Communication device and method

Abstract

A communication device configured to transmit data or receive data is provided. The communication device includes: a transceiver circuit configured to transmit or receive a signal via a wireless access interface; and a controller circuit configured to be combined with the transceiver circuit to: receive one or more first control signals, each of which includes an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in which the communication device will receive one of the one or more first downlink signals in each first group of radio resources; decode the one or more first downlink signals; determine that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second group of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals; determine that the communication device should transmit an uplink signal in a third group of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third group of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second group of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface; and determine, according to at least one communication standard, whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third group of radio resources of the wireless access interface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device, infrastructure equipment, and a method for transmitting data by a communication device in a wireless communication network.

[0002] This application claims the Paris Convention priority of European Patent Application No. EP19190624.7, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] The "background" description provided herein is to generally present the context of the present disclosure. To the extent described in this background section, the work of the presently named inventors and aspects of the description that may not have been considered prior art at the time of filing are neither explicitly nor implicitly admitted to be prior art against the present invention.

[0004] New generation mobile telecommunication systems (e.g., mobile telecommunication systems based on the UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architectures defined by 3GPP) are capable of supporting a wider range of services than the simple voice and messaging services provided by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, through the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, users are able to enjoy high data rate applications, such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing, which were previously only available via fixed line data connections. As a result, there is a great demand for the deployment of such networks, and the coverage areas of these networks (i.e., the geographic locations where the networks can be accessed) are expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0005] It is expected that future wireless communication networks will routinely and efficiently support communications with a wider range of devices than current systems are optimized to support, which are associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types. For example, it is expected that future wireless communication networks will efficiently support communications with devices, including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high-resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, etc. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in large quantities, for example, low-complexity devices used to support the "Internet of Things", and may generally be associated with the transmission of smaller amounts of data with higher delay tolerance. Other types of devices, such as those supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with the transmission of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low delay tolerance. Other types of devices, such as those used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterized by data that should be transmitted over the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type may also be associated with different business profiles / characteristics depending on the application being run. For example, different considerations may apply to effectively support data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) compared to when the smartphone is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or is being used for voice communications by emergency responders in an emergency situation (data subject to strict reliability and latency requirements).

[0006] In view of this, future wireless communication networks, such as those that may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems as well as future iterations / versions of existing systems, are expected to support connectivity for a wide range of devices efficiently associated with different applications and different feature data service profiles and requirements.

[0007] One example of a new service is called an ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) service, which, as the name implies, requires data units or packets to be communicated with high reliability and low communication latency. Another example of a new service is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) service, which is characterized by high capacity and requires support of up to 20Gb / s. Therefore, URLLC and eMBB type services represent a challenging example for both LTE type communication systems and 5G / NR communication systems.

[0008] The increasing use of different types of network infrastructure equipment and terminal devices associated with different traffic profiles presents new challenges for the efficient handling of communications in wireless telecommunication systems that need to be addressed. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present disclosure may help solve or alleviate at least some of the problems discussed above.

[0010] An embodiment of the present technology may provide a communication device configured to transmit data or receive data. The communication device includes: a transceiver circuit configured to transmit or receive a signal via a wireless access interface; and a controller circuit configured to be combined with the transceiver circuit to: receive one or more first control signals, each of which includes an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in which the communication device will receive one of the one or more first downlink signals in each first group of radio resources; decode the one or more first downlink signals; determine that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals is successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second group of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals; determine that the communication device should transmit an uplink signal in a third group of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third group of radio resources at least partially overlapping with the second group of radio resources in time or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface; and determine, according to at least one communication standard, whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third group of radio resources of the wireless access interface.

[0011] In addition to a communication device, embodiments of the present technology relate to a method of operating a communication device and a circuit for a communication device, allowing the communication device to use radio resources more efficiently.

[0012] Various aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

[0013] It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative rather than restrictive of the present technology. The described embodiments and further advantages will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be readily obtained by referring to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0015] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunications system that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of exemplary infrastructure equipment and communications devices that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4 An example is shown of how a user equipment (UE) can multiplex multiple Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgements (HARQ-ACKs) into a single Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH);

[0019] Figure 5 An example of a sub-slot based HARQ-ACK PUCCH is shown;

[0020] Figure 6 An example is shown where the HARQ-ACK PUCCH may collide with the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH);

[0021] Figure 7 A partially schematic, partially message flow diagram representation of a wireless communication network including a communication device and infrastructure equipment according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown;

[0022] Figure 8 A first example of how a UE may multiplex HARQ-ACK PUCCH with PUSCH according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown, where HARQ-ACK and PUSCH collide based on a threshold time;

[0023] Fig. 9 A second example is shown of how a UE may multiplex HARQ-ACK PUCCH with PUSCH according to an embodiment of the present technology, where HARQ-ACK and PUSCH conflict based on a threshold time;

[0024] Fig.10 A third example is shown of how a UE may multiplex HARQ-ACK PUCCH with PUSCH according to an embodiment of the present technology, where HARQ-ACK and PUSCH collide based on a threshold time;

[0025] Fig.11 A first example of how a UE according to an embodiment of the present technology may multiplex a HARQ-ACK PUCCH with a PUSCH is shown, where the HARQ-ACK and PUSCH are based on a time conflict between an uplink (UL) grant scheduling the PUSCH and a downlink (DL) grant scheduling the PDSCH associated with the HARQ-ACK PUSCH;

[0026] Fig.12A second example is shown of how a UE according to an embodiment of the present technology may multiplex a HARQ-ACK PUCCH with a PUSCH, where the HARQ-ACK and PUSCH are based on a time conflict between an uplink (UL) grant scheduling the PUSCH and a downlink (DL) grant scheduling the PDSCH associated with the HARQ-ACK PUSCH;

[0027] Fig.13 An example is shown of how a UE may multiplex HARQ-ACK PUCCH with PUSCH, where HARQ-ACK and PUSCH conflict in usage based on a configuration grant for PUSCH;

[0028] Fig.14 An example is shown of how a UE may multiplex a HARQ-ACK PUCCH with a PUSCH, where at the time the UE receives an UL grant scheduling a PUSCH, the HARQ-ACK and PUSCH collide based on known HARQ bits; and

