CN111052824A - Improvements in or relating to signalling of uplink data transmissions - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a method and equipment for accessing a radio access network. A method for enabling a wireless communication device to access a service provided by a radio access network to enable data transmission for the wireless communication device, comprising: an indication for generating a control reconfiguration related to the unlicensed transmission is included in the control message.

Description

Improvements in or relating to signalling of uplink data transmissions

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for enabling a wireless communication device, such as a User Equipment (UE) or a mobile device, to Access a Radio Access Technology (RAT) or a Radio Access Network (RAN), particularly but not exclusively in terms of signaling of Uplink (UL) data transmissions.

Background

Wireless communication systems, such as third generation (3G) mobile telephone standards and technologies, are well known. Such 3G standards and techniques have been developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP). Third generation wireless communications have generally been developed to support macrocell mobile telephone communications. Communication systems and networks have evolved towards wider bandwidth and mobile systems.

The third generation partnership project has developed a so-called Long Term Evolution (LTE) System for Mobile access networks, i.e. an evolved universal Mobile telecommunications System terrestrial Radio access network (E-UTRAN), in which one or more macro cells are supported by base stations called enodebs or enbs (evolved nodebs). Recently, LTE is evolving further towards so-called fifth generation (5G) or New Radio (NR) systems, where one or more cells are supported by a base station called a gNB.

In data transmission between a Mobile device and a radio network in NR, a wide range of use cases for seeking optimal data transmission needs to be satisfied, including Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and Massive Machine-Type communications (mtc). Unlicensed uplink data transmission is a new feature introduced for NRs.

A Radio Access Network (RAN) system architecture for NR is shown below. Next Generation (NG) -RAN consists of a gNB to provide user plane and control plane protocol terminals to UEs. The gnbs are interconnected to each other by a so-called Xn interface. The gNB is also connected to a next generation Core (NGC, 5GC) through an NG interface, and more particularly to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) through an N2 interface, and to a User Plane Function (UPF) through an N3 interface.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a NG-RAN. The gNB includes the following functions: functions of radio resource management: radio bearer control, radio admission control, connection mobility control, dynamic allocation of resources to UEs in uplink and downlink (scheduling).

Fig. 2 shows a Protocol stack for the Control plane, in which Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Radio Link Control (RLC) and Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayers (terminating at the network side at the gNB) perform their conventional functions. Radio Resource Control (RRC), terminated in the network side by the gNB, performs at least RRC connection, maintenance of associated layer 2 (PDCP/RLC/MAC), and maintenance functions of physical Radio resources between the UE and the NG-RAN. The Non-Access Stratum (NAS) control protocol (terminating at the AMF on the network side) performs its normal functions. Typically, RRC supports the following states: radio resource control _ IDLE (RRC _ IDLE); radio resource control _ INACTIVE state (RRC _ INACTIVE) and radio resource control _ CONNECTED state (RRC _ CONNECTED). RRC _ IDLE includes: public Land Mobile Network (PLMN for short) selection; broadcasting system information; cell reselection mobility; called paging (initiated by 5GC and area managed by 5 GC); and Discontinuous Transmission (DRX) configured by the NAS and used for Core Network (CN) paging. RRC _ INACTIVE includes: broadcasting system information; cell reselection mobility; 5GC-NG-RAN connections (control plane and user plane) for the UE; the AS context of the UE is stored in at least one gNB and the UE; a called page initiated by the NG-RAN; DRX of NG-RAN paging configured by the NG-RAN; a RAN-based notification area (RNA) managed by the NG-RAN; the NG-RAN knows the RNA where the UE is located; and data transmission. RRC _ CONNECTED includes: the UE has an RRC connection of the NG-RAN; the AS context of the UE is saved in the NG-RAN; the NG-RAN knows the cell where the UE is located; transmitting unicast data to/from the UE; and network controlled mobility including measurements.

The user plane protocol stack for NR is shown in fig. 3, which shows the protocol stack for the user plane, where the PDCP, RLC and MAC sublayers (terminated in the gNB at the network side) perform similar functions as LTE. The main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include at least the transfer of user data.

