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WO2024153814A1 - Base station, user equipment, method - Google Patents

Base station, user equipment, method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024153814A1
WO2024153814A1 PCT/EP2024/051318 EP2024051318W WO2024153814A1 WO 2024153814 A1 WO2024153814 A1 WO 2024153814A1 EP 2024051318 W EP2024051318 W EP 2024051318W WO 2024153814 A1 WO2024153814 A1 WO 2024153814A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user equipments
mode
cell
base station
ack
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2024/051318
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hideji Wakabayashi
Yuxin Wei
Vivek Sharma
Yassin Aden Awad
Original Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
Sony Europe B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sony Group Corporation, Sony Europe B.V. filed Critical Sony Group Corporation
Publication of WO2024153814A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024153814A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L1/00Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
    • H04L1/12Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
    • H04L1/16Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
    • H04L1/18Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
    • H04L1/1825Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L1/00Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
    • H04L2001/0092Error control systems characterised by the topology of the transmission link
    • H04L2001/0093Point-to-multipoint

Definitions

  • the present disclosure generally pertains to a base station, user equipment and a method in the field of 5G industrial internet of things.
  • TSC time sensitive communication
  • TSC should be compatible with the wired based time sensitive network (TSN).
  • TSN time sensitive network
  • IIoT may cover a wide variety of applications, and the requirements may be different from conventional 3 GPP applications, such as voice, text, web browsing, and the like.
  • multicast/broadcast service is introduced in Rel-17 in order to support public safety communication and vehicle to everything/environment (V2X) application.
  • HARQ acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) for retransmissions is introduced, which is a difference to conventional 3G/4G multicast mode.
  • the disclosure provides a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the disclosure provides a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the disclosure provides a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the disclosure provides a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the disclosure provides a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the disclosure provides a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the disclosure provides a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
  • the disclosure provides a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
  • Fig. 1 depicts a NR MBS as it is commonly known
  • Fig. 2 depicts principles of HARQ acknowledgement in MBS applied to the present disclosure
  • Fig. 3 depicts principles of NACK only mode of HARQ acknowledgement applied to the present disclosure
  • Fig. 4 depicts a representation of error sources of NACK only mode
  • Fig. 5 depicts a representation of a relation of radio resources, cell coverage, and capacity of HARQ-ACK;
  • Fig. 6 depicts a visual representation of determination coverage levels of UEs
  • Fig. 7 (divided in Figs. 7a and 7b) is a flow chart of a method according to the present disclosure
  • Fig. 8 depicts a case in which a number of poor coverage UEs is lower than a number which can be covered with available HARQ-ACK capacity
  • Fig. 9 depicts a case in which HARQ-ACK capacity is sufficient for high requirement UEs.
  • SPS Semi-persistence scheduling
  • Time sensitive network See WO 2021/209235 Al Grand Master Clock UE (DS-TT) providing uplink synchronizations for TSN
  • Application function An application function is an interface between TSN CNC and 5G (see below)
  • TSN Solution Components There may be five main components in TSN (time-sensitive network):
  • TSN flow Term used to describe time-critical communication between end devices. Each flow has strict time requirements that the networking devices honor. Each TSN flow is uniquely identified by the network devices.
  • End device Source and destination of TSN flow.
  • the end device may run an application that may requires deterministic communication.
  • End devices are also referred to as talkers and listeners.
  • Ethernet switches Also referred to as Ethernet switches.
  • TSN these are special bridges capable of transmitting the Ethernet frames of a TSN flow on a schedule and receiving Ethernet frames of a TSN flow according to a schedule.
  • Central network controller CNC
  • TSN the CNC acts as a proxy for the Network (the TSN Bridges and their interconnections) and the control applications that require deterministic communication.
  • the CNC defines the schedule on which all TSN frames are transmitted.
  • the CNC application is provided by the vendor of the TSN bridges.
  • Centralized user configuration An application that communicates with the CNC and the end devices.
  • the CUC represents the control applications and the end devices.
  • the CUC makes requests to the CNC for deterministic communication (TSN flows) with specific requirements for those flows.
  • TSN flows deterministic communication
  • the CUC is an application that is vendor specific. Typically, the vendor of the TSN end devices will supply a CUC for those end devices.
  • TSCAI time-sensitive communication assistance information
  • the RAN e.g., the gNB
  • SPS semi-persistent scheduling
  • CG configure grant
  • the TSCAI may include the following parameters:
  • Flow direction Direction of TSC flow (uplink or downlink)
  • Periodicity Time-period between start of two bursts
  • Burst arrival time Latest possible time when first packet of data burst arrives at either the ingress of RAN (radio access network) (downlink flow direction) or egress interface of a user equipment (UE) (uplink flow direction)
  • RAN radio access network
  • UE user equipment
  • Survival time As defined in 3GPP TS 22.261 (Service requirements for 5G systems); refers to a time period an application can survive without any bursts
  • the wired based communication networks which may be used may be referred to as Fieldbus.
  • Fieldbus may refer to a name of a family of industrial computer networks used for real-time distributed control. Fieldbus profiles are standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as IEC 61784/61158.
  • IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
  • a complex automated industrial system is typically structured in hierarchical levels as a distributed control system (DCS).
  • DCS distributed control system
  • the upper levels for production managements are linked to the direct control level of programmable logic controllers (PLC) via a non-time- critical communications system (e.g., Ethernet).
  • PLC programmable logic controllers
  • the fieldbus links the PLCs of the direct control level to the components in the plant of the field level such as sensors, actuators, electric motors, console lights, switches, valves, and contactors and replaces the direct connections via current loops or digital I/O signals.
  • the requirements for a fieldbus are therefore time-critical and cost sensitive. Since the new millennium a number of fieldbuses based on Real-time Ethernet have been established. These have the potential to replace traditional fieldbuses in the long term.
  • the 5G System architecture includes the following network functions (NF):
  • AUSF Authentication Server Function
  • AMF Access and Mobility Management Function
  • DN Network Data Network
  • operator services e.g., operator services, Internet access or 3rd party services.
  • UDSF Unstructured Data Storage Function
  • NEF Network Exposure Function
  • NRF Network Repository Function
  • NSACF Network Slice Admission Control Function
  • NSSAAF Network Slice-specific and SNPN Authentication and Authorization Function
  • NSSF Network Slice Selection Function
  • PCF Policy Control Function
  • Session Management Function SMF
  • UDM Unified Data Management
  • UPF User Plane Function
  • UCMF UE radio Capability Management Function
  • UE User Equipment
  • 5G-Equipment Identity Register (5G-EIR).
  • NWDAF Network Data Analytics Function
  • CHarging Function CHF
  • TSN AF Time Sensitive Networking AF
  • TSCTSF Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization Function
  • DCCF Data Collection Coordination Function
  • ADRF Analytics Data Repository Function
  • MFAF Messaging Framework Adaptor Function
  • NSW Non-Seamless WLAN Offload Function
  • EASDF Edge Application Server Discovery Function
  • the 5G System architecture also comprises the following network entities:
  • SCP Service Communication Proxy
  • SEPP Security Edge Protection Proxy
  • N3IWF Non-3GPP InterWorking Function
  • TNGF Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function
  • W-AGF Wireline Access Gateway Function
  • TWIF Trusted WLAN Interworking Function
  • IIoT may need to support various network topologies, such as start, ring, daisy chain (line), mesh, mixtures thereof, or the like.
  • atypical topology may be start topology (e.g., one base station sending to multiple terminal devices or user equipments (UE)), but in industrial communication, such as a factory floor, the topology may depend on a layout of a machine, requirements of communications, or the like.
  • start topology e.g., one base station sending to multiple terminal devices or user equipments (UE)
  • UE user equipments
  • wired communication is replaced with 5G wireless communication, it should (ideally) meet the requirements of wired communications.
  • the ring topology communication or mesh topology communication may be used if high reliable of the communication between the network devices is required, because such topologies may be able to communicate even if one of the links is deactivated. It has been recognized that it may be desirable that, in 5G, the same reliability requirements but with alternative technology may need to be met.
  • 5G TSN may need to be able to connect to them and/or replace wirebased solutions with wireless ones.
  • the terminal devices may get information one after another. For example, UE A UE D, then back to start, UE A.
  • Time slots may be pre-allocated and guaranteed to use for the specific UE.
  • transmission may be based on time division, but also other transmission types may be envisaged.
  • resources may be separated in a frequency domain or in a special domain (e.g., beam domain) if transmissions overlap in a same time slot.
  • event driven is traffic may be handled when an event (e.g., an alarm) occurs, such that such communication may be referred to as “on-demand”.
  • an event e.g., an alarm
  • the traffic may need to be handled immediately.
  • different strategies of traffic handling may be required. Even for delay tolerant events, a time stamp when an event occurs should be accurate because a historical log may be useful for trouble shooting.
