WO2021089881A1

WO2021089881A1 - Dynamic logical channel (lch) prioritization mapping

Info

Publication number: WO2021089881A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/081545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas FRÖBERG OLSSON; Yufei Blankenship; Majid GERAMI; Bikramjit Singh; Kittipong KITTICHOKECHAI; Zhenhua Zou
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2019-11-08
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2021-05-14

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A network node configured to communicate with a wireless device is provided. The network node configured to send a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority; and send signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. The wireless device is configured to receive a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority; and receive signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

Description

DYNAMIC LOGICAL CHANNEL (LCH) PRIORITIZATION MAPPING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of logical channels (LCHs)to physical layer (PHY) priorities.

BACKGROUND

In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) Release 15 (Rel-15) (NR is also referred to as 5G or 5^th Generation) and 3GPP Rel-16 attention has been directed to providing support and enhanced support for URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication) services. For URLLC services there may be extreme latency and/or robustness requirements. The requirements on latency and robustness are extreme in that they can be as low as 1 millisecond (ms) and 10^L-5, respectively.

NR supports two types of configured grants, Type 1 and Type 2. For Type 1, the wireless device is radio resource control (RRC) configured with a grant that indicates all needed transmission parameters while, in Type 2, the configured grant is partly RRC configured and partly Layer 1(L1) signalled. NR further supports two types of transmissions, Type A and Type B. For Type A, transmissions are slot-based, where a slot is defined as 14 Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, while the transmission for Type B are non- slot-based. One purpose of Type B is to enable more flexibility in starting and ending of transmission than what is possible with Type A.

For uplink (UL) grants, the wireless device multiplexes data from the Logical Channels (LCHs) that are configured. The multiplexing is performed in priority order where data is taken from high-priority LCHs first according to its prioritized bitrate and if there is room for more data then data from lower-priority LCHs are also added according to their respective prioritized bitrates.

For 3GPP NR Rel-15, the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) is controlled by RCC or RRC and mapping restrictions can be put on each logical channel according to: allow edSCS-List which sets the allowed Subcarrier Spacing(s) for transmission; maxPUSCH-Duration which sets the maximum Physical Uplink Shared Channel

(PUSCH) duration allowed for transmission; configuredGrantTypel Allowed which sets whether a Configured Grant Type 1 can be used for transmission; allowedServingCells which sets the allowed cell(s) for transmission; which may be defined according to one or more communication standards such as Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification 38.321, Section 5.4.3.1.1.

The maxPUSCH-Duration for the LCH provides a restriction that the LCH may not use a grant that indicates a PUSCH duration that is longer than the maxPUSCH-Duration. The allow edSCS-List indicates the numerologies that are allowed for this LCH. If a grant is associated with a numerology with SCS (Sub-Carrier Spacing) K and K is not included in the allow edSCS-List of a LCH, then data from this LCH may not be transmitted using the grant. The configuredGrantTypel Allowed indicates whether the LCH may use a configured grant Type 1 or not.

In 3GPP NR Rel-16, the LCH multiplexing and LCP functionality may be enhanced. Rel-16 may support multiple Configured Grants (CGs) wherein a single LCH can be mapped to multiple CGs and wherein multiple LCHs can be mapped to a single CGs. As described in 3GPP meetings such as in notes from RAN2#107bis:

A single LCH can be mapped to multiple CG configurations.

Multiple LCHs can be mapped to a single CG configuration.

R2 asserts that it may be useful to introduce a new LCP restriction in the following way: The DCI that is scheduling PUSCH may include a specific indication. LCH configuration in RRC contains information on whether the LCH can utilize grant with this indication or not. R2 intends that this mechanism can be used to differentiate grants for traffic that requires high reliability.

Further, RANI has considered that a 2 -level PHY priority for DG (Dynamic Grant) and CG PUSCH for at least PHY-layer collision handling may be supported as described in 3GPP discussions such as in RANl#98bis that describe:

Rl-1911630

Discussion: 2-level PHY priority of DG PUSCH at least for PHY-layer collision handling is determined by a PHY indication/signaling.

Discussion: 2-level PHY priority of CG PUSCH at least for PHY-layer collision handling is determined by an explicit indication (as a new RRC parameter) in each CG configuration for Type 1 and Type2 CG PUSCH. o For Further Study (FFS)- whether/how or not to further have in Type2 CG PUSCH activation (FFS to complement or overwrite) the RRC configured indication and if so, the applicable DCI formats.

