WO2021208096A1

WO2021208096A1 - Dynamic update of mapping restrictions for logical channel

Info

Publication number: WO2021208096A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/085428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoist SÉBIRE; Samuli Turtinen; Chunli Wu
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd.; Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy; Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2020-04-17
Filing date: 2020-04-17
Publication date: 2021-10-21
Also published as: CN115428567A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel. A first device receives, in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell. The first device updates the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.

Description

DYNAMIC UPDATE OF MAPPING RESTRICTIONS FOR LOGICAL CHANNEL

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel.

BACKGROUND

With Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, multiplexing of data onto a transport block is controlled. Release 15 of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is introducing New Radio (NR) . In NR, LCP is enhanced further by the introduction of LCP mapping restrictions. Those restrictions are used to limit how logical channels use a transmission grant, for example depending on the service cell or numerology (e.g. subcarrier spacing) . For instance, a low latency service would benefit from being transmitted with a grant associated with a large subcarrier spacing and short PUSCH transmission duration and should not make use of a grant associated with a small subcarrier spacing and long PUSCH transmission duration. Because shorter latency techniques also increase overhead, the overall effect is not always significant for the user or can be even detrimental to the system.

SUMMARY

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel.

In a first aspect, there is provided a first device. The first device comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program codes. The at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to: receive, in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell; and update the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.

In a second aspect, there is provided a second device. The second device comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program codes. The at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to: transmit, in a serving cell to a first device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a first device. The method comprises receiving, at a first device in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell. The method further comprises updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a second device. The method comprises transmitting, from a second device to a first device in a serving cell, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing steps of the method according to the above third aspect.

In an sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing steps of the method according to the above fourth aspect.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the above third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the above fourth aspect.

It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

Fig. 2 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating a process for dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 illustrates an example format of a media access control control element (MAC CE) according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first device according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second device according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment, ” “an embodiment, ” “an example embodiment, ” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an example embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

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

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

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

(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable) :

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit (s) with software/firmware and

(ii) any portions of hardware processor (s) with software (including digital signal processor (s) ) , software, and memory (ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) hardware circuit (s) and or processor (s) , such as a microprocessor (s) or a portion of a microprocessor (s) , that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

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

As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as fifth generation (5G) systems, Long Term Evolution (LTE) , LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) , Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) , High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) , Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the future fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP) , for example, a node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a NR Next Generation NodeB (gNB) , Integraged Access and Backhaul node, a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) , a radio header (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. An RAN split architecture comprises a gNB-CU (Centralized unit, hosting RRC, SDAP and PDCP) controlling a plurality of gNB-DUs (Distributed unit, hosting RLC, MAC and PHY) .

The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE) , a Subscriber Station (SS) , a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS) , or an Access Terminal (AT) . The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE) , laptop-mounted equipment (LME) , USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE) , an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD) , a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery) , an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts) , a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device” , “communication device” , “terminal” , “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

Although functionalities described herein can be performed, in various example embodiments, in a fixed and/or a wireless network node may, in other example embodiments, functionalities may be implemented in a user equipment apparatus (such as a cell phone or tablet computer or laptop computer or desktop computer or mobile IOT device or fixed IOT device) . This user equipment apparatus can, for example, be furnished with corresponding capabilities as described in connection with the fixed and/or the wireless network node (s) , as appropriate. The user equipment apparatus may be the user equipment and/or or a control device, such as a chipset or processor, configured to control the user equipment when installed therein. Examples of such functionalities include the bootstrapping server function and/or the home subscriber server, which may be implemented in the user equipment apparatus by providing the user equipment apparatus with software configured to cause the user equipment apparatus to perform from the point of view of these functions/nodes.

Fig. 1 shows an example communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The network 100 includes a first device 110 and a second device 120 that can communicate with each other. In this example, the first device 110 is illustrated as a terminal device, and the second device 120 is illustrated as a network device serving the terminal device. Thus, the serving area of the second device 120 is called as a cell 102. It is to be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices is only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations. The system 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices adapted for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more terminal devices may be located in the cell 102 and served by the second device 120.