The major services and functions of the RLC sublayer include at least transmission of upper layer Protocol Data Units (PDUs) according to an Acknowledged Mode (AM), an Unacknowledged Mode (UM) and a Transparent Mode (TM) of the transmission Mode. The main services and functions of the MAC sublayer include at least a plurality of functions. One function is the mapping between logical channels and transport channels. Another (function) is to multiplex/demultiplex MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) transferred to/from one or different logical channels in the physical layer on the transport channel, belonging to or from Transport Blocks (TBs). Yet another (function) is scheduling information reporting.

The layer 2 data flow depicted in fig. 4 shows transport blocks generated by a MAC by concatenating two Radio Link Control (RLC) PDUs from Radio bearer x (Radio bearer, RBx for short) and one RLC PDU from RBy. The two RLC PDUs from RBx each correspond to one IP packet (n and n +1), while the RLC PDU from RBy is one segment of IP packet (m). H depicts a header and a subheader.

To efficiently utilize radio resources, the MAC in the gbb includes a dynamic resource scheduler that allocates physical layer resources for the downlink and uplink. An overview of the scheduler is given in terms of its operation, signaling and measurement of scheduler decisions. Scheduler operation takes into account a number of different points. The scheduler allocates resources between the UEs based on the buffer status of the UEs and the quality of service (QoS) requirements of each UE and the associated radio bearer. The scheduler may allocate resources according to measurements made at the gNB and/or radio conditions at the UE reported by the UE. The scheduler may also allocate radio resources (e.g., one micro slot, one slot or multiple slots) in a unit of a Transmission Time Interval (TTI). Grant-based dynamic or semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resource allocation consists of radio resources or resource blocks.

The signalling of the scheduler decisions is also important. The UE identifies the resources by receiving a scheduling (resource allocation) channel. The supporting scheduler operation measurements are further worth mentioning. Uplink buffer status reports (measuring data buffered in logical channel queues in the UE) are used to provide support for quality of service (QoS) aware packet scheduling. The buffer reporting scheme used in the uplink is flexible to support different types of data services. The frequency of transmission of uplink buffer reports limits the overhead of transmitting reports in the uplink.

In the downlink, the gNB may dynamically allocate resources to the UE every TTI. The UE always monitors the downlink to find possible allocations (activities controlled by DRX at configuration) when its downlink reception is enabled. In addition, the NR may periodically allocate, by the RRC, a semi-persistent downlink resource for a first hybrid automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) transmission to the UE. RRC defines the periodicity of the semi-persistent grant downlink. A Physical Dedicated Control Channel (PDCCH) indicates when the grant downlink is semi-persistent, i.e., whether it can be implicitly reused in subsequent TTIs according to RRC-defined periodicity.

According to the Downlink Control Information (DCI) Downlink Control indicator format (layer 1 signaling) in the PDCCH, the UE can know how to obtain the data that it transmits on the PDSCH in the same subframe as the resource grid. The DCI format gives details of the UE, such as the number of resource blocks, resource allocation type, modulation scheme, transport block, redundancy version, coding rate, etc. Each DCI format, when encoded with a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) appended, scrambles a user equipment Radio Network Temporary Identifier (UE-Radio Network Temporary Identifier, UE-RNTI) for a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) (in the context of semi-persistent handling SPS, such as Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), which may be referred to as SPS). Thus, only the UE may decode the Downlink Control Information (DCI) format and thus the corresponding PDSCH.

In the uplink, the gNB may dynamically allocate resources to the UE every TTI. The UE always monitors the downlink in order to find a possible allocation (activity controlled by DRX at configuration) for uplink transmission when its downlink reception is enabled. Further, the NR may periodically allocate semi-persistent uplink resources for the first HARQ transmission to the UE through RRC, but ignore such resources when the UE does not have any data to send.

