Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a receiving node and a sending node of a wireless communications system for enabling and disabling integrity protection of at least one data radio bearer between the sending node and the receiving node. The method in the receiving node comprises, following a successful connection re-establishment between the sending node and the receiving node, receiving a connection reconfiguration message from the sending node, the connection reconfiguration message comprising an indicator indicating which ones of the at least one data radio bearers that shall have enabled integrity protection. It also comprises enabling integrity protection of packets on the at least one data radio bearer indicated by the indicator, and disabling integrity protection of packets on the rest of the at least one data radio bearers.

Abstract: Methods and nodes of a telecommunications system are disclosed. How many Control Channel Elements of a Frequency Division Multiplexing radio interface are used to transmit a Physical Downlink Control Channel message from a node of the telecommunications system to a User Equipment unit are controlled based on whether the node received from the User Equipment unit a response to a prior Physical Downlink Control Channel message transmitted to the User Equipment unit.

Abstract: A radio access network comprises a donor base station node (29) and a relay base station node (20). The relay base station node (29) participates in communications across a first radio interface with a wireless terminal (30) and also participates in communications over a backhaul link across a second radio interface, the second radio interface reusing at least some functionality of the first interface. The donor base station node (28) configures a subframe configuration pattern. The subframe configuration pattern is arranged to specify which subframe(s) of a frame structure may be utilized for the backhaul link. As a result of subframe configuration, a HARQ process state in a HARQ process at one of the base station nodes is known by the other base station node by any of several operational modes.

Abstract: The invention proposes a novel method for handling acknowledgement messages between a first protocol layer (L1) and a second protocol layer (L2) in a network node operating as a relay network node (RN). The first protocol layer (L1) is lower with respect to the second protocol layer (L2). The acknowledgement messages (ACK) are related to Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) processes and the Relay Node (RN) is engaged in an Uplink transmission towards a network access node (eNB). The method comprises a step (10) of receiving a first grant indication by said network access node (eNB) that an Uplink Transmission is granted at said first protocol layer entity (L1) and a step of sending (100) towards said second protocol layer entity (L1) an indication of Acknowledgement (ACK) after receiving a first grant indication. The invention also proposes a corresponding Relay Node (RN).

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method is provided at a relay node for enabling subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of the relay node. The relay node is connected to a controlling entity via the backhaul link, and is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link. The relay node receives a trigger or configuration information from the controlling entity from the controlling entity. Based on the received trigger or configuration information, the relay node sends information to the controlling entity, indicating a resource utilization of the access link and/or indicating a quality of the access link.

Abstract: A method in a user equipment for transmitting scheduling requests to a base station includes triggering a scheduling request transmission and transmitting a scheduling request to the base station at the next occurring scheduling request opportunity as a response to the triggering. The method also includes starting a scheduling request prohibiting timer in the user equipment when the scheduling request is transmitted to the base station and prohibiting any further scheduling request retransmission at future scheduling request opportunities while the scheduling request prohibiting timer is running.

Abstract: A method of estimating path loss for a channel between a user equipment and a base station of a wireless communication system, the method performed at the base station and comprising the steps of: measuring (302) a signal power PSDrx for a received signal transmitted from the user equipment to the base station on the channel; and estimating (304) a path loss PL*, based on the measured signal power PSDrx and a path loss compensation value a associated with the base station. A base station and a computer readable medium is also described.

Abstract: Automatically adjust the size of a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, of an uplink communication subframe. In a particular embodiment, the size of a semi-static region of the PUCCH is adjusted. The adjustment is based on a utilization factor of the PUCCH over a time period. The adjustment can also be based on the connection factor (connections between the wireless terminals and the cell) and/or based on the utilization factor of a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel). The result is an efficient resource utilization on the PUCCH, and a properly dimensioned PUCCH region.

Abstract: Teachings herein include a base station and a relay node for propagating system information changes from the base station to the relay node. Upon receiving changes from the base station, the relay node advantageously determines whether to apply the changes immediately or to defer application until a set time period. The relay node then applies the changes at a time in accordance with that determination. In some embodiments, the relay node employs deferred application for fundamental changes (those changes that would fatally disrupt ongoing communications if applied before the set time period), but employs immediate application for non-fundamental changes in order to minimize relay node complexity. Regardless, the relay node may make the determination based on preconfigured rules, or on control indicators received from the base station. Correspondingly, the base station may generate the control indicators to explicitly direct the relay node to employ immediate application or deferred application.

Abstract: Teachings herein include a base station for propagating system information changes from the base station to the relay node. Upon transmitting system information changes to the relay node, the base station defers data transmission between the base station and the relay node until a set time period. In many embodiments, the base station is configured to actually apply the system information changes during this time period, while the relay node applies the changes before then, e.g., by applying them immediately upon reception. The base station's deferral of data transmission until the set time period thus ensures that data transmission does not occur until both the base station and the relay node have applied the pending changes. This in turn prevents radio link failure from occurring due to use of different system parameters by the base station and relay node.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for “early” triggering of a BSR in a relay node. Doing so is advantageous, for example, in reducing the overall time between a UE's transmission of data to a relay node on an access link and the corresponding transmission of that data from the relay node to a donor base station on a backhaul link. Of course, that example is non-limiting. More broadly, in at least one embodiment, the present invention provides for triggering a BSR in the relay node right after learning that there is at least one UE connected to the relay node that wants to transmit UL data. Further, one or more embodiments provide a simple method and apparatus for using a relay node BSR to inform a donor base station about the scheduled status of UEs supported by the relay node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a radio base station (4) which actively monitor the error rate for messages transmitted over an uplink control channel between the radio base station (4) and one or more mobile terminals (6). The distribution of messages transmitted on the uplink control channel is then adapted in dependence on the measured error rate.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating a relay node includes receiving information, at the relay node, information identifying a plurality of subframes. The subframes represent time periods during which a base station may grant the relay node permission to transmit to the base station on a first frequency. The method also involves selecting one of the identified subframes to be used for a transmission between the relay node and a wireless terminal on the first frequency and transmits to the wireless terminal a scheduling grant granting the wireless terminal permission to transmit information on the first frequency during the selected subframe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enabling intercell interference coordination in a network node 112, 132, which is comprised in a wireless communications network 100. The network node 112, 132 comprises at least two antennas for multi-antenna transmission and/or reception. According to the method, the network node 112, 132 transmits an indication of an amount of spatially multiplexed streams for at least one block of radio resources to at least one receiving network node 122, which is also comprised in the wireless communications network 100. By indicating the amount of spatially multiplexed streams, it is made possible for the receiving network node 122 to take the intercell interference in the spatial domain into consideration, for instance in a scheduling and/or link adaptation decision.