Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding a downlink control channel transmission, such as but not exclusively a High Speed Signalling Control Channel, HS-SCCH, transmission, in a wireless communications network. A method in a network node for encoding a downlink control channel transmission, comprises determining that channel conditions are below a threshold level, and in response to determining that channel conditions are below the threshold level, performing at least one of: encoding one or more predetermined control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission, and encoding a reduced number of control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission by omitting one or more control information bits, wherein the one or more omitted control information bits are predetermined control information bits. The method further comprises transmitting the downlink control channel transmission to a user equipment.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for SIB1-NB transmission. In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node configured to include a scheduling information parameter in a master information block, MIB, and communicate the MIB to a wireless device, the scheduling information parameter usable to schedule a system information block type 1 for narrow band communication, SIB1-NB, for a time division duplex, TDD transmission is provided. The method comprising indicating the SIB1-NB scheduling information for TDD at least in part by a value of the scheduling information parameter being associated with a predefined entry in at least one TDD-specific table, the indicated SIB1-NB scheduling information including: at least one subframe to use for the SIB1-NB transmission; a number of repetitions of the SIB1-NB transmission; and a transport block size, TBS, to use for the SIB1-NB transmission.

Abstract: A technique for transmitting system information for a time-division duplex, TDD, communication in a radio access network, RAN, is described. As to a method aspect of the technique, a master information block, MIB, is transmitted on an anchor carrier (602 1) of the TDD communication in the RAN. The MIB is indicative of a spectral resource (602-1; 602-2) allocated to a system information block, SIB, of the TDD communication in the RAN. The SIB is transmitted on the spectral resource (602-1; 602-2) indicated in the MIB.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding a downlink control channel transmission, such as but not exclusively a High Speed Signalling Control Channel, HS-SCCH, transmission, in a wireless communications network. A method in a network node for encoding a downlink control channel transmission, comprises determining that channel conditions are below a threshold level, and in response to determining that channel conditions are below the threshold level, performing at least one of: encoding one or more predetermined control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission, and encoding a reduced number of control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission by omitting one or more control information bits, wherein the one or more omitted control information bits are predetermined control information bits. The method further comprises transmitting the downlink control channel transmission to a user equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for reducing image interference in uplink transmission. In one embodiment, a wireless device (WD) is configured to receive an indication of a resource allocation from the network node; determine an uplink center frequency based at least in part on a center frequency of a resource allocated by the received indication of the resource allocation; and transmit uplink information according to the determined uplink center frequency.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for communicating to a wireless device (WD) a DL-to-UL frequency offset (or frequency shift) that may need to be applied. For example, a method implemented in a wireless device (WD) is provided. The method comprises: receiving, from the network node, an indication of a frequency offset; and applying the received frequency offset; wherein the WD is configured to operate on a narrow-band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) carrier in a New Radio (NR) carrier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for random access in a TDD NB-IoT system are provided to enable frequency errors at the user equipment and/ or base station to be accounted for, e.g., when determining time alignment or timing advance. In one embodiment, for example, the frequency hopping between symbol groups comprising the preamble enables the recipient of the random access preamble to cancel, nullify, or otherwise mitigate phase errors attributable to such frequency errors.

Abstract: A method, wireless device and network node for supporting sub-physical resource block transmissions over a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving an indication of a number of resource units to be used for performing sub-PRB transmissions over the PUSCH. The method further includes mapping the number of RUs to a number of physical resource blocks, PRBs and determining a transport block size, TBS, for a sub-PRB transmission over the PUSCH, based on the mapping of the number of RUs to the number of PRBs. The method also includes transmitting sub-PRB transmissions over the PUSCH according to the determined TBS on the number of RUs.

Abstract: A wireless device selects, from among at least first and second measurement modes in which measurements are respectively performed on cells belonging to first and second carriers, one or more measurement modes in which to perform a measurement. The one or more measurement modes are selected based on whether criteria is met for relaxed monitoring of a neighbor cell, and on whether the wireless device is configured to perform a positioning measurement. The wireless device performs the measurement in the one or more selected measurement modes.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device for determining a power allocation for an uplink transmission and a wireless device configured for determining a power allocation for an uplink transmission. Wherein the power allocation is based on a remaining power for scheduled transmissions derived from a maximum transmitter power of the wireless device, less any power for non-scheduled transmissions and a reserved power for any scheduled data transmission on the second frequency derived from a filtered power of a dedicated physical control channel, DPCCH, and a power offset for an enhanced-transport format combination, E-TFC, of a transmission for the second frequency configured with the second TTI, wherein the filtered power is averaged over a number of slots having a total duration equal to the second TTI length.

Abstract: Random Access (RA) formats are defined for NB-IoT operation in TDD mode. The formats are defined to allow use of in the legacy LTE subframe configurations for TDD. The formats specify a predetermined, even number P of symbol groups composing a RA preamble, wherein each symbol group comprises a Cyclic Prefix (CP) and a number X of symbols. The P symbol groups are divided into symbol group sets fitting into 1, or 2, or 3 contiguous uplink subframes, each comprising at least two symbol groups transmitted back-to-back (i.e., contiguously in time), and at least two symbol group sets are transmitted non-contiguously in time across a number of uplink subframes over which the RA preamble is transmitted. The number of symbol groups in a set can be two or three, and the number of symbol groups is four or six, respectively. Symbol groups within a set are transmitted on adjacent uplink subframes. Five format options are defined, which map to various of the LTE TDD configurations.

