WO2023163646A1

WO2023163646A1 - Configuration activation in a communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2023163646A1
Application number: PCT/SE2023/050170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Du Ho Kang; Jose Luis Pradas
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2022-02-25
Filing date: 2023-02-24
Publication date: 2023-08-31

Abstract

A method performed by a communication device (12) configured for use in a communication network (10) is disclosed. The communication device (12) receives, from the communication network (10), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12). The communication device (12) detects a change the characteristics of its user plane traffic (16). The communication device (12) transmits signaling (22) to the communication network (10). The signaling (22) indicates a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change. The signaling (22) indicates a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change. The communication device (12) receives signaling (22), that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate. The communication device (12) activates the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22).

Description

CONFIGURATION ACTIVATION IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to a communication device in a communication network, and relates more particularly to configuration of the communication device.

BACKGROUND

A communication network controls radio resource scheduling and other aspects of communication with a communication device. The communication network in this regard may configure the communication device in a number of respects that impact how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic. The communication network for example may configure discontinuous reception (DRX) operation of the communication device, measurement gap occurrence for the communication device, semi- persistent scheduling (SPS) of the communication device, or the like. For these and other features, the communication network configures the communication device via a semi-static procedure, such as a radio resource control (RRC) procedure.

Challenges exist, however, in configuring the communication device for some types of user plane traffic, such as extended Reality (XR) traffic, whose characteristics may vary dynamically. For example, if the user plane traffic periodicity varies very frequently, semi-static reconfiguration of the communication device may prove too slow to adapt to traffic periodicity changes, resulting in undesirable latency increases. Configuring the communication device dynamically, though, would demand undesirable signaling overhead.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of the disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Some embodiments herein proactively provide alternative configurations to a communication device, e.g., via a semi-static configuration procedure, and then use signaling to indicate which of those alternative configurations the communication device is to activate, e.g., on a dynamic basis. For example, some embodiments provide the alternative configurations to the communication device via an RRC procedure and then use dynamic signaling (e.g., physical layer signaling or medium access control, MAC, signaling) to signal which alternative configuration the communication device is to activate. The signaling in these and other embodiments may advantageously be dynamic enough to adapt device configuration to user plane traffic characteristic variation. The signaling may for example be sent as often as user plane traffic periodicity varies, so that device configuration can adapt to user plane traffic periodicity changes. Moreover, in some embodiments, the signaling may simply identify the alternative configuration the communication device is to activate, e.g., via an identifier or index mapped to that alternative configuration, so as to keep dynamic signaling overhead low. Some embodiments herein thereby advantageously provide fast device configuration that is able to adapt to frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics, while also minimizing dynamic signaling overhead. Such fast device configuration in the face of frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics may in turn advantageously minimize user plane traffic latency.

More particularly, embodiments herein include a method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises receiving, from the communication network, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device, e.g., alternative RRC configurations. The method in some embodiments further comprises detecting a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device. The method may the further comprise transmitting signaling to the communication network that indicates: (i) occurrence of the detected change, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or (ii) a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate, as determined by the communication device based on the detected change. The method may further comprise, e.g., after or responsive to transmitting the signaling to the communication network, receiving, from the communication network, signaling (e.g., physical layer signaling) that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate. The method also comprises activating the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

In some embodiments, the alternative configurations are alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations are alternative configured grant, CG, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations are alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations are alternative measurement gap configurations.

In some embodiments, each of the alternative configurations is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

In some embodiments, each of the alternative configurations is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

In some embodiments, when and/or how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

In some embodiments, the signaling is received upon the change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In one or more embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In some embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining, based on the detected change, the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

In some embodiments, the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling from the communication network.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication network, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration.

In some embodiments, the message is received via semi-static control signaling.

In some embodiments, the message is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the alternative configurations are alternative RRC configurations.

In some embodiments, the received signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

In some embodiments, the received signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the received signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the received signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the received signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

In some embodiments, the message is received at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is received.

In some embodiments, the message is received before the received signaling.

In some embodiments, the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations. In some embodiments, the received signaling indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device is to activate. In one or more of these embodiments, the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

In some embodiments, activating the alternative configuration indicated by the received signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the received signaling.

In some embodiments, the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default. In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling indicates the communication device is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

In some embodiments, the received signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration. In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises detecting a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device. The method also comprises transmitting signaling to the communication network indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change

Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises receiving, from the communication network, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device. The method also comprises transmitting, to the communication network, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises transmitting, to a communication device, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device, e.g., alternative RRC configurations. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, e.g., after transmitting the message, receiving signaling from the communication device that indicates (i) occurrence of a change detected by the communication device in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or (ii) a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate, as determined by the communication device based on the detected change. The method may then comprise, based on the received signaling, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate. The method also comprises transmitting, to the communication device, signaling (e.g., physical layer signaling) that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate, as determined by the network node.

In some embodiments, the signaling is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In some embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

In some embodiments, the method comprises, based on the change indicated by the received signaling, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate. In some embodiments, the method comprises, based on the recommendation indicated by the received signaling, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

In some embodiments, the received signaling is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication device, confirmation of receipt of the received signaling.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication device, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration.

In some embodiments, the message is transmitted via semi-static control signaling.

In some embodiments, the message is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

In some embodiments, the message is transmitted at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is transmitted.

In some embodiments, the message is transmitted before the transmitted signaling.

In some embodiments, the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations. In some embodiments, the transmitted signaling indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device is to activate. In one or more of these embodiments, the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

In some embodiments, activation of the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the transmitted signaling.

In some embodiments, the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling indicates the communication device is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

In some embodiments, the transmitted signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration. In one or more of these embodiments, the transmitted signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises receiving, from a communication device, signaling indicating occurrence of a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device, indicating a type of the change, and/or indicating the change.

Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network. The method comprises transmitting, to a communication device, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device. The method also comprises receiving, from the communication device, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate

Other embodiments herein include corresponding apparatus, computer programs, and carriers of those computer programs. For example, embodiments herein include a communication device configured for use in a communication network. The communication device in some embodiments comprises communication circuitry and processing circuitry. The communication device is configured to receive, from the communication network, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device, e.g., alternative RRC configurations. The communication device in some embodiments is further configured to detect a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device. The communication device may also be configured to transmit signaling to the communication network that indicates: (i) occurrence of the detected change, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or (ii) a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate, as determined by the communication device based on the detected change. The communication device may further be configured, e.g., after or responsive to transmitting the signaling to the communication network, to receive, from the communication network, signaling (e.g., physical layer signaling) that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate. The communication device also is configured to activate the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

Embodiments herein further include a network node configured for use in a communication network. The network node may comprise communication circuitry and processing circuitry in some embodiments. The network node is configured to transmit, to a communication device, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device, e.g., alternative RRC configurations. In some embodiments, the network node is further configured to, e.g., after transmitting the message, receive signaling from the communication device that indicates (i) occurrence of a change detected by the communication device in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or (ii) a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate, as determined by the communication device based on the detected change. The network node is also configured to, based on the received signaling, determine which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate. The network node is further configured to transmit, to the communication device, signaling (e.g., physical layer signaling) that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate, as determined by the network node.

Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the above features and advantages. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a communication network according to some embodiments.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of alternative configurations according to some embodiments.

Figure 3 is a graph of shows of frame latency measured over radio access network according to one example.

Figure 4 is a graph of the cumulative distribution functions of the number of transport blocks required to deliver a video frame with size ranging from 20 KB to 300 KB according to one example.

Figure 5 is a graph illustrating characteristics of XR traffic arrival as distinct from typical web-browsing and VoIP traffic according to one example.

Figure 6 is a logic flow diagram of network operation according to some embodiments.

Figure 7 is a logic flow diagram of user equipment operation according to some embodiments.

Figure 8 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a communication device according to some embodiments.

Figure 9 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a communication device according to other embodiments.

Figure 10 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a communication device according to still other embodiments.

Figure 11 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a network node according to some embodiments. Figure 12 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a network node according to other embodiments.

Figure 13 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a network node according to still other embodiments.

Figure 14 is a block diagram of a communication device according to some embodiments.

Figure 15 is a block diagram of a network node according to some embodiments.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments

Figure 17 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to some embodiments.

Figure 18 is a block diagram of a network node according to some embodiments.

Figure 19 is a block diagram of a host according to some embodiments.

Figure 20 is a block diagram of a virtualization environment according to some embodiments.

Figure 21 is a block diagram of a host communicating via a network node with a UE over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a communication network 10 according to some embodiments, e.g., a 5G communication network. The communication network 10 is configured to provide communication service to a communication device 12. The communication network 10 may for example be a wireless communication network that provides wireless communication service to a wireless communication device.

The communication device 12 is configured to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic 16, e.g., extended Reality (XR) traffic. User plane traffic 16 herein refers to traffic in a user plane of the communication network 10, where the user plane contains protocols responsible for transporting the traffic, as opposed to the control plane which contains protocols responsible for controlling how the traffic is transported. The communication device 12 in this regard may transmit user plane traffic 16 to, or receive user plane traffic 16 from, another communication device or endpoint (not shown) at an application layer, via the communication network 10.

In some embodiments, one or more characteristics of the user plane traffic 16 may vary over time. As shown, for example, the periodicity of the user plane traffic 16 may change over time from a relatively long period 16P-1 to a relatively short period 16P-2, e.g., where such periodicity may be periodicity of packet generation at the application layer. Although not shown, other examples of characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16 that may vary include an average packet size of the user plane traffic 16, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic 16, a frame rate of the user plane traffic 16, jitter of the user plane traffic 16, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic 16. These or other characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16 may in fact vary quite frequently for some types of user plane traffic 16, such as XR traffic. For example, these or other characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16 may vary dynamically as the communication device 12 dynamically adjusts its configuration for power saving, where such power saving configuration may for instance adjust the display resolution and/or frame refresh rate in order to save power.

In this context, some embodiments herein provide device configuration that is capable of adapting to variation in user plane traffic characteristic(s), e.g., even for dynamic or frequent variation in user plane traffic characteristic(s). For example, some embodiments herein enable discontinuous reception (DRX) operation of the communication device 12, measurement gaps for the communication device 12, semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) of the communication device 12, and/or configured grants for the communication device 12 to dynamically adapt to variation in user plane traffic characteristic(s). Some embodiments herein notably provide fast device configuration that is able to adapt to frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics, while also minimizing dynamic signaling overhead. Such fast device configuration in the face of frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics may in turn advantageously minimize user plane traffic latency.

More particularly, as shown in Figure 1 , a network node 14 in the communication network 10 transmits, to the communication device 12, a message 18 that includes alternative configurations 20 of the communication device 12. The alternative configurations 20 as shown for example include configuration 20-1 through configuration 20-N. The alternative configurations 20 are alternatives in the sense that they are different options or possibilities for configuring the communication device 12. In one or more embodiments, when and/or how often the communication device 12 is able to transmit and/or receive the user plane traffic 16 depends on according to which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is configured. Which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is configured may for example govern or impact the timing with which the communication device 12 is able to transmit and/or receiver user plane traffic 16.

In some embodiments, for example, the alternative configurations 20 are each an individual configuration, e.g., in the sense that they each configure a single feature or functionality of the communication device 12. In one embodiment, for example, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative DRX configurations, i.e., each of the alternative configurations 20 configures a DRX feature or functionality of the communication device 12. In this case, alternative DRX configurations may comprise different alternatives for how to configure the communication device 12 for DRX operation, e.g., with different DRX parameter values such as different short DRX cycle durations, different long DRX cycle durations, different onDuration timer values, etc. As another example, the alternative configurations 20 may be alternative configured grant (CG) configurations, i.e., each of the alternative configurations 20 configure a CG feature or functionality of the communication device 12. In this case, alternative CG configurations may comprise different alternatives for how to configure the communication device 12 with CGs, e.g., with different CG parameter values such as different time domain offsets, different time domain allocations, different frequency domain allocations, etc. As still further examples, the alternative configurations 20 may be alternative SPS configurations or alternative measurement gap configurations, e.g., where alternative measurement gap configurations may comprise different alternative measurement gap patterns. In these and other examples, then, the alternative configurations 20 may govern or impact when and/or how often the communication device 12 is able to transmit and/or receive the user plane traffic 16.

In other embodiments, by contrast, the alternative configurations 20 are each a combination of two or more individual configurations, e.g., a combination of configurations for two or more features or functions. As shown in Figure 2, for example, alternative configuration 20-1 is a combination of M configurations 20-1-1 ...20-1-M, and configuration 20-N is another combination of M configurations 20-N-1 ...20-N-M. For example, each of the alternative configurations 20-1 ...20-N may be a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

No matter the particular nature of the alternative combinations 20, the network node 14 in some embodiments transmits the message 18 with the alternative configurations 20 to the communication device 12 during or as part of a procedure 19. The procedure 19 may for example be a semi-static procedure such as an RRC procedure, e.g., in which case the alternative configurations 20 may be alternative RRC configurations. In these and other embodiments, then, the message 18 may be transmitted to the communication device 12 in a way that can not or does not enable dynamic reconfiguration of the communication device 12, e.g., semi-static reconfiguration of the communication device 12 via message 18 would not be able to track dynamic variation in the characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16. For this reason, then, the network node 14 may transmit the alternative configurations 20 to the communication device 12 proactively, e.g., during a procedure for the communication device 12 to establish, re-establish, or resume an RRC connection with the communication network 10.

Notably, the network node 14 as shown uses signaling 22 to indicate which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate, i.e. , to take into use. The signaling 22 as shown in this regard includes an indication 20A of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate. The indication 20A may for example be an identifier of whichever of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate. For instance, the message 18 may include respective identifiers for the alternative configurations 20, e.g., in the form of respective indices for the alternative configurations 20 or positions of the alternative configurations 20 in a list. The signaling 22 may correspondingly indicate whichever of these identifiers is the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device 12 is to activate. Indicating the alternative configuration to activate via such an identifier may advantageously minimize signaling overhead. Regardless, based on this signaling 22, then, the communication device 12 may correspondingly activate the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling 22, e.g., by takin that alternative configuration into use.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 is dynamic, e.g., as opposed to semi-static or static, and/or is able to be communicated more quickly and/or more often than the message 18. For example, the signaling 22 may be physical layer signaling, e.g., downlink control information (DCI) on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). Or, as another example, the signaling 22 may be Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, e.g., included in a MAC Control Element (CE). In these and other embodiments, then, the communication device 12 may receive the message 18 including the alterative configurations 20 at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device 12 than a layer at which the signaling 22 is received.

In any event, the signaling 22 in these and other embodiments may advantageously be dynamic enough to adapt configuration of the communication device 12 to user plane traffic characteristic variation. The signaling 22 may for example be sent as often as user plane traffic characteristic(s) vary, so that device configuration can adapt to those variations. In the example of Figure 1 , for instance, the network node 14 may transmit the signaling 22 to the communication device 12 upon the periodicity of the user plane traffic 16 changing from a relatively large period 16P-1 to a relatively short period 16P-2, e.g., so as to tailor the configuration of the communication device 12 to that periodicity.

In some embodiments, the network node 14 detects a change in characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16 for the communication device 12, e.g., by detecting that change itself at the application layer or by receiving notification of the change from another network node. In this case, the network node 14 may determine, based on the detected change, which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate, e.g., to tailor the device configuration to that change. The network node 14 may then transmit the signaling 22 to the communication device 12 indicating that the communication device 12 is to activate the determined alternative configuration.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the communication device 12 detects a change in characteristic(s) of the user plane traffic 16 for the communication device 12, e.g., by detecting that change itself at the application layer. In this case, the communication device 12 may transmit signaling (not shown) indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change. Alternatively or additionally, the communication device 12 may determine, based on the detected change, a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate. In this case, the communication device 12 may transmit signaling (not shown) indicating the recommendation to the communication network 10, e.g., where the signaling may be included in a MAC CE. The network node 14 may then take this recommendation into account when determining which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate. Generally, then, some embodiments herein advantageously provide fast device configuration that is able to adapt to frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics, while also minimizing dynamic signaling overhead. Such fast device configuration in the face of frequent changes in user plane traffic characteristics may in turn advantageously minimize user plane traffic latency.

As an example, some embodiments herein are applicable in the following context where the communication network 10 is exemplified as a 5G network, the communication device 12 is exemplified as a user equipment (UE), and the user plane traffic 16 is exemplified as XR traffic.

5G is the fifth generation of mobile communications, addressing a wide range of use cases from enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) to ultra-reliable low-latency communications (LIRLLC) to massive machine type communications (mMTC). 5G includes the New Radio (NR) access stratum interface and the 5G Core Network (5GC). The NR physical and higher layers are reusing parts of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) specification, and to that add needed components when motivated by new use cases.

Low-latency high-rate applications such as extended Reality (XR) and cloud gaming are important in the 5G era. XR may refer to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables. It is an umbrella term for different types of realities including Virtual reality (VR), Augmented reality (AR), Mixed reality (MR), and the areas interpolated among them. The levels of virtuality range from partially sensory inputs to fully immersive VR.

5G NR is designed to support applications demanding high rate and low latency in line with the requirements posed by the support of XR and cloud gaming applications in NR networks. 3GPP Release 17 contains a study item on XR Evaluations for NR. The main objectives are to identify the traffic model for each application of interest, the evaluation methodology and the key performance indicators of interest for relevant deployment scenarios, and to carry out performance evaluations accordingly in order to investigate possible standardization enhancements.

Low-latency high-rate XR applications

Some embodiments herein are applicable for low-latency applications like XR and cloud gaming which require bounded latency, not necessarily ultra-low latency. The end-to-end latency budget may be in the range of 20-80 ms, which needs to be distributed over several components including application processing latency, transport latency, radio link latency, etc. For these applications, short transmission time intervals (TTIs) or mini-slots targeting ultra-low latency may not be effective.

Figure 3 shows an example of frame latency measured over radio access network (RAN), excluding application & core network latencies, as an example. It can be seen that there exist frame latency spikes in RAN. The latency spike occurs due to instantaneous shortage of radio resources or inefficient radio resource allocation in response to varying frame size. The sources for the latency spikes may include queuing delay, time-varying radio environments, and time-varying frame sizes, among others. Tools that can help to remove latency spikes are beneficial to enable better 5G support for this type of traffic.

In addition to bounded latency requirements, the applications like XR and cloud gaming also require high rate transmission. This can be seen from the large frame sizes originated from this type of traffic. The typical frame sizes may range from tens of kilobytes to hundreds of kilobytes. The frame arrival rates may be 60 or 120 frames per second (fps). As a concrete example, a frame size of 100 kilobytes and a frame arrival rate of 120 fps can lead to a rate requirement of 95.8 Mbps.

A large video frame is usually fragmented into smaller IP packets and transmitted as several transport blocks (TBs) over several TTIs in RAN. Figure 4 shows an example of the cumulative distribution functions of the number of transport blocks required to deliver a video frame with size ranging from 20 KB to 300 KB. For example, Figure 4 shows that for delivering the frames with a size of 100 KB each, the median number of needed transport blocks (TBs) is 5.

The characteristics of XR traffic arrival are quite distinct from typical web-browsing and VoIP traffic as shown in Figure 5. It is well expected that the arrival time is quasi-periodic and largely predictable as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). However, its data size is orders of magnitude larger than VoIP, as discussed above. In addition, similar to web-browsing, the data size is different at every application Protocol Data Unit (PDU) arrival instance due to dynamics of contents and human motion. Refresh rate of XR device

Some embodiments herein are applicable to XR applications in which a video stream is a dominant traffic source which is heavily dependent on a target resolution of display and a frame refresh rate. The frame refresh rate is the inverse of a frame generate time, which at the end affects the packet arrival time or periodicity to a communication network. In an industry, the frame refresh rate supported in today’s XR head mounted display varies from 30Hz to more than 120Hz so that the expected packet generation interval would be from 33.333ms to 8.333ms. This refresh rate is typically limited by the maximum supported rate by a display capability and the refresh rate may be adjusted dynamically by application configurations for power saving in a device.

RRC reconfiguration for DRX, SPS/CG, Measurement gap

In some embodiments, the number of configurations via RRC signaling is heavily dependent on the periodicity of traffic arrival. Consider, in particular, Discontinuous reception (DRX) for energy saving, configured grant (CG) and semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) for periodic radio resource allocation, and measurement gap. DRX configuration Discontinuous reception (DRX) is a mechanism which assists the UE to save energy by not monitoring the downlink (DL) during certain periods of time. The DRX framework consists of two different DRX periods: short DRX and long DRX. In principle, the short DRX cycle results in that the UE monitors the DL more often than when the UE is in the long DRX cycle. If the short DRX cycle is configured, the UE enters the short DRX cycle after the DRX inactivity timer expires; that is, when there is no DL or UL transmissions for a period of time. The UE enters the long DRX cycle after the inactivity timer expires if the short DRX cycle is not configured or, if the short DRX cycle was configured, when the short cycle timer expires.

DRX periodicity is controlled by the following main parameters in drx-config information element (IE) (TS 38.321 v16.0.0) drx-SlotOffset: the delay before starting the drx-onDurationTimer; drx-LongCycleStartOffset: the Long DRX cycle and drx-StartOffset which defines the subframe where the Long and Short DRX Cycle starts; drx-ShortCycle (optional): the Short DRX cycle; ps-TransmitPeriodicL1-RSRP (optional): the configuration to transmit periodic L1- RSRP report(s) during the time duration indicated by drx-onDurationTimer in case DCP is configured but associated drx-onDurationTimer is not started. Here, RSRP stands for Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), and DCP stands for Downlink Control Information (DCI) with cyclic redundance check (CRC) scrambled by PS-RNTI (radio network temporary identifier).

The drx-config information element (IE) is one example of a configuration herein. For example, where the alternative configurations 20 are alternative individual configurations, the alternative configurations 20 may comprise alternative drx-config lEs.

SPS and CG configuration

In the downlink, Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) is also configured by RRC per Serving Cell and per bandwidth part (BWP). Multiple assignments can be active simultaneously in the same BWP. Activation and deactivation of the DL SPS are independent among the Serving Cells. For the DL SPS, a DL assignment is provided by the Physical Downlink Control Chanenl (PDCCH), and stored or cleared based on Layer 1 (L1) signalling indicating SPS activation or deactivation. RRC configures the following parameters related to periodicity when the SPS is configured: periodicity: periodicity of configured downlink assignment for SPS.

In the uplink, there are two types of transmissions without dynamic grant. Configured grant Type 1 is where an uplink grant is provided by RRC, and stored as configured uplink grant. Configured grant Type 2 is where an uplink grant is provided by PDCCH, and stored or cleared as configured uplink grant based on L1 signalling indicating configured uplink grant activation or deactivation.

The SPS periodicity configuration is one example of a configuration herein. For example, where the alternative configurations 20 are alternative individual configurations, the alternative configurations 20 may comprise alternative SPS periodicity configurations.

With regard to configured grant, both type 1 and Type 2 are configured by ConfiguredGrantConfig signaling of RRC per Serving Cell and per BWP. For Type 2, activation and deactivation are independent among the Serving Cells.

RRC configures the following parameters when the configured grant Type 1 is configured: cs-RNTI: CS-RNTI for retransmission; periodicity: periodicity of the configured grant Type 1 ; timeDomainOffset: Offset of a resource with respect to System Frame Number (SFN), where SFN = timeReferenceSFN in time domain; timeDomainAllocation: Allocation of configured uplink grant in time domain which contains startSymbolAndLength (i.e. , SLIV in TS 38.214 v16.8.0) or startSymbol (i.e. S in TS 38.214 v16.8.0); nrofHARQ-Processes: the number of Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) processes for configured grant; harq-ProclD-Offset: offset of HARQ process for configured grant for operation with shared spectrum channel access; harq-ProclD-Offset2: offset of HARQ process for configured grant; timeReferenceSFN: SFN used for determination of the offset of a resource in time domain. The UE uses the closest SFN with the indicated number preceding the reception of the configured grant configuration.

RRC configures the following parameters when the configured grant Type 2 is configured: cs-RNTI: CS-RNTI for activation, deactivation, and retransmission; periodicity: periodicity of the configured grant Type 2; nrofHARQ-Processes: the number of HARQ processes for configured grant; harq-ProclD-Offset offset of HARQ process for configured grant for operation with shared spectrum channel access; harq-ProclD-Offset2'. offset of HARQ process for configured grant.

The combination of these parameters may be referred to as a configured grant Type 1 configuration. A configured grant Type 1 configuration is one example of a configuration herein. For example, where the alternative configurations 20 are alternative individual configurations, the alternative configurations 20 may comprise alternative configured grant Type 1 configurations. Configuration for measurement gap

Measurement gaps are opportunities given to the UE to perform measurements on downlink signals. The network configures a UE with measurement gaps via RRC signalling. During a measurement gap, the Medium Access Control (MAC) entity shall perform measurements on the Serving Cell(s) in the corresponding freguency range of the measurement gap configured by measGapConfig as specified in TS 38.331 v16.7.0. In some embodiments, measGapConfig parameters will include:

- gapOffset : Value gapOffset is the gap offset of the gap pattern with Measurement Gap Repetition Period (MGRP) indicated in the field mgrp. The value range is from 0 to mgrp- ' .

- mgl : Value mgl is the measurement gap length in ms of the measurement gap. The measurement gap length is according to in Table 9.1.2-1 in TS 38.133 v17.4.0. Value ms1dot5 corresponds to 1.5 ms, ms3 corresponds to 3 ms and so on.

- mgrp : Value mgrp is measurement gap repetition period in (ms) of the measurement gap. The measurement gap repetition period is according to Table 9.1.2-1 in TS 38.133 V17.4.0.

The combination of these parameters may be referred to as a measGapConfig configuration. A measGapConfig configuration is one example of a configuration herein. For example, where the alternative configurations 20 are alternative individual configurations, the alternative configurations 20 may comprise alternative measGapConfig configurations.

Some embodiments herein avoid unnecessary delay due to mismatched periodicity configuration that would otherwise be caused by existing DRX, CG/SPS, and/or measurement gap configuration when the periodicity of packet generation is changed. That is, embodiments herein may avoid RRC reconfiguration that would create extra long delay which would potentially exceed the acceptable latency requirement in XR applications. Some embodiments in this regard provide new fast periodicity reconfigurations.

In particular, some embodiments herein provide a list of configurations for one or more of the following features: DRX, CG,SPS, and measurement gap. Some embodiments also provide a mechanism to quickly activate and/or deactivate one or more of these features depending on the updated values of the traffic characteristics of the service such as e.g., periodicity of packet generation in XR application.

In some embodiments, for example, a new set of RRC configurations for different features such as DRX, CG/SPS, and measurements is predefined and signaled according to various traffic parameters, e.g., traffic periodicity. The network dynamically activates or deactivates one of the configurations in the set to be applied according to the change of traffic parameters. A UE will dynamically select a set of RRC Information Elements (lEs) for those. Activation/deactivation signaling will be sent to the UE to quickly indicate the wanted configuration to be applied. Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). Some embodiments provide a fast update of periodicity related RRC configuration for DRX, SPS/CG, and/or measurement gap to reduce extra latency due to a change of refresh rate in an application. Alternatively or additionally, some embodiments provide low signaling overhead of RRC reconfiguration by predetermining a set of RRC configurations for a various refresh rate.

Generally, some embodiments include a new RRC configuration method and its activation/deactivation signaling for one or more of the following features (not limited): DRX, CG, SPS, and measurement gap. The activation and deactivation of a set of parameters related to a feature may depend on the changing traffic characteristic in the XR application such as, for instance, the rate change, periodicity or frames per second change.

In some embodiments, the process consists of the following steps: 1) the network (NW) provides an RRC configuration with a set of configurations for a given feature or features; 2) the UE or the NW identifies that one or more changes in the user traffic, network conditions, or UE conditions result in that a second configuration from the set of configurations is more appropriate; 3) the UE indicates to the network which second configuration is most suitable (optional step); and 4) the NW indicates to the UE a second configuration(s) from a set of configurations for a given feature or features is to be activated; and 5) the UE sends a confirmation of the NW indication to the NW (optional).

In some embodiments, the network predetermines a list of configurations for one or more of the following (not limited to) of e.g., configured grants, DRX configuration, measurement gaps configuration, and sends the configurations to the UE via RRC. Each configuration in the list is identified by, at least, a numbered index or a position in the list. It can additionally be identified by one or more characteristics of the traffic, the feature, or a combination of the previous. The traffic characteristics may be frames per second (fps) I periodicity, bit rate, or jitter, for instance.

Table 1 shows an example of a list of RRC configurations set for three different features i.e. , DRX, configured grants, and measurement gaps.

Table 1 Example of new periodicity RRC configuration

Each row in Table 1 represents an example alternative configuration 20, as being a combination of multiple individual configurations for multiple respective features. Each configuration set is associated to the detected periodicity of XR packet arrival. A network determines the best configuration parameters for each of the features according to arrival time periodicity to make one RRC config set which is indexed by a different value, known as RRC config set index. In this case, only one parameter is updated/changed for each of the features in each RRC config set.

Note that this is an example and other signaling options are possible. For example, it could also be possible to signal an index for each configuration-feature pair i.e. , RRC could define a list of configurations for feature X, a list of configurations for feature Y, and so on. Each of these configurations within a list would have an e.g., index.

Each RRC configuration set can be defined only with parameters related to corresponding features or could also include other RRC parameters.

In some embodiments, when a UE receives the new RRC configuration set which only includes parameters related to traffic characteristic change, a UE will start using only the indicated parameters while keeping the rest of the RRC parameters. If the RRC configuration set also includes all other RRC parameters besides traffic change related parameters, a UE will simply use all RRC parameters indicated in the configuration set. In any case, a UE in some embodiments will send back an RRC response when a corresponding RRC configuration set is received. Note that this RRC response does not mean a UE starts using the indicated RRC configuration set, but this response is confirmation of received RRC configuration sets of which one will be activated.

In some embodiments, instead of sending a new RRC message to update the parameters, all new RRC configurations and periodicity mapping are predetermined in advance and an RRC configuration set index only will be signaled to reduce RRC message overhead and indicate to a UE which RRC configurations should be used.

Once the network has provided the list of configurations for the indicated features, it needs to be defined how a certain configuration for a given feature is activated.