  • Deterministic communication In deterministic communication, uncertainty/randomness may be removed as much as possible. The factors of uncertainty may be avoided, such as a collision of resource usage (e.g., contention, interferences), effect of channel fading (error), shortage of transmission power in an amplifier, network node overload beyond the capacity, and the like. Deterministic communication may be provided by a combination of multiple technologies. For example, the cyclic communication or periodic resource allocation may be used to provide deterministic communication.
  • Asynchronous communication may have a different meaning depending on the context.
  • LPWA low power wide area
  • loT delay tolerant system
  • a receiver may use the signal later after a UE sends the signal.
  • the time when the data received may be much later than the time when the data is used.
  • an unexpected, unplanned alarm may be raised. Such an alarm may be considered as asynchronous. However, urgency may depend on a type of event/alarm. Some events may be delay tolerant, but some events should be handled immediately.
  • realtime traffic may be used for voice, video, and the like.
  • the realtime traffic may need to be handled within an allowed delay (e.g., for voice, latency may need to be less than 100 ms). Therefore, such traffic may be handled like voice over LTE (VoLTE).
  • VoIP voice over LTE
  • non-real time traffic may not require such handling.
  • Isochronous communication may provide low latency communication, very accurate time synchronization, and high reliability. It may be suitable for industrial application like motion control.
  • the 5G TSN may be a key technology to meet this requirement.
  • a signal may be transmitted in regular interval. For example, a UE may repeatedly transmit a signal every 5 ms (milliseconds), or the like.
  • a motor/actuator may control objects to move to a predetermined position, with a predetermined speed, at a predetermined timing (e.g., conveyor belt, robots). This may be achieved based on sensors.
  • Alarm/events may occur at unexpected times. However, there may be various types of alarms/events. For example, an immediate action may be required for an alarm which shows an emergency situation. On the other hand, some events may be delay tolerant and as a first step, it may be sufficient to just record it in a log. However, in a conventional 3GPP, such diversity of events is not taken into account.
  • time series analysis may help with troubleshooting.
  • a machine In a factory, a machine may be controlled by a computer (system), e.g., based on ERP (enterprise resource planning), MES (manufacturing execution system), SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition). Large volumes of data may be trafficked, but such systems may need to be delay tolerant. In a factory environment, the real-time communication and non-realtime one may be mixing.
  • ERP enterprise resource planning
  • MES manufacturing execution system
  • SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition
  • Video analytics and/or image processing may require handling of large volumes of data.
  • a sensing result may need to be used for motion control (e.g., robot vision).
  • motion control e.g., robot vision
  • eMBB type traffic and URLLC type traffic may be mixed in a system.
  • a safety communication function may need to work to prevent an accident.
  • Fail-safe may refer to a feature or practice that in case of a specific type of failure inherently responds in a way that will cause minimal or no harm to other equipment, environment and/or people.
  • Multicast/broadcast (multicast-broadcast) system MMS
  • Fig. 1 a New Radio (NR) MBS 1 as it is commonly known.
  • NR New Radio
  • the MBS 1 has two modes, broadcast mode and multicast mode, wherein, in the following, only the multicast mode is described.
  • a core network (CN) 1 establishes a multicast session to a UE (User Equipment).
  • the CN 2 transfers MBS traffic to a RAN (Radio access network) via a SDAP (service data adaption protocol) 3.
  • the SDAP 3 is configured to distinguish quality of service (QoS) requirements based on QoS flow(s) 4 from the CN 2.
  • QoS quality of service
  • the SDAP 3 is configured to map a CN level QoS (i.e., per QoS flow) and to a RAN level QoS based on an allocation of an MBS radio bearer 5 in line with the RAN level QoS, which is input to a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) 6.
  • PDCP packet data convergence protocol
  • the PDCP 6 was originally defined for packet header compression.
  • It is in charge of more functions than the intended functions. It mainly splits the stream into segments for a packet in PDCP level and allocates sequence number (SN) for reordering.
  • the SDAP 3 may check the SN in the header and waits for retransmission if some of packet should have been received earlier but has not been received yet.
  • the SDAP 3 is also in charge of removing the duplicated packets if the UE receives the same packet with multiple times.
  • a radio link control (RLC) layer is configured to establish reliable radio link with segmentation, de- segmentation (assemble of segmented packet), allocation of RLC level sequence number (RLC SN) and automatic repeat request (ARQ), and the like.
  • RLC PTM 5 point to multipoint
  • RLC does not support retransmissions (i.e., no ARQ at RLC for PTM).
  • a base station e.g., gNB
  • the gNB sends a packet for the multiple UEs which belong to the same group (multicast group). If a UE faces an error, hybrid ARQ (HARQ) may be applied in MAC. However, HARQ in MAC is different from ARQ in RLC.
  • HARQ hybrid ARQ
  • MBS does not support HARQ level retransmissions. Therefore, the number of broadcast mode UEs may be omissible in terms of PUCCH capacity calculation at gNB.
  • PTM radio resources may be efficiently used and a small amount of scheduling may be needed due to group signaling.
  • a residual error rate is rather high because only HARQ retransmissions may be possible, but no retransmissions on RLC level.
  • RLC PTP 8 point to point 8
  • a dedicated RLC is configured to a (single) UE.
  • RLC supports RLC level retransmission (ARQ at RLC for PTP), since the PTP mode has an acknowledgement mode (RLC-AM) which supports ARQ.
  • the RLC transfers the packet to MAC/PHY 10.
  • the gNB executes the dedicated scheduling to the UE.
  • the UE may request a retransmission in MAC layer with HARQ.
  • the UE may request retransmission in RLC layer with ARQ.
  • PTP may be highly reliable due to a rather low residual error rate. However, more radio resources may be needed due to the individual data transmission.
  • the overhead of signaling at cell level may be large because of the dedicated signaling to a UE.
  • the RLC level retransmission may take longer time, such that a delay may be larger if retransmission in RLC level is carried out.
  • HARQ For IIoT (industrial internet of things) application, lower latency operation may be preferable such as in PTM. On the other hand, very high reliability may be required such as in PTP.
  • ACK acknowledgement
  • HARQ-ACK may be used. It may be distinguished between “ACK/NACK” mode (acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement) and “NACK only” mode. Also, HARQ-ACK may be disabled, which may be called “No ACK/NACK” in the present disclosure.
  • an “acknowledgement mode” may refer to any of the above-mentioned modes, i.e., ACK/NACK, NACK only, ACK only, or No ACK/NACK.
  • HARQ-ACK may refer to the new radio (NR) MBS, as discussed above, which may be nonexistent in LTE. However, it has been recognized that, if the number of UEs in MBS is too large, the HARQ acknowledgement mode may exceed a base station’s capacity (also referred to as “PUCCH overload”).
  • NR new radio
  • Fig. 2 depicts the principles of HARQ acknowledgement in MBS.
  • Fig. 2 depicts a cell 20 in an IIoT network, which is spanned by a base station (gNB) 21.
  • gNB base station
  • the cell includes a first UE 22, which is in a good coverage region 23, and a second UE 24, which is in a poor coverage region 25.
  • the UE 22 sends, upon reception of MBS data from the gNB 21, an ACK.
  • the UE 24 does not correctly receive the MBS data, such that it sends a NACK to the gNB 21.
  • the gNB Upon reception of NACK, the gNB retransmits the data with PDSCH to the UE 24.
  • the cell capacity may not be sufficient to provide ACK/NACK for all the UEs, as discussed in the following under reference of Fig. 3.
  • NACK only mode is used as a HARQ feedback, i.e., only the UE which faces a transmission error of the MBS data sends the NACK to the gNB, but the UEs which correctly receive the data do not send an ACK.
  • the UEs which correctly receive the data do not send an ACK. If the gNB does not receive NACK, it is assumed that the UE correctly receives the MBS data.
  • MBS data sent by a gNB 30 may have two parts: one part is sent via a control channel (PDCCH), and the other part may be sent via a data channel (PDSCH).
  • PDCCH control channel
  • PDSCH data channel
  • a UE 31 misdetects (e.g., misses, wrongly detects, or the like) the PDCCH data, the UE 31 is not aware of incoming the PDSCH data, in this embodiment. As a result, the UE 31 does not send the NACK because of no decoding error of PDSCH if UE does not receive the control channel
  • no NACK may mean that the UE 31 has successfully received the (whole) MBS data.
  • the gNB 30 may assume that a UE 31 has successfully received the MBS data.
  • Fig. 5 depicts a relation of radio resources, cell coverage, and capacity of HARQ-ACK.
  • QoS quality of service
  • the network may need to estimate loads of HARQ-ACK from the MBS UEs. In order to do so, total number of UEs in the cell may be determined which support MBS.
  • a coverage level at UE location may be determined, which may be indicative of a number of UEs in good coverage and a number of UEs in poor coverage.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed in the following.
