Abstract: A method is performed by a radio equipment (RE) of an access node. The RE has an interface to a radio equipment controller (REC) of the access node. The method comprises configuring the resources for at least one of uplink reception and downlink transmission selectively using beamforming weights determined either based on internal information obtained locally in the RE, or based on external information received from the REC over the interface.

Abstract: A network node is connected to a plurality of antenna nodes that are located along a constrained path where a plurality of wireless communication devices are located. The antenna nodes are controlled to maintain reception radio lobes substantially along the path such that the wireless communication devices can perform uplink radio communication with the network node via the reception radio lobes. At least one RF signal is detected in a PRACH, with a first PRACH configuration. A determination is made of a radio frequency offset of the detected RF signal. A determination is then made that the at least one RF signal originates from a wireless communication device of a specific subset among the plurality of wireless communication devices. Each wireless communication devices in the specific subset is associated with the radio frequency offset.

Abstract: A radio access node selects an initialization value for a scrambling sequence to be applied to a message based on whether the message is intended for a non-standard device. The initialization value is selected from among at least a first value corresponding to a standard device type and a second value corresponding to a non-standard device type. The radio access node generates the scrambling sequence using the initialization value, scrambles the message using the scrambling sequence, and transmits the message.

Abstract: A communication method performed by a base station in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The base station notifies a terminal of a cyclic shift increment NCS configuration information indicating an NCS value. The base station then receives from the terminal a random access preamble related to the NCS value indicated by the NCS configuration information. The NCS value belongs to a set of cyclic shift increments including all of the following cyclic shift increments of 0, 13, 15, 18, 22, 26, 32, 38, 46, 59, 76, 93, 119, 167, 279, 419.

Abstract: There is presented mechanisms for obtaining information for determining beamforming weights for terminal devices. A method is performed by an RE of an access node. The RE has an interface to an REC of the access node. The method comprises obtaining beamforming information per direction from the REC over the interface. The method comprises transforming the beamforming information per direction to beamforming information per antenna, the beamforming information per antenna representing the beamforming weights. The method comprises applying the beamforming weights.

Abstract: A method of facilitating a user equipment (UE) communicating with a base station (BS) via a cell of a mobile communications system is disclosed. The UE selects a random access preamble (RAP) from a set of RAPs and transmits the RAP to the BS. The BS receives the RAP and estimates a time of arrival of the RAP. A pre-defined set is used in generating the set of RAPs via at least one Zadoff-Chu sequence. The pre-defined set includes all of the following values: 0, 13, 15, 18, 22, 26, 32, 38, 46, 59, 76, 93, 119, 167, 279, 419.

Abstract: A random access process may be performed with an extended set of random access preambles comprising a standard set and at least one additional set. The use of a preamble from the standard set or the additional set may be used to indicate whether a wireless communication device belongs to a standard class or a non-standard class, allowing a radio access node to provide special treatment to the non-standard class in a random access response.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for an increase in hearability by a user equipment (UE, 116). This increase in hearability can be used to improve positioning results. Two different types of positioning subframes can be transmitted by cells in a radio access network (RAN) to improve hearability: measurement subframes and low-interference subframes. The selection of which type of positioning subframe to transmit can be determined algorithmically by the transmitting entity.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer programs for determining new transmit directions to use for beamformed transmissions in case the link quality of an existing direction falters. A transmitting communication device and a receiving communication device cooperate via a beam tracking procedure to determine a new suitable transmit direction to use for upcoming beamformed transmissions. Information relating to the beam tracking procedure is communicated over an existing link that enables communication between the transmitting and receiving communication devices. The receiving communication device provides the transmitting communication device with information about a beam scan performed in order to detect tracking beams transmitted by the transmitting communication device. This information allows the transmitting communication device to determine suitable transmit directions to use.

Abstract: A method can be used for facilitating a random access procedure between a first transceiver and a second transceiver within a cell. The first transceiver selects a signature sequence from a set of signature sequences, incorporates the signature sequence into a signal, and transmits the signal to the second transceiver. The set of signature sequences being obtained from a sequence with zero correlation zone.

Abstract: A method is performed by a radio equipment (RE) of an access node. The RE has an interface to a radio equipment controller (REC) of the access node. The method comprises configuring the resources for at least one of uplink reception and downlink transmission selectively using beamforming weights determined either based on internal information obtained locally in the RE, or based on external information received from the REC over the interface.

Abstract: A method can be used for facilitating a random access procedure between a first transceiver and a second transceiver within a cell. The first transceiver selects a signature sequence from a set of signature sequences, incorporates the signature sequence into a signal, and transmits the signal to the second transceiver. The set of signature sequences being obtained from a Zadoff-Chu sequence with zero correlation zone.

Abstract: A radio access node selects an initialization value for a scrambling sequence to be applied to a message based on whether the message is intended for a non-standard device. The initialization value is selected from among at least a first value corresponding to a standard device type and a second value corresponding to a non-standard device type. The radio access node generates the scrambling sequence using the initialization value, scrambles the message using the scrambling sequence, and transmits the message.

Abstract: A wireless communication device determines its class, and identifies a logical channel identifier (LCID) value that is associated with the determined class within a radio access node. The device then generates a radio resource control (RRC) message including the identified LCID value, and transmits the generated RRC message to the radio access node. Upon receiving the LCID value, the radio access node determines whether the received LCID value is associated with a non-standard class of wireless communication device, and in response to determining that the received LCID value is associated with the non-standard class of wireless communication device, identifying the wireless communication device as belonging to the non-standard class of wireless communication device, and transmitting information to the wireless communication device based on the non-standard class identification.

Abstract: It is presented a method for determining how to combine received signals from a plurality of antennas in an antenna set. The method is performed in a network node and comprises the steps of: determining for each evaluation sector whether it is better to perform intra-sector IRC on received signals for all antennas of the evaluation sector than refraining from performing IRC; for each evaluation sector, when it is better to perform intra-sector IRC, forming a single antenna part; for each evaluation sector, when it is better to refrain from performing IRC on any of the received signals for the antennas, forming a separate antenna part for each antenna; determining for a sector group whether it is better to perform inter-sector IRC on all its antennas or to keep the previously formed antenna parts; forming a single combined antenna part for the sector group when it is better to perform IRC on the at least two evaluation sectors of the sector group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for allocating communication resources in a multi-user cellular communication system, wherein communication resources are divided in time periods and frequency sub-bands, wherein part of the communication resources are used for frequency-localized communication channels, and part of the communication resources are used for frequency distributed channels. The method further comprises the steps of: classifying part of the frequency sub-bands as frequency sub-bands carrying frequency-distributed channels, classifying the remaining part of the frequency sub-bands as frequency sub-bands carrying frequency-localized channels. The present invention also relates to a system, a transmitter and a communication system.

Abstract: A network node is connected to a plurality of antenna nodes that are located along a constrained path where a plurality of wireless communication devices are located. The antenna nodes are controlled to maintain reception radio lobes substantially along the path such that the wireless communication devices can perform uplink radio communication with the network node via the reception radio lobes. At least one RF signal is detected in a PRACH, with a first PRACH configuration. A determination is made of a radio frequency offset of the detected RF signal. A determination is then made that the at least one RF signal originates from a wireless communication device of a specific subset among the plurality of wireless communication devices. Each wireless communication devices in the specific subset is associated with the radio frequency offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for frequency offset estimation exploits the differences in reference symbol timing for different channels to resolve ambiguities in the frequency offset estimation. Based on the initial frequency offset estimates, a hypothesis table is constructed providing hypothesized frequency offsets for each channel for a plurality of possible offset regions. An error metric for each offset region is calculated based on the difference of the hypothesized frequency offsets. The set of hypothesized frequency offsets that minimize the error metric is selected as the final frequency offset estimates.

Abstract: Methods and network devices estimate power of signals received from a user equipment in a sector of a cellular network cell using a data signal, which is not a predetermined reference signal. An exemplary method includes (1) saving a data signal received from the user equipment in a first sector of the cellular network cell, (2) acquiring a reference signal that corresponds to the data signal as received in a second sector of the cell and demodulated, and (3) comparing the saved data signal and the reference signal to estimate power of the data signal as received in the first sector.

Abstract: It is presented a method for determining how to combine received signals from a plurality of antennas in an antenna set. The method is performed in a network node and comprises the steps of: determining for each evaluation sector whether it is better to perform intra-sector IRC on received signals for all antennas of the evaluation sector than refraining from performing IRC; for each evaluation sector, when it is better to perform intra-sector IRC, forming a single antenna part; for each evaluation sector, when it is better to refrain from performing IRC on any of the received signals for the antennas, forming a separate antenna part for each antenna; determining for a sector group whether it is better to perform inter-sector IRC on all its antennas or to keep the previously formed antenna parts; forming a single combined antenna part for the sector group when it is better to perform IRC on the at least two evaluation sectors of the sector group.