Methods, communication devices and infrastructure equipment

Abstract

A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface is provided. The method comprises operating in accordance with a configured grant, CG, operating mode comprising determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface. Here, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated a plurality of times during transmission of the uplink data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to communication devices, infrastructure devices, and methods for transmitting data by communication equipment in a wireless communication network.

[0002] This application claims priority under the Paris Convention to European patent application EP 20202427.9, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] The background description provided herein is intended to provide a general overview of the contents of this disclosure. Within the scope described in this background section, the work of the inventors and aspects of the description that may not conform to the prior art at the time of application are neither explicitly nor implicitly acknowledged as prior art opposing the present invention.

[0004] The latest generation of mobile telecommunications systems, such as those based on the 3GPP-defined UMTS and LTE architectures, are capable of supporting a wider range of services than the simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunications systems. For example, leveraging the improved radio interfaces 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 through fixed-line data connections. Therefore, the demand for deploying such networks is strong, and the coverage areas of these networks—i.e., the geographical locations where network access is available—are expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0005] Future wireless communication networks will be expected to routinely and efficiently support an ever-expanding range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than those optimized for by existing systems. For example, future wireless communication networks are expected to efficiently support communication with devices including reduced-complexity devices, machine-type communication (MTC) devices, high-resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, and more. Some of these different types of devices can be deployed in very large numbers, such as low-complexity devices supporting the “Internet of Things”, and are typically associated with the transmission of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerances. Other types of devices, such as those supporting high-definition video streaming, can be associated with the transmission of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerances. Other types of devices, such as those used for autonomous vehicle communication and other critical applications, can be characterized by data that should be transmitted over the network with low latency and high reliability. Depending on the application they 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 considerations can be applied to effectively support data exchange with the smartphone compared to when the smartphone is running an internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or used for voice communication by emergency responders in an emergency (where data is subject to strict reliability and latency requirements).

[0006] In view of this, it is anticipated 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, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, will be able to effectively support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0007] An example of the new service is called Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) service, which, as the name suggests, requires the transmission of data units or packets with high reliability and low communication latency. Another example of the new service is Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) service, which is characterized by high capacity and requires support for up to 20Gb / s. Therefore, URLLC and eMBB type services represent challenging examples for LTE-type communication systems and 5G / NR communication systems.

[0008] The increasing use of different types of network infrastructure equipment and terminal devices associated with different traffic profiles has brought new challenges to effectively handling communications in wireless communication systems. Summary of the Invention

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

[0010] Embodiments of this technology can provide a method for operating a communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a radio access interface. One method includes operating according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, the CG operating mode including determining a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface, transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface, transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI associated with multiple instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. Here, each transmission version of one or more transmission versions of CG-UCI is repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data.

[0011] Some further embodiments of this technology can provide a method for operating a communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface. One method includes operating according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, the CG operating mode including determining a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI associated with multiple instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface. Here, one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate portions, each of the two or more portions being transmitted in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data.

[0012] In addition to methods for operating communication equipment, embodiments of this technology also relate to methods for operating infrastructure equipment, communication equipment, and infrastructure equipment, as well as circuitry for communication equipment and infrastructure equipment, allowing for more efficient use of radio resources through communication equipment.

[0013] The various aspects and features of this disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

[0014] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary of the present technology, but not limiting. The described embodiments and further advantages will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0015] A more complete understanding of this disclosure and its many accompanying advantages will be readily obtained when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 These schematically illustrate some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunications system that can be configured to operate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 The illustrations represent some aspects of a novel Radio Access Technology (RAT) wireless telecommunication system that can be configured to operate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic block diagram of an example of infrastructure equipment and communication equipment that can be configured to operate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 This illustrates an example of new unlicensed radio (NR-U) channel access on the radio communications resource grid;

[0020] Figure 5 Examples of Type 1 and Type 2 dynamic channel access on the uplink and downlink mesh of radio communication resources are illustrated;

[0021] Figure 6 This illustrates an example of Type 2 dynamic channel access on a radio communication resource grid;

[0022] Figure 7 The time-domain parameters for the configured licensed physical uplink shared channel (CG-PUSCH) are described;

[0023] Figure 8 This demonstrates how the Redundant Version (RV) mode restarts during PUSCH repetition;

[0024] Figure 9 This illustrates an example of how a UE might fail to complete a PUSCH retransmission;

[0025] Figure 10 Examples of multiple CG-PUSCH are provided;

[0026] Figure 11 An example demonstrating the Rel-15 PUSCH aggregation operation is shown;

[0027] Figure 12An example demonstrating the Rel-16 enhanced type B (e-type B) PUSCH repetition operation is shown;

[0028] Figure 13 This illustrates an example of PUSCH segmentation;

[0029] Figure 14 An example of how to utilize Flexible Transfer Occasions (F-TO) is shown;

[0030] Figure 15 This illustrates an example of UE-initiated Channel Occupancy Time (COT) sharing;

[0031] Figure 16 This illustrates an example of how the minimum downlink feedback information (DFI) delay can indicate which of the multiple TO feedbacks carried by the DFI is relevant.

[0032] Figure 17 A schematic flowchart representation of a first part and a partial message flowchart representation of a wireless communication network including communication equipment and infrastructure equipment according to an embodiment of the present technology are shown.

[0033] Figure 18 An example is shown of how configured authorized uplink control information (CG-UCI) can be repeated within a PUSCH according to embodiments of the present technology;

[0034] Figure 19 An example is shown of how CG-UCI can be repeated within a PUSCH with a time offset, according to an embodiment of the present technology;

[0035] Figure 20 An example is shown of how CG-UCI can be repeated within a first PUSCH repetition of a set of PUSCH repetitions having the same RV, according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0036] Figure 21 An example is shown of how a CG-UCI repeat can occupy the start and end orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of a PUSCH repeat according to an embodiment of the present technology;

[0037] Figure 22 An example is shown of how CG-UCI can be repeated in an early PUSCH repetition according to embodiments of the present technology;

[0038] Figure 23 An example is shown of how CG-UCI can be repeated in two different parts of a set of repeating PUSCH, according to an embodiment of the present technology;

[0039] Figure 24A schematic flowchart representation of a second part and a partial message flowchart representation of a wireless communication network including communication equipment and infrastructure equipment according to an embodiment of the present technology are shown.

[0040] Figure 25 An example of a segmented CG-UCI according to an embodiment of this technology is shown;

[0041] Figure 26 A flowchart illustrating a first communication process in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown;

[0042] Figure 27 A flowchart illustrating a second communication process in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown; and

[0043] Figure 28 A flowchart illustrating a third communication process in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0044] Long Term Evolution Advanced Wireless Access (4G)

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram is provided illustrating some basic functions of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 that typically operates according to LTE principles. However, the mobile telecommunications network / system 6 may also support other radio access technologies and may be adapted to implement the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Figure 1 The various elements and certain aspects of their respective operating modes are well known and defined in the relevant standards managed by the 3GPP (RTM) organization, and described in many books on the subject, such as those by Holma H. ​​and TosK. A la A[1]. It should be understood that operational aspects of telecommunications networks not specifically described herein (e.g., regarding specific communication protocols and physical channels for communication between different components) can be implemented according to any known technology, such as modifications and supplements to relevant standards and known recommendations.

[0046] Network 6 includes multiple base stations 1 connected to core network 2. Each base station provides coverage area 3 (i.e., a cell) within which data can be transmitted to and from communication equipment 4. Although each base station 1... Figure 1 While shown as a single entity, those skilled in the art will understand that some functions of a base station can be performed by different, interconnected components, such as antennas (or antenna heads), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. One or more base stations can collectively form a radio access network.

[0047] Data is transmitted from base station 1 to communication equipment 4 within its respective coverage area 3 via a radio downlink. Data is transmitted from communication equipment 4 to base station 1 via a radio uplink. Core network 2 routes data to and from communication equipment 4 via each base station 1, and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, and billing. Terminal equipment may also be referred to as mobile station, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communication equipment, etc. Services provided by core network 2 may include connections to the Internet or external telephone services. Core network 2 can further track the location of communication equipment 4, enabling it to effectively contact (i.e., page) communication equipment 4 to transmit downlink data to it.

[0048] Base stations, as examples of network infrastructure equipment, can also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNBs, g-nodeBs, gNBs, and so on. In this regard, different terms are generally associated with different generations of wireless telecommunication systems that provide elements offering broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of this disclosure can be equivalently implemented 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 exemplary implementations is not intended to indicate that these implementations are limited to a particular generation of networks most likely associated with that specific term.

[0049] New radio access technology (5G)

[0050] Figure 2 An example configuration of a wireless communication network is shown, which uses some terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G. Figure 2 In this configuration, multiple Transmit and Receive Points (TRPs) 10 are connected to Distributed Control Units (DUs) 41, 42 via a connection interface represented as line 16. Each TRP 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within the available radio frequency bandwidth of the wireless communication network. Thus, within the range used for performing radio communication via the wireless access interface, each TRP 10 forms a cell of the wireless communication network represented by circle 12. Therefore, wireless communication devices 14 within the radio communication range provided by cell 12 can transmit signals to and receive signals from TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each unit in the distributed units 41, 42 is connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a control node) via interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to a core network 20, which may contain all other functions required for transmitting data for communicating with wireless communication devices, and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 30.

[0051] Figure 2The components of the wireless access network shown can be in a manner similar to that of... Figure 1 The example describes the operation of the corresponding components in an LTE network. It should be understood that... Figure 2 The operational aspects of the telecommunications network shown, as well as other operational aspects of networks discussed herein according to embodiments of this disclosure (not specifically described) (e.g., regarding specific communication protocols and physical channels for communication between different elements), can be implemented according to any known technology, such as methods currently used for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, for example, according to relevant standards.

[0052] Figure 2 The TRP 10 may partially have functions corresponding to a base station or eNodeB in an LTE network. Similarly, the communication device 14 may have functions corresponding to the UE device 4 known for operation with an LTE network. Therefore, it should be understood that the operational aspects of the new RAT network (e.g., regarding specific communication protocols and physical channels used for communication between different components) may differ from those known in LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be understood that each of the core network components, base stations, and communication devices of the new RAT network will be functionally similar to the core network components, base stations, and communication devices of an LTE wireless communication network, respectively.

[0053] In terms of broad top-level functionality, connecting to Figure 2 The core network 20 of the new RAT telecommunications system shown can be widely considered to be related to... Figure 1 Corresponding to the core network 20 shown, and the corresponding central unit 40 and its associated distributed unit / TRP 10 can be broadly considered to provide the same... Figure 1 The function corresponding to base station 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node can be used to include these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand, the responsibility for scheduling transmissions on the radio interfaces between the various distributed units and communication equipment may lie with the control node / central unit and / or distributed unit / TRP. Figure 2 The symbol represents a communication device 14 within the coverage area of ​​the first communication cell 12. Therefore, the communication device 14 can exchange signaling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 through one of the distributed units 10 associated with the first communication cell 12.

[0054] Furthermore, it should be understood that Figure 2 This is merely an example of a proposed architecture for a telecommunications system based on the new RAT, 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.

