Methods, Communication Devices and Network Nodes for Enhancing Communication in a Wireless Communication Network

A method performed by a communication device for enhancing wireless communication with a network node of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the network node, a first timing advance (TA) value at a first time point when in the communication devices is in an active state, prior to switching to an inactive state;
• subsequently switching from the inactive state to the active state, after obtaining an indication of data transfer;
• determining, after switching to the active state, whether the first TA value is still valid;
• employing the first TA value for sending data to the network node based on determining the first TA value to be still valid;
• and
• employing an updated TA value for sending data to the network node based on determining that the first TA value not to be still valid.

A method performed by a network node a wireless communication network, for enhancing wireless communication with a communication device, comprising:

• sending, to the communication device, a first TA value at a first time point when the communication device is in an active state;
• and
• sending, to the communication device, at a time point later than the first time point, an instruction to determine whether the first TA value is still valid, and to employ the first TA value for sending data to the network node in accordance with the determination,
• wherein sending the instruction is triggered by an indication that a load of the communication network is above a threshold.

A communication device operable for communication with a network node of a wireless communication network, the communication device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the communication device is configured to:
• receive, from the network node, a first timing advance (TA) value at a first time point when in the communication devices is in an active state, prior to switching to an inactive state;
• subsequently switch from the inactive state to the active state, after obtaining an indication of data transfer;
• determine, after switching to the active state, whether the first TA value is still valid;
• employ the first TA value for sending data to the network node based on determining the first TA value to be still valid;
• and
• employ an updated TA value for sending data to the network node based on determining that the first TA value not to be still valid.

A network node operable in a wireless communication system configured for enhancing wireless communication with a communication device, the network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the network node is configured to:
• send, to the communication device, a first TA value at a first time point when the communication device is in an active state, and
• send, to the communication device, at a time point later than the first time point, an instruction to determine whether the first TA value is still valid, and to employ the first TA value for sending data to the network node in accordance with the determination,
• wherein sending the instruction is triggered by an indication that a load of the communication network is above a threshold.