WO2025233232A1

WO2025233232A1 - Methods, communications devices, and infrastructure equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2025233232A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/062023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Warwick Beale; Shin Horng Wong; Basuki PRIYANTO; Samuel Asangbeng Atungsiri
Original assignee: Sony Europe Ltd; Sony Group Corp
Current assignee: Sony Europe BV United Kingdom Branch; Sony Group Corp
Priority date: 2024-05-10
Filing date: 2025-05-01
Publication date: 2025-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-10

Abstract

A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises transmitting, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment. The first set of uplink repetitions comprises a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions. The method comprises transmitting, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions. The time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions. The first OCC group and the second OCC group comprise at least one other communications device. The at least one other communications device in the first OCC group is different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Description

METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT

BACKGROUND Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to communications devices and infrastructure equipment of wireless communications networks and methods of operating such communications devices and infrastructure equipment.

The present application claims Paris Convention priority from European patent application number EP24175276.5, filed on 10 May 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Description of Related Art

The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

Previous generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles / characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different consideration may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of an NR-type wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of applying OCCs to uplink repetitions transmitted by communications devices with no Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO);

Figure 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of decoding uplink repetitions with OCC applied transmitted by communications devices with no CFO;

Figure 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of applying OCCs to uplink repetitions transmitted by communications devices with CFO;

Figure 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of decoding uplink repetitions with OCC applied transmitted by communications devices with CFO;

Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network in accordance with example embodiments;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating switching the OCC group of a communications device within an uplink transmission;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating switching the OCC group of a communications device within an uplink transmission.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2, which may be for example an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e., a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Communications devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e., page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

Base stations, which are an example of infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, eNodeBs, eNB, gNodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

New Radio Access Technology (5G)

Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and/or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb/s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2/3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2/3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10-5 (99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2],

An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, has a coverage area 12 where the aggregate of the coverage areas under the control of the DU forms a cell. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the coverage areas 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 (which may be for example referred to as 5GC) which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 30.

The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may he with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the central unit 40 in the coverage area 12 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the coverage area 12.

It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures. Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a coverage area 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G/NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the F 1 interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with 3GPP technical specifications [3] and [4], and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

As will be appreciated by those acquainted with 5G architecture, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocols, Service Data Adaptation Protocols (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocols (PDCP) of a gNB. Alternatively, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts RRC and PDCP protocols of an en-gNB (which is a gNB that is able to connect with both EPC and eNBs and can be understood as being, for example, a secondary node (SgNB) used in dual connectivity scenarios). The CU 40 partly controls the operation of one or more DUs 40 and terminates the Fl interface 46 for the DUs that it controls. The DU 42 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Eink Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers of a gNB or en-gNB. The operation of the DU 42 is partly controlled by the CU 40 for which the DU 42 terminates the F 1 interface 46.

Although not shown in Figures 2 or 3, it will be familiar to those acquainted with 5G architecture that the CU 40 may be further split into a CU-CP which performs the control plane functions of the CU 40 and a CU-UP which performs the user plane functions of the CU 40 (see for example, [5]). In more detail, the CU-CP may be a logical node hosting an RRC protocol and a control plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for the gNB or en-gNB. The CU-CP terminates an El interface connected with the CU-UP and an Fl-C interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the Fl-C interface carries control plane signalling of the Fl interface 46. The CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for an en-gNB. Alternatively, the CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of the PDCP protocol and an SDAP protocol of the CU 40 for a gNB. The CU-UP terminates an El interface connected with the CU-CP and an Fl-U interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the Fl-U interface carries user plane signalling of the Fl interface 46.

A constant objective in wireless communications is to increase the capacity, efficiency and reliability of communications in wireless communications networks. Increasing communications efficiency includes efficiently using physical resources (i.e. time and frequency resources) for transmitting wireless communications. One way of increasing wireless communications efficiency is to “multiplex” transmissions. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, multiplexing means using the same physical resources for different transmissions. Furthermore, one way to increase reliability is to transmit transmissions as “repetitions” or repeated transmissions to increase the likelihood that at least one of the repetitions will be successfully received or that the sum of the repetitions will be successfully received. As will be explained in more detail below, recent proposals suggest applying orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) to uplink repetitions and then multiplexing the encoded uplink repetitions. The application of OCCs enables data transmitted by different devices in the multiplexed signal to be retrieved at the receiver end.

Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC)

The Internet of Things Non-Terrestrial Network (loT-NTN) work item description (WID) [6] describes the justification on the need for uplink capacity enhancement:

NB-IoT NTN is already being deployed in current wireless communications networks. In these early and upcoming deployments, it is clearly emerging that loT-NTN, in particular NB-IoT, will have to support massive capacity in terms of number and types of UE, some of which with worse characteristics than others (e.g. low cost devices, wearables, etc). Multiplexing of UEs by usage of orthogonal cover codes (OCC) for NPUSCH format 1 and NPRACH should therefore be studied and, if beneficial, specified.

Furthermore, the Internet of Things Non-Terrestrial Network (loT-NTN) work item description (WID) [6] has the following objectives:

• Support of Capacity enhancements for uplink

— Study then specify, if beneficial, enhancements to enable multiplexing of uplink transmissions from multiple UEs (e.g. up to the min of 4 and the maximum allowed by the existing UL and DL signalling) in a single 3.75 kHz or 15 kHz subcarrier via orthogonal cover codes (OCC) for NPUSCH format 1 and NPRACH [RANI, RAN2]; — Multi-tone support for 15 kHz SCS should also be considered; Note: The impact of impairment is expected to be taken into account.

