Processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback and its user equipment

Abstract

This invention provides a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback and a user equipment thereof. The method includes: receiving hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information in an Internet of Things (IoT) network via the user equipment, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields; determining the enabled / disabled state of hybrid automatic repeat request feedback for each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information; and executing a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enabling / disabling process for each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to wireless communication. In particular, it relates to a scheme for disabling and / or enabling Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback in the Internet of Things (IoT). Background Technology

[0002] Unless otherwise stated, the methods described in this section are not considered prior art to the claims listed below, nor are they considered prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

[0003] Internet of Things (IoT) networks enable communication between electronic devices / user equipment (UEs) via the Internet. IoT networks enable smart cities, smart homes, pollution control, energy conservation, intelligent transportation, and provide many innovative solutions to various challenges. With the development of wireless technologies, IoT incorporates the latest wireless technologies. Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) devices use fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications systems, which include new radio (NR) networks and non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) is primarily used for scheduling management, such as the initial transmission and retransmission of information. In scenarios with high transmission latency, such as NTN, HARQ increases transmission latency and power consumption. Traditional HARQ processing methods are not suitable for the growing demands of IoT networks. Furthermore, when HARQ is disabled, if a UE misses one or more new data indication (NDI) fields, the traditional method of using the NDI field as an indication for initial transmission or retransmission will result in a mismatch.

[0004] In summary, corresponding improvements and enhancements are needed to enable and disable the HARQ feedback process for IoT devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, it is provided to introduce the concepts, key points, benefits, and advantageous effects of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Selected embodiments are further described in the detailed description below. Therefore, the following summary is not intended to identify the essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to define the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] This invention provides a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback and a user equipment thereof.

[0007] In one embodiment, a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback is provided, comprising: receiving hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information in an Internet of Things (IoT) network through a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields; determining the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable / disable state of each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information; and executing a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable / disable process for each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information.

[0008] In another embodiment, a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback is provided, comprising: receiving hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabling information in an Internet of Things (IoT) network via a user equipment, wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabling information indicates that the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback process is disabled; determining a new data state for receiving data according to IoT new data rules, wherein the IoT new data rules determine whether the received data is initial transmission data or retransmission data, wherein the IoT new data rules cover a new data indication field; and processing the received data based on the new data state.

[0009] In another embodiment, a user equipment is provided for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback processing, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in an Internet of Things (IoT); a hybrid automatic repeat request configuration module for receiving hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields; a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback status module for determining the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable-disable status of each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information; and a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable and disable module for executing a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable and disable process for each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information.

[0010] In another embodiment, a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback is provided, comprising: configuring a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable-disable state for each hybrid automatic repeat request process based on hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information via an Internet of Things (IoT) network; and sending the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information to a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields.

[0011] In another embodiment, a method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback is provided, comprising: sending a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabling information to a user equipment through the Internet of Things (IoT) network, wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabling information indicates that the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback process is disabled; and transmitting data through the IoT network according to new IoT data rules.

[0012] The method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback and its user equipment provided by this invention can improve the process of enabling and disabling HARQ feedback in Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this invention. The drawings depict embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is understood that, in order to clearly illustrate the concepts of the invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some components shown may be depicted at a scale greater than that in the actual embodiments.

[0014] Figure 1 An example system diagram of an exemplary IoT network including a process with HARQ feedback disabled is described in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 An example diagram illustrating the HARQ feedback enabling and disabling process for IoT devices is described in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 According to embodiments of the present invention, a top-level diagram is described for enabling and disabling the HARQ feedback process for each HARQ process.

[0017] Figure 4 An example diagram is described below using the RRC parameter "HARQ-feedback enable-disable per HARQ process" to enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 An example diagram using two RRC parameters is described according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more DCI fields are described to indicate enabling or disabling one or more HARQ feedback processes.

[0020] Figure 7 An example diagram is described in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, illustrating the reinterpretation of existing DCI fields to indicate enabling or disabling one or more HARQ process feedbacks.

[0021] Figure 8An example diagram is described in the embodiments of the present invention, which compares the R threshold (R_threshold) and the DCI “Repetition number” field to implicitly enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes.

[0022] Figure 9 An example diagram is described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the use of two RRC parameters to implicitly enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes.

[0023] Figure 10 An example diagram illustrating the application of new IoT data rules in an NTN with HARQ feedback disabled, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is described.

[0024] Figure 11 An example diagram illustrating new data rules for IoT is described according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 12 An exemplary flowchart for disabling the HARQ feedback process for a UE in an IoT network is described in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 13 An exemplary flowchart for applying new IoT data rules to IoT UEs in NTN is described in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 An example system diagram of an exemplary IoT network including a process with HARQ feedback disabling is described according to embodiments of the present invention. The IoT network includes multiple communication devices or mobile stations (whether mobile, mobile, or fixed), such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and other 5G devices, for example... Figure 1The UEs shown are 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116. In an IoT network, a UE can establish a communication link with one or more network devices (i.e., NTN nodes or NR base stations). Examples include various NTN nodes 101, NTN gateways 102, and NR base stations 105. Network nodes can be communication nodes, such as radio access networks (RAN), such as 5G base stations (gNB), evolved universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS), terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA), enhanced 4G eNodeB E-UTRA base stations (eNB), such as enhanced node B, enhanced gNB (en-gNB), or next-generation eNB (ng-eNB). NTN nodes can be implemented using various non-terrestrial systems. The core network / data network 109 can be a homogeneous or heterogeneous network, and can be deployed on the same frequency or different frequencies.

[0029] In scenarios with low transmission latency, such as terrestrial networks (TN), using HARQ feedback offers several advantages, including improved transmission reliability. In scenarios with high transmission latency, such as NTN systems, disabling HARQ feedback can reduce UE power consumption and transmission latency. Furthermore, disabling HARQ feedback for downlink (DL) transmissions can improve uplink (UL) throughput in scenarios with long round-trip time (RTT), as more resources become available in the uplink. In a novel aspect, the UE receives HARQ configuration information from the network. The HARQ configuration information includes at least one of the following: a first indication, a second indication, and a third indication. If a first indication exists indicating whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled for each HARQ process, the UE checks the HARQ process identifier (ID) and determines whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the first indication. If the first indication does not exist, or the UE cannot determine whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the first indication, the UE determines whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the second indication when the second indication exists. The second indication information indicates whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled for all HARQ processes. If the first indication information exists but the second indication information does not, when the UE does not receive a HARQ process ID, the UE determines whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the first indication information where the HARQ process ID is equal to 0. If the first indication information does not exist, or if the UE cannot determine whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the first indication information, then when a third indication information exists, the UE determines whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the third indication information. The third indication information indicates the enable / disable value for the R threshold. The UE checks the "repetition count" in the DCI and determines whether HARQ feedback is enabled or disabled based on the third indication information.

[0030] Figure 1 A simplified block diagram of a mobile device / UE performing the enabling and disabling of the HARQ feedback process in an IoT network is further described. The UE has an antenna 125 for transmitting and receiving radio signals. An RF transceiver circuit 123 coupled to the antenna receives RF signals from the antenna 125, converts them into baseband signals, and sends the baseband signals to a processor 122. In one embodiment, the RF transceiver may include two RF modules (not shown). The RF transceiver circuit 123 also converts the baseband signals received from the processor 122 into RF signals and sends them to the antenna 125. The processor 122 processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to perform functions in the UE 111. Memory 121 stores program instructions and data 126 to control the operation of the UE 111. The antenna 125 transmits uplink transmissions to and receives downlink transmissions from the base station.

[0031] The UE also includes a set of control modules that perform functional tasks. These control modules can be implemented through circuitry, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. HARQ configuration module 191 receives HARQ configuration information, wherein the UE is configured with one or more HARQ processes, and the HARQ configuration information includes one or more IoT HARQ information fields. HARQ status module 192 determines the HARQ feedback enable / disable state for each HARQ process based on the HARQ configuration information. HARQ feedback enable / disable module 193 executes HARQ feedback enable and disable processes for each HARQ process based on the HARQ configuration information. IoT new data module 194, which receives disabled information via a non-terrestrial link (NTN) (where the HARQ feedback disable information indicates that all HARQ processes are disabled), determines a new data state for receiving data based on IoT new data rules, wherein the IoT new data rules determine whether the received data is initial transmission data or retransmission data, and wherein the IoT new data rules rewrite the New Data Indication (NDI) field and process the received data according to the new data state.

[0032] Figure 2An example diagram illustrating the HARQ feedback enabling and disabling process for IoT devices is described according to embodiments of the present invention. IoT systems / networks are primarily categorized into NB-IoT and eMTC based on system bandwidth and coverage. NB-IoT uses a bandwidth of approximately 200 kHz and supports low-bandwidth data transmission below 100 kilobits per second. eMTC technology uses a 1.4 MHz bandwidth and has a maximum data transmission rate of 1 megabit per second. In NB-IoT scenarios, the downlink supports one or two HARQ processes. In eMTC scenarios, the downlink can support up to 16 HARQ processes for eMTC CE-Mode-A and up to 4 HARQ processes for eMTC CE-Mode-B. The IoT system can use NTN access and / or other wireless access, such as NR. Exemplary IoT devices 206 and 207 can be configured to access NTN via network node 201 or other wireless access (e.g., gNB 202). IoT devices / UEs 206 and 207 can be NB IoT devices, eMTC CE-Mode-A devices, or eMTC CE-Mode-B devices. IoT devices configured with a HARQ process perform HARQ. In step 211, a configuration control signal is sent via the narrowband downlink physical control channel (NPDCCH) or MTC DCCH (MDCCH). In step 221, the DLHARQ-1 process sends a data packet to the UE. Data transmission fails. In step 222, a HARQ NACK is sent. Optionally, in step 212, new configuration information is sent to the UE via NPDCCH or MPDCCH. In step 231, the UE successfully receives the DL HARQ-1 data. In step 233, a HARQ ACK is sent to the network.

