阅读说明：本技术 通信装置、基础设施设备和方法 (Communication device, infrastructure equipment and method ) 是由 申·霍恩格·翁 亚辛·阿登·阿瓦德 维韦克·沙尔马 示沢寿之 马丁·沃里克·比勒 于 2020-02-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种通过通信装置选择用于在无线通信网络中传输的数据的方法,该方法包括：由通信装置接收分配消息,分配消息包括用于从多个逻辑信道中的一个或多个逻辑信道的第一组发送数据的第一通信资源的指示,并且分配消息是响应于请求第一通信资源的第二调度请求消息而接收的,第一通信资源用于从一个或多个逻辑信道中的第一组发送数据,第二调度请求消息是在请求第二通信资源的第一调度请求消息之后发送的,第二通信资源用于从多个逻辑信道中的一个或多个逻辑信道的第二组发送数据,响应于接收分配消息,选择逻辑信道优先级划分(LCP)方案,用于分配由第一通信资源提供的容量,用于使用第一通信资源从一个或多个逻辑信道的第一组或从一个或多个逻辑信道的第二组发送数据,LCP方案从多个LCP方案中选择,多个LCP方案中的每一个LCP方案确定由第一通信资源提供的可用容量的不同分配,用于从多个逻辑信道发送数据,并且根据所选择的LCP方案,从多个逻辑信道中选择要使用第一通信资源发送的数据。(A method of selecting data for transmission in a wireless communication network by a communication device, the method comprising: receiving, by a communication device, an allocation message comprising an indication of first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more logical channels of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting the first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second group of one or more logical channels of the plurality of logical channels, selecting, in response to receiving the allocation message, a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels or from the second group of one or more logical channels using the first communication resources, the LCP scheme is selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communications resource for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels, and selecting data to be transmitted using the first communications resource from the plurality of logical channels according to the selected LCP scheme.)

1. A method of selecting data for transmission in a wireless communication network by a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the communications device, an allocation message including an indication of first communications resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message is received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting the first communications resources for transmitting the data from the first group of one or more of the logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting second communications resources for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels,

in response to receiving the assignment message, selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating the data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels or from a second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communication resource, the LCP scheme selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating data from the plurality of the logical channels, and

selecting data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels according to the selected LCP scheme.

2. The method of claim 1, the method comprising:

detecting that data associated with a second set of the logical channels is to be transmitted on an uplink of the wireless communication network,

transmitting a first request for communication resources to be scheduled for transmitting said data from a second group of said logical channels, and

after sending the first request, detecting that data associated with a first set of the logical channels is to be sent on an uplink of the wireless communication network, wherein the data selected according to the selected LCP scheme includes data from the first set of the logical channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

According to the selected LCP, each of two or more of the plurality of logical channels is associated with a priority, and data associated with a logical channel having a first priority is selected for transmission in preference to data associated with a logical channel having a second priority lower than the first priority, and

selecting a selected LCP scheme from a plurality of the LCP schemes based on the assignment message.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein data associated with one or more logical channels is excluded from selection according to the selected LCP scheme, and

selecting the LCP scheme includes determining one or more of the logical channels excluded from selection, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for transmission using the first communications resource.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising

Prior to receiving the allocation message, receiving a second allocation message comprising an indication of second communication resources received in response to the first scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the second communication resources (PUSCH #1), the second communication resources (PUSCH #1) being used for transmitting the data from a second group of one or more of the logical channels,

in response to receiving the second allocation message, selecting a second LCP scheme, wherein data selected for transmission using the second communication resources can be selected for transmission using the first communication resources in accordance with the selected second LCP scheme, and

selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resource comprises selecting a portion of the data selected for transmission using the second communication resource.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising

Determining that the allocation message and the second allocation message are received during the same time slot, wherein

Selecting the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme is based on determining that the allocation message and the second allocation message are received during the same time slot.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

Selecting the data to be transmitted using the first communication resource in accordance with the selected LCP scheme includes selecting from all data available for transmission at the beginning of the same timeslot regardless of the data selected to be transmitted using the second communication resource in accordance with the selected second LCP scheme.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising

Determining that the allocation message is received before an end time of the second communication resource, wherein

In response to determining that the allocation message is received before the end time of the second communication resource, selecting the data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels by selecting a portion of the selected data for transmission using the second communication resource.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising

Determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource, an

Refraining from transmitting using the second communication resource in response to determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein

In response to determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource, selecting the data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels by selecting a portion of the selected data for transmission using the second communication resource.

11. The method of claim 5, comprising

Determining that the first communication resource begins before an end time of the second communication resource, wherein

Selecting the data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels by selecting a portion of the selected data for transmission using the second communication resource in response to determining that the second communication resource begins before a first end time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein

Selecting the LCP scheme includes determining an error detection portion that generates the assignment message based on a predetermined temporary identifier, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for transmission using the first communication resource.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein

Selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the assignment message conforms to a predetermined format, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for transmission using the first communication resource.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

The wireless communication network provides a wireless access interface comprising communication resources divided in time into time slots and further into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol periods, and

the first communication resource begins on a first OFDM symbol period of a slot according to the predetermined format.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein

Selecting the LCP scheme comprises determining that the allocation message was sent using a predetermined communications resource associated with the determined LCP scheme used to select the data for communication using the first communications resource.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein

The predetermined communication resources include communication resources of a physical downlink control channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

Selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the allocation message was sent using a predetermined number and location of frequency resources, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for communication using the first communication resource.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein

The allocation message includes an indication of modulation and coding scheme parameters for transmitting the data using the first communication resource, and

selecting the LCP scheme comprises determining that the modulation and coding scheme parameters indicated by the assignment message satisfy a predetermined condition associated with the selected LCP scheme, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for transmission using the first communication resource.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising

Determining an average modulation and coding scheme, the average modulation and coding scheme determined based on modulation and coding scheme parameters for a plurality of previous data transmissions of the communication device, wherein

The modulation and coding scheme parameter satisfies a predetermined condition associated with the selected LCP scheme if the reliability provided by the modulation and coding scheme parameter indicated by the assignment message is greater than the reliability provided by the determined average modulation and coding scheme.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein

The allocation message includes an indication of a power control parameter for transmitting the data using the first communication resource, and

selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the power control parameter for communicating the data using the first communication resource is associated with one or more of a plurality of the logical channels, the LCP scheme being used to select the data for communicating using the first communication resource.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein

The allocation message includes an indication of a number of repetitions for transmitting the data using the first communication resource, and

selecting the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme comprises determining that the number of repetitions for communicating the data using the first communications resource is associated with one or more of a plurality of the logical channels, the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme being for selecting the data for communicating using the first communications resource.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein each of one or more of the plurality of logical channels is associated with one of one or more scheduling request groups, and

each of the one or more scheduling request groups is associated with a predetermined communication resource for transmitting scheduling requests by the communication device indicating that the communication device has available data associated with one or more of the logical channels associated with the scheduling request group.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

Selecting the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme to select the data for transmission using the first communication resource includes determining that the assignment message is associated with a first scheduling request group.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first group of one or more of the logical channels is associated with the first scheduling request group, the method comprising

Transmitting the second scheduling request message using the predetermined communication resource for transmitting scheduling request messages associated with the first scheduling request group.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein

Determining that the assignment message is associated with a first scheduling request group includes determining that the assignment message is associated with the second scheduling request message.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising

Transmitting the first scheduling request using the predetermined communication resources for transmitting scheduling requests associated with a second scheduling request group with which the second group of one or more of the logical channels is associated, prior to transmitting the second scheduling request,

receiving a second allocation message after transmitting the second scheduling request and before receiving the allocation message,

wherein determining that the allocation message is associated with the first scheduling request comprises determining that the second allocation message is received after transmission of the second scheduling request and before receiving the allocation message.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein

Determining that the allocation message is associated with the second scheduling request comprises determining that the allocation message is received within a first time window that begins a first predetermined time after the second scheduling request is transmitted and has a duration of a second predetermined time.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time is determined based on the first scheduling request group.

29. The method of claim 27, comprising

Transmitting the first scheduling request using the predetermined communication resources for transmitting scheduling requests associated with a second scheduling request group with which the second group of one or more of the logical channels is associated, prior to transmitting the second scheduling request,

determining a second time window that begins after transmitting the second scheduling request,

determining that the assignment message is received within the second time window,

in response to determining that the allocation message is received within the second time window, determining that the allocation message is associated with the second scheduling request group.

30. The method of claim 24, comprising

Transmitting the first scheduling request before transmitting the second scheduling request, wherein

Determining that the allocation message is associated with a first scheduling request group includes determining that the second scheduling request is sent within a predetermined time after transmission of the first scheduling request.

31. The method of claim 24, comprising

Transmitting the first scheduling request before transmitting the second scheduling request, wherein

Determining that the allocation message is associated with a first scheduling request group includes determining that the second scheduling request is sent after a predetermined time after transmission of the first scheduling request.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein

According to the selected LCP scheme, data not associated with the first scheduling request group is not selected for transmission.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein

Data associated with the first scheduling request group is to be selected for transmission with a highest priority in accordance with the determined logical channel prioritization scheme.

34. The method of claim 1, comprising

Scheduling, in response to receiving the assignment message, selection of the LCP scheme to occur no earlier than a predetermined time period before a start of the first communication resource.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the first assignment message comprises downlink control information transmitted on a physical downlink control channel.

36. A method of allocating communication resources by an infrastructure equipment for transmitting data in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels,

receiving a second scheduling request message after receiving the first scheduling request message, the second scheduling request message requesting first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels,

transmitting an allocation message comprising an indication of the first communication resource for transmitting data from a first set of one or more of a plurality of the logical channels,

determining a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource for transmitting data from a plurality of the logical channels, and

receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

37. A communication apparatus for a wireless communication network comprising infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the communication apparatus comprising

A transmitter configured to transmit uplink data via the wireless access interface,

a receiver configured to receive a signal, an

A controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver such that the communication device is operable to:

to receive an allocation message comprising an indication of a first communication resource for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message is received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting the first communication resource for transmitting the data from the first group of one or more of the logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting a second communication resource for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels,

in response to receiving the assignment message, selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating the data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels or from a second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communication resource, the LCP scheme selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating data from the plurality of the logical channels, and

selecting data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels according to the selected LCP scheme.

38. Circuit for a communication apparatus for use in a wireless communication network comprising an infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the circuit comprising

A transmitter circuit configured to transmit data via the wireless access interface,

a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal, an

A controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit such that the communication device is operable to:

to receive an allocation message comprising an indication of a first communication resource for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message is received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting the first communication resource for transmitting the data from the first group of one or more of the logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting a second communication resource for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels,

in response to receiving the assignment message, selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating the data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels or from a second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communication resource, the LCP scheme selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource for communicating data from the plurality of the logical channels, and

selecting data to be transmitted using the first communication resource from a plurality of the logical channels according to the selected LCP scheme.

39. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communication network, the infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the infrastructure equipment comprising

A transmitter configured to transmit a signal to a communication apparatus via the wireless access interface in a cell,

a receiver configured to receive data from the communication device, an

A controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver such that the infrastructure equipment is operable to:

to receive a first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of a plurality of logical channels,

receiving, subsequent to receiving the first scheduling request message, a second scheduling request message requesting first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels,

to transmit an allocation message comprising an indication of the first communication resource for transmitting data from a first set of one or more of a plurality of the logical channels,

determining a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resources for transmitting data from a plurality of the logical channels, and

receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

40. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising

A transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal to a communication apparatus via the wireless access interface in a cell,

a receiver circuit configured to receive data from the communication device, an

A controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit such that the infrastructure equipment is operable to:

to receive a first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of a plurality of logical channels,

to receive, subsequent to receiving the first scheduling request message, a second scheduling request message requesting first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels,

to transmit an allocation message comprising an indication of the first communication resource for transmitting data from a first set of one or more of a plurality of the logical channels,

determining a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resources for transmitting data from a plurality of the logical channels, and

receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a communication device, infrastructure equipment and a method for selecting data for transmission by a communication device in a wireless communication network.

This application claims priority from European Patent (EP) application number EP19166023.2, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Background

The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Third and fourth generation mobile telecommunications systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are capable of supporting more sophisticated services than the simple voice and messaging services provided by previous generations of mobile telecommunications systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, users can enjoy high data rate applications (such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing, which were previously available only via fixed line data connections). Thus, the need to deploy such networks is strong, and the coverage area (i.e., the geographical location where the network may be accessed) of these networks may be expected to increase rapidly.

Future wireless communication networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with a wider range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than current systems optimized for support. For example, future wireless communication networks are expected to effectively support communication with devices, including low complexity devices, Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, and the like. Some of these different types of devices (e.g., low complexity devices to support the "internet of things") may be deployed in very large numbers and may generally be associated with the transmission of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high delay tolerances.

In view of this, future wireless communication networks (such as those [1] that may be referred to as 5G or New Radio (NR) systems/new Radio Access Technology (RAT) systems) are anticipated, as well as the need for future iterations/releases of existing systems, to effectively support the connectivity of a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different feature data traffic profiles.

