When transitioning from the idle state or the inactive state, different BWPs are set earlier by the UE during the connection establishment process to the radio network

By sending the selected bandwidth part to the user equipment in the wireless network, the problem of not being able to apply wider BWP early during the UE connection is solved, and setting wider BWP earlier is realized, reducing power consumption and latency.

CN114270980BActive Publication Date: 2025-06-13ALCATEL LUCENT SHANGHAI BELL CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN201980099500.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2019-08-21
Publication Date
2025-06-13
Estimated Expiration
2039-08-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

During the connection of the UE to the wireless network, the prior art cannot apply a wider carrier bandwidth portion (BWP) at an earlier time, because the network cannot determine the maximum bandwidth supported by the UE before this.

Method used

By sending a selected bandwidth portion to the user equipment in a wireless network, the bandwidth portion is used during the connection process after the user equipment enters an idle or inactive state, and is different from the initial bandwidth portion.

Benefits of technology

This enables setting up wider BWP earlier during the connection process, reducing connection session duration, reducing power consumption and application-aware latency.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A network node in a wireless network sends a selected BWP to a UE, which will be used by the UE during a connection procedure for connecting the UE to the wireless network after the UE enters an idle state or an inactive state. The selected BWP is different from an initial BWP that the UE would otherwise use during the connection procedure. The network node receives a message from the UE for connecting to the wireless network using the selected BWP. When in one of the idle state or the inactive state, the UE receives the selected BWP and uses the selected BWP to send a message for connecting to the wireless network using the selected BWP (e.g., instead of the initial BWP).
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to wireless networks, and more particularly to bandwidth part (BWP) allocation in the connection establishment process from a user equipment (UE) to a wireless network. Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for the invention disclosed below. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily concepts that have been previously conceived, implemented, or described. Thus, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein, the content described in this section is not prior art to the description in this application and is not considered prior art merely by being included in this section. Abbreviations defined in the specification and / or drawings are as follows, at the beginning of the detailed description section.

[0003] A carrier bandwidth part (BWP) is a contiguous set of physical resource blocks, selected from a contiguous subset of the common resource blocks on a given carrier. A carrier has a certain total bandwidth, and a BWP is a part of the total bandwidth. Typically, a limited number (e.g., 4) of bandwidths in the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) can be allocated to a user equipment (UE).

[0004] When the network (NW) has received the context / capability of the UE, the network can configure a wider BWP (e.g., wider than the initial BWP), but at the earliest in the RRC Resume (in the inactive state) or RRC Reconfiguration (in the idle state) messages during the connection process. Because the NW does not know which bandwidths the UE can support earlier than these times, it is not possible to apply a wider BWP, e.g., already prepared for msg3 (e.g., using the RRC Resume Request or RRC Setup Request messages). Message msg3 is a message in the random access channel (RACH) process, in which the UE performs initial access or reconnects to the network. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This section is intended to contain examples and is not intended to be restrictive.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes a network node in a wireless network sending a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state. The selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process. The method includes the network node receiving, from the user equipment, a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0007] Another exemplary embodiment includes a computer program that includes code for performing the method of the previous paragraph when the computer program is run on a processor. According to the computer program of this paragraph, wherein the computer program is a computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium carrying computer program code therein for use with a computer. Another example is the computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the program can be directly loaded into the internal memory of the computer.

[0008] An exemplary apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform operations that include: a network node in a wireless network sending a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process; and the network node receiving, from the user equipment, a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0009] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium that carries computer program code therein for use with a computer. The computer program code includes: code for a network node in a wireless network sending a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process; and code for the network node receiving, from the user equipment, a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes: means for a network node in a wireless network to send a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment, the selected bandwidth part being for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would originally use during the connection procedure; and means for the network node to receive from the user equipment a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed, the method including the user equipment in a wireless network receiving a selected bandwidth part from a network node, the selected bandwidth part being for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state. Wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would originally use during the connection procedure. The method includes, when in one of the idle state or the inactive state, the user equipment sending to the network node a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0012] Further exemplary embodiments include a computer program, the computer program including code for performing the method of the previous paragraph when the computer program runs on a processor. According to the computer program of this paragraph, wherein the computer program is a computer program product including a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium carrying computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer. Another example is the computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the program can be directly loaded into the internal memory of the computer.

[0013] An exemplary apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform operations including: the user equipment in a wireless network receiving a selected bandwidth part from a network node, the selected bandwidth part being for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would originally use during the connection procedure; and when in one of the idle state or the inactive state, the user equipment sending to the network node a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0014] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium that bears computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer. The computer program code includes: code for a user equipment in a wireless network to receive a selected bandwidth part from a network node, the selected bandwidth part for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection procedure; and code for the user equipment to send, when in one of the idle state or the inactive state, a message to the network node for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0015] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes: means for a network node in a wireless network to send a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment, the selected bandwidth part for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection procedure; and means for the network node to receive, from the user equipment, a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a possible non-limiting exemplary system in which exemplary embodiments may be practiced;

[0018] Figure 2 is a signaling diagram of an existing procedure for connecting a UE from an idle state or an inactive state to a wireless network, the existing procedure requiring the UE to use an initial BWP with limited bandwidth;

[0019] Figure 3 is a signaling diagram of a BWP provided in a paging option according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0020] Figure 4 is a signaling diagram of a BWP provided in a release message option according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5 is a signaling diagram of a BWP provided in a system information option according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0022] Figure 6 and Figure 7They are logic flowcharts respectively executed by a network node and a UE, used to set a wider BWP earlier during the connection establishment process to a radio network, and illustrate the operations of an exemplary method according to an exemplary embodiment, the execution results of computer program instructions implemented on a computer-readable memory, the functions executed by logic implemented in hardware, and / or the interconnected components for executing the functions. Detailed implementation manners

[0023] The following abbreviations in the specification and / or drawings are defined as follows:

