Transmitting paging information in wireless communication

Abstract

The present application relates to the technology of transmitting paging information in wireless communication, and describes systems, devices and technologies for performing paging in a wireless communication network. A method includes mapping a paging indication to one or more resource elements. The one or more resource elements are resource elements in one or more synchronization signal symbols that are not mapped by the synchronization signal. The method includes transmitting a paging indication to trigger a response from a user equipment for performing subsequent paging.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with application number "201780093859.3", application date "August 11, 2017", and title "Transmitting Paging Information in Wireless Communication". Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to systems, devices and techniques for wireless communications. Background Art

[0003] The wireless communication network of the base station provides wireless communication for mobile stations or other wireless devices (commonly referred to as user equipment), which uses downlink communication channels to send information to the user equipment and uses uplink communication to receive information from the user equipment. The wireless network and the user equipment are designed to allow the user equipment to be in a power saving mode (e.g., idle mode) to reduce the user equipment activity to save energy. The base station (or base station controller) can send a paging message to the user equipment to wake up the user equipment from the power saving mode. Summary of the invention

[0004] Among other things, this document describes techniques for communicating and using timing information related to paging user equipment in a wireless communication network.

[0005] According to some embodiments, a method for paging a user equipment in a wireless network is provided. The method includes mapping a paging indication to one or more resource elements. The one or more resource elements are resource elements in one or more synchronization signal symbols that are not mapped by the synchronization signal. The method includes transmitting a paging indication to trigger a response from the user equipment for performing subsequent paging.

[0006] According to some embodiments, the method comprises the one or more resource elements comprising one or more consecutive multiple resource elements, but not mapping the demodulation reference signal onto one resource element of the consecutive multiple resource elements.

[0007] According to some embodiments, the method includes mapping a demodulation reference signal to one or more resource elements in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols adjacent to at least one of the one or more synchronization signal symbols. The demodulation reference signal provides a reference signal for demodulating a paging indication. The paging indication shares the same antenna port as the one or more physical broadcast channel symbols.

[0008] According to some embodiments, the method comprises the one or more resource elements being outside a bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals.The one or more resource elements are within a bandwidth of one or more physical broadcast channels.

[0009] According to some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a demodulation reference signal in a second one or more resource elements. The second one or more resource elements are in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols. The second one or more resource elements are outside the bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals. The second one or more resource elements are within the bandwidth of the one or more physical broadcast channels. The demodulation reference signal provides a reference signal for demodulating the paging indication.

[0010] In accordance with some embodiments, the method comprises the paging indication comprising an indicator of a paging transmission mode.The paging transmission mode is a mode to be used to transmit the paging message.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the method includes selecting a paging transmission mode from a plurality of available transmission modes.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the method comprises mapping paging cause category indication information onto the one or more resource elements.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the method comprises receiving one or more responses to the paging indication from one or more user equipments.The method further comprises transmitting one or more paging messages based on information received in the one or more responses.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the paging indication using multiple antenna ports. The method also includes receiving one or more responses to the paging indication from one or more user equipment. Each response indicates at least one antenna port. The method also includes transmitting one or more paging messages using the antenna ports indicated in the response. The one or more paging messages are not transmitted using other antenna ports not indicated in the response.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the method comprises determining a user equipment group to which the one or more user equipment to be paged belongs. The paging indication comprises an indicator of the user equipment group.

[0016] According to some embodiments, a method for responding to paging by a user equipment in a wireless network is provided. The method includes receiving a paging indication in one or more resource elements. The one or more resource elements are resource elements in one or more synchronization signal symbols that are not mapped by the synchronization signal. The paging indication triggers a response from the user equipment to perform subsequent paging.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the method comprises the one or more resource elements comprising one or more consecutive multiple resource elements, but not mapping the demodulation reference signal onto one resource element of the consecutive multiple resource elements.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the method includes receiving a demodulation reference signal in one or more resource elements in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols adjacent to at least one of the one or more synchronization signal symbols. The demodulation reference signal provides a reference signal for demodulating a paging indication. The paging indication shares the same antenna port as the one or more physical broadcast channels.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the method comprises the one or more resource elements being located outside a bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals, and wherein the one or more resource elements are within a bandwidth of one or more physical broadcast channels.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the method includes receiving a demodulation reference signal in a second one or more resource elements. The second one or more resource elements are in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols. The second one or more resource elements are outside the bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals. The second one or more resource elements are within the bandwidth of the one or more physical broadcast channels. The demodulation reference signal provides a reference signal for demodulating the paging indication.

[0021] In accordance with some embodiments, the method comprises the paging indication comprising an indicator of a paging transmission mode.The paging transmission mode is a mode to be used to transmit the paging message.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the method includes selecting a paging transmission mode from a plurality of available transmission modes.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the method comprises mapping paging cause category indication information onto the one or more resource elements.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a response to the paging indication.The method also includes receiving one or more paging messages transmitted based on information transmitted in the response and zero or more other responses.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the method includes receiving a paging indication in a space corresponding to one of a plurality of antenna ports on which the paging indication is transmitted. The method also includes transmitting a response to the paging indication. The response and zero or more other responses from other user equipment indicate at least one antenna port. The method also includes receiving one or more paging messages in a space corresponding to one of the at least one antenna port indicated. The one or more paging messages are transmitted using the antenna port indicated in the response.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the method comprises receiving a paging indication. The paging indication comprises an indicator for a group of user equipment determined based on arrival of data information indicating a user equipment to be paged. The paging indication does not comprise an indicator for at least one other group of user equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system.

[0028] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the wireless communication device 200 .

[0029] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system that employs beamforming.

[0030] Figure 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a process for triggering a paging activity.

[0031] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system using a triggered paging activity procedure.

[0032] Figure 6 is a diagram showing resource element allocation for synchronization and broadcast channels.

[0033] Figure 7 is a diagram showing resource element allocation for synchronization and broadcast channels.

[0034] Figure 8 is a diagram showing resource element allocation for synchronization and broadcast channels.

[0035] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing resource element allocation for synchronization and broadcast channels.

[0036] Fig.10 is a diagram showing resource element allocation for synchronization and broadcast channels.

[0037] Fig.11A is a diagram of a data structure used to transmit paging cause category indication information.

[0038] Fig. 11B is a diagram of a data structure used to transmit paging cause category indication information.

[0039] Fig. 11C is a diagram of a data structure used to transmit paging cause category indication information.

[0040] Fig.11D is a diagram of a data structure used to transmit paging cause category indication information.

[0041] Fig.12 is a diagram of a data structure for transmitting user equipment indication information.

[0042] Fig.13 It is a diagram of a data structure for transmitting user equipment indication information and paging cause category indication information.

[0043] Fig.14 is a timing diagram of the process for paging transmission.

[0044] Fig.15 is a timing diagram of the process for paging transmission.

[0045] Fig.16 is a timing diagram of the process for paging transmission.

[0046] Fig.17 is a flow chart of a process for paging transmission using multiple paging transmission modes.

[0047] Fig.18 is a flow chart of a process for paging transmission using multiple paging transmission modes.

[0048] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Due to the continuous advancement of radio technology, a wide range of wireless applications have emerged and continue to emerge, which has led to the growth of wireless deployments. However, conventional technologies are unable to meet this growing demand, at least because spectrum resources of approximately 300 MHz to 3 GHz have proven to be insufficient to meet the growing bandwidth requirements based on current technology. Therefore, techniques are needed to improve the efficiency of using bandwidth to support wireless applications. The disclosed techniques for paging can be used for efficient bandwidth utilization in wireless communications, such as by sending a paging indication from a base station to a user equipment before paging the user equipment of various users served by the base station, combined with the use of multiple antennas to transmit and / or receive, thereby improving resource utilization.

[0050] Figure 1 1 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system 100. System 100 includes a base station 102 and multiple user devices 106, which can communicate with each other via a transmission medium 104. Transmissions from base station 102 to user devices 106 are generally referred to as downlink or downstream transmissions. Transmissions from user devices 106 to base station 102 are generally referred to as uplink or upstream transmissions. Transmission medium 104 is generally a wireless (air) medium. Base station 102 may also be linked to other base stations or other devices in the network via a backhaul or access network connection 112.

[0051] Figure 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication device 200. The wireless communication device 200 may be provided as a user equipment (e.g., user equipment 106), as a base station (e.g., base station 102), or otherwise. The device 200 includes a processor 210, which may be configured to implement one of the techniques described herein; transceiver electronic circuitry 215, which may be capable of transmitting signals or receiving signals using one or more antennas 220; and one or more memories 205, which may be used to store instructions executable by the processor 210 and / or data storage.

[0052] One way to solve the bandwidth shortage problem is to use a different bandwidth than has been traditionally used for wireless applications. For example, wireless communications can use carrier frequencies in the range of 28 GHz, 45 GHz, 70 GHz, etc., each of which is much higher than the carrier frequencies used by existing fourth generation (4G) communication systems.

[0053] This higher carrier frequency introduces some challenges, such as greater transmission path loss, signal absorption by oxygen, signal susceptibility to rain attenuation, etc., each of which seriously affects the performance of such high frequency communication systems.

[0054] However, higher carrier frequencies also bring some benefits. For example, because higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, it is possible to use shorter antennas, allowing more antenna elements to be used per unit area. With more antenna elements, beamforming can be used to increase antenna gain, which can be used to offset the performance loss of high-frequency signals.

