Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a communication device forms part of a communication system in which network slicing is supported and in which at least one tenant is able to communicate using at least one slice type associated with that tenant. The communication device receives network slicing related information transmitted by a base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information identifying support for a tenant whose communication is supported via the base station, or a network slice type of a tenant that is supported by the base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information comprising at least one communication parameter that is associated with a specific tenant or a specific slice type of a specific tenant. The communication device uses a slice having a slice type of a tenant with which the communication device is associated, based on the network slicing related information.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which am anchor base station receives, from a core network node, downlink data for a communication device. The base station attempts (e.g. by RAN-based paging) to initiate communication with the communication device, and when the communication device does not respond to the attempt to initiate communication, the base station sends a message to the core network node, the message requesting initiation of a paging procedure for the communication device (e.g. S1-based paging).

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a communication device forms part of a communication system in which network slicing is supported and in which at least one tenant is able to communicate using at least one slice type associated with that tenant. The communication device receives network slicing related information transmitted by a base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information identifying support for a tenant whose communication is supported via the base station, or a network slice type of a tenant that is supported by the base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information comprising at least one communication parameter that is associated with a specific tenant or a specific slice type of a specific tenant. The communication device uses a slice having a slice type of a tenant with which the communication device is associated, based on the network slicing related information.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which am anchor base station receives, from a core network node, downlink data for a communication device. The base station attempts (e.g. by RAN-based paging) to initiate communication with the communication device, and when the communication device does not respond to the attempt to initiate communication, the base station sends a message to the core network node, the message requesting initiation of a paging procedure for the communication device (e.g. S1-based paging).

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a base station performs an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) operation in relation to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and obtains, from a mobile communication device (UE) or a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Transport Network layer (TNL) address associated with a WLAN Termination node of the WLAN for establishing a connection between the base station and the WLAN Termination node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a user equipment (UE) comprising a receiver for receiving a paging message from a base station. A processor determines at least one network slice to which the paging message pertains based on the received paging message. The disclosure further relates to a UE comprising a receiver for receiving information on a plurality of network slices. The information includes for each network slice a shortened network slice ID identifying the respective network slice and includes mapping information defining a mapping between the shortened network slice ID and a full network slice ID. A processor determines a network slice and the corresponding full network slice ID and further determines the corresponding shortened network slice ID based on the received mapping information. A transmitter transmits a data transmission preparation message to the base station that comprises the determined shortened network slice ID.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed comprising a gateway and a number of base stations communicating, via the gateway, in accordance with a base station to base station application protocol. The gateway receives a message from a first base station, destined for a second base station. The message comprises (a) information for the second base station, in a first part of the message; and (b) an identifier of the second base station, in a second part of the message other than the first part. The gateway can obtain from the received message the second base station's identifier without the gateway being required to obtain the information from the first part of the message. The gateway routes the message to the second base station identified by the obtained identifier.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a base station receives, from a core network node (e.g. a mobility management entity), a resume identifier associated with a communication device located within a cell of the base station. The base station retrieves, based on the received resume identifier, a user equipment (UE) context associated with the communication device, for use in resumption of a suspended communication connection (e.g. a radio resource control connection) by the communication device.

Abstract: A user equipment receives random access configuration parameters from its base station. A processor of the UE controls to repeatedly perform a prioritized RACH procedure with the base station, based on the received parameters, for a time period up to an end of a primary time interval or until a maximum number of RACH procedures is reached or until successful completion of the prioritized RACH procedure with the base station. The primary time interval comprises a plurality of secondary time intervals. The processor, when controlling to repeatedly perform the prioritized RACH procedure, determines random access parameters, which are valid for the duration of the respective secondary time interval in which the respective prioritized RACH procedure is performed, based on the received random access configuration parameters and depending on the respective secondary time interval. A transmitter transmits messages of the respective prioritized RACH procedure using the determined valid random access parameters.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a base station receives, from a communication device, a request for establishing a communication connection via the base station. The base station obtains information indicating from where a context associated with a previously established communication connection can be retrieved; retrieves the context associated with the previously established communication connection based on the obtained information; and resumes the previously established communication connection with the communication device using the retrieved context.

