Pre-configured resources for data exchange in initial access

Abstract

In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, there is at least one method and apparatus for performing: detecting, by a user equipment of a communication network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; determining a random access preamble for the random access procedure for transmission on the random access opportunity; identifying that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; and selecting, based on the identification, a semi-persistent configuration of the at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response signal for data communication with the communication network. Further, to perform: determining, by a network node of the communication network, to receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, where the determining comprises: determining usage of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and performing data communication with the user equipment using a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and a physical uplink shared channel resource according to a semi-persistent configuration based on the determination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Teachings according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally relate to establishing initial access using physical downlink shared channel decoding, and more specifically to establishing initial access using physical downlink and uplink shared channel decoding, and even more specifically to establishing initial access using physical downlink and uplink shared channel decoding without requiring physical downlink control channel resources. Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for the invention described in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but not necessarily concepts that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the material described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0003] Certain abbreviations that may be found in the specification and / or drawings are defined herein as follows: BD: Blind Decoding C-RNTI: Cell RNTI CCE: Control Channel Element CCH: Control Channel CRC: Cyclic Redundancy Check CRS: Cell Reference Symbol DCI: Downlink Control Information DMRS: Demodulation Reference Symbol DSS: Dynamic Spectrum Sharing MCS: Modulation and Coding Scheme PDCCH: Physical Downlink Control Channel PDSCH: Physical Downlink Shared Channel PRB: Physical Resource Block PUSCH: Physical Uplink Shared Channel RACH: Random Access Channel RAR: Random Access Response RA-RANTI: Random Access-RNTI RE: Resource Component RNTI: Radio Network Temporary Identifier SIB: System Information Block SP: Semi-Persistent TC-RNTI: Temporary C-RNTI TRP: Transmission Point UE: User Equipment

[0004] 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G New Radio (NR) data exchange between the UE and the network is based on providing data scheduling messages (Downlink Control Information (DCI)) on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which schedules each downlink and uplink data packet. The PDCCH channel is used for dynamic scheduling of UEs in UL and DL data transmission.

[0005] The operations for decoding the PDCCH include blind decoding (BD).For more blind decoding in a time unit, the UE needs to support more PDCCH decoding hardware and consume more power per time unit in searching for potential PDCCH transmissions.

[0006] Example embodiments of the present invention serve to improve at least these operations. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This section contains examples of possible implementations and is not meant to be limiting.

[0008] In an example aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus, such as a user equipment side apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-volatile memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: detect a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources by a user equipment of a communication network; determine a random access preamble for a random access process for transmission on a random access opportunity; identify that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; and based on the identification, select a semi-persistent configuration from at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response signal for data communication with the communication network.

[0009] In another example aspect of the present invention, there is a method comprising: detecting, by a user equipment of a communication network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; determining a random access preamble for a random access procedure for transmission on a random access opportunity; identifying that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration, which is associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; and based on the identification, selecting a semi-persistent configuration from the at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response signal for data communication with the communication network.

[0010] Another example embodiment is an apparatus and a method, comprising the apparatus and method of the preceding paragraphs, wherein a pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or an identified random access opportunity of a semi-persistent configuration; wherein at least one of the following is provided in a random access response signal: information about a transmission period and / or a reception period; beam information or modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identification of a physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble; wherein the information further comprises at least one of: a physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink control channel modulation or coding scheme, or a beam information attribute; wherein the pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or an identified random access opportunity of a semi-persistent configuration; wherein at least one of the following is provided in a random access response signal: information about at least one of a transmission period, a reception period, beam information or modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identification of a physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble; wherein in the random access response signal Information is provided in the form of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared channel attribute; wherein the information further comprises at least one of the following: a sending period, a receiving period, beam information for semi-persistent configuration, or modulation and coding information; wherein the user equipment uses at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources for data communication, at least for completion of the random access process; wherein at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources is released based on one of the following: expiration of a time window, or a release message from a communication network; wherein a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources is used for the random access process; wherein the random access process includes that the acquired set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources is predetermined by the user equipment or received from the communication network; wherein the identification includes determining a random access preamble in a random access channel opportunity to indicate to the network a request to adopt semi-persistent resources.

[0011] A non-transitory computer readable medium stores program code that is executed by at least one processor to perform at least the method as described in the above paragraphs.

[0012] In another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus comprising: means for detecting, by a user equipment of a communication network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; means for determining a random access preamble for a random access procedure for transmission on a random access opportunity; means for identifying a random access procedure for a user equipment of a communication network; PreambleThe random access response signal carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration, the semi-persistent configuration being associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; and a component for selecting, based on the identifier, a semi-persistent configuration of the at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response for data communication with the communication network.

