CN115066933A

CN115066933A - Method for controlling channel monitoring

Info

Publication number: CN115066933A
Application number: CN202080096268.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郭秋瑾; 陈梦竹; 徐俊; 马骁颖; 马璇; 彭佛才
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2020-02-14
Filing date: 2020-02-14
Publication date: 2022-09-16
Also published as: WO2021098052A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method of reducing power usage in a mobile station due to monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). The mobile station may switch between different PDCCH monitoring actions associated with different sets of PDCCH monitoring parameters or PDCCH skipping parameters.

Description

Method for controlling channel monitoring

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a method of monitoring a control channel by a mobile station.

Background

With the development of wireless communication technology, by using technologies such as high frequency band, large bandwidth, multi-antenna arrangement and the like, performance indexes such as transmission rate, time delay, throughput, reliability and the like of a wireless communication system are greatly improved. On the other hand, in order to achieve high-performance wireless transmission, a terminal, such as a mobile station, needs to perform more complicated processing to meet performance requirements, such as monitoring a larger control channel bandwidth, and encoding and decoding more complicated control information and data information. The power consumption of the mobile station affects the user experience. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a power saving solution for mobile stations in a wireless communication system.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station includes the mobile station operating in accordance with a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring behavior associated with a first PDCCH monitoring parameter set. The method also includes switching from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to operating in accordance with a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a second set of PDCCH monitoring parameters. Each of the first PDCCH monitoring parameter set and the second PDCCH monitoring parameter set may define a unique pattern that defines one or more monitoring slots within a monitoring period in which a mobile station monitors a PDCCH of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message.

In another embodiment, another method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station includes the mobile station operating according to a first PDCCH monitoring activity associated with a first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters. The method also includes the mobile station switching between operating according to a first PDCCH monitoring behavior and operating according to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a PDCCH skip parameter set. The first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters may define a unique pattern that defines one or more monitoring slots within a monitoring period in which the wireless access node monitors the PDCCH of the DCI message. The skip parameter set may define at least one skip period during which the mobile station does not monitor the PDCCH of the DCI message.

Other aspects and alternatives of the above-described embodiments and implementations thereof are described in more detail in the following figures, description and claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an example system diagram including a mobile station and a wireless access node in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 2 shows one example timing diagram illustrating example PDCCH monitoring behavior without DRX configuration in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 3 shows another example timing diagram illustrating example PDCCH monitoring behavior with DRX configuration in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 4 provides an example flow diagram illustrating a method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 5 shows another example timing diagram illustrating aspects of PDCCH skipping behavior in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 6 provides an example flow diagram illustrating another method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station in accordance with various embodiments.

Detailed Description

The radio access network provides a network connection between the mobile station and an information or data network, such as a voice communication network or the internet. An example Radio access network may be based on cellular technology, which may also be based on, for example, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, New Radio access technology (NR)), and/or unlicensed band access (NR-U) technology and/or format.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example system diagram including a mobile station 102 and a wireless access node 104, in accordance with various embodiments. Mobile station 102 may include User Equipment (UE) (and may be referred to herein as UE) that may further include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, or other mobile device capable of wireless communication over a network. Mobile station 102 may include transceiver circuitry 106 coupled to an antenna 108 to enable wireless communication with wireless access node 104. The transceiver circuitry 106 may also be coupled to a processor 110, and the processor 110 may also be coupled to a memory 112 or other storage. The memory 112 may store therein instructions or code that, when read and executed by the processor 110, cause the processor 110 to implement the various methods described herein.

Similarly, wireless access node 104 may comprise a base station or other wireless network access point capable of wireless communication with one or more mobile stations over a network. For example, in various embodiments, the wireless access Node 104 may include a 4G LTE base station, a 5G NR base station, a 5G central unit base station, a 5G distributed unit base station, or a next generation base station (gNB), an enhanced Node B (eNB), or other base station. The wireless access node 104 may include transceiver circuitry 114 coupled to an antenna 116, and the antenna 116 may include antenna towers 118 in various manners to enable wireless communication with the mobile stations 102. The transceiver circuitry 114 may also be coupled to one or more processors 120, and the processors 120 may also be coupled to memory 122 or other storage. The memory 122 may have stored therein instructions or code that, when read and executed by the processor 120, cause the processor 120 to implement the various methods described herein.

The radio access network may provide or employ various transmission formats and protocols for wireless message transmissions between mobile station 102 and radio access node 104. In existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G New Radio (NR) access technology communication systems, a mobile station 102 (e.g., User Equipment (UE)) needs to know Uplink scheduling grant information for transmitting a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) and Downlink scheduling assignment information for receiving a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). This information is included in Downlink Control Information (DCI) and is transmitted by a wireless access node (e.g., a base station or a gNB) to a mobile station (e.g., a UE) on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) in different DCI formats. Therefore, the mobile station should first monitor the PDCCH.

The UE needs to keep monitoring the PDCCH at the PDCCH monitoring occasion to avoid missing any data scheduling information. The PDCCH monitoring occasion is determined by parameters of periodicity ks, duration in periodicity Ts and offset Os associated with the start position of the periodicity. These parameters may be configured in the SearchSpace Information Element (IE) in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. Fig. 2 shows a timing diagram illustrating an example PDCCH monitoring behavior (without DRX configuration) with ks-2 slots, Ts-1 slots and Os-0. In accordance with an example PDCCH monitoring behavior, PDCCH monitoring occasions 202 are shown spaced apart from time slots where no monitoring occurs.

The UE may monitor PDCCH on a control resource set (CORESET) in PDCCH monitoring occasions defined by the search space set. Related monitoring parameters for PDCCH may be included in SearchSpace field of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, where SearchSpace id and controlResourceSetId Information Elements (IEs) may indicate the search space set index and CORESET of the SearchSpace applicable for PDCCH monitoring. The searchbpacetype IE in the searchbace field indicates the search space type of the DCI format carried by the PDCCH that the UE should monitor. In various approaches, the Common Search Space (CSS)/UE specific search space (USS) corresponds to different DCI formats to be detected, and the UE specific search space may contain fewer DCI formats, where DCI format 0_0 or 1_0 also belongs to CSS.

In various methods, the duration IE for RRC signaling is Ts<ks, indicating the number of slots for which the UE monitors the PDCCH in the search space set s. The monitongslotperiodiciandoffset IE indicates the PDCCH monitoring periodicity of ks slots and the PDCCH monitoring offset of Os slots. monitorngsymbols within the slot for PDCCH monitoring is indicated by the symbol CORESET IE. The specific PDCCH monitoring occasion may be obtained in the following manner. For search space set s, if

The UE determines that the number is n _f Is numbered in the frame as

There is a PDCCH monitoring occasion in the slot of (1). For slave time slot

For the first Ts consecutive slots, the UE monitors the PDCCH in search space set s, and for the next ks-Ts consecutive slots, does not monitor the PDCCH in search space set s. In the present disclosure, the PDCCH monitoring frequency refers to a ratio of a PDCCH monitoring duration Ts to a PDCCH monitoring periodicity ks, and specifically, Ts/ks.

In various examples, as also shown in fig. 3, the mobile station may implement a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode to achieve power savings. The basic mechanism of DRX is to configure a DRX cycle for the mobile station. The DRX-ondurationTimer starts at the start position of the DRX cycle during which the mobile station is in DRX active time and continues to monitor the PDCCH. If the mobile station successfully decodes the PDCCH during the DRX active time, the mobile station stays awake for the active time and starts an inactivity timer configured by a DRX-inactivity timer parameter. The mobile station may return to sleep for a period of time other than the active time. During a period other than the active time, the mobile station does not monitor the PDCCH, thus reducing power consumption. However, according to previous solutions, the mobile station continues to monitor the PDCCH during DRX active time, which does not save power. The PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station still consumes much unnecessary power during the active time. For example, in sparse traffic models, more power is wasted for monitoring the PDCCH, especially for longer active times of DRX configuration.

