Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improving throughput and reliability in a wireless network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide mechanisms for wireless user device buffer management that mitigate buffer overflow within the device due to overscheduling, such as from different networks with which the device is connected simultaneously. In one variant, a 3GPP-based signaling architecture from wireless device to the multiple networks is provided to enable user device-controlled management buffer overflow. In another variant, potentially buffer-demanding (e.g., HARQ) process management and prioritization rules are defined to avoid buffer overflow. In other variant, buffer size computation is provided considering the number of networks to which the wireless user device can connect.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multi-carrier or multi-band utilization in an unlicensed wireless network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which provide enhanced bandwidth capability to 5G NR-U entities such as gNodeB and UE devices across two heterogeneous unlicensed bands having different medium access mechanism and protocols. In one variant, LBT (listen before talk) protocols are used to detect the presence or absence of users within the respective bands of interest. When two or more unoccupied carriers or bands are identified, aggregated operation is used ti enhance the downlink/uplink (DL/UL) transmission bandwidth for the device(s).

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: 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: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a network node 110 of a wireless communication network 100 for communicating at an unlicensed frequency spectrum with a wireless device 121 having a device identity. The network node 110 sends an access grant to the wireless device according to the device identity, granting the wireless device access to an uplink communication channel of the unlicensed frequency spectrum. The network node also receives data from the wireless device 121, on the granted uplink communication channel, the data comprising information on the identity of the wireless device 121, thus enabling the network node 110 to detect whether the wireless device that was granted access on the uplink communication channel is the same wireless device as the wireless device from which the data comprising the information on the uplink communication channel was subsequently received. Embodiments of the network node 110 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: Communication management hardware controls operation of multiple wireless stations in a network environment. For example, the communication management hardware initially assigns wireless bandwidth for use by multiple wireless stations in a wireless network environment to communicate amongst each other. The communication management hardware monitors use of the wireless bandwidth. In response to detecting use of the wireless bandwidth by an incumbent entity having higher priority rights than the multiple wireless stations, the communication management hardware operates in a shared time-division mode in which both the multiple wireless stations and the incumbent entity share use of the wireless bandwidth in a control period according to a duty cycle in which the wireless stations are provided full use of the wireless bandwidth during a first portion of the control period and the wireless stations are provided reduced use of the wireless channels for a second portion of the control period.

Abstract: A user equipment has been allocated uplink resources, e.g. interlaced uplink channel resources, e.g. interlaced physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resources, and non-interlaced uplink channel resources. The UE receives cancellation indication (CI) information which rescinds the allocation for a portion of the previous granted resources. CI is communicated using different formats for resources which are in blocks and resources which are interlaced. The CI for the interlaced resources uses a more efficient format with less overhead to communicate frequency information corresponding to the cancellation for the interlaced channel.

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 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: According to one configuration, a wireless network environment includes a first wireless network and a second wireless network. A mobile communication device in the wireless network environment receives first paging notifications directed to the mobile communication device from a first wireless base station such as operated by a first wireless network service provider. The mobile communication device receives second paging notifications directed to the mobile communication device from a second wireless base station such as operated by a second wireless network service provider. The wireless network environment provides improved paging over conventional techniques.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting prioritized transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing in wireless communications systems, e.g., various 802.11 wireless communications systems, are described. A wireless station may be allocated a transmission opportunity. A shared transmission type of trigger frame is implemented, which allows the wireless station, acting as a host station, to make available transmission resources, which have been acquired by the wireless station, to one or more guest stations. A trigger based (TB) frame, corresponding to the transmitted shared transmission type trigger frame, is used by the host station and one or more guest stations to transmit data to an access point. An access point transmits priority information, e.g., in management frames, to control the use of shared resources in TB frames corresponding to shared transmission type trigger frames.

Abstract: A network control device, e.g., a gNB, receives a message from a communications device, e.g. a UE, indicating that the communications device is experiencing an in-device coexistence (IDC) problem, e.g. in the 52.6 GHz-71 GHz frequency range with respect to NR-U and WiGig. The message is one of: i) an IDC assistance message indicating that the victim system is Wi-Gig or ii) an antenna panel switch message requesting that the network control device instruct the communications device to change the antenna panel that it uses for uplink NR signaling. The network control device generates and sends a response message to the communications device including: a selected new frequency to be used by the communications device for uplink NR signaling or a selected different antenna panel to be used by the communications device for uplink NR signaling. The communications device implements the change reducing or avoiding the IDC problem.

Abstract: According to one configuration, while the user equipment is wirelessly connected to a first wireless base station over a first wireless communication link, a communication management resource in the user equipment receives input (such as a request) to tune-away the user equipment to a second wireless base station providing corresponding wireless services. To facilitate the temporary tune-away to the second wireless network, the communication management resource of the user equipment generates timing information associated with the switchover. In furtherance of the switchover (temporary tune-away) to the second wireless base station, the communication management resource of the user equipment transmits the timing information in a wireless communication over the first wireless communication link to the first wireless base station.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a user equipment (UE) of transmitting uplink data in unlicensed spectrum comprises receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising an indication of one or more subframes to use for transmitting uplink data. Each subframe comprises a plurality of symbols. The method further comprises obtaining an indication of a listen-before-talk (LBT) type. The LBT type indicates a type of LBT procedure that the UE should perform before transmitting uplink data. The method further comprises determining, using the obtained LBT type, at least one of a starting symbol and a stopping symbol for transmitting uplink data, and transmitting uplink data according to at least one of the determined starting symbol and the determined stopping symbol.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device (110) comprises obtaining (1004) 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 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 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to transmit power control are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a radio access node for providing transmit power control commands to a wireless device for uplink (UL) transmission on a cell that operates in an unlicensed frequency spectrum is provided. The method comprises indicating, for the cell that operates in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, a dynamic Transmit Power Control (TPC) command using a downlink (DL) control channel which indicates a DL-UL allocation of upcoming subframes in the cell that operates in the unlicensed frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the DL control channel is a common DL control channel. In some other embodiments, the DL channel is a common Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for operating wireless devices using unlicensed frequency ranges with minimal transmission interruptions. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide a mechanism for redirecting idle or inactive wireless devices to different frequencies in response to interference detection such as by 5 GHz-band radar. In one variant, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for allowing user device (UEs) using 5G NR-U spectrum to continue to operate upon radar detection by successfully switching the UEs to one or more frequencies that are free of radar operation. In one variant, a gNB controlling the UEs informs the AMF (access and mobility function) of a radar detection event, and the AMF initiates a paging towards idle UEs in order to allow the gNB to move the UEs to a frequency without radar operations. In another variant, a gNB switches its UEs to a different frequency without relying on the AMF.