Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising determining an alternative set of random-access resources based at least partly on an estimated number of idle and/or inactive terminal devices, wherein the alternative set of random-access resources comprises at least one or more random-access resources that are not comprised in an initial set of random-access resources indicated by an initial set of configuration parameters at the estimated number of idle and/or inactive terminal devices. A group paging message indicating at least the alternative set of random-access resources and a group identifier is transmitted to the estimated number of idle and/or inactive terminal devices.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for semi-static scheduling of multicast broadcast service traffic. In example embodiments, at least one of enabling, disabling or modification of a semi-persistent scheduling configuration is determined for a group of devices on a bandwidth part for multicast broadcast service traffic. The at least one of enabling, disabling or modification of the semi-persistent scheduling configuration is indicated to the group of devices.

Abstract: Network devices and a method for providing a session management function (SMF)-centric multicast and broadcast services (MBS) activation using group paging may include a SMF network device which is caused to receive a MBS activate message, the MBS activate message including a MBS session ID, determine a plurality of deactivated UE devices associated with the MBS session ID, the plurality of deactivated UE devices including idle UE devices, determine at least one AMF network device associated with each of the determined plurality of deactivated UE devices, and transmit an AMF MBS activate message to the AMF network device, the AMF MBS activate message including information related to at least one UE device associated with each of the determined at least one AMF network, the AMF MB S activate message causing the at least one AMF network device to trigger a group paging of the UE device.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to semi-static HARQ-ACK codebook construction for frequency-multiplexed DL data transmission. A first device includes at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to: receive downlink configuration information from a second device, receive at least two frequency-multiplexed downlink transmissions at one downlink data transmission occasion, and set, based on the downlink configuration information and an error state of the frequency-multiplexed downlink data transmissions, an acknowledgment indication in a semi-static HARQ-ACK codebook to be transmitted to the second device for the downlink data transmission occasion.

Abstract: This disclosure presents methods and processes to allow a user equipment (UE) to map a hybrid automatic retransmission request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback to one or more HARQ-ACK sub-codebooks for received services. The one or more HARQ-ACK sub-codebooks can be concatenated into one HARQ-ACK codebook and then communicated to a communication node, when those services use a HARQ-ACK feedback that is scheduled for the same time instance. Various methods can be used for the concatenation order depending on the number of multicast and broadcast services (MBS) for which HARQ feedback is to be provided, and depending on whether HARQ-ACK feedback is to be sent for unicast services at the scheduled time instance. The concatenation order can utilize an increasing order or a decreasing order of the concatenation order parameters.

Abstract: A method comprising: receiving information from a Session Management Function; determining, from the information, to transmit to a Radio Access Network node at least one of a message and an information element, the at least one of the message and the information element comprising a sequence number of a last transmitted (or next to be transmitted) user plane Protocol Data Unit carrying a valid user plane payload of a Quality of Service Flow of a Multicast and Broadcast Services multicast session; and transmitting at least one of the message and the information element to the Radio Access Network node while no downlink multicast packet in the Multicast and Broadcast Services multicast session is available for transmission to the Radio access Network node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to frequency domain resource allocation for multicast traffic. A method comprises: receiving, at a first device and from a core network element, multicast traffic to be scheduled for a second device; generating assistance information for the second device, the assistance information enabling the second device to identify, within a bandwidth part configured for the second device, a frequency domain resource allocated for the multicast traffic; and transmitting the assistance GC information to the second device. The method further comprises: receiving, at the second device, the assistance information from a first device; and determining the frequency domain resource from downlink control information based on the assistance information. In this way, a significant flexibility to schedule multicast traffic can be provided, and a significant complexity reduction to a terminal device can be provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for search space configuration for multicast traffic. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a first device determines, from a group of search space sets configured to the first device, at least one search space set for monitoring multicast traffic from a second device, based on at least one of a priority of the multicast traffic and respective types of the search space sets. The first device monitors the multicast traffic from the second device in the at least one search space set. The solution enables multicast traffic to be monitored in a common search space set, a user-specific search space set or a multicast search space set in different scenarios.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for channel state information (CSI) reporting. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a first device receives from a second device a configuration for CSI reporting. The configuration comprises at least a block error rate target and an indication of a number of HARQ transmissions. The first device determines Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) based on the block error rate target and the number of HARQ transmissions indicated by the configuration and transmits a CSI report comprising the CQI to the second device. The solution enables CSI feedback that is suitable for spectrally efficient and reliable delivery of Point to Multipoint services while meeting the delay requirement, in particular in the context of NACK-only feedback on common feedback resources.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to downlink control and data channel configuration. A method comprises: determining, at a first device, a transmission scheme of control information for a second device based on at least one multicast and broadcast service related criterion, the control information related to scheduling multicast service traffic to the second device; transmitting, to the second device, configuration information for causing the second device to obtain the control information; and transmitting, to the second device and based on the determined transmission scheme, the control information on a control channel between the first device and the second device. In this way, the correlation between the scheduling mechanism of multicast traffic on the downlink data channel and the transmission mechanism of control information on the downlink control channel can be decoupled, resulting in a flexible and dynamic downlink channel configuration and an increased radio resource efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus in a network function comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: determine that a protocol data unit session for a user equipment is to be updated to add or modify multicast information; and provide multicast context information associated with said user equipment which causes said user equipment to receive multicast data associated with said multicast context information.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a handover request from a source BS, the handover request comprising a request for a handover of a UE involved in at least two QoS flows using a first MRB with the source BS, wherein the apparatus is using at least a second MRB for other UEs; starting to buffer packets for the UE; receiving a subsequent message comprising, for each of the at least two QoS flows, a CN SN of a first packet not transmitted by the source BS for that QoS flow; identifying a second packet with the highest protocol entity SN according to a protocol entity transmission order of the second MRB among packets which the source BS has delivered to the UE using the first MRB and the apparatus has transmitted to the other UEs using the second MRB; and transmitting a message configuring the UE to use the second MRB.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a distributed unit for a distributed access node. The distributed unit maintains, in a memory, information on a configuration of a first radio link control leg for a unicast data radio bearer or a single cell multicast radio bearer for point-to-point transmissions and a configuration of a second radio link control leg for the single cell multicast radio bearer for point-to-multipoint transmissions. The distributed unit receives channel state information and/or hybrid automatic repeat request feedback associated with one of the first and second radio link control legs being active from a terminal device and determines, based thereon, that improved efficiency is enabled if the second radio link control leg is set as active. The distributed unit transmits, to the terminal device, an activation command for activating downlink monitoring and decoding using the group radio network temporary identifier.

