Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating enhanced user equipment (UE) assistance information between nodes in wireless communication systems. The UE achieves power savings and latency requirements more effectively by communicating its preferences, constraints and/or requirements to an evolved Node B (eNodeB) in the form of UE assistance information. The UE assistance information may include, for example, an indication of a preferred set of discontinuous reception (DRX) settings, current data traffic conditions, expected data traffic conditions, power or performance preferences, and/or an indication of the UE's mobility between cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating enhanced user equipment (UE) assistance information between nodes in wireless communication systems. The UE achieves power savings and latency requirements more effectively by communicating its preferences, constraints and/or requirements to an evolved Node B (eNodeB) in the form of UE assistance information. The UE assistance information may include, for example, an indication of a preferred set of discontinuous reception (DRX) settings, current data traffic conditions, expected data traffic conditions, power or performance preferences, and/or an indication of the UE's mobility between cells.

Abstract: Embodiments of an Evolved Node-B (eNB) and methods for transition between idle and connected modes are disclosed herein. The eNB may receive uplink data packets from a User Equipment (UE) using a lightweight Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the eNB and the UE. The eNB may transmit an RRC connection release message to the UE to indicate a transition of the UE to an RRC idle mode for the RRC connection. The RRC connection release message may include an indicator of whether the UE is to store context information for the RRC connection. The eNB may further receive additional uplink data packets according to the stored context information using a lightweight RRC connection.

Abstract: Embodiments of user equipment (UE) and base stations (eNodeB) and method for reducing power consumption in UE in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, characteristics of UE including mobility, communication data load, and communication type are used by base stations, MME or other controlling entities to configure power saving features of the UE. Power saving features can include a new Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer state where circuitry is powered off for extended periods of time, extended Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles, reduced workloads in existing RRC, EPC Connection Management (ECM) and/or EPS Mobility Management (EMM) states or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cell selection and/or reselection based on prioritize nodes are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) may be configured to determine whether to select and/or reselect an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (eNB). The eNB may be a dedicated eNB and/or may be communicatively coupled to a dedicated core network (CN). The dedicated eNB and/or the dedicated CN may be configured to optimize performance for UEs sharing particular characteristics. Accordingly, the selection and/or reselection criteria may be biased to encourage the UE to select and/or reselect towards a dedicated eNB and/or an eNB coupled to a dedicated CN. The eNB and/or CN may be dedicated to supporting particular types of UEs, types of nodes, types of traffic, types of subscriptions, UE mobilities, applications/services, other predetermined categories, and/or the like.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a new discontinuous reception (DRX) parameter change may be received in user equipment while the user equipment is using an existing DRX parameter. The user equipment continues to use the existing parameter and determines when a new discontinuous reception cycle is starting. The change to the next discontinuous reception parameter is implemented in the new discontinuous reception cycle. In some embodiments by having an agreed upon time to implement the change to the new parameter, signaling between an enhanced node B and user equipment may be reduced. Signaling overhead is a serious impediment to achieving high efficiency in wireless communications.

Abstract: In Machine Type Communication (MTC) with a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Network, there is often a need to transmit and receive small data payloads. New information elements (IEs) have been defined to ease the transmission and receipt of small data payloads. Methods and systems can use the new IEs to more efficiently transmit and receive data. The new IEs include a Small Data ACK IE and a Small Data Container IE. Other new messages include an RRC Release Indicator and an RRC Connection Release.

Abstract: Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE) and method for selecting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactivity timer for a service operating in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the UE may be configured to operate in a 3GPP network in accordance with a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactivity timer that controls RRC state transitions of the UE, and further in accordance with a Machine Type Communication (MTC) mode of operation. The UE may receive, from an Evolved Node-B (eNB), one or more messages that may include an RRC inactivity timer keep connected support value that indicates support of a keep connected mode. In some embodiments, when the UE operates in keep connected mode, the UE operates in an RRC connected state and is restricted from operating in other RRC states.

