Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a first network node configured to serve one or more cells in a radio access network (RAN). Such methods include detecting a neighbor cell for which the first network node does not store a configuration and obtaining, from a tracking node, an indication of one or more second network nodes that store the configuration for the neighbor cell. Such methods also include obtaining the configuration for the neighbor cell from one of the indicated second network nodes. Other embodiments include complementary methods for the tracking node, as well as network nodes configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method performed by a UE trace initiation node for a wireless communication network comprises transmitting, via a direct interface to a radio access network node or function, a trace request message comprising a request to initiate a trace on one or more user equipments. A method performed by a radio access network node or function for a wireless communication network comprises receiving, via a direct interface with a UE trace initiation node, a trace request message comprising a request to initiate a trace on one or more user equipments.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a non-real time radio access network intelligent controller (NonRT-RIC) network node comprises obtaining data for improving radio resource management (RRM) of a radio access network (RAN) and building an A1 interface message comprising one or more enrichment information (EI) elements based on the obtained data. Each of the one or more EI elements comprises an identifier of one or more wireless devices, a type indicator indicating a type of enrichment data included in the EI element, and the enrichment data. The method further comprises transmitting the AI interface message to a near real time radio access network intelligent controller (NearRT-RIC).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a non-real time radio access network intelligent controller (NonRT-RIC) network node comprises obtaining data for improving radio resource management (RRM) of a radio access network (RAN) and building an AI interface message comprising one or more enrichment information (EI) elements based on the obtained data. Each of the one or more EI elements comprises an identifier of one or more wireless devices, a type indicator indicating a type of enrichment data included in the EI element, and the enrichment data. The method further comprises transmitting the AI interface message to a near real time radio access network intelligent controller (NearRT-RIC).

Abstract: A Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) node can operate in a communication network to dynamically schedule user-plane (UP) communications. The CU-CP can be communicatively coupled to a Distributed Unit (DU) and a Central Unit-User-Plane (CU-UP) of the RAN node. The CU-CP can provide indication of one or more available UP paths to at least one network element. The at least one network element can include one or more of: a user equipment, UE; the CU-UP of the RAN node; and/or the DU of the RAN node. The CU-CP can provide indication of a scheduling strategy for data transmissions to the at least one network element.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a network management system for managing one or more radio access networks (RANs) comprises receiving an indication from a RAN that a RAN identifier has been assigned for a wireless device, associating a management system identifier for the wireless device with the RAN identifier for the wireless device; and storing the association in a wireless device registry.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a non-real time radio access network intelligent controller (NonRT-RIC) network node comprises obtaining data for improving radio resource management (RRM) of a radio access network (RAN) and building an A1 interface message comprising one or more enrichment information (EI) elements based on the obtained data. Each of the one or more EI elements comprises an identifier of one or more wireless devices, a type indicator indicating a type of enrichment data included in the EI element, and the enrichment data. The method further comprises transmitting the AI interface message to a near real time radio access network intelligent controller (NearRT-RIC).

Abstract: A method performed by a core network node for deciding how to shape a specific data flow out of a number of data flows between a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and multiple User Equipments, UEs, in a wireless communications network is provided. The core network node obtains (502) a second information. The second information is about which specific data flow out of the number of data flows. The specific data flow will benefit other data flows out of the number of data flows, when shaping the specific data flow such that the bit rate of the specific data flow exceeds a threshold. The second information is based on a first information. The first information comprises for each data flow out of the number of data flows, information about the number of bits per radio resource of the data flow based on radio conditions of the UE involved in the data flow. The core network node then decides (503) how to shape the specific data flow, based on the second information.

Abstract: A Central Unit-Control Plane (“CU-CP”) of a radio access network (“RAN”) node can operate in a communication network to dynamically schedule user-plane (“UP”) communications. The CU-CP can be communicatively coupled to a Distributed Unit (“DU”) and a Central Unit-User Plane (“CU-UP”) of the RAN node. The CU-CP can provide indication of one or more available UP paths to at least one network element. The at least one network element can include one or more of: a user equipment, UE; the CU-UP of the RAN node; and/or the DU of the RAN node. The CU-CP can provide indication of a scheduling strategy for data transmissions to the at least one network element.

Abstract: A method performed by a UE trace initiation node for a wireless communication network comprises transmitting, via a direct interface to a radio access network node or function, a trace request message comprising a request to initiate a trace on one or more user equipments. A method performed by a radio access network node or function for a wireless communication network comprises receiving, via a direct interface with a UE trace initiation node, a trace request message comprising a request to initiate a trace on one or more user equipments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a Radio Access Network (RAN) comprised in a communication network, for locating a communication bottleneck in said communication network. The method comprises estimating a first Round Trip Time (RTT) between the RAN and a terminal device connected via the RAN. The method also comprises estimating a second RTT between the RAN and a server of a service provider configured for providing a service to the terminal device via the RAN. The method also comprises estimating an end-to-end RTT between the terminal device and server, based on the first and second RTT. The method also comprises determining a relative contribution of the second RTT to the end-to-end RTT. The method also comprises determining that the relative contribution of the second RTT indicates that signalling performance between the server and terminal device is limited by the signalling performance between the server and RAN.