However, while different LCHs can be prioritized differently, the above referenced discussions fail to address the situation where the mix of traffic changes over time such that the mapping of LCHs is no longer optimum. SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a wireless device is provided. The method includes receiving a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority. The method includes receiving signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method includes using the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single- transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple- transmit receive point, multi-TRP, transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple-transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method includes confirming at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the received configuration.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, receiving the configuration comprises receiving a plurality of priority mapping sets; and receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is received via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a network node is provided. The method includes sending a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority. The method includes sending signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method includes using the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple - transmit receive point, multi-TRP, transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple - transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method further includes receiving a confirmation of at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the received configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the configuration comprises sending a plurality of priority mapping sets; and sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is sent via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The wireless device includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless device to receive a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority; and receive signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to use the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless device to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple- transmit receive point, multi-TRP, transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple-transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to confirm at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the received configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to: receive the configuration by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive a plurality of priority mapping sets; and receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is received via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to send a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority; and send signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to use the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple- transmit receive point, multi-TRP, transmission. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple-transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to receive a confirmation of at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the sent configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to send the configuration by being configured to cause the network node to send a plurality of priority mapping sets; and send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration is sent via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for executing a client application at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, RAN 1 and RAN2 discussions generally provide that traffic from different LCHs can be prioritized differently, and also that grants sent to the wireless device can be prepared suitable for a specific set of LCHs. One problem that the RAN1/RAN2 discussions try to address is that the mix of traffic may change over time and a mapping of LCHs that are suitable/optimized during one time period may be unsuitable/non-optimized at another time period. To exemplify this problem, three LCHs with different priorities, latency and reliability requirement are considered, where the three LCHs are as follows:

LCH#0: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) traffic without tight specific latency and reliability requirements on the radio link where “tight” may correspond to one or more values greater or less restrictive than the values in LCH#1 and/or LCH#2.

LCH#1: URLLC#1 with, for example, 5 ms and 1-10³, latency and reliability requirement, respectively.

LCH#2: URLLC#2 with, for example, 1 ms and 1-10⁵, latency and reliability requirement, respectively.

Given the three LCHs, URLLC#1 and URLLC#2 should be prioritized over eMBB, and a reasonable configuration would be to configure the wireless device according to the table, Table 1, below:

Table 1. PHY to LCH priority mapping.

The PHY priority ‘0’ means higher priority and the MAC LCH mapping states that all LCHs can use grants indicated with high PHY priority while only LCH#0 can use grants indicating low priority. One reason for this configuration is that when a high-priority grant is sent to the wireless device, the network node has prepared the grant such that latency and reliability requirements can be fulfilled for all LCHs. However, if the grant indicates low priority, the granted transmission could be more spectral efficient since the network node knows that only data from LCH#0, i.e. eMBB traffic, may use the grant.

It is further noted that both URLLC#1 and URLLC#2 have more strict requirements than eMBB, and the requirements for URLLC#2 are stricter than for URLLC#1. The difference in latency requirement may mean that re-transmissions are possible for URLLC#1 while retransmission are not possible for URLLC#2. Thus, when a high-priority grant intended to serve only URLLC#1 can be prepared in a more spectral-efficient manner than if also URLLC#2 were to be served.

Another alternative LCH mapping could be to add LCH#1 to the low PHY priority. This would mean that grants indicating low PHY-priority may be prepared such that URLLC#l’s latency and reliability requirements are fulfilled. This would in turn mean that the low PHY priority grants may need to grant less spectral-efficient transmissions than if the network node knows that only eMBB traffic would be present.

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities.

The disclosure advantageously help solves the problems with existing systems and discussions by providing dynamically changing/determining/modifying/etc. a mapping of a multiple LCHs to PHYs priorities, thereby helping provide increased spectral-efficient transmission.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and/or wireless connections.

The term “network node” used herein can be any kind of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term “radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The WD may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) WD, machine type WD or WD capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with WD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a Narrowband IoT (NB-IOT) device, etc. Also, in some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is used. It can be any kind of a radio network node which may comprise any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH).

An indication generally may explicitly and/or implicitly indicate the information it represents and/or indicates. Implicit indication may for example be based on position and/or resource used for transmission. Explicit indication may for example be based on a parametrization with one or more parameters, and/or one or more index or indices, and/or one or more bit patterns representing the information.

Transmitting in downlink may pertain to transmission from the network or network node to the terminal. Transmitting in uplink may pertain to transmission from the terminal to the network or network node. Transmitting in sidelink may pertain to (direct) transmission from one terminal to another. Uplink, downlink and sidelink (e.g., sidelink transmission and reception) may be considered communication directions. In some variants, uplink and downlink may also be used to described wireless communication between network nodes, e.g. for wireless backhaul and/or relay communication and/or (wireless) network communication for example between base stations or similar network nodes, in particular communication terminating at such. It may be considered that backhaul and/or relay communication and/or network communication is implemented as a form of sidelink or uplink communication or similar thereto.

