Elimination of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set Based on PDU Set Importance Signaling (PSI), User Equipment (UE) Configuration and Behavior

Description

1 / 57 Elimination of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set Based on PDU Set Importance Signaling (PSI), User Equipment (UE) Configuration and Behavior TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] This disclosure relates to wireless communications and, in particular, to the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s). BACKGROUND

[002] The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for Fourth Generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and Fifth Generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. These systems provide, among other attributes, broadband communication between network nodes, such as base stations and wireless mobile devices (WDs), as well as communication between network nodes and between WDs. 3GPP is also developing standards for Sixth Generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

[003] In particular, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile communications, addressing a wide range of use cases, from enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) to ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC). 5G includes the New Radio (NR) access layer interface and the 5G Core Network (5GC). The physical and upper layers of NR are reusing parts of the LTE specification and adding necessary components when motivated by new use cases.

[004] Low-latency, high-rate applications, such as Extended Reality (XR) and cloud gaming, are important in the 5G era. XR can refer to all combined real and virtual environments and human interactions. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 13 / 79 2 / 57 machines generated by computational and wearable technology. It is an umbrella term for different types of realities, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and the areas interpolated between them. Levels of virtuality range from partially sensory inputs to fully immersive VR.

[005] 5G NR was designed to support applications that demand low latency and high throughput, in line with the requirements imposed by the support of XR applications and cloud gaming on NR networks. Release 17 of 3GPP contains a study item on XR Assessments for NR. Some objectives of this study are to identify the traffic model for each application of interest, the assessment methodology and the key performance indicators of interest for relevant deployment scenarios, and to conduct corresponding performance assessments in order to investigate possible standardization improvements in potential subsequent study items / work items (SI / WI). Low-latency, high-rate XR applications

[006] Low-latency applications, such as XR and cloud gaming, may require limited latency, not necessarily ultra-low latency. The end-to-end latency calculation may be in the range of 20 to 80 ms, which may need to be distributed across various components, including application processing latency, transport latency, radio link latency, etc. For these applications, short transmission time intervals (TTIs) or minislots targeting ultra-low latency may not be effective.

[007] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of frame latency measured over a radio access network (RAN), excluding application and core network latencies. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there are frame latency spikes in the RAN. Sources for the latency spikes may include delays of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 14 / 79 3 / 57 queuing, time-varying radio environments, time-varying frame sizes, among others. For example, latency spikes can occur due to instantaneous scarcity of radio resources or inefficient allocation of radio resources in response to varying frame sizes. Tools that can help remove latency spikes are beneficial for enabling better 5G support for this type of traffic.

[008] In addition to limited latency requirements, applications such as XR and cloud gaming also require high transmission rates. This can be observed from the large frame sizes originating from this type of traffic. Typical frame sizes can range from tens of kilobytes to hundreds of kilobytes. Frame arrival rates can be 60 or 120 frames per second (fps). For example, a frame size of 100 kilobytes and a frame arrival rate of 120 fps can lead to a rate requirement of 95.8 Mbps.

[009] A large video frame is typically fragmented into smaller IP packets and transmitted as multiple transport blocks (TBs) by multiple TTIs in the RAN. FIG. 2 is an example of the cumulative distribution functions of the number of transport blocks required to deliver a video frame ranging in size from 20 KB to 300 KB. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates that to deliver frames with a size of 200 KB each, the average number of TBs required is 5.

[010] The arrival characteristics of XR traffic are quite distinct from typical web browsing and VoIP traffic, as shown in FIG. 3. One can expect that, in XR traffic, the arrival time will be nearly periodic and largely predictable, similar to VoIP. However, its data size is an order of magnitude larger than VoIP, as discussed above. Furthermore, similar to web browsing, the data size in XR traffic is different. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 15 / 79 4 / 57 in each instance of application PDU (e.g., protocol data unit) arrival due to content dynamics and human movement.

[011] As described above, many XR applications will periodically generate traffic of varying sizes. When the application packet enters the internet, the initial packet may be transmitted to a single PDU on the network or may be segmented into multiple PDUs. An application packet may, for example, correspond to one or several IP packets.

[012] IP packets will arrive at the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, i.e., PDCP SDUs (e.g., service data units), and the PDCP layer will create PDCP SDUs and deliver them to lower layers (e.g., lower network layers). When an IP packet arrives at the PDCP, the PDCP layer starts a PDCP discard timer. When this timer expires, the PDCP discards the PDCP SDU, as well as the corresponding PDCP Data PDU. If the PDCP PDU has been delivered to lower layers, the PDCP indicates discard to lower layers. Lower layers, for example, RLC, will discard PDCP PDUs (Radio Link Control (RLC) SDUs) if those RLC SDUs or any segment of the RLC SDU have not yet been transmitted to lower layers.

[013] As discussed above, an application PDU, for example, a video frame, is divided into multiple IP packets. All these IP packets that belong to a video frame can be defined as a PDU Set.

[014] SA2, for example, in 23700-60, identified that PDU sets could be assigned to a PDU Set Importance indicator. This parameter can be used to identify the importance of a PDU Set within a QoS flow. The RAN can use it for discarding. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 16 / 79 5 / 57 of PDU Set-level packets in the presence of congestion.

[015] *PDU Set as defined by 3GPP 23.700-60: PDU Set: A PDU set consists of one or more PDUs that carry the payload of an information unit generated at the application level (for example, a video frame or slice for XRM Services, as used in 3GPP Technical Reference (TR) 26.926). In some implementations, all PDUs in a PDU Set are required for the application layer to use the corresponding information unit. In other implementations, the application layer may still retrieve parts or all of the information unit when some PDUs are missing. SUMMARY

[016] Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems and devices for the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s).

[017] This disclosure provides 1) signaling to configure the wireless device, 2) additional signaling to enable and disable the attribute, 3) behavior of the wireless device when the attribute is configured and enabled or disabled.