[0055] Therefore, certain embodiments of this disclosure, as discussed herein, can be adapted to various different architectures, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 The example architecture shown is implemented in a wireless telecommunications system / network. Therefore, it should be understood that the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of this disclosure can be described generally in the context of communication between network infrastructure devices / access nodes and communication devices, where the specific properties of the network infrastructure devices / access nodes and communication devices will depend on the network infrastructure used in the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios, the network infrastructure devices / access nodes may include base stations, such as… Figure 1 The LTE-type base station 1 shown is adapted to provide functionality according to the principles described herein, and in other examples, network infrastructure equipment may include... Figure 2 The control unit / control node 40 and / or TRP 10 of the type shown are adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0056] Figure 3 Provided Figure 2 A more detailed diagram of some components of the network shown is provided. Figure 3 In Chinese, as a simplified representation, such as Figure 2 The TRP 10 shown includes a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32, and a controller or control processor 34, which is operable to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within the cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. Figure 3 As shown, example UE 14 is shown as including a respective transmitter 49, receiver 48 and controller 44, controller 44 being configured to control transmitter 49 and receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communication network via the radio access interface formed by TRP 10, and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by transmitter 30 and received by receiver 48 according to normal operation.

[0057] Transmitters 30, 49 and receivers 32, 48 (and other transmitters, receivers, and transceivers described in the examples and embodiments of this disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers, as well as signal processing components and devices, for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to, for example, 5G / NR standards. Controllers 34, 44 (and other controllers described in the examples and embodiments of this disclosure) may be, for example, microprocessors, CPUs, or dedicated chipsets, configured to execute instructions stored on a computer-readable medium such as non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be executed, for example, by a microprocessor in conjunction with random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The transmitters, receivers, and controllers in Figure 3 These are schematically shown as individual elements for ease of representation. However, it should be understood that the functionality of these 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 application-specific integrated circuits / circuit groups / chips / chipsets. As will be understood, infrastructure equipment / TRP / base stations and UE / communication equipment will typically include a variety of other elements associated with their operational functions.

[0058] like Figure 3 As shown, TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 connected to DU 42 via physical interface 16. Therefore, network interface 50 provides a communication link for data and signaling traffic from TRP 10 to core network 20 via DU 42 and CU 40.

[0059] The interface 46 between DU 42 and CU 40 is referred to as the F1 interface, which can be a physical interface or a logical interface. The F1 interface 46 between the CU and DU operates according to specifications 3GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473 and can be formed by fiber optic or other wired or wireless high-bandwidth connections. In one example, the connection 16 from TRP 10 to DU 42 is via fiber optic. The connection between TRP 10 and the core network 20 is often referred to as the backhaul, which includes the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of TRP 10 to DU 42 and the F1 interface 46 from DU 42 to CU 40.

[0060] eURLLC and NR-U

[0061] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or service types), characterized by varying requirements for latency, data rate, and / or reliability. For example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services are characterized by high capacity, requiring support up to 20 Gb / s. Ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) services require latency of 1-10 Gb / s within 1 ms. -5With a reliability of 99.999% or higher (99.9999%), a single transmission of a 32-byte data packet is made from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3SDU entry point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3SDU exit point of the radio interface [2]. Massive machine-type communication (mMTC) is another example of a service that can be supported by an NR-based communication network. In addition, the system may support further enhancements related to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to support services with new requirements for high availability, high reliability, low latency, and, in some cases, high-precision positioning.

[0062] Enhanced URLLC (eURLLC)[3][4] specifies functions requiring high reliability and low latency, such as factory automation, transportation, power distribution, etc. It should be understood that URLLC and eMBB will have different requirements for uplink control information (UCI). Therefore, one of the current goals of eURLLC is to enhance UCI to support URLLC, where the aim is to allow more frequent transmission of UCI, such as more hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) feedback per time slot, and to support multiple HARQ-ACK codebooks for different traffic services. Solutions identified as adapting to more frequent UCI without interrupting high-priority and low-latency data transmission using the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) may include multiplexing UCI to PUSCH repeats.

[0063] Another service that incorporates NR technology is 5G NR in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U)[5], which enables devices to utilize shared and unlicensed spectrum bandwidth. Features such as Listen Before Talk (LBT) as specified in [5] can be incorporated into the NR frame structure for NR-U operation in unlicensed bands. As described in [4], one of the goals of eURLLC is to coordinate the configured licensed (CG)PUSCH operation in eURLLC and NR-U.

[0064] Unlicensed access to channels in frequency bands

[0065] The following paragraphs provide an explanation of current recommendations for accessing communications from unlicensed frequency bands. In unlicensed frequency bands, two or more systems can operate to communicate using the same communication resources. As a result, transmissions from different systems can interfere with each other, especially when, for example, each different system is configured according to different technology standards (e.g., Wi-Fi and 5G). Of course, transmissions from systems operating according to the same standards can also cause interference. Therefore, for each transmitter operating in an unlicensed frequency band, there is a regulatory requirement to use the LBT protocol to reduce interference between different systems sharing that band (operating according to the same or different technology standards). In LBT, a device wishing to transmit data packets will first sense any energy level in the frequency band above a threshold to determine if any other device is transmitting, i.e., it is listening. If no transmission is detected, the device will then transmit its data packets. Otherwise, if the device detects a transmission from another device, it will back off and try again later.

[0066] In NR-U, channel access can be dynamic (also known as load-based access) or semi-static (also known as frame-based access). Dynamic channel access schemes consist of one or more Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) phases within a contention window, followed by a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) phase, such as... Figure 4 As shown. LBT is performed by the NR-U device (e.g., gNB or UE) that wishes to perform a transmission during the CCA phase. According to the CCA phase, the NR-U device listens for one or more CCA slots, and if no other transmission is detected after the CCA phase (i.e., the energy level is determined to be below a threshold for the duration of one or more CCA slots), the NR-U device enters the COT phase, in which the NR-U device can transmit its data packets in the COT resources. In Dynamic Channel Access (DCA), the CCA and COT phases can have different lengths between different systems, while in Semi-Static Channel Access, the CCA and COT phases have fixed time windows and are synchronized for all systems sharing the frequency band. More details about channel access in NR-U can be found in the co-pending European patent application EP 20187799.0 [6].

[0067] In NR-U, a device can be either an initiating device or a responding device. The initiating device obtains a COT by performing a CCA, and typically it initiates the first transmission, such as transmitting an uplink grant from the gNB. The responding device receives a transmission from the initiating device and responds to the initiating device with a transmission; for example, the UE receives an uplink grant and transmits the corresponding PUSCH. As will be understood, the UE can also be an initiating device, for example, when the UE is transmitting a configured grant (CG) PUSCH, and the gNB can be a responding device.

[0068] There are two types of Dynamic Channel Access (DCA), referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 DCA, counter N is generated as 0 and CW... p A random number between the values ​​of CW and the competition window size CW. p Set up in CW min,p and CW max,p Between. The duration and value of COT {CW min,p CW max,p The value p depends on the Channel Access Priority Class (CAPC) of the transmission. CAPC can be determined, for example, by the QoS of the transmitted data packets. Type 1 DCA is performed by the initiating device, and once a COT is obtained, one or more responding devices can use Type 2 DCA for their transmissions within the COT. If the gap between a single transmission from two devices is less than a predefined value (e.g., 25 μs), Type 2 DCA may require a short CCA or may not require a CCA before transmission. If the gap is greater than this predefined value, such as 25 μs, the responding device needs to perform Type 1 DCA.

[0069] Figure 5 It provides the frequency-time relationship for transmission in unlicensed frequency bands. For example... Figure 5 The examples shown illustrate both Type 1 DCA and Type 2 DCA transmissions. Figure 5 In the example shown, at time t0, the gNB wants to send an uplink grant UG#1 to the UE to schedule PUSCH#1. The gNB performs Type 1 DCA starting from a contention window with four CCAs 51, such that for this example, random number N = 4, and no energy is detected during the contention window 52, ​​thus acquiring a COT 54 between times t1 and t4. Then, as indicated by arrow 56, the gNB transmits UG#1 to the UE that schedules PUSCH#1 at time t3. If the interval between times t2 and t3 between UG#1 and the start of its PUSCH#1 transmission is less than a threshold, the UE receiving the uplink grant UG#1 can use Type 2 DCA; otherwise, the UE will have to perform Type 1 DCA. That is, if the granted PUSCH#1 is less than the threshold time of the gNB transmission of the uplink grant UG#1 or other gNB transmissions, the UE does not need to compete for resources on the unlicensed band by transmitting in the CCA and then in the COT according to Type 1 DCA.

[0070] like Figure 6As shown, there are three types of Type 2DCA, which are defined relative to the length of the gap 61 between the transmission 62 of the first device (initiating device) and the transmission 64 of the second device (responding device) within the COT, and therefore by whether the second responding device needs to perform CCA. These types are:

[0071] • Type 2A: The interval between two transmissions is greater than 16 μs and not greater than 25 μs, and the UE performs a single clear channel assessment (CCA) within this interval.

[0072] • Type 2B: The interval between two transmissions is no greater than 16 μs, and the UE performs a single CCA within this interval; and

[0073] • Type 2C: The gap between two emissions does not exceed 16 μs, and CCA is not required within this gap of 61 μs.

[0074] A single COT can be shared by multiple devices; that is, a gNB can initiate a COT, which can then be shared with one or more UEs. For example, a gNB can initiate a COT, then transmit a UL authorization to a UE, and the UE can then use that COT to transmit a PUSCH. A device using a COT initiated by another device may not need to perform a CCA, or may only need to perform a short CCA. Those skilled in the art will understand that a UE can also initiate a COT.

[0075] Rel-15 configured license

[0076] As will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, the UE uses the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) for uplink data transmission. The PUSCH resources used for transmitting the PUSCH can be scheduled by the gNB using Dynamic Grant (DG) or Configured Grant (CG).

[0077] In Dynamic Grant PUSCH (DG-PUSCH), when uplink data arrives at its buffer, the UE typically sends a scheduling request (SR) to the gNB. In response to receiving the SR, the gNB then sends an uplink grant to the UE, for example via downlink control information (DCI) in DCI format 0_0, 0_1, or 0_2 carried over the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), where the uplink grant is a PUSCH scheduling resource. The UE then uses the scheduled PUSCH (i.e., DG-PUSCH) to transmit its uplink data.

[0078] Observations indicate that the use of DG-PUSCH introduces latency because the UE needs to initiate a SR (Streaming Service) and must wait for uplink clearance before scheduling PUSCH resources. For regular and periodic traffic, DG-PUSCH results in sending multiple SRs and uplink clearances, which is not an efficient use of resources. Therefore, recognizing the drawbacks of DG-PUSCH, Configured Granted PUSCH (CG-PUSCH) was introduced in NR (Radio Resource Control). In CG-PUSCH, periodic PUSCH resources are pre-configured for the UE using Radio Resource Control (RRC), allowing the UE to transmit its uplink data in any of these periodically occurring CG-PUSCH resources without requesting it from an SR. There are two types of CG-PUSCH:

[0079] · Type 1 CG-PUSCH Once the RRC has configured the CG-PUSCH resource, the UE can use it without activation; and

[0080] · Type 2CG-PUSCH CG-PUSCH resources are first configured by the RRC. If the UE receives an activated DCI, the UE can only use the CG-PUSCH resource. The activated DCI is a UL authorization with a configured Scheduling Radio Network Temporary Identifier (CS-RNTI). Once the CG-PUSCH is activated, the UE can use it until it is deactivated by another DCI. Type 2 CG-PUSCH provides better control for the gNB scheduler, thus enabling more efficient resource utilization.