Therefore, as mentioned above, a topic of interest in the support of capacity enhancements for uplink includes the multiplexing of uplink transmissions from multiple UEs using OCC. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the use of OCCs increases uplink capacity by multiplexing uplink transmissions from multiple UEs on the same physical resources (i.e. time and frequency resources). OCC requires uplink transmissions to be “spread”. In other words, OCC requires uplink transmissions to comprise a set of uplink repetitions.

Figure 4A schematically illustrates an example of applying OCCs. In Figure 4A, UEO spreads an uplink signal “A” across two time resource units (such as a subframe) to form a first set of two uplink repetitions. UEO applies an OCC of (1,1) to the uplink repetitions in the first set to form two encoded uplink repetitions labelled “+A” to represent the effect of applying OCC (1, 1) as shown. In other words, a first time resource unit of the time resource units comprises an encoded uplink repetition labelled “+A” and a second time resource unit of the time resource units comprises an encoded uplink repetition labelled “+A”. UE1 spreads an uplink signal “B” across the two time resource units (such as a subframe) to form a second set of two uplink repetitions. UE1 applies an OCC of (1,-1) to the uplink repetitions in the second set to form two encoded uplink repetitions with the encoded uplink repetition in the first time resource unit being labelled “+B” and the encoded uplink repetition in the second time resource unit being labelled “-B” to represent the effect of applying OCC(1,-1) as shown. As will be appreciated, OCC(1,1) is orthogonal to OCC(1,-1). The encoded uplink repetitions from the first set are transmitted together in the first time resource unit while the encoded uplink repetitions from the second set are transmitted together in the second time resource unit. The transmissions from UEO and UE1 are transmitted at the same time and are hence combined at the eNB receive antenna due to the superposition of the signals at the receive antenna, producing a multiplexed uplink signal. In particular, “+A” is combined with “+B” in the first time resource unit to produce “A+B” and “+A” is combined with “-B” in the second time resource unit to produce “A-B”.

Figure 4B schematically illustrates an example of decoding OCCs. In Figure 4B, infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network (such as gNB or eNB, for example) receives the multiplexed uplink signal produced according to Figure 4A. The infrastructure equipment uses the OCC applied to the set of uplink repetitions (i.e. (1,1)) from UEO to decode the multiplexed uplink signal to retrieve “2A” as shown. The infrastructure equipment uses the OCC applied to the set of uplink repetitions (i.e. (1,-1)) from UE1 to decode the multiplexed uplink signal to retrieve “2B” as shown.

Accordingly, the procedure described with reference to Figure 4A and Figure 4B allows signals A from UEO and B from UE1 to be retrieved perfectly while permitting the sharing of physical (i.e. time and frequency) resources. As will be appreciated, the procedure described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B assumes there are no imperfections in the transmitter or receiver. However, one significant imperfection which exists in real transmitters and receivers is carrier frequency offsets (CFO). CFO can lead to phase rotation and loss of receiver orthogonality. This negatively impacts reception performance and limits the length of an OCC that can be used in practice.

Figures 5A schematically illustrates an example of applying OCCs when CFO is present. Figure 5A is based on Figure 4A so only the differences will be explained for brevity. In Figure 5A, CFO of UE1 causes phase rotation in the second time resource unit comprising the encoded uplink repetition labelled “-B”. The term “e^J0” represents the effect of the phase rotation on the encoded uplink repetition so that the phase rotated encoded uplink repetition is labelled " — Be⁷⁰”. As shown in Figure 5A, the encoded uplink repetitions from the first set and the encoded uplink repetitions from the second set are combined to produce a multiplexed uplink signal at the eNB receive antenna, as described above. In particular, in the combined signal at the input of the infrastructure equipment receiver, “+A” is combined with “+B” in the first time resource unit to produce “A+B” in the first time resource unit and “+A” is combined with " — Be)⁰” in the second resource time unit to produce “A— Be)⁰” in the second time resource unit.

Figure 5B schematically illustrates an example of decoding OCCs when CFO is present. In Figure 5B, infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network (such as gNB) receives the multiplexed uplink signal produced according to Figure 5A. The infrastructure equipment uses the OCC applied to the UEO uplink repetitions (i.e. (1,1)) to decode the multiplexed uplink signal to obtain “2A+B(1— e)⁰)” as shown. The term “B(l — e)⁰)”may be regarded as an interference to the reception of the UL transmission from UEO. The infrastructure equipment uses the OCC applied to the UEluplink repetitions (i.e. (1,-1)) to decode the multiplexed uplink signal to obtain “B(l+e)⁰)” = “B+Be)⁰” as shown. The term Be)⁰ may also be regarded as interference (or an imperfection) to the reception of the UL transmission from UE1.

