An Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) communication system includes a GNB Central Unit Control Plane (GNB-CUCP) to establish a connection with a Near-RT RIC via an E2 interface; a User Equipment (UE); a plurality of cells in a Tracking Area (TA) of the GNB-CUCP; and an O-RAN Near-Real Time (Near-RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) to host an xApp and initiate a subscription procedure with the UE. The GNB-CUCP sends cell location information of the UE to the Near-RT RIC upon a UE context release procedure, the Near-RT RIC creates and maintains a record of the cell location information received from the GNB-CUCP via the xApp, and the GNB-CUCP pages the UE in a subset of cells from the plurality of cells in the TA, the subset of cells corresponding to the record of cell location information created and maintained by via the xApp.

A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving (401) a page request from a core network node, wherein the page request comprises an indication of a support level of the communication device (140), which support level indicates whether or not the communication device (140) supports a specific mode of operation of a RAT; and determining (402), based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area, or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

Adaptive paging techniques for EC-capable devices are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise at least one memory and logic for an evolved node B (eNB), at least a portion of the logic comprised in hardware coupled to the at least one memory, the logic to receive an S1 paging message comprising a user equipment (UE) identifier (ID) associated with a UE and an extended coverage (EC) capability indicator indicating that the UE is EC-capable and page the UE using an EC paging sequence based on receipt of the S1 paging message, the EC paging sequence to comprise a series of transmissions of a radio resource control (RRC) paging message, the logic to truncate the EC paging sequence based on a determination that the UE has responded to RRC paging. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Adaptive paging techniques for EC-capable devices are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise at least one memory and logic for an evolved node B (eNB), at least a portion of the logic comprised in hardware coupled to the at least one memory, the logic to receive an S1 paging message comprising a user equipment (UE) identifier (ID) associated with a UE and an extended coverage (EC) capability indicator indicating that the UE is EC-capable and page the UE using an EC paging sequence based on receipt of the S1 paging message, the EC paging sequence to comprise a series of transmissions of a radio resource control (RRC) paging message, the logic to truncate the EC paging sequence based on a determination that the UE has responded to RRC paging. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A radio access network (RAN) node, a wireless device and various methods are described herein for managing paging bandwidth. In one embodiment, the RAN node transmits a message (e.g., paging message, assignment message) to wireless devices, where the message comprises at least the following: (i) a page mode field which includes information indicating one or more coverage classes for which one or more paging messages were available for transmission during a time interval but were not transmitted to a plurality of wireless devices; and (ii) a used_downlink_coverage_class field which includes information indicating a coverage class associated with the transmitted message.

A radio access network (RAN) node, a wireless device and various methods are described herein for managing paging bandwidth. In one embodiment, the RAN node transmits a message (e.g., paging message, assignment message) to wireless devices, where the message comprises at least the following: (i) a page mode field which includes information indicating one or more coverage classes for which one or more paging messages were available for transmission during a time interval but were not transmitted to a plurality of wireless devices; and (ii) a used_downlink_coverage_class field which includes information indicating a coverage class associated with the transmitted message.

Exemplary embodiments including a method including determining a user equipment of a wireless communication network is in an autonomous mobility mode; receiving an indication from the wireless communication network of a data communication available for the user equipment; and based on the indication, establishing a connection between the user equipment and a network node of the wireless communication network. Apparatus, program products, and software to perform the exemplary embodiments are also disclosed.

Exemplary embodiments including a method including determining a user equipment of a wireless communication network is in an autonomous mobility mode; receiving an indication from the wireless communication network of a data communication available for the user equipment; and based on the indication, establishing a connection between the user equipment and a network node of the wireless communication network. Apparatus, program products, and software to perform the exemplary embodiments are also disclosed.

Managing of paging of a wireless device (120). A first network node of a wireless communication network (100) determines (203; 301) a code rate and/or transmit power for a present paging message based on a location in a sequence of paging messages. The location is associated with the present paging message. The first network node transmits (204; 302) the present paging message targeted for receipt by the wireless device (120). The present paging message commands the wireless device (120) to connect, or at least initiate connection, to the wireless communication network (100). The present paging message is being coded based on the determined code rate and/or being transmitted based on the determined transmit power.

Managing of paging of a wireless device (120). A first network node of a wireless communication network (100) determines (203; 301) a code rate and/or transmit power for a present paging message based on a location in a sequence of paging messages. The location is associated with the present paging message. The first network node transmits (204; 302) the present paging message targeted for receipt by the wireless device (120). The present paging message commands the wireless device (120) to connect, or at least initiate connection, to the wireless communication network (100). The present paging message is being coded based on the determined code rate and/or being transmitted based on the determined transmit power.