Further, based on LTE, NR may allocate half of the persistent uplink resources for the first HARQ transmission and potentially retransmit to the UE. The RRC defines a periodicity of the semi-persistent grant uplink. The PDCCH indicates whether the grant uplink is semi-persistent, i.e. whether it can be implicitly reused in the following TTI according to the RRC defined periodicity.

Similar to the downlink scheduling case, the UE uses the SPS RNTI to scramble a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) of data to be transmitted on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). Thus, the network may decode data from the UE.

The unlicensed transmission consists of a number of UEs pre-allocated for transmission of semi-static physical time/frequency resources. UEs may be distinguished based on a Reference Signal (Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS for short) specific to each UE. Two different types of unlicensed UL transmissions have been agreed in the standard.

Type 1 relates to UL data transmission based on RRC (re) configuration only without any L1 signaling. In this case, RRC (re) configuration includes at least the following considerations. Periodicity and offset with respect to resources of SFN-0. Time domain resource allocation and frequency domain resource allocation are used. There is a UE-specific DMRS configuration and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS)/TBS value. The number of HARQ repetitions is K. The power control related parameter and the HARQ related parameter are used and it is determined whether to use a plurality of resources, remaining open.

Type 2 relates to active/inactive, unlicensed UL data transmission based on RRC configuration and L1 signaling. In this case, the modified function is implemented by activating the L1 signaling. RRC (re) configuration for resources and parameters includes at least the following: periodicity of resource and power control related parameters. The following additional parameters for the resources are given by L1 signaling. The offset is associated with periodicity with respect to the timing reference for activation as indicated by the L1 signaling. Time domain resource allocation and frequency domain resource allocation are used. UE-specific DMRS configuration and MCS/TBS values are used. Whether multiple resources can be configured; whether HARQ related parameters are used and the timing reference remains open. The number of repetitions, K, is not yet decided as configured by RRC signaling and/or as indicated by L1 signaling.

Type 1 is different from type 2 at least at points where no L1 signaling is needed, and type 2 has some similarity to LTE UL SPS at least at points where L1 signaling is used for activation/deactivation.

Type 3 may enable unlicensed UL data transmission based on RRC configuration, allowing L1 signaling to modify some parameters configured by RRC, but without L1 signaling for activation.

To enable unlicensed UL data transmission for a UE, one skilled in the art can introduce two RRC messages, one (one RRC message) for either type of solution, which means more impact on the standard. Such a "basic" solution would obviously be workable.

In reality, a simple solution is unlikely to be sufficient, and this problem still remains unsolved.

The present invention seeks to address at least some of the salient problems in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for enabling a wireless communication device to access a service provided by a radio access network to enable data transmission for the wireless communication device, the method comprising: an indication for generating a control reconfiguration related to the unlicensed transmission is included in the control message.

Preferably, the control message is a radio resource control message and the control configuration is a radio resource control configuration.

Preferably, the indication is included in a semi-persistent scheduling information element.

Preferably, the transmission comprises at least one of an unlicensed uplink transmission and an unlicensed downlink transmission.

Preferably, the indication comprises following at least one of a layer 1 activation signal indicator and a semi-persistent scheduling radio network temporary identifier

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the following a layer 1 activation signal indicator comprises: an offset of the resource with respect to a system frame number of 0, at least one of a time domain resource allocation, a frequency domain resource allocation, a UE-specific DMRS configuration, and a MCS/TBS value.

Preferably, the semi-persistently scheduled radio network temporary identifier is associated with an unlicensed transmission.

Preferably, the method further comprises using the radio network temporary identifier to determine whether layer 1 signalling is pending.

Preferably, the wireless communications device determines that an unlicensed transmission is ongoing on receipt of the radio resource control reconfiguration.

Preferably, when an unlicensed transmission is in progress, the wireless communications device identifies the indication to determine whether to wait for further signalling or to perform a transmission without further signalling.

Preferably, the method further comprises configuring the indication.

Preferably, the radio access network is a new air/5G network.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a base station adapted to perform the method of the further aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a user equipment adapted to perform the method of the further aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for execution by a processor to perform a method of another aspect of the invention.