[0024] 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

[0025] 5G Fifth Generation

[0026] 5GC 5G Core Network

[0027] AMF Access and Mobility Management Function

[0028] BW Bandwidth

[0029] BWP Bandwidth Part

[0030] capas Capability

[0031] CU Central Unit

[0032] DCI Downlink Control Information

[0033] DU Distributed Unit

[0034] eNB (or eNodeB) Evolved Node B (e.g., LTE base station)

[0035] EN-DC E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity

[0036] en-gNB or En-gNB A node that provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations to a user equipment and acts as a secondary node in EN-DC

[0037] E-UTRA Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access, i.e., LTE radio access technology

[0038] gNB (or gNodeB) A base station for 5G / NR, i.e., provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations to a UE and is connected to a 5GC node through an NG interface

[0039] I / F Interface

[0040] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0041] MAC Media Access Control

[0042] MME Mobility Management Entity

[0043] ng or NG Next Generation

[0044] ng-eNB or NG-eNB Next Generation eNB

[0045] NR New Radio

[0046] N / W or NW Network

[0047] PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

[0048] PHY Physical Layer

[0049] RACH Random Access Channel

[0050] RAN Radio Access Network

[0051] Rel Release

[0052] RLC Radio Link Control

[0053] RNA RAN-based Notification Area

[0054] RRH Remote Radio Head

[0055] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0056] RU Radio Unit

[0057] Rx Receiver

[0058] SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

[0059] SGW Serving Gateway

[0060] SI System Information

[0061] SIB System Information Block

[0062] SMF Session Management Function

[0063] TS Technical Specification

[0064] Tx Transmitter

[0065] UE User Equipment (e.g., typical wireless mobile device)

[0066] UPF User Plane Function

[0067] The term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments. All embodiments described in this detailed description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0068] The exemplary embodiments herein describe techniques for setting a higher BWP earlier during the connection establishment process to a wireless network. Additional descriptions of these techniques are presented after a system in which the exemplary embodiments can be used is described.

[0069] Turning to Figure 1 , the figure shows a block diagram of a possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which the exemplary embodiments can be implemented. A user equipment (UE) 110, a radio access network (RAN) node 170, and a network element 190 are shown. In Figure 1 , the user equipment (UE) 110 communicates wirelessly with a wireless network 100. The UE is wireless and is typically a mobile device that can access a wireless network. The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected by one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver Rx 132 and a transmitter Tx 133. The one or more buses 127 can be an address bus, a data bus, or a control bus, and can include any interconnect mechanism (such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, an optical fiber, or other optical communication device, etc.). The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. The UE 110 includes a NW access module 140, and the NW access module 140 includes one or both of part 140-1 and / or part 140-2, and part 140-1 and / or part 140-2 can be implemented in various ways. The NW access module 140 can be implemented in hardware as the NW access module 140-1, for example, as part of one or more processors 120. The NW access module 140-1 can also be implemented as an integrated circuit or implemented through other hardware (such as a programmable gate array). In another example, the NW access module 140 can be implemented as the NW access module 140-2, and the NW access module 140-2 is implemented as computer program code 123 and executed by one or more processors 120. For example, the one or more memories 125 and the computer program code 123 can be configured to, together with one or more processors 120, cause the user equipment 110 to perform one or more operations described herein. The UE 110 communicates with the radio access network node 170 via a wireless link 111.

[0070] The RAN node 170 is a base station that provides access for wireless devices (such as UE 110) to the wireless network 100. The RAN node 170 can be, for example, a base station for 5G (also known as New Radio (NR)). In 5G, the RAN node 170 can be an NG-RAN node, and an NG-RAN node is defined as a gNB or an ng-eNB. A gNB is a node that provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and is connected to the 5GC (e.g., network element 190) via an NR interface. An ng-eNB is a node that provides E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and is connected to the 5GC via an NG interface. Hereinafter, the RAN node 170 is mainly referred to as a gNB, but this is merely exemplary and not restrictive. The NG-RAN node can include multiple gNBs, and a gNB can also include a Central Unit (CU) (gNB-CU) 196 and a Distributed Unit (DU) (gNB-DU), where the DU 195 is shown. Note that the DU can include a Radio Unit (RU) controller, or be coupled to an RU. The gNB-CU is a logical node that hosts the RRC protocol, SDAP protocol, and PDCP protocol of the gNB or hosts the RRC protocol and PDCP protocol of an en-gNB that controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the F1 interface connected to the gNB-DU. The F1 interface is shown as reference numeral 198, although reference numeral 198 also shows the link between the remote element of the RAN node 170 and the centralized element of the RAN node 170, e.g., the link between the gNB-CU 196 and the gNB-DU 195. The gNB-DU is a logical node that hosts the RLC layer, MAC layer, and PHY layer of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partially controlled by the gNB-CU. One gNB-CU supports one or more cells. One cell is supported by only one gNB-DU. The gNB-DU terminates the F1 interface 198 connected to the gNB-CU. Note that the DU 195 is assumed to include a transceiver 160, for example, as part of the RU, but some examples in this regard can have the transceiver 160 as part of a separate RU (e.g., under the control of the DU 195 and connected to the DU 195). The RAN node 170 can also be an eNB (evolved NodeB) base station for Long Term Evolution (LTE) or any other suitable base station.

[0071] The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / W I / F) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected by one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver Rx 162 and a transmitter Tx 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153. The CU 196 may include the processor 152, the memory 155, and the network interface 161. Note that the DU 195 may also include its own one or more memories and processors, and / or other hardware, but these are not shown.

[0072] The RAN node 170 includes an NW access module 150, and the NW access module 150 includes one or both of part 150-1 and / or part 150-2, and part 150-1 and / or part 150-2 can be implemented in various ways. The NW access module 150 can be implemented in hardware as the NW access module 150-1, for example, as part of one or more processors 152. The NW access module 150-1 can also be implemented as an integrated circuit or implemented by other hardware (such as a programmable gate array). In another example, the NW access module 150 can be implemented as the NW access module 150-2, and the NW access module 150-2 is implemented as computer program code 153 and executed by one or more processors 152. For example, the one or more memories 155 and the computer program code 153 are configured to cause the RAN node 170 to perform one or more operations described herein together with one or more processors 152. Note that the functions of the NW access module 150 can be distributed, for example, distributed between the DU element 195 and the CU 196, or implemented only in the DU 195.

