WO2019215707A1 - Segmented random access message - Google Patents

Segmented random access message Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2019215707A1
WO2019215707A1 PCT/IB2019/053902 IB2019053902W WO2019215707A1 WO 2019215707 A1 WO2019215707 A1 WO 2019215707A1 IB 2019053902 W IB2019053902 W IB 2019053902W WO 2019215707 A1 WO2019215707 A1 WO 2019215707A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
random access
rrc message
message
uplink grant
transmission
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2019/053902
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Malik Wahaj ARSHAD
Riikka Susitaival
Magnus Stattin
Gunnar Bergquist
Jan Christoffersson
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Publication of WO2019215707A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019215707A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W74/00Wireless channel access
    • H04W74/08Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA
    • H04W74/0833Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to wireless communications and, more particularly, to a segmented random access radio resource control (RRC) message (e.g., splitting random access message 3 into two messages).
  • RRC radio resource control
  • Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) standardization includes higher carrier frequencies, new waveforms, new frame structures, new channel coding, massive multiple input multiple output (MIM0), etc.
  • An area that has not yet been addresses is the coverage performance of control and data channels in NR, both in split and stand-alone non-split bearer combinations with long term evolution (LTE). Further clarification of NR coverage performance is needed, and enhancements are necessary.
  • NR is expected to perform on par with LTE even if deployed in the higher frequency spectra. Adding sites is costly and requires lengthy negotiations with building owners. Operators are not eager to add more sites as compared to LTE to ensure sufficiently good coverage.
  • Idle or inactive user equipment (UEs) that need to connect to the network for data transmissions use a random access procedure. Connected UEs also use the random access procedure for various reasons such as beam failure recovery, hand over, and regaining uplink synchronization.
  • the contention based random access procedure starts with a preamble selection and transmission from the UE.
  • a gNB responds with a random access response (RAR) which includes a temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), timing advance (TA) value, and a grant for the UE to send Msg3 in uplink.
  • RAR random access response
  • C-RNTI temporary cell radio network temporary identifier
  • TA timing advance
  • the Msg3 is scheduled on the PUSCH, as indicated by the grant received in the RAR.
  • the Msg3 comprises a radio resource control (RRC) signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1) message sent on logical common control channel (CCCH).
  • RRC radio resource control
  • SRB1 radio bearer 1
  • CCCH logical common control channel
  • the message may be the RRC connection request, RRC connection re-establishment request, or RRC connection resume request message.
  • RLC TM radio link control transparent mode
  • NR new radio
  • LTE long term evolution
  • message structures have been inherited and partly redesigned for faster processing and maximizing throughput rather than conserving overhead.
  • Link budget studies indicate the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and particularly the transfer of message 3, as being a coverage bottleneck message 3 is the first scheduled message on PUSCH, and with channel conditions largely unknown, it requires as robust transfer as possible. As a result, reducing the message 3 size is beneficial.
  • PUSCH physical uplink shared channel
  • NR also includes an extended range of use cases, which would instead require a larger size for message 3.
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • NR is discussed as examples, the embodiments described herein may benefit LTE as well (e.g., using a larger message 3 size to support an extended range of use cases).
  • Message 3 may consist of any one of three different messages: RRC connection request, RRC connection reestablishment, or RRC connection resume. Each message may have a different size. Thus, as part of the problem, because RLC TM does not support segmentation, message 3 must be sent within a single transport block. Because the content/size of message 3 is unknown to the gNB/ng-eNB by message 2, the gNB/ng-eNB must ensure that the grant is large enough to handle all the possible message 3 sizes. The size of the transport block, however, is limited by the number of bits that can be reliably delivered to a UE at the cell edge and is typically determined through simulations. While it may be possible to make some improvements to the physical transmission of message 3, the number of bits is restricted.
  • NR and LTE include scenarios, such as poor coverage and/or congestion, where gNB/ng-eNB are not able to allocate a sufficiently sized message 3 grant to handle the RRC connection resume message (the biggest RRC message). In this case, no procedure is defined for how the UE can handle an RRC message that is larger than the received grant.
  • Particular embodiments include a split version of any large RRC message that may be scheduled as message 3.
  • a UE may prepare a split version of RRC connection resume message.
  • the UE may also prepare a normal single RRC connection resume message. If the UE receives a sufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE sends the single RRC message using the grant. If the UE receives an insufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE uses the grant to send the first part of split RRC message and also indicates, with a message type for example, that the message is a part of a split message (e.g., a type RRC split 1 encoded in an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message).
  • CCCH uplink common control channel
  • the gNb/ng-eNB After the gNb/ng-eNB receives the UL-CCCH message with a message type of RRC split 1, the gNb/ng-eNB knows that a RRC split 2 is remaining and that another small grant is needed. The network then sends another small grant to the UE. The UE expects a small grant after sending the RRC split 1 message. After the UE receives the subsequent grant, the UE uses it to send the second part of the split RRC message. The gNB/ng-eNB receives the RRC split 2 message and merges it with the RRC split 1 message to construct the complete RRC message 3.
  • a method performed by a wireless device for performing a random access procedure comprises preparing a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and preparing a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message.
  • the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part.
  • the method further comprises receiving, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the method further comprises determining whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the method comprises transmitting the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the method further comprises receiving, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the method further comprises transmitting the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
  • the method further comprises upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmitting the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split (e.g., an UL-CCCH message type or LCID).
  • the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
  • the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
  • a wireless device is capable of performing a random access procedure.
  • the wireless device comprises processing circuitry operable to prepare a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message.
  • the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the processing circuitry Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the processing circuitry is operable to transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to transmit the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to, upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmit the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split (e.g., an UL-CCCH message type or LCID).
  • the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
  • the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
  • a method for use in a network node for performing a random access procedure comprises transmitting, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the method further comprises receiving, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant and determining whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message.
  • the method comprises transmitting to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the method further comprises receiving, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
  • the method furthers comprises merging the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
  • whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID.
  • the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution.
  • a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
  • a network node is capable of performing a random access procedure.
  • the network node comprises processing circuitry operable to transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant and determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message.
  • the processing circuitry is operable to transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
  • the processing circuitry is further operable to merge the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
  • whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID.
  • the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution.
  • a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
  • a wireless device is capable of performing a random access procedure.
  • the wireless device comprises a splitting unit, a receiving unit, a determining unit and a transmitting unit.
  • the splitting unit is operable to prepare a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message.
  • the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part.
  • the receiving unit is operable to receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the determining unit is operable to determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the transmitting unit is operable to transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • a network node is capable of performing a random access procedure.
  • the network node comprises a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a merging unit.
  • the transmitting unit is operable to transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the receiving unit is operable to receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant.
  • the merging unit is operable to determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message.
  • the transmitting unit Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the transmitting unit is further operable to transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the receiving unit is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
  • a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code, the computer readable program code operable, when executed by processing circuitry to perform any of the methods performed by the network node described above.
  • Another computer program product comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code, the computer readable program code operable, when executed by processing circuitry to perform any of the methods performed by the wireless device described above.
  • Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. For example, particular embodiments ensure that small grants can be used to transmit a large message 3 size without impacting coverage. Particular embodiments also facilitate early UE preparation for responding to both a small and big grants, thus preventing processing delays on UE side. Some embodiments provide flexibility on the network side to provide grants of different sizes without impacting feature support (i.e., Inactive state would not be possible if message 3 could not fit a larger RRC connection resume message).
  • FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example media access control (MAC) subheader structure
  • FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example wireless network
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless network for measurement reporting, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless device for performing random access, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a network node for performing random, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 7 illustrates an example wireless device and network node, according to certain embodiments.
  • FIGURE 8 illustrates an example virtualization environment, according to certain embodiments.
  • FIGURE 9 illustrates an example telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates an example host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments
  • FIGURE 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented, according to certain embodiments.
  • FIGURE 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments.
  • FIGURE 13 is a flowchart illustrating another method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments.
  • FIGURE 14 is a flowchart illustrating another method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments.
  • random access message 3 may consist of any one of three different messages: radio resource control (RRC) connection request, RRC connection reestablishment, or RRC connection resume.
  • RRC radio resource control
  • Each message may have a different size.
  • the size of the transport block is limited by the number of bits that can be reliably delivered to a user equipment (UE) at the cell edge. In general, the number of bits available for message 3 is restricted. No procedure is defined for how the UE can handle an RRC message that is larger than the received uplink grant.
  • Particular embodiments include a split version of any large RRC message that may be scheduled as message 3.
  • a UE may prepare a split version of RRC connection resume message.
  • the UE may also prepare a normal single RRC connection resume message. If the UE receives a sufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE sends the single RRC message using the grant. If the UE receives an insufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE uses the grant to send the first part of split RRC message and also indicates, with a message type for example, that the message is a part of a split message (e.g., a type RRC split 1 encoded in an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message).
  • CCCH uplink common control channel
  • the gNb/ng-eNB After the gNb/ng-eNB receives the UL-CCCH message with a message type of RRC split 1, the gNb/ng-eNB sends another small uplink grant to the UE. After the UE receives the subsequent grant, the UE uses it to send the second part of the split RRC message.
  • the gNB/ng- eNB receives the RRC split 2 message and merges it with the RRC split 1 message to construct the complete RRC message 3. Particular embodiments ensure that small grants can be used to transmit a large message 3 size without impacting coverage.
  • the network if the network does not provide a message 3 grant that sufficient for all relevant type of messages, the network provides two consecutive smaller grants to the UE.
  • the size of the first grant may be a minimum message 3 grant intended to accommodate relatively small RRC messages, but not larger messages.
  • the total size of the two grants may be large enough to accommodate larger RRC messages.
  • a UE prepares two versions of a large RRC message before receiving any grant from the network. The first is a single unit RRC message, and the second is a split RRC message, where the first part fits in a minimum message 3 grant and the second part in a subsequent grant.
  • Particular embodiments are beneficial when the UE prepares the RRC messages before sending the random-access message and changing the size of message 3 is not possible afterwards. Thus, if the UE needs to use a split message, the UE may prepare the split message before starting the random access procedure.
  • the UE uses the grant to send the single unit RRC message. If the grant received is to small, the UE uses the grant to indicate a split message version and sends the first part of split RRC message. In some embodiments, when the gNb/ng-eNB receives the indication of split message version, the gNb/ng-eNB provides a subsequent grant to the UE.
  • the indication of a split message version is part of the RRC message itself (e.g., UL-CCCH message with a message type set to RRC split 1). An example is illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example media access control (MAC) subheader structure.
  • MAC media access control
  • two spare bits in UL-CCCH message are used to define the two split RRC messages.
  • Connection Control for NR includes a bit choice structure for UL-CCCH message.
  • the indication of split message version is encoded as a logical channel identifier (LCID) in the MAC subheader of the UL-CCCH service data unit (SDU) (e.g., UL-CCCH message with a LCID set to CCCH-split).
  • LCID logical channel identifier
  • SDU service data unit
  • FIGURE 1 and Table 1 illustrate an example embodiment where the LCID value CCCH split is indicated using 100001 for one of the reserved values in 3GPP TS 38.321.
  • Table 1 Values of LCID for UL-SCH, with CCCH split
  • multiple grants are provided in the same MAC PDU, either by reusing a possible indication of message 3 repetitions where the repeated grants are used to transmit the message 3 split versions instead of multiple copies of the same message 3.
  • Some embodiments indicate the two grants by multiplexing two random access responses (RARs) in the same MAC protocol data unit (PDU). The latter means that two MAC subPDUs are multiplexed containing the same E/T/RAPID subheader but with different RARs.
  • the first RAR contains the grant for the first RRC split message and the second RAR contains the grant for the second split RRC message .
  • the network may perform contention resolution using the first part of the I-RNTI. This is beneficial to enable UEs for which continuing is not relevant to retry without additional/unnece ssary effort/waiting .
  • the first part of a split message 3 comprises information to enable contention resolution.
  • Information to enable contention resolution may be an identifier or random number of suitable length and may be provisioned/included in/by RRC or in/by a protocol layer below RRC (e.g., the MAC layer).
  • the RRC connection resume message is used as an example because it is currently the biggest RRC message that is sent with message 3 but similar mechanisms may be applied to partition other RRC messages.
  • the split versions may be discarded (i.e., not sent when new grants are received). Similarly, if the split versions are transmitted, the single version of the RRC message is discarded (i.e., not sent when new grants are received).
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates an example wireless network, according to certain embodiments.
  • the wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system.
  • the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures.
  • wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Uong Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
  • LTE Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
  • WLAN wireless local area network
  • WiMax Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  • Bluetooth Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.
  • Network 106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.
  • PSTNs public switched telephone networks
  • WANs wide-area networks
  • LANs local area networks
  • WLANs wireless local area networks
  • wired networks wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.
  • Network node 160 and WD 110 comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network.
  • the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections.
  • network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network.
  • network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)).
  • APs access points
  • BSs base stations
  • Node Bs evolved Node Bs
  • gNBs NR NodeBs
  • Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations.
  • a base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay.
  • a network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs).
  • RRUs remote radio units
  • RRHs Remote Radio Heads
  • Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio.
  • Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).
  • DAS distributed antenna system
  • network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs.
  • MSR multi-standard radio
  • RNCs radio network controllers
  • BSCs base station controllers
  • BTSs base transceiver stations
  • transmission points transmission nodes
  • MCEs multi-cell/multicast coordination entities
  • core network nodes e.g., MSCs, MMEs
  • O&M nodes e.g., OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs.
