CN113115593A

CN113115593A - Apparatus and method for discontinuous reception of apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN113115593A
Application number: CN201980035066.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石聪; 田文强
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-12
Filing date: 2019-11-13
Publication date: 2021-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-13
Also published as: WO2020098718A1; CN113115593B

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for discontinuous reception of the apparatus are provided. The method comprises receiving a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether a user equipment is Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure compliant or DRX configuration compliant, and the method comprises following the COT structure or the DRX configuration in accordance with the signal.

Description

Apparatus and method for discontinuous reception of apparatus

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communication systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for discontinuous reception of the apparatus.

Background

Some possible problems for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation in new radios in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) are as follows.

1. During DRX on duration (on duration), if a channel is not available, even if a User Equipment (UE) is monitoring the channel, a network node (e.g., an NR base station (gNB)) cannot transmit a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which results in unnecessary PDCCH monitoring.

2. During the DRX on duration, the gNB needs to perform random backoff after occupying the channel for the Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT), during which the gNB cannot transmit PDCCH signals even though the UE is monitoring the channel.

During DRX off duration (off duration), if a channel is available, the gNB still cannot send PDCCH because the UE is not monitoring the channel.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and a method for discontinuous reception of the apparatus, which can solve the problems of the prior art, reduce power consumption, and improve reliability.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and a method for discontinuous reception of the same, which can solve the problems of the prior art, reduce power consumption, and improve reliability.

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a user equipment for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The processor is configured to control the transceiver to receive a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether the processor is to follow a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration, and the processor is configured to follow the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) of a user equipment includes: receiving a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether a user equipment is Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structured or DRX configured compliant, and the method comprises following the COT structure or DRX configuration in accordance with the signal.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, a network node for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) comprises a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The processor is configured to control the transceiver to transmit a signal to the user equipment, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment follows a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration, and the processor is configured to control the user equipment to follow the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

In a fourth aspect of the disclosure, a method for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) by a network node comprises transmitting a signal to a user equipment, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment is to follow a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration, and the method comprises controlling the user equipment to follow the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

In a fifth aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium has stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the above-described method.

In a sixth aspect of the disclosure, a terminal device includes a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program. The processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory to perform the above-described method.

In a seventh aspect of the disclosure, a base station comprises a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program. The processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory to perform the above-described method.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure or related art, drawings described in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It is clear that these drawings are only some embodiments of the disclosure, from which other drawings can be derived by a person skilled in the art without this being a prerequisite.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary illustration of connected mode discontinuous reception (C-DRX) operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a user equipment and a network node for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) of a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example illustration of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example illustration of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a system for wireless communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail by technical contents, structural features, objects, and effects achieved with reference to the following drawings. In particular, the terminology used in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In the New Radio (NR) grant operation, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation is configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC). In NR and Long Term Evolution (LTE) operation, a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity may be configured by RRC with a DRX function that controls Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring activity of a user equipment for a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the MAC entity, a configured scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI), an interrupt RNTI (INT-RNTI), a slot format indication RNTI (SFI-RNTI), a semi-persistent channel state information RNTI (SP-CSI-RNTI), a transmit power control-physical uplink control channel-RNTI (TPC-PUCCH-RNTI), a TPC-physical uplink shared channel-RNTI (TPC-PUSCH-RNTI), and a TPC-sounding reference symbol-RNTI (TPC-SRS-RNTI).

The C-RNTI is a unique identity used to identify RRC connection and scheduling dedicated to a particular UE. A network node such as the gNB assigns different C-RNTI values to different UEs. The C-RNTI is used by the gNB to assign uplink grants, downlink assignments, etc. to the UE. The C-RNTI is used by the gNB to distinguish the uplink transmissions (e.g., PUSCH and/or PUCCH) of the UE from others.

The TPC RNTI is used for uplink power control. The TPC-RNTI is of three types, namely TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI and TPC-SRS-RNTI. The TPC RNTI is allocated to a group of UEs. The gNB can configure the UE with TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, and TPC-SRS-RNTI via higher layer signaling such as RRC.

While in the RRC connected operation, the MAC entity may monitor the PDCCH discontinuously using the DRX operation if the DRX operation is configured, otherwise the MAC entity monitors the PDCCH continuously.

