Abstract: Embodiments include methods performed by a centralized unit, CU, in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a first node. Embodiments include determining that a control plane (CP) connection between the CU and the first node should be moved from a source path in the RAN to a target path, which includes at least one radio access node not in the source path. Embodiments also include, based on determining that the CP connection should be moved, sending to the first node a message including transport network layer (TNL) association(s) related to the CP connection. The message is sent before the first node relocates to the target path. Embodiments also include, after the first node has relocated to the target path, establishing a transport layer protocol connection with the first node over the target path based on the TNL association(s).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a wireless device of acquiring system information associated with a core network comprises receiving system information from a network node. The network node is connected to one or more core networks. The system information includes an indication of a network type (e.g., enhanced packet system (EPS), fifth generation system (5GS), etc.) for each core network. The method further comprises determining a capability of the wireless device for connecting to the plurality of network types, and determining whether to connect to a core network based on the network type and the capability of the wireless device. In particular embodiments, the indication of the network type comprises a list of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) connected to the network node and an indication of network types supported by each PLMN.

Abstract: A radio network node in a radio access network (RAN) and a method therein for Paging Policy Differentiation (PPD). The radio network node receives from a core network a Downlink (DL) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) associated with a wireless device. The DL PDU is comprised in a Quality of Service (QoS)-flow, is originated from a respective service, and comprises a Paging Policy Indicator (PPI) associated with the respective service. The radio network node extracts the PPI by means of a Central Unit User Plane (CU-UP). By means of the CU-UP, the radio network node informs a Central Unit Control Plane (CU-CP) about the PPI. Further, by means of the CU-CP, the radio network node triggers paging of the wireless device. Furthermore, the radio network node pages the wireless device according to the PPI associated with the respective service.

Abstract: A method in a network node including a gNB-Distributed Unit (DU) logical node and a gNB-Central Unit (CU) logical node for determining admission of a user equipment (UE) includes the steps: the gNB-DU receiving a connection request from a UE; in response to a determination that the gNB-DU is not able to serve the UE, sending an initial uplink radio resource control (UL RRC) message that does not include a configuration for signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1) from the gNB-DU to the gNB-CU; in response to receiving, at the gNB-CU, the UL RRC message that does not include the configuration for SRB1, responding to the gNB-DU with a radio resource control (RRC) ConnectionReject message; and transmitting the RRC ConnectionReject message from the gNB-DU to the UE to reject the UE.

Abstract: According to a first exemplary embodiment a method is performed by a first network node for monitoring the QoS of a flow. A session setup message comprising a QoS configuration for the flow and an indication that the flow is subject to QoS notification control is received (1710) from a core network node. Based on the QoS configuration, radio resources to be used for the flow are determined (1720) and a resource setup message comprising an identification of the radio resources and an indication that the flow and/or the radio resources are subject to QoS notification control is sent (1730) to a second network node. A first notification control indication that the QoS configuration the flow and/or the radio resources cannot be fulfilled is received (1740) from the second network node and a resource notification message indicating that the QoS configuration for the flow cannot be fulfilled is sent (1750) to the core network node.

Abstract: Methoda performed by base stations and wireless devices in networks are disclosed. A method performed by a base station comprises: initiating a QoS-flow to DRB remapping; informing a target base station that the remapping is ongoing; and providing the target base station an old and a new QoS-flow to DRB mapping, wherein the old mapping was in place before the remapping, and the new mapping will be in place after the remapping. Another method performed by a base station comprises: receiving an indication from a further base station that QoS-flow to DRB remapping is ongoing; receiving an old and a new QoS-flow to DRB mapping from the further base station; and receiving signals from a wireless device using the old and new QoS-flow to DRB mappings. A method performed by the wireless device comprises: sending data packets using a first QoS-flow to DRB mapping; receiving a new mapping; and sending an SOAR end marker, indicating that the wireless device is applying the new mapping.

Abstract: In a process for adding a base station as a secondary base station, and for example in 5 response to a UE Context Setup Request or a UE Context Modification Request, a distributed unit of a base station selects a feature set, and informs a central unit of the base station of the selected feature set.

Abstract: A method performed by a first unit for handling a connection between the first unit and multiple second units in a wireless communications network is provided. The first unit obtains from each of the multiple second units a respective indication of which one or more version of NR User plane protocol (NR-U) it supports. The first unit decides which version of NR-U that is possible to use for the connection based on the indications received from the multiple second units.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redirecting Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages in a wireless system that uses Central Unit (CU)/Distributed Unit (DU) splitting and either network sharing or network slicing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a shared Distributed Unit (DU) comprises receiving a RRC message from a User Equipment (UE) and sending a first DU-to-Central Unit (CU) message to a first CU, where the first DU-to-CU message comprises the RRC message. The method further comprises either obtaining an indication that the first CU is a wrong CU for the RRC message or determining that the first CU is a wrong CU for the RRC message. The method further comprises sending another DU-to-CU message to a second CU, where the other DU-to-CU message comprises the RRC message or a RRC message related to the RRC message.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed related to the detection and reporting of UE inactivity. One exemplary method is performed by a distributed unit of a base station. The base station further comprises a centralized unit. The method comprises: monitoring the activity of one or more data radio bearers, established between the distributed unit and a user equipment, for carrying user data; and transmitting, to the centralized unit, a report message comprising an indication of the activity of the one or more data radio bearers.