Other power saving solutions have been proposed. For example, during the active time, the mobile station may be configured with at least one minimum applicable scheduling offset (i.e., K0min and/or K2min), and the DCI may indicate an index of the configuration value. If the indicated value of K0min and/or K2min is greater than 0, power consumption for PDCCH monitoring can be reduced by relaxing PDCCH processing time, and an additional power saving gain can be achieved by the mobile station. Similarly, an indication of a similar sleep behavior transition on a Scell may trigger the UE to perform sleep behavior on some scells of the Scell group. However, there are many PDCCH-only monitoring activities that consume unnecessary power during active time.

The methods provided in the present disclosure describe a power saving approach in which the mobile station 102 reduces PDCCH periodic monitoring behavior (e.g., frequency of PDCCH monitoring) by toggling PDCCH monitoring parameters. These exemplary power saving techniques may reduce UE power consumption compared to conventional PDCCH monitoring methods.

Switching PDCCH monitoring behavior between at least two PDCCH monitoring parameter sets

In various embodiments, a mobile station 102 (e.g., UE 102) may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior between two or more PDCCH monitoring parameter sets. Fig. 4 provides an example flow diagram illustrating a method 400 of communicating between a wireless access node 104 and a mobile station 102 to implement such a PDCCH monitoring behavior handoff function in accordance with various embodiments. In step 402, the mobile station operates according to a first PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters. In step 404, mobile station 102 switches from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a second set of PDCCH monitoring parameters. In the present embodiment, each of the first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters and the second set of PDCCH monitoring parameters defines a unique pattern that defines one or more monitoring occasions within a monitoring period (e.g., ks) in which the mobile station 102 monitors the PDCCH of a DCI message.

In various embodiments, mobile station 102 receives an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior from wireless access node 104 and then switches to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior in response to receiving the indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. In various embodiments, receiving the indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises mobile station 102 receiving a DCI message from wireless access node 104 that includes a message portion indicating that mobile station 102 is to use the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. In various embodiments, the message portion indicating that the mobile station is to use the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises at least a portion of an existing message field of the DCI in certain specific states that are reinterpreted. In one example, the message field of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 re-interpreted or re-targeted from another destination is a minimum applicable scheduling offset message field or a resource allocation message field. The specific state may be that some existing fields of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 are set to all "0" or all "1". In various embodiments, if the higher layer parameter maxnrof codewordsscheduled bydci is equal to 2, the existing fields may include at least a "frequency domain resource allocation" and/or a "time domain resource allocation" field of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1, a "modulation and coding scheme", "new data indicator", "redundancy version" and/or a "HARQ process number" field of transport block 2 of DCI format 1_ 1. For example, if in DCI format 1_1 the "time domain resource allocation" field is set to all "1", the "HARQ process number" field is set to all "0", and the fields of transport block 2, including the "modulation and coding scheme" field, are set to all "1", and the "redundancy version" field is set to all "0", the minimum applicable scheduling offset field may be reinterpreted as an indication of the PDCCH monitoring behavior switching function. Wherein the maxNrofCodeWordsSchedulByDCI parameter is equal to 2. If the higher layer parameter configuration UE is able to switch PDCCH monitoring behavior, then if the field is set to "0", the UE switches to the first PDCCH monitoring behavior, otherwise, the UE switches to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. This field is set to a 0 bit if the higher layer parameters do not configure the UE to be able to switch PDCCH monitoring behavior, or the UE will ignore the indication of this field, or the UE expects the field not to be reinterpreted.

In certain embodiments, each of the first PDCCH monitoring activity and the second PDCCH monitoring activity defines an associated unique pattern in terms of a monitoring periodicity (ks), a monitoring duration (Ts), and a monitoring offset (Os). The monitoring periodicity (ks) defines a duration of a monitoring period as ks slots, the monitoring duration (Ts) defines a duration of Ts consecutive slots where monitoring occurs, where Ts ≦ ks, the monitoring offset (Os) defines a start of the monitoring period, and remaining slots of the monitoring period that are not within the Ts consecutive slots (e.g., ks-Ts slots) define slots where monitoring does not occur.

In some implementations, the mobile station 102 can receive the definitions of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior from the radio access node via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some examples, a UE may be configured with N search space sets, which may be configured by higher layer signaling such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some examples, N may be an integer no greater than 10 and no less than 2, and in other examples, N may be an integer no less than 1. The set of search spaces may be divided into M groups, where M is an integer no less than 2 in one example, and no less than 1 in another example. Note that all search space sets in one group may correspond to one PDCCH monitoring parameter set. One search space set may be included in at least two groups, or one search space set may be included in only one group of the M search space set groups.

In some implementations, the lowest PDCCH monitoring null rate (e.g., Ts/ks) corresponding to all search space sets in one search space group is not less than a minimum threshold. In some implementations, the minimum threshold is not less than 1/T _{drx-onDurationTimer} . In some implementations, the lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency corresponding to at least two search space set groups is different. In some examples, the set of search space sets with smaller set indices includes a search space set configuration corresponding to a smaller PDCCH monitoring frequency. Thus, in one example, the first PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a lower frequency of monitoring slots than the second PDCCH monitoring activity. In some implementations, the lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency corresponding to all sets of search spaces in a group is not greater than a maximum threshold. In some examples, the maximum threshold is not greater than 1. The maximum PDCCH monitoring frequencies corresponding to the at least two search space set groups may be different. The search space set group with the larger group index may include a search space set configuration corresponding to a larger PDCCH monitoring frequency.

For example, the lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency may be 1/4 of the PDCCH monitoring parameter sets corresponding to all search space sets in the first search space set group, while the lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency may be 1/2 of the PDCCH monitoring parameter sets corresponding to all search space sets in the second search space set group. In another example, the maximum PDCCH monitoring frequency may be 1/2 of the PDCCH monitoring parameter sets corresponding to all search space sets in the first search space set group, and the maximum PDCCH monitoring frequency may be 1 of the PDCCH monitoring parameter sets corresponding to all search space sets in the second search space set group. Many other examples are possible.

In various embodiments, mobile station 102 may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to a default PDCCH monitoring parameter set. As such, one of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior or the second PDCCH monitoring behavior may be a default PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station 102, and in a particular example, the first PDCCH monitoring behavior may be the default monitoring behavior of the mobile station 102. In various examples, mobile station 102 may receive, from radio access node 104, a definition of one of a first PDCCH monitoring behavior or a second PDCCH monitoring behavior as a default PDCCH monitoring behavior via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling or another higher layer signaling.