  • the gNB may be able to count the number of ACKs from the UEs and the number of NACKs from the UEs. Then, the gNB may be configured to calculate an error rate (E)as follows by dividing the number of received NACKs (#NACK) by the number of received ACKs (#ACK) plus the number of received NACKs (#NACK), i.e. (Formula 1):
  • the gNB may take the missed packets into account.
  • the gNB may have knowledge about the transmitted MBS packets over PDCCH/PDSCH, or the like.
  • the UE may miss a control channel (PDCCH), a shared channel (PDSCH), or the like.
  • PUCCH control channel
  • PDSCH shared channel
  • the gNB may miss PUCCH (ACK/NACK).
  • a number of transmitted PDCCH/PDSCH at the gNB may correspond to the sum of the number of received ACKs and the number of received NACKs, if there are no missing packets.
  • the number of received NACKs (countable by the gNB) plus the number of missed packets (not directly countable by the gNB) may correspond to the number of transmitted PDCCH/PDSCH (countable by the gNB) minus the number of received ACKs (countable by the gNB)
  • the error rate E may be calculated as follows (Formula 2):
  • the gNB may use the number of NACKs instead of that of ACKs, as follows (Formula 3):
  • Fig. 6 depicts a visual representation of these determinations (number of UEs and coverage determination). If the capacity (C) of HARQ Acknowledgment (PUCCH for ACK/NACK) at gNB is larger than the total number of UEs (N), there may be no capacity problem. In this case, the gNB may use ACK/NACK mode for all UEs.
  • HARQ acknowledgement capacity and selection of HARQ modes for the different UEs may be considered.
  • some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
  • the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed below.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users equipments in at least one of the first and the second group.
  • an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
  • a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
  • at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
  • only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method including: using a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and using a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
  • the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
  • at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein.
  • at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network, as discussed herein.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
  • the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
  • at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein.
  • at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network, as discussed herein.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
  • the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein.
  • At least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • At least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
  • some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • a control of feedback signaling (HARQ acknowledgement) load may be provided.
  • a base station e.g., gNB
  • efficient downlink radio resource usage/transmission power allocation for MBS UEs in the cell may be provided.
  • FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart of a method 40 according to the present disclosure carried out in a base station (gNB).
  • gNB base station
  • the gNB determines (counts) the number of MBS UEs in the cell.
  • the gNB may use the number of multicast sessions to know the number of UEs, or the like.
  • the gNB determines (collects) the coverage levels of UEs in the cells. gNB may use the function of minimized drive test (MDT), or the like, to do so.
  • MDT minimized drive test
  • the gNB checks the capacity of MBS HARQ acknowledgement.
  • the number of total MBS UEs is N.
  • the capacity of MBS HARQ acknowledgement is C.
  • the gNB may separately count the number of UE in good coverage and the number of UEs in poor coverage. (Note that coverage level may be multiple levels. For simplification of explanation, only the good coverage and poor coverage case is discussed.)
  • the gNB selects ACK/NACK for all UEs.
  • the needed capacity for all UEs is larger than the available capacity, it is checked, at 45 if enough capacity is available only for the poor coverage UEs.
  • the gNB improves an MBS performance in order to reduce the number of poor coverage UEs (i.e., to increase the good coverage sub-cell). For example, the gNB may increase transmission power, or use performance improvement techniques like repetition (bundling), or the like.
  • the second number of UEs is reduced by increasing the first number of UEs, such that ACK/NACK is needed for a lower number of UEs.
  • the gNB in order to reduce the poor coverage UEs (the second number of UEs with the second cellular coverage level), which are more likely than the good coverage UEs to require the retransmission, the gNB improves the MBS performance (i.e., low error rate at UE) by allocation of more resources such as gNB Tx power boost, transmission repetition (budling), lower modulation and coding rate (MCS), or the like.
  • MBS modulation and coding rate
  • the gNB selects the ACK/NACK mode of MBS HARQ for the low coverage UEs only, at 47. This case is depicted in Fig. 8.
  • the hashed part in the lower box represents the capacity, which is still needed, i.e., in this embodiment the capacity needed by the poor coverage UEs (N2) is higher than the total available HARQ ACK capacity (C).
  • the gNB identifies the number of high requirements UEs, which require high reliability (low error rate), high quality of service (QoS), mission criticality (i.e., the impact is severe if UE misses the MBS data).
  • the gNB identifies the high requirement UE from QoS flow indicator (5QI), assistance information (TSCAI), or the like.
  • the gNB decides which UE should use the ACK/NACK mode based on the TSC assistance information, QoS parameters, or the like, i.e., based on the determination which UE is a high requirement UE.
  • the gNB determines whether there is enough capacity for the identified high requirement UEs.
  • the gNB selects the ACK/NACK mode for the high requirements UEs, at 51.
  • further HARQ acknowledgement capacity is generated, if there is not enough capacity for the high requirement UEs.
  • the gNB selects No ACK/NACK mode (disables the HARQ acknowledgement).
  • the gNB selects, for the good coverage UEs, NACK mode.
  • the gNB is configured to allocate different resources (e.g., different PUCCH resources) for high requirement UEs and low requirement UEs and/or the gNB is configured to reserve different parts of resources for high requirements UEs and low requirements UEs. This may ensure that retransmissions are provided and prioritized for high requirements UEs in case the gNB has limited resources or there are collisions.
  • the gNB may identify the high and low requirement UEs separately based on UE capability, or the like.
  • the reported modes may be configured differently for high requirements UEs and low requirements UEs.
  • the acknowledgement for high requirements UEs has a higher priority than the acknowledgement for low requirements UEs.
  • same service may be delivered with different QoS (quality of service) requirements to different users (or user equipments), i.e., certain users may require bundling, repetitions (high quality), but other users/UEs may be ok to receive data with higher error rate (low quality).
  • QoS quality of service
  • a core network may thus create two separate multicast sessions (e.g., high quality and low quality) and UEs/users with different requirements may join either the low quality session or the high quality session.
  • Service-related user data from the core network to the gNB(s) may be sent using single path and then transmission of this data may be treated differently in the gNB, as described herein.
  • a UE may inform the core network or the gNB, if it wants to join a high quality or low quality service (i.e., that it is a high requirement UE or a low requirement UE) based on at least one of: user preference, UE capability, UE subscription, or the like. In this way, same device can act as either high or low quality/requirement.
  • some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the first number and/or the second number of UEs includes MBS multicast but not MBS broadcast UEs (because MBS broadcast UE may not send HARQ-ACK).
  • first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein.
  • the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement, as discussed herein.
  • the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: identify high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a nonacknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein.
  • the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement, as discussed herein.
  • the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein.
  • the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the method further includes: identifying high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the method further includes: carrying out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein.
  • the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the circuitry is further configured to: receive the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a high requirement user equipment, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein.
  • the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
  • the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the method further includes: receiving the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
  • the first and second numbers of UEs may be identified based on whether they are high requirement UEs or low requirement UEs (or any other intermediate requirements).
  • some embodiments pertain to a base station (or a method carried out in a base station) for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments having high cellular requirements; identify a second number of user equipments having lower cellular requirements than the first number of user equipments; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the methods as described herein are also implemented in some embodiments as a computer program causing a computer and/or a processor to perform the method, when being carried out on the computer and/or processor.
  • a non-transitory computer- readable recording medium is provided that stores therein a computer program product, which, when executed by a processor, such as the processor described above, causes the methods described herein to be performed.
  • the strategy of HARQ-ACK mode configuration may be changed, as discussed in the following.
  • the gNB may configure ACK/NACK for all UEs regardless of coverage level (Table 1):
  • the gNB may configure NACK only for low requirement UEs in good coverage (Table 2). If the capacity is fairly limited, NACK only is also configured for the low requirement UEs in poor coverage
  • Table 2 Example of HARQ-ACK mode configuration when the total capacity of the cell is limited.
  • the gNB may configure to disable HARQ-ACK (No ACK/NACK) for the low requirement UEs in good coverage and the gNB may configure NACK only for low requirement UEs in poor coverage. (Table 3).
  • NACK may also be configured for high requirement UEs in good coverage.
  • a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service comprising: using a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and using a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
  • a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast, MBS, service comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicastbroadcast
  • a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
  • MBS multicast-broadcast
  • a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
  • the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
  • circuitry is further configured to: carry out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments.
  • the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
  • a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
  • a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast service comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
  • the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
  • a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
  • the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
  • the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
  • a computer program comprising program code causing a computer to perform the method according to anyone of (13) to (24) and/or anyone of (37) to (48) and/or anyone of (66) to (82) and/or anyone of (96) to (108), when being carried out on a computer.
  • a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program product, which, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to anyone of (13) to (24) and/or anyone of (37) to (48) and/or anyone of (66) to (82) and/or anyone of (96) to (108) to be performed.

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Abstract

The present disclosure generally pertains to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station including circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.

