Gsm evolution packet data traffic channel resource transmission management - flexible downlink allocation technique

A method in a radio access network (RAN) node configured to interact with a core network (CN) node and a wireless device that is operating in extended coverage, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the CN node, a paging request message associated with the wireless device;
• transmitting, to the wireless device, multiple repetitions of a page message;
• receiving, from the wireless device, multiple repetitions of an access request message requesting resources for transmitting a page response message;
• transmitting, to the wireless device, multiple repetitions of an uplink assignment message, wherein the uplink assignment message comprises:
• an indication of a number of pre-allocated radio block(s) on a packet data traffic channel;
• and
• an indication (NTX, UL) of an Uplink (UL) coverage class;
• and
• receiving, from the wireless device, multiple repetitions of a page response message, wherein the page response message comprises:
• uplink payload, wherein the uplink payload is received in the pre-allocated radio block(s), and wherein the page response message is repeated according to the UL coverage class.

A wireless device that is operating in extended coverage and configured to interact with a radio access network (RAN) node, the wireless device comprising:

• a processor;
• and,
• a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless device is operable to:
• receive, from the RAN node, multiple repetitions of a page message;
• transmit, to the RAN node, multiple repetitions of an access request message requesting resources for transmitting a page response message;
• receive, from the RAN node, multiple repetitions of an uplink assignment message, wherein the uplink assignment message comprises at least:
• an indication of a number of pre-allocated radio block(s);
• and
• an indication (NTX, UL) of an Uplink (UL) coverage class;
• and
• transmit, to the RAN node, multiple repetitions of a page response message, wherein the page response message comprises:
• uplink payload, wherein the uplink payload is transmitted in the pre-allocated radio block(s), and wherein the page response message is repeated according to the UL coverage class.

A method in a wireless device that is operating in extended coverage and configured to interact with a radio access network (RAN) node, the method comprising:

• receive, from the RAN node, multiple repetitions of a page message;
• transmit, to the RAN node, multiple repetitions of an access request message requesting resources for transmitting a page response message;
• receive, from the RAN node, multiple repetitions of an uplink assignment message, wherein the uplink assignment message comprises at least:
• an indication of a number of pre-allocated radio block(s);
• and
• an indication (NTX, UL) of an Uplink (UL) coverage class;
• and
• transmit, to the RAN node, multiple repetitions of a page response message, wherein the page response message comprises:
• uplink payload, wherein the uplink payload is transmitted in the pre-allocated radio block(s), and wherein the page response message is repeated according to the UL coverage class.