[0055] With beamforming, a transmitter is able to focus energy radiation in a specific direction, with little or no energy in other directions. This means that each beam is directional, that is, it covers a certain direction or physical space in which a user device (e.g., user device 106) exists. It is foreseeable that a base station (e.g., base station 102) may use dozens or even hundreds of antennas to support transmissions in dozens or hundreds of spatially independent (or at least partially independent) directions within the same cell.

[0056] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system 300 employing beamforming. System 300 may be provided as described above (e.g., wireless communication system 100). In addition, system 300 includes a base station 302 that communicates with user equipment 312, user equipment 314, user equipment 316, and user equipment 318. Base station 302 may be provided as described above (e.g., base station 102, wireless transmission device 200). User equipment 312, 314, 316, 318 may each be provided as described above (e.g., user equipment 106, wireless transmission device 200).

[0057] Base station 302 includes antenna 322, antenna 324, antenna 326, and antenna 328. Antennas 322, 324, 326, and 328 may be provided as described above (e.g., antenna 220). Base station 302 and antennas 322, 324, 326, and 328 employ beamforming to directions 332, 334, 336, and 338. In particular, one or more of antennas 322, 324, 326, and 328 employ beamforming with specific weights so as to radiate energy in direction 332 (as indicated by the hashed lines) and radiate little or no energy outside of direction 332. Because user equipment 312 is within direction 332, the signal transmitted by base station 302 in direction 332 will be received by user equipment 332. However, since user equipment 312 is not within direction 334 , direction 336 , or direction 338 , a signal transmitted by base station 302 in any of directions 334 , 336 , and 338 will not be received by user equipment 312 .

[0058] Each of directions 332, 334, 336, and 338 may alternatively be referred to as an antenna port, which may be a logical identifier that base station 302 associates with a given antenna port / direction. In other embodiments, an antenna port may correspond to a weight mapping to be applied to one or more of antennas 322, 324, 326, 328. For example, additional antenna ports may be defined based on partial radiation of antennas 322, 324 and no radiation of antennas 326 and 328. Thus, an antenna port may correspond to a single one of antennas 322, 324, 326, 328 or to a combination of antennas 322, 324, 326, 328 with accompanying weights.

[0059] It should be understood that Figure 3 The schematic diagram is merely exemplary. In some embodiments, directions 332, 334, 336, 338 can be defined in three dimensions (rather than the two dimensions shown). Additionally, base station 302 can use dozens, hundreds or more antennas (rather than the four antennas shown). Additionally, the base station can transmit signals in dozens, hundreds or more directions (rather than the four directions shown). Additionally, directions 332, 334, 336, 338 can partially or completely overlap (rather than the complete spatial separation shown). Additionally, base station 302 can communicate with dozens, hundreds or more user devices (rather than the four user devices shown).

[0060] Beamforming provides the following benefits: it allows a base station to transmit a message in only one direction, while keeping bandwidth in other directions unused or available for other messaging. For example, if base station 302 has a message to transmit to user equipment 312, the base station can transmit the message only in direction 332, while leaving bandwidth in directions 334, 336, 338 available for messaging to user equipment 314, 316, 318, respectively, that are present in these directions. Although there are some limitations to this benefit due to interference and other considerations, beamforming essentially allows a base station and a wireless communication system of which the base station is a part to double the messaging capabilities without increasing the spectrum used.

[0061] However, this solution also presents new challenges. In particular, to achieve the benefits just described, base station 302 must know that user equipment 312 is present in direction 332, but not in one of directions 334, 336, 338. However, base station 302 may not always have this information, as described further below.

[0062] In particular, the user equipment 312 may enter an energy-saving mode, such as an idle state, after initially communicating with the base station 302. When paging the user equipment, a discontinuous reception mode (DRX) may be implemented in the idle state. The user equipment 312 may enter the idle state when it does not have any information to transmit to the base station 302. The user equipment 312 may enter the idle state in order to reduce the consumption of the battery that provides the electronic charge for the user equipment 312. However, although the user equipment 312 is in the idle state, the base station 302 may receive information from the network that needs to be transmitted to the user equipment 312 (for example, there is a call arrival for the user equipment 312, a downlink data arrival indication, a system message change, an emergency alert (EWTS) is received, and a mobile reminder (CMAS) is received). In order to remind the user equipment 312 that the data has arrived, the base station 302 may use a paging mechanism.

[0063] With the paging mechanism, the user equipment 312 can "wake up" according to a predetermined schedule and detect any paging messages in the downlink paging channel. If the user equipment 312 detects a paging message during one of these detections of the paging channel, the user equipment 312 is informed that there is data arrival for the user equipment 312 at the base station 302, and proceeds accordingly. Thus, when the base station 302 receives information from the network that needs to be transmitted to the user equipment 312, the base station 302 transmits a paging message on the paging channel according to the predetermined schedule of the user equipment 312. The base station 302 is usually aware of this predetermined schedule (for example, the user equipment 332 notifies the base station 302 of its paging schedule before entering the idle mode).

[0064] In the existing LTE system, when the base station has paging information to transmit to the user equipment, the base station notifies all the user equipment within the cell of the base station that the paging message is being transmitted. The base station sends this notification by scrambling the signal in the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with a special fixed value (called the paging radio network temporary identifier P-RNTI). This notifies all user equipment in the cell (which wakes up and monitors the PDCCH at this time) that the paging message is included in the same subframe transmission, specifically, in the paging control channel (PCCH), which is a logical channel mapped to the paging channel (PCH), and the paging channel is a transport channel mapped to the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0065] Thus, the base station 302 generally knows when to transmit a paging message for the user equipment 312. However, with beamforming, the base station 302 does not necessarily know where to transmit a paging message for the user equipment 312. This is because the user equipment 312 may be moving around within the cell served by the base station 302. As a result, the user equipment 312, when paged, may be in a different direction (e.g., direction 332) than the direction (e.g., direction 334) in which the user equipment 312 entered the idle state.

[0066] In fact, there are more complexities to this problem. In theory, the base station 302 can transmit paging messages to all directions 332, 334, 336, 338 at the same time (i.e., when the user equipment 312 wakes up and monitors the paging channel), even if this may offset some of the benefits of saving bandwidth described above. This can be called scanning or beam scanning technology. However, the actual limitations of the transceiver hardware of the base station 302 usually make it impossible to transmit on so many antennas at the same time. Therefore, the base station 302 may have to stagger the transmission of paging messages in directions 332, 334, 336, 338. This then complicates the ability of the base station 302 to transmit paging messages when the user equipment 312 is monitoring the paging channel (i.e., when the user equipment 312 is monitoring the paging channel, depending on which direction 332, 334, 336 and 338 the user equipment 312 is located in, the base station 302 may not repeat the transmission of the paging message). Therefore, although it is possible to use the existing system to apply the beam scanning technology, this is very inefficient. This is described in further detail below.

[0067] In a beam-based transmission system, the beam directions of different subframes / time slots are flexibly configured based on services. According to the paging mechanism of an existing system (e.g., LTE), it is necessary to load a paging message in the transmission subframe / time slot corresponding to each beam, which means that the reception of paging messages for user equipments of different beams will be distributed over multiple subframes / time slots within a paging cycle. Unlike such an existing system, it is not necessary for paging control information (DCI) and paging messages to be transmitted in the same subframe. Therefore, the above-mentioned beam scanning structure is introduced to poll the transmission in each beam direction. This beam scanning transmission structure means higher reception complexity and energy overhead for user equipment, and also means greater downlink resource overhead for base stations and networks. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently transmit paging-related control information in order to avoid unnecessary paging transmission and reception. In particular, a technology is needed to trigger a user equipment to start a paging process, which is efficient in terms of user equipment energy consumption (i.e., idle time versus awake time) and in terms of using cell spectrum resources (i.e., the amount of bandwidth used).

[0068] Figure 4 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a process 400 for triggering a paging activity. The process 400 involves a network 406, a base station 402 (e.g., as described for base stations 102, 302, wireless communication apparatus 200), and a user equipment 404 (e.g., as described for user equipment 106, 312, wireless communication apparatus 200).

[0069] The network 406 transmits the arriving data information 422 to the base station 402. The arriving data information 422 may include information identifying a particular user equipment (eg, the user equipment 404), a group of user equipment, or all user equipment for which the arriving information is applicable.

[0070] In response to receiving the arriving data information 422, the base station 402 transmits a paging indication 424 to the user equipment 404. The paging indication 424 may include an indicator as to which user equipment (eg, a specific user equipment, a group of user equipment) should respond to the base station 402 for subsequent paging.

[0071] In response to receiving the paging indication 424, the user equipment 404 transmits a response 426 to the base station 402. The response 426 may include information about the manner in which the base station 402 may transmit the paging message to the user equipment 404. For example, the response 426 may include an identification of the beamforming direction in which the user equipment 404 is currently located (e.g., an identification of the direction, an identification of the antenna, an identification of the antenna port).

[0072] The base station 402 and the user equipment 404 perform paging 428 based on the interaction of the paging indication 424 and the response 426. For example, the paging 428 may include the user equipment listening to the paging message in the resource according to the identification information in the paging indication 424. And, the base station 402 may transmit the paging message according to the identification information in the response 426 (e.g., transmit the paging message only to the antenna port identified by the response 426).

[0073] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system 500 using a triggered paging activity process. System 500 includes a base station 502 (e.g., as described for base stations 102, 302, 402, wireless communication apparatus 200) and user equipment 512, 514, 516, 518 (e.g., as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, wireless communication apparatus 200). Base station 502 includes antennas 522, 524, 526, 528 (e.g., as described for antennas 220, 322, 324, 326, 328). Base station 502 uses beamforming to transmit signals in directions 532, 534, 536, 538 using antennas 522, 524, 526, 528, respectively.

