Abstract: A method (1200) by a wireless device (110) includes transmitting (1202), to a network node (160), a request for a preconfigured uplink resource, PUR, configuration. The wireless device 110 receives the PUR configuration from the network node, and the PUR configuration comprising time and/or frequency resources for transmitting on an uplink. The wireless device determines a PUR start time based on a value associated with a hyper system frame number (HSFN), a HSFN cycle, and/or a subframe number. The PUR start time measured relative to a time associated with the PUR configuration.

Abstract: A communication system for enabling/disabling EDT comprises UEs and a network node. The network node is configured to collect measurements regarding cell information, determine whether EDT is allowed to be used by the UEs to transmit data prior to completing an access procedure, and send a message comprising an EDT indication instructing whether EDT is allowed to be used by the UEs. The UE is configured to initiate a transmission to the network node, receive the message comprising the EDT indication, and determine whether EDT is allowed to be used based on the EDT indication. The communication system may be able to enable or disable EDT for the UE based the status of cell, such that the communication system may avoid a resource waste caused by an early indication in Msg1 or a larger uplink grant in Msg2, and further improve the network performance.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node, for controlling access of a first User Equipment (UE) and a second UE to a cell in a radio communications network is provided. The first UE is of a low complexity type, and wherein the second UE is of a regular type. A first association is assigned to the first UE. The first association associates the first UE with its low complexity type. A second association is assigned to the second UE. The second association associates the second UE with its regular type. The network node controls (302) access of the first UE and second UE by sending a rule to the first UE and second UE. The rule is related to access control that is different for UEs with different associations, for accessing to the radio communications network.

Abstract: A wireless device determines whether to provide a reduced capability, RedCap, indication via a message 1 of a random access procedure. The wireless device transmits the message 1 based on the determination, and transmits a message 3 of the random access procedure. A RedCap indication is provided via the message 3 at least if a RedCap indication is not provided via the message 1. According to some embodiments, the wireless device receives an indication whether the wireless device is to provide a RedCap indication via the message 1, and the determination is based on the received indication. According to some embodiments, the indication whether the wireless device is to provide a RedCap indication via the message 1 is provided by whether a physical random access channel, PRACH, partition between RedCap wireless devices and other wireless devices is configured.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless terminal may include transmitting a random access preamble of a random access procedure from the wireless terminal to a node of a radio access network. After transmitting the random access preamble, a random access response of the random access procedure may be received from the node of the radio access network, with the random access response including an Uplink grant for a Message 3 uplink communication of the random access procedure. The UL grant may include a time domain configuration associated with the Message 3 uplink communication. The time domain configuration may include a repetition factor that defines a number of repetitions across subframes for the Message 3 uplink communication, and/or Transmission Time Interval information for the Message 3 uplink communication. Related wireless terminals and base stations are also discussed.

Abstract: Methods of operating a wireless device in a communication network are provided. Such methods include receiving a scheduling message that includes a schedule identifying a plurality of transmission blocks, TBs and determining a quantity of the plurality of TBs that are identified in the scheduling message. Methods may include determining a quantity of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement, HARQ ACKs in an ACK bundle identified in the scheduling message and dynamically generating an acknowledgement timer value that corresponds to the quantity of the plurality of TBs and the quantity of HARQ ACKs in the ACK bundle.

Abstract: Some embodiments herein disclose a network node (QQ160) for handling communication in a narrowband internet of things network or a machine type communication network. The network node is configured to transmit an indication to a user equipment, UE, (QQ110) while the UE (QQ110) is in a connected mode or is released from the connected mode, wherein the indication indicates an update of at least a part of a system information, SI, of a service area of the narrowband internet of things network or the machine type communication network.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method at a user equipment for performing a random access procedure, wherein the UE randomly selects a random access preamble from a given set of preambles to be used for the random access procedure, the method comprising the steps of detecting (420) a partitioning of the given set of random access preambles into a first and a second partition, detecting (430) a certain capability of the UE, and selecting (440) a random access preamble from the fist partition to indicate the certain capability to a base station; the invention further refers to a corresponding method in a base station, a corresponding UE, and a corresponding base station.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device comprises transmitting, as part of 2-step random access, a msgA to a base station. A physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, part of the msgA includes an indication that the wireless device is a reduced capacity wireless device. A method performed by the base station comprises receiving the msgA as part of 2-step random access. According to some embodiments, the indication is included in a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, or a MAC subheader.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless terminal may include transmitting a random access preamble of a random access procedure from the wireless terminal to a node of a radio access network. After transmitting the random access preamble, a random access response of the random access procedure may be received from the node of the radio access network, with the random access response including an Uplink grant for a Message 3 uplink communication of the random access procedure. The UL grant may include a time domain configuration associated with the Message 3 uplink communication. The time domain configuration may include a repetition factor that defines a number of repetitions across subframes for the Message 3 uplink communication, and/or Transmission Time Interval information for the Message 3 uplink communication. Related wireless terminals and base stations are also discussed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments disclose a method in a wireless device. The wireless device receives a location of a time and/or frequency resource of a first Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) from a network node. The wireless device receives a location of a time and/or frequency resource of a second PRACH. Furthermore, the wireless device transmits a first random access attempt via the first PRACH and transmits a second random access attempt via the second PRACH. The first PRACH and the second PRACH each have an associated preamble, and wherein the second PRACH preamble has a different length than the first PRACH preamble.