[0013] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, at least the means for detecting, determining, identifying, and selecting include a network interface, and computer program code stored on a computer-readable medium and executed by at least one processor.

[0014] In an example aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus, such as a network-side apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-volatile memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to at least: determine, by a network node of a communication network, receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determination comprises: determining the use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and based on the determination, performing data communication with the user equipment using semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration.

[0015] In another example aspect of the present invention, there is a method comprising: determining, by a network node of a communication network, to receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determining comprises: determining use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and based on the determination, performing data communication with the user equipment using a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and a physical uplink shared channel resource in accordance with the semi-persistent configuration.

[0016] Another example embodiment is an apparatus and a method, comprising the apparatus and method of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or an identified random access opportunity of a semi-persistent configuration; wherein at least one of the following is provided in a random access response signal: information about at least one of a transmit period, a receive period; beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of a physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble; wherein information is provided in a random access response signal, the information further comprising at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute; wherein the information further comprises at least one of the following: a transmit period, a receive period, beam information for the semi-persistent configuration, or modulation and coding information; wherein the information further comprises at least one of the following: a physical downlink a physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared channel modulation or coding scheme, or a beam information attribute; wherein the network node transmits a configuration of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and a physical uplink shared channel resource to a user equipment; wherein the network node transmits an expiration timer for the configuration; wherein a random access response signal is used together with an identifier of a physical random access channel opportunity for a random access preamble and carries a pointer to one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel configuration or the semi-persistent physical uplink shared channel configuration; wherein it is determined that the user equipment uses the selected semi-persistent resource for data communication; and at least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or the physical uplink shared channel configuration resources is released, and dynamic scheduling is used; wherein the release of the semi-persistent configuration resources is based on an allocation or release message of a dynamic grant, or expiration of a timer.

[0017] A non-transitory computer readable medium stores program code that is executed by at least one processor to perform at least the method as described in the above paragraphs.

[0018] In another example aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus comprising: means for determining, by a network node of a communications network, to receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determining comprises: determining use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and means for performing data communications with the user equipment using semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration based on the determination.

[0019] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, at least the means for determining and executing include a network interface, and computer program code stored on a computer-readable medium and executed by at least one processor.

[0020] A communication system includes a user equipment side device and a network side device that perform the above-mentioned operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other aspects, features and benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate like or equivalent elements. The accompanying drawings are shown to facilitate a better understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a process for using SP-PDSCH / PUSCH for initial access is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 A flow chart for timer-based release of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 A flowchart for network-indicated release of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating network reconfiguration for continuing data exchange using other resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] Figure 5 A random access configuration procedure with PDCCH decoding according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 6 shows a high-level block diagram of various devices used to perform various aspects of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7A and Figure 7B Each shows a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that can be performed by an apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Example embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods and apparatus for establishing initial access utilizing at least physical downlink and uplink shared channel decoding without the need for physical downlink control channel resources.

[0030] As mentioned above, LTE and NR data exchange between the UE and the network is based on providing data scheduling messages (Downlink Control Information DCI) on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which schedules each downlink and uplink data packet. The PDCCH is transmitted on a specific control region, which is called a control resource set, CORESET in NR and PDCCH region in LTE.

[0031] PDCCH (both 4G-LTE and 5G-NR) :

[0032] The PDCCH channel is used for dynamic scheduling of UEs in UL and DL. PDCCH as a control channel is an overhead for the system and should be minimized. PDCCH is spread over 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 control channel elements (only in NR). The larger the number of CCEs (the higher the aggregation level), the more energy each DCI transmission uses, and therefore the coverage of the transmitted PDCCH is larger, but the control channel resource consumption is also greater.

[0033] UE blind decoding procedure for PDCCH (both LTE and NR)

[0034] A UE is typically configured with time (symbols), frequency resources, and time slots (monitoring occasions) in which a PDCCH containing an UL or DL ​​grant is available to the UE. At each PDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE must perform blind decoding in a defined area where the PDCCH may be sent to determine if something has been sent. Each configured PDCCH candidate (a specific set of CCEs) is checked for the presence of a PDCCH (blindly assuming that a PDCCH is present, decoding is performed based on this assumption, and a CRC check is performed to see if a valid message is decoded). From a network perspective, the greater the number of blind decodes a UE can perform, the more flexible the PDCCH allocation is, but the UE must size its PDCCH decoding hardware so that a set number of PDCCH decodes can be performed within a monitoring occasion. The PDCCH BD process consumes UE power, and this set upper limit also limits network flexibility.