[018] To address 1), radio resource control (RRC) signaling can be used. To address 2), both RRC and lower layer signaling can be used. To address 3), different alternatives are described on how the wireless device can handle wireless device timers to eliminate / discard the PDU set and / or the PDCP discard timer.

[019] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided implemented by a wireless device that is configured to communicate with a network node. A first indication of a first value of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 17 / 79 6 / 57 Protocol Data Unit Set (PDU) discard timer to discard a first PDU set is received where the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one first-level importance PDU set (PSI) and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value. Communication with the network node is performed according to the first indication.

[020] In accordance with one or more modes of this aspect, a second indication is received, where the second indication is configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer feature that is associated with the first indication.

[021] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is received via one of: a PDCP control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[022] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is received via a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

[023] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level.

[024] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[025] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 18 / 79 7 / 57

[026] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[027] In accordance with one or more modes of this aspect, an indication is transmitted of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device.

[028] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, a PDCP or service.

[029] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

[030] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device is provided that is configured to communicate with a network node. The wireless device is configured to: receive a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU, discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one PDU set importance level, PSI, and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value, and communicates with the network node in accordance with the first indication.

[031] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the wireless device is additionally configured to receive a second Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 19 / 79 8 / 57 prompt, where the second prompt is configured to either enable or disable the PDU Set discard timer feature that is associated with the first prompt.

[032] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is received via one of: a PDCP control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[033] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is received via a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

[034] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level.

[035] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[036] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

[037] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[038] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the wireless device is additionally configured to transmit an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device.

[039] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 20 / 79 9 / 57 with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, a PDCP or service.

[040] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

[041] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device. A first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU, discard timer value for discarding a first PDU set is signaled where the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one PDU set importance level, PSI, and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value. Communication with the wireless device is performed according to the first indication.

[042] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, signal a second indication to the wireless device, where the second indication is configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

[043] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[044] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is provided by a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 21 / 79 10 / 57

[045] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level, the plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​comprising the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[046] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[047] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

[048] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[049] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device is received.

[050] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, PDCP or service.

[051] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

[052] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a network node is provided that is configured to communicate with a wireless device. The node of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 22 / 79 11 / 57 network is configured to: signal a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set (PDU) discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, where the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one PDU set importance level (PSI) and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value, and communicates with the wireless device according to the first indication.

[053] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the network node is additionally configured to signal a second indication to the wireless device, where the second indication is configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

[054] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[055] In accordance with one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication is provided by a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

[056] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level, where the plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​comprises the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[057] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first value of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 23 / 79 12 / 57 PDU Set Discharge Timer.

[058] According to one or more modalities of this aspect, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

[059] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[060] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the network node is additionally configured to receive an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device.

[061] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, a PDCP or service.

[062] In accordance with one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[063] A fuller understanding of the present embodiments, and of the advantages and attributes associated therewith, will be more readily attained by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of frame latency measured by RAN; FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of cumulative distribution functions for a number of transport blocks; Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 24 / 79 13 / 57 FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of XR traffic characteristics compared to VoIP and web browsing; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with the principles of this disclosure; FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over a connection that is at least partially wireless, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device to run a client application on a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for receiving user data on a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device on a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for receiving user data on a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 25 / 79 14 / 57 FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a flowchart of another example process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 13 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[064] A “PDU Set Importance” (PSI) indicator can be defined where the PSI indicates a certain level of importance for the PDU Set. The PSI can be used by the network and the wireless device to drop packets under certain circumstances or situations. The PSI and PDU set drop interaction needs to be specified.

[065] In congested situations, it may be beneficial to drop certain packets from certain users (UEs) to alleviate network load and increase overall network performance. However, it may not be necessary to drop all packets from all traffic flows. On the downlink (DL), the network can specifically select which packets to drop from each radio data carrier (DRB), but on the uplink (UL) there is currently no way for the network, such as the network node, to specify which packets should be dropped from a wireless device, unless all packets from the wireless device are dropped through an offloading process.

[066] This disclosure resolves at least one of the problems noted above, at least in part, by providing 1) signaling to configure the wireless device, 2) additional signaling to enable and disable the attribute, 3) Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 26 / 79 15 / 57 Wireless device behavior when the attribute is configured and enabled or disabled.

[067] To address 1), radio resource control (RRC) signaling can be used. To address 2), both RRC and lower layer signaling can be used. To address 3), different alternatives are described on how the wireless device can handle wireless device timers to eliminate / discard the PDU set and / or the PDCP discard timer.

[068] Before describing example embodiments in detail, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of device components and processing steps related to the behavior of wireless devices concerning the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sets. Therefore, the components have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only the specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description in the present invention. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the description.

[069] As used in the present invention, relational terms, such as first and second, superior and inferior, and the like, may be used only to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used in the present invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the concepts described in the present invention. As used in the present invention, the singular forms a / an and the / a Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 27 / 79 16 / 57 are intended to include plural forms as well, unless clearly indicated otherwise by the context. It will be further understood that the terms comprise, including, include and / or including, when used in the present invention, specify the presence of indicated attributes, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other attributes, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[070] In the embodiments described in the present invention, the term junction in communication with and the like may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be achieved by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate, and modifications and variations are possible to achieve electrical and data communication.

[071] In some embodiments described in the present invention, the terms coupled, connected and the like may be used in the present invention to indicate a connection, although not necessarily direct, and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[072] The term network node used in the present invention may be any type of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of the following: base station (BS), base radio station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-pattern radio node (MSR) such as MSR BS, Multicell / multicast Coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul node (IAB), relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Unit of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 28 / 79 17 / 57 Remote Radio (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobility management entity (MME), self-organized network node (SON), a coordination node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., third-party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in the distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term “radio node,” as used in the present invention, may also be used to denote a wireless device (WD), such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

[073] In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms “wireless device” (WD) or “user equipment” (UE) are used interchangeably. The WD of the present invention may be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD by radio signals, such as the wireless device (WD). The WD may be a radio communication device, target device, device-to-device (D2D) WD, machine-type WD, or machine-to-machine (M2M) communication-capable WD, a WD-equipped sensor, tablet, mobile terminals, smartphone, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device or a Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) device, etc.

