Abstract: Systems and methods provide coordination between a 3GPP node and user equipment (UE) for coverage enhancement modes (CEM). At predetermined reference times, the node enters CEM and broadcasts dynamic CEM scheduling information. A UE with CEM capability may attempt to connect to the node at the predetermined reference times and other times indicated in the dynamic CEM scheduling information.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices and methods that provide adaptive CRE-based offset parameters that take into account the speed of a UE and that take into account the DL/UL traffic balance being experienced by the UE. For example, if the speed of a UE is greater than the predefined speed, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Similarly, if the balance of downlink/uplink traffic being experienced by a UE is mainly downlink traffic, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Consequently, the embodiments disclosed herein reduce the handover failure associated with CRE particularly for high speed UEs while also being able to increase downlink system capacity if the balance of the downlink and uplink traffic experienced by the UE is mostly downlink traffic.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for communicating in a wireless network include receiving full and differential System Information Blocks (SIBs) and updating a parameter that has changed based on the differential SIB. Further apparatuses include control circuitry to generate a first SIB and second SIB, the second SIB indicating information that has changed. Further, a method includes generating a full SIB and generating a differential SIB based on updated parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating in a wireless network include mechanisms to facilitate concurrent use of periodic scheduling requests and a random access procedure for a UE to request uplink resources from an eNB.

Abstract: In typical UEs, scanning for WiFi access points (APs) can consume a significant amount of power. This scanning occurs when the UE is connected through the cellular network, but does not occur when the UE is connected to a WiFi network. As a result, offloading a UE from a cellular network to a WiFi network can allow the UE to conserve power. An issue with existing cellular networks is that the UE cannot inform a cellular network that the UE is running low on power, and therefore cannot direct the cellular network to offload the UE for power conservation reasons. A technique discussed herein allows the UE to indicate its power saving needs to the cellular network. In response, the cellular network can lower (or raise) a particular threshold, so that the UE now exceeds (or no longer exceeds) the threshold, and initiates offloading.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for partitioning radio frequency spectrum for multiple categories of communication. Various embodiments may include partitioning of an available frequency band into a first partition for a first category of communication and a second partition for a second category of communication. In embodiments, the first category of communication may be designed for devices having a relatively lower cost of implementation than the second category of communication. In some embodiments, the first partition may be aggregated opportunistically with the second partition based on certain conditions such as, for example, under utilization of the first partition. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of wireless communication devices and method for discontinuous reception (DRX) mode in wireless communication are generally described herein. Some of these embodiments describe a wireless communication device having processing circuitry arranged to determine to use an extended paging discontinuous reception (DRX) value to increase a paging cycle length above a value and select a first periodicity, based on the extended paging DRX value, at which the UE is to perform evaluation of a parameter of a network in which the UE is opera. The wireless communication device may have physical layer circuitry arranged to transmit a message to the network, indicating that the UE desires to perform evaluation of the parameter at the first periodicity. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents embodiments of a system and method for improved uplink transmission management in a network that includes one or more machine-type communication (MTC) devices. For example, in an aspect, the present disclosure presents a method of cluster head selection for a MTC device cluster, the method comprising transmitting a polling message from an eNodeB to one or more MTC devices of the MTC cluster, receiving one or more polling responses at the eNodeB from the one or more MTC devices, and determining the set of cluster heads based on the one or more polling responses; and transmitting cluster head information associated with each cluster head of the set of cluster heads to the one or more MTC devices.

Abstract: Technology described herein provides systems and technologies that help avoid waste of wireless network resources due to frequent losses of wireless connectivity with energy-harvesting devices (EHDs). An energy-harvesting-indicator communication can be sent from a wireless device to a cellular base station to inform the cellular base station that the wireless device is an EHD. The cellular base station can preserve context information and/or DL data pertaining to a wireless connection with the EHD when a wireless connection is lost due to a temporarily low level of available energy at the EHD. The context information and/or DL data can be preserved by the cellular base station until the period of time elapsed exceeds a threshold time value. Upon receiving a connection-resumption communication from the EHD, the cellular base station can use preserved context information to restore the wireless connection and proceed to send preserved DL data to the EHD.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for operation of an evolved node B to provide multiple coverage enhancement levels. Various embodiments may include an operational mode configured to provide a first coverage enhancement level associated with user equipments (UEs) that have established communication with the eNB. These embodiments may also include a discovery mode configured to operate at a second coverage enhancement level to discover UEs configured for a higher coverage enhancement level. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of an enhanced Node B (eNB) and method to provide system information (SI) updates to user equipment (UE) in sleep or idle mode with an extending paging cycle are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a paging message configured to include an optional field to indicate whether there has been a system information (SI) update since a last paging occasion for a UE in sleep or idle mode with an extending paging cycle. System information updates are transmitted by the eNB during a system information modification period that is shorter than a period the extending paging cycle. The optional field may indicate whether or not the UE is to acquire the latest SI update during the current paging occasion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for initiating discontinuous reception (DRX) operation in a user equipment (UE) are disclosed herein. Applications running on the UE are monitored by the UE to identify one or more inactivity trigger events associated with the application(s). The UE includes an application-radio cross layer to process the application information, including the inactivity trigger event, for use by a radio layer. The radio layer of the UE determines initiation of the DRX operation in accordance with the application information, including the inactivity trigger event, provided by the application-radio cross layer and device characteristics information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for low power consumption in wireless communication systems are disclosed herein. An evolved node B (eNodeB) is configured to provide a connection reconfiguration message to user equipment (UE) connected to the eNodeB, the connection reconfiguration message configuring the UE to indicate a power preference. The eNodeB receives assistance information from the UE. The assistance information includes a low power preference indication and a timer length, wherein the timer length indicates a preferred duration for a low power mode. The eNodeB provides, in response to receiving the assistance information, a connection release message to the UE. The connection release message includes paging discontinuous reception (DRX) information that includes the timer length.

