Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for monitoring network timing are disclosed. A method comprises storing (300) information on a reference propagation delay between the apparatus and one or more radio access nodes, controlling (302) reception of a reference signal from one or more radio access nodes, the reference signal comprising information on the transmission time instant of the signal, determining (304) the reception time instant of the reference signal, determining (306) the propagation delay of the reference signal based on the time difference of the reception time instant and the transmission time instant, and determining (308) correctness of time references of the apparatus and the one or more radio access nodes based on the determined and stored propagation delays.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide a method to determine a reference signal transmission delay by a base station for a distributed RAN or cloud system architecture. The method uses an over the air transmission time and compensates for a possible reference clock discrepancy. Further, a method for TOA-based propagation delay measurement is provided, where consecutive reference signal transmission delays have a variable pattern or high precision is needed. Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing cell configuration parameters in a secure manner are provided. A method may include providing, from a network node, cell configuration or other cell sensitive data to the internal memory of an authorized user equipment. For example, the providing may include providing the cell configuration or other cell sensitive data to the memory of the authorized user equipment as coded cell configuration package (CCCP) tracking area update (TAU) data during the configuration of the authorized user equipment or while the authorized user equipment is in radio resource control (RRC) connected state with the network node.

Abstract: Device Positioning An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: determining a first position estimate for a device based, at least in part, on time delay data from a first serving cell to the device and second data relating to at least one second cell; and selecting, based on the first position estimate for the device, a first constellation of base stations, from a plurality of candidate constellations of base stations, for use in determining a second position estimate for the device.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to receive reference data usable for estimating a geographic position of the apparatus based on its distance from two or more base stations, and to receive updated reference data for at least one of the base stations and to determine an initial geographic position (UEinit) of the apparatus using the received reference data for a plurality of the base stations, including any updated reference data, and to establish a bidirectional communications link with at least one of the base stations.

Abstract: A disclosed method includes receiving a time-of-arrival range filter configuration and a reference signal physical transmission time from a network node at a reference signal physical reception time. The time-of-arrival range filter configuration includes at least one of a time-of-arrival filter status, a time-of-arrival filter distance range, and a time-of-arrival configuration. A time difference between the reference signal physical reception time and the reference signal physical transmission time is determined, and a distance to the network node based on the time difference is calculated. Whether the distance is within the time-of-arrival filter distance range is determined, and the time-of-arrival filter status is determined. Based on the time-of-arrival filter status, actions are performed in accordance with the time-of-arrival configuration applicable for the distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to receive at an apparatus, from each of at least three remote base stations, transmitted data comprising a portion indicating the geographic position of the respective base station and a transmission time of a reference signal or data. The apparatus may also be caused to determine the geographic position of the apparatus based on the received geographic positions and the delay between the transmission time and a reception time of the reference signal or data.

Abstract: A true TA is determined by a BS for a UE. The BS codes the true TA to a coded TA and sends the coded TA to the UE. The UE receives the coded TA from the BS and determines, based on the coded TA, a true TA for the UE to use for communications with the BS. A source BS, in response to a handover of a UE from the source BS to a target BS, determines an offset to be used to determine a value of a true TA between the UE and the target BS. The source BS sends the offset toward the UE and the target BS during a handover process for the handover. The UE receives the offset and a coded TA from the target BS and determines the true TA by adjusting the received coded TA with the received offset.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for monitoring network timing are disclosed. A method comprises storing (300) information on a reference propagation delay between the apparatus and one or more radio access nodes, controlling (302) reception of a reference signal from one or more radio access nodes, the reference signal comprising information on the transmission time instant of the signal, determining (304) the reception time instant of the reference signal, determining (306) the propagation delay of the reference signal based on the time difference of the reception time instant and the transmission time instant, and determining (308) correctness of time references of the apparatus and the one or more radio access nodes based on the determined and stored propagation delays.

Abstract: This document discloses a solution for synchronizing a terminal device to a network clock. According to an aspect, a method comprises as performed by the terminal device: receiving a control message from at least one access node, the control message comprising a first clock value indicating a transmission time of the control message; determining a geographical location of the terminal device and a geographical location of the at least one access node; computing, on the basis of the geographical locations of the terminal device and the at least one access node and further on the basis of the first clock value transmission time of the control message, a second clock value indicating a reception time of the control message at the terminal device; and updating a clock of the terminal device by using the second clock value.