Communications in the communication system 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol (s) , comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) and the fifth generation (5G) or NR and on the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and/or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) , Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) , Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) , Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) , Time Division Duplex (TDD) , Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) , Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM) , Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and/or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

As described above, because shorter latency techniques also increase overhead, the overall effect is not always significant for the user or can be even detrimental to the system. For example, since the initial window size for each Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection is very small and the increase is steeper for each size increment, the effect of latency reductions for both Round-Trip Time (RTT) and Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) RTT are more considerable for the slow start phase. This is important because the impact is large for small file sizes, especially where the slow start period lasts for the entire duration of a file.

In addition, conventional system level simulations show that for higher size File Transfer Protocol (FTP) download using TCP, throughput that a user perceived may be degraded in the shorter PUSCH transmission duration if additional L1/L2 overhead is high.

Further conventional system level simulations also show that potential gain from having shorter PUSCH transmission duration depends on how much L1/L2 overhead is assumed and the load of the cell.

Thus, for TCP traffics, a shorter latency is mostly beneficial during the slow start phase. Once the TCP connection is running at a full speed, shorter latency techniques can become detrimental to the overall system operation. In terms of LCP Mapping Restrictions, this means that they need to be reconfigured frequently. By relaxing the mapping restrictions, all TCP traffics can benefit from configured grant resources and large numerologies without having to over dimension the system. That is, the relaxed mapping restrictions may be always provided for all TCP traffics.

Secondly, in high load situation, a network device does not have enough resources to allocate grants associated with large subcarrier spacing and short PUSCH transmission duration to all terminal devices. Thus, no data from a logical channel with the highest priority will be transmitted on grants associated with numerologies linked to large PUSCH transmission duration due to the fixed nature of the restriction. This becomes especially problematic in the high load situation.

Thirdly, during mobility events, when a high frequency gets blocked by an obstacle, any logical channel restricted to that numerology will also be blocked. To get the data through, the network device could choose to use a lower frequency with a more conservative resource allocation. This requires less HARQ retransmissions to achieve the same latency as on higher frequency.

In summary, LCP Mapping Restrictions need to be frequently adjusted.

In order to solve the above technical problems and potentially other technical problems in conventional solutions, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel. In some embodiments, a first device receives, in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell. The first device updates the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel is achieved.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which shows a signaling chart illustrating a process 200 for dynamic update of mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The process 200 may involve the first device 110 and the second device 120 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Although the process 200 has been described in the communication system 100 of Fig. 1, this process may be likewise applied to other communication scenarios. Although beam reporting by the first device is discussed, a similar process can be applied to the second device.

The first device 110 receives 210, in a serving cell from the second device 210, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device 110. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell. The first device 110 updates 220 the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information. Optionally, upon updating the mapping restrictions, the first device 110 may communicate 230 to the second device 120 via the at least one logical channel based on the updated mapping restrictions.

In some embodiments, the information concerning the serving cell comprises an ID of the serving cell. Additionally or alternatively, the information concerning the serving cell comprises an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell.

In some embodiments, mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may be pre-configured by the second device 120 for the first device 110. For example, the second device 120 may transmit the mapping restrictions to the first device 110 via a radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

In some embodiments, the mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may comprise a list of allowed Subcarrier Spacings (SCSs) for transmission (which is also referred to as allowedSCS-List) . Examples of the allowed Subcarrier Spacings may include, but are not limited to, 15kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz.

The mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may also comprise a maximum Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) duration allowed for transmission (which is also referred to as maxPUSCH-Duration) . Examples of the maxPUSCH-Duration may include, but are not limited to, 0.5ms and 1ms.

The mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may also comprise an indication whether a configured grant Type 1 can be used for transmission (which is also referred to as configuredGrantType1Allowed) . For example, the configuredGrantType1Allowed may be set to true, indicating the configured grant Type 1 can be used for transmission; and the configuredGrantType1Allowed may be set to false, indicating the configured grant Type 1 cannot be used for transmission.

The mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may also comprise information concerning one or more allowed serving cells for transmission (which is also referred to as allowedServingCells) . The information concerning one or more allowed serving cells may include identities (IDs) of the allowed serving cells.