The RRC message could indicate a default configuration for each of the indicated features, or it could indicate the default index or index set that would result in the activation of one of the configurations for one or more of the configured features. In addition, there is a need to quickly activate and deactivate the configurations to adapt to the changes in the traffic, network conditions, or the conditions the UE may undergo.

This dynamic activation and deactivation can be done by layer 1 (L1) signaling. In some embodiments, RRC may not be suitable for this purpose because traffic characteristics may change quite dynamically and often. RRC configurations do take time to be applied and often result in a data interruption which is not desired for XR services as they negatively impact their performance.

In some embodiments, an RRC configuration set index will be included in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) field in a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). Indicating an RRC configuration set index can indicate the activation of a new configuration from the list of configurations for the corresponding configured feature or features and, correspondingly, deactivate the current configuration for the associated features.

It is also possible that a UE sends a confirmation message to a network after activation or deactivation, and the confirmation message may also include the activated or deactivated RRC configuration index.

In some embodiments, the starting time offset will be further indicated in the indication to tell a UE the exact timing that the UE should apply the second set of RRC parameters.

In some embodiments, if a network does not include any RRC configuration set index, a UE will keep the current RRC parameters configured in the initial RRC message or the updated RRC parameters that the last RRC configuration set indicated. It is also possible to deactivate the use of the current RRC parameters update so that a UE falls back to default RRC parameters that have been signaled when a connection is setup. This deactivation signaling can be also done similarly as activation via PDCCH signaling.

In some embodiments, all the PDCCH indication signaling for activation and deactivation of a new RRC configuration set to be applied can alternatively be signaled by MAC CE or a new RRC message if there is no urgent need for a fast update in RRC parameters due to periodicity change.

It may be the case in which the UE detects changes e.g., in the traffic. In this case, if configured, the UE can provide an indication to the network about the configuration which the UE prefers to use. This is an example of a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate, as described in Figure 1. The UE may alternatively or additionally indicate the type of update (e.g., traffic update) and how it has been updated, or both. This is an example of signaling occurrence of a change detected in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change, as described in Figure 1. Regardless, this UE indication could be provided in a MAC Control Element. The MAC CE could include the information outlined before i.e. , the index or list of indexes for configurations and features which the UE would prefer to be updated; the type changes e.g., traffic and how it changed (e.g., periodicity, 1/120), or a combination of both (e.g., index = X, periodicity, 1/120). As before, the index could point to one configuration within a list for a specific feature, or a configuration/feature set i.e., a configuration is provided for each impacted feature.

When the network receives the UL MAC CE, the network can acknowledge the message and send a response to the UE. This response could be DL MAC CE or DCI in PDCCH which could either acknowledge the configuration suggested by the UE, or it could provide a new index, index list, or index set. The message response could also include a point in time in which the configuration would be active e.g., a SFN, or it could be activated in the symbol or slot after which the MAC CE was received by the UE.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate network operation and UE operation, respectively, according to some embodiments.

As shown in Figure 6, the network provides a list of configurations (e.g., RRC configurations) to the UE (Block 600). The network meanwhile monitors for a change in NW/UE/traffic (e.g., by monitoring the traffic) and determines whether such a change is detected by the network (Block 610). If the network has not itself detected such a change (NO at Block 610), the network determines whether it has received any recommendation (of a configuration) from the UE or any indication of a change (as detected by the UE) from the UE (Block 620). If not (NO at Block 620), the network re-visits its evaluation in Block 610 of whether the network itself has detected a change in NW/UE/traffic.

If at any point the network itself detects a change in NW/UE/traffic (YES at Block 610) or the network receives a recommendation or indication of detected change from the UE (YES at Block 620), the network determines whether any configuration is suitable for the new conditions (given the detected change) (Block 630). If there is no suitable configuration (NO at Block 630), the network reverts back to monitoring for a recommendation or indication of detected change from the UE (Block 620) and/or monitoring for a change itself (Block 610). If there is a suitable configuration (YES at Block 630), though, the network indicates the new configuration to the UE (Block 640), e.g., via signaling 22 in Figure 1.

From the UE perspective, Figure 7 shows that the UE gets a list of configurations for a functionality (Block 700), e.g., a list of RRC configurations for DRX functionality. The UE thereafter monitors for a change in NW/UE/traffic (e.g., by evaluating the traffic). If the UE itself does not detect a change in NW/UE/traffic from its monitoring (NO at Block 710), the UE determines whether any indication is received from the NW indicating a configuration that the UE is to activate (Block 720). If no NW indication is received (NO at Block 720), the UE continues to monitor for a change in NW/UE/traffic (Block 710).

If the UE itself detects a change in NW/UE/traffic (YES at Block 730), the UE determines whether any configuration (within the list of configurations) is suitable for the new conditions (given the detected change) (Block 730). If not (NO at Block 730), the UE reverts to determining whether any indication is received from the NW indicating a configuration that the UE is to activate (Block 720). If so, though (YES at Block 730), the UE transmits signaling to the NW recommending the new suitable configuration to the NW and/or indicating the detected change (Block 740). The UE then monitors for signaling from the NW confirming the UE’s recommendation or indicating a (potentially different) configuration that the UE is to activate (Block 750). If no such signaling is received from the NW (NO at Block 750), the UE again reverts to determining whether any indication is received from the NW indicating a configuration that the UE is to activate (Block 720).

If signaling is received from the NW indicating a configuration that the UE is to activate (YES at Block 720 or YES at Block 750), the UE applies the indicated configuration (Block 760).

Note that a packet that arrives at RAN with a different periodicity can be, but not limited to, an IP packet, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) Service Data Unit (SDU) I PDU, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) SDU/PDU, or an application data unit (ADU), for instance.

It is to be also noted that, depending how packet delay budget (PDB) is measured and from which two points are taken as reference, timing information may be needed to calculate the PDBJeft. PDBJeft is the remaining time within which the packet should be delivered to the second point, i.e., packet delay budget (PDB) left. For example, if PDB is provided end-to-end, the radio access network (RAN) needs to have timing related information that assists the RAN to calculate the PDBJeft, the maximum time RAN has to deliver that packet to the second point. In this example, the PDBJeft would be: PDB (end-to-end) - elapsed time until packet reached RAN. If PDB is measured from the point the packet enters the RAN until it is delivered to higher layers in the receiver side, then the RAN does not require additional timing related information. Even if PDBJeft has been used throughout the description herein, timing information could also be the queued time in the buffer i.e., the elapsed time since the packet entered the queue. In view of the modifications and variations herein, Figure 8 depicts a method performed by a communication device 12 configured for use in a communication network 10. The method comprises receiving, from the communication network 10, a message 18 that includes alternative configurations 20 of the communication device 12 (Block 800). The method also comprises receiving, from the communication network 10, signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 810). The method in some embodiments also comprises activating the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 (Block 820).

In some embodiments, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative configured grant, CG, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations. Alternatively, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative measurement gap configurations.

In some embodiments, each of the alternative configurations 20 is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

In some embodiments, each of the alternative configurations 20 is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

In some embodiments, when and/or how often the communication device 12 is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations 20 is activated.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations 20 is activated (Block 830).

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 is received upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In one or more embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic. In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 840). In other embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting signaling to the communication network 10 indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change (Block 850). Alternatively or additionally, in one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises determining, based on the detected change, a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate (Block 860). In one such embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting signaling indicating the recommendation to the communication network 10 (Block 880).

In some embodiments, then, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication network 10, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate.

In some embodiments, the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling from the communication network 10.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication network 10, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration 20.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is received via semi-static control signaling.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative RRC configurations.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is dynamic signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is physical layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is received at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device 12 than a layer at which the signaling 22 is received. In some embodiments, the message 18 is received before the signaling 22.

In some embodiments, the message 18 includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations 20. In some embodiments, the signaling 22 indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration 20 that the communication device 12 is to activate. In one or more of these embodiments, the identifiers for the alternative configurations 20 are indices for the alternative configurations 20 or positions of the alternative configurations 20 in a list.

In some embodiments, activating the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 comprises taking into use the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22.

In some embodiments, the message 18 indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 is a default configuration that the communication device 12 is to activate by default. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 indicates the communication device 12 is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device 12 is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 indicates when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20.

Figure 9 illustrates a method performed by a communication device 12 configured for use in a communication network 10 according to other embodiments. The method comprises detecting a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 900). The method also comprises transmitting signaling to the communication network 10 indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change (Block 910).

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In some embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

In some embodiments, the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling 22 from the communication network 10.

Figure 10 shows a method performed by a communication device 12 configured for use in a communication network 10 according to yet other embodiments. The method comprises receiving, from the communication network 10, a message 18 that includes alternative configurations 20 of the communication device 12 (Block 1000). The method also comprises transmitting, to the communication network 10, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate (Block 1010).

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations 20 is activated (Block 1020).

In some embodiments, the recommendation is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer. In one or more of these embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 1030). The method further comprises transmitting signaling to the communication network 10 indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change (Block 1040). In some embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12. The method further comprises determining the recommendation based on the detected change (Block 1060). In one or more of these embodiments, the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication network 10, signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1070). The method further comprises activating the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 (Block 1080). In some embodiments, the message 18 is received via semi-static control signaling. In some embodiments, the message 18 is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling. In some embodiments, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative RRC configurations. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is dynamic signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is physical layer signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is received at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device 12 than a layer at which the signaling is transmitted.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is received before the signaling is transmitted.

In some embodiments, the message 18 includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations 20. In some embodiments, the signaling indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration 20 that the communication device 12 should activate. In one or more of these embodiments, the identifiers for the alternative configurations 20 are indices for the alternative configurations 20 or positions of the alternative configurations 20 in a list. In one or more of these embodiments, activating the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 comprises taking into use the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22. In some embodiments, the message 18 indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 is a default configuration that the communication device 12 is to activate by default. In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling 22 indicates when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20. In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling 22 indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing user data and forwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to a base station.

Figure 11 shows a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network 10. The method comprises transmitting, to a communication device 12, a message 18 that includes alternative configurations 20 of the communication device 12 (Block 1100). The method also comprises transmitting, to the communication device 12, signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1110).

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations 20 is activated (Block 1120).

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In one or more embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 1130). Alternatively, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication device 12, signaling indicating the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 1140). In one or more embodiments, the received signaling indicates occurrence of the change and/or indicates a type of the change. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the change, determining which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1150). In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication device 12, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate (Block 1160). In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the recommendation, determining which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1170). In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling is included in a MAC CE. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication device 12, confirmation of receipt of the received signaling.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication device 12, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration 20.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted via semi-static control signaling.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling. In some embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device 12 than a layer at which the signaling 22 is transmitted.

In some embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted before the signaling 22.

In some embodiments, activation of the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 comprises taking into use the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22.

Figure 12 shows a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network 10 according to other embodiments. The method comprises receiving, from a communication device 12, signaling indicating occurrence of a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12, indicating a type of the change, and/or indicating the change (Block 1200).

In some embodiments, the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

In some embodiments, the received signaling 22 is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting confirmation of receipt of the received signaling (Block 1210).

Figure 13 shows a method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network 10 according to still other embodiments. The method comprises transmitting, to a communication device 12, a message 18 that includes alternative configurations 20 of the communication device 12 (Block 1300). The method also comprises receiving, from the communication device 12, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate (Block 1310).

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations 20 is activated (Block 1320).

In some embodiments, the recommendation is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include an average packet size of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include a frame rate of the user plane traffic. In other embodiments, the one or more characteristics additionally or alternatively include jitter of the user plane traffic. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more characteristics may include an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. In one or more of these embodiments, the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 1330). Alternatively, the method further comprises receiving, from the communication device 12, signaling indicating the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device 12 (Block 1340). In one or more of these embodiments, the received signaling indicates occurrence of the change and/or indicates a type of the change. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the change, determining which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1350).

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the recommendation, determining which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1360).

In some embodiments, the received signaling is included in a MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication device 12, confirmation of receipt of the received signaling.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication device 12, signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate (Block 1370).

In some embodiments, the alternative configurations 20 are alternative RRC configurations. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is dynamic signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is physical layer signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling. In one or more of these embodiments, the signaling 22 that indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE. In one or more of these embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device 12 than a layer at which the signaling 22 is transmitted. In one or more of these embodiments, the message 18 is transmitted before the signaling 22 is transmitted. In some embodiments, the message 18 includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations 20. In some embodiments, the received signaling indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations 20 the communication device 12 should activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration 20 that the communication device 12 should activate. In one or more of these embodiments, the identifiers for the alternative configurations 20 are indices for the alternative configurations 20 or positions of the alternative configurations 20 in a list. In some embodiments, activation of the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22 comprises taking into use the alternative configuration 20 indicated by the signaling 22. In some embodiments, the message 18 indicates which of the alternative configurations 20 is a default configuration that the communication device 12 is to activate by default. In one or more of these embodiments, the transmitted signaling 22 indicates when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20. In one or more of these embodiments, the transmitted signaling 22 indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device 12 is to activate the indicated alternative configuration 20.

Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatuses. Embodiments herein for instance include a communication device 12 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication device 12.

Embodiments also include a communication device 12 comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication device 12. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the communication device 12.

Embodiments further include a communication device 12 comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication device 12. In some embodiments, the communication device 12 further comprises communication circuitry.

Embodiments further include a communication device 12 comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the communication device 12 is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication device 12.

Embodiments moreover include a user equipment (UE). The UE comprises an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals. The UE also comprises radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication device 12. In some embodiments, the UE also comprises an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may comprise an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may also comprise a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

Embodiments herein also include a network node 14 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the network node 14.

Embodiments also include a network node 14 comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the network node 14. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the network node 14.

Embodiments further include a network node 14 comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the network node 14. In some embodiments, the network node 14 further comprises communication circuitry.

Embodiments further include a network node 14 comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network node 14 is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the network node 14.

More particularly, the apparatuses described above may perform the methods herein and any other processing by implementing any functional means, modules, units, or circuitry. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatuses comprise respective circuits or circuitry configured to perform the steps shown in the method figures. The circuits or circuitry in this regard may comprise circuits dedicated to performing certain functional processing and/or one or more microprocessors in conjunction with memory. For instance, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory may include program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In embodiments that employ memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, carries out the techniques described herein.

Figure 14 for example illustrates a communication device 12 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the communication device 12 includes processing circuitry 1410 and communication circuitry 1420. The communication circuitry 1420 (e.g., radio circuitry) is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas that are either internal or external to the wireless communication device 1400. The processing circuitry 1410 is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in Figure 8, 9, and/or 10, such as by executing instructions stored in memory 1430. The processing circuitry 1410 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

Figure 15 illustrates a network node 14 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the network node 1500 includes processing circuitry 1510 and communication circuitry 1520. The communication circuitry 1520 is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry 1510 is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in Figure 11 , 12, and/or 13, such as by executing instructions stored in memory 1530. The processing circuitry 1510 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs.

A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on at least one processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry out any of the respective processing described above. A computer program in this regard may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to the means or units described above.

Embodiments further include a carrier containing such a computer program. This carrier may comprise one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

In this regard, embodiments herein also include a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable (storage or recording) medium and comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform as described above.

Embodiments further include a computer program product comprising program code portions for performing the steps of any of the embodiments herein when the computer program product is executed by a computing device. This computer program product may be stored on a computer readable recording medium.

Figure 16 shows an example of a communication system 1600 in accordance with some embodiments.

In the example, the communication system 1600 includes a telecommunication network 1602 that includes an access network 1604, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network 1606, which includes one or more core network nodes 1608. The access network 1604 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 1610a and 1610b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1610), or any other similar 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access node or non-3GPP access point. The network nodes 1610 facilitate direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as by connecting UEs 1612a, 1612b, 1612c, and 1612d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1612) to the core network 1606 over one or more wireless connections.

Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system 1600 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system 1600 may include and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and/or other similar type of system.

The UEs 1612 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes 1610 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 1610 are arranged, capable, configured, and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UEs 1612 and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunication network 1602 to enable and/or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and/or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunication network 1602.

In the depicted example, the core network 1606 connects the network nodes 1610 to one or more hosts, such as host 1616. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network 1606 includes one more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 1608) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and/or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node 1608. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and/or a User Plane Function (UPF).

The host 1616 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 1604 and/or the telecommunication network 1602, and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host 1616 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio/video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

As a whole, the communication system 1600 of Figure 16 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and/or any low- power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

In some examples, the telecommunication network 1602 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Accordingly, the telecommunications network 1602 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunication network 1602. For example, the telecommunications network 1602 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and/or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC)/Massive loT services to yet further UEs.

In some examples, the UEs 1612 are configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network 1604 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 1604. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

In the example, the hub 1614 communicates with the access network 1604 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 1612c and/or 1612d) and network nodes (e.g., network node 1610b). In some examples, the hub 1614 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 1614 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 1606 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 1614 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 1610, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 1614. As another example, the hub 1614 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 1614 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub 1614 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub 1614 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and/or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 1614 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular in if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

The hub 1614 may have a constant/persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 1610b. The hub 1614 may also allow for a different communication scheme and/or schedule between the hub 1614 and UEs (e.g., UE 1612c and/or 1612d), and between the hub 1614 and the core network 1606. In other examples, the hub 1614 is connected to the core network 1606 and/or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 1614 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network 1604 and/or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 1610 while still connected via the hub 1614 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 1614 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to/from the UEs from/to the network node 1610b. In other embodiments, the hub 1614 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 1610b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and/or end point for certain data channels.

Figure 17 shows a UE 1700 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, a UE refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other UEs. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded/integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

A UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

The UE 1700 includes processing circuitry 1702 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1704 to an input/output interface 1706, a power source 1708, a memory 1710, a communication interface 1712, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 17. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

The processing circuitry 1702 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory 1710. The processing circuitry 1702 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1702 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

In the example, the input/output interface 1706 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and/or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into the UE 1700. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

In some embodiments, the power source 1708 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. The power source 1708 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 1708 itself, and/or an external power source, to the various parts of the UE 1700 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging of the power source 1708. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from the power source 1708 to make the power suitable for the respective components of the UE 1700 to which power is supplied.

The memory 1710 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory 1710 includes one or more application programs 1714, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1716. The memory 1710 may store, for use by the UE 1700, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

The memory 1710 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and/or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUlCC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory 1710 may allow the UE 1700 to access instructions, application programs and the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory 1710, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

The processing circuitry 1702 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using the communication interface 1712. The communication interface 1712 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1722. The communication interface 1712 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1718 and/or a receiver 1720 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 1718 and receiver 1720 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1722) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 1712 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented in according to one or more communication protocols and/or standards, such as IEEE 802.11 , Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface 1712, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

A UE, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door/window sensor, a flood/moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a head-mounted display for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and/or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the UE 1700 shown in Figure 17.

As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another UE and/or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and/or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

Figure 18 shows a network node 1800 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and/or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunication network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)).

Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Other examples of network nodes include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cel l/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and/or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

The network node 1800 includes a processing circuitry 1802, a memory 1804, a communication interface 1806, and a power source 1808. The network node 1800 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1800 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1800 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory 1804 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1810 may be shared by different RATs). The network node 1800 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1800, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 1800.

The processing circuitry 1802 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 1800 components, such as the memory 1804, to provide network node 1800 functionality.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1802 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1802 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1812 and baseband processing circuitry 1814. In some embodiments, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1812 and the baseband processing circuitry 1814 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1812 and baseband processing circuitry 1814 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units. The memory 1804 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry 1802. The memory 1804 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and/or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry 1802 and utilized by the network node 1800. The memory 1804 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 1802 and/or any data received via the communication interface 1806. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1802 and memory 1804 is integrated.