Abstract: A network node transmits a scheduling configuration, over a Single Cell Multicast Control Channel, that indicates whether a single transport block or multiple transport blocks of a Single Cell Multicast Traffic Channel are scheduled. The network node may then transmit a transport block in accordance with the scheduling configuration. Correspondingly, a user equipment receives the scheduling configuration. The UE may then receive a transport block in accordance with the scheduling configuration.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device includes transmitting, to a base station, a first transmission of a message, which includes user data and information to setup or resume a connection between the wireless device and the base station. DCI comprising an uplink grant indicating a plurality of transport block sizes is received from the base station. The DCI is interpreted based on previous information received in a message from the base station. One of the transport block sizes is selected for retransmission of the message. The message is retransmitted using the selected transport block size and includes either only the information to setup or resume the connection or the information to setup or resume the connection and user data. The message is retransmitted using the selected transport block size.

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a wireless device in a communication network. Operations corresponding to the method include receiving (510) a scheduling message that includes a schedule identifying multiple transmission blocks, TBs. Operations further include dynamically generating (530) an acknowledgement timer value that corresponds to the TBs.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods implemented in a wireless device for efficient energy consumption at the wireless device. In one embodiment, a method comprises performing an uplink transmission on pre-configured resources to a network node; and monitoring in a search space window for an application layer response from a network node downlink transmission based on an offset value indicating a time difference between the SS window and the uplink transmission on the pre-configured resources.

Abstract: Optimizing early data transmission (EDT) between user equipments and a network node. In one aspect, there is a method for improving EDT. The method includes transmitting first transport block size (TBS) information indicating a first set of one or more EDT TBSs, the first set of EDT TBSs comprising a maximum EDT TBS. The method further includes after transmitting the first TBS information, obtaining EDT usage information and based on the obtained EDT usage information, determining whether to transmit the first TBS information or second TBS information indicating a second set of one or more EDT TBSs, wherein the first set and the second set of EDT TBSs are different. The method further includes transmitting the first TBS information or the second TBS information based on the determination.

Abstract: A method for cell reselection by a non-Bandwidth reduced Low complexity (non-BL) wireless device camped in a standalone-cell providing enhanced coverage to the wireless device. The method includes determining, based on a respective signal strength of each of a plurality of cells, a first ranking of the plurality of cells. The plurality of cells include at least the standalone cell and a target cell. While the non-BL wireless device is camped in the standalone cell with enhanced coverage, the non-BL wireless device determines that at least one criteria is met for a cell reselection from the standalone cell to the target cell offering normal coverage to the non-BL wireless device. The non-BL wireless device selects the target cell to camp in whether or not the target cell ranks higher than the standalone cell in the first ranking.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (12) conditions its use of Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PUR), as preconfigured by a wireless communication network (16), on assessing the validity of a Timing Advance (TA) value used by the device (12) for controlling its uplink transmission timing The device (12) maintains a timer (37) and deems the TA value to be invalid upon expiration of the timer (37). In an example case, a device (12) operating in idle mode performs a PUR-based transmission in dependence on the timer (37) not being expired. A radio network node (10) of the network (16) maintains a like timer (57), to maintain an awareness of TA validity at the device (12) and, for example, sends an updated TA for the device (12) upon receiving a PUR-based transmission from the device (12). The device (12) and the node (10) may refresh their respective timers, in association with the TA update.

Abstract: A base station transmits a resource grant indicating a plurality of options from which a wireless device is permitted to select for use in transmitting user data on an uplink during random access. Each respective option comprises a transport block size (TBS) and a number of repetitions. One of the TBSs is a maximum permitted TBS and the other TBSs are derived from the maximum permitted TBS using a predefined set of smaller TBS values. The number of repetitions of each option is determined as a function of the maximum permitted TBS and a corresponding number of repetitions. The wireless device receives the resource grant and transmits the user data on the uplink during random access to the base station according to at least one of the options. The base station receives the user data on the uplink during random access correspondingly.

Abstract: Certain embodiments disclose a method in a wireless device. The wireless device receives a location of a time and/or frequency resource of a first Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) from a network node. The wireless device receives a location of a time and/or frequency resource of a second PRACH. Furthermore, the wireless device transmits a first random access attempt via the first PRACH and transmits a second random access attempt via the second PRACH. The first PRACH and the second PRACH each have an associated preamble, and wherein the second PRACH preamble has a different length than the first PRACH preamble.