An example of such a new service is known as an ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) service, which, as the name implies, requires that data units or data packets are transmitted with high reliability and low communication latency. Therefore, URLLC type services represent a challenging example of LTE type communication systems and 5G/NR communication systems.

The increasing use of different types of communication devices associated with different traffic profiles (profiles) presents new challenges in efficiently handling communications in a wireless telecommunications system that needs to be addressed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure may help solve or alleviate at least some of the problems discussed above.

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

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

Drawings

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

fig. 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunications system that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new Radio Access Technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device that may be configured in accordance with an example embodiment;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus or infrastructure device processing data for uplink transmission by a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and a physical layer in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 5 illustrates a transmission sequence in which data is transmitted using two allocated uplink communication resources, according to the conventional art;

fig. 6 shows a transmission sequence and corresponding allocated communication resources according to the proposed scheme;

figure 7 shows a further possible transmission sequence and corresponding allocated communication resources according to the proposed scheme;

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for selecting data for transmission in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the association of logical channels with Scheduling Request (SR) Identifications (IDs), and logical channel prioritization schemes associated with SR IDs, in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

figure 10 illustrates another example of a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme in accordance with some embodiments of the present technique;

figure 11 illustrates an LCP scheme in which data is retained as candidate data for selection after having been previously selected, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology;

FIG. 12 illustrates a process for selecting data in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

fig. 13 illustrates an example of selecting an LCP scheme based on an identifier encoded within Downlink Control Information (DCI) in accordance with some embodiments of the present technique;

fig. 14 is a flowchart of a process implemented by a communication device for associating an SR ID with DCI, in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

fig. 15 is a flow diagram of a process implemented by a communication device for associating one or more SR IDs with DCI in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

figure 16 illustrates an example time series of transmissions and selection of data according to the determined LCP scheme according to the process illustrated in figure 15;

FIG. 17 shows another example time sequence of transmissions according to the process shown in FIG. 15;

figure 18 illustrates a process for selecting an LCP scheme based on the duration between successive transmissions of scheduling requests, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology; and

figure 19 illustrates further processing for selecting an LCP scheme based on the duration between successive transmissions of scheduling requests, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

Detailed Description

Long term evolution advanced radio access technology (4G)

Fig. 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functions of a mobile telecommunications network/system 100 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies and may be adapted to implement embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein. Certain aspects of the various elements of FIG. 1 and their respective modes of operation are well known and defined in relevant standards governed by the 3GPP (RTM) organization and are also described in many books on this subject (e.g., Holma H. and Toskala A [2 ]). It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network discussed herein that are not specifically described (e.g., with respect to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known technique (e.g., in accordance with the relevant standard and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standard).

The network 100 comprises a plurality of base stations 101 connected to a core network portion 102. Each base station provides a coverage area 103 (e.g., a cell) within which data can be communicated with and from the communication device 104. Data is transmitted from the base station 101 via a radio downlink to the communication devices 104 within the respective coverage area 103. Data is sent from the communication device 104 to the base station 101 via a radio uplink. The core network portion 102 routes data to and transmits data from the communication apparatus 104 via the respective base stations 101, and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging, and the like. A communication device may also be referred to as a mobile station, User Equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, terminal device, etc. Base stations as examples of network infrastructure equipment/network access nodes may also be referred to as transceiver stations/nodeBs/e-nodeBs, g-nodeBs (gnb), etc. In this regard, different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing widely comparable functionality. However, example embodiments of the present disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, such as the 5G or new radio described below, and for simplicity certain terms may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is, the use of particular terminology in connection with certain example embodiments is not intended to indicate that the embodiments are limited to a certain generation of networks with which that particular terminology may be most relevant.

New radio access technology (5G)

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network architecture of a new RAT wireless communication network/system 200 based on previously proposed methods, which may also be adapted to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. The new RAT network 200 presented in fig. 2 comprises a first communication cell 201 and a second communication cell 202. Each communication cell 201, 202 comprises a control node (centralized unit) 221, 222 communicating with the core network element 210 over a respective wired or wireless link 251, 252. The respective control nodes 221, 222 also communicate with a plurality of distributed units (radio access nodes/remote Transmission and Reception Points (TRPs)) 211, 212 in their respective cells. Again, these communications may be over respective wired or wireless links. The distribution units 211, 212 are responsible for providing radio access interfaces for communication devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit 211, 212 has a coverage area (radio access footprint) 241, 242, wherein the sum of the coverage areas of the distributed units under control of the control node together define the coverage of the respective communication cell 201, 202. Each distributed unit 211, 212 comprises transceiver circuitry for the transmission and reception of wireless signals and processor circuitry configured to control the respective distributed unit 211, 212.

In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network component 210 of the new RAT communication network presented in fig. 2 may be broadly considered to correspond to the core network 102 presented in fig. 1, and the respective control node 221, 222 and its associated distributed unit/TRP 211, 212 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base station 101 of fig. 1. The term network infrastructure equipment/access node may be used to encompass these elements of the wireless communication system as well as the more conventional base station type elements. Depending on the application at hand, the responsibility for scheduling transmissions scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed unit and the communication device may be in the control node/centralized unit and/or the distributed units/TRPs.

The communication device or UE 260 is presented in fig. 2 as being within the coverage area of the first communication cell 201. Thus, the communication device 260 may exchange signaling with the first control node 221 in the first communication cell via one of the distributed units 211 associated with the first communication cell 201. In some cases, communications for a given communication device are routed through only one of the distributed elements, but it is understood that in some other implementations (e.g., in soft handoff scenarios and other scenarios), communications associated with a given communication device may be routed through more than one distributed element.

In the example of fig. 2, two communication cells 201, 202 and one communication device 260 are shown for simplicity, but it will of course be appreciated that in practice the system may comprise a large number of communication cells (each supported by a respective control node and a plurality of distributed units) serving a large number of communication devices.

It should also be understood that fig. 2 presents only one example of the proposed architecture of a new RAT communication system, in which methods according to the principles described herein may be employed, and that the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in relation to wireless communication systems having different architectures.

Accordingly, the example embodiments of the present disclosure discussed herein may be implemented in a wireless telecommunications system/network according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures illustrated in fig. 1 and 2. Thus, it should be understood that the particular wireless communication architecture in any given implementation is not paramount to the principles described herein. In this regard, example embodiments of the present disclosure may be generally described in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment/access nodes and communications devices, where the particular nature of the network infrastructure equipment/access nodes and communications devices will depend on the network infrastructure used for the implementation at present. For example, in some cases, the network infrastructure equipment/access node may comprise a base station, such as LTE-type base station 101 shown in fig. 1, which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples, the network infrastructure equipment/access node may comprise a control unit/control node 221, 222 and/or TRP211, 212 of the type shown in fig. 2, which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

A more detailed illustration of the UE 270 and an example network infrastructure device 272 is presented in fig. 3, the example network infrastructure device 272 can be considered as a combination of the gNB 101 or control node 221 and the TRP 211. As shown in fig. 3, UE 270 is shown transmitting uplink data to infrastructure equipment 272 via resources of a wireless access interface, as generally indicated by arrow 274. As with fig. 1 and 2, the infrastructure devices 272 are connected to a core network 276 via an interface 278 to a controller 280 of the infrastructure devices 272. The infrastructure equipment 272 includes a receiver 282 connected to an antenna 284 and a transmitter 286 connected to the antenna 284. Accordingly, the UE 270 includes a controller 290 connected to a receiver 292 that receives signals from an antenna 294, and a transmitter 296 also connected to the antenna 294.

The controller 280 is configured to control the infrastructure equipment 272 and may include processor circuitry, which in turn may include various sub-units/sub-circuits for providing the functionality as further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as suitably configured functions of a processor circuit. Thus, the controller 280 may include circuitry that is suitably configured/programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming/configuration techniques for devices in a wireless telecommunications system. The transmitter 286 and receiver 282 may include signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers, and circuits in accordance with conventional arrangements. For ease of illustration, the transmitter 286, receiver 282, and controller 280 are schematically illustrated as separate elements in fig. 3. However, it will be appreciated that the functions of these elements may be provided in a variety of different manners (e.g., using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuits/chips/chipsets). It should be understood that infrastructure device 272 will typically include various other elements associated with its operational functionality.

Accordingly, the controller 290 of the UE 270 is configured to control the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292, and may include processor circuitry, which in turn may include various sub-units/sub-circuits for providing the functionality as further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as suitably configured functions of a processor circuit. Thus, the controller 290 may include circuitry that is suitably configured/programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming/configuration techniques for devices in a wireless telecommunications system. Likewise, the transmitter 296 and receiver 292 may include signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers, and circuits in accordance with conventional arrangements. For ease of illustration, the transmitter 296, receiver 292, and controller 290 are schematically illustrated as separate elements in fig. 3. However, it will be appreciated that the functions of these elements may be provided in a variety of different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers, or one or more suitably configured application specific integrated circuits/chips/chipsets. As will be appreciated, the communication device 270 will typically include various other elements associated with its operational functions, such as a power supply, user interface, etc., but for simplicity these elements are not shown in fig. 3.

5G, URLLC and industrial Internet of things

Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or service types) that may be characterized by different requirements for delay, data rate, and/or reliability. For example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services are characterized by having high capacity to support requirements up to 20 Gb/s. For ultra-reliable and low-delay communication (URLLC) [4 ]]The service requirement is that a 32-byte data packet is transmitted with 1ms user plane delay at 1-10^-5(99.999%) or higher reliability [3]. In some scenarios, there may be 1-10 ms in the case where the user plane delay measured from the entry of a layer 2 packet to its exit from the network is 0.5ms or 1ms^-6(99.9999%) or higher. Large-scale machine type communication (mtc) is another example of a service that may be supported by an NR-based communication network.

Furthermore, the system can be expected to support further enhancements related to the industrial internet of things (IIoT) to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency and, in some cases, high precision positioning.

Industrial automation, energy distribution and intelligent transportation systems are new cases of industrial internet of things (IIoT). In an example of industrial automation, a system may involve different distributed components working in concert. These components may include sensors, virtualized hardware controllers, and autonomous robots, which may be capable of initiating actions or reacting to critical events occurring within the plant, and communicating over a local area network.

Thus, a UE in a network may be expected to handle a mix of different traffic, e.g., associated with different applications and potentially different quality of service requirements (e.g., maximum delay, reliability, packet size, throughput). Some messages for transmission may be time sensitive and associated with strict expiration dates, and thus may require the communication network to provide a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) [5 ].

To meet the requirements of IIoT, which requires high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high precision positioning [1], URLLC services are required. Some IIoT services may be implemented using a mix of eMBB and URLLC technologies, with some data being sent by eMBB and other data being sent by URLLC. Furthermore, one of the requirements for transmitting uplink data from a UE is to manage intra-UE packet prioritization and multiplexing. This is a prioritization requirement for communication of uplink data and control packets from different classes of traffic within the UE. A better understanding of the generation of uplink data of different logical types will be provided in the following sections.

Uplink logical channel prioritization

The communication device sending uplink data to the wireless communication network may need to support different services by communicating different types of information and control information. Such data is received at a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer from a higher layer. Thus, different types of information are classified into different logical channels. For example, MIB or SIB information and user data information are different types of information, and therefore they belong to different logical channels, namely Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) and Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH), respectively. An illustration is shown in fig. 4, where the MAC layer 302 at the UE 270 maps a logical channel DTCH 300 to a transport channel that includes an uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) 304. As shown in fig. 4, the UL-SCH transport channel 304 is then mapped to a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)306 within the physical layer 308. Different types of logical channels, e.g. BCCH, DTCH, DCCH, have different requirements or priorities and in order to distinguish them, they are each assigned a different Logical Channel Identity (LCID). There may be different priorities or requirements even in Data Traffic (DTCH), so multiple DTCHs with different priorities may be grouped into different logical channels, each with a corresponding Logical Channel Identification (LCID). Each LCID may be independently configurable by the network.

For example, a logical channel with a particular LCID may be configured to be dedicated to data associated with URLLC services. Similarly, another logical channel with a different LCID may be configured to use data associated with the eMBB service.

As in LTE, in NR the UE does not decide the amount of physical resources available for transmitting its uplink data, but rather the gNB decides the physical resources the UE can use for its transmission of data, e.g. by scheduling PUSCH. In 3GPP Release-15NR, the gNB allocates PUSCH resources to a particular UE for data traffic transmitted by the particular UE, but does not allocate resources to a particular logical channel (DTCH) of the UE. That is, the gNB allocates UE uplink resources for transmission of a Transport Block (TB) having a Transport Block Size (TBS) that depends on the allocated PUSCH resources (i.e., number of PRBs, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM, symbols) and the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) that the TB is to be encoded and transmitted. PUSCH resources may be dynamically granted to a UE, e.g., via Downlink Control Information (DCI).