[0073] One or more network interfaces 161 communicate through a network, for example, via link 176 and link 131. Two or more RAN nodes 170 communicate using, for example, link 176. The link 176 can be wired or wireless or can also be both wired and wireless, and can implement, for example, the Xn interface for 5G, the X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interfaces for other standards.

[0074] One or more buses 157 can be an address bus, a data bus, or a control bus, and can include any interconnect mechanism (e.g., a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optic or other optical communication devices, wireless channels, etc.). For example, one or more transceivers 160 can be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195 for LTE or a distributed unit (DU) 195 implemented for a gNB for 5G. Other elements of the RAN node 170 may physically be located in a different location from the RRH / DU, and one or more buses 157 can be partially implemented as, for example, a fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect other elements of the RAN node 170 (e.g., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU) to the RRH / DU 195. Reference numeral 198 also denotes those suitable network links.

[0075] The wireless network 100 can include one or more network elements 190, which can include core network functions, and the core network functions provide a connection to another network (e.g., a telephone network and / or a data communication network (e.g., the Internet)) via one or more links 181. Such core network functions for 5G can include an access and mobility management function (AMF) and / or a user plane function (UPF) and / or a session management function (SMF). Such core network functions for LTE can include an MME (mobility management entity) / SGW (serving gateway) function. These are merely example functions that the network element 190 can support, and note that both 5G functions and LTE functions can be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled to the network element 190 via the link 131. The link 131 can be implemented as, for example, an NG interface for 5G, or an S1 interface for LTE, or other suitable interfaces for other standards. The network element 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / W I / F) 180 interconnected by one or more buses 185. One or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. One or more memories 171 and the computer program code 173 are configured to cause the network element 190 to perform one or more operations in conjunction with one or more processors 175.

[0076] The wireless network 100 can implement network virtualization. Network virtualization is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functions into a single software-based management entity (i.e., virtual network). Network virtualization involves platform virtualization and is usually combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is divided into external virtualization and internal virtualization. The former combines many networks or parts of networks into a virtual unit, and the latter provides network-like functions for software containers on a single system. Note that the virtualized entity generated by network virtualization still uses hardware (such as processors 152 or 175 and memories 155 and 171) to a certain extent to be implemented, and such virtualized entity also produces technical effects.

[0077] The computer-readable memories 125, 155, and 171 can be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and can be implemented using any suitable data storage technology (such as semiconductor-based storage devices, flash memories, magnetic storage devices and systems, optical storage devices and systems, fixed memories, and removable memories). The computer-readable memories 125, 155, and 171 can be devices for performing storage functions. As non-limiting examples, the processors 120, 152, and 175 can be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and can include one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The processors 120, 152, and 175 can be devices for performing functions (such as controlling the UE 110, the RAN node 170, and other functions described herein).

[0078] In general, various embodiments of the user equipment 110 can include, but are not limited to, cellular phones (such as smart phones), tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, portable computers with wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices with wireless communication capabilities (such as digital cameras), game devices with wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback devices with wireless communication capabilities, Internet devices (including Internet of Things devices) that allow wireless Internet access and browsing (if possible), tablet computers with wireless communication capabilities, and portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of these functions.

[0079] Therefore, a suitable but non-limiting technical background for implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been introduced, and now the exemplary embodiments will be described more specifically.

[0080] As described above, when the network (NW) has received the context / capability of the UE, the network may configure a wider BWP (e.g., wider than the initial BWP), but at the earliest in the RRC Resume message (in the inactive state) or RRC Reconfiguration (in the idle state) during the connection procedure. Since the NW does not know which bandwidths the UE can support earlier than these times, it is not possible to apply a wider BWP earlier in this process (such as the BWP already prepared for msg3, since msg3 is part of the connection (e.g., RACH) procedure).

[0081] To address this issue, exemplary embodiments set a wider BWP earlier (e.g., compared to the current situation where connection establishment is being performed) during the connection establishment procedure to the radio network. These concepts are now introduced, and more details are provided below. As an introduction, the following is an example of how to configure a larger range of BWP as early as possible during the connection procedure.

[0082] 1) The NW (e.g., gNB 170) will indicate one or more BWPs to be applied for the next connection in the paging.

[0083] 2) The NW (e.g., gNB 170) may broadcast multiple BWPs (possibly also with a given validity time and / or area, e.g., RNA area) for initial access. For each BWP, the validity time can have different times or areas, or the time or area can be configured for a single BWP.

[0084] a) The problem with system information is that the dynamic nature of the allowed BWP configurations may be required, and these configurations need to be updated. When congestion occurs in some bandwidths, etc., a more dynamic mechanism can be used to avoid changes in SI. This can be achieved, for example, through media access control signaling and / or DCI. For example, in order to use system information as a way to broadcast multiple BWPs to the UE, if the NW changes the BWP in the SIB, the NW can use a MAC CE or DCI to indicate to the UE the BWP that has changed in the SIB. Otherwise, only legacy SI changes can be used to notify the UE, which is relatively slow.

[0085] b) In addition, not all UEs 110 support the same maximum BWP, which is why it is useful to indicate multiple bandwidths in broadcast signaling (e.g., to multiple UEs 110). Alternatively, (e.g., for a single UE) a dedicated signaling option can be used. For example, this provides an alternative way for the network (e.g., using SIB or dedicated signaling) to send information to the UE. For multiple BWP broadcasts, the eNB can monitor all BWPs to detect which BWP the UE uses to send MSG3.

[0086] 3) The NW (e.g., gNB 170) may provide the BWP in the release message. One problem to be solved is that the BWP is likely to be effective only within one or more cells of the same frequency. One way to solve this problem is that the NW may also provide the BWP for multiple frequencies / multiple cells in the message, or it may also be that the BWP will be applied to the inactive state.

[0087] Regarding how the NW selects the configured BWP, the selection of the BWP may be based on one or more of the following various considerations: input data type; required quality of the connection; and so on.