  • network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.
  • network node 160 includes processing circuitry 170, device readable medium 180, interface 190, auxiliary equipment 184, power source 186, power circuitry 187, and antenna 162.
  • network node 160 illustrated in the example wireless network of Figure 1 may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein.
  • network node 160 may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium 180 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).
  • network node 160 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., aNodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components.
  • network node 160 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components)
  • one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes.
  • a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s.
  • each unique NodeB and RNC pair may in some instances be considered a single separate network node.
  • network node 160 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs).
  • RATs radio access technologies
  • Network node 160 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 160.
  • Processing circuitry 170 is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node.
  • the operations performed by processing circuitry 170 may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 170 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.
  • Processing circuitry 170 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 160 components, such as device readable medium 180, network node 160 functionality.
  • processing circuitry 170 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 180 or in memory within processing circuitry 170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein.
  • processing circuitry 170 may include a system on a chip (SOC).
  • SOC system on a chip
  • processing circuitry 170 may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174.
  • radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units.
  • part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units
  • processing circuitry 170 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 180 or memory within processing circuitry 170.
  • some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 170 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner.
  • processing circuitry 170 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 170 alone or to other components of network node 160, but are enjoyed by network node 160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.
  • Device readable medium 180 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 170.
  • volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non
  • Device readable medium 180 may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 170 and, utilized by network node 160.
  • Device readable medium 180 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry 170 and/or any data received via interface 190.
  • processing circuitry 170 and device readable medium 180 may be considered to be integrated.
  • Interface 190 is used in the wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between network node 160, network 106, and/or WDs 110. As illustrated, interface 190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 106 over a wired connection. Interface 190 also includes radio front end circuitry 192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna 162. Radio front end circuitry 192 comprises filters 198 and amplifiers 196. Radio front end circuitry 192 may be connected to antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170.
  • Radio front end circuitry 192 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 192 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 198 and/or amplifiers 196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 162 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.
  • network node 160 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 192, instead, processing circuitry 170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 162 without separate radio front end circuitry 192.
  • processing circuitry 170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 162 without separate radio front end circuitry 192.
  • all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 172 may be considered a part of interface 190.
  • interface 190 may include one or more ports or terminals 194, radio front end circuitry 192, and RF transceiver circuitry 172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface 190 may communicate with baseband processing circuitry 174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).
  • Antenna 162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 162 may be coupled to radio front end circuitry 190 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna 162 may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 162 may be separate from network node 160 and may be connectable to network node 160 through an interface or port.
  • Antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.
  • Power circuitry 187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node 160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry 187 may receive power from power source 186. Power source 186 and/or power circuitry 187 may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node 160 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source 186 may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry 187 and/or network node 160. For example, network node 160 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry 187.
  • an external power source e.g., an electricity outlet
  • power source 186 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 187.
  • the battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.
  • Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.
  • network node 160 may include additional components beyond those shown in FIGURE 2 that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein.
  • network node 160 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node 160 and to allow output of information from network node 160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node 160.
  • wireless device refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices.
  • the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE).
  • Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air.
  • a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction.
  • a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network.
  • Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE) a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc.
  • VoIP voice over IP
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • a wireless cameras a gaming console or device
  • a music storage device a playback appliance
  • a wearable terminal device a wireless endpoint
  • a mobile station a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (L
  • a WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device.
  • D2D device-to-device
  • a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node.
  • the WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device.
  • M2M machine-to-machine
  • the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard.
  • NB-IoT narrow band internet of things
  • machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.).
  • a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.
  • a WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal.
  • a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.
  • wireless device 110 includes antenna 111, interface 114, processing circuitry 120, device readable medium 130, user interface equipment 132, auxiliary equipment 134, power source 136 and power circuitry 137.
  • WD 110 may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD 110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD 110.
  • Antenna 11 1 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface 114.
  • antenna 111 may be separate from WD 110 and be connectable to WD 110 through an interface or port.
  • Antenna 111, interface 114, and/or processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD.
  • radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 111 may be considered an interface.
  • interface 114 comprises radio front end circuitry 112 and antenna 111.
  • Radio front end circuitry 112 comprise one or more filters 118 and amplifiers 116.
  • Radio front end circuitry 114 is connected to antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120 and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120.
  • Radio front end circuitry 112 may be coupled to or a part of antenna 111.
  • WD 110 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 112; rather, processing circuitry 120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 111.
  • some or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be considered a part of interface 114.
  • Radio front end circuitry 112 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 112 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 118 and/or amplifiers 116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 111 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.
  • Processing circuitry 120 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 110 components, such as device readable medium 130, WD 110 functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry 120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 130 or in memory within processing circuitry 120 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.
  • processing circuitry 120 includes one or more ofRF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126.
  • the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.
  • processing circuitry 120 of WD 110 may comprise a SOC.
  • RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips.
  • part or all of baseband processing circuitry 124 and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be on a separate chip or set of chips.
  • part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 and baseband processing circuitry 124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips.
  • part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips.
  • RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be a part of interface 114.
  • RF transceiver circuitry 122 may condition RF signals for processing circuitry 120.
  • processing circuitry 120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium.
  • some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 120 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner.
  • processing circuitry 120 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 120 alone or to other components of WD 110, but are enjoyed by WD 110, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.
  • Processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry 120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD 110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.
  • processing information obtained by processing circuitry 120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD 110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.
  • Device readable medium 130 may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 120.
  • Device readable medium 130 may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non- transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 120.
  • processing circuitry 120 and device readable medium 130 may be integrated.
  • User interface equipment 132 may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD 110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment 132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD 110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment 132 installed in WD 110. For example, ifWD 110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD 110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).
  • usage e.g., the number of gallons used
  • a speaker that provides an audible alert
  • User interface equipment 132 may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment 132 is configured to allow input of information into WD 110 and is connected to processing circuitry 120 to allow processing circuitry 120 to process the input information. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 132 is also configured to allow output of information from WD 110, and to allow processing circuitry 120 to output information from WD 110. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment 132, WD 110 may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.
  • Auxiliary equipment 134 is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment 134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.
  • Power source 136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used.
  • WD 110 may further comprise power circuitry 137 for delivering power from power source 136 to the various parts of WD 110 which need power from power source 136 to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein.
  • Power circuitry 137 may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry.
  • Power circuitry 137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD 110 may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable.
  • Power circuitry 137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source 136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source 136. Power circuitry 137 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source 136 to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD 110 to which power is supplied.
  • a wireless network such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIGURE 2.
  • the wireless network of FIGURE 2 only depicts network 106, network nodes 160 and l60b, and WDs 110, 11 Ob, and l lOc.
  • a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device.
  • network node 160 and wireless device (WD) 110 are depicted with additional detail.
  • the wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments.
  • a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device.
  • a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller).
  • a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).
  • UE 200 may be any UE identified by the 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.
  • UE 200 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards.
  • 3GPP 3 rd Generation Partnership Project
  • UE 200 includes processing circuitry 201 that is operatively coupled to input/output interface 205, radio frequency (RF) interface 209, network connection interface 211, memory 215 including random access memory (RAM) 217, read-only memory (ROM) 219, and storage medium 221 or the like, communication subsystem 231, power source 233, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof.
  • Storage medium 221 includes operating system 223, application program 225, and data 227. In other embodiments, storage medium 221 may include other similar types of information.
  • Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in FIGURE 3, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.
  • processing circuitry 201 may be configured to process computer instructions and data.
  • Processing circuitry 201 may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above.
  • the processing circuitry 201 may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.
  • input/output interface 205 may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device.
  • UE 200 may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface 205.
  • An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device.
  • a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 200.
  • the output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof.
  • UE 200 may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface 205 to allow a user to capture information into UE 200.
  • the input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like.
  • the presence- sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user.
  • a sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof.
  • the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.
  • RF interface 209 may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna.
  • Network connection interface 211 may be configured to provide a communication interface to network 243a.
  • Network 243a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof.
  • network 243a may comprise a Wi-Fi network.
  • Network connection interface 211 may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like.
  • Network connection interface 211 may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like).
  • the transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.
  • RAM 217 may be configured to interface via bus 202 to processing circuitry 201 to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers.
  • ROM 219 may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry 201.
  • ROM 219 may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory.
  • Storage medium 221 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives.
  • storage medium 221 may be configured to include operating system 223, application program 225 such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file 227.
  • Storage medium 221 may store, for use by UE 200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.
  • Storage medium 221 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro- DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof.
  • RAID redundant array of independent disks
  • HD-DVD high-density digital versatile disc
  • HDDS holographic digital data storage
  • DIMM synchronous dynamic random access memory
  • SIM/RUIM removable user identity
  • Storage medium 221 may allow UE 200 to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data.
  • An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium 221, which may comprise a device readable medium.
  • processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with network 243b using communication subsystem 231.
  • Network 243a and network 243b may be the same network or networks or different network or networks.
  • Communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 243b.
  • communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.2, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like.
  • RAN radio access network
  • Each transceiver may include transmitter 233 and/or receiver 235 to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 233 and receiver 235 of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.
  • the communication functions of communication subsystem 231 may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof.
  • communication subsystem 231 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication.
  • Network 243b may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof.
  • network 243b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network.
  • Power source 213 may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 200.
  • communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include any of the components described herein.
  • processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus 202.
  • any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry 201 perform the corresponding functions described herein.
  • the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry 201 and communication subsystem 231.
  • the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.
  • FIGURE 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless network for measurement reporting, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 4 may be performed by wireless device 110 and network node 160 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
  • the method begins at step 402 with a base station transmitting to a wireless device a first message 3 grant.
  • the wireless device receives the message 3 grant having a first size.
  • the wireless device determines a second size of a message 3 to be sent to the network node.
  • the wireless device splits the message 3 to be sent into at least two parts comprising the first part of the message 3 to be sent and at least a second part of the message 3 to be sent. The split may be done automatically, later in the method, or only when the second size is greater than a threshold, such as a minimum grant size.
  • the first size of the message 3 grant is compared to the second size of the message 3 to be sent. If the second size of the message 3 to be sent being greater than the first size of the message 3 grant then at step 412 the wireless device transmits a first part of the message 3 to be sent using the message 3 grant wherein the first part is smaller than the first size of the message 3 grant and is less than the full message 3 to be sent. Though not illustrated, if the second size of the message 3 to be sent is less than the first size of the message 3 grant, the wireless device transmits the message 3 using the message 3 grant (that is, the non-split message 3). At step 414 the wireless device transmits to the network node an indication that this is a split message 3. The indication may be transmitted together with the first part of the message 3 or in a separate transmission.
  • the base station receives from the wireless device the first part of the message 3 using the message 3 grant.
  • the base station receives an indication that this is a split message 3.
  • the indication may be received with, or separate from, the first part of the message 3.