[0081] In the time domain, CG-PUSCH consists of a period P. CG It consists of the number of repetitions K = {1, 2, 4, 8}, the duration L of the PUSCH, and the starting symbol offset relative to the slot boundary S of the PUSCH. Figure 7 An example is shown where CG-PUSCH has a period P. CG = 224 symbols (or 16 time slots), repetition K = 4, duration L = 9 symbols, and start symbols S = 3 symbols starting from the time slot boundary. CG-PUSCH consists of transmission occasions (TOs), where TOs are the opportunities for the UE to transmit uplink data. It should be noted that if the UE has no uplink data to transmit, the UE does not need to use the TO, i.e., the CG-PUSCH resource. For example, in time slot n, the UE has no uplink data, so it does not transmit anything in the TO of that CG cycle, but in the next CG cycle starting from time slot n+16, the UE has uplink data, so it uses the TO in that CG cycle to transmit four repetitions of the uplink data.

[0082] The first TO in the CG cycle is associated with the redundant version RV=0. If the repetition K>1, each TO in the CG cycle is associated with an RV pattern configured in the RRC, where the RV pattern can be {0, 2, 3, 1}, {0, 3, 0, 3}, or {0, 0, 0, 0}. The RV pattern is configured in the RRC parameter repK-RV. For example, in Figure 7 In this context, the RV mode is {0, 2, 3, 1}. The first PUSCH emission in a CG cycle must always begin with RV = 0. For repetition K = 8, the RV mode cycles after the fourth repetition; that is, the RV mode restarts after the fourth repetition. For example, in... Figure 8 In this context, the RV mode = {0, 2, 3, 1}, and K = 8 repetitions. Here, the UE cycles through RV during the fifth repetition, where the RV mode restarts at the fifth TO of the CG cycle in time slot n+4.

[0083] Because HARQ is used for PUSCH transmissions, each PUSCH is associated with a HARQ process number (HPN), of which there are 16 HARQ processes, i.e., HPN = 0 to 15. In DG-PUSCH, the HPN is indicated in the UL authorization. For CG-PUSCH, since there is no UL authorization, each CG cycle is associated with an HPN and depends on the start symbol O of the first TO in the CG cycle. CG (in units of sign), period P CG (in symbols) and the number of HARQ processes N configured for CG-PUSCH HARQ [7] (That is, gNB can configure fewer than 16 HARQ processes for CG-PUSCH), i.e.:

[0084]

[0085] in It is the floor function and O CG The first symbol of the first time slot relative to the radio frame with SFN=0.

[0086] UL authorization is used to schedule CG-PUSCH retransmissions. That is, DG-PUSCH is used for retransmissions of CG-PUSCH that were not successfully decoded at the gNB. If the UE is within the pre-configured timer T... CG-ACK If no UL authorization for retransmitting CG-PUSCH is received, the UE will consider that it has successfully received CG-PUSCH.

[0087] Rel-16eURLLC CG-PUSCH

[0088] Since the first CG-PUSCH transmission must use a TO with RV=0, if the UE misses that TO, it may be unable to transmit any PUSCH during that CG cycle. For example, refer back to the reference. Figure 7 If uplink data arrives at the UE buffer in time slot n+1, the UE may only be ready to transmit the PUSCH in time slot n+2. However, the TO in time slot n+2 corresponds to RV=3, so the UE cannot begin its PUSCH transmission. It then must wait until the next CG period in time slot n+16, when the TO with RV=0, to begin its transmission. This introduces a delay to the PUSCH transmission, which may not meet the strict latency requirements of URLLC.

[0089] To improve reliability, as mentioned above, repetition is used to transmit PUSCH. For CG-PUSCH, if uplink data does not arrive before the first TO of the CG cycle, the UE may not be able to transmit the required number of repetitions, even if there are multiple TOs with RV=0 within that CG cycle. For example, in Figure 9 In this configuration, the CG-PUSCH is set to K=4 repetitions and RV pattern {0, 3, 0, 3}, allowing the first PUSCH transmission to begin in two TOs (i.e., the first TO and the third TO). Uplink data arrives at the UE buffer at the end of slot n, thus missing the first TO of the CG cycle. Since the UE must begin its PUSCH transmission in a TO with RV=0, the PUSCH is transmitted in slot n+2, i.e., in the nearest TO with RV=0. However, only two TOs remain in the CG cycle, and therefore the UE can only transmit two of the target four repetitions. This reduced PUSCH repetition transmission may not meet the stringent reliability requirements of URLLC.

[0090] Recognizing the limitations of Rel-15 CG-PUSCH, Rel-16 eURLLC introduced multiple CG-PUSCH, where a UE can be configured with up to 12 CG-PUSCH, each of which can be configured independently. This allows different CG-PUSCHs to start at different times, giving the UE multiple opportunities to transmit its PUSCH. For example, in... Figure 10In this configuration, the UE is equipped with four CG-PUSCHs, labeled CG#1, CG#2, CG#3, and CG#4, with each repeating K=4. These CG-PUSCHs are configured such that they begin within one slot offset from each other. In slot n+1, uplink data arrives at the UE's buffer, and the possible TOs that the UE can use to begin its PUSCH transmission are the third TO of CG#1 (slot n+2), the first TO of CG#3 (slot n+2), and the first TO of CG#4 (slot n+3). To ensure K=4 repetitions, the UE could use either CG#3 or CG#4, but since CG#3 provides the lowest latency, the UE chooses CG#3 for its PUSCH transmission, thus ensuring K=4 repetitions and minimizing latency. Those skilled in the art will understand that, Figure 10 The interleaving of multiple CG-PUSCH resources shown is just one possible configuration to ensure K repetitions are sent with minimal latency. The gNB is free to configure other configurations, as each CG-PUSCH can be configured individually.

[0091] For type 2 CG-PUSCH, a CG-PUSCH can be activated individually using the four-digit HPN field in the UL authorization. For deactivation, one or more CG-PUSCHs can be deactivated using the 16 states in the HPN field, where each state can be configured to indicate a combination of CG-PUSCHs used for deactivation.

[0092] There are two types of PUSCH mappings:

[0093] Type A: Where PUSCH begins at the start of the time slot, i.e., symbol offset S = 0; and

[0094] Type B: Where PUSCH can start from any symbol within a time slot, i.e., S = 0 to 13.

[0095] In Rel-15, slot-based PUSCH repetition, called PUSCH aggregation, was introduced to improve the reliability of PUSCH transmission. Figure 11 An example is shown where a PUSCH aggregation from slot n to slot n+3 is used, with a type B PUSCH of four symbol durations (i.e., L=4) starting two symbol offsets from the slot boundary, and repeated four times, i.e., K=4. The number of repetitions of the PUSCH aggregation is configured by RRC.

[0096] In PUSCH aggregation, i.e., slot-based PUSCH repetition, where the PUSCH duration is shorter than the slot, the time interval between repetitions can be observed. For Figure 11In the example, PUSCH is repeated at the slot level, leaving a 10-symbol gap between consecutive repetitions. This gap introduces latency, which is unacceptable for URLLC. Recognizing this, in Rel-16eURLLC, enhanced type B PUSCH repetition (e-type B PUSCH) was introduced, where PUSCH repetitions are repeated back-to-back, thereby minimizing latency while improving reliability. Figure 12 An example is shown where Rel-16 PUSCH repetition is used, with four symbol duration PUSCHs having a two-symbol offset from the slot boundary, L=4, repeated four times, i.e., K. N =4. Here, there are no gaps between each repetition, thus completing the entire repetition within 16 symbols compared to 56 symbols (four time slots) when using PUSCH aggregation. Rel-16eURLLC's DG-PUSCH and CG-PUSCH support enhanced Type B PUSCH repetition. In DG-PUSCH, the number of repetitions is indicated in the UL license, while for CG-PUSCH, the number of repetitions is the RRC configured in the repK parameter.

[0097] Because e-type B PUSCHs can begin at any symbol within a time slot, some of their repetitions may cross time slot boundaries or conflict with invalid Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols (e.g., downlink symbols), and these PUSCHs are segmented. For example, PUSCH repetitions scheduled by UL authorization or configured for CG-PUSCHs are known as nominal repetitions. If segmentation occurs on a nominal PUSCH and it is segmented into two or more PUSCH segments, these segments are called actual repetitions K. A That is, these actual repetitions are the actual PUSCH repetitions transmitted, which can therefore be greater than the nominal number of repetitions, i.e., the predetermined number of repetitions. The PUSCH duration L and nominal number of repetitions K are scheduled by UL authorization or configured for CG-PUSCH. N The absolute total duration of the PUSCH emission is given; that is K. N ×L is the duration of the entire PUSCH transmission, and therefore any portion of the PUSCH transmission that conflicts with an invalid OFDM symbol is discarded. Figure 13 Two examples of PUSCH segmentation are shown. At time t1, the emission has K N =4, L=4 PUSCH 131, where the third nominal PUSCH repeat crosses the slot boundary at time t4. Therefore, the third nominal PUSCH repeat is segmented into two PUSCH repeats, so the actual number of repeats K A =5. At time t9, another has K NPUSCH 132 with L=2 and L=6 is emitted, wherein the first nominal PUSCH repeats at time t 10 and t 11 There is a conflict with two DL (or invalid) symbols. Therefore, the first nominal PUSCH repeat is segmented into two PUSCH repeats, so the actual number of repeats K A =3. Because K N ×L = 12 OFDM symbols, which is the total duration of PUSCH transmission 132, therefore at time t 10 and t 11 Two PUSCH symbols that conflict with a DL (or invalid) symbol are discarded.

[0098] In Rel-15, the physical layer has no priorities; when two UL transmissions collide, their information is multiplexed and transmitted using a single channel. Possible collisions include those between the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and another PUCCH, and between PUCCH and PUSCH. It should be noted that Rel-15 defines priorities for the MAC layer, with 16 priority levels.

[0099] The UE can be configured to provide eMBB and URLLC services. Because eMBB and URLLC have different latency requirements, their uplink transmissions may conflict. For example, an urgent URLLC packet may arrive after an eMBB uplink transmission has already been scheduled, requiring immediate scheduling, and thus its transmission may conflict with the eMBB transmission. To handle such intra-UE conflicts with different latency and reliability requirements, two physical layer priorities, PUCCH and PUSCH, were introduced for uplink transmissions in Rel-16. In Rel-16, intra-UE priorities are used; that is, when two UL transmissions with different physical layer priority levels (L1 priority) conflict, the UE will drop the lower-priority transmission. If two UL transmissions have the same L1 priority, the UE can reuse the Rel-15 procedure (i.e., the UL transmissions are multiplexed and transmitted using a single channel). For CG-PUSCH, the L1 priority is the RRC configured for each CG-PUSCH in the RRC parameter phy-PriorityIndex-r16.

[0100] Rel-16-NR-U CG-PUSCH

[0101] Because transmission requires LBT, the UE may not be able to access CG-PUSCH transmission occasions (TOs), especially those associated with RV=0. Therefore, recognizing this, in Rel-16 NR-U, the TO is increased in each CG period by extending the CG period to slots cg-nrofSlots-r16 (1 to 40), where each slot contains cg-nrofPUSCH-InSlot-r16 (1 to 7) consecutive CG-PUSCHs. The parameters cg-nrofSlots-r16 and cg-nrofPUSCH-InSlot-r16 are RRCs configured according to the CG-PUSCH. The UE can begin PUSCH transmission in any of these CG-PUSCH resources within the CG period, instead of being limited to a specific TO with RV=0 as described above in legacy systems. Therefore, in each CG cycle, the UE is effectively provided with cg-nrofSlots-r16×cg-nrofPUSCH-InSlot-r16 flexible TOs, and thus the UE has multiple opportunities for the LBT to attempt to transmit its PUSCH. It should be noted that in 3GPP, these TOs are referred to as multi-CG-PUSCH, but to avoid confusion with the Rel-16eURLLC multi-CG-PUSCH described above, these TOs are referred to herein as flexible TOs (F-TOs). Figure 14 An example is shown where P CG = 224 symbols (16 time slots), S = 2 symbols, L = 4 symbols, cg-nrofSlots-r16 = 4, cg-nrofPUSCH-InSlot-r163, 12 flexible TOs per CG cycle. At the end of time slot n, UL data arrives at the UE buffer, and the UE attempts to transmit it in the next F-TO, i.e., TO#3 in time slot n+1. However, Figure 14 In the example shown, the UE failed the LBT procedure and therefore attempted another LBT on TO#4, which succeeded in this case. The UE then transmits two PUSCHs in slot n+1 using TO#4 and TO#5 (this can be used for different Ts). B (or HPN). At the end of slot n+2, further UL data arrives at the UE buffer and attempts LBT on the next F-TO (i.e., TO#9 in slot n+3) and succeeds, thus transmitting PUSCH in that slot.