In some implementations, the UE is configured with a default search space set group by high-level parameters. The default set of search spaces may contain at least one set of search spaces. PDCCH monitoring frequencies in a PDCCH monitoring parameter set corresponding to all search space sets in a default search space set group may have a minimum threshold (e.g., not less than 1/T) _{drx-onDurationTimer} ). Conversely, in some implementations, the PDCCH monitoring frequencies in the PDCCH monitoring parameter sets corresponding to all search space sets in the default search space set group may have a maximum threshold (e.g., no greater than 1, or a PDCCH monitoring frequency corresponding to the current search space set configuration). In some implementations, when the timer expires and the UE does not monitor the PDCCH, the UE determines to monitor the PDCCH in a PDCCH monitoring occasion determined by a default set of search spaces. In some implementations, if the duration parameter of the default search space set is not equal to 0, the UE determines to monitor the PDCCH in the PDCCH monitoring occasion determined by the default search space set when the timer expires and the UE does not monitor the PDCCH. In some implementationsThe UE determines to monitor the PDCCH in a PDCCH monitoring occasion determined by a default search space set indicated by a specific DCI format or a higher layer parameter.

In other embodiments, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior by selecting one search space set from all search space sets in the active BWP and then monitoring the PDCCH in a PDCCH monitoring occasion determined by the selected search space set. In some implementations, the UE may be configured with N search space sets through RRC signaling. For example, in some embodiments, N is an integer no greater than 10 and no less than 1.

The following includes descriptions of various examples of indications that may be provided to mobile station 102 (e.g., a UE) to indicate which PDCCH monitoring behavior to use. Such an indication may be an explicit indication (e.g., an explicit indication provided within signaling to inform the UE of the PDCCH monitoring behavior to be utilized) or may be an implicit indication (e.g., a timer). In some embodiments, the timer is started or restarted by receiving a PDCCH with data scheduling. In some embodiments, the timer is started or restarted by receiving a PDCCH without data scheduling. In some embodiments, the timer is started or restarted by receiving the PDCCH in the USS.

In some embodiments, the UE is configured with a search space set group switching function with higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the UE may report its available PDCCH monitoring behavior to the wireless access node 104. In some embodiments, the search space set group switching function may be indicated by a DCI message. For example, the search space set group switching function may be indicated by a DCI format with data scheduling. For example, the search space set group switching function may be indicated by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 with data scheduling. In another example, the search space set group switching function is indicated by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 scheduling a new transmission. In other examples, the search space set group function is indicated by an additional field of a DCI message with DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1. The additional field of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 has a width of, for example, 2 bits at most. In some embodiments, the search space set group function is indicated by reinterpreting or repurposing one or more existing fields of a message having a DCI format 0_1 or a DCI format 1_1 DCI. For example, the reinterpretation or repurposed field may be a field indicating a minimum applicable scheduling offset (e.g., K0min or K2 min). In some implementations, the search space set group switching function is indicated by a DCI message having a DCI format without data scheduling. For example, the search space set group switching function may be indicated by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 without data scheduling. In some implementations, the search space set group function is indicated by reinterpreting or repurposing some existing fields of a DCI message with DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1. In some examples, the field of the re-interpretation or re-purposing of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 is a field indicating a time domain resource allocation. In some implementations, the reinterpreted or repurposed field is a field indicating the minimum applicable scheduling offset. In some implementations, the reinterpretation or repurposed field is a field indicating a time domain resource allocation.

In some embodiments, the field indicating the DCI format 0_1 or the smallest applicable scheduling offset of DCI format 1_1 is reinterpreted or repurposed to a search space set group switching function configured by specific higher layer parameters. In some examples, if a UE is not configured with a higher layer parameter indicating a minimum applicable scheduling offset (e.g., a minimum of K0 or K2) and some existing fields are set to a particular state, the fields of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 indicating the minimum applicable scheduling offset are reinterpreted or repurposed to a search space set switching function. In some implementations, if the UE is configured with higher layer parameters indicating a specific timer associated with search space set group switching, the DCI format 0_1 or the field of DCI format 1_1 indicating the minimum applicable scheduling offset is reinterpreted or repurposed as a search space set group switching function.

In some embodiments, the fields of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 indicating time domain resource allocation are reinterpreted or repurposed to a search space set group switching function configured by certain higher layer parameters. In some examples, if the UE is not configured with higher layer parameters indicating time domain resource allocation, this field is reinterpreted as a search space set switching function. In some implementations, this field is reinterpreted as a search space set group switching function if the UE is configured with high level parameters indicating a specific timer associated with the search space set group switching.

In some implementations, when some predefined fields are set to a predefined state, the fields are reinterpreted as PDCCH monitoring parameter switching functions.

In some embodiments, mobile station 102 (e.g., a UE) may utilize an implicit indication (e.g., a timer) to perform PDCCH monitoring behavior handover. In various embodiments, the UE starts or restarts a timer, the value of which is indicated by a higher layer parameter. Then, after a predefined Q number of slots or symbols after the slot in which a specific type of DCI format is monitored or received by the UE, the UE monitors the PDCCH using a search space set group with a larger group index (e.g., a higher monitoring frequency). The predefined Q slots may depend on the reported UE capabilities. If the UE is configured with a minimum applicable scheduling offset of "1", the predefined Q slots may be determined by the application delay of the minimum applicable scheduling offset. In some examples, the predefined Q slots associated with the indication "1" of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator are labeled Q1, while the predefined Q slots associated with the indication "0" of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator are labeled Q2. In some implementations, Q1 is larger than Q2.

In some implementations, the UE starts or restarts a timer indicated by a higher layer parameter and monitors the PDCCH in a search space set group with a smaller group index (e.g., a lower monitoring frequency) after a predefined Q slots or symbols after the timer expires and the slot in which the PDCCH is not monitored by the UE. The predefined Q slots may depend on the reported UE capabilities. If the UE is configured with a minimum applicable scheduling offset of "1", the predefined Q slots may be determined by the application delay of the minimum applicable scheduling offset. The predefined Q slots associated with the indication "1" of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator may be labeled Q1, while the predefined Q slots associated with the indication "0" of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator may be labeled Q2. In some implementations, Q1 is not smaller than Q2.

In light of these disclosures, the methods discussed above can be further defined. In various embodiments, mobile station 102 may start or restart a timer in response to receiving a DCI signal intended for the mobile station, and switch to operating in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior for the duration of the timer. In a particular example, the first PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a lower monitoring slot frequency (e.g., a lower monitoring frequency) than the second PDCCH monitoring activity. In some approaches, after the timer expires, mobile station 102 may switch back to operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior. In some approaches, the first PDCCH monitoring behavior is a default PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station, while in other approaches, the second PDCCH monitoring behavior is a default PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station.

In another example, mobile station 102 may start or restart a timer and allow the timer to expire. The mobile station 102 may determine that a DCI signal intended for the mobile station 102 has not been received within the duration of the timer. In response, mobile station 102 may restart the timer and switch to operating in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior for the next duration of the timer. As long as mobile station 102 does not receive the DCI signal, mobile station 102 may repeat this process up to a maximum number of cycles. In various examples, the first PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a higher monitoring slot frequency than the second PDCCH monitoring activity.

In some implementations, the UE monitors DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 in one of the search space set groups. In some embodiments, the UE does not desire to monitor the PDCCH carrying a DCI format scrambled by at least one of P-RNTI, RA-RNTI, TC-RNTI, SI-RNTI, PS-RNTI, INT-RNTI, SFI-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, and TPC-SRS-RNTI. In some embodiments, the UE desires to monitor the PDCCH carrying a DCI format with a UE-specific search space type. In some embodiments, the search space set group switching function is only used to trigger the UE to monitor the PDCCH carrying DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 scrambled by at least one of C-RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI, CS-RNTI. In some examples, the UE does not desire to monitor the PDCCH in a PDCCH Monitoring occasion determined by the handed over search space set when the UE is performing at least one of a Physical Random Access channel (prach) procedure, a Radio Link Monitoring (RLM) procedure, or a Beam Failure Detection (BFD) procedure.