[074] In some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is also used. This can be any type of radio network node, which may include any of the following: base station, base radio station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved B node (eNB), B node, gNB, Multicell / multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, access point via Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 29 / 79 18 / 57 radio, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH).

[075] The terms discard / discard and eliminate / discard may be used interchangeably in the present invention.

[076] It should be noted that although the terminology of a particular wireless system, such as, for example, LTE and / or 3GPP New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including, without limitation, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Microwave Access Interoperability (WiMAX), Ultra Broadband Mobile (UMB), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered in this disclosure.

[077] It is further noted that the functions described in the present invention as being performed by a wireless device or a network node can be distributed across a plurality of wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and the wireless device described in the present invention are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices.

[078] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will further be understood that the terms used in the present invention should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of this descriptive report and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined in the present invention. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 30 / 79 19 / 57

[079] Some modes provide wireless device behavior related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s).

[080] Referring again to the drawing figures, in which similar elements are referenced by similar reference numerals, in FIG. 4 is shown a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP type cellular network that can support standards such as LTE and / or NR (5G), comprising an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (collectively referred to as coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to core network 14 via a wired or wireless connection 20.A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to or be paged by the corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b can be wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. Although a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) is illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a single WD is in the coverage area or where a single WD is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

[081] Furthermore, it is contemplated that a WD 22 may be in simultaneous communication and / or configured to communicate separately. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 31 / 79 20 / 57 with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a WD 22 can have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and with the same or another network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, the WD 22 can be communicating with an eNB for LTE / E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR / NG-RAN.

[082] The communication system 10 itself can be connected to a host computer 24, which can be implemented in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-deployed server, a distributed server, or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 24 can be owned or controlled by a service provider or can be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 can extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or can extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 can be one or a combination of more than one public, private, or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if present, can be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 can comprise two or more subnets (not shown).

[083] The communication system of FIG. 4, as a whole, enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible additional infrastructures (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection can be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes do not have Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 32 / 79 21 / 57 knowledge of uplink and downlink communication routing. For example, network node 16 may not be, or may not need to be, informed about the prior routing of a downlink communication received with data originating from host computer 24, to be forwarded (e.g., handovered) to a connected WD 22a. Similarly, network node 16 does not need to know about the future routing of an uplink communication emitted from WD 22a toward host computer 24.

[084] A network node 16 is configured to include an indication unit 32 that is configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions as described in the present invention, such as with respect to the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s). A wireless device 22 is configured to include a PDU unit 34 that is configured to perform one or more wireless device 22 functions as described in the present invention, such as with respect to the behavior of the wireless device related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s).

[085] Example implementations, according to one embodiment, of the WD 22, network node 16, and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38, including a communication interface 40 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a communication device other than the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises a set of processing circuits 42, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The set of circuits Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 33 / 79 22 / 57 processing 42 may include a processor 44 and a memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing and memory unit, the processing circuitry 42 may comprise a set of integrated circuits for processing and / or controlling, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and / or ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Sets) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 46, which may comprise any type of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, for example, cache memory and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Read-Only Erasable Programmable Memory).

[086] The processing circuitry 42 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described in the present invention and / or to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by the host computer 24. The processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 to perform the functions of the host computer 24 described in the present invention. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described in the present invention. In some embodiments, the software 48 and / or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42, cause the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described in the present invention with respect to the host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 34 / 79 23 / 57

[087] Software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. Software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data that is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” may be data and information described in the present invention as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured to provide control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry set 42 of host computer 24 can enable host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit and / or receive from network node 16 and / or wireless device 22.The host computer's processing circuitry 42 may include an information unit 54 configured to enable the service provider to analyze, detect, store, transmit, receive, forward, retransmit, etc., information related to the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s) and / or perform one or more functions of the indication unit 32 and / or PDU unit 34.

[088] The communication system 10 additionally includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 58, enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a communication device other than the communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least one wireless connection 64 Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 35 / 79 24 / 57 with a WD 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers and / or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 with the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

[089] In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 additionally includes the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may comprise a set of integrated circuits for processing and / or controlling, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Sets) adapted to execute instructions.Processor 70 can be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 72, which may comprise any type of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, for example, cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Read-Only Erasable Programmable Memory).

[090] Thus, network node 16 additionally has software 74 stored internally, for example, in memory 72, or stored in external memory (for example, database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by network node 16 via a Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 36 / 79 25 / 57 external connection. The software 74 can be executed by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described in this invention and / or to cause such methods and / or processes to be executed, for example, by the network node 16. The processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 to execute the functions of the network node 16 described in this invention. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described in this invention. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68, cause the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described in the present invention with respect to the network node 16.For example, the network node 16 processing circuitry 68 may include an indication unit 32 configured to perform one or more network node 16 functions described in the present invention, such as those functions related to the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s).

[091] The communication system 10 additionally includes the aforementioned WD 22. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 which may include a radio interface 82 configured to establish and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers and / or one or more RF transceivers.

[092] The WD 22 hardware 80 additionally includes the 84 processing circuitry. The 84 processing circuitry Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 37 / 79 26 / 57 may include a processor 86 and a memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing and memory unit, the processing circuitry 84 may comprise a set of integrated circuits for processing and / or controlling, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and / or ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Sets) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 88, which may comprise any type of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, for example, cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Read-Only Erasable Programmable Memory).

[093] Thus, the WD 22 may additionally comprise software 90, which is stored, for example, in memory 88 in the WD 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the WD 22. The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD 22, with the support of the host computer 24. On the host computer 24, a running host application 50 may communicate with the running client application 92 via an OTT connection 52 terminating on the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data.The OTT 52 connection can transfer request data and user data. The client application 92 can interact with the user to generate the user data that the user provides. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 38 / 79 27 / 57

[094] The processing circuitry 84 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described in this invention and / or to cause such methods and / or processes to be executed, for example, by the WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 to execute the functions of WD 22 described in this invention. The WD 22 includes memory 88 which is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described in this invention. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84, cause the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described in the present invention with respect to the WD 22.For example, the processing circuitry set 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a PDU unit 34 configured to perform one or more functions of the wireless device 22 as described in the present invention, such as those functions related to the wireless device's behavior regarding the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set(s).

[095] In some embodiments, the internal workings of network node 16, WD 22 and host computer 24 may be as shown in FIG. 5 and, independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 4.

[096] In FIG. 5, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate communication between host computer 24 and wireless device 22 via network node 16, without explicit reference to any intermediate devices and the precise routing of messages via those devices. The network infrastructure may determine the routing, which may be configured to be hidden from WD 22 or the service provider operating host computer 24. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 39 / 79 28 / 57 or both. While the OTT 52 connection is active, the network infrastructure may additionally make decisions that dynamically change routing (for example, based on load balancing considerations or network reconfiguration).

[097] Wireless connection 64 between WD 22 and network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the modes described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various modes improve the performance of OTT services provided to WD 22 using OTT connection 52, where wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these modes may improve data rate, latency and / or power consumption and thus provide benefits such as reduced user wait time, simplified file size restriction, improved responsiveness, extended battery life, etc.

[098] In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring the data rate, latency, and other factors that one or more embodiments improve. Additionally, there may be an optional network functionality to reconfigure the OTT 52 connection between host computer 24 and WD 22 in response to variations in measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality to reconfigure the OTT 52 connection may be implemented in software 48 of host computer 24, in software 90 of WD 22, or in both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT 52 connection passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by providing values ​​of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or provide values ​​of other physical quantities from which software 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities.Reconfiguring the OTT 52 connection may be possible. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 40 / 79 29 / 57 include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; reconfiguration need not affect network node 16 and may be unknown or imperceptible to network node 16. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling, facilitating measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency, and the like from the host computer 24. In some embodiments, measurements may be implemented so that software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular, empty or dummy messages, using an OTT connection 52, while monitoring propagation times, errors, etc.

[099] Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes a set of processing circuits 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to and / or the set of processing circuits 68 of the network node 16 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described in the present invention to prepare / initiate / maintain / support / terminate a transmission to the WD 22 and / or prepare / terminate / maintain / support / terminate the reception of a transmission from the WD 22.

[100] In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes a set of processing circuits 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to receive user data from a transmission from a WD 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 is configured to and / or Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 41 / 79 30 / 57 comprises a radio interface 82 and / or a set of processing circuits 84 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described in the present invention to prepare / initiate / maintain / support / terminate a transmission to the network node 16 and / or prepare / terminate / maintain / support / terminate the reception of a transmission from the network node 16.

[101] Although FIGS. 4 and 5 show various units, such as the indication unit 32, the information unit 54 and the PDU unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented in such a way that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

[102] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 4 and 5, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 5. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50 (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S104). In an optional third step, network node 16 transmits to WD 22 the user data that was ported in the transmission initiated by host computer 24, in accordance with the principles of the modalities. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 42 / 79 31 / 57 described throughout this disclosure (Block S106). In an optional fourth step, WD 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, client application 92, associated with host application 50 executed by host computer 24 (Block S108).

[103] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 4, according to an embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S110). In an optional substep (not shown), the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S112). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data ported in the transmission (S114 Block).

[104] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 4, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block S116). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 executes a client application 92, which provides user data in reaction to the input data received and provided by the host computer 24. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 43 / 79 32 / 57 (Block S118). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, WD 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, WD provides the user data by running a client application, such as, for example, client application 92 (Block S122). When providing the user data, the running client application 92 may additionally consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific way in which the user data is provided, WD 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, the transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block S124). In the fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126).

[105] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 4, according to an embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In an optional first step of the method, according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, network node 16 receives user data from WD 22 (Block S128). In an optional second step, network node 16 initiates the transmission of the received user data to host computer 24 (Block S130). In a third step, host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by network node 16 (Block S132).

[106] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described in this invention can be performed by a Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 44 / 79 33 / 57 or more network node elements 16, such as one or more sets of processing circuits 68 (including the indication unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60. The network node 16 is configured to signal (Block S134) a first indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit, PDU, PSI set importance level, where the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allows at least one PDU set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to be discarded upon expiration of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer, as described in the present invention.Network node 16 is configured to signal (Block S136) a second indication to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer functionality associated with the first indication, as described in the present invention. Network node 16 is configured to communicate (Block S138) with wireless device 22 according to the first and second indications.

[107] According to one or more modes, the first indication is one of: an explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set discard timer value to at least one PSI level, and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set discard timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[108] According to one or more modes, the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) control element; a medium access control (MAC) control element; and Layer 1 (L1) system interconnection signaling. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 45 / 79 34 / 57 open (OSI).

[109] According to one or more embodiments, the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[110] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of another example process in a network node 16 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described in this invention may be executed by one or more network node elements 16, such as by one or more sets of processing circuits 68 (including the indication unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60.Network node 16 is configured to signal (Block S140) a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU, discard timer value to discard a first PDU set, where the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one first PDU set importance level, PSI, and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value, as described in the present invention. Network node 16 is configured to communicate (Block S142) with wireless device 22 according to the first indication, as described in the present invention.According to one or more embodiments described in the present invention, the first PDU Set discard timer may be a different timer value than the PDCP discard timer value. According to one or more embodiments described in the present invention, the first PDU Set discard timer value may operate on the PDCP. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 46 / 79 35 / 57

[111] According to one or more embodiments, network node 16 is additionally configured to signal a second indication to wireless device 22, where the second indication is configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

[112] According to one or more modes, the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[113] According to one or more modalities, the second indication is provided by a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

[114] According to one or more embodiments, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level, the plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​comprising the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[115] According to one or more modes, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[116] According to one or more modes, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

[117] According to one or more modes, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[118] In accordance with one or more modes, network node 16 is additionally configured to receive an indication of at least one level Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 47 / 79 36 / 57 PSI supported by the wireless device 22.

[119] According to one or more modes, the first PDU set discard timer value is set for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, PDCP or service.

[120] According to one or more modes, the first PDU Set discard timer value is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

[121] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described in the present invention may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as by one or more of a set of processing circuits 84 (including the PDU unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and / or communication interface 60.Wireless device 22 is configured to receive (Block S140) a first indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU, PSI importance level, where the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allows at least one PDU set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to be disposed of upon expiration of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer, as described in this invention. Wireless device 22 is configured to receive (Block S142) a second indication to enable and disable the PDU Set Disposal Timer functionality associated with the first indication, as described in the present invention. Wireless device 22 is... Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 48 / 79 37 / 57 configured to communicate (Block S144) with network node 16 according to the first and second indications, as described in the present invention.

[122] According to one or more embodiments, the first indication is one of: an explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set discard timer value to at least one PSI level, and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set discard timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[123] According to one or more modes, the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; a medium access control, MAC, control element; and Layer 1 signaling.

[124] According to one or more embodiments, the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[125] According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry set 84 is additionally configured to: receive a set of PDUs, determine whether the set of PDUs has been assigned a PSI level based on the first and second indications, if no PSI level has been assigned to the PDU Set, start at least one PDU Set discard timer with at least one PDU discard timer value that is implicitly indicated in the first indication, and if a PSI level has been assigned to the PDU Set, start at least one PDU discard timer using at least one PDU discard timer value that is explicitly indicated in the first indication.

[126] According to one or more modalities, the set of circuits Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 49 / 79 38 / 57 of processing 84 is additionally configured to determine whether to apply a setting associated with the first indication to at least one PDU discard timer that was running when the second indication was received.

[127] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described in the present invention may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as by one or more of a set of processing circuits 84 (including the PDU unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and / or communication interface 60.Wireless device 22 is configured to receive (Block S150) a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU, discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set discard timer: is associated with at least one first PDU set importance level, PSI, and is different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or has a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value, and communicates (Block S152) with network node 16 in accordance with the first indication. According to one or more embodiments described in the present invention, the first PDU set discard timer may be a timer different from the PDCP discard timer value.According to one or more embodiments described in the present invention, the first discard timer value of the PDU Assembly can operate in PDCP.

[128] In accordance with one or more modes, the wireless device 22 is additionally configured to receive a second indication, where the Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 50 / 79 39 / 57 The second indication is configured to either enable or disable the PDU Set discard timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

[129] According to one or more modes, the second indication is received via one of: a PDCP control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

[130] According to one or more modalities, the second indication is received via a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

[131] According to one or more modes, the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level.

[132] According to one or more modes, the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that use the first PDU Set discard timer value.

[133] According to one or more modes, the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

[134] According to one or more modes, the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment of the first indication.

[135] In one or more embodiments, wireless device 22 is additionally configured to transmit an indication of at least one PSI level supported by wireless device 22.

[136] In one or more modes, the first PDU Set discard timer value is set for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, a PDCP or service. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 51 / 79 40 / 57

[137] According to one or more modes, the first PDU Set disposal timer value is set for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

[138] Having described the general flow of the disclosure arrangement process and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements to implement the disclosure processes and functions, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for the behavior of wireless devices related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit Set(s) (PDU).

[139] Some embodiments provide wireless device behavior related to the disposal of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set(s). One or more network node functions 16 described below may be performed by one or more of a set of processing circuits 68, a processor 70, an indication unit 32, etc. One or more wireless device functions 22 described below may be performed by one or more of a set of processing circuits 84, a processor 86, a PDU unit 34, etc.

[140] Network node 16 can configure a PDCP discard timer value on wireless device 22. A timer will start for each PDCP SDU that arrives at the PDCP layer. This timer starts when a PDCP SDU is received at the PDCP layer. When the timer expires, the PDCP layer discards the PDCP SDU and the associated PDCP PDU. It has been suggested to have a PDU Set Discard timer. This timer starts when the first PDCP SDU belonging to a certain PDU Set arrives at the PDCP layer. When this timer expires, all PDCP SDU packets associated with the PDU set are discarded. Network node 16 can configure a PDU Set Discard timer value for Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 52 / 79 41 / 57 each PDCP entity, that is, for each DRB, either you can set a PDU Set Discard timer value for all DRBs, or if the PDU Set Discard timer value is not provided for a given DRB, the wireless device 22 does not configure and uses the PDU Set Discard timer value for the DRB.

[141] When a PDU Set Importance Indicator (PSI) is used to differentiate PDU Set disposal treatment, the wireless device 22 may have a PDU Set disposal timer value (one or multiple) for different PSI levels. A PDU Set Disposal timer will be started for each PDU Set for which a PDU Set Disposal timer value has been configured and selected. 1) Configuration signaling for wireless device 22

[142] Network node 16 can associate a PSI level with one (or multiple) PDU Set discard timer values ​​implicitly or explicitly. These values ​​can be specific to the PDU Sets in a given DRB / PDCP, per service, or for all services / DRBs configured on wireless device 22.

[143] Network node 16 does not need to associate all PSI levels with a PDU Set Disposal Timer value. PSI levels to which no explicit PDU Set Disposal Timer value has been assigned implicitly set the PDU Set Disposal Timer value to infinity, a default value, or this would imply that the timer is not set for the PSI level.

[144] These scenarios may also apply to the case in which network node 16 associates a PDU Set discard timer value with one or more PSI levels. In this case, the same timer value of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 53 / 79 42 / 57 PDU Set discard is used for packages with a different PSI level.

[145] Furthermore, the association between one or more PSI levels and one or more PDU Set discard timer values ​​can be constructed based on the wireless device's indication of the available / supported PSI levels when a connection is established. If there is an explicit report from wireless device 22 about the change in available / supported PSI levels, a network node 16 can reconfigure the association between the indicated PSI levels and the discard timer values.

[146] Network node 16 can also indicate whether the PDU Set Disposal Timer PSI feature should be enabled or disabled. 2) Attribute activation / deactivation

[147] The network, such as via network node 16, may additionally use a PDCP Control Element or MAC CE to further enable and disable the use of the PSI-specific PDU Set discard timer functionality, which already has the association between PSI levels and timer values ​​pre-configured. The activation may also include the PSI levels for which the associated PDU Set discard timer should be used, an indication of which PDU Set discard timer values ​​should be selected for a PSI if multiple timer values ​​are configured for that PSI, or both. If there are multiple PSI levels associated with a timer value, the activation may indicate which PSI levels should use the timer value.

[148] The activation of the attribute can be triggered by the distributed unit (DU) or the central unit (CU). If triggered by the CU and PDCP CE is used, then the CU will construct the PDCP CE or RRC message to send to wireless device 22. If MAC CE is used, the CU will inform the DU via the interface. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 54 / 79 43 / 57 F1, and the DU will then send the MAC CE. A confirmation indication can be sent back from the DU to the UC in F1. If activation is triggered by the DU and PDCP CE is used, the DU will indicate to the CU via F1 to send the PDCP CE or RRC message to wireless device 22. A confirmation message can be sent to the DU by the CU. If MAC CE is used for this purpose, the DU can construct the MAC-CE and also indicate to the CU whether the attribute was enabled or disabled.

[149] Another option for using PDCP CE or MAC CE is to use in-band signaling along with the user plane data. R-bits (reserved) can be used in the PDCP header to indicate activation or deactivation. As above, the DU or CU can trigger the activation or deactivation of the attribute. There may be specific network implementations in which the DU triggers both activation and deactivation, but the DU does not indicate anything to the CU. The DU would change the PDCP PDU header to activate and deactivate the attribute.

[150] In some modes, activation / deactivation can be provided via L1 signaling, for example, DCI in PDCCH. In this case, a wireless device 22 can apply the attribute as soon as the L1 signaling is received or can start applying it after a certain time travel duration. 3) Wireless device behavior 22

[151] When the attribute is / was activated and, for example, the first PDCP SDU belonging to a new PDU Set arrives at the PDCP layer, the wireless device 22 first identifies the PDU Set and then determines whether the PDU Set has been assigned a PSI level or not. These identifications and assignments depend on the wireless device capabilities and the wireless device configuration.

[152] If no PSI level is assigned to this PDU Set, wireless device 22 will start the PDU Set Discard timer. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 55 / 79 44 / 57 with the value indicated when no PSI level is used.

[153] If a PSI level is assigned to this PDU Set, wireless device 22 checks whether the network, such as via network node 16, has set a PDU Set discard timer value for the PSI level. a) If no timer value has been configured, there are two options. A first option is that wireless device 22 does not start the PDU Set Discard timer for the PDU set or stipulates the timer value as infinite (or a large value that is unlikely to occur). A second option is that wireless device 22 starts the PDU Set Discard timer with a default value if it was configured by network node 16. b) If a timer value has been configured, wireless device 22 initiates the PDU Set discard timer value using the value indicated by network node 16 for the PSI level. c) If multiple timer values ​​have been configured for the PSI level, wireless device 22 checks whether the wake signal includes an indication of which timer value to use. If there is no indication, then wireless device 22 will use the timer value that has been configured as the first priority, for example, the first timer value in the list (e.g., priority-ordered list).

[154] There may be situations in which wireless device 22 receives an activation or deactivation command and there are PDU Sets with PDU Set discard timers running. In this case(s): a) Wireless device 22 applies the new configuration to newly received PDU Sets and does not affect PDU Set timers that are already running. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 56 / 79 45 / 57 b) Wireless device 22 applies the new configuration to PDU sets that have arrived since a certain time threshold, which can also be configured by the network. c) Wireless device 22 determines the PSI level for each PDU set in which the PDU Set Disposal timer was running. If no PSI level was assigned, wireless device 22 takes no action for that PDU set. If a PSI level was assigned, wireless device 22 determines whether a PDU Set Disposal timer value was assigned for that PSI level. a. If no timer value has been assigned, wireless device 22 takes no action. b. If a value has been assigned, the wireless device 22 1) resets the PDU Set timer with the new value, or 2) resets the PDU Set timer with the lower value between the new value and the timer's remaining time.

[155] Activation can be used to update the association between PSI levels and timer values ​​when needed, for example, a new report of changes in available PSI levels. For example, wireless device 22 may start using new timer values ​​for PSIs that are already activated with some timer values ​​previously when it receives other timer values.

[156] Similarly, wireless device 22 stops using time values ​​for the indicated PSIs if the disable signal specifies some PSI levels not to use timer values ​​while unindicated PSI levels that are enabled still continue using timer values.

[157] When the PDU Set discard timer value Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 57 / 79 46 / 57 expires, wireless device 22 discards all PDCP SDUs and PDUs associated with the PDU Set. If the newly applied PDU Set discard timer causes an already running discard timer to expire, the expiration and discard should take effect immediately.

[158] Consequently, one or more embodiments described in the present invention allow the PSI indicator to be used to discard PDU sets with different priority levels in different ways in different scenarios, for example, congestion situations, so that network congestion can be, at least in part, relieved. Some Examples

[159] Mode A1. A network node 16 configured to communicate with a wireless device 22 (WD 22), the network node 16 configured for, and / or comprising a radio interface 62 and / or comprising a set of processing circuits 68 configured for: To signal a first indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit Set (PDU, PSI) importance level, the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allowing at least one PDU Set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to be discarded upon expiration of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer; and to signal a second indication to enable and disable the PDU Set Disposal Timer feature associated with the first indication; and to communicate with wireless device 22 in accordance with the first and second indications. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 58 / 79 47 / 57

[160] Mode A2. Network node 16 of Mode A1, where the first indication is one of: An explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level; and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

[161] Mode A3. Network node 16 of Mode A1, in which the second indication is provided by one of: a control element of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP; a control element, CE, a medium access control element, MAC; and Layer 1 signaling.

[162] Mode A4. Network node 16 of Mode A1, where the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[163] Mode B1. A method implemented on a network node 16, the method comprising: To signal an initial indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set importance level, PDU, PSI, the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allowing at least one PDU set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 59 / 79 48 / 57 The PDU set is discarded upon expiration of at least one PDU set discard timer; and signal a second indication to enable and disable the PDU set discard timer feature associated with the first indication; and communicate with wireless device 22 in accordance with the first and second indications.

[164] Mode B2. The method of Mode B1, in which the first indication is one of: An explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level; and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

[165] Mode B3. The method of Mode B1, in which the second indication is provided by one of: a control element of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP; a control element, CE, a medium access control element, MAC; and Layer 1 signaling.

[166] Mode B4. The method of Mode B1, in which the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[167] Mode C1. A wireless device 22 configured to be Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 60 / 79 49 / 57 to communicate with a network node 16, the WD 22 configured for and / or comprising a radio interface 82 and / or a set of processing circuits 84 configured for: to receive a first indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set Importance Level, PDU, PSI, the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allowing at least one PDU set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to be disposed of upon expiration of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer; and to receive a second indication to either enable or disable the PDU Set Disposal Timer feature associated with the first indication; and to communicate with network node 16 in accordance with the first and second indications.

[168] Mode C2. The wireless device 22 of Mode C1, where the first indication is one of: An explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level; and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

[169] Mode C3. The wireless device 22 of Mode C1, in which the second indication is provided by one of: a control element of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP; Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 61 / 79 50 / 57 a control element, CE, medium access control, MAC; and Layer 1 signaling.

[170] Mode C4. Wireless device 22 of Mode C1, where the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[171] Mode C5. The Mode C1 wireless device 22, in which the processing circuitry 84 is additionally configured to: receive a set of PDUs; determine if the set of PDUs had a PSI level assigned based on the first and second indications; If no PSI level has been assigned to the PDU set, start at least one PDU set disposal timer with at least one PDU disposal timer value that is implicitly indicated in the first indication; and if a PSI level has been assigned to the PDU set, start at least one PDU disposal timer using at least one PDU disposal timer value that is explicitly indicated in the first indication.

[172] Mode C6. The Mode C1 wireless device 22, in which the processing circuitry 84 is additionally configured to determine whether to apply a setting associated with the first indication to at least one PDU discard timer that was running when the second indication was received. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 62 / 79 51 / 57

[173] Mode D1. A method implemented by a wireless device 22 that is configured to communicate with a network node 16, the method comprising: to receive a first indication of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value for at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer to be assigned to at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set Importance Level, PDU, PSI, the PDU Set Disposal Timer value allowing at least one PDU Set associated with at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to be disposed of upon expiration of at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer; and to receive a second indication to either enable or disable the PDU Set Disposal Timer feature associated with the first indication; and to communicate with network node 16 in accordance with the first and second indications.

[174] Mode D2. The method of Mode D1, in which the first indication is one of: An explicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level; and an implicit indication that assigns at least one PDU Set Disposal Timer value to at least one PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

[175] Mode D3. The method of Mode D1, in which the second indication is provided by one of: a control element of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP; Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 63 / 79 52 / 57 a control element, CE, medium access control, MAC; and Layer 1 signaling.

[176] Mode D4. The method of Mode D1, in which the second indication indicates one of: a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level; and a plurality of PSI levels that use a PDU Set discard timer value.

[177] Mode D5. The method of Mode D1, additionally comprising: receive a set of PDUs; determine if the set of PDUs had a PSI level assigned based on the first and second indications; If no PSI level has been assigned to the PDU Set, start at least one PDU Set disposal timer with at least one PDU disposal timer value that is implicitly indicated in the first indication; and if a PSI level has been assigned to the PDU Set, start at least one PDU disposal timer using at least one PDU disposal timer value that is explicitly indicated in the first indication.

[178] Mode D6. The Mode D1 method, additionally comprising determining whether to apply a setting associated with the first indication to at least one PDU discard timer that was running when the second indication was received.

[179] As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the concepts described in the present invention can be modalized as a method, Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 64 / 79 53 / 57 data processing system, computer program product and / or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Therefore, the concepts described in the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of software and hardware, all generally referred to in the present invention as a circuit or module. Any process, step, action and / or functionality described in the present invention may be performed by, and / or associated with, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and / or firmware and / or hardware. Additionally, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer-usable storage medium having modalized computer program code on the medium that can be executed by a computer.Any suitable tangible, computer-readable medium may be used, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

[180] Some embodiments are described in the present invention with reference to illustrations of flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, systems and products of computer programs. It will be understood that each block of the illustrations of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the illustrations of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer (to thereby create a special-purpose computer), a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, so as Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pages 65 / 79 54 / 57 that the instructions, which are executed via the computer processor or other programmable data processing device, create means to implement the functions / actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks and / or block diagram.

[181] These computer program instructions may also be stored in computer-readable memory or storage medium that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufacturing article including instruction means that implement the function / act specified in the block or blocks of flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[182] Computer program instructions can also be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps to implement the functions / acts specified in the flowchart block or blocks and / or block diagram.

[183] ​​It should be understood that the functions / acts indicated in the blocks may occur out of the order observed in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functionality or acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows in the communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it should be understood that communication Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 66 / 79 55 / 57 can occur in the opposite direction to the arrows depicted.

[184] The computer program code for performing the operations of the concepts described in the present invention may be written in an object-oriented programming language, such as Python, Java®, or C++. However, the computer program code for performing the disclosure operations may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language. The program code may run entirely on a user computer, partially on a user computer as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user computer via a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[185] Many different embodiments have been disclosed in the present invention, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitive and confusing to literally describe and illustrate each combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Therefore, all embodiments may be combined in any manner and / or in any combination, and the present descriptive report, including the drawings, should be interpreted as constituting a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described in the present invention and of the manner and process for making and using them, and should substantiate claims for any combination or subcombination.

[186] Abbreviations that may be used in the description above include: Abbreviation Explanation Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pages 67 / 79 56 / 57 AR Augmented Reality DCI Downlink Control Information DL Downlink DRB Dedicated Radio Carrier eMBB Enhanced Mobile Broadband Fps Frames Per Second IP Internet Protocol KB Kilobytes L1 Layer 1 MR Mixed Reality NR New Radio PDCCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol PDU Protocol Data Unit PSI Importance of PDU Set RAN Radio Access Network RLC Radio Link Control RRC Radio Resource Control SDU Service Data Unit TB Transport Block TTI Time Transmission Interval UE User Equipment UL Uplink URLLC Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication VoIP Voice over IP VR Virtual Reality XR Extended Reality Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 68 / 79 57 / 57 3GPP Partnership Project for the 35th Generation 5GC Core 5G

[187] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in the present invention are not limited to what has been specifically shown and described above in the present invention. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated above, it should be noted that all accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 69 / 79

Claims

1 / 9 CLAIMS 1. A method implemented by a wireless device (22) that is configured to communicate with a network node (16), the method characterized in that it comprises: receiving (S150) a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, the first PDU Set discard timer: being associated with at least one PDU Set Importance Level, PSI; and being different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or having a PDU Set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value; and communicating (S152) with the network node (16) in accordance with the first indication.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises receiving a second indication, the second indication being configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set Disposal Timer functionality, which is associated with the first indication.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the second indication is received via one of: a PDCP control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

4. Method, according to claim 2, characterized in that the second indication is received via a control element, CE, of access control Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 70 / 79 2 / 9.

5. Method, according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second statement indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level.

6. Method, according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that uses the first discard timer value of the PDU Set.

7. Method, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

8. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first discard timer value of the PDU Set to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

9. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises transmitting an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device.

10. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, PDCP, or service.

11. Method, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first discard timer value of Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 71 / 79 3 / 9 PDU set is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

12. Wireless device (22) characterized in that it is configured to communicate with a network node (16), the wireless device (22) is configured to: receive a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, the first PDU set discard timer: being associated with at least one PDU set importance level, PSI, and being different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or having a PDU set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value; and communicate with the network node (16) in accordance with the first indication.

13. Wireless device (22), according to claim 12, characterized in that the wireless device (22) is additionally configured to receive a second indication, the second indication being configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU set discard timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

14. Wireless device according to claim 13, characterized in that the second indication is received via one of: a PDCP control element; or Layer 1 signaling. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 72 / 79 4 / 9 15. Wireless device (22), according to claim 13, characterized in that the second indication is received via a medium access control element, CE, MAC.

16. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level.

17. Wireless device (22), according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that uses the first PDU Set discard timer value.

18. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

19. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

20. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the wireless device (22) is additionally configured to transmit an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device (22).

21. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, a PDCP or service.

22. Wireless device (22), according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

23. Network node method (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device, the method characterized in that it comprises: signaling (S140) a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, the first PDU Set discard timer: being associated with at least one PDU Set Importance Level, PSI; and being different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or having the PDU Set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value; and communicating (S142) with the wireless device in accordance with the first indication.

24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that it further comprises signaling a second indication to the wireless device (22), the second indication being configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set discard timer functionality, which is associated with the first indication.

25. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the second indication is provided by one of: Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, page 74 / 79 6 / 9 a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

26. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the second indication is provided by a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

27. Method, according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level, the plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​comprising the first PDU Set discard timer value.

28. Method, according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that uses the first discard timer value of the PDU Set.

29. Method, according to any one of claims 23 to 28, characterized in that the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

30. A method, according to any one of claims 23 to 28, characterized in that the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first discard timer value of the PDU Set to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from the first indication.

31. Method, according to any one of claims 23 to 30, characterized in that it further comprises receiving a Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, p. 75 / 79 7 / 9 indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device (22).

32. A method, according to any one of claims 23 to 31, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, PDCP, or service.

33. A method, according to any one of claims 23 to 31, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

34. Network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device (22), the network node (16) characterized in that it is configured to: signal a first indication of a first Protocol Data Unit Set, PDU discard timer value, to discard a first PDU set, the first PDU Set discard timer: being associated with at least one PDU Set Importance Level, PSI; and being different from a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, discard timer, and / or having a PDU Set discard timer value different from a PDCP discard timer value; and communicate with the wireless device (22) in accordance with the first indication.

35. Network node (16), according to claim 34, characterized in that the network node (16) is further configured to signal a second indication to the wireless device (22), the second indication being configured to either activate or deactivate the PDU Set disposal timer functionality that is associated with the first indication.

36. Network node (16), according to claim 35, characterized in that the second indication is provided by one of: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, control element; or Layer 1 signaling.

37. Network node (16), according to claim 35, characterized in that the second indication is provided by a control element, CE, of medium access control, MAC.

38. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 35 to 37, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​for use with a PSI level, the plurality of PDU Set discard timer values ​​comprising the first PDU Set discard timer value.

39. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 35 to 37, characterized in that the second indication indicates a plurality of PSI levels that uses the first discard timer value of PDU Set.

40. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that the first indication is an explicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level.

41. Network node (16), according to any of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that the first indication is an implicit indication that assigns the first PDU Set discard timer value to at least the first PSI level by omitting an explicit assignment from Petition 870250101612, dated 11 / 06 / 2025, page 77 / 79 9 / 9 first indication.

42. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 34 to 41, characterized in that the network node (16) is additionally configured to receive an indication of at least one PSI level supported by the wireless device (22).

43. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 34 to 42, characterized in that the first discard timer value of the PDU Set is configured for use with a specific radio data carrier, DRB, PDCP or service.

44. Network node (16), according to any one of claims 34 to 42, characterized in that the first discard timer value of PDU Set is configured for use with a plurality of radio data carriers, DRBs, or a plurality of services.

45. Product, process, system, kit, means or use, characterized in that it comprises one or more elements described in the descriptive report, claims, drawings, sequence listing, or summary of this application, when applicable. Petition 870250101612, dated 06 / 11 / 2025, pp. 78 / 79

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