Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing system information message transmission in a distribution network (e.g., a wireless network such as one compliant with 3GPP 5G NR-U). In one embodiment, transmission of multiple SI (System Information) messages with overlapping SI-windows is enabled but with no soft-combining support. In another embodiment, transmission of multiple SI-messages with overlapping SI-windows is enabled with soft-combining support. In yet another embodiment, aperiodic OSI transmission is enabled. Moreover, the present disclosure provides mechanisms for notifying UE of an SI change.

Abstract: A method in a communication device for managing uplink transmissions from the communication device to a network node. The method includes obtaining a timing advance value, the timing advance value indicating a time period in which the communication device shall advance a first uplink subframe transmission to the network node, obtaining information about a location of a gap within the first uplink subframe, the gap having a predefined duration, the location of the gap occurring after the time period indicated in the timing advance value, and performing the first uplink subframe transmission after the predefined duration.

Abstract: A method performed by a first communication device for sending one or more control signals to a second communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device operate in a wireless communications network. The first communication device determines, during a first period, that a transmission medium is available for sending the one or more control signals to the second communication device. The first communication device then sends, to the second communication device, the one or more control signals along with a discovery signal, via the transmission medium. The discovery signal and the one or more control signals are sent without data after the first period. The first period is shorter than a second period for determining that the transmission medium is available for sending the data.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes user equipment in communication with a wireless base station. The user equipment receives resource allocation information facilitating communication of wireless communications in a network environment. The user equipment is operable to: produce a first configured grant communication to include: i) first information specifying attributes (such as a first selected identifier value) of the first configured grant communication, and ii) second information specifying attributes (such as a second selected identifier value) of a second (buffered) configured grant communication to be communicated from the user equipment to the wireless base station after communication of the first configured grant communication to the wireless base station. The user equipment communicates the first configured grant communication to the wireless base station and then follows up with communication of the second configured grant communication to the wireless base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) may receive resource utilization values indicating an amount of available resources of server devices that are capable of sharing resources to support a session of an application. The WCD may generate performance scores for base station-server device groupings that are candidates for being selected as a target base station and a target server device. The WCD may select the target base station and the target server device based on the set of performance scores. The WCD may cause the session to be established in a manner that allows resources of the target server device to support the session of the application.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device (110) comprises obtaining (104) information related to a signal transmission configuration for autonomous uplink transmission by the wireless device, the information comprising: a set of pre-allocated resources for use by the wireless device in performing autonomous uplink transmission on at least one secondary cell established between the wireless device and a network node (115), and a periodicity associated with the set of pre-allocated resources. The method comprises performing (1008) autonomous uplink transmission according to the obtained information related to the signal transmission configuration.

Abstract: A contending radio node (200) is configured for attempting contention-based random access. The contending radio node (200) obtains a timing advance sequence that is susceptible to contention. The contending radio node (200) transmits, using the same transmission advancement timing, the timing advance sequence and a contention-resolving identity to a recipient radio node (250). Responsive to that transmission, the contending radio node (200) receives a response signal that indicates a contention-resolving identity and a timing advance. The contending radio node (200) resolves any contention in its favor when the contention-resolving identity indicated by the response signal corresponds to the contention-resolving identity that the contending radio node (200) transmitted. The contending radio node (200), responsive to resolving the contention in its favor, adjusts its transmission advancement timing according to the timing advance indicated by the response signal.

Abstract: Efficient paging in a communications system including macro and small cell base stations is described. A macro cell base station receives, from a network node, a request to page a UE and determines a set of base stations including one or more small cell base stations, which are to attempt to page the UE. The macro cell base station communicates the paging request to the selected one or more small cell base stations. A small cell base station, using unlicensed spectrum, may fail in its paging attempt due to current unavailability of the unlicensed spectrum (LBT fails to clear) resulting in no paging signal transmitted; the reason for failure is communicated from the small cell base station to the macro cell base station via a paging response message. The macro cell base station in turn communicates a paging response message to the network node communicating the reason for failure.

Abstract: An example method described herein includes obtaining a private identifier for a private radio access network (RAN). The private identifier may be used by a user equipment (UE) to access the private RAN. The method may include deploying network functions to one or more devices of a private network platform. The network functions may be associated with one or more radio access technologies (RATs). The method may include configuring the private network platform to host the network functions to provide a private multi-access edge computing (MEC) environment. The private MEC environment may be configured to host one or more MEC applications. The method may include configuring a communication interface between the private RAN and the private MEC environment to enable the UE to access, via the private RAN, the private MEC environment and performing an action associated with the private MEC environment.

