Method, terminal device, network device and computer-readable medium for feedback configuration

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to solutions for feedback configuration for channel transmission between a network device and multiple terminal devices. In a method for communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal device receives control information from a network device. The control information is used to schedule a shared channel transmission common to multiple terminal devices including the terminal device. The terminal device then determines a feedback configuration based on the control information. The feedback configuration indicates whether feedback for shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled. Afterwards, the terminal device performs communication with the network device based on the feedback configuration. In this way, the feedback function can be flexibly enabled or disabled, so that a good compromise can be achieved between transmission reliability and resource overhead, thereby improving the performance of communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method, a terminal device, a network device, and a computer-readable medium for feedback configuration. Background Art

[0002] 5G New Radio (NR) is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is the new global wireless standard following 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G supports a new type of network designed to connect almost everyone and everything, including machines, objects, and devices. 5G wireless technology is designed to provide higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, higher reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more unified user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency enable new user experiences and connect new industries.

[0003] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17 (Rel-17) work item description (WID) for NR multicast and broadcast services includes various goals. One of the goals is to specify the radio access network (RAN) basic functions for broadcast / multicast for UEs in RRC_CONNECTED state. At the same time, more goals are studied to specify the required changes to improve the reliability of broadcast / multicast services. Summary of the invention

[0004] In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for feedback configuration of channel transmission (especially multicast or broadcast transmission) between a network device and multiple terminal devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, a method performed by a terminal device is provided. The method includes receiving control information for scheduling a shared channel transmission from a network device, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices including the terminal device. The method also includes determining a feedback configuration based on the control information, the feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for the shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled. The method also includes performing communication with the network device based on the feedback configuration.

[0006] In a second aspect, a method performed by a network device is provided. The method includes determining a feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for a shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices. The method also includes generating control information for scheduling the shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration. The method also includes sending the control information to at least one terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices.

[0007] In a third aspect, a terminal device is provided. The terminal device includes a processor and a memory storing instructions. The memory and the instructions are configured to work together with the processor to enable the terminal device to execute the method of the first aspect.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, a network device is provided, which includes a processor and a memory storing instructions, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to work together with the processor to enable the network device to execute the method of the second aspect.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided, wherein instructions are stored on the computer-readable medium, and when the instructions are executed on at least one processor of a device, the device executes the method of the first aspect.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided, wherein instructions are stored on the computer-readable medium, and when the instructions are executed on at least one processor of a device, the device executes the method of the second aspect.

[0011] It should be understood that the invention summary is not intended to identify the key or essential features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figures 1A to 1C Accordingly, a schematic diagram of a communication environment in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented is shown;

[0014] Figure 2 An example communication process between a network device and a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0015] Figure 3 An example structure of control information according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, wherein a feedback timing indicator is reused to indicate a feedback configuration;

[0016] Figure 4 An example structure of control information according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, wherein a feedback resource indicator is reused to indicate a feedback configuration;

[0017] Figure 5A shows an example structure of control information according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein a dedicated field is used to indicate a feedback configuration;

[0018] Figure 5B shows an example structure of a dedicated field according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 6A flowchart illustrating an example method for communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating another example method for communicating according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0021] Figure 8 A simplified block diagram of an apparatus suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described only for illustrative purposes and to help those skilled in the art understand and implement the present disclosure, rather than to impose any limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in a variety of ways except for the ways described below. In the following description and claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0024] References in this disclosure to "one embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," "an embodiment," etc. indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is considered to be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

[0025] It should be understood that although the terms "first" and "second" etc. can be used to describe various elements in this article, these elements should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiment, the first element can be referred to as the second element, and similarly, the second element can be referred to as the first element. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms. In some examples, a value, process or device is referred to as "best", "lowest", "highest", "minimum", "maximum", etc. It will be understood that such description is intended to indicate that a selection can be made in many functional alternatives used, and such selection does not need to be better, smaller, higher or preferred than other selections.

[0026] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "has", "having", "includes" and / or "including" when used herein specify the stated features, elements and / or components, etc., but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. For example, the term "includes" and its variants should be understood as open terms, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" will be understood as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" will be understood as "at least one other embodiment". Other explicit and implicit definitions may be included below.

[0027] As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network that complies with any suitable communication standard, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), etc. Further, the communication between the terminal device and the network device in the communication network can be performed according to any suitable generation of communication protocols, including but not limited to the first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocol currently known or developed in the future. The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various communication systems. In view of the rapid development in communication, there will also be future types of communication technologies and systems that can embody the present disclosure. It should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to the above-mentioned systems.

[0028] As used herein, the term "network device" generally refers to a node in a communication network, via which a terminal device can access the network and receive services from it. A network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), such as a Node B (NodeB or NB), a radio access network (RAN) node, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a NR NB (also known as a gNB), a remote radio unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), infrastructure equipment for V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication, a transmission and reception point (TRP), a reception point (RP), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node (femto BS, pico BS), etc., depending on the terminology and technology of the application.

[0029] As used herein, the term "terminal device" generally refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communication. By way of example and not limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), end-user equipment, subscriber station (SS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), portable subscriber station, mobile station (MS), or access terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a tablet computer, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a desktop computer, an image capture terminal device (such as a digital camera), a game terminal device, a music storage and playback device, a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a laptop embedded device (LEE), a laptop mounted device (LME), a USB dongle, a smart device, a wireless client device (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a watch or other wearable device, a head mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, medical equipment and applications (e.g., remote surgery equipment), industrial equipment and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in the context of an industrial and / or automated processing chain), consumer electronic devices, devices operating on a commercial and / or industrial wireless network, etc. In the following description, the terms "terminal device", "communication device", "terminal", "user equipment" and "UE" may be used interchangeably.

[0030] As described above, the goal of the Rel-17 WID is to specify the changes required to improve the reliability of broadcast / multicast services. The inventors have discovered that the reliability of such broadcast / multicast services can be improved by uplink feedback from UEs. More specifically, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-acknowledgement (ACK) feedback from UEs corresponding to downlink multicast or broadcast transmissions may be necessary for multicast or broadcast services in order to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements, such as reliability requirements.

[0031] In addition, the level of reliability may be advantageous based on the requirements of applications / services provided by multicast and broadcast services (MBS). In MBS communications, a group-radio network temporary identifier (G-RNTI) may be introduced for MBS so that the UE may distinguish between downlink control information (DCI) for scheduling MBS physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and DCI for scheduling unicast PDSCH. In detail, the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI for scheduling MBS PDSCH may be scrambled by the G-RNTI and the scheduled MBS PDSCH may be scrambled by the G-RNTI.

[0032] In the RAN1#102-e meeting, the following agreement was made for HARQ-ACK feedback. For RRC_CONNECTEDUE, HARQ-ACK feedback may be supported for multicast, and additional evaluation may not be required to prove this. Detailed HARQ-ACK feedback solutions, such as ACK / NACK-based solutions, NACK-only-based solutions, etc., are for future study. Whether HARQ-ACK feedback can be selectively disabled and / or enabled is also for future study.

[0033] Regarding HARQ-ACK feedback for PDSCH carrying multicast services, there may be two options, which may also be referred to as feedback transmission schemes hereinafter. The first option (also referred to as option 1 or first feedback transmission scheme) may be referred to as group NACK transmission, where if the PDSCH is successfully received, the UE does not send HARQ-ACK feedback to the gNB, and if the PDSCH is not successfully received, then the UE sends NACK to the gNB, and a group of UEs share the same resources to send NACK. The second option (also referred to as option 2 or second feedback transmission scheme) may be referred to as UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission, where if the PDSCH is successfully received, the UE sends ACK to the gNB, and if the PDSCH is not successfully received, the UE sends NACK to the gNB, and each UE is provided with a UE-specific physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource for the UE to send ACK / NACK to the gNB.

[0034] Through research and analysis of conventional solutions, the inventors have found that it would be advantageous to allow a network device (e.g., a gNB) and a terminal device (e.g., a UE) communicating with the network device to flexibly enable or disable a feedback function for transmission from the network device to the terminal device. For example, it would be advantageous for the network device to enable or disable HARQ-ACK feedback based on the service reliability requirements of the communication. More specifically, when the service reliability requirements for a multicast or broadcast service between the network device and the terminal device are relatively high, it is better to enable the feedback function to ensure the reliability requirements. Otherwise, if the service reliability requirements are relatively low, it is better to disable the feedback function to reduce resource overhead.

[0035] In addition, the inventors found that the first option described above can minimize the HARQ-ACK feedback overhead, but the gNB cannot distinguish which UE sends NACK in the shared PUCCH resources. In contrast, the second option described above has less standardization work, and the gNB can distinguish the ACK or NACK of each UE at the expense of UE-specific PUCCH resource reservation, thereby improving the transmission reliability of PDSCH. However, when a large number of UEs are receiving multicast or broadcast transmissions, if UE-specific PUCCH resources are configured for each UE for HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the multicast or broadcast transmission, too many PUCCH resources will be consumed. In this case, it is reasonable to adopt group-based NACK transmission as defined in the first option. Accordingly, the inventors found that it would be more advantageous to allow network devices and terminal devices to flexibly switch between different feedback transmission schemes (such as the first and second options described above).

[0036] In view of the above findings by (multiple) inventors, in order to solve the problems in the traditional solution, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for feedback configuration of channel transmission (especially multicast or broadcast transmission) between a network device and multiple terminal devices. For example, the network device can indicate the feedback configuration in the control information, and the terminal device can determine the feedback configuration from the control information, so that the network device can notify the terminal device whether the feedback function is enabled or disabled. In some embodiments, if the feedback function needs to be enabled by the network device, the feedback configuration can be used by the network device to additionally indicate the feedback transmission scheme to the terminal device.

[0037] Specifically, in the scheme of the present disclosure, the network device may determine a feedback configuration. The feedback configuration may indicate whether feedback for shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled. The shared channel transmission is common to multiple terminal devices. The network device may then generate control information for scheduling shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration. Next, the network device may send control information to one or more of the multiple terminal devices. At one of the multiple terminal devices, the terminal device may receive control information from the network device. The terminal device may then determine the feedback configuration based on the control information. Afterwards, the terminal device may perform communication with the network device based on the feedback configuration.

[0038] Through the solution of the present disclosure, a switching mechanism can be introduced, which allows the network device and multiple terminal devices to enable or disable feedback for shared channel transmission. In this way, the network device and multiple terminal devices can flexibly switch between enabling and disabling feedback functions (such as HARQ-ACK feedback) to achieve a good compromise between transmission reliability and resource overhead, thereby improving the communication performance between the network device and multiple terminal devices. The principles and implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Example Environment

[0040] Figures 1A to 1C Accordingly, a schematic diagram of a communication environment 100 is shown in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. Figure 1A As shown, a communication environment 100 (which may also be referred to as a communication network 100 or a communication system 100) includes a network device 110 serving terminal devices 120-1 to 120-N located in a cell 102 of the network device 110. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the terminal devices 120-1 to 120-N may be collectively referred to as terminal devices 120. For the transmission of data, control information, etc., the network device 110 may communicate with one or more of the terminal devices 120.

[0041] The transmission from the network device 110 to the terminal device 120 may be referred to as a downlink transmission, and the communication channel for the downlink transmission may be referred to as a downlink channel. In contrast, the transmission from the terminal device 120 to the network device 110 may be referred to as an uplink transmission, and the communication channel for the uplink transmission may be referred to as an uplink channel. In addition, two or more terminal devices 120 may perform sidelink transmissions with each other via a device-to-device (D2D) channel (also referred to as a sidelink channel).

