Method for generating on-off keying signal in mobile communication and apparatus therefor

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a method and a device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication, and describes various solutions for generating the on-off keying signal of a reading device and Internet of Things equipment. A reading device may generate an OOK signal having an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed waveform, where a start of OOK signal transmission is aligned with symbol boundaries of the OFDM waveform. The reading apparatus may transmit the OOK signal to the IoT device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to mobile communications, and more particularly, to on-off keying (OOK) signal generation related to a reading device and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in mobile communications. Background Art

[0002] Unless otherwise specified herein, the methods described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of inclusion in this section.

[0003] Wireless communication systems can be widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. A typical wireless communication system may use multiple access technologies to support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of these multiple access technologies may include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

[0004] These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate within a municipality, country, region, or even globally. An example of a telecommunication standard is 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of the continuous mobile broadband evolution driven by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to meet new requirements related to latency, reliability, security, scalability (e.g., related to the Internet of Things (IoT)), and other needs. Some aspects of 5G NR can be based on the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. There is a need for further improvement in 5G NR technology. These improvements can also be applied to other multiple access technologies and telecommunication standards that employ these technologies.

[0005] Traditionally, IoT devices can use on-off keying (OOK) to synchronize with a reading device (e.g., a user equipment reader or a network node). However, IoT devices cannot directly use / read traditional 5G NR signals, such as synchronization signals (SS).

[0006] Therefore, how to provide OOK signals for IoT transmission in a wireless communication environment such as 5G NR has become an important issue for newly developed wireless communication networks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following summary of the invention is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. That is, the following summary of the invention is intended to introduce the concepts, highlights, advantages, and benefits of the novel and non-obvious technologies described herein. Specific embodiments will be further described in the following detailed description. Therefore, the following summary of the invention is not intended to identify the basic features of the claimed subject matter nor to be used to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to propose solutions, concepts, designs, systems, methods, and apparatuses related to the generation of on-off keying (OOK) signals for reading devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in mobile communications. It is believed that by implementing one or more of the solutions described herein, the above problems can be avoided or alleviated.

[0009] In one aspect, a method may involve a reader device generating an OOK signal having an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform, wherein the start of the OOK signal transmission is aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. The method may also involve the reader device sending the OOK signal to an IoT device.

[0010] In another aspect, a method may involve an IoT device receiving an OOK signal from a reader device, wherein the OOK signal is formed by an OFDM waveform, and wherein the start of the OOK signal transmission is aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. The method may also involve the IoT device performing backscatter transmission based on the OOK signal.

[0011] In another aspect, a reader device may involve a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with at least one network node during operation. The device may also involve a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver such that, during operation, the processor may generate an OOK signal having an OFDM waveform, wherein the start of the OOK signal transmission is aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. The processor may also send the OOK signal to an IoT device via the transceiver.

[0012] It is noted that although the descriptions provided herein may be in the context of certain radio access technologies, networks, and network topologies such as fifth-generation systems (5GS) and 4G EPS mobile networks, the concepts, schemes, and any variations / derivatives thereof proposed may be implemented in other types of wireless and wired communication technologies, networks, and network topologies, such as but not limited to: Ethernet, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) / Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, LTE-Advanced Pro, Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT), sixth-generation (6G) systems, and any future-developed network technologies. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the present invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present invention. It is understood that, for the purpose of clearly illustrating the concept of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and some components may be shown out of proportion to their actual dimensions in the actual implementation.

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario of a communication environment in which various solutions and schemes according to the present invention can be implemented.

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing an A-IoT transmission architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another example scenario describing an A-IoT transmission architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing a reading device or an IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another example scenario describing a reading device or an IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another example scenario describing a reading device or an IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing a communication process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing a transmission architecture between a network node and an A-IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing a transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario describing a guard band configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another example scenario describing a guard band configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 12It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of a protection band configuration process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of a coordinated waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 14 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OOK signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figures 15A to 15B It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of a configuration exchange process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 16 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OOK signal for LP-WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 17 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OOK-1 signal and an OOK-4 signal for LP-WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 18 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of a two-stage process for WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 19 It is a schematic diagram depicting another example scenario of a two-stage process for WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 20 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of a table of a parameter set for LP-WUR operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 21 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an LP-WUR according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 22 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OOK WUR operating in the first stage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 23 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OOK WUR operating in the second stage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 24 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of an OFDM WUR according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figures 25A to 25BIt is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of the LP-WUS transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 26 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of the LP-WUS placement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 27 It is a schematic diagram depicting another example scenario of the LP-WUS placement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 28 It is a schematic diagram depicting another example scenario of the LP-WUS placement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 29 It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of different scheduling configurations according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 30 It is a schematic diagram depicting another example scenario of different scheduling configurations according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figures 31A to 31B It is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario of the LP-WUS transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 32 It is a block diagram depicting an example communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 33 It is a flowchart depicting an example process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 34 It is a flowchart depicting an example process according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0048] Detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matter are disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matter, which can be embodied in various forms. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Instead, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that the description of the present invention is thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the following description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations.

[0049] Overview

[0050] Embodiments of the present invention relate to various techniques, methods, schemes, and / or solutions related to on-off keying (OOK) signal generation for user equipment and mobile communication network equipment. According to the present invention, multiple possible solutions can be implemented alone or in combination. That is, although these possible solutions may be described separately below, two or more of these possible solutions can be implemented in one or another combination.

[0051] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example scenario 100 of a communication environment in which various solutions and schemes according to the present invention can be implemented. Scenario 100 involves a user equipment (UE) 110 that wirelessly communicates with a network 120 (e.g., a wireless network including a non-terrestrial network (NTN) and a terrestrial network (TN)) via a terrestrial network node 125 (e.g., an evolved Node-B (eNB), a Next Generation Node-B (gNB), or a transmission / reception point (TRP)) and / or a non-terrestrial network node 128 (e.g., a satellite). For example, the terrestrial network node 125 and / or the non-terrestrial network node 128 can form an NTN service cell to wirelessly communicate with the UE 110. In some embodiments, the UE 110 can be an IoT device, e.g., an NB-IoT UE or an enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) UE (e.g., a bandwidth-reduced low complexity (BL) UE or a coverage enhancement (CE) UE). In such a communication environment, as described below, the UE 110, the network 120, the terrestrial network node 125, and the non-terrestrial network node 128 can implement various schemes related to an improved OOK signal generation process according to the present invention. It is noted that although the various proposed schemes may be described separately or individually below, in actual embodiments, some or all of the proposed schemes can be used or implemented in combination. Of course, each proposed scheme can also be used or implemented alone or separately.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a reading device (e.g., UE 110) may generate an OOK signal having an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform. The start of the OOK signal transmission may be aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. For example, for reader-to-device (R2D) transmission, if an OFDM-based waveform is used, from the reading perspective, it can be assumed that the start of the R2D transmission is aligned with the boundary of a new radio (NR) OFDM symbol (including a cyclic prefix (CP)) for in-band or guard band operation. After generating the OOK signal, the reading device may send the OOK signal to an IoT device (e.g., an ambient IoT (A-IoT) device). The IoT device may be a tag device. The IoT device may perform backscatter transmission according to the OOK signal. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the OOK signal may include at least one of OOK-1 modulation and OOK-4 modulation.

[0053] In an embodiment, the reading device may send a configuration related to the OOK signal to the IoT device. The configuration may include at least one of a signal format and a bandwidth allocation of the OOK signal.

[0054] In an embodiment, the reading device may send a guard band configuration between the OOK signal and another OFDM signal to the IoT device, for example, Figure 10 and Figure 11 the guard band configuration in.

[0055] In an embodiment, the OOK signal may include a wake-up signal for waking up the IoT device.

[0056] Figure 2 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of an example scenario 200 of an A-IoT transmission architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. Scenario 200 involves a reading device, an A-IoT device network node (e.g., a (macro / micro) base station) as part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Referring to Figure 2 , the network node (e.g., gNB) may establish a connection with the reading device (e.g., UE or UE reader) via a wired cable. This configuration may eliminate the need for a new air interface between the network node and the A-IoT device. A new air interface between the reading device and the A-IoT device may not be introduced. As Figure 2 shown, the network node may access the A-IoT device via the reading device. That is, the reading device may be an intermediate node between the A-IoT device and the network node.

[0057] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram depicting another exemplary scenario 300 of the A-IoT transmission architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. Scenario 300 involves a reading device, an A-IoT device, and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that are part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Referring to Figure 3 , the network node (e.g., gNB) can establish a connection with the reading device (e.g., UE or UE reader) via a wireless air interface. The air interface can be an NR-Uu interface to minimize specification changes of the reading device. In addition, the air interface between the reading device and the A-IoT device can be determined based on the use cases and requirements between the reading device and the A-IoT device.

[0058] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary scenario 400 of a reading device or an IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 4 , the IoT device can be designed with specific goals. The IoT device can be designed for power consumption during transmission or reception (≤1 μW or ≤10 μW), and for complexity, aiming to be comparable to ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification (UHF RFID) ISO18000-6C (EPC C1G2). In addition, as Figure 4 shown, the IoT device may not have energy storage or independent signal generation and amplification capabilities. The IoT device can rely on backscatter transmission. The IoT device may require a backscatter activation power threshold, an experienced reflection loss, and a long-distance carrier source to transmit signals for positioning. As Figure 4As shown, the IoT device may include a low pass filter (LPF) for suppressing adjacent sub-carrier interference (ASCI) and adjacent carrier interference (ACI). The IoT device may also include an envelope detector (ED) supporting OOK signals. The IoT device may also include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for digital baseband processing. The IoT device may also include a digital baseband (DBB) for sequence matching. The IoT device may also include a modulator (or switch) controlled by an incoming signal to add payload data for OOK modulation. The IoT device may also include a radio frequency energy harvester that converts RF signals into an energy source.

[0059] Figure 5 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of another example scenario 500 of a reading device or IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 5 , the IoT device may be designed with specific goals. Additionally, as Figure 5 shown, the IoT device may have energy storage but no independent signal generation. The IoT device may rely on backscatter transmission. The stored energy may be used for signal amplification. The IoT device may also require a backscatter activation power threshold, experience reflection loss, and require a long-distance carrier source for positioning. As Figure 5 shown, the IoT device may include an LPF for suppressing ASCI and ACI. The IoT device may also include an ED supporting OOK signals. The IoT device may also include an ADC for digital baseband processing. The IoT device may also include a DBB for sequence matching. The IoT device may also include a modulator controlled by an incoming signal to add payload data for OOK modulation. The IoT device may also include an RF energy harvester that converts RF signals into an energy source. The IoT device may also include additional energy harvesters for different types of environmental sources, such as RF radios, solar energy, thermal energy, and piezoelectric power sources. The IoT device may also include energy memories, such as capacitors and solid-state batteries. The IoT device may also include a reflection amplifier to amplify the signal input to the tag and the signal backscattered to the reading device.