In some embodiments, the control information may comprise a first indication. The first indication indicates that the information concerning the serving cell in which the control information is received is to be added to the mapping restrictions. In such embodiments, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds the information concerning the serving cell to the mapping restrictions.

In some embodiments, the control information may comprise a second indication. The second indication indicates that the information concerning the serving cell in which the control information is received is to be removed from the mapping restrictions. In such embodiments, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes the information concerning the serving cell from the mapping restrictions.

In some embodiments, the control information may comprise an ID of one logical channel (hereinafter, which is also referred to as a first logical channel) among the at least one logical channel. In such embodiments, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 updates mapping restrictions for the first logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell. For example, in embodiments where the control information further comprises the first indication, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds the ID of the serving cell to the allowedServingCells for the first logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell to the allowedSCS-List for the first logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell to the maxPUSCH-Duration for the first logical channel.

For another example, in embodiments where the control information further comprises the second indication, upon receiving the control information comprising the second indication, the first device 110 removes the ID of the serving cell from the allowedServingCells for the first logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell from the allowedSCS-List for the first logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell from the maxPUSCH-Duration for the first logical channel.

In some embodiments, the control information may comprise a first dedicated ID of the at least one logical channel. The first dedicated ID is different from an ID of each of the at least one logical channel. In such embodiments, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 updates mapping restrictions for all of the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell. For example, in embodiments where the control information further comprises the first indication, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds the ID of the serving cell to the allowedServingCells for all of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell to the allowedSCS-List for all of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell to the maxPUSCH-Duration for all of the at least one logical channel.

In such embodiments, alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes the ID of the serving cell from the allowedServingCells for all of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes the index of the subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell from the allowedSCS-List for all of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell from the maxPUSCH-Duration for all of the at least one logical channel.

In other embodiments, the control information may comprise a second dedicated ID of the at least one logical channel. The second dedicated ID is different from an ID of each of the at least one logical channel. In addition, the second dedicated ID may be different from or identical to the first dedicated ID. In such embodiments, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 updates mapping restrictions for a subset of the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell. For example, in embodiments where the control information further comprises the first indication, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds the ID of the serving cell to the allowedServingCells for the subset of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell to the allowedSCS-List for the subset of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 adds a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell to the maxPUSCH-Duration for the subset of the at least one logical channel.

In such embodiments, alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes the ID of the serving cell from the allowedServingCells for the subset of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell from the allowedSCS-List for the subset of the at least one logical channel. Additionally or alternatively, upon receiving the control information, the first device 110 removes a PUSCH duration associated with the serving cell from the maxPUSCH-Duration for the subset of the at least one logical channel.

In some embodiments, the subset of the at least one logical channel may be configured by the second device 120 via an RRC signaling.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is no need for the second device 120 to explicitly transmit to the first device 110 the mapping restriction to be added. The second device 120 may transmit the control information for updating the mapping restrictions to the first device 110 in the serving cell. Upon receiving the control information in the serving cell, the first device 110 updates the mapping restrictions based on the control information and the information concerning the serving cell in which the control information is received. As such, there is no need for the second device 120 to explicitly transmit to the first device 110 the information concerning the serving cell to be added. In this way, overhead is reduced.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, the mapping restrictions for each of the at least one logical channel may not be pre-configured by the RRC signaling. In such embodiments, the control information according to the present disclosure may be used for configuring mapping restrictions for one or more of the at least one logical channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 may receive the control information via a media access control control element (MAC CE) . Fig. 3 shows a format of a MAC CE 300 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the MAC CE 300 has a fixed size and consists of a single octet (for example, the Oct 1) .

As shown, the MAC CE 300 comprises a Logical Channel ID (LCID) field 310, an M bit 320 and a reserved (R) bit 330.

In some embodiments, the LCID field 310 may indicate an ID of a logical channel for which the mapping restrictions are to be updated. For example, the LCID field 310 may indicate an ID of the first logical channel among the at least one logical channel. In such embodiments, upon receiving the MAC CE 300 from the second device 120, the first device 110 updates the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel based on information concerning a serving cell in which the MAC CE 300 is received.

