Methods for a passive device contending a shared medium for transmission

Abstract

Example methods, apparatuses, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media are provided. An example method includes receiving a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers related to a round of a procedure, the first message indicating a beginning of the round of the procedure. The method further includes generating a first random number of the communication device for the round of the procedure, the first random number being among the one or more polled numbers. The method further includes sending a first response including a first ID of the communication device. The method further includes determining that a second message including the first ID is received within a time period after sending the first period. The method further includes sending, based upon the determination, a second response that includes a second ID of the communication device and that identifies the communication device.

Description

METHODS FOR A PASSIVE DEVICE CONTENDING A SHARED MEDIUM FOR TRANSMISSIONPRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 631,735, filed on April 09, 2024, and entitled “METHODS FOR A PASSIVE DEVICE CONTENDING A SHARED MEDIUM FOR TRANSMISSION,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 644,306, filed on May 08, 2024, and entitled “METHODS FOR A PASSIVE DEVICE CONTENDING A SHARED MEDIUM FOR TRANSMISSION,” which are each hereby incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and, in particular embodiments, to methods and apparatus for a passive device contending a shared communication medium for transmission, specifically to techniques and mechanisms for passive device communicating using polled numbers.BACKGROUND

[0003] Wireless communication devices are usually powered by batteries that need to be replaced or recharged. As new Internet of things (loT) technologies advance, supporting battery-less devices with no energy storage capability or with limited energy storage capability may be desirable. A battery-less device may also be referred to as passive device, zero-energy device, passive transponder, or tag.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] Technical advantages are generally achieved, by embodiments of this disclosure which describe techniques and mechanisms for passive device communicating using polled numbers.

[0005] In accordance with an embodiment, a method for communicating using polled numbers is provided. The method may be implemented by a communication device, for example a tag or other polled device. An example method includes receiving a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers related to a round of a procedure, the first message indicating a beginning of the round of the procedure. The example methodfurther includes generating a first random number of the communication device for the round of the procedure, the first random number being among the one or more polled numbers. The example method further includes sending a first response that includes a first identifier (ID) of the communication device. The example method further includes determining that a second message including the first ID is received within a time period after sending the first response. The example method further includes sending, based upon the determination, a second response that includes a second ID of the communication device, the second ID identifying the communication device.

[0006] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a range of numbers.

[0007] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a plurality of numbers.

[0008] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are defined by sharing a common value of a number of most significant bits (MSBs) among them, and the indication comprises the common value, and the indication further includes the number of MSBs.

[0009] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are based on a monotonic function.

[0010] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a first number of polled numbers, the first number of polled numbers being different than a prior number of polled numbers.

[0011] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are dynamically selected.

[0012] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are based on an equal to sign or an inequality sign, and the equal to sign or the inequality sign is indicated by the indication, the first message, or a standard.

[0013] In some embodiments, the example method further includes generating the first random number in response to receiving the first message, the first random number being generated in accordance with a length information in the first message.

[0014] In some embodiments, the example method further includes generating a second random number in response to receiving the firstmessage, the second random number being generated in accordance with a length information in the first message. The example method further includes selecting a coefficient in accordance with a status of energy currently stored at the communication device. The example method further includes modifying the second random number by the coefficient to produce the first random number.

[0015] In some embodiments, the modifying the second random number to produce the first random number includes at least one of: multiplying the second random number with the coefficient to produce the first random number; or shifting the second random number by a first number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number; or truncating the second random number by a second number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first message received includes the indication indicating the one or more polled numbers.

[0017] In some embodiments, the example method further includes receiving a third message after receiving the first message, where the third message includes the indication indicating the one or more polled numbers.

[0018] In some embodiments, the example method further includes receiving in response to sending the second response, a fourth message, the fourth message indicating that the second response has been received.

[0019] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is an inventory round, the method further includes, determining, based on a fourth message indicating that the second response has been received, that the communication device has been successfully identified and inventoried in the inventory round.

[0020] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is an inventory round.

[0021] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is a data collection round, the second response further including data being requested.

[0022] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is a file retrieval round, the second response further including one or more files being requested.

[0023] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is an object locating round, the second response further including one or more locating signals that assist in locating the communication device.

[0024] In some embodiments, the second message further indicating what data is being requested from the communication device in the second response.

[0025] In some embodiments, the communication device is a battery-less device.

[0026] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an example method for communicating using polled numbers is provided. The method may be implemented by a communication device, for example by a reader device. An example method includes sending a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers related to a round of a procedure, where the first message indicates a beginning of the round of the procedure. The example method further includes, receiving a first response from an another communication device, the first response including a first identifier (ID) of the another communication device. The example method further includes sending, in response to receiving the first response, a second message that includes the first ID of the another communication device. The example method further includes determining that a second response including a second ID of the another communication device is received within a first time period after sending the second message, where the second ID identifies the another communication device. The example method further includes sending a third message indicating that the second response from the another communication device has been received.

[0027] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a range of numbers.

[0028] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a plurality of numbers.

[0029] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are defined by sharing a common value of a number of most significant bits (MSBs) among them, and the indication includes the common value and the number of MSBs.

[0030] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are based on a monotonic function.

[0031] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers includes a first number of polled numbers, the first number of polled numbers is different than a prior number of polled numbers.

[0032] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are dynamically selected.

[0033] In some embodiments, the one or more polled numbers are based on an equal to sign or an inequality sign and the equal to sign or the inequality sign is indicated by the indication, the first message, or a standard.

[0034] In some embodiments, the example method further includes determining the one or more polled numbers.

[0035] In some embodiments, the indication indicates that the one or more polled numbers are included in the first message sent.

[0036] In some embodiments, the example method further includes sending a fourth message after sending the first message, where the indication indicates that the one or more polled numbers are included in the fourth message sent.

[0037] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is an inventory round.

[0038] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is a data collection round, the second response further including data being requested.

[0039] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is a file retrieval round, the second response further including one or more files being requested.

[0040] In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is an object locating round, the second response further including one or more locating signals that assist the reader device in locating the another communication device.

[0041] In some embodiments, the second message further indicating what data is being requested from the another communication device in the second response.

[0042] In some embodiments, the example method further includes, upon determining that the round of the procedure being incomplete sending a fifthmessage that indicates one or more other polled numbers for replacing the one or more polled numbers previously.

[0043] In some embodiments, the communication device is a user equipment (UE).

[0044] In some embodiments, the communication device is a next generation Node B (gNB).

[0045] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an example communication device is provided. The example communication device includes at least one non-transitory memory storage including instructions. The example communication device further includes one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage. The one or more processors execute the instructions to cause the communication device to perform a method according to any one of the example methods described herein.

[0046] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an example non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided. The example non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes at least one non- transitory memory. The at least one non-transitory memory includes computer program instructions stored thereon. The computer program instructions, when executed by at least one processor, are configured for performing a method according to any one of the example methods described herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a sequence of triggering signals sent from the reader and corresponding response signals sent from a tag in accordance with an example radio frequency identification (RFID) standard;

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a sequence of triggering signals sent from the reader and corresponding response signals sent from a responding tag in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations occurring in a tag in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations occurring in a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates a communication system involving passive devices (AIoT devices) in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates an example communications system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates an example communication system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 8A illustrates an example edge device (ED) in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 8B illustrates an example base station (BS) in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system that may be used for implementing the devices and methods disclosed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 10A illustrates example trigger type field values in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] FIG. toB illustrates example identifiers (IDs) for different ID types of a response to a trigger message of an example type in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0060] FIG. toC illustrates example IDs for different ID types of a short response message, specifically in a contention trigger message in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] FIG. 1OD illustrates example IDs for different ID types of a long response message, specifically in response to a dedicated trigger message in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0062] FIG. n illustrates a generalized message flow for an AIoT Service Request targeting at more than one device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 12 illustrates a generalized message flow for an AIoT Service Request targeting at only one device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 13A illustrates a data flow for inventory-only targeting at multiple devices for a device without a valid access stratum (AS) ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] FIG. 13B illustrates a data flow for inventory-only targeting at multiple devices for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] FIG. 14A illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at multiple devices for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 14B illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at multiple devices for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0068] FIG. 15A illustrates a data flow for inventory-only service targeting at a single device for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0069] FIG. 15B illustrates a data flow for inventory-only service targeting at a single device for a device without a valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0070] FIG. 16A illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at a single device for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0071] FIG. 16B illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at a single device for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0072] FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart of example operations in a process for communicating using polled numbers by a tag in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0073] FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart of example operations in a process for generating a random number for response messaging, for example as partof a process for communicating using polled numbers, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0074] FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart of example operations in a process for modifying a random number for response messaging, for example as part of a process for communicating using polled numbers, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart of example operations in a process for communicating using polled numbers by a reader, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0076] FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart of example operations in a process for updating polled numbers for communicating by a reader, for example as part of a process for communicating using polled numbers by the reader, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures are drawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0078] The making and using of embodiments of this disclosure are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the concepts disclosed herein can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts, and that the specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative and do not serve to limit the scope of the claims. Further, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0079] The automation and digitization of various industries opens numerous new markets requiring new loT technologies. These use cases specifically involve supporting battery-less devices with no energy storage capability or with limited energy storage capability (e.g., by harvesting energy from an ambient source, such as radio wave or body heat, and storing the harvested energy within devices using a capacitor). For example, energy harvesting may be performed to enable a device to continue to operatewithout consistent manual charging and / or the like. In some contexts, energy may be harvested from radio waves, light, motion, heat, and / or the like.

[0080] Some example applications for battery-less device include asset identification and inventorying, which presently may rely primarily on barcodes and radio frequency identification (RFID). RFID uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system typically consists of a RFID reader device (also known as an interrogator) and a number of tiny radio transponders, such devices referred to as tags. When triggered by an electromagnetic interrogation signal from a nearby RFID reader, a tag may transmit digital data, for example including an identifying inventory number, back to the reader. The main advantage of utilizing such barcodes and RFID is the ultra-low complexity and small form factor of the tags. However, the limited reading range of a few meters usually requires the use of handheld scanning device, which leads to labor intensive and time-consuming operations, or RFID portals / gates which leads to costly deployments. Moreover, the lack of interference management scheme results in severe interference between RFID readers and system capacity issues, especially in the case of dense deployments. It is difficult to support a large- scale network with seamless coverage for RFID.

[0081] Ambient loT (AIoT) is a network of one or more devices that harvest energy from ambient sources for powering that device’s communication. Particular configurations of technology in cellular networks may be desirable to support massive deployment of loT devices at low operational cost.

[0082] Methods for a passive device contending a shared medium for transmission are discussed herein. To communicate with passive devices, which are herein and hereafter referred to as the tags for simplicity, a reader device (or “reader”) receives information from a tag by transmitting an unmodulated RF carrier and listening for a backscattered reply. Tags communicate information by modulating the amplitude and / or phase of the RF carrier in accordance with the information to be sent when backscattering the RF carrier. An example manner for modulating the information (e.g. , in binary bits) onto the backscattered RF signal is to change the impedance on the antenna of the tag, for example by changing between a matchingimpedance and a non-matching impedance in accordance with values of the binary bits to be sent. The change in impedance matching causes the reflection coefficient of the antenna of the tag to change between high and low states, and thereby reflecting the received RF signal with an on-off keying (OOK) waveform to represent the binary bits. The reader detects an energy envelop of the received OOK waveform to decode the binary bits and retrieves the information represented by them. The communications link between the reader and the tag may be half-duplex, meaning that a tag is not required to demodulate commands from the reader while backscattering. The reader discovers and identifies individual tags nearby by triggering a series of responses from these tags during an inventory round, where a contentionbased access scheme may be utilized to determine a sequence for a potentially unknown number of tags to send a response. In addition to inventorying, there are also use cases where a tag sends data on the device-to-reader (D2R) link, the transmission of which is to be triggered by a triggering signal sent by the reader on the reader-to-device (R2D) link. However, because the reader may not know which tag may have D2R data available to transmit nor when the data becomes available for transmission at the tag, the reader can schedule certain time slots, on the RF carrier provisioned for the backscattering, as shared D2R transmission resources from time to time and sends an R2D triggering signal before each of those time slots to announce the time slot so that any tag out there that has data to transmit may contend for such time slot for a D2R transmission using the contention-based access scheme. There are also use cases where the reader pages more than one tag at a time (e.g., group paging). Because the reader may not know for sure whether all or any of the tags being paged are under its coverage at the moment, the reader can schedule certain time slots, on the RF carrier provisioned for the backscattering, as shared D2R transmission resources and sends an R2D triggering signal (e.g., the signal that carries the group paging message) before each of those time slots to announce the time slots. If any tag being paged receives the group paging message correctly, it may contend for such time slot to send a response to the paging using the contention-based access scheme.

[0083] In RFID, individual tags sort out their respective sequence for responding to the reader’s triggers during an inventory round using arandom-slotted collision arbitration mechanism, where each tag respectively loads a random (or pseudo-random) number into its slot counter, decrements its slot counter each time when receiving specific commands from the reader, and sends a response to the reader when its slot counter reaches zero. More specifically, the reader begins an inventory round by transmitting a Query command, the Query command including a Q value, which is determined by the reader to regulate the probability that a tag sends a response. The reader may determine the Q value based on an estimated population of the tags. After receiving the Query command, each tag that meets the criteria for participating in the current inventory round generates a Q-bit random (or pseudo-random) number with a value between o (zero) and 2Q1 and loads this number into its slot counter. Each tag transitions to an arbitrate state if the number is nonzero, or to a reply state if the number is zero. The arbitrate state can be viewed as a “holding state” for tags that are participating in the current inventory round but whose slot counters hold nonzero values. A tag in the arbitrate state decrements its slot counter every time it receives a QueryRep command having a session parameter that matches the session for the inventory round currently in progress. When its slot counter reaches zero, the tag transitions to the reply state and backscatters a 16-bit random number (RN) referred to as the RN16, which is generated by a random number generator (RNG) of the tag. If the tag receives a valid acknowledgement (ACK), it transitions to the acknowledged state and backscatters a reply, which may include an identification (ID) of the tag or of an object that the tag is attached to (e.g., an electronic product code (EPC)). If the tag fails to receive an ACK within a specific time period or receives an invalid ACK or an ACK with a wrong RN16 (e.g., one that does not match with the RN16 sent by the tag to the reader in the earlier step), the tag returns to the arbitrate state. After sending the reply with the ID (e.g., the EPC), if the tag receives a QueryRep or other command that indicates or implies a positive acknowledgement (e.g., indicating or implying that the received EPC is valid) from the reader, the tag considers that its ID (for example, an EPC) has been logged in for the current inventory round. If the tag fails to receive a valid command indicating or implying the positive acknowledgement from the reader within a specific time period, the tag returns to the arbitrate state.

[0084] FIG. i illustrates a sequence of triggering signals sent from a reader and corresponding response signals sent from a tag, for example in accordance with a current RFID standard. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates sequence of triggering signals (such as the Query command, the ACK command with a matching RN16, and the QueryRep command implying that the received EPC is valid, as illustrated in FIG. 1) sent from the reader and corresponding response signals (such as the RN16 and the reply containing the EPC, as illustrated in FIG. i) sent from a tag, which results in a successful identification and inventorying of the tag. For other tags that did not send out a response to the reader in this sequence of events (e.g., due to their respective slot counter not yet reaching zero), the QueryRep command shown in FIG. 1 triggers them to decrement their respective slot counters by i, and if, as a result, a respective slot counter reaches zero, the corresponding tag responds to the reader in the next slot by sending its RN16.

[0085] Although the random-slotted collision arbitration mechanism specified in RFID, as described above, enables the RFID devices to work well in the low device density environment, where collisions may be relatively easily handled, such mechanism has some drawbacks. Drawbacks are especially present when working in a high device density environment, where multiple devices being prepared to response is more likely.

[0086] First, the reader does not have much control over how quickly the inventory round can go (because the slot counter in each tag is decremented only by 1 each time a QueryRep command is received and there are no means to skip slot(s) by the tags), except by setting a proper Q value, which requires the reader to have a proper estimation of how many tags are out there, which may not be feasible in some cases. A Q value being set too low may result in many collisions. For example, when two or more tags happen to generate a same random number to start their respective slot counters with, then their slot counters will simultaneously reach zero and hence the RN16 signals sent by them, respectively, will collide at the receiver of the reader and may become illegible to the reader. On the other hand, a Q value being set too high may result in many empty slots where the empty slots are not utilized for any reply from any tag. In both situations, the system efficiency is significantly reduced.

[0087] Second, when a tag fails to decode a QueryRep command (e.g., due to decoding errors or temporarily out of power), the slot counter of the tag will miscount. The larger the initial random number used for starting its slot counter with, the higher chance that the tag will miss one or more QueryRep commands before its slot counter reaches zero. If a tag has initially started its slot counter with a large random number and thereafter missed several QueryRep commands, by the time that the reader considers all the slots in the inventory round have been counted for, it is possible that the slot counter of the tag may not have reached zero yet and hence the tag will be unable to provide its reply in order to be identified and / or inventoried in this inventory round.

[0088] Third, a tag needs to keep monitoring for all QueryRep commands, some of which may be sent to mark the end of an empty slot (e.g., a slot without any reply), a slot with a collision, or a successful inventorying of another tag, in order not to mis-count the slots. In such process, the tag spends its valuable energy in monitoring QueryRep commands that would otherwise be irrelevant to the tag.

[0089] Although the RFID devices may be built with an implementationspecific energy threshold, below which the respective RFID device maybe automatically shut down, the design of the communication protocols in RFID has not fully taken the energy status of the tags into consideration. For at least these reasons, such implementations remain deficient.

[0090] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide solutions and / or advantages to each of these deficiencies. To target deployments with a large and / or unknown number of passive devices, a random access (or contentionbased access) scheme is designed for new wireless communications technologies involving passive devices, such as the Ambient loT (AIoT), that provides the reader control with respect to how the contentions, e.g., in an inventory round, can proceed. For example, the reader can control how quickly or how slowly to proceed the inventory round, in response to detecting collisions or no signals (e.g., of responses).

[0091] Secondly, as a tag transmits, the energy stored in the tag may be expended by the transmission, and it may take a longer time (or in some circumstances a significantly longer time) than the transmission duration forthe tag to recharge its stored energy back to the level prior to the transmission. Different tags may have different distances to the radio energy emitter and hence they may be re-charged at different rates. Therefore, at a given time, each tag may have a different status with respect to its stored energy level. Hence, a second advantage the designed random access (or contention-based access) scheme for new wireless communications technologies involving passive devices, such as the Ambient loT, is that the communication protocols used in the random access (or contention-based access) considers the status of the energy stored at the tags.

[0092] FIG. 2 illustrates a sequence of triggering signals sent from the reader and corresponding response signals sent from a responding tag, which results in a successful identification and inventorying of the tag, in accordance with an example embodiment. Although the example embodiment described herein and hereafter uses inventorying as an example use case for the various techniques described herein and hereafter, these techniques are not limited to be used for inventorying purpose only. The techniques and embodiments described herein maybe used for other communication purposes, such as data collection (e.g., collecting data measured by sensors attached to the tags) or file retrieval (e.g., retrieving small files stored in the tags), or locating objects that the tags are attached to. For example, a small file stored in a tag may indicate the name, price, production date, and / or expiration date of a product that the tag is attached to.

[0093] In accordance with at least one example embodiment, to provide the reader more control in determining a sequence for the tags to respond during an inventory round, each tag participating in the inventory round generates a random number (e.g., the “RN” in FIG. 2) to be used for the current inventory round in response to receive a first message (e.g., the “1st Msg” in FIG. 2) from the reader, the first message initiating the inventory round. The first message may further indicate criteria for tags to determine whether they are eligible to participate in the current inventory round or not, respectively. For example, the criteria may one or more types of the tags eligible to participate in the inventory round. For another example, additionally or alternatively, the criteria may include one or more services (e.g., indicated by one or more application identifiers (IDs)), which the tagseligible to participate in the inventory round offer. For yet another example, additionally or alternatively, the criteria may include a range of IDs, a group ID, a common mask shared among more than one IDs, such as a specific number of most significant bits (MSBs) or least significant bits (LSBs) shared among the more than one IDs, or a list of specific IDs (e.g., in a group paging use case) of the tags eligible to participate in the inventory round. The first message may further indicate a first range of numbers within which the tags participating in the current inventory round should generate their respective random numbers. For example, the first message may include or indicate a first number denoted as L (for length in bits), the first range of numbers being indicated as from o to 2L-i, inclusively. For another example, the first message may include or indicate a maximal value V, wherein the tags participating in the current inventory round should generate their respective random numbers within the range between o and V.

[0094] Although it is not shown in FIG. 2, the first message in some embodiments may further attempt to trigger a short response for the first time in the current inventory round by further indicating a second number or a second range of numbers. The second number and each of the second range of numbers may be within the first range of the numbers and being referred to as the Polled Number(s) (e.g., “Polled Num” in FIG. 2). Each tag participating in the current inventory round compares its random number generated for the current inventory round with the Polled Number(s) indicated in the first message. For example, the second range of numbers may be indicated as a specific number of MSBs (or LSBs) commonly shared among numbers within the second range of numbers. In this situation, the comparing of numbers may be reduced to comparing the specific number of MSBs (or LSBs) of the numbers. In response to its random number being among the Polled Number(s) indicated in the first message, the tag sends its short response (e.g., “Short Resp” in FIG. 2) during a short response occasion (which is a time slot during which a continuous wave, such as continuous wave (CW) in FIG. 2, is provisioned for backscattering) scheduled after the first message, to the reader by backscattering. The short response may include one or more identifiers, e.g., a short identifier (ID) of the responding tag for identifying the tag. If there is no tag whose random number is among the Polled Number(s)indicated in the first message, the short response occasion after the first message elapses without a response.

[0095] Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 2, after sending the first message, the reader sends a second message (e.g., “2nd Msg” in FIG. 2) to attempt to trigger a short response for the first time in the current inventory round by indicating the second number or the second range of numbers (e.g., the Polled Number(s)) in the second message. The reader then monitors for any response during the short response occasion scheduled after the second message. In one example embodiment, the second number is included in the first message or the second message, as described herein, indicating that the second number is the only Polled Number currently being polled. In another example embodiment, the second range of numbers is explicitly indicated by including a starting number and an ending number (or a count of consecutive numbers following the starting number) of the second range of numbers in the first message or the second message.

[0096] In yet another example embodiment, a bit mask may be indicated in the first message or the second message. For example, the bit mask indication may indicate a first value of a specific number of most significant bits (MSBs) or least significant bit (LSBs) of the random number to be compared with. Then, the second range of numbers being polled are indicated as the numbers that are within the first range of numbers and the specific number of MSBs or LSBs of which contains a second value that is equal to the first value indicated. In yet another example embodiment, the second number is explicitly included in the first message or the second message, as described herein, and the second range of numbers (e.g., the Polled Numbers) are indicated as the numbers that are within the first range of numbers and greater than the second number. In yet another example embodiment, the second number is explicitly included in the first message or the second message, as described herein, and the second range of numbers are indicated as the numbers that are within the first range of numbers and greater than or equal to the second number. In yet another example embodiment, the second number is explicitly included in the first message or the second message, as described herein, and the second range of numbers are indicated as the numbers that are within the first range of numbers and smaller than thesecond number. In yet another example embodiment, the second number is explicitly included in the first message or the second message, as described herein, and the second range of numbers are indicated as the numbers that are within the first range of numbers and smaller than or equal to the second number.

[0097] In response to receiving the second message, each tag participating in the current inventory round and having not successfully completed its inventorying with the reader during the current inventory round yet compares its random number generated for the current inventory round with the Polled Number(s) indicated in the second message just received. If there is no tag of which the random number is among the Polled Number(s) indicated in the second message and which has not successfully completed its inventorying with the reader in the current inventory round, the short response occasion scheduled after the second message elapses without a response. Then, in response to no signals (e.g., no short responses) being received during the short response occasion, the reader may send a new second message instead indicating a different second number or different second range of numbers (e.g., different Polled Number(s)) to attempt to trigger a short response. The reader then monitors for any response during a short response occasion scheduled after the new second message. This cycle may continue until the reader receives a short response during a short response occasion.

[0098] On the other hand, if a participating tag determines that its random number is among the Polled Number(s) indicated in the second message received, the tag sends a short response to the reader during the short response occasion scheduled after the second message, for example by backscattering the short response including, for example, the short ID of the responding tag for identifying the tag. In at least one example embodiment, the short ID of a tag is a random number generated by the tag as its temporary ID. In another example embodiment, the short ID includes a temporary ID previously assigned to the tag for identifying the tag within certain domains in the communication system (e.g., at the access stratum (AS) level). The temporary ID has neither expired nor been revoked yet. For example, the short ID may be a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) assigned to the tag during a previous random access to the network (e.g., to complete aregistration or a location update procedure with the network). The C-RNTI has neither expired nor been revoked yet.

[0099] In response to receiving the short ID from a responding tag during the short response occasion scheduled after the second message sent, the reader sends a third message (e.g., “3rd Msg” in FIG. 2) to the responding tag. The third message includes the short ID of the tag as a means for identifying the tag and for acknowledging the reception of its short ID. The third message may further trigger a long response during a long response occasion scheduled after the third message, where the responding tag is intended to provide a long ID of the tag to uniquely identify the tag. For example, the third message may implicitly or explicitly indicate a request for the responding tag to send its long ID during the long response occasion after the third message. The third message may further specify which types of long ID is to be provided if there are more than one types of long ID.

[0100] In various example embodiments, the long ID includes an identifier previously assigned to the tag for uniquely identifying the tag within certain domain(s) in the communication system, for example at the non- access stratum (NAS) level or an application level. For example, the long ID of a tag may be the fifth generation (5G) Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (5G-TMSI), 5G-S-TMSI, or similar identifier assigned to the tag by the core network (CN) after a successful registration procedure. In another embodiment, the long ID of a tag may be a product identifier (such as the EPC) associated with the object that the tag is attached to. As described, the various techniques described herein are not limited to be used for inventorying purposes only. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used for data collection, file retrieval, locating objects, and / or the like. Hence, the long response described herein may also be used by the tag to send the data or the file(s) being solicited by the reader, or a prespecified locating signal that assists the reader in locating the tag. In such situations, the third message may include information (e.g., in a Soliciting Type field in the third message) indicating what type of long response (e.g., among long IDs, data, files, and locating signal) is to be sent back by the tag to the reader.

[0101] In response to receiving the third message including a short ID matching the short ID that the tag sent to the reader during the short responseoccasion shortly before the third message, the responding tag sends a long response to the reader, during the long response occasion scheduled after the third message, for example by backscattering. For example, the long response may include a long ID (e.g., the 5G-TMSI, 5G-S-TMSI, or EPC) of the responding tag, as requested by the third message, for the inventory use case being described. Alternatively, the long response may include the data or file stored in the tag or a locating signal from the tag, as requested in the third message, for one or more of the other example use cases described herein. In response to not receiving the third message including a short ID matching the short ID that the tag sent to the reader during the short response occasion shortly before the third message, the responding tag considers that its short response to the reader was not received by the reader (e.g., due to a transmission error or a collision). Hence the tag has not been properly inventoried in the current inventory round. The tag may send another short response in response to another second message received later, specifically when its random number is among the Polled Number(s) indicated in that second message. The tag may generate a new random number to replace the previous random number after failing to receive the third message including the matching short ID to avoid colliding with the same tag again.

[0102] In response to receiving the long response from the tag, the reader may verify whether the long ID provided by the responding tag is a valid one or not. For example, if the long ID is a 5G-TMSI or 5G-S-TMSI, the reader may find out whether the 5G-TMSI or the 5G-S-TMSI has indeed been assigned to a tag by the core network (CN) and has been not revoked yet. For example, if the 5G-TMSI or 5G-S-TMSI provided by the tag has not been assigned to any tag by the CN or if it has been revoked, then it is invalid; otherwise, it is valid. The reader may consider the tag identified by the long ID has been successfully inventoried for the current inventory round, for example if the long ID is verified as being a valid one, and then sends a new second message indicating a different second number or different second range of numbers (e.g., different Polled Number(s)) to attempt to trigger a short response from a different tag. The new second message (depicted as the “2nd Msg” on the right in FIG. 2) may implicitly or explicitly indicate a positive acknowledgement acknowledging the reception of the long ID of theresponding tag. Then, the responding tag may consider that it has been successfully identified and inventoried for the current inventory round and hence will not participate in the rest of the current inventory round. For the previously described example use cases other than inventorying, such as data collection, file retrieval, locating objects, and / or the like, the new second message (depicted as the “2nd Msg” on the right in FIG. 2) may implicitly or explicitly indicate a positive acknowledgement acknowledging the reception of the data, the file(s), or the locating signal, respectively.

[0103] On the other hand, if the long ID received from the tag is not verified as a valid one, the reader may send a fourth message (not shown in FIG. 2) indicating a negative acknowledgement for the long ID received and consider that the responding tag identified by the long ID has not been inventoried in the current inventory round. Then, the reader may send a new second message indicating a different second number or different second range of numbers (e.g., different Polled Number(s)) to attempt to trigger a short response from a different tag, but without a positive acknowledgement acknowledging the reception of the long ID of the previous responding tag.

[0104] The reader may continue this cycle of sending the second message and then monitoring for the short response during the short response occasion scheduled after the second message, and when receiving the short response, sending the third message and then monitoring for the long response during the long response occasion scheduled after the third message, until the reader determines that the current inventory round is complete. It should be appreciated that the cycle may be repeated for any number of times and / or Polled Number(s).

[0105] Using the number-polling approach by the reader, as described herein, gives the reader more control over how quickly or how slowly to proceed with the inventory round by allowing the reader to dynamically select one Polled Number or a particular range of Polled Numbers to poll at a time. For example, when the short response occasions have persistently gone empty-handed (e.g., without a response), the reader can hasten the polling by polling a range of Polled Numbers at a time, with a greater number of Polled Numbers in the range than before. For another example, when the reader detects a collision or persistent collisions, the reader can slow down thepolling by polling a range of Polled Number with a fewer number of Polled Numbers in the range at a time than before, including in some embodiments by polling a single Polled Number at a time. The reader may indicate, e.g., in the first message that starts an inventory round or in each subsequent second message, an inequality sign (for example, among a set of inequality signs including equal to, greater than, greater than or equal to, smaller than, and / or smaller than or equal to) is to be used in comparing the numbers. In some embodiments, indicating the equality / inequality sign in the first message means that the inequality sign to be used will remain the same for the entire inventory round. Indicating the equality and / or inequality sign in the second message allows the reader to choose an equality and / or inequality sign each time when the reader attempts to trigger a short response.

[0106] In some embodiments, the reader may also indicate (e.g., in the first message that starts the inventory round) whether it will select the Polled Number(s) in the subsequent second messages in a monotonically increasing manner (meaning that each subsequent second message will poll one or more numbers that are greater than the previous Polled Number(s)), a monotonically decreasing manner, or a random manner during the inventory round. For example, if the reader selects the Polled Number(s) in subsequent second messages in a monotonically increasing manner and a tag happens to generate a large random number as its random number to be used for comparing with the Polled Number(s) (e.g., such that the random number is far from a current Polled Number or range of Polled Number(s)), the tag may choose to enter a power-saving mode for a specific time duration to reduce its energy consumption before resuming the monitoring for second messages and the comparing of numbers.ENERGY-AWARENESS RANDOM NUMBER

[0107] In various example embodiments, the random number generated from the random number generator of the tag (which is herein and hereafter referred to as the “base RN”) for the current inventory round maybe further modified by one or more value(s). In some embodiments, the base RN is modified by an energy-awareness coefficient to produce a modified random number each time before the modified random number is used for comparing with the Polled Number(s). The coefficient in some embodiments isdetermined by the tag based on an energy level, or a quantized energy level (e.g., based on a percentage or an absolute energy value), of the energy currently stored the tag, for example at the time when the comparison is to take place. The modified random number may also be referred to as the “energy-modified RN” or “energy-awareness RN.” The most recent coefficient may be multiplied with, added to, or subtracted from the base RN generated from the random number generator of the tag to produce the energy-modified RN, which is then used in comparing with the Polled Number(s) indicated in the first message and / or a second message currently received. Comparing to using the base RN described herein, using the energy-modified RN produces a net effect that prioritizes tags that are more fully charged over tags that are less fully charged. When collision occurs between two tags, even if the tags do not generate a new base RN to replace its previous base RN, it is likely that their energy status will recover (e.g., from the prior discharge) at different rates. In this regard, the energy-modified RNs for these tags may not be equal again and the use of the energy-modified RNs thus reduces the chance of further collision between the same tags, for example until they are both fully charged again if neither of them has been successfully inventoried yet by that time.

[0108] In some embodiments, for example, the energy level of energy stored in a tag is measured by the tag and quantized into one among a finite number of levels. The finite number of energy levels may be quantized percentage values comparing to the full capacity of the energy storage, for example ¥4 full, ¥2 full,3 / 4 full, or full (e.g., fully charged). Alternatively, the finite number of energy levels may be quantized absolute values of energy stored, for example 50 micro-Joules (pJ), 100 pJ, 150 pJ, 200 pJ, and / or the like, with a linear quantization regime, or 50 pJ, 100 pJ, 200 pJ, 400 pJ, and / or the like, with an exponential quantization regime. In at least one example embodiment, each of the finite number of energy levels correspond to a different coefficient referred to as the RN multiplier (e.g., a value utilized to determine the energy-modified number or coefficient associated therewith), of which the value is a power of 2 in some embodiments. For example, the RN multipliers in some embodiments maybe 1 / 8, ¥4, ¥2, and 1 for energy levels of ¥4 full, ¥2 full,3 / 4 full, and full, respectively, where the smaller value of theenergy-modified RN represents the lower the priority (or tendency) to respond to the reader. For another example, the RN multipliers may be 8, 4, 2, and 1, if the opposite is true and the smaller value of the energy-modified RN represents a higher priority (or tendency) to respond to the reader. In some embodiments, the RN multiplier corresponding to the current energy level of the tag is to be multiplied with the base RN generated from the random number generator of the tag to produce the energy-modified RN for the tag to use for comparing with the Polled Number(s). Using a power of 2 simplifies the multiplication operation to bit-truncation or bit-shifting for lower cost and lower power consumption in the tag, providing further advantages with respect to energy management.

[0109] Alternatively, the finite number of energy levels may correspond to different positive integers, referred to as the RN-adders (or RN-subtractors) to be added to (or to be subtracted from) the base RN generated from the random number generator of the tag to produce the energy-modified RN to be used in comparing to one or more Polled Number(s). In either case, the net effect is that tags with higher energy levels tend to be given a priority over tags with lower energy levels. The tendency is unlikely to be completely negated by the randomness in the base RNs generated the tags.

[0110] With the use of energy-modified RNs, in some embodiments the reader may treat persistently empty short response occasions (e.g., indicating a lack of responses) as a sign that many tags may be under-charged. In some such embodiments, the reader may suspend the polling and start charging the tags by illuminating its coverage area with electromagnetic wave within the operating RF band(s) of the tags for certain amount of time before resuming the polling.OPERATION FLOW OF A TAG

[0111] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations of an example process 300 occurring in a tag. Operations of the process 300 may be indicative of operations occurring in or otherwise performed by a tag, for example as the tag participates in a contention-based access to a shared medium in an inventory round to be identified and inventoried by a reader, or in a round of data collection, file retrieval, or object locating. The tag may also be referred to as the Ambient loT device, a passive device, a zero-energydevice, and / or the like. The reader may be a user equipment (UE) or a radio access network (RAN) node, for example a gNB.

[0112] Operations of process 300 begin with the tag receiving a first message (Msg) and receiving an indication indicating one or more Polled Number(s) at operation 310. The first message may indicate to the tag (and other tags) that a new inventory (or data collection, or file retrieval, object locating, or other task) round has begun and may indicate criteria (which the tag meets) for participating the round. The first message may further include certain operational parameters to be used by the tag (and other participating tags) during the round. For example, the parameters may include a length (L) value for the length (e.g., in number of bits) or a maximal possible value (V) of a base RN that the tag (and other participating tags) is to respectively generate and to use for the current round. For another example, additionally or alternatively, the parameters may include information indicating whether the reader will select Polled Number(s) in subsequent second messages in a monotonically increasing manner, a monotonically decreasing manner, or in a random manner. For yet another example, additionally or alternatively, the parameters may include information indicating whether the tag (and other participating tags) is to use its base RN for comparing with the Polled Number(s) being currently polled, or to modify the base RN by an instantaneous energy-awareness coefficient to produce an energy-modified RN and use the energy-modified RN for comparing with the Polled Number(s) being currently polled. Additionally or alternatively, the standards or another message sent before the first message may specify whether the base RN or the latest energy-modified RN is to be used for comparing with the Polled Number(s) currently being polled. For yet another example, additionally or alternatively, the parameters may include information indicating which equality or inequality sign, among the group of equal to, greater than, greater than or equal to, smaller than, and smaller than or equal to, that the tag (and other participating tags) should use to determine the range of Polled Number(s) being polled in the first message or in the subsequent second messages, for example based on a threshold number indicated in the first message or in the subsequent second messages. Alternatively, the equality orinequality sign may be pre-specified, for example by being standardized by industry standards.

[0113] In at least one example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Number(s) being polled comprises of the threshold number indicated in the first message and the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or specified by the standards). For example, if the equality / inequality sign indicated in the first message (or standardized) is greater than, the Polled Number(s) being polled by the first message include any numbers that are greater than the threshold number indicated in the first message and within the range from o to 2L-1, inclusively, where L is the length value indicated in the first message. In another example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Number(s) being polled comprises a threshold number indicated in a second message subsequently received from the reader and the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or specified by the standards). For example, if the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or standardized) is smaller than (e.g., less than), the Polled Numbers being polled by the second message include any numbers that are smaller than the threshold number indicated in the second message and within the range from o to 2L-i, inclusively. In yet another example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Numbers being polled comprises a threshold number indicated in a second message subsequently received from the reader and an equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the second message (or the equality and / or inequality sign standardized). For example, if the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the second message (or standardized) is equal to, the only Polled Number being polled is the threshold number indicated in the second message. In yet another example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Numbers being polled comprises a value of a specific number of MSBs (or LSBs) that the one or more Polled Numbers share. In this regard, the indication may define the Polled Numbers by the specific number of bits commonly shared among them and the number comparison and matching may be simplified to comparing and matching the specific number of bits or values of the specific number of bits.

[0114] In response to receiving the first message, in some embodiments the tag generates a base RN within the range from o to 2L-i, inclusively, in operation 320. For example, the base RN may be generated using a random number generator of the tag. In response to receiving the indication indicating the one or more Polled Number(s), in some embodiments the tag determines whether its base RN or its energy-modified RN, whichever is indicated or prespecified as the RN to be compared with, is among the Polled Number(s) currently being polled in operation 330. In at least one alternative embodiment, instead of first determining the Polled Number(s) from the threshold number indicated and the equality and / or inequality sign indicated or pre-specified and then comparing its base RN (or energy-modified RN, whichever is indicated or pre-specified as the RN to be compared) with the Polled Number(s) to determine whether the tag is currently being polled or not, the tag may directly compare its base RN (or energy-modified RN, whichever is indicated or pre-specified as the RN to be compared) with the threshold number received in the first message or the second message to determine whether it is currently being polled or not, using the equality and / or inequality sign indicated or pre-specified. In yet another example embodiment, the reader includes a starting number and an ending number of the range of numbers being currently polled in the first message and subsequent second messages, and the tag simply determines whether its base RN (or energy-modified RN, whichever is indicated or pre-specified as the RN to be compared) is between the beginning number and the ending number or not to determine whether it is currently being polled or not. In yet another example embodiment, the reader indicates the Polled Numbers by indicating a first value of a specific number of bits (e.g., MSBs or LSBs) commonly shared among the Polled Numbers within the range of numbers. In this situation, the tag may directly compare the first value with a second value of the same specific number of MSBs (or LSBs) of its base RN (or energy-modified RN, whichever is indicated or pre-specified as the RN to be compared). If the first value and the second value match, the tag determines that it is currently being polled; otherwise, it is not currently being polled. If the tag determines that it is currently being polled or its RN used for the comparison is among the Polled Number(s) currently being polled in operation 330, in someembodiments the tag sends a first response to the reader by backscattering, the first response indicating a first identifier (ID) of the tag in operation 340. For example, the first response maybe a short response carrying the short ID (e.g., the first ID) of the tag, the short ID being as described before. In response to the tag determining it is not being polled or its RN used for the comparison is not among the Polled Number(s) currently being polled in operation 330, the tag may monitor and determine whether it receives a second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s) in operation 350. In response to the tag determining that it does not receive a second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s), the tag continues to monitor for a second message. In response to the tag determining that it does receive a second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s), the tag determines whether its RN used for the comparison is among the Polled Number(s) being polled by the second message received in operation 360. In response to the tag determining its RN is among the Polled Number(s) being polled by the second message received in operation 360, the tag goes back to operation 350 and continues to monitor and determines whether it receives another second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s). This cycle may continue until the tag receives a second message and the tag determines that it is polled by the second message or its RN used for comparing with Polled Number(s) is among the Polled Number(s) being polled by the second message in operation 360.

[0115] In response to determining that the tag is currently being polled or its RN used for comparing with Polled Numbers is among the Polled Number(s) being polled by the second message in operation 360, the tag sends the first response indicating its first ID to the reader by backscattering in operation 340, as described herein. Then, the tag starts to monitor and determines whether it receives a third message within a specific time period, the third message including the first ID of the tag. In response to the tag having not received the third message with a first ID matching with the first ID of the tag by the end of the specific time period, the tag may go back to operation 350 to monitor and determine whether it receives another second message indicating one or more Polled Numbers. The tag may generate a new base RN, for example by using its random number generator, to replace itscurrent base RN in operation 375 before going back to operation 350. In response to the tag receiving the third message with a first ID matching with the first ID of the tag within the specific time period in operation 370, the tag sends a second response to the reader in operation 380.

[0116] For example, for the inventory use case, the second response may be a long response carrying a long ID of the tag, the long ID being a unique ID of the tag, as described herein. The third message received may include information indicating which type of long ID is to be sent back by the tag in the second response, if there are more than one types of long ID. For another example, for the data collection use case described herein, the second response may be a long response carrying the data being requested. For yet another example, for the file retrieval use case described herein, the second response may be a long response carrying the file(s) being requested. For yet another example, for the object locating use case described herein, the second response may be a long response carrying the locating signal that assists the reader in locating the tag. Therefore, the third message received may include information indicating what type of long response (e.g., among long IDs, data, files, and / or locating signal) is to be sent back by the tag in the second response. Then, the tag determines whether it has received an indication that the tag’s second response has been received within a specific time period after sending its second response in operation 390. For example, a fourth message sent by the reader to explicitly acknowledge the reception of the second response from the responding tag may serve as the indication that the second response from the responding tag has been received. For another example, a new second message sent by the reader indicating new Polled Number(s) may implicitly or explicitly indicate that the second response from the previous responding tag has been received. In response to the tag determining that it has received no indication indicating that its second response has been received within the specific time period in operation 390, the tag goes back to operation 350 to monitor and determine whether it receives another second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s). The tag may generate a new based RN, for example by using the random number generator of the tag, to replace its current base RN in operation 375 before going back to operation 350.

[0117] In response to the tag determining that it has received the indication indicating that its second response has been received within the specific time period in operation 390, for the inventory use case, the tag may consider that it has been correctly identified and inventoried for the current inventory round and therefore may not participate in comparison or responding for the rest of the current inventory round. For the use cases of data collection, file retrieval, and / or object locating, as described herein, the tag may consider that the data collection, file retrieval, and / or locating the object has been successful. Then, the operations of the process 300 may end. OPERATION FLOW OF THE READER

[0118] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations of process 400 occurring in a reader. Operations of the process 400 may be indicative of operations occurring in a reader, as the reader performs inventory procedure in an inventory round to identify and inventory one or more tags nearby, or performs data collection, file retrieval, or object locating with the one or more tags. The reader may be a user equipment (UE) or a radio access network (RAN) node, for example a gNB. The tags may also be referred to as the ambient loT devices, the passive devices, the zero-energy devices, and / or the like.

[0119] Operations of the process 400 begin with the reader sending a first message (Msg) and indicating one or more Polled Number(s) at operation 410. The first message may indicate to the tags that a new inventory (or data collection, or file retrieval, or object locating, or the like) round has begun and may indicate criteria for each of the tags to respectively determine whether the tag is to participate the round or not. The first message may further include certain operational parameters to be used by the participating tags during the round. For example, the parameters may include a length (L) value for the length (e.g., in number of bits) or a maximal possible value (V) of a base RN that each of the participating tags is to respectively generate for the current round. For another example, the parameters in some embodiments may include information indicating whether the reader will select Polled Number(s) in subsequent second messages in a monotonically increasing manner, a monotonically decreasing manner, or in a random manner. For yet another example, the parameters may include information indicating whethereach of the participating tags is to use its base RN for comparing with the Polled Number(s) being polled, or to modify its base RN by an instantaneous energy-awareness coefficient of the respective tag to produce an energy- modified RN and use the energy-modified RN for comparing with the Polled Number(s) being polled. Alternatively, in some embodiments the standards may specify whether the base RN or the latest energy-modified RN of the respective tag is to be used by the respective tag for comparing with the Polled Number(s) being polled.

[0120] For yet another example, the parameters may include information indicating which equality or inequality sign, among the group of equal to, greater than, greater than or equal to, smaller than, and / or smaller than or equal to, that the tag (and other participating tags) should use to determine the range of Polled Number(s) being polled in the first message or in the subsequent second messages. The range may be based on a threshold number indicated in the first message or in the subsequent second messages. Alternatively, the equality or inequality sign may be pre-specified, for example by being standardized by industry standards. In at least one example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Numbers being polled comprises the threshold number indicated in the first message and the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or specified by the standards). For example, if the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or standardized) is greater than, the Polled Number(s) being polled by the first message include any numbers that are greater than the threshold number indicated in the first message and within the range from o to 2L-I, inclusively, where L is the length value indicated in the first message. In another example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Number(s) being polled comprises a threshold number indicated in a second message subsequently sent by the reader and the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or specified by the standards). For example, if the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the first message (or standardized) is smaller than, the Polled Number(s) being polled by the second message include any numbers that are smaller than the threshold number indicated in the second message and within the range from o to 2L-I, inclusively. In yet another example embodiment, the indicationindicating the one or more Polled Number(s) being polled comprises a threshold number indicated in a second message subsequently sent by the reader and an equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the second message (or the equality and / or inequality sign standardized). For example, if the equality and / or inequality sign indicated in the second message (or standardized) is equal to, the only Polled Number being polled is the threshold number indicated in the second message. In yet another example embodiment, the indication indicating the one or more Polled Numbers being polled comprises a value of a specific number of bits (e.g., MSBs or LSBs) that the one or more Polled Numbers share.

[0121] Then, the reader starts to monitor and determine whether it receives a first response from a tag within a specific time period, the first response including a first ID of the responding tag (operation 420). For example, the specific time period may start after the end of the first message if the first message indicates the one or more Polled Numbers. For another example, the specific time period may start after the end of the second message, which is sent by the reader after the first message to indicate the one or more Polled Numbers for the first time in the current round, if the first message doesn’t indicate any Polled Number. The first response may be a short response carrying a short ID (e.g., the first ID) of the tag. Non-limiting examples of the short ID have been described herein, and any such short ID may be used.

[0122] In response to determining that the reader has received the first response within the specific time period in operation 420, the reader retrieves the first ID in the first response received and sends a third message, the third message including the first ID of the responding tag in operation 430. The third message triggers the responding tag to send a second response back to the reader. For example, for the inventory use case, the second ID in some embodiments is a long ID that uniquely identifies the responding tag. Nonlimiting examples of the long ID have been described herein, and any of such long IDs may be used. For another example, for the data collection use case described herein, the second response maybe a long response carrying the data being requested. For yet another example, for the file retrieval use case described herein, the second response maybe a long response carrying thefile(s) being requested. For yet another example, for the object locating use case described herein, the second response may be a long response carrying the locating signal that assists the reader in locating the tag. Therefore, the third message may further include information indicating what type of long response (e.g., among long IDs, data, files, and / or locating signal) is to be sent back by the responding tag. Then, the reader determines whether it receives the second response from the responding tag before a specific time period has elapsed in operation 440.

[0123] In response to determining that the reader did not receive the second response from the responding tag before the specific time period elapsed, the reader considers that the previous responding tag was not successfully identified or inventoried and then the reader determines whether the current inventory (or data collect, or file retrieval, or object locating, or the like) round has been completed or not in operation 460. For example, the reader may determine that the current inventory round is completed in response to a specific number of tags having been successfully identified inventoried, otherwise the current inventory round is determined not completed. For another example, the reader may determine that the current inventory round is completed in response to a specific amount of time having elapsed since the beginning of the current inventory round, otherwise the current inventory round is determined not completed. For yet another example, the reader may determine that the current inventory round is completed in response to one or more specific tags anticipated by the reader having been successfully identified and inventoried, otherwise the current inventory round is determined not completed. For yet another example, the reader may determine that the current data collection round is completed if one or more specific tags have successfully provided the data requested; otherwise the current data collection round is not completed. For yet another example, the reader may determine that the current file retrieval round is completed in response to one or more specific tags having successfully provided the file(s) requested, otherwise the current file retrieval round is determined not completed. For yet another example, the reader may determine that the current object locating round is completed in response to one or more specific tags having provided the locating signal(s) that havesuccessfully located the tags, otherwise the current object locating round is determined not completed.

[0124] In response to determining that it received the second response from the responding tag in operation 440, the reader sends an indication indicating that the second response has been received in operation 450. Then, the operational flow of the reader proceeds to operation 460 to determine whether the current inventory (or data collection, or file retrieval, or object locating, or the like) round has been completed or not, as described herein. In response to determining that the reader has not received any first response within the specific time period in operation 420, the reader considers that the Polled Number(s) currently being polled are unanswered. Then, the operation of the reader also proceeds to operation 460 to determine whether the current inventory round is completed or not, as described herein.

[0125] In response to the reader determining, in operation 460, that the current inventory (or data collection, or file retrieval, or object locating, or the like) round is not completed yet, the reader sends a second message indicating one or more Polled Number(s) in operation 470. The one or more Polled Number(s) indicated in this second message may be different from the Polled Number(s) previously polled and replace them to become the new Polled Number(s) being currently polled. The reader may select the new Polled Number(s) in a monotonically increasing manner, a monotonically decreasing manner, or a random manner, and / or the like, as described herein. The reader may dynamically change the pace of polling (for example, by how quickly or how slowly the Polled Number(s) change from one polling to the next polling), for example based on the collision or persistent lack of responses that the reader detects, as described herein.

[0126] After sending the second message in operation 470, the operation of the tag goes back to operation 420 to monitor and determine whether it receives a first response from a tag within a specific time period after sending the second message. This cycle may continue until the reader determines that the current inventory (or data collection, or file retrieval, or object locating, or the like) round is completed in operation 460, as described herein, at which time, operations of the process 400 may end.EXAMPLE FIELD TYPE DETAILS

[0127] As discussed, an AIoT Device (or “tag”) may access network via a reader, which may be in a Relay UE or gNB, or the like. Commands sent from the reader to the tag (e.g., Query, QueryAdjust, Query Rep, ACK, or NACK) are sent via the physical reader to device channel (PRDCH). Responses sent from the tag to the reader by backscattering (e.g., RN16, EPC, or other data) are sent via the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH). The CW backscattered by the tag is provisioned by either the reader or a CW node outside the topology. It will be appreciated that certain messages may be utilized at particular points in the process.

[0128] AIoT MAC Messages (Msg)

[0129] In some contexts, one or more AIoT MAC message(s) may be utilized. For example, an AIoT Paging (A-Paging) Msg may be sent from reader to devices for starting an inventory round or command for more than one device, including Filter Criteria and parameters such as Q value. For another example, a Contention (Type o) Trigger Msg may be sent from reader to devices to solicit a Short Response Msg, including a Polled RN and optionally including an ACK / NACK indication, indicating ACK if transmission in the prior access occasion being successfully received, otherwise indicating NACK. For yet another example, a Short Response Msg maybe sent from device to reader in response to a matching Contention Trigger Msg, including Short ID, which is either a valid AS ID assigned by the reader or otherwise RN16-Iike RN. For yet another example, a Dedicated (Type 1) Trigger Msg may be sent from reader to solicit Long Response Msg from a selected device, the dedicated Trigger Msg including the RN sent in the Short Response Msg by the device or a Long ID or AS ID of the device, and optionally including: 1) request for Long ID of the device (in case of an inventory procedure); 2) request for UL data or message (in case of sending a read command to the tag); 3) DL data or message (in case of sending a write command to the tag); and / or 4) request for locating signal (in case of positioning the tag). For yet another example, a Long Response Msg maybe sent from device to reader in response to a matching Dedicated Trigger Msg, including 1) Long ID (can be a TMSI-like or S-TMSI-like NAS-level ID when registered with AMF or AIoTF, or a permanent ID (e.g., IMSI or EPC) when not registered with the A-AMF) (in the case of the inventory procedure); 2) UL data or message (in the case ofsending the read command to the tag); 3) AS or NAS level ACK for receiving the DL data or message in prior Type 1 Trigger msg (in the case of sending the write command to the tag); and / or 4) locating signal (in the case of positioning the tag).

[0130] In some embodiments, certain messages may include additional and / or alternative data fields. For example, in some embodiments the Short and Long Response Messages may further include indications of energy status and / or SR.

[0131] Two example types of downlink AIoT MAC messages are further discussed herein, each including a Message Type field indicating the message type and additional type-dependent fields. Such message type field and additional type-dependent fields may include:

[0132] An AIoT Paging Message, as described herein.

[0133] A Trigger Message, which may include any of the different types of Trigger Messages, as discussed further herein, each including a Trigger Type field indicating the trigger type.

[0134] A Contention Trigger Message, as described herein.

[0135] A Dedicated Trigger Message, as described herein.

[0136] A Trigger Type field, which may be included in the Contention Trigger Message and / or Dedicated Trigger Message.

[0137] FIG. 10A illustrates example trigger type field values in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 10A depicts a first trigger type (Type 0) corresponding to a contention trigger message as described herein, meaning that the trigger message (of Type 0) triggers a contention-based random access procedure, wherein each contending device sends a short response message containing its RN16 as the first ID (or short ID) and the reader selects a winning device, possibly among multiple contending devices, and echoes its RN16 back to announce the winning device for using a subsequent access occasion (i.e., radio resource) to perform a transmission to the reader. FIG. 10A further depicts a second trigger type (Type 1) corresponding to a dedicated trigger message, meaning that the trigger message (of Type 1) triggers a contention-free access procure, wherein the trigger message includes a second ID (or long ID) of the intended device, which ID is more permanent than the RN16 of the intended device,and only the intended device with a matching second ID is allowed to use a subsequent access occasion to perform a transmission of a long response message as its response to the reader, without a need of performing the contending and wining the contention first.

[0138] In some embodiments, there is only one type of uplink message, for example the Response message. In this regard, in some such embodiments, there is no need for a Message Type field in the Response message. Instead, to differentiate between the two response types, a Response Message sent in response to a Contention Trigger Message is a Short Response Message and a Response Message sent in response to a Dedicated Trigger Message is a Long Response Message, as depicted

[0139] FIG. 10B illustrates example identifiers (IDs) for different ID types of a response to a trigger message of an example type in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The value of the ID type field may be utilized to identify the type of identifier included in the message. For example, as depicted in FIG. 10B, for an ID Type field in the Dedicated Trigger Msg (e.g., Trigger Type=i), an ID type of o may correspond to RN16, an ID type of i corresponds to an AS ID, an ID type of 2 corresponds to a Long ID, and an ID type of 3 is reserved or corresponds to any other particular message type (or is not applicable in some embodiments, as depicted).

[0140] As depicted in FIG. 10C, different example IDs for different ID types of a short response message type, for example ID type fields in a short response message in response to a contention trigger message (e.g., Trigger Type=o). For example, as depicted in FIG. 10C, for an ID Type field in the Short Response Message, an ID type of 0 may correspond to an RN16, and an ID type of 1 corresponds to an AS ID.

[0141] As depicted in FIG. 10D, different example IDs for different ID types of a long response message type, for example ID type fields in a long response message in response to a dedicated trigger message (e.g., Trigger Type=i). For example, as depicted in FIG. 10D, for an ID type field in the Long Response Message, an ID type of 0 may correspond to an ID not being present in the message, an ID type of 1 may correspond to an AS ID, an ID type of 2 may correspond to a Long ID, and an ID type of 3 is reserved or correspondsto any other particular message type (or is not applicable in some embodiments, as depicted).

[0142] The overall procedure and message flow for Ambient loT (AIoT) services in some embodiments maybe generalized into two categories: a first category that involves the use of contention-based access, and a second category that can be completed by using only contention-free access. If an AIoT Service Request targets at more than one AIoT devices, the use of contention-based access is needed and the entire message flow can be initiated by a paging-like message, which can be referred to as the AIoT Paging Message or AIoT Announcement Message. The AIoT Paging Message is followed by a series of Initial Trigger Messages that are sent intermittently by the reader to solicit contention-based responses. Each contention-based response that is successfully received by the reader from a device may be followed by one or more Dedicated Trigger Messages from the reader and the corresponding contention-free responses from the selected device to complete the service transaction with the device. The Dedicated Trigger Message may be addressed to an individual device by including a unique ID of the device and hence the chance of further collision in the response to the Dedicated Trigger Message is reduced, if not completely eliminated. On the other hand, if an AIoT Service Request targets at only one device with a known unique ID (e.g., a TMSI-like or S-TMSI-like CN assigned temporary ID), the message flow can be completed using only contention-free access, where Dedicated Trigger Message(s) with the unique ID of the device is / are sent to solicit response(s) from the device in a contention-free manner.

[0143] Although such use case may be uncommon, in some circumstances an inventory service request can target at only one device. On the other hand, a read or write command may target at a group of devices as well as a single device. In this regard, the categorization of overall message flow, as described herein, is independent from whether the use case is inventory-only, command-only, or inventory and command.

[0144] FIG. n illustrates a generalized message flow for an AIoT Service Request targeting at more than one device. The flow includes a plurality of steps, as described further herein.

[0145] Step o. The reader receives an AIoT Service Request from an AIoT- capable AMF or a new logical entity for AIoT Function (AIoTF) (e.g., which is to be decided by other WGs and hence out of the scope for RAN2). The AIoT Service Request includes information about target devices (e.g., Device Info) and information about the request services (e.g., Service Info), such as whether the service is an inventory-only service, command-only service, or inventory and command service. The Device Info includes information indicating that the AIoT Service Request is targeted at more than one device.

[0146] Step 1. The reader sends an AIoT Paging Message including the paging parameter(s). For example, the paging parameter(s) in some embodiments include a Q-like value indicating the size of a random number to be generated by the device, the Device Info, and the Service Info.

[0147] Step 2. The reader sends a Contention Trigger Message to solicit a contention-based response. The Contention Trigger Message indicates criteria for a device to meet to respond during the access occasion immediately after the Contention Trigger Message.

[0148] Step 3. A device meeting the criteria sends (by backscattering) a Response Message including a Short ID of the device during the access occasion immediately after the Contention Trigger Message. The Short ID may be another RNi6-like random number generated by the device.

[0149] Step 4. If the Response Message is received and resolvable by the reader, the reader sends a Dedicated Trigger Message including the Short ID received from the device in Step 3 as an initial step for contention resolution.

[0150] Step 5. In response to receiving the Dedicated Trigger Message with the Short ID in the message matching the Short ID of the device, the device sends (e.g., by backscattering) a Response Message including a Long ID of the device. The Long ID may be a TMSI-like or S-TMSI-like CN-assigned temporary ID that uniquely identifies the device within a deployment or an EPC-like permanent ID of an equipment attached to the device. If Long ID is valid and the AIoT Service Request is for inventory-only, the reader may consider the device as being successfully inventoried and may skip Steps 6-7 and move to Step 8 directly.

[0151] Step 6. If the AIoT Sendee Request is for command-only or inventory-and-command, the reader sends another Dedicated TriggerMessage including the command and the Long ID of the device as a further step for contention resolution if the Short ID that the reader had echoed back in the Dedicated Triger message sent in Step 4 couldn’t sufficiently resolved the contention (e.g., when two devices happen to generate the same RN16-Iike random number as their respective Short ID).

[0152] Step 7. If the Dedicated Trigger Message received in Step 6 includes a Read command, the device sends a Response Message includes the UL data requested. If the Dedicated Trigger Message received in Step 6 includes a Write command, the device may send a Response Message including an acknowledgement (ACK) for the Write command. The reader may repeat Steps 6-7 with the same device to complete additional service transactions with the device.

[0153] Step 8. The reader may repeat Steps 2-7, as described above, for additional devices until pre-specified criteria are met. It should be appreciated that Steps 2-7 may be repeated for any number of times.

[0154] Steps 9a and 9b. The reader sends an AIoT Service Response to the AIoT-capable AMF or the new AIoTF as a response to the AIoT Service Request received. The AIoT Service Response may be an aggregated response based on the Response Messages received from a group of devices (as in Step 9b) or an individual response based on the Response Message(s) received from a single device (as in Step 9a).

[0155] FIG. 12 illustrates a generalized message flow for an AIoT Service Request targeting at only one device. The flow may be performed by one or more embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0156] Step 0. The reader receives an AIoT Service Request from an AIoT- capable AMF or a new AIoTF. The AIoT Service Request includes information about target devices (e.g., Device Info) and information about the request services (e.g., Service Info). The Device Info includes information indicating that the AIoT Service Request targets at only one device.

[0157] Step 1. The reader sends a Dedicated Trigger Message including a unique ID of the device. For example, the unique ID of the device may be a TMSI-like or S-TMSI-like CN-assigned temporary ID that uniquely identifies the device within a deployment. For another example, the unique ID of the device maybe an EPC-like permanent ID of an equipment attached to thedevice. If the AIoT Service Request is for command-only or inventory-and- command, the reader further includes the command in the Dedicated Trigger Message.

[0158] Step 2. The device sends (by backscattering) a Response Message indicating that the device possesses the unique ID in the Dedicated Trigger Message. If the AIoT Sendee Request is for inventory-only, the reader may consider the device as being successfully inventoried. If the Dedicated Trigger Message received in Step i includes a Read command, the device further includes the UL data requested in the Response Message. If the Dedicated Trigger Message received in Step i includes a Write command, the device may include an acknowledgement (e.g., ACK) for the Write command in the Response Message. The reader may repeat Steps 1-2 with the same device to complete additional service transactions with the device.

[0159] Step 3. Based on the Response Message(s) received from the device, the reader sends an AIoT Service Response to the AIoT-capable AMF or the new AIoTF as a response to the AIoT Service Request received.

[0160] In some circumstances, the message flow for the AIoT Service Request targeting at a single device is initiated not by a paging-like message. Because the reader already has the unique ID of the device from the Device Info in the AIoT Service Request, the reader can directly use a Dedicated Trigger Message to address the device being sought without requiring the device to launch a random-access procedure or to contend for an access occasion. Since no other device can meet the criteria (e.g., by possessing the same unique ID) set in the Dedicated Trigger Message, the access occasion after the Dedicated Trigger Message is exclusively reserved for the Response Message from the intended device. As a result, the message flow for a single device is simpler and requires fewer handshakes, and hence can help to preserve the energy at the device.

[0161] It should be appreciated that paging may be utilized in certain circumstances. Because RRC connection management may not be supported by AIoT devices, when an AIoT service (such as inventory-only, command- only, or inventory-and-command) is sought for a single device and a unique ID of the device is available at the reader, the reader in some embodiments can directly send a trigger message including the unique ID of the device tosolicit a contention-free response from the device. Such trigger message(s) may be referred to as the Dedicated Trigger Message(s) herein. Whether the device is currently available (e.g., in the proximity of the reader and having sufficient energy) to respond can be determined based on whether a proper response can be received from the device in a timely manner, e.g., within a specific time period (which period may be referred to as the dedicated access occasion) after the Dedicated Trigger Message. A paging-like message may not need to be sent per se in this situation. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first Dedicated Trigger Message may be sent with the unique ID of the device as a dedicated paging for the device.

[0162] On the other hand, when an AIoT service is sought among a group of devices or all devices in the proximity of the reader, the reader may first send a paging-like message, referred to as the AIoT Paging Message, to announce the beginning of a random-access procedure and related parameters. Then, the reader may send a series of Contention Trigger Messages intermittently, with each Contention Trigger Message aimed to trigger a Short Response Message in a contention-based manner from a contending device within a specific time period (which period may be referred to as the random-access occasion) after the respective Contention Trigger Message. In response to a Short Response Message is indeed received by the reader during the respective random-access occasion and is resolvable, the reader may send a Dedicated Trigger Message to trigger a Long Response Message from the device in a contention-free manner in order to carry out a service transaction with the device. The reader may send additional Dedicated Trigger Message(s) to the same device to trigger the corresponding Long Response Messages from the device in order to complete the service transaction with the device.

[0163] By separately sending the AIoT Paging Message ahead of the series of Contention Trigger Messages, the reader can include, in the AIoT Paging Message, static information related to the random-access procedure, such as information about the devices that are eligible to participate in the randomaccess procedure, information about the AIoT service being sought for (e.g., inventory-only, command-only, inventory-and-command), and / or information about the size of a random number (RN) to be generated by thedevices. In this regard, the reader can avoid repeating the static information in each of the series of Contention Trigger Messages subsequently sent and therefore reducing the total signaling overhead.

[0164] Random-access procedure is used when responses are sought from more than one AIoT devices, e.g., when an AIoT Service Request for inventory or command targets at more than one device. If an AIoT Service Request for inventory or command targets at a single device, the reader can send a Dedicated Trigger Message, which includes a unique ID of the intended device. The intended device does not need to go through the random-access procedure to respond in the access occasion immediately after the Dedicated Trigger Message because there are no other devices that can meet the criteria (which require the possessing of the same unique ID in the Dedicated Trigger Message) for responding during that access occasion. The reader can determine whether an AIoT Sendee Request received needs access triggering for a single device, a group of devices, or all devices based on information about the devices and / or information about the service in the AIoT Service Request received from the AIoT-capable AMF or from a new logical entity for AIoT function (AIoTF).

[0165] Due to their poor timing capabilities, the AIoT devices cannot contend for time slots based on the timing of the boundaries of the time slots or based on sensing the channel, like in a conventional CSMA / CA scheme. Instead, the reader schedules a series of random-access occasions triggered by a series of Initial Trigger Messages, the latter of which are sent intermittently by the reader. The Initial Trigger Message maybe referred to as the Contention Trigger Message.

[0166] The devices can contend to respond to a Contention TriggerMessage based on a respective random number (RN) that the devices generated individually. However, the devices need to know a common range of numbers from which each device draws a number randomly. A range too wide may result in too many empty random-access occasions where no device makes an access attempt. A range too narrow may result in too many collisions where more than one device happens to pick the same RN and hence respond at a same random-access occasion. Either case would result in poor channel utilization. Therefore, based on the number (or estimatednumber) of the targeted devices, the reader should determine a proper range of numbers from which the devices are to respectively draw a number randomly, balancing the need for minimizing the number of empty randomaccess occasions and the need for minimizing the number of collisions.

[0167] The reader should announce the range chosen, e.g., by announcing the size of RN to be drawn, which can be referred to as the RN Size or Q-like value, to the devices. The reader can send an AIoT Paging Message to initiate a random-access procedure and announce information about the sendee and / or information about the devices, as well as the RN Size.

[0168] A device receiving the AIoT Paging Message from the reader determines its eligibility to participate in the random-access procedure based on the information about the service and / or the information about the devices in the AIoT Paging Message. If the device determines that it is eligible to participate in the random-access procedure, the device generates an RN of the RN Size as indicated and uses the RN during the random-access procedure.

[0169] Among the series of Contention Trigger Messages sent by the reader, the device in some embodiments decides whether it should respond to a specific random-access triggering based on the RN that the device has generated at the beginning of the random-access procedure. There are two primary approaches for howto use the RN that the device has generated in determining whether the device should respond to a specific random-access triggering. We refer one of the two approaches as slot-counting and the other as number-polling.

[0170] Slot-counting means that an individual device uses its RN to initiate its slot counter at the beginning of the entire random-access procedure, then counts down its slot counter based on certain R2D signals subsequently received, and when its slot counter counts down to zero, the device responds in the next access slot (e.g., access occasion). In a first variant of this approach, the R2D signals used for the slot counting is the preamble signal in every PRDCH received. In a second variant of this approach, the R2D signals used for the slot counting is every Contention Trigger Message received. In both cases, the device needs to monitor the channel for every7preamble (in the first variant) or every Contention Trigger Message (in the second variant), while consuming energy in the process. Missing a preambleor Contention Trigger Message will result in mis-count. The larger the RN value that the device has generated and used in starting its slot counter, the higher chance that the device will mis-count. If a device has mis-counted by too much, it is possible that by the time that the reader has completed all the random-access occasions by its own count, the slot counter of the device has not counted down to zero yet and hence the device is unable to respond during this entire random-access procedure. Hence, the AIoT Service Response sent by the reader may contain errors at the service level, e.g., mis-count the devices that are present or failure to deliver a command in a device, which errors may be otherwise avoidable.

[0171] In the number-polling approach, the reader indicates, in each Contention Trigger Message, polled number(s) for devices to compare its respective RN with. A device with a matching RN sends its response in the access occasion immediately after the Contention Trigger Message. If the response from the device is received and resolvable by the reader, the reader can send Dedicated Trigger Message(s) to trigger further response(s) from the device in a contention-free manner to complete the service transaction. In this way, the reader has greater control over how the random-access procedure is carried out. For example, the reader can speed up the number-polling by polling a wider range of numbers at a time when there is an empty randomaccess occasion or when empty random-access occasions persist. For another example, the reader can slow down the number-polling by polling a narrower range of numbers or polling a single number at a time when there is a collision or when collisions persist. Because a device needs to receive only the Contention Trigger Message with a polled number matching its own RN, the device will not miscount nor miss its chance to respond due to missing the other Contention Trigger Messages that are otherwise irrelevant to the device. For this reason, the reader may always poll numbers in a monotonically increasing or decreasing manner, a device with an RN that is far away from the number(s) currently being polled can choose to enter an energy-saving (and energy-harvesting) mode, e.g., by not monitoring the channel for a while, and resume its normal operations (such as monitoring the channel) at a later and appropriate time.

[0172] Comparing these two approaches, in the slot-counting approaches, the reader can perform only a few static tasks such as determining and announcing the RN Size at the beginning of the entire random-access procedure to control the pace of the procedure, while the devices shoulder the burden of performing most of the dynamic tasks, such as monitoring for every R2D signal for the slot counting, counting down its slot counter accordingly, and responding when its slot counter reaches zero. Hence, the reader has little control over how the procedure is carried out, except possibly fine-tuning the RN Size in the middle of the random-access procedure. In order not to miscount, the devices are unable to skip monitoring for an extended period of time. On the other hand, in the number-polling approach, the reader determines and announces which number(s) to poll in each individual access triggering (and hence gaining more and dynamic control over how the procedure is carried out), while the device simply compares the polled number(s) with its RN and decides whether to respond accordingly, and to do that, the device may be able to skip monitoring for an extended period of time to reduce its energy consumption (and to harvest more energy). These advantages may make the number-polling approach more suitable for high- device density deployments and mobile network environments.EXAMPLE DATA FLOW DETAILS

[0173] Example processes for different tasks involving various numbers of devices and messages with different identifiers are further discussed. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the particular data flow followed by a device and / or reader may depend on the particular task and configuration of the device(s) and / or reader.

[0174] FIG. 13A illustrates a data flow for inventory-only targeting at multiple devices for a device without a valid access stratum (AS) ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, an A-Paging message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The A-Paging message may include a Q value (which is same as the length of the random number to be generated by the tags) and / or filter criteria (or a criterion). At a second step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating that it is a contention trigger for triggering a contention-based random access procedure, as described inFIG.ioA), and one or more Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round). Optionally, the first Trigger message may include an ACK or NACK for a prior transaction. At a third step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader, for example where the Polled RN in the received first Trigger message matches an RN of the device. The first Response message may include an ID type value, and an ID corresponding to the RN16 value (e.g., the first ID or the short ID) for the device. At a fourth step, a second Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating that it is a dedicated trigger for triggering a contention-free access procedure, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating an RN16 identifier is included), and an ID corresponding to the RN16 matching to the RN16 received in the first response message from the device. At a fifth step, a second Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The second Response message includes an ID type value (e.g., indicating a Long Type identifier is included), and an ID corresponding to a Long ID (the second ID) of the device. At a sixth step, a third Trigger message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value i (e.g., indicating that it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), and an ID corresponding to the Long ID that was received corresponding to the device that matched the Polled RN(s). Optionally, in some embodiments at a seventh step, a third Response message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The third Response message includes an ID type value (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included) and an ID corresponding to an AS ID of the device (e.g., where the AS ID has not been assigned by the reader).

[0175] FIG. 13B illustrates a data flow for inventory-only targeting at multiple devices for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, an A-Paging message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The A- Paging message may include a Q value and / or filter criteria (or a criterion). At a second step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), and one or more Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in acurrent round). Optionally, the first Trigger message may include an ACK or NACK for a prior transaction. At a third step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader, for example where the Polled RN in the received first Trigger message matches a RN of the device. The first Response message may include an ID type value, and an ID corresponding to the AS ID value for the device. At a fourth step, a second Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s), and optionally an ACK for the prior transaction. A next Response may be provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the second Trigger message, as described herein.

[0176] FIG. 14A illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at multiple devices for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, an A-Paging message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The A-Paging message may include a Q value and / or filter criteria (or a criterion). At a second step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), and one or more Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round). Optionally, the first Trigger message may include an ACK or NACK for a prior transaction. At a third step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader, for example where the Polled RN in the received Trigger message matches a RN of the device. The first Response message may include an ID type value, and an ID corresponding to the RN16 value for the device. At a fourth step, a second Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating an RN16 identifier is included), and an ID corresponding to the RN16 matching to the RN16 received in the first Response message in the third step. At a fifth step, a second Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The second Response message includes an ID type value (e.g., indicating a Long Type identifier is included), and an ID correspondingto a Long ID of the device. At a sixth step, a third Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value i (e.g., indicating that it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), an ID corresponding to the Long ID that was received corresponding to the device that matched the Polled RN(s), a command value, and optionally an AS ID assignment from the reader. In some embodiments at a seventh step, a third Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The third Response message includes an ID type value (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), optionally an AS ID corresponding to the device, and optionally UL data / message or an ACK corresponding to the device. At step eight, a fourth Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The fourth Trigger message includes a trigger type of value o (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled Number(s), and an ACK for a prior transaction.

[0177] FIG. 14B illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at multiple devices for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, an A-Paging message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The A-Paging message may include a Q value and / or filter criteria (or a criterion). At a second step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), and one or more Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round). Optionally, the first Trigger message may include an ACK or NACK for a prior transaction. At a third step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader, for example where the Polled RN in the received first Trigger message matches a RN of the device. The first Response message may include an ID type value, and an ID corresponding to the AS ID value for the device. At a fourth step, a second Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), and a command. At a fifth step, a second Response message is transmitted from the device to the Reader. The secondResponse message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID identifier is included), optionally an AS ID, and optionally a UL data / message or ACK. At a sixth step, a third Trigger message is sent from the reader to the device. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s), and optionally an ACK for a prior transaction. A next Response may be provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the new Trigger message, as described herein.

[0178] FIG. 15A illustrates a data flow for inventory-only service targeting at a single device for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), and an ID corresponding to a Long ID. At a second step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The first Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), optionally an ID corresponding to a long ID of the device, and optionally an ACK. At an optional step 2b, a second Trigger is sent from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message includes a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), and an ID type (e.g., indicating a long ID is included and an AS ID assignment). At an optional step 2c, a second Response is sent from the device to the reader. The second Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), optionally an AS ID of the device, and optionally an ACK. At a third step, a third Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value 0 (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round), and optionally an ACK for a prior transaction. A next Response maybe provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the third Trigger message, as described herein.

[0179] FIG. 15B illustrates a data flow for inventory-only service targeting at a single device for a device without a valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device.The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value i (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), and optionally a command. At a second step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The first Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), optionally an ID corresponding to a long ID of the device, and optionally an ACK. At a third step, a second Trigger is sent from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message includes a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a long ID is included), a long ID corresponding to the device, a command, an optionally an AS ID assignment. At a fourth step, a second Response message is sent from the device to the reader. The second Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), optionally an AS ID of the device, and optionally a UL data / message or ACK. At a fifth step, a third Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value o (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round), and optionally an ACK for a prior transaction. A next Response maybe provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the third Trigger message, as described herein.

[0180] FIG. 16A illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at a single device for a device without valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value 1 (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), a long ID of the device, and optionally a command. At a second step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The first Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), optionally an ID corresponding to a long ID of the device, and optionally an ACK. At a third step, a second Trigger is sent from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message includes a trigger type of value i (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a longID is included), a long ID corresponding to the device, a command, and optionally an AS ID assignment. At a fourth step, a second Response message is sent from the device to the reader. The second Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), optionally an AS ID of the device, and optionally a UL data / message or ACK. At a fifth step, a third Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The third Trigger message includes a trigger type of value o (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round), and optionally an ACK for a prior transaction. A next Response maybe provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the third Trigger message, as described herein.

[0181] FIG. 16B illustrates a data flow for command-only or inventory- and-command service targeting at a single device for a device with a valid AS ID assigned by a reader. At a first step, a first Trigger message is transmitted from the reader to the device. The first Trigger message may include a trigger type of value i (e.g., indicating it is a dedicated trigger, as described in FIG.ioA), an ID type (e.g., indicating a Long ID is included), and a command. At a second step, a first Response message is transmitted from the device to the reader. The first Response message includes an ID type (e.g., indicating an AS ID is included), optionally an ID corresponding to the AS ID of the device, and optionally a UL data / message or ACK. At a third step, a second Trigger is sent from the reader to the device. The second Trigger message includes a trigger type of value o (e.g., indicating it is a contention trigger for triggering a new round of contention, as described in FIG.ioA), new Polled RN(s) (e.g., corresponding to tag(s) and / or device(s) being polled in a current round), and optionally an ACK for a prior transaction. A next Response may be provided similarly as discussed herein in response to the second Trigger message, as described herein.

[0182] In some embodiments, contention resolution mechanisms may be utilized as described herein. For example, for this Long Trigger msg contention can be resolved if more than one device had sent a Short Response msg in response to the Short Trigger msg and each device includes its respective AS ID or Long ID in its Short Response msg or only one deviceincludes an RN16 and each remaining device includes its respective AS ID or Long ID, assuming all AS IDs are unique and all Long IDs are unique. In this case, the selected device sends a Long Response msg including its Long ID. However, this Long Trigger msg cannot resolve contention if more than one device had sent Short Response msg in response to the Short Trigger msg, all including a same RN16, and one of them is selected by the reader for soliciting a Long Response msg. In this case, the devices with the same RN16 each considers that it is selected and hence sends a respective Long Response msg including its Long ID in a subsequent step.

[0183] The reader selects a device for further communication by including the Long ID of the device in a second Long Trigger msg sent to assign AS ID and / or send command to the device. In this regard, the contention between devices may be resolved.

[0184] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments contention failure detection can be performed. For example, after sending a Short Response Message, if not receiving a Dedicated Trigger Message with a matching Short ID of the device within a specific period of time, the device may consider an access failure is detected. After sending a Long Response message, if not receiving an acknowledgment (which could be indicated in another Contention Trigger Message sent to trigger a response for another random-access occasion, and / or the like) or another Dedicated Trigger Message including a matching Long ID or a matching AS ID, the device may consider an access failure is detected.

[0185] In some embodiments, additional control information in short response message(s) and / or long response message(s) may be included. For example, in some embodiments, the device may include, in the Short or Long Response Msg that it sends, one or more of:

[0186] A Scheduling Request (SR): A 1-bit indication indicating whether the tag requests a transmission occasion over PDRCH due to more data are available for transmission.

[0187] An Energy Status: An indication with a few quantized energy levels such as V full, ¥2 full,3 / 4 full, etc., or simply a i-bit indication indicating whether the device will shut down after the current transmission.

[0188] If the device indicates that it is shutting down, the reader may defer further communications with the device and / or schedule CW or other RF signals for the device harvesting energy. The reader may further estimate the amount of time taking the tag to be charged up and resume responding to a trigger message polling the device by trial-and-errors and then use the estimate (and those in the past) to guide its scheduling algorithm (possibly with a Digital Twin and / or AI / ML).

[0189] In some embodiments, the SR and Energy Status indications do not conflict with each other. The device can request transmission while indicating it is shutting down. In this case, the reader should wait longer (e.g., a longer amount based on the estimates) before polling the device for the transmission than had the device indicated that it is not shutting down. EXAMPLE PROCESSES OF EMBODIMENTS

[0190] Example processes are discussed further herein that may be performed by one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the processes may be performed by embodiments within a system (e.g., a network) as depicted and described herein. For example, some of the processes may be performed by tag(s) within a system, and / or some of the processes maybe performed by a reader (or reader(s)) within a system.

[0191] FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart depicting example operations of a method in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 17 depicts a process 1700 including operations for communicating using polled numbers by a tag in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The example process may be performed by one or more device(s) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, for example a communication device embodying a wireless device, tag, terminal, or the like, as depicted and described herein. Optional steps maybe depicted in broken (e.g., dashed) lines. The device(s) may include computer-readable code or instructions executing on one or more processors of the device(s). Coding of the software for carrying out or performing the process 1700 is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art having regard to the present disclosure. The process 1700 may include additional or fewer operations than those shown and described and may be carried out or performed in a different order. Computer-readable codeor instructions of the software executable by the one or more processors may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as for example, the memory of the device(s). In some embodiments, the process 1700 may be performed by one or more of units or modules (e.g., an integrated circuit) of the device(s), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0192] The process 1700 includes a step 1702 of receiving a first message and an indication. The indication indicates one or more polled numbers (e.g., numbers being polled), for example for a current round of the procedure). The first message indicates a beginning of a round of a procedure (e.g., a particular task). In some embodiments, the indication is received as part of the first message.

[0193] The process 1700 includes a step 1704 of generating a first random number of the communication device for the round of the procedure. The first random number may be generated between a minimum value and maximum value. Any process for generating a random number may be used to generate the first random number, as described herein.

[0194] The process 1700 includes a step 1706 of sending a first response that includes. The first response in some embodiments is sent in response to the first random number of the communication device being among the one or more polled numbers. The first response includes a first identifier (ID) of the communication device.

[0195] The process 1700 includes a step 1708 of determining that a second message including the first ID of the communication device is received within a time period after sending the first response. In this regard, the communication device may compare the first ID to data in the second message. The time period may represent an interval within which a device corresponding to a polled number that won contention is notified.

[0196] The process 1700 includes a step 1710 of sending a second response. The second response includes a second ID of the communication device. The second ID identifies the communication device, for example based on predetermined or otherwise fixed numerical identifier, a hardware, a more permanent identifier, and / or the like. In this regard, the polled numbers may be utilized to trigger communication from the communication device.

[0197] FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart depicting additional example operations of a method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 18 depicts a process 1800 including operations for generating a random number for response messaging, for example as part of a process for communicating using polled numbers. The example process may be performed by one or more device(s) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, for example a communication device embodying a wireless device, tag, terminal, or the like, as depicted and described herein. Optional steps may be depicted in broken (e.g., dashed) lines. The device(s) may include computer-readable code or instructions executing on one or more processors of the device(s). Coding of the software for carrying out or performing the process 1800 is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art having regard to the present disclosure. The process 1800 may include additional or fewer operations than those shown and described and may be carried out or performed in a different order. Computer-readable code or instructions of the software executable by the one or more processors may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as for example, the memory of the device(s). In some embodiments, the process 1800 may be performed by one or more of units or modules (e.g., an integrated circuit) of the device(s), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0198] The process 1800 includes a step 1802 of generating a second random number in response to receiving the first message. The second random number is generated in accordance with a length information in the first message, for example the length information indicating a number of bits of the second random number to be generated. In some example embodiments, the length field is replaced with a maximal value field, where the communication device generates the second random number to be a random number between zero and the maximal value.

[0199] The process 1800 includes a step 1804 of selecting a coefficient in accordance with a status of energy currently stored at the communication device. In some embodiments, the status of energy currently stored at the communication device is a quantized value of an absolute energy value. In some embodiments, the status of energy currently stored at thecommunication device is a quantized value of a percentage of the energy level compared to the full storage capacity.

[0200] The process 1800 includes a step 1806 of modifying the second random number by the coefficient to produce the first random number. In this regard, the second random number may represent an energy-modified number, as discussed herein.

[0201] FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart depicting additional example operations of a method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 19 depicts a process 1900 including operations for modifying a random number for response messaging, for example as part of a process for communicating using polled numbers. The example process may be performed by one or more device(s) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, for example a communication device embodying a wireless device, tag, terminal, or the like, as depicted and described herein. Optional steps may be depicted in broken (e.g., dashed) lines. The device(s) may include computer-readable code or instructions executing on one or more processors of the device(s). Coding of the software for carrying out or performing the process 1900 is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art having regard to the present disclosure. The process 1900 may include additional or fewer operations than those shown and described and may be carried out or performed in a different order. Computer-readable code or instructions of the software executable by the one or more processors may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as for example, the memory of the device(s). In some embodiments, the process 1900 may be performed by one or more of units or modules (e.g., an integrated circuit) of the device(s), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0202] In some embodiments, only one of the steps of the process 1900 is performed to produce the first random number. In this regard, in some embodiments, one of the steps 1902, 1904, or 1906 is utilized to replace, supplement, or otherwise supplant the step 1806 as depicted and described with respect to the process 1800 in FIG. 18.

[0203] The process 1900 includes a step 1902 of multiplying the second random number with the coefficient to produce the first random number. Themultiplication may be performed utilizing any mathematical implementation on the communication device.

[0204] The process 1900 includes a step 1904 of shifting the second random number by a first number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number. For example, the coefficient maybe a number that indicates the first number of bits to shift, or is utilized to derive the first number of bits to shift. In this regard, the bit shifting may modify the second random number by a power of two accordingly.

[0205] The process 1900 includes a step 1906 of truncating the second random number by a second number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number. For example, the coefficient may be a number that indicates the second number of bits to truncate, or is utilized to derive the second number of bits to truncate. In this regard, the truncating may modify the second random number based on the number of bits, which may correspond to a coefficient of a power of two.

[0206] FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart depicting example operations of a method in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 20 depicts a process 2000 including operations for communicating using polled numbers. The example process may be performed by one or more device(s) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, for example a communication device embodying a reader, relay, gNB, or the like, as depicted and described herein. Optional steps may be depicted in broken (e.g., dashed) lines. The device(s) may include computer-readable code or instructions executing on one or more processors of the device(s). Coding of the software for carrying out or performing the process 2000 is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art having regard to the present disclosure. The process 2000 may include additional or fewer operations than those shown and described and may be carried out or performed in a different order. Computer-readable code or instructions of the software executable by the one or more processors may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as for example, the memory of the device(s). In some embodiments, the process 2000 may be performed by one or more of units or modules (e.g., an integrated circuit) ofthe device(s), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0207] The process 2000 includes a step 2002 of sending a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers. The first message further indicates a beginning of a round of a procedure (e.g. , a task). The first message and / or the indication may be sent to another communication device (for example another wireless device, tag, and / or the like).

[0208] The process 2000 further includes a step 2004 of receiving a first response of the first message from another communication device. The first response includes a first identifier (ID) of the another communication device. The response may be sent in response to the first message being received by the another communication device, for example at step 2002. For example, in some embodiments the first ID is another random number (e.g., different from the one used for comparing with polled numbers) generated by another communication device for identifying itself (e.g., as a contending device) to the reader.

[0209] The process 2000 further includes a step 2006 of sending, in response to receiving the first response, a second message. The second message includes the first ID of the another communication device. In this regard, the communication device (e.g., a reader) sends the second message to cause the other communication device to recognize the matching between the first ID included in the second message and the first ID possessed by the communication device, and based thereon, recognizing itself as the winning device of the contention. The second message may also cause yet other communication devices, which each had sent their respective first response with their respective first ID in response to receiving the same first message, to compare their respective first IDs with the one included in the second message. Due to the randomness in generating the first IDs by the communication device and by the other communication devices, however, it is most likely that each of the other communication devices will find that their respective first ID is different than the first ID of the winning device that is echoed back by the communication device (e.g., the reader) in the second message. Based on this lack of matching, each of the other communicationdevices recognizes that they are not the winning device of the contention for using a following slot for performing a transmission.

[0210] The process 2000 further includes a step 2008 of determining that a second response including a second ID of the another communication device is received from the another communication device within a first time period after sending the first message. The second ID in some embodiments includes an identifies the communication device. For example, the second ID maybe a hardware identifier, more permanent, fixed, and / or the like, unique to the another communication device.

[0211] The process 2000 further includes a step 2010 of sending, based upon the determination, a third message. The third message indicates that the second response from the another communication device has been received. The communication device implementing the process (e.g., a reader), in some embodiments, may forward the second ID of the communication device to the CN to verify its validity. The second ID of the communication device, if still valid, may be stored in the CN. In this regard, the CN recognizes (and may further inform the communication device, for example the reader) that the second ID of the communication device, if still stored in the CN, as being valid; otherwise, as being invalid.

[0212] FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart depicting additional example operations of a method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 21 depicts a process 2100 including operations for updating polled numbers for communicating, for example as part of a process for communicating using polled numbers. The example process may be performed by one or more device(s) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, for example a communication device embodying a reader, relay, gNB, or the like, as depicted and described herein. Optional steps maybe depicted in broken (e.g., dashed) lines. The device(s) may include computer-readable code or instructions executing on one or more processors of the device(s). Coding of the software for carrying out or performing the process 2100 is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art having regard to the present disclosure. The process 2100 may include additional or fewer operations than those shown and described and may be carried out or performed in a different order. Computer-readable codeor instructions of the software executable by the one or more processors may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as for example, the memory of the device(s). In some embodiments, the process 2100 may be performed by one or more of units or modules (e.g., an integrated circuit) of the device(s), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0213] The process 2100 includes a step 2102 of determining that the round of the procedure is incomplete. In some embodiments, the round of the procedure is determined incomplete in response to a particular indication, a determination that one or more targets have not been communicated with, and / or the like. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments a determination is made based at least in part on at least one additional condition being true. The at least one additional condition may be true in addition to the determination that the round of the procedure is incomplete. The at least one additional conditional may include at least one of: determining that the communication device has not received any first response within a second time period after sending the first message, determining that the communication device (e.g., a reader) has not received the second response from the communication device within the first time period after sending the second message, and determining that the reader device is being unable to verify that the second ID is in the second response received from the communication device is valid. A determination of the at least one additional condition may occur at any one or more of steps 2104A, 2104B, and / or 2104C. In response to any such combinations of determinations, the process proceeds to step 2106.

[0214] The process 2100 further includes a step 2106 of sending a fifth message. The fifth message indicates one or more other polled numbers, for a new round of numbers being polled. The one or more other polled numbers in the fifth message replaces the one or more polled numbers previously utilized, for example for a round that is ending. In this regard, the fifth message may include updated polled numbers that replace the previous one or more polled numbers. In some embodiments, the updated one or more other numbers in the fifth message are monotonically increased (or decreased) from the current one or more polled numbers.EXAMPLE SYSTEM ASPECTS

[0215] FIG. 5 illustrates a communication system involving passive devices (AIoT devices). The system depicts a Topology 2 and a Topology 1. The topology 2 includes an AIoT device in communication with an AIoT relay UE (for example, which is a UE-based reader). The AIoT relay UE is connected to a gNB by a Uu link. The gNB communicates with an access and mobility management function (AMF) via a CP-based communication link. The AMF communicates with a network exposure function (NEF). With respect to Topology 1, an AIoT device is directly communicable with an AIoT gNB (for example, which is a gNB-based reader). The AIoT gNB communicates with a user plane function (UPF) using a UP-based communication link. The UPF is further communicable with a data network (DN). In some embodiments, the DN and the NEF are communicable via one or more communication links.

[0216] An AIoT device (for example, a tag) accesses the network via a reader, which may be in a relay (or intermediate) UE or a gNB, details of which are further described herein. Messages sent from the reader to the tag are sent via the physical reader to device channel (PRDCH). Responses sent from the tag to the reader by backscattering are sent via the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH). The CW to be backscattered by the tag is provisioned by either the reader or a CW node outside the topology.

[0217] FIG. 6 illustrates an example communications system 600. Communications system 600 includes an access node 610 serving user equipments (UEs) with coverage 601, for example UEs 620. The access node 610 may function as a gNB-based AIoT reader in Topology 1, as described herein. In this regard, in some embodiments the access node 610 may be wirelessly communicable with one or more AIoT tag(s) (or device(s)) for communication as described herein. UEs 620 may function as UE-based AIoT readers in Topology 2, as described herein. In this regard, in some embodiments one or more of the UEs 620 may be wirelessly communicable with one or more AIoT tag(s) (or device(s)) for communication as described herein. In some embodiments, the access node 610 is connected to one or more AIoT tag(s), and one or more of the UEs 620 is connected to one or more AIoT tag(s), and communicate with such AIoT tag(s) to perform the operations described herein.

[0218] In a first operating mode, communications to and from a UE passes through access node 610 with a coverage area 601. The access node 610 is connected to a backhaul network 615 for connecting to the internet, operations and management, and so forth. In a second operating mode, communications to and from a UE do not pass through access node 610, however, access node 610 typically allocates resources used by the UE to communicate when specific conditions are met. Communications between a pair of UEs 620 can use a sidelink connection (shown as two separate one-way connections 625). In FIG. 6, the sideline communication is occurring between two UEs operating inside of coverage area 601. However, sidelink communications, in general, can occur when UEs 620 are both outside coverage area 601, both inside coverage area 601, or one inside and the other outside coverage area 601. Communication between a UE and access node pair occur over uni-directional communication links, where the communication links between the UE and the access node are referred to as uplinks 630, and the communication links between the access node and UE is referred to as downlinks 635.

[0219] Access nodes may also be commonly referred to as Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), next generation (NG) Node Bs (gNBs), master eNBs (MeNBs), secondary eNBs (SeNBs), master gNBs (MgNBs), secondary gNBs (SgNBs), network controllers, control nodes, base stations, access points, transmission points (TPs), transmission-reception points (TRPs), cells, carriers, macro cells, femtocells, pico cells, and so on, while UEs may also be commonly referred to as mobile stations, mobiles, terminals, users, subscribers, stations, and the like. Access nodes may provide wireless access in accordance with one or more wireless communication protocols, e.g., the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), 5G, 5G LTE, 5G NR, sixth generation (6G), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, such as 802.na / b / g / n / ac / ad / ax / ay / be, etc. While it is understood that communications systems may employ multiple access nodes capable of communicating with a number of UEs, only one access node and two UEs are illustrated for simplicity.

[0220] FIG. 7 illustrates an example communication system 700. In general, the system 700 enables multiple wireless or wired users to transmit and receive data and other content. The system 700 may implement one or more channel access methods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), or non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA).

[0221] In this example, the communication system 700 includes electronic devices (ED) 7103-7100, radio access networks (RANs) 7203-720]}, a core network 730, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 740, the Internet 750, and other networks 760. While certain numbers of these components or elements are shown in FIG. 7, any number of these components or elements may be included in the system 700.

[0222] The EDs 7103-7100 are configured to operate or communicate in the system 700. For example, the EDs 7103-7100 are configured to transmit or receive via wireless or wired communication channels. Each ED 7103-7100 represents any suitable end user device and may include such devices (or may be referred to) as a user equipment or device (UE), wireless transmit or receive unit (WTRU), mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, laptop, computer, touchpad, wireless sensor, or consumer electronics device.

[0223] The RANs 72oa-72ob here include base stations 770a-770b, respectively. Each base station 77oa-77ob is configured to wirelessly interface with one or more of the EDs 7103-7100 to enable access to the core network 730, the PSTN 740, the Internet 750, or the other networks 760. For example, the base stations 770a-770b may include (or be) one or more of several well- known devices, such as a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node-B (NodeB), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a Next Generation (NG) NodeB (gNB), a gNB centralized unit (gNB-CU), a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, a site controller, an access point (AP), or a wireless router. The EDs 710a- 710c are configured to interface and communicate with the Internet 750 and may access the core network 730, the PSTN 740, or the other networks 760.

[0224] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the base station 770a forms part of the RAN 720a, which may include other base stations, elements, or devices. Also, the base station 770b forms part of the RAN 720b, which may include other base stations, elements, or devices. Each base station 770a- 770b operates to transmit or receive wireless signals within a particular geographic region or area, sometimes referred to as a “cell.” In some embodiments, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology may be employed having multiple transceivers for each cell.

[0225] The base stations 770a-770b communicate with one or more of the EDs 710a- 710c over one or more air interfaces 790 using wireless communication links. The air interfaces 790 may utilize any suitable radio access technology.

[0226] It is contemplated that the system 700 may use multiple channel access functionality, including such schemes as described herein. In particular embodiments, the base stations and EDs implement 5G New Radio (NR), LTE, LTE-A, or LTE-B. Of course, other multiple access schemes and wireless protocols may be utilized.

[0227] The RANs 720a- 720b are in communication with the core network730 to provide the EDs 7103-7100 with voice, data, application, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), or other services. Understandably, the RANs 720a- 720b or the core network 730 may be in direct or indirect communication with one or more other RANs (not shown). The core network 730 may also serve as a gateway access for other networks (such as the PSTN 740, the Internet 750, and the other networks 760). In addition, some or all of the EDs 7103-7100 may include functionality for communicating with different wireless networks over different wireless links using different wireless technologies or protocols. Instead of wireless communication (or in addition thereto), the EDs may communicate via wired communication channels to a service provider or switch (not shown), and to the Internet 750.

[0228] Although FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a communication system, various changes maybe made to FIG. 7. For example, the communication system 700 could include any number of EDs, base stations, networks, or other components in any suitable configuration.

[0229] FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate example devices that may implement the methods and teachings according to this disclosure. In particular, FIG. 8A illustrates an example ED 810, and FIG. 8B illustrates an example base station 870. These components could be used in the system 700 or in any other suitable system.

[0230] As shown in FIG. 8A, the ED 810 includes at least one processing unit 800. The processing unit 800 implements various processing operations of the ED 810. For example, the processing unit 800 could perform signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, or any other functionality enabling the ED 810 to operate in the system 700. The processing unit 800 also supports the methods and teachings described in more detail herein. Each processing unit 800 includes any suitable processing or computing device configured to perform one or more operations. Each processing unit 800 could, for example, include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, field programmable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

[0231] The ED 810 also includes at least one transceiver 802. The transceiver 802 is configured to modulate data or other content for transmission by at least one antenna or NIC (Network Interface Controller) 804. The transceiver 802 is also configured to demodulate data or other content received by the at least one antenna 804. Each transceiver 802 includes any suitable structure for generating signals for wireless or wired transmission or processing signals received wirelessly or by wire. Each antenna 804 includes any suitable structure for transmitting or receiving wireless or wired signals. One or multiple transceivers 802 could be used in the ED 810, and one or multiple antennas 804 could be used in the ED 810. Although shown as a single functional unit, a transceiver 802 could also be implemented using at least one transmitter and at least one separate receiver.

[0232] The ED 810 further includes one or more input / output devices 806 or interfaces (such as a wired interface to the Internet 750). The input / output devices 806 facilitate interaction with a user or other devices (network communications) in the network. Each input / output device 806 includes any suitable structure for providing information to or receiving information from auser, such as a speaker, microphone, keypad, keyboard, display, or touch screen, including network interface communications.

[0233] In addition, the ED 810 includes at least one memory 808. The memory 808 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by the ED 810. For example, the memory 808 could store software or firmware instructions executed by the processing unit(s) 800 and data used to reduce or eliminate interference in incoming signals. Each memory 808 includes any suitable volatile or non-volatile storage and retrieval device(s). Any suitable type of memory may be used, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), hard disk, optical disc, subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory stick, secure digital (SD) memory card, and the like.

[0234] As shown in FIG. 8B, the base station 870 includes at least one processing unit 850, at least one transceiver 852, which includes functionality for a transmitter and a receiver, one or more antennas 856, at least one memory 858, and one or more input / output devices or interfaces 866. A scheduler, which would be understood by one skilled in the art, is coupled to the processing unit 850. The scheduler could be included within or operated separately from the base station 870. The processing unit 850 implements various processing operations of the base station 870, such as signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, or any other functionality. The processing unit 850 can also support the methods and teachings described in more detail herein. Each processing unit 850 includes any suitable processing or computing device configured to perform one or more operations. Each processing unit 850 could, for example, include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, field programmable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

[0235] Each transceiver 852 includes any suitable structure for generating signals for wireless or wired transmission to one or more EDs or other devices. Each transceiver 852 further includes any suitable structure for processing signals received wirelessly or by wire from one or more EDs or other devices. Although shown combined as a transceiver 852, a transmitter and a receiver could be separate components. Each antenna 856 includes any suitable structure for transmitting or receiving wireless or wired signals. While a common antenna 856 is shown here as being coupled to the transceiver 852,one or more antennas 856 could be coupled to the transceiver(s) 852, allowing separate antennas 856 to be coupled to the transmitter and the receiver if equipped as separate components. Each memory 858 includes any suitable volatile or non-volatile storage and retrieval device(s). Each input / output device 866 facilitates interaction with a user or other devices (network communications) in the network. Each input / output device 866 includes any suitable structure for providing information to or receiving / providing information from a user, including network interface communications.

[0236] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a computing system 900 that may be used for implementing the devices and methods disclosed herein. For example, the computing system can be any entity of UE, access network (AN), mobility management (MM), session management (SM), user plane gateway (UPGW), or access stratum (AS). Specific devices may utilize all of the components shown or only a subset of the components, and levels of integration may vary from device to device. Furthermore, a device may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processing units, processors, memories, transmitters, receivers, etc. The computing system 900 includes a processing unit 902. The processing unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) 914, memory 908, and may further include a mass storage device 904, a video adapter 910, and an I / O interface 912 connected to a bus 920.

[0237] The bus 920 may be one or more of any type of several bus architectures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, or a video bus. The CPU 914 may comprise any type of electronic data processor. The memory 908 may comprise any type of non-transitory system memory such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the memory7908 may include ROM for use at bootup, and DRAM for program and data storage for use while executing programs.

[0238] The mass storage 904 may comprise any type of non-transitory storage device configured to store data, programs, and other information and to make the data, programs, and other information accessible via the bus 920.The mass storage 904 may comprise, for example, one or more of a solid state drive, hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, or an optical disk drive.

[0239] The video adapter 910 and the I / O interface 912 provide interfaces to couple external input and output devices to the processing unit 902. As illustrated, examples of input and output devices include a display 918 coupled to the video adapter 910 and a mouse, keyboard, or printer 916 coupled to the I / O interface 912. Other devices maybe coupled to the processing unit 902, and additional or fewer interface cards may be utilized. For example, a serial interface such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) (not shown) may be used to provide an interface for an external device.

[0240] The processing unit 902 also includes one or more network interfaces 906, which may comprise wired links, such as an Ethernet cable, or wireless links to access nodes or different networks. The network interfaces 906 allow the processing unit 902 to communicate with remote units via the networks. For example, the network interfaces 906 may provide wireless communication via one or more transmitters / transmit antennas and one or more receivers / receive antennas. In an embodiment, the processing unit 902 is coupled to a local-area network 922 or a wide-area network for data processing and communications with remote devices, such as other processing units, the Internet, or remote storage facilities.

[0241] It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, not all components in the devices described in Figures. 6-9 are required. In a nonlimiting example, the ED 810 maybe implemented as an ambient loT device that lacks one or more components. For example, an ambient loT device embodying the ED 810 in some embodiments may not include an input / output devices 806 for providing information to or receiving information from a user, such as a speaker, microphone, keypad, keyboard, display, or touch screen. Additionally or alternatively, the transceiver 802 of the ambient loT device embodying the ED 810 in some embodiments may be capable of transmitting by backscattering a radio wave received, instead of by generating the radio wave, for wireless communication purpose. In another non-limiting example, in some embodiments the system 900 may be implemented as an ambient loT device that does not include or use the mass storage device 904, the video adapter 910, the mouse, keyboard, or printer916, or the display 918. In some embodiments, an AIoT device embodying the system 900 and / or the ED 810 may rely on energy harvested from an ambient source for data transmission (e.g., as a battery-less device), such that the ambient AIoT device may be simplified without significant energy storage capabilities, without human-readable input / output capabilities, and / or the like.

[0242] It should be appreciated that one or more steps of the embodiment methods provided herein may be performed by corresponding units or modules. For example, a signal maybe transmitted by a transmitting unit or a transmitting module. A signal may be received by a receiving unit or a receiving module. A signal may be processed by a processing unit or a processing module. Other steps may be performed by a first message transmitting unit / module, a first message receiving unit / module, a first response transmitting unit / module, a first response receiving unit / module, a second message transmitting unit / module, a second message receiving unit / module, a third message transmitting unit / module, a third message receiving unit / module, a fourth message transmitting unit / module, a fourth message receiving unit / module, a fifth message transmitting unit / module, a fifth message receiving unit / module, a random number generating unit / module, a random number modifying unit / module, an identifier storing unit / module, and / or an identifier comparing unit / module. The respective units or modules maybe hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For instance, one or more of the units or modules may be an integrated circuit, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0243] Although the description has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described herein, as one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from this disclosure that processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, may perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the correspondingembodiments described herein. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

What is Claimed:

1. A method implemented by a communication device, the method comprising: receiving a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers related to a round of a procedure, the first message indicating a beginning of the round of the procedure; generating a first random number of the communication device for the round of the procedure, the first random number being among the one or more polled numbers; sending a first response that comprises a first identifier (ID) of the communication device; determining that a second message including the first ID of the communication device is received within a time period after sending the first response; and sending, based upon the determination, a second response that comprises a second ID of the communication device, the second ID identifying the communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more polled numbers comprises a range of numbers.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more polled numbers are defined by sharing a common value of a number of most significant bits (MSBs), the indication comprising the common value and the number of MSBs.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more polled numbers are based on an equal to sign or an inequality sign, and the equal to sign or the inequality sign is indicated by the indication, the first message, or a standard.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, the generating the first random number of the communication device comprising: generating a second random number in response to receiving the first message, the second random number being generated in accordance with a length information in the first message; selecting a coefficient in accordance with a status of energy currently stored at the communication device; and modifying the second random number by the coefficient to produce the first random number.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the modifying the second random number to produce the first random number comprises at least one of: multiplying the second random number with the coefficient to produce the first random number; shifting the second random number by a first number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number; or truncating the second random number by a second number of bits in accordance with the coefficient to produce the first random number.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the first message comprises the indication indicating the one or more polled numbers.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising: receiving a third message after receiving the first message, wherein the third message comprises the indication indicating the one or more polled numbers.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the round of the procedure is an inventory round, and the method further comprises: receiving, in response to sending the second response, a fourth message indicating that the second response has been received; and determining, based on the fourth message, that the communication device has been successfully identified and inventoried in the inventory round.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the round of the procedure is a data collection round, and the second response further comprises data being requested.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the round of the procedure is a file retrieval round, and the second response further comprises one or more files being requested.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the round of the procedure is an object locating round, and the second response further comprises one or more locating signals that assist in locating the communication device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, the second message further indicating what data is being requested from the communication device in the second response.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the communication device is a battery-less device.15- A communication device comprising: at least one non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, the one or more processors executing the instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-14.

16. A method implemented by a communication device, the method comprising: sending a first message and an indication indicating one or more polled numbers related to a round of a procedure, wherein the first message indicates a beginning of the round of the procedure; receiving a first response of the first message from another communication device, the first response comprising a first identifier (ID) of the another communication device; sending, in response to receiving the first response, a second message that comprises the first ID of the another communication device; determining that a second response comprising a second ID of the another communication device is received from the another communication device within a first time period after sending the second message, wherein the second ID identifies the another communication device; and sending, based upon the determination, a third message indicating that the second response from the another communication device has been received.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more polled numbers comprises a range of numbers.

18. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the one or more polled numbers are defined by sharing a common value of a number of most significant bits (MSBs), the indication comprising the common value and the number of MSBs.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15-18, wherein the one or more polled numbers are based on an equal to sign or an inequality sign and the equal to sign or the inequality sign is indicated by the indication, the first message, or a standard.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15-19, wherein the indication indicates that the one or more polled numbers are included in the first message sent.

21. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the round of the procedure is an inventory round.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the round of the procedure is a data collection round, and the second response further comprises data being requested.

23. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the round of the procedure is a file retrieval round, and the second response further comprises one or more files being requested.

24. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the round of the procedure is an object locating round, and the second response further comprises one or more locating signals that assist the communication device in locating the another communication device.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22-24, wherein the second message further indicating what data is being requested from the another communication device in the second response.

26. The method according to any one of claims 15-25, further comprising: upon determining that the round of the procedure is incomplete, sending a fifth message that includes one or more other polled numbers for replacing the one or more polled numbers.

27. The method according to any one of claims 15-26, wherein the communication device is a user equipment (UE) or a next generation Node B (gNB).

28. A communication device comprising: at least one non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, the one or more processors executing the instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 15-27.

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