Abstract: Methods, nodes and computer program products control radio channel deployment when using un-licensed carriers in a wireless communication network and control mobility and/or load balancing target selection when using un-licensed carriers. When performed in an access node, unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load is determined in a cell served by the access node based on one or more predetermined channel load indicators and neighbor cell channel load information is obtained, from one or more neighboring access nodes. The neighbor cell channel load information includes unlicensed carrier channel load in respective cells based on the one or more predetermined channel load indicators. At least one channel deployment operation is initiated based on an outcome of one or more comparative operations including the determined unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load and/or the obtained neighbor cell channel load information.

Abstract: A network-based method allows a network to optimize its control of radio resource usage by directing connected and idle mode User Equipment (UEs) (10) to another network node, e.g. a neighbor cell, having a better duty cycle, or by configuring the UEs to use another frequency band served by the same network node or a different network node. Signaling its duty cycle budget to the UEs allows the UEs to optimize their idle mode operation by performing cell re-selection to a network node which has a better duty cycle budget.

Abstract: A method performed by a multi-universal subscriber identity module, multi-USIM user equipment, UE, operating in a first public land mobile network, PLMN, and another PLMN, and a multi-USIM UE is provided. The method includes responsive to at least one of receiving an updated 5G-global unique temporary identifier or changing a cell in which the multi-USIM UE is operating, determining whether or not there is a paging occasion (PO) collision with the other PLMN. The method includes responsive to determining that there is a PO collision: notifying a core network about the PO collision; receiving a configuration from the core network, the configuration having a UE_offset value; using the UE_offset value for PO calculation and monitoring; and determining whether or not there is a PO collision with the other PLMN using the UE_offset value.

Abstract: A network-based method allows a network to optimize its control of radio resource usage by directing connected and idle mode User Equipment (UEs) (10) to another network node, e.g. a neighbor cell, having a better duty cycle, or by configuring the UEs to use another frequency band served by the same network node or a different network node. Signaling its duty cycle budget to the UEs allows the UEs to optimize their idle mode operation by performing cell re-selection to a network node which has a better duty cycle budget.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless communication device for reducing handover delay, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to operate in a cellular communication system and to operate in a cell using unlicensed spectrum. The method includes receiving a downlink, DL, signal from network node operating a neighbouring cell operating in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the DL signal includes a discovery reference signal, DRS, subframe, storing data associated with the DRS subframe, receiving a handover command from a network node operating a serving cell where the neighbouring cell is a target cell, and performing a random access procedure for handover to the target cell. A device performing the method and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method is performed by a wireless device for operation with shared spectrum channel access, wherein a first plurality of fixed frame periods (FFPs) are associated with the wireless device and a second plurality of fixed frame periods (FFPs) are associated with a network node and wherein each FFP comprises an idle period with no transmission and a channel occupancy time (COT) for potential transmission. The method comprises initiating a COT in one of the FFPs of the first plurality of FFPs and upon successful initiation of the COT, transmitting uplink data from the beginning of the COT.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses involve a network node (22) of a wireless communication network (10) and a wireless device (12) attempting redirection with respect to the network (10). An overall bound limits how many times or for how long the wireless device (12) attempts redirection and provides a mechanism for the wireless device (12) to extend its redirection efforts to one or more redirection targets beyond those indicated by the network (10).

Abstract: A wireless device (11, 12) determines a set of carriers. The carriers each require a listen-before-talk, LBT, procedure before transmitting on the carrier. Further, the wireless device (11, 12) determines a reliability target for a wireless transmission from the wireless device (11, 12) to the wireless communication network, in particular to an access node (101-1, 101-2, 101-3, 101-4) of the wireless communication network. Depending on the reliability target, the wireless device (11, 12) controls aggregation of carriers from the set for redundantly 10 performing the wireless transmission on the aggregated carriers.

