CN112703793B

CN112703793B - Method, apparatus and computer readable medium for early data transmission

Info

Publication number: CN112703793B
Application number: CN201880097670.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·赛瓦加纳帕西; R·拉塔萨克; 李海涛; J-P·科斯基南
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Priority date: 2018-07-17
Filing date: 2018-07-17
Publication date: 2024-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-17
Also published as: CN112703793A; WO2020014855A1

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for early data transmission are disclosed. According to the method, the network device may decode more than one data packet with a different TBS for early data transmission, such that when each terminal device transmits a different data packet with a different TBS for EDT transmission, the more than one terminal device succeeds in contention resolution, thereby reducing signaling.

Description

Method, apparatus and computer readable medium for early data transmission

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to communication technology and, more particularly, relate to methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for early data transmission.

Background

In a communication system, it is often necessary to establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between a terminal device and a network device before transmitting data packets to and from the terminal device. The establishment of an RRC connection consumes a lot of signalling. Recently, early Data Transmission (EDT) has been proposed. EDT has Transport Block Size (TBS) limitations broadcast by the network. In EDT, a small amount of data can be transmitted without establishing an RRC connection. The network device may decode more than one data packet from different terminal devices, but the network device may send only one ACK to one terminal device and the other terminal devices need to start a new random access procedure. However, the random access procedure consumes power of the terminal device and also increases signaling.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for early data transmission and corresponding network device and terminal device.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device. The terminal device includes: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to at least: receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device; receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; in response to at least successfully decoding the first data packet, first downlink signaling is sent to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that the second downlink signaling is to be sent to the second terminal device.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal device. The network device includes: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: transmitting the data packet to the network device; receiving first downlink signaling from the network device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted, the first downlink signaling being associated with decoding the data packet; and monitoring the second control information based on the first control information.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented at a network device for communication. The method comprises the following steps: a first data packet is received from a first terminal device. The method also includes receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device. The method further comprises the steps of: in response to at least successfully decoding the first data packet, first downlink signaling is sent to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that the second downlink signaling is to be sent to the second terminal device.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented on a terminal device for communication. The method comprises the following steps: the data packet is sent to the network device. The method also includes receiving first downlink signaling from the network device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted, and the first downlink signaling being associated with decoding the data packet. The method also includes monitoring second control information based on the first control information.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium has stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one processing unit of a machine, cause the machine to implement a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide another computer-readable medium. Another computer-readable medium stores instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processing unit of a machine, cause the machine to implement a method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for communication. The apparatus comprises means for performing the method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide another apparatus for communication. The apparatus comprises means for performing the method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

Other features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description of the particular embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the embodiments of the disclosure.

Drawings

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

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method implemented at a network device for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating interactions between a terminal device and a network device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating interactions between a terminal device and a network device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a method implemented at a terminal device for communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

Detailed Description

The subject matter described herein will now be discussed with reference to several example embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and thus achieve the subject matter described herein, and are not meant to imply any limitation on the scope of the subject matter.

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

It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two functions or acts illustrated in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently, or the acts may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network that conforms to any suitable communication standard, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-a), wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), high Speed Packet Access (HSPA), narrowband internet of things (NB-LOT), and the like. Furthermore, the communication between the terminal device and the network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocol, including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, future fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocol currently known or to be developed in the future.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. In view of the rapid development of communications, there will, of course, also be future types of communication technologies and systems that may embody the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to only the above-described systems.

The term "network device" includes, but is not limited to, a Base Station (BS), gateway, management entity, and other suitable devices in a communication system. The term "base station" or "BS" means a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a Radio Header (RH), a Remote Radio Head (RRH), a relay, a low power node (e.g., femto, pico, router, etc.).

The term "terminal device" includes, but is not limited to, "User Equipment (UE)" and other suitable terminal devices capable of communicating with a network device. For example, a "terminal device" may refer to a terminal, mobile Terminal (MT), subscriber Station (SS), portable subscriber station, mobile Station (MS), or Access Terminal (AT).

