Telecommunication apparatus and method

Abstract

A method of operating a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising attempting to decode data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the data was successfully decoded; and transmitting acknowledgement signalling indicating whether the data was successfully decoded on a radio resource determined by taking into account whether the data was successfully decoded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to wireless telecommunications apparatus and methods. Background Technology

[0002] The “Background Art” description provided herein is intended to present the general context of this disclosure. To the extent described in this Background Art section, the work of the currently named inventor and aspects of the description that may not be considered prior art at the time of filing are neither explicitly nor implicitly considered prior art to this disclosure.

[0003] Compared to the simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile communication systems, the latest generation of mobile communication systems can support a wider range of services. For example, through the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, users can enjoy high-data-rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing, which were previously only available via fixed-line data connections. Therefore, the demand for deploying such networks is significant, and the coverage areas of these networks (i.e., geographical locations where network access is available) are likely to increase more rapidly.

[0004] Future wireless communication networks are expected to efficiently support communication with an increasing number of devices and data traffic profiles, rather than simply optimizing existing systems. For example, future wireless communication networks are expected to efficiently support communication with devices, including reduced-complexity devices, machine-type communication devices, high-resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, and so on. Some of these different types of devices can be deployed in very large numbers, such as low-complexity devices supporting the “Internet of Things” (IoT), and are typically associated with relatively small amounts of data transmission with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of devices (e.g., those supporting high-definition video streaming) can be associated with relatively large amounts of data transmission with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of devices, such as those used for autonomous vehicle communication and other critical applications, are characterized by low latency and high reliability for data transmission over the network. Depending on the application being run, individual device types may also be associated with different traffic profiles / characteristics. For example, when a smartphone is running a video streaming application (high downlink data), different factors may need to be considered to efficiently support data exchange with the smartphone compared to running an internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or an online gaming scenario (where data is constrained by strict reliability and latency requirements).

[0005] In view of this, it is expected that future wireless communication networks, such as those that may be referred to as 5G or New Radio (NR) systems / New Radio Access Technology (RAT) systems[1], as well as future iterations / versions of existing systems, will support connectivity for a wide range of devices that can be effectively associated with different applications and data service profiles with different characteristics.

[0006] Examples of use cases currently considered to be of interest for next-generation and latest-generation wireless communication systems include so-called ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) / enhanced ultra-reliable low-latency communication (EURLC). For example, see 3GPP documents RP-160671, “Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies”, NTT DOCOMO, RAN#71[1]; RP-172834, “Work Item on New Radio (NR) Access Technology”, NTT DOCOMO, RAN#78[2]; RP-182089, “New SID on Physical Layer Enhancements for NR Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC)”, Huawei, HiSilicon, Nokia, Nokia Shanghai Bell, RAN#81[3]; and RP-190654, “New WID: Physical layer enhancements for NR ultra reliable and low latency communication (URLLC)”, Huawei, HiSilicon, RAN#89, Shenzhen, China, March 18-21, 2019[4].

[0007] URLLC services are low-latency and high-reliability services (e.g., supporting applications such as factory automation, transportation, and power distribution). For example, URLLC services can be designed to transmit data over a wireless network with a target 32-byte packet transmission time (i.e., the time from when a Layer 2 packet enters the network to when it leaves the network) of 1 millisecond (i.e., each packet needs to be scheduled and transmitted at the physical layer in less than 1 millisecond), with 99.999% reliability within a 1-millisecond target packet transmission time [5], and recently it has been proposed to increase the reliability to 99.9999% for latency times between 0.5 and 1 millisecond.

[0008] The 3GPP project recently completed the 16th work item on EURLC[6] to specify functions requiring high reliability and low latency, such as factory automation, transportation, power distribution, etc. in 5G systems. The 17th work item[7] further enhances the EURLC functionality, one of the goals of which is to enhance the acknowledgment signaling (HARQ-ACK feedback) of URLLC downlink transmissions. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This disclosure can help resolve or mitigate at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

[0010] The relevant aspects and features of this disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

[0011] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary descriptions of the present technology, but not limiting descriptions. The described embodiments and other advantages will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0012] A more complete understanding of this disclosure and its many accompanying advantages will readily be obtained when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and by referring to the following detailed description, wherein, in several views, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 These illustrations represent some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunications network that can be configured to operate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2 The illustration schematically depicts some aspects of a novel radio access technology (RAT) wireless telecommunication network that can be configured to operate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure;

[0015] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a telecommunications system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0016] Figures 4 to 6 An example of radio resources associated with a terminal device in the uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and the downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure) for use in terminal devices operating according to the previously proposed technology is illustrated.

[0017] Figures 7 to 11 Examples of radio resources associated with a terminal device in an uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and a downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure) for use in certain embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated schematically.

[0018] Figure 12 This is a flowchart schematically illustrating some operational aspects of a terminal device according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0019] Figure 13 This is a flowchart that schematically illustrates some operational aspects of a network access node according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram is provided illustrating some basic functions of a mobile telecommunications network / system 100 that typically operates based on LTE principles, but these basic functions may also support other radio access technologies and may be adapted to implement embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. Figure 1 Certain aspects of the various components and their corresponding operating modes are well known in the relevant standards and related proposals managed by the 3GPP (RTM) organization, and are also described in many books on the subject, such as the book by Holma H. ​​and Toskala A [8]. It should be understood that the operational aspects of the telecommunications network discussed herein (e.g., the specific communication protocols and physical channels for communication between different components) can be implemented according to any known technology, for example, by modifying and supplementing the relevant standards according to the relevant standards and known recommendations.

[0021] Network 100 includes multiple base stations 101 connected to core network 102. Each base station provides a coverage area 103 within which it can communicate data with terminal devices 104. Data is transmitted from base station 101 to terminal devices 104 within the corresponding coverage area 103 of base station 101 via a wireless downlink. The coverage area may be referred to as a cell. Data is transmitted from terminal devices 104 to base station 101 via a radio uplink. Core network 102 routes data to and from terminal devices 104 via the respective base station 101 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, and charging. Terminal devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminals, mobile radios, communication equipment, etc. Base stations are examples of network infrastructure equipment / network access nodes and may also be referred to as transceiver stations / nodes B / e-NodeB, g-NodeB, etc. In this respect, different terms are often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements that provide broad comparable functions. However, some embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented equivalently in different generations of wireless telecommunication systems, and for simplicity, certain terms may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is, the use of specific terms associated with certain example implementations does not mean that these implementations are limited to a particular generation of networks that may be most relevant to that particular term.

[0022] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram illustrating the network architecture of a new RAT wireless mobile telecommunications network / system 300 based on a previously proposed method, which can also be adapted to provide functionality according to the disclosed embodiments described herein. Figure 2 The new RAT network 300 includes a first communication cell 301 and a second communication cell 302. Each communication cell 301, 302 includes control nodes (centralized units) 321, 322 that communicate with the core network component 310 via corresponding wired or wireless links 351, 352. The corresponding control nodes 321, 322 also communicate with multiple distributed units (radio access nodes / remote transmit and receive points (TRPs)) 311, 312 within the corresponding cell. Again, these communications can be conducted via corresponding wired or wireless links. Distributed units 311, 312 are responsible for providing radio access interfaces for terminal devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit 311, 312 has coverage areas (radio access footprints) 341, 342, which collectively define the coverage of the corresponding communication cell 301, 302. Each distributed unit 311, 312 includes transceiver circuits 311a, 312a for transmitting and receiving wireless signals and processor circuits 311b, 312b configured to control the respective distributed unit 311, 312.

[0023] In terms of broad top-level functions, Figure 2 The core network component 310 of the telecommunications system shown can be broadly considered to be related to... Figure 1 Corresponding to the core network 102 shown, and the corresponding control nodes 321, 322 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 311, 312 can be broadly considered to provide the same functionality as... Figure 1 The functions corresponding to base station 101. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node can be used to cover these elements of a wireless telecommunications system and more traditional base station type elements. Depending on the application at hand, the responsibility for scheduling may rely on the control node / centralized unit and / or distributed unit / TRP, which schedules the transmission on the radio interface between the respective distributed unit and the terminal equipment.

[0024] exist Figure 2In this context, terminal device 400 is represented within the coverage area of ​​the first communication cell 301. Therefore, terminal device 400 can exchange signaling with the first control node 321 in the first communication cell 301 via a distributed unit 311 associated with it. In some cases, communication for a given terminal device is routed through only one distributed unit, but in some other embodiments, communication associated with a given terminal device can be routed through multiple distributed units, such as in soft handover scenarios and other scenarios. The specific distributed unit currently connected to the relevant control node by the terminal device can be referred to as the active distributed unit for the terminal device. Therefore, the active subset of distributed units for the terminal device can include one or more distributed units / TRPs. Control node 321 is responsible for determining which distributed unit 311 across the first communication cell 301 is responsible for radio communication with terminal device 400 at any given time (i.e., which distributed unit is currently the active distributed unit for that terminal device). Typically, this is based on measurements of the radio channel conditions between terminal device 400 and the corresponding unit in the distributed unit 311. In this regard, it should be understood that the subset of distributed cells in a cell where the terminal device is currently active typically depends at least in part on the location of the terminal device within the cell (because this greatly contributes to the radio channel conditions between the terminal device and the corresponding cell in the distributed cell).