[0074] Base station 502 may receive the arriving data information (e.g., as described for the arriving data information 422). The arriving data information may identify user equipment 512 as having data from the network. If user equipment 512 is in an idle state, base station 502 does not necessarily know in which direction 532, 534, 536, 538 the user equipment 512 is present.

[0075] The base station 502 may then transmit a paging indication 542 in all directions 532, 534, 536, 538 (i.e., using all antenna ports). The paging indication 542 may indicate that the user equipment 512 should respond in order to perform subsequent paging. Alternatively, the paging indication 542 may indicate that all members of the user equipment group of which the user equipment 512 is a member should respond in order to perform subsequent paging.

[0076] As a result of receiving paging indication 542, user equipment 512 may send response 544 to base station 502. For example, response 544 may indicate that user equipment 512 is in direction 532.

[0077] As a result of receiving the paging indication 542, the user equipment 514, 516, 518 may not respond to the base station 502. For example, the user equipment 514, 516, 518 may not be a member of the group to which the paging indication 542 relates.

[0078] As a result of receiving the response 544, the base station 502 may transmit a paging message 546 using the antenna port of the direction 532. The base station 502 may not transmit the paging message 546 to any of the directions 534, 536, 538 because the base station 502 did not receive any responses from the user equipment 514, 516, 518 in these respective directions.

[0079] Figure 6 is a diagram showing resource element allocation 600 for synchronization signals and physical broadcast channels. Allocation 600 includes symbol 602, symbol 604, symbol 606, and symbol 608. Each symbol is a set of resource elements conveyed by one or more transmission symbols (eg, by one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol).

[0080] Each symbol 602, 604, 606, 608 is represented by a value l (lowercase letter L), which can be listed as 0, 1, 2, and 3. Each symbol 602, 604, 606, 608 includes 288 resource elements. Each resource element is represented by a value k, which can be listed as 0 to 287. Resource elements in allocation 600 can be identified by coordinates (k, l). For example, resource element (0, 0) is the lower leftmost resource element in the symbol space of symbol 602. Resource elements are the smallest information transmission unit in allocation 600, and resource elements are essentially a narrow slice of frequency over a narrow slice of time.

[0081] Allocation 600 maps each of symbols 602, 604, 606, 608 to a different channel, where a channel is a group of resource elements that are grouped together for a predetermined purpose. Allocation 600 maps symbol 602 to a primary synchronization signal 612 (PSS), which may alternatively be referred to as a primary synchronization channel (PSCH). Allocation 600 maps symbol 606 to a secondary synchronization signal 616 (SSS), which may alternatively be referred to as a secondary synchronization channel (SSCH). Allocation 600 maps symbol 604 to a physical broadcast signal, which may alternatively be referred to as a physical broadcast channel 614 (PBCH). Allocation 600 additionally maps symbol 608 to a physical broadcast channel 618 (PBCH).

[0082] The primary synchronization signal 612, the secondary synchronization signal 616, and the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 can be signals transmitted by the base station to all user equipments in the cell of the base station, regardless of whether the user equipment has established a connection with the base station. In particular, the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 can carry information indicating timing information (e.g., SFN, SS block index, etc.) used for timing determination of the user equipment, indicating how to decode other downlink transmissions from the base station (e.g., RMSI scheduling information carried by the PDCCH), etc. The physical broadcast channel 618 can repeat substantially the same information as included in the physical broadcast channel 614. The primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 can carry information indicating the cell belonging to the base station and timing information for other downlink transmissions from the base station.

[0083] like Figure 6 As shown, the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 may use all 288 resource elements of the symbols 604, 608 allocated for the physical broadcast channels 614, 618. For example, all 288 resource elements may carry information (including system information and DMRS for PBCH) related to the physical broadcast channels 614, 618. As another example, even if not all 288 resource elements carry information related to the physical broadcast channels 614, 618, the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 may include information over substantially the entire range of 288 resource elements, even if some resource elements in the range are not used.

[0084] On the other hand, the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 may not use all 288 resource elements of the symbols 602, 606 allocated for the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616, respectively. For example, the primary synchronization signal 612 may only map synchronization information to resource elements k=72 to 215 of the symbol 602 (l=0). This will cause some resource elements of the symbol 602 (e.g., for l=0, k=0 to 71 and k=216 to 287) not to carry any information related to the primary synchronization signal 612. These unused portions of the symbol 602 may therefore be mapped to the first resource 622 (shown in hatching). The first resource 622 may further include portions of the symbol 606 that are not used by the secondary synchronization signal 616.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first resource can be used as a scheduling-free physical channel. Specifically, the base station transmits information using a fixed resource allocation, a default modulation and coding scheme. Therefore, blind detection is not required for a user equipment receiving such information. The first resource can also be defined as a control resource set / search space for downlink control information transmission. In this case, the first resource can carry one or more downlink control information with different DCI formats. The modulation and coding scheme of such downlink control information can also vary. Therefore, the UE will detect a target DCI with a corresponding DCI format in the first resource. One or more subsequent control information can share the same DCI format or define different DCI formats for each of the following: paging downlink control information (paging DCI), paging cause category indication information, scheduling information for the remaining minimum system information, user equipment indication information, and paging transmission mode indication information.

[0086] In some embodiments, a paging indication as described above (e.g., paging indication 424, 542) may be mapped to a first resource 622. In addition, the paging indication may be carried on the first resource 622, which uses the same antenna port as the physical broadcast channels 614, 618. That is, the information contained in the paging indication (e.g., identifying a user device or user device group that should respond to the paging indication) may be transmitted using resource elements of the first resource 622. Such mapping may be beneficial for various reasons. For example, the first resource 622 may not otherwise be put into use by the allocation 600 and the base station transmitting according to the allocation 600. As another example, the symbols 602, 604, 606, 608 containing the primary synchronization signal 612, the secondary synchronization signal 616, and the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 may be symbols that are frequently transmitted on all antenna ports (e.g., due to the importance of information in these symbols for decoding other downlink transmissions). As such, the first resource 622 may be a favorable set of resource elements in which paging indications may be transmitted, thereby effectively utilizing existing resources that are already being transmitted to all antenna ports.

[0087] As used herein, mapping may refer to any of a variety of activities related to providing specific information in a specific one or more resource elements. For example, mapping may include transmitting the specific information in the specific one or more resource elements. As another example, mapping may include reserving specific one or more resource elements for the specific information. As another example, mapping may include allocating specific one or more resource elements to the specific information. As another example, mapping may include storing the specific information in a buffer or other memory so as to transmit the specific information in the specific one or more resource elements.

[0088] In some embodiments, the first resource can be described in other ways. For example, it can be observed that the enumeration of resource elements k=0 to 287 is an enumeration in the frequency domain. Therefore, since the range of resource elements occupied by the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 is smaller than the resource elements occupied by the physical broadcast channels 614 and 618, it can be observed that the bandwidth occupied by the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 is narrower than the bandwidth occupied by the physical broadcast channels 614 and 618. Therefore, the first resource 622 can be described as being in the symbols 602 and 606 allocated to the primary synchronization signal 612 and / or the secondary synchronization signal 616, but outside the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal 612 and / or the secondary synchronization signal 616 and within the bandwidth of the physical broadcast channels 614 and 618.

[0089] Figure 7 is a diagram showing resource element allocation 700 for synchronization and broadcast channels. Allocation 700 may be provided substantially as described with respect to allocation 600, with like reference numerals referring to like items.

[0090] Allocation 700 shows further details about how resource elements of symbols 604 and 608 may be mapped by physical broadcast channels 614, 618. In particular, physical broadcast channels 614, 618 may use resource elements in the ranges k=0 to 71 and k=216 to 287 differently than resource elements in the range k=72 to k=215. These outer ranges may be collectively referred to as second resources 724. In addition, the paging indication carried by the first resource 622 uses the same antenna port as the physical broadcast channels 614, 618. Thus, the demodulation reference signal of the second resource 724 may be used to demodulate the paging indication transmitted on the first resource 622.

[0091] The second resource 724 may include a physical broadcast channel resource block 730. In this context, a resource block refers to a contiguous resource element (e.g., 12 contiguous resource elements). The resource block 730 may include a mix of demodulation reference signals 732 and PBCH resource elements. The demodulation reference signal 732 may be a signal that the user equipment uses to determine how to demodulate the remaining portion of the resource elements in the symbol (i.e., symbol 604, 608) in which they appear. As shown, the resource block 730 and the second resource 724 may contain a ratio of 1 to 4 demodulation reference signals 732 to all resource elements.

[0092] In some embodiments, the first resource 622 may be mapped to a paging indication, but a demodulation reference signal is not mapped to the first resource 622. This may allow one or more contiguous resources of one or more resource elements in the first resource 622 to be used to transmit the paging indication. Here, contiguous resources may refer to an uninterrupted range of resource elements (e.g., k=216 to 287 in symbol 602). This may be beneficial because a simpler mapping and transmission scheme is allowed for paging indications. This may also be beneficial to improve the efficiency of resource element usage.

[0093] At the same time, it may be necessary to have a demodulation reference signal for the user equipment to demodulate the paging indication transmitted in the first resource 622. Thus, the demodulation reference signal 732 may be mapped to the second resource 724. And, the user equipment may use the demodulation reference signal 732 from the second resource 724 to demodulate the paging indication transmitted in the first resource 622.