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

(a) Pure hardware circuit implementations (such as implementations in analog and/or digital circuitry only); and

(b) A combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (as applicable):

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

(ii) Any portion of the hardware processor(s), software, and memory(s) having software (including digital signal processor (s)) that work in concert to cause a device, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions; and

(c) Software (e.g., firmware) is required to run but may not exist as hardware circuit(s) and/or processor(s), such as a microprocessor or portion of a microprocessor, when operation is not required.

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

As described above, in EDT, a small amount of data can be transmitted. The network device may broadcast a maximum TBS size in the system information that will be used as an uplink grant size in a Random Access Response (RAR). In order to avoid unnecessary padding on the terminal device when the data packets transmitted by the terminal device are smaller than the maximum TBS, smaller TBS transmissions should be supported. EDT uplink grant should allow the terminal device to select an appropriate TBS, modulation Coding Scheme (MCS) repetition from a set of TBSs provided based on uplink data. Let us assume 8 possible candidates for the maximum TBS broadcast in the system information. It is also assumed that a maximum of 4 possible TBSs are allowed for each maximum TBS broadcast.

In a random access procedure, more than one terminal device may select the same preamble as part of the procedure, and the network device allocates a single uplink grant for the preamble. All terminal devices attempt to transmit uplink using uplink grants. If the network device receives only one of the uplink data packets sent from the terminal device, the contention is resolved and the terminal device knows whether its uplink is received or not when receiving message 4 (Msg 4), which message 4 comprises the contention resolution identifier received in the uplink for message 3 (Msg 3). Terminal devices for which the contention resolution identifiers do not match will restart the random access procedure.

When the uplink allocation of the network device is large, where competing terminal devices may send data packets of different sizes, the impact of collisions may be small if the competing terminal devices select data packets of different sizes, as they will for example use different repetition times or start times. In this case, both terminal devices may be decoded to avoid that one of the terminal devices restarts the random access procedure.

However, even though the network device may be able to decode uplink data packets from more than one terminal device in an EDT random access procedure, in conventional techniques the uplink may be Acknowledged (ACK) only for one terminal device (explicitly via e.g. acknowledgement information, or implicitly via contention messages or uplink allocations), while other UEs need to initiate a new random access procedure. This is not optimal because the random access procedure and data transmission in Msg3 consumes power of the terminal device and network resources. The signaling load increases.

To at least partially address the above and other potential problems, embodiments of the present disclosure provide solutions for early data transmission. Some example embodiments of the present disclosure are now described below with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the disclosure extends beyond these limited embodiments.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication environment 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. The communication environment 100, which is part of a communication network, includes a network device 120, terminal devices 110-1, 110-2, … …, terminal devices 110-N (which may be collectively referred to as "terminal devices 110"). It should be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices shown in fig. 1 is given for illustrative purposes and is not meant to be limiting. Communication system 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices. It should be understood that communication system 100 may also include other elements omitted for clarity. Network device 120 may communicate with terminal device 110.

Communication in communication system 100 may be implemented in accordance with any suitable communication protocol including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation cellular communication protocols, (3G), fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), etc., wireless local area network communication protocols such as institute of radio and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11, etc., and/or any other protocol currently known or developed in the future. Further, the communication may utilize any suitable wireless communication technology including, but not limited to: code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), frequency Division Multiple Address (FDMA), time Division Multiple Address (TDMA), frequency Division Duplex (FDD), time Division Duplex (TDD), multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and/or any other currently known or future developed technology.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a network device may decode more than one data packet with a different TBS for early data transmission such that when each terminal device sends a different data packet with a different TBS for EDT transmission, more than one terminal device succeeds in contention resolution, thereby reducing signaling.

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method 200 implemented at a network device for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The method 200 may be implemented at the network device 120 as shown in fig. 1.

At block 210, network device 120 receives a first data packet from terminal device 110-1. At block 220, network device 120 receives a second data packet from terminal device 110-2. In some embodiments, the first data packet may have a first TBS and the second data packet may have a second TBS. The first TBS may be different from the second TBS.