[0025] In at least some embodiments, the involvement of distributed units in routing communications from the terminal device to the control node (centralized unit / control unit) is transparent to the terminal device 400. That is, in some cases, the terminal device may not know which distributed unit is responsible for routing communications between the terminal device 400 and the control node 321 of the communication cell 301 in which the terminal device is currently operating. In this case, the terminal device simply transmits uplink data to and receives downlink data from the control node 321, and the terminal device is unaware of the involvement of distributed unit 311. However, in other embodiments, the terminal device may be aware of which distributed units are involved in its communications. The switching and scheduling of one or more distributed units can be performed at the network control node based on measurements of the distributed units from the terminal device's uplink signals or measurements taken by the terminal device and reported to the control node via one or more distributed units.

[0026] exist Figure 2 In the example, for simplicity, two communication cells 301 and 302 and one terminal device 400 are shown, but it should be understood that in practice, the system may include a large number of communication cells serving a large number of terminal devices (each supported by a corresponding control node and multiple distributed units).

[0027] Further investigation is needed. Figure 2 This is merely an example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT telecommunications system, in which methods based on the principles described herein can be employed, and the functionality disclosed herein can also be applied to wireless telecommunications systems with different architectures.

[0028] Therefore, certain embodiments of this disclosure discussed herein can be adapted to various different architectures (e.g. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The example architecture shown is implemented in a wireless telecommunications system / network, and can actually be implemented in networks that support different architectural aspects in parallel, for example, as Figure 1 This is an illustration of coexistence with traditional radio access network architectures, for example, such as... Figure 2 This is a schematic representation of the new RAT architecture. It will be appreciated that the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given embodiment is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of this disclosure can generally be described in the context of communication between network infrastructure devices / access nodes and terminal devices, wherein the specific properties of the network infrastructure devices / access nodes and terminal devices will depend on the specific network infrastructure used for the embodiment at hand. For example, in some scenarios, the network infrastructure device / access node may include a base station (e.g., Figure 1 The LTE-type base station 101 shown herein is adapted to provide functionality according to the principles described herein, and in other examples, network infrastructure equipment may include, for example, LTE-type base station 101. Figure 2 The control units / control nodes 321, 322 and / or TRPs 311, 312 of the type shown are adapted to provide functionality according to the principles described herein, and in other scenarios, network infrastructure equipment / access nodes may include two base stations, for example... Figure 1 The types of LTE base station 101 and control units / control nodes 321, 322 and / or TRPs 311, 312 shown herein, at least one of which is suitable for providing functionality according to the principles described herein.

[0029] As mentioned above, such as Figure 1 Network 100 and shown Figure 2The mobile communication network of network 300 shown can support services with different characteristics, including services where reliability is the primary consideration (i.e., ensuring that high-probability data can be successfully transmitted through the network), such as URLLC. Certain embodiments of this disclosure propose methods that, compared to existing methods in communication networks, seek to help support transmission while reducing latency, particularly by proposing improved methods for processing acknowledgment signaling in wireless telecommunication networks. In this regard, methods according to embodiments of this disclosure can be described particularly in the context of URLLC data (including EURLC data), but it should be understood that while the more stringent requirements associated with novel data in wireless telecommunication systems can be considered a driving factor for improved reliability and reduced latency, latency reduction can be beneficial for any type of data transmitted in a wireless telecommunication system, regardless of whether the data is classified as URLLC or similar data or other types.

[0030] Figure 3 Further details of a telecommunications system 500 supporting communication between a radio access node 504 and a terminal device 506 according to certain embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated schematically. For illustrative purposes, it is assumed here that the telecommunications system 500 is broadly based on an LTE-type architecture, which may also support other radio access technologies, or use technologies such as... Figure 3 The same hardware shown has the functions of a properly configured device, or is configured to be compatible with... Figure 3 The hardware shown is a separate piece of hardware that operates in association with each other. However, as has already been noted, the specific network architecture in which embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented is not of primary significance to the principles described herein.

[0031] Many aspects of the operation of the telecommunications system / network 500 are known and understood, and will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity. The operational aspects of the telecommunications system 500 not specifically described herein can be implemented using any known technology, such as current wireless telecommunications system standards and other proposals for operating wireless telecommunications systems. For convenience, the network access node 504 may sometimes be referred to herein as base station 504. It should be understood that this term, for simplicity, does not imply that any network access node should conform to any particular network architecture; rather, it can correspond to any network infrastructure device / network access node that can be configured to provide the functions described herein.

[0032] The telecommunications system 500 includes a core network portion 502 coupled to the wireless network portion. The wireless network portion includes wireless network access nodes 504 and terminal devices 506. Of course, it is understood that in practice, the wireless network portion may include more network access nodes, which serve multiple terminal devices across various communication cells (e.g., such as...). Figure 1 (As shown). However, for simplicity, Figure 3 The image only shows one network access node and one terminal device.

[0033] Terminal device 506 is configured to communicate data with network access node (base station / transceiver station) 504 or another network access node in a wireless telecommunications system, depending on coverage conditions. Network access node 504 is communicatively connected to core network portion 502, which is configured to perform routing and management of mobile communication services for terminal devices in telecommunications system 500 via network access node 504. The connection from network access node 504 to core network 502 can be wired or wireless. To maintain mobility management and connectivity, core network portion 502 also includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME) that manages service connections with terminal devices (e.g., terminal device 506) operating in the communication system. As described above, modifications to provide functionality are made according to embodiments of this disclosure discussed herein. Figure 3 The operation of the various components of the communication system 500 shown can be based on known technologies.

[0034] Terminal device 506 includes transceiver circuitry 506a (also referred to as a transceiver / transceiver unit) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals and processor circuitry 506b (also referred to as a processor / processor unit), the processor circuitry 506b being configured to control terminal device 506 to operate according to embodiments described herein. Processor circuitry 506b for the terminal device may include various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing the desired functions further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or appropriately configured functions of processor circuitry. Therefore, processor circuitry 506b may include appropriately configured / programmed circuitry to provide the desired functions described herein using conventional programming / configuration techniques for devices in wireless telecommunications systems. For ease of illustration, transceiver circuitry 506a and processor circuitry 506b are... Figure 3 These are schematically shown as individual components. However, it should be understood that the functionality of these circuit elements can be provided in a variety of different ways, such as using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers, or one or more appropriately configured specific integrated circuits / circuits / chips / chipsets in an application. It should be understood that terminal device 506 will typically include various other components associated with the operational functions of terminal device 506, such as power supplies, user interfaces, etc., but for simplicity, these are not shown in the diagram. Figure 3 As shown in the image.

[0035] Network access node 504 includes transceiver circuitry 504a (also referred to as a transceiver / transceiver unit) and processor circuitry 504b (also referred to as a processor / processor unit), configured to control network access node 504 to operate according to embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. The processor circuitry 504b for the network access node may include various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing the desired functions further explained herein. These sub-units may be implemented as appropriately configured functions of discrete hardware elements or processor circuitry. Therefore, processor circuitry 504b may include circuitry appropriately configured / programmed to provide the desired functions described herein using conventional programming / configuration techniques for devices in wireless telecommunications systems. Transceiver circuitry 504a and processor circuitry 504b in… Figure 3 The circuit elements are schematically shown as individual components for ease of representation. However, it should be understood that the functionality of these circuit elements can be provided in a variety of different ways, such as using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers, or one or more appropriately configured specific integrated circuits / circuits / chips / chipsets in an application. It should be understood that network access node 504 will typically include various other elements associated with the operational functions of network access node 504, such as schedulers, etc., but for simplicity, Figure 3 These components are not shown in the diagram.

[0036] Therefore, network access node 504 is configured to communicate data with terminal device 506 according to embodiments of the present disclosure via communication link 510.

[0037] Certain embodiments of this disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for processing acknowledgment signaling (e.g., HARQ-ACK signaling) regarding data transmission in a wireless telecommunications system. Acknowledgment signaling is used in wireless communication systems to indicate whether a transmission has been successfully received. If a transmission is successfully received, the receiving entity sends a positive acknowledgment signaling (i.e., ACK); if the transmission is not successfully received, the receiving entity is expected to send a negative acknowledgment signaling (i.e., NACK). The term acknowledgment signaling used herein is collectively referred to as both positive acknowledgment signaling (i.e., ACK) and negative acknowledgment signaling (i.e., NACK).

[0038] In order to transmit data from a network access node (base station) to a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system, the network access node typically first transmits control signaling including downlink control information (DCI) on a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH – Physical Downlink Control Channel). This downlink control information (DCI) indicates (grants) downlink radio resources, for example, to be used for transmitting data on a downlink shared channel (e.g., PDSCH). The terminal device can then determine, for example, uplink radio resources for transmitting uplink control information (UCI) including acknowledgment signaling regarding data on an uplink control channel (e.g., PUSCH), although uplink radio resources can also be on an uplink shared channel (e.g., PUSCH). The terminal device then seeks to receive data on the radio resources indicated on the downlink shared channel. If the terminal device successfully decodes the data, it transmits the UCI on the determined uplink radio resources including an ACK indication; if the terminal device fails to decode the data, it transmits the UCI on the determined uplink radio resources including a NACK indication. This allows network access nodes to determine whether data retransmission should be scheduled.

[0039] To provide specific examples, this document will describe certain embodiments of this disclosure in the context of acknowledgment signaling used for downlink transmission of URLLC data, and will use terminology, such as that relating to channel names (e.g., PUCCH and PDSCH) and signaling names (e.g., DCI and UCI), generally in conjunction with current 3GPP wireless telecommunication systems. However, it should be noted that this is for convenience only, and generally, the methods discussed herein are applicable to other service types and wireless telecommunication systems using different terminology (therefore, unless the context requires otherwise, references to PUCCH herein should be understood to generally refer to the Physical Uplink Control Channel, rather than to a specific format of the Physical Uplink Control Channel, etc., for other channels and terms that may be mentioned herein).

[0040] HARQ-ACK (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgment) feedback is transmitted from the terminal device to the base station relative to the PDSCH scheduling to notify the base station whether the terminal device has successfully decoded the corresponding PDSCH. Radio resources in wireless telecommunications resources include resource grids (i.e., radio frame structures) spanning frequency and time. The frequency dimension is divided into subcarriers, and the time dimension is divided into symbols that form time slots.

[0041] In some current systems, for a PDSCH ending in slot n, a corresponding PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK acknowledgment is transmitted in slot n+K1, where the value of K1 is indicated in the "PDSCH to HARQ_Feedback Timing Indicator" field of the PDSCH downlink (DL) grant (carried by DCI (Downlink Control Information) format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1). Multiple (different) PDSCHs can point to the same slot to transmit multiple (different) HARQ-ACKs corresponding to multiple (different) PDSCHs, and multiple HARQ-ACKs in the same slot can be multiplexed into a single PUCCH. Therefore, a PUCCH can contain multiple PDSCHs for multiple HARQ-ACKs. Examples of this are as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0042] Figure 4 The diagram schematically shows the uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure), represented by time (horizontal axis) and frequency (vertical axis). Figure 4 The illustration shows the process spanning five time slots (in...) Figure 4 The radio resources used by the terminal device in the example scenario are defined within the time period (from time slot n to n+4). In time slot n, the terminal device receives resources with PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 3, and indicates the first half of the time slot (i.e.,...). Figure 4 The downlink control information (DCI#1) in the PUCCH#1 field of the PUCCH resource indicator (PRI) indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#1) on the physical downlink shared channel in time slot n+1. In time slot n+1, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#2) with a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 2 and a PRI field indicating the resources (i.e., PUCCH#1) in the first half of the same time slot as DCI#1. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#2) on the physical downlink shared channel in time slot n+2. In time slot n+2, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#2) with a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 1 and a PRI field indicating the resources (i.e., PUCCH#1) in the second half of the time slot. Figure 4The downlink control information (DCI#3) in the PRI field of PUCCH#2 indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#3) on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel in time slot n+3. Therefore, in this particular example scenario, HARQ-ACK feedback for each of the three downlink transmissions on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel is scheduled for transmission by the terminal device in time slot n+4, and thus can be transmitted in a multiplexed manner. To support this multiplexed HARQ-ACK functionality, a multiplexing window can be defined, where the multiplexing window is a time window indicating how many PDSCHs in a single time slot can have the HARQ-ACK signaling associated with that PDSCH multiplexed in the PUCCH, and this can depend on the range of the K1 value. Figure 4 In the example, it is assumed that the PUCCH multiplexing window is from slot n to slot n+3, which means that the maximum K1 value that can be used during this period is 4.

[0043] for Figure 4 The example shown indicates two PUCCHs for the terminal device in time slot n+4 (i.e., PUCCH#1 on the symbol including the first half of the time slot and PUCCH#2 on the symbol including the second half of the time slot). Figure 4 As shown, for wireless telecommunications systems operating according to 3GPP Release 15, even in the case of different PUCCH indications that do not overlap in time, only one PUCCH is allowed per time slot to carry HARQ-ACK for the same terminal device. Therefore, when a terminal device operating according to 3GPP Release 15 needs to multiplex HARQ-ACK signaling for multiple PDSCHs, the terminal device does so using the PUCCH resource indicated in the PRI associated with the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window (because the terminal device only knows the total number of HARQ-ACK bits after the allocation of the last PDSCH). Therefore, in Figure 4In the example, DCI#1 and DCI#2 indicate PUCCH#1 used for HARQ-ACK signaling, while DCI#3 indicates PUCCH#2. Even though PUCCH#1 and PUCCH#2 do not overlap in time in this example, according to version 15 of the 3GPP standard, PUCCH#1 and PUCCH#2 cannot be transmitted in the same time slot. In this case, since DCI#3 schedules the last PDSCH in the PUCCH multiplexing window, namely PDSCH#3, the terminal device will use PUCCH#2 to carry the multiplexed HARQ-ACK of PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3. (Note that if they do not overlap in time, PUCCHs carrying other UCIs, such as scheduling requests (SRs), can be transmitted separately from PUCCHs carrying HARQ-ACKs in the same time slot.)

[0044] For version 16 of the 3GPP standard, the possibility of sub-slot operations for HARQ-ACK acknowledgment signaling was introduced. Sub-slot operations for HARQ-ACK allow the timing of the HARQ-ACK UCI on the PUCCH to be configured at a resolution less than one time slot (i.e., the HARQ-ACK process operates at a sub-slot timing granularity). Therefore, sub-slot-based PUCCHs allow multiple PUCCHs carrying HARQ-ACKs to be transmitted within a time slot. This provides more opportunities for PUCCHs carrying HARQ-ACKs compared to PDSCH transmissions within a time slot, potentially helping to reduce the latency of HARQ-ACK feedback. In sub-slot-based PUCCHs, the granularity of the K1 parameter (i.e., the time difference between the end of the PDSCH and the start of the corresponding PUCCH) is in units of sub-slots rather than time slots, where the sub-slot size can be 2 symbols or 7 symbols. An example of a sub-slot HARQ-ACK operation is shown below. Figure 5 As shown.

[0045] Figure 5 Similar to Figure 4 and will from Figure 4 While the meaning is unclear, this example schematically illustrates the uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and the downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure), representing radio resources on time (horizontal axis) and frequency (vertical axis) in a scenario supporting HARQ-ACK feedback with a sub-slot size of 7 symbols (i.e., half a slot in this case) in a HARQ-ACK feedback scenario. Therefore, Figure 5 This schematically illustrates the process across five time slots (in Figure 5 The middle is marked as time slot n to n+4) / ten sub-time slots (in Figure 5The following describes the radio resources used by the terminal device in the example scenario during the time period (identified as sub-time slots m to m+9). In sub-time slot m, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#1) with a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 6. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#1) on the physical downlink shared channel in sub-time slot m+2. This means the terminal device determines that resource PUCCH#1 is used to transmit acknowledgment signaling regarding PDSCH#1, as shown by PRI associated with DC#1 in sub-time slot m+8 (because it is the K1 = 6th sub-time slot after the end of PDSCH#1). In sub-time slot m+2, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#2) with a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 4. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#2) on the physical downlink shared channel, which spans sub-time slots m+4 and m+5. This means that the terminal device determines that resource PUCCH#2 is used to transmit acknowledgment signaling regarding PDSCH#2, as shown by PRI associated with DCI#2 in sub-slot m+9 (because it is the sub-slot of the K1=4th sub-slot after the end of PDSCH#2). Unlike the approach according to 3GPP Standard Specification Series 15 (where only one PUCCH carrying HARQ-ACK is allowed in a slot), in sub-slot-based operation, the terminal device can transmit two PUCCHs carrying HARQ-ACK (i.e., PUCCH#1 and PUCCH#2) in a slot.

[0046] Under normal operation, most PDSCH transmissions can be expected to be successfully received on the first transmission, thus the acknowledgment signal will be positive (ACK), and no data retransmission is required. However, in some cases, such as due to poor radio conditions, the PDSCH may not be successfully received on the first transmission, therefore the acknowledgment signal will be negative (NACK), and the data will need to be retransmitted one or more times before the terminal device decodes the PDSCH. Examples are as follows... Figure 6 As shown.

[0047] Figure 6 The uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure) are schematically shown, represented by radio resources in terms of time (horizontal axis) and frequency (vertical axis). Figure 6 The illustration shows the process spanning five time slots (in...) Figure 6The example scenario describes the radio resources used by the terminal device within the time slots (n to n+4). Sub-slot operations are not shown in this specific example scenario, but this is not important to the content presented. In slot n, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#1) with a PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 1. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH#1(first)) also in slot n. This means that the terminal device determines that the acknowledgment signaling for the PDSCH#1(first) transmission should be transmitted in slot n+1 on the resources of the PRI associated with DCI#1 (because it is the K1 = 1st slot after the slot containing the corresponding PDSCH#1(first) transmission). In this example, assuming the terminal device fails to decode the data in the PDSCH#1(first) transmission (e.g., due to poor radio conditions), the terminal device transmits a negative acknowledgment signaling (NACK) on the relevant radio resources in slot n+1, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown. In response to the NACK received from the data transmitted in PDSCH#1 (first), the base station serving the terminal device decides to retransmit the data.

[0048] Therefore, in time slot n+2, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#2) with a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 1. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources for retransmitting data on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH#1(ReTx)) in time slot n+3. This means that the terminal device determines that the acknowledgment signaling for the PDSCH#1(ReTx) transmission should be transmitted in time slot n+4 (because it is the K1 = 1st time slot after the time slot containing the corresponding PDSCH#1(ReTx) transmission) on the resources in the relevant time slot corresponding to the PRI associated with DCI#2. In this example, assuming that a retransmission of data in the PDSCH#1(ReTx) transmission has been received, the terminal device is able to successfully decode the data, for example, by soft-combining PDSCH#1 (first) and PDSCH#1(ReTx) transmission. Therefore, the terminal device transmits a positive acknowledgment signaling (ACK) on the relevant radio resources in time slot n+4, such as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0049] It should be understood that the need for PDSCH retransmission after a previous negative acknowledgment adds latency. Furthermore, the latency increases with the value of the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator K1. However, it is preferable to allow larger values ​​for the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator K1, as a larger value of K1 allows for wider use of multiplexing of acknowledgment signaling, which can help improve efficiency. This necessitates a trade-off between the expectation of a larger value for the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator K1 (to help support efficient multiplexing of acknowledgment signaling) and a smaller value for the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator K1 (to help reduce latency when retransmission is required). With this in mind, the inventors envision a novel method for handling acknowledgment signaling that seeks to reduce the potential impact of this trade-off.

