Abstract: Apparatus and methods for increasing throughput in wireless systems and networks. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced performance to 5G millimeter-wave user devices via expanded use of spatial multiplexing layers in various uplink (UL) operating modes, including transform precode and non-transform precode modes. In one implementation, the methods and apparatus described herein can be utilized with respect to a 3GPP 5G NR UE scheduled dynamically in UL transmission. In another implementation, the methods and apparatus described herein can be utilized with respect to the UE scheduled with a Configured Grant (CG) UL transmission.

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: 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 radio device receives control information from a node of the wireless communication network. The control information is used for controlling semi-persistent allocation of radio resources of an unlicensed frequency spectrum. Based on the control information, the radio device controls at least one UL radio transmission on the radio resources of the unlicensed frequency spectrum.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed that enable multi-cast transmissions (e.g., Physical Multi-cast Channel (PMCH) transmissions) on carriers in unlicensed spectrum. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a radio access node to enable multi-cast transmissions on a carrier in an unlicensed spectrum comprises performing a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure on a carrier in an unlicensed spectrum based on random backoff and a contention window size prior to a multi-cast transmission. The method further comprises transmitting the multi-cast transmission if the LBT procedure determines that the carrier in the unlicensed spectrum is Idle. In this manner, multi-cast transmissions on the carrier in the unlicensed spectrum are enabled.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a scheduling node (12) for scheduling an uplink transmission from a wireless device (10) to the scheduling node (12), which wireless device (10) is connected to a Primary Cell, Pcell, of the scheduling node in a licensed or unlicensed frequency band, and wherein the wireless device (10) is also connected to at least one Secondary Cell, SCell, in an unlicensed frequency band. The scheduling node determines at least one Listen Before Talk, LBT, parameter associated with an LBT procedure and informs the wireless device (10) about the determined at least one LBT parameter in a scheduling grant of the uplink transmission.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multi-cell broadcast access channel utilization in a wireless network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide random access channel (RACH) procedure for a 3GPP-compliant user device (e.g., an enhanced UE or UEe) which attempts to connect to multiple cells simultaneously. In one variant, the UEe employs a multi-step (e.g., 4-step) RACH procedure to connect to the multiple cells. This significantly increases the likelihood of RACH procedure success and UEe access. In another variant, a 2-step RACH process is utilized. Variants of the apparatus and methods utilizing unlicensed spectrum and LBT (listen-before-talk) protocols are also described.

Abstract: A radio device (10) receives control information from a node (100) of the wireless communication network. The control information is used for controlling semi-persistent allocation of radio resources of an unlicensed frequency spectrum. Based on the control information, the radio device (10) controls at least one UL radio transmission on the radio resources of the unlicensed frequency spectrum.

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: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a transmitting device for handling communication of data towards a receiving device in a wireless communications network. The transmitting device schedules a data transmission of a data burst in at least one sub-slot of a first slot, and in a second slot, wherein the at least one sub-slot differs in time length compared to the second slot. The transmitting device further transmits at least part of the at least part of the data transmission as scheduled by scrambling the data transmission independent of a transmission time of the at least part of the data transmission.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes user equipment in communication with a wireless base station. The user equipment receives a notification from a first wireless access point of multiple wireless access points. The notification indicates a set of candidate wireless access points in the wireless network environment in which to selectively perform a handoff from a first wireless access point. The user equipment monitors for occurrence of a trigger condition. In response to detecting a trigger condition, the user equipment identifies (such as selects) a second wireless access point (from the set of candidate wireless access points) in which to perform the handoff. Via communications from the user equipment to the second wireless access point, the user equipment initiates the handoff. The user equipment notifies the first wireless access point of the attempted and/or failed attempt of the handoff to the second wireless access point.

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 N R-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.

Abstract: A first communications device including a transmitter identifies a packet flow for which end to end packet retransmission is supported. The first wireless communications device transmits an explicit indication in a downlink message to a second wireless communications device, to skip Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for data, corresponding to the first packet flow, said data being directed to the second wireless communications device. In some embodiments, said explicit indication to skip Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for data is a predetermined value in a predetermined field of a downlink control information (DCI) scheduling message. In some embodiments, the predetermined field is a PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator field. HARQ suppression is applied for the first packet flow at a radio link layer and/or MAC layer, e.g., by the second communications device in response to the predetermined value indicating HARQ suppression being recovered from the predetermined field.

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 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: 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: 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: According to one configuration, a system includes a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes monitor hardware operative monitor for presence of a repetitive pattern present in received wireless communications present in a network environment. Depending on a magnitude of wireless energy of a portion of received wireless communications including the repetitive pattern, communication management hardware of the wireless station controls transmission of wireless communications from the wireless station. Thus, depending on a detected energy level of the monitored wireless signals having a particular signature (such as the repetitive pattern), the mobile communication device controls subsequent transmission of wireless communications from the mobile communication device in the network environment.

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.