Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of a radio base station of interpreting multiplexed Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback data received from a wireless communication device in response to a downlink transmission to the wireless communication device, and a radio base station performing the method.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to: receive multilayer feedback; determine a beamformer for transmission of a first quantity of transmission layers where the beamformer is based at least on information, in the multilayer feedback, that is associated with a second quantity of transmission layers, where the first quantity of transmission layers is a less than the second quantity of transmission layers; and cause the transmission using the beamformer.

Abstract: A network node, wireless device and methods for co-phasing for beamforming using co-phasing matrices for wireless communications are provided. In one example, a network node for co-phasing in beamforming for transmissions is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry including a processor and a memory where the memory contains instructions executable by the processor to configure the network node to: obtain co-phasing information associated with a wireless device, generate at least two co-phasing matrices based on the co-phasing information, and apply the at least two co-phasing matrices to at least two resource structures.

Abstract: Methods, network nodes and wireless device for setting an electrical tilt of an antenna array toward a distribution of wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes for each of at least one sector of an area covered by the antenna array, determining a function of precoding matrix indicators, PMIs, received from a plurality of WDs in the sector. The method includes determining a current electrical tilt angle of the sector based on the function of PMIs. The method further includes comparing a difference between the current electrical tilt angle of the sector and a previously determined electrical tilt angle of the antenna array to a first threshold, and setting the electrical tilt angle of the antenna array based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods, network nodes and wireless device for setting an electrical tilt of an antenna array toward a distribution of wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes for each of at least one sector of an area covered by the antenna array, determining a function of precoding matrix indicators, PMIs, received from a plurality of WDs in the sector. The method includes determining a current electrical tilt angle of the sector based on the function of PMIs. The method further includes comparing a difference between the current electrical tilt angle of the sector and a previously determined electrical tilt angle of the antenna array to a first threshold, and setting the electrical tilt angle of the antenna array based on the comparison.

Abstract: A network node, wireless device and methods for co-phasing for beamforming using co-phasing matrices for wireless communications are provided. In one example, a network node for co-phasing in beamforming for transmissions is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry including a processor and a memory where the memory contains instructions executable by the processor to configure the network node to: obtain co-phasing information associated with a wireless device, generate at least two co-phasing matrices based on the co-phasing information, and apply the at least two co-phasing matrices to at least two resource structures.

Abstract: A transmission scheme for transmitting control data segments over a control channel using multi-layer or hierarchical modulation is disclosed. According to principles described herein, first and second control data segments are modulated to form multi-layer symbols configured such that the first control data segment is recoverable via demodulation at a lower order while a second control data segment is recoverable via demodulation at a higher order. In at least some embodiments, the scheme dynamically adapts this higher order to current channel conditions so as to maximize the control channel's spectral efficiency, while at the same time still allowing the system to statically fix the modulation order for the first control data segment, e.g., to maintain (blind) decoding complexity. By transmitting control data in segments using multi-layer modulation, spectral efficiency of the control channel may be improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to an unacknowledged connection release in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a base station in a cellular communications network comprises sending a connection release message to a wireless device that is in an Out-of-Sync (OOS) state and releasing a connection with the wireless device without receiving, from the wireless device, an acknowledgement of receipt of the connection release message. In this manner, signaling overhead for releasing the connection of the wireless device that is in OOS state is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A transmission scheme for transmitting control data segments over a control channel using multi-layer or hierarchical modulation is disclosed. According to principles described herein, first and second control data segments are modulated to form multi-layer symbols configured such that the first control data segment is recoverable via demodulation at a lower order while a second control data segment is recoverable via demodulation at a higher order. In at least some embodiments, the scheme dynamically adapts this higher order to current channel conditions so as to maximize the control channel's spectral efficiency, while at the same time still allowing the system to statically fix the modulation order for the first control data segment, e.g., to maintain (blind) decoding complexity. By transmitting control data in segments using multi-layer modulation, spectral efficiency of the control channel may be improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to an unacknowledged connection release in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a base station in a cellular communications network comprises sending a connection release message to a wireless device that is in an Out-of-Sync (OOS) state and releasing a connection with the wireless device without receiving, from the wireless device, an acknowledgement of receipt of the connection release message. In this manner, signaling overhead for releasing the connection of the wireless device that is in OOS state is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (16A) is configured to receive user data from a radio network node (18) in a wireless communication system (10) that includes a data channel (26) over which user data is transmitted and a control channel (24) over which control data is transmitted. The device (16A) receives over the control channel (24) a hierarchically-modulated symbol (28) which conveys control data on a control-data modulation layer (30A) and conveys user data on a user-data modulation layer (30B). The control-data modulation layer (30A) is recoverable via demodulation at a lower order, and the user-data modulation layer (30B) is recoverable via demodulation at a higher order. The lower order is lower than the higher order and is generally predefined independent of conditions on the control channel (24). The device (16A) recovers the user data received over the control channel (24) by demodulating at least the user-data modulation layer (30B) at the higher order.

