Abstract: A target Secondary Node (T-SN) (4) indicates to a Master Node (MN) (1), in a response message to a request for an inter-SN Conditional PSCell Change (CPC), whether or not all of candidate PSCells suggested by the MN (1) or a source SN (S-SN) (2) have been accepted. If all of these candidate PSCells have been accepted, the MN (1) sends an MN RRC reconfiguration message to a UE (3) to instruct the inter-SN CPC while skipping additional signaling with the S-SN (2) or without waiting for the completion of the additional signaling. Otherwise, the MN (1) sends an MN RRC reconfiguration message to the UE (3) after additional signaling with the S-SN (2). Otherwise, the MN (1) sends an MN RRC reconfiguration message to the UE (3) after additional signaling with the S-SN (2). This prevents, for example, increased delays in the preparation of an SN-initiated inter-SN CPC.

Abstract: In response to receiving a signaling message requesting a broadcast of specific system information from a central unit (1) of a base station, a distributed unit (2) of the base station changes an active downlink (DL) Bandwidth Part (BWP) of a plurality of radio terminals from a first DL BWP that is not configured with a search space (SS) for receiving the specific system information to a second DL BWP that is configured with an SS for receiving the specific system information. In addition, the distributed unit (2) broadcasts the specific system information on the second DL BWP.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a number of procedures may be performed between user equipment, a base station, and/or the core network in the context of network slicing. The procedures support, for example efficient configuration of paging areas, roaming, access restriction, mobility, setting up of dual mode connectivity, connection re-establishment, efficient paging and slice selection.

Abstract: A central unit (1) of a base station sends, to a distributed unit (2) of the base station, a message requesting addition of a secondary cell for carrier aggregation. The message contains a first information element indicating that the secondary cell needs to be initially activated or dormant. It is thus, for example, possible to contribute to improvement for enabling direct configuration of a secondary cell state in an architecture where a base station divides into a central unit and a distributed unit.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which am anchor base station receives, from a core network node, downlink data for a communication device. The base station attempts (e.g. by RAN-based paging) to initiate communication with the communication device, and when the communication device does not respond to the attempt to initiate communication, the base station sends a message to the core network node, the message requesting initiation of a paging procedure for the communication device (e.g. S1-based paging).

Abstract: A secondary node (2) transmits to a radio terminal (3), via a master node (1), a first RRC message indicating an execution condition of a conditional primary cell change of a primary cell of a secondary cell group from a first cell to a second cell. In addition, the secondary node (2) receives, via the master node (1), a second RRC message that is transmitted from the radio terminal (3) in response to a satisfaction of the execution condition. This contributes to, for example, allowing the secondary node to be aware of a satisfaction of an execution condition of a conditional PSCell change where RRC signaling between the secondary node and the radio terminal is performed via the master node.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and associated apparatus that address or at least alleviate the issues of a user equipment (UE) context when the UE moves from one geographical area to another geographical area. A communication system (1) is disclosed that includes a non-terrestrial network portion comprising a plurality of cells each cell serving at least one coverage area. A UE (3) has a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection in a first coverage area. When the UE (3) detects, based on location information, that it has moved to a different coverage area it releases the RRC connection based on the location of the UE (3).

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed that includes a non-terrestrial network portion including a plurality of cells each cell serving at least one coverage area. A first base station stores a UE context associated with a suspended Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection of a user equipment (UE) related to a first coverage area. The UE initiates a procedure for resuming the suspended RRC connection via a second cell serving a different coverage area to the first coverage area, transmits information related to a location of the UE; and receives, from a base station controlling the second cell, a message releasing the RRC connection based on the location of the UE.

Abstract: The present disclosure contributes to the transmission/reception of various types of information between an AI-capable RAN node and another apparatus. A radio access network (RAN) node is configured as an RAN node including an Artificial Intelligence (AI) function of performing control of communication based on information received from another apparatus. The RAN node transmits first information indicating that the RAN node is an RAN node including an AI function to an RAN node. This contributes to the transmission and reception of various types of information between AI-enabled RAN nodes and other devices.

Abstract: A gNB central unit (gNB-CU) includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to transmit a message to a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU). The receiver is configured to receive from the gNB-DU, in response to the message, a list indicating User Equipments (UEs) which needs to be notified by dedicated signaling of system information.

