WO2017222432A1

WO2017222432A1 - Methods and arrangements relating to retransmissions of data in a wireless communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2017222432A1
Application number: PCT/SE2016/050614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sara SANDBERG; Stefan WÄNSTEDT; Magnus Thurfjell
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2016-06-22
Filing date: 2016-06-22
Publication date: 2017-12-28

Abstract

An first arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201; 202) for supporting retransmission, by a transmitting device (120; 110), of data destined to a receiving device (110; 120), and a second arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201; 202) for supporting receipt, by a receiving device (110; 120), of one or more retransmissions of data from the transmitting device (120; 110). The transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) are a communication device (120) and a network node (110) comprised in a wireless communication network (100). The data is retransmitted (205; 402) with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

Description

METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO RETRANSMISSIONS OF DATA IN A

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein concern methods and arrangements relating to

retransmissions of data in a wireless communication network, e.g. a telecommunication network.

BACKGROUND

Communication devices such as wireless communication devices, that simply may be named wireless devices, may also be known as e.g. user equipments (UEs), mobile terminals, wireless terminals and/or mobile stations. A wireless device is enabled to communicate wirelessly in a wireless communication network, wireless communication system, or radio communication system, e.g. a telecommunication network, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system, cellular network or cellular communication system. The communication may be performed e.g. between two wireless devices, between a wireless device and a regular telephone and/or between a wireless device and a server via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and possibly one or more core networks, comprised within the cellular communication network. The wireless device may further be referred to as a mobile telephone, cellular telephone, laptop, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), tablet computer, just to mention some further examples. Wireless devices may be so called Machine to Machine (M2M) devices or Machine Type of Communication (MTC) devices, i.e. devices that are not associated with a conventional user.

The wireless device may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another wireless device or a server.

The wireless communication network may cover a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area is served by at least one base station, or Base Station (BS), e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g. "eNB", "eNodeB", "NodeB", "B node", or BTS (Base Transceiver Station), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations may be of different classes such as e.g. macro eNodeB, home eNodeB or pico base station, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell is typically identified by one or more cell identities. The base station at a base station site may provide radio coverage for one or more cells. A cell is thus typically associated with a geographical area where radio coverage for that cell is provided by the base station at the base station site. Cells may overlap so that several cells cover the same geographical area. By the base station providing or serving a cell is typically meant that the base station provides radio coverage such that one or more wireless devices located in the geographical area where the radio coverage is provided may be served by the base station in said cell. When a wireless device is said to be served in or by a cell this implies that the wireless device is served by the base station providing radio coverage for the cell. One base station may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the wireless device within range of the base stations.

In some RANs, several base stations may be connected, e.g. by landlines or microwave, to a radio network controller, e.g. a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and/or to each other. The radio network controller, also sometimes termed a Base Station Controller (BSC) e.g. in GSM, may supervise and coordinate various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. GSM is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communication (originally: Groupe Special Mobile), which may be referred to as 2nd generation or 2G.

UMTS is a third generation mobile communication system, which may be referred to as 3rd generation or 3G, and which evolved from the GSM, and provides improved mobile communication services based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) access technology. UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) is essentially a radio access network using wideband code division multiple access for wireless devices. High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), defined by 3GPP, that extends and improves the performance of existing 3rd generation mobile telecommunication networks utilizing the WCDMA. Such networks may be named WCDMA/HSPA.

In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), base stations, which may be referred to as eNodeBs or eNBs, may be directly connected to other base stations and may be directly connected to one or more core networks. LTE may be referred to as 4th generation or 4G.

The 3GPP has undertaken to evolve further the UTRAN and GSM based radio access network technologies, for example into evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) used in LTE. The expression downlink (DL) is used for the transmission path from the base station to the wireless device. The expression uplink (UL) is used for the transmission path in the opposite direction i.e. from the wireless device to the base station. Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) is a new type of radio access for supporting loT in cellular wireless communication networks, and is based on LTE. NB-loT is e.g. discussed in RP-151621 , "New Work Item: NarrowBand IOT (NB-IOT)", version 15. NBJoT addresses improved indoor coverage, support for massive number of low throughput devices, low delay sensitivity, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption and optimized network architecture. In this context, a low device power consumption that ensures a long battery life time is typically far more important than ensuring low latency. The device power consumption is highly connected to the time the device is in active mode, also referred to as "on time".

A basis for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) mechanism or procedure in NB-loT is a structure with multiple stop-and-wait protocols, where the transmitter stops and waits for an acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement message (ACK/NACK) after each transmitted transport block. NB-loT may only allow one HARQ process, which differs from conventional LTE where several HARQ processes are considered to allow for continuous transmission of data. Further, in the NB-loT, retransmissions may occur at any time, as a result from application of asynchronous HARQ, in both downlink and uplink. To achieve a high bit rate, the time from reception of data until transmission of the

ACK/NACK should be as short as possible. However, retransmissions cost system capacity and also consumed power, which may be undesirable, particularly in case of communication devices supporting NB-loT, as mentioned above.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, an object is to provide one or more improvements with regard to retransmissions, e.g. as part of a HARQ-procedure, that should be suitable for use with NB-loT.

It has been identified that since communication devices for NB-loT to a large extent likely will be devices for Machine Type of Communication (MTC), so called MTC devices, that will be more or less stationary, or at least stationary to a much greater extent than conventionally in LTE. It is therefore expected to be common with comparatively slow variation of transmission conditions for these devices, such as comparatively slow changes in quality of the communication channel being used, e.g. due to multipath fading. When the channel is slowly varying, consecutive retransmissions may be lost since the channel may only slowly vary to the better. The large number of retransmissions that may be needed and wasted because of this, will cause high power consumption in a rather unnecessary way.

According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by an arrangement, for supporting retransmission, by a transmitting device, of data destined to a receiving device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device and a network node comprised in a wireless communication network. The arrangement initiates retransmission of the data with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions that when executed by an arrangement causes the arrangement to perform the method according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a carrier comprising the computer program according to the second aspect. According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by an arrangement, for supporting receipt, by a receiving device, of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device and a network node comprised in a wireless communication network. The arrangement initiates use, by the receiving device, of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions. Said one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

According to a fifth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions that when executed by an arrangement causes the arrangement to perform the method according to the fourth aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a carrier comprising the computer program according to the fifth aspect. According to a seventh aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by an arrangement for supporting retransmission, by a transmitting device, of data destined to a receiving device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device and a network node configured to be part of a wireless communication network. The arrangement is configured to initiate retransmission of the data with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

According to an eighth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by an arrangement for supporting receipt, by a receiving device, of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device and a network node comprised in a wireless communication network. The arrangement is configured to initiate use, by the receiving device, of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions. The one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

Without the extra delays, there would be retransmissions that likely would be of no or little use since, if a first transmission would fail, any retransmission that would occur too soon thereafter is also likely to fail in case of a communication channel with slowly varying quality as discussed above. Thanks to the one or more extra delays, retransmissions that would not be useful in case of a slowly varying communication channel can thus be avoided, and power can be saved in the transmitting device and also the receiving device. At the same time, fewer retransmissions increase system capacity. Hence, improvements have been provided with regard to retransmissions that may be part of a HARQ- procedure, and that are suitable for use with communication devices and network nodes that supports NB-loT.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which are briefly described in the following.

Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically depicting an example of a wireless communication network relevant for embodiments herein.

Figure 2 is a first combined signaling diagram and flowchart for describing some embodiments herein relating to a transmitting device and a receiving device. Figure 3 is a schematic example of HARQ retransmission timing with extra delays as provided by embodiments herein.

Figure 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating embodiments of a first method according to embodiments herein and that may be performed by a first arrangement, e.g. the transmitting device.

Figure 5 is a functional block diagram for illustrating embodiments of the first arrangement.

Figure 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating embodiments of a second method according to embodiments herein and that may be performed by a second arrangement, e.g. the receiving device.

Figure 7 is a functional block diagram for illustrating embodiments of the second arrangement.

Figures 8a-c are schematic drawings illustrating embodiments relating to computer program products and computer programs to cause the first arrangement and/or the second arrangement to perform the first method and/or second method, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description similar reference numerals may be used to denote similar elements, units, modules, circuits, nodes, parts, items or features, when applicable. Features that appear only in some embodiments of what is shown in a figure, are typically indicated by dashed lines in the drawings.

In the following, embodiments herein are illustrated by exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that these embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

It has been identified that communication devices for NB-loT to a large extent likely will be devices for Machine Type of Communication (MTC), so called MTC devices, that will be more or less stationary, or at least stationary to a much greater extent than conventionally in LTE. It is therefore expected to be common with comparatively slow variation of transmission conditions for these devices, such as comparatively slow changes in quality of a the communication channel being used, e.g. due to multipath fading. When the channel is slowly varying, consecutive retransmissions may be lost since the channel may only slowly vary to the better. The large number of retransmissions that may be needed because of this, will cause high power consumption in a rather unnecessary way.

5 A solution underlying embodiments herein targets scenarios as above and take into account that for said devices latency is typically not so important, and is based on the idea that power consumption may be reduced at the cost of increased latency by delaying retransmission(s) and configuring the device to be in a sleep mode until the

retransmission(s) occurs. The retransmission(s) will thus be spread over a larger period of 10 time, or in other words the time diversity will be increased, and fewer retransmission may be needed. Fewer retransmissions enable reduction of power consumption and increase system capacity.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram schematically depicting an example of a

15 wireless communication network 100 that is relevant for embodiments herein and in which embodiments herein may be implemented. The wireless communication network 100 is typically a telecommunication network or system, such as a cellular communication network that e.g. may be a LTE or a LTE based wireless communication network, e.g. supporting NB-loT. The wireless communication network 100 may comprise a RAN 101

20 part and a core network (CN) 102 part.

The wireless communication network 100 comprises network nodes that are interconnected. The network nodes may be logical and/or physical and are located in one or more physical devices. For example, the wireless communication network comprises a network node 110, typically a radio network node that may be or comprise a radio

25 transmitting network node, such as a base station, e.g. a eNB, and/or be or comprise a controlling radio node, which may control one or more radio transmitting network nodes.

The wireless communication network 100, or specifically one or more network nodes thereof, e.g. the network node 1 10, is typically configured to serve and/or control and/or manage one or more communication devices, such as a communication device

30 120, in a radio coverage area, i.e. an area where radio coverage is provided for

communication with one or more communication devices. The radio coverage area typically corresponds to a cell, e.g. a cell 115. The network node 1 10 may provide one or more such cells. The communication devices may e.g. be named wireless communication devices, or simply wireless devices, and are thus supported by and/or operative in the

35 wireless communication network 100. It should be understood by the person skilled in the art that "communication device" may include e.g. any wireless terminal, User Equipment (UE), Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or node, e.g. smartphone, laptop, mobile, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or even a base stations, e.g. a small and/or special kind of base station, that e.g. may be for

communication within the cell 1 15.

Further, the wireless communication network 100 may comprise one or more common nodes, e.g. a common node 130, i.e. a node that is common or central and communicatively connected to multiple other nodes, e.g. multiple radio network nodes that may provide said cells, such as the network node 1 10 and the cell 115, and may be for managing and/or controlling these nodes. The one or more common nodes may be comprised in the CN 102, and may thus be or comprise one or more core network nodes, and/or may e.g. be one or more internal management nodes of the wireless

communication network 100.

The wireless communication network, e.g. the CN 102, may further be

communicatively connected to, and e.g. provide access for said communication devices, to an external network 200, e.g. the Internet. The communication device 120 may thus communicate via the wireless communication network 100, typically via the RAN 101 and the CN 102, with the external network 200, or rather with one or more other devices, e.g. servers and/or other communication devices connected to other wireless communication networks, and that are connected with access to the external network 200.

Moreover, there may be one or more external nodes, e.g. an external node 201 , for communication with the wireless communication network 100 and node(s) thereof. The external node 201 may e.g. be an external management node. Such external nodes may be comprised in the external network 200 or may be separate from this.

Furthermore, the one or more external nodes may correspond to or be comprised in a so called computer, or computing, cloud, that also may be referred to as a cloud system of servers or computers, or simply be named a cloud, such as a computer cloud 202 as shown in the figure, for providing certain service(s) to outside the cloud via a

communication interface. The exact configuration of nodes etc. comprised in the cloud in order to provide said service(s) may not be known outside the cloud. The name "cloud" is often explained as a metaphor relating to that the actual device(s) or network element(s) providing the services are typically invisible for a user of the provided service(s), such as if obscured by a cloud. The computer cloud 202, or typically rather one or more nodes thereof, may be communicatively connected to the wireless communication network 100, or certain nodes thereof, and may be providing one or more services that e.g. may provide, or facilitate, certain functions or functionality of the wireless communication network 100. The computer cloud 202 may be comprised in the external network 200 or may be separate from this. Figure 2 depicts a combined signaling diagram and flowchart, which will be used to discuss embodiments herein in an exemplary scenario where a transmitting device, e.g. the network node 1 10 or the communication device 120, is accomplishing retransmission of data destined to a receiving device, e.g. the communication device or the network node. In some embodiments, the transmitting device is the network node 110 and the receiving device is the communication device 120, and thus the retransmissions are taking part in the downlink. However, the retransmission may alternatively or additionally take part in the uplink, which may correspond to a typical case, and in such case the transmitting device is the communication device 120 and the receiving device is the network node 110. In case embodiments herein are implemented in both the uplink and downlink, each one of the communication device 120 and the network node 1 10 is both a transmitting device and a receiving device.

The actions below may be taken in any suitable order and/or be carried out fully or partly overlapping in time when this is possible and suitable. Action 201

The transmitting device obtains information about one or more extra delays to be used for extra delaying of one or more retransmissions.

