Abstract: The present disclosure concerns radio communication. More particularly, the present disclosure inter alia introduces techniques to allow low-complexity UEs 120a-j, e.g. Rel-3 MTC devices, to operate in a legacy LTE system with maintained, or improved, performance.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for transmitting uplink (UL) data, by a user equipment (UE), using preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) in a radio access network (RAN). Such methods include receiving, from a network node in the RAN, a first PUR configuration, and transmitting, based on the first PUR configuration, a first UL data message to the network node Such methods also include receiving, from the network node, a first acknowledgement (PUR ACK) of the first UL data message. The first PUR ACK indicates whether the first UL data message was correctly or incorrectly received by the network node, and includes information related to subsequent UL transmissions using PUR (e.g., a second PUR configuration, a fallback indication, etc.). Some embodiments also include transmitting a second UL data message. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs network nodes and UEs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method, network nodes and wireless devices for scheduling transmissions over preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method is performed by a network node for scheduling a plurality of wireless devices with periodic preconfigured uplink shared channel resources. The method includes configuring a wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices with preconfigured uplink resources, PURs, the PURs having a transmission length and a periodicity, the PURs being configured based at least in part on one or more multiplexing criteria for multiplexing the plurality of wireless devices for PUR transmission.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for communicating in a wireless communication network includes transmitting or receiving (402) using an LTE-M carrier within the bandwidth of an NR carrier such that the LTE-M carrier overlaps at least a portion of NR guard band. The transmitting or receiving may be subject to aligning subcarriers in LTE-M and NR on the same grid and subject to raster placement. The LTE-M carrier may be positioned within the NR carrier so as to minimize the number of NR resource blocks occupied by the LTE-M carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting subcarriers to be used for sub-Physical Resource Block (PRB) transmission and, in some embodiments, for mapping Demodulation Reference Signals (DMRS) to resources on the selected subcarriers are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a radio node for providing sub-PRB transmission comprises selecting two adjacent subcarriers from a set of three allocated subcarriers that are allocated for a sub-PRB transmission that uses Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) Pi/2 Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation using only two adjacent subcarriers out of the set of three allocated subcarriers with Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) spread length of 2. In some embodiments, the selection is such that the selected adjacent subcarriers varies, e.g., from one cell to another. In doing so, interference is distributed.

Abstract: A network node (200), a wireless device (202) and methods therein, for communicating or obtaining system information. The network node (200) transmits (2:1) a System Information Block Type1, SIB1, message that includes at least one other SIB than SIB1 as an extension. The wireless device (202) reads (2:2) the at least one other SIB in the SIB1 if the wireless device (202) is capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message. The network node (200) may further transmit (2:1) the at least one other SIB in a subsequent separate System Information message. The wireless device (202) is then able to read (2:4) the at least one other SIB in the subsequently received System Information message if the wireless device (202) is not capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message. Thereby, if the wireless device is capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message it will acquire the system information earlier than if the other SIBs are only transmitted in less frequent System Information messages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and arrangements that make it possible to control the delay for the UEs to access the EUL resources in the Enhanced Uplink in CELL_FACH state procedure, independently from the delay for the UEs to access ordinary UL resources in the RACH procedure. This is achieved by a solution where the timing of entering (or re-entering) a transmission procedure for Enhanced Uplink in CELL_FACH state is controlled with the help of a transmission control parameter defined specifically for this transmission procedure, instead of using the same parameter as for the RACH procedure.

Abstract: A method, performed by a network node (e.g., an eNB) is provided. The method includes, during a first time period, broadcasting system information (SI) at a first density (e.g., frequency); and determining that a condition is satisfied. The method further includes, as a result of determining that the condition is satisfied, broadcasting the SI at a second density (e.g., frequency) during a subsequent second time period. The second density is greater than the first density.