[0042] In some embodiments, the communication between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 may be a multicast or broadcast communication. In other words, the network device 110 may provide a multicast or broadcast service for the terminal device 120, such as a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) defined in 5G NR. In a multicast or broadcast communication, the network device 110 may send a shared channel transmission that is common to the terminal device 120, that is, the shared channel transmission may be intended for all terminal devices 120. As used herein, a shared channel may refer to a communication channel between a network device and a terminal device, which is used to carry communication data and sometimes also carries control information for communication between the network device and the terminal device. In some embodiments, the shared channel may be various PDSCHs as defined in the 3GPP specification. For example, a shared channel transmission common to the terminal device 120 may be a transmission of an MBS PDSCH as defined in 5G NR. More generally, a shared channel as used herein may appropriately refer to any communication channel between two communication devices.

[0043] In order to send the shared channel transmission to the terminal device 120 in a more reliable manner, the network device 110 may determine a feedback configuration 105 for the shared channel transmission. For example, the feedback configuration 105 may indicate whether the feedback function is enabled or disabled for the shared channel transmission. If the feedback function is enabled, the terminal device 120 may need to provide feedback to the network device 110 whether the shared channel transmission is successfully received by the terminal device 120. If the feedback function is disabled, the terminal device 120 may not need to provide such feedback for the shared channel transmission.

[0044] As another example content of the feedback configuration 105, if the feedback function is enabled, the feedback configuration 105 may also indicate a feedback transmission scheme for the terminal device 120 to send feedback to the network device 110. For example, the feedback transmission scheme may be the first feedback transmission scheme or the second feedback transmission scheme as described above. In other embodiments, the feedback transmission scheme may be any scheme for transmitting feedback that is currently known or will be developed in the future. In addition, although in some embodiments the first feedback transmission scheme and the second feedback transmission scheme refer to the group NACK transmission scheme and the UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission scheme respectively, each feedback transmission scheme in the first feedback transmission scheme and the second feedback transmission scheme as used herein may be a feedback transmission scheme other than the group NACK transmission scheme and the UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission scheme. In addition, in addition to the enabling or disabling of feedback and the feedback transmission scheme, the feedback configuration 105 may also indicate other configuration parameters and settings of the feedback function.

[0045] like Figure 1AAs further shown, after determining the feedback configuration 105, the network device 110 may send control information 115 to the terminal device 120. In some embodiments, the control information 115 is configured by the network device 110 to schedule a shared channel transmission to be sent to the terminal device 120. In other words, the control information 115 contains scheduling information for the shared channel transmission. In addition to its scheduling function, the control information 115 is also configured by the network device 110 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 determined by the network device 110. In some embodiments, the control information 115 may be a DCI defined in a 3GPP specification (e.g., TS 38.212). More generally, the control information 115 may be any information currently known or to be developed in the future for a control function.

[0046] Figure 1B An example scenario of a communication environment 100 is shown, which follows Figure 1A The example scene shown. Figure 1B In the example scenario of FIG. 1 , based on the received control information 115, the terminal device 120 has determined and learned the scheduling information of the shared channel transmission 125 to be performed by the network device 110 and the feedback configuration 105 for the shared channel transmission 125. In such an example scenario, the network device 110 now sends the shared channel transmission 125 to the terminal device 120, and the terminal device 120 can receive the shared channel transmission 125 based on the scheduling information in the control information 115. As described above, in some embodiments, the shared channel transmission 125 can be a transmission of the multicast and broadcast service (MBS) PDSCH as defined in 5G NR. More generally, the shared channel transmission 125 can be any channel transmission currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0047] Figure 1C An example scenario of a communication environment 100 is shown, which follows Figure 1B The example scene shown. Figure 1CIn an example scenario, the terminal device 120 may send feedback 135 for a shared channel transmission 125 to the network device 110 based on the feedback configuration 105. For example, if the feedback configuration 105 indicates that the feedback function is disabled, the terminal device 120 may receive the shared channel transmission 125 without providing feedback 135. As another example, if the feedback configuration 105 indicates that the feedback function is enabled and also indicates a feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120 may generate and send feedback 135 according to the feedback transmission scheme. For example, the terminal device 120 may provide feedback 135 based on the first feedback transmission scheme or the second feedback transmission scheme as described herein. In some embodiments, the feedback 135 may be HARQ-ACK feedback for a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) PDSCH defined in 5G NR. More generally, the feedback 135 may be any other feedback information currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0048] Despite Figures 1A to 1C The network device 110 and the terminal device 120 are described in the communication environment 100 of FIG. 1 , but the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to any other suitable communication devices that communicate with each other. That is, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to Figures 1A to 1C In this regard, it should be noted that although Figures 1A to 1C In the figure, the network device 110 is schematically depicted as a base station and the terminal device 120 is schematically depicted as a mobile phone, but it should be understood that these depictions are only exemplary and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 can be any other communication device, such as any other wireless communication device.

[0049] It should be understood that Figures 1A to 1C The specific number of various communication devices, the specific number of various communication links, and the specific number of other elements shown in are for illustrative purposes only and do not imply any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of communication devices, any suitable number of communication links, and any suitable number of other elements suitable for implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it should be understood that various wireless communications and wired communications (if necessary) may exist between all communication devices.

[0050] The communication in the communication environment 100 can be implemented according to any appropriate (multiple) communication protocols, including but not limited to cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G) and fifth generation (5G), NR-U, etc., wireless local area network communication protocols (such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, etc., and / or any other protocol currently known or to be developed in the future. In addition, the communication can utilize any appropriate wireless communication technology, including but not limited to: code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division duplex (TDD), multiple input multiple output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technology currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0051] Example Process

[0052] Figure 2 An example communication process 200 between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120-1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be understood that although the example communication process 200 is described as being performed between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120-1, the example communication process 200 can be similarly performed between the network device 110 and any other terminal device in the terminal device 120. For the purpose of discussion, the example communication process 200 will be referred to as Figures 1A to 1C However, it should be understood that the example communication process 200 may also be applicable to other communication scenarios in which two devices may communicate with each other.

[0053] like Figure 2 As shown, in order to send a shared channel transmission 125 to a terminal device 120, the network device 110 may determine (210) a feedback configuration 105 for the shared channel transmission 125. As described above, the feedback configuration 105 may indicate to the terminal device 120 whether feedback 135 for the shared channel transmission 125 is enabled or disabled. Thus, before sending the shared channel transmission 125, the network device 110 may determine whether feedback 135 is enabled or disabled for the shared channel transmission 125. Disabling of feedback 135 may mean that the terminal device 120 may receive the shared channel transmission 125 without providing feedback 135 for the shared channel transmission 125. On the other hand, enabling of feedback 135 may mean that the terminal device 120 needs to provide feedback 135 for the shared channel transmission 125 at least in response to certain situations, for example, the terminal device 120 fails to successfully receive the shared channel transmission 125.

[0054] In some embodiments, the network device 110 may determine whether to enable or disable the feedback 135 based on the service reliability requirement. For example, if the service reliability requirement associated with the shared channel transmission 125 is relatively high, the network device 110 may enable the feedback 135 in order to improve the reliability of the shared channel transmission 125. Otherwise, if the service reliability requirement associated with the shared channel transmission 125 is relatively low, the network device 110 may alternatively disable the feedback 135 to save the transmission resources and power of the terminal device 120. More specifically, if the service reliability requirement is higher than or equal to the predetermined threshold requirement, the network device 110 may enable the feedback 135. If the service reliability requirement is lower than the predetermined threshold requirement, the network device 110 may disable the feedback 135. In some other embodiments, the network device 110 may determine whether to enable or disable the feedback 135 based on other possible factors related to the communication between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120, such as the battery capacity of the terminal device 120, the received signal quality of the terminal device 120, etc.

[0055] Continue to refer Figure 2 , after determining (210) the feedback configuration 105, the network device 110 may generate (220) control information 115 for a shared channel transmission 125. As described, the control information 115 is configured by the network device 110 for both scheduling the shared channel transmission 125 and indicating the feedback configuration 105 for the shared channel transmission 125. In other words, the control information 115 including the scheduling information for the shared channel transmission 125 may be reused to indicate the feedback configuration 105 for the shared channel transmission 125. Therefore, it should be noted that for scheduling purposes, the control information 115 may contain various scheduling information fields for scheduling the shared channel transmission 125.

[0056] For example, in some embodiments, the control information 115 may be a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification such as TS 38.212. In some such embodiments, the control information 115 may include one or more of the following fields or information: an identifier for a DCI format, a frequency domain resource allocation, a random access preamble index, an UL / SUL indicator, an SS / PBCH index, a PRACH mask index, a time domain resource allocation, a VRB to PRB mapping, a modulation and coding scheme, a new data indicator, a redundancy version, a HARQ process number, a downlink allocation index, a TPC command for a scheduled PUCCH, a PUCCH resource indicator, a PDSCH to HARQ_feedback timing indicator, and a reserved bit. The definitions and more detailed information of these fields may be found in the 3GPP specification. In some other embodiments, the control information 115 may be other DCIs with different formats as defined in the 3GPP specification. More generally, the control information 115 may be any control information currently known or to be developed in the future for a scheduling function.

[0057] In general, there may be various ways for the network device 110 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 in the control information 115. For example, since the control information 115 may include various scheduling information fields for scheduling functions, the network device 110 may reuse the scheduling information fields in the control information 115 to explicitly or implicitly indicate the feedback configuration 105. Alternatively or additionally, in addition to these scheduling information fields, the network device 110 may create dedicated fields in the control information 115 and use the dedicated fields to explicitly indicate the feedback configuration 105. Some examples of different ways for the network device 110 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 in the control information 115 will be described below with reference to Figure 3 5 is further described.

[0058] After generating (220) the control information 115, the network device 110 may send (230) the control information 115 to one or more of the terminal devices 120. That is, in some embodiments, the control information 115 may be sent to all terminal devices 120 in a multicast or broadcast manner. However, in some other embodiments, the network device 110 may send the control information 115 to some of the terminal devices 120 or only to one of the terminal devices 120. For example, the control information 115 may be sent separately to different groups of terminal devices 120 or separately to individual terminal devices of the terminal devices 120. Without loss of generality, Figure 2 Network device 110 is depicted sending (230) control information 115 to terminal device 120-1.

[0059] Therefore, from the perspective of the receiving side of the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 can receive (240) the control information 115 from the network device 110. Since the network device 110 has indicated the feedback configuration 105 in the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 can determine (250) the feedback configuration 105 based on the received control information 115. For example, based on the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 can determine whether the feedback 135 for the shared channel transmission 125 is enabled or disabled by the network device 110. It should be understood that the terminal device 120-1 can determine (250) the feedback configuration 105 based on the control information 115 in different ways, wherein the different ways correspond to the various ways in which the network device 110 indicates the feedback configuration 105 in the control information 115. Figure 3 5 further describe some embodiments of various ways for the terminal device 120 - 1 to determine ( 250 ) the feedback configuration 105 based on the control information 115 .

[0060] After determining (250) feedback configuration 105, terminal device 120-1 may perform (260) communications with network device 110 based on feedback configuration 105. For example, if feedback configuration 105 indicates that feedback 135 is disabled by network device 110, terminal device 120-1 may receive shared channel transmissions 125 without sending feedback 135 to network device 110. In this manner, resources used to transmit feedback 135 may be conserved, thereby reducing resource overhead in communications between network device 110 and terminal device 120. In this case, communications between network device 110 and terminal device 120-1 may include shared channel transmissions 125 from network device 110 to terminal device 120-1.