As used herein, "an extra delay" is "a delay for extra delaying of a retransmission" and is thus a delay that is more than, or in addition to, any delay that is necessary or present for other reasons than just increasing the time diversity or delaying. The extra delay may be considered to be a delay for deliberately delaying a retransmission and/or with the purpose, e.g. sole purpose, of accomplishing an additional delay before a retransmission. Or in other words, the extra delay is a delay that is extra or in addition to, and thus something different that, a delay that occurs anyway and/or that exists for some other reason than just delaying, and is thus something different than e.g. an inevitable delay and/or a delay being a direct result from physical and/or technical limitations, such as due to processing, e.g. for decoding, that is taking part. Such extra delay as used herein may be described as a delay that is specifically associated with and/or is specifically and/or purposely for extra or additional delaying of one or more

retransmissions of data. An extra delay before a retransmission should be possible to remove with the only result that the retransmission will still occur but without being delayed by the extra delay.

In practice, at least in the case of LTE, each extra delay is typically in the range of a few Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) up to several seconds, such as 10 s.

The information may be any information identifying or at least enabling to identify or determine the one or more extra delays and may e.g. comprise values, corresponding to, or at least identifying, the one or more extra delays, e.g. by the length or duration of each extra delay. There may be one and the same extra delay that is to be used for all retransmissions, or there may be some extra delays that are different and that are used for more than one but not all retransmissions, or there may be a different extra delay for each retransmission. This is further discussed below.

Action 202

Also the receiving device obtains information about the one or more extra delays used by the transmitting device for delaying.

Said information about the one or more extra delays may be predefined and/or predetermined and may be accessible within the transmitting device and the receiving device, and may be accessible by any other arrangement that in turn provides the information to the transmitting device and/or receiving device. For example, the information may be pre-configured or pre-set, for example at production or installation of the transmitting device and/or the receiving device, and/or of the wireless communication network 100, and/or of any arrangement that then is to provide the information to the transmitting device transmitting device and/or the receiving device.

In some embodiments, obtaining the information about the one or more extra delays comprises receiving and/or retrieving at least part of the information from the transmitting device or from the receiving device as illustrated by the dotted arrows in the figure between actions 201 and 202. Typically it may be that the transmitting device has the information already, e.g. pre-configured, and sends it, directly or indirectly, to the receiving device.

In some embodiments, the transmitting device and/or the receiving device receive the information from some other arrangement, e.g. a device or node comprised in the wireless communication network 100, e.g. the common node 130, or a device or node that is communicatively connected to wireless communication network 100, e.g. the external node 201 or the computer cloud 202. The one or more extra delays may further be specifically associated with, e.g.

belonging to, be determined by or depending on, such as be set or configured depending on, the transmitting device or type thereof, and/or its application area, and/or a channel quality associated with a channel that the transmitting device communicates over. The channel quality may in turn be based on assumptions, expectations, and/or experience about an environment and/or location that the transmitting device is associated with, e.g. installed in.

In other words, the one or more extra delays, and thus the extra delaying, may be based on, e.g. depend on, transmission conditions associated with the transmitting device. These transmission conditions may be assumed, e.g. by being be associated with and/or assumed for a type of transmitting device that the transmitting device belongs to and/or by being associated with and/or assumed for an operating mode of the transmitting device, such as operation according to a certain RAT. Thereby, for example, there may be used extra delays and extra delaying for some type or types of transmitting devices, e.g. types that are stationary MTC devices, e.g. sensor devices, and/or that operate according to NB-loT, and/or for which low power consumption is more important than low latency. Other type of transmitting devices, e.g. conventional mobile phones, may use none, or other, extra delays and extra delaying. Hence, the one or more extra delays, and thus the extra delaying, may be based on a transmitting device type associated with the

transmitting device.

For example, when the transmitting device is the communication device 120, that may be an MTC device, e.g. supporting NB-loT, such as a sensor device of some kind, it may be known and/or even pre-configured into the communication device 120, that this is a device, e.g. of a certain type, for which certain one or more extra delays should be used. It may also be assumed a certain environment that the communication device 120 will or can operate in, or at least should be able to handle. Information about these certain one or more extra delays is then, e.g. at installation or reinstallation of the communication device 120 to enable communication with the wireless communication network 100, configured into, and/or sent by communication device 120 to, some arrangement that then may provide the information to a receiving device for the retransmissions, e.g. the network node 110. The one or more extra delays, for example defined by one or more lengths of these delays, may thus be specific for the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120, and/or of a type of transmitting device.

Action 203 The transmitting device transmits data in a first transmission. The data is destined to the receiving device but may not be received by the receiving device, or may at least not be correctly received. Action 204

The receiving device may transmit a NACK to the transmitting device in response to the first transmission in Action 203, i.e. a message tar informs the transmitting device that the first transmission, that may have been expected, was not or not correctly received. This may thus inform retransmitting device that one or more retransmissions are needed and should be performed.

Action 205

The transmitting device retransmits the data while delaying one or more

retransmissions according to the one or more extra delays.

The data may thus be described as being transmitted repeatedly while extra and/or deliberately delaying one or more of the retransmissions according to one or more extra delays.

In other words, the transmitting device transmits a second transmission, i.e. a retransmission, of the data transmitted in Action 203, after first delaying this transmission according to an extra delay. This is exemplified in the figure as Action 205a.

The retransmission may be a "blind" repetition as mentioned above, or may be in response to the NACK in Action 204 and/or that an expected ACK was not received.

When it is transmitted in response to the NACK, the retransmission may be part of a HARQ procedure as mentioned above.

The data is typically comprised in data blocks, such as transport blocks. Said one or more retransmissions of data typically comprises sequentially transmitting, or in other words sending, data blocks multiple times, i.e. more than once, comprising the data, e.g. with the same content. Or phrased differently, said one or more retransmissions may comprise sequentially transmitting data blocks multiple times, each time for transmitting the same information, e.g. by containing the same data, or rather copies of the same data, i.e. the payload of the data packets carry the same information and may be identical.

Note that the first transmission of the data, such as in Action 203, need not have any extra delay added before it, but the following one or more retransmissions have an added extra delay, e.g. so there is an extra delay before each one of the following one or more retransmissions. Said one or more extra delays are associated with the

retransmissions, respectively, but this does not include said first transmission. Each one of the one or more extra delays is thus to be applied, i.e. added, before a retransmission. During the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, the transmitting device may enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying, such as a certain sleep mode. This sleep mode itself may be or may correspond to a sleep mode associated with, e.g. used during application of, so called discontinuous reception, DRX, although the sleep mode in the present case is triggered differently than for DRX.

