Abstract: Embodiments include methods, performed by a first radio network node (RNN) in a wireless network, to establish a communications interface with a second RNN in the wireless network. Such methods include receiving, from a third RNN in the wireless network, a Transport Network Layer (TNL) address associated with the second RNN. The first and third RNNs are configured for wireless communication with wireless devices via an E-UTRA radio access technology (RAT), and the second RNN is configured for wireless communication via an NR RAT. The third RNN can be a proxy node for discovery of TNL addresses associated with a plurality RNNs configured for wireless communication via the NR RAT. Such methods include establishing the communications interface with the second RNN based on the TNL address received from the third RNN. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a second RNN, and RNNs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: In one aspect, one or more network nodes are configured to manage bitrates for dedicated radio bearers (DRBs) for a UE served by two or more distributed transmission units, where the DRBs include at least one DRB terminating at a first control unit and at least one DRB terminating at a second control unit. The network nodes determine at least a first UL AMBR value for the UE for the first control unit and at least a second UL AMBR value for the UE for the second control unit. The network nodes then signal the first UL AMBR to the first control unit and the second UL AMBR to the second control unit, for enforcement by the first and second control units.

Abstract: According to a first exemplary embodiment a method is performed by a first network node for monitoring the QoS of a flow. A session setup message comprising a QoS configuration for the flow and an indication that the flow is subject to QoS notification control is received (1710) from a core network node. Based on the QoS configuration, radio resources to be used for the flow are determined (1720) and a resource setup message comprising an identification of the radio resources and an indication that the flow and/or the radio resources are subject to QoS notification control is sent (1730) to a second network node. A first notification control indication that the QoS configuration the flow and/or the radio resources cannot be fulfilled is received (1740) from the second network node and a resource notification message indicating that the QoS configuration for the flow cannot be fulfilled is sent (1750) to the core network node.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method for allocating TEIDs by a CU-CP of a network node includes receiving, from a CU-UP, at least one uplink TEID (UL TEID) associated with a DRB. The at least one UL TEED is sent to a distributed unit (DU). At least one downlink TEED (DL TEED) associated with the DRB is received from the DU. The at least one DL TEID associated with the DRB is then sent to the CU-UP.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment a method may be provided to operate a central unit, CU, node that is coupled with first and second distributed unit, DU, nodes. Communication is provided between the CU node and a mobile communication device through the first DU node over a first radio link between the first DU node and the mobile communication device. A message is received from the first DU node informing the CU node that the radio link is temporarily unavailable. Responsive to receiving the message, communication through the first DU node is suspended, wherein configuration of the first DU node to serve the mobile communication device using the first radio link is maintained. While suspending communication through the first DU node, communication may be provided through the second DU node over a second radio link between the second DU node and the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method in a first network node comprises exchanging identifiers with a second network node, the exchanged identifiers for use in reestablishing a first S1 Application Protocol (S1AP) connection with the second network node associated with a first Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) connection between the first network node and the second network node. The method comprises storing the identifiers in association with an S1AP context, and sending, in response to a determination that the first S1AP connection with the second network node should be suspended, a request to suspend the first S1AP connection to the second network node. The method comprises reestablishing the first S1AP connection with the second network node using at least one of the stored identifiers, wherein the reestablished first S1AP connection is associated with the second SCTP connection between the first network node and the second network node.

Abstract: A first radio network node (208) and a method for establishing a communications interface between the first radio network node (208) and a second radio network node (210). The first radio network node is configured to provide one or more Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) resources and the second radio network node is configured to provide one or more New Radio (NR) resources. Further, the first and second radio network nodes are operating in a wireless communications network (200). The first radio network node obtains a Transport Network Layer (TNL) address of the second radio network node from one out of a first core network node (204); and another first radio network node (208) acting as a proxy. Furthermore, the first radio network node established a communications interface between the first and second radio network nodes based on the obtained TNL address.

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: A method in a network node including a gNB-Distributed Unit (DU) logical node and a gNB-Central Unit (CU) logical node for determining admission of a user equipment (UE) includes the steps: the gNB-DU receiving a connection request from a UE; in response to a determination that the gNB-DU is not able to serve the UE, sending an initial uplink radio resource control (UL RRC) message that does not include a configuration for signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1) from the gNB-DU to the gNB-CU; in response to receiving, at the gNB-CU, the UL RRC message that does not include the configuration for SRB1, responding to the gNB-DU with a radio resource control (RRC) ConnectionReject message; and transmitting the RRC ConnectionReject message from the gNB-DU to the UE to reject the UE.