In various embodiments, for cross-carrier scheduling, the UE may monitor PDCCH in a search space set, which may include a search space set group in Pcell or PScell and a search space set group in a cross-carrier with data scheduling. For cross-carrier scheduling, the UE may perform search space set group switching in Pcell or PScell and cross-carrier with data scheduling. In some implementations, a default set of search spaces is configured per each bandwidth part (BWP).

In some examples, the maximum number of search space sets supported in each search space set group is equal in the groups. In some implementations, the maximum number of search space sets supported in each search space set group is less than the maximum number of search space sets in an active BWP.

The number of search space sets in each search space set group may be different and/or the maximum number of search space sets in each search space set group may be different. In some examples, the maximum number of search space sets in the group of search space sets having a lower index is less than the maximum number of search space sets in the group of search space sets having a larger index. In some examples, the maximum number of CORESET supported associated with a search space set in each search space set group is no greater than the maximum number of CORESET in an active BWP. In some examples, the maximum number of CORESET associated with a search space set in each search space set group may be different. In some examples, the maximum number of CORESET associated with a search space set in a search space set group having a lower index is less than the maximum number of search space sets in a search space set group having a larger index. In some examples, the set of search spaces in any set of search space sets is not the recovered set of search spaces or the set of search spaces with an ID of 0. In some examples, the CORESET associated with a search space set in any search space set group is not a CORESET with a CORESET ID of 0.

PDCCH monitoring parameter adaptation

In various embodiments, PDCCH monitoring behavior may be altered by varying one or more individual parameters of a PDCCH monitoring parameter set. For example, the wireless access node 104 may manipulate one or more PDCCH monitoring parameters to cause the mobile station 102 to switch from operating in accordance with a first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior. In some embodiments, a scaling factor is utilized to change one or more PDCCH monitoring parameters. Thus, the above disclosed method may be further defined. According to various embodiments, mobile station 102 may receive a scaling factor for at least one parameter of an associated pattern of first PDCCH monitoring behavior from wireless access node 104. Switching from the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior then comprises applying a scaling factor to at least one parameter of an associated pattern of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to create the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. The at least one parameter of the associated pattern of first PDCCH monitoring behavior may comprise a monitoring periodicity (ks), a monitoring duration (Ts) and/or a monitoring offset (Os).

In some embodiments, the UE is configured with a set of scaling factors for PDCCH monitoring periodicity (ks) through a specific DCI format or higher layer signaling. The set of scaling factors may include at least one offset value.

In some implementations, the scaling factor includes at least one value of 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, or 1/5, for example. Other scale factors are also possible. In some embodiments, the UE switches the periodicity by multiplying the PDCCH monitoring periodicity by a scaling factor indicated by a specific DCI format message. In some embodiments, the UE switches the periodicity by multiplying the PDCCH monitoring periodicity by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the UE switches the periodicity by dividing the PDCCH monitoring periodicity by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the UE receives a PDCCH monitoring periodic handover indicated by a particular DCI format when a higher layer parameter or signaling indicates that the UE is configured with the PDCCH monitoring periodic handover. In some examples, the scale factor is configured per BWP. In some implementations, the indication of the scaling factor is an existing field for reinterpretation or repurposing of a particular DCI format message. The specific DCI format may be a DCI format with data scheduling, and may be DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1.

In various embodiments, the set of scale factors includes at least one scale factor. In some examples, the scale factors in the set of scale factors may be no less than 1, and in other examples, may be no greater than 1. The scale factor set may be configured by higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the scale factor value is indicated by a particular DCI format or Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE). The specific DCI format may be DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1. In some methods, the scale factor in the set of scale factors is not greater than a maximum threshold, wherein the maximum threshold may be no less than the DRX onDuration timer. In some examples, the UE switches the PDCCH monitoring periodicity by subtracting a scaling factor indicated by a specific DCI format message. In some examples, the UE switches the periodicity by multiplying the PDCCH monitoring periodicity by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the UE receives a PDCCH monitoring periodic handover indicated by a specific DCI format message when the UE is configured with higher layer parameters or signaling indicating that the PDCCH monitors periodic handover. The PDCCH monitoring scale factor may be configured according to BWP. The indication of the scaling factor for the PDCCH monitoring periodicity may be an existing field for reinterpretation or repurposing of a particular DCI format. In certain embodiments, the specific DCI format is a DCI format with data scheduling.

In various embodiments, the UE is configured with a set of scaling factors for monitoring the search space set duration (Ts) parameter through a specific DCI format or higher layer signaling. The set of scale factors may include at least one offset value.

In some examples, the scaling factor includes at least one value of 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, or 1/5, for example. Other scale factors are also possible. In some embodiments, the UE switches the PDCCH monitoring duration by multiplying the duration by a scaling factor indicated by a specific DCI format message. In some embodiments, the UE switches the PDCCH monitoring duration by multiplying the duration by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. In some examples, the UE switches the PDCCH monitoring duration by dividing the duration by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameter. In some examples, the UE receives a PDCCH monitoring duration switch indicated by a particular DCI format when a higher layer parameter or signaling indicates that the UE is configured with the PDCCH monitoring duration switch. In some examples, a scaling factor for the duration is configured per BWP. In some implementations, the indication of the scaling factor for the duration is an existing field for reinterpretation or repurposing of a particular DCI format message. The specific DCI format may be a DCI format with data scheduling, and may be DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1.

In various embodiments, the set of scale factors includes at least one scale factor. In some examples, the scale factors in the set of scale factors may be no less than 1, and in other examples, may be no greater than 1. The scale factor set may be configured by higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the scale factor value is indicated by a particular DCI format or Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE). The specific DCI format may be DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1. In some methods, the scale factor in the set of scale factors is not greater than a maximum threshold, wherein the maximum threshold may be no less than the DRX onDuration timer. In some examples, the UE toggles the PDCCH monitoring duration by subtracting the periodic offset indicated by the specific DCI format message. In some implementations, the UE switches the PDCCH monitoring duration by multiplying it by a scaling factor indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the UE receives a PDCCH monitoring duration switch indicated by a specific DCI format message when the UE is configured with higher layer parameters or signaling indicating the PDCCH monitoring duration switch. A scaling factor for the PDCCH monitoring duration may be configured according to each BWP. In some implementations, the indication of the scaling factor for the PDCCH monitoring duration may be an existing field for re-interpretation or re-targeting of a particular DCI format. In certain embodiments, the specific DCI format is a DCI format with data scheduling.

In various embodiments, the UE is configured with a set of offsets for the offset parameter Os in the search space set IE by a specific DCI format or higher layer signaling. In some implementations, the set of offsets for the Os may include at least one offset value.

According to various examples, the offset value is an integer and the unit is a slot or ms. The UE may switch the Os parameter by adding or subtracting an offset value for the Os indicated by the specific DCI format message. The UE may also switch Os by adding or subtracting the offset indicated by the specific DCI format message and the higher layer parameters. The set of offset values may include at least one offset value. In some examples, the offset value in the offset set is not less than 1, and in other examples, not greater than a value of PDCCH monitoring periodicity (ks). The offset set may be configured by higher layer parameters. The offset value may be indicated by a specific DCI format message or MAC CE. The specific DCI format may be DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_ 1. In some examples, the offset value in the offset set is not greater than a maximum threshold. In various implementations, the maximum threshold is not less than a DRX onDuration timer, or not less than a value of PDCCH monitoring periodicity (ks). In some examples, the UE receives an Os parameter switch indicated by a specific DCI format message when the UE is configured with higher layer parameters or signaling indicating the Os parameter switch. The offset for Os may be configured according to BWP. In some examples, the indication of the offset for Os is an existing field for reinterpretation or repurposing of a particular DCI format. In some examples, the specific DCI format is a DCI format with data scheduling.