[0050] Therefore, according to certain embodiments of this disclosure, a terminal device operating in a wireless telecommunications system can receive data transmissions sent to the terminal device and subsequently send an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether the terminal device can decode the data, wherein the timing of sending the acknowledgment signaling depends on whether the terminal device can decode the data. Thus, if the terminal device cannot decode the data, it may send the acknowledgment signaling faster than if it can decode the data. Therefore, a relatively low value of the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1, which actually supports negative acknowledgment signaling, can help reduce latency, for example, when retransmission is required. At the same time, a relatively high value of the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1, which actually supports positive acknowledgment signaling (generally expected for most acknowledgment signaling), can help achieve more efficient acknowledgment signaling multiplexing, for example.

[0051] In other words, the basic idea of ​​some embodiments of this disclosure is to use different PUCCH resources to transmit "NACK" and "ACK" HARQ feedback. If the terminal device successfully decodes the PDSCH, it will use a first PUCCH resource to transmit "ACK," and if the terminal device fails to decode the PDSCH, it will use a different second PUCCH resource to transmit "NACK." In some examples, the different PUCCH resources used to transmit the "NACK" HARQ feedback may be earlier than the PUCCH resources used to transmit the "ACK" HARQ feedback. Therefore, if the terminal device fails to decode the PDSCH, it will send "NACK" relatively quickly, rather than waiting for the HARQ-ACK to be multiplexed into a later-scheduled PUCCH. This method recognizes that "NACK" indicates that the PDSCH needs to be retransmitted, which will increase the delay of eventually successfully decoding the PDSCH, and this delay can be reduced by sending NACK earlier. The earlier NACK sent compared to when sending ACK may be referred to herein as "fast NACK." In some cases, as discussed further below, it may be determined not to send a fast NACK, but to send a negative acknowledgment (or both) on the same resource that would be used for the positive acknowledgment signaling. This may be referred to as sending a raw NACK.

[0052] Examples of the fast NACK transmission method are as follows: Figure 7 As shown.

[0053] Figure 7 The diagram schematically illustrates the uplink radio resource grid (upper half of the figure) and downlink radio resource grid (lower half of the figure) in a scenario supporting sub-slot operation with HARQ-ACK feedback of a sub-slot size of 7 symbols, represented by radio resources on time (horizontal axis) and frequency (vertical axis). Therefore, Figure 7 The diagram schematically illustrates the radio resources associated with the terminal device in the example scenario over a time span of five time slots (labeled as time slots n to n+4) / ten sub-time slots (labeled as sub-time slots m to m+9). In sub-time slot m, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#1) with a PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 6, which indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#1) on the physical downlink shared channel in sub-time slot m+2. This means that the terminal device determines the nominal resources used for transmitting acknowledgment signaling regarding PDSCH#1, as shown by PUCCH#1 in sub-time slot m+8 (because it is the K1 = 6th sub-time slot after the sub-time slot where PDSCH#1 ends). Here, the nominal resources used for transmitting acknowledgment signaling refer to those obtained according to known methods (e.g., Figure 5The method described herein will allocate resources for both positive acknowledgment (ACK) and negative acknowledgment (NACK) signaling; however, according to embodiments of this disclosure, these nominal resources are instead used for positive acknowledgment (ACK), while negative acknowledgment (NACK) signaling is transmitted more quickly. For Figure 7 The example scenario shown assumes that, due to poor radio conditions, the terminal device is unable to decode the data transmitted in PDSCH#1. Therefore, according to certain embodiments of this disclosure, the terminal device does not need to wait until sub-slot m+8 to use a defined nominal resource to transmit acknowledgment signaling regarding PDSCH#1 (i.e., following...). Figure 7 Instead of the dashed arrow from PDSCH#1 to PUCCH#1, the negative acknowledgment signal is transmitted earlier (more quickly / faster), in this example, in sub-slot m+3 of resource PUCCH#3, as indicated by the solid arrow marked "NACK" from PDSCH#1 to PUCCH#3 in the figure.

[0054] In response to receiving NACK signaling in sub-time slot m+3, the base station serving the terminal device determines that data retransmission is necessary. Therefore, in sub-time slot m+5, the base station transmits downlink control information (DCI#2) to the terminal device. This information indicates the allocation of radio resources (PDSCH#1) on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (ReTx), which will contain retransmissions of data from PDSCH#1 in sub-time slot m+2. (In this example scenario, it is schematically shown that the allocation of radio resources for PDSCH#1 (ReTx) is greater than the allocation of PDSCH#1 used for the initial attempt to transmit data, e.g., allowing for a larger allocation.) (Redundancy). The allocated transmission PDSCH#1(ReTx) spans sub-slots m+5 and m+6, and in this example, it is assumed that DCI#2 is associated with the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 3. This means that the terminal device determines the nominal resource for transmitting acknowledgment signaling about PDSCH#1(ReTX), as shown in PUCCH#2 in sub-slot m+9 (because it is the K1 = 3rd sub-slot after the sub-slot where PDSCH#1(ReTX) ends). For Figure 7 The example scenario shown assumes that after receiving PDSCH#1(ReTx), the terminal device is able to successfully decode the data, possibly after combining it with data received but not successfully decoded in PDSCH#1. Therefore, according to some embodiments of this disclosure, the terminal device waits for nominal resources for transmitting positive acknowledgment signaling regarding PDSCH#1(ReTx) until sub-slot m+9.

[0055] For ease of reference, the embodiments of this disclosure are described along... Figure 7The schematic representation of the line implementation method, the uplink control channel (e.g., PUCCH) associated with the positive acknowledgment signaling on the radio resources occurring at the first time, can be determined according to existing methods (e.g., using PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator values ​​in the relevant DCI), and can sometimes be referred to as the "original uplink control channel" (e.g., "original PUCCH"). On the other hand, the uplink control channel (e.g., PUCCH) associated with the negative acknowledgment signaling on the radio resources occurring at the second time, different from the first time, can sometimes be referred to as the "fast physical uplink control channel" (e.g., "fast PUCCH"). Therefore, for Figure 7 In the example scenario shown, PUCCH#1 is the original PUCCH of PDSCH#1 (used for positive acknowledgment signaling), while PUCCH#3 is the fast PUCCH of PDSCH#1 (used for negative acknowledgment signaling).

[0056] As described above, using a fast PUCCH for negative acknowledgment signaling can help reduce the latency of data that needs to be retransmitted, while retaining the original PUCCH for positive acknowledgment signaling (which is typically the most common). This allows for more efficient multiplexing of multiple HARQ-ACK feedback messages within a single PUCCH, which helps reduce the total number of air signaling and PUCCH transmissions required, and helps reduce power consumption of the terminal equipment and radio interference / congestion on the uplink channel. Therefore, the method according to certain embodiments of this disclosure can help ensure that acknowledgment signaling (i.e., HARQ-ACK) can be efficiently transmitted using conventional methods that multiplex multiple HARQ-ACKs into a single PUCCH most of the time (i.e., for positive acknowledgment signaling). While this also helps ensure multiplexing multiple HARQ-ACKs into a single PUCCH, it excessively increases the latency of data that needs to be retransmitted (i.e., data related to negative acknowledgment signaling).

[0057] Therefore, certain methods of this disclosure provide a method for operating a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising attempting to decode data transmitted to the terminal device, determining whether the data has been successfully decoded, and transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded at a time determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0058] It can be expected that negative acknowledgment signaling should generally precede positive acknowledgment signaling transmission, but in some cases, other factors may be considered.

[0059] In some examples, the terminal device can only be configured if the delay between the PDSCH and the original PUCCH is greater than a predetermined threshold T. NACKThe method determines whether to transmit a fast NACK only when the time is right; otherwise, it sends a "NACK" of the original PUCCH (i.e., sends the original NACK). In other words, according to some embodiments, if the time interval between data transmission and the determined time for transmitting positive acknowledgment signaling is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, the terminal device can determine to transmit acknowledgment signaling simultaneously, regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded. This method recognizes that, in some cases, the original PUCCH can be determined early enough to be used for negative acknowledgment signaling without unduly increasing latency. Figure 8 An example is shown.

[0060] Figure 8 Similar to Figure 7 and will from Figure 7 Chinese understanding, and Figure 8 This again represents a scenario where a wireless telecommunications system supports fast NACK operation; however, if the time interval between data transmission (e.g., the end of PDSCH) and the time of a confirmed acknowledgment signal (e.g., the start of the original PUCCH) is less than a predetermined threshold time interval T. NACK In this case, regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded, the terminal device can determine that it will simultaneously transmit an acknowledgment signal. The threshold time period T... NACK It is considered as two time slots. Therefore, as Figure 8 As shown, DCI#1, DCI#2, and DCI#3 carry downlink grants and are scheduled for PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3, respectively. In this scenario, assume that DCI#1 is associated with the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 7, DCI#2 with K1 = 3, and DCI#3 with K1 = 2. Therefore, the acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2 is nominally planned to be multiplexed on PUCCH#1, while the acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#3 is nominally planned to be multiplexed on PUCCH#2.

[0061] for Figure 8 In the example scenario shown, assume the terminal device successfully decodes PDSCH#3 but fails to decode PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2. Therefore, the terminal device sends a "NACK" for PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2. However, instead of waiting for PUCCH#1 to transmit a NACK for PDSCH#1, the terminal device sends a fast NACK on PUCCH#3 according to the principles disclosed herein (because PDSCH#1 and the nominal / original PUCCH(PUCCH#1) are related). Figure 8 The middle is marked as T PDSCH#1-HARQ The time between ) is greater than the threshold TNACK However, PDSCH#2 is the nominal / original PUCCH of PDSCH#2 (again, PUCCH#1) Figure 8 The middle is marked as T PDSCH#2-HARQ The time between ) is less than the threshold T NACK The value (2 time slots) is used, so the terminal device uses the original PUCCH resource (i.e., PUCCH#1) to send the traditional / original NACK.