Configuring a terminal or wireless device or node may involve instructing and/or causing the wireless device or node to change its configuration, e.g., at least one setting and/or register entry and/or operational mode and/or at least one LCH to PHY priority mapping. A terminal or wireless device or node may be adapted to configure itself, e.g., according to information or data in a memory of the terminal or wireless device. Configuring a node or terminal or wireless device by another device or node or a network may refer to and/or comprise transmitting information and/or data and/or instructions to the wireless device or node by the other device or node or the network, e.g., allocation data (which may also be and/or comprise configuration data) and/or scheduling data and/or scheduling grants. Configuring a terminal may include sending allocation/configuration data to the terminal indicating which modulation and/or encoding to use. A terminal may be configured with and/or for scheduling data and/or to use, e.g., for transmission, scheduled and/or allocated uplink resources, and/or, e.g., for reception, scheduled and/or allocated downlink resources. Uplink resources and/or downlink resources may be scheduled and/or provided with allocation or configuration data. Signaling may comprise one or more signals and/or symbols. Reference signaling may comprise one or more reference signals and/or symbols. Data signaling may pertain to signals and/or symbols containing data, in particular user data and/or payload data and/or data from a communication layer above the radio and/or physical layer/s. It may be considered that demodulation reference signaling comprises one or more demodulation signals and/or symbols. Demodulation reference signaling may in particular comprise DMRS according to NR, 3 GPP and/or LTE technologies. Demodulation reference signaling may generally be considered to represent signaling providing reference for a receiving device like a terminal to decode and/or demodulate associated data signaling or data. Demodulation reference signaling may be associated to data or data signaling, in particular to specific data or data signaling. It may be considered that data signaling and demodulation reference signaling are interlaced and/or multiplexed, e.g. arranged in the same time interval covering e.g. a subframe or slot or symbol, and/or in the same time-frequency resource structure like a resource block. A resource element may represent a smallest time-frequency resource, e.g. representing the time and frequency range covered by one symbol or a number of bits represented in a common modulation. A resource element may e.g. cover a symbol time length and a subcarrier, in particular in NR, 3GPP and/or LTE standards. A data transmission may represent and/or pertain to transmission of specific data, e.g. a specific block of data and/or transport block. Generally, demodulation reference signaling may comprise and/or represent a sequence of signals and/or symbols, which may identify and/or define the demodulation reference signaling.

In some embodiments, the term “set” is used and may indicate a set of 1 or more elements in the set.

Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and/or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments provide indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities.

Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (5G), which comprises an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (referred to collectively as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (referred to collectively as coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 over a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole WD is in the coverage area or where a sole WD is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

Also, it is contemplated that a WD 22 can be in simultaneous communication and/or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a WD 22 can have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or a different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, WD 22 can be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR NG-RAN.

The communication system 10 may itself be connected to a host computer 24, 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. The host computer 24 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. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may comprise two or more sub networks (not shown).

The communication system of FIG. 1 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node 16 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected WD 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the WD 22a towards the host computer 24.

A network node 16 is configured to include a configuration unit 32 which is configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions as described herein such as with respect to indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities, as described herein. A wireless device 22 is configured to include an indication unit 34 which is configured to perform one or more wireless device 22 functions as described herein such as with respect to receiving an indication and/or switching and/or changing a mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities, as described herein.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the WD 22, network node 16 and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises processing circuitry 42, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 46, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing host computer 24 functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and/or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42, causes the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may include an information unit 54 configured to enable the service provider to process, store, transmit, receive, communication, determine, relay, forward, etc., information associated with indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities.

The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with a WD 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and/or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory 72, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read- Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally in, for example, memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node 16. Processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68, causes the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16. For example, processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 may include configuration unit 32 configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions as described herein such as with respect to indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities. The communication system 10 further includes the WD 22 already referred to. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers.

The hardware 80 of the WD 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 88, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the WD 22 may further comprise software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 at the WD 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the WD 22. The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

The processing circuitry 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and/or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84, causes the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to WD 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of the wireless device 22 may include an indication unit 34 configured to perform one or more wireless device 22 functions as described herein such as with respect to a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities.

In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 may be as shown in FIG. 2 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, 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 the WD 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 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).

The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 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 the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc.

In some embodiments, 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 the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and WD 22, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 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 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling facilitating the host computer’s 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and/or the network node’s 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the WD 22, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the WD 22.

In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a WD 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 is configured to, and/or comprises a radio interface 82 and/or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the network node 16, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node 16.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show various “units” such as configuration unit 32, and indication unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50 (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S104). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the WD 22 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 92, associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (Block S108).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block SI 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block SI 12). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block SI 14).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 16). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 executes the client application 92, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 18). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 92 (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 92 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126). FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22 (Block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (Block S 130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (Block S132).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node 16 according to some embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by configuration unit 32 in processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, etc. In one or more embodiments, network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to indicate (Block S134) a switch in Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to optionally receive (Block SI 36) communications based at least in part on the switch, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the LCH to PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities, data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs. According to one or more embodiments, the radio interface 62 and/or processing circuitry 68 is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets, each LCH to PHY priority mapping set having a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping, as described herein. The switch is to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets. According to one or more embodiments, the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by wireless device 22 may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by indication unit 34 in processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, etc. In one or more embodiments, wireless device such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to receive (Block S138) an indication to switch Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, wireless device such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to optionally communicate (Block SI 40) based at least in part on the switch. According to one or more embodiments, the LCH to PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities where data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs.

