CN117694000A

CN117694000A - Activation of semi-persistent scheduling

Info

Publication number: CN117694000A
Application number: CN202180100750.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑迺铮; V·保利; D·纳夫拉蒂尔; A·普拉萨德; U·B·埃尔马里; D·布哈图劳
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Priority date: 2021-05-19
Filing date: 2021-05-19
Publication date: 2024-03-12
Also published as: WO2022241688A1; EP4342247A1

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to activation of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS). An apparatus receives configuration information from a network element. The configuration information indicates at least a pattern of occasions on which the downlink control information DCI is to be transmitted. The DCI indicates a deactivated state or an activated state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling SPS data transmission process. The apparatus receives DCI from a network element based on configuration information. By this scheme, the reliability of SPS activation may be improved.

Description

Activation of semi-persistent scheduling

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of telecommunications and, more particularly, relate to an apparatus, method, device, and computer readable storage medium for activation of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS).

Background

SPS is attractive for using periodic traffic because it saves control signaling overhead. According to SPS, not every transmission on a downlink shared channel is individually scheduled by information transmitted on a corresponding downlink control channel. Instead, a periodic pattern of resources is allocated for reuse until further notification.

In SPS, what is still needed to be transmitted on the control channel is control information for activating the SPS transmission process. If control information is lost and no feedback is provided indicating the loss, all subsequent SPS transmissions will be lost.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide schemes for SPS activation. Embodiments, if any, that do not fall within the scope of the claims should be construed as examples for understanding the various embodiments of the disclosure.

In a first aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of opportunities over which Downlink Control Information (DCI) is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS data transmission process; and receiving DCI from the network element based on the configuration information.

In a second aspect, a network element is provided. The network element includes at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network element to: transmitting configuration information to the user equipment, the configuration information indicating at least a mode of a timing at which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission process; and transmitting the DCI to the user equipment based on the configuration information.

In a third aspect, a method implemented at an apparatus is provided. The method comprises the following steps: at the user equipment, receiving configuration information from the network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and receiving DCI from the network element based on the configuration information.

In a fourth aspect, a method implemented at a network element is provided. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting configuration information from the network element to the user equipment, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and transmitting the DCI to the user equipment based on the configuration information.

In a fifth aspect, an apparatus is provided. The device comprises: means for receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and means for receiving DCI from the network element based on the configuration information.

In a sixth aspect, an apparatus is provided. The device comprises: means for transmitting configuration information to the user equipment, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and means for transmitting the DCI to the user equipment based on the configuration information.

In a seventh aspect, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium comprises program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

It should be understood that the summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description.

Drawings

Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

Fig. 2 illustrates signaling flows for activation of an SPS transmission process according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 shows an example of a pattern of occasions on which DCI is to be transmitted;

fig. 4 shows another example of a pattern of occasions over which DCI is to be transmitted;

fig. 5A shows yet another example of a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted;

fig. 5B shows yet another example of a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted;

fig. 5C shows another example of a pattern of occasions over which DCI is to be transmitted;

fig. 6 shows an example of delay due to mismatch between packet arrival and timing of DCI;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at an apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network element according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus suitable for practicing the example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

fig. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer-readable medium, according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

The same or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements.

Detailed Description

Principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only and to assist those skilled in the art in understanding and practicing the present disclosure without implying any limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein may be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

References in the present disclosure to "one embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first" and "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, and, unlike a second element, a second element could be termed a first element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "having," "containing," and/or "including" when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used in this application, the term "circuit" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(A) Hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog and/or digital circuits only), and

(B) A combination of hardware circuitry and software, for example (as applicable):

(i) Combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuitry and software/firmware

(ii) A hardware processor (including a digital signal processor) having software, any portion of the software and memory that work together to cause a device such as a mobile phone or server to perform various functions), and

(c) Hardware circuitry and/or a processor (e.g., a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor) that requires software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but when software is not required to operate, the software may not be present.