As will be appreciated from Figures 5A and 5B, the presence of CFO causes phase rotation which in turn makes it more difficult to successfully extract signals A and B multiplexed from the two UEs. The issue of CFO may become more problematic for low cost devices that have lower frequency accuracy, leading to greater CFO and higher phase rotation errors. Furthermore, as higher carrier frequencies are used, the CFO may become larger for a given percentage CFO. For example, for a UE operating with 0. Ippm frequency accuracy, the CFO is 200Hz at 2GHz and 400Hz at 4GHz. Hence, OCC are harder to apply at higher carrier frequencies.

Accordingly, when OCC is applied to two or more UEs, the orthogonality of OCCs degrades as time passes due to a frequency offset errors of the UEs. Sources of the frequency offset errors may include the CFO of each UE’s local oscillator and the presence of Doppler in each UE. The frequency offset error due to Doppler may be reduced using pre-compensation schemes from Release 17 of the 3GPP standards relating to NTN, for example. As will be appreciated, for a group of two UEs, a worst case scenario occurs when one UE has the maximum positive CFO and the another UE has the maximum negative CFO. The maximum length of the OCC able to be used (and hence the maximum multiplexing gain) is limited by this worst case scenario.

As explained previously, the use of OCCs increases uplink capacity by multiplexing uplink transmissions from multiple UEs on the same physical resources (i.e. time and frequency resources). This improves communications efficiency. However, the presence of frequency offset errors such as CFO means that the length of OCCs are currently limited and uplink transmissions may be received which are unable to be successfully decoded due to the presence of the frequency offset errors. This means that physical resources may be wasted.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved infrastructure equipment, communications device and methods which can provide improved communications efficiency and some resilience to frequency offset errors.

Although Figures 4A, B and Figures 5A, B have been described with reference to a set of two repetitions, this is for ease of explanation only and it will be appreciated that more than two repetitions may be used. Although Figures 4A, B and Figures 5A, B have been described with reference to length-2 Walsh codes (i.e. (1,1) and (1,-1)), this is for ease of explanation only and it will be appreciated that other lengths and types of OCCs may be used such as Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) codes.

Although the issue of CFO in OCC is currently being studied for NTN use cases, specifically for loT- NTN, this issue applies equally to terrestrial networks.

Switching OCC Groups within an Uplink Transmission

In view of the above, there is provided a method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network as illustrated in Figure 6. The infrastructure equipment may be a gNB or eNB, for example.

The method starts in step S 1.

In step S2, the method comprises transmitting, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment. The first set of uplink repetitions comprise a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions. The first communications device may broadly correspond to communications device 14 and may be a UE, for example. The infrastructure equipment may perform the assignment of the time and frequency resources for the first uplink transmission.

In some embodiments, the indication of the time the time and frequency resources for the first uplink transmission is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment in Downlink Control Information (DCI).

In some embodiments, the uplink transmission consists only of the first and second subset of uplink repetitions. In some embodiments, the uplink transmission comprises one or more further subsets in addition to the first and second subsets.

In some embodiments, the uplink transmission is a PUSCH.

In step S3, the method comprises transmitting, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions.

In some embodiments, the indication of the time and frequency resources for the first uplink transmission and the indication of the assigned OCC may be transmitted in the same signal (such as DCI). In other embodiments, the indication of the time and frequency resources for the first uplink transmission and the indication of the assigned OCC may be transmitted in different signals.

The first communications device can apply the first OCC to the first set of uplink transmissions of the uplink transmission, and transmit the uplink transmission on the assigned time and frequency resources. The time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions. The first OCC group and the second OCC group comprise at least one other communications device. The at least one other communications device in the first OCC group is different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

In some embodiments, the first OCC group and the second OCC group are OCC pairs. In such embodiments, when the first communications device is in the first OCC group, there is one other communications device in the first OCC group and, when the first communications device is in the second OCC group, there is one other communications device in the second OCC group.

The method ends in step S5.

As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the relative order of the steps in Figure 6 may be interchanged in any logical order. Furthermore, additional steps may occur before, after or intermediate to illustrates steps S1-S5. Furthermore, steps S2 and S3 may form part of the same step in some embodiments, for example, where the indication of the time and frequency resources and the indication of the assigned OCC are transmitted in the same signal.

Example embodiments can provide arrangements where a communications device is switched between OCC groups to increase the probability that the communications device will be placed in an OCC group with another communications device which has a similar CFO and therefore reduces the effect of CFO on the orthogonality of OCCs assigned to the communications devices. Alternatively stated, embodiments have the effect of changing (for example randomising) the mismatch between the CFOs of UEs such that a UE is not consistently paired with another UE that has a poorly matched CFO. Accordingly, decoding performance is improved. This improves communications efficiency and may provide for longer OCCs without loss of orthogonality.

In some embodiments, the second OCC group is randomly selected from a plurality of OCC groups which do not include the first OCC group. Each of the plurality of OCC groups from which the second OCC group is selected comprises at least one communications device which is different from the first communications device. This is particularly advantageous when the CFO of the communications devices in each OCC is not known.

In some embodiments, the time and frequency resources may be assigned such that the first communications device alternates between belonging to the first OCC group and the second OCC group. For example, the first set of uplink repetitions may comprise a third subset and a fourth subset, and the first communications device may belong to the first OCC group for transmitting the third subset and belong to the second OCC group for transmitting the fourth subset.

Although example embodiments below refer to UEs, it will be appreciated that example embodiments are more broadly applicable to communications devices.

Although reference below is made to Walsh codes, it will be appreciated that example embodiments are more generally applicable to all OCCs including, for example, DFT codes.

It will be appreciated that an OCC group is a group of communications devices which use the same time and frequency resources for transmitting uplink repetitions and each of the communications devices in the OCC group apply a different OCC to the uplink repetitions transmitted by that communications device. The OCC assigned to each of the communications devices in an OCC group are each orthogonal to each other. After applying OCC, each communications device in the OCC group transmits uplink repetitions which are therefore multiplexed. An example of an OCC group is an OCC pair (which is an OCC group consisting of two communications devices). Although example embodiments will be described below which refer to an “OCC pair” it will be appreciated that this is just one example of an “OCC group” and that an OCC group may generally comprise two or more communications devices.

Switching of Frequency Resources

In some embodiments, the frequency resources assigned for the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are different from the frequency resources assigned for the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions. An example is schematically illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 7 illustrates time and frequency resources assigned to four different UEs, namely, UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3, by infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network which is a receiver of uplink repetitions transmitted by the four UEs. In the example of Figure 7, each of the four UEs are assigned time and frequency resources for each of the UEs to transmit an uplink transmission comprising a set of four uplink repetitions.

As shown in Figure 7, the uplink repetitions are distributed amongst four time resource units (such as a subframe) where each time resource unit has a duration 714. For example, the time resource unit may be a subframe, a slot, a symbol, or a set of symbols. The first time resource unit comprises the first uplink repetition transmitted by UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3, the second time resource unit comprises the second uplink repetition transmitted by UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3, the third time resource unit comprises the third uplink repetition transmitted by UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3 and the fourth time resource unit comprises the fourth uplink repetition transmitted by UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3

As shown, UEO is assigned time and frequency resources for transmitting a set of four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO. UEO has been assigned Walsh code (1, -1). Therefore, the four repetitions transmitted by UEO are encoded as +1, -1, +1 and -1 in the first, second, third and fourth time resource units respectively.

As shown, UE1 is assigned time and frequency resources for transmitting a set of four uplink repetitions. However, a subset of two of the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE1 are transmitted on subcarrier SCO while another subset of two of the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE1 are transmitted on subcarrier SC 1. In this example, a first of the uplink repetitions and a second of the uplink repetitions are transmitted on SCO in the first and second time resource units respectively, and a third and a fourth of the uplink repetitions are transmitted on SCI in the third and fourth time resource units respectively. UE1 has been assigned Walsh code (1, 1). Therefore, the four repetitions transmitted by UE1 are all encoded as +1.

As shown, UE2 is assigned time and frequency resources for transmitting a set of four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCI. UE2 has been assigned Walsh code (1, -1). Therefore, the four repetitions transmitted by UE2 are respectively encoded as +1, -1, +1 and -1 the first, second, third and fourth time resource units respectively.

As shown, UE3 is assigned time and frequency resources for transmitting a set of four uplink repetitions. However, the first and second of the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE3 are transmitted on subcarrier SC 1 in the first and second time resource units respectively, and the third and fourth of the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE3 are transmitted on subcarrier SCO in the third and fourth time resource units respectively. UE3 has been assigned Walsh code (1, 1). Therefore, the four repetitions transmitted by UE3 are all encoded as +1. As explained above, an OCC pair is a pair of communications devices which use the same time and frequency resources for transmitting uplink repetitions and each of the communications devices in the OCC pair apply a different OCC to the uplink repetitions transmitted by that communications device.

Therefore, in the example of Figure 7, UE1 and UEO form a first OCC pair 702 when UE1 and UE0 transmit their first two uplink repetitions. UE1 and UE2 form a second OCC pair 708 when UE1 and UE2 transmit their second two uplink repetitions. UE2 and UE3 form a third OCC pair 706 when UE2 and UE3 transmit their first two uplink repetitions. UEO and UE3 form a fourth OCC pair 704 when UEO and UE3 transmit their second two repetitions.

Accordingly, for UE1, the time and frequency resources and the OCC are assigned such that UE1 switches 710 from belonging to the first OCC pair 702 for transmitting its first two uplink repetitions to belonging to the second OCC pair 708 for transmitting its second two uplink repetitions.

Similarly, for UE3, the time and frequency resources and the OCC are assigned such that UE3 switches 712 from belonging to the third OCC pair 706 for transmitting its first two uplink repetitions to belonging to the fourth OCC pair 704 for transmitting its second two uplink repetitions.

Consider, for example, that UEO has a CFO of +CF0_max and UE1 has a CFO of -CFO max. In this case, the total relative offset is 2* CF0_max. Therefore, orthogonality would start to be lost by the end of the second time resource unit. It may be difficult or impossible to separate receptions from UEO and UE1 at the receiver.

Consider, for example, that UE2 has a CFO of -CFO max and UE3 has a CFO of +CF0_max. Similarly in this case the total relative offset is 2* CF0_max. Therefore, orthogonality would start to be lost by the end of the second time resource unit. It may be difficult or impossible to separate receptions from UE2 and UE3 at the receiver.