In some embodiments, network device 120 may broadcast system information to terminal device 110-1 and terminal device 110-2. The system information may indicate a maximum TBS.

In an example embodiment, network device 120 may send information to terminal device 110-1 and terminal device 110-2 indicating different start times for different TBSs. The network device 120 may indicate a start time based on the preamble contention/collision rate. For example, network device 120 may indicate that the smallest TBS transmission and the largest TBS transmission begin from the first uplink subframe. With respect to TBSs between the minimum TBS and the maximum TBS, the network device 120 may determine the start position based on the consecutive resource allocations starting from the end of the resource allocation.

For illustration purposes only, TBSs are 328, 560, and 1000, with a repetition number of 32 and a Resource Unit (RU) of 6. The total subframes allocated in the uplink grant are 192 (i.e. 32 x 6). The repetition of TBS for 328 is 12 and the repetition of TBS for 560 is 20. The terminal device (e.g., terminal device 110-1) may select 560 as the TBS and begin transmitting at the 72 th subframe (i.e., 192-20 x 6). With this scheme, transmission of TBS of 328 is from 1 st subframe to 71 st subframe, and TBS of 560 is from 72 nd subframe to 192 nd subframe. In this way, network device 120 may successfully decode the transmissions of both TBSs because there is no overlap in the transmissions.

In another example embodiment, the network device 120 may decode the first data packet and the second data packet. For example, network device 120 may check for the presence of a reference signal or transmission (e.g., by energy detection) at different subframes of the RU or at different subframes to determine the presence of different TBS transmissions. If the network device 120 determines that a second data packet exists based on the reference signal or transmission, the network device 120 may decode the second data packet. If only data packets with small TBSs are sent separately, the network device 120 may not find the reference signal or transmissions in a portion of the RU corresponding to the other TBSs.

At block 230, if network device 120 successfully decodes the first data packet transmitted from terminal device 110-1, network device 120 transmits first downlink signaling to terminal device 110-1 and terminal device 110-2. In some embodiments, the first downlink signaling may be used for resource allocation for terminal device 110-1. The first downlink signaling includes an indication that the second downlink signaling is to be sent to the terminal device 110-2. Downlink signaling may be used for downlink resource allocation for Msg4 transmissions.

In an example embodiment, the network device 120 may successfully decode the first data packet and not the second data packet before sending the first downlink signaling. For example, if the first data packet has a smaller TBS, the network device 120 may decode the first data packet first. Network device 120 may send an ACK for terminal device 110-1 and a NACK for terminal device 110-2 in the first downlink signaling. The first downlink signaling may also include parameters indicating that the second downlink signaling is to be transmitted.

For example, the first downlink signaling may include a parameter "extended contention resolution" to indicate that if the terminal device fails in contention resolution in the first downlink signaling, the terminal device needs to wait for the second downlink signaling. In some embodiments, the parameter "extended contention resolution" may be sent in RRC signaling.

Alternatively or additionally, the first downlink signaling may include a new cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for the terminal device 110-1. In this way, the terminal device 110-2 may continue to check for downlink reception using the temporary C-RNTI. The new C-RNTI may be sent in RRC signaling (e.g., message 4).

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating interactions 300 between a terminal device and a network device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The network device 120 may decode 3010 the first data packet and the second data packet. If the network device 120 detects the presence of the second data packet but fails to decode the second data packet, the network device 120 may send 3020 first downlink signaling to the terminal device 110-1 and the terminal device 110-2. The first downlink signaling may indicate an ACK for terminal device 110-1 and a NACK for terminal device 110-2. The first downlink signaling may include a contention resolution scheme id, e.g., an identifier of the terminal device 110-1. Alternatively or additionally, the first downlink signaling may also be a parameter "extended contention resolution" to indicate that the terminal device needs to wait for the second downlink signaling if the contention resolution of the terminal device in the first downlink signaling fails. As described above, the downlink signaling may include a new C-RNTI for the terminal device 110-1.

