Abstract: Systems and methods for delivery of on-demand system information in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node comprises transmitting, to a User Equipment (UE), minimum system information including a set of signal quality indication levels and corresponding random access parameter(s) and detecting a random access request from the UE that uses the random access parameter(s) configured for the signal quality indication level that corresponds to a signal quality level measured at the UE. The method further comprises deciding whether to deliver on-demand system information to the UE via a broadcast or dedicated signaling based on the signal quality level measured at the UE, broadcasting on-demand system information upon deciding to deliver on-demand system information via a broadcast, and delivering on-demand system information to the UE via dedicated signaling upon deciding to deliver on-demand system information via dedicated signaling.

Abstract: A method in a in a Base Station Subsystem (BSS) for receiving a service identifier from a packet core network is provided. The BSS receives a service identifier in a BSS General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Protocol (BSSGP) Downlink unitdata Protocol Data Unit (DL-UNITDATA PDU) that includes a Logical Link Control (LLC) PDU comprising a data packet or a portion of a data packet from a Serving General packet radio service Support Node (SGSN) which service identifier is identifying a type of service for the data packet, wherein receiving the service identifier in the DL-UNITDATA PDU comprises receiving, within a header of the DL-UNITDATA PDU, a value corresponding to the service identifier. The BSS performs an action based on the service identifier.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device (e.g., a mobile station), and various methods are described herein for improving the allocation of radio resources in wireless communications. In one embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a fixed uplink allocation technique. In another embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a flexible downlink allocation technique.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device (e.g., a mobile station), and various methods are described herein for improving the allocation of radio resources in wireless communications. In one embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a fixed uplink allocation technique. In another embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a flexible downlink allocation technique.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for paging of a communication device in a coverage area served by a radio access network (RAN) node. Such embodiments include receiving, from a core network node, an indication of which of the following modes of operation are supported by the communication device: Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode; and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode. Embodiments also include, based on the indication and on a capability of the coverage area to support said following modes of operation, determining at least one of the following: whether to page the communication device in the coverage area; and a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a core network node, as well as RAN nodes and core network nodes configured to perform any of the exemplary methods.

Abstract: Methods, network node (110, 800) and device (120; 1000) for managing a cell identity of a cell (115) in a GSM network (100). The device (120; 1000) receives, from the network node (110; 800), a cell identifier for identifying said cell (115), which cell identifier is a Base Station Identity Code, “BSIC”, coding an identity of said cell (115) and being formed of at least three sets of bits: A first three bits set thereof being a Network Color Code, “NCC”, a second three bits set thereof being a Base Station Color Code, “BCC”, and an additional third set thereof comprising one or more bits.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device (e.g., a mobile station), and various methods are described herein for improving the allocation of radio resources in wireless communications. In one embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a fixed uplink allocation technique. In another embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a flexible downlink allocation technique.

Abstract: According to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method provides update indication information from a radio network node to one or more wireless devices unreachable via a paging channel or a machine-type communication, MTC, control channel. The method comprises generating an update signal comprising a Downlink Control Information, DCI, message by including the update indication information in the update signal, the update indication information comprising at least one indication unrelated to paging the one or more wireless devices, and transmitting the update signal to the one or more wireless devices via a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, when the one or more wireless devices are unreachable via the paging channel or the MTC control channel. Further embodiments of the invention include, e.g., methods of handling update indication information and corresponding radio network nodes and wireless devices.

Abstract: A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving (401) a page request from a core network node, wherein the page request comprises an indication of a support level of the communication device (140), which support level indicates whether or not the communication device (140) supports a specific mode of operation of a RAT; and determining (402), based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area, or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

Abstract: According to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method provides update indication information from a radio network node to one or more wireless devices unreachable via a paging channel or a machine-type communication, MTC, control channel. The method comprises generating (112) an update signal comprising a Downlink Control Information, DCI, message by including the update indication information in the update signal, the update indication information comprising at least one indication unrelated to paging the one or more wireless devices, and transmitting (122) the update signal to the one or more wireless devices via a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, when the one or more wireless devices are unreachable via the paging channel or the MTC control channel. Further embodiments of the invention includes e.g. methods of handling update indication information and corresponding radio network nodes and wireless devices.

Abstract: A method performed by a communication device for determining an extended time period related to a signalling message between a core network node and the communication device in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: obtaining (301) an indication of a coverage capability of the communication device; obtaining (302) an indication of a time period, which time period is related to the signalling message; and determining (303) the extended time period related to the signalling message, based on the indication of the coverage capability of the communication device and based on the indication of the time period.

Abstract: A core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)), a radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device, and various methods are described herein for splitting a period of a ready timer to allow for different periodicities of reachability for the wireless device.

Abstract: A Radio Network Node (RNN) and a method therein for providing improved robustness of a radio link between the RNN and a wireless device. The RNN and the wireless device operate in a communications network. The RNN transmits, towards the wireless device, a transmission with a first transmission mode associated with a first level of coverage extension. When a first period of time has elapsed, the RNN transmits, towards the wireless device, the transmission using a second transmission mode associated with a second level of coverage extension. The second level of coverage extension is higher than the first level of coverage extension.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) node, a wireless device and various methods are described herein for managing paging bandwidth. In one embodiment, the RAN node transmits a message (e.g., paging message, assignment message) to wireless devices, where the message comprises at least the following: (i) a page mode field which includes information indicating one or more coverage classes for which one or more paging messages were available for transmission during a time interval but were not transmitted to a plurality of wireless devices; and (ii) a used_downlink_coverage_class field which includes information indicating a coverage class associated with the transmitted message.

Abstract: Methods, a wireless device (400; 120) and a radio network node (600; 110), for managing information about one or more coverage classes associated with the wireless device (400; 120). The wireless device (400; 120), sends, to the radio network node (600; 110) that receives, a message that comprises an indicator indicating an updated downlink coverage class estimated by the wireless device (400; 120).

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device (e.g., a mobile station), and various methods are described herein for improving the allocation of radio resources in wireless communications. In one embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a fixed uplink allocation technique. In another embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a flexible downlink allocation technique.

Abstract: A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving (401) a page request from a core network node, wherein the page request comprises an indication of a support level of the communication device (140), which support level indicates whether or not the communication device (140) supports a specific mode of operation of a RAT; and determining (402), based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area, or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) node, a wireless device and various methods are described herein for managing paging bandwidth. In one embodiment, the RAN node transmits a message (e.g., paging message, assignment message) to wireless devices, where the message comprises at least the following: (i) a page mode field which includes information indicating one or more coverage classes for which one or more paging messages were available for transmission during a time interval but were not transmitted to a plurality of wireless devices; and (ii) a used_downlink_coverage_class field which includes information indicating a coverage class associated with the transmitted message.

Abstract: According to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method provides update indication information from a radio network node to one or more wireless devices unreachable via a paging channel or a machine-type communication, MTC, control channel. The method comprises generating (112) an update signal comprising a Downlink Control Information, DCI, message by including the update indication information in the update signal, the update indication information comprising at least one indication unrelated to paging the one or more wireless devices, and transmitting (122) the update signal to the one or more wireless devices via a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, when the one or more wireless devices are unreachable via the paging channel or the MTC control channel. Further embodiments of the invention includes e.g. methods of handling update indication information and corresponding radio network nodes and wireless devices.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), a wireless device (e.g., a mobile station), and various methods are described herein for improving the allocation of radio resources in wireless communications. In one embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a fixed uplink allocation technique. In another embodiment, the radio access network node and wireless device implement a flexible downlink allocation technique.