  • the base station transmits to the wireless device a second message 3 grant.
  • the first and second message 3 grants combined provide enough space for a maximum sized RRC message.
  • the wireless device receives the second message 3 grant and at step 424 transmits the second part of the split message 3 using the second message 3 grant.
  • An indication may be included, or sent separately, specifying that this is the second part of the split message 3.
  • the base station receives the second part of the message 3 from the wireless device and at step 428 merges the first message 3 with the second message 3.
  • FIGURE 5 illustrates a similar method from the perspective of the wireless device and FIGURE 6 illustrates a similar method from the perspective of the network node.
  • FIGURE 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless device for performing random access, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 5 may be performed by wireless device 110 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
  • the method begins at step 512 where a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 110) prepares a first random access RRC message that includes random access data.
  • the random access RRC message may comprise random access message 3, such as a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request.
  • the random access RRC message includes random access data (i.e., the contents of the RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request).
  • the first random access RRC message comprises a single message that includes all the random access data.
  • the wireless device prepares a second random access RRC message that includes the random access data as the first random access RRC message.
  • the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part.
  • the first part comprises part of the random access data
  • the second part comprises the remaining random access data.
  • the first random access RRC message may comprise a RRC connection resume request.
  • the second random access RRC message comprises the same RRC connection resume request, but the random access information is split into two parts to be transmitted separately.
  • the random access information includes identifiers that may be used for contention resolution
  • the identifiers are placed in the first part of the second random access RRC message.
  • the wireless device receives, from a network node (e.g., network node 160), a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the wireless device determines whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. In other words, the wireless device determines if the uplink grant is large enough to accommodate transmission of the entire random access RRC message.
  • step 527 the wireless device transmits the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • the method Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the method continues to step 520 where the wireless device transmits the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
  • transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split.
  • the indication may comprise an UU-CCCH message type or a MAC UCID as described above.
  • the wireless device receives, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the wireless device transmits the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
  • transmission of the second part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split.
  • the indication may comprise an UU-CCCH message type or a MAC UCID as described above.
  • FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a network node for performing random access, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 6 may be performed by network node 160 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
  • the method begins at step 612 where a network node (e.g., network node 160) transmits, to a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 110), a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the network node receives, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant.
  • the network node determines whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message. For example, whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message may be determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID as described above.
  • the method Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the method continues to step 618 where the network node transmits, to the wireless device, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message.
  • the second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
  • the network node receives, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
  • the network node merges the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message. For example, merging the first and second messages results in a complete RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request.
  • FIGURE 7 illustrates a schematic block diagram of two apparatuses in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network illustrated in FIGURE 2).
  • the apparatuses include a wireless device and a network node (e.g., wireless device 110 and network node 160 illustrated in FIGURE 2).
  • Apparatuses 1600 and 1700 are operable to carry out the example methods described with reference to FIGURES 4-6, and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the methods of FIGURES 4-6 are not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1600 and/or apparatus 1700. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.
  • Virtual apparatuses 1600 and 1700 may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like.
  • the processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc.
  • Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments.
  • the processing circuitry may be used to cause receiving unit 1602, determining unit 1604, comparing unit 1606, transmitting unit 1608, splitting unit 1610, and any other suitable units of apparatus 1600 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the processing circuitry described above may be used to cause transmitting unit 1702, receiving unit 1704, merging unit 1706, and any other suitable units of apparatus 1700 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • apparatus 1600 includes receiving unit 1602, determining unit 1604, comparing unit 1606, transmitting unit 1608, and splitting unit 1610.
  • receiving unit 1602 may receive uplink grants from a network node according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
  • Determining unit 1604 and comparing unit 1606 may determine whether a random access RRC message will fit within a particular uplink grant according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
  • Transmitting unit 1608 may transmit random access RRC messages according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
  • Splitting unit 1610 may prepare a random access RRC message split into two or more parts according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
  • apparatus 1700 includes transmitting unit 1702, receiving unit 1704, and merging unit 1706.
  • Transmitting unit 1702 may transmit uplink grants according to any ofthe embodiments and examples described herein.
  • Receiving unit 1704 may receive random access RRC messages according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
  • Merging unit 1706 may merge two random access RRC message parts received in different uplink transmissions to form a complete random access RRC message.
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized.
  • virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources.
  • virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).
  • a node e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node
  • a device e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device
  • some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments 300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes 330. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.
  • the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node)
  • the network node may be entirely virtualized.
  • the functions may be implemented by one or more applications 320 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.
  • Applications 320 are run in virtualization environment 300 which provides hardware 330 comprising processing circuitry 360 and memory 390.
  • Memory 390 contains instructions 395 executable by processing circuitry 360 whereby application 320 is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.
  • Virtualization environment 300 comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices 330 comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry 360, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors.
  • processors or processing circuitry 360 which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors.
  • Each hardware device may comprise memory 390-1 which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 395 or software executed by processing circuitry 360.
  • Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 370, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface 380.
  • NICs network interface controllers
  • Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media 390-2 having stored therein software 395 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry 360.
  • Software 395 may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers 350 (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 340 as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.
  • Virtual machines 340 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 350 or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 320 may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines 340, and the implementations may be made in different ways.
  • processing circuitry 360 executes software 395 to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 350, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM).
  • VMM virtual machine monitor
  • Virtualization layer 350 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine 340.
  • hardware 330 may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 330 may comprise antenna 3225 and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 330 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO) 3100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 320.
  • CPE customer premise equipment
  • MANO management and orchestration
  • NFV network function virtualization
  • NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high- volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.
  • virtual machine 340 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine.
  • Each of virtual machines 340, and that part of hardware 330 that executes that virtual machine be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines 340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).
  • VNE virtual network elements
  • VNF Virtual Network Function
  • one or more radio units 3200 that each include one or more transmitters 3220 and one or more receivers 3210 may be coupled to one or more antennas 3225.
  • Radio units 3200 may communicate directly with hardware nodes 330 via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.
  • control system 3230 which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes 330 and radio units 3200.
  • a communication system includes telecommunication network 410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 411, such as a radio access network, and core network 414.
  • Access network 4l l comprises a plurality ofbase stations 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 413a, 4l3b, 4l3c.
  • Each base station 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c is connectable to core network 414 over a wired or wireless connection 415.
  • a first UE 491 located in coverage area 4l3c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 4l2c.
  • a second UE 492 in coverage area 413a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 4l2a. While a plurality of UEs 491, 492 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 412.
  • Telecommunication network 410 is itself connected to host computer 430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm.
  • Host computer 430 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider.
  • Connections 421 and 422 between telecommunication network 410 and host computer 430 may extend directly from core network 414 to host computer 430 or may go via an optional intermediate network 420.
  • Intermediate network 420 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 420, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network 420 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).
  • the communication system of FIGURE 9 as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs 491, 492 and host computer 430.
  • the connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 450.
  • Host computer 430 and the connected UEs 491, 492 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 450, using access network 411, core network 414, any intermediate network 420 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries.
  • OTT connection 450 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection 450 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications.
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates an example host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments.
  • Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIGURE 10.
  • host computer 510 comprises hardware 515 including communication interface 516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500.
  • Host computer 510 further comprises processing circuitry 518, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities.
  • processing circuitry 518 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions.
  • Host computer 510 further comprises software 511, which is stored in or accessible by host computer 510 and executable by processing circuitry 518.
  • Software 511 includes host application 512.
  • Host application 512 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 530 connecting via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510. In providing the service to the remote user, host application 512 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection 550.
  • Communication system 500 further includes base station 520 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 525 enabling it to communicate with host computer 510 and with UE 530.
  • Hardware 525 may include communication interface 526 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500, as well as radio interface 527 for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection 570 with UE 530 located in a coverage area (not shown in FIGURE 10) served by base station 520.
  • Communication interface 526 may be configured to facilitate connection 560 to host computer 510. Connection 560 may be direct, or it may pass through a core network (not shown in FIGURE 10) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system.
  • hardware 525 of base station 520 further includes processing circuitry 528, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions.
  • processing circuitry 528 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions.
  • Base station 520 further has software 521 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.
  • Communication system 500 further includes UE 530 already referred to. Its hardware 535 may include radio interface 537 configured to set up and maintain wireless connection 570 with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE 530 is currently located. Hardware 535 of UE 530 further includes processing circuitry 538, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions.
  • UE 530 further comprises software 531, which is stored in or accessible by UE 530 and executable by processing circuitry 538.
  • Software 531 includes client application 532. Client application 532 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE 530, with the support of host computer 510.
  • an executing host application 512 may communicate with the executing client application 532 via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510.
  • client application 532 may receive request data from host application 512 and provide user data in response to the request data.
  • OTT connection 550 may transfer both the request data and the user data.
  • Client application 532 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.
  • host computer 510, base station 520 and UE 530 illustrated in FIGURE 10 may be similar or identical to host computer 430, one of base stations 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c and one of UEs 491, 492 of FIGURE 9, respectively.
  • the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in FIGURE 7 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIGURE 9.
  • OTT connection 550 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer 510 and UE 530 via base station 520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices.
  • Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE 530 or from the service provider operating host computer 510, or both. While OTT connection 550 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).
  • Wireless connection 570 between UE 530 and base station 520 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.
  • One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE 530 using OTT connection 550, in which wireless connection 570 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the efficiency and reliability of RRC signaling, particularly at the network edges and thereby provide benefits such as improved connectivity, particularly at the network edges.
  • a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve.
  • the measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 550 may be implemented in software 511 and hardware 515 ofhost computer 510 or in software 531 and hardware 535 of UE 530, or both.
  • sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection 550 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 511, 531 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities.
  • the reconfiguring of OTT connection 550 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station 520, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station 520. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art.
  • measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer 510’ s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like.
  • the measurements may be implemented in that software 511 and 531 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection 550 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.
  • FIGURE 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment.
  • the communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 11 will be included in this section.
  • the host computer provides user data.
  • substep 611 (which may be optional) of step 610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application.
  • the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE.
  • step 630 the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.
  • step 640 the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.
  • FIGURE 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment.
  • the communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 12 will be included in this section.
  • the host computer provides user data.
  • the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application.
  • the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.
  • step 730 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.
  • FIGURE 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment.
  • the communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 13 will be included in this section.
  • step 810 the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 820, the UE provides user data.
  • substep 821 (which may be optional) of step 820, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application.
  • substep 811 (which may be optional) of step 810, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer.
  • the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user.
  • the UE initiates, in substep 830 (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer.
  • step 840 of the method the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.
  • FIGURE 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment.
  • the communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 14 will be included in this section.
  • the base station receives user data from the UE.
  • the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer.
  • step 930 (which may be optional)
  • the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.
  • the term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.
  • any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa.
  • Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated.
  • the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components.
  • operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed using any suitable logic comprising software, hardware, and/or other logic.
  • ach refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.
  • references in the specification to“one embodiment,”“an embodiment,”“an example embodiment,” etc. indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.
  • SIB1 System Information Block Type 1

