Abstract: A method of dynamic spectrum sharing mechanism called listen-before-talk (LBT) is proposed for uplink transmission in Licensed Assisted Access (LAA). A maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) including downlink (DL) transmission from one eNB and uplink (UL) transmission to the same eNB is introduced. A transmission sequence is defined as a number of subframes including possible partial subframes for DL and/or UL within a MCOT. The transmission in the first subframe among the transmission sequence is conducted after a Category 4 LBT. The transmission sequence within the MCOT can be initiated by either a DL transmission or an UL transmission. After the first subframe in a transmission sequence, LBT for another transmission is a fast DL LBT and/or fast UL LBT. Further, a Category 4 LBT can be converted to a short LBT (e.g., one shot CCA) for more efficient channel access.

Abstract: A method of channel access procedure and QoS provisioning is proposed. When more than one user equipments (UEs) contend uplink transmission for a given time slot in an unlicensed band, uplink listen-before-talk (LBT) scheme should perform in a proper way to reflect service prioritization. The base station first determines the Channel Access Priority (CAP) for uplink LBT, and then signals such CAP to the UE via PDCCH. Upon receiving the CAP, the UE performs LBT procedure with corresponding CAP before uplink transmission. For example, the CAP can be determined based on QoS class identifier (QCI) of the radio bearer or based on the MAC layer logical channel prioritization (LCP).

Abstract: A novel and efficient multi-carrier operation mechanism is proposed to maintain the capacity and reliability for NB-IOT systems. First, the functional separation on anchor NB-IOT carrier and data NB-IOT carriers is defined. Transportation of system broadcast information, including synchronization signal (NB-PSS/NB-SSS) and NB-MIB (NB-PBCH) and paging are on anchor carrier, RACH procedure and Data transmission and reception are on data carrier. Second, UE switching between anchor and data carriers. UE on anchor carrier switches to data carrier via paging, RRC signaling or cross-carrier scheduling. On the other hand, UE on data carrier switches back to anchor carrier after transmission or reception complete (right-after or after time-out).

Abstract: A method of inter-RAT failure event report is proposed. A UE detects a failure event in a first cell served by a first base station, and the first cell belongs to a first RAT. The failure event may include a radio link failure or a handover failure. The UE then performs an RRC establishment procedure with a second cell served by a second base station, and the second cell belongs to a second RAT. After the RRC establishment, the UE transmits a failure event report to the wireless network. The failure event can be a radio link failure, or be associated with a mobility command such as a handover command. By providing more reliable information in the failure event report than a network solution could provide, inter-RAT mobility performance can be improved.

Abstract: A method of reporting UE measurement state information in RLF report is provided. A UE performs radio measurements of a serving cell and neighbor cells in a mobile communication network. The UE evaluates a measurement reporting criteria and attempts to access the network to deliver a measurement report if the criteria is met. The UE then detects a radio link failure or a handover failure event and reconnects to the network by performing RRC reestablishment or RRC establishment. Finally, the UE transmits a failure event report to the network. The failure event report comprises UE measurement state information corresponds to the failure event. The UE measurement state information helps the network to determine whether to apply corrective actions to mitigate the failure.

Abstract: An effective SCELL activation procedure is proposed to reduce the SCELL activation time. For carrier aggregation, a secondary cell (SCELL) needs to be configured and then activated before a UE can perform normal operation. In a first embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a list of candidate SCELLs before SCELL configuration. In a second embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a configured SCELL with high priority after the SCELL is configured. In a third embodiment, the UE performs deactivated-state SCELL measurements with adaptive SCELL measurement interval based on a configured measurement cycle and a state machine. Small SCELL activation time allows energy saving and network scheduling gain.

Abstract: Methods of MDT information logging and reporting are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided to resolve shortcomings of prior art by correlating UL measurements with QoS information to enable UL performance analysis and accurate detection of coverage problems. In another embodiment, a method is provided to resolve the shortcomings of the prior art by making DL measurements and location information collecting or logging conditional on UL measurements.

Abstract: Network-assisted solutions are provided to maintain MBMS service continuity, to provide efficient localized MBMS service, and to achieve intelligent MBMS service management. In a first embodiment, a source eNB acquires MBMS information of neighbor cells and acquires MBMS reception/interest status information of a UE. Based on the acquired information, the source eNB makes handover decision for the UE to handover to a selected target cell and maintain MBMS service continuity. In a second embodiment, location information of a localized MBMS service is provided to a UE. Based on the location information, the UE is able to receive the localized MBMS service with minimum power consumption. In a third embodiment, an MBMS counting procedure is provided for an eNB to count the number of UEs that are receiving or are interested in MBMS service(s). Based on the counting result, the MBMS service(s) can be enabled or disabled accordingly.

Abstract: A communications apparatus includes a radio module providing a predetermined wireless communications service and communicating with a peer communications apparatus in a predetermined frequency band in compliance with a predetermined protocol. The radio module includes a processor. The processor determines a maximum packet transmission duration, transmits information regarding the maximum packet transmission duration to the peer communications apparatus and negotiates a preferred packet transmission duration with the peer communications apparatus.

Abstract: An enhanced connection recovery upon lost RRC connection due to radio link failure (RLF) or handover failure (HOF) is proposed. A UE first establishes an RRC connection in a source cell in a mobile communication network. Later on, the UE detects a failure event and starts an RRC reestablishment procedure in a target cell to restore the RRC connection. In a first novel aspect, a fast RLF process is applied to reduce the outage time in the serving cell. In a second novel aspect, an enhanced cell selection mechanism based on cell prioritization information is applied to reduce the outage time in the target cell. In one embodiment, multi-RAT registration is used to steer cell selection.

