Methods for data dropping for time-critical communication during handover

A target network node configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, and a source network node, the target network node being configured to:

• receive, from the source network node, timing information associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, resource, the PDCP resource corresponding to a packet scheduled for downlink transmission from the source network node or uplink transmission from the WD;
• determine, after a handover request has been transmitted by the source network node, whether to discard or cause the WD to discard the PDCP resource or the packet based on the timing information;
• and
• one of discard or cause the WD to discard the PDCP resource or the packet based on the determination.

A method in a target network node configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, and a source network node, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the source network node, timing information associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, resource, the PDCP resource corresponding to a packet scheduled for downlink transmission from the source network node or uplink transmission from the WD;
• determining, after a handover request has been transmitted by the source network node, whether to discard or cause the WD to discard the PDCP resource or the packet based on the timing information;
• and
• one of discarding or causing the WD to discard the PDCP resource or the packet based on the determination.

A wireless device, WD, configured to communicate with a source network node and a target network node, the WD being configured to:

• perform a handover of the WD from the source network node to the target network node, the target network node having received, from the source network node, timing information associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, resource, the PDCP resource corresponding to a packet scheduled for downlink transmission from the source network node or uplink transmission from the WD;
• receive, from the target network node, an indication to discard the PDCP resource or the packet, the indication being transmitted based on the timing information;
• and
• discard the PDCP resource or the packet based on the indication.

A method in a wireless device, WD, configured to communicate with a source network node and a target network node, the method comprising:

• performing a handover of the WD from the source network node to the target network node, the target network node having received, from the source network node, timing information associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, resource, the PDCP resource corresponding to a packet scheduled for downlink transmission from the source network node or uplink transmission from the WD;
• receiving, from the target network node, an indication to discard the PDCP resource or the packet, the indication being transmitted based on the timing information;
• and
• discarding the PDCP resource or the packet based on the indication.