Abstract: Embodiments of wireless communication devices and method for congestion control in a wireless network are generally described herein. Some of these embodiments describe a method, performed by an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), that includes operations of determining that a congestion condition exists on the network. An example method can also include transmitting a suspension notification to a user equipment (UE), the UE being in an RRC_CONNECTED state with the eNodeB, to notify the UE that a radio bearer (RB) operating in the network will be suspended. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of wireless communication devices and method for discontinuous reception (DRX) mode in RRC_IDLE state of wireless communication are generally described herein. Some of these embodiments describe a wireless communication device having processing circuitry arranged to determine to use an extended paging discontinuous reception (DRX) value to increase a paging cycle length. The wireless communication device may transmit a non-access stratum (NAS) message to the network, indicating that the wireless communication device desires to use the extended paging DRX value. The wireless communication device may receive a message from the network that includes an information element (IE) indicating whether the network supports the extended paging DRX value. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for utilizing lightweight communication protocols between different network components. A messaging process is utilized which includes a random access procedure for a user equipment (UE) and an eNodeB, and a messaging sequence comprising a reduced number of messages (compared to a legacy Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection messaging sequence) exchanged between different nodes of the network to establish a connection. These messages can be generated using any combination of pre-configured or pre-determined data specific to either the UE or to lightweight communication protocols.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for control of small data transmission by a user equipment (UE) are described herein. The UE may determine that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data if a size of the data is below a threshold. The UE may transmit a message indicating that the UE shall be transmitting small data responsive to determining that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data. The UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) signal from an evolved Node B (eNodeB) that includes a logical channel identifier (LCID) of a small data radio bearer (SDRB) configured for transmission of small data. The UE may transmit small data on the SDRB subsequent to receiving the RRC signal from the eNodeB. The UE may refrain from transmitting other than small data on the SDRB. Other apparatuses and methods are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cell selection and/or reselection based on prioritize nodes are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) may be configured to determine whether to select and/or reselect an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (eNB). The eNB may be a dedicated eNB and/or may be communicatively coupled to a dedicated core network (CN). The dedicated eNB and/or the dedicated CN may be configured to optimize performance for UEs sharing particular characteristics. Accordingly, the selection and/or reselection criteria may be biased to encourage the UE to select and/or reselect towards a dedicated eNB and/or an eNB coupled to a dedicated CN. The eNB and/or CN may be dedicated to supporting particular types of UEs, types of nodes, types of traffic, types of subscriptions, UE mobilities, applications/services, other predetermined categories, and/or the like.

Abstract: Embodiments of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to support packet-switched (PS) services in a network in accordance with Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers are disclosed herein. The MME may receive, from a User Equipment (UE), an indicator of Machine Type Communication (MTC) operation, which may indicate that the UE operates as an MTC UE. The MME may, at least partly in response to a determination of UE inactivity on an EPS bearer, transmit a bearer release message for release of an S5/S8 bearer included in the EPS bearer. In some embodiments, the indicator of MTC operation may include a permission indicator from the UE for the release of the S5/S8 bearer. In some embodiments, the indicator of MTC operation may include an indicator of transmission of small blocks of data or transmission at an infrequent rate.

Abstract: Apparatus, computer-readable medium, and method to support low complexity user equipment are disclosed. A wireless communication device including circuitry is disclosed. The circuitry may be configured to determine support of a target evolved nodeB (eNB) for a low complexity user equipment (LC-UE), and handover the LC-UE to the target eNB if the support of the target eNB indicates the target eNB supports LC-UE. The wireless communication device may be a long term evolution (LTE) wireless communication device. The wireless communication device may be one of the following a source eNB, a core network entity, a LC-UE, a source radio network controller (RNC), a base station, a source base service set (BSS). The circuitry may be configured to determine support of the target eNB for the LC-UE based on a configuration or information from the target eNB.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, methods to establish and control communication of a dedicated device such as a dedicated user equipment (UE) with dedicated nodes of a network are provided.

Abstract: A machine type communication interworking function (MTC-IWF) is configured to receive from a service capability exposure function (SCEF), services capability server (SCS), or a third-party application server (AS), application communication pattern information defined by an MTC application and representing characteristics of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications expected from a user equipment (UE) machine type communication (MTC) device. The MTC-IWF being configured to communicate the information to a mobility management entity (MME) that thereby provides core network (CN) originated assistance to an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network node B (eNB). Disclosed are embodiments for providing the information in the form of Diameter-based messages communicated through Tsp, T5, and other interfaces, or through an application programming interface (API) exposed by the SCEF, SCS, or MTC-IWF.

Abstract: Technology for providing core network assistance information from a mobility management entity (MME) in an evolved packet core (EPC) is disclosed. An average radio resource control (RRC) connected state time for a UE is determined. An average RRC idle state time for the UE is also determined. An amount of time that the UE spends in cells of the EPC is identified to determine a number of handover procedures between cells in a selected time period. The core network assistance information communicated to a serving eNB of the UE to enable the serving eNB to reduce UE state transitions for the UE.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for control of uplink transmission by a user equipment (UE) using machine-type communications (MTC) applications are described herein. The UE may transmit first data on a logical uplink channel. The logical uplink channel may have been assigned for use by machine-type communications (MTC) applications. The UE may receive transmission time restriction information, responsive to the transmitting, that indicates time periods during which the UE is permitted to transmit additional data on the logical uplink channel. The UE may refrain from transmitting additional data in a time period on the logical uplink channel based on the transmission time restriction information.

Abstract: Technology for enabling small data transmissions in a user equipment (UE) configured for machine type communication (MTC) is disclosed. One method comprises receiving, by the UE from an evolved node (eNB), a system information block (SIB). The SIB can include system information relating to small data transmissions for MTC. The system information included in the SIB is read by the UE. The small data transmission is performed, from the UE to the eNB, based on the system information included in the SIB.