In some embodiments, when the DRX cycle is configured, the active time includes a time when a DRX on duration timer (DRX on duration timer), a DRX inactivity timer (DRX inactivity timer), a DRX retransmission timer (DRX retransmission timer for downlink) for Downlink (DL), a DRX retransmission timer (DRX retransmission timer for uplink) for Uplink (UL), or a ra-contention resolution timer (ra-contention resolution timer) is running.

In some embodiments, the scheduling request is sent on PUCCH and pending when the DRX cycle is configured.

In some embodiments, when configuring the DRX cycle, a PDCCH indicating a new transmission addressed to the C-RNTI of the MAC entity has not been received after successful reception of a random access response of a random access preamble of the contention-based random access preamble that was not selected by the MAC entity.

In some embodiments, DRX operation may also be configured to control the behavior of paging monitoring for RRC idle and inactive modes. The UE may use Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in RRC idle and inactive modes in order to reduce power consumption. The UE monitors one Paging Occasion (PO) per DRX cycle. A PO is a set of PDCCH monitoring occasions and may contain a number of slots (e.g., subframes or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols) in which paging DCI may be transmitted. A Paging Frame (PF) is a radio frame that may contain one or more POs or the start of a PO.

One example of a connected mode discontinuous reception (C-DRX) operation is shown in fig. 1.DRX short cycle is 5 ms, DRX on duration timer is 1 ms, DRX inactivity timer is 3 ms.

The NR unauthorized operation is as follows. For NR unauthorized operation, the sender needs to perform Listen Before Talk (LBT) when the transmission is simulated. The Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT) differs according to the type of LBT. In LTE Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), the eNB does not continuously transmit on the channel performing LAA Scell transmission for a period of time exceeding Tmcot shown in table 1.

Table 1

In some embodiments, in NR, the LBT type has not been determined, but its principle is expected to be similar to LTE LAA, and an indication of the COT structure in the time domain is considered beneficial, except for the functionality provided by DCI format 2_0 in release 15 NR. This means that for NR-U, the gNB may indicate the COT structure to the UE.

Fig. 2 illustrates that in some embodiments, a User Equipment (UE)10 and a network node 20, such as a gNB for Discontinuous Reception (DRX), are provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE 10 may include a processor 11, a memory 12, and a transceiver 13. The network node 20 may comprise a processor 21, a memory 22 and a transceiver 23. The

processor

11 or 21 may be configured to implement the proposed functions, processes and/or methods described in this specification. The layers of the radio interface protocol may be implemented in the

processor

11 or 21. The

memory

12 or 22 is operatively coupled with the

processor

11 or 21 and stores various information to operate the

processor

11 or 21. The

transceiver

13 or 23 is operatively coupled with the

processor

11 or 21, and the

transceiver

13 or 23 transmits and/or receives a radio signal.

The

processor

11 or 21 may comprise an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), other chipset, logic circuit and/or data processing device. The

memory

12 or 22 may include Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, memory cards, storage media, and/or other storage devices. The

transceiver

13 or 23 may include a baseband circuit to process radio frequency signals. When an embodiment is implemented in software, the techniques described herein may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. These modules may be stored in

memory

12 or 22 and executed by

processor

11 or 21. The

memory

12 or 22 may be implemented within the

processor

11 or 21 or external to the

processor

11 or 21, wherein the

memory

12 or 22 may be communicatively coupled to the

processor

11 or 21 in various ways as is known in the art.

According to the sidechain technology developed by the third generation partnership project (3GPP) release 14, 15, 16 and beyond, communication between UEs involves vehicle-to-all (V2X) communication including vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) and vehicle-to-infrastructure/network (V2I/N). The UEs communicate directly with each other through a side-chain interface such as the PC5 interface.

In some embodiments, the processor 11 is configured to control the transceiver 13 to receive a signal from the network node 20, wherein the signal indicates whether the processor 11 is compliant with a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or with a DRX configuration, and the processor 11 is configured to comply with the COT structure or the DRX configuration depending on the signal.

In some embodiments, the processor 11 is configured to control the transceiver 13 to receive the DRX configuration from the network node 20 via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some embodiments, the signal is also indicative of the COT structure. In some embodiments, the signal is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI), a Media Access Control (MAC) signal, or a sequence.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates that processor 11 is following the maximum channel occupancy time of the COT structure (MCOT), processor 11 monitors the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which is the full DRX on duration, during the MCOT. In detail, the processor 11 is configured to monitor a signal carrying information of the COT structure and is further configured to monitor the configured search space during the full DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, the configured search space monitored by processor 11 is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration. In some embodiments, processor 11 enters a partial DRX on duration after the MCOT. In some embodiments, the processor 11 is configured to continue to monitor signals carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on duration but not to monitor the configured search space.