[0060] Figure 6 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of another example scenario 600 of a reading device or IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFigure 6 , IoT devices can be designed with specific objectives. For example, IoT devices can be designed for power consumption during transmission or reception (≤1 μW or ≤10 μW), and with much lower complexity than Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT). In addition, as Figure 6 shown, IoT devices can have energy storage, independent signal generation, and an active RF component for transmission. IoT devices can also have mobility management capabilities, at least for cell selection and reselection. As Figure 6 shown, IoT devices can include an LPF for suppressing ASCI and ACI. IoT devices can also include an ED supporting OOK signals. IoT devices can also include an ADC for digital baseband processing. IoT devices can also include a DBB for synchronization, payload decoding, and cyclic redundancy check (CRC). IoT devices can also include an RF energy harvester that converts RF signals into an energy source. IoT devices can also include additional energy harvesters for different types of environmental sources, such as RF radios, solar energy, thermal energy, and piezoelectric power supplies. IoT devices can also include energy storage, such as capacitors and solid-state batteries. IoT devices can also include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a power amplifier (PA) to amplify received and transmitted signals.

[0061] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing an example scenario of a communication process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 700 involves a reading device, an A-IoT device, and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that are part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Referring to Figure 7 , there can be an innovative air interface for communication between a reading device (e.g., UE reading or a network node (e.g., gNB)) and an A-IoT device. As Figure 7As shown, the communication process is initiated when the reader device powers the A-IoT device and sends a command. The command may include basic communication parameters, such as the tag rate, the tag data encoding method, and the total number of available time slots. When the A-IoT device has collected sufficient energy, the A-IoT device can be activated and listen for commands from the reader device. After the A-IoT device decodes the command, the A-IoT device can randomly select a time slot from the available range and generate a random sequence. Then, the A-IoT device can send the random sequence to the reader device in the selected time slot. The random sequence can be modulated by frequency shift keying 0 (FM0), and there can be a known preamble sequence before the random sequence. In response to the random sequence from the A-IoT device, the reader device can decode the random sequence and send an acknowledgment to the A-IoT device at a predetermined time aligned with the A-IoT rate configuration. The aforementioned reader device can be a node, such as a UE, a UE reader, a relay, an IAB node, an NR / LTE UE, a repeater, or a base station (gNB).

[0062] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication link from the UE to the A-IoT device (U2A link) can use a modulation scheme such as amplitude shift keying (ASK) or OOK to facilitate data transmission using pulse interval encoding (PIE). The U2A link can include two types of preambles. One preamble is a long U2A preamble for initial transmission, and the other preamble is a short U2A preamble for subsequent signaling. The UE can send the long U2A preamble and a control signal (or command) that specifies the control parameters of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT device.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication link from the A-IoT device to the UE (A2U link) can use ASK or phase shift keying (PSK) modulation. The A-IoT can use FM0 baseband or Miller modulation controlled by the UE or gNB via the A2U link to encode backscattered data. The A2U link signaling can be initiated using one of two Miller subcarrier preambles based on a command or control signal. The A-IoT device can use backscatter modulation to send data based on the reflection coefficient of its antenna. The A2U link can be used to send electronic product code (EPC) and protocol-control (PC) information.

[0064] According to an embodiment of the present invention, existing network node (e.g., gNB) hardware can be used to generate OOK signals for A-IoT devices using backscatter transmission.

[0065] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an example scenario 800 of a transmission architecture between a network node and an A-IoT device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 800 involves an A-IoT device and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that are part of a wireless network (e.g., LTE network, 5G / NR network, IoT network, or 6G network). The network node can also be regarded as a reading device, that is, scenario 800 can also be applied to another reading device, e.g., UE reading. Referring Figure 8 , the transmitting end of the network node (e.g., gNB TX) can perform signal generation, waveform shaping, inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) multiplexing operation, and cyclic prefix (CP) addition. The receiving end of the A-IoT device (e.g., A-IoT RX) can perform low pass filter (LPF) function, analog-to-digital convertor (ADC) operation, energy detection, packet detection, and synchronization (or OOK demodulation). The transmitting end of the A-IoT device (e.g., A-IoT TX) can perform ASK or PSK modulation, reflection coefficient adjustment, and LNA operation.

[0066] The transmitted OOK signal can include a preamble, a data payload, and a CRC. The preamble can be generated from an OFDM sequence. The OFDM sequence can be known to the A-IoT device, UE reading, or gNB. The preamble can be used by the A-IoT device for synchronization, packet detection, and backscatter transmission. For example, the OFDM sequence can be used to cover on the OOK symbol. The CRC type can be CRC-4, CRC-8, CRC-16, or CRC-32. In addition, the CRC type can be based on the error detection requirements of the A-IoT device.

[0067] Waveform shaping can be performed to generate an OOK waveform. The OOK waveform can have on and off periods in the time domain. A waveform shaping module can be needed to perform waveform shaping. The waveform shaping module can be the least squares solution of linear matrix multiplexing to minimize the squared error between the IFFT output and the target OOK waveform.

[0068] The IFFT module can reuse the A-IoT signal with a bandwidth of 5 MHz and the remaining physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) signal with a bandwidth (e.g., 15 MHz). The multiplexing operation may require guard resource blocks (RBs) between the A-IoT signal and the NR PDSCH signal to prevent interference.

[0069] The CP addition operation can be performed to prevent interference of the A-IoT signal with the NR PDSCH signal. However, for A-IoT devices with OOK receivers, the CP may be redundant because it may cause inter-symbol interference in OOK demodulation. To help A-IoT devices remove the CP, the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can broadcast auxiliary information (e.g., subcarrier spacing (SCS), CP type, and symbol index) in the system information block (SIB) or the query command.

[0070] An LPF is needed to suppress ASCI and adjacent channel interference (ACI). The LPF requirement can be based on the A-IoT signal position. Different signal positions may require different guard band RBs to prevent interference. The reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can send the configuration of the signal position and the number of guard band RBs to the A-IoT device via the NR signal or channel.

[0071] The ADC can use a small number of bits and a low sampling rate to save power consumption. If the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) requests ADC information, the A-IoT device can report its ADC range, bits, or sampling rate. The ADC range can be related to the interference level, and a higher interference requires a wider ADC range.

[0072] The energy detector (ED) can perform energy detection by extracting the absolute amplitude based on the correct direct current (DC) level. To obtain the correct DC level, the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can send a preamble before data parsing. The preamble can be used by the A-IoT device for automatic gain control (AGC), time and frequency synchronization, and DC level estimation.

[0073] The packet detection module can monitor specific time, frequency, and sequence for energy harvesting and A-IoT signal detection. If the traffic is on-demand and does not require periodic reporting, the monitoring operation can be continuous. When the A-IoT device establishes a connection with the reading device, the known time, frequency resources, and sequence can be provided by the network from the reading device (e.g., read by gNB or UE).

[0074] In an example, after completing packet detection and coarse synchronization, the A-IoT device can use the preamble or CRC for fine synchronization. In another example, if the reading device (e.g., read by gNB or UE) provides the channel coding and modulation type via the NR channel or signal, the A-IoT device can perform OOK demodulation.

[0075] If a packet is detected and the OOK signal is successfully parsed, the A-IoT device transmission can backscatter the detected and parsed OOK signal by ASK or PSK modulation based on the uplink preamble, data, and CRC of the OOK signal. If the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE read) provides an indication or configuration via the NR channel or signal, the A-IoT device can backscatter or reflect the OFDM signal in the OOK signal.

[0076] The reflection factor is used to control the reflection level of the output waveform. The reflection factor can modulate the output signal for the input information, e.g., the preamble, data payload, and CRC of the OOK signal. The A-IoT device can only select to reflect or not reflect the received OOK signal, so the output signal can be ASK or FSK. The modulation type can be configured by the reading device (e.g., read by gNB or UE) via the NR channel or signal based on the capability report via the NR channel.

[0077] The LNA can be a reflection amplifier for UL power control. The amplifier power can be configured by the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE read) via the NR channel or signal. The A-IoT device can control its UL power by adjusting the LNA based on the received signal power.

[0078] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of an example scenario 900 of the transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 900 involves an A-IoT device and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) where the field is part of a wireless network (e.g., LTE network, 5G / NR network, IoT network, or 6G network). The network node can also be regarded as a reading device, i.e., scenario 900 can also be applied to another reading device, e.g., UE read. Reference Figure 9, the transmission process may include the following steps: broadcasting sequences and commands, broadcasting auxiliary information, requesting parameter reports, providing coding and modulation types, and providing modulation types. The corresponding actions of the A-IoT device in response to each network action are also described.

[0079] In the transmission process, the network node may initiate all actions. The network node may broadcast sequences and commands. The A-IoT device may use the sequences and commands for synchronization and packet detection. Then, the network may broadcast auxiliary information. The A-IoT device may use the auxiliary information for CP removal and resource allocation. To manage the interference level, the network may also request a parameter report from the A-IoT device. Then, the A-IoT device may report its parameters to the network node for interference management. For demodulation, the network may provide the coding and modulation types to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device may use the provided coding and modulation types for demodulation. Finally, the network node may provide the modulation type to the A-IoT device, and then, the A-IoT device may adjust its modulation type based on the provided information.

[0080] As Figure 9 shown, the A-IoT device may perform several key behaviors to meet the corresponding network signaling requirements.

[0081] For synchronization and packet detection, the A-IoT device may utilize the received sequences for synchronization and packet detection. The detection period may be initiated from a defined frame and controlled by the minimum value in a set determined by the sequence period. During the detection period, all sequence block indices may be mapped to packet detection opportunities at least once. The network node may broadcast sequences and commands indicating the start of a packet. The sequence period may be derived from the relevant system information.

[0082] For the operations of CP removal and resource allocation, the A-IoT device may use the received auxiliary information. The allocation period initiated from a defined frame may be determined by the minimum value in a set according to the CP configuration period. During the allocation period, all CP block indices may be mapped to resource allocation opportunities at least once. The network node may broadcast auxiliary information including relevant parameters in SIBs or query commands. The CP configuration period may be derived from the relevant system information.