[0062] Although in the example above, the predetermined threshold time period T NACK This is a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 2 time slots in this case), but in other examples, it is a predetermined threshold time period T. NACK The granularity of K1 can be defined in units corresponding to the duration of the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1. For example, the granularity of K1 can vary between time slots and sub-time slots (a sub-time slot can be 2 OFDM symbols or 7 OFDM symbols). Therefore, in the method where a predetermined threshold time period TNACK can be defined in units of K1, the terminal device can simply match the K1 value indicated in the "PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator" field, which is used for downlink authorization for data transmission on the PDSCH, with the threshold T. NACK The comparison is performed to determine whether a fast NACK should be transmitted.

[0063] In some examples, the terminal device can only perform operations if the delay between the DCI that schedules the PDSCH and the original PUCCH is greater than a predetermined threshold T. NACK-DCI The method determines whether to transmit a fast NACK only when the original PUCCH is available; otherwise, it sends a "NACK" of the original PUCCH (i.e., sends the original NACK). That is, according to some embodiments, such as the timing of the original PUCCH radio resources, regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded, if the time interval between the transmission of the scheduled data's DCI and the determined transmission of the positive acknowledgment signaling is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, the terminal device can determine to transmit the acknowledgment signaling simultaneously. This method again recognizes that, in some cases, the original PUCCH can be determined early enough to be used for negative acknowledgment signaling without unduly increasing the delay when the data reaches Layer 2 (i.e., when the delay associated with sending downlink grants is also considered). Examples of this include... Figure 9 As shown.

[0064] Figure 9 Similar to Figure 7 and will from Figure 7 In understanding, and Figure 9This again illustrates a scenario where a wireless telecommunications system supports fast NACK operation. However, in this case, if the time interval between transmitting downlink control information for scheduled data transmission (e.g., the end of DCI) and the determination time for transmitting positive acknowledgment signaling is less than a predetermined threshold time interval T... NACK-DCI Regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded, the terminal device can determine whether to simultaneously transmit acknowledgment signaling (e.g., the start of the original PUCCH). In this case, the threshold time period is taken as two time slots. Therefore, DCI#1, DCI#2, and DCI#3 carry downlink grants and are scheduled as PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3, respectively. Figure 9 As shown, in this scenario, assume that DCI#1 is correlated with the PDSCH-to-HARG_feedback timing indicator value of K1=7, DCI#2 is correlated with the PDSCH-to-HARG_feedback timing indicator value of K1=3, and DCI#3 is correlated with the PDSCH-to-HARG_feedback timing indicator value of K1=2. Therefore, the acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2 is nominally planned to be multiplexed on PUCCH#1, while the acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#3 is nominally planned to be multiplexed on PUCCH#2.

[0065] for Figure 9 The example shown assumes the terminal device successfully decodes PDSCH#1 but fails to decode PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3. Therefore, the terminal device sends a "NACK" for PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3. However, instead of waiting for PUCCH#1 to transmit a NACK for PDSCH#2, the terminal device sends a fast NACK on PUCCH#3 according to the principles disclosed herein (because the time between DCI#2 and the associated nominal / original PUCCH (PUCCH#1) of PDSCH#2 scheduled by DCI#2...). Figure 9 The middle is marked as T PDSCH#2-HARQ () greater than threshold T NACK-DCI However, the time between DCI#3 and the relevant nominal / original PUCCH (again, PUCCH#2) is... Figure 9 The middle is marked as T PDSCH#3-HARQ Less than T NACK-DCI The threshold of (2 time slots) means that the terminal device uses the original PUCCH resource to transmit traditional / original NACK, i.e., PUCCH#2.

[0066] In some examples, the terminal device may receive an indication, in association with downlink control information that schedules downlink data, regarding whether the terminal device should use the fast NACK method if the terminal device fails to decode the data. That is, regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded, the terminal device may determine to simultaneously transmit acknowledgment signaling in response to determining the transmission of downlink control information. Scheduling the transmission of additional data includes predetermined characteristics to indicate this.

[0067] For example, the predetermined characteristic could be an explicit new field defined in the downlink grant DCI, such as a 1-bit indicator, or it could be implicitly indicated using an existing field. It should be noted that the terminal device's ability to use a fast NACK indication does not necessarily mean that the terminal device will use the fast PUCCH resource. Rather, according to certain embodiments of this disclosure, if the terminal device has a "NACK" to transmit, the terminal device will only use the fast PUCCH resource; otherwise (i.e., if it has an "ACK"), the terminal device will use the original PUCCH resource.

[0068] In other examples, whether the fast NACK method can be used can be configured by radio resource control, RRC, or signaling transmitted over the network.

[0069] In some examples, the predetermined threshold time period T NACK and T NACK-DCI Any of these can be configured via Radio Resource Control, RRC, signaling transmitted over the network, and / or can be fixed by specifications.

[0070] In another embodiment, the availability of the fast NACK method can be determined by whether a fast PUCCH is indicated in the DCI. For example, according to some implementations, when a fast PUCCH resource is scheduled by the DCI and the PDSCH fails to decode, the terminal device may use the scheduled fast PUCCH to report a NACK. Otherwise, the terminal device uses the original PUCCH resource.

[0071] Therefore, a terminal device operating according to certain embodiments of this disclosure can transmit an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether data has been successfully decoded on a radio resource determined by considering whether data has been successfully decoded. Thus, for a given data transmitted to the terminal device, if the acknowledgment signaling is positive, the terminal device can transmit the acknowledgment signaling on a first radio resource at a first time, and if the acknowledgment signaling is negative, it can transmit the acknowledgment signaling on a second radio resource at a second time. Therefore, a network access node serving the terminal device can be configured to monitor acknowledgment signaling regarding a given data transmitted to the terminal device on two different sets of radio resources. Therefore, certain embodiments of this disclosure provide a method for operating network infrastructure equipment (and corresponding equipment used in a wireless telecommunications system) in a wireless telecommunications system, comprising transmitting data to a terminal device and attempting to detect, at a first time, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that data transmitted by the terminal device has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; and attempting to detect, at a second time, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that data transmitted by the terminal device has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; wherein the second time is earlier than the first time.

[0072] Based on some examples, radio resources for transmitting positive acknowledgment signaling can be determined using conventional techniques, while resources for transmitting negative acknowledgment signaling can be determined in various different ways.

[0073] In some examples, downlink control information that allocates radio resources associated with acknowledgment signaling may include indications of radio resources (i.e., fast PUCCH resources) for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling in the event that the acknowledgment signaling is negative (i.e., fast NACK).

[0074] For example, in addition to the original PUCCH (i.e., the resource used for positive acknowledgment signaling), the fast PUCCH (i.e., the resource used for negative acknowledgment signaling) can be indicated independently in the relevant DCI. In some cases, this indication may be the same as that for the original PUCCH, for example, by indicating the relevant sub-slot / slot via the PDSCH to HARQ_Feedback Timing Indicator field and the "PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI)" field, which indicates the resource within the relevant sub-slot / slot defining the fast PUCCH, as well as the corresponding field defining the original PUCCH. In other words, the terminal device can schedule ACK and NACK transmissions using two different PUCCH resources in a single downlink grant message (DCI). In some cases, the same "PDSCH to HARQ_Feedback Timing Indicator" or "PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI)" can be used for both the fast PUCCH and the original PUCCH (but may be interpreted differently to indicate different resources used for the fast PUCCH and the original PUCCH, respectively).

[0075] In some cases, the fast PUCCH (i.e., the resource used for negative acknowledgment signaling) can be associated with the original PUCCH (i.e., the resource used for positive acknowledgment signaling) in the relevant DCI.

[0076] For example, radio resources used to transmit acknowledgment signals indicating that data has not been successfully decoded and radio resources used to transmit acknowledgment signals indicating that data has been successfully decoded can both be represented by the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information, for example, according to a predetermined lookup table.

[0077] In some cases, common fields in downlink control information can be the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field used to indicate the relevant sub-slots / slots for each fast PUCCH and original PUCCH, and the resources within each relevant sub-slot / slot can be as indicated by a single PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) indicator field used for the relevant DCI. Therefore, two predetermined groups of K1 values ​​can be associated with each value of the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field, one applied to positive acknowledgment signaling (i.e., defining the original PUCCH) and the other applied to negative acknowledgment signaling (i.e., defining the fast PUCCH). Table 1 shows an example of the predetermined association between the values ​​in the conventional PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field and the K1 values ​​applied to each positive and negative acknowledgment signaling. In this case, two bits are configured to indicate the value of the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field (typically, wireless telecommunications systems will allow up to three bits to be configured for this field). Therefore, according to this method, if the terminal device fails to decode the PDSCH, i.e., needs to send "NACK", the terminal device will use the fast PUCCH value of K1 (right column in Table 1) corresponding to the value of the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator field in the relevant DCI (the potential values ​​of this value are indicated in the right column of Table 1). However, if the terminal device correctly decodes the PDSCH, i.e., needs to send "ACK", the terminal device will use the original PUCCH value of K1 (middle column in Table 1) corresponding to the value of the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator. In this example, the predetermined association between the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator field and the K1 value for each positive acknowledgment and negative acknowledgment signaling includes an entry (i.e., when "PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator" = "00") that effectively indicates that the terminal device does not use fast NACK and uses the original PUCCH whether transmitting "NACK" or "ACK".