According to one or more embodiments, the radio interface 82 and/or processing circuitry 84 is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets where each LCH to PHY priority mapping set has a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping. The switch is to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets. According to one or more embodiments, the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node 16 according to some embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by configuration unit 32 in processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, etc. In one or more embodiments, network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to send (Block S142) a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority. The network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to send (Block S144) signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to use the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single -transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple- transmit receive point, multi-TRP, transmission.

In some embodiments, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple-transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled. In some embodiments, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to receive a confirmation of at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node 16 to send a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node 16 to send a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the sent configuration. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node 16 to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration.

In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, communication interface 60, configuration unit 32 and radio interface 62 is configured to cause the network node 16 to send the configuration by being configured to cause the network node 16 to send a plurality of priority mapping sets; and send the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the network node to send one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets. In some embodiments, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments, the configuration is sent via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by wireless device 22 may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by indication unit 34 in processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, etc. In one or more embodiments, wireless device such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to receive (Block S146) a configuration comprising at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical channel, PHY, priority. The wireless device such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to receive (SI 48) signaling indicating a priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to use the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, available for a physical channel transmission. In some embodiments, the configuration includes a LCH configuration, the LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, the LCH configuration indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating whether the LCH is associated with one of a single-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission and a multiple- transmit receive point, multi- TRP, transmission.

In some embodiments, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates a number of TRPs associated with the multi-TRP transmission. In some embodiments, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI comprises an index value, the index value indicating whether a multiple-transmit receive point, multi-TRP, is enabled. In some embodiments, the configuration includes a LCH configuration indicating whether a LCH is available for at least one of a low priority physical channel and a high priority physical channel. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to confirm at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

In some embodiments, the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the received configuration. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set. In some embodiments, the at least one priority mapping set is associated with a configured grant configuration. In some embodiments, one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, indication unit 34 and radio interface 82 is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive the configuration by being configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive a plurality of priority mapping sets; and receive the priority mapping indication by being configured to cause the wireless device 22 to receive one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of the plurality of mapping sets.

In some embodiments, the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups. In some embodiments, the configuration is received via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for indicating and/or causing a switch and/or change in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities. In one or more embodiments, a change in the mapping may correspond to a change in mappings that are implemented and/or an actual change/modification in the current mappings.

Having generally described arrangements for switching and/or changing in the mapping of LCHs to PHY priorities, details for these arrangements, functions and processes are provided as follows, and which may be implemented by the network node 16, wireless device 22 and/or host computer 24.

Configuration of Physical Layer Priority for LCH

In one or more embodiments, a 2-level PHY priority is provided where the 2-level PHY may only be required to indicate whether or not a LCH may use a grant indicated with low PHY priority. In one or more embodiments, the indication may be determined and/or provided such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. Then the LogicalChannelConfig may include the bold and italicized part below, which may be a modification to a 3GPP communication standard.

LogicalChannelConfig ::= SEQUENCE { ul-SpecificParameters SEQUENCE { priority INTEGER ( 1..16) ,

PHY-Priority-Indexl- Alio wed-List SEQUENCE (SIZE (T.maxNrofPriority Mapping)) OF BOOLEAN prioritisedBitRate ENUMERATED {kBpsO, kBps8, kBpsl6, kBps32, kBps64, kBpsl28, kBps256, kBps512, kBpsl024, kBps2048, kBps4096, kBps8192, kBpsl6384, kBps32768, kBps65536, infinity}, bucketSizeDuration ENUMERATED {ms5, mslO, ms20, ms50, mslOO, msl50, ms300, ms500, ms 1000, spare7, spare6, spare5, spare4, spare3,spare2, sparel }, allowedServingCells SEQUENCE (SIZE (E.maxNrofServingCells-l)) OF

ServCelllndex

OPTIONAL, - PDCP-

CADuplication allowedSCS-List SEQUENCE (SIZE (E.maxSCSs)) OF SubcarrierSpacing

OPTIONAL, — Need R maxPUSCH-Duradon ENUMERATED {ms0p02, ms0p04, ms0p0625, ms0pl25, ms0p25, ms0p5, spare2, sparel }

OPTIONAL, — Need R configuredGrantTypel Allowed ENUMERATED {true}

OPTIONAL, — Need R logicalChannelGroup INTEGER (0..maxLCG-ID) OPTIONAL,

— Need R schedulingRequestID SchedulingRequestld OPTIONAL,

— Need R logicalChannelSR-Mask BOOLEAN, logicalChannelSR-DelayTimerApplied BOOLEAN, bitRateQueryProhibitTimer ENUMERATED { sO, s0dot4, s0dot8, sldot6, s3, s6, sl2,s30} OPTIONAL - Need R

} OPTIONAL, - Cond UL

}

The PHY-Priority-Indexl- Alio wed-List may indicate for each LCH mapping instance if the LCH may (or may not) use grants indicated with low PHY priority, i.e., PHY priority index 1. In one or more embodiments, the PHY-Priority-Indexl- Alio wed-List may be determined by and/or provided to the network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc.