[0033] In the example scenario, considering the high transmission latency in the NTN system, it is desirable to disable HARQ feedback to improve system throughput. For NR NTN, the solution for disabling HARQ feedback is to utilize the RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enabling disabling perharqprocess-r17" to pre-configure the corresponding HARQ IDs for enabling and disabling feedback. When the eNB performs HARQ scheduling, it schedules specific HARQ processes with and without HARQ feedback enabled or disabled through the "HARQ process number" field in the DCI. In other words, the UE can obtain the "HARQ process number" by receiving the DCI. Then, the UE can determine whether HARQ feedback is disabled through the RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enabling disabling perharqprocess-r17". When IoT devices need to operate in high-latency scenarios, HARQ feedback needs to be disabled to reduce transmission latency and increase transmission throughput. However, in NB-IoT and eMTC scenarios, the "HARQ process count" field may not exist. Therefore, the method used by NR NTN is not suitable for IoT scenarios with high latency.

[0034] In a novel aspect, a method for disabling and enabling HARQ feedback processes for each HARQ process of a UE in an IoT network is provided. In one embodiment, RRC signaling is provided to enable or disable feedback for a HARQ process with a bitmap. In another embodiment, an indicator is configured in the RRC signal and has one or more corresponding HARQ process IDs in the DCI. In yet another embodiment, a new DCI field is used to provide HARQ per-process enable and disable feedback information. In yet another embodiment, HARQ enable and disable feedback information with new or existing fields is explicitly provided. In yet another embodiment, existing DCI fields are used to implicitly indicate the enable and disable of feedback for each HARQ process.

[0035] Figure 3According to embodiments of the present invention, a top-level diagram is described for enabling and disabling the HARQ feedback process for each HARQ process. In a novel aspect, a UE in an IoT network enables or disables the HARQ feedback process based on one or more IoT HARQ information fields. The IoT HARQ information fields include an IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable / disable field 301, an explicit IoT HARQ feedback field 302, and an implicit IoT HARQ feedback field 303. The IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable / disable field 301 can be received from RRC signaling 306 or using an existing or new field in DCI 307 as the IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable / disable field 301. The explicit IoT HARQ feedback field 302 can be received from RRC signaling 306 or DCI 307. The implicit IoT HARQ feedback field 303 is received from DCI 307 using an existing DCI field. In one embodiment, the IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable / disable field 301 is a bitmap 311. In another embodiment, the IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable / disable field 301 is an indicator for enabling or disabling one or more HARQ feedback processes. The HARQ process is either explicitly provided as a HARQ process ID or implicitly determined based on an implicit IoT HARQ feedback field. The explicit IoT HARQ feedback field 302 can be a bitmap 321 to explicitly enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes; it can be a HARQ process ID 322. When a predefined value is set, the implicit IoT HARQ feedback field 303 is an existing DCI field that implicitly indicates enabling or disabling one or more HARQ feedback processes, for example, containing indication information 331 for comparison with a threshold.

[0036] In one embodiment, a bitmap 311 for each HARQ process is received. The UE performs an enable or disable HARQ feedback procedure based on the bitmap 311 for each HARQ process. In another embodiment, the UE performs an enable or disable HARQ feedback procedure based on a bitmap 321 from the DCI for each HARQ process. In yet another embodiment, the UE receives an enable-disable indicator 312 and a HARQ process ID 322 and performs HARQ feedback enable and disable accordingly. In yet another embodiment, the UE is an NB-IoT, and an IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable-disable field 301 and an explicit IoT HARQ feedback field 302 may exist. When presented based on an overlay rule, the explicit IoT overlays the IoT-based HARQ feedback process enable-disable field for one or more corresponding HARQ processes. The overlay rule may enable only the feedback enable for the overlay HARQ process, or only the feedback disable for the HARQ process, or both enable and disable.

