WO2022260572A1

WO2022260572A1 - No-more-data signaling based indication of unutilized transmissions

Info

Publication number: WO2022260572A1
Application number: PCT/SE2022/050528
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas FRÖBERG OLSSON; Bikramjit Singh; Alexey SHAPIN; Mattias Andersson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2021-06-07
Filing date: 2022-06-01
Publication date: 2022-12-15

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A network node is configured to communicate with a wireless device. The network node includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of 5scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device; to one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device; and to perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

Description

NO-MORE-DATA SIGNALING BASED INDICATION OF UNUTILIZED

TRANSMISSIONS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to

NMD signaling for indication of unutilized transmissions.

BACKGROUND

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for Fourth Generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and Fifth Generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Such systems provide, among other features, broadband communication between network nodes, such as base stations, and mobile wireless devices, as well as communication between network nodes and between wireless devices.

The next generation mobile wireless communication system (5G) or new radio (NR), will support a diverse set of use cases and a diverse set of deployment scenarios. The later includes deployment at both low frequencies (e.g., 100s of MHz), similar to existing LTE, and very high frequencies (e.g., mm waves in the tens of GHz).

Similar to LTE, NR may use OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) in the downlink (i.e., from a network node (e.g., gNB, eNB, or base station) to a wireless device (e.g., user equipment (UE)). In the uplink (i.e., from wireless device to network node), both OFDM and DFT-spread OFDM (DFT-S- OFDM), also known as SC-FDMA in LTE, may be supported. The basic NR physical resource can thus be seen as a time-frequency grid as illustrated in FIG. 1, where a resource block (RB) in a 14-symbol slot is illustrated. A resource block corresponds to 12 contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain. Resource blocks are numbered in the frequency domain, starting with 0 from one end of the system bandwidth. Each resource element corresponds to one OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval. Different subcarrier spacing values are supported in NR. The supported subcarrier spacing values (also referred to as different numerologies) are given by Af = (15 x 2^m ) kHz where m is a non-negative integer and can be one of (0,1, 2, 3, 4}. Af = 15 kHz (e.g., m = 0) is the basic (or reference) subcarrier spacing that is also used in LTE. m is also referred to as the numerology.

In the time domain, downlink and uplink transmissions in NR may be organized into equally-sized subframes of 1ms each similar to LTE. A subframe is further divided into multiple slots of equal duration. The slot length is dependent on the subcarrier spacing or numerology and is given by — ms. Each slot consists of 14 OFDM symbols for normal Cyclic Prefix (CP).

Data scheduling in NR can be in a slot basis. An example is shown in FIG. 2 with a 14-symbol slot, where the first two symbols contain control channel (Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)) and the rest contains data channel (Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)).

Downlink transmissions can be dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each slot the network node transmits downlink control information (DCI) about which wireless device data is to be transmitted to and which resource blocks in the current downlink slot the data is transmitted on. This control signaling is typically transmitted in the first one or two OFDM symbols in each slot in NR. The control information is carried on PDCCH and data is carried on PDSCH. A wireless device first detects and decodes PDCCH and if a PDCCH is decoded successfully, it then decodes the corresponding PDSCH based on the decoded control information in the PDCCH.

Uplink data transmission can also be dynamically scheduled using PDCCH. Similar to downlink, a wireless device first decodes uplink grants in PDCCH and then transmits data over the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) based on the decoded control information in the uplink grant such as modulation order, coding rate, uplink resource allocation, and etc.

Multi-PUSCH transmissions were introduced in NR-U to be able to indicate to the wireless device a set of multiple occasions for PUSCH that the wireless device may use if the wireless device senses the channel to be free to use (e.g., measured signaling power is below a threshold). For signaling, the number of scheduled PUSCHs and time domain resource allocation (TDRA) in one DCI format 0 1 scheduling multiple PUSCHs, the TDRA table is extended such that each row indicates multiple PUSCHs that are contiguous in time-domain. Each PUSCH has a separate SLIV (Start and Length Indicator Value) and mapping type, however, same frequency resource allocation. The number of scheduled PUSCHs is signalled by the number of indicated valid SLIVs in the row of the TDRA table signalled in DCI. The maximum number of PUSCHs that can be scheduled by a single DCI is 8. In NR Release -16 (i.e., 3GPP Release 16 (Rel-16)) multi-PUSCH transmissions is also supported for licensed spectrum. Moreover, in NR Rel-17 functionality enabling multi-PDSCH for high sub-carrier spacing is under development in 3GPP. This multi- PDSCH functionality can be in potentially extended to low SCSs. One or more 3GPP considerations discussed in 3GPP RANl#105e are described below:

- Do not use fallback DCI (i.e., DCI formats 0 0 and 1 0) for multi- PDSCH/PUSCH scheduling.