In some embodiments, downlink signaling may refer to signaling Downlink Control Information (DCI) signaling. The DCI may include information on multiple decoding. Alternatively or additionally, downlink signaling may refer to RRC signaling. For example, an ACK for terminal device 110-1 may be sent in DCI signaling and the parameter "extended contention resolution" may be sent in RRC signaling. It should be noted that the downlink signaling may be any suitable signaling.

The terminal device 110-2 may retransmit 3030 the second data packet. The network device may send 3040 the second downlink signaling. The downlink signaling may indicate an ACK for terminal device 110-2. The first downlink signaling may include a contention resolution scheme id, e.g., an identifier of the terminal device 110-2.

In an example embodiment, the network device 120 may successfully decode the first data packet and the second data packet before sending the first downlink signaling. The network device 120 may determine a TBS of the first data packet and a TBS of the second data packet. If the TBS of the first data packet (referred to as the "first TBS") is less than the TBS of the second data packet (referred to as the "second TBS"), network device 120 can determine that terminal device 110-1 successfully completed this resource contention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating interactions 400 between a terminal device and a network device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The network device 120 may decode 4010 the first data packet and the second data packet. If the network device 120 successfully decodes the first data packet and the second data packet and the first data packet has a TBS that is less than the TBS of the second data packet, the network device 120 may send 4020 the first downlink signaling to the terminal device 110-1 and the terminal device 110-2. The first downlink signaling may indicate an ACK for terminal device 110-1. The first downlink signaling may include a contention resolution scheme id, e.g., an identifier of the terminal device 110-1. Alternatively or additionally, the first downlink signaling may also be a parameter "extended contention resolution" to indicate that the terminal device needs to wait for the second downlink signaling if the contention resolution of the terminal device in the first downlink signaling fails. As described above, the first downlink signaling may include a new C-RNTI for the terminal device 110-1.

The network device may send 4030 the second control information to the terminal device 110-2. The second downlink signaling may indicate an ACK for terminal device 110-2. The second downlink signaling may include a contention resolution scheme id, e.g., an identifier of terminal device 110-2. Alternatively or additionally, the second downlink signaling may also be a parameter "extended contention resolution" to indicate that the terminal device needs to wait for the second downlink signaling if the contention resolution of the terminal device in the first downlink signaling fails. As described above, the second downlink signaling may include a new C-RNTI for terminal device 110-2.

In some embodiments, the network device 120 may determine a TBS of another data packet without decoding the data packet, and the network device 120 may transmit third control information indicating the TBS and the resource allocation for retransmission of the TBS. For example, the network device 120 may indicate the TBS when it sends a third downlink signaling for HARQ-NACK with a pointer to the resource allocation for uplink grant to enable the terminal devices of other TBSs to stop retransmitting.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., network device 120) for performing method 200 may include various components for performing the corresponding steps in method 200. These components may be implemented in any suitable manner. For example, it may be implemented by a circuit or a software module.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device; means for receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; and means for transmitting first downlink signaling to the first terminal device and the second terminal device in response to at least successfully decoding the first data packet, the first downlink signaling including an indication that the second downlink signaling is to be transmitted to the second terminal device.

In some embodiments, the first data packet has a first transport block size TBS and the second data packet has a second TBS different from the first TBS.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for decoding the first data packet; and means for decoding the second data packet in response to determining the presence of the second data packet based on the reference signal on the uplink.

In some embodiments, the means for transmitting the first downlink signaling comprises: means for transmitting an ACK for the first terminal device and a NACK for the second terminal device in response to successfully decoding the first data packet without decoding the second data packet; and means for transmitting a parameter indicative of the second downlink signaling to be transmitted.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving second packet data from a second terminal device a second time; and means for transmitting second downlink signaling indicating an ACK for the second terminal device and a resource allocation for the second terminal device.

In some embodiments, the means for transmitting the first downlink signaling comprises: means for, in response to successfully decoding the first data packet and the second data packet; means for comparing a first TBS for a first data packet with a second TBS for the second data packet; means for sending an ACK for the first terminal device in response to the first TBS being less than the second TBS; and means for transmitting a parameter indicative of the second downlink signaling to be transmitted.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting second downlink signaling indicating an ACK for the second terminal device and a resource allocation for the second terminal device.