Now consider the third and fourth time resource units. Since UE1 and UE2 have the same CFO of - CFO max, the receptions at the receiver from UE1 and UE2 on subcarrier SCI remain orthogonal until the end of the fourth time resource unit. Similarly, since UEO and UE3 have the same CFO of +CF0_max, the receptions at the receiver from UEO and UE3 on subcarrier SCO remain orthogonal until the end of the fourth time resource unit. Note that a channel estimation and equalisation process can be implemented on the resource units at the receiver. Hence, for example, the equalised third time resource unit can be combined with the equalised fourth time unit. Since in the example of this paragraph, SCO is subject to the same phase rotation for both UEO and UE3 in the fourth time resource unit, equalisation can apply the same phase de-rotation for both UEO and UE3 in that fourth time resource unit, allowing for accurate OCC de-combining of the third and fourth time resource units for SCO.

Therefore, by switching UEs between different OCC pairs, the likelihood of a UE being in a pair which leads to successful reception at the receiver is increased even in view of CFOs. Accordingly decoding performance is improved. It will be appreciated that, even if a given pair of UEs transmitting uplink repetitions do not have identical CFOs, there will be at least some time resource units where the difference in CFO is reduced, thus reducing phase rotation, and preserving orthogonality.

Decoding

The infrastructure equipment can either un-OCC (i.e. perform the OCC reception or de-combining function) all of the receptions and decode the ensemble of the receptions or it can take a hypothesis-based approach. In the hypothesis-based approach, the infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode receptions from different OCC pairs separately or mix and match decoding receptions from different OCC pairs. For example, referring to Figure 7 and considering the case where the transmission from UEO is to be decoded, the infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode a multiplexed signal received from UEs 0, 1, 2, and 3 based on one or more of:

The OCC assigned to UEO and the OCC assigned to UE1 in the first and second time resource units

The OCC assigned to UEO and the OCC assigned to UE3 in the third and fourth time resource units the OCC assigned to OCC UEO and the OCC assigned to UElin the first and second time resource units; and the OCC assigned to UEO and the OCC assigned to UE3 in the third and fourth time resource units

If the infrastructure equipment determines an ACK for any of these decoding attempts, the decoding is assumed to be successful.

In one example, infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode a multiplexed uplink signal received from UEs 0, 1, 2, and 3 based on the OCC assigned to UEO and the OCC assigned to UE1 in the first and second time resource units. In this case, the infrastructure equipment may be unsuccessful as described above. In response, the infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode the multiplexed uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to UEO and the OCC assigned to UE3 in the third and fourth time resource units. In this case, the infrastructure equipment may be successful and may therefore stop decoding the multiplexed uplink signal for UEO.

Similarly, in another example, the infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode the multiplexed uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to UE2 and the OCC assigned to UE3 in the first and second time resource units. In this case, the infrastructure equipment may be unsuccessful as described above. In response, the infrastructure equipment may attempt to decode the multiplexed uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to UE2 and the OCC assigned to UE1 in the third and fourth time resource units. In this case, the infrastructure equipment may be successful and may therefore stop decoding the multiplexed uplink signal for UE2.

Switching of Time Resources

In some embodiments, the time resources assigned to the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a first time period and the time resources assigned to the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a second time period. In some such embodiments, a relative location in time of the first subset within the first time period is different from a relative location in time of the second subset within the second time period. Alternatively stated, if the first and second time periods are the same duration, the first subset is closer in time to the start of the first time period than the second subset is to the start of the second time period or vice versa. For example, if the first and second time periods are the same duration, the first subset may be located in the first half of the first time period whereas the second subset may be located in the second half of the second time period or vice versa. An example is schematically illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 8 illustrates time and frequency resources assigned to four different UEs, namely, UEO, UE1, UE2 and UE3 by infrastructure of a wireless communications network which is a receiver of uplink repetitions transmitted by the four UEs. In the example of Figure 8, each of the four UEs are assigned time and frequency resources for each of the UEs to transmit an uplink transmission comprising a set of four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO.

As shown in Figure 8, the uplink repetitions are distributed amongst eight time resource units (such as a subframe) where each time resource unit has a duration 820. The first, second, third and fourth time resource units are comprised within a first time period 814 and the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth time resource units are comprised within a second time period 818. The first time period 814 and the second time period 818 are separated in time by a gap 816. In some embodiments, the first time period 814 and the second time period 818 have equal durations.

UE0 is assigned time and frequency resources to transmit four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO with the first and second of the uplink repetitions being transmitted in the first and second time resource units respectively and the third and fourth uplink repetitions being transmitted in the fifth and sixth time resource units respectively. UE0 is assigned Walsh code (1,-1). Therefore, the uplink repetitions in the first and second time resource units are encoded as “+1” and “-1” respectively and the uplink repetitions in the fifth and sixth time resource units are encoded as “+1” and “-1” respectively.

UE1 is assigned time and frequency resources to transmit four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO with the first and second of the uplink repetitions being transmitted in the first and second time resource units respectively and the third and fourth uplink repetitions being transmitted in the seventh and eighth time resource units respectively. UE1 is assigned Walsh code (1,1). Therefore, the four uplink repetitions transmitted by the UE1 are encoded as “+1”.

UE2 is assigned time and frequency resources to transmit four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO with the first and second of the uplink repetitions being transmitted in the third and fourth time resource units respectively and the third and fourth uplink repetitions being transmitted in the seventh and eight time resource units respectively. UE2 is assigned Walsh code (1,-1). Therefore, the uplink repetitions in the third and fourth time resource units are encoded as “+1” and “-1” respectively and the uplink repetitions in the seventh and eighth time resource units are encoded as “+1” and “-1” respectively.