- Use DCI format 0 1 to schedule multiple PUSCHs with a single DCI.

- Use DCI format 1 1 to schedule multiple PDSCHs with a single DCI. CG-UCI

CG-UCI is included in every NR-U CG-PUSCH transmission and includes the information listed in Table 1. CG-UCI is mapped as per 3GPP Rel-15 rules for uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing on PUSCH with CG-UCI having the highest priority. It is mapped on the symbols starting after first DMRS symbol. To determine the number of resource elements (REs) used for CG-UCI, the mechanism of beta- offset in 3GPP Rel-15 NR for HARQ-ACK on CG-PUSCH is reused. Nonetheless, a new radio resource control (RRC) configured beta-offset for CG-UCI is defined.

Table 1 : CG-UCI content

If CG-PUSCH resources overlap with PUCCH carrying CSI-partl and/or CSI- part 2, the later can be sent on CG-PUSCH on CG-PUSCH. RRC configuration can be provided to the wireless device indicating whether to multiplex CG-UCI and HARQ- ACK. If configured, in the case of PUCCH overlapping with CG-PUSCH(s) within a PUCCH group, the CG-UCI and HARQ-ACK are jointly encoded as one UCI type. Otherwise, configured grant PUSCH is skipped if CG-PUSCH overlaps with PUCCH that carries HARQ ACK feedback.

XR use case

XR is emerging use case to address in evolution of 5G NR. A definition of extended reality (XR) is provided in 3GPP standards such as in, for example, 3GPP SA4 TR 26.928, 2019 Feb. Extended reality (XR) refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions. One aspect of XR relates to the senses of existence (represented by VR) and the acquisition of cognition (represented by AR). Requirements for XRtype of traffic are collected in Table 1. Table: 2 - 3 GPP TS 22.261, Table 7.6.1-1 KPI Table for high data rate and low latency service

NOTE 1 : Unless otherwise specified, all communication via wireless link is between wireless devices and network nodes (wireless device to network node and/or network node to wireless device) rather than direct wireless links (wireless device to wireless device).

NOTE 2: Length x width (x height).

NOTE 3 : Communication includes direct wireless links (wireless device to wireless device).

NOTE 4: Latency and reliability KPIs can vary based on specific use case/architecture, e.g., for cloud/edge/split rendering, and may be represented by a range of values.

NOTE 5: The decoding capability in the VR headset and the encoding/decoding complexity/time of the stream will set the required bit rate and latency over the direct wireless link between the tethered VR headset and its connected wireless device, bit rate from 100 Mbit/s to 10 Gbit/s and latency from 5 ms to 10 ms.

NOTE 6: The performance requirement is valid for the direct wireless link between the tethered VR headset and its connected wireless device.

Currently in 3GPP there is ongoing study on XR. The latest traffic assumptions considered in 3 GPP are provided below:

- Downlink video stream: o Air interface PDB one way: ^■ AR/VR: 10 ms (baseline)

^■ Cloud gaming: 15 ms (baseline) o Packet Arrival model:

^■ Average periodicity = 1/(60, 120}

• periodicity 16,67ms or 8,33ms

^■ Truncated Gaussian distribution:

• Mean: 0 ms; Std dev: 2ms; Truncation: [-4; 4ms] o Average data rate for DL video stream:

^■ VR/AR: 30, 45 Mbps @60fps (baseline)

• 30, 60 Mbps @60fps (optional)

^■ CG: 8, 30 Mbps @60fps (baseline)

• 8, 45 Mbps @60fps (optional)

Uplink: Pose/control, 4ms, 100B.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of XR traffic model agreements/discussion from 3GPP meeting RANl#105e. As illustrated in FIG. 3, XR is characterized by non- deterministic packet size and even though traffic is periodic, time of arrival is varying quite a bit which is challenging for a scheduler (e.g., scheduler at the network node) to allocate resources in a fast and efficient manner.

