Abstract: A method, performed by a wireless device, is disclosed. The method is for managing radio resources in the wireless device and comprises receiving a message configuring a radio bearer for use by the wireless device, checking the message for a ciphering configuration setting enabling or disabling ciphering for the radio bearer, and performing at least one of enabling or disabling ciphering for the radio bearer in accordance with the received message. Also disclosed are a method performed by a base station for configuring radio resources for use by a wireless device, a wireless device, a user equipment and a base station.

Abstract: A method performed by a core network node of a wireless communications network having a first gNB and a second gNB, a wireless device, WD, is connected to the first gNB, and a first Packet Data Unit, PDU, session is established between the WD and a Data Network over a first User Plane Function, UPF. The method includes obtaining information regarding a predicted positional change indicating a new future position of the WD and selecting a second UPF which is more suitable than the first UPF for transmission of data between an application server and the WD for the new future position. The method includes triggering establishment of the second PDU session over the second UPF, and in response to the triggering establishment of the second PDU session over the second UPF, triggering a first move of packet flows from the first PDU session to the second PDU session.

Abstract: A wireless device is configured for wirelessly communicating with one or more types of Radio Access Networks (RANs) providing control-plane connectivity to one or both of a first type of core network and a second type of core network. The device configures a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) at the device, e.g., at least for initial control-plane signaling, in dependence on whether the device is connected, or connecting, to the first type or the second type of core network. In at least one embodiment, the device configures PDCP for the second type of core network as a default choice, when control-plane connectivity to the second core network is available. In an example arrangement, the RAN types are LTE and 5G New Radio (NR), and the core network types are Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and 5G New Generation Core Network (NGCN).

Abstract: A method for establishing a BH RLC channel between a node and a DU is provided. The method includes the DU receiving an F1AP message from a CU; the DU determining that the DU is capable to establish the BH RLC channel between the node and the DU in response to receiving the F1AP message; and the DU generating an RRC configuration for the BH RLC channel. The RRC configuration includes: i) a BH-RLC-Identity value which indicates an identifier for the BH RLC channel, the BH-RLC-Identity field being part of a served BHChannel Information Element (IE), or ii) a drb-Identity value that is associated with the BH RLC channel, or iii) a logical channel identity (LCID) value that is associated with the BH RLC channel, or iv) a RLC-ChannelConfig IE that includes an identifier for the BH RLC channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for releasing context(s) and/or connection(s) associated with a network node are provided herein. An Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB)-donor central unit (CU) receives an indication of a mobile termination context release associated with an IAB-node and coordinates the release of any user equipment/nodes served by the IAB-node and the release of F1 interface resource(s) and/or RRC connection(s) associated with the IAB-node.

Abstract: A method performed by a Central Unit (CU) for assist in routing a data packet towards a UE is provided. The CU and the UE are operating in an Integrated Access 5Backhaul (IAB) communications network. Based on topology information for the IAB communications network, the CU determines (801) routes, between one or more IAB nodes and/or one or more Distributed Units (DUs) operating in the IAB communications network. The CU transmits (802) route information of the determined routes to the one or more IAB nodes and/or the one or more DUs. Each respective route information 10comprises a route identity and a respective node identity of the one or more IAB nodes and/or DUs comprised in the respective route.

Abstract: A method in a network node (115) comprises receiving (615, 715, 820, 920, 1015, 1304), from a user equipment (UE) (110) configured in an inactive state (605, 705, 805, 905, 1005), a request to resume a connection as part of a non-access stratum procedure. The method comprises resuming (620, 720, 825, 925, 1020, 1308) the connection in response to the request. The method comprises obtaining (645, 745, 845, 945, 1045, 1312) an indication that signaling associated with the non-access stratum procedure is complete.

Abstract: New Radio (NR) RRC includes an RRC_INACTIVE state, which introduces ambiguities in the network's knowledge of UE behavior. A mechanism is introduced for handling parameters received when a UE enters RRC_INACTIVE upon the UE attempting to resume an RRC connection and, as a response, receiving a Release or Suspend message. The timer associated to the mobilityControlInfo (equivalent to T320) is stopped and associated parameters discarded upon receiving RRC Release or Suspend. Information received in a Release or Suspend message is discarded upon receiving RRC Release or RRC Suspend.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a first IAB node for securely communicating with at least one second IAB node is provided. A secure connection with a node of a network is established. A message is received, from the node, indicating a secure messaging protocol to use to communicate with the at least one second IAB node, the message including one of at least one nonce or a key. A control message to be sent to the at least one second IAB node is transformed into a secure control message using the secure messaging protocol. The secure control message is transmitted to the at least one second IAB node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using alternate paths for descendant nodes for backhaul failure link reporting. In one embodiment, a method for a network node that may be a parent node includes receiving information indicating at least one alternate path of at least one child IAB node to an IAB donor node, the at least one child IAB node being a wireless backhaul node; and using the received information to perform at least one of a backhaul wireless link failure recovery and load balancing of traffic. In another embodiment, a method for a network node that may be a child node includes receiving information indicating at least one alternate path of a parent IAB node to an IAB donor node, the parent IAB node being a wireless backhaul node for the child IAB node. The received information is used to perform at least one operational task.