UE3 is assigned time and frequency resources to transmit four uplink repetitions on subcarrier SCO with the first and second of the uplink repetitions being transmitted in the third and fourth time resource units respectively and the third and fourth uplink repetitions being transmitted in the fifth and sixth time resource units respectively. UE3 is assigned Walsh code (1,1). Therefore, the four uplink repetitions transmitted by the UE3 are encoded as “+1”.

In the example of Figure 8, within the first time period 814, the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE0 and UE1 are multiplexed together and the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE3 and UE2 are multiplexed together. Within the second time period 816, the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE0 and UE3 are multiplexed together and the uplink repetitions transmitted by UE1 and UE2 are multiplexed together.

The uplink transmission transmitted by each of the UEs in Figure 8 therefore spans multiple time periods. For example, the uplink transmissions may be transmissions of a single transport block across the first time period 814 and the second time period 818.

As shown in Figure 8, a relative location in time of the two uplink resource units transmitted by UE1 within the first time period 814 is different from a relative location in time of the two uplink resource units transmitted by UE1 within the second time period 818. In this example, UE1 transmits two uplink resource units at the start of the first time period 814 and transmits two uplink resource units at the end of the second time period 818.

As shown in Figure 8, a relative location in time of the two uplink resource units transmitted by UE3 within the first time period 814 is different from a relative location in time of the two uplink resource units transmitted by UE3 within the second time period 818. In this example, UE3 transmits two uplink resource units at the end of the first time period 814 and transmits two uplink resource units at the start of the second time period 818.

The gap 816 may an uplink segment gap which allows UEs to re-synchronise their uplink transmission. The gap 816 may be an energy harvesting gap such as those used for passive or active ambient loT devices. The gap may be a battery recovery gap. For example, certain types of batteries cannot sustain a supply of power and transmission gaps are necessary to allow the battery to recover.

In the example of Figure 8, UE1 and UEO form a first OCC pair 802 when UE1 and UE0 transmit their first two uplink repetitions. UE1 and UE2 form a second OCC pair 808 when UE1 and UE2 transmit their second two uplink repetitions. UE2 and UE3 form a third OCC pair 804 when UE2 and UE3 transmit their first two uplink repetitions. UEO and UE3 form a fourth OCC pair 806 when UEO and UE3 when UEO and UE3 transmit their second two repetitions.

Consider, for example, that UE2 has a CFO of -CFO max and UE3 has a CFO of +CF0_max. Similarly in this case the total relative offset is 2* CF0_max. Therefore, orthogonality would start to be lost by the end of the fourth time resource unit. It may be difficult or impossible to separate receptions from UE2 and UE3 at the receiver.

Now consider the fifth and sixth time resource units. Since UEO and UE3 have the same CFO of +CF0_max, the receptions at the receiver from UEO and UE3 on subcarrier SCO remain orthogonal until the end of the sixth time resource unit. Similarly, since UE1 and UE2 have the same CFO of -CFO max, the receptions at the receiver from UE1 and UE2 on subcarrier SCO remain orthogonal until the end of the eighth time resource unit. As described above, channel estimation and equalisation may precede OCC reception and de-combining.

Accordingly, for UE1, the time and frequency resources and the OCC are assigned such that UE1 switches 812 from belonging to the first OCC pair 802 for transmitting its first two uplink repetitions to belonging to the second OCC pair 808 for transmitting its second two uplink repetitions.

Similarly, for UE3, the time and frequency resources and the OCC are assigned such that UE3 switches 810 from belonging to the third OCC pair 804 for transmitting its first two uplink repetitions to belonging to the fourth OCC pair 806 for transmitting its second two uplink repetitions.

Therefore, by switching UEs between different OCC pairs, the likelihood of a UE being in a pair which leads to successful reception at the receiver is increased even in view of CFOs. Accordingly decoding performance is improved. It will be appreciated that, even if a given UE’s transmitted uplink repetitions do not have identical CFOs, there will be at least some time resource units where the difference in CFO is reduced, thus reducing phase rotation, and preserving orthogonality. Measuring the Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO)

In accordance with example embodiments, infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network may measure a CFO of a communications device and use the measurement of the CFO to reduce the effect of CFO on decoding performance.

In accordance with example embodiments, a method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises transmitting an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device.

The indication comprises one or more of:

— an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or

— an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine a pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply based on the measured CFO for the first communications device. The pre-rotation may be determined so as to reduce the effect of the CFO on an orthogonality between the OCC and at least one other OCC assigned to another communications device in the same OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. The indication of the determined pre-rotation may be transmitted in downlink control information (DCI), for example. The indication can provide some further detailed information, such as the step size for the pre-rotation (e.g., X Hz of frequency pre-rotation), and also the direction for the pre-rotation (e.g., + / - frequency)

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine the OCC group to which the first communications device belongs based on the measured CFO for the first communications device. For example, the determined OCC group may be one of a plurality of OCC groups which comprises a communications device which has the most similar CFO as the first communications device, or is within a predefined threshold CFO value of the CFO value for the first communications device. In this case, the infrastructure equipment may also measure the CFO of the communications devices in the plurality of OCC groups.