Since PUSCH resources are not allocated for data transmission of a particular logical channel, a transport block may potentially include data from all (or at least a plurality) of logical channels. Thus, the UE performs a logical channel prioritization function [3] at the MAC layer 302 (described in more detail below) to decide from which logical channel data is to be selected to form a TB to be transmitted using the allocated resources. The MAC layer 302 may multiplex data from multiple logical channels into a single TB.

Scheduling requests and grant-based assignments

According to conventional techniques for uplink transmission, when data arrives at a buffer of a Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol layer of a communication device from an upper layer protocol layer, the communication device may responsively transmit a Scheduling Request (SR) to the network if the communication device does not have scheduled uplink transmission/resources. The communication device may additionally or alternatively send a Buffer Status Report (BSR) indicating the amount of data in the MAC layer buffer if it already has some communication resources allocated for uplink transmission.

To indicate to the network the nature of the data requesting the uplink communication resources, one or more LCIDs may be grouped into one or more Scheduling Request (SR) groups and thus associated with SR IDs (scheduling request identifications). Preferably, where multiple LCIDs are associated with the same SR ID, the characteristics of those LCIDs (such as delay requirements, allowed data rates, required reliability) are similar. For example, since URLLC data and eMBB data have different quality of service requirements, the SR ID associated with the LCID for URLLC service data may preferably be different from the SR ID associated with the LCID for eMBB service data.

By configuring (such as using RRC configuration), the communication device can be aware of the predetermined uplink communication resources associated with each SR ID.

These uplink communication resources may be periodic and used for transmission of SRs. The communication resources may be different for each SR ID. By transmitting the SR using the resources associated with a particular SR ID, the communication device indicates that it has data associated with one or more of the LCIDs associated with that SR ID available for transmission and therefore requests uplink communication resources for transmission of that data.

An infrastructure device receiving the SR may determine a corresponding SR ID based on the communication resource transmitting the SR. Thus, the infrastructure equipment may determine LCIDs associated with the SR IDs and allocate uplink communication resources according to the requirements associated with those LCIDs.

In response to receiving the SR or BSR, the network (e.g., infrastructure equipment) may transmit an uplink grant carried by Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the communication device. The DCI may be transmitted on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

The uplink grant may include an indication of uplink communication resources allocated (or in other words, scheduled) for the communication device to transmit its uplink data. The uplink communication resource may be on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). This type of resource allocation is referred to as Grant (GB) based resources, and such allocation may be referred to as 'dynamic grant' (DG). Grant-based resources are suitable for services in which data arrives in variable amounts, and/or are aperiodic, even if such data traffic arrivals follow somewhat predictable traffic patterns. The DG may be signaled by the gNB at the physical layer (e.g., through Downlink Control Information (DCI)).

However, there is still a need to ensure that appropriate data is selected for transmission in response to receiving an indication of an uplink grant.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of selecting data for transmission in a wireless communication network by a communication device, the method comprising: receiving, by a communication device, an allocation message comprising an indication of first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting the first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, selecting, in response to receiving the allocation message, a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels or from the second group of one or more logical channels using the first communication resources, the LCP scheme is selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communications resource for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels, and selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communications resource in accordance with the selected LCP scheme.

In some embodiments of the present technology, to better meet the requirements of different types of data, an appropriate logical channel prioritization scheme is used to select data for transmission using the uplink communication resources. Embodiments of the present technology provide an efficient means for enabling a communication device to select appropriate data for transmission, avoiding additional signaling within the downlink control information.

MAC transport block

The data may be transmitted by the communication device 104 using the uplink communication resources using MAC Transport Blocks (TBs). In response to determining that uplink communication resources are or will be scheduled for the communication device and that the data is available for uplink transmission, each MAC TB is constructed at the MAC protocol layer 302.

The data for inclusion in the MAC TB may be selected according to a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme. As described herein, according to embodiments of the present technology discussed herein, an LCP scheme may be characterized by one or more of the following:

-priorities for data selection associated with one or more different logical channels,

-rules for allowing or excluding selection of data from one or more logical channels

-trigger or time to execute LCP scheme; and

-a requirement to retain data for future selection of a certain duration.

According to conventional logical channel prioritization schemes, 'highest priority first' scheduling is used to select data. That is, data associated with a logical channel having the highest priority is added to the MAC TB in preference to data associated with a logical channel having a lower priority. To provide some fairness in scheduling, each logical channel may be associated with 'bucket' parameters according to which a form of bucket scheduling is applied. That is, each logical channel may be subject to a maximum throughput constraint, which may allow high throughput over short periods of time while limiting long-term throughput; alternatively, throughput constraints may limit throughput over a short period of time while allowing high throughput over a longer period of time.

Each LCID may typically have a configured priority (lower number meaning higher priority) and a Maximum Bucket Size (Maximum Bucket Size) derived from the configured parameters prioritedbitrate and bucketsizedduration, i.e. a Maximum Bucket Size of prioritedbitrate × bucketsizedduration. Conventional logical channel prioritization functions maintain a dynamic bucket, Bj (bits), for LCID j such that:

-prior to allocation, bucket Bj is incremented by prioritedbitrate x TBucket, j, where TBucket, j is the time between updates of bucket Bj. The value of TBucket, j depends on the UE implementation. The value of Bj cannot be greater than the maximum bucket size of LCID j;

after allocation, bucket Bj reduces the number of bits from LCID j carried by TB.

In some embodiments of the present technology, this conventional approach may correspond to a 'default' LCP.

Each LCID may also be configured with allowedSCS-List and maxPUSCH-Duration according to conventional techniques, such as the techniques specified in 3GPP Release 15 NR. allowedSCS-List is the set of subcarrier spacings for PUSCH allowed for LCID use. That is, if the scheduled PUSCH has a subcarrier spacing of 60kHz, and the LCID has a permitted set of subcarrier spacings of {15kHz, 30kHz }, data from that LCID is not permitted to be multiplexed into the MAC TB transmitted using the PUSCH having a subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz.

maxPUSCH-Duration specifies the maximum Duration of the allocated PUSCH in milliseconds (ms) in which the MAC TB including data from the LCID can be transmitted. This prevents data associated with LCIDs with low latency requirements from being carried by PUSCHs with very long durations, causing the data to exceed the latency requirements associated with LCIDs.

For example, a first LCID may be configured with a maxUSCH-Duration of 0.5ms, and a second LCID may be configured with a maxUSCH-Duration of 0.04 ms. If the allocated PUSCH communication resource occupies 4 OFDM symbols at 15kHz, i.e. 0.286ms, the data associated with the first LCID is allowed to be transmitted within the MAC TB transmitted using this PUSCH, since the PUSCH Duration is less than its 0.5ms maxPUSCH-Duration. On the other hand, since the PUSCH Duration is greater than its maxPUSCH-Duration of 0.04ms, data associated with the second LCID is not allowed to be transmitted within the MAC TB transmitted using this PUSCH.

The following are parameters that may be configured for the uplink logical channel:

logical channel id (lcid): as described above, for distinguishing one type of logical channel from another type of logical channel;

-priority: the priority of the logical channels is sorted, the lower the number is, the higher the priority is;

-prioritedbitrate: as described above, to determine the bucket size Bj. This is an indication of the bit rate requirement of the logical channel

-bucketSizeDuration: as described above, to determine bucket size Bj;

-maxPUSCH-Duration: as described above, data from the logical channel can be multiplexed into the TB only if the duration of the corresponding granted PUSCH does not exceed the value of the parameter;

-allowedSCS-List: a set of subcarrier spacings, wherein data from the logical channel is multiplexed into the TB if the subcarrier spacing of the granted PUSCH falls within the subcarrier spacing in the set

Scheduling request id (sr id): if this is configured for LCID, when data associated with the logical channel is available and no uplink resource is available, the corresponding scheduling request will use PUCCH (physical uplink control channel) resource corresponding to (i.e. configured for) the SR ID;

logical channel group ID (LCG-ID): when any LCID belonging to that LCG-ID has data in its buffer, a Buffer Status Report (BSR) will be triggered. That is, the BSR reports the data buffer status for all LCIDs within the LCG-ID.

Out-of-order and conflicting uplink grants

To minimize the delay in transmitting the uplink data, the communication device 104 may generally transmit the SR immediately after determining that the uplink data is available for transmission.

If further data, particularly data associated with a different LCID, is subsequently available for transmission, the communication device 104 may transmit a subsequent SR.

The infrastructure device may respond to the two SRs by transmitting two DCIs, each of which allocates uplink communication resources.

In some scenarios, the communication device is able to transmit using two uplink communication resources, and thus, in response to the DCI, the communication device selects data for transmission using each uplink communication resource.

Fig. 5 illustrates a transmission sequence in which data is transmitted using two allocated uplink communication resources according to a conventional technique.

In the example of fig. 5, the communication device 104 is configured to transmit data associated with four logical channels, which are associated with logical channel IDs 1 through 4. Data associated with LCID1 has the highest priority and data associated with LCID4 has the lowest priority.

The sequence of fig. 5 begins with the transmission of a first SR 502 on the uplink of the wireless access interface 504 in a first time slot n-1540. In response to the communication device 104 determining that it has first data 506 and second data 508 available for transmission associated with LCIDs 3 and 4, respectively, transmission of the first SR 502 begins at time t 0.

In the example of fig. 5, both LCIDs 3 and 4 are associated with SR ID2, and thus the first SR 502 is transmitted using predetermined (e.g., configured) uplink communication resources associated with SR ID 2.

Subsequently, the communication device 104 determines that the third data 510 and the fourth data 512 are available for transmission. Third data 510 and fourth data 512 are associated with LCIDs 1 and 2, respectively. In this example, both LCIDs 1 and 2 are associated with SR ID1, and thus, at time t2, still within first time slot 540, communication device 104 transmits second SR 514 using the communication resources associated with SR ID 1.

The first and second SRs 502, 514 may be transmitted on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) of an uplink of the wireless access interface 504.

In response to the first SR 502, the infrastructure equipment 101 transmits first Downlink Control Information (DCI)518 on the downlink of the wireless access interface 516 at time t4 during the second time slot n 542. The first DCI 518 allocates a first uplink communication resource 522 as indicated by arrow 520.

In response to the second SR 514, the infrastructure device 101 transmits second Downlink Control Information (DCI)524 at time t6 and also within the second time slot 542. The second DCI 524 allocates a second uplink communication resource 528 as indicated by arrow 526.

The first and second DCIs 518, 524 may be transmitted on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of a downlink of the wireless access interface 516.

The first and second communication resources 522, 528 may comprise resources on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) of the uplink of the wireless access interface 504.

In response to receiving the first DCI 518, the communication device 104 selects data for transmission using the first uplink communication resources 522 through the first LCP instance 532. This is done in a conventional manner according to which the data is selected using the highest priority scheme.

Accordingly, the first MAC TB 530 including the third data 510 and the fourth data 512 is formed, because the data is associated with LCIDs 1 and 2, respectively, with the highest priority. In the example of fig. 5, there is no restriction on containing any one of the third data 510 and the fourth data 512 based on, for example, an LCID parameter that limits the maximum throughput of each logical channel.

In response to receiving the second DCI 524, the communication device 104 selects data for transmission using the second uplink communication resource 528 through the second LCP instance 534. Again, this is done in a conventional manner, according to which the data is selected using the highest priority scheme. Thus, a second MAC TB 536 is formed that includes the first data 506 and the second data 508 because no other higher priority data remains to be selected for transmission. In the example of fig. 5, there is no limitation to containing any one of the first data 506 and the second data 508.

Subsequently, at time t9, the communication apparatus transmits the first MAC TB 510 including the third data 510 and the fourth data 512 using the first uplink communication resource 522. At time tl1, the communication device transmits a second MAC TB 536 including the first data 506 and the second data 508 using a second uplink communication resource 528.

It should be appreciated that according to conventional LCP schemes, higher priority data (in particular, the third data 510 and the fourth data 512) may be sent before lower priority data, even though higher priority data is available for transmission and triggers transmission of an SR later than lower priority data.

In the example of fig. 5, the first uplink communication resources 522 allocated by the earlier transmitted first DCI 518 start before the start of the second uplink communication resources 528 allocated by the later transmitted second DCI 524. Thus, the allocated communication resources appear in the same order as the corresponding DCI indicating their allocation.

However, it has been proposed that the communication resources allocated by the sequences of two or more DCIs do not necessarily occur in the same order as the transmission order of the sequences of the respective DCIs.

An example of such a scenario is shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 6 shows a transmission sequence and corresponding allocated communication resources according to the proposed scheme.

Fig. 6 illustrates the first and second SRs 620, 622 transmitted at times t0 and t2, respectively, in response to a respective determination that the communication device 104 has data available for transmission. In particular, the first SR 620 is transmitted in response to determining that the first data 624 associated with LCID 3 is available. The second SR 622 is transmitted in response to determining that second data 626 associated with LCID1 is available. As shown in the example of fig. 5, data associated with LCID 3 has a lower priority relative to data associated with LCID 1.

The first and second DCI 602, 604 begin to be transmitted by the infrastructure device 101 at time t4 and time t6, respectively.

The first DCI 602 includes an indication of a first allocated uplink communication resource 606 starting at time t 11. The second DCI 604 includes an indication of a second allocation of uplink communication resources 608 beginning at time t9 and ending at time tl0, before time tl 1.