This definition of circuit applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As another example, as used in this application, the term circuit also encompasses an implementation of only a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or its) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also encompasses, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network that conforms to any suitable communication standard, such as New Radio (NR), long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-a), wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), high Speed Packet Access (HSPA), narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), and the like. Furthermore, communication between a terminal device and a network device in a communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocol, including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G,2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocol currently known or developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. In view of the rapid development of communications, there are of course future types of communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be implemented. It should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention to only the above-described systems.

As used herein, the term "network device" refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. Depending on the terminology and technology applied, a network device may refer to a Base Station (BS) or Access Point (AP), e.g., a node B (node B or NB), an evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB), an NRNB (also known as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a Radio Head (RH), a Remote Radio Head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated and Access Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto base station, a pico base station, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or a non-terrestrial network device, such as a satellite network device, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, etc.

The term "terminal device" refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communication. By way of example and not limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user Equipment (UE), subscriber Station (SS), portable subscriber station, mobile Station (MS), or Access Terminal (AT). The terminal devices may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, tablet computers, wearable terminal devices, personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), portable computers, desktop computers, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback devices, in-vehicle wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop embedded devices (LEEs), laptop mounted devices (LMEs), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless client devices (CPE), internet of things (IoT) devices, watches or other wearable devices, head Mounted Displays (HMDs), vehicles, targets, medical devices and applications (e.g., tele-surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or automated processing chain environment, consumer electronic devices, devices operating on a commercial and/or industrial wireless network, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices may communicate with network element 120, the plurality of communication devices including one or more apparatuses 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, 110-4. For purposes of discussion, devices 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4 are collectively referred to as devices 110 or individually as devices 110.

In the example of fig. 1, the apparatus 110 is shown as a terminal device, and the network element 120 is shown as a network device serving the terminal device. The service area of network element 120 may be referred to as cell 102.

It should be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in fig. 1 is for illustration purposes only and does not imply any limitation. Environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it is to be appreciated that one or more additional devices can reside within the cell 102 and that one or more additional cells can be deployed within the environment 100. Note that although illustrated as a terminal device, the apparatus 110 may be other devices than a terminal device.

Communication in communication environment 100 may be implemented in accordance with any suitable communication protocol including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), etc., cellular communication protocols, wireless local area network communication protocols such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, etc., and/or any other protocol currently known or developed in the future. Further, the communication may utilize any suitable wireless communication technology including, but not limited to: code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), frequency Division Duplex (FDD), time Division Duplex (TDD), multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), discrete fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), and/or any other technique currently known or developed in the future.

In communication environment 100, network element 120 may transmit Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) traffic to devices 110 on semi-persistently allocated radio resources. For example, network element 120 may send MBS traffic using SPS.

To enable the SPS transmit process, network element 120 may send configuration information for the SPS transmit process to device 110. For descriptive purposes, configuration information of the SPS transmission process is also referred to hereinafter as SPS configuration. Multiple SPS configurations may be configured in one bandwidth part (BWP) of the serving cell. The SPS configuration may be carried by an SPS-Config cell (IE). Table 1 shows an example of SPS-Config IE.

TABLE 1

It should be noted that the "periodicity" configured in table 1 is for SPS Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmissions. Details of the "period" in table 1 can be found in TS38.214 and TS 38.321. However, the various embodiments in this disclosure may be applied to SPS transmissions for any data channel.

Each SPS configuration may be signaled to apparatus 110 using Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, and identified using SPS configuration index. The SPS transmission process may be activated by using control information such as Downlink Control Information (DCI). Once the SPS configuration is signaled to the device 110 and the SPS transmit process is activated, the device 110 will monitor PDSCH occasions with the configured periodicity and will not need additional control signaling from the network element 120 until the SPS configuration is modified or disabled.

The communication environment 100 may support a Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) -only hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback mode. However, for NACK-only HARQ feedback mode, the reliability of activation of the SPS transmission process may be low.

For example, if one of the devices 110 (e.g., device 110-1) misses a DCI for activating an SPS transmission process, it means that the network element 120 sent the DCI to the devices 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4 via dynamic signaling to activate the SPS group common transmission process, but the device 110-1 never received the DCI. For the worst case of NACK-only HARQ feedback mode, if some other device has correctly received the DCI, the apparatus 110-1 missing the DCI cannot achieve SPS transmission.

Conventionally, acknowledgement (ACK)/NACK HARQ feedback sent by a device on allocated Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resources in response to one or more periodic PDSCH TBs following the DCI indicates to a network element that the device has successfully received DCI for activating an SPS transmission procedure. Thus, there is no explicit acknowledgement from the device from which the DCI was received. Instead, the network element relies on ACK/NACK feedback provided by the device upon receipt of a subsequent PDSCH TB sent in a periodic manner.

However, in the case of point-to-multipoint (PTM), and if only the HARQ feedback mode of NACK is used as the HARQ feedback mechanism, the DCI-missing device 110-1 cannot implement SPS transmission. Thus, the network element cannot distinguish between ACK and discontinuous reception (DTX) because the device does not send HARQ feedback in both cases. Further, since PUCCH resources providing HARQ feedback are group-common PUCCH resources, a network element cannot understand whether a specific device successfully receives DCI for activating an SPS transmission process.

According to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, a scheme for activation of SPS transmission processes is provided. In this scheme, the device receives configuration information from a network element. The configuration information indicates at least a pattern of occasions over which the DCI is to be transmitted. The DCI indicates a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS transmission process. The apparatus receives the DCI from the network element based on the configuration information. By this scheme, the reliability of SPS activation may be improved.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to fig. 2, fig. 2 illustrates a signaling flow 200 for activation of an SPS transmission process according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For discussion purposes, signaling flow 200 will be described with reference to fig. 1. The signaling flow 200 may relate to the apparatus 110 and the network element 120 in fig. 1.

In signaling flow 200, network element 120 sends 230 configuration information to device 110. Accordingly, device 110 receives 240 the configuration information. The configuration information indicates at least a pattern of occasions over which the DCI is to be transmitted. The DCI indicates a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS transmission process.

In some example embodiments, the DCI may include a group common scheduling radio network temporary identity (G-CS-RNTI) for the groups of devices 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4.

In some example embodiments, network element 120 may send 210 at least one SPS configuration to device 110 before or after sending the configuration information. Accordingly, the device 110 receives 220 at least one SPS configuration. For example, the at least one SPS configuration may include information as shown in table 1 above.

In some example embodiments, to save signaling overhead, the network element 120 may send the at least one SPS configuration and configuration information according to the present disclosure simultaneously. In other words, network element 120 may transmit configuration information according to the present disclosure as part of at least one SPS configuration.

In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates a start time and period of the mode.

After transmitting the configuration information, network element 120 transmits the DCI based on the configuration information.

In some example embodiments, the DCI indicates a deactivation state of at least one SPS transmission process. In other words, the DCI may indicate that the SPS transmission process is not started. For example, as shown in fig. 2, network element 120 transmits 2410 DCI indicating a deactivation status of at least one SPS transmission process to device 110. Accordingly, apparatus 110 receives 2420 a DCI indicating a deactivation state of at least one SPS transmission process. Hereinafter, for discussion purposes, DCI indicating a deactivation state of at least one SPS transmission process is also referred to as "deactivation state DCI".

In some example embodiments, if the apparatus 110 fails to receive the DCI at one of a plurality of occasions, the apparatus 110 may send 2430 a NACK to the network element 120. In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 may transmit a NACK on at least one resource specifically configured for this purpose. For example, the at least one resource may be at least one group common uplink resource for the devices 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4.

Upon receiving 2440NACK, network element 120 may send 2450 one or more repetitions or retransmissions of the DCI to device 110. Accordingly, the apparatus 110 receives 2460 one or more repetitions or retransmissions of DCI. In another example embodiment, the network element 120 may not respond to the NACK if the corresponding DCI is a deactivation state DCI.

