Abstract: A method for managing a wireless connection of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving flight information describing a flight path for the UAV; determining a set of network resources for the UAV based on the flight information; and reserving the set of network resources by a first network cell and a second network cell of a wireless network based on the flight information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling timing for large cells and long propagation delays are disclosed herein. Embodiments include a method performed by a User Equipment, UE, comprising receiving, from a network node, a cell-specific offset for a scheduling timing and/or a UE-specific offset for the scheduling timing. The method further includes determining the scheduling timing based on the cell-specific offset for the scheduling timing and/or the UE-specific offset for the scheduling timing. In some embodiments the scheduling timing comprises a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback timing, a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) timing, or an RRC Connection Request (Msg3) timing. In some embodiments the method further comprises transmitting a HARQ feedback, a PUSCH, or a Msg3 in accordance with the determined scheduling timing In this manner, scheduling timing is enhanced to allow for networks with large cells and/or long propagation delays, such as the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN).

Abstract: Embodiments of a method performed by a network node for determining a position of a mobile node are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method performed by a network node for determining a position of a mobile node includes generating a location transmission schedule for a plurality of mobile nodes. The method further includes sending the location transmission schedule for the plurality of mobile nodes.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a wireless device. Such methods can include receiving, from a network node in a wireless network, control signaling that indicates a parameter configuration for data transmissions, by the network node or by the wireless device, that are associated with a subset of a plurality of hybrid ARQ, HARQ, processes. The indicated parameter configuration can be one of a plurality of parameter configurations corresponding to a respective plurality of different subsets of the HARQ processes. The different subsets can include a first subset of one or more HARQ processes for which HARQ feedback is disabled, and a second subset of one or more HARQ processes for which HARQ feedback is enabled. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a network node in a wireless network, and wireless devices and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for frequency adjustment in a wireless network, particularly a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN). Embodiments of a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a UE for compensating for a Doppler shift in a wireless network comprises obtaining, from a network node, a characterization of Doppler variations in a particular cell. The method further comprises tuning a local frequency reference fRef, of the UE to a received downlink frequency for the particular cell and adjusting the local frequency reference fRef, over time according to the pre-calculated characterization of Doppler variations in the particular cell. In this manner, the communication between the UE and the network node in the presence of large and varying Doppler shifts is enabled. Embodiments related to compensating for timing drift are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to cell selection based on random access channel pre-compensation features supported by a wireless device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless device comprises obtaining information that indicates one or more random access channel pre-compensation features required for wireless devices to select a cell. The method further comprises making a decision as to whether the wireless device is permitted to select the cell based on the information and one or more random access channel pre-compensation features supported by the wireless device and performing one or more actions in accordance with the decision.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for handover in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) from a source cell to a target cell comprises receiving a conditional handover configuration for one or more potential target cells. The conditional handover configuration comprises a condition for handover comprising a timing advance threshold value for each of the one or more potential target cells. The method further comprises determining that a timing advance between the wireless device and one of the one or more potential target cells is less than or equal to the timing advance threshold and based on the determination, performing a handover to the target cell.

Abstract: Wireless devices, base stations, and other network devices and method are described that improve link level performance in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In an embodiment, a method includes one or more of: configuring an NB-IoT (narrowband-Internet of Things) NPSS (Narrowband Primary Synchronization Signal) transmissions in multiple spot beams overlapping in time and frequency, configuring LTE PSS (Primary Synchronization Signal) transmissions in multiple beams overlapping in time and frequency, configuring NR (New Radio) PSS transmissions (e.g., which support the same shift of a respective M-sequence that defines the NR PSS) in multiple beams overlapping in time and frequency, configuring NR PSS transmissions (e.g., which support the same shift of a respective M-sequence that defines the NR PSS) in multiple beams configured to share the same SS/PBCH block index overlapping in time and frequency.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method in a wireless device for use in a radio network is provided. The method includes receiving network radio coverage information from a network element and determining a path of travel for the wireless device using the received network radio coverage information. In particular embodiments, the wireless device controls the wireless device to follow the determined path of travel. The wireless device may report radio coverage information to a network element. In particular embodiments, the network element receives a radio coverage report from a wireless device, determines network radio coverage information using the received radio coverage report, and sends the determined network radio coverage information to a wireless device. The wireless device may be an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An example method in a user equipment comprises generating a random access preamble signal and transmitting the random access preamble signal. This generating of the random access preamble signal comprises generating a random access preamble signal comprising two or more consecutive preamble symbol groups, each preamble symbol group comprising a cyclic prefix portion and a plurality of identical symbols occupying a single subcarrier of the random access preamble signal. The single subcarrier for at least one of the preamble symbol groups corresponds to a first subcarrier frequency and the single subcarrier for an immediately subsequent one of the preamble symbol groups corresponds to a second subcarrier frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for fast uplink power control. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for fast uplink power control comprises receiving a transmit power control command from a network node and determining one of two or more predefined transmit power control mapping tables to be used by the wireless device to interpret the transmit power control command. The method further comprises determining a power adjustment value based on the transmit power control command received from the network node using the one of the two or more predefined transmit power control mapping tables and adjusting a transmit power of the wireless device based on the power adjustment value. In this manner, different transmit power control mapping tables can be used in different scenarios, which allows fast uplink power control.