[0083] The A-IoT device may also manage the interference level by reporting its parameters to the network node. The reporting period initiated from a defined frame may be determined by the minimum value in a set according to the configuration period. During the reporting period, all block indices may be mapped to interference management opportunities at least once. The network may request the A-IoT device to report its parameters. The configuration period may be derived from the relevant system information.

[0084] For demodulation, the A-IoT device can use the provided coding and modulation types. The demodulation period initiated from the defined frame can be determined by the minimum value in the set according to the configuration period. During the demodulation period, all block indices can be mapped to demodulation opportunities at least once. The network can provide specific coding and modulation types for demodulation. The configuration period can be derived from the relevant system information.

[0085] The A-IoT device can adjust its modulation type based on the information provided by the network. The adjustment period initiated from the defined frame can be determined by the minimum value in the set according to the configuration period. During the adjustment period, all modulation block indices can be mapped to adjustment opportunities at least once. The network can provide specific modulation types based on the capability report of the A-IoT device. The modulation configuration period can be derived from the relevant system information.

[0086] As Figure 9 shown, the reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can perform several key behaviors to meet the corresponding signaling requirements of the A-IoT device.

[0087] The reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can broadcast sequences and commands. The broadcast period can start from the defined frame and be determined by the sequence period to ensure that all sequence block indices are broadcast at least once during the broadcast period. The A-IoT device may need to receive the broadcast in the ready state reported in the relevant system information.

[0088] The reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can broadcast auxiliary information for certain operations and resources. The broadcast period can start from the defined frame and be determined by the auxiliary configuration period to ensure that all auxiliary block indices are broadcast at least once during the broadcast period. The A-IoT device can request the auxiliary information within the request period obtained from the relevant system information.

[0089] The reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can use the reported parameters from the A-IoT device to manage the interference level. The management period can start from the defined frame and be determined by the interference management configuration period to ensure that all management block indices are used at least once during the management period. The A-IoT device can report its parameters within the reporting period obtained from the relevant system information.

[0090] The reading device (e.g., gNB or UE reading) can provide the coding and modulation types to the A-IoT device. The providing period can start from the defined frame and be determined by the providing configuration period to ensure that all providing block indices are provided at least once during the providing period. The A-IoT device can request the coding and modulation types within the request period obtained from the relevant system information.

[0091] A reading device (e.g., read by a gNB or UE) may provide a modulation type based on the capabilities reported by the A-IoT device. The provisioning period may start from a defined frame and be determined by the provisioning configuration period to ensure that all provisioning block indices are provided at least once within the provisioning period. The A-IoT device may report its capabilities within a reporting period obtained from the relevant system information.

[0092] The configuration and signaling of adjacent subcarriers and adjacent carrier guard resource blocks for A-IoT signals may be necessary to ensure effective interference prevention and optimal performance in a communication network.

[0093] Figure 10 An example scenario 1000 of guard band configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1000 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or UE). Referring to Figure 10 , for the deployment location of A-IoT signals, different numbers of guard resource blocks (e.g., blank resource blocks) may be required. The guard resource blocks may be configured by the network node and transmitted from the network node to the UE for reading or the A-IoT device via NR signals and channels.

[0094] As Figure 10 shown, adjacent subcarrier guard resource blocks (ASRBs) may be added on both sides of the A-IoT signal bandwidth. For 30KHz SCS, the range of ASRBs may be from 0.5RB to 2RB, or for 15KHz SCS, the range may be from 1RB to 4RBs. The ASRBs may be used to protect the A-IoT signal from adjacent subcarrier NR signals (e.g., PDSCH) or in-cell interference. In addition, as Figure 10 shown, when the channel bandwidth exceeds 10MHz or the A-IoT signal bandwidth is less than 5MHz, adjacent carrier guard resource blocks (ACRBs) may be added on one side of the A-IoT signal bandwidth. For 30KHz SCS, the range of ACRBs may be from 1RB to 3RB, or for 15KHz SCS, the range may be from 2RB to 6RB. The ACRBs may be used to protect the A-IoT signal from adjacent carrier NR signals, e.g., inter-cell interference.

[0095] Figure 11 Another example scenario 1100 of guard band configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1100 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or UE). Referring to Figure 11, when the channel bandwidth is less than 10 MHz or the A-IoT signal bandwidth exceeds 5 MHz, the ACRB can be added on both sides of the A-IoT signal bandwidth in the 5G network.

[0096] For 30 KHz SCS, the range of the ACRB can be from 1 RB to 3 RBs, or for 15 KHz SCS, the range can be from 2 RBs to 6 RBs. The ACRB can be used to protect the A-IoT signal from interference by adjacent carrier NR signals, e.g., inter-cell interference. The number of ACRBs can be configured by the network node and read by the UE or A-IoT device via the NR signal and channel from the network node.

[0097] Figure 12 An example scenario 1200 of the guard band configuration process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1200 involves an A-IoT device and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that are part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). The network node can also be regarded as a reading device, i.e., scenario 1200 can also be applied to another reading device, e.g., UE reading. Refer Figure 12 , the network node can initiate the process by configuring and transmitting guard resource blocks to the A-IoT device. After receiving the configuration, the A-IoT device can adjust its guard resource blocks accordingly. Then, the network node can send or transmit the number of ASRBs and ACRBs to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device can add guard resource blocks (i.e., ASRBs and ACRBs) on both sides or one side of its signal bandwidth based on the guard band configuration of the network node.

[0098] As Figure 12 shown, the A-IoT device can perform several key behaviors to meet the corresponding network signal requirements.

[0099] The A-IoT signal can be deployed at various positions within the channel bandwidth. Depending on the position, different numbers of guard resource blocks may be required. These guard blocks can be blank resource blocks. The guard resource blocks can be used to mitigate interference and ensure signal integrity. The network node can configure and transmit guard resource blocks to the A-IoT device via the NR signal and channel to allow the A-IoT device to adapt to different deployment positions.

[0100] The ASRB can be added on both sides of the A-IoT signal bandwidth. The ASRB can be used to protect the A-IoT signal from adjacent subcarrier NR signals (e.g., PDSCH) or in-cell interference. For 30KHz SCS, the range of the ASRB can be from 0.5RB to 2RB, or for 15KHz SCS, the range can be from 1RB to 4RB. The network node can configure and transmit the number of ASRBs to the A-IoT device to allow the A-IoT device to dynamically adjust according to changes in the interference environment.

[0101] According to the channel bandwidth and the A-IoT signal bandwidth, the ACRB can be added on one or both sides of the A-IoT signal bandwidth. The ACRB can be used to protect the A-IoT signal from interference from adjacent carrier NR signals, e.g., inter-cell interference. For 30KHz SCS, the range of the ACRB can be from 1RB to 3RB, or for 15KHz SCS, the range can be from 2RB to 6RB. The network node can configure and transmit the number of ACRBs to the A-IoT device so that the A-IoT device can effectively manage inter-cell interference.

[0102] These behaviors and signaling requirements can enable the A-IoT device to effectively manage interference and maintain optimal performance in the 5G network.

[0103] Non-uniform synchronization in wireless communication may lead to reduced efficiency, latency, increased power consumption, and data errors. Therefore, the communication quality of the signal may be vulnerable to interference and noise, especially in areas with dense devices or poor signal conditions.

[0104] Figure 13 An example scenario 1300 of a harmonized waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1300 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Refer to Figure 13 , a harmonized waveform is generated. The A-IoT device can use an OOK preamble superimposed on an OFDM signal (or an OFDM waveform) to generate an OOK signal, thereby effectively utilizing a conventional signal (i.e., an OFDM signal) and achieving enhanced communication backscattering.

[0105] Traditionally, A-IoT devices can use OOK to synchronize with UE readings or network nodes, but A-IoT devices cannot directly use traditional synchronization signals, such as, for example, the secondary synchronization signal (SSS). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the OOK preamble can be superimposed on an OFDM waveform, such as, for example, the primary synchronization signal (PSS) or SSS, that is, the OFDM waveform can include the PSS or SSS. Thus, the underlying signal (i.e., the OFDM waveform) can be used for on-off keying. For example, the SSS can be transmitted during the on-phase, while a DC level signal can be transmitted during the off-phase. Embodiments of unifying or coordinating waveforms can achieve synchronization and data demodulation through OOK and also allow A-IoT devices to utilize the OFDM waveform for finer synchronization and additional information transmission. Thus, both the OOK sequence and the OFDM sequence can be preconfigured in the A-IoT device.

[0106] Passive A-IoT devices using backscattering for uplink transmission can reflect all or part of the preamble without embedding OOK data. The OOK preamble can preserve the OFDM preamble during the on-phase. If the OOK preamble preconfigures OFDM preamble knowledge to the UE reading or the gNB, the UE reading or the gNB can use the OOK preamble for faster uplink synchronization. Utilizing multiple OFDM preambles during consecutive on-phases can further refine the synchronization.

[0107] Figure 14 An example scenario 1400 of an OOK signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1400 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Referring to Figure 14 , the OOK signal (i.e., the coordinated waveform) can include at least one of a preamble, a payload, and CRC bits. The OOK signal can fuse the broadband width of OFDM and has the simplicity and stability of OOK. Thus, OOK signal transmission can enhance the flexibility and synchronization efficiency of A-IoT devices in diverse networks.

[0108] The coordinated waveform can enable A-IoT devices to use both OFDM and OOK signals. OFDM is well-known for encoding data across multiple carriers, providing stability and efficiency. OOK is a simpler amplitude-shift keying modulation. OOK can represent binary data by the presence or absence of a carrier signal typically within a bandwidth of 200 KHz to 500 KHz. In contrast, NR reference signals (e.g., PSS and SSS) operate within a wider bandwidth, from 1.05 MHz to 30.48 MHz, and can facilitate synchronization in 5G networks.

[0109] The coordinated design of OOK signals has two benefits. First, the coordinated design can provide flexibility in implementation. Thus, A-IoT devices can communicate across multiple systems, which is particularly beneficial for the heterogeneity of the expected 6G network. Second, the coordinated design can simplify synchronization by saving time and energy through the utilization of OFDM preambles.

[0110] In scenarios with bandwidth differences, the underlying waveform strategy may still be viable. The system may need to be able to detect various bandwidths and adjust accordingly. This can involve flexible receiver design, advanced signal processing to adapt to different bandwidths, and effective interference management to mitigate the challenges of concurrent signals with different bandwidths. These strategies can ensure the effective implementation of the underlying waveform approach, and the specific details can be adjusted according to the system's requirements and signal characteristics despite bandwidth variations.

[0111] For the coordinated waveform approach, the design and implementation may need to be flexibly adapted to the different variable bandwidths inherent in A-IoT communication. This flexibility can be achieved through several key adaptations.

