Abstract: Random Access (RA) formats are defined for NB-IoT operation in TDD mode. The formats are defined to allow use of the legacy LTE subframe configurations for TDD. The formats specify a predetermined, even number P of symbol groups composing a RA preamble, wherein each symbol group comprises a Cyclic Prefix (CP) and a number X of symbols. The P symbol groups are divided into symbol group sets fitting into 1, or 2, or 3 contiguous uplink subframes, each comprising at least two symbol groups transmitted back-to-back (i.e., contiguously in time), and at least two symbol group sets are transmitted non-contiguously in time across a number of uplink subframes over which the RA preamble is transmitted. The number of symbol groups in a set can be two or three, and the number of symbol groups is four or six, respectively. Symbol groups within a set are transmitted on adjacent uplink subframes. Five format options are defined, which map to various of the LTE TDD configurations.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a user equipment (UE) and a method in the UE are disclosed. The UE is served by a cell managed or served by a network node. The UE comprises processing circuitry, a transceiver coupled to the processing circuitry, and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry. The UE is operative to determine that a center frequency of a radio frequency (RF) reception bandwidth of the UE is different than a center frequency of a RF transmission bandwidth of the cell serving the UE. The UE is further operative to receive a signal from the cell serving the UE over a center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE, and puncture a portion of the signal received over the center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission.

Abstract: The load on Random Access channels (N)PRACH (i.e., Msg1) is temporally distributed, to better handle synchronized access peaks from machine type devices. Access attempts by wireless devices are distributed in time, based on their identities (e.g., IMSI, which is used for the distribution of paging load) or random draw. The distribution restricts when 5 wireless devices can access the network, either based on System Frame Number or on random access occurrence. The method is implicit, i.e., after the initial System Information (SI) acquisition, wireless devices will automatically apply temporal network access load distribution according to the configuration provided in SI without any need for explicit signaling or re-acquisition of SI. Embodiments of the invention may be advantageously applied to any wireless 10 communication network supporting machine type communications, such as GPRS/EGPRS/ECGSM-IoT and UMTS/HSPA, as well as non-3GPP radio access technologies such as LoRa, Sigfox, and Ingenu.

Abstract: Random Access (RA) formats are defined for NB-IoT operation in TDD mode. The formats are defined to allow use of in the legacy LTE subframe configurations for TDD. The formats specify a predetermined, even number P of symbol groups composing a RA preamble, wherein each symbol group comprises a Cyclic Prefix (CP) and a number X of symbols. The P symbol groups are divided into symbol group sets fitting into 1, or 2, or 3 contiguous uplink subframes, each comprising at least two symbol groups transmitted back-to-back (i.e., contiguously in time), and at least two symbol group sets are transmitted non-contiguously in time across a number of uplink subframes over which the RA preamble is transmitted. The number of symbol groups in a set can be two or three, and the number of symbol groups is four or six, respectively. Symbol groups within a set are transmitted on adjacent uplink subframes. Five format options are defined, which map to various of the LTE TDD configurations.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a user equipment (UE) and a method in the UE are disclosed. The UE is served by a cell managed or served by a network node. The UE comprises processing circuitry, a transceiver coupled to the processing circuitry, and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry. The UE is operative to determine that a center frequency of a radio frequency (RF) reception bandwidth of the UE is different than a center frequency of a RF transmission bandwidth of the cell serving the UE. The UE is further operative to receive a signal from the cell serving the UE over a center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE, and puncture a portion of the signal received over the center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes configuring (202) a UE in a cell to operate with a center frequency of a radio frequency, RF, reception bandwidth of the UE receiver is different than the center frequency of an RF transmission bandwidth of the cell; puncturing (204) a subcarrier in a downlink signal that, when transmitted over the RF transmission bandwidth corresponds to the center frequency of the UE RF reception bandwidth to provide a punctured downlink signal; and transmitting (206) the punctured downlink signal to the UE through a transmitter circuit operating within the UE RF reception bandwidth. Related UEs, methods of operating a UE, and network nodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A base station and wireless device are configured to support TDD operation. In exemplary embodiments, the base station or UE can make use of the available symbols in the DwPTS or UpPTS of a special subframe respectively for NB-IoT transmissions. In one example, the base station can use OFDM symbols in the DwPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in an immediately preceding downlink subframe, or in a succeeding downlink subframe. In other embodiments, the UE can use symbols in the UpPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in the immediately succeeding uplink subframe, or in a preceding uplink subframe. The symbols repeated in the special subframe can be coherently combined at the receiver with corresponding symbols transmitted in a downlink or uplink subframe to improve decoding performance, reduce errors, improve channel estimation, and increase system capacity.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the pre-amble sequence transmission.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes configuring (202) a UE in a cell to operate with a center frequency of a radio frequency, RF, reception band-width of the UE receiver is different than the center frequency of an RF transmission bandwidth of the cell; puncturing (204) a subcarrier in a downlink signal that, when transmitted over the RF transmission bandwidth corresponds to the center frequency of the UE RF reception band-width to provide a punctured downlink signal; and transmitting (206) the punctured downlink signal to the UE through a transmitter circuit operating within the UE RF reception bandwidth. Related UEs, methods of operating a UE, and network nodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Channel estimation accuracy is improved by adjusting the power level of a physical control channel allocated to a receiver based on the transmission rate and/or transport format of a corresponding physical data channel allocated to the same receiver. The physical control channel may be a DPCCH, E-DPCCH or other type of physical control channel allocated to a receiver for facilitating uplink or downlink communication. In one embodiment, control channel symbols are transmitted for use in channel estimation by adjusting the power level of a physical control channel allocated to a receiver based on the transmission rate and/or transport format of a physical data channel allocated to the receiver (200). Control channel symbols are transmitted to the receiver over the physical control channel at the adjusted power level (202). The receiver uses the control channel symbols to perform channel estimation (204).