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, a method in a wireless device for performing a random access procedure comprises preparing a first random access radio resource control (RRC) message that includes random access data and preparing a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data split into a first part and a second part. The 5 method further comprises receiving a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The method further comprising determining whether the first random access RRC message can be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. Upon determining the first random access RRC message cannot be transmitted in the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the method comprises 0 transmitting the first part of the second random access RRC message to a network node.

Description

SEGMENTED RANDOM ACCESS MESSAGE
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to wireless communications and, more particularly, to a segmented random access radio resource control (RRC) message (e.g., splitting random access message 3 into two messages).
BACKGROUND
Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.
Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) standardization includes higher carrier frequencies, new waveforms, new frame structures, new channel coding, massive multiple input multiple output (MIM0), etc. An area that has not yet been addresses is the coverage performance of control and data channels in NR, both in split and stand-alone non-split bearer combinations with long term evolution (LTE). Further clarification of NR coverage performance is needed, and enhancements are necessary.
NR is expected to perform on par with LTE even if deployed in the higher frequency spectra. Adding sites is costly and requires lengthy negotiations with building owners. Operators are not eager to add more sites as compared to LTE to ensure sufficiently good coverage.
Idle or inactive user equipment (UEs) that need to connect to the network for data transmissions use a random access procedure. Connected UEs also use the random access procedure for various reasons such as beam failure recovery, hand over, and regaining uplink synchronization. The contention based random access procedure (CBRA) starts with a preamble selection and transmission from the UE. A gNB responds with a random access response (RAR) which includes a temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), timing advance (TA) value, and a grant for the UE to send Msg3 in uplink. The Msg3 is scheduled on the PUSCH, as indicated by the grant received in the RAR. In many CBRA cases, the Msg3 comprises a radio resource control (RRC) signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1) message sent on logical common control channel (CCCH). The message may be the RRC connection request, RRC connection re-establishment request, or RRC connection resume request message. The CCCH channel uses radio link control transparent mode (RLC TM).
SUMMARY
Based on the description above, there currently exist certain challenges with the random access message structure. For example, new radio (NR) has focused on reusing as many long term evolution (LTE) data structures as possible and also on large data transfer, thus message structures have been inherited and partly redesigned for faster processing and maximizing throughput rather than conserving overhead. In addition, concerns exist regarding how the physical layer structures of NR and its deployment in higher frequency spectra will impact coverage. Link budget studies indicate the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and particularly the transfer of message 3, as being a coverage bottleneck message 3 is the first scheduled message on PUSCH, and with channel conditions largely unknown, it requires as robust transfer as possible. As a result, reducing the message 3 size is beneficial.
In contrast, NR also includes an extended range of use cases, which would instead require a larger size for message 3. Although NR is discussed as examples, the embodiments described herein may benefit LTE as well (e.g., using a larger message 3 size to support an extended range of use cases).
Message 3 may consist of any one of three different messages: RRC connection request, RRC connection reestablishment, or RRC connection resume. Each message may have a different size. Thus, as part of the problem, because RLC TM does not support segmentation, message 3 must be sent within a single transport block. Because the content/size of message 3 is unknown to the gNB/ng-eNB by message 2, the gNB/ng-eNB must ensure that the grant is large enough to handle all the possible message 3 sizes. The size of the transport block, however, is limited by the number of bits that can be reliably delivered to a UE at the cell edge and is typically determined through simulations. While it may be possible to make some improvements to the physical transmission of message 3, the number of bits is restricted.
One problem is that NR and LTE include scenarios, such as poor coverage and/or congestion, where gNB/ng-eNB are not able to allocate a sufficiently sized message 3 grant to handle the RRC connection resume message (the biggest RRC message). In this case, no procedure is defined for how the UE can handle an RRC message that is larger than the received grant.
Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Particular embodiments include a split version of any large RRC message that may be scheduled as message 3. A UE may prepare a split version of RRC connection resume message. In parallel, the UE may also prepare a normal single RRC connection resume message. If the UE receives a sufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE sends the single RRC message using the grant. If the UE receives an insufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE uses the grant to send the first part of split RRC message and also indicates, with a message type for example, that the message is a part of a split message (e.g., a type RRC split 1 encoded in an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message).
After the gNb/ng-eNB receives the UL-CCCH message with a message type of RRC split 1, the gNb/ng-eNB knows that a RRC split 2 is remaining and that another small grant is needed. The network then sends another small grant to the UE. The UE expects a small grant after sending the RRC split 1 message. After the UE receives the subsequent grant, the UE uses it to send the second part of the split RRC message. The gNB/ng-eNB receives the RRC split 2 message and merges it with the RRC split 1 message to construct the complete RRC message 3. According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for performing a random access procedure comprises preparing a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and preparing a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message. The second random access RRC message, however, comprises a first part and a second part. The method further comprises receiving, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The method further comprises determining whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the method comprises transmitting the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The method further comprises transmitting the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the method further comprises upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmitting the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split (e.g., an UL-CCCH message type or LCID). In particular embodiments, the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
In particular embodiments, the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
According to some embodiments, a wireless device is capable of performing a random access procedure. The wireless device comprises processing circuitry operable to prepare a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message. The second random access RRC message, however, comprises a first part and a second part. The processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The processing circuitry is further operable to determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the processing circuitry is operable to transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The processing circuitry is further operable to transmit the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the processing circuitry is further operable to, upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmit the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split (e.g., an UL-CCCH message type or LCID).
In particular embodiments, the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
In particular embodiments, the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
According to some embodiments, a method for use in a network node for performing a random access procedure comprises transmitting, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The method further comprises receiving, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant and determining whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message. Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the method comprises transmitting to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The method further comprises receiving, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the method furthers comprises merging the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
In particular embodiments, whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID.
In particular embodiments, the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution. In particular embodiments, a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
According to some embodiments, a network node is capable of performing a random access procedure. The network node comprises processing circuitry operable to transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant and determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message. Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the processing circuitry is operable to transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The processing circuitry is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, the processing circuitry is further operable to merge the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
In particular embodiments, whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID.
In particular embodiments, the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution.
In particular embodiments, a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
According to some embodiments, a wireless device is capable of performing a random access procedure. The wireless device comprises a splitting unit, a receiving unit, a determining unit and a transmitting unit. The splitting unit is operable to prepare a first random access RRC message that includes random access data and prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message. The second random access RRC message, however, comprises a first part and a second part. The receiving unit is operable to receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The determining unit is operable to determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the transmitting unit is operable to transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
According to some embodiments, a network node is capable of performing a random access procedure. The network node comprises a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a merging unit. The transmitting unit is operable to transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The receiving unit is operable to receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant. The merging unit is operable to determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message. Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the transmitting unit is further operable to transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. The receiving unit is further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
Also disclosed is a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code, the computer readable program code operable, when executed by processing circuitry to perform any of the methods performed by the network node described above.
Another computer program product comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code, the computer readable program code operable, when executed by processing circuitry to perform any of the methods performed by the wireless device described above.
Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. For example, particular embodiments ensure that small grants can be used to transmit a large message 3 size without impacting coverage. Particular embodiments also facilitate early UE preparation for responding to both a small and big grants, thus preventing processing delays on UE side. Some embodiments provide flexibility on the network side to provide grants of different sizes without impacting feature support (i.e., Inactive state would not be possible if message 3 could not fit a larger RRC connection resume message).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments and their features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example media access control (MAC) subheader structure;
FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example wireless network;
FIGURE 3 illustrates an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless network for measurement reporting, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless device for performing random access, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a network node for performing random, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 7 illustrates an example wireless device and network node, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 8 illustrates an example virtualization environment, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 9 illustrates an example telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer, according to certain embodiments; FIGURE 10 illustrates an example host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 13 is a flowchart illustrating another method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments; and
FIGURE 14 is a flowchart illustrating another method implemented in a communication system, according to certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Based on the description above, there currently exist certain challenges with the random access message structure in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) fifth generation (5G) wireless networks. For example, random access message 3 may consist of any one of three different messages: radio resource control (RRC) connection request, RRC connection reestablishment, or RRC connection resume. Each message may have a different size. The size of the transport block, however, is limited by the number of bits that can be reliably delivered to a user equipment (UE) at the cell edge. In general, the number of bits available for message 3 is restricted. No procedure is defined for how the UE can handle an RRC message that is larger than the received uplink grant.
Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Particular embodiments include a split version of any large RRC message that may be scheduled as message 3. For example, a UE may prepare a split version of RRC connection resume message. In parallel, the UE may also prepare a normal single RRC connection resume message. If the UE receives a sufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE sends the single RRC message using the grant. If the UE receives an insufficiently sized grant for message 3, the UE uses the grant to send the first part of split RRC message and also indicates, with a message type for example, that the message is a part of a split message (e.g., a type RRC split 1 encoded in an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message). After the gNb/ng-eNB receives the UL-CCCH message with a message type of RRC split 1, the gNb/ng-eNB sends another small uplink grant to the UE. After the UE receives the subsequent grant, the UE uses it to send the second part of the split RRC message. The gNB/ng- eNB receives the RRC split 2 message and merges it with the RRC split 1 message to construct the complete RRC message 3. Particular embodiments ensure that small grants can be used to transmit a large message 3 size without impacting coverage.
Particular embodiments are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.
In particular embodiments, if the network does not provide a message 3 grant that sufficient for all relevant type of messages, the network provides two consecutive smaller grants to the UE. The size of the first grant may be a minimum message 3 grant intended to accommodate relatively small RRC messages, but not larger messages. The total size of the two grants may be large enough to accommodate larger RRC messages. In some embodiments, a UE prepares two versions of a large RRC message before receiving any grant from the network. The first is a single unit RRC message, and the second is a split RRC message, where the first part fits in a minimum message 3 grant and the second part in a subsequent grant.
Particular embodiments are beneficial when the UE prepares the RRC messages before sending the random-access message and changing the size of message 3 is not possible afterwards. Thus, if the UE needs to use a split message, the UE may prepare the split message before starting the random access procedure.
In some embodiments, if the UE receives a large enough grant, the UE uses the grant to send the single unit RRC message. If the grant received is to small, the UE uses the grant to indicate a split message version and sends the first part of split RRC message. In some embodiments, when the gNb/ng-eNB receives the indication of split message version, the gNb/ng-eNB provides a subsequent grant to the UE.
In some embodiments, the indication of a split message version is part of the RRC message itself (e.g., UL-CCCH message with a message type set to RRC split 1). An example is illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example media access control (MAC) subheader structure. In the illustrated embodiment, two spare bits in UL-CCCH message are used to define the two split RRC messages. Connection Control for NR includes a bit choice structure for UL-CCCH message. There are 13 spare values available as shown in the example ASN. l notation below. Spare bit 12 and 13 can be used for information elements rrcConnectionResumeRequest-split 1 and rrcConnectionResumeRequest-split2.
- ASN1 START
- TAG-UL-CCCH-MESSAGE-START
UL-CCCH-Message ::= SEQUENCE {
message UL-CCCH-MessageType
}
UL-CCCH-MessageType ::= CHOICE {
d CHOICE {
rrcSetupRequest RRCSetupRequest,
rrcResumeRequest RRCResumeRequest,
rrcReestablishmentRequest RRCReestablishmentRequest,
rrcConnectionResumeRequest-splitl RRCConnectionResumeRequest-s1 ,
rrcConnectionResumeRequest-split2 RRCConnectionResumeRequest-s2
sparel l NULL, sparelO NULL, spare9 NULL,
spare8 NULL, spare7 NULL, spare6 NULL,
spare5 NULL, spare4 NULL, spare3 NULL,
spare2 NULL, spare 1 NULL
},
messageClassExtension SEQUENCE {}
}
- TAG-UL-CCCH-MESSAGE-STOP
- ASN1 ST0P
In some embodiments, the indication of split message version is encoded as a logical channel identifier (LCID) in the MAC subheader of the UL-CCCH service data unit (SDU) (e.g., UL-CCCH message with a LCID set to CCCH-split). FIGURE 1 and Table 1 illustrate an example embodiment where the LCID value CCCH split is indicated using 100001 for one of the reserved values in 3GPP TS 38.321. Table 1 : Values of LCID for UL-SCH, with CCCH split
Figure imgf000015_0001
In some embodiments, multiple grants are provided in the same MAC PDU, either by reusing a possible indication of message 3 repetitions where the repeated grants are used to transmit the message 3 split versions instead of multiple copies of the same message 3. Some embodiments indicate the two grants by multiplexing two random access responses (RARs) in the same MAC protocol data unit (PDU). The latter means that two MAC subPDUs are multiplexed containing the same E/T/RAPID subheader but with different RARs. The first RAR contains the grant for the first RRC split message and the second RAR contains the grant for the second split RRC message .
In some embodiments, if the split RRC message is a RRC connection resume message with a split I-RNTI, the network may perform contention resolution using the first part of the I-RNTI. This is beneficial to enable UEs for which continuing is not relevant to retry without additional/unnece ssary effort/waiting .
In some embodiments, the first part of a split message 3 comprises information to enable contention resolution. Information to enable contention resolution may be an identifier or random number of suitable length and may be provisioned/included in/by RRC or in/by a protocol layer below RRC (e.g., the MAC layer).
In the embodiments described herein, the RRC connection resume message is used as an example because it is currently the biggest RRC message that is sent with message 3 but similar mechanisms may be applied to partition other RRC messages.
In particular embodiments, if the first grant is large enough to send the entire message 3, the split versions may be discarded (i.e., not sent when new grants are received). Similarly, if the split versions are transmitted, the single version of the RRC message is discarded (i.e., not sent when new grants are received).
FIGURE 2 illustrates an example wireless network, according to certain embodiments. The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Uong Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.
Network 106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.
Network node 160 and WD 110 comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations.
A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).
Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.
In FIGURE 2, network node 160 includes processing circuitry 170, device readable medium 180, interface 190, auxiliary equipment 184, power source 186, power circuitry 187, and antenna 162. Although network node 160 illustrated in the example wireless network of Figure 1 may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node 160 are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium 180 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).
Similarly, network node 160 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., aNodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 160 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node 160 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 180 for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna 162 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 160 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 160.
Processing circuitry 170 is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. The operations performed by processing circuitry 170 may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 170 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Processing circuitry 170 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 160 components, such as device readable medium 180, network node 160 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 170 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 180 or in memory within processing circuitry 170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 may include a system on a chip (SOC).
In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units
In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry 170 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 180 or memory within processing circuitry 170. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 170 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry 170 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 170 alone or to other components of network node 160, but are enjoyed by network node 160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.
Device readable medium 180 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 170. Device readable medium 180 may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 170 and, utilized by network node 160. Device readable medium 180 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry 170 and/or any data received via interface 190. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 and device readable medium 180 may be considered to be integrated.
Interface 190 is used in the wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between network node 160, network 106, and/or WDs 110. As illustrated, interface 190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 106 over a wired connection. Interface 190 also includes radio front end circuitry 192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna 162. Radio front end circuitry 192 comprises filters 198 and amplifiers 196. Radio front end circuitry 192 may be connected to antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170. Radio front end circuitry 192 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 192 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 198 and/or amplifiers 196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 162 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.
In certain alternative embodiments, network node 160 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 192, instead, processing circuitry 170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 162 without separate radio front end circuitry 192. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 172 may be considered a part of interface 190. In still other embodiments, interface 190 may include one or more ports or terminals 194, radio front end circuitry 192, and RF transceiver circuitry 172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface 190 may communicate with baseband processing circuitry 174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).
Antenna 162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 162 may be coupled to radio front end circuitry 190 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna 162 may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 162 may be separate from network node 160 and may be connectable to network node 160 through an interface or port.
Antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.
Power circuitry 187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node 160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry 187 may receive power from power source 186. Power source 186 and/or power circuitry 187 may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node 160 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source 186 may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry 187 and/or network node 160. For example, network node 160 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry 187. As a further example, power source 186 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.
Alternative embodiments of network node 160 may include additional components beyond those shown in FIGURE 2 that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node 160 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node 160 and to allow output of information from network node 160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node 160.
As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network.
Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE) a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device.
As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.).
In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.
As illustrated, wireless device 110 includes antenna 111, interface 114, processing circuitry 120, device readable medium 130, user interface equipment 132, auxiliary equipment 134, power source 136 and power circuitry 137. WD 110 may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD 110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD 110. Antenna 11 1 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface 114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 111 may be separate from WD 110 and be connectable to WD 110 through an interface or port. Antenna 111, interface 114, and/or processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 111 may be considered an interface.
As illustrated, interface 114 comprises radio front end circuitry 112 and antenna 111. Radio front end circuitry 112 comprise one or more filters 118 and amplifiers 116. Radio front end circuitry 114 is connected to antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120 and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120. Radio front end circuitry 112 may be coupled to or a part of antenna 111. In some embodiments, WD 110 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 112; rather, processing circuitry 120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be considered a part of interface 114. Radio front end circuitry 112 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 112 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 118 and/or amplifiers 116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 111 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.
Processing circuitry 120 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 110 components, such as device readable medium 130, WD 110 functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry 120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 130 or in memory within processing circuitry 120 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.
As illustrated, processing circuitry 120 includes one or more ofRF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry 120 of WD 110 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry 124 and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 and baseband processing circuitry 124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be a part of interface 114. RF transceiver circuitry 122 may condition RF signals for processing circuitry 120.
In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry 120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 120 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry 120 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 120 alone or to other components of WD 110, but are enjoyed by WD 110, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally. Processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry 120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD 110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.
Device readable medium 130 may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 120. Device readable medium 130 may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non- transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 120. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 120 and device readable medium 130 may be integrated.
User interface equipment 132 may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD 110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment 132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD 110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment 132 installed in WD 110. For example, ifWD 110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD 110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment 132 may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment 132 is configured to allow input of information into WD 110 and is connected to processing circuitry 120 to allow processing circuitry 120 to process the input information. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 132 is also configured to allow output of information from WD 110, and to allow processing circuitry 120 to output information from WD 110. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment 132, WD 110 may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.
Auxiliary equipment 134 is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment 134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.
Power source 136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD 110 may further comprise power circuitry 137 for delivering power from power source 136 to the various parts of WD 110 which need power from power source 136 to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 137 may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry 137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD 110 may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry 137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source 136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source 136. Power circuitry 137 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source 136 to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD 110 to which power is supplied.
Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIGURE 2. For simplicity, the wireless network of FIGURE 2 only depicts network 106, network nodes 160 and l60b, and WDs 110, 11 Ob, and l lOc. In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node 160 and wireless device (WD) 110 are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.
FIGURE 3 illustrates an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 200 may be any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE 200, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIGURE 3 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD, and vice-versa.
In FIGURE 3, UE 200 includes processing circuitry 201 that is operatively coupled to input/output interface 205, radio frequency (RF) interface 209, network connection interface 211, memory 215 including random access memory (RAM) 217, read-only memory (ROM) 219, and storage medium 221 or the like, communication subsystem 231, power source 233, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium 221 includes operating system 223, application program 225, and data 227. In other embodiments, storage medium 221 may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in FIGURE 3, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.
In FIGURE 3, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 201 may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 201 may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.
In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 205 may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE 200 may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface 205. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 200. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE 200 may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface 205 to allow a user to capture information into UE 200. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence- sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor. In FIGURE 3, RF interface 209 may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 211 may be configured to provide a communication interface to network 243a. Network 243a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network 243a may comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface 211 may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface 211 may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.
RAM 217 may be configured to interface via bus 202 to processing circuitry 201 to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 219 may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry 201. For example, ROM 219 may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium 221 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium 221 may be configured to include operating system 223, application program 225 such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file 227. Storage medium 221 may store, for use by UE 200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems. Storage medium 221 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro- DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium 221 may allow UE 200 to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium 221, which may comprise a device readable medium.
In FIGURE 3, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with network 243b using communication subsystem 231. Network 243a and network 243b may be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 243b. For example, communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.2, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter 233 and/or receiver 235 to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 233 and receiver 235 of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.
In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem 231 may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem 231 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network 243b may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network 243b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source 213 may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 200.
The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE 200 or partitioned across multiple components of UE 200. Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus 202. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry 201 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry 201 and communication subsystem 231. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.
FIGURE 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless network for measurement reporting, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 4 may be performed by wireless device 110 and network node 160 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
The method begins at step 402 with a base station transmitting to a wireless device a first message 3 grant. At step 404 the wireless device receives the message 3 grant having a first size. At step 406, the wireless device determines a second size of a message 3 to be sent to the network node. At step 408, the wireless device splits the message 3 to be sent into at least two parts comprising the first part of the message 3 to be sent and at least a second part of the message 3 to be sent. The split may be done automatically, later in the method, or only when the second size is greater than a threshold, such as a minimum grant size.
At step 410 the first size of the message 3 grant is compared to the second size of the message 3 to be sent. If the second size of the message 3 to be sent being greater than the first size of the message 3 grant then at step 412 the wireless device transmits a first part of the message 3 to be sent using the message 3 grant wherein the first part is smaller than the first size of the message 3 grant and is less than the full message 3 to be sent. Though not illustrated, if the second size of the message 3 to be sent is less than the first size of the message 3 grant, the wireless device transmits the message 3 using the message 3 grant (that is, the non-split message 3). At step 414 the wireless device transmits to the network node an indication that this is a split message 3. The indication may be transmitted together with the first part of the message 3 or in a separate transmission.
At step 416 the base station receives from the wireless device the first part of the message 3 using the message 3 grant. At step 418 the base station receives an indication that this is a split message 3. The indication may be received with, or separate from, the first part of the message 3. In recognition that only a portion of the message 3 was received, at step 420 the base station transmits to the wireless device a second message 3 grant. The first and second message 3 grants combined provide enough space for a maximum sized RRC message.
At step 422 the wireless device receives the second message 3 grant and at step 424 transmits the second part of the split message 3 using the second message 3 grant. An indication may be included, or sent separately, specifying that this is the second part of the split message 3.
At step 426 the base station receives the second part of the message 3 from the wireless device and at step 428 merges the first message 3 with the second message 3.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 400 of FIGURE 4. Additionally, one or more steps in the method of FIGURE 4 may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order.
FIGURE 5 illustrates a similar method from the perspective of the wireless device and FIGURE 6 illustrates a similar method from the perspective of the network node. FIGURE 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a wireless device for performing random access, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 5 may be performed by wireless device 110 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
The method begins at step 512 where a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 110) prepares a first random access RRC message that includes random access data. The random access RRC message may comprise random access message 3, such as a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request. The random access RRC message includes random access data (i.e., the contents of the RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request). The first random access RRC message comprises a single message that includes all the random access data.
At step 514, the wireless device prepares a second random access RRC message that includes the random access data as the first random access RRC message. The second random access RRC message, however, comprises a first part and a second part. The first part comprises part of the random access data, and the second part comprises the remaining random access data.
As a specific example, the first random access RRC message may comprise a RRC connection resume request. The second random access RRC message comprises the same RRC connection resume request, but the random access information is split into two parts to be transmitted separately.
In particular embodiments, if the random access information includes identifiers that may be used for contention resolution, the identifiers are placed in the first part of the second random access RRC message. An advantage is that contention resolution may be performed sooner.
At step 516, the wireless device receives, from a network node (e.g., network node 160), a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
At step 518, the wireless device determines whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant. In other words, the wireless device determines if the uplink grant is large enough to accommodate transmission of the entire random access RRC message.
Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the method continues to step 527 where the wireless device transmits the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
Upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the method continues to step 520 where the wireless device transmits the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split. For example, the indication may comprise an UU-CCCH message type or a MAC UCID as described above.
At step 522, the wireless device receives, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
At step 524, the wireless device transmits the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
In particular embodiments, transmission of the second part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split. For example, the indication may comprise an UU-CCCH message type or a MAC UCID as described above.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 500 of FIGURE 5. Additionally, one or more steps in the method of FIGURE 5 may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order. FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method in a network node for performing random access, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIGURE 6 may be performed by network node 160 described with respect to FIGURE 2.