The first and second DCI 602, 604 are transmitted in response to the first SR 620 and the second SR 622.

Since the second SR 622 is transmitted using the resources associated with SR ID1, which SR ID1 is associated with LCIDs 1 and 2, which are associated with low latency and high reliability requirements, the infrastructure device allocates the second communication resources 608 accordingly. For example, the second communication resource 608 may extend for a relatively short duration of time and may begin relatively soon after transmission of the second DCI 604. In particular, the second communication resource 608 can begin before the first communication resource 606. Additionally or alternatively, the second DCI 604 may indicate that data transmitted using the second communication resources 608 is to be encoded using modulation and coding scheme parameters that provide relatively high reliability. The second communication resource 608 may thus be particularly suitable for such low latency and/or high reliability data.

Similarly, the first communication resources 606 allocated in the first DCI 602 and transmitted in response to the first SR 620 may be applicable to data associated with LCIDs 3 and 4.

However, the inventors of the present technology have recognized that, according to conventional approaches, if low-latency, high-reliability data is associated with a high priority, the communication device 104 will select that data for inclusion in a MAC TB formed in response to receipt of the first (earlier) DCI 602, which may allocate communication resources that are less suitable for transmission of such data.

Similarly, the communication device 104 may select for data contained in the MAC TB to be transmitted using the second communication resource 608 for which the second communication resource 608 is not suitable.

This is illustrated in figure 6, which shows a first LCP instance 628 where the relatively high priority second data 626 is initially selected for transmission using the first communication resource 606, while the lower priority first data 624 is subsequently selected by a second LCP instance 630 for transmission using the second communication resource 608. In particular, the second communication resource 608 may provide for low latency transmission of high priority data in the event that the second communication resource 608 is allocated in response to the second scheduling request 622 indicating that high priority (and low latency) data is available. However, according to conventional techniques, high priority data results in significantly higher latency as it is selected for transmission using the (later) first communication resource 606.

Another problem with the conventional LCP scheme is shown in figure 7. The situation in fig. 7 is similar to that in fig. 6, and for the sake of brevity only the differences will be described.

In the example scenario of fig. 6, the second communication resource 608 temporally precedes the first communication resource 606 and does not overlap the first communication resource 606.

In contrast, in the example of fig. 7, the second communication resources 702 allocated by the first DCI 602 overlap in time with the first communication resources 704 allocated by the second DCI 604.

In the example of fig. 7, the communication device 104 is deemed to be unable to transmit using both the first and second communication resources 702, 704. According to the proposed technique for ensuring predictable behavior of the communication device 104 in such a situation, the communication device 104 avoids transmitting using those communication resources allocated by the earlier transmitted DCI. Thus, in the example of fig. 7, in accordance with such techniques, the communication device 104 does not transmit using the first communication resource 702 (as indicated by the 'X' superimposed on the resource) and transmits using only the second communication resource 704.

When combined with the conventional LCP scheme described above, this may result in low priority data (specifically, the first data 624) being successfully transmitted, while the high priority second data 626 is not successfully transmitted. This problem may arise when the communication device 104 is unable to transmit using one of the first and second communication resources for any reason. For example, the communication device 104 may be constrained in terms of processing power for performing the required LCP instances and encoding and modulating the resulting MAC TBs such that it cannot transmit two MAC TBs using the allocated communication resources.

In some embodiments of the present technology, the communication device selects an LCP scheme from the plurality of LCP schemes upon receiving an allocation of uplink communication resources for transmitting data. The communication device 104 then selects data for transmission using the allocated uplink communication resources in accordance with the selected LCP scheme.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for selecting data for transmission in accordance with embodiments of the present technique.

The process shown in fig. 8 begins at step S602, where the communication device 104 determines that it has data to transmit.

At step S604, the communication device 104 determines one or more logical channels associated with the data. In step S606, the communication device 104 determines one or more scheduling request ids (sr ids) associated with the logical channels identified in step S604.

In response to the determination at step S606, the communication device 104 determines a communication resource for transmitting a Scheduling Request (SR) based on the identified SR ID. At step S608, the communication apparatus transmits a scheduling request using the identified resource.

In some embodiments, steps S604 and S606 may be omitted, and the transmission of the SR in step S608 may not take into account the logical channel and/or any SR ID associated with the data mentioned in step S602.

Subsequently, at step S610, the communication device 104 receives Downlink Control Information (DCI) including an indication of a first uplink communication resource allocated for transmission of data by the communication device 104.

At step S612, the communication device 104 determines a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for selecting data to be transmitted using communication resources allocated by the downlink control information received at step S610.

As described above, the LCP scheme may generally provide for selecting data from one or more of a plurality of logical channels according to a prioritization scheme. For example, according to the LCP scheme, the communication device 104 may be required to select data using a highest priority algorithm, where data is selected first from the logical channel with the highest priority, and if there is still space available in the uplink communication resources after all data with the highest priority has been selected, the communication device 104 may select further data with a lower priority, and so on.

Thus, in step S614, the communication device 104 selects data for transmission using the first uplink communication resources in accordance with the LCP scheme determined at step S612. The selected data may be formed as a MAC Transport Block (TB), the size of which may be determined according to conventional techniques. For example, the size of the MAC TB may be determined based on the number of first uplink communication resources indicated by the DCI and based on modulation and coding scheme parameters, which may be determined based on the indication within the DCI.

In some example scenarios, the communication device 104 may receive subsequent Downlink Control Information (DCI) that provides an indication of further uplink communication resources for transmission of data by the communication device.

Thus, in some embodiments, at step S616, the communication device 104 determines whether it has received second downlink control information that allocates the second communication resource. Specifically, the communication device 104 may perform step S616 at any time between receiving the first DCI at step S610 and the start of the communication resource allocated by the DCI or repeatedly.

If no further DCI is received, control passes to step S618 and the communication device 104 transmits the data selected in step S614 using the communication resources allocated in the first DCI received at step S610.

If at step S616 the communication device 104 determines that it has received the second DCI, control passes to step S620 where the communication device 104 determines a second LCP scheme for selecting data for transmission using the second uplink communication resource in step S620. The second LCP scheme may be the same as or different from the LCP scheme determined in step S612.

In step S622, the communication device 104 selects data for transmission using the second uplink communication resource in accordance with the LCP scheme determined at step S620.

Subsequently at step S624, the communication device 104 determines whether it is capable of transmitting using the first communication resources allocated in the DCI received at step S610 and using the second communication resources allocated by the second DCI received at step S616. If, for example, the communication resources overlap in time and the communication device 104 is unable to transmit on both sets of communication resources (which overlap in time), the communication device 104 may be unable to transmit using both communication resources.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 may not be able to transmit on the first and second communication resources due to processing constraints. For example, the communication device 104 may be unable to form a MAC transport block for transmission using each of the first and second communication resources prior to the start of the respective communication resource.

If at step S624 the communication device 104 determines that it is capable of transmitting on both the first and second communication resources, then control passes to step S626 where it transmits the data selected at step S622 using the second communication resource and transmits the data selected at step S614 using the communication resource allocated in the first DCI at step S626.

If it is determined at step S624 that transmission on the first and second communication resources is not possible, then control passes to step S628, where the communications device refrains from transmitting using the first communication resource and transmits the data selected at step S622 using the second communication resource.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present technology, a particular LCP scheme is characterized by an association with a particular scheduling request group. A Scheduling Request (SR) group may be identified by an SR ID and may be associated with one or more logical channels.

Fig. 9 shows an example of the association of logical channels with SR IDs, and the logical channel prioritization scheme associated with SR ID number 2.

Fig. 9 shows four logical channels associated with respective LCIDs 1 to 4 (associated with one of two SR sets with SR ID1 and SR ID2 SR ID values). In the example of fig. 9, logical channels with LCIDs equal to 1 and 2 are associated with SR ID1, and logical channels with LCID 3 and LCID4 are associated with SR ID 2.

An arrow 902 from left to right indicates a decreasing priority of the logical channel, as configured by, for example, RRC signaling. That is, the logical channel with the highest priority is the logical channel with LCID l, or the logical channel with the lowest priority is the channel with LCID 4. The prioritization shown on the left side of fig. 9 may be the prioritization used according to a default or conventional LCP scheme.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme may be characterized by a particular SR ID. For example, in the example of fig. 9, the LCP scheme associated with SR ID of 2 is shown on the right hand side. According to this LCP scheme, the logical channel associated with an SR ID value of 2 is prioritized, with a higher priority than all other logical channels. Therefore, according to the LCP scheme, logical channels having LCID values of 3 and 4 are associated with higher priority than logical channels having LCID values of 1 and 2. The descending order according to the LCP scheme indicated on the right side of figure 9 is shown by arrow 904.

Fig. 10 illustrates another example of determining a logical channel prioritization scheme in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. In the example of fig. 10, the logical channel prioritization scheme is again associated with the SR ID.

The logical channel prioritization scheme shown on the right side of fig. 10 is one scheme associated with an SR ID value of 1. According to the LCP scheme, only data associated with a logical channel (whose LCID value is associated with the SR ID corresponding to the LCP scheme) may be selected for transmission.

Thus, as shown in fig. 10, only data associated with logical channels having LCID values of 1 and 2 may be selected, while data associated with LCID 3 and LCID4, associated with SR ID2, may not be selected for transmission.

Thus, in some embodiments of the present technology, the LCP scheme may be characterized by being associated with a particular scheduling request group, and thus SR ID.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme may not be associated with a particular SR ID. For example, the communication device 104 may be configured with multiple prioritization orders for multiple logical channels, each LCP scheme being characterized by a particular prioritization order.

For example, according to a first LCP scheme, the logical channels LCID 1-4 shown in fig. 9 may be prioritized in order (of decreasing priority): LCID1, LCID 2, LCID 3, LCID 4. According to a second LCP scheme, logical channels may be prioritized in order (of decreasing priority): LCID 3, LCID4, LCID1, LCID 2. According to a third LCP scheme, logical channels may be prioritized in order (of decreasing priority): LCID 2, LCID 3, LCID4, LCID 1.

In another example, only a subset of logical channels are considered in LCP, as shown in fig. 10.

Thus, for example, at step S612 of the process of fig. 8, the communication device 104 may select one from a plurality of predetermined logical channel prioritization orders, such as one from the first, second and third LCP schemes described above.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme may be characterized by one or more logical channels being assigned 'highest priority', having (for the purpose of the LCP scheme) a higher priority than those channels configured to have the highest priority (e.g. for the purpose of a 'default' LCP scheme). For example, a feature of the LCP scheme may be to assign LCID 3 as the other logical channel with the highest priority, followed by a decreasing order of its configured priorities.

In some embodiments of the present technology, according to the LCP scheme, after data is selected for inclusion in a first MAC TB, the data is retained for a period of time such that it remains a candidate for inclusion in a second MAC TB for subsequent selection.

In some such embodiments, the retained data is retained until the first MAC TB is transmitted.

In some embodiments, only data associated with predetermined LCIDs and/or SR IDs associated with LCP schemes are retained.

Figure 11 illustrates an LCP scheme in which data is retained as candidate data for inclusion in a MAC TB after the data is selected for inclusion in an earlier formed MAC TB, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

The example of fig. 11 is similar to the example of fig. 5 and described above, and a description of common aspects will be omitted for the sake of brevity.

In response to receiving the first DCI 518, the communication device 104 selects data for inclusion in the first MAC TB1212 for transmission in the first communication resource 1202 allocated by the first DCI 518. This selection of data according to the first LCP scheme 1210 is characterized by retaining any data associated with the LCID1 that is selected for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1212.

According to the first LCP scheme 1210, data is selected according to the priority of the configuration associated with each LCID 1-4, as shown in fig. 9 and the left hand side of fig. 10.

Further, according to the first LCP scheme 1210, data 1208 associated with LCID1 selected for inclusion in the first MAC TB1212 is reserved for subsequent selection, as indicated by arrow 1206. In the example of fig. 11, all third data 510 is associated with LCID1 and is selected for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1212. Thus, data 1208 corresponds to third data 510.

Subsequently, in response to receiving the second DCI 524, the communication device 104 selects the second LCP scheme 1216 to select for data contained in the second MAC TB1218 for transmission using the second communication resources 1204 allocated by the second DCI 524.

According to the second LCP scheme 1216, data is selected according to the priority of the configuration associated with each of LCIDs 1-4, as shown in fig. 9 and the left hand side of fig. 10. Further, any data previously retained according to the second LCP scheme 1216, such as according to the first LCP scheme 1210, is considered as candidate data for selection according to the same priority. According to the first LCP scheme 1210, the retained data 1208 is still available for subsequent selection, since the selected first MAC TB1212 has not actually been transmitted; in other words, when the first communication resource 1202 begins, the second LCP scheme 1216 is being implemented between time t7 and time t 10. Accordingly, as indicated by arrow 1214, reserved data 1208 associated with LCID1 and therefore having the highest priority among the data available for selection is selected. There is additional space in the second MAC TB1218 and the first data 506 (with the highest priority available for the remaining data to select) is also included in the second MAC TB 1218.