Without the extra delays, there would be retransmissions that likely would be of no use since, if the first transmission would fail, any retransmission that would occur too soon thereafter is also likely to fail in case of a communication channel with slowly varying quality as discussed above. Thanks to the one or more extra delays, retransmissions that would not be useful can be avoided, and power can be saved in the transmitting device and also the receiving device. At the same time fewer retransmissions increase system capacity. The retransmissions are typically repeated transmissions of data and may e.g. be or comprise HARQ retransmissions, such as HARQ retransmissions with so called incremental redundancy, or HARQ retransmissions with so called chase combining. The retransmissions may also e.g. be or comprise predetermined repetitive transmissions, for example that may be implemented and/or used in order to extend coverage, e.g. so called "bundling", or "blind" repetitions, i.e. without being based on ACK/NACK. Hence, the retransmissions of data may be repeated transmissions of identical data.

In some embodiments, the one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently. The one or more extra delays may comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby that the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

For example, during a first time period the retransmissions may be delayed according to a longer extra delay, or multiple such delays, and/or increasingly delayed. During a second time period the repeated transmissions may then e.g. be delayed according to the shorter extra delay, or multiple such delays, and/or decreasingly delayed, delayed by a fixed extra delay or not delayed an extra delay at all. The second time period may be based on a delivery time tolerance, e.g. maximal acceptable or allowed delivery time, for the transmitting device to deliver the data to the receiving device. Information about the delivery time tolerance may be comprised in the information about the one or more extra delays. For example, the second time period, and thereby application of the shorter extra delay, may start a certain time before the delivery time tolerance is reached if there is yet no indication that the receiving device has received the data. This may be of particular interest when the retransmissions are HARQ retransmissions, and when retransmissions take part after identification, such as after receipt of a NACK, that a previous transmission was not validly received by the receiving device.

Hence, during the first time period with the longer extra delay(s) or increasing delays, it may be assumed that a relatively slowly varying quality, e.g. due to fading, of a channel that communication is taking part over, is preventing valid delivery of the data to the receiving device and therefore it makes sense to wait and thereby increase the likelihood that this relatively slowly varying quality have changed to the better before retransmitting again. However, during the second time period, which may indicate that the delivery time tolerance risks to be reached without receipt of the data by the receiving device, repetitions may be carried out more frequently to hopefully be able to deliver the data before reaching the delivery time tolerance since this, in the end, may be more important than continuing to save power.

As mentioned above, without embodiments herein and application of the extra delay before the retransmission in Action 205a, there would likely been several more retransmissions made by the transmitting device before reaching a point in time when a retransmission could be received, and hence power and resources would have been unnecessarily used. However, even when an extra delay is applied before e.g. the retransmission in Action 205a, the transmitting device may still make one or more further retransmissions, such as the retransmission that is exemplified in the figure as an Action 205b. Such further retransmission may e.g. be part of such "blind" repetitions as mentioned above, or may be sent in response to a NACK from the receiving device as in Action 206a mentioned below.

Action 206

The receiving device uses the obtained information, see Action 202 above, about the one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of one or more of the retransmissions, e.g. the retransmission in Action 205a. The receiving device may thus utilize knowledge about the one or more extra delays that have been applied by the receiving device in order to receive, or even be able to receive, one or more retransmissions. Without knowledge about the information, the receiving device may expect only a shorter, e.g. conventional, delay which may result in that any extra delayed retransmission cannot be received since there e.g. may be a timeout and/or that the receiving device no longer is in state for receipt of any retransmission. Without using the obtained information about the one or more extra delays, the receiving device may e.g. transmit a NACK before the retransmission in Action 205a was sent and could be received.

In any case, even if the receiving device is using the obtained information about the one or more extra delays, it may be so that the retransmission in Action 205a is still not received, or is not received correctly, e.g. owing to the communication channel has not yet varied to the better to enable reception. The receiving device may then transmit a NACK as exemplified in the figure as Action 206a, i.e. a message that may inform the transmitting device that one or more further retransmissions are needed. If the

retransmission is received, the receiving device may instead transmit an ACK as also exemplified in the figure as Action 206a, i.e. an acknowledging message that may inform the transmitting device that the retransmission in Action 205a was validly received and that any further retransmission is not needed.

Note that in case of transmissions that comprise "blind repetitions", or similar, as mentioned under Action 205 above, the receiving device may not send any messages as in Actions 204 and 206a in response to receipt, or non-receipt, of transmissions as in Actions 203 and 205a.

Figure 3 is a schematic example of HARQ retransmission timing with extra delays as provided by embodiments herein. Some details of embodiments herein will now be discussed with support from the figure.

The HARQ protocol as it is conventionally specified for LTE is optimized for low latency which for small packets also means high user throughput. This essentially means that the retransmissions are sent as soon as possible. However, for some specific scenarios, like NB-loT discussed above, high user throughput is deprioritized in return for low device power consumption. This gives the possibility to trade user throughput for reduced power consumption. Hence, already discussed, by e.g. adding an extra delay between a NACK and the corresponding retransmission, time diversity is increased, and a transmitting device as well as a receiving device of the retransmission can e.g. be put in a sleep mode for saving power during the delay such that particularly little power is consumed, for example by using a sleep mode as in discontinuous reception (DRX) and/ or a wake-up receiver consuming very little power. When the retransmission occurs, the extra delay has increased the probability that the retransmission is correctly decoded. The extra delays may possibly be increased for each additional retransmission of the same transport block.

With asynchronous HARQ retransmissions in both uplink and downlink, as e.g. is the case for NB-loT, the transmitting device and receiving device, e.g. the communication device 120 and network node 110, can decide on delayed retransmissions if it is known that the data transmission is not time critical. In other words, implementation of embodiments herein with one or more extra delays, may in this case be implemented without any change in a standard specification. As already discussed above, information on the one or more extra delays to be used may be communicated by the communication device 120 to the network node 1 10 and e.g. configured at setup or installation.

In the figure, the transmission of data and retransmissions thereof, are of a transport block comprising the data and that has a duration of 2 TTIs as an example. Transmissions of transport blocks may in general have duration of one or several TTIs. Conventional delays, such as processing delays, to allow for decoding have been exemplified in the figure as processing delays of 2 TTIs. Further, conventional delays relating to

transmission and receipt of NACKs that may trigger retransmission have been exemplified as delays of 1 TTI. Moreover, in the figure, extra delays, as in embodiments herein, here of an integer number of several TTIs, have been exemplified before each retransmission and named a first extra delay and a second extra delay. The first and second extra delays thus correspond to first and second retransmission delays. Hence, in the transmitting device, upon reception of a first NACK, a first retransmission of the transport block comprising the data is delayed according to the first extra delay. The length of the first extra delay, or in general of all of one or more extra delays to be used before

retransmissions, should be agreed by the transmitting device and receiving device in advance in some way, e.g. by the communication device 120 and the network node 110. As already mentioned, the one or more extra delays may be fixed or dynamic, for example it may depend on the channel quality. In any case, the one or more extra delays should accomplish longer delays before retransmissions than conventionally in LTE, and may e.g. be used in NB-loT and/or for retransmissions where long battery life time is more important than low latency. Each of the one or more extra delays, i.e. retransmission delays, may e.g. have a length ranging from a few TTIs up to several seconds. The latter may e.g. be suitable and possible in case of a very slowly varying channel and interference situation. If decoding fails also after the first retransmission, the second extra delay, i.e. before and associated with the second retransmission, may be applied and it may be even longer than the first extra delay, which may further increase the possibility that the channel quality is better and the transport block of the second retransmission can be decoded. The example of Figure 3 shows only one HARQ process, but as realized by the skilled person, the method can equally well be applied in a case with multiple HARQ processes.