The active mapping may be indicated such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. to the wireless device 22 using DCI or MAC CE (MAC Control Element). The wireless device 22 may, upon reception of DCI or MAC CE indicating (LCH) a mapping change such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, indication unit 34, etc., respond with a MAC CE indicating a mapping changed confirm message. In some examples of one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 may always respond with a confirm message such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, indication unit 34, etc. when a (LCH) mapping change message is received although there is no change in LCH mapping.

In the case that the indication is performed by a MAC CE, the LCH mapping is configured across one MAC entity for all logical channels within this MAC entity. That means the MAC CE may only change the association in the cell group where this MAC CE is sent, i.e., MCG MAC entity controls the association in MCG while SCG MAC entity control the association in SCG. In one or more embodiments, the LCH mapping is configured across two MAC entities for all logical channels. In such cases, the MAC CE can change the mapping in both MAC entities regardless on which cell group this MAC CE is sent. This means that the two cell groups that may be provided by one or more network nodes 16 may need to coordinate before one of the cell groups sends out the MAC CE command.

The above PHY -Priority -Indexl -Allowed-List is an example of RRC implementation. In another example, in the LogicalChannelConfig information element, it is indicated whether the LCH may use the low PHY priority indication, the high PHY priority indication or both (for which the priority field is absent). For example, one or more 3GPP standards may be modified to include the following: allowedGrantIndication-rl6 {High, Low} OPTIONAL,

Consequently, the PHY-Priority-Allowed-List may be a sequence in which each element can take three values instead a Boolean value.

One or more of the embodiments described above can be extended to X-level PHY priority wherein the BOOLEAN can be replaced by INTEGER with value range [0...X-1]. In one or more of these extended embodiments, the integer value x could be absolute in the sense the LCH is only allowed on PHY priority index x while in other examples the value x could be a threshold in that, for example, the LCH is only allowed if the indicated PHY priority index y where x > y, x < y, x < y or x > y.

In one or more embodiments, the MAC CE changes the PHY -Priority- Allowed for one specific logical channel. The MAC CE indicates the impacted logical channel ID, the intended outcome (e.g., whether to allow the use of low PHY priority in case of Boolean value indication). MAC CE can also change the association of a cell group other than the cell group this MAC CE is sent. In such a case, a bit binary indication provided by the network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. is used to indicate whether this is for this cell group or the other cell group.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the LCH mapping to PHY priority may be performed and/or determined, for example, at the network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, indication unit 34, etc. in the manner described below. Taking the example mentioned above with three LCHs (i.e., LCH#1, LCH#2 and LCH#3 with their corresponding requirements), the URLLC1 mapping is determined, e.g.,

- if URLLC1 (LCH#1) and URLLC2 (LCH#2) traffic is enabled, then URLLC1 is mapped to PHY priority 0, if eMBB (LCH#0) and URLLC1 (LCH#1) traffic is enabled, then URLLC1 is mapped to PHY priority 1 , if all three traffics are enabled (URLLC2 mapped to PHY priority 0 and eMBB is mapped to PHY priority 1), then o URLLC1 is mapped to PHY priority 0, or

^■ If URLLC2 and URLLC1 data arrives together, the left-over grant from URLLC2 transmission is used for URLLC1 o URLLC1 is mapped to PHY priority 1, or

^■ If URLLC1 and eMBB data arrives together, the left-over grant from URLLC2 transmission is used for eMBB o URLLC1 is mapped to PHY priority 0 and 1 (i.e., no PHY indication)

^■ If there is a left-over grant from PHY 0, it is used for URLLC1, and rest of the data moved to PHY 1 grant

The change in mapping considers the following:

1. A monitoring time Tm is considered such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc., e.g., if traffic is absent (given the traffic is associated with LCH priority earlier); then after the Tm time-period, a mapping (between LCH and PHY) can be updated such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc.; and

2. A DCI or MAC CE can be sent to reflect the change such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc.

The above embodiments are applicable for PHY priority with N bits where N is, for example, a positive integer. In one or more embodiments, the change in mapping steps (1) and/or (2) may be performed by the wireless device 22 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, indication unit 34, etc.

In another embodiment, from a RAN 1 perspective, the wireless device 22 uses such as via one or more of processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, indication unit 34, etc. a priority indicator associated with DCI for the updated priority indication. In other words, the dynamic priority indication may overwrite the RRC configured priority for UL-CG DL- SPS.

