Abstract: The invention provides a method by which a network element in a telecommunications network can report factors that have limited the performance of a UE in an observation period. A bottleneck score is calculated for each factor, the bottleneck score providing a measurement of the extent to which that factor has limited the performance of that UE compared to other factors in the observation period A data record for the UE is populated with the bottleneck scores and sent in a report towards upper layer management functions. When these reports are received (e.g. by a MME) they may be complemented with global entities of the users and aggregated measures created.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for handover wherein the handover resource (the dedicated random access preamble) is reserved by the target radio base station (RBS) for a limited period of time, thus increasing the handover efficiency and thereby allowing random access preambles to be used for initial access to a larger extent. The information about the reserved time interval is sent to the UE in the handover command message by means of a frame number offset between the source RBS and the target RBS. The UE uses the information to calculate when to send its synchronization message to the target RBS. The frame number offset is calculated either by source RBS or by target RBS.

Abstract: A radio base station suitable for performing a handover operation for a LTE-variant of a radio access network comprises a transceiver and a status report requester. The transceiver is configured to facilitate wireless transmission between the radio base station and a wireless terminal over an air interface, including transmission of a radio link bearer for the connection over a downlink from the radio base station to the wireless terminal. The status report requester is configured to determine, according to one or more pre-defined criteria, whether to request from the wireless terminal a status report for a radio bearer prior to the radio base station transferring user data for the connection to another radio base station in conjunction with a handover.

Abstract: Radio coverage in areas with normally poor radio conditions can be improved using distributed relay nodes to relay communications between the base station and user terminal. The distributed relay node comprises two main functional components interconnected by a local area network. The functional components of the relay node comprise a terminal part that appears to the serving base station as another user terminal, and a base station part that appears to the user terminal as a base station. The terminal part and base station part of the relay node can be remotely located and interconnected by an existing local area network based IP protocols. A packet delivery mechanism transfers data packets between the terminal part and base station part of the relay node in a manner that is transparent to the rest of the mobile communication network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in a user equipment (10), and relates to a user equipment (10) for enabling a serving base station (40) to estimate interference contribution in a network when scheduling resources for the use equipment. According to the method, the user equipment determines an amount of resources required to send data and the user equipment sends a report to it serving base station when the required amount of resources is greater than a threshold value. In the report, measurements performed by the user equipment are included. The report will assist the serving base station with its estimation of the degree of interference user equipments generates in the network, and hence the power and resources to assign.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses (600, 700) for coordinating interference in a telecommunications LTE based system. According to exemplary embodiments, an apparatus acting as a macro radio base station (eNB) (600) is configured to decide on what radio resources to schedule to its UEs and further decide on what resources to leave unutilized. Information on the decided resources is further transmitted in an interference coordinate signalling message, to at least one relay node (RN) (700) via at least one layer (1) control channel. The interference coordination signalling message will assist the RN (700) to make its own scheduling decision based on the information in the signalling message.

Abstract: A mechanism to share channels between cells dynamically and without simultaneous allocation of the same channel by more than one access point achieved by a method for a dynamic inter-cell channel sharing for a first access point in a radio access network, the first access point being associated with a first cell of a number of cells within the radio access network, the first access point being adapted to connecting at least one first user equipment being situated in the first cell, to a network infrastructure, comprising the steps of: receiving from the at least one first user equipment a report indicating whether a specific channel is used in a second adjacent cell of said number of cells, the report being based on a first information sent from at least one second access point, the information indicating whether a specific channel is used in the second adjacent cell.

Abstract: In existing mobile networks, users may be traced to troubleshoot problematic user connections, monitor generic network performance, and to perform root cause analysis to identify network problems. However, the existing tracing methods provide incomplete trace information. To address this and other issues, early tracing recording is enabled in which an involved trace entity starts recording the trace data when any initial activity related to the user equipment is detected. The trace entity can continue the trace if a trace trigger is later confirmed or may discard the trace data if the trigger is not confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for user terminal and bearer identification that reduces the overhead for LTE relaying (layer 2 and layer 3), which will save radio resources on the backhaul link. Reduction in overhead is achieved by providing a more efficient mechanism for user terminal and bearer identification as compared to using GTP-u and associated UDP/IP headers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the configuration of network nodes without a secured connection in a telecommunications system are described herein. These network nodes can be wireless network nodes which are part of the network infrastructure, such as, wireless relays, wireless repeaters and self-back-hauled eNodeBs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing UE-based network performance measurements utilizing a process of tracing a UE in a radio telecommunication network. An eNB may receive a trace activation message from a Mobility Management Entity, MME, or a Network Management Entity, wherein the trace activation message includes eNB-specific, and optionally MME-specific, selection conditions for selecting a UE for a trace session. The eNB selects a UE for tracing when the eNB-specific selection conditions are satisfied, and may send the MME-specific selection conditions to the MME for evaluation. When all selection conditions are satisfied, the eNB activates the trace session with the selected UE. The Trace Activation IE utilized in the Trace Start message, the UE Context Setup Request message, and the Handover Request message is extended with additional IEs in order to implement the method.

