Network Nodes, A User Equipment and Methods Therein For Handling A Connection Between The User Equipment and a Wireless Communications Network

1. A method performed by a first network node for handling a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between a wireless device and a wireless communications network, which wireless communications network comprises the first network node, the method comprising: storing data related to the RRC connection, and further storing an identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data related to the RRC connection later, the identifier of the wireless device comprising a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI); providing the wireless device with a command to transition from a connected mode into a suspended mode, the command comprising the identifier of the wireless device, and in which suspended mode the RRC connection is suspended and the wireless device stores the data related to the RRC connection, and further stores the identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data later when resuming the RRC connection; receiving a message from the wireless device, which message indicates a request from the wireless device to resume the RRC connection and which received message comprises the identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data, wherein the identifier enables the first network node to locate the data related to the RRC connection; and resuming the RRC connection by transmitting a message to the wireless device, which transmitted message comprises the identifier of the wireless device, and further comprises an indication that a resumption of the RRC connection is complete, whereby the suspended RRC connection between the wireless device and the wireless communications network is resumed using the data related to the suspended RRC connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving further comprises: locating the stored data related to the RRC connection based on the received identifier of the wireless device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data related to the RRC connection is a UE context related to the RRC connection and the wireless device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message received from the wireless device comprises an indication of whether or not to resume data bearers.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network is a Long Term Evolution, LTE, network; the first network node is an evolved NodeB; the wireless device is a User Equipment, UE; the connection is a Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection; and messages between the first network node and the wireless device are transmitted with RRC signaling.

6. A first network node for handling a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between a wireless device and a wireless communications network, which wireless communications network comprises the first network node, the first network node is configured to: store data related to the RRC connection, and further to store an identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data related to the RRC connection later, the identifier of the wireless device comprising a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI); provide the wireless device with a command to transition from a connected mode into a suspended mode, the command comprising the identifier of the wireless device, and in which suspended mode the RRC connection is suspended and the wireless device stores the data related to the RRC connection, and further stores the identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data later when resuming the RRC connection; receive a message from the wireless device, which received message indicates a request from the wireless device to resume the RRC connection and which received message comprises the identifier of the wireless device, wherein the identifier enables the first network node to identify the data related to the RRC connection; and resume the RRC connection by being configured to transmit a message to the wireless device, which transmitted message comprises the identifier of the wireless device, and further comprises an indication that a resumption of the RRC connection is complete, whereby the suspended RRC connection between the wireless device and the wireless communications network is resumed using the data related to the suspended RRC connection.

7. The first network node according to claim 6, further configured to: identify the stored data related to the RRC connection based on the received identifier of the wireless device.

8. The first network node according to claim 6, wherein the data related to the RRC connection is a UE context related to the RRC connection and the wireless device.

9. The first network node according to claim 6, wherein the message received from the wireless device comprises an indication of whether or not to resume data bearers.

10. The first network node according to claim 6, wherein the wireless communications network is a Long Term Evolution, LTE, network; the first network node is an evolved NodeB; the wireless device is a User Equipment, UE; the connection is a Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection; and messages between the first network node and the wireless device are transmitted with RRC signaling.

11. A method performed by a wireless device for handling a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the wireless device and a wireless communications network, which wireless communications network comprises a first network node, the method comprising: receiving from the first network node a command to transition from a connected mode into a suspended mode, the command comprising an identifier of the wireless device, the identifier of the wireless device comprising a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI); transitioning into the suspended mode, in which suspended mode the RRC connection is suspended and the wireless device stores data related to the RRC connection, and further stores an the identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data related to the RRC connection later when resuming the RRC connection; transmitting a message to the first network node, which transmitted message indicates a request to resume the RRC connection and which transmitted message comprises the identifier of the wireless device; and receiving a message from the first network node, in response to the transmitted message, which received message comprises the identifier of the wireless device and an indication that a resumption of the RRC connection is complete, whereby the suspended RRC connection between the wireless device and the wireless communications network is resumed using the data related to the suspended RRC connection.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data related to the RRC connection is a UE context related to the RRC connection and the wireless device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted message comprises an indication of whether to resume data bearers.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless communications network is an Long Term Evolution, LTE, network; the first network node is an evolved NodeB; the wireless device is a User Equipment, UE; the connection is a Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection; and messages between the first network node and the wireless device are transmitted with RRC signaling.

15. A wireless device for handling a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the wireless device and a wireless communications network, which wireless communications network comprises a first network node, the wireless device is configured to: receive from the first network node a command to transition from a connected mode into a suspended mode, the command comprising an identifier of the wireless device, the identifier of the wireless device comprising a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI); transition into the suspended mode, in which suspended mode the RRC connection is suspended and the wireless device stores data related to the RRC connection, and further stores an the identifier of the wireless device for locating the stored data related to the RRC connection later when resuming the RRC connection; transmit a message to the first network node, which transmitted message indicates a request to resume the RRC connection and which message comprises the identifier of the wireless device; and receive a message from the first network node, in response to the transmitted message, which received message comprises the identifier of the wireless device and an indication that a resumption of the RRC connection is complete, whereby the suspended RRC connection between the wireless device and the wireless communications network is resumed using the data related to the RRC suspended connection.

16. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein the data related to the RRC connection is a UE context related to the RRC connection and the wireless device.

17. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein the transmitted message comprises an indication of whether to resume data bearers.

18. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communications network is an Long Term Evolution, LTE, network; the first network node is an evolved NodeB; the wireless device is a User Equipment, UE; the connection is a Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection; and messages between the first network node and the wireless device are transmitted with RRC signaling.