Abstract: To relieve signaling congestion, UEs (30) having delay-tolerant data are moved more rapidly to the non UL synchronized state, freeing up PUCCH resources for users that have not indicated a delay-tolerance. In one embodiment, a resource conservative mode is defined for a UE (30) having delay-tolerant data (e.g., from a “background” app); otherwise, the UE (30) assumes a default mode. In one embodiment, the network sends the UE a pair of first and a second values (or indices to them) for a Time Alignment Timer, TAT (56, 66) in the UE (30). The first value—which is typically smaller than the second value—is used by the UE (30) in the resource conservative mode when the user data plane is internally concluded as being delay-tolerant or has already been confirmed to be delay-tolerant; the second value is used otherwise (i.e., in default mode). In the resource conservative mode, the shorter TAT value moves the UE from PUCCH more rapidly, and the UE (30) uses random access for infrequent scheduling requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods for control signal outer-loop adjustment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications network is provided. The method includes transmitting a control signal and a data signal to a wireless device. The method also includes detecting an ambiguous state of reception of the control signal by the wireless device based on a feedback of reception of the data signal. The method also includes, in response to detecting the ambiguous state of reception, updating a link adaptation (LA) parameter used to choose a coding scheme and power level for transmission of information in the control signal. By updating the LA parameter in response to detecting the ambiguous state of reception, the network node may provide improved performance.

Abstract: Scheduling of delay-sensitive downlink traffic in a downlink carrier aggregation scenario is performed in such a way as to take advantage of the unambiguous HARQ feedback that is available when the downlink assignment is transmitted coincident with an uplink TDD subframe on the secondary carrier. An example method, in a wireless network node supporting downlink carrier aggregation of a primary carrier in Frequency Division Duplexing, FDD, mode and a secondary carrier in Time-Division Duplexing, TDD, mode, includes determining (710) that a first user device supported or to be supported with said downlink carrier aggregation has Bela sensitive downlink traffic. Subsequent scheduling of the first user device's delay-sensitive downlink traffic is prioritized (720) in transmission-time intervals, TTIs, in which the subframe of the secondary carrier is an uplink subframe. The delay-sensitive downlink traffic may be voice-over-Internet-Protocol, VoIP, traffic, for example.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (16A) is configured to receive user data from a radio network node (18) in a wireless communication system (10) that includes a data channel (26) over which user data is transmitted and a control channel (24) over which control data is transmitted. The device (16A) receives over the control channel (24) a hierarchically-modulated symbol (28) which conveys control data on a control-data modulation layer (30A) and conveys user data on a user-data modulation layer (30B). The control-data modulation layer (30A) is recoverable via demodulation at a lower order, and the user-data modulation layer (30B) is recoverable via demodulation at a higher order. The lower order is lower than the higher order and is generally predefined independent of conditions on the control channel (24). The device (16A) recovers the user data received over the control channel (24) by demodulating at least the user-data modulation layer (30B) at the higher order.

Abstract: To relieve signaling congestion, UEs (30) having delay-tolerant data are moved more rapidly to the non UL synchronized state, freeing up PUCCH resources for users that have not indicated a delay-tolerance. In one embodiment, a resource conservative mode is defined for a UE (30) having delay-tolerant data (e.g., from a “background” app); otherwise, the UE (30) assumes a default mode. In one embodiment, the network sends the UE a pair of first and a second values (or indices to them) for a Time Alignment Timer, TAT (56, 66) in the UE (30). The first value—which is typically smaller than the second value—is used by the UE (30) in the resource conservative mode when the user data plane is internally concluded as being delay-tolerant or has already been confirmed to be delay-tolerant; the second value is used otherwise (i.e., in default mode). In the resource conservative mode, the shorter TAT value moves the UE from PUCCH more rapidly, and the UE (30) uses random access for infrequent scheduling requests.

Abstract: A method and node for adjusting an outer loop for link adaptation of downlink channels, such as Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), in a communication network to establish a control channel element aggregation level is provided. A period of time between receipt of two consecutive channel events from a user equipment, UE, is determined by a base station. At least one of an upward step and a downward step of an outer loop adjustment is adjusted based on the determined period of time, the adjusted at least one of the upward step size and downward step size affecting the outer loop adjustment for link adaptation of the downlink channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for control signal outer-loop adjustment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications network is provided. The method includes transmitting a control signal and a data signal to a wireless device. The method also includes detecting an ambiguous state of reception of the control signal by the wireless device based on a feedback of reception of the data signal. The method also includes, in response to detecting the ambiguous state of reception, updating a link adaptation (LA) parameter used to choose a coding scheme and power level for transmission of information in the control signal. By updating the LA parameter in response to detecting the ambiguous state of reception, the network node may provide improved performance.

Abstract: A method and base station for outerloop adjustment for link adaptation of a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, in a communication network to determine a control channel element, CCE, aggregation level of a downlink assignment downlink control information, DCI, and a CCE aggregation level of an uplink grant DCI is provided. A downlink data packet feedback corresponding to the downlink assignment is received. A status of the downlink data packet feedback is determined. An uplink data packet corresponding to the uplink grant is received and a status thereof is determined. An outerloop downlink adjustment and outerloop uplink adjustment are updated based on at least one of the status of the downlink data packet feedback corresponding to the downlink assignment and status of the uplink data packet corresponding to the uplink grant. An outerloop uplink adjustment is determined as a sum of the outerloop downlink adjustment and an offset adjustment.

Abstract: A method and base station for outerloop adjustment for link adaptation of a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, in a communication network to determine a control channel element, CCE, aggregation level of a downlink assignment downlink control information, DCI, and a CCE aggregation level of an uplink grant DCI is provided. A downlink data packet feedback corresponding to the downlink assignment is received. A status of the downlink data packet feedback is determined. An uplink data packet corresponding to the uplink grant is received and a status thereof is determined. An outerloop downlink adjustment and outerloop uplink adjustment are updated based on at least one of the status of the downlink data packet feedback corresponding to the downlink assignment and status of the uplink data packet corresponding to the uplink grant. An outerloop uplink adjustment is determined as a sum of the outerloop downlink adjustment and an offset adjustment.