[0088] More details are provided now. Refer to Figure 2 , which is a signaling diagram of an existing process for connecting a UE from an idle state or an inactive state to a wireless network. This existing process requires the UE to use an initial BWP with limited bandwidth. In Figure 2 , the UE is in the RRC idle (i.e., IDLE or RRC_IDLE) state or the inactive (i.e., INACTIVE or RRC_INACTIVE) state. See box 210. In box 220, the UE determines that it needs to establish a connection with the network 100. This determination can be made because the UE has data to send, is paged, or is signaling. Here, the signaling refers to other signaling different from the paging in the downlink that can also trigger the UE to establish a connection with the network. In block 230, the UE has the (previously received) initial BWP configuration from one or more system information blocks (SIBs) and will use this BWP configuration to send msg3 (e.g., RRC Setup Request or Resume Request), but this is limited to the initial bandwidth in the initial BWP. Box 240 shows the UE sending an RRC Setup Request or Resume Request (also referred to as msg3), box 250 shows the gNB 170 sending an RRC Setup or RRC Resume to the UE, and box 260 shows the UE 110 sending an RRC Setup Complete or RRC Resume Complete. This ends the connection process.

[0089] Refer to Figure 3, this figure is a signaling diagram of the BWP provided in the paging option according to an exemplary embodiment. In block 210, the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state. In step 320, the base station 170 sends a paging to the UE 110. The paging includes a (e.g., optimized) BWP selected based on, for example, UE capabilities (capas) or NW deployment, where in the latter case the enabling function is controlled by the NW. Compared with the initial BWP used in step 240 in Figure 2 , a wider BWP is used in step 240-1, and steps 250 and 260 are assumed to be the same as those described previously. Note that the paging in step 320 causes the UE to establish a connection to the network.

[0090] Go to Figure 4 , this figure is a signaling diagram of the BWP provided in the release message option according to an exemplary embodiment. In this figure, the UE starts in the connected (i.e., CONNECTED or RRC_CONNECTED) state in block 410, and the base gNB 170 sends a release message (e.g., "RRC release" (RRCRelease)) at reference numeral 420. The release message includes a (e.g., optimized) BWP selected based on, for example, UE capabilities or network deployment. The release message also causes the UE to transition from the connected state to one of the idle state or the inactive state (see block 210). In block 425, the UE needs to connect to the network server for some reason (e.g., to send data). In block 430, the UE sends msg 3 (RRC setup request / RRC resume request (RRCSetupRequest / RRCResumeRequest)) using the BWP provided in the release message. Step 240-1 uses a BWP wider than the initial BWP used in step 240 in Figure 2 , and steps 250 and 260 are assumed to be the same as those described previously.

[0091] See Figure 5, this figure is a signaling diagram for the BWP to be provided in the system information option according to an exemplary embodiment. In this figure, the UE starts from the idle state or the inactive state (block 210). The UE reads the SIB from the cell (belonging to gNB 170) and learns that the possible BWP will be applied to this cell (e.g., broadcast in the SIB). Note that in this example, gNB 170 broadcasts to multiple (e.g., all) UEs in the cell. In block 220, for some reason, the UE needs to establish a connection to the radio network 100. In block 530, if the UE also supports the proposed and selected wider BWP, the UE that supports the newly proposed function will use the new, wider BWP provided in the SIB (instead of the SIB with the initial, narrower BWP). UE110 will send an RRC setup request (RRCSetupRequest) or an RRC resume request (ResumeRequest) message in step 240-1 (using a wider BWP than that used in the initial BWP used in step 240 of Figure 2 , and the other steps 250 and 260 are assumed to be the same as those described previously.

[0092] Go to Figure 6 , this figure is a logical flowchart executed by a network node for setting a wider BWP earlier during the connection establishment process to the radio network. This figure also shows the operations of one or more exemplary methods according to an exemplary embodiment, the execution results of computer program instructions implemented on a computer-readable memory, the functions executed by the logic implemented in hardware, and / or the interconnected components for executing the functions. For example, the NW access module 150 may include Figure 6 multiple of the blocks in, where each included block is an interconnected component for executing the function in the block. Assume Figure 6 the blocks in will be executed by a network node such as a base station (such as gNB 170) (e.g., or executed by a network node controlled by a base station (such as gNB 170)), for example, Figure 6 the blocks in are at least partially executed under the control of the NW access module 150.

[0093] In block 605, gNB 170 sends an initial bandwidth part to the UE in the system information. The initial BWP is the BWP that the UE will use in addition to the technology of providing a wider BWP to the UE given here. That is, the bandwidth (BW) of the provided BWP is wider than the bandwidth of the (narrower) initial BWP. In block 610, eNB 170 selects the selected bandwidth part based on one or more of the following: the input data type, or the required quality of the connection, or the UE energy saving state.

[0094] In block 615, gNB 170 transmits a selected bandwidth part that is to be used by the user equipment during the connection procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters the idle or inactive state. The selected bandwidth part is different from (e.g., wider or smaller than) the initial bandwidth part that would otherwise be used by the user equipment during the connection procedure, such as the one transmitted in block 605. A typical scenario is that the selected BWP is wider than the initial BWP. However, this idea can be extended to other use cases, such as a smaller BWP scenario, which may be useful for UE energy saving, for example. The selected BWP can be transmitted in the following ways: transmitted in paging (block 620, see Figure 3 ); transmitted in a release message (block 625, see Figure 4 ); or broadcast in system information (block 630, see Figure 5 ). In block 635, gNB 170 receives a message from the UE that is used to connect to the wireless network using the selected bandwidth part (e.g., using msg3). In block 640, gNB 170 completes the connection procedure using, for example, the previously described steps 250 and 260.

