Abstract: A method and one or more network nodes for use in a wireless communication network to determine whether a wireless device is aerial. The one or more one or more network nodes communicate with the wireless device to instruct to report one or more metrics of wireless device parameters. The one or more network nodes receives from the wireless device a report of the metrics and then compares the reported metrics to terrestrial metrics to determine whether the wireless device is aerial.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for synchronizing one or more radio devices with a radio access node. A method of providing synchronization with a radio access node for radio communication to one or more radio devices is disclosed. The method comprises or triggers transmitting a configuration message to at least one of the radio devices, where the configuration message is indicative of a synchronization signal configuration for a configurable synchronization signal. The method further comprises or triggers transmitting the configurable synchronization signal to the at least one radio device in accordance with the synchronization signal configuration and communicating one or more decodable signals between the radio access node and the at least one radio device using radio resources in accordance with the configurable synchronization signal. A corresponding method of synchronizing the radio device with the radio access node for radio communication is disclosed.

Abstract: A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adapting a timer(s) for a satellite-based radio access network are disclosed. 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 comprises obtaining a value to be used to offset, extend, and/or scale one or more timers related to the satellite-based radio access network relative to values for non-satellite-based radio access networks. The method further comprises utilizing the value to offset a start of one or more timers, extend one or more timers, and/or scale one or more timers and performing one or more actions based on the one or more offset timers, the one or more extended timers, and/or the one or more scaled timers. Embodiments of a method performed by a base station and corresponding embodiments of a base station are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node (160) includes serving a cell area by a first physical network node for a first time duration. The first physical network node uses an identifier of a logical network node. For a second time duration, the cell area is served by a second physical network node. The second physical network node uses the identifier of the logical network node. The first physical network node serves the cell area with a first frequency band and the second physical network node serves the cell area with a second frequency band.

Abstract: A wireless device is operable to communicate with a network node of a communications network via a non-terrestrial communication path that includes satellites and satellite gateways. The wireless device determines that communication between the wireless device and the network node will experience a communication interrupting transition during a transition period in which the non-terrestrial communication path between the wireless device and the network node will be interrupted. The wireless device adjusts a PHY layer procedure of the wireless device to mitigate switching problems with one of the of satellites during and/or after the interruption.

Abstract: A network node of a wireless communication network provides information to a User Equipment (UE) that allows the UE to adapt it radio measurements with respect to the network, to account for “link changes.” Link changes are service-link and/or feeder-link changes arising from motion by the satellite(s) included in the Radio Access Network (RAN) portion of the network. The UE uses the provided information to adapt its radio measurements in conjunction with the link changes. Among the several advantages of accounting for satellite link changes in the manner contemplated are any one or more of reduced signaling going between the UE and the network, reduced battery consumption at the UE, mitigation of the effects of the link changes on the radio measurements, avoidance of spurious measurements, and an effective “automation” of the timed changeover by the UE to new measurement configurations, coincident with the occurrence of link changes.

Abstract: The present disclosure described systems and methods for providing OTT services to a UE. An exemplary OTT-providing host computer includes a transceiver, a processor, and memory collective configured to provide the OTT service by initiating transmission of user data to the UE. To transmit the user data from the host computer to the wireless device, a network node sends a first control message for assigning a PDSCH, the first control message comprising a first MCS indication as described. The network node sends to the wireless device a second control message for assigning a PDSCH, the second control message comprising a second MCS indication as described. The network node transmits the user data thereafter.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device for enabling bundling for a specific HARQ process is provided. The method includes at least one of receiving, from a base station, an indication that bundling of transport blocks is enabled for a specific HARQ process (or a specific subset of all configured HARQ processes), determining that bundling is enabled for the specific HARQ process based on the received indication, and transmitting/receiving a transmission for the specific HARQ process with bundling enabled. A method performed by a base station for enabling bundling for a specific HARQ process is also provided. A wireless device and a base station for deactivating HARQ mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for radio link monitoring (RLM) by a user equipment (UE) in a combined terrestrial and satellite wireless communication network. Such methods include, during a discontinuity in a connection between a UE and a terrestrial network node (TNN), performing RLM of the connection based on a second configuration. Such methods also include, before and/or after the discontinuity, performing RLM of the connection based on a first configuration. The connection includes a first link between the UE and a satellite and a second link between the satellite and the TNN. The discontinuity includes a link switch in at least one of the first link and the second link. The RLM before, during, and after the discontinuity can include various first, second, and third operations, respectively. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by a TNN, as well as UEs and TNNs configured to perform operations corresponding to such methods.