In some embodiments, the first and second LCP schemes 1210, 1216 may be the same LCP scheme in the sense that both may include retaining any data associated with one or more predetermined LCIDs selected for the current MAC TB, as well as considering previously retained data for inclusion in the current MAC TB.

In some embodiments, according to the first LCP scheme 1210 and/or the second LCP scheme 1216, only when the second DCI 524 is received before the end of the first uplink communication resources 1202, any data reserved after performing LCP in response to receiving the first DCI 518 may be selected for subsequent inclusion in the MAC TB.

In some embodiments, according to the first LCP scheme 1210 and/or the second LCP scheme 1216, only when the second uplink communication resource 1204 begins before the end of the first uplink communication resource 1202, any data that is reserved after performing LCP in response to receiving the first DCI 518 may be selected for subsequent inclusion in the MAC TB. In the example of fig. 11, because the communication device 104 cannot transmit using both the first and second communication resources 1202, 1204, then the communication device 104 avoids transmitting using the first communication resource 1202 because these resources are allocated by the first DCI 518, which first DCI 518 is received prior to receiving the second DCI 524 that allocates the second communication resource 1204.

However, due to the reservation of the third data 510, and its subsequent inclusion in the transmitted second MAC TB1218, the third data 510 is actually transmitted.

In some embodiments, according to conventional HARQ techniques, data selected for MAC TBs that are not actually transmitted (e.g., due to overlapping allocated communication resources) will be transmitted.

In the example of fig. 11, this may mean that the first MAC TB1212 will be retransmitted, resulting in redundant transmission of the third data 510 that is additionally sent within the second MAC TB 1218. To mitigate this, in some embodiments, the infrastructure device may determine that the first MAC TB1212 includes data that is also sent within the second MAC TB1218 and, in response, indicate to the communications apparatus 104 that no further transmissions of the first MAC TB 1210 are to be performed.

In some embodiments, where the infrastructure device desires to retransmit the first MAC TB1212, the communications device 104 may perform a new data selection in accordance with the selected LCP scheme to form a third MAC TB that is transmitted using the communications resources allocated for the retransmission of the first MAC TB 1212. In such embodiments, redundant transmission of the third data 510 may be avoided.

As described above, in some embodiments of the present technology, the selected LCP scheme is associated with an SR ID.

Fig. 12 illustrates a process for selecting data, in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, wherein the process includes determining an SR ID associated with control information indicating allocated uplink communication resources.

The process of fig. 12 begins at step S902, in which step S902 the communication device 104 determines that data is available for transmission. At step S904, the communication device 104 determines a logical channel associated with the data.

At step 906, the communication device 104 determines one or more SR IDs associated with the respective logical channels identified at step 904. As described above, the SR ID is associated with a predetermined communication resource on the uplink of the radio access interface (which may be used to transmit the scheduling request).

By transmitting the scheduling request using resources that are predetermined and associated with a particular SR ID, the communication device 104 can indicate to the infrastructure equipment of the wireless network which SR ID, and thus for which logical channel the communication device 104 requests communication resources. Thus, at step S908, the communication device 104 transmits a scheduling request using the predetermined communication resources associated with the SR ID determined at step S906.

Subsequently, at step S910, the communication device 104 receives Downlink Control Information (DCI) including information of uplink communication resources for the communication device 104 to transmit data.

At step S912, the communication device 104 determines that the uplink grant received at step S910 is associated with a particular SR ID. The process for determining the association between the uplink grant and the SR ID will be described in further detail below.

Based on the SR ID determined at step S912 associated with the uplink grant, and thus the SR ID associated with the uplink communication resource allocated by the infrastructure equipment, the communication device 104 determines the LCP scheme associated with the SR ID determined at step S912. Examples of LCP schemes that may be associated with SR IDs are shown in fig. 9 and 10 and described above.

At step S916, the communication device 104 forms a MAC TB including data according to the LCP scheme associated with the SR ID determined at step S914. Specifically, the selected data may or may not include the data mentioned in the above step S902. For example, if additional data is simultaneously made available for transmission, and/or the selected LCP scheme otherwise precludes selection of that data, the selected data may not include the data mentioned in step S902 above.

In embodiments of the present technology, an LCP scheme for selecting data for transmission using uplink communication resources is selected in response to receiving Downlink Control Information (DCI) indicating an allocation of the uplink communication resources.

In some such embodiments, the LCP scheme is selected based on DCI content.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is selected based on a Radio Network Temporary Identity (RNTI), which is incorporated (e.g., by logical XOR) within the error detection bits of the DCI. For example, once the content of the DCI is formed, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is performed based on the content of the DCI, and the output of the CRC is scrambled by the RNTI and appended to the DCI content by the infrastructure equipment. Thus, the communication device 104 decodes the DCI content, performs the same CRC calculation and determines the RNTI selected by the infrastructure equipment 101, and selects the LCP scheme based on the determined RNTI.

In some such embodiments, each of the plurality of RNTI values is associated with a particular LCP scheme. For example:

RNTI # 1: only those LCIDs associated with SR #1 (with SRID 1) are used for LCP

RNTI # 2: only those LCIDs associated with SR #2 (with SRID 2) are used for LCP

RNTI # 3: all LCIDs are used for LCPs, i.e., using 'default' or regular LCPs

Figure 13 illustrates an example of selecting an LCP scheme based on DCI intra-coded RNTI, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

Many aspects of fig. 13 are similar to fig. 11, and a description of common features will be omitted for the sake of brevity.

In the example of fig. 13, the first DCI 1302 has a first RNTI value (RNTI #2) (encoded within error check bits as described above). In response to receiving the first DCI 1302, the communication device 104 selects an LCP scheme 1306 associated with RNTI #2 according to which only the LCID associated with SRID2 is used for LCP. Depending on the configured association between LCID and SRID values, only the data associated with LCIDs 3 and 4 may be selected for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1310, as indicated by X1312 superimposed on the data buffer holding the data associated with LCIDs 1 and 2. Thus, the communication device 104 selects the first data 506 and the second data 508 to be included in the first MAC TB 1310.

The second DCI 1304 has a second RNTI value (RNTI #1) (encoded within error check bits). In response to receiving the first DCI 1304, the communication device 104 selects an LCP scheme 1308 associated with RNTI #1 according to which only the LCID associated with SRID1 is used for LCP. Depending on the configured association between LCID and SRID values, only the data associated with LCIDs 1 and 2 may be selected for inclusion in the second MAC TB 1316, as indicated by X1314 superimposed on the data buffer holding the data associated with LCIDs 3 and 4. Thus, the communication device 104 selects the third data 510 and the fourth data 512 to be included in the second MAC TB 1316.

As in the example of fig. 11, the communication device 104 may not transmit using the first communication resource 1202. However, embodiments of the present technology allow infrastructure equipment to ensure that each DCI allocates resources appropriate for the data (and its corresponding quality of service requirements) to be transmitted using the resources allocated by that DCI.

Furthermore, if the transmitted DCI allocates resources that conflict with the resources allocated by the earlier DCI, the infrastructure device may ensure that higher priority data is transmitted by appropriately setting the RNTI for transmitting the later DCI to correspond to the LCP scheme, thereby selecting high priority data for the MAC TB.

It should be appreciated that although only 3 RNTIs are used in this example, the disclosure is not so limited and any number of RNTIs may be used to indicate the LCP scheme. In some embodiments, an RNTI may be associated with more than one SR ID.

In some embodiments, the format of the DCI implicitly indicates one or more LCIDs or one or more SR IDs, and thus a particular LCP scheme. For example, the communication device 104 may be configured to monitor two different DCI formats, which may be the same size or different sizes. Each monitored DCI format is associated with a different SR ID and, thus, a different LCP scheme.

For example, in the example of fig. 13, the first DCI 1302 may indicate the LCP scheme 1306 using a DCI format associated with SR #2, and the second DCI 1304 may use another DCI format associated with SR #1, thereby being associated with the LCP scheme 1308.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) the set of physical resources (e.g., CORESET) used to carry the PDCCH in which the DCI is transmitted. CORESET is a set of physical resources for PDCCH, and different CORESET may be configured for a given communication device.

For example, a set of frequency and time resources corresponding to CORESET may be associated with the SR ID through, for example, RRC configuration. For example, the communication device may be configured with two different CORESET, denoted CORESET #1 and CORESET #2 (each using different frequency and time resources). In the example of fig. 13, the first DCI 1302 may be transmitted using the resources of CORESET #2 associated with SR #2 and thus indicate a first LCP scheme 1306 by which only LCIDs 3 and 4 may be considered for selection and data associated with LCIDs 1 and 2 is prevented from being considered for transmission using the first communication resources 1202. Similarly, the second DCI 1304 may be sent in CORESET #1 associated with SR #1 and indicating the second LCP scheme 1308 accordingly.

The DCI may be transmitted using one of a plurality of PDCCH candidates within the PDCCH search space. A PDCCH candidate is defined by its location within frequency-time resources within the PDCCH search space and may be characterized by one or more Control Channel Elements (CCEs) and the number of CCEs used for transmission of DCI, which may be referred to as an aggregation level, AL.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) a PDCCH candidate for transmission of DCI. In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by the PDCCH search space (i.e., the set of PDCCH candidates). For example, the set of PDCCH candidates may be associated with a particular LCP scheme (associated with a first SRID (e.g., SRID 1)). In some embodiments, the aggregation level associated with PDCCH candidates for transmission of DCI is associated with a particular LCP scheme; for example, AL ═ 16 indicates the LCP scheme associated with SRID 2.

The DCI may include an indication of modulation and coding scheme parameters to be used by the communication device 104 when transmitting data using the uplink communication resources indicated in the DCI. For example, the DCI may include an indication of an MCS index, which corresponds to a row of parameters in a predetermined modulation and coding scheme parameter table. In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) the modulation and coding scheme parameter indicated by the DCI. For example, in some embodiments, a modulation and coding scheme that provides a reliability or coding rate that exceeds a predetermined threshold is associated with the first LCP scheme. In some embodiments, a modulation and coding scheme that provides a reliability or coding rate below a predetermined threshold is associated with the second LCP scheme.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 and the infrastructure equipment 101 determine an 'average MCS' corresponding to a reliability or coding rate based on a plurality of previously indicated modulation and coding parameters, and determine the predetermined threshold based on the 'average MCS'. In other words, the threshold used to determine whether to indicate a particular LCP scheme is dynamically adjusted based on previous transmissions and/or resource allocations. As described above, a particular LCS scheme may be associated with one or more LCIDs and/or one or more SRIDs.

In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold is dynamically updated and is based on recent radio conditions applicable for transmissions on the wireless access interface between the communication device 104 and the infrastructure equipment 101. In some embodiments, only uplink radio conditions are considered. The radio conditions may be evaluated based on an explicit indication sent by the infrastructure equipment 101 to the communication device 104. Alternatively or additionally, the radio conditions may be determined based on downlink Channel State Information (CSI), wherein the wireless access interface is based on time division duplexing.

Alternatively or additionally, the radio conditions may be determined based on the transmission power used by the communication device 104 for previous transmissions and/or the number of positive acknowledgements that have been received. Preferably, only the radio conditions evaluated when the communication device 104 is in its current location are considered.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 applies the first LCP scheme if the assigned MCS is within a first range relative to current radio conditions. The first range may correspond to a range available for, for example, eMBB data traffic transmission. The communication device 104 may apply the second LCP scheme if the assigned MCS provides greater reliability than any MCS that falls within the first range. For example, the MCS so allocated may be suitable for URLLC data transmission.

The communication device 104 may monitor an average of its assigned previous MCSs. The average MCS may be calculated using a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter or averaged over a sliding window (e.g., the average MCS is the average of 10 previous MCS values assigned to the UE). If the MCS allocated to the communication device 104 is less than the average MCS, it is indicated that communication resources have been allocated to a high reliability service, such as URLLC, with a corresponding high priority. The communication device 104 may then apply the LCP scheme, which is particularly suitable for URLLC services.

This recognizes that the reliability of the MCS depends on radio conditions, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). That is, if the SNR is good, a high MCS (providing a relatively high data rate) may be reliable, while if the SNR is poor, a medium MCS (providing a relatively high reliability, but at a lower overall data rate) may be unreliable. In some embodiments, the determination of the MCS may be based on radio conditions in the uplink.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) the value of one or more power control parameters indicated by the DCI. The infrastructure device 101 may determine that the first power control parameter value is suitable for data having low latency and high reliability requirements, such as URLLC data, and the second power control parameter value is suitable for data having high bandwidth and weaker latency requirements, such as eMBB data.

Thus, the DCI may include an indication of a first power control parameter to indicate that the LCP scheme is to be a scheme that provides a preferential (or exclusive) selection of URLLC data, or may include an indication of a second power control parameter to indicate that the LCP scheme is to be a scheme that provides a preferential (or exclusive) selection of eMBB data.

In some embodiments, there may be two or more sets of power control parameter values, and the DCI may include an indication of a set of applicable power control parameter values selected from the two or more sets. Each set may be associated with an LCP scheme by the configuration of the communication device, for example by being associated with a particular LCID or SR ID.

