Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a frequency resource for a wireless device to operate in a wireless communication system. In one exemplary embodiment, a method performed by a wireless device (305, 405, 500, 600, 700a, b, 1300) in a first wireless communication system (421) for determining a frequency resource on which to operate comprises determining (801) whether a parameter (445b) is received via dedicated control signaling (443) in the first wireless communication system. Further, a value of the parameter indicates one or more frequency resources (425) in which the first wireless communication system operates. In response to determining that the parameter is received via the dedicated control signaling in the first wireless communication system, the method includes configuring (803) the wireless device to operate on a frequency resource (425) whose location is defined based on the parameter received via such dedicated control signaling.

Abstract: A Radio Network Node (RNN) 106 and a method therein for indicating scheduling of System Information (SI) messages in a wireless communications network 100. The RNN and a wireless device 108 are operating in the wireless communications network. The RNN provides, to the wireless device, a bitmap configuration in a System Information Block (SIB), wherein the bitmap configuration comprises a bitmap and one or more index bits. The bitmap is configured to indicate to the wireless device one or more subframes within one or more radio frames, which one or more subframes are available for transmission of an SI message. Further, the one or more index bits are configured to indicate the one or more radio frames within which the bitmap is to be applied.

Abstract: A network node (200), a wireless device (202) and methods therein, for decoding of contention based uplink transmissions of data in a cell served by the network node. The network node (200) registers the wireless device (202) for contention based uplink transmissions of data on a radio resource reserved for contention based uplink transmissions of data, e.g. when receiving a registration request sent from the wireless device, such that the wireless device (202) is included in a set (200a) of wireless devices being registered for contention based uplink transmissions of data on the radio resource in the cell. The network node (200) then performs blind decoding of uplink signals transmitted on the radio resource by considering the wireless devices in the set. In this way, the decoding is made more efficient by disregarding any other wireless devices in the cell which are not registered for contention based uplink transmissions of data on the radio resource in the cell.

Abstract: In a wireless communication network that implements the RRC Resume procedure, an eNB (11) sends to a radio network device (30), which was previously connected and has been given a Resume ID, a paging message or Random Access Response message including an RRC Resume directive. The RRC Resume directive comprises at least an indication whether or not the radio network device (30) should perform an RRC Resume procedure. If the RRC Resume directive indicates the radio network device (30) should not perform an RRC Resume procedure, the radio network device (30) performs an RRC Connection procedure. If the RRC Resume directive indicates the radio network device (30) should perform an RRC Resume procedure, it may include additional information to optimize or otherwise assist the RRC Resume procedure. In this manner, RRC Resume signaling is avoided when the eNB (11) knows that it will not be successful, such as if a prior RRC connection context is not available or readily retrievable, or is invalid.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for coordinating a wireless data exchange between communication entities (10) and base transceiver stations (100-104) in at least one cellular network.

Abstract: A user equipment is configured for use in a wireless communication system. The user equipment in particular is configured to receive from a base station one or more configuration messages that indicate a pattern of downlink transmission gaps in time. The user equipment is further configured to receive from the base station a scheduled downlink transmission that comprises a downlink data block and one or more repetitions of the downlink data block. The scheduled downlink transmission is received with downlink transmission gaps therein according to the indicated pattern. Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment is configured to transmit a scheduled uplink transmission that comprises an uplink data block and one or more repetitions of the uplink data block. In this case, the scheduled uplink transmission is transmitted with uplink transmission gaps therein according to an uplink transmission gap pattern that specifies a pattern of uplink transmission gaps in time.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a network entity, wireless radio device, a method of controlling a network entity and a method of controlling a wireless radio device. The network entity is operative to control a first carrier arranged to serve at least a first group of wireless radio devices and a second carrier arranged to serve at least a second group of wireless radio devices. The first carrier is further arranged, when a wireless radio device belonging to a first group of wireless radio devices connects to the first carrier, to transfer the wireless radio device to the second carrier, and the network entity is arranged, when the wireless radio device is transferred, to indicate to the wireless radio device that the second carrier is configured to serve as a carrier for other wireless radio devices.

Abstract: Method performed by a network node (110) for keeping wireless devices (140) served by the network node (110) in active mode. Each of the wireless devices has a value for a first condition. The network node (110) determines whether each of the wireless devices has the value for the first condition among a number of highest values for the first condition. The first condition is associated with a need to be in active mode. The number of highest values for the first condition corresponds to a maximum amount of wireless devices allowed to be in the active mode simultaneously. The network node (110) updates a register, so that the wireless devices (140) in the register have the highest values for the first condition, according to the maximum amount. The network node (110) keeps the wireless devices (140) in the updated register in active mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for reducing power consumption and/or decreasing latency for a wireless device in a wireless communications system. In particular, the systems and methods disclosed herein are particularly beneficial for Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices, but are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a node of a wireless communications system comprises determining a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) that is optimized for MTC for one of an uplink from a MTC device to a base station and a downlink from the base station to the MTC device, and using the MCS with respect to the one of the uplink from the MTC device to the base station and the downlink from the base station to the MTC device. By optimizing the MCS, power consumption by the MTC device and/or latency can be reduced.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method in a wireless device of a wireless communication network comprises receiving scheduling information for one or more System Information (SI) messages. The wireless device determines a coverage enhancement level associated with each of the one or more SI messages based on the received scheduling information. The wireless device also determines a coverage enhancement level of the wireless device. After identifying a subset of the one or more SI messages based on the determined coverage enhancement level of the wireless device, the wireless device acquires a SI message from the identified subset of the one or more SI messages.