It should be appreciated that in embodiments where network element 120 transmits one or more repetitions of DCI, network element 120 may transmit the one or more repetitions without receiving any NACK from device 110. In embodiments where network element 120 transmits one or more retransmissions of DCI, network element 120 may transmit the one or more retransmissions in response to receiving one or more NACKs from device 110.

In some example embodiments, the configuration information may indicate a mode of at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI. Alternatively, the SPS configuration may indicate a pattern of at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI. For example, the pattern may indicate an interval between DCI and a starting repetition, or an interval between any two consecutive repetitions. For example, the interval may be equal to one or more ARQ Round Trip Times (RTTs). Since the interval is pre-configured, there may be an entire sequence of NACK and DCI retransmissions. Based on the fact that the device 110 knows the timing of the initial DCI transmission, the device 110 can derive the appropriate timing to apply to the DCI transmission mode when DCI is received in only one of the retransmissions. In this way, the network element 120 may ensure that no NACK-only feedback is received from any one device 110 before SPS PDSCH transmission.

In some example embodiments, to improve reliability and robustness of DCI reception, network element 120 may send one or more repetitions or retransmissions of DCI to apparatus 110 without receiving a NACK from apparatus 110.

In some example embodiments, upon receiving 2440NACK, network element 120 may or may not send one or more repetitions or retransmissions of 2450DCI to apparatus 110.

In some example embodiments, to improve reliability and robustness of DCI reception, if apparatus 110 fails to receive at least one repetition or retransmission of DCI, apparatus 110 may send an additional NACK to network element 120. In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 may transmit an additional NACK on the configured at least one resource.

In some example embodiments, the feedback rate of NACKs may be low for continuous adaptation of the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) or for the aggregate level of the PDCCH that is well tuned to the channel conditions.

In some example embodiments, instead of transmission of DCI indicating the stop of SPS PDSCH transmission, network element 120 may also rely on an inactivity timer. Here, if device 110 does not decode the SPS transmissions within the period of time set by the inactivity timer, it is assumed that the SPS may have been deactivated and attempts to decode SPS PDSCH resources for the PTM transport block are stopped and transmission of NACKs is also stopped. As set forth in this disclosure, the device 110 will then only take care of activating the DCI at certain occasions and possibly respond with a NACK.

With continued reference to fig. 2, network element 120 may send 2470, to device 110, a next DCI indicating a deactivation status of at least one SPS transmission process based on the periodicity of the DCI. Thus, device 110 receives 2480 the next DCI.

If there are one or more data packets to send to the apparatus 110, the network element 120 may send 2490 DCI indicating an activation state of at least one SPS transmission process to the apparatus 110. Thus, apparatus 110 receives 2500DCI. Hereinafter, for discussion purposes, DCI indicating an activation state of at least one SPS transmission process is also referred to as "activation state DCI".

In some example embodiments, similar to the "deactivated state DCI," if the apparatus 110 fails to receive the "activated state DCI" at one of a plurality of occasions, the apparatus 110 may send a NACK to the network element 120. Upon receiving the NACK, network element 120 may send one or more repetitions or retransmissions of "active state DCI" to device 110. Alternatively, network element 120 may send one or more repetitions or retransmissions of DCI to device 110 without receiving a NACK from device 110.

In some example embodiments, to improve reliability and robustness of DCI reception, if apparatus 110 fails to receive at least one repetition or retransmission of DCI, apparatus 110 may send an additional NACK to network element 120. Upon receiving the additional NACK, network element 120 may send one or more additional repetitions or retransmissions of the DCI to apparatus 110.

In some example embodiments, if a NACK is no longer received from device 110, network element 120 performs 260 an SPS transmission to device 110. Thus, device 110 receives 270 the SPS transmission. In some example embodiments, SPS transmissions may be performed on PDSCH without PDCCH. In other words, device 110 may receive SPS transmissions without monitoring the PDCCH.