Abstract: A base station schedules a user equipment (UE) for uplink air link resources, e.g., unlicensed spectrum PUSCH resources, corresponding to one or more slots and, in some embodiments, at least one mini-slot. There may be, and sometimes are gaps between two scheduled slots and/or between a scheduled slot and a scheduled mini-slot. Different uplink air link resources corresponding to a schedule slot or mini-slot may, and sometimes do, use different set of frequencies. The base station generates and sends to the UE a single UL grant which grants uplink air link resources corresponding to the composite of resource allocations corresponding to the one or more slots and, in some embodiments, at least one mini-slot. The single UL grant may, and sometimes does, communicates gap information and frequency information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus used to facilitate preparation of one or more target base stations for possible UE handoffs, e.g., conditional handoffs, which may or may not occur depending on whether or not various handoff conditions are satisfied are described. A handoff message, e.g., a conditional handoff message, including a validity time is generated and sent to each selected target base stations to which a UE may be handed off. The validity time indicates to the target base station a time window, e.g., a time duration for which the handoff target message is to be considered valid. In response to the handoff message, the target base station, receiving the handoff message, allocates resources to the UE and starts a countdown validity timer based on the indicated length of the validity time. When the validity timer expires without handoff to the target base station, the target base station releases the allocated resources.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a traffic control service is provided. The traffic control service may include using user plane congestion information pertaining to a radio access network and a multi-access edge computing system to manage congestion or anticipated congestion.

Abstract: A method performed by a first communication device for sending one or more control signals to a second communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device operate in a wireless communications network. The first communication device determines, during a first period, that a transmission medium is available for sending the one or more control signals to the second communication device. The first communication device then sends, to the second communication device, the one or more control signals along with a discovery signal, via the transmission medium. The discovery signal and the one or more control signals are sent without data after the first period. The first period is shorter than a second period for determining that the transmission medium is available for sending the data.

Abstract: An example method described herein includes obtaining a private identifier for a private radio access network (RAN). The private identifier may be used by a user equipment (UE) to access the private RAN. The method may include deploying network functions to one or more devices of a private network platform. The network functions may be associated with one or more radio access technologies (RATs). The method may include configuring the private network platform to host the network functions to provide a private multi-access edge computing (MEC) environment. The private MEC environment may be configured to host one or more MEC applications. The method may include configuring a communication interface between the private RAN and the private MEC environment to enable the UE to access, via the private RAN, the private MEC environment and performing an action associated with the private MEC environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multiplexing of different traffic types in a telecommunications network are provided. According to one aspect, a method of operation of a network node comprises: determining that data is available for a Downlink (DL) transmission of a first traffic type to a User Equipment (UE); identifying a DL transmission of a second traffic type to be punctured; transmitting the DL transmission of the first traffic type by puncturing the identified DL transmission of the second traffic type; receiving a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) associated with the punctured DL transmission of the second traffic type; and excluding the HARQ NACK associated with the punctured DL transmission of the second traffic type from a DL Contention Window Size (CWS) adjustment operation of the network node.

Abstract: A first communication device determines one or more parameters for transmitting on an uplink control channel in an unlicensed band to a second communication device operating in a wireless communications network. The one or more parameters comprise an indication of a duration of a channel sensing period. The first communication device then transmits on the uplink control channel to the second communication device, by applying the determined one or more parameters. According to a method performed by the second communication device operating in the wireless communications network, the second communication device determines the one or more parameters. The second communication device then initiates transmitting the determined one or more parameters to the first communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to a Timing Advance (TA) in a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) cell are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a radio access node in a cellular communications network comprises transmitting an indication of a TA for uplink LBT for a LBT cell to be used by a wireless device. In this manner, timing of the uplink LBT procedure can be controlled such that at least a portion of the LBT duration occurs during a time period in which downlink transmission on the LBT cell does not interfere with the LBT procedure.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device comprises obtaining information related to a signal transmission configuration for autonomous uplink transmission by the wireless device, the information comprising: a set of pre-allocated resources for use by the wireless device in performing autonomous uplink transmission on at least one secondary cell established between the wireless device and a network node; and a periodicity associated with the set of pre-allocated resources. The method comprises performing autonomous uplink transmission according to the obtained information related to the signal transmission configuration.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) may receive resource utilization values indicating an amount of available resources of server devices that are capable of sharing resources to support a session of an application. The WCD may generate performance scores for base station-server device groupings that are candidates for being selected as a target base station and a target server device. The WCD may select the target base station and the target server device based on the set of performance scores. The WCD may cause the session to be established in a manner that allows resources of the target server device to support the session of the application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient paging in a communications system using unlicensed spectrum are described. A base station, which uses unlicensed spectrum, receives a paging request message from a network node and performs paging operations attempting to page the UE. The paging attempt may fail due to the base station being unable to transmit a paging signal to the UE because the unlicensed spectrum is currently unavailable or because the UE did not respond to a transmitted page. The base station generates and transmits a paging failure response message including a failure cause code indicating the reason that the paging attempt failed. The network node receives the paging failure response message, recovers the failure cause code, and implements a paging escalation strategy as a function of the recovered failure cause code.