Abstract: Network nodes and methods therein for handling masked International Mobile station Equipment Identity and Software Version Number (IMEISV) information for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network are disclosed. A core 5 network node receives (409) a message via Control Plane (CP) signalling from a network node and sends (410) a message comprising masked IMEISV information for the UE via the CP signaling to the network node. The network node receives the message comprising masked IMEISV information for the UE via the CP signalling from the core network node and determines characteristics of the UE for 10 subsequent handling based on the masked IMEISV information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for signaling for extended Reality (XR) awareness are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a Centralized Unit (CU) of a base station includes: providing information to a Distributed Unit (DU) of the base station to indicate which groups of Radio Link Control (RLC) Service Data Units (SDUs) belong to a unique Application Data Unit (ADU) which needs to be delivered within the same time budget; and adding ADU related information on each Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) to allow RLC entity to be aware which RLC SDU belongs to which ADU. In this way, a RAN can discard a set of packets together which are no longer valid for the application. This results in network resources not being wasted and better management of the network capacity. This allows the network to more efficiently manage the resources and its scheduler.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for exchanging Sidelink (SL) User Equipment (UE) context and configurations between a Master Node (MN) and a Secondary node (SN), e.g., in normal Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) operations. In some embodiments, the SL UE context and configuration are exchanged between the MN and the SN via inter-node Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages. In this way, the two network nodes (the MN and the SN) are aware of the SL transmission going on under their coverage and can take the necessary actions to guarantee a stable and reliable SL connectivity.

Abstract: The invention refers to method and devices for on demand paging for executing a sidelink relay path switch, the method including: Receiving a message from a remote user equipment, UE, including a measurement report and a list of candidate relay UEs; Selecting a target relay UE for the sidelink relay path switch from the list of candidate relay UEs; and performing one of: Transmitting a paging request to an entity of a core network, CN, including instructions to page or instruct the target relay UE to transit to an RRC_CONNECTED state for sidelink relay path switch purposes; and Transmitting a paging request to the target relay UE, including a request or instructions to transit to an RRC_CONNECTED state for sidelink relay path switch purposes.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network node. The first network node operates in a communications network. The method is for handling a measurement configuration. The first network node sends an indication to a second network node operating in the communications network. The indication indicates a transmission status of one or more Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) configurations of the first network node. The second network node receives the indication. The third network node receives another indication from the second network node. The third network node is managed by the second network node. The another indication indicates a transmission status of the one or more CSI-RS configurations of the first network node and configures the wireless device based on the received other indication.

Abstract: A method performed by a first Radio Access Network. RAN node is provided. The method is for handling supported Information Elements (IEs) related to a procedure involving a number of network nodes, towards a second RAN node in a wireless communications system. The first RAN node sends (301) a first indication towards the second RAN node. The first indication indicates whether or not one or more first IEs, that are part of the procedure are supported by the first RAN node during the procedure. The first RAN node receives (302) a response comprising a second indication from the second RAN node. The second indication indicates whether or not one or more second IEs that are part of the procedure are supported by the second RAN node during the procedure.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node (10-1, 10-2) in a communication network (10) is disclosed. The network node (10-1, 10-2) transmits or receives (1100) messages (M) through a tunnel (T) with another network node (10-1, 10-2). In some embodiments, the messages (M) convey user plane traffic (14). In some embodiments, one or more of the messages (M) each include information (16) indicating one or more characteristics of the user plane traffic (14). In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic (14) and/or a burst arrival time of the user plane traffic (14).

Abstract: Systems and methods for relocating network nodes are provided herein. A network node can determine that relocation of at least one access node in the access network is required. An access node, such an IAB node with mobile capabilities, can be selected to be relocated from a first position to a second position. Relocation messages and parameters can be signaled between the network and the access node.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network node. The method includes, receiving, from a second network node, a configuration request message for on-demand positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration with at least a first transmission and reception point (TRP) associated with the first network node, wherein the configuration request message comprises an extended PRS repetition factor value for the first TRP.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a centralized unit (CU) of a radio access network (RAN) node. Such methods include sending, to a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN node, a request for one or more timing advance (TA) measurements for a user equipment (UE) with respect to one or more cells served by the DU. Such methods include receiving from the DU one or more responses that include the respective one or more TA measurements and for each received TA measurement, determining a corresponding downlink (DL) propagation delay (PD) between the DU and the UE. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a DU of a RAN node, as well as CUs and DUs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for sending, receiving, and processing a positioning measurement request including a number of paths in a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method performed by a base station for exchange of messages related to a location of a User Equipment (UE) with a Location Management Function (LMF) comprises receiving a measurement request from the LMF, the measurement request comprising information that indicates a desired number of reported path measurements between the base station and the UE. The method further comprises performing measurements on paths between the base station and the UE, generating a measurement response message comprising results of the measurements for the desired number of reported path measurements, and transmitting the measurement response message to the LMF.