In some embodiments, each set of power control parameters may include open loop power control parameters, such as P0 values and alpha values. In some embodiments, each set of power control parameters may include closed loop power control parameters. The DCI may include a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command directed to one of the set of closed-loop power control parameters. In some embodiments, the set of closed loop power control parameters to which the TPC commands are directed may indicate (and thus be the basis for selection) a particular LCP scheme. The indication of which closed loop power control parameter is the subject of the TPC command may comprise an SRS (sounding reference Signal) Resource Indicator (SRI).

In some embodiments, the wireless access interface provides communication resources that are organized in time as units of time (which may be referred to as time slots) and further subdivided within each time slot. For example, in the case where the wireless access interface is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), each slot may be subdivided into OFDM symbol periods. The time period corresponding to the allocated uplink communication resources may be indicated within the DCI by different indication formats. Different indication formats may correspond to different restrictions relating to OFDM symbol periods within a slot in which the allocated uplink communication resources may begin.

For example, according to a first format, the uplink communication resources may be constrained to start at the first OFDM symbol or at the fourth OFDM symbol within the slot. In some example embodiments, according to the first format, the uplink communications resources may be constrained to start at the first OFDM symbol within the time slot. According to the second format, the uplink communication resources may not be so constrained and may start at any slot within an OFDM symbol. Further, according to the first format, only one PUSCH instance may be scheduled for a communication device within a slot, while for the second format, one or more PUSCH instances may be scheduled for the same communication device within a slot. The first format may be more suitable for allocating resources for the eMBB data. The second format provides greater flexibility in identifying time periods corresponding to uplink communication resources and may therefore be more suitable for allocating resources for low latency data, such as URLLC data. These formats may be referred to as PUSCH resource mapping types, and the first format may be referred to as type a, and the second format may be referred to as type B.

For example, referring to fig. 5, the time period from t9 to t10 associated with the first uplink communication resource 522 cannot be indicated using the first format because t9 is not a boundary of a slot (t9 begins after the beginning of slot n +1, slot n +1 begins at time t 8), and does not begin at the fourth OFDM symbol of the slot. However, a second format may be used to indicate time t 9.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) a format used to indicate the start time of the allocated uplink communication resources within the DCI. In some embodiments, the communication device 104 is configured with an association between a format (such as a PUSCH resource mapping type) and an LCP scheme. For example, the communication device 104 may be configured with an association between a type B PUSCH resource mapping type and an LCID (associated with URLLC data) and/or a corresponding LCP scheme to prioritize URLLC data. The communication device 104 may be configured with an association between a type APUSCH resource mapping type and an LCID (associated with eMBB data) and/or a corresponding LCP scheme to prioritize eMBB data.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and therefore determined based on) a repetition level associated with the allocated uplink communications resources. In some such embodiments, the first LCP scheme is selected if the DCI includes an indication that the communication device 104 may or should repeat the transmission of data using the indicated uplink communication resources. Additionally or alternatively, the second LCP scheme is indicated where the communication device 104 is not allowed or able to repeat the transmission of data using the indicated uplink communication resources (e.g., based on an indication that the number of repetitions is equal to 1 in the DCI or implicitly indicating a non-repeating allocation, or based on an absence of an indication of the number of repetitions).

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is indicated by (and thus determined based on) a repetition level and repetition threshold associated with the allocated uplink communication resources. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of LCP schemes may be associated with a repetition parameter (e.g., via RRC configuration), which may be a maximum repetition threshold or a minimum repetition threshold, and may be configured for each LCID.

In some such embodiments, the DCI may include an indication that the communication device 104 may or should repeat the transmission of data using the indicated uplink communication resources multiple times, referred to herein as a 'DCI repeat number'.

Selecting the LCP scheme if the number of DCI repetitions is equal to a repetition parameter of the LCP scheme.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is selected if the number of DCI repetitions equals or exceeds a minimum repetition threshold associated with the LCP scheme.

In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is selected if the number of DCI repetitions is equal to or below a maximum repetition threshold associated with the LCP scheme.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 determines the LCP scheme by determining an association between the DCI triggering LCP processing and the SR previously transmitted. In some such embodiments, where a previously transmitted SR is associated with a particular SR ID, the LCP scheme is determined based on the SR ID associated with the previously transmitted SR, for example using one of the techniques shown in fig. 9 and 10 and described above.

In the following paragraphs, examples are provided in which the communication device 104 determines an association between DCI and SR ID.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart of a process implemented by a communication device for associating an SR ID with DCI according to an embodiment of the present technology.

The process of fig. 14 begins at step S1402 where the communication device 104 determines that it has a first portion of data to send to the infrastructure equipment 101.

In response to the determination, at step S1404, the communication apparatus determines a logical channel associated with the data, and determines a first SR ID associated with the logical channel. The communication device 104 transmits the first SR using the uplink communication resource associated with the determined first SR ID value.

Subsequently, at step S1406, the communication device 104 determines that it has further data to send to the infrastructure equipment 101.

At step S1408, in response to the determination at step S1406, the communication device 104 transmits a second SR using communication resources associated with a second SR ID associated with the logical channel (associated with the identified data at step S1406).

Subsequently, the communication apparatus 104 receives the first DCI and the second DCI transmitted by the infrastructure equipment 101 in response to the first SR and the second SR, respectively.

In step S1410, the communication device 104 receives first DCI that allocates a first uplink communication resource. At step S1412, the communication device 104 associates the first DCI with SRID 1. This is done based on the following principle: the first DCI received in the sequence of received DCIs corresponds to the first SR transmitted in the corresponding sequence of scheduling requests. Since the first SR transmitted at step S1404 is associated with the first SR ID, the first DCI corresponding to the first SR is accordingly determined to be associated with the first SR ID.

Similarly, at step S1414, the communication device 104 receives the second DCI, and in step S1416, determines that the second DCI is associated with the second SR ID. Similar to the determination at step S1412, the determination at step S1416 is based on the fact that the second DCI corresponds to the second SR transmitted at S1408, and thus the second DCI is associated with the second SR ID, i.e., the SR ID value associated with the second SR.

In the example of fig. 14, the transmission of only two SRs and the corresponding reception of only two DCIs is shown. However, it is understood that the principles of the technique shown in fig. 14 may be extended to any number of SRs and DCIs transmitted and received in sequence.

Referring to the transmission sequence shown in fig. 13, it is apparent that the process shown in fig. 14 may be applied in the example of fig. 13, where the associated SR ID value need not be indicated by an RNTI value associated with the first DCI 1302 or the second DCI 1304. Thus, in the example of fig. 13, the process of fig. 14 may be performed to determine that the first DCI 1302 is associated with SRID2 and the second DCI 1304 is associated with the second SR 514, and thus SRID1, based on the transmission sequence of the first and second SRs 502, 514.

As described above, based on the determination of the SR ID associated with the DCI, the communication device 104 is able to select an LCP scheme based on the SR ID and accordingly select data for inclusion in a MAC TB, such as the first MAC TB 1310 and the second MAC TB 1316 shown in fig. 13, according to the respective selected LCP scheme.

According to the process illustrated in fig. 14, the communication device 104 is able to determine the LCP scheme in response to receiving DCI without any explicit or implicit indication in the DCI of the LCP scheme itself.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 may associate one or more previously transmitted SRs with a single DCI. Thus, the communication device 104 may determine that the LCP scheme is associated with multiple SR ID values. For example, referring to the technique illustrated in fig. 10, data from all LCIDs associated with one of the plurality of SR ID values may be selected for transmission according to the LCP scheme associated with the plurality of SR ID values. Data associated with an LCID (not associated with any of the plurality of SR ID values) may be excluded from selection.

In some embodiments, if the communication device 104 determines that the DCI is associated with all configured SR ID values, the communication device 104 may determine that the LCP scheme is a 'default' LCP scheme. For example, according to the 'default' LCP scheme, no data is excluded from the MAC TBs included in the transmission for using the allocated uplink communication resources, and data is selected from a plurality of logical channels in a highest priority-first manner.

Fig. 15 is a flow diagram of a process implemented by a communication device for associating one or more SR IDs with DCI according to an embodiment of the present technology.

The process shown in fig. 15 begins at step S1502, where the communication device 104 determines a time period O when a scheduling request is associated with first and second SR ID values SRID1 and SRID2_SRID1、T_SRID1、O_SRID2And T_SRID2A start time offset and duration of a time window associated with the scheduling request is defined.

In some embodiments, one or both of the start time offset and the duration of the time window associated with the SR are determined based on the SR ID associated with the SR, e.g., according to a predetermined mapping between the SR ID and the start time offset and/or the time window duration.

At step S1504, the communication device determines that it has data available for transmission associated with a first SR ID, such as SRID 1. At step S1506, the communication apparatus transmits the first SR at a first time T1 using the communication resources configured for transmission of the SR associated with SRID 1.

Subsequently, at step S1507, the communication device determines that it has further data available for transmission associated with the second SR ID, SR ID 2. At step S1508, the communication device 104 transmits the second SR using the respective communication resource configured for transmission of the SR associated with the second SRID. The second SR is transmitted at time T2.

In step S1510, the communication apparatus 104 receives the first DCI at time T3.

At step S1512, the communication device 104 determines whether the first DCI received at step S1510 is associated with the first SR transmitted at S1506. To this end, the communication apparatus determines whether the time T3 at which the first DCI is received falls within the group (T1+ O)_SRID1) And (T1+ O)_SRID1+T_SRID1) Within a defined time window. If T3 falls within the window, control passes to step S1514, where the communication device 104 determines that the first DCI is associated with SRID 1. Control then passes to step S1516.

If, at step S1512, it is determined that T3 does not fall within the time window associated with the first SR, control passes directly to step S1516.

In step S1516, the communication apparatus 104 determines whether the first DCI received at step S1510 is associated with the second SR transmitted in step S1508. This is done by determining whether T3 falls within the AND-band (T2+ O)_SRID2) And (T2+ O)_SRID2+T_SRID2) Within a defined time window associated with the second SR. If T3 falls within the time window, control passes to step S1518, where the communication device 104 associates the DCI received at step S1510 with SRID 2. Control then passes to step S1520 where the process ends. If it is determined at step S1516 that T3 does not fall within the window associated with the second SR, control passes to step S1520 and the process ends.

If the DCI is not associated with any SR after the end of the process, a default LCP may be used.

Figure 16 illustrates the selection of data and time series of transmissions according to a determined LCP scheme according to the process shown in figure 15 and described above. In FIG. 16In the example scenario shown, a first SR1602 is sent in response to a determination that data associated with SRID2 is available for transmission. Thus, the first SR1602 has a duration T associated therewith_SRID2Time window 1604, time O after transmission of the first SR1602 is completed_SRID2And then begins.

In response to determining that data associated with SRID1 is available for transmission and that duration associated therewith is T_SRID1At a time O after the transmission of the second SR 1606 is completed_SRID2Thereafter, the second SR 1606 is transmitted.

The first DCI1610 is received beginning at time t5, falling within a time window 1604 associated with the first SR 1602. Thus, the communication device 104 associates the first DCI1610 with an SR ID (associated with data triggering transmission of the first SR 1602). This data corresponds to first data 1612 and second data 1614, both of which are associated with SR ID 2. The communication device 104 thus associates the first DCI1610 with the SR ID value of 2 and selects an LCP scheme for the selected data contained in the first MAC TB1616 accordingly.

In the example shown in fig. 16, the LCP scheme associated with an SRID is one that allows data associated with the SRID to be included in the MAC TB, while excluding other data from selection. Thus, the first LCP scheme 1618 selects data from the first and second data 1612, 1614 for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1616.

Similarly, reception of the second DCI1620 begins at time t8 and ends at time t9, both within the time window 1608 associated with the second SR 1606. The second SR 1606 is transmitted in response to the communication device determining that the third data 1622 and the fourth data 1624 are available for transmission. Third data 1622 and fourth data 1624 are both associated with logical channels that are grouped and associated with an SRID value of 1.

Based on the second DCI1620 received within the time window 1608 associated with the second SR 1606, the communication device 104 associates the second DCI with the SRID value of 2 and selects the LCP scheme 1626 accordingly. According to the LCP scheme 1634 associated with SRID value 1, only data from the logical channel associated with SR ID value 1 is allowed to be selected for inclusion in the second MAC TB 1626.

As shown in the example of fig. 16, the first communication resources 1632 and the second communication resources 1630 overlap in time, so according to the conventional art, the communication apparatus avoids transmitting using the first communication resources 1632 allocated by the first DCI1610 because the first DCI1610 is received before receiving the second DCI1620 allocated the second communication resources 1630.

Fig. 17 shows a time sequence of transmissions according to the process shown in fig. 15 and described above. Many of the elements shown in fig. 17 are similar to like-numbered elements in fig. 16, and their description will be omitted for the sake of brevity.

As in the example of fig. 16, the first SR1602 and the second SR 1606 are each associated with a respective time window 1604, 1608. In the example of fig. 17, the reception of the first DCI 1704, starting at time t6 and ending at time t7, falls within two time windows 1604, 1608. Thus, the communication device 104 determines that the first DCI 1704 is associated with both the first SR1602 and the second SR 1606, and thus is associated with the respective SR ID, SRID2, with the first SR1602 and SRID1, and with the second SR 1606.