The non-transitory computer readable medium may include at least one of the group consisting of a hard disk, a compact disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and a flash Memory.

Drawings

Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are illustrated and not necessarily drawn to scale. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a simple overall architecture of the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the protocol stack of the control plane of the prior art.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack of a user plane of the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a prior art data flow.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a layer 1 signaling activation control scheme of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a layer 1 signaling activation control scheme of another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that the specifics of the described examples are merely illustrative of some embodiments and that the teachings set forth herein are applicable in a variety of alternative contexts.

The present invention aims to provide a method of controlling the activation of physical layer signalling by higher layer signalling. In the context of NR, this can be used to meet the requirements of unlicensed uplink data transmission. The solution involves reusing the same RRC procedure to control whether the UE can expect some further physical layer signaling before actually performing the uplink data transmission.

One use case for unlicensed uplink data transmission is RRC connectionless (i.e., RRC _ inactive state) of the UE, where unlicensed resources may be reserved to multiple UEs. When one such UE receives an RRC connection (RRC _ connected state), its resources will be reconfigured to be UE specific resources. However, the RRC and layer 1 parameters are similar whether the resource is a licensed SPS application or an unlicensed uplink data transmission application.

Therefore, whenever the UE moves between the inactive and connected states, the resource reconfiguration between SPS and unlicensed uplink data transmission must be considered. Reusing the same parameters as the SPS (re) configuration would allow for having one set of parameters instead of two sets of parameters (one set of parameters for releasing/configuring those unlicensed uplink data transmission resources and another set of parameters for configuring/releasing those SPS resources).

Thus, the same RRC reconfiguration message may be reused for SPS. Relatively few parameters from the SPS that are not suitable for unlicensed uplink data transmission may be subject to conditional configuration.

For example, implicit release after SPS usage, intended to implicitly release SPS configuration. However, in the grant-free uplink data transmission, the configuration is not released in type 1, but is released through explicit L1 inactive signaling. Thus, in contrast to SPS, there is no implicit release configuration in the unlicensed uplink data transmission.

The current LTE based RRC SPS configuration is always activated following L1 signaling, and the UE can then use the configured SPS grant/allocation. Thus, the multiplexed RRC SPS reconfiguration message must consider whether to wait for L1 signaling (i.e., type 1 unlicensed uplink data transmission) or not wait for L1 signaling (i.e., type 2 unlicensed uplink data transmission)

According to the difference between type 1 and type 2, if the following L1 parameters (those for type 1 but not for type 2) are present in the RRC configuration. These (parameters) include: an offset with respect to resources of SFN-0; allocating time domain resources; allocating frequency domain resources; a UE-specific DMRS configuration; and MCS/TBS values. The number of repetitions of K remains open. In summary, the UE will infer type 1 and may perform UL transmission without waiting for further L1 signaling.

Checking for the presence of a set of layer 1 parameters using RRC may not be so advantageous because such parameters do not directly affect the RRC function except for forwarding to layer 1. Furthermore, this check is not currently performed by RRC for any layer 1 parameters. Therefore, to infer type 1, the UE needs to check 8 parameters from RRC signaling; and to infer type 2, the UE needs to check two parameters from RRC signaling.

To reduce the number of checks at the UE, a minimum number of parameters are checked to achieve a distinction between type 1 and type 2. For example, only one check is made for parameters present in the RRC that correspond to type 1 but not type 2, for example: offset with respect to resources where SFN is 0, time domain resource allocation, frequency domain resource allocation, UE specific DMRS configuration, an MCS/TBS value.

Another consideration that needs to be considered is the flexibility of the configuration with the above considerations.

For example, type 3 unlicensed uplink data transmission is currently open, but is relevant for the present invention. Type 3 has the additional benefit of agreeing on type 1, where some modification of layer 1 parameters may occur after RRC configuration and UL transmission activation, as in MCS/TBS, to cope with changing radio conditions. Such behavior is practically impossible for type 1 (where layer 1 parameter modification is not possible) but for type 2.