Abstract: A network node (200), a wireless device (202) and methods therein, for handling discontinuous transmission, DTX, in a communication using multiple uplink carriers. The communication involves a primary uplink carrier using a first Transmission Time Interval, TTI and a secondary uplink carrier using a second TTI which is different than the first TTI. Values of DTX parameters defined for only one of the first and second TTIs are selected (2:4) for the communication, and the wireless device (202) is instructed (2:7) to use the selected values of DTX parameters for transmission on both the primary uplink carrier and the secondary uplink carrier. Thereby, misalignment of DTX cycles employed on the two uplink carriers can be avoided or reduced.

Abstract: A method in a radio network controller (130) is disclosed. The method comprises determining (1204) a decimation factor for a transmit power control (TPC) algorithm, the TPC algorithm comprising a power control algorithm according to which TPC commands for controlling a transmit power of a wireless device (110) are discontinuously transmitted to the wireless device by a network node (115), the decimation factor indicating a predefined number of slots, wherein one out of the predefined number of slots is for transmitting a TPC command to the wireless device; upon determining the decimation factor for the TPC algorithm, modifying (1208) one or more parameters related to TPC to optimize TPC using the TPC algorithm having the determined decimation factor; and configuring (1212) the network node to control the transmit power of the wireless device according to the TPC algorithm and the one or more modified parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronized switching of a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) between at least two different TTI length values. A UE transmitting a power report, where a control node or a Base Station evaluates the report and decides, based on the evaluation, to order the UE to switch to a different TTI length. The order message comprises the number of TTIs after which a TTI switch has to occur, composed a.o. based on radio environment condition. The UE receives a TTI switch order message and replies with a single message to its serving BS with a message to switch the TTI in a synchronous way.

Abstract: A network node (100), a wireless device (102) and methods therein, for controlling uplink transmission from the wireless device (102), e.g. in a time division multiplexing scheme. The network node (100) signals (1:2) an Absolute Grant Scope, AGS, bit to the wireless device (102), wherein the AGS bit indicates one of: the wireless device (102) is granted for uplink transmission (204) during a single Transmit Time Interval, TTI, and the wireless device (102) is granted for uplink transmission (206) until a next grant is signalled to the wireless device (102).

Abstract: A method and system for synchronized switching of a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) between at least two different TTI length values. A UE 100 transmitting a power report, where a control node 150 or a Base Station 110A evaluates the report and decides, based on the evaluation to order the UE to switch to a different TTI length. The order message comprises the number of TTIs after which a TTI switch has to occur, composed a.o. based on radio environment condition. The UE receives a TTI switch order message and replies with a single message to its serving BS with a message to switch the TTI in a synchronous way.

Abstract: A base station and wireless device are configured to support TDD operation. In exemplary embodiments, the base station or UE can make use of the available symbols in the DwPTS or UpPTS of a special subframe respectively for NB-IoT transmissions. In one example, the base station can use OFDM symbols in the DwPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in an immediately preceding downlink subframe, or in a succeeding downlink subframe. In other embodiments, the UE can use symbols in the UpPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in the immediately succeeding uplink subframe, or in a preceding uplink subframe. The symbols repeated in the special subframe can be coherently combined at the receiver with corresponding symbols transmitted in a downlink or uplink subframe to improve decoding performance, reduce errors, improve channel estimation, and increase system capacity.

Abstract: In accordance with particular embodiments, a method for offloading a wireless device is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a second best cell. The second best cell provides the wireless device with a second wireless signal that has a first signal characteristic that is less than a corresponding first signal characteristic of a first wireless signal provided by a serving cell. The method also includes offloading the wireless device from the serving cell to the second best cell despite the first signal characteristic of the first wireless signal of the serving cell being better than the first signal characteristic of the second wireless signal of the second best cell.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device for determining a power allocation for an uplink transmission and a wireless device configured for determining a power allocation for an uplink transmission. Wherein the power allocation is based on a remaining power for scheduled transmissions derived from a maximum transmitter power of the wireless device, less any power for non-scheduled transmissions and a reserved power for any scheduled data transmission on the second frequency derived from a filtered power of a dedicated physical control channel, DPCCH, and a power offset for an enhanced-transport format combination, E-TFC, of a transmission for the second frequency configured with the second TTI, wherein the filtered power is averaged over a number of slots having a total duration equal to the second TTI length.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding a downlink control channel transmission, such as but not exclusively a High Speed Signalling Control Channel, HS-SCCH, transmission, in a wireless communications network. A method in a network node for encoding a downlink control channel transmission, comprises determining that channel conditions are below a threshold level, and in response to determining that channel conditions are below the threshold level, performing at least one of: encoding one or more predetermined control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission, and encoding a reduced number of control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission by omitting one or more control information bits, wherein the one or more omitted control information bits are predetermined control information bits. The method further comprises transmitting the downlink control channel transmission to a user equipment.