[0061] On the other hand, if feedback configuration 105 indicates that feedback 135 is enabled by network device 110, terminal device 120-1 may need to send feedback 135 to network device 110. In this case, communication between network device 110 and terminal device 120-1 may include shared channel transmission 125 from network device 110 to terminal device 120-1 and transmission of feedback 135 from terminal device 120-1 to network device 110.

[0062] From the perspective of the other party to the communication, network device 110 may also perform (270) communication with terminal device 120-1 based on feedback configuration 105. For example, if feedback 135 is disabled by network device 110, network device 110 may send shared channel transmissions 125 to terminal devices 120 without receiving feedback 135 from terminal devices 120 including terminal device 120-1. On the other hand, if feedback 135 is enabled by network device 110, network device 110 may need to receive feedback 135 from terminal devices 120 including terminal device 120-1.

[0063] In some embodiments, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be enabled, network device 110 may additionally determine a feedback transmission scheme for terminal device 120 to send feedback 135. Network device 110 may then configure control information 115 to also indicate the feedback transmission scheme. On the terminal device 120-1 side, if terminal device 120-1 determines from control information 115 that feedback 135 is enabled, terminal device 120-1 may additionally determine the feedback transmission scheme from control information 115. Terminal device 120-1 may then send feedback 135 to network device 110 based on the feedback transmission scheme.

[0064] Through the example communication process 200, a mechanism can be introduced to allow the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 to enable or disable feedback in their communication, and dynamically switch between different feedback transmission schemes, such as the first option and the second option as described above. In this way, the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 can flexibly enable or disable the feedback function according to the actual communication scenario and can flexibly adjust the feedback transmission scheme, so as to achieve a good compromise between transmission reliability and resource overhead, thereby improving the performance of the communication between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120.

[0065] As described above, there may be multiple ways for network device 110 to indicate feedback configuration 105 in control information 115. Thus, terminal device 120-1 may determine 250 feedback configuration 105 from control information 115 in different ways, where the different ways correspond to various ways in which network device 110 indicates feedback configuration 105 in control information 115. In some embodiments, network device 110 may reuse a scheduling information field in control information 115 to indicate feedback configuration 105 explicitly or implicitly.

[0066] For example, the feedback timing indicator used in the control information 115 to indicate the timing of the feedback 135 may be reused to also indicate the feedback configuration 105. In other words, compared to the conventional feedback timing indicator used only to indicate the timing of the feedback 135, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 may be based on the newly designed feedback timing indicator. In this way, both the feedback configuration 105 and the feedback timing may be indicated by the same feedback timing indicator, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the control information 115. Figure 3 Such embodiments are further described.

[0067] Figure 3 1 shows an example structure 300 of control information 115 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein feedback timing indicator 310 is reused to indicate feedback configuration 105. Figure 3 As shown, the control information 115 of the example structure 300 may include a feedback timing indicator 310, other fields 320 before the feedback timing indicator 310, and other fields 330 after the feedback timing indicator 310. It should be understood that the specific location of the feedback timing indicator 310 is only an example and does not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be arranged at the beginning or end of the control information 115.

[0068] In some embodiments, the control information 115 of the example structure 300 may be a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in the DCI format. The definition and further details of the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator may be found in the 3GPP specification. More generally, in some other embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be any indicator for indicating the timing of feedback that is currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0069] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In order to reuse the feedback timing indicator 310 in the control information 115 to indicate the determined (210) feedback configuration 105, the network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 when generating (220) the control information 115. Correspondingly, after receiving (240) the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine (250) the feedback configuration 105 based on the feedback timing indicator 310 in the control information 115.

[0070] In some embodiments, network device 110 may implicitly indicate feedback configuration 105 using feedback timing indicator 310. In this way, no predefined or predetermined value of feedback timing indicator 310 is required for network device 110 to indicate enabling or disabling of feedback 135, thereby reducing the complexity of implementation of network device 110 and terminal device 120.

[0071] More specifically, if the network device 110 determines that the feedback 135 is to be disabled, the network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator 310 to have a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value. In other words, the terminal device 120 cannot determine the applicable feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator 310, and therefore cannot send the feedback 135 to the network device 110. Therefore, the terminal device 120 may implicitly determine that the feedback 135 is disabled by the network device 110. On the other hand, if the network device 110 determines that the feedback 135 is to be enabled, the network device 110 may alternatively set the feedback timing indicator 310 to have a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value. In other words, the terminal device 120 may determine the applicable feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator 310, and therefore can send the feedback 135 to the network device 110. Therefore, the terminal device 120 may implicitly determine that the feedback 135 is enabled by the network device 110.

[0072] In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, the network device 110 may configure a set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values ​​via radio resource control (RRC) signaling for the terminal device 120-1 to determine the HARQ-ACK feedback timing corresponding to the MBS PDSCH transmission. In order to implicitly indicate the disabling of feedback 135, a non-numeric value or a negative value (e.g., "-1") may be configured in the set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values ​​for the network device 110 to disable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission.

[0073] If the network device 110 determines to disable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, the network device 110 may indicate a non-numeric value or a negative value by setting the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in the DCI format to an index of a non-numeric value or a negative value in a set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values. If the network device 110 determines to enable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, the network device 110 may indicate a numeric value by setting the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in the DCI format to an index of the numeric value in a set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values.

[0074] Table 1 below shows an example of implicit indication of enablement or disablement of feedback 135 using feedback timing indicator 310. In some embodiments, Table 1 may be configured by network device 110 for terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0075] Table 1

[0076]

[0077] In the example shown in Table 1 above, it is assumed that the feedback timing indicator 310 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". For each terminal device 120 (e.g., terminal device 120-1), each of the eight values ​​can indicate a feedback timing value for the terminal device 120-1 to send feedback 135 to the network device 110. It should be understood that the specific number of bits, specific feedback timing values, and specific mappings shown in Table 1 are only for illustrative purposes and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 can have any number of bits, any inapplicable or applicable feedback timing values, and any mapping of enabling or disabling of feedback 135.

[0078] As shown in Table 1, in order to disable feedback 135, network device 110 may configure the value "000" of feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate an inapplicable feedback timing value (e.g., -1). That is, based on the value "000" of feedback timing indicator 310, terminal device 120-1 cannot determine a valid feedback timing value for sending feedback 135, and thus may implicitly determine that feedback 135 is disabled by network device 110.

[0079] In contrast, as further shown in Table 1, to enable feedback 135, network device 110 may configure a value of "001" of feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate an applicable feedback timing value. That is, based on the value of "001" of feedback timing indicator 310, terminal device 120-1 may determine an effective feedback timing value for sending feedback 135, and may therefore implicitly determine that feedback 135 is enabled by network device 110. Similarly, by setting values ​​of "010" to "111" to indicate different feedback timing values, network device 110 may configure values ​​of "010" to "111" to implicitly indicate to terminal device 120-1 that feedback 135 is enabled.

[0080] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the feedback timing indicator 310, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback timing indicator 310 has a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value, the terminal device 120-1 may implicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates a disablement of the feedback 135. If the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback timing indicator 310 has a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value, the terminal device 120-1 may implicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates an enablement of the feedback 135.

[0081] In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, upon receiving a DCI format for scheduling an MBS PDSCH transmission, if a non-numeric value or a negative value is indicated by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH and may not send HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the MBS PDSCH. If a numeric value is indicated by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the enabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH and send the HARQ-ACK feedback in a time slot having an offset of the indicated numeric value from the time slot in which the DCI format was received.

[0082] Instead of the implicit manner described above, the network device 110 may also use the feedback timing indicator 310 to explicitly indicate the feedback configuration 105. Therefore, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 may be indicated and determined in a simple and direct manner, thereby simplifying the operation of the network device 110 configuring the feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135, and also simplifying the operation of the terminal device 120 determining the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 based on the feedback timing indicator 310.

[0083] More specifically, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be disabled, network device 110 may set feedback timing indicator 310 to have a predetermined value. The predetermined value is configured to indicate the disabling of feedback 135. On the other hand, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be enabled, network device 110 may alternatively set feedback timing indicator 310 to have a value different from the predetermined value. The value different from the predetermined value is configured to indicate the enabling of feedback 135.

[0084] In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, a code point of the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator may be reserved for indicating enabling or disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH. In this case, the set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values ​​may not include non-numeric or negative values.

[0085] Table 2 below shows an example of an explicit indication of enablement or disablement of feedback 135 using feedback timing indicator 310. In some embodiments, Table 2 may be configured by network device 110 for terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0086] Table 2

[0087]

[0088]

[0089] In the example shown in Table 2 above, it is assumed that the feedback timing indicator 310 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". For each terminal device 120 (e.g., terminal device 120-1), each of the eight values ​​can indicate a feedback timing value for the terminal device 120-1 to send feedback 135 to the network device 110. It should be understood that the specific number of bits and the specific mapping as shown in Table 2 are only for illustrative purposes and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 can have any number of bits and any mapping to the enablement or disablement of feedback 135.

[0090] As shown in Table 2, the network device 110 may configure the value "111" as a predetermined value for indicating the disabling of the feedback 135. Therefore, in order to disable the feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the feedback timing indicator 310 to have the predetermined value 111. In contrast, as further shown in Table 2, in order to enable the feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the feedback timing indicator 310 to have a value different from the predetermined value 111, for example, one of the values ​​"000" to "110".

[0091] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the feedback timing indicator 310, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback timing indicator 310 has a predetermined value (e.g., “111”), the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the disabling of the feedback 135. If the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback timing indicator 310 has a value different from the predetermined value (e.g., one of the values ​​“000” to “110”), the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135.

[0092] In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, if a reserved code point (e.g., "111") for the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator is indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH. If a code point other than the reserved code point for the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator (e.g., one of the values ​​"000" to "110") is indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the enabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH.

[0093] Instead of reusing the feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate the feedback configuration 105, the feedback resource indicator in the control information 115 used to indicate the resource for sending the feedback 135 can be reused to indicate the feedback configuration 105. In other words, compared with the traditional feedback resource indicator that is only used to indicate the resource for sending the feedback 135, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 can be based on the newly designed feedback resource indicator. In this way, both the feedback configuration 105 and the resource for sending the feedback 135 can be indicated by the same feedback resource indicator, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the control information 115. Figure 4 Such embodiments are further described.

[0094] Figure 44 shows an example structure 400 of control information 115 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein feedback resource indicator 410 is reused to indicate feedback configuration 105. Figure 4 As shown, the control information 115 of the example structure 400 may include a feedback resource indicator 410, other fields 420 before the feedback resource indicator 410, and other fields 430 after the feedback resource indicator 410. It should be understood that the specific location of the feedback resource indicator 410 is only for example and does not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be arranged at the beginning or end of the control information 115.

[0095] In some embodiments, the control information 115 of the example structure 400 may be a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in the DCI format. The definition and further details of the PUCCH resource indicator may be found in the 3GPP specification. More generally, in some other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be any indicator for indicating a resource currently known or to be developed in the future for sending feedback.

[0096] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In order to reuse the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115 to indicate the determined (210) feedback configuration 105, the network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 when generating (220) the control information 115. Correspondingly, after receiving (240) the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine (250) the feedback configuration 105 based on the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115.

[0097] In some embodiments, network device 110 may implicitly indicate feedback configuration 105 using feedback resource indicator 410. In this way, network device 110 does not need to predefine or predetermine the value of feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate enabling or disabling of feedback 135, thereby reducing the complexity of implementation of network device 110 and terminal device 120.

[0098] More specifically, if the network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be disabled, the network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator 410 to have a value indicating an inapplicable resource. In other words, the terminal device 120 cannot determine the applicable resource from the feedback resource indicator 410, and therefore cannot send feedback 135 to the network device 110. Therefore, the terminal device 120 may implicitly determine that feedback 135 is disabled by the network device 110. On the other hand, if the network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be enabled, the network device 110 may alternatively set the feedback resource indicator 410 to have a value indicating an applicable resource. In other words, the terminal device 120 may determine the applicable resource from the feedback resource indicator 410, and therefore can send feedback 135 to the network device 110. Therefore, the terminal device 120 may implicitly determine that feedback 135 is enabled by the network device 110.

[0099] In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, the set of PUCCH resources may be configured by RRC signaling and include inapplicable PUCCH resources for disabling HARQ-ACK feedback. For PUCCH resources configured for terminal device 120-1 for transmitting HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to an MBS PDSCH transmission, inapplicable PUCCH resources may be configured by network device 110 to disable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission. For example, an inapplicable PUCCH resource may be configured with only a PUCCH resource index but not other parameters, or may be configured with inapplicable frequency domain resource information (e.g., setting the start PRB index to a negative value, or setting the number of PRBs to 0 or a negative value) or inapplicable time domain resource information (e.g., setting the start symbol index to a negative value, or setting the number of symbols to zero or a negative value) or inapplicable code domain resource information (e.g., setting the cyclic shift index and / or OCC index to a negative value). Based on such a possible configuration, the terminal device 120-1 cannot identify a valid PUCCH resource for sending HARQ-ACK feedback.

[0100] If the network device 110 determines to disable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, the network device 110 may indicate the inapplicable PUCCH resources by setting the PUCCH resource indicator in the DCI format to the index of the inapplicable PUCCH resources in the set of PUCCH resources. If the network device 110 determines to enable HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, the network device 110 may indicate the applicable PUCCH resources by setting the PUCCH resource indicator in the DCI format to the index of the applicable PUCCH resources in the set of PUCCH resources.

[0101] Table 3 below shows an example of implicit indication of enablement or disablement of feedback 135 using feedback resource indicator 410. In some embodiments, Table 3 may be configured by network device 110 for terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0102] Table 3

[0103]

[0104] In the example shown in Table 3 above, it is assumed that the feedback resource indicator 410 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". For each terminal device 120 (e.g., terminal device 120-1), each of the eight values ​​can indicate a resource for the terminal device 120-1 to send feedback 135 to the network device 110. It should be understood that the specific number of bits, specific feedback resources, and specific mapping shown in Table 3 are only for illustrative purposes and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 can have any number of bits, any inapplicable or applicable feedback resources, and any mapping to the enabling or disabling of feedback 135.

[0105] As shown in Table 3, in order to disable feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the value "000" of the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate inapplicable resources. That is, based on the value "000" of the feedback resource indicator 410, the terminal device 120-1 cannot determine the valid resources for sending feedback 135, and thus may implicitly determine that feedback 135 is disabled by the network device 110.

[0106] In contrast, as further shown in Table 3, to enable feedback 135, network device 110 may configure a value of "001" of feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate applicable resources. That is, based on the value "001" of feedback resource indicator 410, terminal device 120-1 may determine valid resources for sending feedback 135, and thus implicitly determine that feedback 135 is enabled by network device 110. Similarly, by setting values ​​"010" to "111" to indicate different applicable resources, network device 110 may configure values ​​"010" to "111" to implicitly indicate to terminal device 120-1 that feedback 135 is enabled.

[0107] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the feedback resource indicator 410, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 has a value indicating inapplicable resources, the terminal device 120-1 may implicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates disabling of the feedback 135. If the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 has a value indicating applicable resources, the terminal device 120-1 may implicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates enabling of the feedback 135.

[0108] In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, upon receiving a DCI format for scheduling an MBS PDSCH, if an inapplicable PUCCH resource is indicated, the terminal device 120-1 may not send HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the MBS PDSCH. If an applicable PUCCH resource is indicated, the terminal device 120-1 may send HARQ-ACK feedback in the PUCCH resource.

[0109] Instead of the implicit manner described above, the network device 110 may also use the feedback resource indicator 410 to explicitly indicate the feedback configuration 105. In this way, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 may be indicated and determined in a simple and direct manner, thereby simplifying the operation of the network device 110 configuring the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135, and also simplifying the operation of the terminal device 120 determining the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 based on the feedback resource indicator 410.

[0110] More specifically, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be disabled, network device 110 may set feedback resource indicator 410 to have a predetermined value. The predetermined value is configured to indicate the disabling of feedback 135. On the other hand, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be enabled, network device 110 may alternatively set feedback resource indicator 410 to have a value different from the predetermined value. The value different from the predetermined value is configured to indicate the enabling of feedback 135.

[0111] In some embodiments, feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in 3GPP specifications, and shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, one code point of the PUCCH resource indicator may be reserved for indicating enabling or disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH. In this case, the set of PUCCH resources may not include PUCCH resources that are not applicable.

[0112] Table 4 below shows an example of explicit indication of enablement or disablement of feedback 135 using feedback resource indicator 410. In some embodiments, Table 4 may be configured by network device 110 for terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0113] Table 4

[0114]

[0115] In the example shown in Table 4 above, it is assumed that the feedback resource indicator 410 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". For each terminal device 120 (e.g., terminal device 120-1), each of the eight values ​​can indicate a resource for the terminal device 120-1 to send feedback 135 to the network device 110. It should be understood that the specific number of bits and the specific mapping shown in Table 4 are only for illustrative purposes and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 can have any number of bits and any mapping to enable or disable feedback 135.

[0116] As shown in Table 4, the network device 110 may configure the value "111" as a predetermined value for indicating the disabling of the feedback 135. Therefore, in order to disable the feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the feedback resource indicator 410 to have the predetermined value 111. In contrast, as further shown in Table 4, in order to enable the feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the feedback resource indicator 410 to have a value different from the predetermined value 111, for example, one of the values ​​"000" to "110".

[0117] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the feedback resource indicator 410, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 has a predetermined value (e.g., “111”), the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the disabling of the feedback 135. If the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 has a value different from the predetermined value (e.g., one of the values ​​“000” to “110”), the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135.

[0118] In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, if a reserved code point (e.g., "111") of the PUCCH resource indicator is indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH. If a code point other than the reserved code point of the PUCCH resource indicator (e.g., one of the values ​​"000" to "110") is indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the enabling of HARQ-ACK feedback for the PDSCH.

[0119] In the above, some embodiments are described in which the scheduling information field of the control information 115 is reused to indicate the feedback configuration 105. In the following, reference will be made to Figure 5A and 5B Describe some embodiments, Figure 5A and 5B In the present invention, a dedicated field of the control information 115 is used to indicate the feedback configuration 105. In other words, the dedicated field is specifically designed and configured to indicate the feedback configuration 105. For example, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 can be based on the newly introduced field (or bit) in the control information 115. In this way, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 can be indicated and determined by the dedicated field in a simple and direct manner, thereby simplifying the operation of the network device 110 indicating the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135, and also simplifying the operation of the terminal device 120 determining the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135. Figure 5A Such embodiments are further described.

[0120] Figure 5A 1 shows an example information structure 500 of control information 115 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein a dedicated field 510 is used to indicate the feedback configuration 105. Figure 5AAs shown, the control information 115 of the example structure 500 may include a dedicated field 510, other fields 520 before the dedicated field 510, and other fields 530 after the dedicated field 510. It should be understood that the specific location of the dedicated field 510 is only for example and does not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the dedicated field 510 may be arranged at the beginning or end of the control information 115.

[0121] refer to Figure 2 and 5A In order to use the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 to indicate the determined (210) feedback configuration 105, the network device 110 may set the dedicated field 510 to indicate the feedback configuration 105 when generating (220) the control information 115. Correspondingly, after receiving (240) the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine (250) the feedback configuration 105 based on the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115.

[0122] In some embodiments, the enabling or disabling of feedback 135 may be indicated by one bit in dedicated field 510. In this way, the signaling overhead for indicating the enabling or disabling of feedback 135 may be minimized. Figure 5B Such embodiments are further described.

[0123] Figure 5B 2 shows an example structure of a dedicated field 510 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 5B As shown, the dedicated field 510 of the example structure may include a first bit 512 for indicating whether the feedback 135 is enabled or disabled. In some embodiments, the dedicated field 510 of the example structure may also include a second bit 514 for indicating another setting of the feedback 135. It should be understood that the specific position of the first bit 512 is only for example and does not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the first bit 512 may be arranged after the second bit 514. In some other embodiments, the dedicated field 510 of the example structure may have additional bits for indicating more settings of the feedback 135.

[0124] When setting the dedicated field 510 to indicate the enablement or disablement of the feedback 135, if the network device 110 determines that the feedback 135 is to be disabled, the network device 110 may set the first bit 512 in the dedicated field 510 to have a first value, for example, any one of "0" and "1". The first value is configured to indicate the disablement of the feedback 135. On the other hand, if the network device 110 determines that the feedback 135 is to be enabled, the network device 110 may set the first bit 512 to have a second value, for example, the other of "0" and "1". The second value is configured to indicate the enablement of the feedback 135.

[0125] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the dedicated field 510, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the first bit 512 in the dedicated field 510 has a first value, the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the disabling of the feedback 135. If the terminal device 120-1 determines that the first bit 512 has a second value, the terminal device 120-1 may explicitly determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135.

[0126] In some embodiments, the control information 115 of the example structure 500 may be a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, a bit in the DCI format for scheduling the MBS PDSCH may be introduced to enable or disable HARQ-ACK feedback for the MBS PDSCH transmission. For example, a bit "1" may indicate that the terminal device 120-1 sends HARQ-ACK feedback, while a bit "0" may indicate that the terminal device 120-1 does not send HARQ-ACK feedback, and vice versa.

[0127] On the receiving side of the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine whether to enable or disable HARQ-ACK feedback for PDSCH based on a bit in the DCI format. For example, after receiving a DCI format for scheduling an MBS PDSCH, if the bit indicates that HARQ-ACK feedback for the MBS PDSCH is disabled, the UE may not send HARQ-ACK feedback. If the bit indicates that HARQ-ACK feedback for the MBS PDSCH is enabled, the UE may send HARQ-ACK feedback.

[0128] Instead of using one bit in the dedicated field 510 to indicate whether feedback 135 is enabled or disabled, a predetermined value of the entire dedicated field 510 may be used to indicate the disabling of feedback 135. In other words, if the dedicated field 510 has a predetermined value, this means that feedback 135 is disabled. Otherwise, if the dedicated field 510 has a value different from the predetermined value, it means that feedback 135 is enabled. In this way, the enabling or disabling of feedback 135 may be jointly encoded with other feedback configuration information indicated by the dedicated field 510, thereby minimizing the bit overhead of the entire dedicated field 510. For example, the enabling or disabling of feedback 135 and the indication of the feedback transmission scheme may be jointly encoded in the dedicated field 510, which will be further described below.

[0129] More specifically, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be disabled, network device 110 may set dedicated field 510 to have a predetermined value. The predetermined value is configured to indicate the disabling of feedback 135. On the other hand, if network device 110 determines that feedback 135 is to be enabled, network device 110 may set dedicated field 510 to have a value different from the predetermined value. The value different from the predetermined value is configured to indicate the enabling of feedback 135.