Therefore, there are emerging use cases like XR where UL/DL data packets can be large and where there can be considerable variance in packet size. The multi slot scheduling (multi-PUSCH or multi-PDSCH) is an option to allocate large data packets. However, there is an issue due to variance in that sometimes data may not be available or have arrived such that there is a risk that large resource allocations are wasted or used inefficiently.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi- shared channel such as, for example, indication of unutilized transmissions.

Multi-transmission allocation scenario is considered where multiple transmissions/allocations scheduled by a single DCI (e.g., multi-PUSCH or multi- PDSCH or transport block over multiple slots (TBoMs) based allocation) and the transmitter has the opportunity to send explicit (or agreed implicit) indicator which indicates that a subset of allocation from multiple transmissions are unutilized (in other words, the transmitter has refrained itself from transmitting data on this subset). For example, a transmission (scheduled transmission) is unutilized for transmission of data of a wireless device. In consequence, the receiver will not monitor those allocations where the transmitter has refrained itself from transmitting.

In one example, a wireless device that implements one or more embodiments performs the following steps:

- For downlink transmissions: o Receive a multi-transmission assignment for multiple transmissions of data. o Receive a no-more-data (NMD) indicator indicating that at least one of the multiple transmissions would not contain data (or would contain only padding/dummy data). o Determine based on the received NMD indicator that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from reception at the wireless device side (since it is refrained from transmission at the network node side).

- For uplink transmissions: o Receive a multi-transmission grant for multiple transmissions of data. o Determine that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from transmission at the wireless device side. o Transmit a no-more-data (NMD) indicator indicating that at least one of the multiple transmissions would not contain data (or would contain only padding/dummy data).

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to: cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device, one of transmit and receive a no- more-data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device, and perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is received by the network node.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The wireless device includes processing circuitry configured to: receive scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device, one of transmit and receive a no- more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device, and perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes indicating for the network node to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed on a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device is provided. Transmission is caused of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device. A no-more-data, NMD, indicator is one of transmitted and received where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device. At least one action is performed based on the NMD indicator.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed on a wireless device configured to communicate with a network node is provided. Scheduling information is received for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device. A no-more-data, NMD, indicator is one of transmitted and received where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device. At least one action is performed based on the NMD indicator.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one action includes indicating for the network node to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control -control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device.

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 diagram of NR physical resources; FIG. 2 is a diagram of a NR time-domain structure with 15kFIz subcarrier spacing;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of XR traffic model agreements/discussion from 3GPP meeting RANl#105e;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system according to principles disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a network node in communication with a wireless device over a wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another example process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions. 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.

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 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 some embodiments, one of A and B corresponds to A or B. In some embodiments, at least one of A and B corresponds to A, B or AB, or to one or more of A and B. In some embodiments, at least one of A, B and C corresponds to one or more of A, B and C, or A, B, C or any combination thereof. 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), 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 such as a wireless device or a radio network node.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device 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. The wireless device may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) wireless device, machine type wireless device or wireless device capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity wireless device, a sensor equipped with wireless device, 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), relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH). 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.

Some embodiments are directed to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions. Referring again to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 4 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 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second wireless device 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of wireless devices 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 wireless device is in the coverage area or where a sole wireless device is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two wireless devices 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more wireless devices 22 and network nodes 16.

Also, it is contemplated that a wireless device 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 wireless device 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, wireless device 22 can be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB forNR/NG-RAN.

A network node 16 (eNB or gNB) is configured to include an indicator unit 24 which is configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions as described herein such as with respect to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel. A wireless device 22 is configured to include a NMD unit 26 which is configured to perform one or more wireless device 22 functions as described herein such as with respect to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the wireless device 22 and network node 16 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 5.

The communication system 10 includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 28 enabling it to communicate with the wireless device 22. The hardware 28 may include a radio interface 30 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 32 with a wireless device 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 30 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 radio interface 30 includes an array of antennas 34 to radiate and receive signal(s) carrying electromagnetic waves.

