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.

Abstract: A network node configures a downlink connection to a wireless terminal to transmit channel specific reference signals, CRS, according to a first CRS muting configuration. In the first CRS muting configuration, CRS is transmitted in a first plurality of physical resource blocks, PRBs. Prior to a modification period boundary, the network node transmits a message to the wireless terminal indicating a second CRS muting configuration as a current CRS muting configuration. In the second configuration, CRS is transmitted in a second plurality of PRBs that is less than the first plurality of PRBs. The network node continues to transmit CRS according to the first CRS muting configuration after transmitting the message to the wireless terminal. At the modification period boundary, the network node switches from the first CRS muting configuration to the second CRS muting configuration.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method of operating a wireless device, UE, configured to provide communication over a radio interface with a wireless communication network, the method including transmitting a random access, RA, preamble of an RA procedure to the wireless communication network using a first uplink carrier; and after transmitting the RA preamble of the RA procedure, receiving a Random Access Response, RAR, of the RA procedure from the wireless communication network, wherein the RAR includes an indication to use a second uplink carrier different than the first uplink carrier; the invention further refers to a method of operating a base station of a wireless communication network configured to provide communication over a radio interface with a wireless device, UE, the method including receiving a random access, RA, preamble of an RA procedure from the wireless device using a first uplink carrier.

Abstract: A base station (110)transmits system information that indicates to a wireless device (120) that the wireless device (120) is permitted to transmit respective blocks stored at the wireless device (120) during and after a random access procedure (200). The wireless device (120) performs the random access procedure (200) to the base station (110). The wireless device (120) transmits a first block of data stored at the wireless device (120) to the base station (110) during the random access procedure (200) while withholding a second block of data stored at the wireless device (120) from transmission to the base station (110) until after completion of the random access procedure (200). The base station (110), receives the blocks of data during and after the random access procedure (200), respectively.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides a method for a wireless communications network. The method comprises obtaining a first data unit for storage in a packet queue; determining a type of data carried by the first data unit; and re-determining timer values for respective discard timers associated with the one or more data units stored in the packet queue. The timer values are re-determined as a function of the determined type of data carried by the first data unit.

Abstract: System Information Broadcast for Machine-Type Communication There is provided a method of operating a network node (6; 8; 10) in a communication network (2), the method comprising transmitting information required by a mobile device (12) for reliable communications with the communication network to mobile devices (12) in a single information block (103). Also provided is a method of operating a mobile device (12) in a communication network (2), the method comprising receiving information required by the mobile device (12) for reliable communications with the communication network in a single information block from the communication network (117). A network node and mobile device are also provided that are configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises determining to use an extended random access preamble identifier, RAPID, for a random access procedure with a wireless device. The method further comprises transmitting a medium access control, MAC, protocol data unit, PDU. The MAC PDU comprises a header and one or more random access responses, RARs. Each RAR is associated with a corresponding subheader within the header of the MAC PDU. The random access procedure is associated with a first RAR of the one or more RARs and the extended RAPID for the random access procedure is indicated by a combination of one or more bits in the first RAR and one or more bits in the subheader that corresponds to the first RAR.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for transmission of data from a wireless device to a network. In one aspect, a method in a user equipment (UE) of transmitting data to a network comprises sending a request to the network for transmission of the data to the network, and transmitting the data to the network using a first carrier, wherein the first carrier is from a first set of one or more carriers or a second set of carriers different to the first set, and wherein the carrier is from the first set or the second set dependent on a parameter of the data.

Abstract: A method for allocating a resource grant at a network node comprises receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a preamble message; providing, to the UE, at least two uplink resource grants in a system information message, wherein the at least two uplink resource grants have different sizes and are overlapping; and receiving, from the UE, a transmission via a first uplink resource grant selected from the at least two uplink resource grants. The method provides multiple and flexible grants for the UE to select a corresponding grant to perform an uplink transmission.

Abstract: A wireless device (14) is configured for use in a wireless communication network (10). The wireless device (14) is configured to receive, from the wireless communication network (10), information (22) that configures the wireless device (14) to restrict uplink access by the wireless device (14) to the wireless communication network (10), unless and until the wireless device (14) is configured otherwise by other information from the wireless communication network (10). The information (22) may for example indicate that uplink access by the wireless device (14) to the wireless communication network (10) is not allowed. Regardless, the wireless device (14) is configured to restrict uplink access by the wireless device (14) to the wireless communication network (10) in accordance with the received information (22).

Abstract: Some embodiments herein disclose a network node (QQ160) for handling communication in a narrowband internet of things network or a machine type communication network. The network node is configured to transmit an indication to a user equipment, UE, (QQ110) while the UE (QQ110) is in a connected mode or is released from the connected mode, wherein the indication indicates an update of at least a part of a system information, SI, of a service area of the narrowband internet of things network or the machine type communication network.

Abstract: A base station (110) enables a wireless device (120) (e.g., user equipment) to transmit user data on an uplink (130) during random access. The base station (110) transmits a resource grant indicating a plurality of options from which the wireless device (120) is permitted to select for use in transmitting the user data on the uplink (130) during random access. Each respective option comprises a transport block size; and a number of resource units and/or physical resource blocks. The wireless device (120) receives the resource grant, and transmits the user data on the uplink (130) during random access to the base station (110) according to at least one of the options.

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: 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: The invention refers to a method for providing system information to a user equipment, UE (100), wherein a first access node (140a) of a first radio cell selects (S03) a second cell to support the system information broadcasting, and sends (S04) a message to the second access node (140b) of the second cell, wherein said message is indicative of a request to jointly broadcast system information, and wherein said request is indicative of the system information to be broadcasted; the invention further refers to corresponding access nodes (140a, 140b) a user equipment, UE (100), and computer programs.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a wireless device. The method comprises determining a connection request and uplink data to transmit in response to a random-access response received from a network node. The method further comprises generating security information based at least in part on the uplink data. The method further comprises transmitting a radio transmission in response to the random-access response. The radio transmission comprises the connection request and the uplink data secured by the security information.

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 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: Enabling a UE to determine whether the UE can skip the acquisition of SIB1-BR. An indication (e.g., a one bit flag) in the MIB is provided, which indication is set to a particular value if the UE needs to read SIB1-BR, otherwise the indication is set to a different value indicating that the UE can skip reading SIB1-BR assuming other conditions are met (e.g., assuming that the UE has previously read SIB1-BR within a MIB indication time period).