The communication interface 1806 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between a network node, access network, and/or UE. As illustrated, the communication interface 1806 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 1816 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. The communication interface 1806 also includes radio front-end circuitry 1818 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, the antenna 1810. Radio front-end circuitry 1818 comprises filters 1820 and amplifiers 1822. The radio front-end circuitry 1818 may be connected to an antenna 1810 and processing circuitry 1802. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1810 and processing circuitry 1802. The radio front-end circuitry 1818 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1818 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1820 and/or amplifiers 1822. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1810. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1810 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1818. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1802. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, the network node 1800 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1818, instead, the processing circuitry 1802 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna 1810. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 1812 is part of the communication interface 1806. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 1806 includes one or more ports or terminals 1816, the radio front-end circuitry 1818, and the RF transceiver circuitry 1812, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 1806 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 1814, which is part of a digital unit (not shown). The antenna 1810 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1810 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1818 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1810 is separate from the network node 1800 and connectable to the network node 1800 through an interface or port.

The antenna 1810, communication interface 1806, and/or the processing circuitry 1802 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1810, the communication interface 1806, and/or the processing circuitry 1802 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

The power source 1808 provides power to the various components of network node 1800 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 1808 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 1800 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 1800 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source 1808. As a further example, the power source 1808 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

Embodiments of the network node 1800 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 18 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node 1800 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 1800 and to allow output of information from the network node 1800. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 1800.

Figure 19 is a block diagram of a host 1900, which may be an embodiment of the host 1616 of Figure 16, in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, the host 1900 may be or comprise various combinations hardware and/or software, including a standalone server, a blade server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, a virtual machine, container, or processing resources in a server farm. The host 1900 may provide one or more services to one or more UEs. The host 1900 includes processing circuitry 1902 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1904 to an input/output interface 1906, a network interface 1908, a power source 1910, and a memory 1912. Other components may be included in other embodiments. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the devices of previous figures, such as Figures 17 and 18, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of host 1900.

The memory 1912 may include one or more computer programs including one or more host application programs 1914 and data 1916, which may include user data, e.g., data generated by a UE for the host 1900 or data generated by the host 1900 for a UE. Embodiments of the host 1900 may utilize only a subset or all of the components shown. The host application programs 1914 may be implemented in a container-based architecture and may provide support for video codecs (e.g., Versatile Video Coding (WC), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Advanced Video Coding (AVC), MPEG, VP9) and audio codecs (e.g., FLAG, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), MPEG, G.711), including transcoding for multiple different classes, types, or implementations of UEs (e.g., handsets, desktop computers, wearable display systems, heads-up display systems). The host application programs 1914 may also provide for user authentication and licensing checks and may periodically report health, routes, and content availability to a central node, such as a device in or on the edge of a core network. Accordingly, the host 1900 may select and/or indicate a different host for over-the-top services for a UE. The host application programs 1914 may support various protocols, such as the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol, Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH), etc.

Figure 20 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 2000 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments 2000 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized.

Applications 2002 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q400 to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Hardware 2004 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and/or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and/or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input/output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 2006 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs 2008a and 2008b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs 2008), and/or perform any of the functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 2006 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 2008.

The VMs 2008 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 2006. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 2002 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 2008, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, a VM 2008 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of the VMs 2008, and that part of hardware 2004 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and/or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs 2008 on top of the hardware 2004 and corresponds to the application 2002.

Hardware 2004 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 2004 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 2004 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration 2010, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 2002. In some embodiments, hardware 2004 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 2012 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

Figure 21 shows a communication diagram of a host 2102 communicating via a network node 2104 with a UE 2106 over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments. Example implementations, in accordance with various embodiments, of the UE (such as a UE 1612a of Figure 16 and/or UE 1700 of Figure 17), network node (such as network node 1610a of Figure 16 and/or network node 1800 of Figure 18), and host (such as host 1616 of Figure 16 and/or host 1900 of Figure 19) discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to Figure 21.

Like host 1900, embodiments of host 2102 include hardware, such as a communication interface, processing circuitry, and memory. The host 2102 also includes software, which is stored in or accessible by the host 2102 and executable by the processing circuitry. The software includes a host application that may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as the UE 2106 connecting via an over-the-top (OTT) connection 2150 extending between the UE 2106 and host 2102. In providing the service to the remote user, a host application may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 2150.

The network node 2104 includes hardware enabling it to communicate with the host 2102 and UE 2106. The connection 2160 may be direct or pass through a core network (like core network 1606 of Figure 16) and/or one or more other intermediate networks, such as one or more public, private, or hosted networks. For example, an intermediate network may be a backbone network or the Internet.

The UE 2106 includes hardware and software, which is stored in or accessible by UE 2106 and executable by the UE’s processing circuitry. The software includes a client application, such as a web browser or operator-specific “app” that may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE 2106 with the support of the host 2102. In the host 2102, an executing host application may communicate with the executing client application via the OTT connection 2150 terminating at the UE 2106 and host 2102. In providing the service to the user, the UE's client application may receive request data from the host's host application and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 2150 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The UE's client application may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides to the host application through the OTT connection 2150.

The OTT connection 2150 may extend via a connection 2160 between the host 2102 and the network node 2104 and via a wireless connection 2170 between the network node 2104 and the UE 2106 to provide the connection between the host 2102 and the UE 2106. The connection 2160 and wireless connection 2170, over which the OTT connection 2150 may be provided, have been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host 2102 and the UE 2106 via the network node 2104, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices.

As an example of transmitting data via the OTT connection 2150, in step 2108, the host 2102 provides user data, which may be performed by executing a host application. In some embodiments, the user data is associated with a particular human user interacting with the UE 2106. In other embodiments, the user data is associated with a UE 2106 that shares data with the host 2102 without explicit human interaction. In step 2110, the host 2102 initiates a transmission carrying the user data towards the UE 2106. The host 2102 may initiate the transmission responsive to a request transmitted by the UE 2106. The request may be caused by human interaction with the UE 2106 or by operation of the client application executing on the UE 2106. The transmission may pass via the network node 2104, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. Accordingly, in step 2112, the network node 2104 transmits to the UE 2106 the user data that was carried in the transmission that the host 2102 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 2114, the UE 2106 receives the user data carried in the transmission, which may be performed by a client application executed on the UE 2106 associated with the host application executed by the host 2102.

In some examples, the UE 2106 executes a client application which provides user data to the host 2102. The user data may be provided in reaction or response to the data received from the host 2102. Accordingly, in step 2116, the UE 2106 may provide user data, which may be performed by executing the client application. In providing the user data, the client application may further consider user input received from the user via an input/output interface of the UE 2106. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE 2106 initiates, in step 2118, transmission of the user data towards the host 2102 via the network node 2104. In step 2120, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 2104 receives user data from the UE 2106 and initiates transmission of the received user data towards the host 2102. In step 2122, the host 2102 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the UE 2106.

One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 2106 using the OTT connection 2150, in which the wireless connection 2170 forms the last segment.

In an example scenario, factory status information may be collected and analyzed by the host 2102. As another example, the host 2102 may process audio and video data which may have been retrieved from a UE for use in creating maps. As another example, the host 2102 may collect and analyze real-time data to assist in controlling vehicle congestion (e.g., controlling traffic lights). As another example, the host 2102 may store surveillance video uploaded by a UE. As another example, the host 2102 may store or control access to media content such as video, audio, VR or AR which it can broadcast, multicast or unicast to UEs. As other examples, the host 2102 may be used for energy pricing, remote control of non-time critical electrical load to balance power generation needs, location services, presentation services (such as compiling diagrams etc. from data collected from remote devices), or any other function of collecting, retrieving, storing, analyzing and/or transmitting data. In some examples, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 2150 between the host 2102 and UE 2106, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection may be implemented in software and hardware of the host 2102 and/or UE 2106. In some embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with other devices through which the OTT connection 2150 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 2150 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not directly alter the operation of the network node 2104. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling that facilitates measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like, by the host 2102. The measurements may be implemented in that software causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 2150 while monitoring propagation times, errors, etc.

Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and/or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware. In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and/or by end users and a wireless network generally.

Notably, modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Example embodiments of the techniques and apparatus described herein include, but are not limited to, the following enumerated examples:

Group A Embodiments

A1. A method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, from the communication network, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device; receiving, from the communication network, signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate; and activating the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

A2. The method of embodiment A1 , wherein the alternative configurations are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations.

A3. The method of embodiment A1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration. A4. The method of embodiment A1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

A5. The method of any of embodiments A1-A4, wherein when and/or how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

A6. The method of any of embodiments A1-A5, further comprising transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

A7. The method of any of embodiments A1-A6, wherein the signaling is received upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

A8. The method of embodiment A7, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

A9. The method of any of embodiments A7-A8, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

A10. The method of any of embodiments A7-A9, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

A11. The method of any of embodiments A7-A10, further comprising: detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; and transmitting signaling to the communication network indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change.

A12. The method of embodiment A11 , further comprising: determining, based on the detected change, a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate; and transmitting signaling indicating the recommendation to the communication network. A13. The method of any of embodiments A1-A12, further comprising transmitting, to the communication network, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

A14. The method of any of embodiments A11-A13, wherein the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

A15. The method of any of embodiments A11-A14, further comprising receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling from the communication network.

A16. The method of any of embodiments A1-A15, further comprising transmitting, to the communication network, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration.

A17. The method of any of embodiments A1-A16, wherein the message is received via semistatic control signaling.

A18. The method of any of embodiments A1-A17, wherein the message is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

A19. The method of any of embodiments A1-A18, wherein the alternative configurations are alternative RRC configurations.

A20. The method of any of embodiments A1-A19, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

A21. The method of any of embodiments A1-A20, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

A22. The method of any of embodiments A1-A21 , wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

A23. The method of any of embodiments A1-A20, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling. A24. The method of any of embodiments A1-A20 and A23, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

A25. The method of any of embodiments A1-A24, wherein the message is received at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is received.

A26. The method of any of embodiments A1-A25, wherein the message is received before the signaling.

A27. The method of any of embodiments A1-A26, wherein the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations, wherein the signaling indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device is to activate.

A28. The method of embodiment A27, wherein the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

A29. The method of any of embodiments A1-A28, wherein activating the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

A30. The method of any of embodiments A1-A29, wherein the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default.

A31. The method of embodiment A30, wherein the signaling indicates the communication device is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

A32. The method of any of embodiments A1-A31 , wherein the signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

A33. The method of embodiment A32, wherein the signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration. AA1. A method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: detecting a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; and transmitting signaling to the communication network indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change.