[0095] Figure 6 Another example is also shown, where in block 611, gNB 170 selects multiple BWPs that may be used by UE 110. In block 616, as part of what is transmitted in block 615, gNB 170 sends an indication of the multiple BWPs to UE 110. The idea is to let the UE select one from the multiple BWPs, and gNB 170 needs to monitor (see block 636) all these BWPs to identify which one is used for msg3 and receive (block 635) the message. More specifically, it has been previously pointed out that the NW knows whether the UE is using the default (e.g., the UE does not support new features) BWP or a wider BWP allowed in the cell at least through these two options:

[0096] 1) For example, in the RACH resource, the UE indicates the selected BWP to the gNB; and / or

[0097] 2) The NW (e.g., gNB 170) allocates dedicated RACH resources to a specific BWP configuration, and when the UE uses the RACH resource, the NW knows which BWP the UE has selected.

[0098] The network monitors all the multiple selected BWPs to determine which one is being used, and this is one possible technique. The network can also get help from the UE. For example, the UE indicates the selected BWP index in MSG1, or uses the dedicated RACH resources assigned to each BWP.

[0099] Figure 7is a logic flow chart executed by a UE to set a wider BWP earlier during the connection establishment process to a radio network. This figure also shows operations of one or more exemplary methods according to an exemplary embodiment, execution results of computer program instructions implemented on a computer-readable memory, functions executed by logic implemented in hardware, and / or interconnected components for performing functions. For example, the NW access module 140 may include Figure 7 multiple of the blocks in, where each block included is an interconnected component for performing the function in the block. Assume Figure 7 the blocks in are executed by the UE 110, for example, at least partially under the control of the NW access module 140.

[0100] In block 705, the UE 110 receives an initial bandwidth part in the system information from a network node. This is the initially narrower BWP. In block 715, the UE 110 receives a selected bandwidth part, which is used by the user equipment during the connection process of connecting the user equipment to a radio network after the user equipment enters the idle or inactive state. The selected bandwidth part is different from (e.g., wider or smaller than) the initial bandwidth part that would otherwise be used by the user equipment during the connection process and is transmitted to the UE in block 705. See block 720 and Figure 3 , (after transitioning to the idle mode / inactive mode) the reception can be performed in a paging. See block 725 and Figure 4 , (before transitioning to the idle mode / inactive mode) the reception can also be performed in a release message. Finally, see block 730 and Figure 5 , (after transitioning to the idle mode / inactive mode) the reception can be performed in a system information broadcast.

[0101] In block 735, the UE 110 uses the selected bandwidth part (e.g., uses msg3) to send a message to the radio network. In block 740, the UE 110 completes the connection process using, for example, the previously described steps 250 and 260.

[0102] Figure 7 Also shown is another example also shown by Figure 6 where in block 716, as part of the reception in block 715, the UE 110 receives an indication of multiple BWPs that will be used by the UE 110. As described above, the idea is for the UE to select (block 718) one of the multiple BWPs indicated in block 716, and the UE sends a message (e.g., msg3) on the selected BW in block 736. The gNB 170 needs to monitor (see Figure 6 block 636 of) all these BWPs to identify which is used for msg3 and receive (block 735) the message.

[0103] Further exemplary embodiments are as follows.

[0104] Embodiment 1. A method, comprising:

[0105] sending, by a network node in a wireless network, a selected bandwidth part to a user equipment, the selected bandwidth part being for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would originally use during the connection process; and

[0106] receiving, by the network node, from the user equipment a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0107] Embodiment 2. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the initial bandwidth part is pre-provided by the network node to the user equipment in system information.

[0108] Embodiment 3. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 or 2, further comprising: before the sending, selecting the selected bandwidth part based on one or more of: an input data type, or a required quality of connection of the user equipment, or an energy saving state.

[0109] Embodiment 4. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein:

[0110] sending the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further comprises: sending a plurality of selected bandwidth parts that can be used by the user equipment for a next connection to the wireless network; and

[0111] receiving the message further comprises:

[0112] determining, by performing at least one of the following, which one of the plurality of bandwidth parts the user equipment has used for the message: monitoring all the plurality of selected bandwidth parts, or detecting user equipment access via one or more associated dedicated resources, or receiving an indication of the selected bandwidth part in one or more resources from the user equipment; and

[0113] receiving the message on the one selected bandwidth part.

[0114] Embodiment 5. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein sending the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further comprises: sending the selected bandwidth part in a paging message after the user equipment has entered one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0115] Example 6. The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein sending the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further comprises: sending the selected bandwidth part in a release message for causing the user equipment to transition from a connected state to one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0116] Example 7. The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein sending the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further comprises: sending the selected bandwidth part in system information.

[0117] Example 8. The method according to Example 4, wherein sending a plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: including a valid time, and one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used if the valid time is exceeded.

[0118] Example 9. The method according to Example 4 or 8, wherein sending the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: including a region in which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used.

[0119] Example 10. The method according to any one of Examples 8 or 9, wherein sending a plurality of selected bandwidth parts is performed by one of the following: broadcasting a search for a plurality of selected bandwidth parts in system information; sending the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more paging messages; or sending the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more release messages.

[0120] Example 11. The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 9, wherein the selected bandwidth part is one of the following: wider than an initial bandwidth part; or smaller than the initial bandwidth part.

[0121] Example 12. A method comprising:

[0122] receiving, by a user equipment in a wireless network, from a network node a selected bandwidth part for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process; and

[0123] sending, by the user equipment while in one of an idle state or an inactive state, a message to the network node for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0124] Example 13. The method according to Example 12, wherein the initial bandwidth portion is pre-received by the user equipment and sent by the network node in the system information.

[0125] Example 14. The method according to any one of Examples 12 or 13, wherein:

[0126] Receiving the selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment further includes: receiving a plurality of selected bandwidth portions that may be used by the user equipment for the next connection to the wireless network;

[0127] The method further includes: selecting one of the plurality of selected bandwidth portions; and

[0128] Sending the message further includes: sending the message on the one selected bandwidth portion.

[0129] Example 15. The method according to Example 14, wherein the user equipment performs one of the following: performing access via one or more associated dedicated resources, or sending an indication of the one selected bandwidth portion in one or more resources from the user equipment.