Multiple LCH Priority-to-PHY Priority Mapping Instances/Sets In some cases, there can be multiple mapping instances/sets configured for the mapping between LCH priority and PHY priority. Whether a LCH with certain LCH priority may use a grant indicated by/configured with low or high PHY priority (in case of two -level priority) is determined from an active mapping instance/set. The active LCH priority-to-PHY priority mapping instance/set can be indicated by an indication in the DCI, e.g., an indication of the DCI activating/scheduling CG and DG PUSCH, respectively, or by a MAC CE as described in the “Configuration of physical layer priority for LCH” section.

In cases of CG PUSCH, the LCH priority-to-PHY priority mapping instances/sets can further be configured per CG configuration.

In another embodiment, there can be a partition of LCH priority-to-PHY priority mapping instance/set into mapping groups, where each mapping group includes at least one mapping instance/set. The active mapping group can be indicated such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. by a MAC CE or further configured to a wireless device 22. Then the active LCH priority-to-PHY priority mapping instance/set within the active mapping group can be indicated such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. by an indication in the DCI or by other signaling.

The dynamic indication to select the active mapping as described above can be associated with PDCCH carrying either DCI formats 0_1 or 0_2, for example. The dynamic indication can be in the form of a bit field in the DCI, CORESET or search space ID in which the PDCCH is monitored, or DCI format index, for example.

The table below, Table 2, illustrates an example of 4 different LCH priority-to-PHY priority mapping instances/sets partitioned into 2 mapping groups, where each contains two mapping instances/sets. The active mapping group can, e.g., be indicated by a MAC CE and the active mapping instance/set can be indicated by a 1-bit DCI field. The method/process/teachings in this section can be extended to any number of PHY priority levels and any number of mapping sets or groups.

Table 2. LCH to PHY priority mapping sets and groups. Restriction of Multi-Transmission Reception Points (TRP) for LCH

In communication standards such as in 3GPP Rel-16, multi-TRP has been specified for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission. In communication standards such as 3GPP Rel-17, it is expected that multi-TRP may be specified for PUSCH transmission, and possibly PUCCH transmission as well. This may be useful for URLLC traffic served in FR2 (frequency range 2), where the uplink beam is narrow.

Using multi-TRP on the uplink helps increase diversity, hence improving the reliability of the uplink transmission. For example, if the uplink channel to the two TRP are fully independent and have the same BLER of 10 ^x, then two transmissions to two TRP of a same TB may achieve BLER of 10^2x.

It may be useful to apply, such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc., restriction of multi-TRP to logical channel configuration. For example, for logical channels with very tight latency and reliability requirements (e.g., latency <=lms and BLER<=10⁵) on the radio link, may be given the restriction of multi-TRP (i.e., do not transmit if a grant is based on single-TRP). On the other hand, if the logical channel has more relaxed latency and reliability requirement (e.g., latency >=3 ms or BLER>=10³ ) on the radio link requirements than, for example, the very tight requirements mentioned above, then the logical channel can use a grant with either single-TRP or multi-TRP configuration.

A non-limiting example of configuring multi-TRP restriction for logical channel is illustrated below. If ‘multiTRP’ is present or indicated as being applicable, UL MAC SDU from this logical channel can only be transmitted using uplink grants with multi-TRP.

Otherwise (i.e., ‘multiTRP’ is absent or indicated as not applicable), the UL MAC SDU from this logical channel can be transmitted using uplink grants with any number of TRP (i.e., single-

TRP or multi-TRP). The multiTRP is shown below in bold and italics in an example of a 3GPP communication standard that has been modified to include the multiTRP.

LogicalChannelConfig ::= SEQUENCE { ul-SpecificParameters SEQUENCE { priority INTEGER ( 1..16) , prioritisedBitRate ENUMERATED {kBpsO, kBps8, kBpsl6, kBps32, kBps64, kBpsl28, kBps256, kBps512, kBpsl024, kBps2048, kBps4096, kBps8192, kBpsl6384, kBps32768, kBps65536, infinity}, bucketSizeDuration ENUMERATED {ms5, ms 10, ms20, ms50, ms 100, ms 150, ms300, ms500, ms 1000, spare7, spare6, spare5, spare4, spare3,spare2, sparel }, allowedServingCells SEQUENCE (SIZE (l..maxNrofServingCells-l)) OF

ServCelllndex OPTIONAL, - PDCP-

CADupIication allowedSCS-List SEQUENCE (SIZE (L.maxSCSs)) OF SubcarrierSpacing

OPTIONAL, — Need R multiTRP ENUMERATED {true}

OPTIONAL, — Need R configuredGrantTypel Allowed ENUMERATED {true}

OPTIONAL, — Need R logicalChannelGroup INTEGER (0..maxLCG-ID) OPTIONAL,

— Need R schedulingRequestID SchedulingRequestld OPTIONAL,

} OPTIONAL, - Cond UL

}

Moreover, the TRP related restriction can be more accurate with regard to the number of TRP allowed, if for example more than two TRP are possible for uplink transmission. In a non-limiting example, the following modification to a communication standard can be used for UL TRP restriction instead of ‘multiTRP’ above.

