A method includes generating a payload container information element comprising two or more payload entries at user equipment in a communication system, and sending the payload container information element from the user equipment to at least one network element in the communication system. Another method includes receiving a payload container information element comprising two or more payload entries at a network function in a communication system from user equipment in the communication system, and decoding the two or more payload entries of the payload container information element into two or more individual payloads at the network function.

A system is disclosed in which a network entity determines whether a radio bearer should be maintained or released for a communications device. The communications device establishes the radio bearer via a base station of the communications system and communicates data using the established radio bearer. The communications device determines whether any further data is to be sent or received and/or whether a user-plane connection is required. The communications device then provides information to the network entity identifying a result of said determination for use in determining whether the radio bearer should be maintained or released.

A system is disclosed in which a network entity determines whether a radio bearer should be maintained or released for a communications device. The communications device establishes the radio bearer via a base station of the communications system and communicates data using the established radio bearer. The communications device determines whether any further data is to be sent or received and/or whether a user-plane connection is required. The communications device then provides information to the network entity identifying a result of said determination for use in determining whether the radio bearer should be maintained or released.

A method for providing system information (SI) performed by a base station (BS) is provided. The method includes: broadcasting a system information block type 1 (SIB1) associated with a cell; receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first message including a common control channel (CCCH) service data unit (SDU), the CCCH SDU including a radio resource control (RRC) SI request message; and transmitting, to the UE, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) including a UE contention resolution identity that matches a portion of the CCCH SDU. The MAC CE enables a MAC entity of the UE to indicate reception of an acknowledgment for the RRC SI request message to an RRC entity of the UE. The SIB1 does not include information related to a Random Access (RA) resource specific to SI requested by the RRC SI request message.

A method for providing system information (SI) performed by a base station (BS) is provided. The method includes: broadcasting a system information block type 1 (SIB1) associated with a cell; receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first message including a common control channel (CCCH) service data unit (SDU), the CCCH SDU including a radio resource control (RRC) SI request message; and transmitting, to the UE, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) including a UE contention resolution identity that matches a portion of the CCCH SDU. The MAC CE enables a MAC entity of the UE to indicate reception of an acknowledgment for the RRC SI request message to an RRC entity of the UE. The SIB1 does not include information related to a Random Access (RA) resource specific to SI requested by the RRC SI request message.

Blockchain technology is used to provide distributed authentication, entitlements and trust among different virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) elements. An enterprise blockchain with interfaces enables multi-vendor vRAN deployment across multiple service providers. In another embodiment, a method is provided for authenticating entities in a virtualized radio access network to ensure various entitles are in fact entitled to participate in various radio access network operations.

Blockchain technology is used to provide distributed authentication, entitlements and trust among different virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) elements. An enterprise blockchain with interfaces enables multi-vendor vRAN deployment across multiple service providers. In another embodiment, a method is provided for authenticating entities in a virtualized radio access network to ensure various entitles are in fact entitled to participate in various radio access network operations.

A method and an apparatus for wireless communications are provided. The method is performed by a UE and includes: reading system information of a plurality of cells on a first carrier frequency to obtain identification information of a plurality of PLMNs; reporting, by an AS entity of the UE, the identification information of the plurality of PLMNs to a NAS entity of the UE; selecting, by the NAS of the UE, one of the plurality of PLMNs as a selected PLMN; searching for the plurality of cells on the first carrier frequency during a cell selection procedure; and selecting a suitable cell belonging to the selected PLMN from the plurality of cells on the first carrier frequency based on the cell selection procedure.

A method and an apparatus for wireless communications are provided. The method is performed by a UE and includes: reading system information of a plurality of cells on a first carrier frequency to obtain identification information of a plurality of PLMNs; reporting, by an AS entity of the UE, the identification information of the plurality of PLMNs to a NAS entity of the UE; selecting, by the NAS of the UE, one of the plurality of PLMNs as a selected PLMN; searching for the plurality of cells on the first carrier frequency during a cell selection procedure; and selecting a suitable cell belonging to the selected PLMN from the plurality of cells on the first carrier frequency based on the cell selection procedure.

The preset disclosure provides an information processing method and device. The information processing method is performed by a user equipment (UE) operating in a single registration mode, and includes: receiving assistance information from a first network; initiating an attaching or initial registration procedure according to the assistance information received from the first network when moving between the first network and a second network, the first and second networks utilizing different access technologies.