[0112] Key adaptations can include adaptive bandwidth detection. A-IoT devices can have the ability to identify the bandwidth of incoming signals. By identifying the bandwidth, A-IoT devices can adjust their receiving parameters to align with the characteristics of the signal to ensure accurate interpretation and processing.

[0113] Key adaptations can also include a multi-functional receiver architecture. The receiver architecture within A-IoT devices may be inherently multi-functional, capable of handling the encountered bandwidth range. This flexibility can be achieved through the deployment of complex signal processing algorithms and modular hardware designs that can be dynamically configured.

[0114] Key adaptations can also include advanced signal processing. To manage signals with different bandwidths, A-IoT devices can employ advanced signal processing techniques. For example, multi-rate processing can allow A-IoT devices to adjust their processing speed to match the bandwidth of the signal to ensure efficient and accurate signal processing.

[0115] Key adaptations can also include proactive interference management. In an environment where signals with different bandwidths coexist, proactive interference management may become crucial. Proactive interference management can involve strategically scheduling transmissions to minimize conflicts, or involve using advanced multiplexing techniques (e.g., OFDM) to divide and separate signals in the frequency domain to maintain signal integrity.

[0116] By combining the above strategies, A-IoT devices can effectively utilize underlying waveform methods to ensure stable and flexible communication capabilities even in the face of diverse signal bandwidths. The coordinated design of OOK signals can not only promote backward compatibility with existing systems but also pave the way for forward compatibility with emerging technologies. The coordinated design can ensure that A-IoT devices remain functional and relevant as the communication environment evolves, especially as we transition to 6G networks, where even more diverse devices and communication standards are expected. Coordinated waveforms can serve as the cornerstone for future A-IoT devices, enabling them to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing wireless communication ecosystem.

[0117] Figures 15A to 15B FIG. 1500 shows an example scenario of a configuration exchange process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Scenario 1500 involves a UE (or UE Reader), an A-IoT device, and a network node (e.g., a (macro / micro) base station) as part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Referring Figures 15A to 15B to, the configuration exchange process can support coordinated waveforms for integrated OOK and OFDM signals to enable efficient A-IoT operation.

[0118] The configuration exchange process can start with a UE Reader requesting a coordinated waveform configuration from a network node. The network node can determine appropriate waveform parameters based on current network conditions and the capabilities of the A-IoT device. Then, the network node can send or provide the parameters (i.e., the coordinated waveform configuration) to the UE Reader. The UE Reader can configure the coordinated waveform for the A-IoT device via broadcast.

[0119] When the UE Reader broadcasts the coordinated waveform, the A-IoT device can use an OOK preamble to detect and synchronize the signal and send an acknowledgment for synchronization to the UE Reader. Then, the UE Reader can request the device capabilities from the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device can respond with its device capabilities to the UE Reader. Next, the UE Reader can adjust the bandwidth and power settings for a specific A-IoT device.

[0120] The network node can send a power control command to the A-IoT device. Then, the A-IoT device can adjust its transmission power according to the power control command. The A-IoT device can use backscatter communication to reflect the coordinated waveform back to the UE Reader. Then, the UE Reader can relay the coordinated waveform to the network node for uplink communication processing.

[0121] The network node can send timing advance updates to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device can correct the uplink timing based on the timing advance updates. Additionally, the network node can read configuration interference management instructions from the UE. The UE read can schedule A-IoT transmissions according to the interference management instructions and minimize potential interference.

[0122] The UE read can send dynamic configuration updates to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device can adapt to any updated coordinated waveform and network condition changes according to the dynamic configuration updates. Finally, the network node can send future-proofing configurations to the UE read. The UE read can prepare the A-IoT device for upcoming standard and technology updates according to the future-proofing configurations.

[0123] This configuration exchange process can serve as a guide for implementing the required signaling to support the coordinated design and ensure stable and efficient communication of A-IoT devices in a dynamic communication ecosystem.

[0124] During the configuration exchange process, A-IoT devices that support coordinated design can perform several key operations to ensure efficient operation within the integrated OOK and OFDM framework.

[0125] The key operations can include dual-mode synchronization. The A-IoT device can synchronize with the network using both OOK and OFDM waveforms. The A-IoT device can use a simple OOK preamble for initial synchronization and then switch to a more complex OFDM waveform for fine synchronization to improve timing accuracy and network coordination.

[0126] The key operations can also include configurability. The A-IoT device can be configured to identify and adapt to coordinated waveforms. Configurability can include the ability to process the underlying OFDM signal during the ON period of OOK and appropriately handle the DC level signal during the OFF period of OOK.

[0127] The key operations can include backscatter communication. An A-IoT device using backscatter for uplink communication can reflect the coordinated waveform back to the reader or gNB without generating a modulated signal. Thus, the design of the A-IoT device can be simplified and the power consumption can be reduced.

[0128] The key operations can also include bandwidth adaptability. The A-IoT device can be equipped with receivers capable of detecting and adapting to different bandwidths. Bandwidth adaptability is crucial for handling the different bandwidth requirements of OOK and OFDM signals and ensuring compatibility with various network standards.

[0129] Key operations can also include energy efficiency. A-IoT devices can be optimized for energy efficiency, especially in synchronization processes. A-IoT devices can reduce the time and energy required for synchronization by using more efficient OFDM preambles.

[0130] Key operations can also include interference mitigation. A-IoT devices supporting coordinated design can also mitigate interference through advanced signal processing techniques. Interference mitigation can ensure reliable communication even in environments where A-IoT devices are in high device density or there are competing signals.

[0131] Key operations can also include forward compatibility. A-IoT devices can be built with an eye towards future technological developments to ensure that A-IoT devices can seamlessly integrate upcoming standards and protocols, protecting the investment and extending the service life of A-IoT devices.

[0132] In summary, A-IoT devices supporting coordinated design can be multifunctional, configurable, and energy-efficient. A-IoT devices can possess advanced capabilities in synchronization, backscatter communication, and interference mitigation to ensure stable performance in a dynamic communication ecosystem.

[0133] UE reads supporting coordinated design can perform the following operations to facilitate interaction with A-IoT devices using OOK and OFDM signaling.

[0134] Operations can include broadcasting a coordinated waveform. UE reads can be responsible for broadcasting a coordinated waveform, which includes an OOK preamble with an underlaid OFDM signal, enabling A-IoT devices to effectively synchronize and communicate.

[0135] Operations can also include signal detection and decoding. UE reads can perform advanced signal detection and have decoding capabilities to interpret the ON and OFF keying of OOK and extract information from the underlaid OFDM waveform to ensure accurate demodulation of data from A-IoT devices.

[0136] Operations can also include adaptive bandwidth reception. UE reads can adapt their reception to handle OOK and OFDM signals of different bandwidths to maintain compatibility with various A-IoT devices and communication standards.

[0137] Operations can also include interference management. UE reads can use interference management techniques to distinguish multiple simultaneously transmitting A-IoT devices and mitigate potential signal interference in a crowded wireless environment.

[0138] Operations can also include energy-saving operations. UE reads can perform energy-saving operations by quickly locking onto a more efficient OFDM preamble during the synchronization phase.

[0139] The operation may also include backscatter signal processing. For A-IoT devices using backscatter, the UE reading can process the reflected coordinated waveform for uplink communication to establish synchronization and communication without activating the transmission of the A-IoT device.

[0140] The operation may also include dynamic configuration. The UE reading can dynamically configure the coordinated waveform based on the operating environment and the requirements of the A-IoT device to ensure flexible and robust communication.

[0141] The operation may also include forward compatibility. The UE reading can be forward compatible to adapt to future advancements in A-IoT technology and to seamlessly integrate with next-generation wireless networks.

[0142] The UE reading supporting coordinated design can be equipped with sophisticated broadcasting, signal processing, and adaptation capabilities to ensure efficient and reliable communication with A-IoT devices in a mixed-signal environment.

[0143] The network node supporting coordinated design can perform the following operations to manage A-IoT devices using combined OOK and OFDM signaling.

[0144] The operation may include unified waveform transmission. The network node can transmit a coordinated waveform that integrates an OOK preamble (or OOK signal) and an OFDM waveform to ensure that the A-IoT device can effectively synchronize and communicate with the network node.

[0145] The operation may also include advanced signal processing. The network node can have signal processing capabilities to decode OOK signaling for initial synchronization and to extract additional information from the OFDM waveform to enhance network coordination.

[0146] The operation may also include bandwidth flexibility. The network node can handle signal reception across multiple bandwidth ranges to accommodate narrowband OOK signals as well as broadband OFDM signals, thus supporting multiple A-IoT devices.

[0147] The operation may also include mitigation of interference and noise. The network node can mitigate interference and noise to ensure a clear communication channel for A-IoT devices even in an environment with a high signal traffic level.

[0148] The operation may also include energy-efficient synchronization. The network node can use energy-efficient synchronization by quickly identifying and locking onto the OFDM preamble, thereby reducing the time and power required for A-IoT device synchronization.

[0149] The operation may also include backscatter communication support. The network node can process backscatter and coordinated waveforms from A-IoT devices to enable uplink communication without activating the transmission of the A-IoT device.

[0150] The operations can also include configurability and adaptability. The network node can be configured to support the specific requirements of A-IoT devices and adjust the coordinated waveforms for transmission according to environmental conditions and device capabilities.

[0151] The operations can also include preparation for technological evolution. The network node can be future-oriented and capable of supporting the evolving A-IoT technologies and seamlessly integrating upcoming wireless communication standards.

[0152] The network node can play a key role within the coordinated design framework using the above operations to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable communication of A-IoT devices in 5G and future 6G networks.

[0153] To support the coordinated design, specific signaling and configuration between the UE Reader, A-IoT devices, and gNB may be necessary.

[0154] These capabilities can include waveform configuration signaling. The network node and UE Reader can transmit the configuration of the coordinated waveform (e.g., signal format and bandwidth allocation of the OOK signal) to the A-IoT device. The configuration can include the structure of the OOK preamble and the parameters of the underlying OFDM signal, such as frequency allocation, power level, and timing.

[0155] These capabilities can also include synchronization parameters. The Reader devices (e.g., network node and UE Reader) can send synchronization parameters to the A-IoT device to indicate how to perform initial synchronization using the coordinated waveform and subsequent fine synchronization using the OFDM components.

[0156] These capabilities can also include bandwidth adaptation information. The signaling between the Reader device and the A-IoT device can include bandwidth adaptation information to allow the A-IoT device to adjust its receiver to accommodate the bandwidth of the coordinated waveform, thus ensuring that the A-IoT device can effectively handle both OOK and OFDM signals.