Abstract: Methods may be provided to operate radio access network RAN nodes in a wireless communication network. For example, resource coordination information may be transmitted from a first RAN node to a second RAN node, wherein the resource coordination information defines at least one communication resource that is available for a wireless terminal to use for sidelink communication. According to some other embodiments, resource coordination information may be received at a first RAN node from a second RAN node, wherein the resource coordination information defines at least one communication resource that is available for a wireless terminal to use for sidelink communication. Related RAN nodes, computer programs, and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: A network node (12B) receives, from another network node (12A), an indication (14) of a type of, capability of, configuration of, and/or feature supported by a wireless communication device (16) to be paged. The indication (14) may for example indicate whether, or that, the wireless communication device (16) to be paged is a Reduced Capability, RedCap, User Equipment, UE. Regardless, the network node (12B) makes a paging decision (22) based on the received indication (14) and controls paging of the wireless communication device (16) according to the paging decision (22).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for signaling Reduced Capability (RedCap) wireless communication device (WCD) capability during inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) handover. In one embodiment, a method performed by a target network node for inter-RAT handover of a WCD from a source network node of a first RAT to the target network node of a second RAT comprises receiving, at the target network node, a message in association with preparation or execution of a handover of a WCD from the source network node of the first RAT to the target network node of the second RAT, the message comprising information about one or more capabilities of the WCD. The method further comprises determining that the WCD is a RedCap WCD based on the information about the one or more capabilities of the WCD and sending an indication that the WCD is a RedCap WCD to a core network node.

Abstract: A radio network node (14) is configured for use in a wireless communication network (10). The radio network node (14) transmits, to a location server, signaling (18) indicating one or more time occasions (22) reserved by the radio network node (14) for positioning reference signal, PRS, transmission (16). In some embodiments, the radio network node (14) performs PRS transmission (16) in the one or more time occasions (22) indicated. The radio network node (14) may correspondingly refrain from scheduling any transmission other than PRS transmission (16) in the one or more time occasions (22) indicated as reserved for PRS transmission (16), or drop any transmission other than PRS transmission (16) scheduled for transmission in the one or more time occasions (22) indicated as reserved for PRS transmission (16).

Abstract: A performed by a first node (111). The method is for handling wireless devices (130). The first node (111) operates in a communications network (100). The first node (111) determines (202) whether or not a second network node (112) comprised in the communications network (100) accepts to serve wireless devices (130) of a first type. The first node (111) then performs (203) a first action based on a result of the determination. In a method performed by the second network node (112), the second network node (112) sends (301) an indication to the first network node (111). The indication indicates whether or not the second network node (112) accepts to serve the wireless devices (130) of the first type. A first wireless device (131) operating in a communications network (100), sends (401) the indication to the first network node (111). The indication indicates whether the second network node (112) accepts to serve the wireless devices (130).

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and configuring periodization of PRS measurements. An access node receives a configuration request to configure a positioning reference signal (PRS) measurement window and determines whether to configure the measurement window in accordance with a priority associated with the PRS measurement. The access node can acknowledge the success or failure of configuring the PRS measurement window.

Abstract: A radio network node (14) is split into a centralized unit (14A) and one or more distributed units in a radio access network (10). A distributed unit (14B) of the radio network node (14) transmits, to the centralized unit (14A), information (20) indicating that a wireless communication device (12) is a Reduced Capability, RedCap, User Equipment, UE. The information (20) may be transmitted, for example, in a RedCap Indication information element of a message transmitted to the centralized unit (14A), e.g., in INITIAL UL RRC MESSAGE TRANSFER message.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a centralized unit (CU) of a radio access network (RAN) node that is associated with one or more transmission reception points (TRPs). Such methods include receiving, from a positioning node associated with the RAN, a first positioning reference signal (PRS) activity report that includes information about PRS transmitted by TRPs associated with one or more distributed units (DUs) of the RAN node. Such methods include associating the information in the first PRS activity report with respective DUs of the RAN node and sending to the DUs respective second PRS activity reports that include the information associated with the respective DUs. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a DU of a RAN node, as well as CUs and DUs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a second radio access network (RAN) node configured to support positioning of user equipment (UEs) in the RAN. Such methods include receiving, from a UE, a request to resume the UE's connection to the RAN that is currently suspended. The request includes a first indication that UE had an ongoing positioning procedure with a first RAN node before the UE's connection to the RAN was suspended, and/or a second indication that the UE reported positioning measurements to the first RAN node before the UE's connection was suspended. Such methods include retrieving, from the first RAN node, positioning measurements made by the first RAN node during the positioning procedure and continuing the positioning procedure for the UE while the UE is connected to the RAN via the second RAN node. Other embodiments include complementary methods for the UE, the first RAN node, and a positioning node.