The solution of the "layer 1 signaling activation follows" indication enables the UE to infer whether waiting for L1 signaling activation before UL transmission is independent of the open problem type in RAN 1. In fact, for type 3, this indication applies to type 1 (i.e., "layer 1 signaling active follows" is not set).

Thus, the above solution can complete RRC configuration specification without considering support for type 3 RAN1 feedback, and without considering RAN1 parameter specification.

The same RRC message includes "follow L1 activation signaling" indicating unlicensed uplink data transmission resource (re) configuration, allowing the UE to know whether it can expect L1 signaling before performing uplink transmission. This has a number of advantages over known solutions.

This can also be inferred by examining only one L1 parameter in the RRC message that is specific to type 1 unlicensed uplink data transmissions but not present for type 2 unlicensed uplink data transmissions.

An advantage of the present invention is that the UE processing time is shortened (by avoiding the checking (realization) of all L1 parameters), so it is also an advantage of the present invention to target a low delay requirement of 0.5ms as further user plane data transmission required for NR. Another advantage includes reducing UE processing time, which can be estimated to be 2-8 times based on the number of L1 parameters examined. It is another advantage to avoid the canonical impact of repeatedly configuring and reusing SPS to configure type 2 unlicensed uplink data transmissions. Unlicensed downlink data transmission can also be achieved with this solution.

The following detailed description of one or more embodiments adds further features and advantages to the invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment where a RRC configuration message includes a new indication of attached SPSs. This embodiment may be used in scenarios where an unlicensed uplink transmission with out grant (UTWG) configuration changes between type 1 and type 2. When layer 1 parameters need to be tuned due to changing radio conditions, e.g. updating MCS to allow higher/lower data size transmission or updating retransmission times, a switch from type 1 to type 2 is required. Conversely, when layer 1 parameters no longer need to be tuned due to stable radio conditions, a switch from type 2 to type 1 is required.

In step 1, it is known that the UE supports unlicensed uplink data transmission based on UE functionality or characteristics of UE subscription, and the radio network provides radio resources for unlicensed uplink data transmission through RRC reconfiguration messages. Such a message may include updated SPS parameters. The message also includes an indication of whether layer 1 signaling for uplink data transmission activation is expected. This indication is used to make the UE aware that the desired layer 1 signaling will control the allocation of resources prior to the initial transmission. Resources may be activated, modified or inactivated. The indication may be in the form of: within or separate from the SPS configuration, a particular set of layer 1 parameters is conditionally present in type 1. The optional presence of such parameters within the SPS configuration has the advantage of minimizing Abstract syntax notation 1(Abstract syntax notation.1, ASN1 for short) based on coded RRC signaling. In this way, an additional independent configuration including that string(s) is avoided.

Furthermore, only one round trip of SPS configurations is required to switch between type 1 and type 2, rather than (employing) one SPS configuration to release type 1/type 2 and (employing) another (SPS configuration) to configure type 2/type 1. It is very advantageous to have only one RRC configured for the exchange, since in case uplink data is waiting for transmission in the UE, they can already be sent to the network, so that they can be sent to the network with a very low delay (0.5 ms). Otherwise, the UE must wait for a second reconfiguration received by the network at least after 15 ms. From the RRC specification (TS 36.331 processing delay requirement), the UE sends the (first) reconfiguration response message 15ms after receiving the reconfiguration request. Using one reconfiguration message may cause the UE to transmit data 30 times earlier than using two reconfiguration messages.

In step 1b, the UE checks for the presence of such an indication. If the indication is not present, the UE assumes that SPS is configured for legacy behavior. If the indication is present, the UE checks its value. Thus, upon receipt of the RRC reconfiguration, the UE knows that radio resources for unlicensed uplink transmissions are configured, if layer 1 signaling activation is included. If the indication is set to on (yes), the UE waits for layer 1 signaling before performing uplink data transmission, and the UE must read and decode layer 1 signaling (DCI format) including layer 1 parameters. The above is shown in step 2 and step 3. If the indication is set to off (no), the UE immediately waits to perform uplink data transmission according to the layer 1 parameter part of the RRC message configured in step 1. The above is shown in step 3.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment in which the new indication with SPS parameters is included in the RRC configuration message. This embodiment may be used in scenarios where the unlicensed uplink transmission is changed to an SPS configuration, and vice versa.