The method begins at step 612 where a network node (e.g., network node 160) transmits, to a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 110), a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The first uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission. At step 614, the network node receives, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant.
At step 616, the network node determines whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message. For example, whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message may be determined by an UL-CCCH message type or LCID as described above.
Upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the method continues to step 618 where the network node transmits, to the wireless device, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message. The second uplink grant comprises an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission.
At step 620, the network node receives, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
At step 622, the network node merges the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message. For example, merging the first and second messages results in a complete RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, or a RRC connection resume request.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 600 of FIGURE 6. Additionally, one or more steps in the method of FIGURE 6 may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order. FIGURE 7 illustrates a schematic block diagram of two apparatuses in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network illustrated in FIGURE 2). The apparatuses include a wireless device and a network node (e.g., wireless device 110 and network node 160 illustrated in FIGURE 2). Apparatuses 1600 and 1700 are operable to carry out the example methods described with reference to FIGURES 4-6, and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the methods of FIGURES 4-6 are not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1600 and/or apparatus 1700. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.
Virtual apparatuses 1600 and 1700 may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments.
In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause receiving unit 1602, determining unit 1604, comparing unit 1606, transmitting unit 1608, splitting unit 1610, and any other suitable units of apparatus 1600 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Similarly, the processing circuitry described above may be used to cause transmitting unit 1702, receiving unit 1704, merging unit 1706, and any other suitable units of apparatus 1700 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in FIGURE 7, apparatus 1600 includes receiving unit 1602, determining unit 1604, comparing unit 1606, transmitting unit 1608, and splitting unit 1610. In certain embodiments, receiving unit 1602 may receive uplink grants from a network node according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein. Determining unit 1604 and comparing unit 1606 may determine whether a random access RRC message will fit within a particular uplink grant according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein. Transmitting unit 1608 may transmit random access RRC messages according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein. Splitting unit 1610 may prepare a random access RRC message split into two or more parts according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.
As illustrated in FIGURE 7, apparatus 1700 includes transmitting unit 1702, receiving unit 1704, and merging unit 1706. Transmitting unit 1702 may transmit uplink grants according to any ofthe embodiments and examples described herein. Receiving unit 1704 may receive random access RRC messages according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein. Merging unit 1706 may merge two random access RRC message parts received in different uplink transmissions to form a complete random access RRC message.
FIGURE 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).
In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments 300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes 330. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.
The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 320 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 320 are run in virtualization environment 300 which provides hardware 330 comprising processing circuitry 360 and memory 390. Memory 390 contains instructions 395 executable by processing circuitry 360 whereby application 320 is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.
Virtualization environment 300, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices 330 comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry 360, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 390-1 which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 395 or software executed by processing circuitry 360. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 370, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface 380. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media 390-2 having stored therein software 395 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry 360. Software 395 may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers 350 (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 340 as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.
Virtual machines 340, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 350 or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 320 may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines 340, and the implementations may be made in different ways.
During operation, processing circuitry 360 executes software 395 to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 350, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer 350 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine 340.
As shown in FIGURE 8, hardware 330 may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 330 may comprise antenna 3225 and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 330 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO) 3100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 320.
Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high- volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.
In the context of NFV, virtual machine 340 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines 340, and that part of hardware 330 that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines 340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).
Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines 340 on top of hardware networking infrastructure 330 and corresponds to application 320 in FIGURE 8.
In some embodiments, one or more radio units 3200 that each include one or more transmitters 3220 and one or more receivers 3210 may be coupled to one or more antennas 3225. Radio units 3200 may communicate directly with hardware nodes 330 via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.
In some embodiments, some signaling can be effected with the use of control system 3230 which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes 330 and radio units 3200.
With reference to FIGURE 9, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network 410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 411, such as a radio access network, and core network 414. Access network 4l l comprises a plurality ofbase stations 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 413a, 4l3b, 4l3c. Each base station 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c is connectable to core network 414 over a wired or wireless connection 415. A first UE 491 located in coverage area 4l3c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 4l2c. A second UE 492 in coverage area 413a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 4l2a. While a plurality of UEs 491, 492 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 412.
Telecommunication network 410 is itself connected to host computer 430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer 430 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections 421 and 422 between telecommunication network 410 and host computer 430 may extend directly from core network 414 to host computer 430 or may go via an optional intermediate network 420. Intermediate network 420 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 420, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network 420 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).
The communication system of FIGURE 9 as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs 491, 492 and host computer 430. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 450. Host computer 430 and the connected UEs 491, 492 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 450, using access network 411, core network 414, any intermediate network 420 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection 450 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection 450 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station 412 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer 430 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 491. Similarly, base station 412 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 491 towards the host computer 430. FIGURE 10 illustrates an example host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments. Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIGURE 10. In communication system 500, host computer 510 comprises hardware 515 including communication interface 516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500. Host computer 510 further comprises processing circuitry 518, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 518 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 510 further comprises software 511, which is stored in or accessible by host computer 510 and executable by processing circuitry 518. Software 511 includes host application 512. Host application 512 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 530 connecting via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510. In providing the service to the remote user, host application 512 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection 550.
Communication system 500 further includes base station 520 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 525 enabling it to communicate with host computer 510 and with UE 530. Hardware 525 may include communication interface 526 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500, as well as radio interface 527 for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection 570 with UE 530 located in a coverage area (not shown in FIGURE 10) served by base station 520. Communication interface 526 may be configured to facilitate connection 560 to host computer 510. Connection 560 may be direct, or it may pass through a core network (not shown in FIGURE 10) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware 525 of base station 520 further includes processing circuitry 528, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station 520 further has software 521 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.
Communication system 500 further includes UE 530 already referred to. Its hardware 535 may include radio interface 537 configured to set up and maintain wireless connection 570 with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE 530 is currently located. Hardware 535 of UE 530 further includes processing circuitry 538, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 530 further comprises software 531, which is stored in or accessible by UE 530 and executable by processing circuitry 538. Software 531 includes client application 532. Client application 532 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE 530, with the support of host computer 510. In host computer 510, an executing host application 512 may communicate with the executing client application 532 via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510. In providing the service to the user, client application 532 may receive request data from host application 512 and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection 550 may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application 532 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.
It is noted that host computer 510, base station 520 and UE 530 illustrated in FIGURE 10 may be similar or identical to host computer 430, one of base stations 4l2a, 4l2b, 4l2c and one of UEs 491, 492 of FIGURE 9, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in FIGURE 7 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIGURE 9.
In FIGURE 10, OTT connection 550 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer 510 and UE 530 via base station 520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE 530 or from the service provider operating host computer 510, or both. While OTT connection 550 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). Wireless connection 570 between UE 530 and base station 520 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE 530 using OTT connection 550, in which wireless connection 570 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the efficiency and reliability of RRC signaling, particularly at the network edges and thereby provide benefits such as improved connectivity, particularly at the network edges.
A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 550 between host computer 510 and UE 530, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 550 may be implemented in software 511 and hardware 515 ofhost computer 510 or in software 531 and hardware 535 of UE 530, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection 550 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 511, 531 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 550 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station 520, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station 520. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer 510’ s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software 511 and 531 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection 550 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.
FIGURE 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 11 will be included in this section. In step 610, the host computer provides user data. In substep 611 (which may be optional) of step 610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step 630 (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 640 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.
FIGURE 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 12 will be included in this section. In step 710 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 720, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 730 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.
FIGURE 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 13 will be included in this section. In step 810 (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 820, the UE provides user data. In substep 821 (which may be optional) of step 820, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep 811 (which may be optional) of step 810, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep 830 (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step 840 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.
FIGURE 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 14 will be included in this section. In step 910 (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step 920 (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step 930 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.
The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.
Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components. Additionally, operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed using any suitable logic comprising software, hardware, and/or other logic. As used in this document,“each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methods disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order.
The foregoing description sets forth numerous specific details. It is understood, however, that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the included descriptions, will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation.
References in the specification to“one embodiment,”“an embodiment,”“an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.
Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, alterations and permutations of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of the embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the claims below. At least some of the following abbreviations may be used in this disclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations, preference should be given to how it is used above. If listed multiple times below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequent listing(s).
Abbreviation Explanation
lx RTT CDMA2000 lx Radio Transmission Technology
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
5G 5th Generation
5GC 5G Core
ABS Almost Blank Subframe
ARQ Automatic Repeat Request
AWGN Additive White Gaussian Noise
BCCH Broadcast Control Channel
BCH Broadcast Channel
BLER Block Error Rate
CA Carrier Aggregation
CC Carrier Component
CCCH SDU Common Control Channel SDU
CDMA Code Division Multiplexing Access
CGI Cell Global Identifier
CIR Channel Impulse Response
CP Cyclic Prefix or Control Plane
CPICH Common Pilot Channel
CPICH Ec/No CPICH Received energy per chip divided by the power density in the band
CRS Cell Reference Signal
CQI Channel Quality information
C-RNTI Cell RNTI
CSI Channel State Information DC Dual Connectivity
DCCH Dedicated Control Channel
DCI Downlink Control Information
DFTS OFDM Discrete Fourier Transform Spread OFDM
DL Downlink
DM Demodulation
DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal
DRX Discontinuous Reception
DTX Discontinuous Transmission
DTCH Dedicated Traffic Channel
DUT Device Under Test
E-CID Enhanced Cell-ID (positioning method)
E-SMLC Evolved-Serving Mobile Location Centre
ECGI Evolved CGI
EN-DC EUTRAN-NR Dual Connectivity
eNB E-UTRAN NodeB
EPC Evolved Packet Core
ePDCCH enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel
E-SMLC evolved Serving Mobile Location Center
E-UTRA Evolved UTRA
E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN
FDD Frequency Division Duplex
GERAN GSM EDGE Radio Access Network gNB Base station in NR
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GSM Global System for Mobile communication
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GSM Global System for Mobile communication
HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request
HO Handover HSPA High Speed Packet Access
HRPD High Rate Packet Data
LOS Line of Sight
LPP LTE Positioning Protocol
LTE Long-Term Evolution
MAC Medium Access Control
MBMS Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services
MBSFN Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network
MBSFN ABS MBSFN Almost Blank Subframe
MCG Master Cell Group (related to master node in dual connectivity)
MDT Minimization of Drive Tests
MIB Master Information Block
MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output
MME Mobility Management Entity
MN Master Node
MR-DC Multiple RAT Dual Connectivity
MSC Mobile Switching Center
NG Next Generation
NPDCCH Narrowband Physical Downlink Control Channel
NR New Radio
NS A Non- Stand-alone NR
OCNG OFDMA Channel Noise Generator
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
OSS Operations Support System
OTDOA Observed Time Difference of Arrival
O&M Operation and Maintenance
PBCH Physical Broadcast Channel
P-CCPCH Primary Common Control Physical Channel
PCell Primary Cell PCI Physical Cell Identity
PCFICH Physical Control Format Indicator Channel
PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function
PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel
PDP Profile Delay Profile
PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel
PGW Packet Gateway
PHICH Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel
PLMN Public Land Mobile Network
PMI Precoder Matrix Indicator
PRACH Physical Random Access Channel
PRS Positioning Reference Signal
PSS Primary Synchronization Signal
PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel
PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel
RACH Random Access Channel
QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
RAN Radio Access Network
RAPID Random Access Preamble Identifier
RAR Random Access Response
RAT Radio Access Technology
RF Radio Frequency
RLC Radio Link Control
RLM Radio Link Management
RNC Radio Network Controller
RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identifier
RRC Radio Resource Control
RRM Radio Resource Management
RS Reference Signal
RSCP Received Signal Code Power RSRP Reference Symbol Received Power OR Reference Signal Received Power
RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality OR
Reference Symbol Received Quality
RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator
RSTD Reference Signal Time Difference
SA Stand-alone NR
SCH Synchronization Channel
SCell Secondary Cell
SDU Service Data Unit
SFN System Frame Number
SGW Serving Gateway
SI System Information
SIB System Information Block
SIB1 System Information Block Type 1
SN Secondary Node
SNR Signal to Noise Ratio
SON Self Optimized Network
ss Synchronization Signal
sss Secondary Synchronization Signal
TAC Timing Advance Command
TDD Time Division Duplex
TDOA Time Difference of Arrival
TOA Time of Arrival
TPC Transmit Power Control
TSS Tertiary Synchronization Signal
TTI Transmission Time Interval
UE User Equipment
UL Uplink
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module
UTDOA Uplink Time Difference of Arrival
UTRA Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
UTRAN Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network
V2X Vehicle to everything
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol
WCDMA Wide CDMA
WUAN Wide Uocal Area Network