In some embodiments, the LCID field 310 may indicate the first dedicated ID, indicating the mapping restrictions for all of the at least one logical channel are to be updated. In such embodiments, upon receiving the MAC CE 300 from the second device 120, the first device 110 updates the mapping restrictions for all of the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell in which the MAC CE 300 is received.

In other embodiments, the LCID field 310 may indicate the second dedicated ID, indicating the mapping restrictions for the subset of the at least one logical channel are to be updated. In such embodiments, upon receiving the MAC CE 300 from the second device 120, the first device 110 updates the mapping restrictions for the subset of the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell in which the MAC CE 300 is received.

In some embodiments, the M bit 320 may indicate whether to add or remove a mapping restriction for one or more logical channels indicated by the LCID field 310. For example, the M bit may be set to 1, indicating that the mapping restriction for one or more logical channels is to be added. The M bit may be set to 0, indicating that the mapping restriction for one or more logical channels is to be removed.

In some embodiments, the R bit 330 may be set 0. In other embodiments, the R bit 330 may indicate the first or second dedicated ID.

In some embodiments, the information concerning the serving cell to be added to or removed from the mapping restrictions may be configured by the second device 120 via an RRC signaling. Consider an example where the MAC CE 300 is received in a cell X with a PUSCH duration Y and a subcarrier spacing Z. Which of these three properties to be added to or removed from the mapping restrictions could be configured via the RRC signaling. For example, the second device 120 may configure, via the RRC signaling, only an ID (X) of the cell is be added to or removed from the allowedServingCells and the subcarrier spacing Z is to be added to or removed from allowedSCS-List, and the PUSCH duration Y is not to be added to or removed from the maxPUSCH-Duration.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 may receive the control information via a subheader of a MAC sub-protocol data unit (PDU) . For example, in embodiments where the mapping restrictions for all or the subset of the at least one logical channel are to be updated, the first dedicated ID or the second dedicated ID may be indicated in the subheader of the MAC sub-PDU. In such embodiments, the MAC CE of the MAC sub-PDU consists of zero octet.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 may receive the control information via downlink control information.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 may receive the control information via Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) .

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 implemented at a first device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 400 will be described from the perspective of the first device 110 with reference to Fig. 1. It would be appreciated that the method 400 may also be implemented at the second device 120 in Fig. 1.

At block 410, the first device 110 receives, in a serving cell from the second device 210, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device 110. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell.

At block 420, the first device 110 updates the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.

Optionally, upon updating the mapping restrictions, at block 430, the first device 110 communicates with the second device 120 via the at least one logical channel based on the updated mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added, adding the information concerning the serving cell to the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed, removing the information concerning the serving cell from the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, updating a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.

In some example embodiments, updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.

In some example embodiments, the information concerning the serving cell comprises at least one of the following: an identity of the serving cell, or an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell.

In some example embodiments, receiving the control information comprises for receiving the control information via at least one of the following: a media access control, MAC, control element, downlink control information, or Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a second device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the second device 120 with reference to Fig. 1. It would be appreciated that the method 500 may also be implemented at the first device 110 in Fig. 1.

At block 510, the second device 120 transmits, in a serving cell to the first device 110, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device 110. The control information is at least related to information concerning the serving cell.

Optionally, upon updating the mapping restrictions by the first device 110, at block 520, the second device 120 communicates with the first device 110 via the at least one logical channel based on the mapping restrictions. The mapping restrictions are updated based on the control information.

In some example embodiments, transmitting the control information comprises transmitting the control information comprising a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added to the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, transmitting the control information comprises transmitting the control information comprising a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed from the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, transmitting the control information comprises transmitting the control information comprising an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, the identity indicating that a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel is to be updated.

In some example embodiments, transmitting the control information comprises transmitting the control information comprising a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, the dedicated identity indicating that the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel are to be updated.

In some example embodiments, transmitting the control information comprises transmitting the control information via at least one of the following: a media access control, MAC, control element, downlink control information, or Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.