Abstract: A disclosed method includes receiving a time-of-arrival range filter configuration and a reference signal physical transmission time from a network node at a reference signal physical reception time. The time-of-arrival range filter configuration includes at least one of a time-of-arrival filter status, a time-of-arrival filter distance range, and a time-of-arrival configuration. A time difference between the reference signal physical reception time and the reference signal physical transmission time is determined, and a distance to the network node based on the time difference is calculated. Whether the distance is within the time-of-arrival filter distance range is determined, and the time-of-arrival filter status is determined. Based on the time-of-arrival filter status, actions are performed in accordance with the time-of-arrival configuration applicable for the distance.

Abstract: A base station may be configured to support distance filtering. When the distance filtering is on, a base station may, when it receives a service request from a device, determine from timing information in the service request at least a distance to the device, then determine a filtering sub-area for the device based on the distance; and to apply one or more filtering rules defined for the filtering sub-area to determine how to process the service request.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided for time of arrival (TOA) based correction for uplink channel synchronization at a user equipment (UE). In an example implementation, the method may include determining a first time of arrival (TOA) index value; receiving, by the user equipment (UE), a first timing advance (TA) correction index value from a network node; and determining, by the user equipment (UE), a first time of arrival (TOA) correction value corresponding to the first timing advance (TA) correction index value. The example implementations may further include determining a first adjusted uplink timing value based at least on the first time of arrival (TOA) correction value and the first timing advance (TA) correction index value; and transmitting, by the user equipment (UE), first uplink data based at least on the first adjusted uplink timing value.

Abstract: A method may include determining a timing advance-limited cell maximum range based on a requested preamble format broadcasted by a network node. The method may also include in response to the user equipment being outside of the timing advance-limited cell maximum range, sending a random access preamble with an initial uplink channel timing adjustment to fit an indicated subframe dedicated for a hearing window. The method may also include in response to the user equipment being outside of the timing advance-limited cell maximum range, additional timing adjustment for any uplink transmission in order to maintain uplink to downlink channel synchronization. In a variant, the method may also include in response to the user equipment being outside of the timing advance-limited cell maximum range, additional timing adjustment for any uplink transmission in order to maintain uplink to downlink channel synchronization.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided for using time of arrival (TOA) based TTOAVAL or TTOA value for uplink to downlink channel synchronization at a user equipment (UE) required for required for establishing an RRC connection and/or maintaining the RRC connection due to UE mobility. In an example implementation, the method may include determining, by a user equipment (UE), a first time of arrival (TOA) based timing advance index value; and performing, by the user equipment (UE), uplink channel synchronization based at least on the first time of arrival (TOA) based timing advance index value.

Abstract: A system for secure delivery of cargo by vehicles, e.g. drones, includes a central controller (100) configured to generate a probability-based package or cargo routing plan including a sequence of forwarding addresses for delivery of cargo by drones, from a sender drone nest station to a destination drone nest station over an indirect route including drone flight corridors connecting drone nest stations (102A-102H) identified in the sequence of forwarding addresses. A drone nest station is configured to receive from the central controller, a forwarding address to a next drone nest station, the forwarding address associated with the cargo to be carried by a drone currently located at the drone nest station over a drone flight corridor connecting the drone nest station with the next drone nest station. Potential hijackers are deceived or confused by the indirect route traveled by the drones from the sender drone nest station to the destination drone nest station.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to receive reference data usable for estimating a geographic position of the apparatus based on its distance from two or more base stations, and to receive updated reference data for at least one of the base stations and to determine an initial geographic position (UEinit) of the apparatus using the received reference data for a plurality of the base stations, including any updated reference data, and to establish a bidirectional communications link with at least one of the base stations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to receive at an apparatus, from each of at least three remote base stations, transmitted data comprising a portion indicating the geographic position of the respective base station and a transmission time of a reference signal or data. The apparatus may also be caused to determine the geographic position of the apparatus based on the received geographic positions and the delay between the transmission time and a reception time of the reference signal or data.

Abstract: A base station may be configured to support distance filtering. When the distance filtering is on, a base station may, when it receives a service request from a device, determine from timing information in the service request at least a distance to the device, then determine a filtering sub-area for the device based on the distance; and to apply one or more filtering rules defined for the filtering sub-area to determine how to process the service request.