Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for contention based shared preconfigured uplink resource configuration.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from enhanced cell capacity. For example, certain embodiments may benefit from improved packet capacity by managing transmissions in a cell. A method, in certain embodiments, may include determining at a network node whether a packet is of a service type. The service type may indicate that the packet is discardable. The method may also include calculating at the network node a probability factor or a scheduling adjustment factor for transmission of the packet, when it is determined that the packet is of the service type. In addition, the method may include determining at the network node whether to transmit the packet to a user equipment based on the probability factor, or adjusting at the network node a scheduler metric based on the scheduling adjustment factor.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from time discontinuous transmission. For example, narrow band Internet of things (NB-IoT) may benefit from having transmissions with sufficient time diversity to avoid unnecessary repetition. A method can include configuring a control channel and data channel partitioning pattern within a configured time period. The method can additionally include communicating with at least one user equipment based on the control channel and data channel partitioning pattern.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product to support sub-PRB allocation on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel in a wireless communications system, a new resource allocation method is described, where available physical resource blocks (PRBs) in each subframe or narrowband are reorganized into a number of sub-PRBs, which would apply to user equipment in both in CE Mode A and CE Mode B while also supporting sub-PRB allocation in Msg3 as part of early data transmission during random access, so that a user equipment, which is previously configured for using physical uplink shared channel sub-PRB resources, upon receiving an indication, will then use or determine whether to use a sub-PRB resource allocation based on the received indication.

Abstract: A method is provided including receiving, by a user equipment, a signal either before or during a paging occasion comprising an indication indicating whether the user equipment is to skip decoding of at least one subsequent channel of a plurality of subsequent channels associated with a paging message. The plurality of subsequent channels include: a first channel carrying downlink control information for the paging message, and a second channel carrying the paging message. In response to the indication indicating that the user equipment is to skip decoding of the at least one subsequent channel, skipping decoding of the at least one subsequent channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may include receiving, by a machine type communication user equipment, parameters for frequency hopping in downlink or uplink. The parameters comprise an “X,” “Y,” and “Z” parameters, “X” corresponds to a duration for which the same physical resource blocks are used for transmission. “Y” corresponds to a frequency hopping period, and “Z” corresponds to a frequency hopping pattern indication. The method may also include performing frequency hopping in accordance with the parameters.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for random access procedure are provided. One method includes selecting, by a user equipment, a subframe for a first transmission of a preamble based on a configuration broadcast by an evolved node B (eNB). The method may also include repeating the preamble within a preamble repetition period based on a configuration broadcast by the eNB.

Abstract: REGs are mapped to REs for UEs to all available OFDM symbols for a subframe, which includes a time-frequency resource space including the OFDM symbols in time and subcarriers in frequency. The mapping is performed to form a portion of a control channel and the available symbols are OFDM symbols not used for another control channel. The REs are populated in the portion of the control channel with control information for the UEs using corresponding ones of the REGs. The mapping and the populating are performed to form a complete control channel over one or more subframes, wherein the complete control channel can span a single subframe or multiple subframes. The one or more subframes with the complete control channel are transmitted. A UE will blind decode received subframe(s) in order to determine the control information, which is to be subsequently used by the UE to receive or transmit data.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from efficient communication of system information. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from system information block enhancement for low complexity user equipment and/or user equipment in coverage enhancement mode. A method can include decoding a transport block size (TBS) index in a compact downlink control information. The method can also include monitoring for SIB based on the decoded TBS index. The method may optionally include monitoring for the SIB based on a predefined transmission pattern of physical downlink control channel for machine type communication. The method may also optionally include decoding of M-SI messages from a subframe according to a pattern indicated by an information element in M-SIB1.

Abstract: A method includes receiving positioning configuration information from a base station or location server while in an RRC_connected mode; transitioning to an RRC_idle or RRC_inactive mode, while saving the positioning configuration information; receiving a reference signal for positioning from the base station; performing positioning measurements, while in the RRC_idle or RRC_inactive mode; and sending a location report to the base station or location server while remaining in the RRC_idle or RRC_inactive mode. A related method includes sending positioning configuration information to a user equipment in an RRC_connected mode; sending the user equipment to RRC_idle or RRC_inactive mode by an RRC suspend procedure; sending a reference signal for positioning to the user equipment; receiving a location report from the user equipment in the RRC_idle or RRC_inactive mode; and forwarding the location report from the user equipment to a location server.