In some embodiments, the PDCCH monitoring parameter switching indication, e.g. PDCCH monitoring periodicity ks, duration Ts and PDCCH monitoring offset Os, is configured by higher layer parameters. The UE may determine a specific offset value from the index indicated by the level 1 (L1) signaling and a set of scaling factors or offset values configured by higher layer parameters associated with the corresponding parameter switching behavior.

Bundling PDCCH monitoring behavior with other power saving functions

In some embodiments, PDCCH monitoring behavior may be bundled with wake-up indications. For example, when DCI format 2_6 triggers the UE to monitor PDCCH for the next "DRX On" duration (active time), the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior by selecting search space set 1 or new search space set group 1. Similarly, when DCI format 2_6 triggers the UE to not monitor PDCCH for the next "DRX On" duration, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior by selecting search space set 2 or a new search space set group 2. In some embodiments, if the UE does not receive a wake-up signal within the DRX cycle due to missing detection of DCI formats 2-6, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring behavior according to a default configuration of wake-up indications. In some embodiments, if the UE does not detect a wake-up signal within the DRX cycle, the UE should perform PDCCH monitoring behavior by selecting search space set 2 or search space set group 2. In some embodiments, if the UE does not detect a wake-up signal within the DRX cycle, the UE should perform the current PDCCH monitoring behavior.

In some embodiments, the PDCCH monitoring behavior switching function is indicated by DCI formats 2-6 for the UE. In some embodiments, the fields of the PDCCH monitoring behavior switching function of DCI formats 2-6 follow the fields of the sleep behavior transition function-like on the Scell of the UE. In some embodiments, the field of the PDCCH monitoring behavior switching function of DCI formats 2-6 follows the field of the UE's wake-up function.

In some examples, search space set 1 is a default search space set and may have a lower PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets of active BWP. The PDCCH monitoring frequency may be less than a minimum monitoring threshold. In various approaches, the minimum monitoring threshold is not less than 1 (maximum value of ks) and/or not greater than 1/2. In a specific example, the minimum threshold is no greater than 1/T _{drx-onDurationTimer} . In other examples, search space set 1 may have a higher or highest PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets of active BWP.

In some examples, search space set 2 is a default search space set and may have a larger PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets of active BWP. The PDCCH monitoring frequency may be greater than a maximum monitoring threshold. In various approaches, the maximum monitoring threshold is no greater than 1 and/or no less than 1/2. In a specific example, the minimum threshold is not less than 1/T _{drx-onDurationTimer} . In other examples, search space set 2 may have a lower or lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets for active BWP.

Search space set 1 and search space set 2 may be different search space sets with different indices for one UE of an active BWP. In another approach, search space set 1 and search space set 2 are the same search space set, but with modified PDCCH monitoring parameters for active BWP, e.g., Duration, monitongslotperiodiciandoffset, or monitongsymboldswithinslot.

In some embodiments, search space set group 1 is a default search space set group and may include search space sets with lower PDCCH monitoring frequencies in all search space sets for active BWP. The PDCCH monitoring frequency may be less than a minimum monitoring threshold. In various approaches, the minimum monitoring threshold is not less than 1 (maximum value of ks) and/or not greater than 1/2. In a specific example, the minimum threshold is no greater than 1/T _{drx-onDurationTimer} . In other examples, search space set 1 may include a search space set having a higher or highest PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets of active BWP.

In some embodiments, search space set group 2 is a default search space set group and may include search space sets having a larger PDCCH monitoring frequency in all search space sets of the active BWP. The PDCCH monitoring frequency may be greater than a maximum monitoring threshold. In various approaches, the maximum monitoring threshold is no greater than 1 and/or no less than 1/2. In a specific example, the minimum threshold is not less than 1-T _{drx-onDurationTimer} . In thatIn other examples, search space set 2 may include a search space set having a lower or lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency among all search space sets of active BWP.

Search space set group 1 and search space set group 2 may be different search space sets with different indices for one UE of an active BWP. In another approach, search space set group 1 and search space set group 2 comprise the same search space set, where, for example, the same search space set is not less than the search space set with the lowest PDCCH monitoring frequency in search space set group 1 and/or the same search space set is not greater than the search space set with the highest PDCCH monitoring frequency in search space set group 2.

Thus, the above disclosed method may be further defined. According to various embodiments, the mobile station 102 (e.g., UE) receives an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior, including the mobile station 102 receiving an awake indication for a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode cycle indicating that the mobile station is awake for a next DRX cycle. In various approaches, the first PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a higher monitoring slot frequency (e.g., higher monitoring frequency) than the second PDCCH monitoring activity (and vice versa).

In some embodiments, PDCCH monitoring behavior may be bundled with cross-slot scheduling. For example, when the minimum applicable scheduling offset (e.g., K0min or K2min) is indicated by DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 0_1 to a value greater than 0, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 1 or search space set group 1. The UE may also switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 2 or search space set group 2 when the minimum applicable scheduling offset is indicated by DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 0_1 as a value equal to 0.

In some embodiments, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring handover behavior when the minimum applicable scheduling offset is indicated by DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 0_1 to a value greater than 0. In some embodiments, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 1 or search space set group 1 when the minimum applicable scheduling offset (e.g., K0min) is greater than a minimum threshold of 1. Similarly, in some embodiments, when the minimum applicable scheduling offset K0min is less than the minimum threshold 2, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 2 or search space set group 2. In some embodiments, the minimum threshold of 1 may be greater than the minimum threshold of 2, and the minimum threshold of 2 may be not less than 0. In some embodiments, the minimum applicable scheduling offset, K0min, is configured by higher layer parameters.

The above disclosed method may be further defined in light of the above. According to various embodiments, the mobile station 102 (e.g., UE) receiving the indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior may include receiving a change in a value of a PDSCH minimum applicable scheduling offset (K0) between receiving a message on the PDCCH and a scheduling slot on a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), and similarly may include receiving a change in a value of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) minimum applicable scheduling offset (K2) between receiving a message on the PDCCH and a scheduling slot on a PUSCH. In some methods, receiving the change in the value of K0 or K2 includes receiving an increase in the value of at least one of K0 or K2 above a minimum applicable scheduling offset threshold. In various approaches, the second PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a lower monitoring slot frequency (e.g., a lower monitoring frequency) than the first PDCCH monitoring activity. Similarly, receiving a change in the value of K0 or K2 may include receiving a decrease in the value of K0 or K2 below a minimum applicable scheduling offset threshold. In various approaches, the second PDCCH monitoring activity has a pattern with a higher monitoring slot frequency (e.g., a higher monitoring frequency) than the first PDCCH monitoring activity.

In some embodiments, PDCCH monitoring behavior may be bundled with similar sleep behavior transitions on the Scell. For example, when the number of scells with sleep-like behavior indicated by DCI format 2_6, DCI format 1_0, or DCI format 1_1 is greater than a threshold Nd, the UE may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 1 or search space set group 1. In some examples, the UE switches PDCCH monitoring behavior to search space set 2 or search space set group 2 when the number of scells with non-sleep-like behavior indicated by DCI format 2_6, DCI format 1_0, or DCI format 1_1 is greater than a threshold Nd. In some examples, Nd is not less than 1 and not greater than the total number of scells in the scheduled Scell group.