Abstract: A method by a network node in a wireless communication network includes buffering first data for downlink transmission to a first wireless device, and preemptively transmitting the first data on a channel that is subject to clear channel assessment procedures. The first data is transmitted in a reference downlink resource (RDR) domain in the channel in which second data for a second wireless device was previously scheduled for transmission by the network node. The method further includes transmitting a preemption indicator to the second wireless device, the preemption indicator identifying the RDR domain. Related network nodes, methods of operating a wireless device, and wireless devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for uplink cancellation are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for performing uplink cancellation includes receiving an indication to stop a transmission; and receiving an indication to transmit on cancelled uplink resources. In some embodiments, in response to receiving the indication to stop the transmission, performing one of: cancelling the transmission; and muting the transmission. In this way, the New Radio (NR) Uplink (UL) cancellation mechanism can be enabled on NR-Unlicensed (NR-U) resources and helps to cater Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided. In an example aspect, a method performed by a wireless device is provided. The method comprises receiving an indication that data scheduled to be transmitted from the wireless device to a network node on a first cell using unlicensed spectrum should be transmitted on a second cell different to the first cell, and transmitting the data on the second cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided. In an example aspect, a method of transmitting data performed by a wireless device is provided, wherein the wireless device is associated with multiple serving cells. The method comprises transmitting data to a network node on one or more of the serving cells based on a respective cell weighting for each of the serving cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided. In an example aspect, a method of transmitting data is provided. The method comprises determining if a first channel on a first cell is occupied and, if the first channel on the first cell is occupied for at least a predetermined period, transmitting the data on a second channel on a second cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided. In an example aspect, a method in a network node is provided, the method comprising monitoring unlicensed spectrum access attempts for transmissions to and/or from at least one User Equipment, UE, in a first group of UEs configured to use unlicensed spectrum to send uplink transmissions and/or receive downlink transmissions and, in response to the monitoring, causing the UEs in the first group to use licensed spectrum to send uplink transmissions and/or receive downlink transmissions.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device. The method may be understood to be for handling a random access procedure in a wireless communications network via a network node. The wireless device operates in the wireless communications network. The wireless device refrains, after having sent a first message to the network node requesting random access and having received a first random access response message from the network node, from stopping a timer. The timer is for a time window for receiving the random access response message. The wireless device also continues monitoring both: a) a radio channel for further random access response messages from the network node addressed to a temporary identifier, and b) the radio channel, addressed to a temporary identifier specifically addressing the wireless device.

Abstract: A method and a terminal for acquiring paging information during a set of one or more paging occasions, one paging occasion corresponding to a subframe. In an embodiment, the method determines a first subframe of the set of one or more paging occasions and determines a last subframe of the set of one or more paging occasions. The terminal is required to attempt to acquire the paging information in any subframe between the first subframe and the last subframe of the set of one or more paging occasions.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless communication device for reducing handover delay, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to operate in a cellular communication system and to operate in a cell using unlicensed spectrum. The method includes receiving a downlink, DL, signal from network node operating a neighbouring cell operating in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the DL signal includes a discovery reference signal, DRS, subframe, storing data associated with the DRS subframe, receiving a handover command from a network node operating a serving cell where the neighbouring cell is a target cell, and performing a random access procedure for handover to the target cell. A device performing the method and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless communication device for reducing handover delay, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to operate in a cellular communication system and to operate in a cell using unlicensed spectrum. The method includes receiving a downlink, DL, signal from network node operating a neighbouring cell operating in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the DL signal includes a discovery reference signal, DRS, subframe, storing data associated with the DRS subframe, receiving a handover command from a network node operating a serving cell where the neighbouring cell is a target cell, and performing a random access procedure for handover to the target cell. A device performing the method and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method, in a wireless device, for communicating with a network node using autonomous Uplink (UL) access. The method comprises: after sending a data transmission to a network node, starting a retransmission window associated with a feedback process of the data transmission, the retransmission window including a first timer; and in response to detecting an absence of a feedback signal during a time period given by the first timer, retransmitting the data after expiry of the first timer.

Abstract: New signaling is defined from wireless devices (10) to a wireless communication network, concerning the wireless devices' duty cycle statuses. This allows the network to optimize its control of the radio resource usage. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide new signalling from the network to wireless devices concerning the network's duty cycle status. This allows wireless devices (10) to optimize their idle mode operation, including decisions whether to request a connection setup or remain in idle mode. Embodiments described and claimed herein provide a set of simple methods for operating a cellular system in a duty cycle controlled radio frequency band.