[0037] Figure 4 An example diagram illustrating the use of the RRC parameter "HARQ-Feedback Enable-Disable per HARQ Process" to enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes is described according to embodiments of the present invention. In step 401, the RRC configures the cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter "HARQ-Feedback Enable-Disable per HARQ Process". In one embodiment, in embodiment 410, a bitmap is received from the RRC signal. In step 411, the UE enables or disables one or more corresponding HARQ feedback processes based on the received RRC parameter. In another embodiment 420, the RRC parameter is an indicator. In step 430, the UE determines whether one or more HARQ process IDs exist. If step 430 determines yes, then in step 431, the UE enables or disables HARQ feedback based on the aforementioned RRC parameter and the DCI "HARQ Process Count" field. If step 430 determines no, then in step 432, the UE enables or disables the HARQ feedback process based on the configuration of the RRC parameter "HARQ-Feedback Enable-Disable per HARQ Process" where "HARQ Process Count" equals zero.

[0038] Figure 5 An example diagram using two RRC parameters is described according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the two RRC parameters enable / disable HARQ feedback for each HARQ process and enable or disable HARQ feedback for all HARQ processes. In one embodiment, the RRC configures a cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enable or disable" for all HARQ processes. In step 501, the UE determines whether the cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enable / disable for each HARQ process" exists. If step 501 determines no, then in step 520, the UE enables or disables HARQ feedback based on the RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enable or disable". If step 501 determines yes, then the UE enables or disables HARQ feedback based on the aforementioned RRC parameter and the DCI "Number of HARQ Processes" field. In step 502, the UE determines whether the number of HARQ processes exists. If step 502 determines no, then the UE enables or disables HARQ feedback in step 520 based on the RRC parameter "HARQ feedback enable or disable". If step 502 is determined to be yes, the UE enables or disables the HARQ feedback process based on the two parameters mentioned above. The MAC CE can update the parameter "HARQ Enabled or Disabled".

[0039] Figure 6According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more DCI fields are added to indicate the enabling or disabling of one or more HARQ feedback processes. In embodiment 601, the UE receives an explicit IoT HARQ enable-disable indication. In embodiment 610, a new DCI field is added to carry information. The one-bit DCI field "HARQ Feedback Enable-Disable" indicates the enabling or disabling of HARQ feedback. Here, "0" indicates enabled, and "1" indicates disabled. In step 611, the UE enables or disables the HARQ feedback process based on the new DCI field.

[0040] Figure 7 According to embodiments of the present invention, example diagrams are described that reinterpret existing DCI fields to indicate enabling or disabling one or more HARQ process feedbacks. In embodiment 701, an explicit IoT HARQ feedback field is used. Existing DCI fields are used to carry HARQ configuration information for IoT devices. In embodiment 710, the "Schedule Delay" field and the "HARQ Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) Resource" field are used to carry explicit IoT HARQ information. In one embodiment, embodiment 710 is applicable to NB-IoT. In one example, when the "Schedule Delay" field = '000' and the "HARQ-ACK Resource" field = '0000', the explicit IoT HARQ feedback field indicates that HARQ feedback is disabled; otherwise, HARQ feedback is enabled. In embodiment 720, the "PUCCH TPC Command" field and the "HARQ-ACK Resource Offset" field are used to carry explicit IoT HARQ information. In one embodiment, embodiment 720 is applicable to eMTC CE-Mode-A. When the "PUCCH TPC Command" field = '00' and the "HARQ-ACK Resource Offset" field = '00', HARQ feedback is disabled; otherwise, HARQ feedback is enabled. In Embodiment 730, the "Information for Single-Cell Multicast Control Channel (SC-MCCH) Change Notification" field and the "HARQ-ACK Resource Offset" field are used to carry explicit IoT HARQ information. In one embodiment, Embodiment 720 is applicable to eMTC CE-Mode-B. When the "Information for SC-MCCH Change Notification" field = '00' and the "HARQ-ACK Resource Offset" field = '00', HARQ feedback is disabled; otherwise, HARQ feedback is enabled. In step 702, the UE enables or disables one or more HARQ feedback processes based on the IoT HARQ configuration.

[0041] Figure 8According to embodiments of the present invention, an example diagram is described that compares the R-threshold and the DCI "Repetition number" field to implicitly enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes. In embodiment 801, an implicit IoT HARQ feedback field is used. In one embodiment, the RRC configuration cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter 810 "R-threshold Enable-Disable" indicates the R-threshold for NB-IoT, CE-Mode-A, and CE-Mode-B, respectively. The UE uses the "R-threshold Enable-Disable" and DCI "Repetition number" 820 fields to determine whether to enable or disable the process. The R-threshold enable-disable value is equal to the maximum repetition number, or a specific repetition number is equal to an integer multiple of the maximum repetition number, or a specific repetition number comes from {1, 2, ..., maximum repetition number}, or the R-threshold enable-disable value is equal to the maximum number of fields in the DCI "Repetition number" field, or a specific number of fields comes from {1, 2, ..., maximum number of fields in the DCI "Repetition number" field}. The UE compares the R-threshold with the repetition number notified in the DCI "Repetition number" field. If R corresponds to a "repetition count" field greater than or equal to the R threshold, HARQ feedback is disabled; otherwise, HARQ feedback is enabled. The MAC CE can update the R threshold. The MAC CE updates the difference or full value of the R threshold. In step 802, the UE enables or disables one or more HARQ feedback processes based on the IoT HARQ configuration.