Allowed-UL-TRP-List SEQUENCE (SIZE ( 1..maxNrofULTRP))

OF UL-TRP.

For example, this allows the network node 16 to configure such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. that UL MAC SDU from this logical channel that may only be transmitted using uplink grants with three-TRP or four-TRP, but not single-TRP or two-TRP.

In some examples, the indication of multi-TRP is dynamically indicated in DCI such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. wherein an LCH may have an UL TRP restriction depending on how the LCH is mapped to PHY priority index. For example, multi-TRP or Allowed-UL-TRP-List fields can be per LCH-to-PHY-priority mapping. In such an example, if LCH is mapped to PHY priority indexO (low priority) for one LCH mapping instance, the LCH may be allowed on grants indicating PHY priority indexO if number of TRP is above value X while if for another mapping instance the LCH is also allowed to be mapped on grants also with PHY priority indexO the number of TRPs may be above value Y. In one or more other examples, multi-TRP is associated with PHY priority index wherein PHY priority indexO may be associated with single-TRP while the PHY priority index 1 is associated with multi-TRP. In such examples, instead of multiTRP or Allowed-UL-TRP-List fields there may be a field in LogicalChannelConfig indicating a PHY priority index level for which multi-TRP is enabled. For example, with 2-level PHY priority the field, as may be added to one or more communication standards such as to modify the communication standard(s), may be: multiTRP-enabled-PHY-priority-index-List SEQUENCE (SIZE

(T.maxNrofPriorityMapping)) OF ENUMERATE {indexO, indexl }.

If an entry multiTRP-enabled-PHY-priority-index in multiTRP-enabled-PHY-priority- index-List for a LCH mapping instance indicates indexO then multi-TRP is enabled for grants indicating PHY priority indexO but not enabled for PHY priority indexl. One reason why multi- TRP is not enabled for grants indicating PHY priority indexl may be that network node 16 such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, configuration unit 32, etc. may ensure that the grant is reliable enough for this LCH using just single-TRP. If the multiTRP-enabled-PHY-priority-index in multiTRP-enabled-PHY-priority-index-List for another LCH mapping instance indicates indexl, then multi-TRP is enabled for grants indicating PHY priority indexO or indexl.

Some embodiments may include one or more of the following:

Embodiment Al. A network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD), the network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to: indicate a switch in Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping; and optionally receive communications based at least in part on the switch.

Embodiment A2. The network node of Embodiment Al, wherein the LCH to PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities, data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs.

Embodiment A3. The network node of Embodiment Al, wherein the radio interface and/or processing circuitry is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets, each LCH to PHY priority mapping set having a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping; and the switch being to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets. Embodiment A4. The network node of Embodiment A1 , wherein the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment Bl. A method implemented in a network node, the method comprising: indicating a switch in Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping; and optionally receiving communications based at least in part on the switch.

Embodiment B2. The method of Embodiment Bl, wherein the LCH to PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities, data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs.

Embodiment B3. The method of Embodiment Bl, wherein the radio interface and/or processing circuitry is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets, each LCH to PHY priority mapping set having a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping; and the switch being to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets.

Embodiment B4. The method of Embodiment Bl, wherein the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment CL A wireless device configured to communicate with a network node, the WD configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or processing circuitry configured to: receive an indication to switch Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping; and optionally communicate based at least in part on the switch.

Embodiment C2. The wireless device of Embodiment Cl, wherein the LCH to

PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities, data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs.

Embodiment C3. The wireless device of Embodiment Cl, wherein the radio interface and/or processing circuitry is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets, each LCH to PHY priority mapping set having a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping; and the switch being to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets. Embodiment C4. The wireless device of Embodiment Cl, wherein the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment Dl. A method implemented in a wireless device, the method comprising: receiving an indication to switch Logical Channel (LCH) to Physical Layer (PHY) priority mapping; and optionally communicating based at least in part on the switch.

Embodiment D2. The method of Embodiment Dl, wherein the LCH to PHY priority mapping indicates a mapping between a plurality of LCHs and a plurality of PHY priorities, data from higher priority LCHs being selected for transmission before data from lower priority LCHs.

Embodiment D3. The method of Embodiment Dl, wherein the radio interface and/or processing circuitry is further configured to signal a plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets, each LCH to PHY priority mapping set having a respective LCH to PHY priority mapping; and the switch being to one of the plurality of LCH to PHY priority mapping sets.