In some embodiments, the signal is configured to start or restart a DRX inactivity timer to extend the partial DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates that processor 11 follows the DRX configuration, processor 11 monitors the PDCCH during the DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than the DRX off duration. In some embodiments, processor 11 is instructed by the signal to switch to the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the signal indicates a default behaviour which the processor 11 follows if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behaviour is MCOT following a COT structure or DRX configuration following.

In some embodiments, the processor 21 is configured to control the transceiver 23 to transmit a signal to the user equipment 10, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment 10 is to follow a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration, and the processor 21 is configured to control the user equipment 10 to follow the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

In some embodiments, the processor 21 is configured to control the transceiver 23 to transmit the DRX configuration to the user equipment 10 via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some embodiments, the signal is also indicative of the COT structure. In some embodiments, the signal is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI), a Media Access Control (MAC) signal, or a sequence.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates a Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT) for which the user equipment 10 follows a COT structure, the processor 21 controls the user equipment 10 to monitor a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which is a full DRX on duration, during the MCOT. In some embodiments, the processor 21 is configured to control the user equipment 10 to monitor the configured search space and signals carrying information of the COT structure during the full DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, the configured search space monitored by the user equipment 10 is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, the processor 21 controls the user equipment 10 to enter a partial DRX on duration after the MCOT. In some embodiments, the processor 21 is configured to control the user equipment 10 to continue to monitor signals carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on duration but not to monitor the configured search space.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates that the user equipment 10 follows the DRX configuration, the processor 21 controls the user equipment 10 to monitor the PDCCH during the DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the signal instructs the user equipment 10 to switch to the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the signal indicates a default behavior which the user equipment 10 follows if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behavior is MCOT following a COT structure or DRX configuration following.

Fig. 3 illustrates a method 200 of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, method 200 includes: a block 202 of receiving a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether a user equipment is Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structured or DRX configured compliant; and block 204, following a COT structure or DRX configuration according to the signal.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a DRX configuration from the network node via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some embodiments, the signal is also indicative of the COT structure. In some embodiments, the signal is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI), a Media Access Control (MAC) signal, or a sequence.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates a Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT) for which the user equipment follows a COT structure, the user equipment monitors a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which is a full DRX on duration, during the MCOT. In some embodiments, the method further comprises monitoring signals carrying information of the COT structure and the configured search space during the full DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, the configured search space monitored by the user equipment is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal, or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration. In some embodiments, the user equipment enters a partial DRX on duration after the MCOT.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises continuing to monitor signals carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on duration but not monitoring the configured search space.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates that the user equipment follows the DRX configuration, the user equipment monitors the PDCCH during the DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the user equipment is instructed by the signal to switch to the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the signal indicates a default behavior, the user equipment follows the default behavior if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behavior is MCOT following a COT structure or DRX configuration following.

Fig. 4 illustrates a method 300 of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) by a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 300 includes: a block 302 of transmitting a signal to a user equipment, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment is in compliance with a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration; and block 304, controlling the user equipment to follow the COT structure or DRX configuration according to the signal.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting the DRX configuration to the user equipment via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

In some embodiments, the signal is also indicative of the COT structure. In some embodiments, the signal is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI), a Media Access Control (MAC) signal, or a sequence.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates a Maximum Channel Occupancy Time (MCOT) for which the user equipment follows a COT structure, the network node controls the user equipment to monitor a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which is a full DRX on duration, during the MCOT. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: during the full DRX on duration, the user equipment is controlled to monitor the configured search space and signals carrying information of the COT structure.

In some embodiments, the configured search space monitored by the user equipment is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal, or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration. In some embodiments, the method further comprises controlling the user equipment to enter a partial DRX on duration after the MCOT. In some embodiments, the method further comprises controlling the user equipment to continue monitoring for signals carrying information of the COT structure but not monitoring the configured search space during the partial DRX on duration.

In some embodiments, if the signal indicates that the user equipment follows the DRX configuration, the network node controls the user equipment to monitor the PDCCH during the DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than the DRX off duration.

In some embodiments, the signal instructs the user equipment to switch to the DRX off duration.