Switching PDCCH monitoring behavior between PDCCH search space set switching behavior and PDCCH skipping behavior

In some embodiments, mobile station 102 (e.g., a UE) may perform PDCCH skipping actions for a skip duration. Fig. 5 shows an example timing diagram illustrating aspects of PDCCH skipping behavior in accordance with various embodiments. A series of units such as time slots or time is shown. After a skip trigger event occurs (e.g., receipt of a DCI message indicating to the UE to use PDCCH skip behavior), the UE may perform PDCCH skipping for a skip period of a unit duration (e.g., time slot, time, etc.). Alternatively, the application delay may be applied after the skip trigger event (e.g., after receiving DCI) and before performing PDCCH skipping for the skip period, during which mobile station 102 continues to monitor the PDCCH. PDCCH skipping behavior may be associated with a PDCCH skipping parameter set, which may include one or more parameters indicative of PDCCH skipping behavior. One such parameter is the PDCCH skip period, which may be the number of units (or time) for which the mobile station 102 does not monitor the PDCCH. It may be an integer greater than or equal to 0 (e.g., 1). One unit may include a time slot, a PDCCH monitoring occasion, a PDCCH monitoring periodicity, or a (sub) frame, or a millisecond, or a PDCCH monitoring duration.

In some embodiments, mobile station 102 (e.g., a UE) may switch PDCCH monitoring behavior of mobile station 102 between PDCCH search space set switching behavior (described in detail above) and PDCCH skipping behavior. Thus, according to the above embodiment, the PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises at least one of a search space set switching behavior; a search space set selection behavior; searching for space set switching behavior; PDCCH monitors the parameter switching behavior; PDCCH monitoring parameter modification behavior; and PDCCH skipping behavior.

In some embodiments, higher layer parameters (e.g., included in RRC) configure PDCCH monitoring behavior of the UE to switch between PDCCH search space set/group switching behavior and PDCCH skipping behavior.

In other embodiments, the UE switches or performs a particular PDCCH monitoring behavior according to an indication (e.g., an indication with a DCI message) in layer 1 (L1) signaling.

In other embodiments, the UE switches or performs a particular PDCCH monitoring behavior according to parameters indicated in L1 signaling (e.g., DCI) corresponding to PDCCH monitoring behavior configured by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC). For example, in some embodiments, when the higher layer parameters configure PDCCH skipping behavior for the UE, the UE performs PDCCH skipping behavior indicated by the DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 messages for a predefined skip duration. In some approaches, the UE also performs search space set or search space set group switching behavior indicated by DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 messages when higher layer parameters configure PDCCH skip behavior for the UE.

In some implementations, the PDCCH skip parameter set is configured by higher layer parameters, and the UE determines the value of the PDCCH skip parameter according to an index indicated by L1 signaling (e.g., DCI). In some examples, the bit width of the index of the PDCCH skip parameter set indicated by the L1 signaling (e.g., DCI) is no greater than 2. In some examples, the L1 signaling is DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 with data scheduling. In some examples, the L1 signaling is DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 with no data scheduling and with predefined fields set to all "0" or all "1". In some examples, the predefined field is a frequency domain resource allocation field, a time domain resource allocation field, an MCS index field, and/or an HARQ process number field.

In various embodiments, the indication for performing or switching PDCCH skipping actions that may be provided in DCI may be the same or similar to the indications discussed above for PDCCH search space switching actions. Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the above discussed methods for PDCCH monitoring handover may also be applicable to handover or handover parameters of PDCCH skipping behavior.

In some embodiments, the UE may report its characteristics associated with PDCCH monitoring behavior for power saving. The UE may report or send the preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior to the radio access node 104. The UE may then perform PDCCH monitoring using parameters indicated by L1 signaling (e.g., DCI) corresponding to the reported characteristics of PDCCH monitoring behavior.

In some embodiments, the parameters of PDCCH skipping behavior include an offset (e.g., offset) for determining a starting position of the skipped-period and/or a duration of the skipped-period for triggering the UE not to monitor the PDCCH for the duration of the skipped-period.

In some embodiments, for example, the UE may skip PDCCH monitoring starting from slot n, in case the PDCCH skipping parameter does not include a predefined offset. Slot n may be a Sk slot or a slot after ms from the next slot in which the UE receives DCI. Sk may be an application delay, where a unit is defined as a slot or ms. Sk may be UE capabilities reported by the UE to the radio access node 104. In some approaches, if both cross-slot scheduling and PDCCH skip behavior are indicated in the same DCI, Sk is not less than the application delay of the minimum applicable scheduling offset.

In some embodiments, the parameters of PDCCH skipping behavior may include the same parameters as the search space set IE. For example, the parameters may include a PDCCH monitoring duration Ts, an offset Os, and a periodicity ks. In some implementations, the duration of PDCCH skipping action (Ts) is set to 0. In some embodiments, the UE performs a PDCCH monitoring action that only continues PDCCH periodicity (ks) if the duration (Ts) of the corresponding monitoring parameter set is equal to 0. In some embodiments, if the PDCCH monitoring duration (Ts) of the monitoring parameter set corresponding to the triggered PDCCH monitoring action is equal to 0, the UE may fall back to performing the latest PDCCH monitoring action after the entire PDCCH monitoring periodicity (ks).

In some examples, the duration of the PDCCH skip period is an integer no greater than a "DRX On" duration timer configured by higher layer parameters. In other examples, the duration of the PDCCH skip period is an integer no greater than a DRX inactivity timer configured by higher layer parameters. In some implementations, the unit of the duration of the PDCCH skip period is a time slot or milliseconds (ms).

The above disclosed method may be further defined in light of the above. Fig. 6 provides an example flow diagram illustrating a method 600 of communicating between a wireless access node 104 and a mobile station 102 to implement such PDCCH monitoring behavior switching functionality (e.g., between space-set switching and PDCCH monitoring skipping), in accordance with various embodiments. At step 602, mobile station 102 operates in accordance with a first PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters. In step 604, mobile station 102 switches from operating according to the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a PDCCH skipping parameter set. In the present embodiment, the first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters defines a unique pattern that defines one or more monitoring slots or occasions within a monitoring period (e.g., ks) in which mobile station 102 monitors the PDCCH of a DCI message. However, the skip parameter set defines at least one skip period during which the mobile station does not monitor the PDCCH of the DCI message.

In some embodiments, mobile station 102 performs the handover in response to receiving a DCI message including an indication to operate in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. In another embodiment, mobile station 102 may receive higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC) that configures at least a PDCCH skipping parameter set for the second PDCCH monitoring activity. In this embodiment, mobile station 102 performs the handover in response to receiving a DCI message including an indication to operate in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior, which indication may include an index of a PDCCH skip parameter set indicating the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. The skip parameter set of the second PDCCH monitoring action may further include at least one of a duration of the skip period indicating an offset of a start position of the skip period.

In another embodiment, mobile station 102 sends an indication of a preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior to wireless access node 104, which behavior includes at least a second PDCCH monitoring behavior (e.g., PDCCH skipping behavior). Mobile station 102 then switches from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior in response to receiving a DCI message including an indication corresponding to the preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior (second PDCCH monitoring behavior).

