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: There is provided a method of operating a first base station in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a mobile device, a second base station and a node that controls the first and second base stations, the mobile device having an active connection with the second base station, the mobile device not having an active connection with the first base station, the method comprising receiving a data transmission sent from the mobile device to the second base station; attempting to decode the data transmission; and in the event that the data transmission is successfully decoded, transmitting the decoded data to the node or the second base station. Methods of operating second base stations and nodes that control the operation of the first and second base stations are also provided.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a network node (10) in a communication network (2) to provide timing information for a mobile device (12), the network (2) defining an extended period that is longer than a predefined period in the network (2), the predefined period in the network (2) corresponding to the time taken to transmit a predefined plurality of frames, the method comprising broadcasting (101) a plurality of information blocks, IBs, to the mobile device (12), each IB indicating a current frame number in the predefined plurality of frames and a time reference bit, the time reference bit indicating whether the current predefined period is a particular one of a number of predefined periods in the extended period.

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 radio network controller, RNC, 614, and a method therein, for enhancing reception quality of transmissions on an uplink control channel from a user equipment, UE, 613 to a serving base station, BS, 610. The RNC, the UE and the serving BS are comprised in a communication system 600. The method comprises, when conditions for boosting the uplink control channel are fulfilled, determining a boosting factor based on a ratio of path gains of a channel from the UE to the serving BS and of a channel from the UE to a non-serving BS 611, respectively, which non-serving BS is comprised in the communications system. The method further comprises transmitting the determined boosting factor to the UE, whereby the reception quality of transmission on the uplink control channel from the UE to the serving BS is enhanced by the UE boosting the control channel by means of the boosting factor.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method of operating a terminal device in a communication network, the network defining an extended period that comprises a plurality of predefined periods, each predefined period corresponding to the time taken to transmit a predefined plurality of frames, the method comprising receiving information blocks, IBs, broadcast by a network node in the communication network, each IB indicating a value for a relative shift indication for the predefined period in which the IB is broadcast; comparing the value for the relative shift indication for a current predefined period to a value for the relative shift indication for a predefined period preceding the current predefined period; and determining whether the current predefined period is a particular one of the predefined periods in the extended period based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: System Information Broadcast for Machine-Type Communication There is provided a method of operating a network node (6; 8; 10) in a communication network (2), the method comprising transmitting information required by a mobile device (12) for reliable communications with the communication network to mobile devices (12) in a single information block (103). Also provided is a method of operating a mobile device (12) in a communication network (2), the method comprising receiving information required by the mobile device (12) for reliable communications with the communication network in a single information block from the communication network (117). A network node and mobile device are also provided that are configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a mobile device in a heterogeneous communications network, the heterogeneous communications network comprising first and second base stations, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being within the coverage area of the second base station, the method comprising obtaining measurements of the quality of signals transmitted between the first base station and the mobile device and/or the second base station and the mobile device; and analyzing the measurements of the quality to determine whether the mobile device is located in an imbalanced region or part of an imbalanced region between the first and second base stations.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a network node in a communication network with the communication network comprising at least one mobile device that is operating in a discontinuous reception, DRX, mode with a DRX cycle length that is longer than a modification period in the network. In the method, when an update to system information is to occur in an updated information modification period, the modification period immediately preceding the updated information modification period comprising a change notification modification period, a paging message is transmitted to the mobile device during a modification period other than the change notification modification period and the updated information modification period, the paging message informing the mobile device that an update to system information is to occur in the updated information modification period.

Abstract: A wireless terminal comprises a communications interface and a congestion controller. The communications interface communicates over a radio interface with a base station. The congestion controller, upon occurrence of a congestion indication, reduces uplink transmission power of the wireless terminal by lowering a transport format combination for use by the wireless terminal for transmitting an enhanced dedicated uplink channel (E-DCH) over the radio interface to the base station. In an example embodiment and mode, the congestion controller performs an expedited transport format combination reduction procedure which is distinct from Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) power reduction based on a command received in a closed loop power control procedure, e.g., on a Fractional-DPCH (F-DPCH) channel.