Abstract: Technology for communicating user equipment (UE) power consumption configurations is disclosed. One method can include selecting, at the UE, a Power Preference Indication (PPI) state of a power consumption configuration of the UE. The UE can receive, from a source evolved node B (eNB), instructions to begin a PPI Prohibit Event Interval during a handover from the source eNB to a target eNB, wherein the UE cannot send the PPI state to the source eNB during the PPI Prohibit Event Interval. The UE can send the PPI state to the target eNB after the PPI Prohibit Event Interval ends and handover has either successfully completed or failed from the source eNB to the target eNB.

Abstract: Technology for a target evolved node B (eNB) operable to facilitate handover is disclosed. The target eNB can receive a handover request message to hand over a user equipment (UE) from the source eNB to the target eNB. The handover request message can include an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer group identifier (ID) indicating an EPS group bearer of the source eNB and associated with the UE, a last UE indicator to indicate whether the UE is a last UE of the source eNB to use the EPS group bearer, and a downlink (DL) traffic indicator to indicate whether the DL traffic for the UE during handover is negligible. The target eNB can perform a handover procedure to establish a connection with the UE based on at least one of the EPS bearer group ID, the last UE indicator, or the DL traffic indicator included in the handover request message.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a fixed device synchronizes with a downlink channel of a network, acquires a master information block including a last system update time; and executes cell selection without acquiring other system information if the last system update time is before the last system access time. Furthermore, the fixed device may listen only for system information block messages that it needs, and ignore other system information blocks. A bitmap may indicate which system information block messages should be listed to for fixed devices, and which may be ignored. In some embodiments, one or more system information blocks may be designated for fixed devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for low power consumption in wireless communication systems are disclosed herein. An evolved node B (eNodeB) is configured to provide a connection reconfiguration message to user equipment (UE) connected to the eNodeB, the connection reconfiguration message configuring the UE to indicate a power preference. The eNodeB receives assistance information from the UE. The assistance information includes a low power preference indication and a timer length, wherein the timer length indicates a preferred duration for a low power mode. The eNodeB provides, in response to receiving the assistance information, a connection release message to the UE. The connection release message includes paging discontinuous reception (DRX) information that includes the timer length.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for operation of an evolved node B to provide multiple coverage enhancement levels. Various embodiments may include an operational mode configured to provide a first coverage enhancement level associated with user equipments (UEs) that have established communication with the eNB. These embodiments may also include a discovery mode configured to operate at a second coverage enhancement level to discover UEs configured for a higher coverage enhancement level. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In embodiments, a user equipment (UE) may transmit, to an evolved Node B (eNB), a background indicator that the UE is in a background mode running one or more background applications and no active applications. The eNB may receive background indicators from a plurality of UEs, and may bundle the background-mode UEs into one scheduling request (SR) allocation block. The individual UEs may be assigned different resource elements within the block on which to transmit an SR indicator (e.g., if the UE has data to send to the eNB). The eNB may lengthen the period between SR allocations for the background-mode UEs compared with active-mode UEs. In some embodiments, the UE may exclusively use the assigned SR allocation instead of a random access channel to notify the eNB that the UE has data to send.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one of more embodiments, a fixed device synchronizes with a downlink channel of a network, acquires a master information block including a last system update time; and executes cell selection without acquiring other system information if the last system update time is before the last system access time. Furthermore, the fixed device may listen only for system information block messages that it needs, and ignore other system information blocks. A bitmap may indicate which system information block messages should be listed to for fixed devices, and which may be ignored. In some embodiments, one or more system information blocks may be designated for fixed devices.