[0130] Table 5 below shows an example of an explicit indication of enabling or disabling of feedback 135 using the entire dedicated field 510. In some embodiments, Table 5 may be configured by the network device 110 for the terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0131] Table 5

[0132] Dedicated field (2 bits) Enable or disable feedback 00 Enable 01 Enable 10 Enable 11 Disable

[0133] In the example shown in Table 5 above, it is assumed that the dedicated field 510 includes 2 bits and thus can have four values ​​of "00" to "11". As shown in Table 5, the network device 110 can configure the value "11" as a predetermined value for indicating the disabling of the feedback 135. Therefore, in order to disable the feedback 135, the network device 110 can configure the dedicated field 510 to have a predetermined value of 11.

[0134] In contrast, as further shown in Table 5, to enable feedback 135, the network device 110 may configure the dedicated field 510 to have a value other than the predetermined value 11, such as one of the values ​​"00" to "10". In addition, it should be noted that various values ​​"00" to "10" indicating the enablement of feedback 135 may be further used to indicate other aspects of the feedback configuration 105. It should be understood that the specific number of bits and the specific mapping as shown in Table 5 are for illustrative purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the dedicated field 510 may have any number of bits and any mapping to the enablement or disablement of feedback 135.

[0135] At the receiving side of the control information 115 including the dedicated field 510, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 has a predetermined value (e.g., “11”), the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the disabling of the feedback 135. Alternatively, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 has a value different from the predetermined value (e.g., a value “00” to “10”), the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135.

[0136] Some embodiments are described above, in which the feedback configuration 105 indicates whether the feedback 135 is enabled or disabled. Hereinafter, some other embodiments will be described, in which the feedback configuration 105 may also indicate other configurations of the feedback 135. For example, in the case where the feedback 135 is enabled, the feedback configuration 105 may also indicate a feedback transmission scheme for the terminal device 120 to send the feedback 135 to the network device 110. For example, the feedback transmission scheme may be the first feedback transmission scheme or the second feedback transmission scheme as described above. More generally, the feedback transmission scheme may be any scheme for sending feedback that is currently known or will be developed in the future.

[0137] In some embodiments, referring back to Figure 2 , when determining (210) the feedback configuration 105, if the network device 110 determines that feedback 135 will be enabled, the network device 110 may also determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the number of terminal devices 120. For example, if the number of terminal devices 120 is relatively small, it is better to adopt the second feedback transmission scheme, otherwise, it is better to adopt the first feedback transmission scheme. Additionally or alternatively, if the resource overhead for transmitting feedback 135 is acceptable, it is better to adopt the second feedback transmission scheme, otherwise, it is better to adopt the first feedback transmission scheme. Additionally or alternatively, if the reliability requirement for shared channel transmission 125 is relatively high, it is better to adopt the second feedback transmission scheme, otherwise, it is better to adopt the first feedback transmission scheme. In this way, the network device 110 can flexibly adjust the feedback transmission scheme based on the number of terminal devices 120 (e.g., UEs in connected mode) or other possible factors, so as to achieve a good compromise between transmission reliability and resource overhead.

[0138] After determining the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 may configure the feedback configuration 105 to indicate the feedback transmission scheme. In this way, the enabling or disabling of the feedback 135 and the feedback transmission scheme may be indicated together in the feedback configuration 105, and the indication of multiple feedback settings of the feedback 135 in the feedback configuration 105 and the determination of multiple feedback settings of the feedback 135 in the feedback configuration 105 are simplified.

[0139] The network device 110 may indicate the feedback transmission scheme in the control information 115 in a variety of ways. For example, the feedback timing indicator 310, the feedback resource indicator 410, or the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 may be used to indicate the feedback transmission scheme. Therefore, after receiving the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme from the control information 115 in different ways, wherein the different ways correspond to the various ways in which the network device 110 indicates the feedback transmission scheme in the control information 115. Figure 35 further describe some embodiments of different ways for the network device 110 to indicate the feedback transmission scheme in the control information 115 and corresponding ways for the terminal device 120 - 1 to determine the feedback transmission scheme from the control information 115 .

[0140] Continue to refer Figure 2 In some embodiments, when performing (260) communication based on feedback configuration 105, if terminal device 120-1 determines that feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of feedback 135, terminal device 120-1 may also determine the feedback transmission scheme indicated by feedback configuration 105. Terminal device 120-1 may then send feedback 135 to network device 110 based on the feedback transmission scheme. In this way, terminal device 120-1 may send feedback 135 in a manner indicated by network device 110, thereby achieving a good trade-off between transmission reliability and resource overhead.

[0141] In some embodiments, the feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration 105 may be a first feedback transmission scheme, such as a group NACK transmission scheme. The terminal device 120-1 may then send feedback 135 to the network device 110 according to the group NACK transmission scheme. For example, if the terminal device 120-1 does not successfully receive the shared channel transmission 125, the terminal device 120-1 may send negative feedback (e.g., NACK) to the network device 110 using resources common to the terminal device 120. On the other hand, if the terminal device 120-1 successfully receives the shared channel transmission 125, the terminal device 120-1 may not send feedback 135 (e.g., ACK) to the network device 110. In this way, if the reception of the shared channel transmission 125 is unsuccessful, the device 120-1 may only use common resources to send negative feedback, and the transmission of positive feedback may be avoided, thereby reducing the resource overhead for sending feedback 135.

[0142] In some embodiments, the feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration 105 may be a second feedback transmission scheme, such as a UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission scheme. The terminal device 120-1 may then send feedback 135 to the network device 110 according to the UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission scheme. For example, if the terminal device 120-1 successfully receives the shared channel transmission 125, the terminal device 120-1 may send positive feedback (e.g., ACK) to the network device 110 using resources specific to the terminal device 120-1. If the terminal device 120-1 does not successfully receive the shared channel transmission 125, the terminal device 120-1 may send negative feedback (e.g., NACK) to the network device 110 using resources specific to the terminal device 120-1. In this way, the reliability of the shared channel transmission 125 may be maximized.

[0143] As described above, the network device 110 may indicate the feedback transmission scheme in the control information 115 in a variety of ways. Therefore, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme from the control information 115 in different ways, where the different ways correspond to the various ways in which the network device 110 indicates the feedback configuration 105 in the control information 115. Such embodiments will be referred to below. Figure 3 to 5 are further described.

[0144] As an example way to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, return to reference Figure 3 , the control information 115 has an example information structure 300, and the feedback configuration 105 will be indicated by the feedback timing indicator 310 in the control information 115. Therefore, the feedback timing indicator 310 in the control information 115 can be reused to also indicate the feedback transmission scheme. In other words, compared with the traditional feedback timing indicator that is only used to indicate the timing of the feedback 135, the dynamic switching between different feedback transmission schemes can be based on the newly designed feedback timing indicator.

[0145] In this case, in order to configure the feedback configuration 105 (which is indicated by the feedback timing indicator 310) to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can configure a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme. In this way, each of the indices of the feedback timing value can indicate both the feedback timing value and the corresponding feedback transmission scheme, and thus a dedicated indication of the feedback transmission scheme can be avoided, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the control information 115. An example of such an association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme is shown in Table 6 below. In some embodiments, Table 6 can be configured by the network device 110 for the terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0146] Table 6

[0147]

[0148]

[0149] In the example of Table 6 above, it is assumed that the feedback timing indicator 310 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". Different values ​​of the feedback timing indicator 310 can be mapped to various indexes of different feedback timing values. As shown in Table 6, the index of each applicable timing value is associated with a feedback transmission scheme. For example, each digital HARQ-ACK feedback timing value included in the set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values ​​is associated with a HARQ-ACK feedback option. In this way, the network device 110 can explicitly indicate the feedback transmission scheme by setting the value of the feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate the corresponding index of the applicable timing value.

[0150] For example, according to Table 6, the network device 110 may determine the index of the feedback timing value based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme. The network device 110 may then set the feedback timing indicator 310 to indicate the index of the feedback timing value. In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, in order to dynamically indicate option 1 or option 2 for HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, a set of HARQ-ACK feedback timing values ​​may be configured with additional information about option 1 or option 2 to the terminal device 120-1.

[0151] On the receiving side of the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback configuration 105 based on the feedback timing indicator 310 in the control information 115, and the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135. In this case, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the index of the feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator 310. The terminal device 120-1 may then determine the feedback transmission scheme based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme. For example, in Table 6 above, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback timing indicator 310 indicates the index 4 of the feedback timing value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback transmission scheme is the first feedback transmission scheme.

[0152] In some embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may be a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, the HARQ-ACK feedback option may be determined based on a HARQ-ACK feedback option associated with a digital HARQ-ACK feedback timing value indicated by the DCI format. More specifically, upon receiving a DCI format for scheduling an MBS PDSCH, if a numerical value is indicated by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator in the DCI format, the terminal device 120 may adopt the HARQ-ACK feedback option associated with the numerical value and send HARQ-ACK based on the indicated option in a time slot having the indicated numerical offset from the time slot in which the DCI format was received.

[0153] It should be understood that the specific number of bits, specific feedback timing values, specific indexes, and specific mappings shown in Table 6 are for illustrative purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback timing indicator 310 may have any number of bits, any non-applicable or applicable feedback timing value, any index, and any mapping to the enabling or disabling of feedback 135. In addition, it should be noted that there may be the same applicable timing value with different indexes mapped to different feedback transmission schemes. For example, in Table 6 above, both indexes 2 and 3 may be mapped to the applicable timing value "+2", but mapped to different feedback transmission schemes. Similarly, both indexes 4 and 5 may be mapped to the applicable timing value "+3", but mapped to different feedback transmission schemes. In addition, both indexes 6 and 7 may be mapped to the applicable timing value "+4", but mapped to different feedback transmission schemes.

[0154] As another example way to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, return to reference Figure 4 , the control information 115 has an example information structure 400, and the feedback configuration 105 will be indicated by the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115. Therefore, the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115 can be reused to also indicate the feedback transmission scheme. In other words, compared with the traditional feedback resource indicator that is only used to indicate the resources for transmitting the feedback 135, the dynamic switching between different feedback transmission schemes can be based on the newly designed feedback resource indicator.

[0155] In this case, in order to configure the feedback configuration 105 (which is indicated by the feedback resource indicator 410) to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can configure a predetermined association between the index of the feedback resource and the feedback transmission scheme. In this way, each of the indexes of the feedback resource can indicate both the feedback resource and the corresponding feedback transmission scheme, and thus a dedicated indication of the feedback transmission scheme can be avoided, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the control information 115. Table 7 below shows an example of such an association between the index of the feedback resource and the feedback transmission scheme. In some embodiments, Table 7 can be configured by the network device 110 for the terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0156] Table 7

[0157]

[0158] In the example of Table 7 above, it is assumed that the feedback resource indicator 410 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". Different values ​​of the feedback resource indicator 410 can be mapped to various indexes of different feedback resources. As shown in Table 7, the index of each applicable resource is associated with a feedback transmission scheme. For example, each applicable PUCCH resource in the set of PUCCH resources is configured with an associated HARQ-ACK feedback option. In this way, the network device 110 can explicitly indicate the feedback transmission scheme by setting the value of the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the corresponding index of the applicable feedback resource.

[0159] For example, according to Table 7, the network device 110 may determine the index of the feedback resource based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback resource and the feedback transmission scheme. The network device 110 may then set the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the index of the feedback resource. In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, in order to dynamically indicate option 1 or option 2 for HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, each of the sets of applicable PUCCH resources may be configured with additional information about option 1 or option 2 to the terminal device 120-1. For example, elements about option 1 or option 2 may be included in the PUCCH resources configured by the RRC.

