Abstract: A method and network entity for extending communication coverage in a network between a network entity and a wireless device. The method includes determining that the wireless device qualifies for coverage extension, the determining including that deriving appropriate transmission parameters for the wireless devices results in one of a lowest possible or most robust modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and determining achievable transmission performance parameters for the wireless device. If the determined achievable transmission performance parameters do not meet a set of pre-established transmission criteria, the downlink transmission power to the wireless device is increased.

Abstract: A method and network node for performing link adaption are disclosed. In one embodiment, a channel state information, CSI, measurement is received from a wireless device. An information carrying capacity, ICC, over a number of scheduling blocks, SBs, for a plurality of modulation formats for a target criteria is determined based at least in part on the CSI measurement from the wireless device. A modulation format of the plurality of modulation formats with a maximum ICC is selected. A transport block size, TBS, is determined for the selected modulation format. Link adaptation is performed based on the determined TBS.

Abstract: A method and network entity for enabling higher order modulation (HOM) mode support for HOM capable wireless devices. The method includes determining a legacy mode power offset value for HOM mode capable wireless devices in legacy modulation mode and calculating a power headroom value for sending downlink data to the HOM mode capable wireless devices. When the power headroom value exceeds a threshold value, the HOM mode support for the HOM mode capable wireless devices is enabled using the identified legacy mode power offset value. When the power headroom value does not exceed the threshold value, and a HOM mode power offset value is available, the HOM mode power offset value being less than the legacy modulation mode power offset value, the HOM mode support for the HOM mode capable wireless devices is enabled using the HOM mode power offset value.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to scheduling for a cluster of cells controlled by a base station of a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a base station in a cellular communications network to provide scheduling for a cluster of cells controlled by the base station is provided. In some embodiments, the method of operation of the base station comprises identifying a first set of Radio Access Bearers (RABs) for cluster scheduling for a Transmit Time Interval (TTI) and a second set of RABs for individual cell scheduling for the TTI, where the first set of RABs and the second set of RABs are non-overlapping sets. The method further includes performing cluster scheduling for the first set of RABs for the TTI and performing individual cell scheduling for the second set of RABs for the TTI.

Abstract: A method and network entity for extending communication coverage in a network between a network entity and a wireless device. The method includes determining that the wireless device qualifies for coverage extension, the determining including that deriving appropriate transmission parameters for the wireless devices results in one of a lowest possible or most robust modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and determining achievable transmission performance parameters for the wireless device. If the determined achievable transmission performance parameters do not meet a set of pre-established transmission criteria, the downlink transmission power to the wireless device is increased.

Abstract: A method and network node for performing link adaption are disclosed. In one embodiment, a channel state information, CSI, measurement is received from a wireless device. An information carrying capacity, ICC, over a number of scheduling blocks, SBs, for a plurality of modulation formats for a target criteria is determined based at least in part on the CSI measurement from the wireless device. A modulation format of the plurality of modulation formats with a maximum ICC is selected. A transport block size, TBS, is determined for the selected modulation format. Link adaptation is performed based on the determined TBS.

Abstract: A method and network entity for enabling higher order modulation (HOM) mode support for HOM capable wireless devices. The method includes determining a legacy mode power offset value for HOM mode capable wireless devices in legacy modulation mode and calculating a power headroom value for sending downlink data to the HOM mode capable wireless devices. When the power headroom value exceeds a threshold value, the HOM mode support for the HOM mode capable wireless devices is enabled using the identified legacy mode power offset value. When the power headroom value does not exceed the threshold value, and a HOM mode power offset value is available, the HOM mode power offset value being less than the legacy modulation mode power offset value, the HOM mode support for the HOM mode capable wireless devices is enabled using the HOM mode power offset value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a radio access node is provided. The method comprises determining whether support from a secondary cell is required for a wireless device to communicate with the radio access node, and, in response to determining that support from the secondary cell is required, calculating a modified channel condition outer-loop value for the secondary cell; and using the modified channel condition outer-loop value in an initial activation decision step for the secondary cell. The initial activation decision step may comprise activating the secondary cell in response to determining that the sum of a device reported channel condition value and the modified channel condition outer-loop value is above an activation threshold. Corresponding devices, computer programs and radio access nodes adapted to carry out the methods provided are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to scheduling for a cluster of cells controlled by a base station of a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a base station in a cellular communications network to provide scheduling for a cluster of cells controlled by the base station is provided. In some embodiments, the method of operation of the base station comprises identifying a first set of Radio Access Bearers (RABs) for cluster scheduling for a Transmit Time Interval (TTI) and a second set of RABs for individual cell scheduling for the TTI, where the first set of RABs and the second set of RABs are non-over-lapping sets. The method further includes performing cluster scheduling for the first set of RABs for the TTI and performing individual cell scheduling for the second set of RABs for the TTI.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a radio access node is provided. The method comprises determining whether support from a secondary cell is required for a wireless device to communicate with the radio access node, and, in response to determining that support from the secondary cell is required, calculating a modified channel condition outer-loop value for the secondary cell; and using the modified channel condition outer-loop value in an initial activation decision step for the secondary cell, The initial activation decision step may comprise activating the secondary cell in response to determining that the sum of a device reported channel condition value and the modified channel condition outer-loop value is above an activation threshold. Corresponding devices, computer programs and radio access nodes adapted to carry out the methods provided are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively managing frame size in a wireless multihop network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a packet is transmitted from a source to a destination. A acknowledgement packet is received and a successful acknowledgement packet counter is incremented if the acknowledgement packet arrives prior to a time-out of a timer. A frame size is increased if the successful acknowledgement packet counter reaches a specified value. If the acknowledgement packet arrives after the time-out of the timer, the successful acknowledgement packet counter is reset and the frame size is decreased. These procedures can be repeated until the frame size is greater than or equal to a maximum frame size or less than or equal to a minimum frame size.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a generalized outer loop link adaptation procedure. A normal outer-loop control procedure corrects an estimated SINR, which may be inaccurate if the estimate SINR is mapped from a channel quality estimate that does not reflect the true radio link condition. A normal outer control procedure functions properly only when a normal Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) is selected. A normal MCS is the highest Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) with which the target Block Error Rate (BLER) can be achieved given a certain number of HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) transmissions. The present application discloses a generalized outer loop link adaptation procedure that functions properly whether the selected MCS is normal, aggressive, or conservative.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a generalized outer loop link adaptation procedure. A normal outer-loop control procedure corrects an estimated SINR, which may be inaccurate if the estimate SINR is mapped from a channel quality estimate that does not reflect the true radio link condition. A normal outer control procedure functions properly only when a normal Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) is selected. A normal MCS is the highest Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) with which the target Block Error Rate (BLER) can be achieved given a certain number of HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) transmissions. The present application discloses a generalized outer loop link adaptation procedure that functions properly whether the selected MCS is normal, aggressive, or conservative.

