Abstract: A user equipment (UE) receiving, from a radio access network (RAN), a configuration for skipping an uplink transmission. The UE obtains an uplink (UL) grant. When operating with an inactive radio connection between the UE and the RAN, the UE skips the uplink transmission corresponding the UL grant in accordance with the received configuration.

Abstract: A network device performs a method for paging a user equipment (UE). The network device transmits, to the UE, non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell-related assistance information. The cell-related assistance information includes attributes defining one or more NTN cells including a serving cell of the UE projected onto a certain geographical area, and a reference location and a radius of the serving cell. The network device may also transmit, to the UE, a configuration configuring the UE to monitor paging messages during a paging time window (PTW) while the UE operates in a non-connected state.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) performs a method for monitoring paging from a non-terrestrial network (NTN). The UE receives via the NTN (i) a configuration for the UE to monitor paging messages from the NTN during a paging time window (PTW) while the UE operates in a non-connected state, and (ii) an PTW extension indication indicating that the UE is allowed to adjust the PTW. The UE modifies the PTW based on at least one NTN coverage time interval during which the UE has NTN coverage. The UE then modifies the PTW based on at least one NTN coverage time interval during which the UE has NTN coverage.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) and a user equipment (UE) can implement a method for managing small data transmission (SDT). The method includes: (i) operating in a state of a protocol for controlling radio resources in which the UE is not connected to the RAN; (ii) receiving an SDT configuration from the RAN; and (iii) performing, based on whether the UE and the RAN node support an SDT type that relies on a random access procedure, a communication procedure with the RAN node to transmit or receive small data.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) can perform a method for managing security protection for multicast and/or broadcast services (MBS). The method includes receiving (802), from a core network (CN) via a DL tunnel, a data packet associated with an MBS session; prior to transmitting the data packet to a plurality of UEs, determining (804) which security protection to apply to the data packet based on an identity of the DL tunnel; and transmitting (806) the data packet to the plurality of UEs using the determined security protection. A UE can receive (902), from a RAN, a configuration for establishing a logical channel with the RAN; receive (904), from the RAN via the logical channel, a data packet associated with an MBS session; determine (906) which security protection to apply to the data packet based on the configuration; and apply (908) the determined security protection to the data packet.

Abstract: A user device capable of receiving a full configuration related to a radio connection to a base station and a delta configuration which the user device can apply to a first configuration received previously (i) receives, from the base station while the user device is operating in a cell covered by the base station using the first configuration, the full configuration providing information for user device operation within a candidate cell (1404), (ii) determines whether a set of one or more conditions associated with the full configuration to the candidate cell is satisfied (1406), and (iii) connects to the candidate cell using the full configuration if the user device determines that the set of conditions is satisfied (1410).

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) for receiving multicast and/or broadcast service (MBS) (i) attempts to receive (902), from a base station via multicast, a first transmission that includes an MBS data packet associated with the MBS, (ii) transmits (904), to the base station, an indication of whether the UE successfully received the first transmission, in accordance with a mechanism for automatic retransmission of undelivered packets, (iii) in response to the transmitting, attempts to receive (906), from the base station via unicast, a second transmission in accordance with the mechanism, and (iv) determines (908) whether the second transmission is a new transmission or a retransmission of the first transmission.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) and a user equipment (UE) can implement a method for managing small data transmission (SDT). The method includes: (i) determining that the UE should operate in a state of a protocol for controlling radio resources in which the UE is not connected to the RAN (704); (ii) generating, based at least on whether the UE supports a first type of SDT that relies on a random access procedure and/or a second type of SDT that relies on a resource previously allocated to the UE, a message that causes the UE to communicate small data in accordance with a capability of the UE (706, 708, and 710); and (iii) transmitting the message to the UE (712).

Abstract: A first radio access network (RAN) node communicating with a second RAN node can implement a method for managing small data transmission (SDT) configuration for a user equipment (UE). The method includes: (i) receiving, at the first RAN node and from the second RAN node, an SDT configuration for the UE: and (ii) transmitting, from the first RAN node to the UE and responsive to the receiving of the SDT configuration, a downlink message, including omitting an SDT information element from the downlink message to indicate that the UE is to maintain the SDT configuration.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) communicating with a radio access network (RAN) node can implement a method for monitoring a downlink control channel during a random access small data transmission (RA-SDT) session. The method includes: (i) receiving, at the UE and from the RAN node, a random access procedure message including a temporary identifier for the UE; (ii) monitoring, at the UE and during the RA-SDT session, the downlink control channel using the temporary identifier; (iii) receiving, at the UE and from the RAN node, an indication to end the RA-SDT session; and (iv) responsive to the receiving of the indication, stopping, at the UE, the monitoring of the downlink control channel using the temporary identifier.

