Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a second radio network node (15) for enabling communication for a wireless device (10) in a communication network (1). The communication network (1) comprises a first network and a second network, which second radio network node (15) is associated with the second network and a first radio network node (12) is associated with the first network and the first radio network node (12) and the second radio network node (15) are serving or are to serve the wireless device (10) jointly. The first network comprises partitioned sets of functionalities where in a first set of functionalities belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device (10), and which first set of functionalities is separated from another set of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities in the first network.

Abstract: In one aspect, a network node configured to arrange a synchronization service for a target network access node receives a service request from the target network access node for a synchronization service to be provided to the target network access node and selects the synchronization source node, responsive to the service request. The network node sends a response towards the target network access node regarding the synchronization service to be provided by the synchronization source node.

Abstract: Methods for enabling and disabling of muting patterns in Radio Access Network, RAN, nodes for the purpose of allowing better detection and use of reference symbols used for synchronization. An example method for facilitating over-the-air synchronization with a neighboring base station is implemented in a base station operating in a wireless communications network. The method comprises determining (1110) that a first neighbor cell of a plurality of neighbor cells is interfering with or is likely to interfere with a signal, from the second neighbor cell, that is used for synchronization. The method further comprises sending (1120), towards the first neighbor cell and in response to said determining, a request for activation of a reference signal muting pattern by the first neighbor cell.

Abstract: A shared Radio Network Node, RNN, (102) and a method for managing overload in a core network (110). The shared RNN is configured to serve a wireless device (104), and the wireless device and the RNN are operating in a wireless communications network (105) connected to the core network. The RNN receives a connection request from the wireless device, wherein the connection request comprises a mapping parameter configured to map to an MME (112) connected to the RNN. Further, the MME is logically partitioned into several MMEs and configured to support multiple MME Codes, MMECs, each of which MMECs is pointing at a sharing operator. The mapping parameter comprises an MMEC configured to map to one MMEC supported by the MME. Further, the RNN rejects or redirects the connection request when the MMEC configured to map to one MMEC supported by the MME is associated with an overload action.

Abstract: A method, performed by a RAN node, for enabling connection setup for a wireless device in a communication network comprising a first network which is a home network of the wireless device and a second network which is visited by the wireless device. The networks each comprise partitioned sets of functionalities, which sets of functionalities each belong to a network slice of the network, wherein a first set of functionalities in the first network belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device. The RAN node receives a first network identity for the home network, an identity of the first network slice supporting the wireless device in the home network and a second network identity for the second network, from the wireless device, to retrieve an identity of a second network slice capable of supporting the wireless device in the second network to determine a second core network node.

Abstract: In one aspect, one or more network nodes configured control the use of data duplication (DD) for a UE simultaneously served by two or more distributed transmission units (DUs) receive from one or more of the DUs, feedback information. The one or more network nodes determine, based on the feedback information, whether to activate DD for transmissions to the UE.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a network node of providing a radio resource control (RRC) state of a user equipment (UE) to a core network node comprises: receiving, from the core network node, a request to receive a notification of a transition of the UE between a first and second RRC state; determining the UE transitioned between the first and second RRC state; and sending the notification of the transition to the core network node. A method for use in a core network node of receiving RRC state information of a UE comprises: sending, to the network node, a subscription request to receive a notification of a transition of the UE between a first and second RRC state; and upon the network node determining the UE transitioned between the first and second RRC state, receiving the notification from the network node.

Abstract: In one aspect, a first device determines transmitter location information indicating a location for each of one or more transmitters that provide synchronization signals. The first device inserts the transmitter location information in a time synchronization IE and transmits the time synchronization IE to a second device. The second device receives the transmitter location information from the first device and determines one or more propagation delays of a synchronization signal received from a transmitter based on the transmitter location information received for the transmitter in the IE. The second device uses the determined one or more propagation delays to compensate for a timing difference between the first device and a transmitter of the synchronization signal.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method in a network node for delivering a time synchronization service comprises obtaining a timing accuracy threshold for a time synchronization service provided to a wireless device; determining, based on a first timing accuracy error at the network node and a second timing accuracy error between the network node and the wireless device, that a timing accuracy of the time synchronization service is equal or superior to the timing accuracy threshold, and transmitting the time synchronization service to the wireless device with a timing accuracy equal or superior to the timing accuracy threshold. The method further comprises, in response to determining that the timing accuracy of the time synchronization service is inferior to the timing accuracy threshold, reconfiguring the network node to improve the timing accuracy of the time synchronization service.