[0130] Example 16. The method according to any one of Examples 12 to 15, wherein receiving the selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment further includes: receiving the selected bandwidth portion in a paging message after the user equipment has entered one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0131] Example 17. The method according to any one of Examples 12 to 14, wherein receiving the selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment further includes: receiving the selected bandwidth portion in a release message for causing the user equipment to transition from a connected state to one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0132] Example 18. The method according to any one of Examples 12 to 14, wherein receiving the selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment further includes: receiving the selected bandwidth portion in the system information.

[0133] Example 19. The method according to Example 14, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions further includes: receiving a valid time, and if the valid time is exceeded, one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth portions can be used, and based on the valid time, selecting the one selected bandwidth portion and sending the message.

[0134] Example 20. The method according to Example 14 or 19, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions further comprises: receiving a region in which one or more of the plurality of bandwidth portions may be used, and selecting the one selected bandwidth portion and transmitting the message based on the region.

[0135] Example 21. The method according to any one of Examples 19 or 20, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions is performed by one of the following: receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in system information in a broadcast; receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more paging messages; or receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more release messages.

[0136] Example 22. The method according to any one of Examples 12 to 21, wherein the selected bandwidth portion is one of the following: wider than an initial bandwidth portion; or smaller than the initial bandwidth portion.

[0137] Example 23. A computer program comprising code for performing the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 22 when the computer program is run on a computer.

[0138] Example 24. The computer program according to Example 23, wherein the computer program is a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium carrying computer program code contained therein for use with the computer.

[0139] Example 25. The computer program according to Example 23, wherein the computer program can be directly loaded into the internal memory of the computer.

[0140] Example 26. An apparatus comprising:

[0141] means for a network node in a wireless network to transmit a selected bandwidth portion to a user equipment for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth portion is different from an initial bandwidth portion that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process; and

[0142] means for the network node to receive from the user equipment a message for using the selected bandwidth portion to connect to the wireless network.

[0143] Example 27. The apparatus according to Example 23, wherein the initial bandwidth portion is pre-provided by the network node to the user equipment in system information.

[0144] Example 28. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 or 27 further includes a component for selecting the selected bandwidth part based on one or more of the following before the transmission: the input data type, or the required quality for the connection of the user equipment, or the energy saving state.

[0145] Example 29. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 to 28, wherein:

[0146] The component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes: a component for transmitting a plurality of selected bandwidth parts that may be used by the user equipment for the next connection to the wireless network; and

[0147] The component for receiving the message further includes:

[0148] A component for determining which one of the plurality of bandwidth parts the user equipment has used for the message by performing at least one of the following: monitoring all the plurality of selected bandwidth parts, or detecting access of the user equipment via one or more associated dedicated resources, or receiving an indication of the selected bandwidth part in one or more resources from the user equipment; and

[0149] A component for receiving the message on the one selected bandwidth part.

[0150] Example 30. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 to 29, wherein the component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes a component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part in a paging message after the user equipment has entered one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0151] Example 31. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 to 29, wherein the component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes a component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part in a release message for causing the user equipment to transition from a connected state to one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0152] Example 32. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 to 29, wherein the component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes a component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part in system information.

[0153] Example 33. The apparatus according to Example 29, wherein the component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part further comprises: a component for including a valid time, and one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts may be used if the valid time is exceeded.

[0154] Example 34. The apparatus according to Example 29 or Example 33, wherein the component for transmitting a plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: a component for including a region in which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts may be used.

[0155] Example 35. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 33 or 34, wherein the component for transmitting a plurality of selected bandwidth parts is implemented by performing one of the following: broadcasting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in system information; transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more paging messages; or transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more release messages.

[0156] Example 36. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 23 to 36, wherein the selected bandwidth part is one of the following: wider than the initial bandwidth part; or smaller than the initial bandwidth part.

[0157] Example 37. A base station comprising the apparatus according to any one of Examples 26 to 36.

[0158] Example 38. An apparatus comprising:

[0159] a component for a user equipment in a wireless network to receive a selected bandwidth part from a network node, the selected bandwidth part being used by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would originally use during the connection process; and

[0160] a component for the user equipment to send a message for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network to the network node when in one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0161] Example 39. The apparatus according to Example 38, wherein the initial bandwidth part is pre-received by the user equipment and is sent by the network node in system information.

[0162] Example 40. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 or 39, wherein:

[0163] The component for receiving the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes: a component for receiving a plurality of selected bandwidth parts, which may be used by the user equipment for the next connection to the wireless network;

[0164] The apparatus further includes: a component for selecting one selected bandwidth part from the plurality of selected bandwidth parts; and

[0165] The component for sending the message further includes: a component for sending the message on the one selected bandwidth part.

[0166] Example 41. The apparatus according to Example 40, wherein the user equipment operates one of the following: a component for performing access via one or more associated dedicated resources, or a component for sending an indication of the one selected bandwidth part among one or more resources from the user equipment.

[0167] Example 42. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 41, wherein the component for receiving the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes: a component for receiving the selected bandwidth part in a paging message after the user equipment has entered one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0168] Example 43. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 40, wherein the component for receiving the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes: a component for receiving the selected bandwidth part in a release message for causing the user equipment to transition from a connected state to one of an idle state or an inactive state.

[0169] Example 44. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 40, wherein the component for receiving the selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further includes: a component for receiving the selected bandwidth part in system information.

[0170] Example 45. The apparatus according to Example 40, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further includes: a component for receiving a valid time and performing selection of the one selected bandwidth part and sending the message based on the valid time, where one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts may be used if the valid time is exceeded.

[0171] Example 46. The apparatus according to Example 40 or 45, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions further comprises: a component for receiving a region and performing, based on the region, selecting the one selected bandwidth portion and sending the message, in which one or more of the plurality of bandwidth portions can be used.

[0172] Example 47. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 19 or 20, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions is implemented by one of the following: receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in system information in a broadcast; receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more paging messages; or receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more announcement messages.

[0173] Example 48. The apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 47, wherein the selected bandwidth portion is one of the following: wider than an initial bandwidth portion; or less than the initial bandwidth portion.