Embodiment D4. The method of Embodiment Dl, wherein the indication to switch is included in one of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and/or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Any process, step, action and/or functionality described herein may be performed by, and/or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and/or firmware and/or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

Abbreviations that may be used in the preceding description include:

Abbreviation Explanation

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

5G 5th Generation

ACK Acknowledgement

CE Control Element

CG Configured Grant

DCI Downlink Control Information

DL Downlink

DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal

GF Grant-Free gNB Next Generation NodeB

ID Identity

LCH Logical Channel

LTE Long-Term Evolution

MCS Modulation and Coding Scheme

NACK No Acknowledgement

NR New Radio

PRACH Physical Random-Access Channel

PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

SNR Signal-to-Noise Ratio

SPS Semi-Persistent Scheduling

SUL Supplemental Uplink

TTI Transmission Time Interval

TO Transmission Opportunity

UE User Equipment

UL Uplink URLLC Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method implemented in a wireless device (22), the method comprising: receiving (S148) signaling indicating a priority mapping within at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant; and using the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, for which data is available for a physical channel transmission in a configured grant.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving an indication of whether (i) data for an LCH is only available for transmission in a configured grant with multi-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission or (ii) whether data for the LCH is available for transmission in a configured grant with single-TRP or multi-TRP transmission.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving an indication that data for an LCH is only available for transmission in a configured grant having a number of TRPs from a set of one or more allowable numbers of TRPs.

4. The method of Claim 3, wherein the indication indicates that data for an LCH is only available for transmission in a configured grant having a number of TRPs greater than a specified number.

5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the indication is received in downlink control information, DCI.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an indication is received per LCH priority to PHY layer priority mapping.

7. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the indication is associated with a PHY priority index.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indication indicates a PHY priority index for configured grants for which multi-TRP is enabled.

9. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising receiving a configuration comprising the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant.

10. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: confirming at least one of: receipt of the priority mapping indication; and a switch from a previous priority mapping to the indicated priority mapping.

11. The method of any one of Claims 1-10, wherein receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group.

13. The method of any one of Claims 1-10, wherein receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

14. The method of Claim 13, wherein the priority mapping indicated in the DCI overrides a priority mapping indicated in the received configuration.

15. The method of any one of Claims 1-14, wherein receiving the priority mapping indication comprises receiving one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the at least one priority mapping set.

16. The method of any one of Claims 1-15, wherein: receiving (SI 48) the priority mapping indication comprises receiving one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of a plurality of mapping sets.

17. The method of Claim 16, wherein the plurality of sets is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups.

18. The method of Claim 9, wherein the configuration is received via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

19. A method implemented in a network node (16), the method comprising: sending to a wireless device signaling indicating a priority mapping within at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises transmitting an indication of whether (i) data for an LCH is only available for transmission at the wireless device in a configured grant with multi-transmit receive point, TRP, transmission or (ii) whether data for the LCH is available for transmission at the wireless device in a configured grant with single-TRP or multi-TRP transmission.

21. The method of Claim 19, wherein the method further comprises transmitting an indication that data for an LCH is only available for transmission at the wireless device in a configured grant having a number of TRPs from a set of one or more allowable numbers of TRPs.

22. The method of Claim 21 , wherein the indication indicates that data for an LCH is only available for transmission in a configured grant having a number of TRPs greater than a specified number.

23. The method of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein an indication is transmitted per LCH priority to PHY layer priority mapping.

25. The method of any of 20 to 22, wherein the indication is associated with a PHY priority index.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the indication indicates a PHY priority index for configured grants for which multi-TRP is enabled.

27. The method of any of Claims 19 to 26, further comprising transmitting a configuration comprising the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant.

28. The method of any one of Claims 19-27, wherein sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, the MAC CE indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

29. The method of Claim 28, wherein the MAC CE indicates the priority mapping associated with at least one cell group.

30. The method of any one of Claims 19-27, wherein sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending a downlink control information, DCI, the DCI indicating the priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

31. The method of any one of Claims 19-30, wherein sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating an active priority mapping within the configured at least one priority mapping set.

32. The method of any one of Claims 19-31, wherein: sending the priority mapping indication comprises sending one of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE and a downlink control information, DCI, the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicating a set out of a plurality of mapping sets.

33. The method of Claim 32, wherein the configuration is associated with a mapping group and the one of the MAC CE and the DCI indicates the mapping group out of a plurality of mapping groups.

34. The method of any one of Claims 19-33, wherein the configuration is sent via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

35. A wireless device (22) configured to communicate with a network node (16), the wireless device (22) comprising processing circuitry (84), the processing circuitry (84) configured to cause the wireless device (22) to: receive signaling indicating a priority mapping within at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant; and use the indicated priority mapping to determine at least one logical channel, LCH, for which data is available for a physical channel transmission in a configured grant.

36. The Wireless device of claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to perform the method of any of claims 2 to 18.

37. A network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device (22), the network node (16) comprising processing circuitry (68), the processing circuitry (68) configured to cause the network node (16) to: send to a wireless device signaling indicating a priority mapping within at least one priority mapping set, the at least one priority mapping set including at least one priority mapping between at least one logical channel, LCH, priority to at least one physical layer, PHY, priority of a configured grant.

38. The network node of claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to perform the method of any of claims 20 to 34.