Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for optimizing transmission repetitions comprises: obtaining an initial number of transmission repetitions for coverage enhanced operation; receiving a wireless transmission comprising one or more repetitions; determining a number of received repetitions required for the wireless device to successfully decode the wireless transmission; determining the number of repetitions required to successfully decode the wireless transmission is different than the initial number of transmission repetitions; determining a desired number of repetitions based on the number of repetitions required to successfully decode the wireless transmission; and transmitting an indication of the desired number of repetitions to a network node.

Abstract: A method, performed by a network node (e.g., an eNB) is provided. The method includes, during a first time period, broadcasting system information (SI) at a first density (e.g., frequency); and determining that a condition is satisfied. The method further includes, as a result of determining that the condition is satisfied, broadcasting the SI at a second density (e.g., frequency) during a subsequent second time period. The second density is greater than the first density.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for a wireless device and an access node connected with each other over a wireless connection that has a configured packet delay budget and that transports a packet flow established between the wireless device and another device. In response to determining that the packet delay budget of the wireless connection should be adjusted based on end-to-end packet delay measurement performed by the wireless device communication, the wireless device sends an adjustment indication to the access node, where the adjustment indication includes an adjustment value to be applied by the access node in order to change the packet delay budget of the wireless connection. The adjustment value is provided for power saving operation or coverage enhancement of the wireless device.

Abstract: A user equipment may receive a configuration that configures the user equipment with a resource that is to repeat in time according to an interval. The user equipment may further receive control signalling indicating a parameter N. This parameter N indicates a number of repetitions of the resource that are to occur before the configuration is to be deactivated. The user equipment may also transmit or receive data on one or more repetitions of the resource according to the configuration. The user equipment may then deactivate the configuration upon occurrence of the number of repetitions of the resource indicated by the parameter N.

Abstract: A system in which a wireless communication device (e.g. a NB-IoT device) can obtain assistance information from a location server which can help the WCD select the right target RAT. A method performed by a wireless communication device, the method comprising: receiving inter-Radio Access Technology (inter-RAT) assistance information; determining a RAT based on the received inter-RAT assistance information; and utilizing the determined RAT.

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 comprises obtaining, while the wireless device is operating in a connected mode, a timing advance value for the wireless device. The method further comprises 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 comprises 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, e.g., a Reference Signal Received Power measurement and/or a signal quality measurement such as, e.g., a Reference Signal Received Quality measurement.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by a network node (115). The network node defines one or more parameters of a Coverage Enhanced Physical random access channel Configuration Index, CE PCI, for one or more Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, resource sets, each of the one or more PRACH resource sets is associated with a coverage level whereby a different CE PCI is defined for each coverage level. The network node configures the one or more PRACH resource sets in a broadcast message. Furthermore, the network node assigns a starting subframe number to a PRACH resource set used by a UE, (110), and calculates a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RA-RNTI, using the assigned starting subframe number.

Abstract: A user equipment starts a first timer and a second timer in response to different respective network events. The starting of the first and second timers causes the first and second timers to simultaneously elapse. In response to one of the simultaneously elapsing timers expiring, the user equipment sends a radio link failure report to a node of a wireless communication network indicating which of the simultaneously elapsing timers expired.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending a data rate on an uplink or downlink communication channel between the network node and a wireless device in a wireless communications system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method performed by a wireless device for recommending a data rate on an uplink or downlink communication channel between the wireless device and a network node in a wireless communications system comprises determining to request that the network node recommend a data rate on the uplink or downlink communication channel for the wireless device. Further, the method includes generating a first information element that indicates the request. Also, the first information element is sent via a protocol layer on the uplink communication channel.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: A user equipment starts a first timer in response to detecting a physical layer problem with a radio link between the user equipment and a node of a cellular network. Responsive to detecting a handover measurement event, the user equipment also starts a second timer and sends a measurement report to the node. The starting of the first and second timers causes the first and second timers to simultaneously elapse. Responsive to one of the simultaneously elapsing timers expiring, the user equipment sends a radio link failure report, to the node, indicating which of the simultaneously elapsing timers expired.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a network node in a communication network, the method comprising transmitting information required by a mobile device for reliable communications with the communication network to mobile devices in a single information block. Also provided is a method of operating a mobile device in a communication network, the method comprising receiving information required by the mobile device for reliable communications with the communication network in a single information block from the communication network. A network node and mobile device are also provided that are configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless communication device for monitoring for a paging message from a core network node in a wireless communications network. The wireless communication device monitors (304) for the paging message at one or more paging occasions during a time period for monitoring paging. The start of the time period is based on an instant of time when the wireless communication device registers to the core network node.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method performed by a wireless device, UE, for configuring a semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, the UE being configured to monitor a first search space of a physical downlink control channel for downlink control information, DCI, dedicated to the UE, comprising receiving from the communication network SPS configuration data to configure a second search space be monitored by the UE for DCI to activate or de-activate the SPS, wherein the second search space is smaller than the first search space, and monitoring the second search space for detecting the DCI to activate or de-activate the SPS; the invention further refers to a corresponding method performed by a network node, a corresponding UE, and a corresponding network node.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device (230) is described herein. The method is for handling grant use. The wireless device (230) operates in a wireless communication network (200). The wireless device (230) receives (401), from a network node (210) operating in the wireless communication network (200), a first message granting the wireless device (230) at least two uplink transmissions. The wireless device (230) indicates (402), to the network node (210), on time-frequency resources indicated in a first granted uplink transmission of the at least two uplink transmissions, whether or not a second granted uplink transmission of the at least two uplink transmissions is to be used by the wireless device (230).

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate e.g. a method performed by a radio network node (12) for handling system information of a wireless communication network (1). The radio network node (12) transmits an indication to a UE (10), the indication associated with an update of system information of the wireless communication network (1), wherein the indication indicates a type of system information. The indication may indicate whether the update regards critical system information being a first type of system information, or less critical system information being a second type of system information.

Abstract: A network node transmits a scheduling configuration, over a Single Cell Multicast Control Channel, that indicates whether a single transport block or multiple transport blocks of a Single Cell Multicast Traffic Channel are scheduled. The network node may then transmit a transport block in accordance with the scheduling configuration. Correspondingly, a user equipment receives the scheduling configuration. The UE may then receive a transport block in accordance with the scheduling configuration.

Abstract: A user equipment (14, 102, 1000, 1100) may receive a configuration (16) that configures the user equipment (14, 102, 1000, 1100) with a resource that is to repeat in time according to an interval (18). The user equipment (14, 102, 1000, 1100) may further receive control signalling (22) indicating a parameter N. This parameter N indicates a number of repetitions of the resource that are to occur before the configuration (16) is to be deactivated. The user equipment (14, 102, 1000, 1100) may also transmit or receive data on one or more repetitions of the resource according to the configuration (16). The user equipment (14, 102, 1000, 1100) may then deactivate the configuration (16) upon occurrence of the number of repetitions of the resource indicated by the parameter N.

Abstract: Configuration of Additional System Information Block RepetitionsEmbodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for determining which 5 of a plurality of subframes are repetition subframes, wherein repetition subframes are subframes scheduled for use by abase station to transmit a repetition of a system information block. A method comprises receiving a first mapping comprising information designating a subset of the plurality of subframes as invalid subframes; and determining, based on the first mapping and a second mapping, which of the 0 subframes designated as invalid subframes are repetition subframes, wherein the second mapping comprises information designating at least one of the subset of the plurality of subframes as a repetition subframe.