[0160] On the receiving side of the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback configuration 105 based on the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115, and the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135. In this case, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the index of the resource used for the feedback 135 from the feedback resource indicator 410. Then, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the predetermined association between the index of the resource and the feedback transmission scheme. For example, in Table 7 above, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 indicates the index 4 of the feedback resource, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback transmission scheme is the first feedback transmission scheme.

[0161] In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in a 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, the HARQ-ACK feedback option may be determined based on the HARQ-ACK feedback option associated with the applicable PUCCH resource indicated by the DCI format. More specifically, upon receiving a DCI for scheduling an MBS PDSCH, if an applicable PUCCH resource is indicated, the terminal device 120-1 may adopt the HARQ-ACK feedback option specified in the applicable PUCCH resource.

[0162] It should be understood that the specific number of bits, specific feedback resources, specific indexes, and specific mappings as shown in Table 7 are for illustration purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may have any number of bits, any inapplicable or applicable feedback resources, any indexes, and any mapping to the enabling or disabling of feedback 135. Additionally, it should be noted that there may be the same applicable resources with different indexes mapped to different feedback transmission schemes.

[0163] Instead of the above explicit way for feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, feedback resource indicator 410 may indicate the feedback transmission scheme in an implicit way. In particular, in some embodiments, terminal device 120 uses common resources to transmit feedback 135 in a first feedback transmission scheme, while terminal device 120 uses corresponding UE-specific resources to transmit feedback 135 in a second feedback transmission scheme. For example, the first feedback transmission scheme may be a group NACK transmission scheme (ie, option 1) and the second feedback transmission scheme may be a UE-specific ACK / NACK transmission scheme (ie, option 2).

[0164] For option 1, group-common PUCCH resources for NACK-only transmission are configured to and shared by a group of UEs via UE-specific RRC signaling. Since each PUCCH resource is defined with a unique PUCCH resource index, such group-common PUCCH resources are defined with the same index for each UE in the group. For example, when group-common PUCCH resources are configured to each UE, the gNB configures the same index 0 for the resource to each UE. For option 2, UE-specific PUCCH resources for ACK or NACK transmission are configured via UE-specific RRC signaling. For one UE, the PUCCH resource index for option 2 can be defined to be the same or different from the PUCCH resource index of other UEs in the same group.

[0165] In these embodiments, it can be seen that the first feedback transmission scheme and the second feedback transmission scheme can be distinguished by whether the common resources are to be used by the terminal device 120. In this case, in order to configure the feedback configuration 105 (indicated by the feedback resource indicator 410) to indicate the first feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can configure the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the common resources used for the terminal device 120 to transmit the feedback 135. In order to configure the feedback configuration 105 (which is indicated by the feedback resource indicator 410) to indicate the second feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can configure the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate resources other than the common resources. In this way, one of the first feedback transmission scheme and the second feedback transmission scheme can be implied by the feedback resource indicator 410, and thus a dedicated indication for the feedback transmission scheme can be avoided, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the control information 115. As shown in Table 8 below, an example of such an implicit indication of the feedback transmission scheme using the feedback resource indicator is shown. In some embodiments, Table 8 can be configured by the network device 110 for the terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0166] Table 8

[0167]

[0168] In the example of Table 8 above, it is assumed that the feedback resource indicator 410 includes 3 bits and can therefore have eight values ​​"000" to "111". As shown in Table 8, different values ​​of the feedback resource indicator 410 can be mapped to common resources or UE-specific resources. The common resources implicitly indicate the first feedback transmission scheme and the UE-specific resources indicate the second feedback transmission scheme. In an embodiment of the MBS service in 5G NR, the set of PUCCH resources may include a common PUCCH resource configured with the same index and shared by multiple UEs in a set of corresponding PUCCH resources for each UE in a plurality of UEs. In this way, the network device 110 can implicitly indicate the feedback transmission scheme by setting the value of the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the common resources or the UE-specific resources. For example, according to Table 8, the network device 110 can set the feedback resource indicator 410 to indicate the common resources for the terminal device 120 based on the feedback transmission scheme, more specifically, if the feedback transmission scheme is the first feedback transmission.

[0169] On the receiving side of the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback configuration 105 based on the feedback resource indicator 410 in the control information 115, and the feedback configuration 105 indicates the enabling of the feedback 135. In this case, the terminal device 120-1 may determine whether the feedback resource indicator 410 indicates a common resource, which is used for the terminal device 120 to send feedback 135 for the shared channel transmission 125. Then, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the result of the determination. For example, in Table 8 above, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 indicates a common resource, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback transmission scheme is the first feedback transmission scheme. Otherwise, if the terminal device 120-1 determines that the feedback resource indicator 410 indicates a UE-specific resource, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback transmission scheme is the second feedback transmission scheme.

[0170] In some embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 may be a PUCCH resource indicator in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, if common PUCCH resources are indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine to employ option 1. If applicable PUCCH resources other than common PUCCH resources are indicated by the DCI format, the terminal device 120-1 may determine to employ option 2.

[0171] More specifically, if the PUCCH resource indicator in the DCI format that schedules the MBS PDSCH indicates an index of a group common PUCCH resource, for example, index 0, it is implied to the terminal device 120 that HARQ-ACK feedback option 1 will be adopted, and then if the MBS PDSCH is not successfully decoded by the terminal device, each terminal device 120 can send a NACK in PUCCH resource 0. Otherwise, if the MBS PDSCH is successfully decoded by the terminal device, the terminal device does not send anything in PUCCH resource 0. If the PUCCH resource indicator in the DCI format that schedules the MBS PDSCH indicates a PUCCH resource index other than PUCCH resource 0, it is implied to the terminal device 120 that HARQ-ACK feedback option 2 is adopted, and then each terminal device can send a corresponding ACK or NACK corresponding to the MBS PDSCH in the set of UE-specific PUCCH resources indicated by the PUCCH resource index.

[0172] It should be understood that the specific number of bits, specific feedback resources, and specific mappings shown in Table 8 are for illustration purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, the feedback resource indicator 410 can have any number of bits, any common or UE-specific feedback resources, and any mapping to the enabling or disabling of feedback 135.

[0173] As another example way to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, referring back to Figure 5A , the control information 115 has an example information structure 500, and the feedback configuration 105 will be indicated by a dedicated field 510 in the control information 115. Therefore, the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 can also be used to indicate the feedback transmission scheme. In other words, compared with the traditional DCI for scheduling the shared channel transmission 125, the dynamic switching between different feedback transmission schemes can be based on the newly introduced field (or bit) in the control information 115.

[0174] For example, returning a reference Figure 5B , the first bit 512 in the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 indicates whether the feedback 135 is enabled or disabled. In this case, in order to configure the feedback configuration 105 (indicated by the dedicated field 510) to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can set the second bit 514 in the dedicated field 510 to indicate the feedback transmission scheme. In this way, the signaling overhead for indicating one of the two feedback transmission schemes can be minimized. For example, one of the values ​​of "0" and "1" of the second bit 514 can be used to indicate the first feedback transmission scheme, and the other of the values ​​of "0" and "1" of the second bit 514 can be used to indicate the second feedback transmission scheme. It should be understood that if more than two feedback transmission schemes are available, the second bit 514 can be extended to have more than one bit for indicating a specific feedback transmission scheme from three or more feedback transmission schemes.

[0175] In some embodiments, the control information 115 may be in a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, in order to dynamically indicate option 1 or option 2 for HARQ-ACK feedback for MBS PDSCH transmission, one bit is introduced to indicate enabling or disabling of HARQ-ACK feedback, and another bit in the DCI scheduling the MBS PDSCH is introduced to indicate HARQ-ACK feedback option 1 or option 2 for MBS PDSCH. For example, bit "0" indicates that the terminal device 120 adopts HARQ-ACK feedback option 1, while bit "1" indicates that the terminal device 120 adopts HARQ-ACK feedback option 2, and vice versa.

[0176] On the receiving side of the control information 115, the terminal device 120-1 may determine whether feedback is enabled or disabled based on the first bit 512 in the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115. In this case, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the second bit 514 in the dedicated field 510. In some embodiments, the control information 115 may be a DCI format as defined in the 3GPP specification, and the shared channel transmission 125 may be an MBS PDSCH transmission. In these embodiments, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the HARQ-ACK feedback option based on the second bit in the DCI format. Upon receiving the DCI format for scheduling the MBS PDSCH, if the HARQ-ACK feedback for the MBS PDSCH is enabled, the terminal device 120 may also check the bit indicating option 1 or option 2 for transmitting the corresponding HARQ-ACK feedback.

[0177] In some embodiments, instead of indicating separately in dedicated field 510, such as Figure 5B The first bit 512 and the second bit 514 in the dedicated field 510 shown can be jointly encoded as different values ​​of the entire dedicated field 510 in the control information 115. In this way, the indication of one of the first feedback transmission scheme and the second feedback transmission scheme can be jointly encoded with the enablement or disablement of the feedback 135 using the entire dedicated field 510, thereby minimizing the bit overhead of the entire dedicated field 510. Table 9 below shows an example of an explicit indication of the feedback transmission scheme using the entire dedicated field 510. In some embodiments, Table 9 can be configured by the network device 110 for the terminal device 120-1 via RRC signaling.

[0178] Table 9

[0179] Special field (two bits) Feedback Configuration 00 First feedback transmission scheme 01 Second feedback transmission scheme 10 Feedback Disable 11 Reserve

[0180] In the example of Table 9 above, it is assumed that the dedicated field 510 includes 2 bits and thus can have four values ​​"00" to "11". As shown in Table 9, different values ​​of the dedicated field 510 can be mapped to different configurations of the feedback 135. For example, the first value "00" of the dedicated field 510 can indicate a first feedback transmission scheme, the second value "01" of the dedicated field 510 can indicate a second feedback transmission scheme, the third value "10" of the dedicated field 510 can indicate disabling of the feedback 135, and the fourth value "11" can be reserved. In this way, the network device 110 can explicitly indicate the feedback transmission scheme by setting the value of the dedicated field 510.

[0181] For example, according to Table 9, the network device 110 may indicate the disabling of the feedback 135 by a predetermined value (e.g., "10") of the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115. In addition, the network device 110 may set a value (e.g., "00" or "01") of the dedicated field 510 different from the predetermined value to indicate the feedback transmission scheme. On the receiving side of the control information 115, it is assumed that the predetermined value (e.g., "10") of the dedicated field 510 in the control information 115 indicates that the feedback 135 is disabled. Then, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the value (e.g., "00" or "01") of the dedicated field 510 different from the predetermined value.

[0182] It should be understood that the specific number of bits and the specific mapping as shown in Table 9 are for illustration purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other embodiments, dedicated field 510 may have any number of bits and any mapping to different configurations of feedback 135 .

[0183] Example Method

[0184] Figure 6 600 for communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the example method 600 can be implemented at a device in a communication network, such as Figures 1A to 1C The terminal device 120-1 shown. Additionally or alternatively, the example method 600 may be performed at Figures 1A to 1C In some other embodiments, the example method 600 may be implemented at a device not shown in FIG. 1 . In addition, it should be understood that the example method 600 may include additional blocks not shown and / or may omit some of the blocks shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For the purpose of discussion, reference will be made to FIG. Figures 1A to 1C The example method 600 is described from the perspective of terminal device 120 - 1 .