[0078]

[0079] Table 1: K1 values ​​of different groups for original PUCCH and fast PUCCH

[0080] For example, the mapping (predetermined association) between the PDSCH to the HARQ_feedback timing indicator value and the K1 value of each of the original PUCCH (ACK) and fast PUCCH (NACK) can be configured using RRC signaling, or it can be defined in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system.

[0081] In some embodiments, as an alternative to, or in combination with, the methods discussed above regarding Table 1, the granularity of K1 application may differ for the original PUCCH and the fast PUCCH when determining the time delay from the PDSCH to the corresponding PUCCH. In this regard, the granularity of K1 can be considered as the length of a PUCCH sub-slot or slot, depending on the configuration via RRC signaling. For example, K1 for the original PUCCH may be set in units of sub-slots with a length of 7 symbols, while K1 for the fast PUCCH may be set in units of sub-slots with a length of 2 symbols. The granularity of K1 applied to each of ACK and NACK can be signaled by the network using RRC signaling, or dynamically indicated using DCI regarding data transmission to the terminal device, or defined in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system.

[0082] In some cases, a common field in the downlink control information can be the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field, which indicates the PUCCH Resource ID value for the radio resources used for each fast PUCCH and original PUCCH (PRI indicates which PUCCH Resource ID in the PUCCH resource set the terminal equipment applies to in the HARQ-ACK feedback of the terminal equipment). Therefore, two sets of predefined PUCCH Resource ID values ​​can be associated with each value of the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field, one set applied to positive acknowledgment signaling (i.e., defining the original PUCCH), and the other set applied to negative acknowledgment signaling (i.e., defining the fast PUCCH). Table 2 shows an example of a predefined association between values ​​in the conventional PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field and PUCCH Resource ID values, applied to each positive and negative acknowledgment signaling. In this case, three bits are configured to indicate the value of the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field. Therefore, according to this method, if the terminal device fails to decode the PDSCH, i.e., needs to send "NACK", it will use the fast PUCCH value (right column of Table 2) corresponding to the value of the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field in the relevant DCI (potential values ​​are indicated in the right column of Table 2). However, if the terminal device correctly decodes the PDSCH, i.e., needs to send "ACK", the terminal device will use the original PUCCH value (middle column of Table 2) corresponding to the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) value in the relevant DCI. In this example, the predetermined association between the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field and the PUCCH Resource ID value applied to each positive acknowledgment and negative acknowledgment signaling includes two entries (i.e., when "PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI)" = "000" or "001"), which effectively indicates that regardless of whether "NACK" or "ACK" is transmitted, the terminal device does not use fast NACK but uses the original PUCCH.

[0083]

[0084]

[0085] Table 2: PUCCH Resource ID Values ​​for Different Groups of Original PUCCH and Fast PUCCH

[0086] For each of the original PUCCH (ACK) and fast PUCCH (NACK), the mapping (pre-defined association) between the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) value and the PUCCH Resource ID value can be configured, for example, using RRC signaling, or defined in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system.

[0087] In some examples, fast PUCCH resources can be derived from information transmitted to the terminal device in RRC signaling or defined in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system. For instance, in some examples, if data is not successfully decoded, the predetermined offset used between data transmission on PDSCH and fast PUCCH can be semi-statically configured in radio resource control signaling or defined by the standard. The radio resources used at the relevant time can then be indicated in the PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) field of the DCI scheduled for data transmission on PDSCH, or can be defined in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system.

[0088] In some examples, a fast NACK can preempt (i.e., replace) the original PUCCH resource associated with data previously transmitted to the end device. That is, if a collision occurs, a fast PUCCH can preempt an existing original PUCCH transmission. This reflects that fast PUCCH resources can be considered to have higher priority than the original PUCCH. In this case, the network infrastructure device serving the end device can be configured to assume that acknowledgment signaling associated with data previously transmitted to the end device should be considered to include positive acknowledgment signaling (all positive acknowledgment signaling). This assumption recognizes that NACK is relatively less frequent, and that if earlier data transmitted to the end device is not successfully decoded, then a fast NACK will be transmitted in contrast. In this case, predetermined characteristics can be used to transmit fast ACK acknowledgment signaling to indicate that ACK acknowledgment signaling has been transmitted, rather than acknowledgment signaling associated with previously transmitted data, so that the network infrastructure device serving the end device can detect that this has occurred. For example, a fast NACK can be scrambled by a predetermined scrambling sequence.

[0089] In some cases, multiple "NACKs" for different PDSCHs in the same terminal device can be multiplexed in a single fast PUCCH resource.

[0090] In some examples, there may be overlap in the fast PUCCH resources of multiple terminal devices. In this case, the fast PUCCH resources of different terminal devices can be distinguished by using different scrambling codes or different demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequences (for PUCCH formats 2, 3, and 4). This reflects that NACK signaling can be expected to occur relatively infrequently, and therefore resources can be effectively shared among multiple terminal devices by allocating the same or overlapping fast PUCCH resources to multiple terminal devices.

[0091] It will be understood that aspects of the above-described method for determining radio resources for fast NACK (i.e., fast PUCCH) resources may be combined in some embodiments.

[0092] When a terminal device sends a fast NACK on a fast PUCCH resource, in some cases, it can also resend the NACK on the original PUCCH resource. That is, if data is not successfully decoded, the terminal device can transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating unsuccessful data decoding at two different times: one for transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating unsuccessful data decoding and another for transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating successful data decoding. This can help improve the reliability of the NACK received by the serving network access node (network infrastructure equipment). Figure 10 An example is shown schematically.

[0093] therefore, Figure 10 Similar to Figure 7 and will from Figure 7 In understanding, and Figure 10 This refers to scenarios where the terminal device sends negative acknowledgment signaling on both the Fast PUCCH and the Original PUCCH. For example... Figure 10 As shown, DCI#1, DCI#2, and DCI#3 carry downlink grants and schedule PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3 respectively. Figure 10 As shown, in this scenario, assume that DCI#1 is associated with the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 7, DCI#2 is associated with the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 3, and DCI#3 is associated with the PDSCH-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 1. Therefore, the acknowledgment signaling of PDSCH#1, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3 is nominally scheduled to be multiplexed on PUCCH#1.

[0094] for Figure 10 The example scenario shown assumes that the terminal device successfully decodes PDSCH#2 and PDSCH#3, but fails to decode PDSCH#1. Therefore, the terminal device sends a fast NACK for PDSCH#1 on PUCCH#2 according to the principles disclosed herein. In addition to sending a fast NACK for PDSCH#1 on PUCCH#2, the terminal device in this example also sends a NACK on PUCCH#1, as follows: Figure 10 As indicated by the solid arrow marked NACK from PDSCH#1 to PUCCH#1, PUCCH#1 is used to transmit NACK, ACK, and ACK for PDSCH#, PDSCH#2, and PDSCH#3 in a multiplexed manner.

[0095] In other examples, when an end device sends a fast NACK on a fast PUCCH resource, it may not send a NACK again on the original PUCCH resource. This can help save power for the end device and help reduce overall interference in the network, and this can be particularly beneficial if the original PUCCH contains only a single HARQ-ACK feedback, as not repeating the NACK will help reduce the total number of transmissions by the end device.

[0096] If a fast NACK has already been sent for a specific PDSCH, the terminal device can determine whether to retransmit the NACK on the original PUCCH resource based on whether the original PUCCH should be sent anyway for acknowledgment signaling for other PDSCH transmissions in a multiplexed manner. For example, if the number of other PDSCH transmissions is less than, for example, a predetermined threshold configured by RRC signaling or defined by the standard, then if a fast NACK has already been sent on the fast PUCCH, the terminal device can determine not to retransmit the NACK on the original PUCCH resource.

[0097] Whether a terminal device should retransmit "NACK" in the original PUCCH after transmitting a fast NACK can be configured semi-statically for the terminal device in some cases (e.g., via RRC signaling), or can be determined dynamically, for example, from an indication in the DCI carrying the relevant downlink grant.

[0098] In some cases, assuming the retransmission is scheduled before the original PUCCH, if a fast NACK is sent for the PDSCH, the original PUCCH may carry a HARQ-ACK feedback to retransmit the PDSCH. An example is shown in 11.

[0099] Figure 11 Similar to Figure 7 and will from Figure 7 The Chinese understanding. For example... Figure 11 As shown, DCI#1 carries a downlink grant that schedules PDSCH#1 (first Tx). In this example, it is assumed that DCI#1 is associated with the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 7, therefore the acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#1 is nominally scheduled to be transmitted on PUCCH#1. Figure 11 In the example scenario shown, assume the terminal device fails to decode PDSCH#1 and therefore sends a fast NACK on PUCCH#2. In response to receiving the NACK for data transmitted in PDSCH#1 (first Tx), the base station serving the terminal device decides to retransmit the data.

[0100] Therefore, the terminal device receives downlink control information (DCI#2), which indicates the allocation of radio resources for retransmitting data on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH#1(ReTx)), with the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator value K1 = 3. This allows the terminal device to send an acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#1(ReTx) on PUCCH#1, instead of an acknowledgment signaling for PDSCH#1(first Tx). In this example, assuming a retransmission of data is received during a PDSCH#1(ReTx) transmission, and the terminal device is able to successfully decode the data, for example, by soft combination of PDSCH#1(first Tx) and PDSCH#1(ReTx), the terminal device transmits an affirmative acknowledgment signaling (ACK) on PUCCH#1. In this example scenario, the terminal device multiplexes an acknowledgment (ACK) for PDSCH#1 (ReTx) with an acknowledgment for another data transmission on PDSCH#2 scheduled by DCI#3, which in this example is assumed to have been successfully decoded. The DCI that allocates PDSCH#1 (ReTX) and DCI#2 can be a compact DCI, where a compact DCI can improve the reliability of DCI signaling (because of the lower effective code rate). In the example compact DCI format, the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value used for retransmission is implicitly determined (and not explicitly transmitted as a bit field in the DCI). For example, refer to... Figure 11 The terminal device can infer that the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator value is K1=3 by successfully decoding DCI#2 into compact DCI, because the terminal device knows that acknowledgment signaling will be transmitted on the original PUCCH (PUCCH#1).

