Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing both Mobile Terminated, MT, and Mobile Originated, MO, circuit switched (CS) services such as Short Message Service, SMS, services in networks utilizing CS Fallback and CSoLTE-I architectures. An extended SGs interface referred to as SGs+ is implemented between a Mobility Management Entity, MME, in an SAE core network and a Mobile Switching Center Server, MSC-S. The SGs+ interface supports transmission of upper layer CS packet data units while utilizing either connectionless or connection-oriented Signaling Connection Control Part, SCCP, operation. The non access stratum, NAS, signaling support between the User Equipment, UE, and the MME is extended to provide support for both MT SMS and MO SMS service.

Abstract: A method for handling Circuit Switched Fallback from a Packet Switched domain includes receiving an indication that Circuit Switched Fallback is supported from an eNodeB located within the Packet Switched domain. The method also includes registering to a Circuit Switched domain associated with Circuit Switched Fallback by tunneling Circuit Switched Registration information, via the eNodeB, to the Circuit Switched domain, thereby enabling the User Equipment to setup a Circuit Switched call or receive a Circuit Switched page. The method also includes receiving a Circuit Switched specific parameter setting from the eNodeB. The Circuit Switched specific parameter setting includes decoding information to facilitate decoding of transmissions in the Circuit Switched domain. Additionally, the method includes, after receiving the Circuit Switched specific parameter setting, switching from the Packet Switched domain to the Circuit Switched domain and using the decoding information to access the Circuit Switched domain.

Abstract: A system includes a first access network arranged to operate according to a first Radio Access Technology, a second access network arranged to operate according to a second Radio Access Technology, and a user device which is connectable to the first access network and to the second access network. The system also includes an authentication node arranged to identify the user device, when seeking access to the second access network, through a user device identifier for the user device, wherein the user device identifier is associated with the first access network. A query node provides information about a context of the user device in the first access network based on the user device identifier. An access selection node generates an access selection decision for the access sought by the user device to the second access network based on the provided context, and the access selection decision is then executed.

Abstract: A relay node identified by a unique relay node identifier relays communications between a donor base station and one or more user terminals. The donor base station acquires the relay node identifier during a relay node attach procedure from where the relay node or another node in the core network (e.g., mobile management entity). The donor base station may use the relay node identifier to retrieve configuration information for the relay node. The configuration information may be used to configure the relay node, to perform radio resource management functions, and/or to monitor the performance of the relay node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing mobile station transaction information at a serving control node in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The serving control node may be a base station, such as an eNodeB in an LTE/SAE wireless communication system. The transaction information, which may include, for example, mobility-related transaction information and traffic-related transaction information for a given mobile station, may be passed between controlling control nodes as the corresponding mobile station is handed over, so that a controlling control node has access to information characterizing the past activities of the mobile station. This information may be used in some embodiments for selecting a target control node for handover or for allocating link resources.

Abstract: A method for managing radio access comprises sending of a radio access technology (RAT) resource aggregation request from a first radio access network (RAN) to a second RAN concerning communication with a user equipment connected to a source RAN, and returning a response to the first RAN. The source RAN is the first or second RAN. The first and second RANs use different radio access technologies. Radio resources of a base station in a target RAN, the RAN to which the user equipment is not connected, are reserved. A report of the reserved radio resources is sent to the source RAN. A RAT resource aggregation command is transmitted to the user equipment. The RAT resource aggregation command comprises that a RAT resource aggregation shall be used and the reserved radio resources. The base stations have at least partly overlapping coverage areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for user terminal and bearer identification that reduces the overhead for LTE relaying (layer 2 and layer 3), which will save radio resources on the backhaul link. Reduction in overhead is achieved by providing a more efficient mechanism for user terminal and bearer identification as compared to using GTP-u and associated UDP/IP headers.

Abstract: A method manages bearers over a first wireless link between a self-backhauled base station and a base station, where the self-backhauled base station serves one or more user equipments (UEs) via one or more second wireless links in a network. The method is implemented at the self-backhauled base station and includes identifying changes in numbers and/or characteristics of UE bearers multiplexed onto a backhaul bearer associated with the first wireless link. The method further includes dynamically reconfiguring resources allocated to the backhaul beare.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing both Mobile Terminated, MT, and Mobile Originated, MO, circuit switched (CS) services such as Short Message Service, SMS, services in networks utilizing CS Fallback and CSoLTE-I architectures. An extended SGs interface referred to as SGs+ is implemented between a Mobility Management Entity, MME, in an SAE core network and a Mobile Switching Center Server, MSC-S. The SGs+ interface supports transmission of upper layer CS packet data units while utilizing either connectionless or connection-oriented Signaling Connection Control Part, SCCP, operation. The non access stratum, NAS, signaling support between the User Equipment, UE, and the MME is extended to provide support for both MT SMS and MO SMS service.