Abstract: A method for link adaptation is provided. Data associated with a user device is stored. A first number of scheduling blocks, SBs, required to transmit the stored data is estimated based at least in part on a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The first MCS corresponds to a first channel performance level. A second MCS is determined based at least in part on a link quality. The second MCS corresponds to a second channel performance level. A determination is made whether second channel performance level is less than the first channel performance level. An operating MCS is selected based at least in part on whether second channel performance level is less than the first channel performance level. The data is scheduled for transmission based at least in part on the selected operating MCS.

Abstract: A method for link adaptation is provided. Data associated with a user device is stored. A first number of scheduling blocks, SBs, required to transmit the stored data is estimated based at least in part on a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The first MCS corresponds to a first channel performance level. A second MCS is determined based at least in part on a link quality. The second MCS corresponds to a second channel performance level. A determination is made whether second channel performance level is less than the first channel performance level. An operating MCS is selected based at least in part on whether second channel performance level is less than the first channel performance level. The data is scheduled for transmission based at least in part on the selected operating MCS.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively managing frame size in a wireless multihop network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a packet is transmitted from a source to a destination. A acknowledgement packet is received and a successful acknowledgement packet counter is incremented if the acknowledgement packet arrives prior to a time-out of a timer. A frame size is increased if the successful acknowledgement packet counter reaches a specified value. If the acknowledgement packet arrives after the time-out of the timer, the successful acknowledgement packet counter is reset and the frame size is decreased. These procedures can be repeated until the frame size is greater than or equal to a maximum frame size or less than or equal to a minimum frame size.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively managing frame size in a wireless multihop network (100) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a packet is transmitted from a source to a destination (420). A acknowledgement packet (422) is received and a successful acknowledgement packet counter is incremented if the acknowledgement packet arrives prior to a time-out of a timer (444). A frame size is increased if the successful acknowledgement packet counter reaches a specified value (446, 448). If the acknowledgement packet arrives after the time-out of the timer, the successful acknowledgement packet counter (460) is reset and the frame size (462) is decreased. These procedures can be repeated until the frame size is greater than or equal to a maximum frame size (450) or less than or equal to a minimum frame size (464).

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively managing frame size in a wireless multihop network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a packet is transmitted from a source to a destination. A acknowledgement packet is received and a successful acknowledgement packet counter is incremented if the acknowledgement packet arrives prior to a time-out of a timer. A frame size is increased if the successful acknowledgement packet counter reaches a specified value. If the acknowledgement packet arrives after the time-out of the timer, the successful acknowledgement packet counter is reset and the frame size is decreased. These procedures can be repeated until the frame size is greater than or equal to a maximum frame size or less than or equal to a minimum frame size.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively managing frame size in a wireless multihop network (100) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a packet is transmitted from a source to a destination (420). A acknowledgement packet (422) is received and a successful acknowledgement packet counter is incremented if the acknowledgement packet arrives prior to a time-out of a timer (444). A frame size is increased if the successful acknowledgement packet counter reaches a specified value (446, 448). If the acknowledgement packet arrives after the time-out of the timer, the successful acknowledgement packet counter (460) is reset and the frame size (462) is decreased. These procedures can be repeated until the frame size is greater than or equal to a maximum frame size (450) or less than or equal to a minimum frame size (464).