Abstract: Selecting a downlink control information (DCI) format used for transmitting a DCI message in a subframe. The subframe may be used to carry, for instance, voice communication data to support a voice over LTE (VoLTE) application or to otherwise provide downlink (DL) voice coverage. In one aspect, a certain downlink DCI format is selected (e.g., DCI format 1A) when there is a high path loss and/or interfernce scenario, and/or the packet has data with a high priority (e.g., low QCI value). This technique may lead to less dropped calls due to RTP timeout, and may improve perception and mean opinion score (MOS) of VoLTE quality.

Abstract: A method for radio communication between a transmitting node and receiving nodes comprises obtaining (S1) of directions from the transmitting node to the receiving nodes and antenna gains needed for each direction. A beam forming solution having a high gain in the directions of a set of receiving nodes and with antenna gains adapted to the need of the link is obtained (S2). User data to be transmitted to the receiving nodes is obtained (S3). The user data is overlay-coded (S4) by a code-domain overlaid code and/or a frequency-domain overlaid code, separately for each respective receiving node. The overlaid-coded user data is combined (S5) into at least one combined signal stream. Analogue beamforming, hybrid beamforming or constrained beamforming is performed (S6) on the combined signal stream(s) according to the beam forming solution. The beamformed data is transmitted (S7) from the transmitting node to the receiving nodes.

Abstract: A method includes a base station in a distributed antenna system having a set of antennas. For each antenna, the base station stores state information indicating that the antenna is either in a transmit state or a do_not_transmit state. For each antenna indicated by the state information for the antenna as being in the transmit state, the base station determines whether the antenna has been given a clear channel indication (CCI) for a next transmission time interval (TTI). At the next TTI, the base station transmits data to a UE, wherein the base station transmits the data to the UE using antennas included in said set of antennas that i) are indicated by the state information for the antenna as being in the transmit state and ii) have been given the CCI. The base station adjusts the state information in accordance with a transmit status.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for scheduling subframes at protocol layer L1. The method is performed by a network device. A method comprises obtaining, at the protocol layer L1, an indication of an occurrence of Listen Before Talk (LBT) failure for transmission of a subframe in an unlicensed frequency spectrum. The method comprises storing, in an L1 buffer, data of the subframe to be transmitted in the unlicensed frequency spectrum as a result thereof.

Abstract: A system, method (400), and network node (102) is presented for setting the size of a control region, the PDCCH region (201) of a subframe (200). The PDCCH control region may have a size, indicated by the Control Format Indicator, CFI, transmitted on the PCFICH, that varies between 1 and 3 OFDM symbols. The network node (102) may select (402) an initial size for the control region (201), and determine (404) whether the initial size for the control region is less than a predetermined maximum control region size. In response to determining that the initial size is less than the predetermined maximum control region size, the network node (102) selects (406) a final size for the control region (201) based on a data region load. The data region load indicates a load on all physical downlink shared channels, PDSCHs, on all enhanced PDCCHs, ePDCCHs, in the data region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting scheduling of resources to be used for uplink communication of data in a communications system. If the repeated transmission by a user equipment of scheduling requests on an uplink control channel is determined to be unsuccessful, a random access transmission on a random access channel is initiated as a fallback procedure.

Abstract: A method, system and device for detecting a SILENCE period status 200A in a first device 101. The detection is performed by a second device 102 that is in communication with the first device, receiving transmissions of the first device. The SILENCE period status corresponds to a status wherein the first device has no speech samples to be transmitted towards the second apparatus. The second device receives, 413, transmissions from the first device and determines, 414A, 414B, 414C, the type of the received transmissions. The second device counts 415 the number of received transmissions of a first type, and times a time interval between the last received transmission of the first type and the last received transmission of a second determined type.

Abstract: A second device that is in communication with a first device receives transmissions of the first device and detects a SILENCE period status of the first device, which corresponds to a status wherein the first device has no speech samples to be transmitted towards the second apparatus. The second device determines the type of the received transmissions, counts the number of received transmissions of a first type, and times a time interval between the last received transmission of the first type and the last received transmission of a second determined type. At reception of a transmission of the first type, the second device detects whether the first device is in the SILENCE period status on an evaluation of the counted number of transmissions of the first type and the time interval of the last received transmission of the first type and the last received transmission of the second type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting scheduling of resources to be used for uplink communication of data in a communications system. If the repeated transmission by a user equipment of scheduling requests on an uplink control channel is determined to be unsuccessful, a random access transmission on a random access channel is initiated as a fallback procedure.

Abstract: Selecting a downlink control information (DCI) format used for transmitting a DCI message in a subframe. The subframe may be used to carry, for instance, voice communication data to support a voice over LTE (VoLTE) application or to otherwise provide downlink (DL) voice coverage. In one aspect, a certain downlink DCI format is selected (e.g., DCI format 1A) when there is a high path loss and/or interfernce scenario, and/or the packet has data with a high priority (e.g., low QCI value). This technique may lead to less dropped calls due to RTP timeout, and may improve perception and mean opinion score (MOS) of VoLTE quality.