The use of the one or more extra delays may be tightly coupled to a sleep functionality, for example as may be implemented and available for DRX, to ensure that as little power as possible is consumed between the retransmissions. For example, the mentioned delay tolerance may be used to set relevant DRX timers or the timers can be adaptive up to the delay tolerance.

For NB-loT, there is almost no frequency diversity since the transmission bandwidth is only 180kHz and time diversity thus become more important. Increasing the time diversity may be especially important if the channel is only changing slowly. As already indicated, NB-loT devices are expected to be stationary, which will result in

communication channels varying more slowly than conventionally in LTE. On the other hand, code blocks transmitted in NB-loT are spread out in time instead of in frequency, which results in more time diversity than conventionally in LTE.

In the case of NB-loT where repetitions, also called bundling, are used to improve coverage, a delay may also be introduced between each repetition, i.e. retransmission, in the same manner as a delay is added between HARQ retransmissions. The length of the delay should in this case also be communicated to and/or between the transmitting device and the receiving device, i.e. agreed in advance, which e.g. enables reduction of overhead.

Based on embodiments herein it may be preferred to use repetitions as in NB-loT, with one or more extra delays that may be adaptive and e.g. specified in a standard, where the length of the one or more extra delays, e.g. one and the same delay that is used for all repetitions, i.e. retransmissions, is communicated by the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120, to the receiving device, e.g. the network node 1 10. The one or more extra delays may be based on a delay tolerance that the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120, has reported, e.g. before or together with information about the one of more extra delays. Attention is drawn to that the embodiments discussed above relating to the transmitting device and the receiving device, e.g. the communication device 120 and the network node 110, may be fully or partly implemented under influence of other

arrangement(s), e.g. one or more other nodes and devices that may be internal and/or external of the wireless communication network and thus e.g. correspond to single node or device, or distributed nodes or devices. Such other arrangement may e.g. involve the common node 130, the external node 201 and/or the computer cloud 202 discussed above.

For example, although carrying out the retransmission as such, e.g. as in Action 203, the common node 130, the external node 201 and/or the computer cloud 202 may initiate such retransmission. The initiation may e.g. be in the form of an explicit or implicit command, instruction or configuration that is sent to the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120 and/or the network node 110, and that makes the transmitting device to carry out the retransmission as in Action 203. When the transmitting device is actually carrying out the retransmission, this of course also, implicitly, involves an initiation of the retransmission by the transmitting device.

Similarly, some other arrangement, e.g. the common node 130, the external node 201 and/or the computer cloud 202, may initiate use of the one or more extra delays by the receiving device.

Also, the common node 130, the external node 201 and/or the cloud 202 may first obtain the information about the one or more extra delays, and then e.g. send this information to the transmitting device and/or the receiving device that thereby obtains this information by receiving it.

Figure 4 is a flow chart schematically illustrating embodiments of a first method, for supporting retransmission by a transmitting device of data destined to a receiving device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device, e.g. the communication device 120, and a network node, e.g. the network node 110, comprised in a wireless communication network, e.g. the wireless communication network 100. As already indicted above, in some embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the uplink, the transmitting device is the communication device 120 and the receiving device is the network node 1 10. In other embodiments, for

implementation regarding retransmissions in the downlink, the transmitting device is the network node 1 10 and the receiving device is the communication device 120.

The first method may be performed by an arrangement that, as indicated above, may be the transmitting device, and, at least for some embodiments, e.g. the common node 130, the external node 201 or the computer cloud 202.

The first method comprises the following actions, which actions may be taken in any suitable order and/or be carried out fully or partly overlapping in time when this is possible and suitable.

Action 401

Information may be obtained about one or more extra delays to be used for the extra delaying of said one or more retransmissions.

This action may fully or partly correspond to Action 201 and related actions as described above.

Action 402

Retransmission of the data is initiated, with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays for extra delaying of said retransmissions. The information about the one or more extra delays may be obtained under Action 401 above.

As mentioned, the arrangement performing the present method is preferably said transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120, and the transmitting device may then in the present action be retransmitting the data while extra delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays. In this case and context, initiation of the retransmission by the transmitting device may be considered to follow implicitly since carrying out the retransmission means that the transmitting device must start the retransmission and thus that the retransmission is initiated by the transmitting device.

The transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120, may, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying. Said one or more extra delays may be different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently. The one or more extra delays may comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

5 The retransmissions of data may be repeated transmissions of identical data.

The retransmissions may be retransmissions of a HARQ procedure of the wireless communication network 100.

This action may fully or partly correspond to Action 205 as described above.

10 Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram for illustrating embodiments of how a first arrangement 500 may be configured to perform the first method and actions discussed above in connection with Figure 4. As already indicated above, the first arrangement 500 may be the transmitting device, and, at least for some embodiments, e.g. the common node 130, the external node 201 or the computer cloud 202. As also already indicated

15 above, in some embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the uplink, which may be the most typical case, the transmitting device is the communication device 120 and the receiving device is the network node 1 10. In other embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the downlink, the transmitting device is the network node 110 and the receiving device is the communication device 120.

20 Hence, the first arrangement 500 is for supporting retransmission, by the

transmitting device, of data destined to the receiving device. The transmitting device and the receiving device being the communication device 120 and the network node 1 10 configured to be part of the wireless communication network 100.

The first arrangement 500 may comprise a processing module 501 , such as a

25 means, one or more hardware modules, including e.g. one or more processors, and/or one or more software modules for performing said methods and/or actions.

The first arrangement 500 may further comprise a memory 502 that may comprise, such as contain or store, a computer program 503. The computer program 503 comprises 'instructions' or 'code' directly or indirectly executable by the first arrangement

30 500 so that it performs said methods and/or actions. The memory 502 may comprise one or more memory units and may further be arranged to store data, such as configurations and/or applications involved in or for performing functions and actions of embodiments herein.

Moreover, the first arrangement 500 may comprise a processing circuit 504 as an 35 exemplifying hardware module and may comprise or correspond to one or more processors. In some embodiments, the processing module 501 may comprise, e.g. 'is embodied in the form of or 'realized by' the processing circuit 504. In these embodiments, the memory 502 may comprise the computer program 503 executable by the processing circuit 504, whereby the arrangement 500 is operative, or configured, to perform said method and/or actions.

Typically the first arrangement 500, e.g. the processing module 501 , comprises an Input/Output (I/O) module 505, configured to be involved in, e.g. by performing, any communication to and/or from other units and/or nodes, such as sending and/or receiving information to and/or from other nodes or devices. The I/O module 505 may be

exemplified by an obtaining, e.g. receiving, module and/or a providing, e.g. sending, module, when applicable.