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A method performed by a wireless device for performing a random access procedure, the method comprising:
preparing (512) a first random access radio resource control (RRC) message that includes random access data;
preparing (514) a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message, wherein the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part;
receiving (516), from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
determining (518) whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant; and
upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmitting (520) the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving (522), from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission; and
transmitting (524) the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmitting (526) the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication comprises an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message type.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication comprises a logical channel identifier (LCID).
7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
9. A wireless device (110) capable of performing a random access procedure, the wireless device comprising processing circuitry (120) operable to:
prepare a first random access radio resource control (RRC) message that includes random access data;
prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message, wherein the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part; receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant; and upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
10. The wireless device of claim 9, the processing circuitry further operable to: receive, from the network node, a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission; and
transmit the second part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the second uplink grant.
11. The wireless device of claim 9, the processing circuitry further operable to, upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, transmit the first random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
12. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the transmission of the first part of the second random access RRC message includes an indication that the random access RRC message is split.
13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the indication comprises an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message type.
14. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the indication comprises a logical channel identifier (LCID).
15. The wireless device of any one of claims 9-14, wherein the random access data includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution and the first part of the second random access RRC message includes the identifier.
16. The wireless device of any one of claims 9-15, wherein the random access RRC message includes one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
17. A method for use in a network node for performing a random access procedure, the method comprising:
transmitting (612), to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access radio resource control (RRC) message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
receiving (614), from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant;
determining (616) whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message;
upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, transmitting (618) to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission; and
receiving (620), from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising merging (622) the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
19. The method of any one of claims 17-18, wherein whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message type.
20. The method of any one of claims 17-18, wherein whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by a logical channel identifier (LCID).
21. The method of any one of claims 17-20, wherein the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution.
22. The method of any one of claims 17-21, wherein a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
23. A network node (160) capable of performing a random access procedure, the network node comprising processing circuitry (170) operable to:
transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access radio resource control (RRC) message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant;
determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message;
upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission; and
receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
24. The network node of claim 23, the processing circuitry further operable to merge the first random access RRC message and the second random access RRC message.
25. The network node of any one of claims 23-24, wherein whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by an uplink common control channel (CCCH) message type.
26. The network node of any one of claims 23-24, wherein whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message is determined by a logical channel identifier (LCID).
27. The network node of any one of claims 23-26, wherein the first random access RRC message includes an identifier of the wireless device that can be used for contention resolution.
28. The network node of any one of claims 23-27, wherein a combination of the first and second random access RRC messages forms one of a RRC connection request, a RRC connection re-establishment request, and a RRC connection resume request.
29. A wireless device (110) capable of performing a random access procedure, the wireless device comprising splitting unit (1610), receiving unit (1602), determining unit (1604) and transmitting unit (1608);
the splitting unit operable to:
prepare a first random access radio resource control (RRC) message that includes random access data;
prepare a second random access RRC message that includes the same random access data as the first random access RRC message, wherein the second random access RRC message comprises a first part and a second part; the receiving unit operable to receive, from a network node, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
the determining unit operable to determine whether a size of the first random access RRC message is small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant; and
upon determining the size of the first random access RRC message is not small enough to be transmitted in the amount of transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant, the transmitting unit operable to transmit the first part of the second random access RRC message to the network node using the transmission resources granted by the first uplink grant.
30. A network node (160) capable of performing a random access procedure, the network node comprising transmitting unit (1702), receiving unit (1704) and merging unit (1706);
the transmitting unit operable to transmit, to a wireless device, a first uplink grant for transmission of a random access radio resource control (RRC) message, the first uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission;
the receiving unit operable to receive, from the wireless device, a first random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the first uplink grant;
the merging unit operable to determine whether the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message;
upon determining the first random access RRC message is a split random access RRC message, the transmitting unit further operable to transmit to the wireless device a second uplink grant for transmission of a random access RRC message, the second uplink grant comprising an amount of transmission resources available for an uplink transmission; and the receiving unit further operable to receive, from the wireless device, a second random access RRC message in the transmission resources granted in the second uplink grant.
PCT/IB2019/053902 2018-05-10 2019-05-10 Segmented random access message WO2019215707A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201862669812P 2018-05-10 2018-05-10
US62/669,812 2018-05-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019215707A1 true WO2019215707A1 (en) 2019-11-14