Abstract: Channel estimation accuracy is improved by adjusting the power level of a physical control channel allocated to a receiver based on the transmission rate and/or transport format of a corresponding physical data channel allocated to the same receiver. The physical control channel may be a DPCCH, E-DPCCH or other type of physical control channel allocated to a receiver for facilitating uplink or downlink communication. In one embodiment, control channel symbols are transmitted for use in channel estimation by adjusting the power level of a physical control channel allocated to a receiver based on the transmission rate and/or transport format of a physical data channel allocated to the receiver (200). Control channel symbols are transmitted to the receiver over the physical control channel at the adjusted power level (202). The receiver uses the control channel symbols to perform channel estimation (204).

Abstract: A user equipment configured for use in a wireless communication system is configured for transmitting a random access preamble signal. The wireless communication device in particular is configured to generate a random access preamble signal that comprises multiple symbol groups, with each symbol group on a single tone during a different time resource, according to a frequency hopping pattern that hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a fixed frequency distance and hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a pseudo random frequency distance. Each symbol group comprises one or more symbols. The user equipment is also configured to transmit the random access preamble signal.

Abstract: A user equipment configured for use in a wireless communication system is configured for transmitting a random access preamble signal. The wireless communication device in particular is configured to generate a random access preamble signal that comprises multiple symbol groups, with each symbol group on a single tone during a different time resource, according to a frequency hopping pattern that hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a fixed frequency distance and hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a pseudo random frequency distance. Each symbol group comprises one or more symbols. The user equipment is also configured to transmit the random access preamble signal.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission.

Abstract: A method for enhancing Random Access Channel (RACH) performance is provided. First timing settings to be used by a first set of user equipments for a first Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) response timing are explicitly or implicitly signaled from a NodeB or from a Radio Network Controller (RNC) to a user equipment. Further, second timing settings to be used by a second set of user equipments for a second AICH response timing are explicitly or implicitly signaled from the NodeB or from the RNC to the user equipment.

Abstract: A user equipment, in a cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of downlink physical channels, detects radio link problems using a subset of said physical channels, where said subset is dynamically adjustable depending upon which channels are available at a particular instant.

Abstract: A method for enhancing Random Access Channel (RACH) performance is provided. First timing settings to be used by a first set of user equipments for a first Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) response timing are explicitly or implicitly signaled from a NodeB or from a Radio Network Controller (RNC) to a user equipment. Further, second timing settings to be used by a second set of user equipments for a second AICH response timing are explicitly or implicitly signaled from the NodeB or from the RNC to the user equipment.