Abstract: Described herein is a system with a first network element and a second network element. The first network element contains a processor configured to synchronize with the second network element; and maintain synchronization with the second network element. The first network element is a small cell eNB and the second network element is one of the following: a macro cell enhanced node-B (eNB); or a small cell eNB.

Abstract: A network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to estimate spatial transmission information, STI, for each of a plurality of wireless devices, and determine spatial separability among the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the estimated STI for each of the plurality of wireless devices. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause scheduling of the plurality of wireless devices on the same communication resources based at least in part on the determined spatial separability.

Abstract: A network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to estimate spatial transmission information, STI, for each of a plurality of wireless devices, and determine spatial separability among the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the estimated STI for each of the plurality of wireless devices. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause scheduling of the plurality of wireless devices on the same communication resources based at least in part on the determined spatial separability.

Abstract: Described herein is a system with a first network element and a second network element. The first network element contains a processor configured to synchronize with the second network element; and maintain synchronization with the second network element. The first network element is a small cell eNB and the second network element is one of the following: a macro cell enhanced node-B (eNB); or a small cell eNB.

Abstract: Described herein is a system with a first network element and a second network element. The first network element contains a processor configured to synchronize with the second network element; and maintain synchronization with the second network element. The first network element is a small cell eNB and the second network element is one of the following: a macro cell enhanced node-B (eNB); or a small cell eNB.

Abstract: A method and system for performing link adaptation are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless communication system for performing link adaptation is provided. The method includes, when a first measure of channel quality is higher than a first predetermined amount, using a first outer loop adjustment process directed to determining link adaptation for a first data transmission transmitted to a wireless device. The method also includes, when the first measure of channel quality is lower than a second predetermined amount, using a second outer loop adjustment process different from the first outer loop adjustment process directed to determining link adaptation for a second data transmission transmitted to the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Multi-User Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) based on channel orthogonality. In some embodiments, a method performed by a radio access node includes obtaining a SU-MIMO signal quality measurement for at least a first user and an additional user; obtaining an indication of orthogonality between a channel of the first user and a channel of the additional user; and estimating a MU-MIMO signal quality measurement for the first user as if the first user and the additional user are paired with each other for a potential MU-MIMO transmission based on the SU-MIMO signal quality measurements and the indication of orthogonality. In this way, a computational complexity for the SINR estimation of MU-MIMO users can be greatly reduced. This may enable a large number of user pairing alternatives to be evaluated in practical wireless systems to achieve improved MU-MIMO performance.

Abstract: Described herein is a system with a first network element and a second network element. The first network element contains a processor configured to synchronize with the second network element; and maintain synchronization with the second network element. The first network element is a small cell eNB and the second network element is one of the following: a macro cell enhanced node-B (eNB); or a small cell eNB.

Abstract: A network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to estimate spatial transmission information, STI, for each of a plurality of wireless devices, and determine spatial separability among the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the estimated STI for each of the plurality of wireless devices. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause scheduling of the plurality of wireless devices on the same communication resources based at least in part on the determined spatial separability.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to adjusting uplink coverage in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node to adjust uplink coverage for one or more cells in a cellular communications network comprises determining that there is a need to adjust uplink beam transformations for one or more cells of a plurality of cells in a cellular communications network. For each cell of the one or more cells, the uplink beam transformation for the cell is a transformation of received uplink signals for the cell from an antenna domain to a beam domain. The method further comprises, upon determining that there is a need to adjust the uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells, determining new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells and applying the new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to allocate resources for a reference signal signaling for a first wireless device, the allocated resources configured to separate, in a slot, at least one transmission layer of the first wireless device from at least one transmission layers of a second wireless device by at least one of scheduling the first wireless device and second wireless device different reference signal ports that are separated by using the same resource elements and different CDM codes, scheduling the first wireless device and second wireless device at least one shared reference signal port using the same resource elements and CDM code, and scheduling the first wireless device and second wireless device on different reference signal ports that are separated by FDM using different resource elements and the same CDM codes.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to adjusting uplink coverage in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node to adjust uplink coverage for one or more cells in a cellular communications network comprises determining that there is a need to adjust uplink beam transformations for one or more cells of a plurality of cells in a cellular communications network. For each cell of the one or more cells, the uplink beam transformation for the cell is a transformation of received uplink signals for the cell from an antenna domain to a beam domain. The method further comprises, upon determining that there is a need to adjust the uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells, determining new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells and applying the new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method in a base station for precoding a downlink transmission are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining, for a time instant k, an estimate of a channel matrix for a wireless channel for a downlink from the base station to a wireless device and projecting the estimate of the channel matrix onto one or more sets of spatial orthonormal functions, thereby obtaining respective sets of coefficients. The method further comprises, for each set of spatial orthonormal functions, filtering the set of coefficients for the time instant k based on a filtering parameter that is specific to a downlink channel to be transmitted. The method further comprises generating beamforming weights using the filtered set of coefficients for at least one of the sets of spatial orthonormal functions, and precoding the downlink channel using the beamforming weights.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method in a user equipment (UE) for supporting group communication service includes receiving, from a base station, a group communication on a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). The UE determines a first Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) information that corresponds to the group communication on the PDSCH. The UE transmits the first HARQ information. In some implementations, the UE determines a group Channel State Information (CSI) for a group communication that is transmitted by a base station on a PDSCH. The UE determines a unicast CSI for a unicast communication that is transmitted by the base station on the PDSCH. The UE transmits the group CSI. The UE transmits the unicast CSI.

Abstract: A method is provided for communication in a wireless telecommunication system. The method comprises adaptively designating, by a network element following a frame-based communication protocol, for use as a secondary component carrier in a carrier aggregation scheme, at least a portion of radio resources on an unlicensed band.

Abstract: A node including processing circuitry including a processor, and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to: determine a cluster of a plurality of cells, assign at least one ZP CSI-RS configuration to each of the plurality of cells of the cluster, assign to each cell in the plurality of cells of the cluster a respective NZP CSI-RS configuration in which each of the NZP CSI-RS configurations assigned to respective cells in the cluster partially overlapping the at least one ZP CSI-RS configuration, and cause a first cell of the plurality of cells of the cluster to transmit, within a subframe, based on the at least one ZP CSI-RS configuration and the NZP CSI-RS configuration assigned to the first cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Multi-User Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) based on channel orthogonality. In some embodiments, a method performed by a radio access node includes obtaining a SU-MIMO signal quality measurement for at least a first user and an additional user; obtaining an indication of orthogonality between a channel of the first user and a channel of the additional user; and estimating a MU-MIMO signal quality measurement for the first user as if the first user and the additional user are paired with each other for a potential MU-MIMO transmission based on the SU-MIMO signal quality measurements and the indication of orthogonality. In this way, a computational complexity for the SINR estimation of MU-MIMO users can be greatly reduced. This may enable a large number of user pairing alternatives to be evaluated in practical wireless systems to achieve improved MU-MIMO performance.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method in a base station for precoding a downlink transmission are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining, for a time instant k, an estimate of a channel matrix for a wireless channel for a downlink from the base station to a wireless device and projecting the estimate of the channel matrix onto one or more sets of spatial orthonormal functions, thereby obtaining respective sets of coefficients. The method further comprises, for each set of spatial orthonormal functions, filtering the set of coefficients for the time instant k based on a filtering parameter that is specific to a downlink channel to be transmitted. The method further comprises generating beamforming weights using the filtered set of coefficients for at least one of the sets of spatial orthonormal functions, and precoding the downlink channel using the beamforming weights.

Abstract: A method and network entity for extending communication coverage in a network between a network entity and a wireless device. The method includes determining that the wireless device qualifies for coverage extension, the determining including that deriving appropriate transmission parameters for the wireless devices results in one of a lowest possible or most robust modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and determining achievable transmission performance parameters for the wireless device. If the determined achievable transmission performance parameters do not meet a set of pre-established transmission criteria, the downlink transmission power to the wireless device is increased.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for camping, assisted serving cell addition or removal, and discontinuous reception (DRX) in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In other aspects, enhancements to Layer 1 channels and uplink timing alignments are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In further aspects, assisted serving cell Layer 2 architecture and transport channels are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In further aspects, collaborated HARQ solutions are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell.