Abstract: A method for operating a packet convergence protocol, PDCP, transmitter, the method comprising: configuring a timer associated with a packet data unit, PDU, which is transmitted to a PDCP receiver based on an importance level of a PDU Set to which the PDU belongs; starting the timer and discarding all PDUs which belong to the PDU Set if a predetermined condition is satisfied when the timer expires; and discarding the PDU alone if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the timer expires.

Abstract: A method for controlling a packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, communication network, the communication network comprising user equipment (UE) and a base station, wherein the base station is configured to receive from, and/or send to, the UE at least one PDU Set The method at the base station comprises: receiving a transmission parameter associated with the at least one PDU Set; determining, based on the transmission parameter, at least one timing parameter according to which one or more performance indicators of the at least one PDU Set, and/or at least one PDU of the at least one PDU Set, are exchanged between the UE and the base station; and sending, to the UE, a performance indicator of the PDU Set based on the determined timing parameter.

Abstract: A method performed by a gNB component of a wireless access backhaul, WAB, node, and an apparatus for a gNB component of a wireless access backhaul, WAB, node, are disclosed. The method comprises initiating a resource coordination with the BH-RAN-node, wherein initiating the resource coordination comprises transmitting a request for resource coordination between the gNB component of the WAB node and the BH-RAN-node, wherein the request for resource coordination comprises an indication of a co-location of the MT component and the gNB component in the WAB node.

Abstract: Methods for controlling a PDCP transmitter and a PDCP receiver to result in a reduction in the delay for PDCP PDU delivery due to an unreceived previous PDCP PDU without overly increasing overhead are described.

Abstract: A method for use in managing handover of a relay user equipment, UE, from a source base station to a target base station, the relay UE serving one or more remote UEs via one or more sidelink connections, is disclosed. The method at the source base station comprises sending, to the target base station, a handover request for the relay UE and sending, to the target base station, remote UE information associated with all or some of the one or more remote UEs served by the relay UE. The remote UE information may be sent as part of managing handover of the relay UE. In an example, the remote UE information is associated with the remote UEs which would remain connected to the relay UE after handover for the relay UE is completed. Methods at the target base station and relay UE and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in facilitating network connectivity of the wireless communication device in an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, communication system are disclosed. A method at a wireless communication device comprises determining whether there are one or more preferred mobile cells other than a serving mobile cell serving the wireless communication device, the one or more preferred mobile cells being preferential target cells for the wireless communication device. In an example, the one or more preferred mobile cells are bound to each other and the wireless communication device may determine whether a serving cell, such as a serving mobile cell, serving the wireless communication device is bound to one or more other cells, such as one or more other mobile cells. For mobile cells, a cell may be bound to a mobile cell when movement of the cell is related to movement of the mobile cell.

Abstract: A method for use in managing network connectivity in a wireless communication system including at least one mobile Integrated Access and Backhaul, (mIAB), node is disclosed. The method at a mIAB node comprises providing, to a wireless communication device, a mobility message, wherein the mobility message includes at least one of: mobility profile information indicating the mobility capability of the mIAB node; guaranteed static time information indicating a minimum time period for which the mIAB node remains at a certain location. The mobility profile information may include at least one of: speed information indicating a speed capability of the mIAB node, range information indicating a mobility area of the mIAB node, static information indicating a duration of one or more static periods the mIAB node may experience, itinerary information indicating a sequence of mobility and static periods for an itinerary the mIAB node may follow.

Abstract: In an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, network, an IAB-node is configured as an initiator for performing BAP-sublayer processing to the aim of transmitting BAP packets over multiple RLC channels. BAP-sublayer processing may duplicate a received BAP packet. The same sequence number is appended to all the duplicates to allow another IAB-node terminating the duplication to recognize them. In a variant, BAP-sublayer processing may network encode one received BAP packet. Successive sequence numbers are assigned to the resulting BAP packets to allow another IAB-node terminating the network coding to recognize them. A terminator of the BAP-layer processing thus terminates the duplication by discarding all duplicates except one or network decodes received packets with successive sequence numbers. Duplication process may be nested within another duplication or within a network encoding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in managing a migration process for migrating a DU of an IAB node, from a source IAB topology managed by a source IAB donor Central Unit, CU, to a target IAB topology managed by a target IAB donor CU are disclosed. A method at the target IAB donor CU comprises: receiving, from the source IAB donor CU, a request for requesting DU migration of the DU of the IAB node from the source IAB donor CU to the target IAB donor CU; determining whether to accept or partially accept or reject the DU migration of the IAB node; after determining to accept or partially accept or reject the DU migration, sending, to the source IAB donor CU, a response indicating the target IAB donor CU has determined to accept or partially accept or reject the request for DU migration to the target IAB donor CU.

Abstract: A method of determining, in a wireless network comprising a user equipment, UE, connected to a donor Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, node via a mobile Integrated Access and Backhaul, mIAB, node, an on-board status of the UE, the method comprising: monitoring whether an on-board triggering condition is satisfied; and determining that the UE has an on-board status when the on-board triggering condition is satisfied.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in managing conditional handover, CHO, of a relay user equipment, UE, from a source base station to a target base station, the relay UE serving one or more remote UEs via one or more sidelink connections, are disclosed. A method at the relay UE comprises sending, to the one or more remote UEs, a CHO notification indicating the relay UE has been configured to perform CHO. A method at one of the one or more remote UEs comprises receiving, from the relay UE, CHO notification indicating that the relay UE has been configured to perform CHO. The CHO notification may further indicate that the relay UE is to perform CHO. Alternatively, another CHO notification may be sent to the one or more remote UEs/received at one of the one or more remote UEs, with the another CHO notification indicating that the relay UE is to perform CHO.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of transmitting over a radio access network to a base station, by a network entity, a radio resource control signalling indicating the capability of a user equipment to perform network coding, wherein the method comprises: detecting by the network entity of a trigger event for signalling to the base station, the network coding capabilities of the user equipment; generating by the network entity a radio resource control signalling message comprising the user equipment network coding capabilities; and transmitting by the network entity of the generated radio resource control signalling message to the base station.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication between a base station and a user equipment to signal network coding suspension and resumption of a device in a radio communication system, wherein the method includes receiving a network coding control element; and controlling activation or deactivation of network coding in response to the reception of the network coding control element, wherein the controlling comprises determining an indication of when the network coding activation or deactivation takes effect, the indication being an identifier of a first data packet for which the network coding is activated or deactivated.

Abstract: There is provided a method for use in a process for requesting resources by a source Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) topology from a target IAB topology of a communication system, each of the source IAB topology and the target IAB topology comprising a set of IAB nodes and a donor Central Unit (CU), the method at the source donor-CU of the source IAB topology comprising: transmitting a message to the target donor-CU relating to the request of the resources associated with an IAB-node of the source IAB topology; wherein the message comprises an indication identifying the IAB-node of the source IAB topology as a mobile IAB-node. A corresponding method at the target donor, and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of wireless communication between a base station and a user equipment, wherein the method comprises: transmitting, by the base station, a data radio bearer configuration; and transmitting packets according to the data radio bearer configuration between the base station and the user equipment; wherein: the data radio bearer configuration comprises a network coding configuration; and the transmitted packets are transmitted according to the network coding configuration.

Abstract: A method for signalling a link issue in a wireless communication system comprising a relay UE node and a plurality of nodes is described. The relay UE node is configured to relay data between a first UE of the plurality of nodes and a second UE of the plurality of nodes. The method at the relay UE node includes: detecting a link issue associated with at least one of a first PC5 link established between the first UE and the relay node, and a second PC5 link established between the second UE and the relay node; after detecting the link issue, generating link issue feedback information for the detected link issue, the link issue feedback information including information for identifying a type of the detected link issue; sending the link issue feedback information to at least one of the first UE and the second UE.

Abstract: A Physical Cell Identity, PCI, conflict avoidance method in a wireless network comprising a first base station controlling a first cell having a first PCI, the method comprising: determining a conflict between the first PCI and a PCI of another cell in the vicinity of the first cell; and activating a second cell having a second PCI, wherein the second PCI is different to the first PCI.

Abstract: There is provided a method of wireless transmission of protocol data units over one or more radio link modules, the method comprising: splitting a service data unit, received from an upper layer, into a plurality of data packets; obtaining combined data packets, by applying a Network Coding to the data packets, wherein padding is added, if necessary, to the service data unit or to data packets to have data packets of equal length to which is applied the Network Coding; encapsulating the combined data packets into at least one protocol data unit, wherein each protocol data unit comprises a header and wherein the header contains a padding indication for indicating whether padding has been added or not, and transmitting the at least one protocol data unit over the one or more radio link modules.

Abstract: Methods for use in a process for migrating traffic from a source IAB topology to a target IAB topology are disclosed. Each of the source IAB topology and the target IAB topology comprises a donor CU. A method at a source donor CU of the source IAB topology comprises sending, to a target donor CU, a migration request including at least one item of traffic migration information, each item of the at least one item of traffic migration information for indicating resource requirements for traffic to be migrated from the source IAB topology to the target IAB topology, and including an identifier for use in uniquely identifying the respective item of traffic migration information and the traffic to be migrated; receiving, from the target donor CU, a migration response including at least one identifier for use in uniquely identifying traffic that has been accepted by the target donor CU.

Abstract: In an IAB communication system comprising at least two IAB topologies, each comprising a plurality of IAB nodes, a method for processing data packets at an IAB node comprises receiving a data packet including a routing identifier; determining whether the routing identifier is to be updated; in response to determining that the routing identifier is to be updated, identifying, based on header rewriting configuration information and the routing identifier of the received data packet, a new routing identifier and an associated IAB topology; updating the received data packet by updating the routing identifier with the identified new routing identifier; determining, based on routing configuration information associated with the identified IAB topology and the new routing identifier, an egress backhaul link over which the data packet is to be routed to a next IAB node; and transmitting the updated data packet over the egress backhaul link.