In the embodiment shown, the hardware 28 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 36. The processing circuitry 36 may include a processor 38 and a memory 40. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 36 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 38 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory 40, 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 42 stored internally in, for example, memory 40, 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 42 may be executable by the processing circuitry 36. The processing circuitry 36 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 38 corresponds to one or more processors 38 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 40 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 42 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 38 and/or processing circuitry 36, causes the processor 38 and/or processing circuitry 36 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16 (e.g., cause transmission via radio interface 30 using antenna 34). For example, processing circuitry 36 of the network node 16 may include indicator unit 24 which is configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions as described herein such as with respect to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions.

The communication system 10 further includes the wireless device 22 already referred to. The wireless device 22 may have hardware 44 that may include a radio interface 46 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 32 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the wireless device 22 is currently located. The radio interface 46 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 radio interface 46 includes an array of antennas 48 to radiate and receive signal(s) carrying electromagnetic waves.

The hardware 44 of the wireless device 22 further includes processing circuitry 50. The processing circuitry 50 may include a processor 52 and memory 54. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 50 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 52 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 54, 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 wireless device 22 may further comprise software 56, which is stored in, for example, memory 54 at the wireless device 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the wireless device 22. The software 56 may be executable by the processing circuitry 50. The software 56 may include a client application 58. The client application 58 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the wireless device 22

The processing circuitry 50 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 wireless device 22. The processor 52 corresponds to one or more processors 52 for performing wireless device 22 functions described herein. The wireless device 22 includes memory 54 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 56 and/or the client application 58 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 52 and/or processing circuitry 50, causes the processor 52 and/or processing circuitry 50 to perform the processes described herein with respect to wireless device 22. For example, the processing circuitry 50 of the wireless device 22 may include a NMD unit 26 which is configured to perform one or more wireless device 22 functions as described herein such as with respect to NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions.

In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16 and wireless device 22 may be as shown in FIG. 5 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 4.

The wireless connection 32 between the wireless device 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. 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.

Although FIGS. 4 and 5 show various “units” such as indicator unit 24 and NMD unit 26 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. 6 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 36 (including the indicator unit 24), processor 38, and/or radio interface 30. In block S100, network node 16 is configured to cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data, as described herein. For example, “cause transmission” may correspond to processing circuitry 36 causing radio interface 30 to transmit scheduling information. In block SI 02, the network node 16 is configured to one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and control information. According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is received by the network node 16 such that the processing circuitry 36 is configured to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions. According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node 16. According to one or more embodiments, the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 50 (including the NMD unit 26), processor 52, and/or radio interface 46. In block SI 04, wireless device 22 is configured to receive scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data, as described herein. In block SI 06, the wireless device 22 is configured to one of transmit and receive a no-more- data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and control information. According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is transmitted to a network node 16 to cause the network node 16 to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions. According to one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device 22. According to one or more embodiments, the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 36 (including the indicator unit 24), processor 38, and/or radio interface 30. A network node 16 is configured to communicate with a wireless device 22. In block SI 08, the network node 16 is configured to cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device 22. For example, “cause transmission” may correspond to processing circuitry 36 causing radio interface 30 to transmit scheduling information. In block SI 10, the network node 16 is configured to one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device. In block SI 12, the network node 16 is configured to perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission. In one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is received by the network node 16. In one or more embodiments, the at least one action includes configuring the network node 16 to refrain from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission. In one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node 16. In one or more embodiments, the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control -control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. In one or more embodiments, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device 22. In one or more embodiments, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device 22. In one or more embodiments, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator.

In one or more embodiments, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. In one or more embodiments, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. In one or more embodiments, each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 50 (including the NMD unit 26), processor 52, and/or radio interface 46. A wireless device 22 is configured to communicate with a network node 16. In block SI 14, the wireless device is configured to receive scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device 22. In block SI 16, the wireless device 22 is configured to one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator where the NMD indicator indicates that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device 22. In block SI 18, the wireless device 22 is configured to perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator. In at least one embodiment, the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission. In at least one embodiment, the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device 22. In at least one embodiment, the at least one action includes causing the network node 16 to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions. In one or more embodiments, the at least one action includes configuring the wireless device to refrain from monitoring the at least first scheduled transmission. In at least one embodiment, the NMD indicator is transmitted by the wireless device 22.

In at least one embodiment, the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information. In at least one embodiment, the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device 22.