[0102] For CG-PUSCH transmissions, the UE may need to perform a CCA and initiate a COT. The UE can share the COT with the gNB, for example, by allowing the gNB to send a feedback signal for its CG-PUSCH transmissions. The DL resources within the gNB's COT are indicated by the UE in the CG-UCI. Here, the UE indicates the slot offset O for which a DL transmission can begin.DL and the time slot duration L of DL transmission DL The index of the entries in the lookup table. The lookup table is configured using C++. DL The entries are configured with RRC, and they are sent in the cg-COT-SharingList-r16 parameter. An entry in this lookup table indicates "not shared". Slot offset O DL The end of the time slot relative to the CG-UCI containing the COT indicating shared DL resources. As shown in Table I, C DL = Example configuration of "cg-COT-SharingList-r16" with 4 entries

[0103] Table I: DL resources for COT sharing initiated by UE (cg-COT-SharingList-r16)

[0104] index <![CDATA[O DL (time slot) <![CDATA[L DL (time slot) 0 Not shared Not shared 1 3 2 2 2 4 3 1 1

[0105] Figure 15 This section illustrates example operations using the example configuration in Table I. Here, we label offsets and DL resources according to their indexes; that is, O DL 1 O DL 2 And O DL 3 These are the offsets for indices 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Similarly, DL#1, DL#2, and DL#3 are the DL resources for indices 1, 2, and 3, respectively, each with a duration L. DL 1 L DL 2 and L DL 3 The resource at index 0 is not shown because it indicates "not shared". Figure 15 In this scenario, the UE has four F-TOs (i.e., cg-nrofSlots-r16 = 2 and cg-nrofPUSCH-InSlot-r16 = 2). The UE then attempts to acquire TO#2 for its PUSCH transmission, thereby acquiring a COT of seven slot lengths. During PUSCH transmission, the UE multiplexes a CG-UCI containing COT sharing information, which indicates that the gNB can use one of the three available DL resources for its HARQ-ACK feedback of the PUSCH transmission. Because the CG-UCI is in slot n+1, the slot offset is O. DL 1 O DL 2 And O DL 3 Relative to the end of time slot n+1.

[0106] In Rel-15 and Rel-16 eURLLC, the HPN and RV transmitted for each CG-PUSCH are fixed for each TO and the gNB is known. However, due to the use of flexible TOs in Rel-16 NR-U, the UE can use any TO for the first PUSCH transmission, and different TOs can be transmitted within the CG cycle. B In the case of (i.e., having different HPNs), the gNB needs to know the HPN and RV of each of these CG-PUSCHs. To provide this information to the gNB, CG uplink control information (CG-UCI) is introduced for Rel-16 NR-U, which includes the following fields [8]:

[0107] • HARQ process number (HPN), which is indicated using 4 bits of CG-UCI;

[0108] • Redundant version (RV), which is indicated using 2 bits of CG-UCI;

[0109] • New Data Indicator (NDI), which uses 1 bit of CG-UCI for indication; and

[0110] • COT shared information, its usage is equal to log2C DL The number of bits in the CG-UCI is used to indicate this, where C DL It is the number of entries in the lookup table, indicating the location of DL resources that the gNB can use in a COT initiated by the UE.

[0111] CG-UCI is multiplexed into CG-PUSCH transmission.

[0112] In Rel-15 and Rel-16eURLLC, implicit HARQ-ACK feedback is used for CG-PUSCH, where NACK is implicitly indicated as UL authorization for CG-PUSCH scheduling retransmission, and timer T CG-ACK Used to implicitly indicate ACK.

[0113] For Rel-16 NR-U, explicit HARQ-ACK is used for CG-PUSCH, carried by Downlink Feedback Information (DFI). The DFI is carried by the PDCCH and contains a 16-bit bitmap indicating ACK / NACK for each HPN, where "1" indicates ACK and "0" indicates NACK. HARQ-ACK feedback in the DFI applies not only to CG-PUSCH but also to messages transmitted at least T times prior to the start of the DFI. DFI-Delay The symbol DG-PUSCH. T DFI-Delay The RRC is configured in parameter cg-minDFI-Delay-r16. Figure 16An example is shown where the CG cycle consists of four F-TOs, and the UE transmits PUSCH to TO#0, TO#2, and TO#3 respectively with HPN=0, HPN=10, and HPN=8. This T DFI-Delay =7 symbols, and in this example, the DFI can only provide HARQ-ACKs for TO#0 and TO#2, which, according to their HPNs, are indicated in the first and eleventh positions of the DFI bitmap, respectively (these are in...). Figure 16 (Indicated as bold and underlined). Because the end of TO#3 is less than T before the start of DFI. DFI-Delay The symbol used for HARQ-ACK in TO#3 is not represented in DFI, and is indicated as "0" regardless of whether it is ACK or NACK.

[0114] The DFI does not indicate any uplink resources for the UE, therefore a separate CG-PUSCH resource is used to transmit the CG-PUSCH retransmission. The gNB uses the NDI and HPN fields of the CG-UCI to determine if the CG-PUSCH is a retransmission. The UE can also determine the RV of the retransmission (or the first transmission), as it can be indicated in the CG-UCI.

[0115] Because the gNB must perform LBT, especially when DFI is not transmitted within the COT initiated by the UE, DFI transmission is not guaranteed. Retransmission timer T CG-ReTx This feature was introduced for Rel-16 NR-U and begins after the CG-PUSCH is transmitted. If the retransmission timer expires and the UE does not receive an explicit HARQ-ACK (i.e., DFI) from the gNB, the UE will retransmit the CG-PUSCH.

[0116] In Rel-16 NR-U, CG-UCI is transmitted in each PUSCH repetition, where CG-UCI indicates HPN, RV, NDI, and COT shared information. In URLLC, PUSCH repetition is introduced to improve the reliability of data transmission. Because CG-UCI may carry different RV information in each PUSCH repetition, it cannot benefit from any combined gain from these repetitions and may therefore lack sufficient reliability to meet the requirements of URLLC.

[0117] Proper decoding of the CG-UCI is necessary to enable PUSCH decoding because the CG-UCI signals some parameters required for PUSCH decoding (e.g., the CG-UCI indicates the RV applied to PUSCH transmission, i.e., which set of parity bits and system bits is included in the PUSCH). Therefore, if the CG-UCI is unreliable, the PUSCH associated with it is also unreliable, and URLLC latency and reliability requirements may not be met. Embodiments of this technology propose methods to increase the reliability of the CG-UCI to, for example, meet URLLC latency and reliability requirements. Embodiments of this technology seek to ensure that the reliability of the CG-UCI is improved so that the CG-UCI is not the weakest link with respect to PUSCH reliability.

[0118] Improved URLLC UCI reliability

[0119] Figure 17 Partial schematic flowchart representations and partial message flowchart representations of a wireless communication network including communication device 171 and infrastructure device 172 according to at least some embodiments of the present technology are shown. Communication device 171 is configured to transmit data to or receive data from the wireless communication network via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communication network, for example, to or from infrastructure device 172. Specifically, communication device 172 may be configured to transmit data (e.g., Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) data) to the wireless communication network (e.g., to infrastructure device 172) via a wireless access interface. Communication device 171 and infrastructure device 172 each include transceivers (or transceiver circuits) 171.1, 172.1 and controllers (or controller circuits) 171.2, 172.2. Each controller in controllers 171.2, 172.2 may be, for example, a microprocessor, CPU, or dedicated chipset.

[0120] like Figure 17As shown in the example, the transceiver circuitry 171.1 and controller circuitry 171.2 of communication device 171 are combined and configured to operate 173 according to a configured licensed (CG) operation mode, which includes communication device 171 configured to determine 174 (e.g., via an activation indication or other such command received from a wireless communication network, such as from infrastructure device 172) a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, and to transmit 175 signals to the wireless communication network (e.g., infrastructure device 172) in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface. The system is configured to transmit uplink data 176 to a wireless communication network (e.g., to infrastructure device 172) in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data (where each instance may contain one or more repetitions of the same PUSCH), and to transmit one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI from multiple versions of uplink control information CG-UCI to the wireless communication network (e.g., from infrastructure device 172), each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. Here, communication device 171 is configured to transmit uplink data 176 and 177 and CG-UCI such that during the transmission of uplink data 176, one or more versions of CG-UCI are transmitted multiple times. Here, CG-UCI can be understood as a UCI associated with the CG operating mode, but it does not specifically carry CG-related information; for example, as mentioned above, CG-UCI may also carry COT sharing information.

[0121] In at least some embodiments, uplink data transmission may be URLLC data transmission, and the information indicated by one or more CG-UCI indicators is specific to URLLC transmission. However, those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this technology can be equally applied to transmissions other than URLLC transmissions, such as eMBB transmissions or unlicensed band transmissions (NR-U), and therefore one or more new indicators in the CG-UCI can be equally used for transmissions of data related to services other than URLLC.

[0122] In at least some embodiments, each of the multiple versions of CG-UCI indicates different control information, and wherein each instance of a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface associated with a version of CG-UCI is associated with the same control information indicated by said version of CG-UCI. Here, the control information may include a redundant version from a plurality of redundant versions (CVs).

[0123] Essentially, such as Figure 17 The example shown in this embodiment of the technique proposes that the CG-UCI can be repeated multiple times consecutively within a longer set of PUSCH repetitions. The reliability of the CG-UCI encoding can then be increased within that consecutive number of repetitions by repeating the CG-UCI within those PUSCH repetitions. It is necessary to repeat the CG-UCI within PUSCH repetitions having the same characteristics (e.g., RVs), as there would otherwise be no benefit to the repetition; to increase the reliability of the CG-UCI, CG-UCIs indicating different RVs, etc., are not composable at the receiver (e.g., gNB). Although this document describes RVs as information within the CG-UCI that changes between PUSCH repetitions and therefore requires the CG-UCI to be repeated within PUSCH repetitions, those skilled in the art will understand that this can be any area of ​​the CG-UCI other than (or beyond) RVs.

[0124] In at least some arrangements of embodiments of this technology, CG-UCI information can be reused for X. UCIREP Physical resources of the unit. PUSCH associated with CG-UCI for those X UCIREP The duplicates have the same characteristics (where “characteristics” include HPN, RV, NDI and COT shared information).

[0125] For example, CG-UCI for X UCIREP The time slots were repeated, and PUSCH also applied to those X slots. UCIREP Time slot repetition. (In, for example...) Figure 18 In the exemplary embodiment shown, for a PUSCH with K = 8 repetitions, X UCIREP =2, although those skilled in the art will understand X UCIREP It can be greater than 2, and this can indeed increase the reliability of CG-UCI, but at the cost of increased overhead and latency. For example, RV=0 for the 1st and 2nd reuses, RV=3 for the 3rd and 4th reuses, RV=2 for the 5th and 6th reuses, and RV=1 for the 7th and 8th reuses.