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. Such methods include receiving time synchronization information and muting availability information associated with a plurality of further base stations serving a plurality of cells. Such methods also include determining that a cell served by a first further base station is a preferred synchronization source cell for the base station, and sending, to one or more second further base stations, respective requests to activate muting in one or more of the cells served by the second further base stations. Embodiments include complementary methods performed by a further base station, and base stations configured to perform operations corresponding to the exemplary methods.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method (400) by an Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) system (210) is provided for configuring a network node (115) to prioritize the collection of data. A configuration (250) for collecting performance management (PM data) is transmitted to the network node. The configuration (250) includes PM counters and priority information associated with at least one of the PM counters. Each PM counter is associated with a parameter to be measured by the network node (115). A report of data collected by the network node (115) is received. The report includes data collected based on the configuration transmitted by the OAM system (210) to the network node (115).

Abstract: A method may be provided to operate a CU node that is coupled with first and second DU nodes. Communication is provided between the CU node and a mobile communication device through the first DU node over a first radio link. A message is received at the CU node from the first DU node that the radio link is temporarily unavailable. Responsive to receiving the message, communication between the CU node and the mobile communication device through the first DU node is suspended, wherein configuration of the first DU node to serve the mobile communication device using the first radio link is maintained. While suspending communication between the CU node and the mobile communication device through the first DU node, communication may be provided between the CU node and the mobile communication device through the second DU node over a second radio link.

Abstract: A node of a radio access network (RAN) receives, from a WLAN Termination (WT), an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) and/or a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) for one or more WLAN access points controlled by the WT. The node maintains a mapping between the ESSIDs and/or the BSSIDs and corresponding WLAN access points of the WT. Responsive to receiving a measurement report from a UE, the measurement report indicating an ESSID and/or a BSSID, the node associates the UE with a WLAN access point, based on said mapping. An interface may be established between the node and the WT.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for operating RAN and CN nodes are disclosed. An example method of operating a RAN node includes receiving, from a CN node, a PDU for a wireless device that is in an inactive state. The RAN node pages the wireless device in response to receiving the PDU from the CN node. The RAN node sends a non-delivery message to the CN node in response to failure of the paging for the wireless device, where the non-delivery message includes an indication that the wireless device is in the inactive state. An example method of operating a CN node includes the CN node sending a PDU for a wireless device to a RAN node. The CN node then receives a non-delivery message from the RAN node, where the non-delivery message includes an indication that the wireless device is in an inactive state.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods and/or procedures performed by a first network node (1460) in a radio access network, RAN, the first network node (1460) being in communication with a second network node (1460b) configured with a different radio access technology, RAT, than the first network node (1460). Such exemplary embodiments include determining (1210) one or more radio resource management (RRM) identifiers associated with at least one of the following: a user equipment, UE, served by the first network node; a subscriber associated with the UE; and a group of UEs served by the first network node. Exemplary embodiments also include esending (1220) a request for the second network node to establish dual connectivity, as a secondary node, SN, with the UE, wherein the request comprises information relating to the one or more RRM identifiers.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a network node of performing handover of a wireless device comprises: receiving a handover request from a source network node; receiving, from the source network node, a quality of service (QoS) flow to data radio bearer (DRB) mapping that was used by the source network node prior to the handover; receiving buffered Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from the source network node; transmitting the received PDCP PDUs using the received QoS flow to DRB mapping; obtaining an indication that handover is complete; determining a new QoS flow to DRB mapping; and activating the new QoS flow to DRB mapping for transmission of PDCP PDUs. Particular embodiments may include sending the new QoS flow to DRB mapping to the source network node, and/or receiving PDCP status reporting from the wireless device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method in a base station for coordinating resources in a wireless communications systems 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: 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: A user equipment starts a first timer in response to detecting a physical layer problem with a radio link between the user equipment and a node of a cellular network. Responsive to detecting a handover measurement event, the user equipment also starts a second timer and sends a measurement report to the node. The starting of the first and second timers causes the first and second timers to simultaneously elapse. Responsive to one of the simultaneously elapsing timers expiring, the user equipment sends a radio link failure report, to the node, indicating which of the simultaneously elapsing timers expired.

Abstract: Embodiments include exemplary methods and/or procedures performed by a central unit, CU (110) that together with first and second distributed units, DUs (120, 130), comprise a node (100, 1160) of a wireless communication network. Embodiments include receiving (830) from the first DU, prior to occurrence of a first event concerning a user equipment, UE (1110) that is in communication with the first DU, a lower-layer configuration of the UE. Embodiments also include storing (840) the lower-layer configuration of the UE, and sending (870), to the second DU, a setup request comprising the stored lower-layer configuration of the UE. Embodiments also include receiving (880), from the second DU, a setup response comprising a first delta configuration indicating one or more differences between a lower-layer configuration of the second DU and the stored lower-layer configuration. Embodiments also include sending (890), to the first DU, a modification request comprising the first delta configuration.