Family

ID=67002067

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2019/053902 WO2019215707A1 (en) 2018-05-10 2019-05-10 Segmented random access message

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2019215707A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111147113A (en) * 2020-01-07 2020-05-12 东南大学 Multi-beam satellite communication robust precoding method for energy efficiency guarantee
CN117793941A (en) * 2024-02-26 2024-03-29 深圳国人无线通信有限公司 Method and system for optimizing communication connection between base station and terminal in random access scene
US11997718B2 (en) 2018-09-21 2024-05-28 Nokia Technologies Oy Random access procedure

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2136598A1 (en) * 2008-06-18 2009-12-23 LG Electronics Inc. Method and appratus for transmitting MAC PDUs with logical channel priority
KR20180035638A (en) * 2016-09-29 2018-04-06 삼성전자주식회사 Method and apparatus of data transfer mode with/without rrc connection

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2136598A1 (en) * 2008-06-18 2009-12-23 LG Electronics Inc. Method and appratus for transmitting MAC PDUs with logical channel priority
KR20180035638A (en) * 2016-09-29 2018-04-06 삼성전자주식회사 Method and apparatus of data transfer mode with/without rrc connection
EP3506708A1 (en) * 2016-09-29 2019-07-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for transmitting data in rrc deactivated or activated state

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ERICSSON: "MSG3.5 for LTE", vol. RAN WG2, no. Berlin, Germany; 20170821 - 20170825, 20 August 2017 (2017-08-20), XP051317784, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Meetings_3GPP_SYNC/RAN2/Docs/> [retrieved on 20170820] *
INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRY (III): "Fall-back mode from early data transmission", vol. RAN WG2, no. Reno, Nevada, USA; 20171127 - 20171201, 16 November 2017 (2017-11-16), XP051370962, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg%5Fran/WG2%5FRL2/TSGR2%5F100/Docs/> [retrieved on 20171116] *
QUALCOMM INCORPORATED: "Email discussion report: [99#45][NB-IoT/MTC] Early data transmission", vol. RAN WG2, no. Prague, Czechia; 20171009 - 20171013, 8 October 2017 (2017-10-08), XP051342903, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Meetings_3GPP_SYNC/RAN2/Docs/> [retrieved on 20171008] *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11997718B2 (en) 2018-09-21 2024-05-28 Nokia Technologies Oy Random access procedure
CN111147113A (en) * 2020-01-07 2020-05-12 东南大学 Multi-beam satellite communication robust precoding method for energy efficiency guarantee
CN117793941A (en) * 2024-02-26 2024-03-29 深圳国人无线通信有限公司 Method and system for optimizing communication connection between base station and terminal in random access scene

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11917694B2 (en) Random access procedure
US11265801B2 (en) Information exchange for initial user equipment access
US11696278B2 (en) Methods, apparatus and computer-readable media related to semi-persistent scheduling configuration
EP3808129B1 (en) Determination of ssb/rmsi periodicity for iab node
US20220053532A1 (en) Methods of harq codebook determination for low latency communications
US20230354432A1 (en) Random Access for Low-Complexity User Equipment
US20200228245A1 (en) Method to manage downlink data delivery status
WO2021034254A1 (en) Updating a pci in a du-cu split architecture
EP4138463A1 (en) Efficient plmn encoding for 5g
CA3119979C (en) Nas-as interaction for early data transmission
WO2019215707A1 (en) Segmented random access message
US20230199521A1 (en) Management of frequency bands selection and measurement configurations
US20220006595A1 (en) Wireless Transmission with Aggregation Factor
WO2020170087A1 (en) Ran user plane scheduling strategy steering
WO2020167196A1 (en) Transmitting and receiving uplink control information and/or a scheduling request
US11974248B2 (en) Methods providing release and re-direct message contents and UE behavior and related wireless devices
US12003302B2 (en) Capability handling related to per-BWP MIMO layer indication
US11882457B2 (en) Baseband processing capability handling in split deployment
US11985556B2 (en) Optimized handling of traffic management-initiated access change
US20230180221A1 (en) Prioritization for scheduling request and physical uplink shared channel without logical channel association
US20220393740A1 (en) Capability handling related to per-bwp mimo layer indication
US20220190998A1 (en) Aligning Resources of Two Radio Access Technologies

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 19732733

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19732733

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1