[0042] Figure 9 According to embodiments of the present invention, an example diagram is described using two RRC parameters to implicitly enable or disable one or more HARQ feedback processes. In embodiment 910, the RRC configures a cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter "HARQ Feedback Enable / Disable per HARQ Process," and the UE enables or disables HARQ feedback based on the aforementioned RRC parameter and the DCI "HARQ Process Count" field. The RRC configures a cell-specific / UE-specific RRC parameter "R Threshold Enable / Disable," indicating the R threshold for NB-IoT, CE-Mode-A, and CE-Mode-B, respectively. In step 902, the UE determines whether to enable or disable based on the RRC parameters. In step 901, the UE determines whether the DCI "HARQ Process Count" field exists. If step 901 determines yes, then in step 902, the UE enables or disables one or more HARQ feedback processes based on IoT HARQ. If step 901 determines no, then in step 920, the UE determines the enable / disable state of HARQ feedback based on a comparison of the R threshold with the number of repetitions notified in the DCI "Repetition Count" field. If R corresponds to a "repetition count" field that is greater than or equal to the R threshold, then HARQ feedback is disabled; otherwise, HARQ feedback is enabled. In step 903, the UE determines whether to enable or disable HARQ feedback based on the RRC parameters.

[0043] In a novel aspect, when HARQ feedback is disabled, the UE determines whether the received data is an initial transmission or a retransmission based on the IoT New Data Indication (NDI) rule that has been rewritten.

[0044] Figure 10 An example diagram illustrating the application of new IoT data rules in an IoT network with HARQ feedback disabled in an NTN, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is described. UE 1002 in the IoT network is interconnected with network node 1001. A New Data Indicator (NDI) indicates whether the current transmission is a new transmission or a retransmission. For DCI-scheduled transmissions, the IoT UE decodes the DCI and determines whether the transmission is a new transmission or a retransmission based on the NDI field in the DCI. For the same number of HARQ processes or no HARQ processes (when only one HARQ process is supported in the downlink), if the NDI remains unchanged, the UE considers the current transmission a retransmission; otherwise, it considers it a new transmission.

[0045] In scenario 1051, HARQ feedback for UE 1002 is disabled. As an example, for the same HARQ process with HARQ feedback disabled, there are three transmissions, each with an NDI of {0, 1, 0}. On the transmitter side, three exemplary consecutive NDIs are transmitted from the network to UE 1002. NDI 1011 is “0” indicating an initial transmission, NDI 1012 is “1” indicating a new transmission, and NDI 1013 is “0” indicating an initial transmission. On the receiver side, UE 1002 may miss some transmissions from the network. The UE receives NDI 1021, where “0” indicates an initial transmission. UE 1002 misses NDI 1022 with a “1”. When UE 1002 receives NDI 1023 with a "0", if the UE misses the second transmission, UE 1002 will misinterpret the third transmission with NDI 1023 as a retransmission of the first transmission with NDI 1021. In IoT NTN scenarios, with HARQ feedback disabled, providing a new IoT data rule 1052 to cover the current NDI helps the UE determine whether a transmission is new or a retransmission, thereby improving reliability and reducing UE power consumption.

[0046] Figure 11Example diagrams of new IoT data rules are described according to embodiments of the present invention. In one novel aspect, a new data state, whether initial transmission or retransmission, is determined based on an IoT new data rule 1100 covering the NDI field. In one embodiment, the IoT new data rule is determined based on UE type 1150 (including NB-IoT device 1151, eMTC CE-Mode-A device 1152, and eMTC CE-Mode-B device 1153). In one embodiment, the IoT new data rule combines the NDI and DCI fields. When the DCI field is all 0, the UE determines it as initial transmission regardless of the NDI value. If the DCI field is not all 0, the UE determines the new data state based on the NDI value; that is, if the NDI value is the same as the previous NDI value of the same process ID or there is no process ID, it is a retransmission; otherwise, it is an initial transmission. In one embodiment, the DCI field used for the IoT new data rule includes one of a HARQ-ACK resource field, a HARQ-ACK resource offset field, and a Transmission Power Control (TPC) command field for the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In other embodiments, additional existing or new data fields may be used in combination with the NDI value of the new IoT data state. In yet another embodiment, the NDI is ignored, and all received data is identified as the initial transmission.

[0047] In one embodiment 1110, a new data rule determines the new data state of the UE based on a “new data indicator” field (1 bit) 1111 and a “HARQ-ACK resource” field (4 bits) 1112 in the DCI. In one embodiment, the new data rule 1110 applies to an NB-IoT device 1151.