[0029] Fig.15 A flowchart showing a communication process in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram is provided illustrating some basic functions of a mobile telecommunication network / system 100 , which typically operates according to LTE principles but may also support other radio access technologies and may be suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. Figure 1 Certain aspects of the various elements of the 3GPP and their corresponding modes of operation are well known and defined in the relevant standards managed by the 3GPP (RTM) body and are also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. ​​and Toskala A [1]. It should be understood that operational aspects of the telecommunication (or simply communication) network discussed herein that are not specifically described (e.g., regarding specific communication protocols and physical channels used for communication between different elements) can be implemented according to any known technology, for example, according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0032] The network 100 includes a plurality of base stations 101 connected to a core network 102. Each base station provides a coverage area 103 (i.e., a cell) within which data can be communicated with terminal devices 104. Data is transmitted from the base station 101 to the terminal devices 104 within its respective coverage area 103 via a radio downlink (UL). Data is transmitted from the terminal devices 104 to the base station 101 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 102 routes data to and from the terminal devices 104 via the respective base stations 101 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging, etc. The terminal devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminals, mobile radios, communication devices, etc. A base station is an example of a network infrastructure device / network access node, which may also be referred to as a transceiver station / nodeB / e-nodeB / eNB / g-nodeB / gNB, etc. In this regard, different terms are often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunication systems for elements providing broadly comparable functions. However, certain embodiments of the present disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunication systems, and for simplicity, specific terms may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is, the use of specific terms associated with specific example embodiments is not intended to indicate that these implementations are limited to the specific generation of networks to which the specific terms are most associated.

[0033] New radio access technology (5G)

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a network architecture of a new RAT wireless communication network / system 200 based on previously proposed methods, which methods may also be adapted to provide functionality according to the disclosed embodiments described herein. Figure 2The new RAT network 200 represented in the figure includes a first communication unit 201 and a second communication unit 202. Each communication unit 201, 202 includes a control node (centralized unit) 221, 222 that communicates with the core network component 210 through corresponding wired or wireless links 251, 252. The corresponding control nodes 221, 222 also communicate with multiple distributed units (radio access nodes / remote transmission and reception points (TRP)) 211, 212 in their corresponding units. Similarly, these communications can be carried out through corresponding wired or wireless links. The distributed units (DU) 211, 212 are responsible for providing a radio access interface for communication devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit 211, 212 has a coverage area (radio access coverage area) 241, 242, wherein the sum of the coverage areas of the distributed units under the control of the control node jointly defines the coverage range of the corresponding communication units 201, 202. Each distributed unit 211 , 212 includes a transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals and a processor circuit configured to control the corresponding distributed unit 211 , 212 .

[0035] In terms of broad top-level functionality, Figure 2 The core network component 210 of the illustrated new RAT communication network may be broadly considered to correspond to Figure 1 The core network 102 shown, and the corresponding control nodes 221, 222 and associated distributed units / TRPs 211, 212 can be broadly considered to provide corresponding Figure 1 The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements of the wireless communication system and more traditional base station type elements. Depending on the application at hand, the responsibility for scheduling transmissions scheduled over the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communication devices may lie with the control node / centralized unit and / or the distributed units / TRP.

[0036] exist Figure 2 In the figure, a communication device or UE 260 is represented within the coverage area of ​​the first communication unit 201. The communication device 260 can therefore exchange signaling with the first control node 221 in the first communication unit via one distributed unit 211 associated with the first communication unit 201. In some cases, communications of a given communication device are routed through only one distributed unit, but it will be appreciated that in some other implementations, for example, in soft handover scenarios and other scenarios, communications associated with a given communication device may be routed through more than one distributed unit.

[0037] exist Figure 2In the example, for simplicity, two communication units 201, 202 and one communication device 260 are shown, but it can be understood that in fact, the system may include a large number of communication units (each communication unit is supported by a corresponding control node and multiple distributed units) serving a large number of communication devices.

[0038] It should also be understood that Figure 2 It only represents one example of a proposed architecture of a new RAT communication system, in which the method according to the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functions disclosed herein may also be applied to wireless communication systems with different architectures.

[0039] Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure discussed herein may be implemented according to a variety of different architectures (e.g., Figure 1 and Figure 2 The exemplary architectures shown in the accompanying drawings are implemented in a wireless telecommunications system / network. Therefore, it should be understood that the specific wireless communication architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be generally described in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and communication devices, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and communication devices will depend on the network infrastructure to be implemented. For example, in some cases, the network infrastructure equipment / access nodes may include base stations, such as, Figure 1 The illustrated LTE-type base station 101 is suitable for providing functionality according to the principles described herein, and in other examples, the network infrastructure equipment / access node may include Figure 2 Control units / control nodes 221, 222 and / or TRPs 211, 212 of the type shown are suitable for providing functionality according to the principles described herein.

[0040] Figure 3 A more detailed description of the UE 270 and an exemplary network infrastructure device 272 is given in FIG, which may be considered as a combination of the eNB 101 or control node 221 and the TRP 211. Figure 3 As shown, UE 270 is shown transmitting uplink data to infrastructure equipment 272 via resources of a wireless access interface, generally as shown by arrow 274. UE 270 may similarly be configured to receive downlink data transmitted by infrastructure equipment 272 via resources of a wireless access interface (not shown). Figure 1 and Figure 2, the infrastructure equipment 272 is connected to the core network 276 via an interface 278 to a controller 280 of the infrastructure equipment 272. The infrastructure equipment 272 includes a receiver 282 connected to an antenna 284 and a transmitter 286 connected to the antenna 284. Accordingly, the UE 270 includes a controller 290 connected to a receiver 292 that receives signals from an antenna 294, and a transmitter 296 also connected to the antenna 294.

[0041] The controller 280 is configured to control the infrastructure equipment 272 and may include a processor circuit that may include various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing the functionality further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or appropriately configured functions of the processor circuit. Thus, the controller 280 may include circuits that are appropriately configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality for the equipment in the wireless telecommunications system using conventional programming / configuration techniques. According to conventional arrangements, the transmitter 286 and the receiver 282 may include a signal processor and radio frequency filters, amplifiers and circuits. For ease of presentation, the transmitter 286, the receiver 282 and the controller 280 are shown in FIG. Figure 3 272 are schematically shown as separate elements. However, it should be understood that the functionality of these elements can be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers or one or more appropriately configured application specific integrated circuits / circuitry / chips / chip sets. It should be understood that the infrastructure equipment 272 will typically include various other elements associated with the infrastructure equipment 272 operating functions.

