Abstract: The solution presented herein introduces variable repetition levels for control and data transmissions via a physical downlink control channel for machine-type communications, e.g., the M-PDDCH. When a wireless terminal detects and correctly decodes a message carried by physical downlink control channel for machine-type communications that requests retransmissions, the wireless terminal performs adaptive uplink retransmissions according to a retransmission format defined by the message. The retransmission format defines at least one of a modulation and coding rate for the retransmissions, a frequency resource for the retransmissions, and a number of repetitions.

Abstract: Improving uplink transmission efficiency and/or user equipment, UE, power consumption by means of transmission in preconfigured resources. This may involve specifying support for transmission in preconfigured resources in idle and/or connected mode. Both shared resources and dedicated resources may be used. An example method performed by a wireless device comprises receiving (110) signaling indicating configuration of a preconfigured resource on a first link, and (120) receiving information indicating whether the wireless device is allowed or is not allowed to use the preconfigured resource. The method may further comprise using or not using (130) the preconfigured resource depending on the received information.

Abstract: A method by a wireless device includes obtaining, in a downlink control information (DCI) field, an indication of whether to perform a fallback to a radio resource control (RRC) connection setup or resume procedure or whether to abort a random access attempt. Based on the indication, wireless device determines to perform the fallback to the RRC connection setup or resume procedure or to abort the random access attempt.

Abstract: A method in a user equipment (UE) to verify an authenticity of a network, in response to providing a Control Plane Service Request (CPSR) non-access stratum (NAS) message comprising user data to a first network node of the network, includes the steps: obtaining an indication from the first network node; verifying an authenticity of the indication; and determining that the user data has been successfully delivered.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating dedicated transmissions over preconfigured uplink resources. Embodiments include techniques to configure subsequent PUR resource utilization (e.g., one-at-a-time basis or on a periodic basis), changes to EDT signaling to allow functioning with PUR, etc. An example method performed by a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication network includes transmitting (90), in an uplink message, a request for a configuration of preconfigured uplink resources. The method further includes receiving (100), during a connected mode in which the wireless device has a connection with the wireless communication network, control signaling indicating a first preconfigured resource configuration that configures a first preconfigured resource. The method also includes transmitting or receiving (120) user data using the first preconfigured resource.

Abstract: A network node is configured for transmitting a mobile-terminated early data transmission during a random-access procedure. The network node transmits a page having a contention-free preamble corresponding to an identity associated with a wireless device to be paged. The identity may be a Serving Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity, S-TMSI, or a resume identity that identifies a suspended Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection. The network node then receives, as part of the random-access procedure, a Msg1 transmission that comprises the contention-free preamble. The network node next transmits, as part of the random-access procedure, a Msg2 transmission to the wireless device associated with the identity corresponding to the contention-free preamble. The Msg2 transmission includes a signaling message and downlink data.

