Abstract: Techniques and examples of physical resource block (PRB) scaling for data channel with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process in mobile communications are described. An apparatus receives radio resource control (RRC) signaling from a wireless network indicating a PRB scaling factor. The apparatus also receives a downlink control command from the wireless network indicating whether PRB scaling is enabled or disabled. The apparatus then determines a transport block size (TBS) by either: (a) determining the TBS based on the PRB scaling factor and a scheduled physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) PRB number indicated in the downlink control command responsive to the PRB scaling being enabled, or (b) determining the TBS based on the schedule PDSCH PRB number responsive to the PRB scaling being disabled. The apparatus also receives a PDSCH according to a result of the determining of the TBS.

Abstract: There is provided, for example, an apparatus, which is caused to select a transmission power configuration for a communication with at least one user terminal taking place on component carriers of a carrier aggregation configuration within a shared band, wherein the selection is between a low transmission power configuration applying a transmission power below a predetermined power threshold without a listen-before-talk approach and a high transmission power configuration applying a transmission power of at least the predetermined power threshold; and upon detecting that the selected transmission power configuration needs to be informed, cause an indication of the selected transmission power configuration to the at least one user terminal and at least one secondary cell.

Abstract: Various solutions for handling cell-specific reference signal muting with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may receive a bandwidth configuration via a system information block (SIB). The apparatus may receive a reference signal (RS) in a bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth configuration. The apparatus may perform downlink synchronization in the bandwidth. The apparatus may perform a downlink reception or an uplink transmission in the bandwidth.

Abstract: A method of high reliability and early data transmission (EDT) is proposed. EDT allows one uplink transmission (optionally) followed by one downlink data transmission during a random-access channel (RACH) procedure, which can reduce the signaling overhead and save UE power. To improve reliability, for uplink EDT, there would be different set of RACH reattempt parameters in the UE for different types of access. For downlink EDT, there would be an indication in the paging message to trigger whether the UE would use legacy RACH or not. Further, the configuration for PRACH resource for EDT can be independent to legacy PRACH resource configuration. Under certain conditions, UE can fallback to legacy RACH procedure for high reliability.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to NB-IoT physical random access channel (PRACH) resource partitioning and multiple grants in random access response (RAR) for early data transmission (EDT are described. A network node schedules multiple grants for EDT during a random access (RA) procedure with a user equipment (UE). The network node transmits to the UE a message indicating the multiple grants mapped to a maximum broadcast transport block size (TBS) configured for each of one or more preamble resource of a plurality of preamble resources. The UE calculates a TBS that fits an uplink (UL) data packet of the UE. The UE selects one or more PRACH resources for EDT for the TBS based on a wireless communication coverage of the UE by the network node. The UE transmits to the network node in the RA procedure a first message (Msg1) indicating the selected one or more PRACH resources.

Abstract: A method of high reliability and early data transmission (EDT) is proposed. EDT allows one uplink transmission (optionally) followed by one downlink data transmission during a random-access channel (RACH) procedure, which can reduce the signaling overhead and save UE power. To improve reliability, for uplink EDT, there would be different set of RACH reattempt parameters in the UE for different types of access. For downlink EDT, there would be an indication in the paging message to trigger whether the UE would use legacy RACH or not. Further, the configuration for PRACH resource for EDT can be independent to legacy PRACH resource configuration. Under certain conditions, UE can fallback to legacy RACH procedure for high reliability.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to conditional radio resource control (RRC) confirm messaging are described. A user equipment (UE) communicates with a network node of a wireless network. In communicating with the network node, the UE transmits a first message to the network node and receives a second message from the network node responsive to the transmitting of the first message. The UE also determines whether to transmit a third message to the network node acknowledging receipt of the second message. That is, transmission of the third message as a confirmation of receipt of the second message is conditional or otherwise optional so as to reduce signaling overhead.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining machine-to-machine (M2M) semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) in wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) receives a control signal from a network node of a wireless network. The UE applies, based on the control signal, an SPS configuration such that the UE enters one of one or more low-power modes between two adjacent SPS occasions.