[0035] In general, the number of blind decodes a UE needs to be able to perform in each monitoring opportunity is a trade-off between PDCCH scheduling flexibility and the UE's ability to process PDCCH candidates. The latter is called the PDCCH blind decode (BD) budget, and the more BDs a UE needs to support in a time unit, the more PDCCH decoding hardware the UE needs, and the more power per time unit the UE consumes when searching for potential PDCCH transmissions.

[0036] According to the random access response detection process of the current technology (NR):

[0037] During the random access procedure: MSG1: UE selects the preamble index and transmits the preamble on the RACH opportunity. MSG2: During a predetermined time window (ra-ResponseWindow) associated with the used RACH opportunity, the UE attempts to detect a PDCCH carrying DCI format 1_0 scrambled with the RA-RNTI. At a high level, if the UE detects DCI 1_0 scrambled with the RA-RNTI associated with the RACH opportunity on which the UE transmitted the preamble, the UE proceeds to decode the PDSCH indicated by the detected PDCCH (if detected), MSG3: The UE transmits MSG3 PUSCH on the resources indicated in MSG2, and MSG4: During a predetermined time window (ra-ContentResolutionWindow), the UE attempts to detect a PDCCH carrying DCI format 1_0 scrambled with the TC-RNTI provided in MSG2. At a high level, if the UE detects DCI 1_0 scrambled with TC-RNTI, the UE will continue decoding the PDSCH indicated by the DCI (if detected). MSG4 provides the UE with a dedicated C-RNTI, which is used on the PDCCH for subsequent data scheduling (both UL and DL) for the UE.

[0038] After the random access procedure is completed, the UE continues to monitor the configured search space for dynamic scheduling unless the UE is configured to use UL configuration grant (or semi-persistent grant) or DL ​​semi-persistent scheduling.

[0039] The entire PDCCH blind decoding process is computationally intensive and, moreover, power-hungry. Indeed, a significant portion of the primary energy-saving measures from the UE side focus on optimizing the time periods during which the UE can avoid monitoring the PDCCH channel. The distribution of the PDCCH BD budget supported by the UE across the different DCI formats that the network needs to be able to use leads to a complex optimization problem where there is always too little BD budget from a network perspective, while the UE always requires too much BD budget from a hardware and energy efficiency perspective.

[0040] There are certain transmissions, such as random access responses, for which the UE only needs to know a few parameters in order to decode them correctly, however, in order to obtain these parameters the UE must perform the entire blind decoding process of the PDCCH.

[0041] Therefore, the question is how to reduce or eliminate the burden of PDCCH during the initial access process?

[0042] However, before describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention in further detail, reference is made to Figure 6 . Figure 6 A block diagram illustrating one possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which exemplary embodiments may be practiced.

[0043] like Figure 6 As shown, user equipment (UE) 110 wirelessly communicates with wireless network 100. A UE is a wireless, typically mobile device that can access a wireless network. UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected via one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver (Rx) 132 and a transmitter (Tx) 133. The one or more buses 127 can be address, data, or control buses and can include any interconnect mechanism, such as a series of wires on a motherboard or integrated circuit, optical fiber, or other optical communication device. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. UE 110 may include an access module 140 configured to perform the example embodiments of the present invention described herein. Access module 150 may be implemented in hardware as part of the processor and / or computer program code of UE 110. Access module 140 includes one or both of parts 140-1 and / or 140-2, which can be implemented in various ways. Access module 140 can be implemented in hardware as access module 140-1, such as as part of one or more processors 120. Access module 140-1 can also be implemented as an integrated circuit or other hardware implementation, such as a programmable gate array. In another example, access module 140 can be implemented as access module 140-2, which is implemented as computer program code 123 and executed by one or more processors 120. Note that access modules 140-1 and / or 140-2 are optional. For example, one or more memories 125 and computer program code 123 can be configured to work with one or more processors 120 to enable user equipment 110 to perform one or more of the operations described herein. UE 110 communicates with gNB 170 via radio link 111 and with LMF 200 via link 221.

[0044] gNB 170 (NR / 5G NodeB or possibly eNB) is a base station (e.g., for LTE (Long Term Evolution)) that provides access to wireless network 100 by wireless devices, such as UE 110. gNB 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / WI / F) 161, and one or more transceivers 160, interconnected by one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver Rx 162 and a transmitter Tx 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153. gNB 170 includes an access module 150 configured to perform the example embodiments of the present invention as described herein. Access module 150 may include one or both of portions 150-1 and / or 150-2, which may be implemented in a variety of ways. The access module 150 may be implemented solely in hardware or as part of a processor and / or computer program code of the gNB 170. The access module 150-1 is implemented as part of one or more processors 152, for example.

[0045] Access module 150-1 may also be implemented as an integrated circuit or through other hardware, such as a programmable gate array. In another example, access module 150 may be implemented as access module 150-2, which is implemented as computer program code 153 and executed by one or more processors 152. Note that access modules 150-1 and / or 150-2 are optional. For example, one or more memories 155 and computer program code 153 may be configured to, together with one or more processors 152, enable gNB 170 to perform one or more operations as described herein. One or more network interfaces 161 communicate over a network, such as via links 176, 221, and 131. Two or more gNBs 170 may communicate using, for example, link 176. Link 176 may be wired, wireless, or both, and may implement, for example, an X2 interface.

[0046] The one or more buses 157 may be address, data, or control buses and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of wires on a motherboard or integrated circuit, optical fiber or other optical communication equipment, a wireless channel, etc. For example, one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195, with the other elements of the gNB 170 physically located at a different location than the RRH, and the one or more buses 157 may be partially implemented as fiber optic cables to connect the other elements of the gNB 170 to the RRH 195.

[0047] Note that the description herein indicates that a "cell" performs a function, but it should be clear that the gNB forming the cell will perform the function. A cell constitutes part of a gNB. That is, each gNB can have multiple cells.

[0048] The wireless network 100 may include an NCE / MME / SGW / UDM / PCF / AMM / SMF 190, which may include a network control element (NCE), and / or a serving gateway (SGW) 190, and / or an MME (mobility management entity) and / or an SGW (serving gateway) function, and / or a user data management function (UDM), and / or a PCF (policy control) function, and / or an access and mobility management (AMM) function, and / or a session management (SMF) function, and / or an authentication server (AUSF) function, and which provides connectivity to another network, such as a telephone network and / or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet), and which is configured to perform any 5G and / or NR operations in addition to or instead of other standard operations at the time of this application. The NCE / MME / SGW / UDM / PCF / AMM / SMF 190 may be configured to perform operations according to example embodiments of the present invention in any of LTE, NR, 5G, and / or any standard-based communication technology implemented or discussed at the time of this application.

[0049] gNB 170 is coupled to NCE / MME / SGW 190 via link 131 and to LMF 200 via link 131 and link 225. Link 131 or link 225 may be implemented as an S1 interface, for example. NCE / MME / SGW 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / WI / F) 180, interconnected by one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. The one or more memories 171 and the computer program code 173 are configured to, in conjunction with the one or more processors 175, cause NCE / MME / SGW 190 to perform one or more operations. Furthermore, NCE / MME / SGW 190 (and other devices) is configured to perform operations such as controlling UE 110 and / or gNB 170 for 5G and / or NR operation, as well as any other standard operation at the time of this application.

[0050] LMF 200 (NR / 5G Node B, evolved NB or LTE device) is a network node, such as a Figure 6The LMF 200 is a location management function device (e.g., a node for NR or LTE (Long Term Evolution)) that enables communication between the wireless network 1 and devices such as the eNB / gNB 170 and the UE 10. The LMF 200 provides access to wireless devices such as the UE 10 to the wireless network 1. The LMF 200 includes one or more processors DP 12A, one or more memories MEM 12B, and one or more transceivers TRANS 12D, interconnected by one or more buses. According to example embodiments, these TRANS 12Ds may include X2 and / or Xn interfaces for performing example embodiments. Each of the one or more transceivers TRANS 12D includes a receiver and a transmitter. The one or more transceivers TRANS 12D may optionally be connected to one or more antennas to communicate with the UE 110 via at least a link 221. The one or more memories MEM 12B and computer program code PROG 12C are configured to, together with the one or more processors DP 12A, cause the LMF 200 to perform one or more operations as described herein. LMF 200 may communicate with gNB or eNB 170, such as via links 225 and 131. Furthermore, links 221, 225, or 131 and / or any other links may be wired or wireless or both, and may implement, for example, an X2 or Xn interface. Furthermore, links 221, 225, or 131 may pass through other network devices, such as, but not limited to, Figure 6 The NCE / MME / SGW / UDM / PCF / AMF / SMF / LMF 14 devices in the LMF 200 can perform the functions of an MME (Mobility Management Entity) or an SGW (Serving Gateway), such as user plane functions and / or access management functions for LTE and similar functions for 5G.

[0051] The wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functions into a single, software-based managed entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization relates to platform virtualization and is often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as external (combining many networks or portions of networks into virtual units) or internal (providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system). Note that the virtualized entities resulting from network virtualization are still implemented at some level using hardware, such as processors 152 or 175 and memories 155 and 171, and such virtualized entities also produce technical effects.

[0052] Computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. Computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be components for performing storage functions. As non-limiting examples, processors 120, 152, and 175 may be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and may include one or more of 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. Processors 120, 152, and 175 may be processors for performing the functions described herein and other functions to control network devices such as Figure 6 Components of the UE 110, gNB 170 and / or NCE / MME / SGW 190).

[0053] Note that according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 The functionality(ies) of any of the devices shown (e.g., UE 110 and / or gNB 170) may also be implemented by other network nodes (e.g., wireless or wired relay nodes (also known as integrated access and / or backhaul (IAB) nodes)). In the IAB case, the UE functionality may be performed by the MT (mobile terminal) portion of the IAB node, and the gNB functionality may be performed by the DU (data unit) portion of the IAB node. These devices may utilize at least the wireless link 111 and / or the NCE / MME / SGW 190 as shown. Figure 6 Links 199 to other network(s) / the Internet are shown connected to the UE 110 .

[0054] In general, various embodiments of any of these devices may include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones (e.g., smart phones), tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, portable computers with wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices (e.g., digital cameras with wireless communication capabilities), gaming devices with wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback devices with wireless communication capabilities, Internet devices permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, tablet computers with wireless communication capabilities, and portable units or terminals incorporating a combination of such functionality.

[0055] Furthermore, various embodiments of any of these devices may be used with a UE vehicle, a high altitude platform station, or any other such type of node associated with a terrestrial network or any drone type radio or radio in an aircraft or other airborne vehicle or vessel traveling on water, such as a ship.

[0056] As mentioned above, the problem lies in how to reduce or eliminate the burden of PDCCH during the initial access process.

[0057] Example embodiments of the present invention, as described further below, are intended to address at least these issues.

[0058] A semi-persistent (SP) PDSCH configuration includes all information about where PDSCH transmissions can be expected by a UE, and how each PDSCH is received (including the modulation and coding schemes and the time and frequency resource allocations).

[0059] A semi-persistent (SP) PUSCH configuration includes all information about where PUSCH transmissions are sent by the UE, and how each PUSCH is sent (including modulation and coding schemes and time and frequency resource allocation).

[0060] Example embodiments of the present invention provide a solution as described above, wherein: 1. As part of the random access configuration, the UE obtains a set of semi-persistent PDSCH and PUSCH configurations; 2. When the initial access procedure is triggered by the UE, it transmits the selected RACH preamble on the selected random access opportunity (RO) and searches for a random access response signal over a time window linked to the used RO. In some embodiments of the present invention, the UE may select a preamble linked to certain SP resources to indicate its preference for SP configuration to the network. 3. The detected random access response signal carries a pointer to one of the semi-persistent PDSCH and PUSCH configurations in the configured set; 4. The UE transmits data on the PUSCH using the indicated SP-PUSCH resources and receives data on the PDSCH using the indicated SP-PDSCH resources; and 5. If one of the following conditions is met, the UE releases resources a. The network instructs the UE to release SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources, b. The UE exhausts the time it is allowed to maintain SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources, c. The network overrides the use of SP scheduling via the use of dynamic grants. This can be done for UL only or DL ​​only or for both UL and DL.

[0061] Note that according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, beam information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration may be derived and / or associated with beam information of the random access preamble or beam information of the random access response signal used in the process. For example, beam information for the semi-persistent downlink shared channel configuration may be derived from beam information of the random access response signal, and beam information for the semi-persistent uplink shared channel configuration may be derived from beam information of the random access preamble signal.

[0062] Example embodiments of this invention propose a framework by which a UE can establish initial access without requiring PDCCH resources. This offloads the cell's PDCCH capacity, as the common search space aggregation level must be very robust to allow any UE in the cell to decode it. For the same reason, the messages sent during the initial access procedure use a very robust codec scheme, as UE CSI is not available to the gNB.

[0063] Figure 1 A flow chart showing a procedure for initial access using SP-PDSCH / PUSCH is shown.

[0064] like Figure 1 As shown in step 110, the UE obtains a random access configuration including a set of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources. Figure 1 As shown in step 120, the random access procedure is triggered. Figure 1 In step 130, the UE selects a preamble and a RO, and transmits the selected preamble on the selected RO. The selection of the preamble and the RO may be based on the desired configuration of the SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources. As shown in step 140, the UE searches for a response signal in the time window associated with the used RO. As shown in step 143, if not found, the RA procedure fails. Figure 1 As shown in step 147 of , if it is found or the verification fails, the process goes to Figure 1 Step 150, in which the UE verifies the received response signal. If the verification is successful, Figure 1 As shown in step 160 of , the UE selects the SP configuration indicated by the response signal from the configured set. Figure 1 As shown in step 170 , the UE starts data communication using the selected SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources.

[0065] Figure 2 A flow chart for timer-based release of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown in step 210, the UE uses the selected SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources for data communication. Figure 2 As shown in step 220, the expiration timer is checked. Based on the timer not expiring, the process returns to Figure 2 Step 210. Based on the expiration of the timer, Figure 2 As shown in step 230, the SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources are released.

[0067] Figure 3 A flow chart for network-indicated release of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown in step 310, the UE uses the selected SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources for data communication. Figure 3 As shown in step 320 of , determine whether there is a release message received from the network. Figure 3 If "No" in step 315, the process returns to step 310. Figure 3 If "yes" in step 325 of Figure 3 As shown in step 330, the SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources are released.

[0069] Figure 4 A flow chart for network reconfiguration for continuing data exchange using other resources according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0070] like Figure 4 As shown in step 410, the UE uses the selected SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources for data communication. Figure 4 As shown in step 420 of , the network determines whether to configure the UE to use other components for data communication. Figure 4 If "No" is shown in step 415, the process returns to Figure 4 Step 410. If Figure 4 If the answer is "yes" as shown in step 425, the SP-PDSCH and / or SP-PUSCH resources are released and the configured components are started to be used for data communication.

[0071] A PDCCH-free initial access process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is as follows: 0. As part of random access configuration, UE obtains a set of semi-persistent PDSCH and PUSCH configurations : - according to the specification, and / or - Based on system information, and / or - Via earlier configuration signaling 1. When the initial access procedure is triggered by the UE, the selected RACH preamble is transmitted on the selected random access opportunity (RO). The selection of the preamble and RO can be based on the desired configuration of SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources; 2. The UE searches for a random access response signal over a time window linked to the used RO ; 3. The detected random access response signal carries : a. A pointer to one of the semi-persistent PDSCH and / or PUSCH configurations in the set configured in step 0, and Detected random access response signal You may also bring at least one of the following: b. Pointer to the PRACH / RO used in step 1 ,or c. Information about PDSCH / PUSCH attributes, such as MCS or beam information; 4. In response to one of step 3a or step 3b, based on the preamble and RO used by the UE in step 1, Detected random access response signal : a. If instructed, the UE continues to use SP-PUSCH resources to send data on PUSCH, b. If instructed, the UE continues to use SP-PDSCH resources to receive data on the PDSCH; and 5. The UE releases resources if one of the following conditions is met: a. The network instructs the UE to release SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources (e.g. because the transaction is completed and both the UE and the network have no data to send, or because the UE is moved to operate on other resources used for data transactions, such as dynamically scheduled PDSCH / PUSCH), b. The UE exhausts the time it is allowed to maintain SP-PDSCH / PUSCH resources, c. The network overrides the use of SP scheduling via the use of dynamic grants. This can be done for UL only or DL ​​only or for both UL and DL.

[0072] Note that the above scheme may be configured only for certain RACH preambles, and different SP configurations may be configured for different sets of RACH preambles.

[0073] Figure 5 A random access configuration procedure between UE 110 and gNB 170 with PDCCH decoding according to an example embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0074] like Figure 5As shown in step 510 of , UE 110 is in RRC_IDLE state. Figure 5 As shown in step 520 of , gNB 170 sends SI with RACH configuration to UE 110. Figure 5 As shown in step 530 of , gNB 170 sends SI with SP-PDSCH and SP-PUSCH configuration to UE 110. Figure 5 As shown in step 540 of , UE 110 initiates communication to gNB 170 using a RACH preamble transmission. Figure 5 As shown in step 550 of , gNB 170 sends PDCCH and PDSCH for RAR to UE 110, where RAR contains a pointer to the SP configuration index. Figure 5 As shown in step 560 of , UE 110 selects the SP configuration indicated in the RAR. Figure 5 As shown in step 570 of , the UE continues to employ the indicated SR configuration for uplink and downlink communications.

[0075] Figure 7A and Figure 7B Each shows a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that can be performed by an apparatus.

[0076] Figure 7A shows that a device (such as, but not limited to, a device (e.g., Figure 6 The operation performed by UE 110) in Figure 7A As shown in step 710 of , a user equipment of the communication network detects a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources. Figure 7A As shown in step 720 of , a random access preamble for the random access procedure is determined for transmission on the random access opportunity. Figure 7A As shown in step 730, the random access forward Guide code The random access response signal carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set. Figure 7A As shown in step 740, based on the identifier, a semi-persistent configuration of at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response is selected for data communication with the communication network.

[0077] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or a semi-persistently configured identified random access opportunity.

[0078] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about the transmission period and / or reception period; beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

[0079] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the information further includes at least one of the following: a physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink control channel modulation or coding scheme, or a beam information attribute.

[0080] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or a semi-persistently configured identified random access opportunity.

[0081] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about at least one of the transmission period and the reception period; beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

[0082] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, wherein the information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further includes at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

[0083] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the information further includes at least one of the following: a transmission period, a reception period, beam information for semi-persistent configuration, or modulation and coding information.

[0084] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the user equipment uses at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources for data communication, at least for completion of the random access procedure.

[0085] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources is released based on one of: expiration of a time window, or a release message from the communication network.

[0086] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources are used for the random access procedure.

[0087] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the random access procedure includes that the acquired set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources is predetermined by the user equipment or received from a communication network.

[0088] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the identifying includes determining that a random access preamble in a random access channel opportunity indicates to the network a request to employ semi-persistent resources.

[0089] Non-transitory computer readable media (such as Figure 6 The memory(s) 125 in the memory store program code (e.g. Figure 6 Computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2 in the computer program code, which is executed by at least one processor (such as Figure 6 (Multiple) processors 120 and / or access module 140-1) in the processor 120 and / or access module 140-1) execute to perform at least the operations described in the above paragraphs.

[0090] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above, there is an apparatus comprising: Figure 6 User equipment (such as Figure 6 1) a UE 110 in the figure) obtains (as shown in one or more transceivers 130, (multiple) memory 125, computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2, and (multiple) processors 120 and / or access module 140-1) a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; for determining (as shown in Figure 6 One or more transceivers 130, (multiple) memories 125, computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2, and (multiple) processors 120 and / or access module 140-1 in the random access procedure) for a random access preamble for transmission on a random access opportunity; for identifying (such as Figure 6 means for receiving a random response to a random access procedure with an identification of a physical random access channel opportunity for a random access preamble, wherein the random response carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; and means for selecting (e.g., Figure 6One or more transceivers 130, (multiple) memories 125, computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2, and (multiple) processors 120 and / or access module 140-1) in the random access response are configured semi-persistently in at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response for data communication with the communication network.

[0091] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, at least the components for detecting, determining, identifying and selecting include a computer program encoded with [e.g. Figure 6 The computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2 in the non-transitory computer readable medium [such as Figure 6 (a plurality of) memories 125], the computer program may be executed by at least one processor [e.g. Figure 6 (multiple) processors 120 and / or access modules 140-1] are executed.

[0092] Figure 7B shows that a device (such as, but not limited to, a device (e.g., Figure 6 The operations performed by the eNB / gNB 170) in Figure 7B As shown in step 750 of the embodiment, a network node of the communication network determines to receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment. Figure 7B As shown in step 760 of , wherein determining includes: determining the use of a semi-persistent configuration for a random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node. Then, as Figure 7B As shown in step 770, based on the determination, data communication with the user equipment is performed using the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and the physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration.

[0093] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about the transmission period and / or reception period; beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

[0094] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the information further includes at least one of the following: a physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink control channel modulation or coding scheme, or a beam information attribute.

[0095] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the pointer points to at least one of: a random access preamble, an identified random access opportunity, or a semi-persistently configured identified random access opportunity.

[0096] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about at least one of the transmission period and the reception period; beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

[0097] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, wherein the information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further includes at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

[0098] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the information further includes at least one of the following: a transmission period, a reception period, beam information for semi-persistent configuration, or modulation and coding information.

[0099] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the network node transmits the configuration of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and the physical uplink shared channel resources to the user equipment.

[0100] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the network node transmits an expiry timer for the configuration.

[0101] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the random access response signal is used together with the identification of the physical random access channel opportunity for the random access preamble and carries a pointer to one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel configuration or the semi-persistent physical uplink shared channel configuration.

[0102] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, it is determined that the user equipment uses the selected semi-persistent resources for data communication; and at least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel configuration resources is released and dynamic scheduling is used.