In some embodiments, for the case where a specific field is re-interpreted as an indication of PDCCH monitoring parameters or a behavioral switching function for the UE, some existing or predefined fields may be set to some specific state as presented in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, if the higher layer parameter maxnrof codewordsscheduled bydci is equal to 2, these existing fields may include at least a "frequency domain resource allocation" and/or a "time domain resource allocation" field of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1, a "modulation and coding scheme", "new data indicator", "redundancy version" and/or a "HARQ process number" field of transport block 2 of DCI format 1_ 1. For example, if in DCI format 1_1, the "time domain resource allocation" field is set to all "1", the "HARQ process number" field is set to all "0", and the fields of transport block 2, including the "modulation and coding scheme" field, are set to all "1", and the "redundancy version" field is set to all "0", the minimum applicable scheduling offset field may be reinterpreted as an indication of the PDCCH monitoring behavior switching function. Wherein the maxNrofCodeWordsSchedulByDCI parameter is equal to 2. If the high-level parameter configuration UE can switch the PDCCH monitoring behavior, if the field is set to '0', the UE switches to the first PDCCH monitoring behavior, otherwise, the UE switches to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior. This field is set to a 0 bit if the higher layer parameters do not configure the UE to be able to switch PDCCH monitoring behavior, or the UE will ignore the indication of this field, or the UE expects the field not to be reinterpreted.

In some embodiments, the application delay of the PDCCH monitoring parameters or the behavior switching function is not less than the application delay of the functions indicated by the same L1 signaling or performed simultaneously by the UE. In some embodiments, the function includes cross-slot scheduling, i.e., the minimum of K0 or K2 is greater than 0. In some embodiments, these functions include BWP switching functions. In some embodiments, these functions include a sleep-like behavior transition function on the Scell.

UE capability to report PDCCH monitoring behavior

In some embodiments, the UE re-interprets the specific fields of the DCI format based on the reported parameters or signaling. As described above, the UE may report the preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior configuration according to the specific UE capabilities. In some examples, the UE reports supported PDCCH monitoring behavior according to specific UE capabilities. In other examples, the UE reports whether the UE supports the PDCCH monitoring parameter switching function according to specific UE capabilities. In other examples, the UE reports whether the UE supports the search space set switching function according to specific UE capabilities. In other examples, the UE reports whether the UE supports the search space set group switching function according to specific UE capabilities. In other examples, the UE reports whether the UE supports PDCCH skipping behavior according to specific UE capabilities. In some examples, UE features corresponding to at least one of the aforementioned UE capabilities or higher layer parameters are supported by the UE-supported release 16. In some implementations, UE features corresponding to the aforementioned UE capabilities or higher layer parameters are supported by the UE support release 17 and updated versions.

The above disclosed method may be further defined in accordance with the above. According to various embodiments, the mobile station 102 (e.g., UE) sends at least one of a preferred or supported mode of operation including at least one of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior to the wireless access node 104. Mobile station 102 may then receive definitions of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior from wireless access node 104 according to a preferred or supported mode of operation.

In various embodiments, as shown in fig. 1, mobile station 102 comprises a processor 110 and a memory 112, wherein processor 110 is configured to read computer code from memory 112 to implement any of the methods and embodiments disclosed above in connection with the operation of mobile station 102. Similarly, the wireless access node 104 comprises a processor 120 and a memory 122, wherein the processor 120 is configured to read computer code from the memory 122 to implement any of the methods and embodiments disclosed above in relation to the operation of the wireless access node 104. Further, in various embodiments, the computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable program medium (e.g., memory 112 or 122) having computer code stored thereon. The computer code, when executed by a processor (e.g., processor 110 or 120), causes the processor to implement a method corresponding to any of the embodiments disclosed above.

Various embodiments and solutions are disclosed above. These solutions may include one or more of the following:

a UE monitors a PDCCH in a PDCCH monitoring occasion determined by a search space set of a search space set group. Wherein the number of search space set groups is not less than 1.

2. The search space set group is indicated by a DCI format with data scheduling. Wherein the indication of the search space set group is reinterpreted by an existing field of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 if the minimum applicable scheduling offset is not configured by RRC signaling.

3. The search space set group is indicated by the DCI format without data scheduling. Wherein the indication of the search space set group is reinterpreted by the time domain resource allocation of DCI format 0_1 or 1_1 or an existing field of the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator.

4. The search space set group switching function is indicated by the DCI format of the UE-specific search space type.

5. In some approaches, the search space set group switching function may not be used for PDCCH monitoring with at least one of the following events:

1) a DCI format scrambled by at least one of RNTIs including P-RNTI, RA-RNTI, TC-RNTI, SI-RNTI, PS-RNTI, INT-RNTI, SFI-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI and TPC-SRS-RNTI;

2) performing at least one of a PRACH, RLM, or BFD procedure;

3) DCI format 0_0 or 1_ 0;

4) the minimum applicable scheduling offset indicator is set to "0" indicated by DCI format 0_1 or 1_ 1.

6. The maximum number of search space sets in each search space set group may be different. The maximum number of search space sets in the group of search space sets having a lower index may be less than the maximum number of search space sets in the group of search space sets having a larger index.

7. The maximum number of CORESET associated with a search space set in each search space set group may vary. The maximum number of CORESET associated with a search space set in a search space set group having a lower index may be less than the maximum number of CORESET in a search space set group having a larger index.

In other embodiments, the UE switches or performs a specific PDCCH monitoring action according to a timer.

In other embodiments, the indication of PDCCH search space set/group switching behavior and the indication of PDCCH skipping behavior are jointly encoded.

In other embodiments, the UE is allowed to perform PDCCH skipping behavior only when the UE switches to multiple PDCCH search space sets/groups.

In other embodiments, the UE is not allowed to perform PDCCH skipping behavior when the UE switches to multiple PDCCH search space sets/groups.

In other embodiments, the UE switches or performs a specific PDCCH monitoring behavior according to at least one of:

DRX cycle type, DRX group, OndurationTimer, drxinaftivytimer.

In one example, the DRX cycle type includes a short DRX cycle and/or a long DRX cycle. In some examples, whether the UE is allowed to perform PDCCH search space set/group switching behavior or PDCCH skipping behavior depends on whether a short DRX cycle or a long DRX cycle is used.

In one example, the DRX groups include a first DRX group and/or a second DRX group. In some examples, whether the UE is allowed to perform PDCCH search space set/group switching behavior or PDCCH skipping behavior depends on whether the first DRX group or the second DRX group is used. Wherein the first and second DRX groups have the same parameters except for the OndurationTimer and/or the drxinactytimer.

In accordance with the various methods and embodiments disclosed above, various technical advantages are realized. Primarily, additional power savings are achieved by reducing the amount of time required for the mobile station 102 to monitor the PDCCH.

The above specification and drawings provide specific example embodiments and implementations. The described subject matter may, however, be embodied in many different forms and, thus, it is intended that the encompassed or claimed subject matter be construed as being limited to any example embodiment set forth herein. It is intended to provide a reasonably broad scope for the claimed or covered subject matter. The subject matter may be embodied, for example, as a method, apparatus, component, system, or non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing computer code. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of hardware, software, firmware, storage media, or any combination thereof, for example. For example, the above-described method embodiments may be implemented by a component, device or system comprising a memory and a processor by executing computer code stored in the memory.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have more subtle meanings than explicitly stated in context. Likewise, the phrase "in one embodiment/implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment/implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, it is intended that claimed subject matter include all or a combination of portions of the illustrative embodiments.

