Abstract: Methods of operating a network node in a communication network are provided. Operations according to such methods include receiving a transmission that is sent by a user equipment, UE, and that is received over a preconfigured uplink resource, PUR and selecting one or more transmission types for indicating feedback corresponding to the received transmission conditioned to having been successfully received.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus such as User Equipments (UEs) and network nodes are provided. In an example, a method in a network node of determining a configuration of a User Equipment (UE) to perform a measurement on a second cell is provided, wherein the UE is served by a first cell. The method comprises determining whether the measurement is an inter-frequency measurement or an intra-frequency measurement based on a reference frequency and a frequency of a reference signal on the second cell, wherein the reference frequency comprises a frequency of a reference signal of an active bandwidth part (BWP) of the UE.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a first network node. The first network node determines which UE category a UE belongs to. The UE category is M or non-BL in CE. The first network node provides UE category information about the determined UE category to a second network node.

Abstract: A method by a node (101), for handling signals. The node (101) operates in a wireless communications network (100). The node (101) determines (502) a distribution of one or more wireless devices (130) served by the node (101) into a plurality of groups. The determining (502) is based on a division of resources available to the node (101) into a corresponding plurality of groups. The resources comprise at least one of: code resources, frequency resources and time resources. The determined plurality of groups determines a corresponding plurality of sets of one or more signals to wake-up the one or more wireless devices (130), to be respectively monitored by the one or more wireless devices (130). The node (101) then initiates (504) transmitting the corresponding plurality of sets of one or more signals to wake-up the one or more wireless devices (130), based on the determined distribution to at least one of the wireless devices (130).

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless terminal may include transmitting a random access preamble of a random access procedure from the wireless terminal to a node of a radio access network. After transmitting the random access preamble, a random access response of the random access procedure may be received from the node of the radio access network, with the random access response including an Uplink grant for a Message 3 uplink communication of the random access procedure. The UL grant may include a time domain configuration associated with the Message 3 uplink communication. The time domain configuration may include a repetition factor that defines a number of repetitions across subframes for the Message 3 uplink communication, and/or Transmission Time Interval information for the Message 3 uplink communication. Related wireless terminals and base stations are also discussed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for signaling Reduced Capability (RedCap) wireless communication device (WCD) capability during inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) handover. In one embodiment, a method performed by a target network node for inter-RAT handover of a WCD from a source network node of a first RAT to the target network node of a second RAT comprises receiving, at the target network node, a message in association with preparation or execution of a handover of a WCD from the source network node of the first RAT to the target network node of the second RAT, the message comprising information about one or more capabilities of the WCD. The method further comprises determining that the WCD is a RedCap WCD based on the information about the one or more capabilities of the WCD and sending an indication that the WCD is a RedCap WCD to a core network node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adaptive signal strength thresholds and other parameters to support reduced capability UEs. In embodiments of the present invention, a UE receives a first signal strength threshold value from a network node, and, from the received first signal strength threshold value, the UE derives a second signal strength threshold value associated with a receiver configuration supported by the UE for performing a radio procedure. The derived second signal strength threshold value is used when performing the radio procedure.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device. The method is for handling a carrier to monitor paging. The wireless device operates in a wireless communications network. The wireless device obtains first information. The first information indicates how to determine a carrier to be used to monitor paging based on a change in coverage due to a change in at least one of: a coverage condition and a cell to camp on. The wireless device then determines the carrier to monitor paging based on the obtained first information.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (12) conditions its use of Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PUR), as preconfigured by a wireless communication network (16), on assessing the validity of a Timing Advance (TA) value used by the device (12) for controlling its uplink transmission timing. The device (12) maintains a timer (37) and deems the TA value to be invalid upon expiration of the timer (37). In an example case, a device (12) operating in idle mode performs a PUR-based transmission in dependence on the timer (37) not being expired. A radio network node (10) of the network (16) maintains a like timer (57), to maintain an awareness of TA validity at the device (12) and, for example, sends an updated TA for the device (12) upon receiving a PUR-based transmission from the device (12). The device (12) and the node (10) may refresh their respective timers, in association with the TA update.