Thus, the communication device 104 determines the LCP scheme associated with both SRID1 and SRID2 as the selected LCP scheme 1702. Thus, the communication device 104 selects for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1706 data from all LCIDs associated with SRID1 and SRID 2. The first MAC TB 1706 is then transmitted using the uplink communication resources 1708 allocated by the first DCI 1704.

As shown in fig. 17, the infrastructure equipment 101 may transmit a single DCI in response to two or more scheduling requests, and according to the process shown in fig. 15, an appropriate LCP scheme may be determined based on the time at which the DCI is received with respect to the time at which the corresponding scheduling request is transmitted. Thus, the selected LCP scheme may ensure that all data suitable for transmission in the allocated uplink communication resources 1708 is selected for inclusion in the corresponding MAC TB 1706.

Figure 18 illustrates a process for selecting an LCP scheme based on the duration between successive transmissions of scheduling requests, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

Many of the elements shown in fig. 18 correspond to like-numbered elements in fig. 16, and their description will be omitted for the sake of brevity.

According to the process shown in fig. 18, the communication device 18 determines a time window 1802 that begins when the transmission of the SR ends (e.g., by starting a timer). The time window has a predetermined duration T_LCP-SRIt may depend on the SR ID associated with the data triggering transmission of the SR.

In the example of FIG. 18, the first SR1602 is triggered in response to data associated with SR ID2, so time window 1802 has a T_LCP-SR2The duration of (c). Subsequently, the communication device 104 transmits a second SR 1606.

The communication device 104 determines whether the second SR 1606 was transmitted within the time window 1802 associated with the first SR 1602. If so, the communication device 104 determines that the second SR 1606 forms one of a sequence of SRs starting from the first SR 1602.

Subsequently, the communication device 104 receives the first DCI 1610. The communication apparatus 104 determines that the first DCI1610 is a first DCI received after the sequence of SRs. Based on this determination, the communication device 104 associates only the first DCI with the SR ID value (associated with the first SR1602 of the sequence). Thus, the communication device 104 selects a scheme as the LCP scheme 1618, wherein only data associated with the SR ID value (associated with the first SR1602 of the sequence) is eligible for selection for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1616.

The communication device 104 then receives the second DCI1620 and determines that it is the second or subsequent DCI received in response to the sequence of SRs. In some embodiments, the communications device 104 selects a 'default' LCP scheme as the LCP scheme 1804 for selecting data for the second MAC TB 1806, e.g., a conventional LCP scheme, where all available data conforms to the prioritized selection and is according to any logical channel parameters configured for the respective logical channels.

In some embodiments, the communication device 104 determines that the second DCI1620 is associated with the SR ID of the data triggering the second SR 1606 as a second DCI received in the sequence of DCIs received in response to the sequence of SRs. That is, in the example of fig. 18, the second DCI1620 is associated with SR ID1, and it is determined that the LCP scheme 1804 includes an LCP scheme in which only data associated with SR ID1 is eligible for use in the selection.

Although fig. 18 shows an example of a sequence of two SRs and two DCIs, it should be understood that the process may be adapted to encompass any number (greater than one) of SRs and DCIs in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, and in some embodiments the number of DCIs need not correspond to the number of SRs.

In some embodiments, when DCI is received, any further SR transmitted after receiving the DCI is not considered to be part of a sequence of SRs comprising SRs transmitted before receiving the DCI.

In some embodiments, there is no constraint on the time period between consecutive SRs that treat the SRs as part of the sequence, provided that no DCI is received during that time period.

Figure 19 illustrates a process for selecting an LCP scheme based on the duration between successive transmissions of scheduling requests, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

Many of the elements shown in fig. 19 correspond to like-numbered elements in fig. 18, and their description will be omitted for the sake of brevity.

According to the process shown in fig. 19, the communication apparatus 104 transmits the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 as described above. Subsequently, the communication device 104 receives the first and second DCI1610, 1620.

The communication device 104 determines whether the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 form a sequence of SRs. The first and second SRs 1602, 1606 are considered to form a sequence if the transmission interval of the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 exceeds a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be determined based on an SR ID associated with an earlier or later one of the two SRs 1602, 1606.

In the example of fig. 19, a predetermined time period T elapses after transmission of the first SR1602_min-SR21902 after which a second SR 1606 is sent. Thus, the communication device 104 determines that the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 form all or part of a sequence of SRs.

In response to receiving the first DCI1610, the communication device 104 selects an LCP scheme 1618 based on a determination that the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 form all or part of a sequence of SRs. The first DCI is accordingly associated with the first SR in the sequence, i.e., the first SR1602, and the LCP scheme 1618 accordingly limits the selection of data for inclusion in the first MAC TB 1618 to data associated with the logical channel corresponding to the first SR1602 (and thus the SR ID).

If the communication device 104 determines that the transmission intervals of the first and second SRs 1602, 1606 are less than the predetermined time period, the communication device 104 selects a default or conventional LCP scheme as the LCP scheme according to which all available data is eligible for selection for inclusion in the MAC TB 1618 subject to any logical channel parameters and relative priorities of the associated logical channels in response to receiving the first DCI 1610.

According to the process illustrated in fig. 19, if the infrastructure device receives the second SR 1606 fast enough after receiving the first SR1602, it can allocate resources through at least the first DCI in conjunction with the processing of the SRs, while taking into account the two scheduling requests. Thus, the communication device 104 selects data for inclusion in the MAC TB formed in response to receiving the first DCI, taking into account all available data for transmission.

On the other hand, if the infrastructure device has processed the first SR1602 when the second SR 1606 arrives, it may transmit the first DCI, for example, taking into account only the data corresponding to the first SR. Thus, in response to receiving the first DCI, the communication device 104 selects, through the LCP scheme 1618, only data associated with the logical channel (and/or otherwise associated with the SR ID) associated with the first SR 1602.

In response to receiving the second DCI1620, the communication device 104 then selects the above-described 'default' scheme as the LCP scheme in some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the communication device 104 selects the scheme characterized by the SR ID associated with the second SR 1606 as the LCP scheme based on the second SR 1606 being the second in the sequence of SRs and the second DCI1620 being the second in the sequence of corresponding DCIs.

As described above, in some embodiments, the communication device 104 determines that the 'default' LCP scheme is to be used in response to receiving DCI that allocates uplink resources.

In some embodiments of the present technology, the LCP scheme may be determined based on a determination that two or more DCIs have been received within the same slot. In some such embodiments, the LCP scheme may be selected based on determining that communication resources allocated by two or more DCIs received within the same time slot conflict, such that the communication device 104 is unable to transmit two MAC TBs using the allocated communication resources. As described above, collisions may occur because the communication resources overlap in time, and/or because the processing power of the communication device 104 is insufficient to form and transmit two MAC TBs using the communication resources.

In some embodiments of the present technology, according to the LCP scheme that selects data in response to receiving DCI, data may be selected from all data available for transmission at the beginning of a slot in which DCI is received, regardless of whether the data is selected in response to receiving a different DCI received within the same slot. Preferably, according to such LCP scheme, the data is selected according to a default scheme as described above, based on the first selection of the highest priority.

Thus, when two DCIs are received in the same slot, allocating conflicting communication resources, it can be ensured that high priority data, selected from all data available for transmission at the beginning of the slot, is successfully transmitted.

In some embodiments, if a second DCI has been received before data is selected according to the LCP scheme in response to receiving a first DCI within the same time slot, the MAC may not update the counter parameter (such as decrementing the bucket size) for any logical channel for which data is selected according to the LCP scheme. Thus, according to the second LCP scheme performed in response to receiving the second DCI, all data available at the beginning of the slot will still be candidate data for selection. Such an embodiment ensures that high priority data can be successfully transmitted regardless of whether communication resources allocated by only the first DCI or communication resources allocated by only the second DCI are used for transmission of the MAC TB.

In the examples described above, each LCP scheme is selected and implemented in response to receipt of DCI. Thus, in some embodiments, the LCP scheme may be performed without regard to the possibility of receiving subsequent DCI.

In some embodiments, the selection of the LCP scheme for communicating using the allocated uplink communication resources and the selection of data according to the selected LCP scheme may be scheduled based on the start time of the allocated uplink communication resources. For example, in some embodiments, the selection and implementation of the LCP scheme may be scheduled to occur before the start time of the allocated uplink communication resource for a minimum time period corresponding to the maximum duration required by the communication device 104 to select the LCP scheme, select data according to the LCP scheme, form and process (encode, etc.) the MAC TB in preparation for transmission.

Preferably, the minimum time period is a predetermined time period known to the infrastructure equipment 101.

For example, in the example shown in fig. 6, the predetermined time period may be two OFDM symbol periods (where each slot is divided into fourteen equal symbol periods). In response to receiving the first DCI 602 that begins allocating communication resources at time t11, the communications device schedules time t10 (two OFDM symbol periods before time t 11) to select a first LCP scheme.

Similarly, in response to beginning to receive the second DCI 604 allocating the second communication resources 608 at time t9, the communications device schedules time t8 (two OFDM symbol periods before time t 9) to select the second LCP scheme.

At time t8, the communication device 104 selects the LCP scheme accordingly and selects data for transmission using the second uplink communication resource 608. In some embodiments, the selected LCP scheme is the default scheme. In some embodiments, the selected LCP scheme is selected according to one of the techniques disclosed herein. Similarly, at time t10, the communication device 104 selects the second LCP scheme accordingly and selects data for transmission using the first uplink communication resource 606.

It will be appreciated that in such embodiments, the LCP scheme that selects the highest priority data first will ensure that the transfer of high priority data can be ensured to begin before the transfer of low priority data.

One or more of the above processes may be modified, adapted or combined in accordance with some embodiments of the present technique. In particular, one or more steps of the above-described processes may be omitted or performed in a different sequence.

For example, any of the processes shown in fig. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 may be adapted to perform the function of step S912 of the process shown in fig. 12 and described above.

As described above, in some embodiments, the communications device 104 selects an LCP scheme from a plurality of LCP schemes for selecting data for transmission using the uplink communications resources in response to receiving an assignment message including an indication of the allocated uplink communications resources. In some embodiments, the LCP scheme is selected based on one or more aspects of the assignment message.

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment 101 determines the LCP scheme to be selected by the communication device 101 and sets an aspect of the assignment message accordingly (e.g., according to one or more examples described herein) when or before the assignment message is sent.

In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment 101 may perform one or more determinations, which may substantially correspond to those performed by the communication device 104, as described in example embodiments herein, and in response to sending the assignment message, determine the LCP scheme corresponding to the LCP scheme selected by the communication device 104 accordingly. For example, the infrastructure equipment 101 may determine the particular LCP scheme selected by the communication device 104 based on the relative sequence and/or timing of the received scheduling request message and the corresponding transmitted assignment message.

Thus, there has been described a method of selecting data for transmission in a wireless communications network by a communications device, the method comprising: receiving, by a communication device, an allocation message comprising an indication of first communication resources for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message requesting first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message requesting second communication resources for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, in response to receiving the allocation message, selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resources for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels or from the second group of one or more logical channels using the first communication resources, the LCP scheme being selected from the plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determines a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels and selects data to be transmitted from the plurality of logical channels using the first communication resource according to the selected LCP scheme.

Also disclosed is a method of allocating communication resources by an infrastructure equipment for transmitting data in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting second communication resources (PUSCH #1), the second communication resources (PUSCH #1) being for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, receiving, after receiving the first scheduling request message, a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resources (PUSCH #2), the first communication resources (PUSCH #2) being for transmitting data from the first set of one or more logical channels, transmitting an allocation message (DCI #2) including an indication of the first communication resources (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, determining a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of the plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resources (PUSCH #2), for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels and receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

It may be noted that the various exemplary methods discussed herein may rely on information that is predetermined/predefined in the sense that both the base station and the communication device are known. It will be appreciated that such predetermined/predefined information may typically be established, for example, by definitions in an operating standard of the wireless telecommunications system, or in previously exchanged signalling between the base station and the communications device (e.g. in system information signalling), or associated with radio resource control setting signalling, or in information stored in the SIM application. That is, the particular manner in which the relevant predefined information is established and shared among the various elements of the wireless telecommunications system is not paramount to the principles of operation discussed herein. It may further be noted that the various exemplary methods discussed herein rely on information exchanged/communicated between the various elements of the wireless telecommunications system, and it should be understood that such communication may generally be conducted in accordance with conventional techniques, e.g., in terms of particular signaling protocols and types of communication channels used, unless the context requires otherwise. That is, the particular manner in which relevant information is exchanged between the various elements of the wireless telecommunications system is not paramount to the principles of operation described herein.

It will be understood that the principles described herein are not only applicable to certain types of communication devices, but may be more generally applied with respect to any type of communication device, e.g., the methods are not limited to machine-type communication devices/IoT devices or other narrowband communication devices, but may be more generally applied with respect to any type of communication device that operates with a wireless link with a communication network, for example.

It will be further understood that the principles described herein are applicable not only to LTE-based wireless telecommunication systems, but to any type of wireless telecommunication system that supports random access procedures including random access procedure messages exchanged between a communication device and a base station.