AA2. The method of embodiment AA1 , wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

AA3. The method of any of embodiments AA1-AA2, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

AA4. The method of any of embodiments AA1-AA3, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

AA5. The method of any of embodiments AA1-AA4, wherein the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

AA6. The method of any of embodiments AA1-AA5, further comprising receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling from the communication network.

AAA1. A method performed by a communication device configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, from the communication network, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device; and transmitting, to the communication network, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

AAA2. The method of embodiment AAA1, wherein the alternative configurations are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations. AAA3. The method of embodiment AAA1, wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

AAA4. The method of embodiment AAA1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

AAA5. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA4, wherein when and/or how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

AAA6. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA5, further comprising transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

AAA7. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA6, wherein the recommendation is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

AAA8. The method of embodiment AAA7, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

AAA9. The method of any of embodiments AAA7-AAA8, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

AAA10. The method of any of embodiments AAA7-AAA9, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

AAA11. The method of any of embodiments AAA7-AAA10, further comprising: detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; and transmitting signaling to the communication network indicating occurrence of the detected change, indicating a type of the detected change, and/or indicating the detected change.

AAA12. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA11 , further comprising: detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; and determining the recommendation based on the detected change.

AAA 13. Reserved.

AAA14. The method of any of embodiments AAA11-AAA13, wherein the transmitted signaling is included in a MAC CE.

AAA15. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA14, further comprising receiving confirmation of receipt of the transmitted signaling from the communication network.

AAA16. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA15, further comprising: receiving, from the communication network, signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate; and activating the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

AAA17. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA16, wherein the message is received via semi-static control signaling.

AAA18. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA17, wherein the message is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

AAA19. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA18, wherein the alternative configurations are alternative RRC configurations.

AAA20. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA19, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

AAA21. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA20, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

AAA22. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA21 , wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH. AAA23. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA20, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

AAA24. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA20 and AAA23, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

AAA25. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA24, wherein the message is received at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is transmitted.

AAA26. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA25, wherein the message is received before the signaling is transmitted.

AAA27. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA26, wherein the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations, wherein the signaling indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device should activate.

AAA28. The method of embodiment AAA27, wherein the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

AAA29. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA28, wherein activating the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

AAA30. The method of any of embodiments AAA1-AAA29, wherein the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default.

AAA31. Reserved.

AAA32. The method of any of embodiments AAA16-AAA31 , wherein the received signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration. AAA33. The method of embodiment AAA32, wherein the received signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

AA. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to a base station.

Group B Embodiments

B1. A method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a communication device, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device; and transmitting, to the communication device, signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

B2. The method of embodiment B1 , wherein the alternative configurations are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations.

B3. The method of embodiment B1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

B4. The method of embodiment B1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

B5. The method of any of embodiments B1-B4, wherein when and/or how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

B6. The method of any of embodiments B1-B5, further comprising transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated. B7. The method of any of embodiments B1-B6, wherein the signaling is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

B8. The method of embodiment B7, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

B9. The method of any of embodiments B7-B8, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

B10. The method of any of embodiments B7-B9, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

B11. The method of any of embodiments B7-B10, further comprising: detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; or receiving, from the communication device, signaling indicating the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

B12. The method of embodiment B11 , wherein the received signaling indicates occurrence of the change and/or indicates a type of the change.

B13. The method of any of embodiments B11-B12, further comprising, based on the change, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

B14. The method of any of embodiments B1-B13, further comprising receiving, from the communication device, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

B15. The method of embodiment B14, further comprising, based on the recommendation, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

B16. The method of any of embodiments B11-B14, wherein the received signaling is included in a MAC CE.

B17. The method of any of embodiments B11-B16, further comprising transmitting, to the communication device, confirmation of receipt of the received signaling. B18. The method of any of embodiments B1-B17, further comprising receiving, from the communication device, confirmation of activation of the indicated alternative configuration.

B19. The method of any of embodiments B1-B18, wherein the message is transmitted via semi-static control signaling.

B20. The method of any of embodiments B1-B19, wherein the message is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

B21. The method of any of embodiments B1-B20, wherein the alternative configurations are alternative RRC configurations.

B22. The method of any of embodiments B1-B21 , wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

B23. The method of any of embodiments B1-B22, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

B24. The method of any of embodiments B1-B23, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

B25. The method of any of embodiments B1-B21 , wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

B26. The method of any of embodiments B1-B21 and B25, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

B27. The method of any of embodiments B1-B26, wherein the message is transmitted at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is transmitted.

B28. The method of any of embodiments B1-B27, wherein the message is transmitted before the signaling. B29. The method of any of embodiments B1-B28, wherein the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations, wherein the signaling indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device is to activate.

B30. The method of embodiment B29, wherein the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

B31. The method of any of embodiments B1-B30, wherein activation of the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

B32. The method of any of embodiments B1-B31 , wherein the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default.

B33. The method of embodiment B32, wherein the signaling indicates the communication device is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

B34. The method of any of embodiments B1-B33, wherein the signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

B35. The method of embodiment B34, wherein the signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

BB1. A method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, from a communication device, signaling indicating occurrence of a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device, indicating a type of the change, and/or indicating the change.

BB2. The method of embodiment BB1, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic. BB3. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB2, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

BB4. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB3, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

BB5. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB4, wherein the received signaling is included in a MAC CE.

BB6. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB5, further comprising transmitted confirmation of receipt of the received signaling.

BBB1. A method performed by a network node configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a communication device, a message that includes alternative configurations of the communication device; and receiving, from the communication device, signaling indicating a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate.

BBB2. The method of embodiment BBB1 , wherein the alternative configurations are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations.

BBB3. The method of embodiment BBB1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

BBB4. The method of embodiment BBB1, wherein each of the alternative configurations is a combination of configurations for two or more features.

BBB5. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB4, wherein when and/or how often the communication device is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated. BBB6. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB5, further comprising transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations is activated.

BBB7. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB6, wherein the recommendation is transmitted upon a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

BBB8. The method of embodiment BBB7, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic, an average packet size of the user plane traffic, a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic, a frame rate of the user plane traffic, jitter of the user plane traffic, and/or an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic.

BBB9. The method of any of embodiments BBB7-BBB8, wherein the one or more characteristics include a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

BBB10. The method of any of embodiments BBB7-BBB9, wherein the user plane traffic is extended Reality, XR, traffic.

BBB11. The method of any of embodiments BBB7-BBB10, further comprising: detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device; or receiving, from the communication device, signaling indicating the change in the one or more characteristics of user plane traffic for the communication device.

BBB12. The method of embodiment BBB11 , wherein the received signaling indicates occurrence of the change and/or indicates a type of the change.

BBB13. The method of any of embodiments BBB11-BBB12, further comprising, based on the change, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

BBB14. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB13, further comprising, based on the recommendation, determining which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

BBB15. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB14, wherein the received signaling is included in a MAC CE. BBB16. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB15, further comprising transmitting, to the communication device, confirmation of receipt of the received signaling.

BBB17. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB16, further comprising transmitting, to the communication device, signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate.

BBB18. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB17, wherein the message is transmitted via semi-static control signaling.

BBB19. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB18, wherein the message is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

BBB20. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB19, wherein the alternative configurations are alternative RRC configurations.

BBB21. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is dynamic signaling.

BBB22. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is physical layer signaling.

BBB23. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is downlink control information, DCI, on a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH.

BBB24. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is medium access control, MAC, signaling.

BBB25. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the signaling that indicates which of the alternative configurations the communication device is to activate is included in a MAC control element, CE.

BBB26. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the message is transmitted at a higher layer of a protocol stack of the communication device than a layer at which the signaling is transmitted. BBB27. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the message is transmitted before the signaling is transmitted.

BBB28. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB27, wherein the message includes respective identifiers for the alternative configurations, wherein the received signaling indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations the communication device should activate by indicating the identifier for the alternative configuration that the communication device should activate.

BBB29. The method of embodiment BBB28, wherein the identifiers for the alternative configurations are indices for the alternative configurations or positions of the alternative configurations in a list.

BBB30. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB29, wherein activation of the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling comprises taking into use the alternative configuration indicated by the signaling.

BBB31. The method of any of embodiments BBB1-BBB30, wherein the message indicates which of the alternative configurations is a default configuration that the communication device is to activate by default.

BBB32. The method of embodiment BBB17, wherein the transmitted signaling indicates when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

BBB33. The method of embodiment BBB32, wherein the transmitted signaling indicates a starting time offset indicating when the communication device is to activate the indicated alternative configuration.

BB. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising: obtaining user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer or a communication device.

Group C Embodiments

C1. A communication device configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C2. A communication device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

C3. A communication device comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

C4. A communication device comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the communication device.

C5. A communication device comprising: processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the communication device is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

C6. The communication device of any of embodiments C1-C5, wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device.

C7. A user equipment (UE) comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

C8. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a communication device, causes the communication device to carry out the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C9. A carrier containing the computer program of embodiment C7, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

C10. A network node configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

C11. A network node comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

C12. A network node comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

C13. A network node comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments; power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the network node.

C14. A network node comprising: processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network node is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

C15. The network node of any of embodiments C10-C14, wherein the network node is a base station.

C16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a network node, causes the network node to carry out the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

C17. The computer program of embodiment C16, wherein the network node is a base station.

C18. A carrier containing the computer program of any of embodiments C16-C17, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium. Group D Embodiments

D1. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE), wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

D2. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station.

D3. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

D4. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

D5. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the base station performs any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

D6. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the base station, transmitting the user data.

D7. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the UE, executing a client application associated with the host application.

D8. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the previous 3 embodiments. D9. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE’s components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

D10. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

D11. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

D12. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

D13. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.

D14. A communication system including a host computer comprising: communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

D15. The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the UE. D16. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.

D17. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

D18. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

D19. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

D20. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.

D21. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

D22. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application; and at the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application, wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data. D23. A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

D24. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station.

D25. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

D26. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer.

D27. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

D28. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.