[0048] The UE determines whether the transmission is based on the NDI (1 bit) and HARQ-ACK resource (4 bits) fields. If all 4 bits of the HARQ-ACK resource field are "0" (i.e., "0000"), the new data state is an initial transmission regardless of the NDI. If the 4 bits of the HARQ-ACK resource field are not '0000', and the NDI is the same as a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it as a retransmission. If the 4 bits of the HARQ-ACK resource field are not '0000', and the NDI is different from a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it as a new transmission. Tables 1a and 1b describe the new data state of the UE based on NDI 1111 and HARQ-ACK resource field 1112.

[0049] Table 1a describes the new IoT data status based on the NDI and HARQ-ACK resource fields when the previously received NDI with the same process ID or without a process ID is "0".

[0050]

[0051]

[0052] Table 1b describes the new IoT data state based on the NDI and HARQ-ACK resource fields when the previously received NDI with the same process ID or without a process ID is "1".

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] In one embodiment 1120, a new data rule determines the new data state of the UE based on a “new data indicator” field (1 bit) 1121 and a “PUCCH TPC command” field (2 bits) 1122 in the DCI. In one embodiment, the new data rule 1120 is applied to an eMTC CE-Mode-A device 1152.

[0057] The UE determines whether the transmission is based on the NDI (1 bit) and HARQ-ACK resource offset (2 bits) fields. If both bits of the HARQ-ACK resource offset field are "0" (i.e., "00"), the new data state is an initial transmission regardless of the NDI. If the two bits of the PUCCH TPC command field are not '00', and the NDI is the same as a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it is a retransmission. If the two bits of the PUCCH TPC command field are not '00' and the NDI is different from a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it is a new transmission. Tables 2a and 2b describe the new data state of the UE based on NDI 1121 and HARQ-ACK resource offset field 1122.

[0058] Table 2a describes the new IoT data status of TPC commands based on the NDI and PUCCH fields when the received NDI is '0' and has the same process ID or no process ID.

[0059]

[0060]

[0061] Table 2b describes the new IoT data state of a TPC command based on the NDI and PUCCH fields when the received NDI is '1' and has the same process ID or no process ID.

[0062]

[0063] In one embodiment 1130, a new data rule determines the new data state of the UE based on a “new data indicator” field (1 bit) 1131 and a “HARQ-ACK resource offset” field (2 bits) 1132 in the DCI. In one embodiment, the new data rule 1130 applies to an eMTC NTN device 1153.

[0064] The UE determines whether the transmission is based on the NDI (1 bit) and HARQ-ACK resource offset (2 bits) fields. If both bits of the HARQ-ACK resource offset field are "0" (i.e., "00"), the new data state is an initial transmission regardless of the NDI. If the 2 bits of the HARQ-ACK resource offset field are not "00", and the NDI is the same as a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it is a retransmission. If the 2 bits of the HARQ-ACK resource offset field are not "00" and the NDI is different from a previous NDI value with the same process ID or without a process ID, the UE determines it is a new transmission. Tables 3a and 3b describe the new data state of the UE based on NDI 1131 and HARQ-ACK resource offset field 1132.

[0065] Table 3a describes the new IoT data status based on the NDI and HARQ-ACK resource offset fields when the previously received NDI with the same process ID or without a process ID is "0".

[0066]

[0067]

[0068] Table 3a describes the new IoT data status based on the NDI and HARQ-ACK resource offset fields when the previously received NDI with the same process ID or without a process ID is "1".

[0069]

[0070] In another embodiment, the new IoT data rule 1140 is applied. The UE ignores the NDI field and determines that all received data is initial transmission data. In one embodiment, the new data rule 1140 applies to NB IoT and eMTC CE-Mode-B.

[0071] Figure 12An exemplary flowchart for disabling HARQ feedback processes in a UE within an IoT network is described according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step 1201, the UE receives HARQ configuration information in the Internet of Things (IoT) network, wherein the UE is configured with one or more HARQ processes, and wherein the HARQ configuration information includes one or more IoT HARQ information fields. In step 1202, the UE determines the HARQ feedback enable / disable state of each HARQ process based on the HARQ configuration information. In step 1203, the UE performs HARQ feedback enable and disable processes for each HARQ process based on the HARQ configuration information. On the network side, the IoT network sends HARQ configuration information to the UE, wherein the UE is configured with one or more HARQ processes, and wherein the HARQ configuration information includes one or more IoT HARQ information fields.