Abstract: Methods of multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary connection is established between a UE and a primary base station in a primary cell with a first UE-ID. A second connection is configured between the UE and a second base station in a secondary cell with a second UE-ID. Component carriers from the primary and the second connections are configured and aggregated. Mobility management functions are performed on the primary connection. In another embodiment of the current invention, a first UE data is received from a primary connection with a UE connecting to a first base station, a second UE data is received from a second base station. The first UE data and the second UE data are combined. A third UE data from a network entity is distributed to the first and the second base station.

Abstract: A method of inter-RAT failure event report is proposed. A UE detects a failure event in a first cell served by a first base station, and the first cell belongs to a first RAT. The failure event may include a radio link failure or a handover failure. The UE then performs an RRC establishment procedure with a second cell served by a second base station, and the second cell belongs to a second RAT. After the RRC establishment, the UE transmits a failure event report to the wireless network. The failure event can be a radio link failure, or be associated with a mobility command such as a handover command. By providing more reliable information in the failure event report than a network solution could provide, inter-RAT mobility performance can be improved.

Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption when a communications apparatus establishes voice communications with another communications apparatus includes estimating a voice quality perceived by a user of the another communications apparatus; determining whether the estimated voice quality is higher than a predetermined threshold; and adjusting at least one parameter utilized for processing a plurality of voice packets to be transmitted to the another communications apparatus according to the estimated voice quality to reduce the power consumption when the estimated voice quality is higher than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In a communications apparatus first radio module communicates with a first wireless network and provides wireless communication services in compliance with a first RAT. A second radio module communicates with a second wireless network and provides wireless communication services in compliance with a second RAT. At least two antennas are shared by the first radio module and the second radio module. When the first radio module operates in an idle mode and when the timing of the first radio module performing a first receiving activity coincides with the timing of the second radio module performing a second receiving activity, the second radio module uses the antennas to perform the second receiving activity when a DRX cycle duration of the first radio module in the idle mode is shorter than a DRX cycle duration of the second radio module.

Abstract: Methods of multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary connection is established between a UE and a primary base station in a primary cell with a first UE-ID. A second connection is configured between the UE and a second base station in a secondary cell with a second UE-ID. Component carriers from the primary and the second connections are configured and aggregated. Mobility management functions are performed on the primary connection. In another embodiment of the current invention, a first UE data is received from a primary connection with a UE connecting to a first base station, a second UE data is received from a second base station. The first UE data and the second UE data are combined. A third UE data from a network entity is distributed to the first and the second base station.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) receives and decodes a first erroneous transport block (TB) from a base station in a mobile communication network. The UE allocates a first soft buffer having a first buffer size. The first soft buffer is associated with a first HARQ process for storing the first TB. The UE then receives and decodes a second erroneous TB from the base station. The UE allocates a second soft buffer having a second buffer size. The second soft buffer is associated with a second HARQ process for storing the second TB. The UE releases a portion of the first soft buffer to be allocated as part of the second soft buffer. The dynamic buffer allocation method reduces mismatch between rate matching and soft buffer storing when the total number of HARQ processes is small. In addition, more HARQ processes can be supported when the corresponding TB size is small.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast EPS bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitter assisted Quality of Service (QoS) measurement. Time information is generated by the transmitter and transmitted along with a data transmission. A receiving device determines a QoS measurement based upon the time information and the received data. The time information indicates when the data was made available for transmission, which data transmission blocks belong to a single data transmission, and when a transmitter buffer was emptied. The QOS measurements are performance measurement such as, latency measurements and throughput measurements. The time information indicates a time reference relative to the timing of a wireless interface. The time reference is a System Frame Number (SFN), a Connection Frame Number (CFN), a relative count of frame numbers, a count of sub-frames, or a count of Time Transmission Intervals (TTIs). An aggregated QOS measurement is generated based upon the QOS measurement.

Abstract: Methods to manage multiple component carriers (CCs) efficiently in a mobile network with carrier aggregation (CA) enabled are proposed. For CC activation/deactivation, a single LCID value is used to represent both activation and deactivation command. A single command with multiple instructions is provided to activate and/or deactivate multiple CCs. In addition, unnecessary re-activation or re-inactivation of a CC is prevented, and explicit feedback for activation/deactivation is considered. For scheduling mechanism, a novel buffer status reporting (BSR) procedure is provided, where only one BSR is calculated after preparing all the transport blocks (TB) within one transmission time interval (TTI). Novel power headroom reporting (PHR) format and trigger are also provided. For DL-UL linking, various linking types are created based on whether there is carrier indicator field (CIF) in DL grant or UL grant.

Abstract: An enhanced connection recovery upon lost RRC connection due to radio link failure (RLF) or handover failure (HOF) is proposed. A UE first establishes an RRC connection in a source cell in a mobile communication network. Later on, the UE detects a failure event and starts an RRC reestablishment procedure in a target cell to restore the RRC connection. In a first novel aspect, a fast NAS recovery process is applied to reduce the outage time in the target cell. In a second novel aspect, context fetching is used to reduce the outage time in the target cell. In a third novel aspect, a loss-less reestablishment procedure is proposed to reduce data loss during the connection recovery.