Abstract: A radio network node (12) in a radio access network (RAN1) and a method therein for Paging Policy Differentiation (PPD). The radio network node receives from a core network (CN1) a Downlink (DL) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) associated with a wireless device (10). The DL PDU is comprised in a Quality of Service (QoS)-flow, is originated from a respective service and comprises a Paging Policy Indicator (PPI) associated with the respective service. The radio network node extracts the PPI by means of a Central Unit User Plane (CU-UP) (12b). By means of the CU-UP (12b), the radio network node informs a Central Unit Control Plane (CU-CP) (12a) about the PPI. Further, by means of the CU-CP, the radio network node triggers paging of the wireless device. Furthermore, the radio network node pages the wireless device (10) according to the PPI associated with the respective service.

Abstract: Methods, central unit (200A) and distributed unit (200B) of a radio network node (200), for handling a message received from a core node (204) for transmission to a wireless device (202). An action is required by the radio network node if the message is not successfully delivered to the wireless device. The central unit (200A) sends the message and an associated identifier I_msg to the distributed unit (200B) and then receives feedback indicating whether the message has been successfully delivered to the wireless device or not. The central unit (200A) performs the required action if the feedback does not confirm delivery of the message to the wireless device (202). The required action may include sending a non-delivery indication to the core node (204).

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a first node for handling message delivery to a UE. The first node sends an indication to a second node. The indication indicates that the second node should inform the first node when one or more messages have been successfully delivered by the second node to the UE. The first node receives, from the second node, a confirmation of that the one or more messages have been successfully delivered by the second node to the UE.

Abstract: A radio network equipment central unit (20, 1700) receives a message (15) that indicates an update to a transport layer address of a radio network equipment distributed unit (10, 1600) from an old transport layer address (12A) to a new transport layer address (12B). The message (15) indicates the old transport layer address (12A) and indicates the new transport layer address (12B). The message (15) may be received from the radio network equipment distributed unit (10, 1600), or from a distributed unit of an integrated access backhaul donor. Regardless, for each of multiple user plane bearers or transport layer tunnels that are associated with the old transport layer address (12A), the radio network equipment central unit (20, 1700) may update a transport layer address of that bearer or tunnel from the old transport layer address (12A) to the new transport layer address (12B).

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment a method may be provided to operate a central unit, CU, node that is coupled with first and second distributed unit, DU, nodes. Communication is provided between the CU node and a mobile communication device through the first DU node over a first radio link between the first DU node and the mobile communication device. A message is received from the first DU node informing the CU node that the radio link is temporarily unavailable. Responsive to receiving the message, communication through the first DU node is suspended, wherein configuration of the first DU node to serve the mobile communication device using the first radio link is maintained. While suspending communication through the first DU node, communication may be provided through the second DU node over a second radio link between the second DU node and the mobile communication device.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, performed by a master node (MN) in a radio access network, for establishing radio resources between a secondary node (SN) and a user equipment (UE). Such embodiments include sending, to the SN, a request identifying one or more QoS flows to be setup between the SN and the UE; and receiving, from the SN, a response including identification of one or more radio bearers that were admitted by the SN in association with the requested QoS flows. Such embodiments also include sending, to the SN, identifiers of one or more tunnels for forwarding downlink user-plane (DL UP) data over an interface between the SN and the MN. Each tunnel identifier is associated with a respective admitted radio bearer. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by a SN, as well as network nodes configured to perform the various methods.

Abstract: Radio network equipment (1700) is configured to implement a radio access network, RAN, central unit (12-C). The radio network equipment (1700) is configured to decide, by the RAN central unit (12-C), which of multiple RAN distributed units (12-D1, 12-D2) is to be responsible for activating duplication of traffic of a radio bearer (16) over multiple paths (16-1, 16-2). Different ones of the RAN distributed units (12-D1, 12-D2) serve different respective ones of the multiple paths (16-1, 16-2). The radio network equipment (1700) is also configured to transmit, from the RAN central unit (12-C), control signalling (20) to each of one or more of the RAN distributed units (12-D1, 12-D2) indicating whether or not the RAN distributed unit is responsible for activating duplication of the traffic of the radio bearer (16) over the multiple paths (16-1, 16-2).

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatuses for synchronizing radio link control re-establishment between a user equipment, UE and a base station 5distributed unit, DU, with Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, data recovery. A method performed by a Control Plane data processing apparatus comprises: obtaining an indication that an uplink and/or downlink outage has occurred between the base station DU and the UE; and transmitting a request to a user plane, UP, data processing apparatus to instruct the UP data processing apparatus to retransmit any data protocol 0 units previously transmitted to the UE which were unacknowledged by the UE.

Abstract: Embodiments include exemplar)? methods and/or procedures performed by a central unit, CU, (110) that together with first and second distributed units, DUs (120, 130), comprise a node (100, 1160) of a wireless communication network. Embodiments include receiving (830) from the first DU, prior to occurrence of a first event concerning a user equipment, UE, (1110) that is in communication with the first DU, a lower-layer configuration of the UE. Embodiments also include storing (840) the lower-layer configuration of the UE, and sending (870), to the second DU, a setup request comprising the stored lower-layer configuration of the UE. Embodiments also include receiving (880), from the second DU, a setup response comprising a first delta configuration indicating one or more differences between a lower-layer configuration of the second DU and the stored lower-layer configuration. Embodiments also include sending (890), to the first DU, a modification request comprising the first delta configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided by a central-unit-control plane (CU-CP) of a network node for exchanging information with a central-unit user plane (CU-UP) of the network node to manage Quality of Service (QoS) flows for the optimization of radio resources. The method includes transmitting, to the CU-UP, a request for flow information for at least one QoS flow and receiving, from the CU-UP of the network node, the flow information for the at least one QoS flow. Based on the flow information for the at least one QoS flow, at least one action is taken.