Abstract: A wireless device (10), a management server (8) and methods performed therein are provided. The method performed by the wireless device (10) comprises: obtaining (S210), at an application layer, information associated with a wireless coverage provided by a radio network node (12) for the wireless device (10); and determining (S220), at the application layer, a transmission operation of uplink data based on the obtained information.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for transmitting uplink (UL) data, by a user equipment (UE), using preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) in a radio access network (RAN). Such methods include receiving, from a network node in the RAN, a first PUR configuration, and transmitting, based on the first PUR configuration, a first UL data message to the network node Such methods also include receiving, from the network node, a first acknowledgement (PUR ACK) of the first UL data message. The first PUR ACK indicates whether the first UL data message was correctly or incorrectly received by the network node, and includes information related to subsequent UL transmissions using PUR (e.g., a second PUR configuration, a fallback indication, etc.). Some embodiments also include transmitting a second UL data message. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs network nodes and UEs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method, performed by a network node (e.g., an eNB) is provided. The method includes, during a first time period, broadcasting system information (SI) at a first density (e.g., frequency); and determining that a condition is satisfied. The method further includes, as a result of determining that the condition is satisfied, broadcasting the SI at a second density (e.g., frequency) during a subsequent second time period. The second density is greater than the first density.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by a network node (115). The network node defines one or more parameters of a Coverage Enhanced Physical random access channel Configuration Index, CE PCI, for one or more Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, resource sets, each of the one or more PRACH resource sets is associated with a coverage level whereby a different CE PCI is defined for each coverage level. The network node configures the one or more PRACH resource sets in a broadcast message. Furthermore, the network node assigns a starting subframe number to a PRACH resource set used by a UE, (110), and calculates a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RA-RNTI, using the assigned starting subframe number.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method is disclosed for use in a network node. The method comprises receiving a random access preamble from a wireless device, scheduling a grant of a first uplink transmission opportunity and a second uplink transmission opportunity, and sending a random access response to the wireless device. The random access response indicates information associated with the grant of the first uplink transmission opportunity and the second uplink transmission opportunity. The method further comprises receiving data from the wireless device via the first uplink transmission opportunity or the second uplink transmission opportunity.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to provide downlink (DL) channel-quality reports during a random-access (RA) procedure in a cell provided by a network node in a radio access network (RAN). Such embodiments include receiving, from the network node, a first indicator indicating that the UE may have to report DL channel quality in a particular message of the RA procedure; and initiating the RA procedure. The UE may be configured to operate in a coverage-enhancement (CE) mode. Such embodiments can also include initiating DL channel quality measurements based on the first indicator, wherein the DL channel quality measurements can be initiated before receiving a RA response from the network node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a network node, as well as UEs and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method performed by a wireless device, UE, for configuring a semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, the UE being configured to monitor a first search space of a physical downlink control channel for downlink control information, DCI, dedicated to the UE, comprising receiving from the communication network SPS configuration data to configure a second search space be monitored by the UE for DCI to activate or de-activate the SPS, wherein the second search space is smaller than the first search space, and monitoring the second search space for detecting the DCI to activate or de-activate the SPS; the invention further refers to a corresponding method performed by a network node, a corresponding UE, and a corresponding network node.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device (230) is described herein. The method is for handling grant use. The wireless device (230) operates in a wireless communication network (200). The wireless device (230) receives (401), from a network node (210) operating in the wireless communication network (200), a first message granting the wireless device (230) at least two uplink transmissions. The wireless device (230) indicates (402), to the network node (210), on time-frequency resources indicated in a first granted uplink transmission of the at least two uplink transmissions, whether or not a second granted uplink transmission of the at least two uplink transmissions is to be used by the wireless device (230).

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate e.g. a method performed by a radio network node (12) for handling system information of a wireless communication network (1). The radio network node (12) transmits an indication to a UE (10), the indication associated with an update of system information of the wireless communication network (1), wherein the indication indicates a type of system information. The indication may indicate whether the update regards critical system information being a first type of system information, or less critical system information being a second type of system information.

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: A base station (110)transmits system information that indicates to a wireless device (120) that the wireless device (120) is permitted to transmit respective blocks stored at the wireless device (120) during and after a random access procedure (200). The wireless device (120) performs the random access procedure (200) to the base station (110). The wireless device (120) transmits a first block of data stored at the wireless device (120) to the base station (110) during the random access procedure (200) while withholding a second block of data stored at the wireless device (120) from transmission to the base station (110) until after completion of the random access procedure (200). The base station (110), receives the blocks of data during and after the random access procedure (200), respectively.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method of operating a wireless device, UE, configured to provide communication over a radio interface with a wireless communication network, the method including transmitting a random access, RA, preamble of an RA procedure to the wireless communication network using a first uplink carrier; and after transmitting the RA preamble of the RA procedure, receiving a Random Access Response, RAR, of the RA procedure from the wireless communication network, wherein the RAR includes an indication to use a second uplink carrier different than the first uplink carrier; the invention further refers to a method of operating a base station of a wireless communication network configured to provide communication over a radio interface with a wireless device, UE, the method including receiving a random access, RA, preamble of an RA procedure from the wireless device using a first uplink carrier.

Abstract: Method by a first network node in a wireless communications network. The network comprises a first group of wireless devices supporting transmission with a first bandwidth under a threshold and a second group supporting transmission with a second bandwidth over the threshold. The first network node configures a wireless device in the first group having a first set of time-frequency resources to carry a first type of information with: at least one second set to carry a second type. The second type is to be transmitted simultaneously to the first group. The first type is to be transmitted to at least one of: i) the first group and the second group, and ii) the wireless device. The first set and the at least one second set of time-frequency resources are in different sets of frequencies or are in different transmission time periods, or both.