Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI). A radio resource control (RRC) message indicating a resource allocation can be transmitted to the first UE for the first UE to communicate directly with the second UE.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for application aware notifications in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses enable the transfer of at least some data to a UE or group of UEs without the specific need to establish a communication session for this data transfer. According to embodiments, the method and apparatus enable data to be transferred to a UE or a group of UEs along with a paging request. According to embodiments, downlink data to be transferred to a UE is integrated within a grant sent to the UE for transmission of uplink data.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically partitioning a signal processing chain of plural signal processing functions, between an edge signal processor associated with an edge node, and a common signal processor associated with a base node is provided. The partition point may be determined in accordance with at least a first parameter that is indicative of a current state of an input signal transmitted to the edge node or common equipment node, current operational or configuration state of the communication network or portion thereof, or other parameter that can impact signal transmission and/or processing. By determining the signal processing chain partition point according to a current input signal or network state, embodiments of the present disclosure are able to more efficiently manage network resources. In addition, joint processing schemes such as CoMP may be more effectively deployed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and using context information in a wireless communication network are provided. Context information is encrypted and transmitted to a mobile device for storage. A cryptographic key usable for decrypting the context information is stored at a radio access node or other node in the network and an indication of the key and the location of the key is stored at the mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message which includes the key identifier and location and the encrypted context information. The message may further include application data and the encrypted context information may include an indication of a further key for encrypting and decrypting application data in transmissions between the mobile device and the communications network. The encrypted context information may include the further key.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which can reduce energy and overhead information by reducing the need for a UE to decode every (System Information Block) SIB from overhead signaling for every cell for every cell reselection. Instead the UE can determine information from Physical Cell ID (PCI) information received by the map download and update procedures described herein. A map contains a list of cells including cell-specific system information including location; it may also be associated with a geographic boundary. In the map, each 3GPP cell is indexed by PCI (physical cell id). In some embodiments the UE retrieves dynamic information from the Master Information Block (MIB) to determine what SIB information needs to be decoded. Furthermore, in some embodiments, this can be applied for both 3GPP cells and non-3GPP cells.

Abstract: A method for slice attachment and configuration, the method comprises: receiving a service request from a user equipment; selecting a second network node to process the service request; receiving a configuration for a network slice to enable the service requested by the user equipment; identifying a first point of presence to receive user plane information corresponding to the network slice; identifying a second point of presence to receive control plane information corresponding to the network slice; forwarding traffic corresponding to the network slice to a third point of presence; transmitting to the user equipment a handle identifying the user equipment context and the network slice configuration; and transmitting to the user equipment a user equipment configuration corresponding to the network slice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating communication through a wireless communication system configured for transmission of general-purpose data, are provided. A transparent radio bearer is instantiated in a device and is configured to interface with an application of the device. A transparent logical channel is also instantiated in the device and is configured to interface with a medium access layer of the device. The medium access layer forms a part of a chain of protocol layers operatively configured to facilitate communications to another device associated with the wireless communication system. The transparent radio bearer maps onto the transparent logical channel in order to bypass at least one sub-layer of the chain of protocol layers while conveying data between the application and the medium access layer of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus at a small cell access point for offloading a wireless device in a macro cell, the method establishing a radio link signaling connection between a base station of the macro cell and the access point; and offloading the wireless device using control signaling over the signaling connection. Further, a method at the wireless device, the method receiving a message identifying a set of candidate small cell access points; selecting at least one access point from amongst the set of candidate small cell access points; reporting the selected at least one access point; receiving a preparatory message preparing the wireless device for a target small cell access point, wherein the target small cell access point is included in the selected at least one access point; and associating the wireless device with the target small cell access point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating communication through a wireless communication system configured for transmission of general-purpose data, are provided. A transparent radio bearer is instantiated in a device and is configured to interface with an application of the device. A transparent logical channel is also instantiated in the device and is configured to interface with a medium access layer of the device. The medium access layer forms a part of a chain of protocol layers operatively configured to facilitate communications to another device associated with the wireless communication system. The transparent radio bearer maps onto the transparent logical channel in order to bypass at least one sub-layer of the chain of protocol layers while conveying data between the application and the medium access layer of the device.

Abstract: Solutions to packet forwarding along a service function path (SFP) by using packet-based transport are provided, where the destination address field in the transport tunnel packet header designates the SFP and the source address field contains the service context. Forwarding of packet flows in different SFPs is simplified by using conventional packet routing and forwarding mechanisms and commercial off-the-shelf routers and switches. For example, route aggregation, load balancing, equal cost multipath routing, and fast path restoration can be applied to service function paths.

Abstract: Embedding a flow handle (FH) in an IPv6 address portion of a packet may reduce the amount of overhead needed to support path selection in flow-based packet forwarding. The FH may replace an interface identifier in a standard IPv6 address such that the FH does not add any additional overhead to the IPv6 packet itself. Information specified by the FH embedded in the IPv6 address may be used to select the path or next-hop. In addition, the FH may identify a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with the packet, and the route selection function may identify a path capable of satisfying the QoS requirement, a service function chain (SFC) ID, an access point (AP) ID, a radio bearer ID, a path ID, and/or a device ID.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can involve receiving, from a network node, a radio resource control (RRC) configuration message that includes configuration information for a first user equipment (UE) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE, the UE1 configuration information including an inter-device session (IDS) radio network identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for contention-based communication over a shared channel is provided. Devices wishing to communicate over the channel transmit channel usage requests to a controller. The controller determines current demand for the channel based on the number of requests received, and dynamically allocates communication resources to the shared channel based on the demand. The controller then transmits grant messages directing the devices to use the shared channel in an indicated manner. The shared channel can be subdivided into sub-channels, each of which is contention-based. The controller can also allocate devices to sub-channels based on the type of request. The requests are transmitted over an access indication channel which can also be subdivided into sub-channels.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI). A radio resource control (RRC) message indicating a resource allocation can be transmitted to the first UE for the first UE to communicate directly with the second UE.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically partitioning a signal processing chain of plural signal processing functions, between an edge signal processor associated with an edge node, and a common signal processor associated with a base node is provided. The partition point may be determined in accordance with at least a first parameter that is indicative of a current state of an input signal transmitted to the edge node or common equipment node, current operational or configuration state of the communication network or portion thereof, or other parameter that can impact signal transmission and/or processing. By determining the signal processing chain partition point according to a current input signal or network state, embodiments of the present disclosure are able to more efficiently manage network resources. In addition, joint processing schemes such as CoMP may be more effectively deployed.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for information distribution in a wireless communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of information distribution in a wireless communication system comprises receiving an information advertisement signal by a propagator node, wherein said information advertisement signal identifies information available from a distributor node; storing said information advertisement signal by said propagator node in a distributor routing table; and forwarding said information advertisement signal by said propagator node to another propagator node, a selector node, or both.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for information distribution in a wireless communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of information distribution in a wireless communication system comprises receiving an information advertisement signal by a propagator node, wherein said information advertisement signal identifies information available from a distributor node; storing said information advertisement signal by said propagator node in a distributor routing table; and forwarding said information advertisement signal by said propagator node to another propagator node, a selector node, or both.