[0174] Example 49. A user equipment, comprising the apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 48.

[0175] Example 50. A wireless communication system, comprising the apparatus according to any one of Examples 26 to 36 and the apparatus according to any one of Examples 38 to 48.

[0176] Example 51. An apparatus, comprising:

[0177] at least one processor; and

[0178] at least one memory, including computer program code,

[0179] the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform operations including the following steps:

[0180] sending, by a network node in a wireless network, a selected bandwidth portion to a user equipment, the selected bandwidth portion being for use by the user equipment during a connection process of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth portion is different from an initial bandwidth portion that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection process; and

[0181] receiving, by the network node, a message from the user equipment for using the selected bandwidth portion to connect to the wireless network.

[0182] Example 52. The apparatus according to Example 51, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the operations in the method according to any one of Examples 2 to 11.

[0183] Example 53. An apparatus, comprising:

[0184] at least one processor; and

[0185] at least one memory, including computer program code,

[0186] the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the device to perform operations including the following steps:

[0187] receiving, by a user equipment in a wireless network, from a network node, a selected bandwidth part for use by the user equipment during a connection procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network after the user equipment enters an idle state or an inactive state, wherein the selected bandwidth part is different from an initial bandwidth part that the user equipment would otherwise use during the connection procedure; and

[0188] sending, by the user equipment while in one of the idle state or the inactive state, a message to the network node for using the selected bandwidth part to connect to the wireless network.

[0189] Example 54. The apparatus according to Example 53, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the operations in the method according to any one of Examples 12 to 22.

[0190] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims that follow, the technical effects and advantages of one or more example embodiments disclosed herein are to use the maximum BWP as soon as possible, which means that the connection session lasts for the minimum time, resulting in reduced power consumption and reduced application perceived latency. Another technical effect and advantage of one or more example embodiments disclosed herein is that the size of msg3 can be larger, which means that many enhancement potentials are opened. Through frequency diversity, the performance of msg3 (at least in the interference-limited case) can also be improved. Another technical effect and advantage of one or more example embodiments disclosed herein includes avoiding BWP switching time. That is, first setting the initial BWP and then subsequently setting a wider BWP takes time in the user equipment to activate the new BWP, while the instant technology avoids this time.

[0191] As used in this application, the term "circuit" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0192] (a) A pure hardware circuit implementation (e.g., an implementation only in analog circuits and / or digital circuits) and

[0193] (b) A combination of hardware circuits and software, e.g., (if applicable): (i) a combination of analog hardware circuits and / or digital hardware circuits with software / firmware, and (ii) any part of (a plurality of) hardware processors and software (including (a plurality of) digital signal processors), software, and (a plurality of) memories, which work together to enable a device such as a mobile phone or a server to perform various functions; and

[0194] (c) (A plurality of) hardware circuits and / or (a plurality of) processors that require software (e.g., firmware) for operation, e.g., (a plurality of) microprocessors or a part of (a plurality of) microprocessors, but the software may be absent when operation does not require software.

[0195] This definition of circuit applies to all uses of the term in this application (including in any claims). As another example, as used in this application, the term circuit also encompasses an implementation of only hardware circuits or processors (or a plurality of processors) or a part of hardware circuits or processors and their (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. If applicable to a particular claim element, the term circuit also encompasses, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or a processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network devices.

[0196] Embodiments herein may be implemented in software (executed by one or more processors), hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit), or a combination of software and hardware. In an example embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic, instruction set) is maintained on any of a variety of conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any medium or device that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer, e.g., an example of a computer as described and depicted in Figure 1 An example of a computer-readable medium may include a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memories 125, 155, 171, or other devices), and a computer-readable storage medium may be any medium or device that can contain, store, and / or transport instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer). A computer-readable storage medium does not include a propagated signal.

[0197] If desired, the various functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously with each other. Additionally, if desired, one or more of the above functions may be optional or may be combined.

[0198] Although aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention include other combinations of features from the described embodiments and / or dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not only the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0199] It is also noted here that while exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above, these descriptions should not be regarded as limiting. On the contrary, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: broadcasting, by a network node in a wireless network, an initial bandwidth part in system information to a user equipment; selecting, by the network node, at least one bandwidth part based on an input data type, a required quality for a connection to be established, or both; sending, by the network node, an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth part to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is wider than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth part is sent via paging or system information, and the wider bandwidth part is used for a msg3 message of a random access procedure; and performing connection establishment in response to receiving, by the network node from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth part, the msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure.

2. A method, comprising: broadcasting, by a network node in a wireless network, an initial bandwidth part in system information to a user equipment; selecting, by the network node, at least one bandwidth part based on an input data type, a required quality for a connection to be established, or both; sending, by the network node, an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth part to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure of connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is smaller than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth part is sent via paging or system information, and the smaller bandwidth part is used for a msg3 message of a random access procedure; and performing connection establishment in response to receiving, by the network node from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth part, the msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: sending the indication of the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment further comprises: sending a plurality of selected bandwidth parts; and receiving the msg3 message further comprises: monitoring all the plurality of selected bandwidth parts, or detecting user equipment access via one or more associated dedicated resources, or receiving an indication of the selected bandwidth part from the user equipment in one or more resources.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein sending the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: including a valid time during which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein sending the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: including an area in which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts is performed by one of the following: broadcasting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in system information; transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more paging messages; or transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more release messages.

7. A method, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, an initial bandwidth part from a network node in a wireless network in system information; receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part that will be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is wider than the initial bandwidth part, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the wider bandwidth part is used for a msg3 message of a random access procedure; and transmitting, by the user equipment, the msg3 message to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the wireless network.