In some embodiments, the means for transmitting the first downlink signaling comprises: means for transmitting downlink signalling to the first terminal device comprising a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for the first terminal device.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a third data packet having a third TBS from a third terminal device; means for transmitting third downlink signaling indicating the third TBS and resource allocation for retransmission with the third TBS in response to determining the third TBS without decoding the third data packet.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting information indicating different starting positions of different data packets with different TBSs for early data transmission.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method 500 implemented at a terminal device for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

At block 510, terminal device 110-2 sends a data packet to network device 120. At block 520, the terminal device receives first downlink signaling from the network device 120. The first downlink signaling is used for resource allocation. The first downlink signaling includes an indication that the second downlink signaling is to be transmitted.

At block 530, terminal device 110-2 monitors second control information from network device 120 based on the first downlink signaling.

In some embodiments, if terminal device 110-2 receives a NACK from network device 120, terminal device 110-2 may retransmit the data packet to the network device.

In some embodiments, if terminal device 110-2 receives first downlink signaling indicating a NACK and a first TBS, terminal device 110-2 may determine whether its TBS matches the transmitted first TBS. For example, the terminal device 110-2 may determine whether to check the downlink control information or the Msg 4 based on downlink signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). Downlink control information may be transmitted on a Narrowband Physical Data Control Channel (NPDCCH) and RRC signaling may be transmitted on a Narrowband Physical Data Shared Channel (NPDSCH).

If the terminal device 110-2 determines that its TBS does not match the transmitted first TBS, the terminal device 110-2 may cease waiting for the second downlink signaling and restart the random access procedure. That is, if the TBS of terminal device 110-2 matches the transmitted first TBS, it means that network device 120 has detected the presence of the TBS of terminal device 110-2. The terminal device 110-2 only needs to monitor the second downlink signaling for resource allocation.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., terminal device 110) for performing method 500 may include various components for performing the corresponding steps in method 500. These components may be implemented in any suitable manner. For example, it may be implemented by a circuit or a software module.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for transmitting a data packet to a network device; means for receiving first downlink signaling from a network device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted, the first downlink signaling being associated with decoding the data packet; and means for monitoring the second control information based on the first control information.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for retransmitting the data packet in response to receiving the first downlink signaling indicating the NACK.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for determining whether a second TBS of a data packet matches a first transport block size TBS in response to receiving first downlink signaling indicating a NACK and the first TBS; and means for ceasing to monitor the second control information in response to the second TBS not matching the first TBS.

Table 1 shows an example format of downlink signaling transmitted as DCI.

TABLE 1

Table 2 below shows an example format of downlink signaling sent in an RRC message.

TABLE 2

Fig. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Device 600 may be implemented at network device 120. Device 600 may also be implemented at terminal device 110-1 and terminal device 110-2. As shown, device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor(s) 610, one or more transmitters and/or receivers (TX/RX) 640 coupled to the processor(s) 610.

The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technology network and may include, as non-limiting examples, one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as application specific integrated circuit chips, that are slaved in time to a clock that is synchronized to the master processor.

Memory 620 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as non-transitory computer readable storage media, semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory, as non-limiting examples.

Memory 620 stores at least a portion of program 630. TX/RX 640 is used for two-way communication. TX/RX 640 has at least one antenna to facilitate communications, although in practice the access nodes referred to in this application may have multiple antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface necessary to communicate with other network elements.

The program 630 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 610, enable the device 600 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to fig. 2-5. That is, embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by computer software that may be executed by the processor 610 of the device 600, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

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

While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosure or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular disclosure of particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, although operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. As a result. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Various modifications, adaptations to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Any and all modifications will still fall within the scope of the non-limiting and exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Moreover, other embodiments of the disclosure set forth herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure presented in the foregoing specification and the associated drawings.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A network device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

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

receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device;

receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; and

transmitting first downlink signaling to the first terminal device and the second terminal device at least in response to successfully decoding the first data packet, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted to the second terminal device, the first downlink signaling indicating an ACK for the first terminal device, the second downlink signaling indicating an ACK for the second terminal device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first data packet has a first transport block size, TBS, and the second data packet has a second TBS that is different from the first TBS.