[0126] In some arrangements of embodiments of this technology, the unit of physical resources is a time slot. In other words, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more within multiple time slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time slot contains one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data. This operating mode is as follows: Figure 18 As shown.

[0127] In some other arrangements of embodiments of this technology, the unit of physical resources is a sub-time slot. In other words, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more within multiple time-division sub-time slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time-division sub-time slot contains one instance of one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data. In such an arrangement, PUSCH occupies a sub-time slot, which may, for example, have a duration of 7 OFDM symbols, and CG-UCI occupies OFDM symbols within the sub-time slot. This operating mode is similar to the above regarding… Figure 18 The description of the layout differs in that the timeline is enumerated in units of sub-slots rather than in units of time slots.

[0128] from Figure 18 It is evident from this that the gNB needs to receive and buffer multiple time slots before it can decode the PUSCH. For example, see reference... Figure 18 Before the gNB can decode the CG-UCI and therefore the PUSCH, it needs to buffer the first and second time slots. That is, to process the PUSCH repetition RV0 (repeated across time slots A and B), the gNB needs to receive the CG-UCI in time slots A and B (and combine the CG-UCI in time slots A and B). Once it has received the CG-UCI repeated across time slots A and B, the gNB can determine that RV0 has been used to encode the PUSCH in time slots A and B, and therefore performs physical channel processing for the PUSCH repeated across time slots A and B. Therefore, in this example, the gNB can buffer the first and second time slots at time T. B Physical channel processing begins for the PUSCH received in time slots A and B. The gNB must buffer the PUSCH across time slots A and B until T. B Then the gNB will know how to perform physical channel processing on the buffered PUSCH. It should be noted here that physical channel processing requires functions such as determining which parity bits and system bits are included in the PUSCH and the interleaver mode applied to the PUSCH physical channel bits.

[0129] In some other arrangements of embodiments of this technology, the unit of physical resources is a transmission instance. In other words, one or more transmission versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in one or more instances of the uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0130] like Figure 19 As shown, if the repetitions of CG-UCI are interleaved relative to the PUSCH they refer to, the above gNB buffering requirement can be avoided. Figure 19 It is shown that:

[0131] • Slot A—CG-UCI indicates RV0. This CG-UCI applies to PUSCH in slots A and B. It should be noted that this CG-UCI is not repeated, therefore there is no repeating gain in this slot. Because there is no repeating gain in this slot, the performance of PUSCH decoding in slots A and B may be compromised. This is unlikely to be a serious problem (CG-UCI will be decoded correctly in most cases, and even if not, it is very likely that PUSCH will be successfully decoded based on the other 6 slots: slot C->G);

[0132] • In time slot B, time slot B-CG-UCI represents the RV (etc.) applied in time slot C;

[0133] • The C-CG-UCI in time slot C is the same as that in time slot B, therefore the CG-UCI in time slots B and C can be combined. The PUSCH in time slots C and D can be generated from time T. C Decoding begins because the gNB knows the time T based on the repeated decoding of the CG-UCI from time slots B and C. C RV applied to time slots C and D; and

[0134] • Time slot G — The CG-UCI in time slot G is associated with the PUSCH in time slot G. Alternatively, the CG-UCI in time slot G can be associated with the first PUSCH of a subsequent set of repeated PUSCHs (i.e., the CG-UCI in time slot G can be associated with the PUSCH in "time slot A" of a subsequent set of 8 repeated PUSCHs).

[0135] Therefore, as Figure 19 As shown in the example, at least one CG-UCI repeat of at least one transmission version of CG-UCI is included in the transmission of uplink data earlier than the earliest of two or more instances associated with at least one transmission version of CG-UCI.

[0136] CG-UCI repetition can occur within the first repetition of a set of PUSCH repetitions, all of which are encoded using the same RV. In this case, the gNB can reliably repeat decoding the CG-UCI within the first PUSCH repetition, and then repeat decoding all subsequent PUSCH repetitions encoded using the same RV. In other words, all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one emission version of the CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance of the two or more instances associated with at least one emission version of the CG-UCI. An example of this arrangement is as follows: Figure 20 As shown. Figure 20 It is shown that:

[0137] • Slot A — This is the first slot in a pair (two) PUSCHs, both of which are encoded using RV0. Therefore, this slot contains two repetitions of the CG-UCI indicating RV0.

[0138] Once the gNB has decoded these repeating CG-UCIs, it reliably knows that it should be used to decode the RV of the PUSCH in slots A and B.

[0139] • Slot B — This is not the first slot of a pair of repeating PUSCHs sharing the same RV, therefore this slot does not contain CG-UCI; and

[0140] • Slot C — For slot A, although RV3 is applied to the PUSCH repetition in slots C and D, the repeated CG-UCI represents RV3;

[0141] ·etc.

[0142] In some arrangements of embodiments of this technology, when RV changes, CG-UCI repeats occur within the central portion of the PUSCH repeat (e.g., Figure 20 (As shown). In other words, all CG-UCI duplicates of at least one launch version of CG-UCI are substantially located in the middle of the earliest of two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0143] Figure 20 The CG-UCI repeat is shown as an intermediate repeat of the PUSCH repeat, but those skilled in the art will understand that the CG-UCI repeat may alternatively be located within other parts of the PUSCH repeat. Figure 21 An example is shown where the CG-UCI repeat is located in the start and end symbols (OFDM symbol or SC-FDMA symbol) of the slot containing the PUSCH repeat.

[0144] In some other arrangements of embodiments of this technology, when RV changes (e.g.) Figure 21 As shown), CG-UCI repetitions occur within the first and last symbols (OFDM or SC-FDMA) of the PUSCH repetition. In other words, all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one launch version of CG-UCI are substantially located at at least one end of the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0145] In some other arrangements of embodiments of this technology, the PUSCH is transmitted along with a limited number of CG-UCIs within OFDM or SC-FDMA symbols, and additional CG-UCIs are transmitted within other OFDM or SC-FDMA symbols. In other words, a first CG-UCI repetition of at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI, and a second CG-UCI repetition of at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI is temporally adjacent to the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI (i.e., outside the CG-PUSCH resource, e.g., immediately following). For example, the gNB configures the UE with a 12-symbol OFDM symbol PUSCH containing 2 OFDM symbol CG-UCIs, where the 12 OFDM symbols begin with the first OFDM symbol of the time slot. This arrangement can be configured using existing Rel-16 PUSCH configuration signaling. The UE is further configured to transmit CG-UCI within the last two OFDM symbols, where the CG-UCI carries the same control information as the previously configured CG-UCI. Therefore, the gNB can combine the two CG-UCIs. The advantage of this example is that it minimizes specification changes and simplifies implementation.

[0146] In an alternative example, a repeated CG-UCI can be transmitted earlier than the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI. In other words, the first CG-UCI repeat of at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI, and the second CG-UCI repeat of at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI is temporally earlier than the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one transmitted version of the CG-UCI. For example, the gNB configures the UE with a 12-symbol PUSCH containing 2 OFDM symbol CG-UCIs, where the 12 OFDM symbols begin with the third OFDM symbol in the time slot. This arrangement can be configured using existing Rel-16 PUSCH configuration signaling. The UE is further configured with CG-UCI transmission within the first two OFDM symbols, where the CG-UCI carries the same control information as the control information contained within the previously configured CG-UCI. Therefore, the gNB can combine the two CG-UCIs.

[0147] Typically, in situations as described above... Figure 20 and Figure 21In the arrangement of the described technical embodiment, CG-UCI repetitions occur within some known locations of PUSCH repetitions with RV variations. In other words, all CG-UCI repetitions of one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are located at the location of the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one version of CG-UCI known in the wireless communication network.

[0148] In some arrangements of embodiments of this technology, CG-UCI repetition may occur within the first PUSCH repetition (or the first few repetitions), and subsequent PUSCH repetitions may not carry CG-UCI or carry fewer information bits within the CG-UCI. In other words, all CG-UCI repetitions of all transmitted versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance of two or more instances.

[0149] This arrangement allows the gNB to benefit from the repetitive decoding gain of CG-UCI and eliminates the need for the gNB to buffer the PUSCH. Figure 22 An operational example of this arrangement is shown, where the CG-UCI for all PUSCH repetitions is transmitted within the first two time slots of an 8-time-slot PUSCH. Because the gNB receives the CG-UCI early, it can repeatedly decode the CG-UCI before buffering the associated PUSCH. Figure 22 It is shown that:

[0150] • Slot A—The CG-UCI indicating RV0 is repeated twice. The associated PUSCH repeats are emitted in slots A and B. It should be noted that these PUSCHs are significantly truncated through the CG-UCI emission. However, note that the total available resources for PUSCH resource elements are... Figure 18 The same in; in Figure 22 In the game, the position of CG-UCI has changed, but the overall proportion of resources used by CG-UCI remains the same.

[0151] • Time slot A—indicates that the CG-UCI of RV3 is repeated twice. The associated PUSCH is transmitted in time slots C and D; and

[0152] • Time slots C and D — transmit in time slot C using the PUSCH of RV3 and repeat in time slot D;

[0153] ·etc.

[0154] Figure 23 An alternative arrangement of an embodiment of this technology is shown. Figure 23The diagram illustrates that a cluster of repeating CG-UCIs can be transmitted at the beginning of a set of PUSCH repeats, and a second cluster can be transmitted later within that set of PUSCH repeats. In other words, all CG-UCI repeats in one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance of two or more instances, and all other CG-UCI repeats in a transmitted version of CG-UCI are included in at least one later instance of two or more instances. This arrangement avoids situations where one redundant version of the PUSCH is significantly adversely affected, for example, due to channel fading during the transmission of that redundant version of the PUSCH.

[0155] Although the above-described arrangement of embodiments of this technology has demonstrated how the reliability of CG-UCI can be increased when PUSCH is repeated through the repetition of CG-UCI, the UE needs to know that the boundary of the new CG-UCI should be within the PUSCH repetition. It is recommended that CG-UCI be repeated in known PUSCH repetitions or follow a predefined order. In other words, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances, at least one of which is known to the wireless communication network. Alternatively (or additionally), one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances according to a predefined pattern known to the wireless communication network.

[0156] A known implementation of a PUSCH repetition or predefined order is that the CG-UCI begins with the first PUSCH repetition and repeats in two consecutive PUSCH repetitions; for example, if there are 4 PUSCH repetitions, the 1st and 2nd repetitions have the same CG-UCI, and the 3rd and 4th repetitions have the same CG-UCI, but the CG-UCI of the 3rd and 4th repetitions may be different from that of the 1st and 2nd repetitions. Here, the gNB can then combine the CG-UCI of the 1st and 2nd repetitions with that of the 3rd and 4th repetitions. An example of a predefined order is that each odd-numbered repetition has the same CG-UCI.

[0157] The predefined sequence or known PUSCH repetition of the repeating CG-UCI can be configured by RRC, signaled in the active DCI, or fixed in the specification. That is, at least one instance and / or predefined pattern of two or more instances is configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling received from the wireless communication network by the communication device. Alternatively (or additionally), at least one instance and / or predefined pattern of two or more instances is indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device from the wireless communication network, which indicates that the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface is active and can be used by the communication device to signal to the wireless communication network. Alternatively (or additionally), at least one instance and / or predefined pattern of two or more instances is predetermined and known to the communication device and infrastructure equipment.

