Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method a user equipment (UE) to perform random access to a radio network comprising an uplink physical resource configuration (UL) and supplementary physical resource configuration (SUL). A random access request containing a preamble may be transmitted from the UE to the radio network on a physical random access channel (PRACH) of one of the uplink physical resource configuration or the supplementary uplink physical resource configuration. A random access response for the UE indicating the physical resource configuration on whose PRACH the random access request was sent may be received at the UE, wherein the indication is made by a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) used to identify the random access response. The radio network may be accessed by the UE based on information in the random access response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method performed by a communication device (120) for enhancing wireless communication with a network node (110) of a wireless communication network (100). The communication device (120) has received, from the network node, a first timing advance, TA, value at a first time point when in active state, and the communication device has thereafter switched to inactive state. The method comprises switching from inactive to active state, after obtaining an indication of data transfer, determining whether the first TA value is still valid, employing the first TA value for sending data to the network node when the first TA value is determined to be valid, and employing an updated TA value for sending data to the network node when the first TA value is determined not to be valid. By determining that the first TA value is still valid and in these cases reusing the first TA value, communication resources that would otherwise have been used for updating the TA value can be spared.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and apparatus relating to random access in a wireless communications network. In one aspect, a method in a user equipment comprises: detecting an event triggering a random access procedure; determining an adjustment for a random access parameter as a function of one or more of: a type of the event triggering the random access procedure; and a characteristic of data to be transmitted or received by the UE upon completion of the random access procedure; applying the adjustment to a configured value for the random access parameter to obtain an adjusted value for the random access parameter; and performing the random access procedure with a base station operable in the wireless communications network, using the adjusted value for the random access parameter.

Abstract: A method in a terminal device of a wireless network, the wireless network further comprising first and second radio access nodes, the method comprising: repeatedly measuring one or more metrics for signals transmitted by the first radio access node and signals transmitted by the second radio access node. A frequency with which the one or more metrics are measured varies as a function of one or more of: a difference between the values of the one or more metrics for signals transmitted by the first radio access node and the values of the one or more metrics for signals transmitted by the second radio access node; and a rate of change of the difference between the values of the one or more metrics for signals transmitted by the first radio access node and the values of the one or more metrics for signals transmitted by the second radio access node.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a first user equipment (UE), a second UE and methods thereof for reliable group transmissions. The group includes multiple UEs transmitting the same Hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ), buffer data packets to a network node. The method in the first UE includes receiving a predetermined number of Non ACKnowledgments (NACKs), performing a checksum calculation on the HARQ buffer, receiving a computed checksum from a second UE acting as a coordinator of the group; comparing the calculated checksum with the received computed checksum and stopping/refraining from further transmission of the HARQ buffer data to the network node when the calculated checksum and the received computed checksum differ.

Abstract: A method and device for data transmission. A terminal device determines a desired resource for transmitting message 3 according to the capability of the terminal device and the size of message 3; and transmits a request for the desired resource via message 1 transmission. With the method and the device, overhead and delay of small data transmission may be reduced, larger data size transmission in RRC inactive state may be supported, and coverage may be increased.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the implementation or Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) in advanced wireless communication networks are presented. For instance, in an example method (200) of the present disclosure, a network node (106) (e.g. base station, eNB, etc.) can determine to alter LCP order (10) utilized by a user equipment (UE) (102) to an altered LCP order (12) and can indicate the altered LCP (12) order to the UE (102). Furthermore, in an example method (210) performed by UE (102) in a wireless communication system (100), UE (102) can receive a message (116) indicating an altered LCP order (12) from a network node (106), and in response, can alter an LCP order (10) utilized by the UE (102) to the altered LCP order (12) indicated by the message (116). Further embodiments include corresponding apparatus, computer programs, and computer program products.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relates to a network node, a UE, and methods thereof for reliable group transmissions. The method in the UE comprises receiving, from a network node, at least one signaling comprising HARQ parameters including a diversity distance between a HARQ transmission and a subsequent HARQ re-transmission and information on a number of retransmissions; receiving at least one transmission comprising at least one packet from the network node; decoding the received at least one packet; if the decoding of the at least one packet is successful, encoding the at least one packet and retransmitting, to at least one other UE of the group, the at least one transmission including the at least one encoded packet, wherein retransmitting of the at least one packet is performed simultaneously as retransmission of the at least one transmission from the network node to the at least one other UE of the group.

Abstract: Methods and devices are proposed for enabling group transmission of data from a group of devices to a base station of a mobile telecommunications network. In order to enable beamforming for each of the group of devices, a plurality of unique antenna identifiers is assigned to each transmit antenna of the devices forming the beamforming group. The antenna identifiers are communicated to the base station. Each device of the beamforming group then transmits sounding reference signals to the base station with each transmit antenna identified with a unique identifier. The individual devices then receive respective beamforming precoding information, for each antenna identified with the unique antenna identifier, generated in response to a respective sounding reference signal from the base station. The devices then utilize the respective precoding information to transmit data to the base station as part of a joint beamforming transmission from the group of devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses and computer program products for random access in a wireless communication system. A method in a terminal device comprises receiving a random access configuration from a network device, the random access configuration including information for determining a set of candidate subframe numbers and a set of candidate system frame numbers for transmitting a random access preamble; transmitting the random access preamble in a subframe within a radio frame, the subframe being associated with a subframe number, and the radio frame being associated with a system frame number, wherein the subframe number is selected from the set of candidate subframe numbers, and/or, the system frame number is selected from the set of candidate system frame numbers t, based on a size of a Message 3 (Msg3) to be transmitted by the terminal device to the network device during the random access.