In some embodiments, the first arrangement 500, e.g. the processing module 501 , comprises an initiating module 506 as an exemplifying hardware and/or software module, that may be configured to perform one or more of initiation actions as described herein.

Further, in some embodiments, the first arrangement 500, e.g. the processing module 501 , comprises one or more of an obtaining module 507 and a retransmitting module 508 as exemplifying hardware and/or software module(s). These modules may be fully or partly implemented by the processing circuit 504.

Therefore, according to the various embodiments described above, the first arrangement 500, and/or the processing module 501 , and/or the processing circuit 504, and/or the I/O module 505, and/or the obtaining module 507 may be operative, or configured, to obtain information about the one or more extra delays to be used for the extra delaying of said one or more retransmissions.

Moreover, the first arrangement 500, and/or the processing module 501 , and/or the processing circuit 504, and/or the initiating module 506, and/or the retransmitting module 508, are operative, or configured, to initiate retransmission of the data with said one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to the one or more extra delays for extra delaying of said retransmissions. In embodiments where the first arrangement 500 is the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120 or the network node 110, the first arrangement 500, and/or the processing module 501 , and/or the processing circuit 504, and/or the initiating module 506, and/or the retransmitting module 508, may be operative, or configured, to retransmit the data while delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays. In some embodiments, the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120 or the network node 110, is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

In embodiments where the first arrangement 500 is the transmitting device, e.g. the communication device 120 or the network node 1 10, the first arrangement 500, and/or the processing module 501 , and/or the processing circuit 504, may be operative, or configured, to make the first arrangement 500 enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

Figure 6 is a flow chart schematically illustrating embodiments of a second method, for supporting receipt, by a receiving device, of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device. The transmitting device and the receiving device are a communication device, e.g. the communication device 120, and a network node, e.g. the network node 1 10, comprised in a wireless communication network, e.g. the wireless communication network 100.

As already indicted above, in some embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the uplink, the transmitting device is the communication device 120 and the receiving device is the network node 1 10. In other embodiments, for

implementation regarding retransmissions in the downlink, the transmitting device is the network node 110 and the receiving device is the communication device 120.

The second method may be performed by an arrangement that, as indicated above, may be the receiving device, and, at least for some embodiments, e.g. the common node 130, the external node 201 or the computer cloud 202.

The second method comprises the following actions, which actions may be taken in any suitable order and/or be carried out fully or partly overlapping in time when this is possible and suitable.

Action 601

Information may be obtained about one or more extra delays that are used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

This action may fully or partly correspond to Action 202 and related actions as described above.

Action 602 Initiation of use, by the receiving device, of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions. The one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions. The information about the one or more extra delays may be obtained under Action 601 above.

As already mentioned above, the arrangement performing the present method is preferably said receiving device, e.g. the network node 1 10, and the receiving device may then in the present action be using the information about the one or more extra delays for receiving said one or more retransmissions. In this case and context, initiation of the use by the receiving device may be considered to follow implicitly since carrying out the use means that the receiving device must start the use and thus that the use is initiated by the receiving device.

The receiving device, e.g. the network node 110, may, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

Said one or more extra delays may be different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently. The one or more extra delays may comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The retransmissions of data may be repeated transmissions of identical data.

This action may fully or partly correspond to Action 206 as described above.

Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram for illustrating embodiments of how a second arrangement 700 may be configured to perform the second method and actions discussed above in connection with Figure 6. As already indicated above, the second arrangement 700 may be the receiving device, and, at least for some embodiments, e.g. the common node 130, the external node 201 or the computer cloud 202. As also already indicted above, in some embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the uplink, which may be the most typical case, the receiving device is the network node 1 10 and the transmitting device is the communication device 120. In other embodiments, for implementation regarding retransmissions in the downlink, the receiving device is the communication device 120 and the transmitting device is the network node 110.

Hence, the second arrangement 700 is for supporting receipt, by the receiving device, of one or more retransmissions of data from the transmitting device. The transmitting device and the receiving device being the communication device 120 and the network node 1 10 configured to be part of the wireless communication network 100.

The second arrangement 700 may comprise a processing module 701 , such as a means, one or more hardware modules, including e.g. one or more processors, and/or one or more software modules for performing said methods and/or actions.

The second arrangement 700 may further comprise a memory 702 that may comprise, such as contain or store, a computer program 703. The computer program 703 comprises 'instructions' or 'code' directly or indirectly executable by the second arrangement 700 so that it performs said methods and/or actions. The memory 702 may comprise one or more memory units and may further be arranged to store data, such as configurations and/or applications involved in or for performing functions and actions of embodiments herein.

Moreover, the second arrangement 700 may comprise a processing circuit 704 as an exemplifying hardware module and may comprise or correspond to one or more processors. In some embodiments, the processing module 701 may comprise, e.g. 'is embodied in the form of or 'realized by' the processing circuit 704. In these embodiments, the memory 702 may comprise the computer program 703 executable by the processing circuit 704, whereby the second arrangement 700 is operative, or configured, to perform said method and/or actions.

Typically the second arrangement 700, e.g. the processing module 701 , comprises an Input/Output (I/O) module 705, configured to be involved in, e.g. by performing, any communication to and/or from other units and/or nodes, such as sending and/or receiving information to and/or from other nodes or devices. The I/O module 705 may be

In some embodiments, the second arrangement 700, e.g. the processing module 701 , comprises an initiating module 706 as an exemplifying hardware and/or software module, that may be configured to perform one or more of initiation actions as described herein.

Further, in some embodiments, the second arrangement 700, e.g. the processing module 701 , comprises one or more of an obtaining module 707 and a receiving module 708 as exemplifying hardware and/or software module(s). These modules may be fully or partly implemented by the processing circuit 704.

Therefore, according to the various embodiments described above, the second arrangement 700, and/or the processing module 701 , and/or the processing circuit 704, and/or the I/O module 705, and/or the obtaining module 707 may be operative, or configured, to obtain information about the one or more extra delays used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

Moreover, the second arrangement 700, and/or the processing module 701 , and/or 5 the processing circuit 704, and/or the initiating module 706, and/or the receiving module 708, are operative, or configured, to initiate use, by the receiving device, of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more

retransmissions, which one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

10 In embodiments where the second arrangement 700 is the receiving device, e.g. the network node 110 or the communication device 120, the second arrangement 700, and/or the processing module 701 , and/or the processing circuit 704, and/or the initiating module 706, and/or the receiving module 708, may be operative, or configured, to use the information about the one or more extra delays for receiving said one or more

15 retransmissions.

In some embodiments, the receiving device, e.g. the network node 1 10 or the communication device 120, is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

20 In embodiments where the second arrangement 700 is the receiving device, e.g. the network node 1 10 or the communication device 120, the second arrangement 700, and/or the processing module 701 , and/or the processing circuit 704, may be operative, or configured, to make the second arrangement 700 enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

25

Figures 8a-c are schematic drawings illustrating embodiments relating to a computer program that may be any one of the computer programs 503, 703 and that comprises instructions that when executed by the processing circuits 504,704 respectively and/or the processing modules 501 , 701 , respectively, causes the first arrangement 500, 30 e.g. the transmitting device, such as the communication device 120, and/or the second arrangement 700, e.g. the receiving device, such as the network node 110, to perform as described above.