[0158] Figure 24 Partial schematic flowchart representations and partial message flowchart representations of a wireless communication network including communication device 241 and infrastructure device 242 according to at least some embodiments of the present technology are shown. Communication device 241 is configured to transmit data to or receive data from the wireless communication network via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communication network, for example, to or from infrastructure device 242. Specifically, communication device 242 may be configured to transmit data (e.g., Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) data) to the wireless communication network (e.g., to infrastructure device 242) via the wireless access interface. Communication device 241 and infrastructure device 242 each include transceivers (or transceiver circuits) 241.1, 242.1 and controllers (or controller circuits) 241.2, 242.2. Each controller in controllers 241.2, 242.2 may be, for example, a microprocessor, CPU, or dedicated chipset.

[0159] like Figure 24As shown in the example, the transceiver circuitry 241.1 and controller circuitry 241.2 of communication device 241 are combined and configured to operate 243 according to a configured licensed (CG) operation mode, which includes communication device 241 configured to determine 244 (e.g., via an activation indication or other such command received from a wireless communication network, such as from infrastructure device 242) a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, and to transmit 245 signals to the wireless communication network (e.g., infrastructure device 242) in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface. The communication device 241 is configured to transmit uplink data 246 to a wireless communication network (e.g., from infrastructure device 242) in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data (where each instance may contain one or more repetitions of the same PUSCH), and to transmit one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI 247 to the wireless communication network (e.g., from infrastructure device 242), each version of CG-UCI associated with multiple instances of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface. Here, the communication device 241 is configured to transmit uplink data 246 and 247 and CG-UCI such that one or more versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts 247, each of the two or more parts being transmitted 247 in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data 246.

[0160] Essentially, such as Figure 24 The example shown in this embodiment of the technique proposes that the PUSCH can be repeated multiple times consecutively within a longer set of PUSCH repetitions. By reducing the number of bits within the CG-UCI by including portions of the CG-UCI at different positions within the repetitions, the code rate of the CG-UCI is reduced, and the reliability of the CG-UCI encoding can then be increased within the number of consecutive repetitions.

[0161] In this embodiment of the technology, when the application is repeated (or more specifically, when the application is repeated more than a threshold number of times), the CG-UCI can be subdivided (or divided into parts, or segments) and emitted within individual PUSCH repetitions. Therefore, the subdivided CG-UCI is a compact UCI compared to the original CG-UCI.

[0162] In the example, the CG-UCI consists of {HPN, RV, NDI, COT shared information}. At lower PUSCH repetition counts, these information fields are transmitted within a single CG-UCI and a single PUSCH. At higher repetition counts (e.g., when the PUSCH repetition count exceeds a threshold), the information bits are split into two CG-UCIs:

[0163] ·CG-UCI 1={HPN,RV}; and

[0164] ·CG-UCI 2 = {NDI, COT shared information}.

[0165] Then, separate CG-UCIs are transmitted in different PUSCH repetitions. Figure 25 An example is shown (it should be noted here that, for ease of understanding, the time range of CG-UCI is within...). Figure 25 (The extent of the exaggeration is unknown). Figure 25 The following is shown:

[0166] In the traditional case, each PUSCH repeatedly contains the CG-UCI, which contains a complete set of uplink control information ({HPN, RV, NDI, COT shared information}).

[0167] According to, as per the above Figure 24 In the above arrangement of the embodiments of the present technology described herein, half of the CG-UCI information is transmitted within one PUSCH repeat, and half of the CG-UCI information is transmitted within another PUSCH repeat:

[0168] • Time slot A—Transmits CG-UCI1 and signals {HPN, RV}. This information applies to both time slots A and B. HPN and RV are required for decoding the PUSCH, therefore preferably, these fields are transmitted within CG-UCI1 rather than CG-UCI2;

[0169] • Time slot B — Transmits CG-UCI2 and signals {NDI, COT shared information}.

[0170] • Time slot C—Similar to time slot A, but this information applies to both time slots C and D. It should be noted that the uplink control information transmitted in time slot C may differ from the uplink control information transmitted in time slot A; and

[0171] • Time slot D—similar to time slot B. Note that the uplink control information transmitted in time slot D may differ from the uplink control information transmitted in time slot B.

[0172] Those skilled in the art will understand that, since the number of information bits per CG-UCI has been reduced while the number of physical bits used to transmit the CG-UCI remains unchanged, the reliability of the uplink control information (i.e., CG-UCI1, which contains half the number of information bits of CG-UCI, has no retransmissions, and is expected to have the same / similar reliability as CG-UCI with two repetitions. In both cases, the effective code rate is the same) is increased.

[0173] It should be understood that, regarding such matters... Figure 24 and Figure 25 In the embodiments of the described technology, different aspects of CG-UCI can be updated / changed at different times. For example, RV can be updated in time slot A or time slot C, while COT shared information can be updated in time slot B or time slot D.

[0174] Those skilled in the art will understand that, as regarding Figure 24 and Figure 25 The operation of the described UE (or communication device) can be related to, for example, the operation of ... Figures 17 to 23 The described UE operations are combined; that is, the UE can transmit a repeated portion of the CG-UCI within a PUSCH repeat that includes uplink data. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure herein relates to... Figures 17 to 23 The described embodiments or by means of Figure 24 and Figure 25 Any embodiment or example of the described embodiments can be combined with any other embodiment or example.

[0175] Although the above-described arrangement of embodiments of this technology has demonstrated how the reliability of the CG-UCI can be increased when repeating the PUSCH through segmentation of the CG-UCI, the UE needs to know that the boundary of the new CG-UCI should be within the PUSCH repetition. It is recommended that the first segment of the CG-UCI be transmitted with a known PUSCH repetition or in a predefined order. In other words, different instances of two or more instances containing two or more separate segments are known to the wireless communication network. Alternatively (or additionally), the two or more separate segments are transmitted within different instances of the two or more instances according to a predefined pattern known to the wireless communication network.

[0176] For example, an implementation of the known PUSCH repeat or predefined order is to transmit CG-UCI1 in the first PUSCH repeat and CG-UCI2 in the second PUSCH repeat. The third PUSCH repeat contains CG-UCI1, where this CG-UCI1 may have different content than the CG-UCI1 in the first PUSCH repeat, and the fourth repeat contains CG-UCI2, where this CG-UCI2 may have different content than the CG-UCI2 in the second PUSCH repeat. An example of a predefined order is that odd-numbered PUSCH repeats carry CG-UCI1, and odd-numbered PUSCH repeats carry CG-UCI2.

[0177] The predefined sequence or known PUSCH repetition of the repeating CG-UCI can be configured by RRC, signaled in the active DCI, or fixed in the specification. That is, different instances and / or predefined patterns of two or more instances are configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling received from the wireless communication network by the communication device. Alternatively (or additionally), the different instances and / or predefined patterns in the two or more instances are indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device from the wireless communication network, which indicates that the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface is active and can be used by the communication device to signal to the wireless communication network. Alternatively (or additionally), the different instances and / or predefined patterns in the two or more instances are predetermined and known by the communication device and infrastructure equipment.

[0178] Flowchart representation

[0179] Figure 26 A flowchart illustrating a first example process of communication in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. Figure 26 The process shown is a method of operating a communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network (e.g., to infrastructure equipment) via a wireless access interface.

[0180] The method begins at step S11. The method includes, in step S12, operating according to a configured licensed (CG) operation mode. In step S13, the process includes transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network as multiple repetitions of uplink data in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. In step S14, the method includes transmitting one or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) from multiple versions to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI associated with multiple instances of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. Here, one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data. The process ends at step S15.

[0181] Figure 27 A flowchart illustrating a second example process of communication in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. Figure 27 The procedure shown specifies more detailed operations of a communication device operating according to a configured authorized (CG) operating mode, such as... Figure 26 The CG operation mode mentioned in step S12 of the method shown.

[0182] The method begins at step S21. The method includes, in step S22, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of the wireless access interface (e.g., by receiving an activation (or other) indication or command defining such a sequence from a wireless communication network, such as from an infrastructure device of the wireless communication network). In step S23, the method includes transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface. The process ends at step S24.

[0183] Figure 28 A flowchart illustrating a third example process of communication in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present technology is shown. Figure 28 The process shown is a method of operating a communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network (e.g., to infrastructure equipment) via a wireless access interface.

[0184] The method begins with step S31. The method includes, in step S32, operating according to the configured authorization (CG) operation mode (here, Figure 27 Further details are specified regarding the communication device operating according to a configured authorized (CG) operating mode, such as in... Figure 28The method shown in step S32 refers to the CG operation mode. In step S33, the process includes transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network as multiple repetitions of uplink data in two or more instances of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. In step S34, the method includes transmitting one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI from multiple versions to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface. Here, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more parts being transmitted in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data. The process ends in step S35.

[0185] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 26 , Figure 27 and Figure 28 The methods shown can be adapted to embodiments of the present technology. For example, other intermediate steps may be included in one or both of these methods, or these steps may be performed in any logical order.

[0186] Although the embodiments of this technology are mainly through Figure 17 and Figure 24 The exemplary communication system shown is used for description, and relative to... Figures 18 to 23 and Figure 25 The examples described herein are clear to those skilled in the art, but they can be equally applied to other systems of those systems described herein.

[0187] While embodiments of this technology have been extensively described with respect to uplink CG resources and uplink control information associated with such resources, those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this technology can be accordingly applied to any type of resource in the uplink, downlink, or sidelink. For example, downlink control information (DCI) can be transmitted according to repetitions or segments within PDSCH repetitions in the downlink, such as in semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resources, as described herein, wherein such DCI can change between PDSCH repetitions. This application of the described embodiments to uplink, downlink, and sidelink communication is within the scope of this disclosure.

[0188] Those skilled in the art will further understand that the infrastructure equipment and / or communication equipment defined herein can be further defined according to the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. Those skilled in the art will further understand that the infrastructure equipment and communication equipment defined and described herein can form part of a communication system other than the communication system defined in this disclosure.

[0189] The following numbered items provide further exemplary aspects and features of this technology:

[0190] Item 1. A method for operating a communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the method comprising:

[0191] The operation is performed according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes determining an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface and transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0192] In two or more instances of the uplink communication resource sequence of the wireless access interface, uplink data is transmitted to the wireless communication network as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0193] One or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) are transmitted to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0194] One or more transmission versions of CG-UCI were repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data.

[0195] Item 2. The method according to Item 1, wherein each of the plurality of versions of CG-UCI indicates different control information, and wherein each of the plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communication resources of the radio access interface associated with the version of CG-UCI is associated with the same control information indicated by the version of CG-UCI.

[0196] Item 3. The method according to Item 2, wherein the control information indicates one of the multiple redundant versions.

[0197] Item 4. The method of any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in multiple time-division slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time-division slot contains one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data.

[0198] Item 5. The method of any one of items 1 to 4, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in multiple time-division sub-slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time-division sub-slot contains one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data.

[0199] Item 6. The method of any one of items 1 to 5, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in one or more instance sequences of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0200] Item 7. The method of any one of items 1 to 6, wherein at least one CG-UCI repetition of at least one transmission version of CG-UCI is included earlier than the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one transmission version of CG-UCI during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0201] Item 8. The method of any one of Items 1 to 7, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates of at least one launch version of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0202] Item 9. The method of Item 8, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates of at least one launch version of CG-UCI are substantially located in the middle of the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0203] Item 10. The method according to Item 8 or Item 9, wherein all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one emission version of CG-UCI are substantially located at at least one end of the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with said at least one emission version of CG-UCI.