Abstract: A method, network node and wireless device for determining a fixed size resource block assignment in random access response, RAR, scheduling of MSG3 transmission based on at least one of bandwidth part size, slot/non-slot transmission and resource allocation type, are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a network node is configured to communicate with a wireless device. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to determine a fixed size resource block, RB, assignment for random access response, RAR, scheduling of an uplink transmission based at least in part on at least one of: whether the uplink transmission is one of slot and non-slot transmission, resource allocation type, and optionally indicate the fixed sized RB assignment to the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for random access in a wireless communication system such as, e.g., a wireless communication system having a non-terrestrial (e.g., satellite-based) radio access network. Embodiments of a method performed by a wireless device and corresponding embodiments of a wireless device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for random access comprises performing an open-loop timing advance estimation procedure to thereby determine an open-loop timing advance estimate for an uplink between the wireless device and a base station. The method further comprises transmitting a random access preamble using the open-loop timing advance estimate. In this manner, random access can be performed even in the presence of a long propagation delay such as that present in a satellite-based radio access network. Embodiments of a method performed by a base station and corresponding embodiments of a base station are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring Narrowband Positioning Reference Signals (NPRS) for NB-IoT are provided. A network node generates and transmits NPRS configuration information including a first NPRS bitmap for FDD mode and/or a second NPRS bitmap for TDD mode. A wireless device can determine a NPRS configuration in accordance with the second NPRS bitmap for TDD mode and perform measurements using the NPRS configuration.

Abstract: A method for updating a tracking area in a non-terrestrial network comprises determining, at a network node, that a current tracking area in a non-terrestrial network is expiring; determining, at the network node, at least one target tracking area in the non-terrestrial network; and broadcasting, to at least one user equipment in the at least one target tracking area, system information comprising information of the at least one target tracking area. The target tracking area is determined based on a preconfigured mapping which comprises at least one target tracking area code corresponding to a cell identity of a target network node within a period of time or based on a movement of a satellite.

Abstract: A base station and wireless device are configured to support TDD operation. In exemplary embodiments, the base station or UE can make use of the available symbols in the DwPTS or UpPTS of a special subframe respectively for NB-IoT transmissions. In one example, the base station can use OFDM symbols in the DwPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in an immediately preceding downlink subframe, or in a succeeding downlink subframe. In other embodiments, the UE can use symbols in the UpPTS to repeat in a predetermined manner some of the symbols transmitted in the immediately succeeding uplink subframe, or in a preceding uplink subframe. The symbols repeated in the special subframe can be coherently combined at the receiver with corresponding symbols transmitted in a downlink or uplink subframe to improve decoding performance, reduce errors, improve channel estimation, and increase system capacity.

Abstract: Provided are methods of estimating a time delay and/or a frequency shift of a reference signal. Such methods include receiving a first reference signal that is generated using a first Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, receiving a second reference signal that is generated using a second ZC sequence that is different than the first ZC sequence, and processing the first reference signal and the second reference signal to estimate at least one of the time delay and the frequency shift of the first reference signal and/or the second reference signal. The first ZC sequence is generated by a first root and the second ZC sequence is generated by a second root that is different than the first root.

Abstract: Random Access (RA) formats are defined for NB-IoT operation in TDD mode. The formats are defined to allow use of the legacy LTE subframe configurations for TDD. The formats specify a predetermined, even number P of symbol groups composing a RA preamble, wherein each symbol group comprises a Cyclic Prefix (CP) and a number X of symbols. The P symbol groups are divided into symbol group sets fitting into 1, or 2, or 3 contiguous uplink subframes, each comprising at least two symbol groups transmitted back-to-back (i.e., contiguously in time), and at least two symbol group sets are transmitted non-contiguously in time across a number of uplink subframes over which the RA preamble is transmitted. The number of symbol groups in a set can be two or three, and the number of symbol groups is four or six, respectively. Symbol groups within a set are transmitted on adjacent uplink subframes. Five format options are defined, which map to various of the LTE TDD configurations.

Abstract: A user equipment is configured for operation in a narrowband wireless communication system. The user equipment is configured to detect receipt of a narrowband positioning reference signal that comprises a narrowband reference signal sequence. The narrowband reference signal sequence is a subsequence of a wideband reference signal sequence. The wideband reference signal sequence is configured for a wideband frequency bandwidth that is wider than a maximum frequency bandwidth defined for the narrowband wireless communication system. The user equipment is also configured to perform a positioning measurement using the narrowband positioning reference signal.

Abstract: A network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to transmit a synchronization block mapped to four OFDM symbols in the time domain and 144 contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain is provided. Optionally, a first of the four OFDM symbol is used by a primary synchronization signal, PSS. Optionally, a third of the four OFDM symbols is used by a secondary synchronization signal, SSS. Optionally, a second and a fourth of the OFDM symbols are used by a Physical Broadcast Channel, PBCH, in 12 contiguous resource blocks, RBs. Optionally, within each of the resource block RB in an OFDM symbol used by PBCH, there are 12 resource elements, and, optionally, 3 of the 12 resource elements are used for a downlink modulation reference signal, DMRS.