Abstract: A method of user equipment (UE) autonomous release RRC connection to reduce power consumption and signaling overhead is proposed. UEs sending small amount of data with long period, e.g., Machine-Type Communication (MTC) and Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) UEs, are allowed to be released autonomously after sending a given amount of data with corresponding request and configuration procedures. In one embodiment, UE sends an RRC connection request with UE autonomous release request, and receives an RRC setup message with UE autonomous release information. UE then transmits an RRC setup complete message with piggybacked uplink data. UE autonomously releases to Idle state upon expiry of an inactivity timer.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to differentiation of user equipment (UE) in narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) are described. A processor of a UE generates a signal containing UE-specific information that is specific to the UE. The processor transmits the signal to a network node of a wireless network. The processor then receives a response from the network node, the response comprising an access stratum (AS) configuration created by the network node based on the UE-specific information. The processor also applies the AS configuration which reduces power consumption of the UE.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided contention based uplink data transmission. In one novel aspect, the contention-based uplink data channel is used to transmit the data directly to the network. In one embodiment, the UE selects an UL data channel from a set of preconfigured uplink contention based data channels and sends the UL data transmission on the selected UL data channel. In one embodiment, the contention based UL data has a narrow bandwidth with a long CP such that the TA is not needed from the base station. In another embodiment, a small signaling payload is included in the CB UL data transmission if the size of the data contents cannot be fit in the UL data channel. In one embodiment, the signaling payload is the BSR. The UE, subsequently, receives an UL grant and sends the remaining data contents using the allocated data channel in the UL grant.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for providing facilitation of mobile gateway operation may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least causing provision of configuration instructions (210) to one or more machines (42) where the configuration instructions define at least a discontinuous reception period and beaconing instructions for the one or more machines relative to machine communications utilizing network defined resources, and causing provision of connection information (220) to a mobile terminal (10) to identify connection parameters that correspond to the configuration instructions provided to the one or more machines where the connection information enables establishment of communication between the mobile terminal and the one or more machines. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing the use of industrial-scientific-medical bands for cellular network communication. An apparatus comprises a processing system and a memory storing a set of program instructions. The processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to receive channel information from a UE reporting the control of an unlicensed band channel by the UE and cause the apparatus to schedule a communication session with the UE over the channel, with the channel being configured and activated as a component carrier. The apparatus may further request one or more user equipments (UEs) to report their wireless fidelity (WiFi) capability and request user equipments having WiFi capability to compete for the wireless medium and report occupation of the wireless medium in the form of a request to send command, to which the apparatus responds with a clear to send command.

Abstract: A method of fast synchronization for low coverage machine type communication (MTC) devices is proposed. A machine-specific synchronization signal “mSYNC” with higher density in time and frequency is transmitted from each base station for fast timing and frequency acquisition and tracking. The mSYNC has a relatively longer periodicity (i.e., >>5 ms) to reduce overhead and inter-cell interference. The higher time-frequency density of mSYNC is designed to improve latency and power consumption by allowing the machine to wake up just before the scheduled mSYNC transmission time and to re-synchronize or track synchronization with the network without the need for long averaging time.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing channels on unlicensed bands is described. The method includes determining whether a SCC channel has started to be used by a first network. The SCC channel is a CA channel shared with at least one other network. In response to determining that the SCC channel has been started to be used by the first network, the UE determines an off duration describing a period since a previous SCC channel ON period. A given channel ON period is a continuous period of use of the given channel by the first network, The method also includes, in response to determining that the off duration is less than a minimum threshold duration, performing fine synchronization based on CRS tracking on the SCC channel using course synchronization parameters of the previous SCC channel ON period. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are therefore provided that may enable the provision of M2M communication in a wireless network environment. In this regard, for example, relatively low power devices (specifically referencing low transmission power) such as sensors or other machines in an M2M system may be enabled to initiate communication with a network through a mobile terminal in a more reliable and robust manner. The machine may transmit a busy-signal to request a reservation of a machine access slot on a machine access control channel to reserve the slot before transmitting any machine information or data to reduce the likelihood of collisions with other machines. Once the machine has reserved the machine access slot, the machine may transmit identification information via randomly selected frequency division multiplexed or code division multiplexed resources to further reduce the likelihood of collisions with other machines. Thus, delays in establishing connections may be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A method of controlling device-to-device communications between user equipment, including using a network control element, which is common to a plurality of networks, including controlling any of the following functions: network access control functions, connection set-up, resource allocation, mode switching, handover, security and/or charging. Also a method of controlling handovers or connections in a device-to-device communications between a first and a second user equipment wherein the control is performed, at least in part, said first or second user equipments. Alternatively the user equipment may send reports a handover/connection is initiated/controlled based on said report.

Abstract: A method for a wireless network node to support an extended control signaling is provided. The method comprises configuring a control signaling message over extended control symbols on a layer 1 (L1) downlink control channel, the control signaling message encoded over an increased aggregation of control channel elements (CCEs) in a time domain; placing the controlling signaling message in a designated set of subframes on the L1 downlink control channel; indicating a support for the extended control signaling to one or more UEs; indicating to the one or more UEs a position of the designated set of the subframes in a spare field of the Master Information Block (MIB); and transmitting the control signaling message to the one or more UEs over the L1 downlink control channel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided facilitating flexible time sharing among systems. A method and apparatus may generate a secondary component carrier transmission plan including planned on and off durations. The planned on durations correspond to a time period for an apparatus and devices to communicate via an unlicensed band of the secondary component carrier. The planned off durations correspond to a time interval in which the devices may deactivate from the unlicensed band or remain disconnected from the unlicensed band. The method and apparatus may also enable provision of the plan to the devices via a licensed band of a primary component carrier and detecting a medium of the unlicensed band prior to the expiration of the time period to determine whether the medium is available in order to decide whether to turn on transmissions to the unlicensed band after one of the planned off durations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, devices and computer programs arranged to control access to a Secondary Cell Carrier (SCC) by a user terminal. The user terminal having a first functional state in which the user terminal is arranged to monitor for a broadcast channel associated with the SCC, and a second functional state, different to said first functional state. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive data indicative of a plurality of operational modes assigned to the SCC; and transmit a signalling message comprising data indicative of said plurality of operational modes for receipt by the user terminal, whereby to configure the user terminal into the first functional state, wherein the user terminal is arranged to selectively request access to resources of the SCC on the basis of a comparison between data contained in said signalling message and data contained in a transmission received on the broadcast channel.