In some example embodiments, the "active state DCI" may have the same format as the "inactive state DCI", but one or more fields of the "active state DCI" may be set to a value different from the value of the "inactive state DCI".

In some example embodiments, the period of the pattern may be associated with the period of the SPS transmission process. For example, the period of the DCI may be configured to be an order of magnitude greater than the period of the SPS transmission process, which will be described with reference to fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows an example 300 of a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted. In example 300, the period of the DCI is greater than the period of the SPS transmission process. In other words, there is a long period of DCI present.

As shown, device 110 receives SPS configuration 310 from network element 120. SPS configuration 310 indicates a start time of DCI and a period of DCI. SPS configuration 310 also indicates the period of SPS data transmissions, such as SPS PDSCH transmissions. In example 300, the period of the DCI is 200ms and the period of the SPS PDSCH transmission is 50ms.

Based on the start time and period of the DCI, the apparatus 110 may receive a "deactivation state DCI"320 and a subsequent "deactivation state DCI"322. On a "start time" occasion of transmitting "deactivation state DCI"320 with G-CS-RNTI for activating a group common SPS PDSCH transmission, the network element 120 notifies the device 110 that the configured SPS PDSCH transmission starts to be "initiated (kicked-off)" and may be monitored, but currently it is in a state of "deactivation state", but no group common PDSCH transmission yet.

If there are one or more data packets to send to device 110, network element 120 sends "active state DCI"324 to device 110 and, at the same time, network element 120 begins SPS transmissions on PDSCH to device 110. Subsequently, network element 120 performs SPS transmissions 330, 332, 334, etc. to device 110.

Further, to improve reliability and robustness of the activation, the network element 120 sends at least one repetition or retransmission of the "activation state DCI"324 to the device 110. The number of at least one repetition or retransmission may be configured or predefined by the network element 120. In example 300, the number of at least one repetition or retransmission is 3. Note that any suitable number of at least one repetition or retransmission may be applied.

Further, if device 110 fails to receive "active state DCI"324, device 110 may send a NACK to network element 120. In response to the NACK, network element 120 transmits at least one repetition or retransmission of "active state DCI"324 to device 110. The network element 120 may perform such repetition or retransmission of the "active state DCI"324 until no device 110 responds with a NACK.

If there are no more data packets to send to the device 110, the network element 120 sends DCI 340 to the device 110 to deactivate the SPS PDSCH transmission process.

In some example embodiments, the period of the DCI may be configured to be the same as the period of the SPS transmission process, which will be described with reference to fig. 4.

Fig. 4 shows another example 400 of a pattern of opportunities to transmit DCI thereon. Example 400 is similar to example 300. However, in example 400, the period of the DCI is the same as the period of the SPS PDSCH transmission process. Specifically, in example 400, the period of the DCI is 50ms and the period of the SPS PDSCH transmission is also 50ms.

In some example embodiments, the period of the DCI may be configured to be an order of magnitude smaller than the period of the SPS transmission process, which will be described with reference to fig. 5A.

Fig. 5A shows yet another example 500 of a pattern of opportunities to transmit DCI thereon. Example 500 is similar to example 300. However, in example 500, the period of the DCI is less than the period of the SPS PDSCH transmission process. Specifically, in example 500, the period of the DCI is 25ms and the period of the SPS PDSCH transmission is 50ms.

In some example embodiments, to improve reliability to ensure that all devices 110 may receive "active state DCI" before SPS PDSCH transmission begins, network element 120 may use the configured long period occurrences of "multiple" of DCI as repetitions or retransmissions of "active state DCI". This will be described with reference to fig. 5B.

Fig. 5B shows yet another example 505 of a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted. In example 505, the configured long period occurrence is 25ms and it is repeatedly used for transmission of "active state DCI". Example 505 differs from example 500 in fig. 5A in that in example 505, network element 120 applies long-period occurrences 510, 512, and 514 of "active state DCI" as repeated or retransmitted of 324.