[0185] At block 610, terminal device 120-1 receives control information for scheduling a shared channel transmission from network device 110, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices 120 including terminal device 120-1. At block 620, terminal device 120-1 determines a feedback configuration based on the control information, the feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for the shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled. At block 630, terminal device 120-1 performs communication with network device 110 based on the feedback configuration.

[0186] In some embodiments, terminal device 120 - 1 may determine the feedback configuration based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information.

[0187] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator, if the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0188] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator, if the feedback timing indicator has a predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the feedback timing indicator has a value different from the predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0189] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration, the terminal device 120 - 1 may determine the feedback configuration based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information.

[0190] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator, if the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating inapplicable resources, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating applicable resources, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0191] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator, if the feedback resource indicator has a predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the feedback resource indicator has a value different from the predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0192] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration, the terminal device 120 - 1 may determine the feedback configuration based on a dedicated field in the control information.

[0193] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field, if the first bit in the dedicated field has a first value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the first bit has a second value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0194] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field, if the dedicated field has a predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled. On the other hand, if the dedicated field has a value different from the predetermined value, the terminal device 120-1 may determine that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled.

[0195] In some embodiments, when performing communications based on a feedback configuration, terminal device 120 - 1 may receive shared channel transmissions without sending feedback to network device 110 if the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled.

[0196] In some embodiments, when communication is performed based on the feedback configuration, if the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled, the terminal device 120-1 may determine a feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration and may send feedback to the network device 110 based on the feedback transmission scheme.

[0197] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information, and when the terminal device 120-1 determines the feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120-1 can determine the index of the feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator, and can determine the feedback transmission scheme based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme.

[0198] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and when the terminal device 120-1 determines the feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120-1 can determine the index of the resource used for feedback from the feedback resource indicator, and can determine the feedback transmission scheme based on a predetermined association between the index of the resource and the feedback transmission scheme.

[0199] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and when the terminal device 120-1 determines the feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120-1 can determine whether the feedback resource indicator indicates a common resource, which is used for multiple terminal devices 120 to send feedback for shared channel transmission, and can determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the determination result.

[0200] In some embodiments, the first bit in the dedicated field in the control information indicates whether feedback is enabled or disabled, and when the terminal device 120-1 determines the feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on the second bit in the dedicated field.

[0201] In some embodiments, a predetermined value of a dedicated field in the control information indicates that feedback is disabled, and when the terminal device 120-1 determines the feedback transmission scheme, the terminal device 120-1 may determine the feedback transmission scheme based on a value of the dedicated field different from the predetermined value.

[0202] In some embodiments, when sending feedback to network device 110 , if the shared channel transmission is not successfully received by terminal device 120 - 1 , terminal device 120 - 1 may send negative feedback to network device 110 using resources common to multiple terminal devices 120 .

[0203] In some embodiments, when sending feedback to network device 110, if the shared channel transmission is successfully received by terminal device 120-1, terminal device 120-1 may send positive feedback to network device 110 using resources specific to terminal device 120-1. On the other hand, if the shared channel transmission is not successfully received by terminal device 120-1, terminal device 120-1 may send negative feedback to network device 110 using resources specific to terminal device 120-1.

[0204] Figure 7 1 is a flow chart showing another example method 700 for communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the example method 700 may be implemented at a device in a communication network, such as Figures 1A to 1C In addition or alternatively, the example method 700 may be performed in Figures 1A to 1C In some other embodiments, the example method 700 may be implemented at a device not shown in FIG. 1 . In addition, it should be understood that the example method 700 may include additional blocks not shown and / or may omit some of the blocks shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For the purpose of discussion, reference will be made to FIG. Figures 1A to 1C Example method 700 is described from the perspective of network device 110 .

[0205] At block 710, the network device 110 determines a feedback configuration indicating whether feedback is enabled or disabled for a shared channel transmission that is common to a plurality of terminal devices 120. At block 720, the network device 110 generates control information for scheduling the shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration. At block 730, the network device 110 sends the control information to at least one of the plurality of terminal devices 120.

[0206] In some embodiments, when generating the control information, the network device 110 may set a feedback timing indicator in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

[0207] In some embodiments, when setting the feedback timing indicator, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value.

[0208] In some embodiments, when setting the feedback timing indicator, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator to have a predetermined value. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the feedback timing indicator to have a value different from the predetermined value.

[0209] In some embodiments, when generating the control information, the network device 110 may set a feedback resource indicator in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

[0210] In some embodiments, when setting the feedback resource indicator, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicating inapplicable resources. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicating applicable resources.

[0211] In some embodiments, when setting the feedback resource indicator, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator to have a predetermined value. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the feedback resource indicator to have a value different from the predetermined value.

[0212] In some embodiments, when generating the control information, the network device 110 may set a dedicated field in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

[0213] In some embodiments, when setting the dedicated field, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the first bit in the dedicated field to have a first value. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the first bit to have a second value.

[0214] In some embodiments, when setting the dedicated field, if feedback is to be disabled, network device 110 may set the dedicated field to have a predetermined value. On the other hand, if feedback is to be enabled, network device 110 may set the dedicated field to have a value different from the predetermined value.

[0215] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration, network device 110 may determine whether to enable or disable feedback based on service reliability requirements.

[0216] In some embodiments, when determining the feedback configuration, if feedback is to be enabled, the network device 110 may determine a feedback transmission scheme 120 for the multiple terminal devices to send feedback to the network device 110 based on the number of the multiple terminal devices 120, and may configure the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0217] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is indicated by a feedback timing indicator in the control information. When the network device 110 configures the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can determine the index of the feedback timing value based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme, and can set the feedback timing indicator to indicate the index of the feedback timing value.

[0218] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration will be indicated by a feedback resource indicator in the control information. When the network device 110 configures the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can determine the index of the feedback resource based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback resource and the feedback transmission scheme, and can set the feedback resource indicator to indicate the index of the feedback resource.

[0219] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration will be indicated by a feedback resource indicator in the control information. When the network device 110 configures the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can set the feedback resource indicator based on the feedback transmission scheme to indicate the common resources used for multiple terminal devices 120 to send feedback.

[0220] In some embodiments, whether feedback is enabled or disabled will be indicated by a first bit in a dedicated field in the control information, and when the network device 110 configures the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 can set a second bit in the dedicated field to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0221] In some embodiments, feedback disabling may be indicated by a predetermined value of a dedicated field in the control information, and when the network device 110 configures the feedback configuration to indicate a feedback transmission scheme, the network device 110 may set the value of the dedicated field to be different from the predetermined value to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0222] Example Device

[0223] Figure 8 is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus 800 (also referred to as device 800) suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus 800 may be considered to be Figures 1A to 1C The network device 110 and the terminal device 120 are shown as further example implementations. Thus, the apparatus 800 may be implemented at the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 or as at least a part of the network device 110 and the terminal device 120.

[0224] As shown, the apparatus 800 includes a processor 810, a memory 820 coupled to the processor 810, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 840 coupled to the processor 810, and a communication interface coupled to the TX / RX 840. The memory 820 stores at least a portion of the program 830. The TX / RX 840 is used for bidirectional communication. The TX / RX 840 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, although in practice the access node mentioned in this application may have several antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface necessary for communication with other network elements, such as an X2 interface for bidirectional communication between eNBs, an S1 interface for communication between a mobility management entity (MME) / serving gateway (S-GW) and an eNB, a Un interface for communication between an eNB and a relay node (RN), or a Uu interface for communication between an eNB and a terminal device.

[0225] Assume that the program 830 includes program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 810, enable the device 800 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 810 of the device 800, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 810 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the combination of the processor 810 and the memory 820 may form a processing component 850 suitable for implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0226] The memory 820 may be of any type suitable for the local technology network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as non-transitory computer-readable storage media, semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. Although only one memory 820 is shown in the device 800, there may be several physically different memory modules in the device 800. The processor 810 may be of any type suitable for the local technology network and may include, as non-limiting examples, one or more of the following: a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 800 may have multiple processors, such as a dedicated integrated circuit chip that is time-slave to a clock synchronized with a main processor.

[0227] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of executing the example method 600 (e.g., terminal device 120-1) may include a component for executing each step of the example method 600. The component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the component may be implemented in a circuit system or a software module.

[0228] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a component for receiving control information for scheduling a shared channel transmission from a network device, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices including the terminal device. The apparatus also includes a component for determining a feedback configuration based on the control information, the feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for the shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled. The apparatus also includes a component for performing communication with the network device based on the feedback configuration.

[0229] In some embodiments, means for determining the feedback configuration comprises means for determining the feedback configuration based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information.

[0230] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value.

[0231] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a predetermined value; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value different from the predetermined value.

[0232] In some embodiments, means for determining the feedback configuration comprises means for determining the feedback configuration based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information.

[0233] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable resource; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating an applicable resource.

[0234] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a predetermined value; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value different from the predetermined value.

[0235] In some embodiments, means for determining the feedback configuration comprises means for determining the feedback configuration based on a dedicated field in the control information.

[0236] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that a first bit in the dedicated field has a first value; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the first bit has a second value.

[0237] In some embodiments, the means for determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field includes: means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that the dedicated field has a predetermined value; and means for determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is enabled based on determining that the dedicated field has a value different from the predetermined value.

[0238] In some embodiments, means for performing communications based on the feedback configuration includes means for receiving the shared channel transmission without transmitting feedback to the network device based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled.

[0239] In some embodiments, means for performing communications based on a feedback configuration includes means for determining a feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates feedback is enabled; and transmitting feedback to the network device based on the feedback transmission scheme.

[0240] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information, and the means for determining the feedback transmission scheme includes: means for determining an index of the feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator; and means for determining the feedback transmission scheme based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme.

[0241] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and the component for determining the feedback transmission scheme includes: a component for determining an index of a resource for feedback from the feedback resource indicator; and a component for determining the feedback transmission scheme based on a predetermined association between the index of the resource and the feedback transmission scheme.

[0242] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and the component for determining the feedback transmission scheme includes: a component for determining whether the feedback resource indicator indicates a common resource, which is used for multiple terminal devices to send feedback for shared channel transmission; and a component for determining the feedback transmission scheme based on the determined result.

[0243] In some embodiments, a first bit in a dedicated field in the control information indicates whether feedback is enabled or disabled, and the means for determining the feedback transmission scheme includes means for determining the feedback transmission scheme based on a second bit in the dedicated field.

[0244] In some embodiments, a predetermined value of a dedicated field in the control information indicates that feedback is disabled, and the means for determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises means for determining the feedback transmission scheme based on a value of the dedicated field different from the predetermined value.

[0245] In some embodiments, means for sending feedback to the network device comprises means for sending negative feedback to the network device using resources common to the plurality of terminal devices based on determining that the shared channel transmission was not successfully received by the terminal device.

[0246] In some embodiments, the component for sending feedback to the network device includes: a component for sending positive feedback to the network device using resources specific to the terminal device based on determining that the shared channel transmission is successfully received by the terminal device; and a component for sending negative feedback to the network device using resources specific to the terminal device based on determining that the shared channel transmission is not successfully received by the terminal device.

[0247] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the example method 600. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to cause execution of the example method 600 with the at least one processor.

[0248] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the example method 700 (e.g., network device 110) may include a component for performing the corresponding steps of the example method 700. The component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the component may be implemented in a circuit system or a software module.

[0249] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes means for determining a feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for a shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices. The apparatus also includes means for generating control information for scheduling the shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration. The apparatus also includes means for sending the control information to at least one of the plurality of terminal devices.