Abstract: A technique for configuring an overload function in a cellular network including a core network (CN) and a radio access network (RAN) is described. The overload function reduces a signaling load from the RAN towards the CN. The RAN includes at least one network element (NE). Each NE serves at least two cells of the RAN. As to a method aspect of the technique, a configuration message is sent to the cellular network. The configuration message is indicative of at least one of the at least two cells. The at least one indicated cell is excluded from the overload function.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a wireless terminal supporting wireless communication with a wireless communication network. The wireless terminal may be configured to operate in a connected mode during which the wireless terminal transmits uplink data to the wireless communication network and/or receives downlink data from the wireless communication network, in an inactive mode during which the wireless terminal maintains an access stratum context and a resume identity, and in an idle mode during which the wireless terminal does not maintain an access stratum context. The wireless terminal may store mobility history information for a cell visited by the wireless terminal, and the information for the cell may include a time spent in the inactive mode in the cell. The wireless terminal may also transmit the mobility history information for the cell visited by the wireless terminal to a base station of the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A network node (500, 600) comprising a control plane, CP, circuit (610), a user plane, UP, circuit (620), and at least one distribution unit, DU, circuit (630) provides packet duplication. The CP circuit (610) operatively connects to the at least one DU circuit (630) via a control plane interface, and the CP circuit (610) operatively connects to the UP circuit (620) via a control unit interface. The network node (500, 600) is operative to communicate with a wireless device (10). The CP circuit (610) sends a duplication signal to the UP circuit (620) via the control unit interface to indicate packet duplication per data radio bearer. Further, the UP circuit (620) is configured for the packet duplication responsive to the duplication signal by the configuration of separate first and second bearer tunnels between the UP circuit (620) and the at least one DU circuit (630) responsive to the duplication signal.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method is provided for resource allocation between a first network node (160) associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second network node (160) associated with a second RAT where the first RAT and the second RAT use an overlapping spectrum. The method includes determining, by the first network node, one or more resources of a plurality of resources for use by the second network node. The plurality of resources is represented by a bit string. A message is transmitted to the second network node. The message includes the bit string in which the one or more resources for use by the second network node are indicated.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods performed by a central unit, CU, of a base station, for selecting a special cell, SpCell, to be used by a first distributed unit, DU, of the base station for serving a user equipment, UE. Such embodiments can include sending, to the first DU, a first request comprising an identity of a first cell, served by the first DU, as a preferred SpCell for the UE; and identities of one or more second cells served by the first DU. Such embodiments can also include receiving, from the first DU, a first response comprising a first indication that the first DU cannot configure the first cell as an SpCell for the UE, and a second indication that the first DU can configure zero or more third cells as an SpCell for the UE.

Abstract: In one aspect, one or more network nodes configured control the use of data duplication (DD) for a UE simultaneously served by two or more distributed transmission units (DUs) receive from one or more of the DUs, feedback information. The one or more network nodes determine, based on the feedback information, whether to activate DD for transmissions to the UE.

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: 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: In case of an UE in an inactive state (RRC disconnected but Core Network connected), the Core Network cannot page the UE because this one is formally connected. The UE is therefore paged at RAN-level. In detail, the first Base Station that receives downlink data or control signalling for the UE, pages the UE. If the UE does not reply, the first Base Station requests second Base Stations to page the UE. If not found the request is enlarged from the second BS to further Base stations and so on until either the UE is found or a maximum number of hops is reached. The Base Stations trace then backwards the information that the UE has been paged until the first BS.

Abstract: A node of a wireless local-area network, WLAN, determines (1820) a per-cell load value for each of two or more cells in a wide-area cellular network, the per-cell load value indicating, for a first WLAN access point, a portion of the WLAN access point's load corresponding to wireless terminals connected to the first WLAN AP and associated with the respective cell. The WLAN node sends (1830) a report to a node in the wide-area cellular network, the report indicating the per-cell load value for at least one of the two or more cells.

Abstract: In one aspect, a network access node requests, via a service request, a synchronization service from a network node, receives synchronization source information corresponding to the synchronization service and uses the synchronization source information to detect and measure signals from a synchronization source node. The network access node stores signal identifiers corresponding to one or more of the measured signals as neighbor information and subsequently performs signal measurements on signals from the synchronization source node, based on the stored signal identifiers, and uses the signal measurements to perform a mobility operation.