Abstract: There is provided a method for a second network node, the method comprising: receiving a message from a first network node configured to provide a multicast-broadcast service, MBS, for a user equipment, UE, the message comprising an MBS identifier identifying the MB S and at least one data flow identifier corresponding to at least one data flow, for providing the MBS, to be offloaded from the first network node to the second network node; determining whether or not a tunnel, between the second network node and a user plane entity, associated with the MBS identifier exists; on the basis of the determining, transmitting, to the first network node, a response message indicating whether or not a new tunnel for the MBS is requested to be established; and utilizing the existing tunnel or said new tunnel requested to be established for providing the MBS.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for informing a central unit control plane regarding the capabilities and/or service area of a central unit user plane are provided. For example, a method may include notifying, by a central unit user plane to a central unit control plane using a message, at least one of an offered multicast radio bearer configuration to be shared in relation with a multicast/broadcast session served by the central unit user plane and one or more offered service area corresponding to the central unit user plane.

Abstract: Techniques of transmitting and receiving HARQ feedback for point to multipoint data packets include using two different PUCCHs for providing ACK/NACK feedback to a sequence of point-to-multipoint (PTM) data packets. For example, when a gNB sends PTM data packets (e.g., as part of a subscription) to subscriber UE's, each UE sends ACK/NACK messages in response over a first PUCCH which has a smaller bandwidth than a conventional PUCCH under which full uplink control information (UCI) may be sent. In some implementations, the ACK/NACK messages are a single bit. In response to a NACK message from a UE, the gNB allocates a second PUCCH to the UE. The UE then send additional details to explain the NACK message. In some implementations, the additional details include an identifier of a missing data (e.g., packet m of n).

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising monitoring (100; 300; 400) at least one multicast control channel (MCCH1) based on at least one selection information (sel) characterizing a selection of at least one multicast control channel configuration (conf1) associated with the at least one multicast control SNET channel (MCCH1).

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising transmitting (102) a request (MR#1) indicating a de-mapping of at least one QoS flow from a unicast radio channel (UCH) between a secondary node (SN) and a radio terminal (UE), and indicating a mapping of the at least one QoS flow to a multicast radio channel (MCH) between the secondary node (SN) and a plurality of radio terminals, the plurality of radio terminals comprising the radio terminal (UE); and demapping (108) received user plane data (upd) associated with the at least one QoS flow from the unicast radio channel (UCH); and mapping (110) the received user plane data (upd) associated with the at least one QoS flow to the multicast radio channel (MCH).

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving (190) multicast data (md) via a multicast transport channel (MTC) that is associated with a plurality of multicast control channels (MCC), wherein at least one multicast control channel configuration of the multicast control channels (MCC) is associated with at least one location indicator.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for restoration of multicast/broadcast service upon multicast/broadcast failure with restart are provided. For example, a method may include detecting a restart of a multicast/broadcast user plane function that was supporting a packet forwarding control protocol session for a multicast/broadcast session. The method may also include re-creating a packet forwarding control protocol session for the multicast/broadcast session. The method may further include providing addressing information for the data delivery of the broadcast/multicast session to the multicast/broadcast user plane function and instructing the multicast/broadcast user plane function to use this addressing information for the broadcast/multicast session if possible.