Description

BASE STATION, USER EQUIPMENT, METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally pertains to a base station, user equipment and a method in the field of 5G industrial internet of things.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
In 3GPP loT (Internet of Things) Rel-16 and Rel-17, functions for industrial internet of things (IIoT) are introduced. These releases were made for supporting industry 4.0, factory automation, smart cities, and the like.
One feature of these releases is time sensitive communication (TSC), which may enable to handle a highly accurate time synchronization between devices, low latency traffic and highly reliable communication.
According to 3GPP, TSC should be compatible with the wired based time sensitive network (TSN). However, IIoT may cover a wide variety of applications, and the requirements may be different from conventional 3 GPP applications, such as voice, text, web browsing, and the like.
Moreover, multicast/broadcast service (MBS) is introduced in Rel-17 in order to support public safety communication and vehicle to everything/environment (V2X) application.
In new radio (NR) MBS, HARQ acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) for retransmissions is introduced, which is a difference to conventional 3G/4G multicast mode.
Although there exist techniques for providing TSC, it is generally desirable to provide a base station, a terminal device, and a method.
SUMMARY
According to a first aspect, the disclosure provides a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
According to a second aspect, the disclosure provides a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
According to a third aspect, the disclosure provides a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
According to a fourth aspect, the disclosure provides a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
According to a fifth aspect, the disclosure provides a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
According to a sixth aspect, the disclosure provides a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments. According to a seventh aspect, the disclosure provides a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
According to an eighth aspect, the disclosure provides a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
Further aspects are set forth in the dependent claims, the drawings, and the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments are explained by way of example with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 depicts a NR MBS as it is commonly known;
Fig. 2 depicts principles of HARQ acknowledgement in MBS applied to the present disclosure;
Fig. 3 depicts principles of NACK only mode of HARQ acknowledgement applied to the present disclosure;
Fig. 4 depicts a representation of error sources of NACK only mode;
Fig. 5 depicts a representation of a relation of radio resources, cell coverage, and capacity of HARQ-ACK; Fig. 6 depicts a visual representation of determination coverage levels of UEs
Fig. 7 (divided in Figs. 7a and 7b) is a flow chart of a method according to the present disclosure;
Fig. 8 depicts a case in which a number of poor coverage UEs is lower than a number which can be covered with available HARQ-ACK capacity; and
Fig. 9 depicts a case in which HARQ-ACK capacity is sufficient for high requirement UEs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Before a detailed description of the embodiments under reference of Fig. 2 is given, general explanations are made.
In the present disclosure, the following definitions are used:
Configured Grant (CG): See patent application publication WO 2022/029112 Al : Configured Grant UCI Multiplexing on PUSCH Repetitions
Semi-persistence scheduling (SPS): See patent application publication WO 2022/152433 Al : HARQ-ACK bundling for different SPS instances in an SPS Group
Time sensitive network (TSN): See WO 2021/209235 Al Grand Master Clock UE (DS-TT) providing uplink synchronizations for TSN
Application function (AF): An application function is an interface between TSN CNC and 5G (see below)
The following definitions are in accordance with loT white paper, as retrieved from [1]:
TSN Solution Components: There may be five main components in TSN (time-sensitive network):
TSN flow: Term used to describe time-critical communication between end devices. Each flow has strict time requirements that the networking devices honor. Each TSN flow is uniquely identified by the network devices.
End device: Source and destination of TSN flow. The end device may run an application that may requires deterministic communication. End devices are also referred to as talkers and listeners.
Bridges: Also referred to as Ethernet switches. For TSN, these are special bridges capable of transmitting the Ethernet frames of a TSN flow on a schedule and receiving Ethernet frames of a TSN flow according to a schedule. Central network controller (CNC): For TSN, the CNC acts as a proxy for the Network (the TSN Bridges and their interconnections) and the control applications that require deterministic communication. The CNC defines the schedule on which all TSN frames are transmitted. The CNC application is provided by the vendor of the TSN bridges.
Centralized user configuration (CUC): An application that communicates with the CNC and the end devices. The CUC represents the control applications and the end devices. The CUC makes requests to the CNC for deterministic communication (TSN flows) with specific requirements for those flows. The CUC is an application that is vendor specific. Typically, the vendor of the TSN end devices will supply a CUC for those end devices.
The following definition of TSC (time-sensitive communication) assistance information TSCAI) is in accordance with 3GPP loT Release 17. The TSCAI is used for describing TSC traffic characteristics for IIoT application. The RAN (e.g., the gNB) may use it to decide efficient scheduling strategies, resource allocation, and the like. For example, it may be used to configure semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), configure grant (CG), and the like.
The TSCAI may include the following parameters:
Flow direction: Direction of TSC flow (uplink or downlink)
Periodicity: Time-period between start of two bursts
Burst arrival time: Latest possible time when first packet of data burst arrives at either the ingress of RAN (radio access network) (downlink flow direction) or egress interface of a user equipment (UE) (uplink flow direction)
Survival time: As defined in 3GPP TS 22.261 (Service requirements for 5G systems); refers to a time period an application can survive without any bursts
In factory, plant control, the wired based communication networks which may be used may be referred to as Fieldbus.
Fieldbus may refer to a name of a family of industrial computer networks used for real-time distributed control. Fieldbus profiles are standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as IEC 61784/61158.
A complex automated industrial system is typically structured in hierarchical levels as a distributed control system (DCS). In this hierarchy the upper levels for production managements are linked to the direct control level of programmable logic controllers (PLC) via a non-time- critical communications system (e.g., Ethernet). The fieldbus links the PLCs of the direct control level to the components in the plant of the field level such as sensors, actuators, electric motors, console lights, switches, valves, and contactors and replaces the direct connections via current loops or digital I/O signals. The requirements for a fieldbus are therefore time-critical and cost sensitive. Since the new millennium a number of fieldbuses based on Real-time Ethernet have been established. These have the potential to replace traditional fieldbuses in the long term.
The following definition is obtained from 3GPP TS 23.501 V17.5.0 (2022-06):
The 5G System architecture includes the following network functions (NF):
Authentication Server Function (AUSF).
Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).
Data Network (DN), e.g., operator services, Internet access or 3rd party services.
Unstructured Data Storage Function (UDSF).
Network Exposure Function (NEF).
Network Repository Function (NRF).
Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF).
Network Slice-specific and SNPN Authentication and Authorization Function (NSSAAF).
Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF).
Policy Control Function (PCF).
Session Management Function (SMF).
Unified Data Management (UDM).
Unified Data Repository (UDR).
User Plane Function (UPF).
UE radio Capability Management Function (UCMF).
Application Function (AF).
User Equipment (UE).
(Radio) Access Network ((R)AN).
5G-Equipment Identity Register (5G-EIR).
Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF). CHarging Function (CHF).
Time Sensitive Networking AF (TSN AF).
Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization Function (TSCTSF).
Data Collection Coordination Function (DCCF).
Analytics Data Repository Function (ADRF).
Messaging Framework Adaptor Function (MFAF).
Non-Seamless WLAN Offload Function (NSWOF).
NOTE: The functionalities provided by DCCF and/or ADRF can also be hosted by an
NWDAF.
Edge Application Server Discovery Function (EASDF).
The 5G System architecture also comprises the following network entities:
Service Communication Proxy (SCP).
Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP).
The functional descriptions of these Network Functions and entities are specified in clause 6.
Non-3GPP InterWorking Function (N3IWF).
Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function (TNGF).
Wireline Access Gateway Function (W-AGF).
Trusted WLAN Interworking Function (TWIF).
It has been recognized that internet of things (loT) and industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications may be different from conventional cellular application, e.g., in the context of 5G.
For example, IIoT may need to support various network topologies, such as start, ring, daisy chain (line), mesh, mixtures thereof, or the like.
In conventional cellular applications, atypical topology may be start topology (e.g., one base station sending to multiple terminal devices or user equipments (UE)), but in industrial communication, such as a factory floor, the topology may depend on a layout of a machine, requirements of communications, or the like.
Moreover, if wired communication is replaced with 5G wireless communication, it should (ideally) meet the requirements of wired communications. For example, the ring topology communication or mesh topology communication may be used if high reliable of the communication between the network devices is required, because such topologies may be able to communicate even if one of the links is deactivated. It has been recognized that it may be desirable that, in 5G, the same reliability requirements but with alternative technology may need to be met.
It has further been recognized that various type of communication may need to be supported.
In conventional industrial communication, there may be many communication modes/types because there may be many standards/products to meet the communication requirements for various industries, such as periodic/aperiodic, synchronous/asynchronous, deterministic/non- deterministic, cyclic/event driven/, realtime/non-realtime/isochronous, or the like.
It has been recognized that 5G TSN may need to be able to connect to them and/or replace wirebased solutions with wireless ones.
In the following, definitions of different communication types are given.