[0042] Accordingly, the controller 290 of the UE 270 is configured to control the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292, and may include a processor circuit, which in turn may include various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing the functionality further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or appropriately configured functions of the processor circuit. Thus, the controller 290 may include circuits that are appropriately configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality for the devices in the wireless telecommunications system using conventional programming / configuration techniques. Similarly, according to conventional arrangements, the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292 may include a signal processor and radio frequency filters, amplifiers and circuits. For ease of representation, the transmitter 296, the receiver 292 and the controller 290 are shown in FIG. Figure 3270 are schematically shown as separate elements. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements may be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers or one or more appropriately configured application specific integrated circuits / circuitry / chips / chip sets. It will be appreciated that the communication device 270 will typically include various other elements associated with its operating functionality, such as a power supply, a user interface, etc., but for simplicity these are not shown in FIG. Figure 3 Not shown in FIG.

[0043] The controllers 280, 290 may be configured to execute instructions stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The process steps described herein may be performed by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with random access memory, operating in accordance with instructions stored on a computer readable medium.

[0044] 5G and eURLLC

[0045] Systems using NR technology are expected to support different services (or service types), which may be characterized by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services are characterized by high capacity and require support for up to 20Gb / s. Ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) services require a reliability of 1-10. -5 (99.999%) or higher, requiring a 32-byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms, with a reliability of 99.999% to 99.9999% [2]. Massive machine type communication (mMTC) is another example of a service that can be supported by NR-based communication networks. In addition, the system is expected to support further enhancements related to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to support new requirements for high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high precision positioning.

[0046] Enhanced URLLC (eURLLC) [3] specifies features that require high reliability and low latency, such as factory automation, transportation, power distribution, etc. It should be understood that the uplink control information (UCI) for URLLC and eMBB will have different requirements. Therefore, one of the current goals of eURLLC is to enhance UCI to support URLLC, with the goal of allowing PUCCH to carry HARQ-ACK feedback more frequently per time slot and supporting multiple HARQ-ACK codebooks for different service services.

[0047] Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK)

[0048] In response to the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) scheduling, HARQ-ACK feedback is transmitted to the gNB to inform the gNB whether the UE has successfully decoded the PDSCH. For a PDSCH ending in slot n, the corresponding PUCCH carrying the HARQ-ACK is transmitted in slot n+K1, where the value of K1 is indicated in the "PDSCH-to-HARQ Feedback Timing Indicator" field of the DL grant (carried by DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1). Multiple (different) PDSCHs can point to the same slot for the transmission of their respective HARQ-ACKs, and these HARQ-ACKs (in the same slot) are then multiplexed into a single PUCCH by the UE. Therefore, the PUCCH can contain multiple HARQ-ACKs for multiple PDSCHs. Figure 4 An example is shown in , where three DL grants are transmitted to the UE via DCI#1, DCI#2 and DCI#3 in time slots n, n+1 and n+2, respectively. DCI#1, DCI#2 and DCI#3 schedule PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3, respectively. DCI#1, DCI#2 and DCI#3 also indicate K1=3, K1=2 and K1=1, respectively. Since the K1 value indicates that the HARQ-ACK feedback for PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3 are all transmitted in time slot n+4, the UE multiplexes all three HARQ-ACKs into a single PUCCH. The PUCCH multiplexing window is a time window during which PDSCH can be multiplexed to the single PUCCH, where this PUCCH multiplexing window depends on the range of the K1 value. Figure 4 In the example shown, the PUCCH multiplexing window is from slot n to slot n+3, which means that the maximum K1 value is 4 slots.

[0049] Since the UE only knows the total number of HARQ-ACK bits after receiving the last PDSCH, it determines the PUCCH resources based on the DL grant that scheduled the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window. In addition, the UE follows the PUCCH resource indicator (PRI) in the DL grant of the previous PDSCH to determine which PUCCH resource in the PUCCH resource set to use. Figure 4 In the example in , the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window is PDSCH#3, and the corresponding DL grant is DCI#3.

[0050] In Rel-16eURLLC, the concept of PUCCH subslots for carrying HARQ-ACK is introduced for URLLC PDSCH. That is, the granularity of the K1 value (i.e., the time difference between the end of PDSCH and the start of its corresponding PUCCH) is smaller than the slot. Figure 5An example is shown in , where the subslot size = 7 symbols (i.e., half a slot), and the subslots are labeled m, m+1, m+2, etc. PDSCH#1 is transmitted in slot n+1, but for the subslot-based HARQ-ACK PUCCH, it is transmitted in subslot m+2, where K1=6, which means that the corresponding HARQ-ACK1 is in subslot m+2+K1=m+8. PDSCH#2 is transmitted in slot n+2, but occupies subslots m+4 and m+5. The reference to K1 is related to the subslot at which the PDSCH ends, and in this case, PDSCH#2 ends in subslot m+5. The DL grant in DCI#2 that schedules PDSCH#2 indicates K1=4, which schedules a PUCCH for its HARQ-ACK at subslot m+5+K1=subslot m+9.

[0051] PUSCH and HARQ-ACK conflict

[0052] Given the flexibility of allocating PUCCH resources, the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) may collide in time with the PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK in the same UE, i.e., intra-UE PUSCH and HARQ-ACK collision. Figure 6 An example is shown in , where DCI # 1 and DCI # 3 schedule PDSCH # 1 and PDSCH # 2, respectively, and their HARQ-ACK feedback are both scheduled in time slot n + 4, i.e., they are multiplexed into a single PUCCH. DCI # 2 schedules PUSCH # 1 for transmission in time slot n + 4, causing it to overlap in time with the PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK, i.e., PUSCH # 1 collides with HARQ-ACK.

[0053] In Rel-15, HARQ-ACK information is multiplexed into the conflicting PUSCH and the PUSCH is transmitted. However, since a single UE can support eMBB and URLLC, PUSCH and HARQ-ACK may have different priorities and this multiplexing may not be suitable. There are two scenarios:

[0054] 1. The conflicting PUSCH carries eMBB traffic, while the PUCCH carries HARQ-ACK feedback for the URLLC PDSCH. Here, the PUSCH may not be reliable enough to carry the HARQ-ACK; and

[0055] 2. The conflicting PUSCH carries URLLC traffic, while the PUCCH carries HARQ-ACK feedback for eMBB PDSCH. Here, multiplexing the HARQ-ACK feedback to the URLLC may reduce the reliability of the PUSCH.

[0056] One suggestion is to drop lower priority channels, e.g., PUSCH or PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK. For the case where the lower priority channel is PUCCH, dropping HARQ-ACK will result in multiple eMBB PDSCH retransmissions, and since eMBB uses a large TBS (transport block size), this leads to inefficient use of resources.

[0057] PUSCH and HARQ-ACK conflict within UE

[0058] Figure 7 A partially schematic, partially message flow diagram representation of a wireless communication network including a communication device 701 and an infrastructure device 702 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology is shown. The communication device 701 is configured to transmit data to or receive data from the infrastructure device 702 via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communication network. The communication device 701 and the infrastructure device 702 each include a transceiver (or transceiver circuit) 701.1, 702.1 and a controller (or controller circuit) 701.2, 702.2. For example, each of the controllers 701.2, 702.2 may be a microprocessor, a CPU, a dedicated chipset, or the like.

[0059] like Figure 7As shown in the example of FIG. 7 , the transceiver circuit 701.1 and the controller circuit 701.2 of the communication device 701 are configured in combination to: receive 711 (from the infrastructure equipment 702) one or more first control signals, each of which includes an indication of one of the one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, and the communication device 701 will receive 721 (from the infrastructure equipment 702) one of the one or more first downlink signals in each of the first groups of radio resources; decode 712 the one or more first downlink signals (received from the infrastructure equipment 702 in each of the one or more first groups of radio resources); determine 713 that the communication device 701 should transmit a feedback signal (to the infrastructure equipment 702), the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether it was successfully transmitted (from the infrastructure equipment 702). receiving 721 each of the first downlink signals, wherein the communication device 701 is configured to transmit a feedback signal (to the infrastructure equipment 702) in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals; determining 714 that the communication device 701 should transmit an uplink signal (to the infrastructure equipment 702) in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources (or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface); and determining 715 whether the communication device 701 should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing 722 at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit 723 the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface (to the infrastructure equipment 702) according to at least one communication standard.

[0060] In essence, embodiments of the present technology propose that HARQ-ACK UCI (uplink control information) should be multiplexed into the conflicting PUSCH. For example, if the UE has enough time to provide a reliable PUSCH after some HARQ-ACK UCI bits are known to the UE, this should be done. In other words, at least one communication standard includes whether the length of time between one of the one or more first control signals and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than the minimum amount of time required for the communication device to form a multiplexed signal that meets at least one reliability requirement. Here, at least one reliability requirement may depend on the number of bits in the feedback signal. The UE can use this sufficient time to determine whether the code rate of the PUSCH after adding additional HARQ-ACK bits can meet the reliability requirements, and if not, construct - or if feasible, reconstruct - the PUSCH so that the reliability requirements are met, for example, by reducing the code rate or increasing the transmission power. In other words, at least one reliability requirement includes a coding rate of the multiplexed signal that is lower than a threshold coding rate.

[0061] If sufficient time is not available, or the UE determines that it cannot reconstruct the PUSCH due to its capabilities, or determines that it cannot construct a PUSCH that meets the required reliability if additional HARQ-ACK bits are included - i.e., the UE determines that multiplexing is not feasible - then the UE drops the lower priority channel. For example,

[0062] If the PUSCH carries eMBB traffic and the PUCCH carries HARQ-ACK feedback for the URLLC PDSCH, the UE drops the PUSCH; or

[0063] On the other hand, if PUSCH carries URLLC traffic and PUCCH carries HARQ-ACK feedback for eMBB PDSCH, the UE drops PUCCH.

[0064] In other words, each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority as the first downlink signal, and the communication device is configured to: if the communication device determines that a multiplexed signal should not be formed, discard one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal based on which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority; and transmit only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal with the highest priority.

[0065] Unless otherwise specified, and as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the following arrangements of embodiments of the present technology are applicable regardless of whether the PUSCH carries eMBB or URLLC traffic and the PUCCH carries feedback for the eMBB PDSCH or URLLC PDSCH.

[0066] In another arrangement of an embodiment of the present technique, if the time T between the PDCCH carrying the DL grant and the start of the PUSCH DL-PUSCH Greater than the threshold T PUSCH , that is, if T DL-PUSCH >T PUSCH , the UE is deemed to have sufficient time, and the UE should multiplex the HARQ-ACK into the PUSCH. In other words, at least one communication criterion includes whether the time length between receiving the first signal and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than a threshold time length. Here, the first signal is one of the first control signals. Figure 8 An example is shown in FIG, where DCI #1 carries an UL grant that schedules a PUSCH in slot n+4, while DCI #2 schedules a PDSCH with a corresponding HARQ-ACK PUCCH allocated in slot n+4, resulting in a PUSCH and HARQ-ACK collision. DL-PUSCHBetween DCI#2 and PUSCH, that is, between time t3 and t8. Here, if T DL-PUSCH is large enough, that is, T DL-PUSCH >T PUSCH , then even if the MAC has constructed the PUSCH, the UE has enough time to determine whether the code rate is low enough, and if not, reconstruct the PUSCH with a lower code rate to carry the PUSCH and HARQ-ACK UCI that meet the reliability requirements. Of course, if the UE is unable to reconstruct the PUSCH after it has already constructed the PUSCH, the lower priority channel is discarded as described above. PUSCH The value of may be the UE capabilities determined in the specification (where the capabilities may be signaled to the network), or it may be signaled to the UE's Radio Resource Control (RRC) based on the UE's capabilities known to the network.

[0067] In some embodiments of the above arrangement, the time T DL-PUSCH is the time between the last DL grant of a PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window and the start of a conflicting PUSCH. In other words, one of the first control signals is the last one in time of the first control signal(s). Fig. 9 Such an example is shown in FIG. 1 , where the PUCCH multiplexing window covers time slots n, n+1, n+2, and n+3. Within the PUCCH multiplexing window, PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2 are scheduled, where PDSCH#2 is the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window and its corresponding DL grant is DCI#3. Therefore, T DUL-PUSCH It is the time between the PDCCH carrying DCI#3 and the colliding PUSCH, that is, between time t3 and t8.

[0068] In other embodiments of the above arrangement, in sub-slot based PUCCH operation, time T DL-PUSCH Defined as a DL grant for scheduling the last PDSCH, where the corresponding sub-slot PUCCH conflicts with the PUSCH. It should be understood that under sub-slot-based PUCCH operation, the PUSCH can conflict with multiple HARQ-ACKs. In other words, the feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to: receive at least one second control signal, the second control signal including an indication of a fourth group of radio resources of the wireless access interface, where the communication device will receive a second downlink signal; decode the second downlink signal; and determine that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal is successfully received in a fifth group of radio resources, the fifth group of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third group of radio resources (or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface), wherein the first signal is a second control signal. Fig.10 An example is shown in , where DCI#2 and DCI#3 schedule PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2, respectively. The corresponding PUCCHs for PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2, i.e. HARQ-ACK1 and HARQ-ACK2, are scheduled in subslots m+8 and m+9, respectively. DCI#1 schedules a PUSCH in slot n+4 that collides with HARQ-ACK1 and HARQ-ACK2. Here, the UE will only know the total number of HARQ-ACK bits that need to be multiplexed into the PUSCH after scheduling the last PDSCH with HARQ-ACK that collides with the PUSCH, and in this example, this information is known after the DL grant in DCI#3 has been sent. If there is enough time between DCI#3 and the colliding PUSCH for the UE to determine the code rate, and if feasible, reconstruct the PUSCH to meet reliability requirements, HARQ-ACK1 and HARQ-ACK2 can be multiplexed into the PUSCH - or otherwise the lower priority channel (PUSCH in this example) is discarded.

[0069] In another arrangement of an embodiment of the present technology, if the UL grants T UL-DL After that, the time when DL authorization arrives is less than the threshold T MAC , that is, if T UL-DL <T MAC , then it is considered that the UE has sufficient time, and the UE is configured to multiplex the HARQ-ACK into the PUSCH. In other words, the communication device is configured to receive a third control signal before at least one of the first control signals, and the third control signal provides an indication of a third set of radio resources in which the communication device will transmit an uplink signal, wherein at least one communication criterion includes whether the length of time between receiving the third control signal and receiving the first signal is greater than a threshold time length. Here, the first control signal is one of the at least one first control signal received after the third control signal. This Fig.11 The example in FIG. 1 shows that DCI #1 carries an UL grant that schedules a PUSCH in slot n+4, while DCI #2 schedules a PDSCH with a corresponding HARQ-ACK PUCCH allocated in slot n+4, resulting in a PUSCH and HARQ-ACK collision. The time between the UL grant and the DL grant is marked as T UL-DL (Right now, Fig.11In this arrangement, the UL grant is received by the UE first, and the UE will therefore start constructing the PUSCH, and if the DL grant (with the colliding PUCCH) is received early enough, i.e. before the PUSCH is constructed and sent to the physical layer, the medium access control (MAC) layer at the UE can take into account the additional HARQ-ACK bits that need to be multiplexed and construct a PUSCH that meets the required reliability. This arrangement recognizes that once the MAC has constructed the PUSCH, it is passed to the physical layer, so it is difficult to change the PUSCH code rate. This time also allows the UE to evaluate whether the code rate of the constructed PUSCH is low enough to meet the required reliability after taking into account the additional HARQ-ACK bits. MAC The value of can be the UE capabilities defined in the specification, indicated by the UE to the network, or RRC signaled by the network (based on other capability information from the UE).

[0070] In some embodiments of the above arrangement, T UL-DL is the time between the UL grant and the DL grant of the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window. In other words, one of the first control signals is the last one in time among the first control signals. This recognizes that only after the last DL grant does the UE know the exact number of HARQ-ACK bits required in the PUCCH, and therefore, only after this point does the UE know how to construct the PUSCH so that its code rate meets the reliability requirements.

[0071] In other embodiments of the above arrangement, in sub-slot based PUCCH operation, T UL-DL is the time between the UL grant and the DL grant for scheduling the last PDSCH, wherein the corresponding sub-slot PUCCH conflicts with the PUSCH. In other words, the feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to: receive at least one second control signal, the second control signal including an indication of a fourth group of radio resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the communication device will receive a second downlink signal; decode the second downlink signal; and determine that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal is successfully received in a fifth group of radio resources, the fifth group of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third group of radio resources, wherein the first signal is a second control signal. It should be noted by those skilled in the art that, as described above, in a sub-slot based PUCCH, the PUSCH may conflict with multiple PUCCHs.

[0072] In another arrangement of an embodiment of the present technology, if the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH appears after the last DL grant with the corresponding PUCCH that conflicts with the PUSCH, that is, if the UL grant with the conflicting PUSCH appears after the last DL grant with which its PUCCH conflicts, the UE is considered to have sufficient time, so the HARQ-ACK is multiplexed into the PUSCH. In other words, the communication device is configured to receive a third control signal that provides an indication of a third set of radio resources in which the communication device will transmit uplink signals, wherein at least one communication criterion includes whether the third control signal is received after all one or more first control signals. The last DL grant can be the DL grant that schedules the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window, and if sub-slot PUCCH operation is used, the DL grant that schedules the last PDSCH in any PUCCH multiplexing window that conflicts with the PUSCH. This recognizes that if the UL grant arrives after the DL grant, the UE will be aware of the PUSCH and HARQ-ACK conflict, and is therefore able to take into account the additional HARQ-ACK bits when constructing the PUSCH so that it has a code rate that meets the required reliability. This arrangement also recognizes that the gNB is aware of PUSCH and HARQ-ACK conflicts when scheduling UL grants, so the gNB can also take into account the extra HARQ-ACK bits when scheduling PUSCH to ensure its reliability. Fig.12 An example is shown in , where PUCCH is subslot based. Here, DCI#1 and DCI#2 schedule PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2, respectively, where their corresponding PUCCHs carry their HARQ-ACK feedback in subslot m+8 (HARQ-ACK1) and subslot m+9 (HARQ-ACK2), respectively. DCI#3 is an UL grant that schedules a PUSCH that collides with HARQ-ACK1 and HARQ-ACK2. Since the UL grant in DCI#3 arrives after the last DL grant in DCI#2 (even though DCI#3 arrives before PDSCH#2), this causes a PUCCH collision, so when the UE is aware of this collision, the UE multiplexes HARQ-ACK 1 and HARQ-ACK2 to the PUSCH and thus constructs a PUSCH with a code rate that satisfies the required reliability, or when the gNB is aware of this collision, it schedules the PUSCH to have a sufficient code rate that satisfies the required reliability. For the case where some DL grants appear after UL grants for scheduling conflicting PUSCHs, the UE may:

[0073] · Dropping a lower priority channel, for example, dropping the eMBB PUSCH and transmitting the URLLC HARQ-ACK or dropping the eMBB HARQ-ACK and transmitting the URLLC PUSCH. In other words, each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority in the first downlink signal, and if at least one communication criterion is not met, the communication device is configured to: drop one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal according to which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority; and transmit only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal with the highest priority; or

[0074] If N Total DL authorized N after If a DL grant (which has feedback that conflicts with the PUSCH) appears after the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH, the channel with the lower priority is discarded. In other words, the communication device is configured to discard the one with the lowest priority among the uplink signal and the feedback signal if the number of one or more first control signals received after the third control signal is greater than the threshold number. For example, N after >N Total / 2, that is, most DL grants appear after UL grants, then the UE discards the lower priority channels.

[0075] In another arrangement of an embodiment of the present technology, in which a configured grant is used to transmit a PUSCH, if the last DL grant that causes a HARQ-ACK and PUSCH conflict occurs before the grant configured for scheduling the PUSCH, the HARQ-ACK is multiplexed into the PUSCH. In other words, the communication device is configured to determine a third group of radio resources based on a received radio resource control RRC signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third group of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured grant, wherein at least one communication criterion includes whether the time-last of the first control signal is received before the communication device determines that an uplink signal should be transmitted in the third group of radio resources. The configured grant is an UL resource that is semi-statically configured (using RRC signaling) for PUSCH transmission in the UE. This avoids the UE having to send a scheduling request (SR) and wait for an UL grant in the DCI in order to transmit its PUSCH, thereby significantly reducing latency.

[0076] One way to implement this arrangement is to define a maximum time T between the UE making the decision to use a configured grant and the actual transmission of the PUSCH in that configured grant. MAX. In other words, the communication device is configured to determine the third set of radio resources based on a received radio resource control, RRC signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third set of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured authorization, wherein at least one communication criterion comprises whether a temporally last one of the first control signals is received before the earliest time at which the communication device can determine that an uplink signal should be transmitted in the third set of radio resources. Fig.13 An example is shown in FIG. 1 , where T MAX is 23 OFDM symbols long, and for 13 For a PUSCH transmission, the earliest time that the UE can make a decision to use the grant configured in slot n+4 is at time t8 (as can be seen, between times t8 and t 13 Therefore, if the DL grant that causes the HARQ-ACK and PUSCH collision occurs at time t8 and t 13 However, if the last DL grant that caused the HARQ-ACK and PUSCH to collide arrived before t8, we can assume that the UE has not made any decision to use the configured grant in time slot n+4, and therefore if it decides to use this configured grant for PUSCH, it will be aware of all HARQ-ACK bits that will collide with this PUSCH, and include these HARQ-ACK bits when constructing the PUSCH to ensure that it meets the required reliability.

[0077] The arrangement of the embodiments of the present technology previously described attempts to multiplex all conflicting HARQ-ACK UCIs into the PUSCH. In another arrangement of the embodiments of the present technology, the UE only needs to multiplex to the known HARQ-ACK UCIs that conflict with the PUSCH. For example, if their corresponding DL grants arrive before the UL grant that schedules the conflicting PUSCH, the UE will multiplex all those conflicting HARQ-ACK UCIs. Any further HARQ-ACK conflicts due to DL grants that arrive after the UL grant will not be multiplexed. In other words, the communication device is configured to receive a third control signal that provides an indication of a third set of radio resources in which the communication device will transmit an uplink signal, wherein at least one communication criterion includes whether one or more of the first control signals are received before the third control signal, and wherein the communication device is configured to form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal, the feedback signal including an indication of whether each of the one or more first downlink signals received before the third control signal was successfully received as an uplink signal. Fig.14An example is shown in , where DCI#1, DCI#2, and DCI#4 schedule PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3, respectively. The PUCCH carrying its HARQ-ACK (labeled HARQ-ACK1) for PDSCH#1 is scheduled in subslot m+8, while the PUCCH carrying the HARQ-ACK for PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3 (labeled HARQ-ACK2) is in subslot m+9. The UL grant carried by DCI#3 schedules the PUSCH for transmission in slot n+4, thereby colliding with HARQ-ACK1 and HARQ-ACK2. Since the DL grants carried by DCI#1 and DCI#2 appear before the UL grant (DCI#3), their HARQ-ACK bits are multiplexed into the PUSCH. However, the DL grant carried by DCI#4 arrives after the UL grant (DCI#3), so it is too late for the UE to consider the colliding HARQ-ACK of PDSCH#3, so it is not multiplexed into PUSCH.

[0078] It should be understood that the above-described embodiments of the present technology may be combined in any suitable manner. Fig.14 If the time T between DCI#3 (UL grant) and DCI#4 (DL grant) is UL-DL Less than T MAC , as referenced above Fig.11 As described in the arrangement, the UE may multiplex the HARQ-ACK for PDSCH#3 into the PUSCH, in addition to all those HARQ ACKs for their corresponding DL grants (DCI#1 and DCI#2) that arrive before the UL grant.

[0079] Flowchart representation

[0080] Fig.15 A flowchart illustrating a first example communication process in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. Fig.15 The illustrated process is a method of operating a communication device configured to transmit data to or receive data from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communication network.

[0081] The method starts at step S1501. The method includes, in step S1502, receiving one or more first control signals, each of which includes an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of a wireless access interface, in which the communication device will receive one of the one or more first downlink signals in each first group of radio resources. In step S1503, the method includes decoding the one or more first downlink signals. Then, the process moves to step S1504, which involves determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, which indicates for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals is successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in the second group of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals. Next, in step S1505, the method includes determining that the communication device should transmit an uplink signal in a third group of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third group of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second group of radio resources (or sharing the same time division time slot of the wireless access interface). Then, in step S1506, the process includes, according to at least one communication standard, determining whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into an uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface. The method ends in step S1507.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will understand that Fig.15 The method shown can be adjusted according to the embodiments of the present technology. For example, other intermediate steps can be included in the method, or the steps can be performed in any logical order.

[0083] Although mainly through Figure 7 The example communication system shown describes an embodiment of the present technology, and according to Figures 8 to 14 Examples of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they may be equally applicable to other systems than those described herein.

[0084] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and / or communication devices as defined herein may be further defined according to the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and communication devices as defined and described herein may form part of a communication system other than those defined in the present disclosure.

[0085] The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technology:

[0086] Paragraph 1. A communication device configured to transmit data or receive data, the communication device comprising

[0087] a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal or receive a signal via a wireless access interface, and

[0088] A controller circuit is configured, in combination with the transceiver circuit, to:

[0089] receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in each first group of radio resources the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals,

[0090] decoding one or more of said first downlink signals,

[0091] determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals,

[0092] determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and

[0093] According to at least one communication standard, it is determined whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface.

[0094] Paragraph 2. A communication device according to paragraph 1, wherein each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority as the first downlink signal, and

[0095] If the communication device determines that the multiplexed signal should not be formed, the communication device is configured to

[0096] discarding one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal according to which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority, and

[0097] Only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having the highest priority is transmitted.

[0098] Paragraph 3. A communication device according to paragraph 1 or paragraph 2, wherein at least one of the communication criteria includes whether the length of time between one of the one or more first control signals and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than the minimum amount of time required for the communication device to form the multiplexed signal that meets at least one reliability requirement.

[0099] Paragraph 4. A communication device according to paragraph 3, wherein at least one of the reliability requirements depends on the number of bits in the feedback signal.

[0100] Paragraph 5. A communication device according to paragraph 3 or paragraph 4, wherein at least one of the reliability requirements includes a coding rate of the multiplexed signal that is lower than a threshold coding rate.

[0101] Paragraph 6. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the communication criteria includes whether a time length between receiving the first signal and the start of the third set of radio resources is greater than a threshold time length.

[0102] Paragraph 7. A communications device as described in paragraph 6, wherein the first signal is one of the first control signals.

[0103] Paragraph 8. A communication device according to paragraph 7, wherein one of the first control signals is the last one of the first control signals in time.

[0104] Paragraph 9. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 6 to 8, wherein the feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to

[0105] receiving at least one second control signal, the second control signal comprising an indication of a fourth set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the communication device is to receive a second downlink signal,

[0106] decoding the second downlink signal, and

[0107] determining that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal was successfully received in a fifth set of radio resources, the fifth set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third set of radio resources,

[0108] The first signal is the second control signal.

[0109] Paragraph 10. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 9, wherein the communication device is configured to

[0110] receiving a third control signal prior to at least one of the first control signals, the third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal,

[0111] Among them, at least one of the communication criteria includes whether the time length between receiving the third control signal and receiving the first signal is greater than a threshold time length.

[0112] Paragraph 11. A communication device according to paragraph 10, wherein the first signal is one of at least one of the first control signals received after the third control signal.

[0113] Paragraph 12. The communication device of paragraph 11, wherein one of the first control signals is the last one of the first control signals in time.

[0114] Paragraph 13. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 10 to 12, wherein the feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to

[0115] receiving at least one second control signal, the second control signal comprising an indication of a fourth set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the communication device is to receive a second downlink signal,

[0116] decoding the second downlink signal, and

[0117] determining that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal was successfully received in a fifth set of radio resources, the fifth set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third set of radio resources,

[0118] The first signal is the second control signal.

[0119] Paragraph 14. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 13, wherein the communication device is configured to

[0120] receiving a third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal,

[0121] At least one of the communication criteria includes whether the third control signal is received after all one or more of the first control signals.

[0122] Paragraph 15. A communication device according to paragraph 14, wherein each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority as the first downlink signal, and

[0123] If at least one of the communication criteria is not met, the communication device is configured to

[0124] discarding one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal according to which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority, and

[0125] Only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having the highest priority is transmitted.

[0126] Paragraph 16. A communication device according to paragraph 15, wherein the communication device is configured to discard one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having the lowest priority if the number of one or more of the first control signals received after the third control signal is greater than a threshold number.

[0127] Paragraph 17. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 16, wherein the communication device is configured to

[0128] determining a third set of radio resources based on a received radio resource control (RRC) signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third set of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured grant,

[0129] Therein, at least one of the communication criteria comprises whether a temporally last one of the first control signals is received before the communication device determines that the uplink signal should be transmitted in the third set of radio resources.

[0130] Paragraph 18. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 17, wherein the communication device is configured to

[0131] determining a third set of radio resources based on a received radio resource control (RRC) signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third set of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured grant,

[0132] Therein, at least one of the communication criteria comprises whether a temporally last one of the first control signals is received before an earliest time at which the communication device can determine that the uplink signal should be transmitted in the third set of radio resources.

[0133] Paragraph 19. A communication device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 18, wherein the communication device is configured to

[0134] receiving a third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal,

[0135] wherein at least one of the communication criteria comprises whether one or more of the first control signals are received before the third control signal, and wherein the communication device is configured to

[0136] The multiplexed signal is formed by multiplexing the at least a portion of the feedback signal, the feedback signal including an indication of whether each of the one or more first downlink signals received before the third control signal is successfully received as the uplink signal.

[0137] Paragraph 20. A method of operating a communication device, the communication device being configured to transmit data to or receive data from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communication network, the method comprising

[0138] receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in each first group of radio resources the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals,

[0139] decoding one or more of said first downlink signals,

[0140] determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals,

[0141] determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and

[0142] According to at least one communication standard, it is determined whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface.

[0143] Paragraph 21. Circuit for a communication device configured to transmit data or receive data, the communication device comprising

[0144] a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal or receive a signal via a wireless access interface, and

[0145] A controller circuit is configured, in combination with the transceiver circuit, to:

[0146] receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in each first group of radio resources the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals,

[0147] decoding one or more of said first downlink signals,

[0148] determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating for each of the first downlink signals whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals,

[0149] determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and

[0150] According to at least one communication standard, it is determined whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface.

[0151] It should be understood that, for clarity, the above description has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuits and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functions between different functional units, circuits and / or processors may be used without departing from the embodiments.

[0152] The described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. The described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least in part as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be implemented physically, functionally and logically in any suitable manner. In fact, the function may be implemented in a single unit, multiple units, or as a part of other functional units. In this way, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit, or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuits and / or processors.

[0153] Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with some embodiments, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. In addition, although a feature may appear to be described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable for implementing the technology.

[0154] References

[0155] [1]Holma H. ​​and Toskala A, "LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radioaccess", John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0156] [2]TR 38.913, "Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)", v14.3.0.

[0157] [3]RP-190726, "Physical layer enhancements for NR ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URFFC)", Huawei, HiSilicon, RAN#83.

Claims

1. A communication device configured to transmit data or receive data, the communication device comprising a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal or receive a signal via a wireless access interface, and A controller circuit is configured in combination with the transceiver circuit to receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in each first group of radio resources the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals, decoding one or more of said first downlink signals, determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating, for each of the first downlink signals, whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein The communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals, determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and determining, according to at least one communication standard, whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, Wherein, at least one of the communication criteria includes whether the length of time between one of the one or more first control signals and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than the minimum amount of time required for the communication device to form the multiplexed signal that meets at least one reliability requirement; and wherein at least one of the reliability requirements includes a coding rate of the multiplexed signal that is lower than a threshold coding rate.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority as the first downlink signal, and If the communication device determines that the multiplexed signal should not be formed, the communication device is configured to discard one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal according to which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority, and Only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having the highest priority is transmitted.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein: At least one of the reliability requirements depends on the number of bits in the feedback signal.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the communication criteria comprises whether a length of time between receiving a first signal and the start of the third set of radio resources is greater than a threshold length of time.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein: The first signal is one of the first control signals.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein: One of the first control signals is the last one of the first control signals in terms of time.

7. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein: The feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to receiving at least one second control signal, the second control signal comprising an indication of a fourth set of radio resources of the wireless access interface in which the communication device is to receive a second downlink signal, decoding the second downlink signal, and determining that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal was successfully received in a fifth set of radio resources, the fifth set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third set of radio resources, The first signal is the second control signal.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: the communication device being configured to receive a third control signal prior to at least one of the first control signals, the third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal, At least one of the communication criteria includes whether a time length between receiving the third control signal and receiving the first signal is greater than a threshold time length.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein: The first signal is one of at least one of the first control signals received after the third control signal.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein: One of the first control signals is the last one of the first control signals in terms of time.

11. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein: The feedback signal is a first feedback signal, and the communication device is configured to receiving at least one second control signal, the second control signal comprising an indication of a fourth set of radio resources of the wireless access interface in which the communication device is to receive a second downlink signal, decoding the second downlink signal, and determining that the communication device should transmit a second feedback signal indicating whether the second downlink signal was successfully received in a fifth set of radio resources, the fifth set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the third set of radio resources, The first signal is the second control signal.

12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: the communication device being configured to receive a third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal, At least one of the communication criteria includes whether the third control signal is received after all one or more of the first control signals.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein: Each of the uplink signal and the first downlink signal is associated with a different priority, the feedback signal is associated with the same priority as the first downlink signal, and If at least one of the communication criteria is not met, the communication device is configured to discard one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal according to which of the uplink signal and the feedback signal has the lowest priority, and to transmit only the one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having the highest priority.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein: The communication device is configured to discard one of the uplink signal and the feedback signal having a lowest priority if a number of one or more of the first control signals received after the third control signal is greater than a threshold number.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The communication device is configured to determine the third set of radio resources based on a received Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third set of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured grant, Therein, at least one of the communication criteria comprises whether a temporally last one of the first control signals is received before the communication device determines that the uplink signal should be transmitted in the third set of radio resources.

16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The communication device is configured to determine the third set of radio resources based on a received Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling message, the RRC signaling message indicating that the third set of radio resources is used by the communication device as a configured grant, Therein, at least one of the communication criteria comprises whether the last one of the first control signals is received before the earliest time at which the communication device can determine that the uplink signal should be transmitted in the third set of radio resources.

17. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: the communication device being configured to receive a third control signal providing an indication of the third set of radio resources in which the communication device is to transmit the uplink signal, wherein at least one of the communication criteria includes whether one or more of the first control signals are received before the third control signal, and wherein the communication device is configured to form the multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal, the feedback signal including an indication of whether each of the one or more first downlink signals received before the third control signal is successfully received as the uplink signal.

18. A method of operating a communication device, the communication device being configured to transmit data to or receive data from infrastructure equipment of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of a wireless access interface, wherein the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals in each first group of radio resources, decoding one or more of said first downlink signals, determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating, for each of the first downlink signals, whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein The communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals, determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and determining, according to at least one communication standard, whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, Wherein, at least one of the communication criteria includes whether the length of time between one of the one or more first control signals and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than the minimum amount of time required for the communication device to form the multiplexed signal that meets at least one reliability requirement; and wherein at least one of the reliability requirements includes a coding rate of the multiplexed signal that is lower than a threshold coding rate.

19. Circuit for a communication device configured to transmit data or receive data, the communication device comprising a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal or receive a signal via a wireless access interface, and A controller circuit is configured, in combination with the transceiver circuit, to: receiving one or more first control signals, each first control signal comprising an indication of one of one or more first groups of radio resources of the wireless access interface, in each first group of radio resources the communication device is to receive one of the one or more first downlink signals, decoding one or more of said first downlink signals, determining that the communication device should transmit a feedback signal, the feedback signal indicating, for each of the first downlink signals, whether each of the first downlink signals was successfully received, wherein The communication device is configured to transmit the feedback signal in a second set of radio resources of the wireless access interface indicated by at least one of the first control signals, determining that the communication device should transmit uplink signals in a third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, the third set of radio resources at least partially overlapping in time with the second set of radio resources or sharing the same time division slot of the wireless access interface, and determining, according to at least one communication standard, whether the communication device should form a multiplexed signal by multiplexing at least a portion of the feedback signal into the uplink signal and transmit the multiplexed signal in the third set of radio resources of the wireless access interface, Wherein, at least one of the communication criteria includes whether the length of time between one of the one or more first control signals and the start of the third group of radio resources is greater than the minimum amount of time required for the communication device to form the multiplexed signal that meets at least one reliability requirement; and wherein at least one of the reliability requirements includes a coding rate of the multiplexed signal that is lower than a threshold coding rate.

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