Abstract: Methods of operating a network node in a communication network are provided. Operations according to such methods include receiving a transmission that is sent by a user equipment, UE, and that is received over a preconfigured uplink resource, PUR and selecting one or more transmission types for indicating feedback corresponding to the received transmission conditioned to having been successfully received.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method is performed by a wireless device for adapting to intermittent network coverage in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). The method comprises: receiving information indicative of the availability of NTN network access; and determining whether the wireless device is within or outside of an area with NTN network access based in part on the received information and a location of the wireless device. Upon determining that the wireless device is outside the area with NTN network access, the wireless device operates in a reduced power mode in which one or more internal processes are suspended or disabled. Upon determining that the wireless device is within the area with NTN network access, the wireless device operates in a normal power mode in which one or more of the internal processes that were suspended or disabled are reactivated or enabled.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for providing timing advance change detection are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for determining a validity of a timing advance configuration of the wireless device for an idle mode transmission includes obtaining, while the wireless device is operating in a connected mode, a timing advance value for the wireless device. The method further includes transitioning from the connected mode to an idle mode, and performing a measurement on one or more serving cells of the wireless device while the wireless device is in the idle mode. The method also includes determining whether the timing advance is valid for an idle mode transmission based on the measurement. In some embodiments, the measurement may be a signal strength measurement, such as a Reference Signal Received Power measurement and/or a signal quality measurement such as, a Reference Signal Received Quality measurement.

Abstract: A wireless device is configured for use in a wireless communication system. The wireless device is configured to transmit signaling indicating whether or not the wireless device is capable of receiving user data during a random access procedure. The signaling may for instance indicate whether or not the wireless device is capable of receiving user data over a user plane during a random access procedure, e.g., by indicating whether or not the wireless device supports early data for cellular internet of things, CIoT, Evolved Packet System, EPS, user plane (UP) optimization. Regardless, the wireless device may also receive user data during the random access procedure in accordance with said signaling.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for triggering conditional handovers in user equipment, such as wireless devices in communication systems. Triggering conditions can comprise location, timer, and signal quality-based conditions. Triggering conditions can be combined together and can be evaluated in hierarchical order depending on user preference, so as to prioritize location, timer, signal quality, or other factors.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises: obtaining, from a non-access stratum (NAS) communication layer, an initial NAS protocol data unit (PDU) for potential early data transmission; determining, by an access-stratum (AS) communication layer, whether the initial NAS PDU is intended to be delivered when an associated radio resource control (RRC) connection is resumed successfully; and upon determining that the initial NAS PDU is not intended to be delivered when the associated RRC connection is resumed successfully, transmitting an early data transmission including the initial NAS PDU.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulation scheme in a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system. The method implemented at a network node in the NB-IoT system includes transmitting downlink power allocation for 16 QAM modulation scheme to a terminal device in the NB-IoT system, wherein the downlink power allocation indicates data-to-pilot power ratio information to be used for determining Narrowband Physical Downlink Shared Channel (NPDSCH) energy per resource element (EPRE).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises adapting monitoring of a downlink control channel based on a gap in network coverage overlapping a paging occasion configured for the wireless device. Adapting monitoring of the downlink control channel comprises monitoring the downlink control channel during a replacement paging occasion.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method is performed by a wireless device capable of operating in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). The method comprises determining an amount of time until a service link or feeder link switch and, based on the determined amount of time, modifying a radio resource control (RRC) connection timer.

Abstract: A method, network nodes and wireless devices for scheduling transmissions over preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method is performed by a network node for scheduling a plurality of wireless devices with periodic preconfigured uplink shared channel resources. The method includes configuring a wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices with preconfigured uplink resources, PURs, the PURs having a transmission length and a periodicity, the PURs being configured based at least in part on one or more multiplexing criteria for multiplexing the plurality of wireless devices for PUR transmission.

Abstract: A method performed by a user equipment, UE, and a UE is provided. The method includes obtaining tracking area codes, TACs, broadcast in a cell of a network. The method includes responsive to none of the broadcast TACs being a last previously selected TAC in the UE, selecting, by a non-access stratum, NAS, layer or an access stratum, AS, layer of the UE, one TAC of the broadcast TACs to be a current TAC of the UE.