Abstract: A method of scheduling Msg3 configuration by a network node may be provided. Information may be generated indicating transmission duration, DMRS configuration, and/or starting position for Msg3 sending by a user equipment, UE. Transmission of signaling of the information to the UE may be initiated for scheduling Msg3 transmission by the UE. A method of scheduling by the UE includes receiving information from the network node indicating transmission duration, DMRS configuration, and/or starting position for Msg3 transmission. The UE transmits Msg3 based on a schedule determined based on the information.

Abstract: Systematic size matching procedures for downlink control information, DCI, provide exact instructions on how DCI size matching is to be performed in a NR wireless system, to meet predetermined limits for how many different DCI sizes may be monitored by a user equipment, UE. With these procedures, consistent and exact DCI size matching can be performed while keeping blind decoding procedures manageable, ensuring common understanding of DCI contents between the UE and the network.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a network node comprises indicating in a control message at least a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and a scaling factor for a shared downlink channel. The scaling factor indicates a value less than 1. The method further comprises sending the control message to a User Equipment (UE), the control message enabling determination of a Transport Block Size (TBS) for the shared downlink channel. According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises receiving a control message. The control message indicates at least a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and a scaling factor for a shared downlink channel. The scaling factor indicates a value less than 1. The method further comprises determining a transport block size (TBS) based on the MCS and the scaling factor indicated in the control message.

Abstract: A method for managing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The method may include receiving flight plan information describing a flight path of the UAV; generating one or more cell lists based on the flight plan information; and transmitting the one or more cell lists to a source cell in a wireless network in which the UAV is currently operating, wherein the one or more cell lists are used in a handover procedure between the source cell that the UAV is currently connected to and a target cell that the UAV will connect to after completing the handover procedure.

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 uplink transmission timing are provided. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a wireless device in a cellular communications network includes receiving a transmission, from a network node, in a downlink slot; determining a reference uplink slot index in an uplink frame timing of the wireless device where the reference uplink slot index corresponds to the downlink slot in which the transmission was received; and transmitting an uplink transmission in response to the received transmission in an uplink slot a number of slots, K, after the determined reference uplink slot index. This may enable transmission in satellite radio access networks by establishing the transmission timing relationships that are suitable for long propagation delays and the large differential delay in a spotbeam in satellite communications systems that may range from sub-milliseconds to tens of milliseconds.

Abstract: A method of scheduling Msg3 configuration by a network node may be provided. Information may be generated indicating transmission duration, DMRS configuration, and/or starting position for Msg3 sending by a user equipment, UE. Transmission of signaling of the information to the UE may be initiated for scheduling Msg3 transmission by the UE. A method of scheduling by the UE includes receiving information from the network node indicating transmission duration, DMRS configuration, and/or starting position for Msg3 transmission. The UE transmits Msg3 based on a schedule determined based on the information.

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 is performed by a wireless device. The method includes receiving, from a network, an indication for the wireless device to prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station. Each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites. The method further includes preparing to change from the first ground station to the second ground station. The method further includes communicating with the second ground station via the one or more satellites.

Abstract: A method in a user equipment is disclosed. The method comprises generating a narrowband random access preamble for a narrowband random access procedure, the narrowband random access preamble comprising a Zadoff-Chu sequence. The method comprises transmitting, to a network node, the generated narrowband random access preamble via a narrowband physical random access channel (PRACH) according to a narrowband PRACH format, wherein the narrowband PRACH is frequency multiplexed with a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and comprises: at least one narrowband PRACH slot having a narrowband PRACH slot duration; and a narrowband PRACH period.