Fig. 5 is an exemplary illustration of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 shows that in some embodiments the UE is in a legacy DRX on state (on state) during which the UE only needs to monitor for a signal from the network node indicating whether the UE is following a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration, and the signal also indicates the COT structure. In some embodiments, the UE is in a full DRX on state, indicated by a signal indicating the MCOT, during which the UE needs to monitor not only the signal, but also the configured search space. In some embodiments, the configured search space that the UE needs to monitor is configured by RRC. In some embodiments, the configured search space that the UE needs to monitor is indicated by the signal or DCI received during the DRX on state.

Fig. 6 is an exemplary illustration of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 illustrates that, similar to PDCCH, in some embodiments, a signal from the network node indicates whether the UE is compliant with a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or with a DRX configuration, and the signal also indicates the COT structure. This signal may start or restart the DRX inactivity timer, which means that the partial DRX on state will be extended.

In summary, some embodiments provide the following three aspects.

DRX activation time takes MCOT into account.

DRX activation time may be as large as MCOT.

3. The DRX inactivity timer may be started or restarted based on a signal indicating the COT structure.

Some embodiments provide the following detailed information.

1. The active time may be a full DRX on state during which the UE monitors the PDCCH based on configuration or indication, while the UE may also monitor for signals with or without indications of the COT structure.

3. The active time may also be a partial DRX on state during which the UE monitors only signals with or without indications of the COT structure.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of an example system 700 for wireless communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein may be implemented into a system using any suitably configured hardware and/or software. Fig. 7 shows a system 700 that includes Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 710, baseband circuitry 720, application circuitry 730, memory/storage 740, display 750, camera 760, sensor 770, and input/output (I/O) interface 780, coupled to each other at least as shown.

The application circuitry 730 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor may include any combination of general purpose processors and special purpose processors such as graphics processors, application processors, etc. The processor may be coupled with the memory/storage and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory/storage to implement various applications and/or operating systems running on the system.

The baseband circuitry 720 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor may comprise a baseband processor. The baseband circuitry may handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks through the RF circuitry. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation, encoding, decoding, radio frequency shifting, and the like. In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may provide communications compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may support communication with an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN) and/or other Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). Embodiments in which the baseband circuitry is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

In various embodiments, baseband circuitry 720 may include circuitry to operate with signals that are not strictly considered to be at baseband frequencies. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may include circuitry to operate with signals having an intermediate frequency between a baseband frequency and a radio frequency.

RF circuitry 710 may enable communication with a wireless network using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various embodiments, the RF circuitry may include switches, filters, amplifiers, and the like to facilitate communication with the wireless network.

In various embodiments, RF circuitry 710 may include circuitry to operate using signals that are not strictly considered in radio frequencies. For example, in some embodiments, the RF circuitry may include circuitry to operate on signals having an intermediate frequency between a baseband frequency and a radio frequency.

In various embodiments, the transmitter circuitry, control circuitry, or receiver circuitry discussed above with respect to the user equipment, eNB, or gNB may be embodied in whole or in part in one or more of the RF circuitry, baseband circuitry, and/or application circuitry. As used herein, "circuitry" may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the electronic device circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with, one or more software or firmware modules.

In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of the baseband circuitry, application circuitry, and/or memory/storage may be implemented together on a system on a chip (SOC).

Memory/storage 740 may be used to load and store data and/or instructions, for example, for a system. The memory/storage of one embodiment may comprise any combination of suitable volatile memory (such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)) and/or non-volatile memory (such as flash memory).

In various embodiments, the I/O interface 780 may include one or more user interfaces designed to enable a user to interact with the system and/or peripheral component interfaces designed to enable peripheral components to interact with the system. The user interface may include, but is not limited to, a physical keyboard or keypad, a touchpad, a speaker, a microphone, and the like. The peripheral component interfaces may include, but are not limited to, a non-volatile memory port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an audio jack, and a power interface.

In various embodiments, the sensors 770 may include one or more sensing devices to determine environmental conditions and/or location information related to the system. In some embodiments, the sensors may include, but are not limited to, a gyroscope sensor, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a positioning unit. The positioning unit may also be part of, or interact with, baseband circuitry and/or RF circuitry to communicate with components of a positioning network, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.