[0157] These capabilities can also include interference management instructions. The network node can provide instructions for managing interference. The instructions can include time and frequency domain coordination to avoid overlaps and ensure clear signal reception.

[0158] These capabilities can also include backscatter protocol configuration. For passive A-IoT devices, the network node and UE Reader can establish a backscatter communication protocol to define how to process and interpret the reflected coordinated waveform.

[0159] These capabilities can also include power control commands. To maintain energy efficiency, the network node can send power control commands to the A-IoT device to indicate when the A-IoT device should increase or decrease the power for synchronization and data transmission.

[0160] These capabilities may also include timing advance updates. The network node may send timing advance updates to the A-IoT device to correct propagation delays and ensure that uplink transmissions are correctly aligned with the timing of the network.

[0161] These capabilities may also include device capability exchange. The A-IoT device may send its capabilities (e.g., supported bandwidth and modulation scheme) to the network node to enable the network node to generate coordinated waveforms and other configurations for the A-IoT device.

[0162] These capabilities may also include feedback and acknowledgement mechanisms. A reliable feedback mechanism may be that the A-IoT device can send an acknowledgement of synchronization and configuration success to the reading device, or the A-IoT device can report problems that need adjustment to the reading device.

[0163] These capabilities may also include future-oriented configurations. The signaling between the reading device and the A-IoT device may also carry information on future updates and standards to ensure long-term compatibility and reduce the need for hardware changes.

[0164] The A-IoT device, UE reader, and network node can effectively cooperate within a coordinated design framework through comprehensive signaling and configuration exchanges to ensure robust and efficient communication in an integrated OOK and OFDM environment.

[0165] In the radio resource control (RRC)_idle state (RRC_IDLE) and RRC_inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), a low power-wake up signal (LP-WUS) can be used to wake up the UE before a paging occasion or a system information change notification. After detecting the LP-WUS, the UE can wake up its main receiver to monitor conventional paging or system information. The network node may send both the LP-WUS and conventional paging (or system information) to ensure coverage. LP-WUS monitoring at the UE can be continuous or based on a configured duty cycle. For partial LP-WUS coverage within a cell, the UE may need to track whether it is within the coverage area to use the LP-WUS or fallback to conventional monitoring. When using the LP-WUS, mobility measurements can also be relaxed to achieve energy savings.

[0166] In the RRC_CONNECTED state, LP-WUS can be used to wake up the UE before the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasion to reduce unnecessary PDCCH monitoring and power consumption. LP-WUS monitoring can be continuous or duty-cycled. There may be several options regarding how to combine LP-WUS with connected-discontinuous reception (C-DRX) or PDCCH monitoring configuration. For partial coverage, the network node may need to explicitly activate or deactivate LP-WUS monitoring at the UE. LP-WUS can also coexist with downlink control information (DCI) having a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with a power saving-radio network temporary identity (PS-RNTI). The UE can use one (LP-WUS or DCP) or the other based on network configuration. Configuration of the timing between LP-WUS and PDCCH monitoring is needed to account for the UE's wake-up time.

[0167] Signaling or configuration of LP-WUS attributes can include coverage, monitoring mode, timing / occasion, coexistence with legacy operations such as paging, system information acquisition, C-DRX, etc. The signaling or configuration can allow the network node to appropriately control the UE's use of LP-WUS in both the RRC_IDLE and RRC_CONNECTED states.

[0168] A two-stage LPWUS unified design integrating OOK-1, OOK-4, and OFDM wake-up signals may face technical challenges due to increased signal processing complexity. The complexity may have an adverse impact on key performance indicators such as false alarm rate (FAR) and miss detection rate (MDR), especially under varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. To ensure energy efficiency and maintain detection reliability, a balance may be needed between signal coordination and adaptive receiver configuration (e.g., power boosting and guard band management).

[0169] Figure 16 An example scenario 1600 for an OOK signal for LP-WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1600 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or UE). Referring Figure 16 , OOK waveforms and OFDM waveforms can be integrated for LP-WUS signaling. AsFigure 16 As shown, a specific OFDM sequence can be superimposed on an OOK symbol to generate a composite signal that can be used for the wake-up process.

[0170] The OOK component of the OOK signal can be generated by an OOK-1 modulation scheme or an OOK-4 modulation scheme. OOK-1 typically represents a single-bit information with one OFDM symbol, where the presence or absence of the carrier can be indicated by a bit (i.e., "1" or "0"). In addition, OOK-4 can represent multiple-bit information by converting a multi-bit OOK signal in the time domain.

[0171] The OFDM sequence superimposed on the OOK symbol can select its attributes that allow for efficient and reliable detection. The OFDM sequences can be designed to be orthogonal to each other to help reduce interference and allow for the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals.

[0172] By combining OOK and OFDM in this way, the coordinated design can aim to utilize the simplicity and low power consumption advantages of OOK modulation and the stability and high data rate of OFDM modulation. According to the coordinated design of the OOK signal, the reading device and the A-IoT device can operate effectively under variable conditions for the wake-up signaling process. The variable conditions can include that the reading device and the A-IoT device can operate at low SNR and still maintain low power consumption.

[0173] Figure 17 An example scenario 1700 of OOK-1 signals and OOK-4 signals for LP-WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1700 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Referring Figure 17 , OOK-1 waveforms and OOK-4 waveforms can generate multi-carrier amplitude shift keying (MC-ASK) within the OFDM waveform for LP-WUS.

[0174] As Figure 17 shown, for OOK-1, a single-bit information is transmitted within one OFDM symbol. "N" represents the number of subcarriers (SCs) allocated for LP-WUS. The subcarriers can include guard bands to prevent interference with adjacent channels. When the OOK-1 bit is "1", all N subcarriers are modulated, and the subcarriers can carry power and be detected at the receiver. Conversely, when the OOK-1 bit is "0", all N subcarriers can be at zero power, and from a baseband perspective, the receiver can be effectively turned off.

[0175] For OOK-4, multiple bits (e.g., "M" bits) can be encoded in the time domain. The conversion from M bits to N subcarriers is achieved through processes such as discrete Fourier transform (DFT) or least squares method. The conversion can generate "N" samples from the M-bit signal. According to some embodiments, signal modification, such as truncation or other changes, can be applied. If no modification is made, the number of generated samples is equal to "N". The number of "N" can also be equal to "K", where K is the size of the IFFT used in the CP-OFDMA system. The guard band subcarriers can be set to zero power to maintain isolation from adjacent channels and signals.

[0176] Figure 17 It can be used to explain how to generate and utilize OOK-1 and OOK-4 waveforms within the OFDM framework to achieve efficient LP-WUS. The modulation and conversion processes can enable the wake-up signal to be encoded on multiple subcarriers.

[0177] Figure 18 An example scenario 1800 of a two-stage process for WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1800 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Refer to Figure 18 , by leveraging the capabilities of the wake-up receiver (WUR) to minimize the number of symbols, the transmission overhead of OOK and OFDM WUS can be reduced.

[0178] For OOK WUS, the process can be divided into two stages. Initially, the OOK WUR can detect an OOK-1 symbol containing an indication bit. If the OOK-1 symbol is not detected, the OOK WUR can determine that no wake-up signal exists and resume to the sleep mode to save energy. However, if the OOK-1 is detected and the false alarm rate (FAR) threshold is not exceeded, the OOK WUR can enter the second stage. In the second stage, the OOK WUR can detect subsequent OOK-4 symbols carrying four bits of information.

[0179] For OFDM WUS, the OFDM WUR can detect the first OFDM symbol to directly obtain four information bits. The implementation of the OFDM WUR can be efficient. However, when the OFDM WUS repeats at each "1" bit instance in the UE group ID, repetition and potential inefficiency may occur.

[0180] Figure 18It can also indicate that the network can process the information bits of OOK-4WUS and OFDM WUS in two ways. It can assume that the four information bits are the same for both OOK-4 and OFDM to allow the UE to decode one of the modulation schemes based on its implementation. However, if the same information is sent twice, this method may waste resources. Alternatively, the network can send different information bits for OOK-4 and OFDM WUS to indicate the specific modulation scheme to be used via a system information (SI) message or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. This method can optimize resource usage by ensuring that different information is transmitted via each signaling method.

[0181] Figure 19 Another example scenario 1900 of a two-stage process for WUS signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 1900 involves an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Referring Figure 19 , when the signal SNR is poor, the signal quality may degrade. In this case, how to maintain the same MDR of the wake-up signal may become more challenging and require additional resources.

[0182] Referring Figure 19 , OOK-4 signaling can be configured to extend the duration, specifically to 12 OFDM symbols, to improve detection reliability. The network node can send the configuration to the UE via an SI message or an RRC message.

[0183] In addition, to enhance the detectability of the signal, power boosting can be applied. Power boosting can be a technique in which the power of the signal being transmitted can be increased, where, to improve reception under low SNR conditions. A low power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR) can use the power-boosted signal for automatic gain control (AGC) training to help the receiver adjust its gain settings to capture the incoming signal.

[0184] Since OFDM WUS benefits from power boosting, the power boosting can also be applied to the corresponding OOK-1 signal, which is part of the two-stage wake-up process. Therefore, the LP-WUR can more accurately determine whether to decode the OOK-1 signal. If the OOK-1 signal is sufficiently boosted and detected, the LP-WUR can decide to skip the subsequent OOK-4 decoding process and directly execute the reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement rule. This process takes into account the power boosting configuration to simplify the wake-up process and reduce the time the LP-WUR spends in active monitoring. As a result, the power consumption will be reduced.

[0185] In summary, referring to Figure 19 , in a low SNR environment, extending the duration of the OOK-4 signal and applying power boosting can maintain detection accuracy without affecting the efficiency of the LP-WUR.

[0186] Figure 20 Example scenario 2000 of a table showing a set of parameters for LP-WUR operation according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 2000 relates to an A-IoT device and a reading device (e.g., a network node or a UE). Referring to Figure 20 , the table can show a set of parameters that can be used to evaluate the performance of the LP-WUR. The channel characteristics can be specified by a tapped delay line (TDL)-C profile, which can be accompanied by a pedestrian (or user) speed of 3 km / h and a multipath delay spread of 300 ns to provide a realistic urban test scenario. The information payload can be limited to 4 bits and used to indicate the data capacity of the wake-up signal.

[0187] The SCS can be set to 30 kHz. The SCS can be used to define a parameter for the frequency domain granularity in an OFDM system. The IFFT can be implemented with a size of 1024 points. The IFFT can be used to determine the granularity and duration of an OFDM symbol. Before digitization, the signal integrity can be maintained by a 5th-order Butterworth filter with a cut-off frequency of 2.16 MHz.