Abstract: A UE in a wireless network receives measurement configuration for group(s) of cells wherein the measurement configuration is for positioning measurements of the UE using signals from base station(s). The UE receives criteria based on the measurement configuration for the UE to trigger report(s) for the group(s) of cells. The UE performs, using at least the measurement configuration, positioning measurements of the group(s) of cells and sends a report that is triggered based at least on the criteria. A network element sends the measurement configuration for the group(s) of cells to the UE. The network element sends the criteria based on the measurement configuration for the UE to trigger the report(s) for the one or more groups of cells. The network element receives a report from the UE that was triggered based at least on the criteria. Methods, software, computer program products, and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from appropriate configuration of available bandwidth. These and other communication systems, such as wireless communication systems, may benefit from resource indication for a larger channel bandwidth. One example is further enhanced machine type communication. A method can include determining, by a radio network node, a bandwidth for allocation to a user equipment. The allocated bandwidth can include resources in a single narrowband or a plurality of narrowbands. The method can also include indicating to the user equipment the single narrowband or the plurality of narrowbands and allocated resources in the single narrowband or the plurality of narrowbands.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for paging of low complexity UE and/or UE in coverage enhancement mode are provided. One method includes producing a machine type communication (MTC) physical downlink control channel (M-PDCCH) configuration by configuring separate M-PDCCH subsets for paging. One of the subsets may be for low complexity user equipment, and another one of the subsets may be for user equipment operating in coverage enhancement mode.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from new slot formats to support dynamic allocation between SC and CP-OFDMA. In accordance with some embodiments, a method may include transmitting, by a network entity, at least one physical downlink slot containing at least one physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and at least one physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The at least one PDCCH is associated with at least one subcarrier waveform without a cyclic prefix (CP). The at least one PDSCH is associated with at least one CP-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or single carrier (SC) waveform.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from improved single carrier-based waveform techniques. An apparatus may comprise at least one memory comprising computer program code and at least one processor. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to transmit at least one indication of synchronization signal block (SSB) to a network entity. The apparatus further receives at least one bandwidth part comprising at least one SSB associated with CP-OFDM waveform and/or at least one SSB below at least one threshold peak to average ratio. The apparatus further configures at least one waveform based upon the received at least one SSB. The at least one SSB below at least one threshold PAR comprise at least one indication of PDCCH.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from uplink transmission over preconfigured resources. In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise at least one memory comprising computer program code and at least one processor. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to receive at least one indication of at least one resource from a network entity. The apparatus may further determine whether at least one current timing advance value is valid. The apparatus may further, upon determining that the at least one current timing advance value is not valid, performing at least one timing advance update procedure. At least one timing advance update procedure is performed when at least one estimated timing advance shift is within at least one threshold.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a terminal device, from at least one network device, positioning assistance information based on a predetermined resource configuration framework for positioning reference signals in a beamforming operation. The method also includes receiving a request for at least one measurement from the at least one network device, and determining the at least one measurement based on the predetermined resource configuration framework. The method further includes reporting, in response to the request, the at least one measurement based on the predetermined resource configuration framework.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from new slot formats to support dynamic allocation between SC and CP-OFDMA. In accordance with some embodiments, a method may include transmitting, by a network entity, at least one physical downlink slot containing at least one physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and at least one physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The at least one PDCCH is associated with at least one subcarrier waveform without a cyclic prefix (CP). The at least one PDSCH is associated with at least one CP-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or single carrier (SC) waveform.

Abstract: Improved mechanisms for wireless cellular access using coverage extension techniques are described. A UE needing to use coverage extension to request access to a prospective serving cell detects cells (other than the prospective serving cell) on its frequency, and then investigates each such cell (for example, by attempting to read its system information block and, if the system information block can be read, determining if the cell supports access using coverage extension. If detected cells do not support coverage extension, the UE does not use coverage extension techniques to request access, but if all detected cells support coverage extension, the UE requests access using coverage extension techniques.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for paging of low complexity UE and/or UE in coverage enhancement mode are provided. One method includes producing a machine type communication (MTC) physical downlink control channel (M-PDCCH) configuration by configuring separate M-PDCCH subsets for paging. One of the subsets may be for low complexity user equipment, and another one of the subsets may be for user equipment operating in coverage enhancement mode.