Cyclic/event driven
In cyclic communication, the terminal devices (also referred to as user equipment (UE)) may get information one after another. For example, UE A
Figure imgf000010_0001
UE D, then back to start, UE A. Time slots may be pre-allocated and guaranteed to use for the specific UE. For example, transmission may be based on time division, but also other transmission types may be envisaged. For example, resources may be separated in a frequency domain or in a special domain (e.g., beam domain) if transmissions overlap in a same time slot.
On the other hand, event driven is traffic may be handled when an event (e.g., an alarm) occurs, such that such communication may be referred to as “on-demand”. However, if low latency is required, such as for a critical alarm, the traffic may need to be handled immediately. Depending on the type of event/alarm, different strategies of traffic handling may be required. Even for delay tolerant events, a time stamp when an event occurs should be accurate because a historical log may be useful for trouble shooting.
Determini stic/non-determini Stic
In deterministic communication, uncertainty/randomness may be removed as much as possible. The factors of uncertainty may be avoided, such as a collision of resource usage (e.g., contention, interferences), effect of channel fading (error), shortage of transmission power in an amplifier, network node overload beyond the capacity, and the like. Deterministic communication may be provided by a combination of multiple technologies. For example, the cyclic communication or periodic resource allocation may be used to provide deterministic communication.
Synchronous/ asynchronous
Asynchronous communication may have a different meaning depending on the context. In conventional LPWA (low power wide area) loT (delay tolerant system), a receiver may use the signal later after a UE sends the signal. The time when the data received may be much later than the time when the data is used.
In industrial loT, such as factory automation, an unexpected, unplanned alarm may be raised. Such an alarm may be considered as asynchronous. However, urgency may depend on a type of event/alarm. Some events may be delay tolerant, but some events should be handled immediately.
In industrial loT, both synchronous and asynchronous traffic may need to be handled.
Realtime/non-realtime/isochronous
In 3GPP context, realtime traffic may be used for voice, video, and the like. The realtime traffic may need to be handled within an allowed delay (e.g., for voice, latency may need to be less than 100 ms). Therefore, such traffic may be handled like voice over LTE (VoLTE). On the other hand, non-real time traffic may not require such handling.
It has been recognized that, in IIoT, a further traffic class may be needed which may be called “isochronous”. Isochronous communication may provide low latency communication, very accurate time synchronization, and high reliability. It may be suitable for industrial application like motion control. The 5G TSN may be a key technology to meet this requirement.
Periodic/aperiodic
In periodic communication, a signal may be transmitted in regular interval. For example, a UE may repeatedly transmit a signal every 5 ms (milliseconds), or the like.
As indicated above, in industrial communication, there may be various combination of the different communication types, which should also be usable in 5G. More information may be obtained from the white paper [2],
However, it has been recognized that no 3 GPP standard defines how these different communication types should be taken into account by the TSN. Moreover, it has been recognized that various types of use cases may be present in factory automation, which should still be usable in 5G IIoT. Such use cases may be shown in 3GPP TR 22.804 V16.3.0 (2020-07). In the following, some use cases are defined.
Motion control
In a factory, a motor/actuator may control objects to move to a predetermined position, with a predetermined speed, at a predetermined timing (e.g., conveyor belt, robots). This may be achieved based on sensors.
It has been recognized that such a system may have a feedback loop to adjust position/speed and it may require low latency, very accurate time synchronization and high reliability. It should be based on deterministic communication and may use cyclic communication to guarantee a quality of service (QoS).
Alarm/event
Alarm/events may occur at unexpected times. However, there may be various types of alarms/events. For example, an immediate action may be required for an alarm which shows an emergency situation. On the other hand, some events may be delay tolerant and as a first step, it may be sufficient to just record it in a log. However, in a conventional 3GPP, such diversity of events is not taken into account.
In addition, a very accurate time stamp may be required for events because a time series analysis may help with troubleshooting.
Non-realtime data
In a factory, a machine may be controlled by a computer (system), e.g., based on ERP (enterprise resource planning), MES (manufacturing execution system), SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition). Large volumes of data may be trafficked, but such systems may need to be delay tolerant. In a factory environment, the real-time communication and non-realtime one may be mixing.
Machine vision
Video analytics and/or image processing may require handling of large volumes of data. A sensing result may need to be used for motion control (e.g., robot vision). In machine vision, eMBB type traffic and URLLC type traffic may be mixed in a system.
Safety communication It has been recognized that for factory automation with 5G, it may be challenging to support safety control functions such as “emergency stop switch”, “Deadman’s switch”, or the like, which may be designed to stop a machine if the human operator cannot operate it for some reason (e.g., loss of consciousness).
Hence, even if the communication does not work properly, a safety communication function may need to work to prevent an accident.
Fail-safe
Fail-safe may refer to a feature or practice that in case of a specific type of failure inherently responds in a way that will cause minimal or no harm to other equipment, environment and/or people.
Multicast/broadcast (multicast-broadcast) system (MBS)
As indicated above, in 3 GPP loT Rel-17, MBS has been introduced, but it has been recognized that MBS is not considered to IIoT.
Fig. 1 a New Radio (NR) MBS 1 as it is commonly known.
The MBS 1 has two modes, broadcast mode and multicast mode, wherein, in the following, only the multicast mode is described.
A core network (CN) 1 establishes a multicast session to a UE (User Equipment). For that purpose, the CN 2 transfers MBS traffic to a RAN (Radio access network) via a SDAP (service data adaption protocol) 3. The SDAP 3 is configured to distinguish quality of service (QoS) requirements based on QoS flow(s) 4 from the CN 2. In this embodiment, only one QoS flow is mentioned for simplification, but 3 GPP allows multiplexing more than one QoS flow. The SDAP 3 is configured to map a CN level QoS (i.e., per QoS flow) and to a RAN level QoS based on an allocation of an MBS radio bearer 5 in line with the RAN level QoS, which is input to a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) 6.
The PDCP 6 was originally defined for packet header compression. Nowadays, it is in charge of more functions than the intended functions. It mainly splits the stream into segments for a packet in PDCP level and allocates sequence number (SN) for reordering. The SDAP 3 may check the SN in the header and waits for retransmission if some of packet should have been received earlier but has not been received yet. The SDAP 3 is also in charge of removing the duplicated packets if the UE receives the same packet with multiple times. A radio link control (RLC) layer is configured to establish reliable radio link with segmentation, de- segmentation (assemble of segmented packet), allocation of RLC level sequence number (RLC SN) and automatic repeat request (ARQ), and the like.
If point to multipoint (RLC PTM 5) should be established, a group RLC is configured for multiple UEs.
However, known RLC does not support retransmissions (i.e., no ARQ at RLC for PTM).
Group RLC transfer to MAC/PHY layer 7. A base station (e.g., gNB) executes the group scheduling to the multiple UEs. The gNB sends a packet for the multiple UEs which belong to the same group (multicast group). If a UE faces an error, hybrid ARQ (HARQ) may be applied in MAC. However, HARQ in MAC is different from ARQ in RLC.
Moreover, in broadcast mode, MBS does not support HARQ level retransmissions. Therefore, the number of broadcast mode UEs may be omissible in terms of PUCCH capacity calculation at gNB.
In PTM radio resources may be efficiently used and a small amount of scheduling may be needed due to group signaling. However, a residual error rate is rather high because only HARQ retransmissions may be possible, but no retransmissions on RLC level.
If point to point (RLC PTP 8) should be established, a dedicated RLC is configured to a (single) UE.
In this case, RLC supports RLC level retransmission (ARQ at RLC for PTP), since the PTP mode has an acknowledgement mode (RLC-AM) which supports ARQ.
The RLC transfers the packet to MAC/PHY 10. The gNB executes the dedicated scheduling to the UE. When the UE faces an error, the UE may request a retransmission in MAC layer with HARQ. In addition, the UE may request retransmission in RLC layer with ARQ.
PTP may be highly reliable due to a rather low residual error rate. However, more radio resources may be needed due to the individual data transmission. The overhead of signaling at cell level may be large because of the dedicated signaling to a UE. In addition, the RLC level retransmission may take longer time, such that a delay may be larger if retransmission in RLC level is carried out.
For IIoT (industrial internet of things) application, lower latency operation may be preferable such as in PTM. On the other hand, very high reliability may be required such as in PTP. In HARQ, a HARQ-ACK reporting mode (ACK = acknowledgement) may be used. It may be distinguished between “ACK/NACK” mode (acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement) and “NACK only” mode. Also, HARQ-ACK may be disabled, which may be called “No ACK/NACK” in the present disclosure.
However, it should be noted that, in the present disclosure, an “acknowledgement mode” may refer to any of the above-mentioned modes, i.e., ACK/NACK, NACK only, ACK only, or No ACK/NACK.
HARQ-ACK may refer to the new radio (NR) MBS, as discussed above, which may be nonexistent in LTE. However, it has been recognized that, if the number of UEs in MBS is too large, the HARQ acknowledgement mode may exceed a base station’s capacity (also referred to as “PUCCH overload”).
