Abstract: Two or more formats for Power Headroom (PH) and maximum transmit power (Pcmax), and corresponding mapping tables, are defined. For example, both 6-bit and 7-bit PH and Pcmax formats are defined. In many cases, particularly when operating in the higher frequency FR2 range, a 7-bit PH or Pcmax may be required to adequately convey power headroom information. Numerous trigger criteria are defined which may indicate that one or the other format is preferred. The format selection must be communicated to the network, and subsequent Power Headroom Reports (PHR) will utilize the selected format.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving Random Access Response (RAR) transmission bandwidth efficiency are disclosed herein. In this regard, a method includes receiving a random access request message from a terminal device, and transmitting to the terminal device an RAR message in response to the random access request message. The RAR message has a format dependent on a type of the random access request message.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method in a first wireless device of relaying data from a second wireless device to a wireless communication network comprises: obtaining data transmission information associated with data to be relayed from the second wireless device to the wireless communication network; requesting resources from the wireless communication network according to the data transmission information before receiving the data to be relayed; receiving an indication of resources from the wireless communication network; receiving the data from the second wireless device; and transmitting the data to the wireless communication network using the indicated resources. In particular embodiments, the data transmission information includes at least one of an amount of data to be relayed from the second wireless device to the wireless communication network and an estimated time for receiving the data from the second wireless device at the first wireless device.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method (500) by a wireless device (110) includes receiving information relating to a Narrowband Secondary Synchronization Signal (NSSS) transmit diversity scheme. The information indicates a number of NSSS occasions that use different NSSS transmit diversity configurations. Based on the NSSS transmit diversity scheme, at least one measurement is performed across NSSS occasions.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents example techniques for merging multiple concurrent RA procedures. For instance, the present disclosure describes an example method performed by a user equipment, UE (102), for performing random access to connect to a wireless access network. In an aspect the method includes determining that a second RA procedure (122) is triggered during a first RA procedure (120) that is ongoing. In a further aspect, the example includes combining the second RA procedure (122) and the first RA procedure (120). Corresponding UE, computer program, and processor/memory embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A terminal device for a wireless communication network is configurable with a plurality of transmission time intervals. An example method comprises: receiving a grant message comprising an indication of radio resources in which the terminal device can transmit one or more wireless messages, the radio resources being configured according to a first transmission time interval of the plurality of transmission time intervals; determining the presence of data to transmit, the data being associated with a logical channel; determining a maximum transmission time interval associated with the logical channel; and, responsive to a determination that the maximum transmission time interval associated with the logical channel is less than the first transmission time interval, transmitting a scheduling request message. The scheduling request message is configured according to a second transmission time interval of the plurality of transmission time intervals, shorter than the first.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving Random Access Response (RAR) transmission bandwidth efficiency are disclosed herein. In this regard, a method includes receiving a random access request message from a terminal device, and transmitting to the terminal device an RAR message in response to the random access request message. The RAR message has a format dependent on a type of the random access request message.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method in a network node of a wireless network for aligning discovery reference signal (DRS) occurrences comprises determining a first DRS occurrence configuration that comprises a schedule for transmission of a first series of DRS occurrences. The method further comprises determining a first discovery measurement timing configuration (DMTC) that comprises a schedule for receiving DRS occurrences that is aligned with a first subset of DRS occurrences of the first series of DRS occurrences. The method further comprises determining a second DMTC that comprises a schedule for receiving DRS occurrences that is aligned with a second subset of DRS occurrences of the first series of DRS occurrences, wherein the second subset of DRS occurrences is different than the first subset of DRS occurrences. The method further comprises communicating first DMTC to a first wireless device and the second DMTC in a second wireless device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and apparatus relating to random access in a wireless communications network. In one aspect, a method in a user equipment comprises: detecting an event triggering a random access procedure; determining an adjustment for a random access parameter as a function of one or more of: a type of the event triggering the random access procedure; and a characteristic of data to be transmitted or received by the UE upon completion of the random access procedure; applying the adjustment to a configured value for the random access parameter to obtain an adjusted value for the random access parameter; and performing the random access procedure with a base station operable in the wireless communications network, using the adjusted value for the random access parameter.