[0101] Whether a terminal device should retransmit "NACK" in the original PUCCH after transmitting a fast NACK can be configured semi-statically for the terminal device in some cases (e.g., via RRC signaling), or can be determined dynamically, for example, from an indication in the DCI carrying the relevant downlink grant.

[0102] Figure 12 This is a flowchart schematically illustrating some aspects of the operation method of a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0103] In the first step S1, the terminal device attempts to decode the data transmitted to the terminal device.

[0104] In the second step S2, the terminal device determines whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0105] In the third step S3, the terminal device transmits an indication of whether the data has been successfully decoded on a radio resource determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0106] Figure 13 This is a flowchart schematically illustrating some aspects of the operation method of a network access node in a wireless telecommunications system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0107] In the first step T1, the network access node transmits data to the terminal device.

[0108] In the second step T2, the network access node determines the first radio resource to be monitored (e.g., occurring at a first moment) in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling that the indication data transmitted by the terminal device has been successfully decoded by the terminal device.

[0109] In the third step T3, the network access node determines the second radio resource to be monitored (e.g., occurring at a second time) in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling that the indication data transmitted by the terminal device has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device.

[0110] The second radio resource differs from the first radio resource (e.g., it occurs at a different time).

[0111] Therefore, a method for operating a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system has been described, the method comprising: attempting to decode data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the data has been successfully decoded; determining, based on whether the data has been successfully decoded, when to transmit an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded, such that if the data has been successfully decoded, the acknowledgment signaling is transmitted at a first time, and if the data has not been successfully decoded, the acknowledgment signaling is transmitted at a second time earlier than the first time; and transmitting the acknowledgment signaling at the determined time.

[0112] Therefore, a method for operating network infrastructure equipment in a wireless telecommunications system is also described, the method comprising: transmitting data to a terminal device; attempting to detect, at a first time, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data transmitted by the terminal device has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; and attempting to detect, at a second time, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data transmitted by the terminal device has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; wherein the second time is earlier than the first time.

[0113] It should be understood that while the above examples focus on using different times to send acknowledgment signals based on whether the acknowledgment signal is positive (ACK) or negative (NACK), it will be recognized that the same principle can be more generally applied to sending acknowledgment signals using different radio resources (e.g., occurring at different times and / or frequencies). For example, some frequencies may be systematically more reliable than others (e.g., due to lower interference), and negative acknowledgment signals can be transmitted on the systematically more reliable frequencies while positive acknowledgment signals can be transmitted on other frequencies, possibly at the same time (because reliable delivery of negative acknowledgment signals may be expected to be relatively more important). In another example, negative acknowledgment signals can be transmitted using radio resources other than positive acknowledgment signals, and positive acknowledgment signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example, allowing more redundancy to increase the likelihood of reliable transmission (again because in some cases, reliable delivery of negative acknowledgment signals may be considered relatively more important than reliable delivery of positive acknowledgment signals).

[0114] It should be understood that while this disclosure focuses in some respects on embodiments based on LTE and / or 5G networks for the purpose of providing specific examples, the same principles can be applied to other wireless telecommunications systems. Therefore, even though the terminology used herein is generally the same as or similar to that of the LTE and 5G standards, the teachings are not limited to the current versions of LTE and 5G and can be equally applied to any suitable arrangement not based on LTE or 5G and / or any other future versions compliant with LTE, 5G, or other standards.

[0115] It can be noted that the various example methods discussed herein can rely on predetermined / predefined information in a sense known to both the base station and the terminal equipment. It should be understood that such predetermined / predefined information can typically be established, for example, through definitions in the operating standards of the wireless telecommunications system, or in signaling previously exchanged between the base station and the terminal equipment, such as in system information signaling, or associated with radio resource control setting signaling. That is, the specific manner in which relevant predetermined information is established and shared between the corresponding elements of the wireless telecommunications system is not of primary significance to the operating principles described herein.

[0116] It should also be noted that the various example methods discussed herein rely on the exchange / communication of information between various components of a wireless telecommunications system, and it should be understood that such communication can generally be carried out using conventional techniques, such as according to a specific signaling protocol and the type of communication channel used, unless the context requires otherwise. That is, the specific manner in which relevant information is exchanged between the corresponding components of a wireless telecommunications system is not of primary importance to the operating principles described herein.

[0117] The relevant characteristics of this disclosure are defined by the following numbered paragraphs:

[0118] 1. Attempt to decode data transmitted to the terminal device; determine whether the data has been successfully decoded; and transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded on radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0119] Paragraph 2. As in the method of paragraph 1, wherein if it is determined that the data has been successfully decoded, an acknowledgment signaling is transmitted on the first radio resource at a first time, and if it is determined that the data has not been successfully decoded, an acknowledgment signaling is transmitted on the second radio resource at a second time, wherein the second time is earlier than the first time.

[0120] Paragraph 3. The method as described in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 further includes: attempting to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; determining additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and if the time interval between the transmission of the additional data and the time of the additional radio resources is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, then regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded, the additional radio resources are used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling.

[0121] Paragraph 4. As in the method described in Paragraph 3, wherein a predetermined threshold time period is determined from radio resource control signaling and / or from operating standards used for wireless telecommunications systems.

[0122] Paragraph 5. The method, as described in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, further includes: attempting to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; determining additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and if the time interval between the transmission of downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the additional data to the terminal device and the time of the additional radio resources is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, then regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded, the additional radio resources are used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling.

[0123] Paragraph 6. As in the method in paragraph 5, wherein a predetermined threshold time period is determined from radio resource control signaling and / or from operating standards for wireless telecommunication systems.

[0124] Paragraph 7. The method, as described in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, further includes: attempting to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; determining additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and transmitting the acknowledgment signaling using the additional radio resources in response to an instruction received that the terminal device should do so in connection with a transmission of downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the additional data, regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0125] Paragraph 8. The method, as described in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, further includes: attempting to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; determining additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and, in response to receiving an instruction in radio resource control signaling that the terminal device should do so, transmitting the acknowledgment signaling using the additional radio resources regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0126] Paragraph 9. The method of any of paragraphs 1 through 8 further includes: determining radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data failed to be successfully decoded from a negative acknowledgment signaling resource indication, the negative acknowledgment signaling resource indication being received in association with downlink control information scheduling the transmission of the data to the terminal device.

[0127] Paragraph 10. As in the method in paragraph 9, wherein the negative acknowledgment signaling indication includes an indication of the time and / or frequency for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the indication data was not successfully decoded.

[0128] Paragraph 11. The method as in paragraph 9 or 10, wherein both radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded and radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has been successfully decoded are determined from the value of a common field in the downlink control information.

[0129] Paragraph 12. The method of paragraph 11, wherein the radio resources for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the value of the common field in the downlink control information based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0130] Paragraph 13. The method of any one of paragraphs 11 or 12, wherein the common field in the downlink control information is the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator field, or wherein the common field in the downlink control information is the PUCCH resource indicator (PRI) field.

[0131] Paragraph 14. The method as described in paragraphs 11 to 13, wherein the value of the common field in the downlink control information indicates the number of units in a predetermined time period during which the acknowledgment signaling is awaited, wherein different values ​​for the duration of the predetermined time period are used to determine the radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded, and to determine the radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has been successfully decoded.

[0132] Paragraph 15. The method of any of paragraphs 1 through 8, wherein the time for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the terminal device has not successfully decoded the data is determined by applying a timing offset to the time determined for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the terminal device has successfully decoded the data.

[0133] Paragraph 16. The method of any of paragraphs 1 through 8, wherein timing offsets are determined from radio resource control signaling and / or the operating standards of the radio telecommunications system.

[0134] Paragraph 17. The method of any of paragraphs 1 through 16, wherein if it is determined that there is a conflict in the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling, the terminal device shall, relative to transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, give priority to transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data previously transmitted to the terminal device was successfully decoded.

[0135] Paragraph 18. The method as described in paragraph 17, wherein a predetermined feature is used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded, the predetermined feature indicating that the acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than an acknowledgment signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

[0136] Paragraph 19. The method of any of paragraphs 1 to 18 further includes: attempting to decode additional data further transmitted to the terminal device; determining whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; and if it is determined that neither the data nor the additional data has been successfully decoded, simultaneously transmitting, in a multiplexed manner, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that neither the data nor the additional data has been successfully decoded.

[0137] Paragraph 20. The method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 19, wherein, in the case that the data is not successfully decoded, the terminal device: uses both radio resources determined to be used for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling that the data has not been successfully decoded and radio resources determined to be used for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling that the data has been successfully decoded, to transmit an acknowledgment signaling that the data has not been successfully decoded.

[0138] Paragraph 21. The method of any of paragraphs 1 through 20, wherein if the data is successfully decoded, the terminal device determines a first radio resource for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling, and if the data is not successfully decoded, the terminal device determines a second radio resource for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling, and if the terminal device transmits an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded on the second radio resource, the terminal device receives a retransmission of the data, and uses the first radio resource to transmit an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether the retransmission of the data has resulted in the data being successfully decoded.