In some embodiments, the indication of the determined OCC group may be transmitted in DCI. In embodiments, both the indication of the determined pre-rotation and the indication of the determined OCC group may be transmitted in the same or different DCIs.

In some embodiments, the determination of the OCC group to which the first communications device belongs based on the measured CFO for the first communications device is performed in response to determining that one or more uplink repetitions received from the first communications device when the communications device was in a previous OCC group could not be decoded. The infrastructure equipment may assume that the CFO of at least one communications device in the previous OCC group is incompatible with the measured CFO of the first communications device. In such cases, the infrastructure equipment may ensure that the determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs is not the previous OCC group.

The indication of the determined OCC group may be an implicit indication such as an indication of an OCC and time and frequency resources for transmitting an uplink transmission comprising a set of repetitions which, if used by the first communications device, will cause the communications device to belong to the determined OCC group.

Measuring CFO using PRACH

In some embodiments, the CFO is measured based on a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal received from the first communications device. The PRACH for NB-IoT is NPRACH. For simplicity, the term PRACH is used.

Such embodiments are particularly advantageous where, prior to an uplink transmission to which OCC is to be applied, the first communications device has used PRACH to gain access to a cell provided by the infrastructure equipment. Such embodiments increase efficiency by using existing signals for the CFO measurement.

Measuring CFO using SRS

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment transmits an instruction to the first communications device to transmit a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). In such embodiments, the infrastructure equipment receives the SRS from the first communications device and measures the CFO of the first communications device based on the received SRS.

Such embodiments increase efficiency by using existing signals for the CFO measurement.

Measuring CFO using DMRS

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment receives a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission from the communications device and measures the CFO of the first communications device based on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) comprised in the PUSCH.

In embodiments where an indication is transmitted based on a CFO, it is advantageous if the first communications device does not actively attempt to alter its CFO as this may negate the benefits of prerotation or OCC grouping.

Those skilled in the art would further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and/or communications devices as herein defined may be further defined in accordance with the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. It would be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that such infrastructure equipment and communications devices as herein defined and described may form part of communications systems other than those defined by the present disclosure.

The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technique:

Paragraph 1. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprising transmitting, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmitting, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 2. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein the frequency resources assigned for the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are different from the frequency resources assigned for the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions.

Paragraph 3. A method according to paragraph 2, wherein the frequency resources assigned for the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions comprise a first subcarrier and the frequency resources assigned for the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions comprise a second subcarrier different from the first subcarrier.

Paragraph 4. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein the time resources assigned to the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a first time period and the time resources assigned to the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a second time period, wherein a relative location in time of the first subset within the first time period is different a relative location in time of the second subset of in the second time period.

Paragraph 5. A method according to paragraph 4, wherein the first time period and the second time period are separated by a time gap.

Paragraph 6. A method according to paragraph 4 or paragraph 5, wherein the frequency resources assigned to the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and the frequency resources assigned to the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are the same frequency resources.

Paragraph 7. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 6, receiving a first encoded uplink signal, the first encoded uplink signal comprising a first part multiplexed with a second part, wherein the first part comprises the first subset of the first set of uplink transmissions encoded with the OCC assigned to the first communications device, and the second part comprises a plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group, the plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being encoded with an OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group, decoding the first encoded uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to the UE and the OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group.

Paragraph 8. A method according to paragraph 7, comprising receiving a second encoded uplink signal, the second encoded uplink signal comprising a first part multiplexed with a second part, wherein the first part of the second encoded signal comprises the second subset of the first set of uplink transmissions encoded with the OCC assigned to the first communications device, and the second part comprises a plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group, the plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group being encoded with an OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 9. A method according to paragraph 8, wherein the method comprises decoding the second encoded uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to the first communications device and the OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 10. A method according to paragraph 9, wherein the second encoded uplink signal is decoded in response to a determination that the decoding of the first encoded uplink signal has not been successful. Paragraph 11. A method according to any of paragraphs 7 to 10, wherein the transmitting the indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission comprises transmiting an indication of the time and frequency resources assigned to the first communications device for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions in response to a determination that the decoding of the first uplink signal has not been successful.

Paragraph 12. A method according to paragraph 8, wherein the method comprises refraining from decoding the second encoded uplink signal in response to a determination that the decoding of the first encoded uplink has been successful.

Paragraph 13. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 12, wherein the second OCC group is randomly selected from a plurality of OCC groups which do not include the first OCC group, each of the plurality of OCC groups comprising at least one communications device which is different from the first communications device.

Paragraph 14. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 12, wherein the first set of uplink repetitions comprises a third subset of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources assigned for the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to the first OCC group for transmiting the third subset of the first set of uplink transmissions, or a third OCC group, the third OCC group comprising at least one communications device different from the first communications device.

Paragraph 15. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprising transmiting an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. Paragraph 16. A method according to paragraph 15, wherein the CFO is measured based on a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal received from the first communications device.

Paragraph 17. A method according to paragraph 15, wherein the method comprises transmiting an instruction to the first communications device to transmit a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), and receiving the SRS from the first communications device, wherein the CFO of the first communications device is measured based on the received SRS.

Paragraph 18. A method according to paragraph 15, comprising receiving a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission from the first communications device, wherein the CFO of the UE is measured based on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) comprised in the PUSCH.