[0094] It may be advantageous to provide a demodulation reference signal 732 in a second resource 724 of a symbol adjacent to the symbol in which the first resource 622 carrying the paging indication is located. Here, adjacent means that the symbols are adjacent (e.g., symbol 604 is adjacent to symbols 602 and 606, but not adjacent to symbol 608). This approach may be advantageous because it allows for immediate demodulation of the paging indication, which in turn may lead to more efficient operation of the user equipment and subsequent paging procedures.

[0095] Like the first resource 622, the second resource 724 can be described in terms of its bandwidth location. For example, the second resource 724 can be described as being in the symbols 604, 608 allocated to the physical broadcast channel 614, outside the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal 612 and / or the secondary synchronization signal 616, and within the bandwidth of the physical broadcast channels 614, 618. Figure 7 The second resource 724 is shown as a separate block from the physical broadcast channels 614 , 618 , but it should be understood that the second resource 724 may be considered a part of the physical broadcast channels 614 , 618 .

[0096] Figure 8 8 is a diagram showing resource element allocation 800 for synchronization and broadcast channels. Allocation 800 may be provided substantially as described for allocations 600, 700, with like reference numerals referring to like items. However, allocation 800 illustrates a situation where the enumeration of resource elements (using k and l) and symbols (using l) may differ from the enumeration described for allocations 600, 700.

[0097] When the subcarriers are uniformly numbered within the bandwidth part (BWP) (or minimum system bandwidth) of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block, k0 can be introduced. In this case, the first resource 622 includes resource elements (k, l); where k represents the frequency domain index, that is, the subcarrier number within the bandwidth part, and the range of k is {k0, k0+1,..., k0+71, k0+216, k0+217,..., k0+287}, where k0 is the subcarrier offset value between the starting subcarrier of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the starting subcarrier of the bandwidth part. Here, l represents the time domain index, that is, the symbol index in the time slot, l={l0+0,l0+2}, where l0 is the symbol offset value between the starting symbol of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the starting symbol of the time slot.

[0098] As mentioned herein, the minimum system bandwidth refers to the maximum system bandwidth that can be supported by the system or user equipment with minimum capabilities. All system components and user equipment can complete transmission and reception within the minimum system bandwidth.

[0099] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing resource element allocation 900 for synchronization and broadcast channels. Allocation 900 may be provided substantially as described for allocations 600, 700, 800, with like reference numerals referring to like items. However, allocation 900 illustrates a situation where the mapping of resource elements to first resources 622 may differ from the mapping described for allocations 600, 700, 800.

[0100] In the time domain, the first resource 622 is mapped to the symbols 602 and 606 where the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 are located. In the frequency domain, the first resource 622 is mapped to the resource element outside the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 but within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. The first resource 622 includes resource elements (k, l); wherein k represents the frequency domain index, that is, the subcarrier number within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth, and the range of k is {0, 1, ..., k0+71, k0+216, k0+217, ..., K}, wherein k0 is the subcarrier offset value between the start subcarrier of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the start subcarrier of the bandwidth part, and K represents the maximum subcarrier number of the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. Here l represents the time domain index, that is, the symbol index in the time slot, l={l0+0, l0+2}, wherein l0 is the symbol offset value between the start symbol of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the start symbol of the time slot.

[0101] In such an embodiment, additional demodulation reference signals may be introduced for part of the first resource 622. In particular, the additional demodulation reference signals may be included in symbols for the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616, but outside the bandwidth of the physical broadcast channels 614, 618, such as for symbol l = {l0+0, l0+2}, k may range from {0, 1, ..., k0-1, k0+288, k0+289, ..., K}.

[0102] Fig.10 1 is a diagram showing resource element allocation 1000 for synchronization and broadcast channels. Allocation 1000 may be provided substantially as described for allocations 600, 700, 800, 900, with like reference numerals referring to like items. However, allocation 1000 illustrates a situation where the mapping of resource elements to first resources 622 may differ from the mapping described for allocations 600, 700, 800, 900.

[0103] In the time domain, the first resource 622 is mapped to the symbols 602 and 606 where the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 are located. The first resource 622 is also mapped to the symbols 604 and 608 where the physical broadcast channels 614 and 618 are located. In the frequency domain direction, for the symbols where the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 are located, the first resource 622 is mapped to the resource elements outside the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal 612 and the secondary synchronization signal 616 but within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. The first resource 622 includes resource elements (k, l); wherein k represents the frequency domain index, that is, the subcarrier number within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth, and the range of k is {0, 1, ..., k0+71, k0+216, k0+217, ..., K}, wherein k0 is the subcarrier offset value between the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block start subcarrier and the bandwidth part start subcarrier, and K represents the maximum subcarrier number of the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. Here l represents the time domain index, that is, the symbol index in the time slot, l={l0+0,l0+2}, where l0 is the symbol offset value between the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block start symbol and the time slot start symbol.

[0104] For symbols 604, 608 where physical broadcast channels 614, 618 are located, the first resource 622 is mapped to resource elements outside the bandwidth of the physical broadcast channels 614, 618 but within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. The first resource 622 includes resource elements (k, l); wherein k represents a frequency domain index, i.e., a subcarrier number within the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth, and the range of k is {0, 1, ..., k0-1, k0+288, k0+289, ..., K}, wherein k0 is a subcarrier offset value between the start subcarrier of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the start subcarrier of the bandwidth part, and K represents the maximum subcarrier number of the bandwidth part / minimum system bandwidth. Here l represents a time domain index, i.e., a symbol index in a time slot, l = {l0+1, l0+3}, wherein l0 is a symbol offset value between the start symbol of the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block and the start symbol of the time slot.

[0105] In such an embodiment, additional demodulation reference signals may be introduced for part of the first resource 622. In particular, the additional demodulation reference signals may be included in symbols for the primary synchronization signal 612, the secondary synchronization signal 616, and the physical broadcast channels 614, 618, but outside the bandwidth of the physical broadcast channels 614, 618, and for all symbols l = {l0+0, l0+1, l0+2, l0+3}, k may range from {0, 1, ..., k0-1, k0+288, k0+289, ..., K}.

[0106] According to various embodiments described herein, the first resource may also carry various information, including one or more of the following: paging downlink control information (paging DCI), paging cause category indication information, scheduling information of remaining minimum system information, user equipment indication information, and paging transmission mode indication information.

[0107] In various embodiments, there are two main categories of paging causes: first, specific paging, and second, public paging.

[0108] In the case of specific paging, the base station seeks to page a specific user equipment, such as when the user equipment is called. In this case, the base station can transmit paging downlink control information as part of the paging indication. The paging downlink control information may include scheduling information for the paging message, and the paging message may include identification information of the called user equipment (such as the SAE temporary mobile subscriber identity, S-TMSI, of the user equipment). Upon receiving the paging message, the user equipment determines that it is being paged and accesses the network to perform appropriate communications.

[0109] In the case of public paging, the base station seeks to page all user equipment within the cell of the base station. Public paging can be further decomposed into system message change indications, warning information (such as earthquake and tsunami warning system (ETWS) notifications), commercial mobile alert service (CMAS) notifications, extended access barring (EAB) parameter changes, and so on. Relative to specific paging for a specific user equipment, each of these is used to indicate that the system information has changed. The system information may also include: remaining minimum system information and other system information, where the remaining minimum system information is the remaining system information in the minimum system information except the main system information. The minimum system information is the system information required during the initial access process of the user equipment. The main system information is the system information carried on the physical broadcast channel. Other system information is the system information in all system information except the minimum system information.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first resource carries (e.g., is included in a paging indication) paging downlink control information. When the paging indication includes paging downlink control information, the system may transmit the paging indication in a scanning mode, thereby transmitting the paging indication on all antenna ports and therefore in all beam directions. Such an embodiment may include both specific paging causes and common paging causes. In this case, the paging indication including the paging downlink control information is mapped to the first resource (e.g., the first resource 622) as described above.

[0111] The paging downlink control information may include scheduling information for the paging message. The scheduling information may indicate the transmission mode, resource allocation, etc. of the subsequent paging message. In this case, the paging message may also be sent in a scanning mode on all antenna ports. The transmission resources of the paging message may be frequency multiplexed with the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block on the same symbol, or another round of scanning structure may be introduced.

[0112] In some embodiments, the first resource carries (e.g., included in the paging indication) paging cause category indication information. The paging cause category indication information may be used to indicate the cause of the paging indication being transmitted. When the paging indication includes the paging cause category indication information, the system may transmit the paging indication in a scanning mode, thereby transmitting the paging indication on all antenna ports and therefore in all beam directions.

[0113] For common paging reasons, the type of common paging can be indicated by a bitmap. Further consideration can be given to refining the system information change indication, such as by classifying the update as an RMSI (remaining minimum system information) update or other system information change. These two types of updates can be further classified into RMSI subclasses and other SI subclasses to indicate which subclasses are updated.

[0114] Fig.11A , 11B, 11C and 11D are diagrams showing exemplary data structures 1110, 1120, 1130 and 1140, respectively, for transmitting paging cause category indication information. In some embodiments, one or more of the data structures 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140 may be transmitted as part of a paging indication.

[0115] Data structure 1110 includes the following: A system information change indication field, which includes one bit for indicating whether the RMSI is updated, and one bit for indicating whether other SI is updated. For example, a value of 0 may indicate no update, while a value of 1 may indicate that an update has occurred. Data structure 1110 may include additional bits to indicate the cause of the paging other than a system information change (e.g., an early warning notification).