In various embodiments, display 750 may include a display, such as a liquid crystal display and a touch screen display. In various embodiments, the system 700 may be a mobile computing device, such as, but not limited to, a notebook computing device, a tablet computing device, a netbook, an ultrabook, a smartphone, and the like. In various embodiments, the system may have more or fewer components and/or different architectures. Where appropriate, the methods described herein may be implemented as a computer program. The computer program may be stored on a storage medium such as a non-transitory storage medium.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and a method for discontinuous reception of the same, which can solve the problems of the prior art, reduce power consumption, and improve reliability. Embodiments of the present disclosure are a combination of techniques/processes that may be employed in 3GPP specifications to create an end product.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that each of the units, algorithms, and steps described and disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure is implemented using electronic hardware or a combination of software and electronic hardware for a computer. Whether these functions are executed in hardware or software depends on the application conditions and design requirements of the solution. Those of ordinary skill in the art may implement the functionality of each particular application in different ways without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art will understand that since the working processes of the above-described systems, devices and units are substantially the same, he/she may refer to the working processes of the systems, devices and units in the above-described embodiments. For ease of description and simplicity, these operations will not be described in detail.

It should be understood that the systems, devices, and methods disclosed in embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in other ways. The above embodiments are merely exemplary. The partitioning of cells is based solely on logic functions, while other partitions exist in the implementation. Multiple units or components may be combined or integrated in another system. It is also possible to omit or skip certain features. In another aspect, shown or discussed as coupled, directly coupled or communicatively coupled to each other, indirectly or communicatively operate through some port, device or element, electrically, mechanically, or otherwise.

The elements illustrated as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The unit for displaying is a physical unit or not, i.e. located in one location or distributed over a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units are used according to the purpose of the embodiments. Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment may be integrated in one processing unit, physically separated, or integrated in one processing unit having two or more units.

If the software functional unit is implemented, used and sold as a product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium in a computer. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions proposed by the present disclosure can be implemented basically or partially in the form of software products. Alternatively, a part of the technical solution that is advantageous to the conventional technology may be implemented in the form of a software product. The software product in a computer is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of commands for a computing device (such as a personal computer, server, or network device) to execute all or part of the steps disclosed by embodiments of the present disclosure. The storage medium includes a USB disk, a removable hard disk, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a floppy disk, or other medium capable of storing program code.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but is intended to cover various arrangements made without departing from the scope of the broadest interpretation of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A user equipment for discontinuous reception, DRX, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver;

wherein the processor is configured to:

control the transceiver to receive a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether the processor is in compliance with a channel occupancy time, COT, structure or a DRX configuration; and

following the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

2. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the transceiver to receive the DRX configuration from the network node via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

3. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the signal is further indicative of the COT structure.

4. The user equipment according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the signal is transmitted in a downlink control information, DCI, medium access control, MAC, signal or sequence.

5. The user equipment of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, if the signal indicates a maximum channel occupancy time, MCOT, for the processor to follow the COT structure, the processor monitors a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, during the MCOT, which is a full DRX on-duration.

6. The user equipment of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the signal carrying information of the COT structure and a configured search space during the full DRX on duration.

7. The user equipment of claim 6, wherein the configured search space monitored by the processor is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal, or indicated by DCI received during a DRX on duration.

8. The user equipment of any of claims 5-7, wherein the processor enters a partial DRX on-duration after the MCOT.

9. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to continue monitoring the signal carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on duration but not monitoring a configured search space.

10. The user equipment of claim 8 or 9, wherein the signal is configured to start or restart a DRX inactivity timer to extend the partial DRX on duration.

11. The user equipment of any of claims 1-9, wherein if the signal indicates that the processor is to follow the DRX configuration, the processor monitors the PDCCH during DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than DRX off duration.

12. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein the processor is instructed by the signal to switch to the DRX off duration.

13. The user equipment of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the signal indicates a default behavior, the processor follows the default behavior if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behavior is MCOT following the COT structure or following the DRX configuration.

14. A method for discontinuous reception, DRX, of a user equipment, comprising:

receiving a signal from a network node, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment is in compliance with a channel occupancy time, COT, structure or a DRX configuration; and

following the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving the DRX configuration from the network node via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is further indicative of the COT structure.

17. The method according to claim 14 or 16, wherein the signal is transmitted in a downlink control information, DCI, medium access control, MAC, signal or sequence.

18. The method according to any of claims 14-17, wherein if the signal indicates a maximum channel occupancy time, MCOT, for the user equipment to follow the COT structure, the user equipment monitors a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, during the MCOT, which is a full DRX on duration.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: monitoring the signal carrying information of the COT structure and configured search space during the full DRX on-duration.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the configured search space monitored by the user equipment is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal, or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration.

21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the user equipment enters a partial DRX on duration after the MCOT.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: continuing to monitor the signal carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX ON duration but not monitoring a configured search space.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the signal is configured to start or restart a DRX inactivity timer to extend the partial DRX on duration.