Paragraph 19. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 18, wherein the indication of the prerotation is transmited in downlink control information (DCI).

Paragraph 20. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising receiving, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmiting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 21. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising receiving, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. Paragraph 22. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to transmit, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmit, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 23. A first communications device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receive, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 24. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to transmit an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. Paragraph 25. A first communications device comprising a transmiter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmiter and the receiver to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. Paragraph 26. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising transmiter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmiter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmit, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmiting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 27. Circuitry for a first communications device, the circuitry comprising transmiter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmiter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receive, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmiting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

Paragraph 28. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising transmiter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmiter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

Paragraph 29. Circuitry for a first communications device, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs. Paragraph 30. A computer program which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 21.

Paragraph 31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to paragraph 30.

It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and/or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and/or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments.

Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and/or processors.

Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

References

[1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[2] TR 38.913, “Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, vl4.3.0, August 2017.

[3] TS 38.470, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Fl general aspects and principles (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March 2023.

[4] TS 38.473, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Fl application protocol (F1AP) (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.1, April 2023.

[5] TS 38.401, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Architecture description (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March 2023.

[6] RP -234077, New WID: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for Internet of Things (loT) Phase 3.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprising transmitting, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmitting, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency resources assigned for the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are different from the frequency resources assigned for the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the frequency resources assigned for the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions comprise a first subcarrier and the frequency resources assigned for the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions comprise a second subcarrier different from the first subcarrier.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the time resources assigned to the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a first time period and the time resources assigned to the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are located within a second time period, wherein a relative location in time of the first subset within the first time period is different from a relative location in time of the second subset within the second time period.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the first time period and the second time period are separated by a time gap.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the frequency resources assigned to the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and the frequency resources assigned to the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions are the same frequency resources.

7. A method according to claim 1, receiving a first encoded uplink signal, the first encoded uplink signal comprising a first part multiplexed with a second part, wherein the first part comprises the first subset of the first set of uplink transmissions encoded with the OCC assigned to the first communications device, and the second part comprises a plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group, the plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being encoded with an OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group, decoding the first encoded uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to the UE and the OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising receiving a second encoded uplink signal, the second encoded uplink signal comprising a first part multiplexed with a second part, wherein the first part of the second encoded signal comprises the second subset of the first set of uplink transmissions encoded with the OCC assigned to the first communications device, and the second part comprises a plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group, the plurality of uplink repetitions transmitted by the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group being encoded with an OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises decoding the second encoded uplink signal based on the OCC assigned to the first communications device and the OCC assigned to the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the second encoded uplink signal is decoded in response to a determination that the decoding of the first encoded uplink signal has not been successful.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting the indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission comprises transmitting an indication of the time and frequency resources assigned to the first communications device for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions in response to a determination that the decoding of the first uplink signal has not been successful.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises refraining from decoding the second encoded uplink signal in response to a determination that the decoding of the first encoded uplink has been successful.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second OCC group is randomly selected from a plurality of OCC groups which do not include the first OCC group, each of the plurality of OCC groups comprising at least one communications device which is different from the first communications device.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first set of uplink repetitions comprises a third subset of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources assigned for the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to the first OCC group for transmitting the third subset of the first set of uplink transmissions, or a third OCC group, the third OCC group comprising at least one communications device different from the first communications device.

15. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprising transmitting an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the CFO is measured based on a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal received from the first communications device.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises transmitting an instruction to the first communications device to transmit a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), and receiving the SRS from the first communications device, wherein the CFO of the first communications device is measured based on the received SRS.

18. A method according to claim 15, comprising receiving a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission from the first communications device, wherein the CFO of the UE is measured based on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) comprised in the PUSCH.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the indication of the pre-rotation is transmitted in downlink control information (DCI).

20. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising receiving, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

21. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising receiving, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

22. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to transmit, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmit, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmiting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

23. A first communications device comprising a transmiter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmiter and the receiver to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receive, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmiting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmiting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

24. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising a transmiter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmiter and the receiver to transmit an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

25. A first communications device comprising a transmiter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmiter and the receiver to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

26. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising transmiter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit, to a first communications device, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, transmit, to the first communications device, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

27. Circuitry for a first communications device, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication of time and frequency resources assigned for the first communications device to transmit a first uplink transmission as a first set of uplink repetitions to the infrastructure equipment, the first set of uplink repetitions comprising a first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and a second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, receive, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication of an assigned Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC) for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, wherein the time and frequency resources for the first communications device to transmit the first uplink transmission, and the OCC for the first communications device to apply to the first set of uplink repetitions, are assigned such that the first communications device belongs to a first OCC group for transmitting the first subset of the first set of uplink repetitions and belongs to a second OCC group for transmitting the second subset of the first set of uplink repetitions, the first OCC group and the second OCC group comprising at least one other communications device, the at least one other communications device in the first OCC group being different from the at least one other communications device in the second OCC group.

28. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit an indication to a first communications device based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply to an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

29. Circuitry for a first communications device, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, an indication based on a measured carrier frequency offset (CFO) of the first communications device, wherein the indication comprises one or more of: an indication of a determined pre-rotation for the first communications device to apply an Orthogonal Carrier Code (OCC) assigned to the first communications device, or an indication of a determined OCC group to which the first communications device belongs.

30. A computer program which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 30.