[0116] Data structure 1120 includes the following: A system information change indication field, which includes one bit for indicating whether the system information is updated, and one bit for indicating whether only other SI is updated. For example, a value of 0 may indicate no update, while a value of 1 may indicate that an update has occurred. Data structure 1110 may include additional bits to indicate the cause of the paging other than a system information change (e.g., an early warning notification).

[0117] Data structure 1130 includes the following: a system information change indication field, which includes N bits for indicating whether each of the N subclasses of RMSI information is updated, and M bits for indicating whether each of the M subclasses of other SI information is updated. For example, a value of 0 may indicate no update, while a value of 1 may indicate that an update has occurred. In such an embodiment, RMSI and other SI information may be divided into subclasses as described above, and one bit in the system information change indication field may correspond to whether each subclass is updated. Data structure 1110 may include additional bits to indicate the cause of paging other than system information (e.g., an early warning notification).

[0118] Data structure 1140 includes the following: a system information change indication field, which includes one bit for indicating whether the system information is updated, and M bits for indicating whether each of the M subclasses of other SI information is updated. For example, a value of 0 may indicate no update, while a value of 1 may indicate that an update has occurred. In such an embodiment, the other SI information may be divided into subclasses as described above, and one bit in the system information change indication field may correspond to whether each subclass is updated. Data structure 1110 may include additional bits to indicate the cause of the paging other than a system information change (e.g., an early warning notification).

[0119] In some embodiments, the first resource carries (e.g., included in the paging indication) scheduling information of the remaining minimum system information (RMSI DCI). When the paging indication includes the scheduling information of the remaining minimum system information, the system can transmit the paging indication in a scanning mode, thereby transmitting the paging indication on all antenna ports and therefore in all beam directions. Such an embodiment may include both specific paging causes and common paging causes. In this case, the paging indication including the scheduling information of the remaining minimum system information is mapped to the first resource as described above (e.g., the first resource 622).

[0120] In some embodiments, the first resource carries (e.g., included in a paging indication) user equipment indication information. The user equipment indication information may be used to page a specific user equipment. When the paging indication includes the user equipment indication information, the system may transmit the paging indication in a scanning mode, thereby transmitting the paging indication on all antenna ports and therefore in all beam directions.

[0121] The user equipment indication information may include multiple bits. In some embodiments, each bit in the multiple bits may correspond to a user equipment group. The relationship between each bit and the user equipment may be predefined, for example, based on a terminal identifier. Thus, the user equipment group corresponding to each bit may be formed in any predefined manner. This approach may be beneficial because it allows the base station to page a group of terminals at the same paging occasion.

[0122] Fig.12 1 is a diagram of a data structure 1200 for transmitting user equipment indication information. As shown, data structure 1200 includes eight bits. Utilizing this data structure, all user equipments can be classified into one of eight groups. For example, the TMSI of each user equipment can be divided by eight, and the remainder value can determine the group to which the user equipment belongs. Other technologies are also possible. When data structure 1200 is transmitted as a part of a paging indication, the user equipment can check the value of its group (for example, checking bit 3 for the user equipment in group 3). If the bit value is 0, the user equipment can determine that a response is not required. If the bit value is 1, the user equipment can determine that further paging is required, and therefore provides a suitable response.

[0123] An example of how the user equipment indication information can work can be given. The base station can set a bit to "1" (i.e., set the bit for the group of user equipment being called) for the user equipment group to which the base station will attempt to page belongs. When each user equipment in the indicated group receives the user equipment indication information, each such user equipment can respond by transmitting an indication of the beam direction in which it is located or the antenna port used by the base station for transmission. Then, the base station can send subsequent paging downlink control information and / or paging messages in the indicated beam direction or on the indicated antenna port. This subsequent transmission of the paging downlink control information and / or paging message can indicate which user equipment / user equipments in the user equipment group are being paged.

[0124] In some embodiments, the first resource carries (e.g., included in the paging indication) paging transmission mode indication information. This paging transmission mode indication information can be used to identify the mode to be used to transmit the paging message, as discussed further below. When the paging indication includes the paging transmission mode indication information, the system can transmit the paging indication in a scanning mode, thereby transmitting the paging indication on all antenna ports and therefore in all beam directions.

[0125] The paging transmission mode indication information can indicate the paging transmission mode to the user equipment group, for example, by transmitting the user equipment indication information together with a separate bit for the paging transmission mode indication information for each group (for example, one to two bits for each group) as described above. One benefit of indicating the paging transmission mode by group is that it enables different terminal groups to use different paging transmission modes. Therefore, even if two user equipments belong to two different user equipment groups, both user equipment groups can be indicated in a single paging indication, and in addition, each group can have a separate paging transmission mode indicated in the same paging indication. However, in some embodiments, a single paging transmission mode indicator can be used for all user equipment groups in the paging indication, in which case all user equipment groups will use the same indicated paging transmission mode.

[0126] In some embodiments, three paging transmission modes are available.

[0127] In Mode 1, the base station transmits a paging indication and receives a response in a random access request preamble sequence. The base station then transmits paging downlink control information and / or a paging message on the downlink antenna port indicated by the random access preamble sequence.

[0128] In mode 2, the base station transmits a paging indication and receives a response in a random access request preamble sequence. The base station then transmits a random access response on the downlink antenna port indicated by the random access preamble sequence, and the random access response includes an identifier of the paged user equipment (e.g., S-TMSI). In this mode, the base station can further accept random access again by the paged user equipment.

[0129] In mode 3, the base station transmits a paging indication and receives a response in a random access request preamble sequence. The base station then transmits a random access response on the downlink antenna port indicated by the random access preamble sequence, the random access response including: an identifier of the paged user equipment (e.g., S-TMSI), a timing advance command, and uplink grant information. The base station may then return a contention resolution message to the user equipment that has been successfully accessed by the paged user equipment.

[0130] In some embodiments, the paging indication may include a combination of the other elements described above. For example, the paging indication may include user equipment indication information and paging transmission mode indication information. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, other information combinations may also exist in the paging indication.

[0131] Fig.13 1 is a diagram of a data structure 1300 for transmitting user equipment indication information and paging cause category indication information. The data structure 1300 includes eight bits for transmitting user equipment indication information (e.g., as described for data structure 1200), seven bits for transmitting paging cause category indication information (e.g., as described for data structures 1310, 1320, 1330, 1340), and sixteen bits for cyclic redundancy check. In some embodiments, the number of bits allocated to each information type may vary, and the number of bits for each information type is given above for exemplary purposes only.

[0132] The information carried on the first resource may be predefined by the system or may be notified to the user equipment through signaling. For example, the base station may indicate in the PBCH which information is included in the current first resource. As another example, different types of paging indications may be defined to include different information, and the base station may indicate in the PBCH the current type of information carried by the first resource. Alternatively, the user equipment may determine the current type of information carried by the first resource through blind detection. For example, different types of first resources may use different CRC masks or different scrambling codes for encoding information bits, etc. The user equipment may blindly detect the current CRC code or the different scrambling codes for encoding information bits in order to determine the current type of information carried by the first resource.

[0133] Fig.141400 is a timing diagram of a process 1400 for paging transmission. The process 1400 may be referred to herein as mode 1. The process 1400 involves a base station 1402 (e.g., as described for base stations 102, 302, 402, 502, wireless communication apparatus 200) and user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 (e.g., as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, 512, wireless communication apparatus 200). In some embodiments, user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 belong to the same paging occasion (PO). The paging occasion is defined as a time resource corresponding to a scanning structure for paging transmission on different antenna ports. The user equipment may be divided into different POs based on a user equipment identity. In a paging trigger mode, a time resource corresponding to a scanning structure for paging indication transmission may be defined as a PO. In some embodiments, the methods are described in the case where the user equipment belongs to the same PO. In the current example, the base station 1402 may have antennas and antenna ports corresponding to 20 beam directions.

[0134] Each of the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 may belong to a user device group. For example, the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416 may belong to user group 4, and the user device 1418 may belong to user group 5.

[0135] User equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 may be located in beam directions of a cell served by base station 1402. For example, user equipment 1412 may be located in beam direction 3 and served by antenna port 3. User equipment 1414 may be located in beam direction 6 and served by antenna port 6. User equipment 1416 may be located in beam direction 8 and served by antenna port 8. User equipment 1418 may be located in beam direction 9 and served by antenna port 9.

[0136] Prior to beginning process 1400, base station 1402 may determine that user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414 must be paged (eg, the network notifies base station 1402 of the arrival of a call for user equipment 1412, 1414).

[0137] The base station 1402 determines the user equipment group 1422. The base station 1402 can determine the user equipment group 1422 by determining which groups the user equipment that needs to be paged belongs to. In this example, the base station 1402 will determine the user equipment group 4 because the two user equipments that need to be paged (i.e., user equipment 1412, 1414) both belong to user equipment group 4.

[0138] The base station transmits a paging indication 1424. The base station 1402 may transmit the paging indication 1424 on all antenna ports in a scanning manner. Thus, all user equipment present in the cell served by the base station 1402 (or at least all such user equipment awake during this paging occasion), including each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418, will receive the paging indication 1424.

[0139] The paging indication 1424 may include user equipment indication information. For example, the paging indication may include eight bits (e.g., XXXXXXXX as described for data structure 1200) that identify which user equipment groups are being paged. In the current example, the user equipment indication information may be 00001000 to indicate that only user equipment group 4 is being paged.