Abstract: A method for allowing distribution of congestion-related information between a cellular communication system supporting circuit-switched services and a cellular communication system supporting packet-switched services. A message destined for the packet-switched communication system is identified at the circuit-switched communication system, and congestion-related information, indicating the present congestion status of the circuit-switched communication network is included into the message. The message is then forwarded to a network node of the packet-switched communication system, where either a user equipment or the network node of the first cellular communication system can control Circuit-switched Fallback (CSFB) attempts towards the second communication system on the basis of the congestion-related information prior to having to initiate any access signaling associated with the CSFB attempts.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and radio base station for sharing resources in a wireless communication system. The radio base station stores an identity of a first entity to which a first plurality of UEs is associated. The first plurality of UEs has full access to resources provided by the radio base station. The radio base station also stores an identity of a second entity to which a second plurality of UEs is associated. The second plurality of UEs has partial access to the resources provided by the radio base station. When the radio base station receives a request for accessing resources from a UE, it determines whether the UE is associated with the second entity, i.e. if the UE is to be handled in support mode. If the UE is associated with the second entity it means that the UE only should have partial access to the resources.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mitigating interference to radio base stations. A first base station provides a served cell that at least partially overlaps a served cell of a second base station. The first and second base stations are part of a telecommunications system. The method includes identifying at least one carrier that is preferable for the second base station to utilize for communications with at least one UE to avoid interference. The method further includes communicating an instruction message from the first base station to the second base station that instructs the second base station to use the at least one carrier for communications.

Abstract: A system includes a first access network arranged to operate according to a first Radio Access Technology, a second access network arranged to operate according to a second Radio Access Technology, and a user device which is connectable to the first access network and to the second access network. The system also includes an authentication node arranged to identify the user device, when seeking access to the second access network, through a user device identifier for the user device, wherein the user device identifier is associated with the first access network. A query node provides information about a context of the user device in the first access network based on the user device identifier. An access selection node generates an access selection decision for the access sought by the user device to the second access network based on the provided context, and the access selection decision is then executed.

Abstract: A relay node identified by a unique relay node identifier relays communications between a donor base station and one or more user terminals. The donor base station acquires the relay node identifier during a relay node attach procedure from where the relay node or another node in the core network (e.g., mobile management entity). The donor base station may use the relay node identifier to retrieve configuration information for the relay node. The configuration information may be used to configure the relay node, to perform radio resource management functions, and/or to monitor the performance of the relay node.

Abstract: A method in a User Equipment (UE) of an Evolved Packet System (EPS) establishes a security key (K_eNB) for protecting Radio Resource Control/User Plane (RRC/UP) traffic exchanged with a serving eNodeB. The method comprises sending a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Service Request to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the request indicating a NAS uplink sequence number (NAS_U_SEQ). The method further comprises receiving an indication of the NAS_U_SEQ of the NAS Service Request sent to the MME, back from the MME via the eNodeB. The method further comprises deriving the K_eNB from at least the received indication of the NAS_U_SEQ and from a stored Access Security Management Entity-key (K_ASME) shared with said MME.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns wireless communication. More particularly, a method and an apparatus (e.g. a SCTP concentrator) for setting up transport layer connections (e.g. SCTP associations) between a eNB and a (H)eNB are disclosed.

Abstract: A method in a first user equipment (UE 1) connectable to a second user equipment (UE 2) via a communication network or via a direct radio communication link, of using a direct radio communication link for communication between the UEs is initiated when one of the UEs receives probe signaling information comprising a first probe token via the communication network. The UEs exchange probe signaling messages including a second and/or the first probe token at least partly according to the probe signaling information, such that one of the UEs can compare the probe tokens, generate a probing report and provide the probing report to the communication network, or to the opposite UE for evaluation in case of a successful comparison and such that a direct radio communication link can be used for communication with UE 2 in response to receiving instructions to use the second direct radio communication link from the entity by which the probing report was evaluated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to base station and method for content synchronization when broadcasting data in a communications network. The base station comprises a receiver receiving data sequences and a transmitter for transmitting data sequences. Each data sequence has a data size and comprises a sequence number (SN). The base station further comprises a processing arrangement configured to add byte numbered sequence numbers to said data sequences passed between layers in a protocol stack for transmission to a transceiver station.

Abstract: A relay node for a radio access network, arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments in a cell of the radio access network and a base station serving the cell. The relay node is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell in the radio access network, and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell is unable to support a relay node. The relay node is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.

Abstract: Underlay network node and macro base station and methods therein for enabling avoidance of interference in a cell extension area associated with an uplink/downlink imbalance. The underlay network node is assumed to be associated with a cell area A, and a cell extension area B, where the cell extension area B has an uplink/downlink imbalance in relation to a neighboring base station and the network node. The method in the underlay network node involves serving a UE in both uplink and downlink when the UE is located in cell area A. The method further involves serving a UE only in the uplink when the UE is located in cell extension area B, thus enabling avoidance of interference related to communication of a UE located in said cell extension area B.