Abstract: A distributed unit (DU) communicating with a central unit (CU) can implement a method for managing small data transmission (SDT) configuration for a user equipment (UE). The method includes: (i) receiving, at the DU, a first SDT configuration for the UE; (ii) receiving, at the DU and from the CU, a UE context modification message including an SDT configuration request; and (iii) transmitting, from the DU to the CU and responsive to the receiving of the UE context modification message, a UE context modification response including a second SDT configuration based on the first SDT configuration.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) for enabling execution of a dual active protocol stack (DAPS) procedure at a UE determines that the UE is to release at least one cell via which the UE communicates with the RAN, prior to executing the DAPS procedure (2402), causes the UE to release the at least one cell (2404), and transmits a command to the UE to execute the DAPS procedure (2406).

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) for configuring a user equipment (UE) transmits, to the UE, (i) a conditional configuration related to a base station operating in the RAN, and (ii) a condition to be satisfied before the UE applies the conditional configuration during a conditional procedure (1802), determines subsequently to the transmitting, that the UE is to perform an immediate procedure related to the RAN (1804), and provides, to the UE, an indication that the UE is to release the conditional configuration (1806).

Abstract: In a method of handling small data transmission (SDT) with a user equipment (UE), a DU communicates (318 or 418) with the UE in accordance with a first DU configuration. While communicating with the UE in accordance with the first DU configuration, the DU determines that there is data inactivity of the UE. The DU transmits an indication of UE data inactivity to the CU (322 or 422). After transmitting the indication, the DU receives (328 or 428), from the CU, a CU-to-DU message requesting a SDT DU configuration for the UE, and transmits (332 and 334, or 432 and 434) a SDT DU configuration to the UE.

Abstract: A method of managing configuration information for SDT operation is performed by a first RAN node. The method includes receiving an RRC message from a UE, receiving, from a second RAN node and during a handover procedure from the second RAN node to the first RAN node, an SDT configuration for use by a UE when the UE is operating in an RRC inactive state, and, after the handover procedure, communicating with the UE operating in the RRC inactive state based on a UE context of the UE.

Abstract: A method of managing synchronization with a UE can be implemented by a DU of a distributed base station. The method includes transmitting, to the UE of the distributed base station, a CG-SDT configuration for use by the UE when the UE is in an inactive state. The method also includes, after transmitting the CG-SDT configuration to the UE, starting or restarting a time alignment timer that indicates validity of the CG-SDT configuration and, while the time alignment timer is running, receiving or attempting to receive transmissions from the CE in accordance with the CG-SDT configuration.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) 102 receives, from a radio access network (RAN) 105 and in a first cell 124, a resource for an uplink transmission to the RAN 105 when a radio connection between the UE 102 and the RAN 105 is suspended (e.g., event 1102); initiates, in a second cell 126 and the radio connection is suspended, a procedure to resume the radio connection with the RAN 105 (e.g., event 1106); and in response to the initiating, release the resource (e.g., event 1108).

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) 102 receives, from a radio access network (RAN) 105, a configuration for uplink transmission to the RAN 105 when a radio connection between the UE 102 and a radio access network (RAN) 105 is suspended (e.g., event 602); detects, at a first time when the radio connection is suspended, that a message for transmitting to the RAN 105 is available (e.g., event 604); and refrains, at the first time in response to determining that an uplink (UE) resource corresponding to the configuration is not available until a second time subsequent to the first time, from transmitting the message to the RAN 105 (e.g., event 608).

Abstract: A user equipment is configured to conduct an intra-frequency measurement on a candidate frequency of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell even when the UE does not receive information about measurement timing within a candidate frequency configuration or pertinent satellite ephemeris information via a neighbor NTN cell configuration. The UE operates based on the assumption that a base station preparing lists of frequency configurations and neighbor NTN cell configurations has reduced redundant information (e.g., when the same satellite provides plural non-terrestrial cells). The base station is configured to prepare and broadcast such reduced lists of frequency configurations and neighboring NTN cell configurations providing information for the intra-frequency measurements.

Abstract: To transmit a control element (CE) to a radio access network (RAN) (105), a UE (102) determines, when performing a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, that a resource for transmitting the CE to the RAN (105) is not available (e.g., event (704)). In response to the determining and in accordance with a delay configuration, the UE (102) delays a transmission of a request for the resource to the RAN (105) (e.g., event (708)).