[0140] The paging indication 1424 may also include paging transmission mode indication information to indicate the paging transmission mode to be used by the base station. Since the base station 1402 is using mode 1, the paging transmission mode indication information may indicate a value of 1 (eg, 01).

[0141] In some embodiments, the paging indication 1424 may include other information. For example, the paging indication 1424 may include paging downlink control information, which will be CRC-scrambled using the P-RNTI as a mask. The paging indication may include scheduling information for the paging message to be transmitted.

[0142] When the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 receives the paging indication 1424, each can determine whether it is in the user equipment group 1422 being paged. The user equipment 1418 determines that it is not in the user equipment group 1422 being paged (because bit 5 of the user equipment indication information is set to 0), so the user equipment 1418 does not take further action (e.g., returns to idle mode).

[0143] Each of the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 determines that they are in the user equipment group 1422 being paged (because bit 4 of the user equipment indication information is set to 1), so each of the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 prepares to send a response 1426 to the paging indication. The response 1426 from each of the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may include an indication of the antenna port at which each user equipment is located. For example, each of the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may select a resource corresponding to the antenna port at which the device is located for transmitting the response 1426. For example, the user equipment 1412 may transmit the response 1426 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 3. The user equipment 1414 may transmit the response 1426 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 6. The user equipment 1416 may transmit the response 1426 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 8.

[0144] In some embodiments, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may transmit the response 1426 as a preamble on a random access channel (RACH). In some cases, this preamble may be part of a so-called "request" on the random access channel. However, in this example, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may use the random access channel "request" to send the response 1426 to the base station 1402.

[0145] In some embodiments, the base station 1402 may send a response 1428 for each response 1426 received. The response 1428 may be used to notify each user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 that the response 1426 has actually been received by the base station 1402. In some embodiments, in response to the preamble containing the response 1426, the response 1428 may be transmitted as a random access response (RAR) message on a random access channel. In such an embodiment, the RAR of the response 1428 may only contain a random access preamble identifier (RAPID), which indicates to the user equipment the preamble to which the current RAR corresponds. In some embodiments, the base station may omit the transmission of the response 1428.

[0146] The base station 1402 transmits paging downlink control information and / or a paging message 1430. The base station 1402 may use a standard paging channel (e.g., PCCH / PCH) to transmit the paging message 1430. Based on the response 1426, the base station 1402 may determine a subset of the total beam directions or antenna ports to which the paging message 1430 should be transmitted. In this example, the base station 1402 determines that the paging message 1430 only needs to be transmitted to beam directions / antenna ports 3, 6, and 8 of the total 20 beam directions / antenna ports, because all members of the user equipment group 1422 being paged are in these three directions. As a result, the base station 1402 transmits the paging message 1430 only to the antenna ports for beam directions 3, 6, and 8. Since each of the user devices 1412 , 1414 , 1416 is in one of the directions in which the paging message 1430 is transmitted, each of the user devices 1412 , 1414 , 1416 will receive the paging message 1430 .

[0147] In some embodiments, the base station 1402 may additionally send relevant information, such as paging downlink control information, to the identified beam direction / antenna port (i.e., directions 3, 6, 8). In some embodiments, the base station 1402 may transmit a paging message 1430 during the next paging opportunity after transmitting a paging indication 1424 corresponding to the user equipment being paged. Alternatively, the paging message 1430 may be transmitted on a predetermined time-frequency resource.

[0148] In some embodiments, paging message 1430 may include an identifier for each user equipment that is actually being paged. In this example, paging message 1430 will include an identifier (e.g., S-TMSI) for user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414. After receiving paging message 1430, each of user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 can determine whether it is being paged. User equipment 1416 will determine that it is not being paged because its identifier is not included in paging message 1430. And each of user equipment 1412, 1414 will determine that it is being paged because its identifier is included in paging message 1430. Determine that they are being paged User equipment can perform a random access process on a random access channel to access the network according to paging message 1430.

[0149] Fig.15 15 is a timing diagram of a process 1500 for paging transmission. The process 1500 may be referred to herein as Mode 2. The process 1500 involves a base station 1402 and user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 (eg, as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, 512, wireless communication apparatus 200).

[0150] As previously described, base station 1402 may have antennas and antenna ports corresponding to 20 beam directions. User equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may belong to user group 4, and user equipment 1418 may belong to user group 5. User equipment 1412 may be located in beam direction 3 and served by antenna port 3. User equipment 1414 may be located in beam direction 6 and served by antenna port 6. User equipment 1416 may be located in beam direction 8 and served by antenna port 8. User equipment 1418 may be located in beam direction 9 and served by antenna port 9.

[0151] Prior to beginning process 1500, base station 1402 may determine that user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414 must be paged (eg, the network notifies base station 1402 of the arrival of a call for user equipment 1412, 1414).

[0152] The base station 1402 determines the user equipment group 1522. The base station 1402 can determine the user equipment group 1522 by determining which groups the user equipment that needs to be paged belongs to. In this example, the base station 1402 will determine the user equipment group 4 because the two user equipments that need to be paged (i.e., user equipment 1412, 1414) both belong to user equipment group 4.

[0153] The base station transmits a paging indication 1524. The base station 1402 may transmit the paging indication 1524 on all antenna ports for all beam directions in a scanning manner. Thus, all user equipments present in the cell served by the base station 1402 (or at least all such user equipments awake during this paging occasion), including each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418, will receive the paging indication 1524.

[0154] The paging indication 1524 may include user equipment indication information. For example, the paging indication may include eight bits (e.g., XXXXXXXX as described for data structure 1200) that identify which user equipment groups are being paged. In the current example, the user equipment indication information may be 00001000 to indicate that only user equipment group 4 is being paged.

[0155] The paging indication 1524 may also include paging transmission mode indication information to indicate the paging transmission mode to be used by the base station. Since the base station 1402 is using mode 2, the paging transmission mode indication information may indicate a value of 2 (eg, 10).

[0156] In some embodiments, the paging indication 1524 may include other information. For example, the paging indication 1524 may include paging downlink control information, which will be CRC-scrambled using the P-RNTI as a mask. The paging indication may include scheduling information for the paging message to be transmitted.

[0157] When the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 receives the paging indication 1524, each can determine whether it is in the user equipment group 1522 being paged. The user equipment 1418 determines that it is not in the user equipment group 1522 being paged (because bit 5 of the user equipment indication information is set to 0), so the user equipment 1418 does not take further action (e.g., returns to idle mode).

[0158] Each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 determines that they are in the user equipment group 1522 being paged (because bit 4 of the user equipment indication information is set to 1), so each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 prepares to send a response 1526 to the paging indication. The response 1526 from each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 may include an indication of the antenna port at which each user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 is located. For example, each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 may select a resource corresponding to the antenna port at which the user equipment is located for transmitting the response 1526. For example, the user equipment 1412 may transmit the response 1526 on the resource for antenna port 3. The user equipment 1414 may transmit the response 1526 on the resource for antenna port 6. The user equipment 1416 may transmit the response 1526 on the resource for antenna port 8.

[0159] In some embodiments, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may transmit the response 1526 as a preamble on a random access channel (RACH). In some cases, this preamble may be part of a so-called "request" on the random access channel. However, in this example, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may use the random access channel "request" to send the response 1526 to the base station 1402.

[0160] The base station 1402 transmits a response 1528. The base station 1402 may transmit the response 1528 as a random access response (RAR) message on the same random access channel on which it received the response 1526. The response 1528 may include a paging message that the base station 1402 attempts to deliver to the user equipment being paged. That is, the difference between Mode 1 and Mode 2 is at least that Mode 1 transmits a paging message on a standard paging channel (e.g., PCCH / PCH), while Mode 2 transmits a paging message as part of a response on a random access channel (RACH).

[0161] Based on the response 1526, the base station 1402 can determine a subset of the total beam directions or antenna ports to which the response 1528 should be transmitted. In this example, the base station 1402 determines that the response 1528 only needs to be transmitted to beam directions / antenna ports 3, 6, and 8 of the total 20 beam directions / antenna ports because all members of the user device group 1522 (i.e., user device group 4) being paged are in these three directions. As a result, the base station 1402 transmits the response 1528 only to the antenna ports for beam directions 3, 6, and 8. Since each of the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416 is in one of these directions to which the response 1528 is transmitted, each of the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416 will receive the response 1528.

[0162] In some embodiments, response 1528 may include an identifier for each user equipment that is actually being paged. In this example, response 1528 will include an identifier (e.g., S-TMSI) for user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414. After receiving response 1528, each of user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 can determine whether it is being paged. User equipment 1416 will determine that it is not being paged because its identifier is not included in response 1528. And each of user equipment 1412, 1414 will determine that it is being paged because its identifier is included in response 1528. Determine that they are being paged User equipment can perform a random access process on a random access channel to access the network according to response 1530.

[0163] In process 1500, the reception configuration of the RAR in response 1528 may be configured to the user equipment in the remaining minimum system information (RMSI). The user equipment may detect the RAR in response 1528 in a plurality of physical downlink control channels within the corresponding RAR window. The RAR scheduling information may scramble the CRC of the downlink control information using the RA-RNTI as a mask. The RAR in response 1528 may also include a corresponding random access preamble identifier (RAPID) to indicate to the user equipment which preamble the RAR in response 1528 corresponds to. The RAR in response 1528 does not need to include a timing advance indication and uplink grant information.