In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device 22. In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator. In at least one embodiment, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

In at least one embodiment, a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions where the second scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator. In at least one embodiment, each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

Having generally described arrangements for NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel (e.g., multi-PUSCH, multi- PDSCH) such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions, details for these arrangements, functions and processes are provided as follows, and which may be implemented by the network node 16 and/or wireless device 22.

Some embodiments provide for NMD signaling for termination and/or modification of dynamic multi-shared channel such as, for example, an indication of unutilized transmissions. One or more wireless device 22 functions described below may be performed by one or more of processing circuitry 50, processor 52, NMD unit 26, radio interface 46, etc. One or more network node 16 functions described below may be performed by one or more of processing circuitry 36, processor 38, indicator unit 24, radio interface 30, etc.

One or more embodiments described below can be applied to one or more of licensed, shared, NR-U, NR, time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD) type of spectrum, etc. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wireless device 22 may perform the following steps:

- For downlink transmissions: a. Receive a multi-transmission assignment for multiple transmissions (e.g., for scheduling multiple transmissions) of data such as from network node 16. b. Receive a no-more-data (NMD) indicator indicating that at least one of the multiple transmissions will not contain data (or will contain only padding/dummy data). The NMD indicator may be received from network node 16. c. Determine, based on the received NMD indicator, that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from reception at the wireless device 22 side (e.g., since the at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from transmission (or not transmitted) at network node 16 side). For example, a scheduled transmission of the multiple scheduled transmission is not transmitted by the network node 16, which is an example of an action performed by the wireless device based on the NMD indicator.

- For uplink transmissions: al. Receive a multi-transmission grant for multiple transmissions (e.g., for scheduling multiple transmissions) of data such as from network node 16. bl. Determine that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from transmission at wireless device 22 side (e.g., since the at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from transmission (or not transmitted at the wireless device 22 side)). c2. Transmit a no-more-data (NMD) indicator indicating that at least one of the multiple transmissions would not contain data (or would contain only padding/dummy data).

In one embodiment, a grant can be an UL configured grant or assignment can be DL Semi-persistent Scheduling (DL SPS). Since one DL SPS or CG configuration represents one hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process and single PDSCH or PUSCH in one transmission occasion, in some embodiments, DL SPS or UL CG configurations are logically grouped such that group of DL SPS or UL CG comprise one multi-PDSCH and multi-PUSCH. This grouping can be performed by network node 16 using high layer signaling, i.e., RRC. In some embodiments, the NMD indicator can only be sent after successful activation of DL SPS, e.g., first DL SPS or CG occasion should not contain an NMD indicator.

In some embodiments for uplink, wireless device 22 transmits an NMD indicator and does not transmit on all of its granted resources, i.e., resources granted to wireless device 22, which is an example of an action performed by the wireless device 22 based on the NMD indicator.

In some embodiments, transmitting an NMD indicator is based on choosing a specific demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence associated with a positive DMRS indicator.

In one embodiment, the multiple transmissions are a multi-PUSCH transmission where the NMD indicator is obtained/determined based at least on the data buffer in wireless device (e.g., based on a quantity of data in the data buffer). In one example, wireless device 22 determines that the n first transmissions are only needed to send that data available in the data buffer where wireless device 22 transmits the NMD indicator to network node 16 and refrains from transmitting the remaining PUSCH transmission.

In some examples, the transmission of NMD indicator to network node 16 may be implicit based on rules agreed/defmed between network node 16 and wireless device 22. For example, one rule may be that if wireless device 22 refrains from transmitting the n-th PUSCH then wireless device 22 does not transmit any of the PUSCHs after the n-th PUSCH. In other examples, wireless device 22 transmits the UL NMD indicator explicitly to network node 16, e.g., as one of a reference signal, MAC-CE (MAC Control Element) and UCI (Uplink Control Information). For example, wireless device 22 may be configured to transmit CG-UCI that includes the NMD indicator. Specifically, in CG-UCI, wireless device 22 can use “COT sharing information” to indicate NMD indicator (also referred to as NMD). The NMD indicator can also be a flag which is a part of PUSCH. Resultant, when network node 16 receives the NMD indicator, network node 16 will not monitor those PUSCHs (which are indicated by wireless device 22, where wireless device 22 is not or refrains itself from sending data, e.g., NMD PUSCHs), and therefore, network node 16 will not send retransmissions for non-received PUSCH transmissions over indicated NMD PUSCHs. Since network node 16 knows that wireless device 22 deliberately did not send PUSCH transmissions over NMD PUSCHs, as indicated by the NMD indicator, the non-received transmissions are not error cases. In one embodiment, wireless device 22 will not send an explicit NMD indicator, and an indicate uses an implicit NMD indicator where network node 16 decodes the last correctly received PUSCH and assumes, for the rest of PUSCHs among multi -PUSCH allocation, that wireless device 22 has refrained itself from transmitting it.