Abstract: A way to support a handover of a wireless device from a serving cell being served by a serving base station to a candidate cell being served by a candidate base station is disclosed. A network node determines a respective value of one or more parameters for affecting a range for soft handover. The range of soft handover is applied by the wireless device to determine if the candidate cell is a subject for soft handover. At least one respective value of the one or more parameters is determined based on output power of a transmitter of the serving base station for serving the serving cell and/or of a transmitter of the candidate base station for serving the candidate cell. The network node provides a sending of the respective value of the one or more parameters to the wireless device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining an offset to be used to extend the range of a first base station in a mobile communication network, the method comprising determining one or more characteristics of a mobile device; and determining offset to be used to extend the range of the first base station from the one or more characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a first base station in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a mobile device, a second base station and a node that controls the first and second base stations, the mobile device having an active connection with the second base station, the mobile device not having an active connection with the first base station, the method comprising receiving a data transmission sent from the mobile device to the second base station; attempting to decode the data transmission; and in the event that the data transmission is successfully decoded, transmitting the decoded data to the node or the second base station. Methods of operating second base stations and nodes that control the operation of the first and second base stations are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a mobile device in a heterogeneous communications network, the heterogeneous communications network comprising first and second base stations, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being within the coverage area of the second base station, the method comprising obtaining measurements of the quality of signals transmitted between the first base station and the mobile device and/or the second base station and the mobile device; and analysing the measurements of the quality to determine whether the mobile device is located in an imbalanced region or part of an imbalanced region between the first and second base stations.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a node in a mobile communication network, the network comprising a mobile device, a first base station and a second base station, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being within the coverage area of the second base station, the method in the node comprising determining (101; 111) whether the mobile device is in an imbalanced region or a part of an imbalanced region between the first base station and the second base station; and determining (103; 113-121) whether to switch the mobile device between a first connection state and a second connection state based on whether the mobile device is located in the imbalanced region or the part of the imbalanced region.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a network node in a communication network, the communication network comprising a mobile device, a first base station and a second base station, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being located within the coverage area of the second base station, the mobile device being located within an imbalanced region between the first base station and the second base station and being served by the first base station, the method in the network node comprising configuring the mobile device, the first base station and the second base station such that the mobile device transmits uplink data to the first base station, and the mobile device receives downlink data only from the second base station. Corresponding methods are provided for operating a mobile device and a second base station. A network node, mobile device and second base station are also provided that are configured to perform the respective operating methods.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a node in a mobile communication network, the network comprising a mobile device, a first base station and a second base station, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being within the coverage area of the second base station, the method in the node comprising determining (101; 111) whether the mobile device is in an imbalanced region or a part of an imbalanced region between the first base station and the second base station; and determining (103; 113-121) whether to switch the mobile device between a first connection state and a second connection state based on whether the mobile device is located in the imbalanced region or the part of the imbalanced region.

Abstract: A wireless terminal comprises a communications interface and a congestion controller. The communications interface communicates over a radio interface with a base station. The congestion controller, upon occurrence of a congestion indication, reduces uplink transmission power of the wireless terminal by lowering a transport format combination for use by the wireless terminal for transmitting an enhanced dedicated uplink channel (E-DCH) over the radio interface to the base station. In an example embodiment and mode, the congestion controller performs an expedited transport format combination reduction procedure which is distinct from Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) power reduction based on a command received in a closed loop power control procedure, e.g., on a Fractional-DPCH (F-DPCH) channel.

Abstract: A radio network controller, RNC, 614, and a method therein, for enhancing reception quality of transmissions on an uplink control channel from a user equipment, UE, 613 to a serving base station, BS, 610. The RNC, the UE and the serving BS are comprised in a communication system 600. The method comprises, when conditions for boosting the uplink control channel are fulfilled, determining a boosting factor based on a ratio of path gains of a channel from the UE to the serving BS and of a channel from the UE to a non-serving BS 611, respectively, which non-serving BS is comprised in the communications system. The method further comprises transmitting the determined boosting factor to the UE, whereby the reception quality of transmission on the uplink control channel from the UE to the serving BS is enhanced by the UE boosting the control channel by means of the boosting factor.

Abstract: Reconfiguration from a multi cell configuration to an omni-cell configuration comprises blocking the cells cells of the multi cell configuration for new users whereby a user equipment is prevented from accessing any of the cells in the multi cell configuration, updating handover triggering settings with settings set to empty the cells (This can for example comprise of successively lowering the power in a pilot channel such as the common pilot channel (CPICH) in the cell(s) to be emptied or by a direct HO command from a node such as the RNC to the user equipment(s) in the cell(s)), and beginning reconfiguration from the multi cell configuration to the omni-cell configuration when all cells in the multicell configuration are empty. Other methods and devices for reconfiguring between multicell configurations and omnicell configurations and vice versa are also disclosed.