Abstract: A central unit (300A) and a first distributed unit (300B) of a first network node (300) and methods therein, for handling a communication with a wireless device (302) in a wireless network. The central unit (300A) sends an indication to the first distributed unit (300B) to indicate whether a current procedure for the wireless device is an inter-central unit procedure or an intra-central unit procedure. The first distributed unit (300B) is thereby able to decide whether to send information about the communication to the central unit via a user plane or via a control plane, based on a reduced amount of signalling including the indication.

Abstract: Methods, a core network node (104A) and a node (102A) in a radio access network, RAN, (102), for enabling emergency services for wireless devices in the RAN. The core network node (104A) sends (2:1), to the RAN node (102A), information about one or more Access and Mobility Management Functions, AMFs, that support emergency services, to avoid an emergency fallback procedure for wireless devices in the RAN. The RAN node (102A) then selects (2:2) an AMF (104B) that supports emergency services for a wireless device (100) in the RAN, based on the received information. Thereby, the wireless device will have immediate access to emergency services and no delaying emergency fallback procedure is performed which could be critical in an emergency situation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of requesting for a measurement report, comprising steps of: setting, in a request message, a first field for indicating an action on measurement to be stop and a second field including cell information for which a stop action on measurement is needed, so as to indicate a reporting eNB to stop measurement reports according to the second field; and transmitting to the reporting eNB the request message for the measurement report. The present disclosure also provides a requesting eNB using the above method, a method of stopping a measurement report by a reporting eNB and a reporting eNB using the above method, as well as a computer readable recording medium comprising computer instructions for executing the above methods.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, in a base station operating in a wireless communications network, for over-the-air synchronization with a cell served by a further base station. Embodiments include sending, to a core network (CN) node, a first eNB Configuration Transfer message comprising: an identity of a target base station, and a first SON Information Request IE comprising a value indicating a request for time synchronization information. Embodiments include receiving, from the CN node, a first MME Configuration Transfer message comprising a SON Information Reply IE that originated from the target base station and includes a muting availability flag. If the flag indicates that muting can be activated in the target base station, embodiments include sending, to the CN node, a second eNB Configuration Transfer message comprising the identity of the target base station and a second SON Information Request IE comprising a value for activating muting in the target base station.

Abstract: An exemplary central unit (CU) network node manages resources associated with a radio link serving a UE. The CU network node can configure (1502) distributed unit (DU) network nodes, coupled to the CU network node and the UE, with one or more criteria relating to reporting quality metrics pertaining to the radio link. The CU network node can receive (1504) one or more quality metric reports, from a reporting DU network node, in accordance with the one or more criteria. The CU network node can determine (1506) a change in resources associated with the radio link based on the one or more quality metric reports and information identifying whether the radio link is a single-connectivity link or a multi-connectivity link. Other exemplary embodiments include a DU network node, methods performed by the CU network node or the DU network node, and computer program products or computer-readable media embodying instructions corresponding to these methods.

Abstract: An exemplary method is performed by a distributed unit of a base station. The base station further comprises a centralized unit. The method comprises: determining (1302) inactivity of one or more data radio bearers, established between the distributed unit and a user equipment, for carrying user data; determining (1304) a level of activity of one or more signalling radio bearers, established between the distributed unit and the user equipment, for carrying control data; and determining (1306), based on the level of activity of the one or more signalling radio bearers, whether to transmit, to the centralized unit, a report message comprising an indication of the activity of the one or more data radio bearers.

Abstract: A method for configuration of radio interface based synchronisation comprises obtaining of hearability information and synchronisation ability information concerning a multitude of radio base stations. The hearability information comprises an identity of the radio base station, and experienced signal quality from and identities of other radio base stations. The synchronisation ability information comprises information about a quality of synchronisation obtainable by the radio base station. A radio interface based synchronisation configuration is created in dependence of the obtained information. The radio interface based synchronisation configuration comprises definitions of synchronisation links, which radio base stations are recommended to use for synchronisation purposes. Data defining the radio interface based synchronisation configuration is provided for transmission to the respective radio base stations.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a core network node comprises: obtaining a mapping of core network (CN) slice identifiers to radio access network (RAN) slice identifiers; receiving a slice registration request from a user equipment (UE); determining a slice identifier associated with the slice registration request; and sending a slice registration response to the UE. The slice registration response includes the determined slice identifier. According to some embodiments, a method for use in a network node comprises obtaining a mapping of CN slice identifiers to RAN slice identifiers. The method may further comprise receiving a connection request from a UE that includes a network slice identifier; determining a RAN slice identifier based on the network slice identifier; and applying a policy of a network slice associated with the determined network slice identifier to the requested connection.

Abstract: A technique for selectively initiating a handover from a source system (510) comprising a first core network, CN, (512) and a first radio access network, RAN, (516) to a target system (530) comprising a second CN (532) and a second RAN (536) is described. As to a method aspect of the technique, it is determined if a control plane interface (520) for the handover is available between the first CN (512) and the second CN (532). Depending on the availability of the control plane interface (520), the handover is selectively initiated.