Abstract: A user equipment is configured for use in a wireless communication system. The user equipment in particular is configured to receive from a base station one or more configuration messages that indicate a pattern of downlink transmission gaps in time. The user equipment is further configured to receive from the base station a scheduled downlink transmission that comprises a downlink data block and one or more repetitions of the downlink data block. The scheduled downlink transmission is received with downlink transmission gaps therein according to the indicated pattern. Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment is configured to transmit a scheduled uplink transmission that comprises an uplink data block and one or more repetitions of the uplink data block. In this case, the scheduled uplink transmission is transmitted with uplink transmission gaps therein according to an uplink transmission gap pattern that specifies a pattern of uplink transmission gaps in time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method in a user equipment (UE) for random access (RA) coverage enhancement (CE) is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a random access preamble to a UE, wherein a power of the random access preamble is determined, in part, by a current CE level. The method further includes incrementing a value of a counter by one, wherein the value of the counter indicates a number of random access preambles previously transmitted by the UE. The method may then compare the value of the counter after incrementing its value, to a transmission limit, wherein the transmission limit indicates a maximum number of random access preamble transmission attempts for the current CE level. In response to the counter being equal to the transmission limit plus one, the method includes resetting the value of the counter.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication device for handling an extended paging cycle. The extended paging cycle is used for receiving a paging message from a core network node. The extended paging cycle is longer than a frame number range of the wireless communications network. The wireless communication device obtains a parameter related to a length of the extended paging cycle. The wireless communication device obtains an information about when the wireless communication device has entered an idle mode. The wireless communication device determines a time period when the wireless communication device is to monitor for the paging message. The determining is based on the parameter related to the length of the extended paging cycle and based on the information about when the wireless communication device has entered the idle mode.

Abstract: There is provided a method for coverage enhancement service mode selection. The method is performed by a wireless device. The method comprises obtaining an indication to switch between a first coverage enhancement service mode and a second coverage enhancement service mode. The method comprises selectively switching between the first coverage enhancement service mode and the second coverage enhancement service mode according to the indication. There is also provided a wireless device configured to perform such a method. There is also performed a method for coverage enhancement service mode selection as performed by a network node and a network configured to perform such a method.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method by a source network node is provided for providing mobility support for enhanced coverage of wireless devices-in handover to a target network node. The method includes obtaining, from the target network node, an indication of at least one resource to be used by the wireless device in handover from the source network node to the target network node. The indication of the at least one resource is transmitted to the wireless device for use in handover from the source network node to the target network node.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to wireless communication. In one aspect, the technology described herein concerns a method performed by, or executed in, an electronic device such as a User Equipment (UE) operating with an extended DRX time period, or cycle. Re-synchronization parameter(s) is/are accessed. In response thereto, the re-synchronization parameter(s) is/are applied to synchronize a timer of the electronic device in accordance with the re-synchronization parameter(s). Aspects disclosed herein enable a UE-CN (i.e., Core Network) based solution which is timer based and which, also, allows for extending DRX time periods, or cycles, beyond the ordinary DRX time periods.

Abstract: A wireless device (14) is configured to perform a random access procedure (16) for random access by the wireless device (14) to a wireless communication system (10). The random access procedure (16) includes multiple messages in sequence. The wireless device (14) is configured to determine a carrier on which a downlink message (18) in the random access procedure (16) is to be received by the wireless device (14), from amongst multiple different carriers (20) which are configurable as said carrier, based on configuration information (22) received from a radio network node (12) indicating said carrier. The downlink message (18) occurs in the random access procedure (16) subsequent to an initial message in the sequence. The wireless device (14) is also configured to receive the downlink message (18) on the determined carrier.

Abstract: Radio network devices (30, 31) operative in a wireless communication network are autonomously distributed among available narrowband carriers for receiving and transmitting messages from and to the network according to each device's (30, 31) required enhanced coverage level, and the enhanced coverage levels supported by each narrowband carrier. Information about the narrowband carriers, including at least which enhanced coverage levels each carrier supports, is broadcast in a cell. Additional information may also be broadcast. The radio network devices (30, 31) each independently ascertains its required enhanced coverage level, such as for example by measuring a received signal power and comparing it to one or more thresholds. The network and radio network device (30, 31) each determined one narrowband carrier, such as by applying a predetermined function to parameters known to both the network and the radio network device (30, 31).

Abstract: A wireless device (14A) is configured for use in a wireless communication system (10) for performing random access. The wireless device (14A) supports random access on a non-anchor carrier. The wireless device (14A) is configured to obtain configuration information (20) that governs on which carrier within a set (16) of carriers the wireless device (14A) is to perform random access, where the set (16) of carriers includes an anchor carrier (14A) and a non-anchor carrier. The configuration information (20) may for instance indicate a probability value (20A) that is assigned to each of one or more of the carriers in the set (16). Regardless, the wireless device (14A) is configured to select, from among the carriers in the set (16), a carrier on which to perform random access, in accordance with the configuration information (20). The wireless device (14A) is also configured to perform random access on the selected carrier.

Abstract: A Radio Network Node (RNN) 106 and a method therein for indicating scheduling of System Information (SI) messages in a wireless communications network 100. The RNN and a wireless device 108 are operating in the wireless communications network. The RNN provides, to the wireless device, a bitmap configuration in a System Information Block (SIB), wherein the bitmap configuration comprises a bitmap and one or more index bits. The bitmap is configured to indicate to the wireless device one or more subframes within one or more radio frames, which one or more subframes are available for transmission of an SI message. Further, the one or more index bits are configured to indicate the one or more radio frames within which the bitmap is to be applied.