Abstract: A wireless device is configured to operate in first and second access networks. The first and second access networks respectively provide access to first and second core networks of different types. A first wireless communication network includes the first access network and the first core network. A second wireless communication network includes the second access network and the second core network. The wireless device is configured to receive, from the first access network, control signaling indicating that the wireless device is to suspend a connection with the first access network and indicating a notification area within which the wireless device is allowed to move without notifying either the first and second wireless communication networks. The control signaling indicates the notification area includes one or more areas of the first wireless communication network and one or more areas of the second wireless communication network.

Abstract: A wireless device suspends a connection with a first access network and enters an inactive state. While the connection with the first access network is suspended and the wireless device is in the inactive state, the wireless device camps in a specific area of a second wireless communication network that is included in a notification area within which the wireless device is allowed to move without notifying either the second wireless communication network or a first wireless communication network that includes the first access network. Upon camping in the specific area, the wireless device starts a timer. Responsive to expiry of the timer, the wireless device switches from the inactive state to an idle state and/or transmits to the second access network signaling indicating that the wireless device is in the specific area or that the wireless device requests a connection to the second access network.

Abstract: A method and network node for backhaul link failure recovery are disclosed. A network node is configured to attempt to find an alternative backhaul link to replace the failed backhaul link. If the attempt to find an alternative backhaul link fails, then the network node communicates a first indication of an existence of the failure to the first child network node one level below the network node affected by the failure and causes the first child network node to find another network node to serve as a new parent network node. If the first child network node finds another node to serve as the new parent network node then the network node is configured to serve as a second child network node of the first child network node so that the first child network node serves as a parent of the network node.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a user equipment, UE, in a suspended state in a Radio Access Network, RAN, in response to expiration of a first timer, transmits (1910) an RRCResumeRequest message. The UE receives (1920) a reject message in response to the RRCResumeRequest message. In response to the reject message, the UE starts (1930) a second timer and subsequently transmits (1940) a further RRCResumeRequest message. The further RRCResumeRequest message is received by the network during a period hounded approximately by the lesser of a duration of the second timer and a period of the periodic UE event and the greater of the duration of the second timer and the period of the periodic UE event.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a child IAB node is configured to communicate with a first parent IAB node and a descendant IAB node over a backhaul network. The child IAB node includes processing circuitry configured to: detect a backhaul link failure between the child IAB node and the first parent IAB node; in response to the detected backhaul link failure, cause transmission of a radio link failure indication to the descendant IAB node; receive signaling indicating for the child IAB node to connect to a second parent IAB node; and modify network topology at least in part by connecting to the second parent IAB node.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node for handling a multi connectivity configuration for a User Equipment (UE) resuming into connected mode from inactive mode in a wireless communications network is provided. The UE was multi connected to a first radio node and a second radio node before it entered into inactive mode. The network node receives a resume request from the UE. The network node then decides whether or not to trigger a role switch of any one or more out of: the first radio node and the second radio node for the multi connectivity configuration based on a certain condition. The role switch comprises any one out of: switching the role of the first radio node from Master Node, MN, to Secondary Node, SN, and switching the role of the second radio node from SN to MN.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for handling communications relating to suspending a user equipment in a radio access network (RAN) are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a user equipment that is operating in a connected state, a radio resource control (RRC) release message. The user equipment determines, based on an indication in the RRC release message, whether to suspend the user equipment to an inactive state or an idle state, the indication comprising a presence or absence a suspend configuration field in the RRC release message. Responsive to determining that the indication is to suspend to an inactive state, the user equipment transitions to the inactive state.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a wireless device of acquiring system information associated with a core network comprises receiving system information from a network node. The network node is connected to one or more core networks. The system information includes an indication of a network type (e.g., enhanced packet system (EPS), fifth generation system (5GS), etc.) for each core network. The method further comprises determining a capability of the wireless device for connecting to the plurality of network types, and determining whether to connect to a core network based on the network type and the capability of the wireless device. In particular embodiments, the indication of the network type comprises a list of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) connected to the network node and an indication of network types supported by each PLMN.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device includes receiving a Radio Resources Control Reject (RRCReject) message and determining whether to act on the RRCReject message based on a configuration of the wireless device. The method may also include receiving a configuration message that includes the configuration from a network node.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device comprises monitoring one or more aspects of signaling with a network for abnormal signals indicative of network jamming. The method comprises detecting, based on the monitored one or more aspects of signaling with the network, one or more abnormal signals indicative of network jamming.