In step 0 and step 0a, an SPS configuration is set to the RRC _ connected UE. The SPS RNTI is specific to the UE to identify data between the UE and the network. In step 1, the UE is moved to an RRC _ inactive state, in which one or more UEs may share radio resources for data transmission. Thus, in step 2, a type 2 reconfiguration is set to the UE that is unlicensed for uplink transmissions. In step 2a, data between the UE and the network is identified using a new unlicensed uplink transmission configuration RNTI. The RNTI may alternatively be included in system information signaling, in which case the UE infers the configuration of the unlicensed uplink transmission from the new layer 1 signaling activation following indicator. The checking of any indicators is performed in a manner similar to that described above with reference to fig. 5.

If the indicator is set to an "OFF" value, the UE may directly perform a grant UL transmission according to the configured layer 1 parameter part of the RRC message in step 2 a. If the indicator is set to an "ON" value, the UE must read and decode layer 1 signaling (DCI format) including layer 1 parameters before performing uplink transmission.

In step 2b, upon receiving the RRC configuration, the UE learns from the presence of the unlicensed uplink transmission RNTI, which is a configuration. The indicated RNTI will be used by the UE to encode data for further transmission on PUSCH. If the layer 1 signaling activation following indication is used and set to on, the UE must wait for layer 1 signaling activation before performing uplink transmission. Some RNTI values may be dedicated to unlicensed UL transmissions of type 1, while other RNTI values may be dedicated to unlicensed UL transmissions of type 2. This has the advantage that the signalling overhead is saved by activating the implicit indication of the follow-up indicator by the layer 1 signalling. In fact, based on the RNTI value specific to the type 1 unlicensed UL transmission, the UE knows that it should not read and decode the layer 1 signaling (DCI format) including layer 1 parameters before performing the uplink transmission. Instead, based on the RNTI value specific to the type 2 unlicensed UL transmission, the UE knows that it should read and decode the layer 1 signaling (DCI format) including layer 1 parameters before performing the uplink transmission.

The present invention solves many problems associated with prior art methods for controlling physical layer signaling activation by higher layer signaling. The invention may be used as described above or may include any variation which is apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example, the invention may be applied to any context using layer 1 signaling information, particularly, but not exclusively, before data is sent.

Although not shown in detail, any device or apparatus forming part of a network may comprise at least a processor, a memory unit and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, the memory unit and the communication interface are configured to perform the method of any aspect of the present invention. Further options and choices are described below.

The signal processing functions of the embodiments of the present invention, in particular, the signal processor of the gNB and the signal processing circuit of the UE, may be implemented using a computer system or architecture known to those skilled in the relevant art. Computing systems, such as desktop, laptop or notebook computers, hand-held computing devices (PDAs, cell phones, palmtops, etc.), mainframes, servers, clients, or any other type of special or general purpose computing device may be used as may be suitable or appropriate for a particular application or environment. The computing system may include one or more processors, which may be implemented using a general or special purpose processing engine such as, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller or other control processing module.

The computing system may also include a main memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory, for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor. Such main memory may also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by the processor. The computing system may also include a Read Only Memory (ROM) or other static storage device for the processor that stores static information and processor instructions.

The computing system may also include an information storage system, which may include, for example, a media drive and a removable storage interface. The media drive may include a drive or other mechanism to support fixed or removable storage media, such as a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Drive (DVD), a read or write drive (R or RW), or other removable or fixed media drive. For example, the storage media may include, for example, a hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, CD or DVD, or other fixed or removable medium that is read by and written to by the media drive. The storage media may include a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein particular computer software or data.

In alternative embodiments, the information storage system may include other similar components for allowing computer programs or other instructions or data to be loaded into the computing system. For example, these components may include removable storage units and interfaces, such as program cartridges and cartridge interfaces, removable memory (e.g., flash memory or other removable memory modules) and memory slots, and other removable storage units and interfaces that allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit to the computing system.