In cases where UCI is used to carry the NMD indicator, bits of the NMD indicator can be transmitted separately from other UCI information or can be multiplexed with other UCI information such as HARQ-ACK and CSI.

1-2 bits NMD indicator can be sequence-encoded and the sequence punctures into PUSCH. This method can use the same rules as for 1-2 bits PUCCH multiplexing with PUSCH.

- NMD indicator can be multiplexed with other UCI information based on based on separate RRC configured beta-factors or CSI/HARQ-ACK beta-factors can be reused in multiplexing procedure. Alternatively, separate fixed beta-factors can be defined in the specification. NMD indicator bits can always come in front of in the end of other UCI information.

In one embodiment, the multiple transmissions are a multi-PDSCH transmission (PDSCH l, PDSCH 2, ..., PDSCH N) where the NMD indicator is obtained by a reception that can be implicit or explicit. In case of an implicit NMD indication of NMD the wireless device 22 may detect that the n-th PDSCH is not transmitted by network node 16 wherein wireless device 22 expects that none of the PDSCHs after the n-th PDSCH are transmitted by wireless device 22. In other examples, wireless device 22 receives the NMD indicator explicitly such as from the network node 16, e.g., as a reference signal, MAC-CE (medium access control (MAC) Control Element(CE)) or downlink control information (DCI). For the PDSCHs of the multi-PDSCH transmission that wireless device 22 refrains from receiving wireless device 22 may either send ACK or NACK or refrain from transmitting a HARQ-ACK corresponding to a refrained PDSCH. To indicate the NMD indicator in DCI, fields such as “Channel Access Type” or “CP extension T_ ext” can be utilized. When wireless device 22 receives NMD (i.e., NMD indicator), then wireless device 22 will not monitor those PDSCH allocations which are specified by the NMD indicator where wireless device 22 will not receive data.

Another example of how the NMD indicator could be transmitted by DCI is to use the PI (Pre-emption indicator). Presently PI is sent after the transmission on the indicated resource to tell or indicator to wireless devices 22, that their transmissions on the indicated resource are not meant for them. However, if NMD indicator/indication is implemented using PI, then network node 16 may have to send PI either before PDSCH transmissions or alongside PDSCH transmissions where the PI indicates the remaining or future time resource, network node 16 will refrain from transmitting over it. Hence, PI can indicate future reference resource regions where network node 16 will not transmit over allocated PDSCHs from multi-PDSCH allocations. Thus, if PI indicates resources that overlaps with some PDSCHs, wireless device 22 may consider those PDSCHs to be refrained.

In some embodiments, the NMD indicator is obtained before refraining from receiving or transmitting at least one of the multiple transmissions. In such embodiments, the NMD indicator provides an early indication when wireless device 22 can start refraining from receiving or transmitting at least one of the multiple transmissions. Refraining can be also combined with transmission skipping functionality, such that first transmissions (e.g., first scheduled transmissions) can be skipped, and last transmissions can be refrained.

The NMD indicator could be defined in several different ways: • Indicate the number of remaining transmissions that should not be refrained by wireless device 22, e.g., first transmission carries NMD indicator indicating that first X transmissions out of Y transmissions (e.g., scheduled transmissions) will take place or be performed. The indication can exclude effect of transmission skipping. For example, there are Y allocated (e.g., scheduled) transmission such that X1+X2+X3 = Y, where first XI transmissions can be skipped because data is not ready for transmission, then X2 transmissions are actually performed and one of the transmission carries the NMD indicator indicating that X3 transmissions in the end are refrained.

• The start index for the transmission that is to be refrained, e.g., if wireless devices 22 refrains from and including the n-th PUSCH/PDSCH, then the start index would be n.

• A list of indices that are to be refrained, e.g., if PDSCH#7 and PDSCH#9 are to be refrained by wireless device 22, the list of indices could be [7,9]

• Indicate an option from set of options where each option maps to certain usage of PxSCHs (where x = U or D). For example, in RRC, Table 3 is configured.