[0204] Item 11. The method according to any one of items 8 to 10, wherein a first CG-UCI repeat of at least one launch version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI, and a second CG-UCI repeat of at least one launch version of CG-UCI is temporally immediately following the earliest instance of the two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0205] Item 12. The method according to any one of Items 8 to 11, wherein a first CG-UCI repeat of at least one launch version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI, and a second CG-UCI repeat of at least one launch version of CG-UCI is temporally earlier than the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one launch version of CG-UCI.

[0206] Item 13. The method according to any one of Items 8 to 12, wherein all CG-UCI repeats of one or more transmission versions of CG-UCI are located at the position of the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one transmission version of CG-UCI known in the wireless communication network.

[0207] Item 14. The method of any one of Items 1 to 13, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates in all emission versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance among two or more instances.

[0208] Item 15. The method of any one of Items 1 to 14, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates of one or more launch versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance of two or more instances, and all CG-UCI duplicates of other versions of CG-UCI of the launch version of CG-UCI are included in at least one later instance of two or more instances.

[0209] Item 16. The method of any one of items 1 to 15, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances, and at least one of the two or more instances is known to the wireless communication network.

[0210] Item 17. The method of any one of items 1 to 16, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances according to a predefined pattern known to the wireless communication network.

[0211] Item 18. The method according to Item 16 or Item 17, wherein at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined mode is configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling received from the wireless communication network via the communication device.

[0212] Item 19. The method of any one of Items 16 to 18, wherein at least one instance of two or more instances and / or a predefined mode is indicated in a downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device from the wireless communication network, the DCI indicating that a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface is active and can be used by the communication device to transmit signals to the wireless communication network.

[0213] Item 20. The method according to any one of Items 16 to 19, wherein at least one instance and / or predefined pattern of the two or more instances is predetermined and known to the communication equipment and infrastructure equipment.

[0214] Item 21. The method according to any one of Items 1 to 20, wherein one or more transmission versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is transmitted in different instances of two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data.

[0215] Item 22. A communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the communication device comprising:

[0216] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface, and

[0217] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured as follows:

[0218] This is used to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes a communication device configured to determine an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface and transmit a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0219] For transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0220] Used to transmit one or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) to a wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0221] One or more transmission versions of CG-UCI were repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data.

[0222] Item 23. A circuit for communication, configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the circuit comprising:

[0223] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface, and

[0224] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured as follows:

[0225] This is used to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes circuitry configured to determine an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface and transmit a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0226] For transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0227] Used to transmit one or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) to a wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0228] One or more transmission versions of CG-UCI were repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data.

[0229] Item 24. A method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network being configured to receive data from the communication equipment via a wireless access interface, the method comprising:

[0230] The communication device is instructed to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes, at the communication device, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of a radio access interface and transmitting a signal to the infrastructure device in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0231] In two or more instances of the uplink communication resource sequence of the wireless access interface, uplink data is received from the communication device as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0232] Receive one or more versions of uplink control CG-UCI from the communication device, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0233] In this case, one or more received versions of CG-UCI were repeated multiple times during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0234] Item 25. The method according to Item 24, wherein each of the plurality of versions of CG-UCI indicates different control information, and wherein each of the plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface associated with a version of CG-UCI is associated with the same control information indicated by said version of CG-UCI.

[0235] Item 26. According to the method of Item 25, wherein the control information indicates one of the multiple redundant versions.

[0236] Item 27. The method of any one of Items 24 to 26, wherein one or more received versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in multiple time-division slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time-division slot contains one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data.

[0237] Item 28. The method of any one of Items 24 to 27, wherein one or more received versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in multiple time-division sub-slots of the radio access interface, wherein each time-division sub-slot contains one of two or more repeated instances carrying uplink data.

[0238] Item 29. The method of any one of Items 24 to 28, wherein one or more received versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in one or more instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0239] Item 30. The method of any one of Items 24 to 29, wherein at least one CG-UCI repetition of at least one received version of CG-UCI is included earlier than the earliest of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI during the transmission of uplink data.

[0240] Item 31. The method of any one of Items 24 to 30, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates of at least one received version of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI.

[0241] Item 32. The method according to Item 31, wherein all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one received version of CG-UCI are substantially located in the middle of the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI.

[0242] Item 33. The method according to Item 31 or Item 32, wherein all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one received version of CG-UCI are substantially located at at least one end of the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI.

[0243] Item 34. The method according to any one of Items 31 to 33, wherein a first CG-UCI repeat of at least one received version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI, and a second CG-UCI repeat of at least one received version of CG-UCI is temporally immediately following the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI.

[0244] Item 35. The method of any one of items 31 to 34, wherein a first CG-UCI repeat of at least one received version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI, and a second CG-UCI repeat of at least one received version of CG-UCI is temporally earlier than the earliest instance of two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI.

[0245] Item 36. The method of any one of Items 31 to 35, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates in one or more received versions of CG-UCI are located at the position of the earliest instance among two or more instances associated with at least one received version of CG-UCI known in the infrastructure.

[0246] Item 37. The method of any one of Items 24 to 36, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates in all received versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance among two or more instances.

[0247] Item 38. The method of any one of Items 24 to 37, wherein all CG-UCI duplicates of one or more received versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest instance of two or more instances, and all CG-UCI duplicates of other versions of CG-UCI in the received versions of CG-UCI are included in at least one later instance of two or more instances.

[0248] Item 39. The method of any one of Items 24 to 38, wherein one or more receiving versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances, and at least one of the two or more instances is known to the infrastructure device.

[0249] Item 40. The method of any one of Items 24 to 39, wherein one or more receiving versions of CG-UCI are repeated once or more in at least one of two or more instances according to a predefined pattern known to the infrastructure device.

[0250] Item 41. The method according to Item 39 or Item 40, wherein at least one instance of two or more instances and / or a predefined mode is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling transmitted from the infrastructure equipment to the communication equipment.

[0251] Item 42. The method according to any one of items 39 to 41, wherein at least one instance of two or more instances and / or a predefined mode is indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) transmitted from the infrastructure equipment to the communication equipment, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of the uplink communication resources of the radio access interface is active and can be used by the communication equipment to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment.

[0252] Item 43. The method according to any one of items 39 to 42, wherein at least one instance and / or predefined pattern of the two or more instances is predetermined and known to the communication equipment and infrastructure equipment.

[0253] Item 44. The method of any one of items 24 to 43, wherein one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is received in different instances of two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data.

[0254] Item 45. An infrastructure device constituting part of a wireless communication network configured to receive data from a communication device via a wireless access interface, the infrastructure device comprising:

[0255] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the infrastructure equipment.

[0256] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured as follows:

[0257] This is used to transmit instructions to a communication device, which is configured to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode. The CG operating mode includes, at the communication device, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of a radio access interface, and transmitting a signal to infrastructure equipment in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0258] For receiving uplink data from a communication device in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0259] Used to receive one of multiple versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) from a communication device. Alternatively, each version of the CG-UCI may be associated with multiple instances of a sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0260] In this process, one or more CG-UCI received versions are repeated multiple times during the transmission of uplink data.

[0261] Item 46. A circuit for an infrastructure device forming part of a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network being configured to receive data from a communication device via a wireless access interface, the circuit comprising:

[0262] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the circuitry.

[0263] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured as follows:

[0264] This is used to transmit instructions to a communication device, which is configured to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode. The CG operating mode includes, at the communication device, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of a radio access interface, and transmitting a signal to a circuit in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0265] For receiving uplink data from a communication device in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of a wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0266] Used to receive one or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) from a communication device, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0267] In this case, one or more received versions of CG-UCI were repeated multiple times during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0268] Item 47. A method of operating a communication device, the communication device being configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the method comprising:

[0269] The operation is performed according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes determining an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface and transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0270] In two or more instances of the uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, uplink data is transmitted to the wireless communication network as multiple repetitions of uplink data, and

[0271] Transmit one or more versions of uplink control information CG-UCI from multiple versions to the wireless communication network. Each version of CG-UCI is associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0272] In this case, one or more versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is transmitted in different instances of two or more instances during the transmission of uplink data.

[0273] Item 48. The method according to Item 47, wherein the different instances of two or more instances comprising two or more separate parts are known to the wireless communication network.

[0274] Item 49. The method according to Item 47 or Item 48, wherein two or more separate portions are transmitted in different instances of two or more instances according to a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the wireless communication network.

[0275] Item 50. The method according to Item 48 or Item 49, wherein the different instances and / or predefined modes in two or more instances are configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling received from the wireless communication network via the communication device.

[0276] Item 51. The method of any one of items 48 to 50, wherein different instances and / or predefined modes in two or more instances are indicated in downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device from the wireless communication network, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface is active and can be used by the communication device to transmit signals to the wireless communication network.

[0277] Item 52. The method according to any one of Items 48 to 51, wherein the different instances and / or predefined patterns in the two or more instances are predetermined and known to the communication equipment and infrastructure equipment.

[0278] Item 53. A communication device configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the communication device comprising:

[0279] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface, and

[0280] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured as follows:

[0281] This is used to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, the CG operating mode including the communication device, the communication device being configured to determine an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, and to transmit a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of the uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface.

[0282] For transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of the instance sequence of the uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0283] For transmitting one or more versions of uplink control CG-UCI from multiple versions to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of the instance sequence of the uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more parts being transmitted in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0284] Item 54. A circuit for communication, configured to transmit data to a wireless communication network via a wireless access interface, the circuit comprising:

[0285] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface, and

[0286] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured to:

[0287] This is used to operate according to a configured authorized CG operation mode, the CG operation mode including the circuitry configured to determine an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, and to transmit a signal to the wireless communication network in at least one instance of the instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface.

[0288] For transmitting uplink data to the wireless communication network in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0289] This is used to transmit one or more versions of uplink control information (CG-UCI) to the wireless communication network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface.

[0290] In this case, one or more transmission versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is transmitted in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0291] Item 55. A method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network being configured to receive data from a communication device via a wireless access interface, the method comprising:

[0292] The communication device is instructed to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, which includes determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances for a radio access interface at the communication device and transmitting a signal to the infrastructure device in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0293] In two or more instances of the sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, uplink data is received from the communication device as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0294] The communication device receives one or more versions of uplink control CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0295] In this case, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is received in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0296] Item 56. The method according to Item 55, wherein the different instances comprising the two or more separate portions are known to the infrastructure equipment.

[0297] Item 57. The method according to Item 55 or Item 56, wherein the two or more separate portions are received in different instances of the two or more instances according to a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the infrastructure equipment.

[0298] Item 58. The method according to Item 56 or Item 57, wherein different instances and / or predefined modes in two or more instances are configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling transmitted from the infrastructure equipment to the communication equipment.

[0299] Item 59. The method of any one of items 56 to 58, wherein different instances and / or predefined modes of the two or more instances are indicated in downlink control information (DCI) transmitted from the infrastructure device to the communication device, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of the uplink communication resources of the radio access interface is active and can be used by the communication device to transmit signals to the infrastructure device.

[0300] Item 60. The method of any one of items 56 to 59, wherein the different instances and / or predefined patterns in the two or more instances are predetermined and known in advance by the communication device and the infrastructure device.

[0301] Item 61. An infrastructure device forming part of a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network being configured to receive data from a communication device via a wireless access interface, the infrastructure device comprising:

[0302] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the infrastructure equipment.

