Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises: determining geographical location information of the wireless device with respect to each cell of a plurality of cells; adjusting a cell reselection ranking for the plurality of cells based on the geographical location information for the plurality of cells; selecting a cell from the plurality of cells based on the adjusted ranking; and camping on the selected cell.

Abstract: Methods performed by base stations and wireless devices for reducing RSRP and/or RSRQ measurements are disclosed. A method performed by a base station comprises indicating to a wireless device whether or not to perform cell selection and/or reselection measurements based on certain criteria. A method performed by a wireless device comprises determining whether or not to perform cell selection and/or reselection measurements based on certain criteria. Also disclosed are base stations and wireless devices configured to perform the methods.

Abstract: A system, method and non-transitory computer readable media for facilitating reduced signaling load with respect to UE location reporting in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) environment (100) interoperable with one or more terrestrial cellular communications networks. In one embodiment of an index-based location reporting scheme, a UE (105, 1200) may receive (402) a list of reference locations from a network node (1000, 1100), each identified with an index. Responsive to receiving the list of reference locations, the UE (105, 1200) may report to the network node (1000, 1100) an index or a subset of indices of one or more reference locations that match a specific reporting criterion. In an example implementation, reporting of index-based location information by the UE (105, 1200) may be configurably triggered, e.g., periodically or in response to the occurrence of a particular event, condition, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for selectively deactivating (partially or fully) Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) mechanisms in a cellular communications system. Embodiments disclosed herein are particularly well-suited for adapting HARQ mechanisms for non-terrestrial radio access networks (e.g., satellite-based radio access networks). Embodiments of a method performed by a wireless device and corresponding embodiments of a wireless device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for deactivating HARQ mechanisms comprises receiving, from a base station, an explicit or implicit indication that HARQ mechanisms are at least partially deactivated for an uplink or downlink transmission. The method further comprises determining that HARQ mechanisms are at least partially deactivated for the transmission based on the indication and transmitting/receiving the transmission with HARQ mechanisms at least partially deactivated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obtaining a frequency offset corresponding to a Doppler shift of transmission and/or reception frequencies between a wireless device and a network node. In one embodiment a method is performed by a wireless device for operating in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the NTN having at least one network node and a communication satellite, wherein the at least one network node is one of a terrestrial base station and a satellite base station or satellite gateway, the method includes obtaining a frequency offset corresponding to a Doppler shift of transmission and/or reception frequencies between the wireless device and the network node and applying the frequency offset to an uplink transmission to the network node.