Abstract: A method performed in a communication network, in which the method comprises obtaining a prediction of future available bandwidth of a radio carrier for a service application in a radio device connected to the network. The method also comprises receiving information about a status of an application buffer of the service application. The method also comprises, based on the obtained prediction and on the received buffer information, preparing a recommendation to the service application for when to fill up an application buffer of the service application. The method also comprises initiating sending of a recommendation message comprising the prepared recommendation to the radio device.

Abstract: Methods for managing a media stream from a media server are disclosed. The communication device transmits, to the media server, a request for the first set of media rates and the at least one segment time period. The communication device receives a response indicating the first set of media rates and the at least one segment time period. Moreover, the communication device transmits, to the base station, a request for a second set of media rates, wherein the request comprises information about the first set, a parameter relating to length of the at least one segment time period, and an indication relating to a time period during which the second set of media rates is below a media stream rate for reception at the communication device. Furthermore, the communication device receives a response indicating the second set, and selects a media rate out of the second set.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a Radio Access Network (RAN) comprised in a communication network, for locating a communication bottleneck in said communication network. The method comprises estimating a first Round Trip Time (RTT) between the RAN and a terminal device connected via the RAN. The method also comprises estimating a second RTT between the RAN and a server of a service provider configured for providing a service to the terminal device via the RAN. The method also comprises estimating an end-to-end RTT between the terminal device and server, based on the first and second RTT. The method also comprises determining a relative contribution of the second RTT to the end-to-end RTT. The method also comprises determining that the relative contribution of the second RTT indicates that signalling performance between the server and terminal device is limited by the signalling performance between the server and RAN.

Abstract: A method of managing network resources across a broadband access network. A slice of the total available network resources is allocated to an application service provider, where the service provider utilises said slice to provide one or more services to a multiplicity of client devices. Traffic is monitored in a transport layer of the broadband access network to determine one or more parameters indicative of traffic flow. Said parameter(s) are passed to the application layer at an application layer end point of the application service. The parameter(s) are used at the application layer to manage traffic specific to the services and achieve efficient use of said slice.

Abstract: A method performed in a communication network, in which the method comprises obtaining a prediction of future available bandwidth of a radio carrier for a service application in a radio device connected to the network. The method also comprises receiving information about a status of an application buffer of the service application. The method also comprises, based on the obtained prediction and on the received buffer information, preparing a recommendation to the service application for when to fill up an application buffer of the service application. The method also comprises initiating sending of a recommendation message comprising the prepared recommendation to the radio device.

Abstract: Methods for managing a media stream from a media server are disclosed. The communication device transmits, to the media server, a request for the first set of media rates and the at least one segment time period. The communication device receives a response indicating the first set of media rates and the at least one segment time period. Moreover, the communication device transmits, to the base station, a request for a second set of media rates, wherein the request comprises information about the first set, a parameter relating to length of the at least one segment time period, and an indication relating to a time period during which the second set of media rates is below a media stream rate for reception at the communication device. Furthermore, the communication device receives a response indicating the second set, and selects a media rate out of the second set.

Abstract: A method of throttling a media stream, comprising a sequence of media segments, for transmission to a client via a radio access network is provided. The method comprises acquiring a media segment, determining a duration of the media segment, transmitting a first part (501?-504?) of the media segment to the client, and transmitting a remaining part (501?-504?) of the media segment to the client. At least one of the parts (501?-504?, 501?-504?) is transmitted during a time interval (?t1, ?t2) which is shorter than a corresponding duration of that part, and transmitting the remaining part is delayed (?t0), such that a time interval (?ttx) between starting transmitting the first part and transmission of the remaining part being completed is shorter than the duration (?tp) of the media segment. Further, a corresponding network node for throttling a media stream is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a mobile terminal in a radio access network to transition between a plurality of communication states. This object is attained in a first aspect of the present invention by a method comprising the step of acquiring (S101) an indication regarding a pattern of burst data to be transmitted to the mobile terminal. Further, the method comprises the step of controlling (S102) the mobile terminal to transition to a less resource consuming communication state of the plurality of communication states upon occurrence of a period of transmission inactivity in the burst data.

Abstract: A method is carried out by a network node of a telecommunication network for deciding whether to change the state of a communication channel to a communication terminal. A characteristic of the traffic associated with the terminal is determined based on data collected in the network over a first time interval of length L. Then, based on the traffic characteristic, the traffic activity expected to be associated with the terminal during at least a second time interval of length L is predicted. The second time interval follows the first time interval. The network node then decides, based on the predicted traffic activity for the second time interval, whether to change the state of the communication channel. The invention also relates to a network node or set of network nodes for carrying such a method. The invention further relates to computer programs and computer program products.