In some embodiments there is provided a carrier, such as a data carrier, e.g. a computer program product, comprising any one or both of the computer programs 503, 35 703. The carrier may be one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, and a computer readable medium. Any one, some or all of the computer programs 503, 703 may thus be stored on the computer readable medium. By carrier may be excluded a transitory, propagating signal and the carrier may correspondingly be named non- transitory carrier. Non-limiting examples of the carrier being a computer-readable medium is a memory card or a memory stick 801 as in Figure 8a, a disc storage medium 802 such as a CD or DVD as in Figure 8b, a mass storage device 803 as in Figure 8c. The mass storage device 1203 is typically based on hard drive(s) or Solid State Drive(s) (SSD). The mass storage device 803 may be such that is used for storing data accessible over a computer network 804, e.g. the Internet or a Local Area Network (LAN).

Any one, some or all of the computer programs 503, 703 may furthermore be provided as a pure computer program or comprised in a file or files. The file or files may be stored on the computer-readable medium and e.g. available through download e.g. over the computer network 804, such as from the mass storage device 803 via a server. The server may e.g. be a web or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server. The file or files may e.g. be executable files for direct or indirect download to and execution on the first arrangement 500 and/or the second arrangement 700, to perform as described above, e.g. by any one, some or all of the processing circuits 504, 704. The file or files may also or alternatively be for intermediate download and compilation involving the same or another processor to make them executable before further download and execution causing the first arrangement 500 and/or the second arrangement 700 to perform as described above.

Note that any processing module(s) mentioned in the foregoing may be

implemented as a software and/or hardware module, e.g. in existing hardware and/or as an Application Specific integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or the like. Also note that any hardware module(s) and/or circuit(s) mentioned in the foregoing may e.g. be included in a single ASIC or FPGA, or be distributed among several separate hardware components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the modules and circuitry discussed herein may refer to a combination of hardware modules, software modules, analogue and digital circuits, and/or one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g. stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors make the first arrangement 500 and the second arrangement 700 to be configured to and/or to perform the above-described first method and second method, respectively. Identification by any identifier herein may be implicit or explicit. The identification may be unique in the wireless communication network 100 or at least in a part or some area thereof.

Note that in practice, embodiments relating to the first method and the second method, and to the first arrangement 500 and to the second arrangement 700, may be implemented in one and the same physical arrangement or entity. For example, there may be a communication device 120, such as a MTC device, that implements the first method in the uplink and the second method in the downlink, and thus at the same time may correspond to or comprise the first arrangement 500 and the second arrangement 700.

As used herein, each of the term "node", or "network node", "device", "arrangement" may refer to one or more physical entities, such as devices, apparatuses, computers, servers or the like. This may mean that embodiments herein may be implemented in one physical entity. Alternatively, the embodiments herein may be implemented in a plurality of physical entities, such as a system or arrangement comprising said one or more physical entities, i.e. the embodiments may be implemented in a distributed manner, such as on a set of interconnected devices, e.g. server machines of a cloud system, also known as e.g. computer cloud.

As used herein, the term "unit" may refer to one or more functional units, each of which may be implemented as one or more hardware modules and/or one or more software modules in a node.

As an example, the expression "means" may be a module corresponding to the modules listed above in conjunction with the figures.

The term "network node" as used herein may as such refer to any type of radio network node (described below) or any network node, which may communicate with at least a radio network node. Examples of such network nodes include any radio network node stated above, a core network node, Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Operations Support Systems (OSS), Self Organizing Network (SON) node, positioning node etc. The term "radio network node" as used herein may as such refer to a network node comprised in a RAN, or any type of network node serving a wireless device, e.g. UE, and/or that are connected to and operating with other network node(s) or network element(s) or any radio node in order to send and/or receive radio signals to/from a communication device.

Examples of radio network nodes are Node B, Base Station (BS), Multi-Standard Radio (MSR) node such as MSR BS, eNB, eNodeB, network controller, RNC, Base Station Controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Access Point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS) etc.

The term "communication device" as used herein, may as such refer to any type of communication device arranged to communicate with a radio network node in a wireless, communication network, such as the wireless communication network 100. Examples may include so called: device to device UE, device for Machine Type of Communication (MTC), MTC device, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), iPAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, Laptop Embedded Equipment (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME),

Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongles etc, just to mention eom examples. While said terms are used frequently herein for convenience, or in the context of examples involving other 3GPP nomenclature, it must be appreciated that the term as such is non-limiting and the teachings herein apply to essentially any type of communication device.

Note that although terminology used herein may be particularly associated with and/or exemplified by certain cellular communication systems, wireless communication networks etc., depending on terminology used, such as wireless communication networks based on 3GPP, this should as such not be seen as limiting the scope of the

embodiments herein to only such certain systems, networks etc.

As used herein, the term "memory" may refer to a hard disk, a magnetic storage medium, a portable computer diskette or disc, flash memory, random access memory (RAM) or the like. Furthermore, the memory may be an internal register memory of a processor.

Also note that enumerating terminology such as first method, second method, and first arrangement, second arrangement, etc., as may be used herein, as such should be considering non-limiting and the terminology as such does not imply a certain hierarchical relation. Wthout any explicit information in the contrary, naming by enumeration should be considered merely a way of accomplishing different names.

As used herein, the expression "configured to" may mean that a processing circuit is configured to, or adapted to, by means of software or hardware configuration, perform one or more of the actions described herein.

As used herein, the terms "number", "value" may be any kind of digit, such as binary, real, imaginary or rational number or the like. Moreover, "number", "value" may be one or more characters, such as a letter or a string of letters. Also, "number", "value" may be represented by a bit string. As used herein, the expression "in some embodiments" has been used to indicate that the features of the embodiment described may be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein.

As used herein, the expression "transmit" and "send" are typically interchangeable. These expressions may include transmission by broadcasting, uni-casting, group-casting and the like. In this context, a transmission by broadcasting may be received and decoded by any authorized device within range. In case of uni-casting, one specifically addressed device may receive and encode the transmission. In case of group-casting, e.g. multicasting, a group of specifically addressed devices may receive and decode the transmission.

When using the word "comprise" or "comprising" it shall be interpreted as non- limiting, i.e. meaning "consist at least of".

The embodiments herein are not limited to the above described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used.

Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the appending claims.

Claims

A method, performed by an arrangement (500; 120; 1 10; 130; 201 ; 202), for supporting retransmission, by a transmitting device (120; 1 10), of data destined to a receiving device (1 10; 120), the transmitting device (120; 1 10) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (110) comprised in a wireless communication network (100), wherein the method comprises:

- initiating retransmission (205; 402) of the data with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises: - obtaining (201; 401) information about said one or more extra delays to be used for the extra delaying of said one or more retransmissions.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-2, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is said transmitting device (120; 1 10) and the transmitting device (120; 110) is retransmitting the data while extra delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the network node (110) and the receiving device (110; 120) i the communication device (120).