Abstract: A method in a radio access network, RAN, node for paging user equipment in an area spanning across a plurality of radio access technologies, RATs, comprises determining the capabilities of a user equipment to which a paging message is intended, and transmitting the paging message to the UE via one or more RATs which the UE is determined as being capable of communicating with.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of requesting for a measurement report, comprising steps of: setting, in a request message, a first field for indicating an action on measurement to be stop and a second field including cell information for which a stop action on measurement is needed, so as to indicate a reporting eNB to stop measurement reports according to the second field; and transmitting to the reporting eNB the request message for the measurement report. The present disclosure also provides a requesting eNB using the above method, a method of stopping a measurement report by a reporting eNB and a reporting eNB using the above method, as well as a computer readable recording medium comprising computer instructions for executing the above methods.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method in a base station for coordinating resources in a wireless communications system with carrier aggregation in which a first group of terminal devices is served by a primary cell and one or more secondary cells under control of the base station. The method comprises obtaining information indicating arrival of a second group of terminal devices at coverage of the base station. A speed of any terminal device of the second group is higher than a speed of any terminal device of the first group. The method also comprises releasing resources on at least one secondary cell of the one or more secondary cells and allocating the released resources to the second group of terminal devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a node of a cellular network for supporting mobility, to a method in a user equipment for supporting mobility to in the cellular network, and to corresponding devices. According to one aspect, a method for supporting mobility in a cellular network is provided. The method runs in a node for the cellular network. According to the method, the node receives from a user equipment, an information of a radio link failure of a radio link between the user equipment and the cellular network and the node receives information related to a mobility of the user equipment. Based on the received information, the node adjusts at least one mobility parameter to increase robustness of mobility. The present invention improves robustness of mobility functions in a cellular network.

Abstract: A method according to some embodiments includes receiving identification of a cell in a Secondary eNodeB (SeNB cell) that is proposed to be added to a Secondary Cell Group of a user equipment node, a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) ID associated with the SeNB cell and a CSG Membership status of the user equipment node relative to the CSG ID; determining if the SeNB cell is operating in a closed or hybrid access mode; adding the SeNB cell to the Secondary Cell Group of the user equipment node in response to determining that the SeNB is operating in the hybrid access mode; and thereafter, verifying the CSG Membership status of the user equipment node relative to the CSG ID.

Abstract: A method performed by a core network node for handling communication for a wireless device in a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises partitioned sets of functionalities. A first set of functionalities belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device, and a second set of functionalities belongs to a second network slice supporting the wireless device, and which first and second sets of functionalities are separated from one another and other sets of functionalities. The core network node obtains a common identity for defining paging occasion for the wireless device for paging from the first network slice and the second network slice. The core network node receives a paging request for the wireless device from the first network slice when the wireless device is in idle mode, and the core network node initiates a paging procedure of the wireless device by using the obtained common identity.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) node (420) and core network (CN) node (405) each support signaling connection establishment for a user equipment (UE) (320, 325). In particular, the RAN node (420) and CN node (405) establish an interface (770) supporting signal exchange between the RAN node (420) and a plurality of core networks (CNs) supported by a CN node (405). Responsive to the RAN node (420) receiving an indication that the UE (320, 325) supports one or more of the CNs (120, 710) supported by the CN node (405), the RAN node (420) establishes, between the RAN node (420) and a given CN supported by both the CN node (405) and the UE (320, 325), a signaling connection for the UE (320, 325) over the interface (770). Responsive to receiving an initial UE message for establishing the signaling connection, the CN node (405) transmits a UE context message to the RAN node (420) for establishing the signaling connection over the interface (770) irrespective of which of the plurality of CNs (120, 710) is the given CN.

Abstract: A system and method for performing network slicing in a communication system. In one embodiment, an apparatus (110, 200, 910, 920) in a communication system (100, 900) employing network slicing is configured to select a pre-configured access category indicating a priority of communication with the communication system (100, 900) and based on a criterion dependent on a network slice (slice 0, slice 1). The apparatus (110, 200, 910, 920) is also configured to transmit an access message (msg 3) including the pre-configured access category in accordance with a random access procedure with the communication system (100,900).

Abstract: A method performed by a network node for handling communications in a radio communications network is provided. The network node is configured to be in the radio communications network. The network node receives a report of a radio link failure (RLF) of a user equipment (UE), which report comprises an identity of a re-establishment cell, configures an RLF indication comprising the received report to further comprise a first indication of the cell identity of the current cell the UE is connected and/or a second indication of a result of a comparison between the cell identity of the cell the UE was connected to upon sending the RLF report and the identity of the re-establishment cell, and sends the RLF indication to another network node. A network node for handling communications in a radio communications network is also provided.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method of operating a first radio access node, wherein the first radio access node uses a first radio access technology, RAT, to communicate with terminal devices. The method comprises receiving (201) capability information for a first terminal device, the capability information indicating whether the first terminal device is capable of using dual connectivity with the first RAT and a second, different, RAT; receiving (203) permission information, the permission information indicating whether the first terminal device is permitted to use dual connectivity with the first RAT and the second RAT; and determining (205) whether to activate dual connectivity with the first RAT and the second RAT for the first terminal device based on the received capability information and received permission information. Other aspects include methods of operating a core network node and an information database as well as radio access nodes, core network nodes and information data bases.

Abstract: A method in a network node (115) comprises establishing (1604) a first bearer (1310, 1520) between a local breakout function gateway (1220), the local breakout function gateway collocated at the network node, and an application client (1210, 1405, 1505) of a wireless device (110). The method comprises transmitting (1608) network assistance information to the wireless device over the first bearer via application-layer signaling in the user plane, the network assistance information comprising information related to optimizing transmission of user data over a second bearer (1305, 1515) established between the wireless device and a core network node (130).