In some example embodiments, the "active state DCI"324 may include the start of an SPS PDSCH transmission, and the long period occurrences 510, 512, and 514 of the "active state DCI" may be repetitions or retransmissions of 324. In other words, SPS PDSCH transmission is repeatedly started in each of the long period occurrences 510, 512, and 514. During this period, the period of SPS PDSCH transmission is 25ms.

Alternatively, the network element 120 may not begin SPS PDSCH transmission when transmitting the "active state DCI"324 and at occurrences 510, 512. In this case, the network element 120 may begin SPS PDSCH transmission at opportunity 516 as shown in fig. 5B after transmission of the "active state DCI" 514.

In some example embodiments, to further improve the reliability of activation and ensure that all devices 110 receive "active state DCI" before SPS PDSCH transmission begins, network element 120 may also apply using a combination of "long period occurrences of DCI" and "short period occurrences of DCI". Thus, short-period occurrences of DCI may only be used if network element 120 receives a NACK from any device 110 in response to a previous DCI occurrence. Any device 110 that successfully receives the DCI need not attempt to decode the retransmitted DCI on subsequent short-period occurrences and need not send a NACK on those subsequent short-period occurrences. This will be described with reference to fig. 5C.

Fig. 5C shows another example 525 of a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted. Example 525 is similar to example 505. However, example 525 differs from example 505 in that, in example 525, network element 120 applies a short period occurrence of DCI, as indicated by the dashed arrow, after transmitting each of the "active state DCI"324 and long period occurrences 510, 512, and 514 of the "active state DCI".

Similar to example 505, in some example embodiments, the long period occurrences 510, 512, and 514 of "active state DCI"324 and "active state DCI" may include the beginning of an SPS PDSCH transmission. Alternatively, network element 120 may not begin SPS PDSCH transmission when transmitting "active state DCI" 324. In this case, the network element 120 may begin SPS PDSCH transmission at opportunity 516 as shown in fig. 5C.

In embodiments applying modes of DCI according to the present disclosure, there may be a delay due to mismatch between packet arrival and timing of DCI. This will be described with reference to fig. 6.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example 600 of a delay due to a mismatch between packet arrival and timing of DCI. As shown, there is a delay 612 due to the mismatch between the packet arrival 610 and the timing of the "active state DCI" 324. To eliminate or overcome the delay, the "time offset" 614 may be indicated by an "active state DCI" 324. The network element 120 may send SPS PDSCH transmissions at times matching packet arrival timings. Thus, device 110 may receive SPS PDSCH transmissions based on the time offset and configuration information of the SPS transmission process. In other words, device 110 may adjust its configured SPS PDSCH period timing and match the SPS PDSCH transmission timing corresponding to the packet arrival timing. Specifically, in example 600, after adjusting its configured SPS PDSCH period timing, device 110 may receive SPS transmissions 330, 332, 334 at occasions 618, 620, and 622, respectively.

In some example embodiments, the start data packet 610 arriving before the opportunity of the "active state DCI"324 may be transmitted via conventional dynamic scheduling. Subsequent packets arriving at opportunity 616 may be transmitted via SPS.

In other example embodiments, the start data packet 610 arriving before the opportunity of the "active state DCI"324 may be transmitted after the "active state DCI" 324. The device 110 may receive the start data packet at occasion 616. The data packet following the start data packet may be transmitted through the SPS.

Fig. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at an apparatus according to some example embodiments of the disclosure. For discussion purposes, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the device 110 with reference to fig. 1.

At block 710, device 110 receives configuration information from network element 120. The configuration information indicates at least a pattern of occasions on which the downlink control information DCI is to be transmitted. The DCI indicates a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling SPS data transmission process.

At block 720, apparatus 110 receives DCI from network element 120 based on the configuration information.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 receives DCI by receiving at least one repetition or retransmission of DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 sends a negative acknowledgement to the network element in response to a failure to receive the DCI at one of a plurality of occasions.

In some example embodiments, the reception of at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is in response to a negative acknowledgement.