[0188] The digitization of the analog signal can be achieved by operating an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a sampling rate of 7.68 MHz and a quantization depth of 8 bits. In subsequent digital signal processing, a 256-point FFT can be used to convert the signal from the time domain to the frequency domain. The system can assume operation under ideal conditions without time or frequency offset.

[0189] Performance metrics (e.g., key performance indicators (KPIs)) can be calculated based on the false alarm rate (FAR) and the miss detection rate (MDR) to reflect the accuracy of the system in signal detection. Both the FAR and the MDR can be set at a threshold of 1%. The configuration of the additional secondary cell state (ASCS) can include mapping the PDSCH on unused resource blocks, maintaining an energy per resource element (EPRE) ratio of 0 dB, and including a guard band of a single resource block to mitigate interference.

[0190] The parameters shown in the table can affect the efficiency of the LP-WUR in signal detection. The main receiver can report the parameters back to the network node so that the network node can customize the system configuration. The dynamic adjustment can ensure that the LP-WUR operates optimally according to the reporting capabilities and conditions conveyed through the RRC message.

[0191] Figure 21 An example scenario 2100 of the LP-WUR according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Refer Figure 21 , the LP-WUR of the UE can be used to monitor low-power signals with enhanced interference mitigation capabilities. The LP-WUR can include an LPF to attenuate unwanted high-frequency components from nearby subcarriers and cells to ensure that the signal of interest is isolated from external noise and interference. The LP-WUR can also include an ADC to convert the filtered analog signal into a digital representation for subsequent operation processing by the LP-WUR.

[0192] The main receiver (MR) within the UE can dynamically configure the LPF and the ADC to adapt to changing signal conditions. The configuration can be notified by a series of environmental and operating parameters. These parameters can include the current SNR, the specific frequency band in use, and the geographical location of the UE (specifically, its position relative to the cell edge). In addition, the MR can determine the configuration based on the location of the allocated time and frequency resources, where these resources can be located at the edge of the channel bandwidth (where the potential for interference may increase).

[0193] The payload size can be defined according to the number of information bits that the LP-WUR needs to parse. The payload size can also affect the configuration of the LPF and ADC. The MR can report parameters to the network node or autonomously determine the optimal LPF and ADC settings to ensure that the LP-WUR operates at an appropriate level. The adaptation mechanism can enable the LP-WUR to maintain its functionality and reliability under various operating conditions to ensure that the wake-up signal can be accurately detected and processed.

[0194] Figure 22 is an example scenario 2200 that describes an OOK WUR operating in the first phase according to an embodiment of the present invention. Refer to Figure 22 , the OOK WUR can decode an OOK-based wake-up signal (WUS) through a two-phase process. In the first phase, the OOK WUR can detect the presence of the OOK-WUS. The detection can be facilitated based on the OOK-1 symbols extracted from the OOK-based WUS signal. The time and frequency resources used by the OOK-based WUS signal can be pre-configured by the MR and the network node and sent to the OOK WUR via SI messages or RRC messages.

[0195] To accurately extract the signal, synchronization may be required. Synchronization can be achieved by utilizing a low-power synchronization signal (LPSS) or a synchronization signal block (SSB) that has been previously used by the LP-WUR or the MR. When an OOK-1 symbol is received, the OOK WUR can use an envelope detector (ED) to extract the amplitude information from the OOK-1 symbol. In addition, a sequence matching correlator can calculate the correlation between the received OOK-1 symbol and a set of predetermined sequences that have been configured and provided by the network node and the MR.

[0196] The correlation result of the sequence matching process can be evaluated against a FAR threshold. If the correlation result exceeds the FAR threshold, the OOK WUR can perform the operations in the second phase. In the second phase, the OOK WUR can monitor additional OOK WUSs to determine whether the main radio needs to be activated or other specific operations need to be initiated. If the correlation result does not exceed the FAR threshold (i.e., is below or equal to the FAR), this may mean that there is no significant match with the expected sequence. Therefore, the OOK WUR can terminate the monitoring and resume to the energy-saving state (e.g., enter the sleep mode or turn off completely) to reduce power consumption.

[0197] The FAR threshold can be designed such that the target FAR is 1%, although this rate may not be fixed and can be adjusted according to the configuration set by the MR or network node. This flexibility allows the system to balance the sensitivity of the OOK WUR to potential wake-up signals against the likelihood of false alarms, in order to optimize the performance of the OOK WUR to meet the operational requirements of the network node and the conditions experienced by the UE.

[0198] Figure 23 An example scenario 2300 of an OOK WUR operating in the second stage according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Referring Figure 23 , the OOK WUR can decode an OOK-based WUS through a two-stage process. The second stage can be triggered when the OOK WUR decides to continue monitoring after the first stage based on the parsing result of the OOK-1 symbol.

[0199] In the second stage, the OOK WUR can extract the OOK-4 symbol. The extraction process can be performed according to a set of configurations provided by the MR and network node. These configurations can include the allocation of time and frequency resources, as well as the power boost level applied to the signal. Power boost can be a technique for enhancing the signal strength to improve the ability of the OOK WUR to detect an OOK-based WUS signal under low SNR conditions.

[0200] The OOK WUR can use ED and perform sequence matching in a manner similar to the first stage. ED can be used to capture the amplitude information of the OOK-4 symbol. Sequence matching can be used to compare the received OOK-4 symbol with a set of predetermined sequences to determine whether the correlation between the received OOK-4 symbol and the expected sequence is sufficient to trigger the wake-up of the MR or prompt other predefined operations.

[0201] The FAR threshold for the second stage can be adjustable and can be configured by the network node and MR. The FAR threshold can be related to the second stage and can be used to manage the FAR of the second stage.

[0202] It should be noted that the configuration of the FAR for each individual stage may not be different. That is, the same FAR can be considered for the entire WUS process. The determination of whether to set different FAR thresholds for each stage can be based on the implementation of the UE. This determination can allow for a flexible balance of the sensitivity of the OOK WUR to wake-up signals against the probability of false alarms, enabling the receiver to meet the specific requirements and operating conditions of the network node and UE.

[0203] Figure 24 An example scenario 2400 of an OFDM WUR according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Referring Figure 24, the OFDM WUR can decode the wake-up signal using OFDM symbols. The OFDM WUR can operate based on the specific configuration of the time and frequency resources extracted from the indication signal. These configurations can be provided by the MR and the network node and sent to the OFDM WUR via SI messages or RRC messages.

[0204] The OFDM WUR can remove the CP from the received signal. The CP can be a component of the OFDM symbol, which is used to mitigate inter-symbol interference. The CP length can vary between different symbols. The time slot format and timing information required for accurate CP removal can be provided by the MR and the network node.

[0205] After removing the CP, the OFDM WUR can perform a 256-point FFT to convert the time-domain signal into a frequency-domain signal. The OFDM WUR can also perform the extraction of the OFDM WUS based on the SSS. The OFDM WUS based on the SSS can use a sequence different from the existing NR SSS sequence. For example, a Walsh-Hadamard sequence can be generated and its orthogonality with the SSS sequence can be verified through cross-correlation calculations.

[0206] The specific SSS-based sequence for the wake-up process can be configured by the MR or the network node and sent to the OFDM WUR via SI messages or RRC messages. Sequence detection can involve correlation calculations with known SSS sequences to detect the presence of the OFDM WUS.

[0207] A FAR threshold can be applied to determine whether the OFDM WUS has been sent by the network node. The FAR threshold is typically set such that the target FAR is 1%, but it can be adjusted according to the configuration of the MR or the network node when the configuration is sent again via SI messages or RRC messages.

[0208] The last step of the OFDM WUR process can be to parse the LP-WUS information bits. The format of the LP-WUS (e.g., sequence and channel coding) can be provided by the network node or the MR. Based on the result of decoding the information bits, the LP-WUR can determine whether to activate the MR or take other necessary actions. The determination process can ensure that the OFDM WUR can appropriately respond to the detected WUS according to the parsing result.

[0209] Figures 25A to 25B is Example Scenario 2500 that describes the LP-WUS transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Scenario 2500 involves a UE and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that can be part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Refer to Figures 25A to 25B, the UE can request LP-WUS configuration from a network node. The network node can determine an appropriate configuration or setting based on various factors and send the configuration to the UE via SI or RRC messages. Then, the UE can use its LP-WUR to monitor the initial wake-up signal (e.g., OOK-1 or OFDM WUS) and perform necessary synchronization and symbol extraction. If the correlation of the received signal exceeds a predefined threshold (e.g., FAR threshold), the UE can enter the second phase. Otherwise, the UE can enter a low-power state.

[0210] In the second phase, the UE can continue to monitor additional information (e.g., the continuation of OOK-4 or OFDM WUS) and determine whether to activate MR or take other actions based on the decoded information bits. The network node can monitor the repeated OFDM WUS for a specific UE group ID. The network node can also configure different information bits for OOK-4 and OFDM WUS. The network node can also apply power boosting to assist in signal quality and AGC training.

[0211] The strategic placement of LP-WUS relative to the SSB can optimize the monitoring time and improve energy efficiency. The location of LP-WUS (e.g., before or after the SSB) may pose scheduling challenges because the location of LP-WUS may affect the activation time of the receiver and the overall power consumption. Therefore, it may be necessary to effectively configure the location of LP-WUS to reduce the operation time of the WUR without affecting performance.

[0212] Figure 26 is an example scenario 2600 that describes the placement of LP-WUS according to an embodiment of the present invention. Refer to Figure 26 , the UE can use the PSS for synchronization of the OFDM WUR. The WUR may only need to monitor the PSS to achieve synchronization without having to monitor the full SSB, thereby reducing the monitoring time. The PSS is a component of the SSB. The PSS is shorter than the SSB and is a significant part. The SSB can also include the SSS and the physical broadcast channel (PBCH). Therefore, the monitoring time can be reduced.

[0213] However, refer to Figure 26, when searching for OFDM WUS, the UE may not be able to choose to ignore monitoring the SSS and additional PBCH OFDM symbols. Monitoring the SSS and additional PBCH OFDM symbols may be associated with the processing time of deactivating power consumption components within the UE. The deactivation process may require a period of time longer than the time duration of one or several OFDM symbols. That is, even if the WUR completes synchronization only using the PSS, the UE may still need to monitor subsequent symbols to ensure that the power consumption components do not turn off prematurely. Therefore, any potential energy-saving effects brought about by reducing the monitoring time may be offset.