[0250] In some embodiments, the means for generating the control information comprises means for setting a feedback timing indicator in the control information to indicate a feedback configuration.

[0251] In some embodiments, means for setting the feedback timing indicator comprises means for setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value based on determining that feedback is to be disabled, and means for setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0252] In some embodiments, the means for setting the feedback timing indicator comprises means for setting the feedback timing indicator to have a predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be disabled; and means for setting the feedback timing indicator to have a value different from the predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0253] In some embodiments, the means for generating the control information comprises means for setting a feedback resource indicator in the control information to indicate a feedback configuration.

[0254] In some embodiments, means for setting the feedback resource indicator comprises means for setting the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicating inapplicable resources based on determining that feedback is to be disabled, and means for setting the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicating applicable resources based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0255] In some embodiments, means for setting the feedback resource indicator comprises means for setting the feedback resource indicator to a predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be disabled; and means for setting the feedback resource indicator to a value different from the predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0256] In some embodiments, means for generating the control information comprises means for setting a dedicated field in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

[0257] In some embodiments, means for setting the dedicated field comprises means for setting a first bit in the dedicated field to have a first value based on determining that feedback is to be disabled; and means for setting the first bit to have a second value based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0258] In some embodiments, the means for setting the dedicated field includes means for setting the dedicated field to a predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be disabled; and means for setting the dedicated field to a value different from the predetermined value based on determining that feedback is to be enabled.

[0259] In some embodiments, means for determining a feedback configuration includes means for determining whether to enable or disable feedback based on service reliability requirements.

[0260] In some embodiments, the component for determining the feedback configuration also includes: a component for determining a feedback transmission scheme for multiple terminal devices to send feedback to the network device based on the number of multiple terminal devices according to determining that feedback will be enabled; and a component for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0261] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is to be indicated by a feedback timing indicator in the control information, and the means for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme includes: means for determining the index of the feedback timing value based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme; and means for setting the feedback timing indicator to indicate the index of the feedback timing value.

[0262] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration is indicated by a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and the means for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme includes: a means for determining the index of the feedback resource based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback resource and the feedback transmission scheme; and a means for setting the feedback resource indicator to indicate the index of the feedback resource.

[0263] In some embodiments, the feedback configuration will be indicated by a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and the component for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme includes: a component for setting the feedback resource indicator based on the feedback transmission scheme to indicate a common resource for multiple terminal devices to send feedback.

[0264] In some embodiments, whether feedback is enabled or disabled is indicated by a first bit in a dedicated field in the control information, and the means for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme includes: means for setting a second bit in the dedicated field to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0265] In some embodiments, the disabled feedback is indicated by a predetermined value of a dedicated field in the control information, and the means for configuring the feedback configuration to indicate the feedback transmission scheme includes: means for setting a value of the dedicated field different from the predetermined value to indicate the feedback transmission scheme.

[0266] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the example method 700. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to cause execution of the example method 700 with the at least one processor.

[0267] In general, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software, which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device. Although various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other graphical representation, it will be understood that, as non-limiting examples, the boxes, devices, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuits or logic, general-purpose hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0268] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product, tangibly stored on a non-transient computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer executable instructions, such as those included in a program module, which are executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor to perform a process or method as described above. Typically, a program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific tasks or implement specific abstract data types. The functions of the program modules can be combined or split between program modules as needed in various embodiments. The machine executable instructions for the program modules can be executed in local or distributed devices. In distributed devices, the program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0269] The program code for executing the method of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes can be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing device so that the program code enables the functions / operations specified in the flow chart and / or block diagram to be realized when executed by the processor or controller. The program code can be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine as an independent software package, partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or completely on a remote machine or server.

[0270] The above program code may be embodied on a machine-readable medium, which may be any tangible medium that may contain or store a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus. The machine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of machine-readable storage media will include an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer floppy disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0271] In addition, although operations are described in a particular order, this should not be construed as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequence, or that all illustrated operations be performed to obtain the desired result. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, although several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to a particular embodiment. Certain features described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments.

[0272] Although the present disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological actions, it should be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Instead, the specific features and actions described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A method performed by a terminal device, comprising: receiving control information for scheduling a shared channel transmission from a network device, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices including the terminal device, wherein the shared channel transmission comprises a multicast and broadcast service shared channel transmission; determining a feedback configuration based on a dedicated field in the control information, the feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for the shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled; as well as Communicating with the network device is performed based on the feedback configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the feedback configuration further comprises: The feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator or a feedback resource indicator in the control information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value, and determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value different than the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable resource, and determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating applicable resources; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value different from the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field comprises one of (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that a first bit in the dedicated field has a first value, and Determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the first bit has a second value; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the dedicated field has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the dedicated field has a value different than the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the communicating based on the feedback configuration comprises: Based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, receiving the shared channel transmission without sending the feedback to the network device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the communicating based on the feedback configuration comprises: Determining a feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled; as well as The feedback is sent to the network device based on the feedback transmission scheme.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: determining an index of a feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: Determining an index of a resource for the feedback from the feedback resource indicator; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a predetermined association between the index of the resource and the feedback transmission scheme.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: determining whether the feedback resource indicator indicates a common resource, the common resource being used for the multiple terminal devices to send feedback for the shared channel transmission; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a result of the determination.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a first bit in the dedicated field in the control information indicates whether the feedback is enabled or disabled, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a second bit in the dedicated field.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein a predetermined value of the dedicated field in the control information indicates that the feedback is disabled, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a value of the dedicated field that is different from the predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein sending the feedback to the network device comprises: Based on determining that the shared channel transmission was not successfully received by the terminal device, negative feedback is sent to the network device using resources common to the plurality of terminal devices.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein sending the feedback to the network device comprises: sending positive feedback to the network device using resources specific to the terminal device based on determining that the shared channel transmission was successfully received by the terminal device; as well as Based on determining that the shared channel transmission was not successfully received by the terminal device, negative feedback is sent to the network device using the resources specific to the terminal device.

15. A method performed by a network device, comprising: determining a feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for a shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled, wherein the shared channel transmission is common to a plurality of terminal devices and the shared channel transmission comprises a multicast and broadcast service shared channel transmission; generating control information for scheduling the shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration, wherein generating the control information comprises setting a dedicated field in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration; as well as The control information is sent to at least one terminal device among the multiple terminal devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the control information further comprises: A feedback timing indicator or a feedback resource indicator is set in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein setting the feedback timing indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating a feedback timing value that is not applicable, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicative of an applicable feedback timing value; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the feedback timing indicator is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein setting the feedback resource indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to a value indicating an inapplicable resource, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicative of an applicable resource; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the feedback resource indicator is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein setting the dedicated field comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the first bit in the dedicated field to have a first value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the first bit to have a second value; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the dedicated field to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the dedicated field is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the feedback configuration comprises: A determination is made whether to enable or disable the feedback based on service reliability requirements.

21. A terminal device, comprising: processor; as well as a memory coupled to the processor, The processor is configured to: receiving control information for scheduling a shared channel transmission from a network device, the shared channel transmission being common to a plurality of terminal devices including the terminal device, wherein The shared channel transmission includes multicast and broadcast service shared channel transmission; determining a feedback configuration based on a dedicated field in the control information, the feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for the shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled; as well as Communicating with the network device is performed based on the feedback configuration.

22. The terminal device according to claim 21, wherein determining the feedback configuration further comprises: The feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator or a feedback resource indicator in the control information.

23. The terminal device of claim 22, wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback timing indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable feedback timing value, and determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value indicating an applicable feedback timing value; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the feedback timing indicator has a value different than the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

24. The terminal device of claim 22, wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the feedback resource indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating an inapplicable resource, and determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value indicating applicable resources; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the feedback resource indicator has a value different from the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

25. The terminal device of claim 21, wherein determining the feedback configuration based on the dedicated field comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) determining that the feedback configuration indicates that feedback is disabled based on determining that a first bit in the dedicated field has a first value, and Determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled based on determining that the first bit has a second value; or (ii) determining, based on determining that the dedicated field has a predetermined value, that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, and Based on determining that the dedicated field has a value different than the predetermined value, determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled.

26. The terminal device of claim 21, wherein performing the communication based on the feedback configuration comprises: Based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is disabled, receiving the shared channel transmission without sending the feedback to the network device.

27. The terminal device of claim 21, wherein performing the communication based on the feedback configuration comprises: Determining a feedback transmission scheme indicated by the feedback configuration based on determining that the feedback configuration indicates that the feedback is enabled; as well as The feedback is sent to the network device based on the feedback transmission scheme.

28. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback timing indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: determining an index of a feedback timing value from the feedback timing indicator; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a predetermined association between the index of the feedback timing value and the feedback transmission scheme.

29. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: Determining an index of a resource for the feedback from the feedback resource indicator; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a predetermined association between the index of the resource and the feedback transmission scheme.

30. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein the feedback configuration is determined based on a feedback resource indicator in the control information, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: determining whether the feedback resource indicator indicates a common resource, the common resource being used for the multiple terminal devices to send feedback for the shared channel transmission; as well as The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a result of the determination.

31. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein a first bit in the dedicated field in the control information indicates whether the feedback is enabled or disabled, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a second bit in the dedicated field.

32. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein a predetermined value of the dedicated field in the control information indicates that the feedback is disabled, and wherein determining the feedback transmission scheme comprises: The feedback transmission scheme is determined based on a value of the dedicated field that is different from the predetermined value.

33. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein sending the feedback to the network device comprises: Based on determining that the shared channel transmission was not successfully received by the terminal device, negative feedback is sent to the network device using resources common to the plurality of terminal devices.

34. The terminal device of claim 27, wherein sending the feedback to the network device comprises: sending positive feedback to the network device using resources specific to the terminal device based on determining that the shared channel transmission was successfully received by the terminal device; as well as Based on determining that the shared channel transmission was not successfully received by the terminal device, negative feedback is sent to the network device using the resources specific to the terminal device.

35. A network device comprising: processor; as well as a memory coupled to the processor, The processor is configured to: determining a feedback configuration indicating whether feedback for a shared channel transmission is enabled or disabled, wherein the shared channel transmission is common to a plurality of terminal devices and the shared channel transmission comprises a multicast and broadcast service shared channel transmission; generating control information for scheduling the shared channel transmission and indicating the feedback configuration, wherein generating the control information comprises setting a dedicated field in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration; as well as The control information is sent to at least one terminal device among the multiple terminal devices.

36. The network device of claim 35, wherein generating the control information further comprises: A feedback timing indicator or a feedback resource indicator is set in the control information to indicate the feedback configuration.

37. The network device of claim 36, wherein setting the feedback timing indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicating a feedback timing value that is not applicable, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to a value indicative of an applicable feedback timing value; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback timing indicator to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the feedback timing indicator is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

38. The network device of claim 36, wherein setting the feedback resource indicator comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to a value indicating an inapplicable resource, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to have a value indicative of an applicable resource; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the feedback resource indicator to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the feedback resource indicator is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

39. The network device of claim 36, wherein setting the dedicated field comprises one of the following items (i) and (ii): (i) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the first bit in the dedicated field to have a first value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, setting the first bit to have a second value; or (ii) if the feedback is to be disabled, setting the dedicated field to have a predetermined value, and If the feedback is to be enabled, the dedicated field is set to have a value different from the predetermined value.

40. The network device of claim 35, wherein determining the feedback configuration comprises: A determination is made whether to enable or disable the feedback based on service reliability requirements.

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