[0139] Paragraph 22. The method of paragraph 21, wherein the terminal device, in response to determining that downlink control information associated with the retransmission of the data includes predetermined characteristics, uses the first radio resource transmission to transmit an acknowledgment indicating whether the retransmission of the data has enabled successful decoding of the data.

[0140] Paragraph 23. The method as described in paragraph 22, wherein the predetermined characteristic of the downlink control information is that the downlink control information includes a compact format.

[0141] Paragraph 21. A terminal device for use in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the terminal device includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together such that the terminal device is operable to: attempt to decode data transmitted to the terminal device; determine whether the data has been successfully decoded; and transmit an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded on radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0142] Paragraph 22. A circuit for a terminal device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the circuit includes a controller circuit and a transceiver circuit configured to operate together, such that the circuit is operable to cause the terminal device to: attempt to decode data transmitted to the terminal device; determine whether the data has been successfully decoded; and transmit an acknowledgment signaling indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded on radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded.

[0143] Paragraph 23. A method of operating network infrastructure equipment in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising: transmitting data to a terminal device; determining a first radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; and determining a second radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device, wherein the second radio resource is different from the first radio resource.

[0144] Paragraph 24. A network infrastructure device for use in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the network infrastructure device includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together, such that the network infrastructure device is operable to: transmit data to a terminal device; determine a first radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; and determine a second radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; wherein the second radio resource is different from the first radio resource.

[0145] Paragraph 25. A circuit for a network infrastructure device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein the circuit includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together, such that the circuitry is operable to cause the network infrastructure device to: transmit data to a terminal device; determine a first radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; and determine a second radio resource to be monitored in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signaling transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; wherein the second radio resource is different from the first radio resource.

[0146] Other specific and preferred aspects of this disclosure are set forth in the appended independent and dependent claims. It should be understood that the characteristics of the dependent claims may be combined with the characteristics of the independent claims in combinations other than those expressly provided in the claims.

[0147] References

[0148] [1]3GPP document RP-160671, "New SID Proposal: Study on New RadioAccess Technology," NTT DOCOMO,RAN#71,Gothenburg,Sweden,7 to 10 March 2016

[0149] [2]3GPP document RP-172834, "Work Item on New Radio(NR)AccessTechnology,"NTT DOCOMO,RAN#78,Lisbon,Portugal,18 to 21 December 2017

[0150] [3]3GPP document RP-182089,“New SID on Physical Layer Enhancementsfor NR Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication(URLLC),”Huawei,HiSilicon,Nokia,Nokia Shanghai Bell,RAN#81,Gold Coast,Australia,10 to 13 September 2018

[0151] [4]3GPP document RP-190654,“New WID:Physical layer enhancements forNR ultra reliable and low latency communication(URLLC),”Huawei,HiSilicon,RAN#83,Shenzhen,China,18 to 21 March 2019

[0152] [5]3GPP document TR 38.913,“Study on Scenarios and Requirements forNext Generation Access Technologies(Release 14)”,V14.3.0(2017-06)

[0153] [6]3GPP document RP-190726,“New WID:Physical layer enhancements forNR ultra reliable and low latency communication(URLLC),”Huawei,HiSilicon,RAN#83,Shenzhen,China,March 18-21,2019

[0154] [7]3GPP document RP-193233,“New WID on enhanced Industrial Internetof Things(loT)and URLLC support,”Nokia,Nokia Shanghai Bell,RAN#86,Sitges,Spain,December 9-12,2019

[0155] [8]Holma H.and Toskala A,“LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radioaccess”,John Wiley and Sons,2009.

Claims

1. A method for operating a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising: Attempt to decode the data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the data has been successfully decoded; and On radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded, an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded is transmitted. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, If it is determined that the data has been successfully decoded, the confirmation signaling is transmitted on the first radio resource at a first time, and if it is determined that the data has not been successfully decoded, the confirmation signaling is transmitted on the second radio resource at a second time, wherein the second time is earlier than the first time.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Attempt to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the additional data was successfully decoded; Determine additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and if the time interval between the transmission of the additional data and the time of the additional radio resources is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, then the acknowledgment signal is transmitted using the additional radio resources regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, The predetermined threshold time period is determined from radio resource control signaling and / or from operating standards used for the wireless telecommunications system.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Attempt to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the additional data was successfully decoded; Determine additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; Furthermore, if the time interval between the transmission of downlink control information for scheduling the transmission of the additional data to the terminal device and the time of the additional radio resource is less than a predetermined threshold time interval, then the additional radio resource is used to transmit acknowledgment signaling regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The predetermined threshold time period is determined from radio resource control signaling and / or from operating standards used for the wireless telecommunications system.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Attempt to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the additional data was successfully decoded; Determine additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signal indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; Furthermore, in response to an instruction associated with receiving downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the additional data, indicating that the terminal device should use the additional radio resource transmission acknowledgment signaling, regardless of whether the data is successfully decoded, the additional radio resource transmission acknowledgment signaling is used.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Attempt to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the additional data was successfully decoded; Determine additional radio resources for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the additional data has been successfully decoded; and in response to receiving an instruction in radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device should use the additional radio resources to transmit the acknowledgment signaling regardless of whether the data has been successfully decoded, use the additional radio resources to transmit the acknowledgment signaling.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A radio resource is determined for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data failed to be successfully decoded from a negative acknowledgment signaling resource indication, which is received in association with downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The negative acknowledgment signaling indication includes an indication of the time for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded and / or an indication of the frequency for transmitting an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, Both radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded and radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded are determined from the values ​​of the common fields in the downlink control information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The common field in the downlink control information is the PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator field, or the common field in the downlink control information is the PUCCH resource indicator PRI field.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The value of the common field in the downlink control information indicates the number of units in a predetermined time period during which the acknowledgment signaling is awaited for transmission, wherein different values ​​for the duration of the predetermined time period are used to determine the radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded, and to determine the radio resources for transmitting acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data has been successfully decoded.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The timing of radio resources used to transmit acknowledgment signals indicating that the terminal device has not successfully decoded the data is determined by applying a timing offset to the time determined for transmitting acknowledgment signals indicating that the terminal device has successfully decoded the data.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Timing offsets are determined from radio resource control signaling and / or from operating standards used for the wireless telecommunications system.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Attempt to decode additional data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the additional data has been successfully decoded; and if it is determined that neither the data nor the additional data has been successfully decoded, transmit simultaneously, in a multiplexed manner, an acknowledgment signaling indicating that neither the data nor the additional data has been successfully decoded.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein, If the data is not successfully decoded, the terminal device: uses both radio resources determined to transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded and radio resources determined to transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating that the data has been successfully decoded, to transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein, If the data is successfully decoded, the terminal device determines a first radio resource for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling; and if the data is not successfully decoded, the terminal device determines a second radio resource for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling. If the terminal device transmits an acknowledgment signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded on the second radio resource, the terminal device receives a retransmission of the data and uses the first radio resource to transmit an acknowledgment signaling whether the retransmission of the data has resulted in successful decoding of the data.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, In response to determining that the downlink control information associated with the retransmission of the data includes predetermined characteristics, the terminal device uses the first radio resource to transmit an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the retransmission of the data has enabled the data to be successfully decoded.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The predetermined characteristic of the downlink control information is that the downlink control information includes a compact format.

21. A terminal device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein, The terminal device includes a controller circuit and a transceiver circuit configured to operate together, such that the terminal device is operable as follows: Attempt to decode the data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the data was successfully decoded; and On radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded, an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded is transmitted. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

22. A circuit for a terminal device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein, The circuit includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together, such that the circuitry is operable to enable the terminal device to: Attempt to decode the data transmitted to the terminal device; Determine whether the data was successfully decoded; and On radio resources determined by considering whether the data has been successfully decoded, an acknowledgment signal indicating whether the data has been successfully decoded is transmitted. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

23. A method for operating network infrastructure equipment in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising: Transmit data to the terminal device; The first radio resource to be monitored is determined in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; as well as A second radio resource is identified to attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device. The second radio resource is different from the first radio resource. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

24. A network infrastructure device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein, The network infrastructure device includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together, such that the network infrastructure device is operable as follows: Transmit data to the terminal device; The first radio resource to be monitored is determined in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; as well as A second radio resource to be monitored is determined in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; The second radio resource is different from the first radio resource. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

25. A circuit for a network infrastructure device used in a wireless telecommunications system, wherein, The circuitry includes controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together, such that the circuitry is operable to enable the network infrastructure equipment to: Transmit data to the terminal device; The first radio resource to be monitored is determined in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has been successfully decoded by the terminal device; as well as A second radio resource to be monitored is determined in an attempt to detect an acknowledgment signal transmitted by the terminal device indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded by the terminal device; The second radio resource is different from the first radio resource. Specifically, the radio resources used for transmitting the acknowledgment signaling are determined from the values ​​of common fields in the downlink control information that schedules the transmission of the data to the terminal device. This determination is based on a predetermined correlation between each potential value of the common field in the downlink control information and a different indicator for the radio resources used to transmit the acknowledgment signaling based on whether the data has been successfully decoded. If a conflict is determined in the radio resources used to transmit the confirmation signaling, the terminal device prioritizes transmitting confirmation signaling indicating that the data was not successfully decoded, over confirmation signaling indicating that the data was successfully decoded. Specifically, a predetermined feature is used to transmit the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded. The predetermined feature indicates that the confirmation signaling indicating that the data has not been successfully decoded has been sent, rather than the confirmation signaling related to the data previously transmitted to the terminal device.

Images