Abstract: A method performed in a base station includes the base station determining a level of interference in a channel between the base station and the wireless communication device based on a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) in the channel. The base station determines, in accordance with the determined interference, whether to use a predetermined power level to transmit a message to the wireless communication device. In response to determining to use the predetermined power level, the base station further determines whether the wireless communication device requires downlink signal radio bearer (SRB) assignments. In response to determining that the wireless communication device requires the downlink signal radio bearer assignments, the base station transmits the message to the wireless communication device using a downlink control information (DCI) message format having a same size as a message format used for uplink messages.

Abstract: A network node and a method performed thereby for supporting VoIP service of a wireless device are provided. The network node is operable in a wireless communication network, and the method comprises, when a channel quality of a channel between the wireless device and the network node falls below a predetermined threshold: determining (110) QoS requirements with regard to GBR for services which the wireless device is currently using; determining (120) an achievable bitrate using TTI bundling; and determining (150) to enable TTI bundling of the wireless device based on the determined aggregated GBR requirement and the determined achievable bitrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a wireless device operating in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode while using a voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) service. The wireless device detects a period of voice inactivity and transmits one or more silence descriptor (SID_UPDATE) frames to a second wireless device in place of encoded speech frames. The SID_UPDATE frames are transmitted periodically based on measurements of comfort noise parameters. The wireless device determines a difference between weighted averages of comfort noise (CN) parameters of two sequences of encoded speech frames. When the difference exceeds a difference threshold, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted. Additionally, in some embodiments, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted when the weighted average of CN parameters exceeds a parameter threshold and/or when a time between SID_UPDATE frames or time elapsed after entering a silence state exceeds one or more time thresholds.

Abstract: A method in a first node of a telecommunications network, in which a Radio Link Control (RLC) controller detects a failure to transmit a first RLC data Protocol Data Unit (PDU) containing all or part of a Service Data Unit (SDU) towards a second node of the telecommunications network, and notifies a Radio Access Control (RAC) controller of the failure. The RAC controller, in response to receiving a dedicated control channel (DCCH) message from the second node subsequent to the notification, instructs the RLC controller to retransmit the SDU. In response to the instruction, the RLC controller transmits a second RLC data PDU containing the SDU or a part of the SDU towards the second node. The RLC controller, in further response to the instruction, transmits a receipt of delivery to the RAC controller when reception of all parts of the SDU has been positively acknowledged by the second node.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) has multiple transceivers, each having a corresponding receiver configured to communicate on respective carriers. The UE monitors a radio access network (RAN) on a serving cell using a first of the receivers, and indicates to the base station that at least one of its receivers will temporary tune-out from the RAN. The base station receives the indication from the UE, and temporarily suspends communications with the UE.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling communications between a User Equipment (UE) (20) and a base station (BS) (90) in a radio access network (RAN) (16) is provided. The UE (20) indicates to the BS (90) in the RAN (16) that a transceiver at the UE (20) will temporarily suspend communications with the RAN (16). The BS (90) acknowledges the indication from the UE (20) and temporarily suspends communications with the UE (20). Responsive to the acknowledgement from the BS (90), the UE (20) temporarily suspends communications between the transceiver and the RAN (16). The UE (20) then resumes communications between the transceiver and the BS (90) in the RAN (16).

Abstract: A method, system and device for detecting a SILENCE period status 200A in a first device 101. The detection is performed by a second device 102 that is in communication with the first device, receiving transmissions of the first device. The SILENCE period status corresponds to a status wherein the first device has no speech samples to be transmitted towards the second apparatus. The second device receives, 413, transmissions from the first device and determines, 414A, 414B, 414C, the type of the received transmissions. The second device counts 415 the number of received transmissions of a first type, and times a time interval between the last received transmission of the first type and the last received transmission of a second determined type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting scheduling of resources to be used for uplink communication of data in a communications system. If the repeated transmission by a user equipment of scheduling requests on an uplink control channel is determined to be unsuccessful, a random access transmission on a random access channel is initiated as a fallback procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting scheduling of resources to be used for uplink communication of data in a communications system. If the repeated transmission by a user equipment of scheduling requests on an uplink control channel is determined to be unsuccessful, a random access transmission on a random access channel is initiated as a fallback procedure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a wireless device operating in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode while using a voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) service. The wireless device detects a period of voice inactivity and transmits one or more silence descriptor (SID_UPDATE) frames to a second wireless device in place of encoded speech frames. The SID_UPDATE frames are transmitted periodically based on measurements of comfort noise parameters. The wireless device determines a difference between weighted averages of comfort noise (CN) parameters of two sequences of encoded speech frames. When the difference exceeds a difference threshold, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted. Additionally, in some embodiments, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted when the weighted average of CN parameters exceeds a parameter threshold and/or when a time between SID_UPDATE frames or time elapsed after entering a silence state exceeds one or more time thresholds.