Abstract: A system is described in which a default mobility management entity (MME) receives, from a base station, a request for setting up a communication connection to a mobile device having an associated usage type. The default MME sends, to the base station and responsive to the request, a message identifying a dedicated MME, to which the request should be re-routed, the dedicated MME having a supported service type corresponding to the usage type associated with the mobile device. The base station sends a response to the default MME, the response indicating whether re-routing to said dedicated MME is was successful or not (e.g. due to an overload of the dedicated MME). If the re-routing was not successful, the default MME attempts to serve the mobile device instead of the dedicated MME.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a serving base station configures a mobile device for performing measurements with respect to signals transmitted by a neighbour base station. The serving base station obtains a measurement report from the mobile device, the measurement report comprising a result of signal measurements in association with information identifying a beamformed region in which a signal to which said result of said signal measurements relates was transmitted.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which am anchor base station receives, from a core network node, downlink data for a communication device. The base station attempts (e.g. by RAN-based paging) to initiate communication with the communication device, and when the communication device does not respond to the attempt to initiate communication, the base station sends a message to the core network node, the message requesting initiation of a paging procedure for the communication device (e.g. S1-based paging).

Abstract: A system is described in which a default mobility management entity (MME) receives, from a base station, a request for setting up a communication connection to a mobile device having an associated usage type. The default MME sends, to the base station and responsive to the request, a message identifying a dedicated MME, to which the request should be re-routed, the dedicated MME having a supported service type corresponding to the usage type associated with the mobile device. The base station sends a response to the default MME, the response indicating whether re-routing to said dedicated MME is was successful or not (e.g. due to an overload of the dedicated MME). If the re-routing was not successful, the default MME attempts to serve the mobile device instead of the dedicated MME.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a serving base station configures a mobile device for performing measurements with respect to signals transmitted by a neighbour base station. The serving base station obtains a measurement report from the mobile device, the measurement report comprising a result of signal measurements in association with information identifying a beamformed region in which a signal to which said result of said signal measurements relates was transmitted.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a communication device forms part of a communication system in which network slicing is supported and in which at least one tenant is able to communicate using at least one slice type associated with that tenant. The communication device receives network slicing related information transmitted by a base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information identifying support for a tenant whose communication is supported via the base station, or a network slice type of a tenant that is supported by the base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information comprising at least one communication parameter that is associated with a specific tenant or a specific slice type of a specific tenant. The communication device uses a slice having a slice type of a tenant with which the communication device is associated, based on the network slicing related information.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a base station performs an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) operation in relation to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and obtains, from a mobile communication device (UE) or a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Transport Network layer (TNL) address associated with a WLAN Termination node of the WLAN for establishing a connection between the base station and the WLAN Termination node.

Abstract: Communication apparatus for a cellular communication system are disclosed. The communication apparatus comprises a controller and a transceiver. The controller is operable to control the transceiver to communicate with communication apparatus of a wireless local area network (WLAN) in pursuance of an interface setup procedure to setup an interface between the communication apparatus for the cellular communication system and the communication apparatus of the WLAN. As part of the interface setup procedure, the controller controls the transceiver to transmit an interface setup request message to the communication apparatus of the WLAN and receive, responsive to the interface setup request message, an interface setup response message including information identifying an access mode of at least one access point (AP) of the WLAN. The controller sets up the interface at the communication apparatus for the cellular communication system based on the interface setup procedure.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a communication device forms part of a communication system in which network slicing is supported and in which at least one tenant is able to communicate using at least one slice type associated with that tenant. The communication device receives network slicing related information transmitted by a base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information identifying support for a tenant whose communication is supported via the base station, or a network slice type of a tenant that is supported by the base station. The network slicing related information may comprise information comprising at least one communication parameter that is associated with a specific tenant or a specific slice type of a specific tenant. The communication device uses a slice having a slice type of a tenant with which the communication device is associated, based on the network slicing related information.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed comprising an X2 gateway, a number of base stations, and a mobile device. The base stations are able to establish X2 connections directly with each other or via the X2 gateway. Various procedures are disclosed to determine how X2 connections should be established based on compatibility of the respective base stations with the X2 gateway.