Further specific and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It is to be understood that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Accordingly, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. This disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, defines, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.

Corresponding features of the present disclosure are defined by the following numbered paragraphs:

a method of selecting data for transmission in a wireless communication network by a communication device, the method comprising: receiving, by a communication device, an allocation message (DCI #2) comprising an indication of a first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of a plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first group of one or more of the logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting a second communication resource (PUSCH #1) for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, in response to receiving the allocation message, selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource for transmitting from the first group of one or more of the logical channels or from the second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communication resource Data, the LCP scheme selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels, and selecting data to be transmitted from the plurality of logical channels using the first communication resource according to the selected LCP scheme.

Paragraph 2. the method of paragraph 1, comprising: detecting that data associated with the second set of logical channels is to be transmitted on an uplink of the wireless communication network, transmitting a first request for communication resources to be scheduled for transmitting data from the second set of logical channels, and detecting that data associated with the first set of logical channels is to be transmitted on an uplink of the wireless communication network after transmitting the first request, wherein the data selected according to the selected LCP scheme includes data from the first set of logical channels.

Paragraph 3. the method of paragraph 1 or paragraph 2, wherein, according to the selected LCP, each of two or more of the plurality of logical channels is associated with a priority, and data associated with a logical channel having a first priority is selected for transmission over data associated with a logical channel having a second priority (lower than the first priority), and the selected LCP scheme is selected from the plurality of LCP schemes based on the assignment message.

Paragraph 4. the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein data associated with the one or more logical channels is excluded from selection according to the selected LCP scheme, and selecting the LCP scheme includes determining the one or more logical channels excluded from selection, the LCP scheme being used to select data for transmission using the first communication resource.

Paragraph 5 the method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 4, the method comprising, prior to receiving the assignment message, receiving a second assignment message comprising an indication of second communication resources received in response to a first scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the second communication resources (PUSCH #1) to transmit data from a second set of one or more logical channels, selecting a second LCP scheme in response to receiving the second assignment message, wherein, according to the second selected LCP scheme, data for transmission using the second communication resources may be selected for transmission using the first communication resources, and selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resources comprises selecting a portion of the data selected for transmission using the second communication resources.

Paragraph 6. the method of paragraph 5, the method comprising determining that the allocation message and the second allocation message are received during the same time slot, wherein selecting the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme is based on determining that the allocation message and the second allocation message are received during the same time slot.

Paragraph 7. the method of paragraph 6, wherein selecting data to be transmitted using the first communication resource according to the selected LCP scheme includes selecting from all data available for transmission at the beginning of the same timeslot regardless of the data selected to be transmitted using the second communication resource according to the second selected LCP scheme.

Paragraph 8. the method of paragraph 5, the method comprising determining that the allocation message is received before the ending time of the second communication resource, wherein in response to determining that the allocation message is received before the ending time of the second communication resource, selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resource by selecting a portion of the data selected for transmission using the second communication resource.

Paragraph 9. the method of paragraph 8, the method comprising determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource, and refraining from transmitting using the second communication resource in response to determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource.

Paragraph 10 the method of paragraph 9, wherein in response to determining that the first communication resource overlaps in time with the second communication resource, data is selected from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resource by selecting a portion of the data selected for transmission using the second communication resource.

Paragraph 11. the method of paragraph 5, the method comprising determining that the first communication resource begins before an end time of the second communication resource, wherein in response to determining that the second communication resource begins before the first end time, selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resource by selecting a portion of the data selected for transmission using the second communication resource.

Paragraph 12 the method of any of paragraphs 1 to 11, wherein selecting the LCP scheme includes determining an error detection portion that generates the assignment message based on a predetermined temporary identifier, the LCP scheme being used to select data for transmission using the first communication resource.

A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 12, wherein selecting an LCP scheme comprises determining that the allocation message conforms to a predetermined format, the LCP scheme being used to select data for transmission using the first communications resource.

Paragraph 14. the method according to paragraph 13, wherein the wireless communication network provides a wireless access interface comprising communication resources divided in time into time slots and further into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol periods, and the first communication resources begin on a first OFDM symbol period of a time slot according to the predetermined format.

Paragraph 15 the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 14, wherein selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the assignment message was sent using a predetermined communication resource associated with the determined LCP scheme, the LCP scheme being used to select data for transmission using the first communication resource.

Paragraph 16 the method according to paragraph 15, wherein the predetermined communication resources comprise communication resources of a physical downlink control channel.

Paragraph 17. the method of paragraph 16, wherein selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the assignment message was sent using a predetermined number and location of frequency resources, the LCP scheme being used to select data for communication using the first communication resource.

A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 17, wherein the allocation message includes an indication of modulation and coding scheme parameters for communicating data using the first communications resource, and selecting the LCP scheme comprises determining that the modulation and coding scheme parameters indicated by the allocation message satisfy a predetermined condition associated with the selected LCP scheme, the LCP scheme being used to select data for communication using the first communications resource.

Paragraph 19. the method according to paragraph 18, comprising determining an average modulation and coding scheme, the average modulation and coding scheme being determined based on modulation and coding scheme parameters for a plurality of previous data transmissions of the communication device, wherein the modulation and coding scheme parameters satisfy the predetermined condition associated with the selected LCP scheme if the reliability provided by the modulation and coding scheme parameters indicated by the assignment message is greater than the reliability provided by the determined average modulation and coding scheme.

Paragraph 20 the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 19, wherein the assignment message includes an indication of a power control parameter for communicating data using the first communication resource, and selecting the LCP scheme includes determining that the power control parameter for communicating data using the first communication resource is associated with one or more of the plurality of logical channels, the LCP scheme being used to select data for communicating using the first communication resource.

Paragraph 21 the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 20, wherein the allocation message includes an indication of a number of repetitions for transferring data using the first communication resource, and selecting the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme includes determining that the number of repetitions for transferring data using the first communication resource is associated with one or more of the plurality of logical channels, the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme being used to select data for transferring using the first communication resource.

Paragraph 22 the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 21, wherein each of the one or more of the plurality of logical channels is associated with one of the one or more scheduling request groups and each of the one or more scheduling request groups is associated with a predetermined communication resource for transmission of scheduling requests by the communication device, the scheduling requests indicating that the communication device has available data associated with one or more of the logical channels associated with the scheduling request group.

Paragraph 23. the method of paragraph 22, wherein selecting a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme includes determining that the assignment message is associated with the first scheduling request group, the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme being used to select data for transmission using the first communication resource.

Paragraph 24. the method of paragraph 23, wherein the first group of one or more logical channels is associated with a first scheduling request group, the method comprising transmitting the second scheduling request message using predetermined communication resources used to transmit the scheduling request message associated with the first scheduling request group.

Paragraph 25. the method of paragraph 24, wherein determining that the assignment message is associated with the first scheduling request group includes determining that the assignment message is associated with the second scheduling request message.

Paragraph 26. the method according to paragraph 25, the method comprising, prior to transmitting the second scheduling request, transmitting the first scheduling request using a predetermined communication resource for transmitting scheduling requests associated with a second scheduling request group with which a second group of one or more logical channels is associated, receiving a second assignment message after transmitting the second scheduling request and before receiving the assignment message, wherein determining that the assignment message is associated with the first scheduling request comprises determining that the second assignment message is received after transmission of the second scheduling request and before receiving the assignment message.

Paragraph 27. the method of paragraph 25, wherein determining that the assignment message is associated with the second scheduling request comprises determining that the assignment message is received within a first time window, the first time window beginning at a first predetermined time after the second scheduling request is transmitted and having a duration of a second predetermined time.

Paragraph 28 the method of paragraph 27, wherein at least one of the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time is determined based on the first scheduling request group.

Paragraph 29 the method of paragraph 27 or paragraph 28, the method comprising, prior to transmitting the second scheduling request, transmitting the first scheduling request using a predetermined communication resource for transmitting scheduling requests associated with a second scheduling request group with which a second group of one or more logical channels is associated, determining a second time window that begins after the second scheduling request is transmitted, determining that an allocation message is received within the second time window, and determining that the allocation message is associated with the second scheduling request group in response to determining that the allocation message is received within the second time window.

Paragraph 30. the method according to paragraph 24, the method comprising transmitting a first scheduling request before transmitting a second scheduling request, wherein determining that the allocation message is associated with the first scheduling request group comprises determining that the second scheduling request is transmitted within a predetermined time after transmission of the first scheduling request.

Paragraph 31. the method of paragraph 24, the method comprising transmitting a first scheduling request before transmitting a second scheduling request, wherein determining that the assignment message is associated with the first scheduling request group comprises determining that the second scheduling request is transmitted after a predetermined time after transmission of the first scheduling request.

Paragraph 32 the method of any of paragraphs 23 to 31, wherein data not associated with the first scheduling request group is not selected for transmission according to the selected LCP scheme.

Paragraph 33 the method of any of paragraphs 23 to 31, wherein the data associated with the first scheduling request group is to be selected for transmission with the highest priority according to the determined logical channel prioritization scheme.

Paragraph 34 the method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 33, comprising scheduling selection of the LCP scheme to occur no earlier than a predetermined time period before the start of the first communication resource in response to receiving the allocation message.

Paragraph 35 the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 34, wherein the first allocation message comprises downlink control information sent on a physical downlink control channel.

A method of allocating communication resources by an infrastructure equipment for transmitting data in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting second communication resources (PUSCH #1), the second communication resources (PUSCH #1) being for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, receiving, after receiving the first scheduling request message, a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resources (PUSCH #2), the first communication resources (PUSCH #2) being for transmitting data from the first set of one or more logical channels, transmitting an allocation message (DCI #2) including an indication of the first communication resources (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, determining a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of the plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resources (PUSCH #2), for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels and receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

Paragraph 37 a communication apparatus for a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising an infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the communication apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit uplink data via the wireless access interface; a receiver configured to receive a signal; and a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver such that the communication device is operable to: to receive an allocation message (DCI #2) comprising an indication of a first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting the second communication resource (PUSCH #1) for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to select a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource in response to receiving the allocation message, for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels or from a second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communications resource, the LCP scheme being selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communications resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels, and selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communications resource in accordance with the selected LCP scheme.

Paragraph 38 circuitry for a communication apparatus in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising an infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit data via the wireless access interface; a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal; and a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit such that the communication device is operable to: to receive an allocation message (DCI #2) comprising an indication of a first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, and the allocation message being received in response to a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first group of one or more logical channels, the second scheduling request message being transmitted after the first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting the second communication resource (PUSCH #1) for transmitting data from a second group of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to select a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme for allocating capacity provided by the first communication resource in response to receiving the allocation message, for transmitting data from a first group of one or more of the logical channels or from a second group of one or more of the logical channels using the first communication resources, the LCP scheme being selected from a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resources (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels, and selecting data from the plurality of logical channels to be transmitted using the first communication resources in accordance with the selected LCP scheme.

Paragraph 39 infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the infrastructure equipment comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to a communications device via the wireless access interface in a cell; a receiver configured to receive data from a communication device; and a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver such that the infrastructure equipment is operable to: to receive a first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting a second communication resource (PUSCH #1), the second communication resource (PUSCH #1) being for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to receive, after receiving the first scheduling request message, the second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resource (PUSCH #2), the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) being for transmitting data from the first set of one or more logical channels to transmit an allocation message (DCI #2), the allocation message including an indication of the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) for transmitting data from the first set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to determine a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of a plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource (PUSCH #2), for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels and receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

Paragraph 40 circuitry of an infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment providing a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit a signal to a communications device via the wireless access interface in a cell; a receiver circuit configured to receive data from a communication device; and a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit such that the infrastructure equipment is operable to: to receive a first scheduling request message (SR #2) requesting a second communication resource (PUSCH #1), to receive, after receiving the first scheduling request message, a second scheduling request message (SR #1) requesting the first communication resource (PUSCH #2), the first communication resource (PUSCH #2) being for transmitting data from a first set of one or more logical channels, the second communication resource (PUSCH #1) being for transmitting data from a second set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to transmit an allocation message (DCI #2), the allocation message comprising an indication of the first communication resource (PUSCH #2), for transmitting data from the first set of one or more of the plurality of logical channels, to determine a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) scheme, the determined LCP scheme being one of the plurality of LCP schemes, each of the plurality of LCP schemes determining a different allocation of available capacity provided by the first communication resource (PUSCH #2), for transmitting data from the plurality of logical channels and receiving data transmitted using the first communication resource, wherein the data transmitted using the first communication resource is selected from the plurality of logical channels according to the determined LCP scheme.

Further specific and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It is to be understood that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Reference to the literature

[1]RP-182090,“Revised SID:Study on NR Industrial Internet of Things(IoT),”RAN#81.

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

[3]3GPP TS 38.321,“Medium Access Control(MAC)protocol specification(Rel-15)”,vl5.3.0.

[4]R2-1818795,“LS on Intra-UE Prioritization/Multiplexing,”RAN2,RAN2#104.

[5]3 GPP TS 38.825.