[0164] Fig.16 16 is a timing diagram of a process 1600 for paging transmission. The process 1600 may be referred to herein as Mode 3. The process 1600 involves a base station 1402 and user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 (eg, as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, 512, wireless communication apparatus 200).

[0165] As previously described, base station 1402 may have antennas and antenna ports corresponding to 20 beam directions. User equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may belong to user group 4, and user equipment 1418 may belong to user group 5. User equipment 1412 may be located in beam direction 3 and served by antenna port 3. User equipment 1414 may be located in beam direction 6 and served by antenna port 6. User equipment 1416 may be located in beam direction 8 and served by antenna port 8. User equipment 1418 may be located in beam direction 9 and served by antenna port 9.

[0166] Prior to beginning process 1600, base station 1402 may determine that user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414 must be paged (eg, the network notifies base station 1402 of the arrival of a call for user equipment 1412, 1414).

[0167] The base station 1402 determines the user equipment group 1622. The base station 1402 can determine the user equipment group 1622 by determining which groups the user equipment that needs to be paged belongs to. In this example, the base station 1402 will determine the user equipment group 4 because the two user equipments that need to be paged (i.e., user equipment 1412, 1414) both belong to user equipment group 4.

[0168] The base station transmits a paging indication 1624. The base station 1402 may transmit the paging indication 1624 on all antenna ports for all beam directions in a scanning manner. Thus, all user equipments present in the cell served by the base station 1402 (or at least all such user equipments awake during this paging occasion), including each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418, will receive the paging indication 1624.

[0169] The paging indication 1624 may include user equipment indication information. For example, the paging indication may include eight bits (e.g., XXXXXXXX as described for data structure 1200) that identify which user equipment groups are being paged. In the current example, the user equipment indication information may be 00001000 to indicate that only user equipment group 4 is being paged.

[0170] The paging indication 1624 may also include paging transmission mode indication information to indicate the paging transmission mode to be used by the base station. Since the base station 1402 is using mode 3, the paging transmission mode indication information may indicate a value of 3 (eg, 11).

[0171] In some embodiments, the paging indication 1624 may include other information. For example, the paging indication 1624 may include paging downlink control information, which will be CRC-scrambled using the P-RNTI as a mask. The paging indication may include scheduling information for the paging message to be transmitted.

[0172] When the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418 receives the paging indication 1624, each can determine whether it is in the user equipment group 1622 being paged. The user equipment 1418 determines that it is not in the user equipment group 1622 being paged (because bit 5 of the user equipment indication information is set to 0), so the user equipment 1418 does not take further action (e.g., returns to idle mode).

[0173] Each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 determines that they are in the user equipment group 1622 being paged (because bit 4 of the user equipment indication information is set to 1), so each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 prepares to send a response 1626 to the paging indication. The response 1626 from each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 may include an indication of the antenna port at which each user equipment is located. For example, each of the user equipments 1412, 1414, 1416 may select a resource corresponding to the antenna port at which the user equipment is located for transmitting the response 1626. For example, the user equipment 1412 may transmit the response 1626 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 3. The user equipment 1414 may transmit the response 1626 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 6. The user equipment 1416 may transmit the response 1626 on the resource corresponding to the antenna port 8.

[0174] In some embodiments, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may transmit the response 1626 as a preamble on a random access channel (RACH). In some cases, this preamble may be part of a so-called "request" on the random access channel. However, in this example, the user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 may use the random access channel "request" to send the response 1626 to the base station 1402.

[0175] The base station 1402 transmits a response 1628. The base station 1402 may transmit the response 1628 as a random access response (RAR) message on the same random access channel on which it received the response 1526. The response 1628 may include a paging message that the base station 1402 attempts to deliver to the user equipment being paged. That is, the difference between Mode 1 and Mode 3 is at least that Mode 1 transmits a paging message on a standard paging channel (e.g., PCCH / PCH), while Mode 3 transmits a paging message as part of a response on a random access channel (RACH).

[0176] Based on the response 1626, the base station 1402 can determine a subset of the total beam directions / antenna ports to which the response 1628 should be transmitted. In this example, the base station 1402 determines that the response 1628 only needs to be transmitted to beam directions / antenna ports 3, 6, and 8 of the total 20 beam directions / antenna ports because all members of the user device group 1622 (i.e., user device group 4) being paged are in these three directions. As a result, the base station 1402 only transmits the response 1528 to the antenna ports for beam directions 3, 6, and 8. Since each of the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416 is in one of these directions to which the response 1628 is transmitted, each of the user devices 1412, 1414, 1416 will receive the response 1628.

[0177] In some embodiments, response 1628 may include an identifier for each user equipment that is actually being paged, as well as a timing advance indication and an uplink grant. In this example, response 1628 will include an identifier (e.g., S-TMSI) for user equipment 1412 and user equipment 1414. After receiving response 1628, each of user equipment 1412, 1414, 1416 can determine whether it is being paged. User equipment 1416 will determine that it is not being paged because its identifier is not included in response 1628. And each of user equipment 1412, 1414 will determine that it is being paged because its identifier is included in response 1628.

[0178] The user equipments that determine that they are being paged can use the timing advance indication and the uplink grant to establish access to the network. In particular, the user equipments (e.g., user equipments 1412, 1414) identified in the response 1628 can continue to send message 1630 according to the uplink grant provided in the response 1628. The base station 1402 can then transmit message 1632 to confirm to each of the user equipments 1412, 1414 to which the message 1632 is transmitted that it has successfully accessed the network. That is, the difference between Mode 2 and Mode 3 is at least that Mode 2 uses RAR (response 1528) to identify the user equipment being paged, while Mode 3 uses RAR (response 1628) to identify the user equipment being paged and provide the uplink grant required by the paged user equipment for subsequent network access.

[0179] Fig.17 17 is a flow chart of a process 1700 for paging transmission using multiple paging transmission modes. The process 1700 may be performed by a base station (e.g., as described for base stations 102, 302, 402, 502, 1402, wireless communication device 200) communicating with one or more user equipment (e.g., as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, 512, 1412, wireless communication device 200).

[0180] Prior to starting process 1700, the base station may determine that a particular user equipment must be paged (e.g., the network notifies the base station of a call arrival for the user equipment). Although not depicted in process 1700, the base station may determine a user equipment group based on the user equipment to be paged (e.g., as described for user equipment group 1422).

[0181] At block 1702, the base station determines a paging transmission mode. The base station may determine the paging transmission mode by selecting a transmission mode from a set of available transmission modes (e.g., modes 1, 2, and 3 described herein). A transmission mode may be considered "available" to a base station if the transmission mode relates to a communication sequence that the base station is configured for and / or is capable of performing.

[0182] The base station may use any of a variety of factors to determine the paging transmission mode. For example, the base station may select a paging transmission mode that is predefined as a default paging transmission mode. As another example, the base station may select a paging transmission mode based on the expected number of user devices in the user device group to be paged. For example, modes 1 and 2 may be more effective for paging user devices in large user device groups (e.g., because competition in mode 3 will result in many conflicts and is therefore less effective), while mode 3 may be more effective for paging user devices in small user device groups (e.g., because random access is established as part of the paging transmission). As another example, the network may indicate to the base station what paging transmission mode to use.

[0183] At block 1704, the base station transmits a paging indication. The base station may transmit the paging indication as described elsewhere herein (e.g., as described for paging indications 1424, 1524, 1624). One or more user equipment located at more than one antenna port for the base station may receive the paging indication. The user equipment receiving the paging indication may use the user equipment indication information included in the paging indication to determine whether the user equipment is part of a group that is being triggered to provide a response.

[0184] At block 1706, the base station receives one or more responses from the user equipment. In particular, all user equipment in the group identified by the user equipment indication information (transmitted as part of the paging indication at block 1704) may provide a response to the base station using a message preamble transmitted on a random access channel. Each response received by the base station at block 1706 may include an indication of the beam direction / antenna port at which the transmitting user equipment is located.

[0185] At block 1708, process 1700 branches based on the paging transmission mode selected at block 1702. If Mode 1 was selected, process 1700 continues to block 1710. If Mode 2 was selected, process 1700 continues to block 1712. If Mode 3 was selected, process 1700 continues to block 1714.

[0186] At block 1710, the base station transmits a paging message on a paging channel. The base station may transmit a standard paging message on a standard paging channel (e.g., PCCH / PCH). The base station may transmit a paging message only to those beam directions / antenna ports indicated by the response received at block 1706. The paging message may include identification information for the user equipment being paged. Each user equipment receiving the paging message may use the identification information to determine whether it is being paged. After completing block 1710, the user equipment being paged completes paging, but the user equipment has not yet established uplink access through a random access channel (e.g., RACH) (block 1724).

[0187] At block 1712, the base station transmits a response message with an identifier for the user equipment being paged. The base station may transmit the response as a random access response (RAR) on the same random access channel as the response received at block 1706. The response may include identification information for the user equipment being paged. Each user equipment receiving the response may use this identification information to determine whether it is being paged. After completing block 1712, the user equipment being paged completes paging, but the user equipment has not yet established uplink access through a random access channel (e.g., RACH) (block 1724).

[0188] At block 1714, the base station transmits a response message with an identifier for the user equipment being paged and uplink grant information. The base station may transmit the response as a random access response (RAR) on the same random access channel as the response received at block 1706. The response may include identification information for the user equipment being paged. Each user equipment receiving the response may use this identification information to determine whether it is being paged.