In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates at least one resource for transmitting a negative acknowledgement.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 sends a further negative acknowledgement to the network element in response to a failure to receive the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates a mode of at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 receives a data packet transmission from the network element 120 based on the time offset and configuration information of the SPS data transmission process.

In some example embodiments, the DCI indicating the activation state of the SPS transmit process also indicates the time offset.

In some example embodiments, the period of the pattern is associated with a period of the SPS data transmission process.

Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a device according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For discussion purposes, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the network element 120 with reference to fig. 1.

At block 810, network element 120 sends configuration information to device 110. The configuration information indicates at least a pattern of occasions over which the DCI is to be transmitted. The DCI indicates a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS data transmission process.

At block 820, network element 120 transmits DCI to device 110 based on the configuration information.

In some example embodiments, network element 120 transmits the DCI by transmitting at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the network element 120 receives a negative acknowledgement from the device 110. The negative acknowledgement indicates a failure to receive DCI at one of a plurality of occasions.

In some example embodiments, the transmission of at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is in response to a negative acknowledgement.

In some example embodiments, the network element 120 receives additional negative acknowledgements from the device 110. The further negative acknowledgement indicates a failure to receive at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the network element 120 performs data packet transmission of the write device 110 based on the time offset and configuration information of the SPS data transmission process.

In some example embodiments, the DCI indicating the activation state of the SPS data transmission process also indicates the time offset.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a first device (e.g., device 110) capable of performing any of method 700 may include means for performing the respective operations of method 700. The component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or software modules. The first apparatus may be implemented as the apparatus 110 or comprised in the apparatus 110. In some example embodiments, the apparatus may include a processor and a memory.

In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus includes: means for receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of opportunities over which DCI is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS data transmission process; and means for receiving the DCI from the network element based on the configuration information.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving DCI includes means for receiving at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes means for transmitting a negative acknowledgement to the network element 120 in response to a failure to receive the DCI at one of the plurality of occasions.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for sending a further negative acknowledgement to the network element 120 in response to a failure to receive at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving a data packet transmission from the network element 120 based on the time offset and the configuration information of the SPS data transmission process.

In some example embodiments, the DCI indicating the activation state of the SPS data transmission process also indicates a time offset.

In some example embodiments, a first apparatus (e.g., network element 120) capable of performing any of the methods 800 may include means for performing the respective operations of the methods 800. The component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or software modules. The first apparatus may be implemented as the network element 120 or comprised in the network element 120. In some example embodiments, the apparatus may include a processor and a memory.

In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus includes: means for transmitting configuration information from the network element 120 to the apparatus 110, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions over which DCI is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one SPS data transmission process; and means for transmitting the DCI to the apparatus 110 based on the configuration information.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting DCI includes means for transmitting at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving a negative acknowledgement from the apparatus 110. The negative acknowledgement indicates a failure to receive DCI at one of a plurality of occasions.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving another negative acknowledgement from the apparatus 110. The further negative acknowledgement indicates a failure to receive at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing data packet transmission to the apparatus 110 based on the time offset and the configuration information of the SPS data transmission process.

Fig. 9 is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus 900 suitable for practicing the example embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparatus 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, such as apparatus 110 or network element 120 shown in fig. 1. As shown, the apparatus 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processors 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processors 910.

The communication module 940 is used for two-way communication. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communications with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interface may represent any interface required to communicate with other network elements. In some demonstrative embodiments, communication module 940 may include at least one antenna.

The processor 910 may be of any type suitable for a local technology network and may include one or more of the following: by way of non-limiting example, general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital Signal Processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as application specific integrated circuit chips that are temporally slaved to a clock that synchronizes the master processor.

Memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, read-only memory (ROM) 924, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disks, compact Disks (CD), digital Video Disks (DVD), optical disks, laser disks, and other magnetic and/or optical storage devices. Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, random Access Memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memory that does not last for the duration of the power outage.