Abstract: A method and network node for providing support for frequency-overlapping carriers among a first radio access technology, RAT, and a second RAT is provided. Second RAT information to signal to the first RAT wireless device is determined. The second RAT information configured to allow the first RAT wireless device to determine, at a resource element level, resources reserved for second RAT transmissions. The second RAT information is caused to be communicated to the first RAT wireless device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for transmitting a wake-up signal (WUS) to one or more user equipment (UEs) in a cell of a radio access network. Exemplary embodiments can include receiving a paging message identifying at least a portion of the UEs. Exemplary embodiments can also include selecting a WUS code associated with the identified UEs, wherein the WUS code is selected from a first plurality of available WUS codes that are mapped to a second plurality of UE groups. Certain exemplary embodiments can include determining the mapping between the first plurality and the second plurality, and transmitting the determined mapping to the one or more UEs. Exemplary embodiments can also include transmitting the WUS based on the selected WUS code. Other exemplary embodiments include methods for receiving a WUS transmitted by a RAN node, as well as network nodes and UEs configured to perform operations corresponding to exemplary methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting Radio Link Monitoring (RLM), Radio Link Failure (RLF) detection, RLF recovery, and/or connection establishment failure detection for wireless devices (16) in a cellular communications network (10) depending on mode of operation. In one embodiment, a node (14, 16) in the cellular communications network (10) determines whether a wireless device (16) (e.g., a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device) is to operate in a long range extension mode of operation or a normal mode of operation. The node (14, 16) then applies different values for at least one parameter depending on whether the wireless device (16) is to operate in the long range extension mode or the normal mode. The at least one parameter includes one or more RLM parameters, one or more RLF detection parameters, and/or one or more RLF recovery parameters.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD) is provided. The network node is configured to, and/or includes a radio interface and/or includes processing circuitry configured to transmit a downlink control information (DCI) to the wireless device where the DCI is configured to schedule a plurality of transport blocks (TBs) where the DCI including at least one parameter that is configured to be applied to the plurality of TBs, and perform communications based on the transmitted DCI.

Abstract: A network node (200), a wireless device (202) and methods therein, for communicating or obtaining system information. The network node (200) transmits (2:1) a System Information Block Type1, SIB1, message that includes at least one other SIB than SIB1 as an extension. The wireless device (202) reads (2:2) the at least one other SIB in the SIB1 if the wireless device (202) is capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message. The network node (200) may further transmit (2:1) the at least one other SIB in a subsequent separate System Information message. The wireless device (202) is then able to read (2:4) the at least one other SIB in the subsequently received System Information message if the wireless device (202) is not capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message. Thereby, if the wireless device is capable of reading the extension in the SIB1 message it will acquire the system information earlier than if the other SIBs are only transmitted in less frequent System Information messages.

Abstract: Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by a network node (115). The network node defines one or more parameters of a Coverage Enhanced Physical random access channel Configuration Index, CE PCI, for one or more Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, resource sets, each of the one or more PRACH resource sets is associated with a coverage level whereby a different CE PCI is defined for each coverage level. The network node configures the one or more PRACH resource sets in a broadcast message. Furthermore, the network node assigns a starting subframe number to a PRACH resource set used by a UE, (110), and calculates a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RA-RNTI, using the assigned starting subframe number.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a frequency band in a wireless communications network. The method comprises determining a frequency separation between a frequency of a transmit signal and a frequency of a receive signal within the frequency band based on at least one of a power of the transmit signal, a number of physical channels associated with the transmit signal, and a number of physical channels associated with the receive signal. The method further comprises transmitting and receiving signals in the frequency band in accordance with the determined frequency separation. The method may be performed by a User Equipment of a Network Node.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method is disclosed for use in a network node. The method comprises receiving a random access preamble from a wireless device, scheduling a grant of a first uplink transmission opportunity and a second uplink transmission opportunity, and sending a random access response to the wireless device. The random access response indicates information associated with the grant of the first uplink transmission opportunity and the second uplink transmission opportunity. The method further comprises receiving data from the wireless device via the first uplink transmission opportunity or the second uplink transmission opportunity.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a frequency band in a wireless communications network. The method includes determining a frequency separation between a frequency of a transmit signal and a frequency of a receive signal within the frequency band based on at least one of a power of the transmit signal, a number of physical channels associated with the transmit signal, and a number of physical channels associated with the receive signal. The method further includes transmitting and receiving signals in the frequency band in accordance with the determined frequency separation. The method may be performed by a User Equipment of a Network Node.

Abstract: A method is performed by a wireless device for early data transmission. The method comprises receiving a broadcast from a network node. The broadcast indicates a maximum transport block size for early data transmission and a number of transport block size candidates. The method further comprises selecting a transport block size for early data transmission. The transport block size is selected based on a table entry that corresponds to the maximum transport block size and the number of transport block size candidates. The method further comprises transmitting uplink data in one or more transport blocks. Each transport block has the selected transport block size.