[0214] To maintain efficient power consumption, it may be necessary to strike a balance between the desire to shorten the monitoring time by synchronizing using the PSS and the practical limitations (i.e., the UE may still need to monitor the SSS and PBCH to maintain).

[0215] Figure 27 Another example scenario 2700 of LP-WUS placement according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Refer to Figure 27 , an innovative LP-WUS placement is provided to improve the energy efficiency of the UE. As Figure 27 shown, the network node can send coordinated LP-WUS to the UE before broadcasting the SSB. The sequence configuration of dispatching LP-WUS by the network node before the SSB can enable the OFDM WUR within the UE to capture and store the LP-WUS at the appropriate time. The early reception of the LP-WUS can enable the OFDM WUR to subsequently deactivate the RF components to reduce power consumption. The UE can independently perform synchronization and LP-WUS demodulation using the pre-stored LP-WUS and PSS via the digital baseband processor without the need to turn on the RF components. Therefore, the placement of the LP-WUS can specifically reduce the power consumption of performing energy-intensive RF processing. Thus, battery life can be saved.

[0216] By eliminating the need to monitor additional PBCH, the UE can achieve further energy savings. Figure 27 The process shown aims to minimize the activation monitoring time of the WUR. Therefore, the overall power consumption can be reduced. This strategic placement and processing of the LP-WUS and synchronization signals can ensure that the UE maintains optimal performance in a more energy-efficient manner.

[0217] Figure 28 Another example scenario 2800 of LP-WUS placement according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Refer to Figure 28 , a two-stage wake-up signal process for a UE using an OOK-based LP-WUR is provided. Figure 28The example of the LP-WUS placement shown discusses how the LP-WUR can use a combination of OOK-1 and OFDM WUS to effectively manage the wake-up process. In the initial (or first) phase of the two-phase process, the network node can send an OOK-based LP-WUS that can include both OOK-1 WUS and OFDM WUS to the UE before the second phase associated with the LP-WUS using OOK-4 modulation. The first phase can be located before the SSB, and the second phase can be after the SSB. The LP-WUR can perform the operations of OOK-1 and OFDM-WUS in the first phase and then determine whether to continue decoding the subsequent OOK-4 in the second phase based on the results of the first phase. If in the first phase, the LP-WUR determines that there is no LP-WUS after the SSB, the LP-WUR can terminate the monitoring of the LP-WUS using OOK-4 modulation. Thus, power can be saved to avoid unnecessary signal processing.

[0218] In the two-phase process, the configuration of OOK-1 can be a subset of the OOK-4 configuration. OOK-1 can be represented by using the same amplitude or chips within a single OFDM symbol. For example, from the perspective of OOK-1, the first phase can be interpreted as "01111" instead of simply "01", where the SSB is ignored. This interpretation is feasible if the first OFDM symbol is always transmitted with "0" to represent a valid OOK-4 as the second-phase LP-WUS. The principle behind this is that OOK-1 detection can be based on the energy present within the OFDM symbol. If the LP-WUS is always paired with the SSB, the OOK-1 detector can utilize the SSB as a reference signal. In this case, from the perspective of OOK-1, the SSB part can be regarded as "111", allowing the LP-WUR to use the SSB to enhance the detection reliability of the LP-WUS. This innovative signal detection and interpretation method can improve energy efficiency and the performance during the UE wake-up process.

[0219] Figure 29 An example scenario 2900 of different scheduling configurations according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Refer to Figure 29 , various scheduling configurations are provided for the network node to send SSB, OFDM WUS, and OOK (e.g., OOK-1 and OOK-4) signals. Refer to Figure 29 , multiple cases may represent different sequences in which the signals can be scheduled and transmitted to the UE.

[0220] In the first case, the sequence can start with SSB, followed by OFDM WUS, then OOK-1, and finally OOK-4. In the second case, a different order can be presented. The sequence can start with OOK-4, followed by OFDM WUS, OOK-1, and finally SSB. In the third case, a different order can also be presented. The sequence can start with OOK-1, followed by OFDM WUS, then SSB, and finally OOK-4. In the fourth case, a different order can also be presented. The sequence can start with OFDM WUS, followed by OOK-1, then SSB, and finally OOK-4.

[0221] Referring to Figure 29 , it can be further explained that if OFDM WUS and OOK-1 are scheduled before SSB, the OFDMWUR in the UE may need to monitor a total of five OFDM symbols including SSB and PBCH. The configured monitoring duration can be equivalent to the scenario where OFDM WUS is located after SSB. However, placing OFDM WUS and OOK-1 before SSB can provide enhanced flexibility for the network in terms of scheduling.

[0222] In addition, there may be a scheduling offset between SSB and LP-WUS. For example, SSB and OFDM WUS can be separated by an offset of two OFDM symbols. The configuration can be established by the network node via SI messages or RRC messages. The configuration that determines the relative time between OFDM WUS, OOK-1, OOK-4, and the low-power secondary synchronization signal (LP-SS) can optimize the network scheduling strategy. The configuration can also adapt to various operational requirements. The scheduling flexibility can ensure that the UE effectively manages its power consumption while maintaining synchronization with the network node and is ready to receive the wake-up signal.

[0223] Figure 30 An example scenario 3000 of different scheduling configurations according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Referring to Figure 30 , LPSS can be incorporated into the scheduling configuration of the wireless communication network. LPSS can be modulated based on OOK modulation (e.g., based on the OOK-1 format or OOK-4 format). LPSS can have lower spectral efficiency characteristics and use more OFDM symbols, ranging from 4 to 10, to convey the necessary synchronization information. LPSS can be used for the synchronization of UEs operating in a low-power state. In addition, LPSS can be scheduled before or after LP-WUS in the transmission timeline of the network node.

[0224] The network node can provide various configurations for the LPSS, such as scheduling offsets relative to SSB, OFDM WUS, OOK-1, or OOK-4. Additionally, the network node can determine the periodicity of the LPSS. The network node can set an interval, e.g., 160 milliseconds or 320 milliseconds, as the duration of the LPSS. This duration can span 4 OFDM symbols or extend to 10 OFDM symbols at a 30KHz SCS. The configuration provided by the network node can also indicate the frequency resource allocation of the LPSS. The allocation can be defined according to resource elements or bandwidth part (BWP).

[0225] The configuration can be sent to the UE via an RRC message or an SI message. The primary radio of the UE can receive the RRC message or SI message before the LP-WUR is initiated to ensure that the LP-WUR can accurately know the time, periodicity, and frequency resources of the LPSS before starting the low-power synchronization process.

[0226] Furthermore, the configuration unit of the LPSS can be represented by absolute time (e.g., milliseconds) or by absolute frequency (e.g., KHz). The configuration unit can be designed to minimize additional signaling overhead, especially when the SCS changes. By using absolute units, the network can efficiently transmit the LPSS configuration without a large amount of signaling, thus simplifying the UE's synchronization process and reducing power consumption and signaling complexity in low-power scenarios.

[0227] Figures 31A to 31B An example scenario 3100 of the LP-WUS transmission process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 3100 involves a UE and a network node (e.g., (macro / micro) base station) that can be part of a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Referring to Figures 31A to 31B , the interaction between the UE and the network node in low-power state operation and synchronization is provided. Figures 31A to 31B Signaling and behaviors can be provided to enable the UE to effectively manage power consumption while maintaining synchronization with the network node. Figures 31A to 31B The interaction shown in

[0228] Example embodiments

[0229] Figure 32An exemplary communication system 3200 is shown that includes at least an exemplary communication device 3210 and an exemplary network device 3220 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each of the communication device 3210 and the network device 3220 can perform various functions to implement the schemes, techniques, processes, and methods related to OOK signal generation described herein, including the various proposed designs, concepts, schemes, and methods described above, as well as the schemes related to user equipment and network devices in mobile communication, including the above scenarios / schemes and the processes 3300 and 3400 described below.

[0230] The communication device 3210 can be part of an electronic device, which can be a UE, for example, a portable or mobile device, a wearable device, a wireless communication device, or a computing device. For example, the communication device 3210 can be implemented in a smart phone, a smart watch, a personal digital assistant, an electronic control unit (ECU) in a vehicle, a digital camera, or a computing device such as a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a notebook computer. The communication device 3210 can also be part of a machine type device, which can be an IoT, NB-IoT, eMTC, IIoT UE such as a fixed or stationary device, a home device, a roadside unit (RSU), a wired communication device, or a computing device. For example, the communication device 3210 can be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart refrigerator, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker, or a home control center. Alternatively, the communication device 310 can be implemented in the form of one or more integrated-circuit (IC) chips, such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, or one or more complex instruction set computing (CISC) processors. The communication device 3210 can include Figure 32 at least some of the components shown, such as, for example, a processor 3212. The communication device 3210 can also include one or more other components (e.g., an internal power supply, a display device, and / or a user interface device) that are not related to the proposed schemes of the present invention, and thus, for simplicity and conciseness, such components of the communication device 3210 are neither shown Figure 32 nor described below.

[0231] The network device 3220 may be part of an electronic device, which may be a network node such as a satellite, a base station, a small cell, a router, or a gateway of an IoT network. For example, the network device 3220 may be implemented in a satellite or in an eNB / gNB / TRP in a 4G / 5G / B5G / 6G, NR, IoT, NB-IoT, or IIoT network. Alternatively, the network device 3220 may be implemented in the form of one or more IC chips, such as but not limited to one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, or one or more RISC or CISC processors. The network device 3220 may include Figure 32 at least some of the components shown, such as, for example, the processor 3222. The network device 3220 may also include one or more other components (such as, for example, an internal power supply, a display device, and / or a user interface device) that are not relevant to the proposed solution of the present invention, and thus, for simplicity and conciseness, such components of the network device 3220 are neither shown in Figure 32 nor described below.

[0232] In one aspect, each of the processors 3212 and 3222 may be implemented in the form of one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more RISC processors, or one or more CISC processors. That is, although the singular term "processor" is used herein to refer to the processors 3212 and 3222, according to the present invention, in some embodiments, each of the processors 3212 and 3222 may include multiple processors, while in other embodiments may include a single processor. In another aspect, each of the processors 3212 and 3222 may be implemented in the form of hardware (and optionally firmware) having electronic components, the electronic components including, for example but not limited to, one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one or more memristors, and / or one or more varactor diodes, which are configured and arranged to implement a specific purpose according to the present invention. In other words, in at least some embodiments, each of the processors 3212 and 3222 is a dedicated machine specifically designed, set up, and configured to perform specific tasks, the specific tasks including OOK signal generation in devices (such as, for example, represented by the communication device 3210) and networks (such as, for example, represented by the network device 3220) according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0233] In some embodiments, the communication device 3210 may further include a transceiver 3216 coupled to the processor 3212. The transceiver 3216 is capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the transceiver 3216 may be capable of wireless communication with different types of UEs and / or wireless networks of different radio access technologies (RATs). In some embodiments, the transceiver 3216 may be equipped with a plurality of antenna ports (not shown), for example, four antenna ports. That is, the transceiver 3216 may be equipped with a plurality of transmit antennas and a plurality of receive antennas for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication.

[0234] In some embodiments, the network device 3220 may further include a transceiver 3226 coupled to the processor 3222. The transceiver 3226 is capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the transceiver 3226 may be capable of wireless communication with different types of UEs and / or wireless networks of different RATs. In some embodiments, the transceiver 3226 may be equipped with a plurality of antenna ports (not shown), for example, four antenna ports. That is, the transceiver 3226 may be equipped with a plurality of transmit antennas and a plurality of receive antennas for MIMO wireless communication.

[0235] In some embodiments, the communication device 3210 may further include a memory 3214 coupled to the processor 3212 and accessible by the processor 3212 for storing data therein. In some embodiments, the network device 3220 may further include a memory 3224 coupled to the processor 3222 and accessible by the processor 3222 for storing data therein. Each of the memory 3214 and the memory 3224 may be of the random access memory (RAM) type, such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), thyristor RAM (T-RAM), and / or zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM). Alternatively, each of the memory 3214 and the memory 3224 may include a read-only memory (ROM) type, such as mask ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), and / or electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). Alternatively, each of the memory 3214 and the memory 3224 may include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) type, such as flash memory, solid-state memory, ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), and / or phase change memory.

[0236] Each of the communication device 3210 and the network device 3220 can be a communication entity capable of communicating using various solutions of the present invention. For illustrative purposes and without limitation, the capabilities of the communication device 3210 as a UE and the network device 3220 as a network node (e.g., a TRP) are described below in conjunction with processes 3300 and 3400.

[0237] Illustrative process

[0238] Figure 33 An example process 3300 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Process 3300 can be an example embodiment of the above-described scenario / solution, either in part or in whole, regarding the generation of OOK signals of the present invention. Process 3300 can represent an aspect of an embodiment of the functional characteristics of the communication device 3210. Process 3300 can include one or more operations, actions, or functions as shown in one or more blocks 3310 and 3320. Although shown as discrete blocks, depending on the desired embodiment, the individual blocks of process 3300 can be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or deleted. In addition, the blocks of process 3300 can be executed in the Figure 33 order shown, or in a different order. Process 3300 can be implemented by the communication device 3210 or any suitable reading device. For illustrative purposes and without limitation, process 3300 is described below in the context of the communication device 3210. Process 3300 can start at block 3310.

[0239] In block 3310, process 3300 can involve the processor 3212 of the communication device 3210 generating an OOK signal having an OFDM waveform, wherein the start of the OOK signal transmission is aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. Process 3300 can continue from block 3310 to block 3320.

[0240] In block 3320, process 3300 can involve the processor 3212 sending the OOK signal to the IoT device via the transceiver 3216.

[0241] In some embodiments, the OOK signal can include at least one of a preamble, a payload, and CRC bits.

[0242] In some embodiments, the OFDM waveform can include a PSS or an SSS.

[0243] In some embodiments, the OOK signal can include at least one of OOK-1 modulation and OOK-4 modulation.

[0244] In some embodiments, process 3300 may involve the processor 3212 sending, via transceiver 3216, configuration related to the OOK signal to the IoT device, where the configuration includes at least one of the following: the signal format and bandwidth allocation of the OOK signal.

[0245] In some embodiments, process 3300 may involve the processor 3212 sending, via transceiver 3216, the guard band configuration between the OOK signal and another OFDM signal to the IoT device.

[0246] In some embodiments, the OOK signal may include a wake-up signal for waking up the IoT device.

[0247] Figure 34 An example process 3400 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Process 3400 may be an example embodiment of the above scenario / scheme, whether in part or in whole, regarding the generation of the OOK signal of the present invention. Process 3400 may represent an aspect of an embodiment of the functional characteristics of the communication device 3220. Process 3400 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as shown by one or more blocks 3410 and 3420. Although shown as discrete blocks, depending on the required embodiment, the individual blocks of process 3400 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or deleted. Additionally, the blocks of process 3400 may be executed Figure 34 in the order shown, or in a different order. Process 3400 may be implemented by the communication device 3210 or any suitable reading device. For illustrative purposes and without limitation, process 3400 is described below in the context of the communication device 3210. Process 3400 may start at block 3410.

[0248] In block 3410, process 3400 may involve the processor 3212 of the communication device 3210 receiving, via transceiver 3216, an OOK signal from a reading device, where the OOK signal is formed by an OFDM waveform, and where the start of the OOK signal transmission is aligned with the symbol boundary of the OFDM waveform. Process 3400 may proceed from block 3410 to block 3420.

[0249] In block 3420, process 3400 may involve the processor 3212 performing backscatter transmission based on the OOK signal.

[0250] In some embodiments, process 3400 may involve the processor 3212 receiving, via transceiver 3216, configuration related to the OOK signal from a reading device, where the configuration includes at least one of the following: the signal format and bandwidth allocation of the OOK signal.

[0251] In some embodiments, process 3400 may involve the processor 3212 receiving, via transceiver 3216, a guard band configuration between the OOK signal and another OFDM signal from a reading device.

[0252] Additional description

[0253] The subject matter described herein is sometimes shown to include different components contained within and / or connected to different other components. It should be understood that such described architectures are merely examples, and in fact many other architectures with the same functionality can be implemented. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components that achieve the same functionality are effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Thus, any two components that are combined to achieve a particular function can be regarded as "associated" with each other such that the required functionality is achieved, regardless of the architecture or intervening components. Similarly, any two components so associated can also be regarded as "operatively connected" or "operatively coupled" to each other to achieve the required functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be regarded as "operatively coupled" to each other to achieve the required functionality. Specific examples of operatively coupled include, but are not limited to, physically mating and / or physically interacting components and / or wirelessly interacting and / or wirelessly interactive components and / or logically interacting and / or logically interactive components.

[0254] Moreover, with regard to the use of substantially any plural and / or singular terms herein, those skilled in the art can appropriately convert from plural to singular and / or from singular to plural according to the context and / or application. For clarity, various singular / plural permutations may be explicitly set forth herein.

[0255] In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that, generally speaking, the terms used herein, particularly the terms used in the claims, such as the subject matter of the claims, are generally intended to be "open" terms. For example, the term "comprising" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least", and the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to". Those skilled in the art will further understand that if a specific number of introduced claim recitations is desired, such an intention will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such a recitation, there is no such intention. For example, for the sake of understanding, the claims may include the use of introductory phrases such as "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed as implying that a claim recitation introduced by the indefinite article "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one", and the indefinite article such as "a" or "an", e.g., "a" and / or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"; the same applies to the use of definite articles introducing claim recitations. In addition, even if the specific number of introduced claim recitations is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such a recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number. For example, a bare recitation of "two recitations" without any other modifiers means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations. In addition, in those cases, the convention is similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.". Generally, in the sense that those skilled in the art understand the convention, the use of such a construction, such as "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" will include but not be limited to systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc. In those cases where the convention is similar to "at least one of A, B, or C". Generally, such a construction is intended to be used in the sense that those skilled in the art understand the convention. For example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" will include but not be limited to systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together. Those skilled in the art will further understand that, whether in the specification, the claims, or the drawings, any disjunctive word and / or phrase that actually presents two or more alternative terms should be understood to cover the possibility of including one of the terms, any one of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B".

[0256] Based on the above, it will be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for illustrative purposes, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, and the true scope and spirit are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication, characterized in that: include: generating, by a processor of the reading device, an on-off keying signal having an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, wherein the start of transmission of the on-off keying signal is aligned with a symbol boundary of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform; and The processor sends the on-off keying signal to the Internet of Things device.

2. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: a preamble, a payload, and a cyclic redundancy check bit.

3. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The OFDM waveform includes a primary synchronization signal or a secondary synchronization signal.

4. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: on-off keying-1 modulation and on-off keying-4 modulation.

5. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: Further including: The processor sends a configuration related to the on-off keying signal to the Internet of Things device, wherein the configuration includes at least one of the following items: a signal format and bandwidth allocation of the on-off keying signal.

6. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: Further including: The processor sends a guard band configuration between the on-off keying signal and another orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal to the Internet of Things device.

7. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes a wake-up signal for waking up the Internet of Things device.

8. A method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication, characterized in that: include: receiving, by a processor of the IoT device, an on-off keying signal from a reading device, wherein the on-off keying signal is formed by an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, and wherein a start of transmission of the on-off keying signal is aligned with a symbol boundary of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform; and Backscatter transmission is performed by the processor according to the on-off keying signal.

9. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: a preamble, a payload, and a cyclic redundancy check bit.

10. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The OFDM waveform includes a primary synchronization signal or a secondary synchronization signal.

11. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: on-off keying-1 modulation and on-off keying-4 modulation.

12. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: Further including: A configuration related to the on-off keying signal is received by the processor from the reading device, wherein the configuration includes at least one of the following items: a signal format and a bandwidth allocation of the on-off keying signal.

13. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: Further including: A guard band configuration between the on-off keying signal and another orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal is received by the processor from the reading device.

14. The method for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 8, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes a wake-up signal for waking up the Internet of Things device.

15. A device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication, characterized in that: include: a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with at least one network node of a wireless network during operation; as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver such that, during operation, the processor performs operations including: generating an on-off keying signal having an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, wherein the start of transmission of the on-off keying signal is aligned with a symbol boundary of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform; and The processor sends the on-off keying signal to the Internet of Things device.

16. The device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 15, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: a preamble, a payload, and a cyclic redundancy check bit.

17. The device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 15, characterized in that: The OFDM waveform includes a primary synchronization signal or a secondary synchronization signal.

18. The device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 15, characterized in that: The on-off keying signal includes at least one of the following: on-off keying-1 modulation and on-off keying-4 modulation.

19. The device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 15, characterized in that: The processor is further configured to perform operations including: A configuration related to the on-off keying signal is sent to the IoT device via the transceiver, wherein the configuration includes at least one of the following: a signal format and a bandwidth allocation of the on-off keying signal.

20. The device for generating an on-off keying signal in mobile communication according to claim 15, characterized in that: The processor is further configured to perform operations including: A guard band configuration between the on-off keying signal and another orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal is sent to the Internet of Things device via the transceiver.

Images