The computer program 930 includes computer-executable instructions that are executable by the associated processor 910. The program 930 may be stored in a memory such as the ROM 924. Processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processes by loading program 930 into RAM 922.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 such that the device 900 may perform any of the processes of the present disclosure as discussed with reference to fig. 2-8. Example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

In some demonstrative embodiments, program 930 may be tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, which may be included in device 900 (e.g., in memory 920) or other storage device accessible by device 900. The apparatus 900 may load the program 930 from a computer readable medium into RAM922 for execution. The computer readable medium may include any type of tangible non-volatile memory, such as ROM, EPROM, flash memory, hard disk, CD, DVD, etc. Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a computer-readable medium 1000, which may be in the form of a CD, DVD or other optical storage disc. The computer-readable medium has stored thereon the program 930.

In general, the various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that the blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product comprises computer executable instructions, such as instructions included in program modules executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to perform any of the methods described above with reference to fig. 2 to 8. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or separated as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions of program modules may be executed within local or distributed devices. In distributed devices, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage media.

Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, causes the functions/operations specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on the machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine, partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

In the context of this disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable an apparatus, device or processor to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carrier waves include signals, computer readable media, and the like.

The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a computer-readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

It should be appreciated that while some embodiments may be implemented by/at an IAB node, solutions comprising the methods and apparatus set forth in the present disclosure may also be applied in other communication systems where similar technical problems exist. Moreover, although operations are described in a particular order, this should not be construed as requiring that these operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these details should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of opportunities on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission process; and

based on the configuration information, the DCI is received from the network element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a start time and period of the mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive the DCI by:

At least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is received.

4. An apparatus according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

a negative acknowledgement is sent to the network element in response to a failure to receive the DCI at one of the occasions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein receipt of the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is in response to the negative acknowledgement.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein the configuration information indicates at least one resource for sending the negative acknowledgement.

7. The apparatus according to any of claims 3-6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

in response to a failure to receive the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI, a further negative acknowledgement is sent to the network element.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 3-7, wherein the configuration information indicates a mode of the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

a data packet transmission is received from the network element based on a time offset and configuration information of the SPS data transmission process.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the DCI indicating the active state of the SPS data transmission process further indicates the time offset.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 2-10, wherein a period of the pattern is associated with a period of the SPS data transmission process.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network element to:

transmitting configuration information to user equipment, wherein the configuration information at least indicates a mode of a time on which Downlink Control Information (DCI) is to be transmitted, and the DCI indicates a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) data transmission process; and

And sending the DCI to the user equipment based on the configuration information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the configuration information indicates a start time and period of the mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit the DCI by:

at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is transmitted.

15. The apparatus according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

a negative acknowledgement is received from the user equipment, the negative acknowledgement indicating a failure to receive the DCI at one of the occasions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmission of the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI is in response to the negative acknowledgement.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the configuration information indicates at least one resource for sending the negative acknowledgement.

18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 14-17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

A further negative acknowledgement is received from the user equipment, the further negative acknowledgement indicating a failure to receive the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 14-18, wherein the configuration information indicates a mode of the at least one repetition or retransmission of the DCI.

20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12-19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

based on the time offset and the configuration information of the SPS data transmission process, performing data packet transmission to the user equipment.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the DCI indicating the active state of the SPS data transmission process further indicates the time offset.

22. The apparatus of any of claims 13-21, wherein a period of the pattern is associated with a period of the SPS data transmission process.

23. A method, comprising:

at a user equipment, receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and

24. A method, comprising:

transmitting configuration information from a network element to a user equipment, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and

25. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving configuration information from a network element, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and

means for receiving the DCI from the network element based on the configuration information.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting configuration information to a user equipment, the configuration information indicating at least a pattern of occasions on which downlink control information, DCI, is to be transmitted, the DCI indicating a deactivation state or an activation state of at least one semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, data transmission procedure; and

And means for transmitting the DCI to the user equipment based on the configuration information.

27. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 23.

28. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 24.