8. A method, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, an initial bandwidth part from a network node in a wireless network in system information; receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part that will be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is smaller than the initial bandwidth part, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the smaller bandwidth part is used for a msg3 message of a random access procedure; and transmitting, by the user equipment, the msg3 message to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the wireless network.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: receiving the indication of the selected bandwidth part further comprises: receiving a plurality of selected bandwidth parts; and selecting one selected bandwidth part from the plurality of selected bandwidth parts.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: receiving a valid time at which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used, and performing selection of the one selected bandwidth part and transmission of the msg3 message based on the valid time.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: A receiving region in which one or more of the plurality of bandwidth portions can be used, and selecting the one selected bandwidth portion and transmitting the Msg3 message based on the region.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions is performed by one of the following: receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in system information in a broadcast; receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more paging messages; or receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth portions in one or more release messages.

13. A network node comprising: means for the network node in a wireless network to broadcast an initial bandwidth portion to a user equipment in system information; means for the network node to select at least one bandwidth portion based on an input data type, a required quality for a connection to be established, or both; means for the network node to send an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth portion to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth portion is wider than the initial bandwidth portion, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth portion is sent via paging or system information, and the wider bandwidth portion is used for the Msg3 message of a random access procedure; and means for performing connection establishment in response to receiving, by the network node from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth portion, the Msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure.

14. A network node comprising: means for the network node in a wireless network to broadcast an initial bandwidth portion to a user equipment in system information; means for the network node to select at least one bandwidth portion based on an input data type, a required quality for a connection to be established, or both; means for the network node to send an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth portion to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth portion is smaller than the initial bandwidth portion, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth portion is sent via paging or system information, and the smaller bandwidth portion is used for the Msg3 message of a random access procedure; and means for performing connection establishment in response to receiving, by the network node from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth portion, the Msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure.

15. The network node according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: the means for sending the indication of the at least one selected bandwidth portion to be used by the user equipment further comprises: means for sending a plurality of selected bandwidth portions; and The component for receiving the msg3 message further includes: A component for monitoring all of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts, or detecting user equipment access via one or more associated dedicated resources, or receiving an indication of the selected bandwidth part from the user equipment in one or more resources.

16. The network node according to claim 15, wherein the component for transmitting the selected bandwidth part further includes: A component for including a valid time during which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used.

17. The network node according to claim 15, wherein the component for transmitting a plurality of selected bandwidth parts further includes: A component for including an area in which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used.

18. The network node according to claim 15, wherein the component for transmitting a plurality of selected bandwidth parts is implemented by performing one of the following: broadcasting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in system information; transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more paging messages; or transmitting the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more release messages.

19. A user equipment, comprising: A component for the user equipment to receive an initial bandwidth part from a network node in a wireless network in system information; A component for receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part that will be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment process for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is wider than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the wider bandwidth part is used for the msg3 message of a random access process; and A component for the user equipment to send a msg3 message to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the wireless network.

20. A user equipment, comprising: A component for the user equipment to receive an initial bandwidth part from a network node in a wireless network in system information; A component for receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part that will be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment process for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is smaller than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the smaller bandwidth part is used for the msg3 message of a random access process; and Components for sending a Msg3 message from the user equipment to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the wireless network.

21. The user equipment according to claim 19 or 20, wherein: The component for receiving an indication of the selected bandwidth part further comprises: a component for receiving a plurality of selected bandwidth parts; and A component for selecting one of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts.

22. The user equipment according to claim 21, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: A component for receiving a valid time during which one or more of the plurality of selected bandwidth parts can be used, and a component for selecting the one selected bandwidth part and sending the Msg3 message based on the valid time.

23. The user equipment according to claim 21, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts further comprises: A component for receiving an area in which one or more of the plurality of bandwidth parts can be used, and a component for selecting the one selected bandwidth part and sending the Msg3 message based on the area.

24. The user equipment according to claim 21, wherein the component for receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts is implemented by one of the following: receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in system information in a broadcast; receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more paging messages; or receiving the plurality of selected bandwidth parts in one or more release messages.

25. A wireless communication system comprising a network node according to any one of claims 13 to 18 and a user equipment according to any one of claims 19 to 24.

26. A network node, comprising: At least one processor; and At least one memory including computer program code, The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the network node to perform operations including: Broadcasting an initial bandwidth part in system information from the network node in a wireless network to a user equipment; Selecting, by the network node, at least one bandwidth part based on the input data type, the required quality for the connection to be established, or both; Sending, by the network node, an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth part to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment process for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is wider than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to the idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth part is sent via paging or system information, and the wider bandwidth part is used for the Msg3 message of the random access process; and Connection establishment is performed in response to the network node receiving the msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth part.

27. A network node, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the network node to perform operations, the operations including: broadcasting, by the network node in a wireless network, an initial bandwidth part in system information to a user equipment; selecting, by the network node, at least one bandwidth part based on an input data type, a required quality for a connection to be established, or both; sending, by the network node, an indication of the at least one selected bandwidth part to the user equipment, the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is smaller than the initial bandwidth part, and wherein after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, the at least one selected bandwidth part is sent via paging or system information, and the smaller bandwidth part is used for the msg3 message of a random access procedure; and performing connection establishment in response to the network node receiving the msg3 message for the connection establishment procedure from the user equipment in the selected bandwidth part.

28. The network node according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the network node to perform the operations in the method according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

29. A user equipment, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations including: receiving, by the user equipment, an initial bandwidth part from a network node in a wireless network in system information; receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part, the at least one selected bandwidth part to be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the wireless network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is wider than the initial bandwidth part, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or is received in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the wider bandwidth part is used for the msg3 message of a random access procedure; and sending, by the user equipment, the msg3 message to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the wireless network.

30. A user equipment, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations, the operations including: receiving, by the user equipment, an initial bandwidth part in system information from a network node in a radio network; receiving an indication of at least one selected bandwidth part that will be used by the user equipment during a connection establishment procedure for connecting the user equipment to the radio network, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is smaller than the initial bandwidth part, wherein the at least one selected bandwidth part is received via paging or system information after the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, or in a release message before the user equipment transitions to an idle state / inactive state, and the smaller bandwidth part is used for a msg3 message of a random access procedure; and sending, by the user equipment, the msg3 message to the network node using the selected bandwidth part for connection establishment to the radio network.

31. The user equipment according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations in the method according to any one of claims 9 to 12.