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10), during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enters a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein said

retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein said

retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

A computer program (503) comprising instructions that when executed by a transmitting device (120; 1 10) causes the transmitting device (120; 1 10) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-9.

A carrier (801 ; 802; 803) comprising the computer program (503) according to claim 10.

A method, performed by an arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202), for supporting receipt, by a receiving device (110; 120), of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device (120; 1 10), the transmitting device (120; 1 10) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (110) comprised in a wireless communication network (100), wherein the method comprises: - initiating use (204; 602), by the receiving device (1 10; 120), of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions, which one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device (120; 110) for extra delaying said retransmissions.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises: - obtaining (202; 601) information about said one or more extra delays used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

14. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-13, wherein the

arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is said receiving device (110; 120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is using the information about the one or more extra delays for receiving said one or more retransmissions.

15. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-14, wherein the

transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (110; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the network node (110) and the receiving device (110;

120) is the communication device (120).

16. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-15, wherein the receiving device (1 10; 120), during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enters a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

17. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-16, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

19. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-18, wherein said

retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

20. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12-19, wherein said

A computer program (703) comprising instructions that when executed by a receiving device (1 10; 120) causes the receiving device (1 10; 120) to perform the method according to any one of claims 12-20.

A carrier (801 ; 802; 803) comprising the computer program (703) according to claim 21.

An arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting

retransmission, by a transmitting device (120; 110), of data destined to a receiving device (110; 120), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) configured to be part of a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 1 10; 130; 201 ; 202) is configured to:

initiate retransmission (205; 402) of the data with one or more

retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 23, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is further configured to:

obtain (201; 401) information about said one or more extra delays to be used for the extra delaying of said one or more retransmissions.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-24, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is said transmitting device (120; 110) and the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is configured to retransmit the data while extra delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays.

26. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-25, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 110) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the communication device (120).

27. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-26, wherein the transmitting device (120; 110) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

28. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-28, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

29. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 28, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

30. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-29, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

31. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 23-30, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

32. An arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting receipt, by a receiving device (110; 120), of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device (120; 110), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) comprised in a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is configured to: initiate use (204; 602), by the receiving device (1 10; 120), of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions, which one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device (120; 110) for extra delaying said retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 32 wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is further configured to:

obtain (202; 601) information about said one or more extra delays used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-33, wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is said receiving device (110; 120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is using the information about the one or more extra delays for receiving said one or more retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-34, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the

communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 110) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (110; 120) is the communication device (120).

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-35, wherein the receiving device (1 10; 120) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-36, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 37, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-38, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 32-39, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

An arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting

retransmission, by a transmitting device (120; 110), of data destined to a receiving device (1 10; 120), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) configured to be part of a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 1 10; 130; 201 ; 202) comprises one or more processors (504) and a memory (502), wherein said memory (502) comprises instructions (503) executable by said one or more processors (504), whereby the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is operative to:

initiate retransmission (205; 402) of the data with one or more

retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 41 , whereby the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is further operative to:

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 41-42, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is said transmitting device (120; 1 10), and whereby the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is further operative to:

retransmit the data while extra delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 42-43, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the communication device (120).

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 42-44, wherein the transmitting device (120; 110) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 42-45, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 46, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 42-47, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 42-48, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

An arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting receipt, by a receiving device (110; 120), of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device (120; 110), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) comprised in a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) comprises one or more processors (704) and a memory (702), wherein said memory (702) comprises instructions (703) executable by said one or more processors (704), whereby the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is operative to:

initiate use (204; 602), by the receiving device (1 10; 120), of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions, which one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device (120; 110) for extra delaying said retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 50, whereby the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is further operative to:

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-51 , wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is said receiving device (1 10; 120), and whereby the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is further operative to:

use the information about the one or more extra delays for receiving said one or more retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-52, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the

communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 110) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the communication device (120).

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-53, wherein the receiving device (1 10; 120) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-54, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 55, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-56, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 50-57, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

An arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting

retransmission, by a transmitting device (120; 110), of data destined to a receiving device (1 10; 120), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) configured to be part of a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 1 10; 130; 201 ; 202) comprises:

an initiating module (506) for initiating (205; 402) retransmission of the data with one or more retransmissions being extra delayed according to one or more extra delays.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 59, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 1 10; 130; 201 ; 202) further comprises:

an obtaining module (507) for obtaining (201 ; 401) information about said one or more extra delays to be used for the extra delaying of said one or more retransmissions.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-60, wherein the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) is said transmitting device (120; 110) and the arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) further comprises:

a retransmission module (508) for retransmitting the data while extra delaying said one or more of the retransmissions according the one or more extra delays.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-61 , wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 110) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the communication device (120).

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-62, wherein the transmitting device (120; 110) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-63, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 64, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

66. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-65, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

67. The arrangement (500; 120; 110; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 59-66, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).

68. An arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) for supporting receipt, by a receiving device (1 10; 120), of one or more retransmissions of data from a transmitting device (120; 110), the transmitting device (120; 110) and the receiving device (110; 120) being a communication device (120) and a network node (1 10) comprised in a wireless communication network (100), wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) comprises:

an initiating module (706) for initiating use, by the receiving device (1 10; 120), of information about one or more extra delays for supporting receipt of said one or more retransmissions, which one or more extra delays are used by the transmitting device (120; 1 10) for extra delaying said retransmissions.

69. The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 68, wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) further comprises:

an obtaining module (707) for obtaining (202; 601) information about said one or more extra delays used by the transmitting device for extra delaying said retransmissions.

70. The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-69, wherein the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) is said receiving device (1 10; 120) and the arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) further comprises: a receiving module (708) for using the information about the one or more extra delays to receive said one or more retransmissions.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-70, wherein the transmitting device (120; 1 10) is the communication device (120) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the network node (1 10), or the transmitting device (120; 110) is the network node (1 10) and the receiving device (1 10; 120) is the communication device (120).

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-71 , wherein the receiving device (1 10; 120) is configured to, during the extra delaying of said one or more of the retransmissions according to said one or more extra delays, enter a certain mode for saving power during the extra delaying.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-72, wherein said one or more extra delays are different delays, whereby the retransmissions are delayed differently.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in claim 73, wherein the one or more extra delays comprise a sequence of increasing and/or decreasing delays, whereby the retransmissions are increasingly and/or decreasingly delayed.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-74, wherein said retransmissions of data are repeated transmissions of identical data.

The arrangement (700; 110; 120; 130; 201 ; 202) as claimed in any one of claims 68-75, wherein said retransmissions are retransmissions of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, "HARQ", procedure of the wireless communication network (100).