Fig. 2 depicts the principles of HARQ acknowledgement in MBS. Fig. 2 depicts a cell 20 in an IIoT network, which is spanned by a base station (gNB) 21.
The cell includes a first UE 22, which is in a good coverage region 23, and a second UE 24, which is in a poor coverage region 25.
The UE 22 sends, upon reception of MBS data from the gNB 21, an ACK.
However, the UE 24 does not correctly receive the MBS data, such that it sends a NACK to the gNB 21. Upon reception of NACK, the gNB retransmits the data with PDSCH to the UE 24.
However, if a large number of UEs is in the cell, the cell capacity may not be sufficient to provide ACK/NACK for all the UEs, as discussed in the following under reference of Fig. 3.
In Fig. 3, NACK only mode is used as a HARQ feedback, i.e., only the UE which faces a transmission error of the MBS data sends the NACK to the gNB, but the UEs which correctly receive the data do not send an ACK.
In existing 3GPP standards with NACK only mode, the UEs which correctly receive the data (e.g., UE in good coverage) do not send an ACK. If the gNB does not receive NACK, it is assumed that the UE correctly receives the MBS data.
However, it has been recognized that, e.g., in a factory, a line of sight between the gNB and a UE in good coverage may be disrupted, e.g., since heavy goods are lifted by a crane, or the like. Hence, even if the UE is in good coverage, it may face an error.
Hence, it has been recognized that NACK only mode may not necessarily provide high-reliable communication. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, MBS data sent by a gNB 30 may have two parts: one part is sent via a control channel (PDCCH), and the other part may be sent via a data channel (PDSCH). If a UE 31 misdetects (e.g., misses, wrongly detects, or the like) the PDCCH data, the UE 31 is not aware of incoming the PDSCH data, in this embodiment. As a result, the UE 31 does not send the NACK because of no decoding error of PDSCH if UE does not receive the control channel
From gNB point of view, no NACK may mean that the UE 31 has successfully received the (whole) MBS data.
On the other hand, when the UE 31 sends the NACK if the UE 31 detects an error, but the NACK does not reach the gNB 30 (for example because of link error), the gNB 30 may assume that a UE 31 has successfully received the MBS data.
As indicated above, in order to provide high reliability, ideally, all UEs may use ACK/NACK mode, but in such embodiments, a large capacity of the HARQ acknowledgement may be required, but radio resources may be limited in practice.
Fig. 5 depicts a relation of radio resources, cell coverage, and capacity of HARQ-ACK. According to the present disclosure, it may be desired to make room for HARQ-ACK for IIoT UEs which require a high QoS (quality of service), low latency, and other services, such as safety communication. However, this may require more radio resources for MBS, which in turn may require better coverage and a low error rate, which in turn may require a low number of ACK/NACK UEs.
Hence, it has been recognized that a strategy may be applied which UEs use which acknowledgement mode (if any).
For example, firstly, the network may need to estimate loads of HARQ-ACK from the MBS UEs. In order to do so, total number of UEs in the cell may be determined which support MBS.
Moreover, a coverage level at UE location may be determined, which may be indicative of a number of UEs in good coverage and a number of UEs in poor coverage.
As indicated above, in some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed in the following.
If ACK/NACK mode is enabled, the gNB may be able to count the number of ACKs from the UEs and the number of NACKs from the UEs. Then, the gNB may be configured to calculate an error rate (E)as follows by dividing the number of received NACKs (#NACK) by the number of received ACKs (#ACK) plus the number of received NACKs (#NACK), i.e. (Formula 1):
Figure imgf000017_0001
For a more accurate determination of the error rate, the gNB may take the missed packets into account. For example, the gNB may have knowledge about the transmitted MBS packets over PDCCH/PDSCH, or the like.
If the expected the number of HARQ-ACK feedbacks from UE does not match the sum of actual received HARQ-ACK feedbacks (both ACKs and NACKs), some packets may be missing. For example, in downlink, the UE may miss a control channel (PDCCH), a shared channel (PDSCH), or the like. In uplink, the gNB may miss PUCCH (ACK/NACK).
In terms of counting the missed packet, this relation may be used.
A number of transmitted PDCCH/PDSCH at the gNB may correspond to the sum of the number of received ACKs and the number of received NACKs, if there are no missing packets.
Therefore, these two values may be the same in terms of number of errors.
The number of received NACKs (countable by the gNB) plus the number of missed packets (not directly countable by the gNB) may correspond to the number of transmitted PDCCH/PDSCH (countable by the gNB) minus the number of received ACKs (countable by the gNB)
Hence, the error rate E may be calculated as follows (Formula 2):
#Packets - K E = -
# Packets
In NACK only mode, the gNB may use the number of NACKs instead of that of ACKs, as follows (Formula 3):
#NACK
E = -
#Packets
Note that the above Formula 3 for the error rate in the NACK only mode may be not as accurate compared to Formula 2 in ACK/NACK mode, because the gNB may not be able to distinguish between a missing ACK (nothing transmitted from UE) and a missed NACK (UE sends NACK but the gNB misses it).
Fig. 6 depicts a visual representation of these determinations (number of UEs and coverage determination). If the capacity (C) of HARQ Acknowledgment (PUCCH for ACK/NACK) at gNB is larger than the total number of UEs (N), there may be no capacity problem. In this case, the gNB may use ACK/NACK mode for all UEs.
However, if the number of MBS UEs is too high, it may exceed the capacity of HARQ acknowledgement. Therefore, HARQ acknowledgement capacity and selection of HARQ modes for the different UEs may be considered.
Therefore, some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
In some embodiments, the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
In some embodiments, the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed below.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users equipments in at least one of the first and the second group.
In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
In some embodiments, a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments. In some embodiments, at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
In some embodiments, only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method including: using a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and using a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network, as discussed herein.
Some embodiments pertain to a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network, as discussed herein.
Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
Moreover, some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
According to the present disclosure, a control of feedback signaling (HARQ acknowledgement) load may be provided. Thus, a base station (e.g., gNB) may save PUCCH resources to receive the HARQ-ACK.
Moreover, efficient downlink radio resource usage/transmission power allocation for MBS UEs in the cell may be provided.
Also, high reliability (not only for IIoT application) regardless of coverage may be achieved.
Furthermore, reduction of uplink resource usage and uplink interference may be achieved according to the present disclosure. Fig. 7 depicts a flow chart of a method 40 according to the present disclosure carried out in a base station (gNB).
At 41, the gNB determines (counts) the number of MBS UEs in the cell. The gNB may use the number of multicast sessions to know the number of UEs, or the like.
At 42, the gNB determines (collects) the coverage levels of UEs in the cells. gNB may use the function of minimized drive test (MDT), or the like, to do so.
At 43, the gNB checks the capacity of MBS HARQ acknowledgement. The number of total MBS UEs is N. the capacity of MBS HARQ acknowledgement is C. The gNB may separately count the number of UE in good coverage and the number of UEs in poor coverage. (Note that coverage level may be multiple levels. For simplification of explanation, only the good coverage and poor coverage case is discussed.)
Hence, if the total number of UEs in MBS is larger than the capacity of HARQ-ACK, a process of capacity control (capacity control mode) may be initiated.
At 44, if the total number of UE (N) (i.e., the capacity needed for all UEs) is smaller than the capacity of HARQ acknowledgement (C), the gNB selects ACK/NACK for all UEs.
If the needed capacity for all UEs is larger than the available capacity, it is checked, at 45 if enough capacity is available only for the poor coverage UEs.
If no, 46, the gNB improves an MBS performance in order to reduce the number of poor coverage UEs (i.e., to increase the good coverage sub-cell). For example, the gNB may increase transmission power, or use performance improvement techniques like repetition (bundling), or the like.
Hence, in some embodiments, the second number of UEs is reduced by increasing the first number of UEs, such that ACK/NACK is needed for a lower number of UEs.
In some embodiments, in order to reduce the poor coverage UEs (the second number of UEs with the second cellular coverage level), which are more likely than the good coverage UEs to require the retransmission, the gNB improves the MBS performance (i.e., low error rate at UE) by allocation of more resources such as gNB Tx power boost, transmission repetition (budling), lower modulation and coding rate (MCS), or the like.
If the number of poor coverage UEs is smaller than the number which can be covered with the available capacity of HARQ acknowledgement (c), the gNB selects the ACK/NACK mode of MBS HARQ for the low coverage UEs only, at 47. This case is depicted in Fig. 8. The hashed part in the lower box represents the capacity, which is still needed, i.e., in this embodiment the capacity needed by the poor coverage UEs (N2) is higher than the total available HARQ ACK capacity (C).
At 48, the gNB identifies the number of high requirements UEs, which require high reliability (low error rate), high quality of service (QoS), mission criticality (i.e., the impact is severe if UE misses the MBS data). In some embodiments, the gNB identifies the high requirement UE from QoS flow indicator (5QI), assistance information (TSCAI), or the like.