The computing system may also include a communication interface. Such communication interfaces may be used to allow software and data to be transferred between the computing system and external devices. In this embodiment, the communication interface may include a modem, a network interface (e.g., an ethernet or other NIC card), a communication port (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port), a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via the communications interface are in the form of signals which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by the communications interface medium.

In this document, the terms "computer program product," "computer-readable medium" and the like may be used generally to refer to a tangible medium, such as a memory, a storage device, or a storage unit. These and other forms of computer-readable media may store one or more instructions for use by a processor, including a computer system, to cause the processor to perform specified operations. These instructions, commonly known as "

Computer program code "(which may be combined in the form of a computer program or other combinations) that, when executed, causes a computing system to perform the functions of embodiments of the present invention. Note that the code may directly cause the processor to perform certain operations, be compiled to do so, and/or be combined with other software, hardware, and/or firmware (e.g., libraries that perform standard functions) to do so.

The non-transitory computer readable medium may include at least one of the group consisting of a hard disk, a compact disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and a flash Memory.

In embodiments where the elements are implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer-readable medium and loaded into a computing system using, for example, a removable storage drive. When executed by a processor in a computer system, the control module (in this example, software instructions or executable computer program code) causes the processor to perform the functions of the invention as described herein.

Furthermore, the inventive concept may be applied to any circuit for performing signal processing functions within a network element. It is further contemplated that, for example, a semiconductor manufacturer may use the concepts of the present invention in the design of a stand-alone device, such as a microcontroller of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or any other subsystem element.

It will be appreciated that for clarity purposes, embodiments of the invention have been described above with reference to a single processing logic. However, the inventive concept may equally be implemented by means of a plurality of different functional units and processors to provide the signal processing functions. Thus, references to specific functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors or configurable modular components such as FPGA devices. Thus, the elements and components of an embodiment of the invention 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.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. In addition, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined. In the claims, the term "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Furthermore, although individual functions may be included in different claims, which may possibly be advantageously combined, the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of functions is not feasible and/or advantageous. Likewise, the inclusion of a feature in one set of claims does not imply a limitation to this set, but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim sets, as appropriate.

Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus, references to "a", "an", "first", "second", etc. do not preclude a plurality.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Furthermore, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would appreciate that different features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term "comprising" or "comprises" does not exclude the presence of other elements.

Claims (15)

1. A method for enabling a wireless communication device to access a service provided by a radio access network to enable data transmission for the wireless communication device, the method comprising: an indication for generating a control reconfiguration related to the unlicensed transmission is included in the control message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control message is a radio resource control message and the control configuration is a radio resource control configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the indication is included in a semi-persistent scheduling information element.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the transmission comprises at least one of a grant-free uplink transmission and a grant-free downlink transmission.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the indication comprises following at least one of a layer 1 activation signal indicator and a semi-persistent scheduling radio network temporary identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the following a layer 1 activation signal indicator comprises: an offset of the resource with respect to a system frame number of 0, at least one of a time domain resource allocation, a frequency domain resource allocation, a UE-specific DMRS configuration, and a MCS/TBS value.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the semi-persistently scheduled radio network temporary identifier is related to an unlicensed transmission.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining whether layer 1 signaling is waiting using the radio network temporary identifier.

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication device determines that an unlicensed transmission is ongoing upon receiving the radio resource control reconfiguration.

10. A method as claimed in claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 9 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the wireless communications device recognises the indication when an unauthorised transmission is in progress to determine whether to wait for further signalling or to perform a transmission without further signalling.

11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the method further comprises: the indication is configured.

12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the radio access network is a new air/5G network.

13. An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory unit and a communication interface, characterized in that the processor unit, the memory unit and the communication interface are configured to perform the method according to any of claims 1-12.

14. An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory unit and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, memory unit and communication interface are configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-12.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer readable instructions for execution by a processor to perform the method of any of claims 1-12.

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