In general, terms may be understood at least in part from the context of their use. For example, terms such as "and," "or," or "and/or" as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend at least in part on the context in which the terms are used. Generally, "or" if used in association lists, such as A, B or C, means A, B and C, used herein in the inclusive sense, and A, B or C, used herein in the exclusive sense. Furthermore, the term "one or more" as used herein may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular or may be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in the plural, depending, at least in part, on the context. Similarly, terms such as "a," "an," or "the" may be understood to convey a singular use or to convey a plural use, depending at least in part on the context. Moreover, the term "based on" may be understood to not necessarily convey an exclusive set of factors, but may allow for the presence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again depending at least in part on the context.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present solution should be or are in any single implementation thereof. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the solution may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the present solution may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the solution.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station, the method comprising:

operating, by the mobile station, in accordance with a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring behavior associated with a first PDCCH monitoring parameter set; and

switching, by the mobile station, from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a second set of PDCCH monitoring parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein each of the first PDCCH monitoring parameter set and the second PDCCH monitoring parameter set defines a unique pattern defining at least one monitoring slot within a monitoring period in which the mobile station monitors a PDCCH of a Downlink Control Information (DCI).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile station from the wireless access node, an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior;

wherein the switching to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior occurs in response to receiving an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving, by the mobile station, DCI from the wireless access node, the DCI comprising a message portion indicating that the mobile station is to use the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the message portion indicating that the mobile station is to use the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises at least a portion of a message field repurposed from another destination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the message field repurposed from another purpose comprises at least one of a minimum applicable scheduling offset message field, a resource allocation message field or a HARQ process number or a field of a transport block comprising a modulation and coding scheme and a redundancy version field.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the first PDCCH monitoring behavior has a pattern with a lower monitoring slot frequency than the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile station from the radio access node via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a definition of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein each of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior defines the associated unique pattern as a function of a monitoring periodicity (ks), a monitoring duration (Ts), and a monitoring offset (Os),

wherein the monitoring periodicity (ks) defines a duration of a monitoring period as ks time slots,

wherein the monitoring duration (Ts) defines a duration of Ts consecutive time slots in which monitoring takes place, wherein Ts ≦ ks,

wherein the monitoring offset (Os) defines the start of a monitoring period and

wherein the remaining time slots of the monitoring period that are not within the Ts consecutive time slots define time slots in which no monitoring occurs.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the unit of each of said parameters configured by the higher layer parameters is milliseconds.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein one of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior or the second PDCCH monitoring behavior is a default PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the first PDCCH monitoring behavior is a default PDCCH monitoring behavior of the mobile station.

13. The method of any of claims 11 to 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile station from the wireless access node via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a definition of one of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior or the second PDCCH monitoring behavior as a default PDCCH monitoring behavior.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a DCI signal intended for the mobile station:

starting or restarting a timer; and

switching to operate according to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior for the duration of the timer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

16. The method of any of claims 14 to 15, further comprising:

and after the timer expires, switching back to operate according to the first PDCCH monitoring behavior.

17. The method of any of claims 14 to 15, further comprising:

after a monitoring period, if the monitoring duration of the second PDCCH monitoring behavior is equal to 0, switching back to operating according to the first PDCCH monitoring behavior.

18. The method of any one of claims 12 to 17,

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a timer;

allowing the timer to expire;

in response to determining that a DCI signal intended for the mobile station has not been received within the duration of the timer:

restarting the timer; and

switching to operate according to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior for a next duration of the timer.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a timer;

allowing the timer to expire;

in response to determining that the DCI signal indicates that the mobile station is performing another PDCCH monitoring activity for the duration of the timer:

restarting the timer; and

switching to operate according to the PDCCH monitoring behavior for a next duration of the timer.

21. The method of any one of claims 19 to 20,

wherein the first PDCCH monitoring behavior has a pattern with a higher monitoring slot frequency than the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile station from the wireless access node, a scaling factor for at least one parameter of an associated pattern of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior;

wherein the switching from the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises:

applying the scaling factor to at least one parameter of an associated pattern of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to obtain the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second portions are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the at least one parameter of the associated pattern of first PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises at least one of a monitoring periodicity (ks), a monitoring duration (Ts), or a monitoring offset (Os).

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the monitoring offset (Os) defines the start of a monitoring period,

25. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein receiving an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises receiving an awake indication for a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode cycle indicating that the mobile station is awake for a next DRX cycle.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second portions are selected from the group consisting of,

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

switching, by the mobile station, to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior if the mobile station does not receive DCI formats 2-6.

28. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said first and second sets of parameters is selected from the group consisting of,

wherein receiving an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises receiving a change in a value of a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) minimum applicable scheduling offset (K0) between receiving a message on the PDCCH and a scheduling slot on the PDSCH.

29. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said first and second sets of parameters is selected from the group consisting of,

wherein receiving an indication to switch to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises receiving a change in a value of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) minimum applicable scheduling offset (K2) between receiving the message on the PDCCH and a scheduling slot on the PUSCH.

30. The method of any one of claims 28 to 29,

wherein receiving a change in the value of at least one of the K0 or the K2 comprises receiving an increase in the value of at least one of the K0 or the K2 above a minimum applicable scheduling offset threshold, and

wherein the second PDCCH monitoring behavior has a pattern with a lower monitoring slot frequency than the first PDCCH monitoring behavior.

31. The method of any one of claims 28 to 29,

wherein receiving a change in the value of at least one of the K0 or the K2 comprises receiving a decrease in the value of at least one of the K0 or the K2 below a minimum applicable scheduling offset threshold, and

wherein the second PDCCH monitoring behavior has a pattern with a higher monitoring slot frequency than the first PDCCH monitoring behavior.

32. The method of any one of claims 30 to 31,

wherein the minimum applicable scheduling offset threshold is not less than 0.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with the second PDCCH monitoring parameter set is used to monitor a DCI format of a USS of the mobile station.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the mobile station to the wireless access node, at least one of a preferred or supported mode of operation including at least the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior; and is

Receiving, by the mobile station from the wireless access node, a definition of the first PDCCH monitoring behavior and the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

35. A method of communicating between a wireless access node and a mobile station, the method comprising:

operating, by the mobile station, in accordance with a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring behavior associated with a first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters; and

switching, by the mobile station, from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to a second PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with a PDCCH skip parameter set;

wherein the first set of PDCCH monitoring parameters defines a unique pattern defining one or more monitoring slots within a monitoring period in which the wireless access node monitors PDCCH of Downlink Control Information (DCI), and

wherein the PDCCH skip parameter set defines at least one skip period during which the mobile station does not monitor the PDCCH of the DCI.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second components are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein switching from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises switching in response to receiving a DCI message comprising an indication to operate in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving high-level signaling of a PDCCH skipping parameter set configuring at least the second PDCCH monitoring behavior;

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first and second portions are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein the DCI message including the indication to operate in accordance with the second PDCCH monitoring behavior includes an index of a PDCCH skip parameter set indicating the second PDCCH monitoring behavior.

39. The method as set forth in claim 37, wherein,

wherein the PDCCH skip parameter set of the second PDCCH monitoring behavior further comprises at least one of durations of a skip period indicating an offset of a start position of the skip period.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

transmitting, by the mobile station to the wireless access node, an indication of a preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior comprising the second PDCCH monitoring behavior;

wherein switching from operating in accordance with the first PDCCH monitoring behavior to the second PDCCH monitoring behavior comprises switching in response to receiving a DCI message that includes an indication corresponding to the preferred PDCCH monitoring behavior.

41. A mobile station comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to read computer code from the memory to implement the method of any of claims 1 to 40.

42. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable program medium having stored thereon computer code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the method of any of claims 1-40.