The gNB decides which UE should use the ACK/NACK mode based on the TSC assistance information, QoS parameters, or the like, i.e., based on the determination which UE is a high requirement UE.
At 49, the gNB determines whether there is enough capacity for the identified high requirement UEs.
If the available capacity is not sufficient, performance improvement is carried out for the high requirement UEs (similar as described above), at 50.
If the capacity is sufficient for the high requirement UEs (as discussed under Fig.7b, the gNB selects the ACK/NACK mode for the high requirements UEs, at 51.
This case is shown in Fig. 9. The hashed part in the lower box represents the capacity that is still available.
Hence, in some embodiments, further HARQ acknowledgement capacity is generated, if there is not enough capacity for the high requirement UEs.
At 52, for the non-high requirement UEs, the gNB selects No ACK/NACK mode (disables the HARQ acknowledgement).
At 53, the gNB selects, for the good coverage UEs, NACK mode.
In some embodiments, the gNB is configured to allocate different resources (e.g., different PUCCH resources) for high requirement UEs and low requirement UEs and/or the gNB is configured to reserve different parts of resources for high requirements UEs and low requirements UEs. This may ensure that retransmissions are provided and prioritized for high requirements UEs in case the gNB has limited resources or there are collisions. For example, the gNB may identify the high and low requirement UEs separately based on UE capability, or the like. Also, the reported modes may be configured differently for high requirements UEs and low requirements UEs. In some embodiments, the acknowledgement for high requirements UEs has a higher priority than the acknowledgement for low requirements UEs.
The identification of the high requirement UEs may carried out as follows, without limiting the present disclosure in that regard:
For example, same service may be delivered with different QoS (quality of service) requirements to different users (or user equipments), i.e., certain users may require bundling, repetitions (high quality), but other users/UEs may be ok to receive data with higher error rate (low quality). A core network may thus create two separate multicast sessions (e.g., high quality and low quality) and UEs/users with different requirements may join either the low quality session or the high quality session. Service-related user data from the core network to the gNB(s) may be sent using single path and then transmission of this data may be treated differently in the gNB, as described herein.
Hence, a UE may inform the core network or the gNB, if it wants to join a high quality or low quality service (i.e., that it is a high requirement UE or a low requirement UE) based on at least one of: user preference, UE capability, UE subscription, or the like. In this way, same device can act as either high or low quality/requirement.
As discussed herein, some embodiments pertain to a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
In some embodiments, the first number and/or the second number of UEs includes MBS multicast but not MBS broadcast UEs (because MBS broadcast UE may not send HARQ-ACK).
In some embodiments, first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the circuitry is further configured to: identify high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a nonacknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the method further includes: identifying high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the method further includes: carrying out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
Some embodiments pertain to a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the circuitry is further configured to: receive the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a high requirement user equipment, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
Some embodiments pertain to a method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level, as discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments, as discussed herein.
On the other hand, instead of identifying the first and second numbers based on the coverage level, the first and second numbers of UEs may be identified based on whether they are high requirement UEs or low requirement UEs (or any other intermediate requirements).
Accordingly, some embodiments pertain to a base station (or a method carried out in a base station) for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments having high cellular requirements; identify a second number of user equipments having lower cellular requirements than the first number of user equipments; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
The methods as described herein are also implemented in some embodiments as a computer program causing a computer and/or a processor to perform the method, when being carried out on the computer and/or processor. In some embodiments, also a non-transitory computer- readable recording medium is provided that stores therein a computer program product, which, when executed by a processor, such as the processor described above, causes the methods described herein to be performed.
In some embodiments, depending on a requirement level of an application or service and/or the level of coverage of the UE (e.g., channel quality), the strategy of HARQ-ACK mode configuration may be changed, as discussed in the following.
If the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for both the high requirement UEs and the low requirement UEs, the gNB may configure ACK/NACK for all UEs regardless of coverage level (Table 1):
Table 1 Example of HARQ-ACK mode configuration when the total capacity of the cell is sufficient
Figure imgf000029_0001
| Good coverage | ACK/NACK | ACK/NACK |
If the total capacity of the cell is a little limited (e.g., little remaining capacity but not yet congested), the gNB may configure NACK only for low requirement UEs in good coverage (Table 2). If the capacity is fairly limited, NACK only is also configured for the low requirement UEs in poor coverage
Table 2 Example of HARQ-ACK mode configuration when the total capacity of the cell is limited.
Figure imgf000030_0001
If there is a shortage of the total capacity of the cell (e.g., high load, congestion detected, or the like), the gNB may configure to disable HARQ-ACK (No ACK/NACK) for the low requirement UEs in good coverage and the gNB may configure NACK only for low requirement UEs in poor coverage. (Table 3).
If there is a severe capacity shortage, NACK only may also be configured for high requirement UEs in good coverage.
Table 3 Example of HARQ-ACK mode configuration when the total capacity of the cell is highly shortage.
Figure imgf000030_0002
It should be recognized that the embodiments describe methods with an exemplary ordering of method steps. The specific ordering of method steps is however given for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as binding. For example, the ordering of 41 and 42 in the embodiment of Fig. 7 may be exchanged. Also, the ordering of 41 and 48 in the embodiment of Fig. 7 may be exchanged. Further, also the ordering of 42 and 48 in the embodiment of Fig. 7 may be exchanged. Other changes of the ordering of method steps may be apparent to the skilled person.
All units and entities described in this specification and claimed in the appended claims can, if not stated otherwise, be implemented as integrated circuit logic, for example on a chip, and functionality provided by such units and entities can, if not stated otherwise, be implemented by software.
In so far as the embodiments of the disclosure described above are implemented, at least in part, using software-controlled data processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a transmission, storage or other medium by which such a computer program is provided are envisaged as aspects of the present disclosure.
Note that the present technology can also be configured as described below.
(1) A base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
(2) The base station of (1), wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
(3) The base station of (1) or (2), wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
(4) The base station of anyone of (1) to (3), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
(5) The base station of anyone of (1) to (4), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
(6) The base station of anyone of (1) to (5), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
(7) The base station of anyone of (1) to (6), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
(8) The base station of anyone of (1) to (7), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users equipments in at least one of the first and the second group.
(9) The base station of anyone of (1) to (8), wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments. (10) The base station of anyone of (1) to (9), wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
(11) The base station of anyone of (1) to (10), wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
(12) The base station of anyone of (1) to (11), wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
(13) A method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: using a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and using a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
(14) The method of (13), wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
(15) The method of (13) or (14), wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
(16) The method of anyone of (13) to (15), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
(17) The method of anyone of (13) to (16), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
(18) The method of anyone of (13) to (17), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
(19) The method of anyone of (13) to (18), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
(20) The method of anyone of (13) to (19), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group.
(21) The method of anyone of (13) to (20), wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments. (22) The method of anyone of (13) to (21), wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
(23) The method of anyone of (13) to (22), wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
(24) The method of anyone of (13) to (23), wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
(25) A user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
(26) The user equipment of (25), wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
(27) The user equipment of (25) or (26), wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
(28) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (27), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
(29) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (28), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
(30) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (29), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
(31) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (30), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
(32) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (31), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group. (33) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (32), wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
(34) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (33), wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
(35) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (34), wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
(36) The user equipment of anyone of (25) to (35), wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
(37) A method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
(38) The method of (37), wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
(39) The method of (37) or (38), wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
(40) The method of anyone of (37) to (39), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
(41) The method of anyone of (37) to (40), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
(42) The method of anyone of (37) to (41), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
(43) The method of anyone of (37) to (42), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
(44) The method of anyone of (37) to (43), wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group. (45) The method of anyone of (37) to (44), wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
(46) The method of anyone of (37) to (45), wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
(47) The method of anyone of (37) to (46), wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
(48) The method of anyone of (37) to (47), wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
(49) A base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
(50) The base station of (49), wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
(51) The base station of (50), wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(52) The base station of (51), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(53) The base station of (51) or (52), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
(54) The base station of (53), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement. (55) The base station of (54), wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
(56) The base station of anyone of (53) to (55), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments.
(57) The base station of anyone of (49) to (56), wherein the circuitry is further configured to: identify high requirement user equipments.
(58) The base station of (57), wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
(59) The base station of (58), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement.
(60) The base station of (59), wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
(61) The base station of anyone of (58) to (60), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments.
(62) The base station of (61), wherein the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments.
(63) The base station of anyone of (58) to (62), wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
(64) The base station of anyone of (58) to (63), wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
(65) The base station of anyone of (49) to (64), wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments. (66) A method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
(67) The method of (66), wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
(68) The method of (67), wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(69) The method of (68), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(70) The method of (68) or (69), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
(71) The method of (70), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement.
(72) The method of (71), wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
(73) The method of anyone of (70) to (72), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments.