D29. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

ABBREVIATIONS

At least some of the following abbreviations may be used in this disclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations, preference should be given to how it is used above. If listed multiple times below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequent listing(s). eMBB Enhanced Mobile Broadband

URLLC Ultra-reliable low-latency communications mMTC Massive Machine Type Communications

NR New Radio xR extended Radio

VR Virtual Reality

AR Augmented Reality

MR Mixed Reality

TTI Transmission Time Interval

RAN Radio Access Network

Fps Frames Per Second

TB Transport Block

IP Internet Protocol

VoIP Voice over IP

PDU Protocol Data Unit

QFI QoS Flow ID

QoS Quality of Service

SMF Session Management Function

PDR Packet Detection Rules

ARP Allocation and Retetion Priority

UL Uplink

DL Downlink

SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

DRB Data Radio Bearer

UPF User Plane Function

AS Access Stratrum

NAS Non-access Stratrum

LCID Logical Channel Identity

LCG Logical Channel Group

PDU Protocol Data Unit

SDU Service Data Unit

DG Delay group

PDB Packet Delay Budget

BSR Buffer Status Report

ADU Application Data Unit 1x RTT CDMA2000 1x Radio Transmission Technology

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

5G 5th Generation

6G 6^th Generation

ABS Almost Blank Subframe

ARQ Automatic Repeat Request

AWGN Additive White Gaussian Noise

BCCH Broadcast Control Channel BCH Broadcast Channel

CA Carrier Aggregation

CC Carrier Component

CCCH SDU Common Control Channel SDU

CDMA Code Division Multiplexing Access

CGI Cell Global Identifier

CIR Channel Impulse Response

CP Cyclic Prefix

CPICH Common Pilot Channel

CPICH Ec/No CPICH Received energy per chip divided by the power density in the band

CQI Channel Quality information

C-RNTI Cell RNTI

CSI Channel State Information

DCCH Dedicated Control Channel

DL Downlink

DM Demodulation

DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal

DRX Discontinuous Reception

DTX Discontinuous Transmission

DTCH Dedicated Traffic Channel

DUT Device Under Test

E-CID Enhanced Cell-1 D (positioning method) eMBMS evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services

E-SMLC Evolved-Serving Mobile Location Centre ECGI Evolved CGI eNB E-UTRAN NodeB ePDCCH Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel

E-SMLC Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center

E-UTRA Evolved UTRA E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN FDD Frequency Division Duplex FFS For Further Study gNB Base station in NR GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request HO Handover HSPA High Speed Packet Access HRPD High Rate Packet Data LOS Line of Sight

LPP LTE Positioning Protocol

LTE Long-Term Evolution

MAC Medium Access Control

MAC Message Authentication Code

MBSFN Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network

MBSFN ABS MBSFN Almost Blank Subframe

MDT Minimization of Drive Tests

MIB Master Information Block

MME Mobility Management Entity

MSC Mobile Switching Center

NPDCCH Narrowband Physical Downlink Control Channel

NR New Radio

OCNG OFDMA Channel Noise Generator

OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access

OSS Operations Support System

OTDOA Observed Time Difference of Arrival

O&M Operation and Maintenance

PBCH Physical Broadcast Channel

P-CCPCH Primary Common Control Physical Channel

PCell Primary Cell

PCFICH Physical Control Format Indicator Channel

PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

PDP Power Delay Profile

PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel

PGW Packet Gateway

PHICH Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel

PLMN Public Land Mobile Network

PMI Precoder Matrix Indicator

PRACH Physical Random Access Channel

PRS Positioning Reference Signal

PSS Primary Synchronization Signal

PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

RACH Random Access Channel

QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

RAN Radio Access Network RAT Radio Access Technology

RLC Radio Link Control

RLM Radio Link Management

RNC Radio Network Controller

RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identifier

RRC Radio Resource Control

RRM Radio Resource Management

RS Reference Signal

RSCP Received Signal Code Power

RSRP Reference Symbol Received Power OR Reference Signal Received Power

RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality OR Reference Symbol Received Quality

RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator

RSTD Reference Signal Time Difference

SCH Synchronization Channel

SCell Secondary Cell

SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

SDU Service Data Unit

SFN System Frame Number

SGW Serving Gateway

SI System Information

SIB System Information Block

SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

SON Self Optimized Network

SS Synchronization Signal

SSS Secondary Synchronization Signal

TDD Time Division Duplex

TDOA Time Difference of Arrival

TOA Time of Arrival

TSS Tertiary Synchronization Signal

TTI Transmission Time Interval

UE User Equipment

UL Uplink

USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module

UTDOA Uplink Time Difference of Arrival

WCDMA Wide CDMA

WLAN Wide Local Area Network

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method performed by a communication device (12) configured for use in a communication network (10), the method comprising: receiving (800), from the communication network (10), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); detecting (840) a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12); transmitting (850) signaling (22) to the communication network (10) that indicates: occurrence of the detected change, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; receiving (810), from the communication network (10), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and activating (820) the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternative configurations (20) are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the alternative configurations (20) is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein when and/or how often the communication device (12) is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic (16) depends on which of the alternative configurations (20) is activated, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic (16) with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations (20) is activated.

5. The method of any of claims 1-4, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic (16), an average packet size of the user plane traffic (16), a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic (16), a frame rate of the user plane traffic (16), jitter of the user plane traffic (16), an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic (16), and/or a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

6. The method of any of claims 1-5, wherein the transmitted signaling (22) indicates occurrence of the detected change, the type of the detected change, and/or the detected change.

7. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein the transmitted signaling (22) indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate.

8. The method of any of claims 1-7, wherein the transmitted signaling (22) is medium access control, MAC, signaling or physical layer signaling.

9. The method of any of claims 1-8, wherein the message (18) is received via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, and wherein the alternative configurations (20) are alternative RRC configurations.

10. The method of any of claims 1-9, wherein activating the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22) comprises taking into use the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22).

11. The method of any of claims 1-10, wherein the message (18) indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) is a default configuration that the communication device (12) is to activate by default, and wherein the received signaling (22) indicates the communication device (12) is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device (12) is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

12. The method of any of claims 1-11 , wherein the received signaling (22) further indicates when the communication device (12) is to activate the indicated alternative configuration (20).

13. A method performed by a network node (14) configured for use in a communication network (10), the method comprising: transmitting (1100), to a communication device (12), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); receiving (1140), from the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates: occurrence of a change detected by the communication device (12) in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12), a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; based on the received signaling (22), determining (1170) which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and transmitting (1110), to the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate, as determined by the network node (14).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the alternative configurations (20) are: alternative discontinuous reception, DRX, configurations; alternative configured grant, CG, configurations; alternative semi-persistent scheduling, SPS, configurations; or alternative measurement gap configurations.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the alternative configurations (20) is a combination of two or more of: a DRX configuration, a CG configuration, an SPS configuration, and a measurement gap configuration.

16. The method of any of claims 13-15, wherein when and/or how often the communication device (12) is able to transmit and/or receive user plane traffic (16) depends on which of the alternative configurations (20) is activated, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting and/or receiving user plane traffic (16) with timing that depends on which of the alternative configurations (20) is activated.

17. The method of any of claims 13-16, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of: a periodicity of the user plane traffic (16), an average packet size of the user plane traffic (16), a packet delay budget of the user plane traffic (16), a frame rate of the user plane traffic (16), jitter of the user plane traffic (16), an application data unit quality of service for the user plane traffic (16), and/or a periodicity of packet generation at an application layer.

18. The method of any of claims 13-17, wherein the received signaling (22) indicates occurrence of the detected change, the type of the detected change, and/or the detected change.

19. The method of any of claims 13-18, wherein the received signaling (22) indicates the recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate.

20. The method of any of claims 13-19, wherein the received signaling (22) is medium access control, MAC, signaling or physical layer signaling.

21. The method of any of claims 13-20, wherein the message (18) is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, and wherein the alternative configurations (20) are alternative RRC configurations.

22. The method of any of claims 13-21, wherein the communication device (12) is to activate the alternative configuration (20) by taking into use the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the transmitted signaling (22).

23. The method of any of claims 13-22, wherein the message (18) indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) is a default configuration that the communication device (12) is to activate by default, and wherein the transmitted signaling (22) indicates the communication device (12) is to activate the default configuration by indicating that the communication device (12) is to deactivate a currently active configuration.

24. The method of any of claims 13-23, wherein the transmitted signaling (22) further indicates when the communication device (12) is to activate the indicated alternative configuration (20).

25. A communication device (12) configured for use in a communication network (10), the communication device (12) configured to: receive, from the communication network (10), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); detect a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12); transmit signaling (22) to the communication network (10) that indicates: occurrence of the detected change, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; receive, from the communication network (10), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and activate the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22).

26. The communication device (12) of claim 25, configured to perform the method of any of claims 2-12.

27. A network node (14) configured for use in a communication network (10), the network node (14) configured to: transmit, to a communication device (12), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); receive, from the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates: occurrence of a change detected by the communication device (12) in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12), a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; based on the received signaling (22), determine which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and transmit, to the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate, as determined by the network node (14).

28. The network node (14) of claim 27, configured to perform the method of any of claims 14-24.

29. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a communication device (12), causes the communication device (12) to perform the method of any of claims 1-12.

30. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a network node (14), causes the network node (14) to perform the method of any of claims 13-24.

31. A carrier containing the computer program of any of claims 29-30, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

32. A communication device (12) configured for use in a communication network (10), the communication device (12) comprising: communication circuitry (1420); and processing circuitry (1410) configured to: receive, from the communication network (10), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); detect a change in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12); transmit signaling (22) to the communication network (10) that indicates: occurrence of the detected change, a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; receive, from the communication network (10), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and activate the alternative configuration (20) indicated by the received signaling (22).

33. The communication device (12) of claim 32, wherein the processing circuitry (1410) is configured to perform the method of any of claims 2-12.

34. A network node (14) configured for use in a communication network (10), the network node (14) comprising: communication circuitry (1520); and processing circuitry (1510) configured to: transmit, to a communication device (12), a message (18) that includes alternative configurations (20) of the communication device (12); receive, from the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates: occurrence of a change detected by the communication device (12) in one or more characteristics of user plane traffic (16) for the communication device (12), a type of the detected change, and/or the detected change; and/or a recommendation of which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) should activate, as determined by the communication device (12) based on the detected change; based on the received signaling (22), determine which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate; and transmit, to the communication device (12), signaling (22) that indicates which of the alternative configurations (20) the communication device (12) is to activate, as determined by the network node (14). work node (14) of claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry (1510) is configured method of any of claims 14-24.