Abstract: A method for operating a network node. The network node provides (503) an indication of a time for switching a radio link for a user plane associated with a wireless communication device. The radio link is switched from a first radio link, associated with a first network node, to a second radio link, associated with a second network node. The time for switching the radio link is based on an obtained indication of a transmission opportunity of a user plane data at the second network node.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method for communications includes determining whether a random access procedure is initiated for a first service that requires a more reliable random access than a second service. In response to the determination that the random access procedure is initiated for the first service, respective transmit power for one or more messages of the random access procedure is estimated based at least in part on parameter settings for the first service. The messages are transmitted to a network node during the random access procedure by using the respective transmit power.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method a user equipment (UE) to perform random access to a radio network comprising an uplink physical resource configuration (UL) and supplementary physical resource configuration (SUL). A random access request containing a preamble may be transmitted from the UE to the radio network on a physical random access channel (PRACH) of one of the uplink physical resource configuration or the supplementary uplink physical resource configuration. A random access response for the UE indicating the physical resource configuration on whose PRACH the random access request was sent may be received at the UE, wherein the indication is made by a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) used to identify the random access response. The radio network may be accessed by the UE based on information in the random access response.

Abstract: Group transmission of data from a group of User Equipment devices to a network node of a cellular communication system where communication between devices is effected by device-to-device technology can provide significant improvements in uplink coverage and user bit rate. However, the benefits of group transmission means that not all devices of a group have sufficient network coverage to reliably receive a grant signal scheduling uplink resources from a network node. Methods, devices and a network node are proposed that enable the dynamic selection of either a direct grant mode, in which each device receives the uplink grant directly from the network, or a relayed grant mode, in which a device acting as group coordinator relays the grant to all members of the group, to ensure optimal performance for group transmissions. The selection is dependent on at least one determined condition relating to the group of devices and/or the group transmission.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method in a network node of a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network further comprising a terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configurable in a plurality of radio resource control (RRC) states, the plurality of RRC states comprising a first RRC state in which the terminal device is configured with first paging occasions to listen for paging messages from the network node. The method comprises: configuring the terminal device with one or more second paging occasions for the terminal device to listen for paging messages from the network node, in addition to the first paging occasions, while the terminal device is in the first RRC state, responsive to one or more trigger events relating to a transition of the terminal device from the first RRC state or to the first RRC state. Additional methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A base station (11) configures a terminal (31) with two or more Scheduling Request (SR) configurations. Each SR configuration includes at least one of time and frequency domain resources for a SR, based on information associated with logical channels (LCH). From a received SR transmitted according to a SR configuration, the base station (11) may ascertain that the terminal (31) has data to transmit; the LCH triggering the SR; a priority for each LCH; and/or a set of the numerologies/TTI durations associated with each LCH. Methods disclosed herein provide a signaling alternative for the network to signal multiple SR configurations; provide means for the network to activate/deactivate certain configurations; provide means for the network to switch from one configuration to another one, and signal to the terminal (31); and provide means for the terminal (31) to signal configurations from the terminal's preference perspective.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extended Scheduling Requests (SRs) that convey additional scheduling information, such as a priority indication, for example, are provided herein. According to one aspect, a method of operation of a network node comprises receiving, from a User Equipment device (UE), an Enhanced SR (ESR) for conveying availability of data and additional scheduling information, determining the additional scheduling information from the ESR, and making scheduling allocations based on the additional scheduling information. The additional information may be conveyed via the time and/or frequency resources used for a single bit SR, via the use of additional bits for the SR, or a combination of the above.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method in a network node of a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network further comprising a terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configurable in a plurality of radio resource control (RRC) states, the plurality of RRC states comprising a first RRC state in which the terminal device is configured with first paging occasions to listen for paging messages from the network node. The method comprises: configuring the terminal device with one or more second paging occasions for the terminal device to listen for paging messages from the network node, in addition to the first paging occasions, while the terminal device is in the first RRC state, responsive to one or more trigger events relating to a transition of the terminal device from the first RRC state or to the first RRC state. Additional methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing small data transmissions from a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed. The method comprises configuring the UE with a timer, wherein the timer expires after a threshold period of time. The method also comprises instructing the UE to reset the timer after each small data transmission by the UE, and, once the timer has been reset, to refrain from making any additional small data transmissions until the timer has expired. Also disclosed is a method for a UE to manage its small data transmissions. The method comprises obtaining configuration details for a timer, wherein the timer expires after a threshold period of time. The method also comprises resetting the timer after sending a small data transmission and refraining from sending any additional small data transmissions until the time has expired.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices and computer programs that enables a controlled activation and/or deactivation of multiplication/duplication transmissions where packets transmitted to a wireless device from a network node is multiplied/duplicated and transmitted from several network nodes to the wireless device. The methods, devices and computer programs are based on a quality indication that represents for the quality of the connections between a wireless device and different network units. Based on a quality indication obtained from the wireless device the network node(s) may initiate or terminate a multiplication/duplication transmission mode where packets are transmitted to the wireless device from several network nodes.