Table 3

As an example, DCI allocates 11 PUSCH in the form of multi -PUSCHs (e.g., PUSCH transmissions), and if wireless device 22 has data to transmit, which require only 4 PUSCHs, then wireless device 22 can transmit UL data using option 1 in UCI as NMD indicator. This means that wireless device 22 uses the first 6 PUSCHs (0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5) to transmit 4 PUSCHs (other 2 PUSCHs can have padding bits), here 0 means relatively 1^st PUSCH among multi -PUSCH allocation. The same example can be replicated for multi -PDSCH. In this example, ‘option’ is defined as the opposite of an NMD indicator, i.e., PUSCHs where data is present. A table can be created based on NMD values.

It is noted that the disclosure herein may also apply to the network node 16. In other words, network node 16 that implements one or more embodiments of the present disclosure where the network node steps may correspond to one or more wireless device 22 steps described above except where, for example, a wireless device 22 “receiving” step is replaced by “transmitting”, and “transmitting” is replaced by “receiving”. For example, wireless device 22 receives a multi-transmission assignment while network node 16 transmits the assignment. Another example is that in embodiments/examples where wireless device 22 transmits the NMD indicator, network node 16 receives the NMD indicator, and in embodiments/examples where wireless device 22 receives the NMD indicator, it is network node 16 that transmits the NMD indicator. Network node 16 may perform one or more steps that are not performed by wireless device 22. For example, in one step of the uplink case, i.e., multi-PUSCH, upon determining that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from being transmitted by a first wireless device 22, the resources corresponding the refrained transmissions may be assigned to a second wireless device 22 different from the first wireless device 22. In another example, in one step of the downlink case, i.e., multi-PDSCH, upon determining that at least one of the multiple transmissions is refrained from being transmitted by network node 16 to a first wireless device 22, the resources corresponding the refrained transmissions may be assigned to a second wireless device 22 different from the first wireless device 22, i.e., network node 16 may send to a second wireless device 22 a PDSCH that overlap in time and/or frequency with one or more of the refrained PDSCHs.

Therefore, the NMD (i.e., NMD indicator) may advantageously help to free up unnecessarily allocated resources to decrease network interference or to reallocate unused resources and increase system capacity.

Some Examples:

Example A1. A network node 16 configured to communicate with a wireless device 22, the network node 16 configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface 30 and/or comprising processing circuitry 36 configured to: cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data; and one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data.

Example A2. The network node 16 of Example Al, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE and control information.

Example A3. The network node 16 of any one of Examples A1-A2, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the network node 16 such that the processing circuitry 36 is configured to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions.

Example A4. The network node 16 of any one of Example A1-A2, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node 16.

Example A5. The network node 16 of any one of Examples A1-A4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

Example Bl. A method implemented in a network node 16 that is configured to communicate with a wireless device 22, the method comprising: causing transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data; and one of transmitting and receiving a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data.

Example B2. The method of Example Bl, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE and control information.

Example B3. The method of any one of Examples B1-B2, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the network node 16 such that the processing circuitry 36 is configured to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions.

Example B4. The method of any one of Example B1-B2, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node 16. Example B5. The method of any one of Examples B1-B4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

Example Cl . A wireless device 22 configured to communicate with a network node 16, the wireless device 22 configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface 46 and/or processing circuitry 50 configured to: receive scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data; and one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data.

Example C2. The wireless device 22 of Example Cl, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE and control information.

Example C3. The wireless device 22 of any one of Examples C1-C2, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted to a network node 16 to cause the network node 16 to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions.

Example C4. The wireless device 22 of any one of Examples C1-C2, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device 22.

Example C5. The wireless device 22 of any one of Examples C1-C4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

Example D1. A method implemented in a wireless device 22 that is configured to communicate with a network node 16, the method comprising: receiving scheduling information for resources that have been allocated for a plurality of transmissions associated with wireless device data; and one of transmitting and receiving a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least one of the plurality of transmissions is configured to lack wireless device data. Example D2. The method of Example Dl, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted via one of a reference signal, MAC-CE and control information.

Example D3. The method of any one of Examples D1-D2, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted to a network node 16 to cause the network node 16 to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of transmissions.