Abstract: A target RAN node (3) receives, from a core network (5), a message requesting a handover of a radio terminal (1) from a bearer-based network to a bearer-less network. This handover request message includes flow information related to at least one session to be established in the bearer-less network in order to transfer at least one packet flow of the radio terminal (1). The target RAN node (3) transmits, to the core network (5), a handover acknowledge response message containing a transparent container that includes a radio resource configuration information derived from the flow information and is to be forwarded to a source RAN node associated (2) through the core network (5). It is thus, for example, possible to appropriately configuring an AS layer of a target RAT in an inter-RAT handover.

Abstract: A target RAN node (3) receives, from a core network (5), a message requesting a handover of a radio terminal (1) from a bearer-based network to a bearer-less network. This handover request message includes flow information related to at least one session to be established in the bearer-less network in order to transfer at least one packet flow of the radio terminal (1). The target RAN node (3) transmits, to the core network (5), a handover acknowledge response message containing a transparent container that includes a radio resource configuration information derived from the flow information and is to be forwarded to a source RAN node associated (2) through the core network (5). It is thus, for example, possible to appropriately configuring an AS layer of a target RAT in an inter-RAT handover.

Abstract: A communication system is described in which an MBMS service is provided by unicast or broadcast/multicast communication in dependence on whether the number of mobile communication devices indicating an interest in receiving the service is below or above a broadcast threshold. An improved procedure for counting the number of mobile communication devices interested in receiving the MBMS service is also disclosed.

Abstract: A radio terminal (1) is configured to transmit, to a radio station (2), a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection setup complete message including a UE assistance information element indicating which of a plurality of communication architecture types for data packet transmission relating to Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) the radio terminal desires to use, the radio terminal supports, or the radio terminal is configured with. As a result, with regard to a specific communication procedure involving determination of communication architecture used for a radio terminal serving as a CIoT device, it is for example possible to contribute to enhancement of efficiency of the communication procedure, reduction of signaling messages, or appropriate CN selection.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a distributed base station apparatus comprises a central unit for control plane signalling (CU-CP), at least one a central unit for user plane signalling (CU-UP), and at least one distributed unit. The CU-CP obtains information indicating whether a security configuration is supported by a CU-UP and selects a security configuration for an item of user equipment (UE) based on the obtained information.

Abstract: A second RAN node (2) associated with a second RAT sends a radio resource configuration of the second RAT to a radio terminal (3) via a first RAN node (1) associated with a first RAT. The radio resource configuration explicitly or implicitly indicates at least one numerology that is included in multiple numerologies supported by the second RAT and is different from a reference numerology. It is thus, for example, possible to allow a radio terminal to be configured with a numerology of a cell served by a secondary gNB or a target gNB in Inter-RAT Dual Connectivity between E-UTRA and NR and in a handover from E-UTRA to NR.

Abstract: A method for maintaining finer synchronicity requirement (e.g. less than 1 ?s synchronicity) between sync master clock and UE clock in NR IIOT is disclosed. The present disclosure introduces a method to apply the UE clock update depending on the UL timing advance reception time. The present disclosure also introduces a new signaling to indicate scheduling request ID for propagation delay change and based on which triggering timing advance to maintain the finer synchronicity requirement between sync master and UE clock. This disclosure also introduces a new method to compute the propagation delay change at UE, and thereby performing propagation delay compensation to maintain finer synchronicity requirement between sync master and UE clock.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which an NR radio access network (RAN) node identifies resources, that the NR RAN node is to use for transmissions, for protection from interference from another RAN node. The NR RAN node sends, to the other RAN node, information indicating the identified resources for protection from interference. The information indicating the identified resources comprises a list of parameters, typically including resource bitmaps, based on which the other RAN node is able to determine the resources for protection from interference.

Abstract: In response to receiving from a source RAN node (2), on a direct interface (101), a message requesting a handover of a radio terminal (1) from a first network to a second network, a target RAN node (3) receives at least one of slice information and flow information from a core network (5), and controls communication of the radio terminal (1) based on at least one of the slice information and the flow information. The slice information relates to a network slice in the second network. The flow information relates to at least one session to be established in the second network, serving as a bearer-less network, in order to transfer at least one packet flow of the radio terminal (1). It is thus possible, for example, to provide an Inter-RAT handover procedure involving transfer of handover signaling messages on a direct inter-base-station interface.

Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) node (11) is configured to send, to another RAN node (12), first control information regarding at least one of one or more bandwidth parts (BWPs) configured in a system bandwidth. It is thus, for example, possible to contribute to inter-radio access network (RAN) node (e.g., inter-gNB) signaling enhanced to handle bandwidth parts.