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

Decoding the first data packet; and

the second data packet is decoded in response to determining the presence of the second data packet based on a reference signal on the uplink.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit the first downlink signaling further comprises:

transmitting an ACK for the first terminal device and a NACK for the second terminal device in response to successfully decoding the first data packet without decoding the second data packet; and

a parameter indicating the second downlink signaling to be transmitted is transmitted.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receiving the second data packet from the second terminal device a second time; and

and transmitting the second downlink signaling, wherein the second downlink signaling indicates resource allocation for the second terminal equipment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit the first downlink signaling further comprises:

In response to successfully decoding the first data packet and the second data packet, comparing a first TBS for the first data packet with a second TBS for the second data packet;

transmitting an ACK for the first terminal device in response to the first TBS being less than the second TBS; and

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit the first downlink signaling further comprises:

the downlink signaling including a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for the first terminal device is transmitted to the first terminal device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

Receiving a third data packet with a third TBS from a third terminal device;

in response to determining the third TBS without decoding the third data packet, third downlink signaling is sent indicating the third TBS and resource allocation for retransmission with the third TBS.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

information is sent indicating different starting locations of different data packets with different TBSs for early data transmission.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first downlink signaling and the second downlink signaling comprise at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI) signaling and Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

12. A terminal device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

Transmitting the data packet to the network device;

receiving first downlink signaling from the network device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted, the first downlink signaling being associated with decoding the data packet; and

the second downlink signaling is monitored based on the first downlink signaling, the first downlink signaling indicating a NACK for the device, the second downlink signaling indicating an ACK for the device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

the data packet is retransmitted in response to receiving the first downlink signaling indicating a NACK.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determining, in response to receiving the first downlink signaling indicating a NACK and a first transport block size TBS, whether a second TBS of the data packet matches the first TBS; and

And stopping monitoring the second downlink signaling in response to the second TBS not matching the first TBS.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first downlink signaling and the second downlink signaling comprise at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI) signaling and Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

16. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device;

receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; and

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first data packet has a first transport block size, TBS, and the second data packet has a second TBS different from the first TBS.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

decoding the first data packet; and

19. The method of claim 16, wherein sending the first downlink signaling comprises:

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

21. The method of claim 16, wherein sending the first downlink signaling comprises:

responsive to successfully decoding the first data packet and the second data packet;

comparing a first TBS for the first data packet with a second TBS for the second data packet;

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

23. The method of claim 16, wherein sending the first downlink signaling comprises:

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a third data packet with a third TBS from a third terminal device;

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the first downlink signaling and the second downlink signaling comprise at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI) signaling and Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

27. A method of communication, comprising:

transmitting the data packet to the network device;

the second downlink signaling is monitored based on the first downlink signaling, the first downlink signaling indicating a NACK and the second downlink signaling indicating an ACK.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first downlink signaling and the second downlink signaling comprise at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI) signaling and Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

31. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device;

means for receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; and

means for transmitting first downlink signalling to the first and second terminal devices in response to at least successfully decoding the first data packet, the first downlink signalling comprising an indication that second downlink signalling is to be transmitted to the second terminal device, the first downlink signalling indicating an ACK for the first terminal device and the second downlink signalling indicating an ACK for the second terminal device.

32. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for transmitting a data packet to a network device;

means for receiving first downlink signaling from the network device, the first downlink signaling including an indication that second downlink signaling is to be transmitted, the first downlink signaling being associated with decoding the data packet; and

Means for monitoring the second downlink signaling based on the first downlink signaling, the first downlink signaling indicating a NACK and the second downlink signaling indicating an ACK.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving a first data packet from a first terminal device;

receiving a second data packet from a second terminal device; and

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following:

transmitting the data packet to the network device;