Example D4. The method of any one of Examples D1-D2, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device 22.

Example D5. The method of any one of Examples D1-D4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of transmissions that lacks wireless device data corresponds to at least one of the plurality of transmissions containing padding data instead of wireless device data.

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 Python, 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.

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 network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device (22), the network node (16) comprising: processing circuitry (50) configured to: cause transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device (22); one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device (22); and perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

2. The network node (16) of Claim 1, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission.

3. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-2, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node (16).

4. The network node (16) of Claim 1, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission.

5. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1 and 4, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the network node (16).

6. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control -control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information.

7. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device (22).

8. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-7, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device.

9. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-8, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator.

10. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-9, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

11. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-9, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

12. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-9, wherein each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

13. A wireless device (22) configured to communicate with a network node, the wireless device comprising: processing circuitry (50) configured to: receive scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device (22); one of transmit and receive a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device (22); and perform at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

14. The wireless device (22) of Claim 13, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission.

15. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-14, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device.

16. The wireless device (22) of Claim 13, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring the at least first scheduled transmission.

17. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13 and 16, wherein the

NMD indicator is transmitted by the wireless device.

18. The wireless device (22) of Claim 13, wherein the at least one action includes indicating for the network node (16) to avoid sending at least one re- transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions.

19. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-18, wherein the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control -control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information.

20. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-19, wherein the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device (22).

21. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-20, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device (22).

22. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-21, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator.

23. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-22, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

24. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-22, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

25. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 13-22, wherein each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

26. A method performed on a network node (16) that is configured to communicate with a wireless device (22), the method comprising: causing (SI 08) transmission of scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device (22); one of (SI 10) transmitting and receiving a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device (22); and performing (SI 12) at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

27. The method of Claim 26, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission.

28. The method of any one of Claims 26-27, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted by the network node (16).

29. The method of Claim 26, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring for the at least first scheduled transmission.

30. The method of any one of Claims 26 and 29, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the network node (16).

31. The method of any one of Claims 26-30, wherein the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information.

32. The method of any one of Claims 26-31, wherein the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device (22).

33. The method of any one of Claims 26-32, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device.

34. The method of any one of Claims 26-33, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator.

35. The method of any one of Claims 26-34, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

36. The method of any one of Claims 25-34, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

37. The method of any one of Claims 26-34, wherein each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.

38. A method performed on a wireless device (22) that is configured to communicate with a network node, the method comprising: receiving (SI 14) scheduling information for resources that have been allocated to be utilized for a plurality of scheduled transmissions associated with the wireless device (22); one of (SI 16) transmitting and receiving a no-more-data, NMD, indicator, the NMD indicator indicating that at least a first scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is to be unutilized by the wireless device (22); and performing (SI 18) at least one action based on the NMD indicator.

39. The method of Claim 38, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from transmitting the at least first scheduled transmission.

40. The method of any one of Claims 38-39, wherein the NMD indicator is received by the wireless device.

41. The method of Claim 38, wherein the at least one action includes refraining from monitoring the at least first scheduled transmission.

42. The method of any one of Claims 38 and 41, wherein the NMD indicator is transmitted by the wireless device (22).

43. The method of Claim 38, wherein the at least one action includes indicating for the network node (16) to avoid sending at least one re-transmission request for the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions.

44. The method of any one of Claims 38-43, wherein the NMD indicator is included in at least one of a medium access control-control element, MAC-CE, downlink control information, and uplink control information.

45. The method of any one of Claims 38-44, wherein the at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions indicated by the NMD indicator corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions containing padding data instead of data of the wireless device (22).

46. The method of any one of Claims 38-45, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator is configured to include data of the wireless device (22).

47. The method of any one of Claims 38-46, wherein at least one of the plurality of scheduled transmissions not indicated by the NMD indicator includes the NMD indicator.

48. The method of any one of Claims 38-47, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, before the remaining plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

49. The method of any one of Claims 38-47, wherein a second scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions is configured to occur, in a time domain, after at least one other scheduled transmission of the plurality of scheduled transmissions, the second scheduled transmission configured to include the NMD indicator.

50. The method of any one of Claims 38-47, wherein each of the plurality of scheduled transmissions other than the at least first scheduled transmission is configured to include the NMD indicator.