Abstract: A device selects one or more cells in the network, and coordinates transmissions from the selected one or more cells, and transmissions from neighbor cells of the selected one or more cells, so that transmissions of the selected one or more cells do not interfere with reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at designated times. The device also receives, from a user equipment served by the selected one or more cells, measurement reports associated with the reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells, and determines signal strengths of the neighbor cells based on the measurement reports. The device further determines, based on the signal strengths, whether network coverage is sufficient when coverage of the selected one or more cells is reduced or when the selected one or more cells are out of service.

Abstract: A cellular radio communications system, method, mobile station, and base station for a smooth hard handover. Selected base stations prepare radio links for potential communication with a mobile station although only one radio link is actively used for transmission. A handover is then performed from the active radio link to one of the prepared radio links. The smooth hard handover is faster and more secure than a conventional hard handover, while requiring a less complex system architecture than a conventional soft handover.

Abstract: A cellular radio communications system, method, mobile station, and base station for a smooth hard handover. Selected base stations prepare radio links for potential communication with a mobile station although only one radio link is actively used for transmission. A handover is then performed from the active radio link to one of the prepared radio links. The smooth hard handover is faster and more secure than a conventional hard handover, while requiring a less complex system architecture than a conventional soft handover.

Abstract: A method manages bearers over a first wireless link between a self-backhauled base station and a base station, where the self-backhauled base station serves one or more user equipments (UEs) via one or more second wireless links in a network. The method is implemented at the self-backhauled base station and includes identifying changes in numbers and/or characteristics of UE bearers multiplexed onto a backhaul bearer associated with the first wireless link.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellular radio communications system and especially a method, a mobile station and a base station for a smooth hard handover. The smooth hard handover includes preparing radio links in selected base stations for potential communication with a mobile station. This is similar to selecting base stations for the active set in the prior art soft handover. A difference is though that just one radio link is actively used for transmission. The handover from the active to a prepared radio link is quick and safe, as compared to conventional hard handover, because of the preparation, while requiring a less complex system architecture then the conventional soft handover. The smooth hard handover can replace the soft handover.

Abstract: A method is implemented in an anchor eNodeB of a network, where the anchor eNodeB communicates with a self-backhauled eNodeB via a radio interface and where the network further includes another eNodeB. The method includes determining whether a user equipment (UE) is being handed off from the first self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB. The determining is based on: receiving (820) a message from the self-backhauled eNodeB via the radio interface instructing the anchor eNodeB to stop delivering packets that are destined for the UE, or sniffing (1 105, 1 1 10, 1 1 15) into one or more messages sent from the self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB to identify that the UE is being handed off from the self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB. The method further includes storing (1 120), based on the determination of whether the UE is being handed off, received packets intended for the UE: and forwarding (1 120) the stored packets to the other eNodeB via a transport network for delivery to the UE.

Abstract: A method implemented in an anchor base station configured performing a proxy operation at an anchor base station in which the anchor base station acts as a proxy between a second S-GW or an MME node and a self-backhauled base station. The method includes receiving a data packet destined for the user equipment and mapping the received data packet from an incoming General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel to an outgoing GTP tunnel. The method also includes receiving a control message and modifying elements of the control message while copying other elements in the control message and forwarding the control message between the self-backhauled base station and the second S-GW or MME node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for handling UE capability information a mobile telecommunications network wherein an eNodeB (100) receives (60) information regarding the UE capability information from the UE (120) and stores (70) the information. The eNodeB (100) sends (80) the UE capability information to the EPC, i.e. the MME (130). The MME (130) receives and stores (90) the UE capability information. When the UE (120) transits from idle to active state, does an initial attach or when a part of the UE capabilities have changed, it sends (10) a message Ma to the eNodeB (100) regarding the update. The eNodeB (100) receives the message and sends (20) it to the MME (130). The MME (130) sends (30) a response associated with the previously stored UE capability information to the eNodeB (100). The eNodeB (100) decides (40) if the UE capabilities stored in the MME (130) is up-to-date based on the message sent from the UE (120) and the received response from the MME (130).

Abstract: A telecommunications network, and particularly a mobility management entity (MME) (26) of the telecommunications network, performs negotiation of use of header compression over at least a portion of a backhaul link extending between a base station node (28) and a serving gateway (SGW) (24). In some embodiments the backhaul link comprises a radio link. In certain bearer encapsulation embodiments having radio-interface borne backhaul links a General Packet Radio service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel traverses between the serving gateway node and a relay base station node. In such bearer encapsulation embodiments the method further comprises handling signaling between the serving gateway node and the relay base station node for negotiating the use of the header compression inside the General Packet Radio service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel.