Abstract: A method for use in a User Equipment configured to operate according to the New Radio (5G) standard, said method comprising: monitoring a control region for mini-slots for a transmission; detecting a start of the transmission; monitoring a control region of said transmission for regular slots; detecting that the transmission has ended; and in response thereto monitoring the control region for mini-slots again.

Abstract: A method and network node for adaptation of contention windows in a multicarrier wireless communication system implementing a listen-before-talk protocol are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes determining at least one component carrier (CC), of multiple CCs to serve as a backoff channel. The method further includes performing a listen-before-talk procedure on the at least one CC serving as a backoff channel. The listen-before-talk procedure includes sensing for each backoff channel whether a clear channel exists during a backoff period drawn from a contention window (CW). The LBT procedure also includes deferring transmitting on a CC for which the sensing does not indicate that a clear channel exists. The LBT procedure also includes transmitting on a CC for which the sensing indicates a clear channel exists. The method also includes determining a size of the CW based on at least one transmission feedback value.

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: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by network node (110) in a wireless communications network (100). The network node (110) transmits a number of bits indicating an uplink duration and an offset for a burst of uplink subframes to a wireless device (121) in a downlink subframe on a downlink control channel. Embodiments herein also relate to a method performed by a wireless device (121) in a wireless communications network (100). The wireless device (121) receives a number of bits indicating an uplink duration and an offset for a burst of uplink subframes to a wireless device (121) in a downlink subframe on a downlink control channel. Embodiments of the network node (110) and the wireless device (121) are also described.

Abstract: In one aspect, a wireless device receives a scheduling grant and a grant confirmation signal indicating that a network node has performed a CCA on a carrier and is releasing the carrier for the wireless device. An uplink message is transmitted on the carrier without performing a CCA on the carrier. In another aspect, a wireless device is connected to a first cell and a second cell configured on a carrier requiring an LBT protocol. The wireless device receives configuration messages indicating that downlink transmissions on the second cell are to be scheduled. This can mean self-scheduling for downlink on the second cell and cross-carrier scheduling for uplink on the first cell. The wireless device receives a scheduling grant in the first cell and performs a CCA in the second cell. The wireless device then transmits an uplink message responsive to success of the CCA.

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 device may monitor a frequency band over a time interval; determine that the frequency band is not occupied by transmissions to or from another device based on information obtained from monitoring the frequency band over the time interval; schedule transmissions of a first set of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) symbols within a particular time interval over the frequency band, wherein the first set of OFDM symbols is associated with a first radio access technology; and schedule transmissions of a second set of OFDM symbols within the particular time interval over the frequency band, wherein the second set of OFDM symbols is associated with a second radio access technology.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for physical cell identification within one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, conflicts in PCI values which may exist within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) of respective different operators when unlicensed spectrum is utilized (e.g., according to 3GPP 5G NR-U technology) are resolved. In one implementation, this functionality is provided by specifying one or more mobility-related parameters associated with various UE, such that serving gNBs can determine whether a given UE requires a mobility context, and as such whether it should conduct subsequent RF measurement reporting to report back potential conflicts in PCI it may encounter to the gNB. In one variant, the measurement reporting is configured to comply with 5G NR-U required “listen-before-talk” or LBT protocols; i.e., to measure parameters consistent with the LBT protocols to detect any such PCI-based conflicts.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms, apparatus, computer implemented method and/or framework configured to provide uplink scheduling/managing of multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) for user equipment (UE) configured to transmit via unlicensed spectrum such as 5G New Radio in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U).

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms, apparatus, computer implemented method and/or framework configured to provide uplink scheduling/managing of multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) for user equipment (UE) configured to transmit via unlicensed spectrum such as 5G New Radio in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a wireless device of acquiring system information in a frequency-hopping network comprises obtaining an indication that the wireless device is configured for frequency hopping among a plurality of frequency channels. At least one of the plurality of frequency channels is a discovery channel. The discovery channel includes one or more dense discovery signals. A dense discovery signal is denser than a corresponding discovery signal included in the non-discovery channels of the plurality of frequency channels. The method further comprises tuning a radio receiver of the wireless device to the discovery channel, and acquiring system information using the one or more dense discovery signals. For example, a discovery signal (e.g. NPSS, NSSS, NPBCH, etc.) of the non-discovery channel may include one occurrence per frame and the corresponding discovery signal of the discovery channel includes more than one occurrence per frame.

Abstract: A base station generates, e.g., based on current UE and current system information, a UE specific paging priority list for an idle or inactive mode UE identifying a set of (small cell base) stations which are to be used to subsequently page the UE. The base station communicates the paging priority list to the UE in a radio resource control release message. In some embodiments, the release message further conveys information indicating a maximum paging monitoring duration and/or a maximum number of paging cells to be monitored. The UE receives the release message and transitions into idle or inactive mode. The UE uses the communicated information to perform efficient paging, identifying which small cells are potential sources of a paging signal, and determine how long to monitor for a paging 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 unavailibity 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: Method performed by a network node (110) for scheduling one or more bearers for transmission to or from a wireless device (120). The wireless device (120) is serviced by the network node (110). The network node (110) calculates (1001) a weight for each bearer of the one or more hearers. The calculating (1001) is based on an indication of a quality of service associated with information to be transmitted in each bearer of the one or more bearers. The network node (1 10) schedules (1003) the one or more bearers for transmission to or from the wireless device (120) based on the calculated weight. The calculated weight corresponds to a Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, setting. The LBT setting comprises an LBT algorithm and its corresponding one or more parameters.

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.

Abstract: In one aspect, a wireless device receives a scheduling grant and a grant confirmation signal indicating that a network node has performed a CCA on a carrier and is releasing the carrier for the wireless device. An uplink message is transmitted on the carrier without performing a CCA on the carrier. In another aspect, a wireless device is connected to a first cell and a second cell configured on a carrier requiring an LBT protocol. The wireless device receives configuration messages indicating that downlink transmissions on the second cell are to be scheduled. This can mean self-scheduling for downlink on the second cell and cross-carrier scheduling for uplink on the first cell. The wireless device receives a scheduling grant in the first cell and performs a CCA in the second cell. The wireless device then transmits an uplink message responsive to success of the CCA.

Abstract: A radio access node is configured for use in a cellular communication network. The radio access node in this regard is adapted to improve transmission of cell reference symbols by formatting a slot of a subframe with a high density of cell reference symbols (CRS). The high density may be achieved by allocating CRSs over at least three different OFDM symbol index numbers of the slot. The radio access node is further adapted to transmit the high CRS density DL subframe to one or more wireless devices. Alternatively, or in addition, the radio access node is adapted to format an OFDM transmission scheme DL subframe as a coverage enhanced (CE) DL subframe by repeating a control channel at least once in the CE DL subframe. The radio access node is further configured to transmit the CE DL subframe to one or more wireless devices. A wireless device operable for use with the radio access node is also disclosed and has similar coverage enhancement capabilities.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a wireless network includes first wireless stations and second wireless stations. The first wireless stations and second wireless stations support different wireless communication protocols and compete to use a wireless channel. Via monitoring of a control channel generated by a management resource associated with at least the first wireless stations, a given wireless station of the second wireless stations determines availability (unused time slots, frames, etc.) of the wireless channel via monitoring of the wireless channel itself and/or a control channel. In the latter instance, the control channel indicates scheduled usage of the shared wireless channel by at least the first wireless stations. In accordance with the scheduled usage as indicated by the control channel, the given wireless station transmits over the wireless channel during free slots, times, gaps, etc., to communicate with a remote wireless station of the second wireless stations.

Abstract: A method performed by a first radio node to select a Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, method based on a type of information to be transmitted in a radio channel in unlicensed spectrum. The first radio node performs an LBT using the selected LBT method. When the information is data, the method includes always deferring transmission until: A) after completion of a first period of observation, an outcome of at least a second period of observation is that the channel is idle, or B) an outcome of a first period and one or more defer periods is that the channel is idle. When the information is control or management information, the selected method includes allowing transmission immediately after an outcome of the first period is that the channel is idle. A duration of the first period provides priority to the control or management information over data.

Abstract: A first wireless communications device including a transmitter, such as a base station or UE, identifies a first traffic flow, e.g., a TCP packet flow, for which end to end packet retransmission is supported. The first wireless communications device transmits an explicit indication to a second wireless communications device to skip Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for data, corresponding to the first traffic flow, said data being transmitted to the second wireless communications device. The explicit indication to skip HARQ feedback for data is, e.g., one of: a HARQ Off Indicator in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) Scheduling message, a Semi-Persistent Scheduling HARQ Off Indicator, or a AUL HARQ Off Indicator. HARQ suppression is applied for the first traffic flow at a radio link layer and/or MAC layer.