[0303] The controller circuit, combined with the transceiver circuit, is configured to:

[0304] The device is used to transmit an instruction to the communication device, which is configured to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, the CG operating mode including, at the communication device, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of a radio access interface, and transmitting a signal to the infrastructure device in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0305] For receiving uplink data from the communication device in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0306] This is used to receive one or more versions of uplink control CG-UCI from the communication device, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0307] In this case, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is received in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0308] Item 62. A circuit for an infrastructure device forming part of a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network being configured to receive data from a communication device via a wireless access interface, the circuit comprising:

[0309] The transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the circuitry.

[0310] The controller circuit is configured in combination with the transceiver circuit.

[0311] The device is used to transmit an instruction to the communication device, the communication device being configured to operate according to a configured authorized CG operating mode, the CG operating mode including, at the communication device, determining a sequence of uplink communication resource instances of a radio access interface, and transmitting a signal to the circuit in at least one instance of the uplink communication resource instance sequence of the radio access interface.

[0312] For receiving uplink data from the communication device in two or more instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and

[0313] This is used to receive one or more versions of uplink control CG-UCI from the communication device, each version of CG-UCI being associated with multiple instances of an instance sequence of uplink communication resources of the radio access interface.

[0314] In this case, one or more transmit versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, and each of the two or more parts is received in different instances of the two or more instances during the transmission of the uplink data.

[0315] It should be understood that, for clarity, the above description has referenced various functional units, circuits, and / or processors in the embodiments. However, it will be apparent that any suitable functional distribution among the various functional units, circuits, and / or processors may be used without departing from the embodiments.

[0316] The described embodiments can be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. The described embodiments can optionally be implemented, at least in part, as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. Elements and components of any embodiment can be implemented physically, functionally, and logically in any suitable manner. In practice, the functionality can be implemented in a single unit, in multiple units, or as part of other functional units. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments can be implemented in a single unit or can be physically and functionally distributed among different units, circuits, and / or processors.

[0317] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. Furthermore, while features may be described in conjunction with specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various features of the described embodiments can be combined in any manner suitable for implementing the technology.

[0318] References

[0319] [1]Holma H. ​​and Toskala A, "LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radioaccess", John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0320] [2]TR 38.913, "Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)", third Generation Partnership Project, v14.3.0.

[0321] [3]RP-190726, "Physical layer enhancements for NR ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC)", Huawei, HiSilicon, RAN#83.

[0322] [4]RP-201310,“Revised WID:Enhanced Industrial Internet of Things(IoT)and ultra-reliable and low latency communication(URLLC)support for NR,”Nokia,Nokia Shanghai Bell,RAN#88e.

[0323] [5]RP-191575,“NR-based Access to Unlicensed Spectrum,”Qualcomm,RAN#84.

[0324] [6]European patent application number EP20187799.0.

[0325] [7]TS 38.321,“NR:Medium Access Control(MAC)protocol specification(Release 16),”v16.1.0.

[0326] [8]TS 38.212,“NR:Multiplexing and channel coding(Release 16),”v16.1.0.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the method comprising: operating in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting a signal to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated a plurality of times during transmission of the uplink data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, each of the plurality of versions of CG-UCI indicates different control information, and wherein each of the plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface associated with a version of the CG-UCI is associated with the same control information indicated by the version of the CG-UCI.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, the control information indicates one of a plurality of redundancy versions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times within a plurality of time divided slots of the wireless access interface, wherein each of the time divided slots contains one of the two or more instances carrying a repetition of the uplink data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times within a plurality of time divided sub-slots of the wireless access interface, wherein each of the time divided sub-slots contains one of the two or more instances carrying a repetition of the uplink data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in one or more of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, at least one CG-UCI repetition of at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI is included earlier during transmission of the uplink data than an earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI are included in an earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, the all CG-UCI repetitions of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI are located intermediate an earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI are located at least at one end of the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, A first CG-UCI repetition of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI and a second CG-UCI repetition of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI immediately follows in time the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein, A first CG-UCI repetition of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI and a second CG-UCI repetition of the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI precedes in time the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are located at a position of the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one transmitted version of CG-UCI known to the wireless communication network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, All CG-UCI repetitions in all transmitted versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest of the two or more instances.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest of the two or more instances and the all CG-UCI repetitions of other versions of CG-UCI of the transmitted versions of CG-UCI are included in at least one later of the two or more instances.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein, The one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in at least one of the two or more instances, the at least one of the two or more instances being known to the wireless communication network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein, The one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in at least one of the two or more instances according to a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the wireless communication network.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is configured by radio resource control, RRC, signaling received by the communication device from the wireless communication network.

19. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is indicated in downlink control information, DCI, received by the communication device from the wireless communication network, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of the uplink communication resources of the wireless access interface is activated and can be used by the communication device to transmit signals to the wireless communication network.

20. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is predetermined and known to the communication device and infrastructure equipment.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

22. A communications device configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the communications device comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit and receive signals via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising the communications device being configured to determine a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and to transmit signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, transmit uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and transmit one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

23. Circuitry for communications, the circuitry being configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit and receive signals via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising the circuitry being configured to determine a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and to transmit signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, transmit uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and transmit one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

24. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the method comprising: transmitting, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a signal in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receiving, from the communications device, uplink data in more than two instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and receiving, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated a plurality of times during transmission of the uplink data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein, each of the plurality of versions of CG-UCI indicates different control information, and wherein each of the plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface associated with a version of the CG-UCI is associated with the same control information indicated by the version of the CG-UCI.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, the control information indicates one of a plurality of redundancy versions.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein, the one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times within a plurality of time divided slots of the wireless access interface, wherein each of the time divided slots contains one of the more than two instances carrying a repetition of the uplink data.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein, the one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times within a plurality of time divided sub-slots of the wireless access interface, wherein each of the time divided sub-slots contains one of the more than two instances carrying a repetition of the uplink data.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein, the one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in one or more of the instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein, at least one CG-UCI repetition of at least one received version of CG-UCI is included earlier during transmission of the uplink data than an earliest of the more than two instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein, all CG-UCI repetitions of at least one received version of CG-UCI are included in an earliest of the more than two instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, the all CG-UCI repetitions of the at least one received version of CG-UCI are located intermediate an earliest of the more than two instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of the at least one received version of CG-UCI are located at least at one end of the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein, A first CG-UCI repetition of the at least one received version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI and a second CG-UCI repetition of the at least one received version of CG-UCI immediately follows in time the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein, A first CG-UCI repetition of the at least one received version of CG-UCI is located within the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI and a second CG-UCI repetition of the at least one received version of CG-UCI precedes in time the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of the one or more received versions of CG-UCI are located at a position of the earliest of the two or more instances associated with the at least one received version of CG-UCI known to the infrastructure equipment.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of all received versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest of the two or more instances.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein, The all CG-UCI repetitions of one or more received versions of CG-UCI are included in the earliest of the two or more instances and the all CG-UCI repetitions of other versions of CG-UCI of the received versions of CG-UCI are included in at least one later of the two or more instances.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein, The one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in at least one of the two or more instances, the at least one of the two or more instances being known to the infrastructure equipment.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein, The one or more received versions of CG-UCI are each repeated one or more times in at least one of the two or more instances according to a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the infrastructure equipment.

41. The method of claim 39 or claim 40, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is configured by radio resource control, RRC, signalling transmitted by the infrastructure equipment to the communications device.

42. The method of claim 39 or claim 40, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is indicated in downlink control information, DCI, transmitted by the infrastructure equipment to the communications device, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface is active and can be used by the communications device to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment.

43. The method of claim 39 or 40, wherein, The at least one of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern is predetermined and known to the communications device and the infrastructure equipment.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein, The one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being received in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

45. Infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the infrastructure equipment comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals and to receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the infrastructure equipment, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: transmit, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, operating mode comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the infrastructure equipment in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receive, from the communications device, uplink data in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and receive, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, 46. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the circuitry being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals and to receive signals via a wireless access interface provided by the circuitry, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: transmit, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, operating mode comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the circuitry in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receive, from the communications device, uplink data in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and receive, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein one or more of the transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

47. A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the method comprising: operating in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein one or more of the transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein, different ones of the two or more instances comprising the two or more separate parts are known to the wireless communications network.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein, the two or more separate parts are transmitted within different ones of the two or more instances in accordance with a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the wireless communications network.

50. The method of claim 48 or 49, wherein, different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are configured by radio resource control, RRC, signalling received by the communications device from the wireless communications network.

51. The method of claim 48 or 49, wherein, different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are indicated in downlink control information, DCI, received by the communications device from the wireless communications network, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface is active and can be used by the communications device to transmit signals to the wireless communications network.

52. The method of claim 48 or 49, wherein, different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are predetermined and known to the communications device and infrastructure equipment.

53. A communications device configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the communications device comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit and receive signals via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising the communications device being configured to determine a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmit signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, for transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more of the instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and for transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

54. Circuitry for communications, the circuitry being configured to transmit data to a wireless communications network via a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals and receive signals via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: for operating in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising the circuitry being configured to determine a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and to transmit signals to the wireless communications network in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, for transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network in two or more of the instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and for transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

55. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the method comprising: transmitting, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the infrastructure equipment in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receiving uplink data from the communications device in two or more of the instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, as multiple repetitions of the uplink data, and transmitting one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, to the wireless communications network, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of the uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each transmitted as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being transmitted in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data. to receive, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being received in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein, the different ones of the two or more instances comprising the two or more separate parts are known to the infrastructure equipment.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein, the two or more separate parts are received within different ones of the two or more instances in accordance with a predefined pattern, the predefined pattern being known to the infrastructure equipment.

58. The method of claim 56 or 57, wherein, the different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are configured by radio resource control, RRC, signalling transmitted by the infrastructure equipment to the communications device.

59. The method of claim 56 or 57, wherein, the different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are indicated in downlink control information, DCI, transmitted by the infrastructure equipment to the communications device, the DCI indicating that the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface is active and can be used by the communications device to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment.

60. The method of claim 56 or 57, wherein, the different ones of the two or more instances and / or the predefined pattern are predetermined and known to the communications device and the infrastructure equipment.

61. An infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the infrastructure equipment comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit and receive signals via the wireless access interface provided by the infrastructure equipment, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: transmit, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in accordance with a configured grant, CG, mode of operation, the CG mode of operation comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the infrastructure equipment in at least one instance of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receive, from the communications device, uplink data in two or more instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and to receive, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each received as two or more separate parts, each of the two or more separate parts being received in a different one of the two or more instances during transmission of the uplink data.

62. Circuitry for a infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment being configured to receive data from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals and to receive signals via the wireless access interface provided by the circuitry, and controller circuitry, in combination with the transceiver circuitry, configured to: transmit, to the communications device, an indication that the communications device is configured to operate in a configured grant, CG, operating mode comprising, at the communications device, determining a sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface and transmitting signals to the circuitry in at least one of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, receive, from the communications device, uplink data in more than two of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface as a plurality of repetitions of the uplink data, and receive, from the communications device, one or more of a plurality of versions of uplink control information, CG-UCI, each version of CG-UCI being associated with a plurality of instances of the sequence of instances of uplink communications resources of the wireless access interface, wherein the one or more transmitted versions of CG-UCI are each received as more than two separate parts, each of the more than two separate parts being received in a different one of the more than two instances during transmission of the uplink data.

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