24. The method according to any of claims 14-22, wherein if the signal indicates that the user equipment follows the DRX configuration, the user equipment monitors the PDCCH during DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than DRX off duration.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user equipment is instructed by the signal to switch to the DRX off duration.

26. The method of any of claims 14 to 25, wherein the signal indicates a default behavior, the user equipment follows the default behavior if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behavior is MCOT following the COT structure or following the DRX configuration.

27. A network node for discontinuous reception, DRX, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver;

wherein the processor is configured to:

controlling the transceiver to transmit a signal to a user equipment, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment is in compliance with a channel occupancy time, COT, structure or with a DRX configuration; and

controlling the UE to follow the COT structure or the DRX configuration according to the signal.

28. The network node of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to control the transceiver to transmit the DRX configuration to the user equipment via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

29. The network node of claim 28, wherein the signal further indicates the COT structure.

30. The network node according to claim 27 or 29, wherein the signal is transmitted in a downlink control information, DCI, medium access control, MAC, signal or sequence.

31. The network node according to any of claims 27 to 30, wherein if the signal indicates a maximum channel occupancy time, MCOT, for the user equipment to follow the COT structure, the processor controls the user equipment to monitor a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, which is a full DRX on duration, during the MCOT.

32. The network node of claim 31, wherein the processor is configured to control the user equipment to monitor the signal carrying information of the COT structure and a configured search space during the full DRX on duration.

33. The network node of claim 32, wherein the configured search space monitored by the user equipment is configured by RRC signaling, indicated by the signal, or indicated by DCI received during DRX on duration.

34. The network node of any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the processor controls an incoming partial DRX on duration of the user equipment after the MCOT.

35. The network node of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured to control the user equipment to continue monitoring the signal carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on duration but not to monitor a configured search space.

36. The network node of claim 34 or 35, wherein the signal is configured to start or restart a DRX inactivity timer to extend the partial DRX on duration.

37. The network node of any of claims 27 to 36, wherein, if the signal indicates that the user equipment is following the DRX configuration, the processor controls the user equipment to monitor the PDCCH during a DRX on duration even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than a DRX off duration.

38. The network node of claim 37, wherein the signal instructs the user equipment to switch to the DRX off duration.

39. The network node of any of claims 27 to 38, wherein the signal indicates a default behavior, the user equipment follows the default behavior if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behavior is MCOT following the COT structure or following the DRX configuration.

40. A method for discontinuous reception, DRX, of a network node, comprising:

transmitting a signal to a user equipment, wherein the signal indicates whether the user equipment is in compliance with a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) structure or a DRX configuration; and

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising: transmitting the DRX configuration to the user equipment via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the signal is further indicative of the COT structure.

43. The method of claim 40 or 42, wherein the signal is transmitted in a Downlink control information, DCI, Medium Access control, MAC, signal or sequence.

44. The method of any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein, if the signal indicates a maximum channel occupancy time, MCOT, for the user equipment to follow the COT structure, the network node controls the user equipment to monitor a physical Downlink control channel, PDCCH, during the MCOT, which is a full DRX on-duration.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising: controlling the user equipment to monitor the signal carrying information of the COT structure and a configured search space during the full DRX on-duration.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the configured search space monitored by the user equipment is configured via RRC signaling, indicated via the signal, or indicated via DCI received during a DRX on duration.

47. The method of any of claims 44-46, further comprising: controlling the user equipment to enter a partial DRX on-duration after the MCOT.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising: controlling the user equipment to continue monitoring the signal carrying information of the COT structure during the partial DRX on-duration but not monitoring a configured search space.

49. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the signal is configured to start or restart a DRX inactivity timer to extend the partial DRX on duration.

50. The method according to any of claims 40-49, wherein, if the signal indicates that the user equipment follows the DRX configuration, the network node controls the user equipment to monitor PDCCH during DRX on-duration, even if the MCOT of the COT structure is shorter than DRX off-duration.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the signal instructs the user equipment to switch to the DRX off duration.

52. The method of any one of claims 40 to 51, wherein the signal indicates a default behaviour which the user equipment follows if there is no other indication of the signal, and the default behaviour is MCOT following the COT structure or following the DRX configuration.

53. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 14 to 26 and 40 to 52.

54. A terminal device, comprising: a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program, the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any of claims 14 to 26.

55. A base station, comprising: a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program, the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any of claims 11 to 20 and 40 to 52.