(74) The method of anyone of (66) to (73), further comprising: identifying high requirement user equipments.
(75) The method of (74), wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments. (76) The method of (75), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement.
(77) The method of (76), wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
(78) The method of anyone of (75) to (77), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments.
(79) The method of (78), further comprising: carrying out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments.
(80) The method of anyone of (75) to (79), wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
(81) The method of anyone of (75) to (80), wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
(82) The method of anyone of (66) to (81), wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
(83) A user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
(84) The user equipment of (83), wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell. (85) The user equipment of (84), wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(86) The user equipment of (85), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments.
(87) The user equipment of (85) or (86), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
(88) The user equipment of (87), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments.
(89) The user equipment of anyone of (83) to (88), wherein the circuitry is further configured to: receive the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a high requirement user equipment.
(90) The user equipment of (89), wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
(91) The user equipment of (90), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments.
(92) The user equipment of (91), wherein a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments.
(93) The user equipment of (90), wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
(94) The user equipment of anyone of (90) to (93), wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
(95) The user equipment of anyone of (83) to (94), wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
(96) A method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
(97) The method of (96), wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
(98) The method of (97), wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
(99) The method of (98), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments.
(100) The method of (98) or (99), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
(101) The method of (100), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments.
(102) The method of anyone of (96) to (101), further comprising: receiving the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a requirement user equipments.
(103) The method of (102), wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
(104) The method of (103), wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments. (105) The method of (104), wherein a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments.
(106) The method of anyone of (103) to (105), wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
(107) The method of anyone of (103) to (106), wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
(108) The method of anyone of (96) to (107), wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
(109) A computer program comprising program code causing a computer to perform the method according to anyone of (13) to (24) and/or anyone of (37) to (48) and/or anyone of (66) to (82) and/or anyone of (96) to (108), when being carried out on a computer.
(110) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program product, which, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to anyone of (13) to (24) and/or anyone of (37) to (48) and/or anyone of (66) to (82) and/or anyone of (96) to (108) to be performed.
References
[1] https://www.cisco.eom/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/industry-solutions/white-paper-cl 1- 738950.pdf
[2] https://5g-acia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/5G-ACIA_Integration-of-Industrial- Ethemet-N etworks-with- 5 G-N etworks- .pdf

Claims

1. A base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: use a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and use a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
4. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
5. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
6. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
7. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
8. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users equipments in at least one of the first and the second group.
9. The base station of claim 1, wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
10. The base station of claim 1, wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
11. The base station of claim 1, wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
12. The base station of claim 1, wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
13. A method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: using a first hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode for a first group of user equipments; and using a second HARQ-ACK mode for a second group of user equipments.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group.
21. The method of claim 13, wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
23. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
24. The method of claim 13, wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
25. A user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast, MBS, service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
26. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
27. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
28. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ- ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
29. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ- ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
30. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ- ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirement and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
31. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ- ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
32. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ- ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group.
33. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
34. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
35. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
36. The user equipment of claim 25, wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
37. A method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast, MBS, service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether a first or a second hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, mode should be used between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, whether the user equipment belongs to a first group of user equipments of a second group of user equipments.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first HARQ-ACK mode is an ACK/NACK mode.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the second HARQ-ACK mode is a NACK only mode or a No ACK/NACK mode.
40. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on an error rate.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a channel quality and a coverage level.
42. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on at least one of a requirements and a type of an industrial internet of things, IIoT, application.
43. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a capacity of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH.
44. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first and the second HARQ-ACK mode is selected based on a number of users in a group.
45. The method of claim 37, wherein an MBS error rate of the first group of user equipments is lower than that of the second group of user equipments.
46. The method of claim 37, wherein a cellular coverage level or a channel quality for the second group of user equipments is below a cellular coverage level or channel quality for the first group of user equipments.
47. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one requirement of internet of things, IIoT, application of the second group of user equipments is lower than at least one requirement of IIoT application of the first group of user equipments.
48. The method of claim 37, wherein only the first group of user equipments support at least one of an internet of things, IIoT, application and time-sensitive network.
49. A base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the base station comprising circuitry configured to: identify a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identify a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determine a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
50. The base station of claim 49, wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
51. The base station of claim 50, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes unicast user equipments.
52. The base station of claim 50, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes idle and inactive user equipments in the cell.
53. The base station of claim 50, wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
54. The base station of claim 53, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
55. The base station of claim 53, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
56. The base station of claim 55, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement.
57. The base station of claim 56, wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
58. The base station of claim 55, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments.
59. The base station of claim 49, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: identify high requirement user equipments.
60. The base station of claim 59, wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
61. The base station of claim 60, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a performance improvement.
62. The base station of claim 61, wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
63. The base station of claim 60, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the circuitry is further configured to: carry out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments.
64. The base station of claim 63, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: carry out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments.
65. The base station of claim 60, wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
66. The base station of claim 60, wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
67. The base station of claim 49, wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
68. A method carried out in a base station for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: identifying a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in a cell; identifying a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level; and determining a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of the cell, and the first and second number of user equipments.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes unicast user equipments.
71. The method of claim 69, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes idle and inactive user equipments in the cell.
72. The method of claim 69, wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
74. The method of claim 72, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient for the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
77. The method of claim 74, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the method further comprises: carrying out the acknowledgement mode only for the second number of user equipments.
78. The method of claim 68, further comprising: identifying high requirement user equipments.
79. The method of claim 78, wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out a performance improvement.
81. The method of claim 80, wherein the performance improvement includes at least one of a transmission power boost, transmission repetition, bundling, and lowering of modulation and coding rate.
82. The method of claim 79, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the method further comprises: carrying out an acknowledgement mode only for the high requirement user equipments.
83. The method of claim 82, further comprising: carrying out a non-acknowledgement only mode for the first number of user equipments.
84. The method of claim 79, wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
85. The method of claim 79, wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
86. The method of claim 68, wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
87. A user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicastbroadcast service, the user equipment comprising circuitry configured to: receive, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
88. The user equipment of claim 87, wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
89. The user equipment of claim 88, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes unicast user equipments.
90. The user equipment of claim 88, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes idle and inactive user equipments in the cell.
91. The user equipment of claim 88, wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out the acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
92. The user equipment of claim 91, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments.
93. The user equipment of claim 91, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
94. The user equipment of claim 93, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments.
95. The user equipment of claim 87, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: receive the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a high requirement user equipment.
96. The user equipment of claim 95, wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
97. The user equipment of claim 96, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments.
98. The user equipment of claim 97, wherein a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments.
99. The user equipment of claim 96, wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
100. The user equipment of claim 96, wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
101. The user equipment of claim 87, wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
102. A method carried out in a user equipment for a mobile telecommunications network providing multicast-broadcast service, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, an indication whether an acknowledgement mode should be carried out between the user equipment and the base station, based on a determination, by the base station, of a capacity control mode based on a total capacity of a cell and based on a determination whether the user equipment belongs to a first number of user equipments with a first cellular coverage level in the cell or to a second number of user equipments with a second cellular coverage level in the cell, wherein the second cellular coverage level is below the first cellular coverage level.
103. The method of claim 102, wherein the first number plus the second number of user equipments results in a total number of user equipments in the cell.
104. The method of claim 103, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes unicast user equipments.
105. The method of claim 103, wherein the total number of user equipments in the cell excludes idle and inactive user equipments in the cell.
106. The method of claim 103, wherein the determination of the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to carry out an acknowledgement mode for the total number of user equipments.
107. The method of claim 106, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient the acknowledgement mode is carried out for the total number of user equipments.
108. The method of claim 106, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is not sufficient, the capacity control mode further includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the second number of user equipments with the second cellular coverage level.
109. The method of claim 108, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient to cover the second number of user equipments, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the second number of user equipments.
110. The method of claim 102, further comprising: receiving the indication based on a determination that the user equipment is a requirement user equipments.
111. The method of claim 110, wherein the capacity control mode includes a determination whether the total capacity of the cell is sufficient for the high requirement user equipments.
112. The method of claim 111, wherein, if the total capacity of the cell is sufficient, the acknowledgement mode is carried out only for the high requirement user equipments.
113. The method of claim 112, wherein a non-acknowledgement only mode is carried out for the first number of user equipments.
114. The method of claim 111, wherein the capacity control mode includes allocating different resources for the identified high requirement user equipments than for low requirement user equipments.
115. The method of claim 111, wherein the capacity control mode includes prioritizing an acknowledgement mode of the high requirement user equipments.
116. The method of claim 102, wherein the capacity control mode includes at least one of determining a capacity requirement for the second number of user equipments, identifying high requirement user equipments, and deciding an acknowledgement mode for at least one of the first number of user equipments, the second number of user equipments, and the high requirement user equipments.
PCT/EP2024/051318 2023-01-20 2024-01-19 Base station, user equipment, method WO2024153814A1 (en)

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