEs;

the baseband circuitry configured to determine secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs;

the radio configured to wirelessly transmit the reference signals at the new reference power level; and

the baseband circuitry configured to signal the secondary reference power levels to the individual ones of the secondary access nodes, wherein the individual ones of the secondary access nodes transmit corresponding secondary reference signals at a corresponding one of the secondary reference power levels.

12. The primary access node of claim 11 , wherein the baseband circuitry is configured to determine individual amounts of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected UEs that wirelessly exchange the additional data with the individual ones of the secondary access nodes and determine the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes and the individual amounts of the RRC connected UEs.

13. The primary access node of claim 12 , wherein the baseband circuitry is configured to determine the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the RRC connected UEs.

14. The primary access node of claim 11 , wherein the baseband circuitry is configured to determine the new reference power level to enhance the reference signals comprises the baseband circuitry configured to increase the initial reference power level when at least one of the amount of the secondary access nodes or the individual amounts of the UEs increases.

15. The primary access node of claim 11 , wherein the baseband circuitry is configured to determine the new reference power level to enhance the reference signals comprises the baseband circuitry configured to decrease the initial reference power level when at least one of the amount of the secondary access nodes or the individual amounts of the UEs decreases.

16. The primary access node of claim 11 , further comprising the baseband circuitry configured to determine historical UE amounts that are served by the individual ones of the secondary access nodes at a current day, date, and time, and determine the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes, the individual amounts of the UEs, and the historical UE amounts.

17. The primary access node of claim 16 , wherein the baseband circuitry is configured to determine the secondary reference power levels for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs individual historical UE amounts.

18. The primary access node of claim 11 , further comprising the baseband circuitry configured to determine an amount of interference at the radio and determine the new reference power level based on the amount of the secondary access nodes, the individual amounts of the UEs, and the amount of the interference at the radio.

19. The primary access node of claim 18 , further comprising:

the baseband circuitry configured to determine individual amounts of secondary interference at the individual ones of the secondary access nodes; and wherein:

the baseband circuitry is configured to determine the secondary reference power level for the individual ones of the secondary access nodes based on the individual amounts of the UEs and the individual amounts of secondary interference.

20. The primary access node of claim 11 , wherein the primary access nodes comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) access node and the secondary access nodes comprise Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) access nodes.