Abstract: A method in a UE comprises: receiving a message from a network node comprising information about one or more sets of dedicated random access channel (RACH) resources, each set of dedicated RACH resources associated with a beam associated with a target cell; obtaining an estimate of beam quality for each beam associated with the sets of dedicated RACH resources; determining, based on the obtained estimate of beam quality, whether any beam associated with the one or more sets of dedicated RACH resources meets one or more criteria of a first set of criteria for performing random access; and performing random access based on whether any beam associated with the one or more sets of dedicated RACH resources meets the one or more criteria of the first set of criteria for performing random access.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to configuration of measurements gaps to be applied by a wireless device for a non-serving carrier on which the wireless device intended or is expected to perform Device-to-Device (D2D) operations. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node comprises determining whether a wireless device that is configured with a serving cell that operates on a first frequency is synchronized to a non-serving cell that operates on a second frequency, which is a non-serving frequency. The method further comprises determining whether to configure the wireless device to apply a first or second measurement gap configuration based upon whether the wireless device is synchronized to the non-serving cell and transmitting information to the wireless device that configures the wireless device to apply the determined measurement gap configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method in a terminal device for a wireless communication network. The terminal device is configurable with a plurality of transmission time intervals. The method comprises; receiving a first grant message from the wireless communication network, the first grant message comprising an indication of first radio resources in which the terminal device can transmit one or more wireless messages, the first radio resources being configured according to a first transmission time interval of the plurality of transmission time intervals; determining the presence of data to transmit, the data being associated with a first logical channel; determining a maximum transmission time interval associated with the first logical channel; and, responsive to a determination that the maximum transmission time interval associated with the logical channel is less than the first transmission time interval, transmitting a scheduling request message to the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A receiving node in a wireless communication network is operable to determining a process identifier for a repeated transmission by allocating, to a transmitting node, a plurality of resources for use with repeated transmissions, receiving a transmission from the transmitting node where the transmission uses at least one resource from the plurality of resources assigned to the transmitting node for use with repeated transmissions, and determining the process identifier for the transmission based on the at least one resource from the plurality of resources for use with repeated transmissions used by the transmission. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Two or more formats for Power Headroom (PH) and maximum transmit power (Pcmax), and corresponding mapping tables, are defined. For example, both 6-bit and 7-bit PH and Pcmax formats are defined. In many cases, particularly when operating in the higher frequency FR2 range, a 7-bit PH or Pcmax may be required to adequately convey power headroom information. Numerous trigger criteria are defined which may indicate that one or the other format is preferred. The format selection must be communicated to the network, and subsequent Power Headroom Reports (PHR) will utilize the selected format.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device is disclosed. The method comprises sending a scheduling request to a network node, and receiving, from the network node in response to the scheduling request, a grant of uplink resources. The method further comprises determining whether the granted uplink resources are at least equal to or larger than the resources required for transmission of both a buffer status report (BSR) and a sidelink BSR, and upon determining that the granted uplink resources are at least equal to or larger than the resources required for transmission of both the BSR and the sidelink BSR, communicating the BSR, and the sidelink BSR to the network node in a single medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the implementation or Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) in advanced wireless communication networks are presented. For instance, in an example method (200) of the present disclosure, a network node (106) (e.g. base station, eNB, etc.) can determine to alter LCP order (10) utilized by a user equipment (UE) (102) to an altered LCP order (12) and can indicate the altered LCP (12) order to the UE (102). Furthermore, in an example method (210) performed by UE (102) in a wireless communication system (100), UE (102) can receive a message (116) indicating an altered LCP order (12) from a network node (106), and in response, can alter an LCP order (10) utilized by the UE (102) to the altered LCP order (12) indicated by the message (116). Further embodiments include corresponding apparatus, computer programs, and computer program products.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device (130) is described herein. The wireless device (130) operates in a wireless communications network (100). The wireless device (130) provides (602) a message to be sent to a network node (110) operating in the wireless communications network (100). The message is a first scheduled message to be sent to the network node (110) in a random access procedure. The message comprises a first indicator (707) of a type of the message. The type of message has: a) a fixed size SDU (702), and b) a one byte header (704) comprising the first indicator (707) and lacking a second indicator (713) of a length of a payload. The wireless device (130) also initiates sending (603) the provided message to the network node (110). Also described is a method performed by the network node (110) receiving (1307) and initiating processing (1302) the message, based on the first indicator (707).

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device (120) for transmitting a Random Access, RA, message to a radio network node (110). The wireless device and the radio network node operate in a wireless communications network (100). The wireless device determines a preamble from a group of preambles associated with an RA message size larger than the threshold value. This is done when the wireless device has a message to transmit that is larger than a threshold value. The wireless device transmits the determined preamble to the radio network node. Further, the wireless device receives, from the radio network node, an indication indicating that repetitions of transmission of an RA message are to be applied. Furthermore, the wireless device transmits, to the radio network node, the message in the RA message in accordance with the indication.

Abstract: A user equipment starts a first timer in response to detecting a physical layer problem with a radio link between the user equipment and a node of a cellular network. Responsive to detecting a handover measurement event, the user equipment also starts a second timer and sends a measurement report to the node. The starting of the first and second timers causes the first and second timers to simultaneously elapse. Responsive to one of the simultaneously elapsing timers expiring, the user equipment sends a radio link failure report, to the node, indicating which of the simultaneously elapsing timers expired.

Abstract: A method for establishing a radio resource control connection between a first wireless device and a radio network node, comprises transmitting a request for a radio resource control connection towards the radio network node from the first wireless device to a second wireless device. Then, the second wireless device forwards the request for a radio resource control connection towards the radio network node to the radio network node. The forwarding by the second wireless device uses an already established radio resource control signaling connection between the second wireless device and the radio network node.