Signaling of core network restart to wireless devices

A method in a radio access network node configured to interact with a plurality of wireless devices, the method comprising:

• determining that a network restart has occurred in a core network node in a pool of core network nodes;
• signaling, to the wireless devices, an indication that the network restart has occurred, wherein the signaling step further comprises:
• transmitting, to the wireless devices, Extended Coverage Synchronization Channel (EC-SCH) content where one or more of six spare bits therein are used to indicate that the network restart has occurred;
• and
• receiving, from at least one of the wireless devices, a re-registration message in response to the signaling of the indication that the network restart has occurred.

A wireless device configured to interact with a radio access network 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 radio access network node, an indication that a network restart has occurred in a core network node in a pool of core network nodes, wherein the receive operation further comprises:
• receive, from the radio access network node, Extended Coverage Synchronization Channel (EC-SCH) content where one or more of six spare bits therein are used to indicate that the network restart has occurred;
• and
• determine that the network restart has occurred;
• and
• transmit, to the radio access network node, a re-registration message in response to the determination that the network restart has occurred.

A method in a wireless device configured to interact with a radio access network node, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the radio access network node, an indication that a network restart has occurred in a core network node in a pool of core network nodes, wherein the receiving step further comprises:
• receiving, from the radio access network node, Extended Coverage Synchronization Channel (EC-SCH) content where one or more of six spare bits therein are used to indicate that the network restart has occurred;
• and
• determining that the network restart has occurred;
• and
• transmitting, to the radio access network node, a re-registration message in response to the determination that the network restart has occurred.