[0189] At block 1716, the base station receives one or more uplink responses. The base station may receive the one or more uplink responses on the same random access channel as the response received at block 1706 and the response transmitted at block 1714. In particular, the response received at block 1716 may be a random access message made by a user equipment being paged in order to securely access the network on the uplink random access channel. The user equipment may use the uplink grant information transmitted by the base station at block 1714 to send the response received by the base station at block 1716.

[0190] At block 1718, a determination is made as to whether an uplink response was successfully received at block 1716. In particular, since the user equipment being paged attempts to send a response on an uplink random access channel, it will contend with other user equipment for resources on the channel. If the user equipment successfully contends on the uplink random access channel, process 1700 continues to block 1720. If the user equipment does not successfully contend on the uplink random access channel, the user equipment being paged has completed paging, but the user equipment has not yet established uplink access via a random access channel (e.g., RACH) (block 1724).

[0191] At block 1720, the base station sends a response to the user equipment to inform the user equipment that it successfully competed for the uplink random access resource. At block 1720, the base station may transmit the response on the same random access channel as the response received at block 1706, the response transmitted at block 1714, and the response received at block 1716. After completing block 1720, the user equipment being paged has completed paging, and the user equipment has established uplink access through a random access channel (e.g., RACH) (block 1722).

[0192] In some embodiments, the paging indication transmitted at block 1704 may include paging transmission mode indication information. For example, the paging indication may include a two-bit identifier of the paging transmission mode for each user device group (as selected at block 1702). For example, if there are eight user device groups, 16 bits may be allocated to indicate the paging transmission mode of the user device group. In such an embodiment, two bits may indicate the paging transmission mode to be used (e.g., 01=mode 1, 10=mode 2, 11=mode 3). Thus, a user device that is a member of the user device group indicated by the user device indication information in the paging indication may use the two bits corresponding to its user device group to determine how it should proceed with subsequent paging activities (e.g., monitor the paging channel for mode 1, and monitor the random access channel for modes 2 and 3). Alternatively, a single paging transmission mode indication may be used for all user device groups, in which case all user devices may use the same indicated paging transmission mode.

[0193] Fig.181 is a flow chart of a process 1800 for paging transmission using multiple paging transmission modes. Process 1700 may be performed by a base station (e.g., as described for base stations 102, 302, 402, 502, 1402, wireless communication device 200) in communication with one or more user equipment (e.g., as described for user equipment 106, 312, 404, 512, 1412, wireless communication device 200). Process 1800 may be provided substantially as described for process 1700, with like reference numerals referring to like elements. The differences between process 1700 and process 1800 are noted below.

[0194] At block 1802, the base station determines a paging transmission mode. The base station may determine the paging transmission mode by selecting a transmission mode from a set of available transmission modes (e.g., modes 2 and 3 described herein). A transmission mode may be considered "available" to a base station if the transmission mode relates to a communication sequence that the base station is configured for and / or is capable of performing. Relative to block 1702 in process 1700, block 1802 in process 1800 may involve the base station selecting a paging transmission mode from a small number of available transmission modes. Fewer paging transmission modes may be available because the base station or a user device communicating therewith supports a smaller number of paging transmission modes. The base station may determine the paging transmission mode using any of a variety of factors, such as the exemplary factors described for block 1702.

[0195] At block 1808, process 1800 branches based on the paging transmission mode selected at block 1802. If mode 2 was selected, process 1800 continues to block 1712. If mode 3 was selected, process 1800 continues to block 1714.

[0196] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein may be used in conjunction with more or fewer paging transmission modes than those described herein.

[0197] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited thereto, but only by the appended claims.

[0198] The disclosed and other embodiments, modules and functional operations described in this document may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, or in computer software, firmware or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this document and their structural equivalents, or in one or more combinations thereof. The disclosed and other embodiments may be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for operation execution of a data processing device or for controller operation. The computer-readable medium may be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage matrix, a storage device, a material combination that affects a machine-readable propagation signal, or a combination of one or more thereof. The term "data processing device" encompasses all devices, equipment and machines for processing data, including, for example, a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. In addition to hardware, the device may include code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, such as code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination thereof. A propagation signal is an artificially generated signal, such as a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, which is generated to encode information for transmission to a suitable receiver device.

[0199] A computer program (also referred to as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including an assembled or interpreted language, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple collaborative files (e.g., files storing one or more modules, subroutines, or code portions). A computer program can be deployed to execute on a computer or on multiple computers located in one location or distributed in multiple locations and interconnected by a communication network.

[0200] The processes and logic flows described herein may be performed by one or more programmable processors that execute one or more computer programs to implement functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows may also be performed by, and the apparatus may also be implemented as, a special purpose logic circuit, for example, an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[0201] Processors suitable for executing computer programs include, for example, general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Typically, the processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. Typically, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from it or transmit data to it, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic, magneto-optical disks or optical disks. However, a computer is not required to have such a device. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory can be supplemented by dedicated logic circuits, or included therein.

[0202] Although this document contains many details, these details should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention that is or can be claimed for protection, but rather as descriptions of features specific to a particular embodiment. Certain features described in the context of separate embodiments in this document may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple separate embodiments or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although the above-mentioned features may be described as working in certain combinations or even initially claimed, one or more features from the claimed combination may be excluded from the combination in some cases, and the claimed combination may point to a variant of a sub-combination or a sub-combination. Similarly, although the operations depicted in the figure are performed in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the particular order or sequential order shown, or requiring all illustrated operations to be performed to obtain the desired results.

[0203] Only a few implementations and examples are described. Variations, modifications, and enhancements to the described examples and implementations and other implementations may be made based on the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for paging a user equipment in a wireless network, comprising: The base station maps the indication information to one or more resource elements. The one or more resource elements are resource elements in one or more synchronization signal symbols that are not mapped by the synchronization signal, The indication information includes the scheduling information of the paging downlink control information and the remaining minimum system information, The indication information includes user equipment indication information; and wherein the user equipment is paged by using the user equipment indication information; and the indication information is transmitted to the user equipment, wherein in response to the indication information including the user equipment indication information, transmitting the indication information is performed in a scanning mode on all antenna ports in all beam directions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more resource elements comprise one or more consecutive resource elements, wherein a demodulation reference signal is not mapped to a resource element in the one or more consecutive resource elements, and The method further comprises: mapping a demodulation reference signal to one or more resource elements in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols, the one or more physical broadcast channel symbols being adjacent to at least one synchronization signal symbol of the one or more synchronization signal symbols, The indication information and the physical broadcast channel share the same antenna port.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more resource elements are located outside a bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals, and wherein the one or more resource elements are within a bandwidth of one or more physical broadcast channels.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication information comprises an indicator for a paging transmission mode, wherein the paging transmission mode is a mode to be used to transmit paging downlink control information and / or a paging message, in, The method further comprises: The paging transmission mode is selected from a plurality of available transmission modes.

5. The method according to claim 1, The indication information includes paging cause category indication information, in, The paging cause category indication information indicates a cause of the indication information being transmitted.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving one or more responses to the indication information from one or more user equipments; as well as One or more paging messages are transmitted based on the information received in the one or more responses.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Using multiple antenna ports to transmit the indication information; receiving one or more responses to the indication information from one or more user equipments, each response indicating at least one antenna port; as well as One or more paging messages are transmitted using the antenna port indicated in the response.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a user equipment group to which one or more user equipments to be paged belong, The indication information includes an indicator of the user equipment group.

9. A method for responding to paging by a user equipment in a wireless network, comprising: Receiving, by a user equipment, indication information in one or more resource elements, The one or more resource elements are resource elements in one or more synchronization signal symbols that are not mapped by the synchronization signal, The indication information includes the scheduling information of the paging downlink control information and the remaining minimum system information, The indication information includes user equipment indication information, and wherein the user equipment is paged by using the user equipment indication information, and wherein in response to the indication information including the user equipment indication information, the transmission of the indication information is performed in a scanning mode on all antenna ports in all beam directions; and A response to the indication information received by the user equipment is transmitted.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more resource elements comprise one or more consecutive resource elements, wherein a demodulation reference signal is not mapped to a resource element in the one or more consecutive resource elements, in, The method further comprises: receiving a demodulation reference signal in one or more resource elements in one or more physical broadcast channel symbols, the one or more physical broadcast channel symbols being adjacent to at least one synchronization signal symbol of the one or more synchronization signal symbols, The indication information and the physical broadcast channel share the same antenna port.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more resource elements are located outside a bandwidth of the one or more synchronization signals, and wherein the one or more resource elements are within a bandwidth of one or more physical broadcast channels.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the indication information comprises an indicator for a paging transmission mode, wherein the paging transmission mode is a mode to be used to transmit paging downlink control information and / or a paging message, and The paging transmission mode is selected from a plurality of available transmission modes.

13. The method according to claim 9, The indication information includes paging cause category indication information, The paging reason category indication information indicates the reason for transmitting the indication information.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: One or more paging messages are received based on the information transmitted in the response.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: receiving the indication information in a space corresponding to one of the plurality of antenna ports from which the indication information is transmitted, wherein the response indicates at least one antenna port; as well as One or more paging messages are received in a space corresponding to one of the at least one indicated antenna ports, the one or more paging messages being transmitted using the antenna port indicated in the response.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: The indication information is received, the indication information including an indicator of a user equipment group, the user equipment group being determined based on arrival of data information indicating a user equipment to be paged.

17. A computing device, comprising a memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is implemented.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for being executed by at least one processor according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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