Abstract: A wireless device (14) is configured for use in a wireless communication system (10). The wireless device (14) configures a number of parallel hybrid automatic repeat request, HARQ, processes (18) as being available for use. The wireless device (14) discontinuously monitors a downlink control channel (20), including monitoring the downlink control channel (20) during an active time (24) that is based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes (18) are used.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method performed by an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node to perform initial cell access in a cellular communications network and corresponding embodiments of an IAB node are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method performed by the IAB node comprises detecting a Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB) of a cell and reading system information comprising a value of a parameter from the SSB. The method further comprises determining that the value of the parameter is a predefined value that serves as an indication to IAB nodes that additional system information is present on the cell and searching for the additional system information in accordance with the value of the parameter. In some embodiments, the predefined value of the parameter serves as an indication to one or more other types of nodes that additional system information is not present on the cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adapting a timer(s) for a satellite-based radio access network are disclosed. Embodiments of a method performed by a wireless device and corresponding embodiments of a wireless device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises obtaining a value to be used to offset, extend, and/or scale one or more timers related to the satellite-based radio access network relative to values for non-satellite-based radio access networks. The method further comprises utilizing the value to offset a start of one or more timers, extend one or more timers, and/or scale one or more timers and performing one or more actions based on the one or more offset timers, the one or more extended timers, and/or the one or more scaled timers. Embodiments of a method performed by a base station and corresponding embodiments of a base station are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless device is operable to communicate with a network node of a communications network via a non-terrestrial communication path that includes satellites and satellite gateways. The wireless device determines that communication between the wireless device and the network node will experience a communication interrupting transition during a transition period in which the non-terrestrial communication path between the wireless device and the network node will be interrupted. The wireless device adjusts a PHY layer procedure of the wireless device to mitigate switching problems with one of the of satellites during and/or after the interruption.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device for enabling bundling for a specific HARQ process is provided. The method includes at least one of receiving, from a base station, an indication that bundling of transport blocks is enabled for a specific HARQ process (or a specific subset of all configured HARQ processes), determining that bundling is enabled for the specific HARQ process based on the received indication, and transmitting/receiving a transmission for the specific HARQ process with bundling enabled. A method performed by a base station for enabling bundling for a specific HARQ process is also provided. A wireless device and a base station for deactivating HARQ mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device for mapping data to specific HARQ processes is provided. The method includes receiving an indication that maps data that can be sent on one or more of specific HARQ processes and transmitting/receiving a transmission for the specific HARQ process based on the received indication. A method performed by a base station for mapping data to specific HARQ processes is also provided. A wireless device and a base station for mapping data to specific HARQ processes are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for radio link monitoring (RLM) by a user equipment (UE) in a combined terrestrial and satellite wireless communication network. Such methods include, during a discontinuity in a connection between a UE and a terrestrial network node (TNN), performing RLM of the connection based on a second configuration. Such methods also include, before and/or after the discontinuity, performing RLM of the connection based on a first configuration. The connection includes a first link between the UE and a satellite and a second link between the satellite and the TNN. The discontinuity includes a link switch in at least one of the first link and the second link. The RLM before, during, and after the discontinuity can include various first, second, and third operations, respectively. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by a TNN, as well as UEs and TNNs configured to perform operations corresponding to such methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for uplink transmission timing are provided. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a wireless device in a cellular communications network includes receiving a transmission, from a network node, in a downlink slot; determining a reference uplink slot index in an uplink frame timing of the wireless device where the reference uplink slot index corresponds to the downlink slot in which the transmission was received; and transmitting an uplink transmission in response to the received transmission in an uplink slot a number of slots, K, after the determined reference uplink slot index. This may enable transmission in satellite radio access networks by establishing the transmission timing relationships that are suitable for long propagation delays and the large differential delay in a spotbeam in satellite communications systems that may range from sub-milliseconds to tens of milliseconds.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for random access in a wireless communication system such as, e.g., a wireless communication system having a non-terrestrial (e.g., satellite-based) radio access network. Embodiments of a method performed by a wireless device and corresponding embodiments of a wireless device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for random access comprises performing an open-loop timing advance estimation procedure to thereby determine an open-loop timing advance estimate for an uplink between the wireless device and a base station. The method further comprises transmitting a random access preamble using the open-loop timing advance estimate. In this manner, random access can be performed even in the presence of a long propagation delay such as that present in a satellite-based radio access network. Embodiments of a method performed by a base station and corresponding embodiments of a base station are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless device may be provided. A wireless device may receive a release message from a network node of a radio access network. The release message may include an identification of a redirected carrier. In response to the release message omitting synchronization block related parameters for the redirected carrier, the wireless device may check in measurement information configured for the wireless device for the synchronization block related parameters for the redirected carrier; and may perform synchronization signal measurements for the redirected carrier using the synchronization block related parameters in the measurement information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for uplink power control in a cellular communications network that are particularly well-suited for flying wireless devices (e.g., aerial User Equipments (UEs)). In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for uplink power control comprises receiving, from a base station, reference altitude information comprising one or more height thresholds and detecting that a height of the wireless device is above a height threshold. The method further comprises triggering and sending a measurement report to the base station upon detecting that the height of the wireless device is above the height threshold, and receiving, from the base station, an indication to use a particular one of two or more fractional pathloss compensation factors for uplink power control. The two or more fractional pathloss compensation factors for uplink power control comprise one or more wireless device specific fractional pathloss compensation factors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activating a Semi-Persistent (SP) Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device includes for activating SP ZP CSI-RS includes receiving, from a network node, a control message that indicates the activation of one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources; and activating, based on the control message, the one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources. In this way, ZP CSI-RS may be used for rate matching around other wireless devices and a SP ZP CSI-RS resource may be activated without activating any Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS, CSI-Interference Measurement (CSI-IM), or CSI reporting for the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activating a Semi-Persistent (SP) Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device includes for activating SP ZP CSI-RS includes receiving, from a network node, a control message that indicates the activation of one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources; and activating, based on the control message, the one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources. In this way, ZP CSI-RS may be used for rate matching around other wireless devices and a SP ZP CSI-RS resource may be activated without activating any Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS, CSI-Interference Measurement (CSI-IM), or CSI reporting for the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activating a Semi-Persistent (SP) Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device includes for activating SP ZP CSI-RS includes receiving, from a network node, a control message that indicates the activation of one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources; and activating, based on the control message, the one or more SP ZP CSI-RS resources. In this way, ZP CSI-RS may be used for rate matching around other wireless devices and a SP ZP CSI-RS resource may be activated without activating any Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS, CSI-Interference Measurement (CSI-IM), or CSI reporting for the wireless device.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method, performed by a User Equipment (UE), for handling Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements for the UE, on a carrier comprising a plurality of Synchronization Sequence Blocks (SSBs). The UE receives, from a network node, an indication of a Measurement Object (MO) pointing to a frequency location of a primary SSB. The UE further performs measurements on the primary SSB based on the indicated MO. Embodiments herein further relate to a method, performed by a network node, for handling RRM measurements for the UE, on a carrier comprising a plurality of SSBs. The network node determines a primary SSB out of the plurality of SSBs on the carrier. The network node further sends, to the UE, an indication of a MO pointing to a frequency location of the primary SSB.