[0072] On the network side, the Internet of Things (IoT) network configures the HARQ feedback enable / disable state for each HARQ process based on HARQ configuration information, and then sends this HARQ configuration information to the UE. The UE is configured with one or more HARQ processes, and the HARQ configuration information includes one or more IoT HARQ information fields. These IoT HARQ information fields include an IoT-based HARQ process feedback enable / disable field indicating the HARQ feedback enable / disable state for each HARQ process, an explicit IoT HARQ feedback field, and an implicit IoT HARQ feedback field. The IoT-based HARQ process feedback enable / disable field is configured via UE-specific Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling / cell-specific RRC signaling. The IoT-based HARQ process feedback enable / disable field can be updated periodically / asynchronously using dedicated RRC signaling / MAC CE. Additionally, when the implicit IoT HARQ feedback field is the repetition count in the corresponding DCI, the repetition count is compared with a predefined threshold to configure the HARQ feedback enable-disable state for each HARQ process. This predefined threshold is equal to the maximum repetition count, or a specific repetition count that is an integer multiple of the maximum repetition count of the HARQ process, or a specific repetition count from the maximum repetition count of {1, 2, ..., HARQ process}. This predefined threshold is configured via UE-specific Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling / cell-specific RRC signaling. The predefined threshold can be updated periodically / aperiodically using dedicated RRC signaling / MAC CE. The network can update the difference or full value of the predefined threshold.

[0073] Figure 13An exemplary flowchart illustrating the application of new IoT data rules to an IoT UE in an NTN is described according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step 1301, the UE receives HARQ feedback disable information from the Internet of Things (IoT) network via a non-terrestrial link (NTN), wherein the HARQ feedback disable information indicates that all HARQ feedback processes are disabled. In step 1302, the UE determines a new data state for receiving data according to the new IoT data rules, wherein the new IoT data rules determine whether the received data is initial transmission data or retransmission data, and wherein the new IoT data rules override the New Data Indication (NDI) field. In step 1303, the UE processes the received data based on the new data state. For the network side, the IoT network sends HARQ feedback disable information to the UE via the non-terrestrial link (NTN), wherein the HARQ feedback disable information indicates that all HARQ feedback processes are disabled. Then, the IoT network transmits new data. For the network side, the IoT network sends HARQ feedback disable information to the UE, which indicates that HARQ feedback processes are disabled. Then, the IoT network transmits data according to the new IoT data rules.

[0074] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments for illustrative purposes, the invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of the various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback, comprising: The user equipment receives hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information in the Internet of Things network. The user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes. The hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more Internet of Things hybrid automatic repeat request information fields. The hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information is dynamically configured through the user equipment downlink control information. Based on this hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information, determine the enabled / disabled status of the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback for each hybrid automatic repeat request process; and Based on the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information, enable and disable hybrid automatic repeat request feedback processes are executed for each hybrid automatic repeat request process.

2. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The one or more IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARTR) information fields include an IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Process Feedback Enable / Disable field, an explicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field, and an implicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field.

3. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The IoT-based Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARPRI) process feedback enable / disable field is received via user equipment-specific radio resource control signaling, and the HARPRI feedback enable / disable status of each HARPRI process is determined based on the HARPRI feedback enable / disable field.

4. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The step of enabling and disabling hybrid autoretransmission request feedback for each hybrid autoretransmission request process further includes: for hybrid autoretransmission request processes with no "number of hybrid autoretransmission request processes", based on the Internet of Things, if the number of hybrid autoretransmission request processes in the hybrid autoretransmission request process feedback enable-disable field is equal to zero, then enabling and disabling hybrid autoretransmission request feedback for that hybrid autoretransmission request process is performed.

5. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Receive the explicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field in the downlink control information.

6. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The IoT based on the absence of the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Process Feedback Enable-Disable field, the user equipment performs the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback Enable and Disable process based on the explicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field indicating the enable-disable status of one or more Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Process Feedbacks.

7. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The user equipment is a narrowband IoT device, and wherein, based on the IoT-based hybrid automatic repeat request process feedback enable-disable field, the feedback enable-disable status of each hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined, and wherein, based on an overriding rule, for one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, the explicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field overrides the corresponding IoT-based hybrid automatic repeat request process enable-disable feedback field.

8. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Based on the implicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field, the feedback enable / disable status of each hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined.

9. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The implicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request feedback field is the number of repetitions in the corresponding downlink control information, and the number of repetitions is compared with a predefined threshold to determine the feedback enable-disable status of each Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process.

10. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The user equipment is a narrowband IoT device. The implicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field is the scheduling delay field and the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource field in the corresponding downlink control information. When the scheduling delay field is equal to "000" and the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource field is equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be disabled. When the scheduling delay field is not equal to "000" or the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource field is not equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be enabled.

11. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The user equipment is an enhanced machine-type communication (CE) mode B IoT device. The implicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field is the single cell multicast control channel change notification field and the hybrid automatic repeat request confirmation resource offset field in the corresponding downlink control information. When the single cell multicast control channel change notification field is equal to "000" and the hybrid automatic repeat request confirmation resource offset field is equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be disabled. When the single cell multicast control channel change notification field is not equal to "000" or the hybrid automatic repeat request confirmation resource offset field is not equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be enabled.

12. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The user equipment is an enhanced machine-type communication (CE) mode A IoT device. The implicit IoT hybrid automatic repeat request feedback field is the transmission power control command field of the physical uplink control channel and the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource offset field in the corresponding downlink control information. When the transmission power control command field of the physical uplink control channel is equal to "000" and the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource offset field is equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be disabled. When the transmission power control command field of the physical uplink control channel is not equal to "000" or the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment resource offset field is not equal to "0000", the feedback state of the hybrid automatic repeat request process is determined to be enabled.

13. A method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback, comprising: The user equipment receives a hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disable information from the Internet of Things network, wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disable information indicates that the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback process is disabled, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disable information is dynamically configured through the user equipment downlink control information. According to new IoT data rules, a new data status is determined for receiving data. These rules specify whether the received data is initial transmission or retransmission, and they cover a new data indication field. Based on this new data state, process the received data.

14. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The user equipment is a narrowband IoT device, and the new IoT data rule is based on the hybrid automatic retransmission request confirmation resource field in the new data indication field and the data control information.

15. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The user equipment is an enhanced machine-type communication CE mode A IoT device, and the new IoT data rule is based on the transmit power control command field of the physical uplink control channel in the data control information, along with the new data indication field.

16. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The user equipment is an enhanced machine-type communication CE mode B IoT device, and the new IoT data rule is based on the hybrid automatic repeat request confirmation resource offset field in the new data indication field and the data control information.

17. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The new IoT data rule ignores the new data indication field and determines that all received data is initial transmission data.

18. A user equipment for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback processing, comprising: Transceivers are used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the Internet of Things (IoT). The hybrid automatic repeat request configuration module is used to receive hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information is dynamically configured through the user equipment downlink control information. The Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARTR) feedback status module is used to determine the enabled / disabled status of HARTR feedback for each HARTR request process based on the HARTR configuration information; and The Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback Enable and Disable module is used to perform the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback Enable and Disable process for each Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process based on the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request configuration information.

19. The user equipment for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback processing as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The one or more IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARTR) information fields include an IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Process Feedback Enable / Disable field, an Explicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field, and an Implicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field.

20. The user equipment for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback processing as described in claim 18, characterized in that, It further includes an IoT new data module for receiving hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabled information, wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback disabled information indicates that the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback process is disabled; determining a new data state for receiving data according to IoT new data rules, wherein the IoT new data rules determine whether the received data is initial data or retransmission data, wherein the IoT new data rules cover a new data indication field; and processing the received data based on the new data state.

21. A method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback, comprising: Through the Internet of Things (IoT) network, based on the hybrid automatic repeat request (HAR) configuration information, configure the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback enable / disable status for each hybrid automatic repeat request process; as well as The hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information is sent to the user equipment, wherein the user equipment is configured with one or more hybrid automatic repeat request processes, wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information includes one or more IoT hybrid automatic repeat request information fields, and wherein the hybrid automatic repeat request configuration information is dynamically configured through the user equipment downlink control information.

22. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 21, characterized in that, The one or more IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARTR) information fields include an IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Process Feedback Enable / Disable field, an explicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field, and an implicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field.

23. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 22, characterized in that, The IoT-based automatic repeat request process feedback enable-disable field is configured via user equipment-specific radio resource control signaling or cell-specific radio resource control signaling. The IoT-based automatic repeat request process feedback enable-disable field is updated periodically or non-periodically using dedicated radio resource control signaling or media access control command elements.

24. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 22, characterized in that, When the implicit IoT Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback field is the number of repetitions in the corresponding downlink control information, the number of repetitions is compared with a predefined threshold to configure the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Feedback Enable-Disable state for each Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process.

25. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 24, characterized in that, The predefined threshold is equal to the maximum number of repetitions, or a specific number of repetitions is equal to an integer multiple of the maximum number of repetitions in the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process, or a specific number of repetitions from {1,2,…, the maximum number of repetitions in the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request process}. This predefined threshold is configured via UE-specific radio resource control signaling / cell-specific radio resource control signaling.

26. The processing method for hybrid automatic repeat request feedback as described in claim 25, characterized in that, The predefined threshold is updated periodically or non-periodically using dedicated radio resource control signaling / media access control command elements, and the IoT network updates the difference or full value of the predefined threshold.

27. A method for processing hybrid automatic repeat request feedback, comprising: Through the Internet of Things (IoT) network, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HAR) feedback disable message is sent to the user equipment (UE), wherein the HAR feedback disable message indicates that the HAR process is disabled, and wherein the HAR feedback disable message is dynamically configured through the UE's downlink control information; and Data is transmitted through this IoT network in accordance with new IoT data rules.

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