Abstract: A method performed by a target access node for handling data packets in a handover of a User Equipment, UE, from a source cell served by a source access node, to a target cell, served by the target access node in a wireless communications network is provided. The target access node receives a status report of last received data packet in the UE from the source access node. The target access node performs a data packet duplication check based on the information comprised in the status report. The target access node then sends to the UE, only data packets which have not already been received by the UE from the source access node, based on the outcome of the duplication check.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, methods are provided to operate a base station of a wireless communication network. For example, parameters may be generated that define a plurality of potential PDCCH monitoring occasions and that define a plurality of paging occasions, wherein each one of the plurality of paging occasions includes a respective subset of the plurality of potential PDCCH monitoring occasions, wherein consecutive paging occasions are spaced apart in time with at least one of the potential PDCCH monitoring occasions therebetween not being included in any of the plurality of paging occasions. The parameters are transmitted over a radio interface to a wireless device. Related methods of operating wireless devices, related base stations, and related wireless devices are also discussed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for receiving paging information comprises receiving a paging message from a network node. The paging message includes a paging indicator associated with a plurality of wireless devices (e.g., group paging message). The method further comprises determining the wireless device is associated with the paging indicator, transmitting a random access request message to the network node, and receiving a random access response message from the network node. The random access response message is associated with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI). The method further comprises determining, based on the RNTI, that the random access response includes additional paging information for the wireless device, and decoding the random access response.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, methods are provided to operate a base station of a wireless communication network. For example, parameters may be generated that define a plurality of potential PDCCH monitoring occasions and that define a plurality of paging occasions, wherein each one of the plurality of paging occasions includes a respective subset of the plurality of potential PDCCH monitoring occasions, wherein consecutive paging occasions are spaced apart in time with at least one of the potential PDCCH monitoring occasions therebetween not being included in any of the plurality of paging occasions. The parameters are transmitted over a radio interface to a wireless device. Related methods of operating wireless devices, related base stations, and related wireless devices are also discussed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises receiving first paging information in a downlink control information (DCI) of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The wireless device is uniquely identified by a full identifier of length L bits and the first paging information in the DCI comprises one or more short identifiers of length K bits, where K is less than L. The method further comprises determining whether one of the one or more short identifiers matches a portion of the full identifier of the wireless device. Upon determining one of the one or more short identifiers matches a portion of the full identifier of the wireless device, the method further comprises decoding second paging information in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) associated with the DCI and determining the second paging information includes paging information targeted for the wireless device.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. In one example, a network node configured for performing dual beam sweep, the dual beam sweep including a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) beam sweep and a corresponding physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) beam sweep that are separated in time to each other. The network node is configured to, and/or including a radio interface and/or including processing circuitry configured to: configured to: indicate, in a PDCCH transmission within the PDCCH beam sweep, a time domain resource allocation for the corresponding PDSCH beam, the time domain resource allocation corresponding to an offset in time slots between the PDCCH beam and the corresponding PDSCH beam, the offset being one of a plurality of offsets that can be indicated for the corresponding PDSCH beam; and perform the dual beam sweep using at least in part the indication.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method by a wireless device for reporting acceptable downlink (DL) beations to a network node is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of acceptable DL beam directions. An indicator of the plurality of acceptable DL beam directions is transmitted to the network node. Paging information is received from the network node on one of the DL beam directions in the plurality of acceptable DL beam directions.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for receiving paging information comprises receiving a paging message from a network node. The paging message includes a paging indicator associated with a plurality of wireless devices (e.g., group paging message). The method further comprises determining the wireless device is associated with the paging indicator, transmitting a random access request message to the network node, and receiving a random access response message from the network node. The random access response message is associated with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI). The method further comprises determining, based on the RNTI, that the random access response includes additional paging information for the wireless device, and decoding the random access response.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for handling a paging message in a wireless communications network. The UE configures (201) the UE to derive a group paging identifier to be associated with the UE from a first identifier associated with the UE, and to use the derived group paging identifier for identifying group paging identifier matches in response-driven paging, irrespective of UE state and initiator of the paging. The UE receives (202) a paging message from the wireless communications network. The paging message comprises the group paging identifier associated with the UE. The UE then derives (203) the group paging identifier associated with the UE from the first identifier associated with the UE. By means of the derived group paging identifier the UE identifies (204) group paging identifier matches in response-driven paging, irrespective of said UE states and initiator of the paging.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing a retransmission on a Random Access CHannel, “RACH”, in a wireless communication network (100). A device (600; 120) performs (404; 502) the retransmission on the RACH, wherein the retransmission is based on a coverage class associated with the device (600; 120). Basing the retransmission on the coverage class e.g. enables reduction of retransmission collisions when the wireless communication network (100) operates as in Extended Coverage GSM, “EC-GSM”.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for handling a paging message in a wireless communications network. The UE configures (201) the UE to derive a group paging identifier to be associated with the UE from a first identifier associated with the UE, and to use the derived group paging identifier for identifying group paging identifier matches in response-driven paging, irrespective of UE state and initiator of the paging. The UE receives (202) a paging message from the wireless communications network. The paging message comprises the group paging identifier associated with the UE. The UE then derives (203) the group paging identifier associated with the UE from the first identifier associated with the UE. By means of the derived group paging identifier the UE identifies (204) group paging identifier matches in response-driven paging, irrespective of said UE states and initiator of the paging.