In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing any of the method 400 (for example, the first device 110 or the second device 120) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises means for receiving, at a first device in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell; means for updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises means for communicating with the second device via the at least one logical channel based on the updated mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the means for updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added, means for adding the information concerning the serving cell to the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the means for updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed, means for removing the information concerning the serving cell from the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the means for updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, means for updating a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.

In some example embodiments, the means for updating the mapping restrictions comprises: in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, means for updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the control information comprises for receiving the control information via at least one of the following: a media access control, MAC, control element, downlink control information, or Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.

In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing any of the method 500 (for example, the first device 110 or the second device 120) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises means for transmitting, from a second device to a first device in a serving cell, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises means for communicating with the first device via the at least one logical channel based on the mapping restrictions, the mapping restrictions updated based on the control information.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the control information comprises means for transmitting the control information comprising a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added to the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the control information comprises means for transmitting the control information comprising a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed from the mapping restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the control information comprises means for transmitting the control information comprising an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, the identity indicating that a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel is to be updated.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the control information comprises means for transmitting the control information comprising a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, the dedicated identity indicating that the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel are to be updated.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the control information comprises means for transmitting the control information via at least one of the following: a media access control, MAC, control element, downlink control information, or Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.

Fig. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 600 may be provided to implement the communication device, for example, the first device 110 or the second device 120 as shown in Fig. 1. As shown, the device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor 610, and one or more communication modules 640 coupled to the processor 610.

The communication module 640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 640 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements.

The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

The memory 620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) , a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD) , a digital video disk (DVD) , and other magnetic storage and/or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

A computer program 630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 610. The program 630 may be stored in the ROM 624. The processor 610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 630 into the RAM 622.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 630 so that the device 600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to Figs. 2 to 5. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

In some example embodiments, the program 630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 600 (such as in the memory 620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 600. The device 600 may load the program 630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 622 for execution. The computer readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. Fig. 7 shows an example of the computer readable medium 700 in form of CD or DVD. The computer readable medium has the program 630 stored thereon.

Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the

methods

400 and 500 as described above with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM) , a read-only memory (ROM) , an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) , an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) , an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

A first device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

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

receive, in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell; and

update the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is caused to update the mapping restrictions by:

in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added, adding the information concerning the serving cell to the mapping restrictions.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is caused to update the mapping restrictions by:

in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed, removing the information concerning the serving cell from the mapping restrictions.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is caused to update the mapping restrictions by:

in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, updating a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is caused to update the mapping restrictions by:

in accordance with a determination that the control information comprises a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the information concerning the serving cell.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the information concerning the serving cell comprises at least one of the following:

an identity of the serving cell,

an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell, or

a Physical Uplink Shared Channel duration.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is caused to receive the control information via at least one of the following:

a media access control, MAC, control element,

downlink control information, or

Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.
The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device is a terminal device and the second device is a network device.
A second device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

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

transmit, in a serving cell to a first device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the second device is caused to transmit the control information comprising a first indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be added to the mapping restrictions.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the second device is caused to transmit the control information comprising a second indication that the information concerning the serving cell is to be removed from the mapping restrictions.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the second device is caused to transmit the control information comprising an identity of a first logical channel among the at least one logical channel, the identity indicating that a subset of the mapping restrictions for the first logical channel is to be updated.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the second device is caused to transmit the control information comprising a dedicated identity of the at least one logical channel, the dedicated identity indicating that the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel are to be updated.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the information concerning the serving cell comprises at least one of the following:

an identity of the serving cell,

an index of a subcarrier spacing associated with the serving cell, or

a Physical Uplink Shared Channel duration.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the second device is caused to transmit the control information via at least one of the following:

a media access control, MAC, control element,

downlink control information, or

Layer 1 signalling via a physical downlink control channel.
The second device of claim 9, wherein the first device is a terminal device and the second device is a network device.
A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first device in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell; and

updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.
A method, comprising:

transmitting, from a second device to a first device in a serving cell, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell.
An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, at a first device in a serving cell from a second device, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell; and

means for updating the mapping restrictions for the at least one logical channel based on the control information.
An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting, from a second device to a first device in a serving cell, control information for updating mapping restrictions for at least one logical channel for the first device, the control information at least related to information concerning the serving cell.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 17.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 18.