Abstract: A method performed by a communication device for determining an extended time period related to a signalling message between a core network node and the communication device in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: obtaining (301) an indication of a coverage capability of the communication device; obtaining (302) an indication of a time period, which time period is related to the signalling message; and determining (303) the extended time period related to the signalling message, based on the indication of the coverage capability of the communication device and based on the indication of the time period.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for paging of a communication device in a coverage area served by a radio access network (RAN) node. Such embodiments include receiving, from a core network node, an indication of which of the following modes of operation are supported by the communication device: Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode; and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode. Embodiments also include, based on the indication and on a capability of the coverage area to support said following modes of operation, determining at least one of the following: whether to page the communication device in the coverage area; and a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a core network node, as well as RAN nodes and core network nodes configured to perform any of the exemplary methods.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem, Evolved Node B) and method are described herein for indicating to a core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node, Mobility Management Entity, CIoT Serving Gateway Node) usage of exception reports by a mobile station. In addition, a core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node, Mobility Management Entity, CIoT Serving Gateway Node) and method are described herein for receiving an indication of usage of exception reports by a mobile station.

Abstract: A radio access network node (e.g., base station subsystem) and method are described herein for indicating to a mobile station (e.g., CIoT device) which system information (SI) message(s) (if any) has changed relative to the mobile station's last reading. In addition, a mobile station (e.g., CIoT device) and method are described herein for receiving an indication that indicates which system information (SI) message(s) (if any) has changed relative to the mobile station's last reading.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for paging of a communication device in a coverage area served by a radio access network (RAN) node. Such embodiments include receiving, from a core network node, an indication of which of the following modes of operation are supported by the communication device: Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode; and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode. Embodiments also include, based on the indication and on a capability of the coverage area to support said following modes of operation, determining at least one of the following: whether to page the communication device in the coverage area; and a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a core network node, as well as RAN nodes and core network nodes configured to perform any of the exemplary methods.

Abstract: A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving (401) a page request from a core network node, wherein the page request comprises an indication of a support level of the communication device (140), which support level indicates whether or not the communication device (140) supports a specific mode of operation of a RAT; and determining (402), based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area, or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

Abstract: A method performed by a communication device for determining an extended time period related to a signalling message between a core network node and the communication device in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: obtaining (301) an indication of a coverage capability of the communication device; obtaining (302) an indication of a time period, which time period is related to the signalling message; and determining (303) the extended time period related to the signalling message, based on the indication of the coverage capability of the communication device and based on the indication of the time period.

Abstract: A first node (800; 120; 130) for managing integrity protection of a Logical Link Control, “LLC”, Packet Data Unit, “PDU”, is configured to communicate in a wireless communication network (100). The first node (800; 120; 130) provides (301; 701) an LLC PDU with an indicator that indicates that an integrity protection has been applied to at least part of the LLC PDU. The indicator may indicates that a Message Authentication Code, “MAC”, field is comprises in the LLC PDU, relating to said integrity protection. The first node (800; 120; 130) sends (302; 702) the LLC PDU with the indication to another, second node (1000; 130; 120) that then may identify, based on the indication, that the received LLC PDU applies integrity protection.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing a retransmission on a Random Access CHannel, “RACH”, in a wireless communication network (100). A device (600; 120) performs (404; 502) the retransmission on the RACH, wherein the retransmission is based on a coverage class associated with the device (600; 120). Basing the retransmission on the coverage class e.g. enables reduction of retransmission collisions when the wireless communication network (100) operates as in Extended Coverage GSM, “EC-GSM”.