[0103] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the release of the semi-persistently configured resources is based on an allocation or release message of a dynamic grant.

[0104] Non-transitory computer readable media (such as Figure 6 The memory(s) 125 in the memory store program code (e.g. Figure 6 Computer program code 123 and / or access module 140-2 in the computer program code, which is executed by at least one processor (such as Figure 6 (Multiple) processors 120 and / or access module 140-1) in the processor 120 and / or access module 140-1) execute to perform at least the operations described in the above paragraphs.

[0105] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above, there is an apparatus comprising: a network node (such as Figure 6 eNB / gNB 170) in the Figure 6 Remote radio head 195, memory(ies) 155, computer program code 153 and / or access module 150-2, and processor(ies) 152 and / or access module 150-1) from user equipment (e.g. Figure 6 UE 110 in receives (e.g. Figure 6 1) a remote radio head 195, memory(ies) 155, computer program code 153 and / or access module 150-2, and processor(ies) 152 and / or access module 150-1) for a random access preamble of a random access procedure, wherein determining comprises: determining (e.g. Figure 6 remote radio head 195, memory(ies) 155, computer program code 153 and / or access module 150-2, and processor(ies) 152 and / or access module 150-1 in the embodiment of the present invention) using a semi-persistent configuration for a random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from a network node; and performing (e.g., based on determining, according to the semi-persistent configuration, using a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and a physical uplink shared channel resource) using a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and a physical uplink shared channel resource. Figure 6 The remote radio head 195, memory(ies) 155, computer program code 153 and / or access module 150-2, and processor(s) 152 and / or access module 150-1) in the system are components for data communication with user equipment.

[0106] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, at least the means for determining, receiving and executing include a computer program encoded with [e.g. Figure 6 The computer program code 153 and / or access module 150-2 in the non-transitory computer readable medium [such as Figure 6 (a plurality of) memories 155], the computer program may be executed by at least one processor [e.g. Figure 6 (multiple) processors 152 and / or access modules 150-1] are executed.

[0107] Advantages of example embodiments according to the present invention include at least: No need for common search space type PDCCH resource allocation and consumption of PDCCH resources; The UE can transmit data immediately after MSG2 assigning semi-persistent resources for the data transaction; Reduced transmissions from the gNB, as PDCCH for RAR is not required, i.e. energy saving; Increased PDCCH capacity, as no budget is required for RAR, Msg3, or Msg4; and Simplify the common PDCCH format and common search space that complicate PDCCH budgeting in LTE and NR.

[0108] Furthermore, according to example embodiments of the present invention, there are circuits for performing operations according to example embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein. The circuits may include any type of circuitry, including content encoding circuitry, content decoding circuitry, processing circuitry, image generation circuitry, data analysis circuitry, and the like. Furthermore, the circuits may include discrete circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or field programmable gate array circuits (FPGAs), and the like, as well as processors specifically configured by software to perform the corresponding functions, or dual-core processors having software and corresponding digital signal processors, and the like. Additionally, the necessary inputs to and outputs from the circuits, the functions performed by the circuits, and the interconnection of the circuits with other components, which may include other circuits, (possibly via inputs and outputs) are provided in order to perform example embodiments of the present invention as described herein.

[0109] According to example embodiments of the present invention disclosed in this application, the provided “circuit” may include at least one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware circuit implementation only (such as implementation only in analog and / or digital circuits); (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software such as (if applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuits and software / firmware; and (ii) any portion of hardware processor(s) (including digital signal processor(s)) with software, software, and memory(s) that work together to enable a device such as a mobile phone or server to perform various functions (such as functions or operations according to example embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein); as well as (c) Hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as microprocessor(s) or portion(s) of microprocessor(s), that require software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but where the software is not required for operation, the software may not be present.

[0110] In general, various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software that may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device, but the invention is not limited thereto. Although various aspects of the invention may be shown and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or described using some other graphical representations, it should be understood that, as non-limiting examples, the blocks, devices, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuitry or logic, general-purpose hardware or a controller or other computing device, or some combination thereof.

[0111] Embodiments of the present invention can be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available to convert a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

[0112] As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All embodiments described in the detailed description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0113] The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the best method and apparatus presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Nevertheless, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

[0114] It should be noted that the terms "connect," "couple," or any variations thereof, mean any connection or coupling, direct or indirect, between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" together. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As used herein, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" together using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as using electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the radio frequency region, the microwave region, and the optical (visible and invisible) region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0115] Furthermore, some of the features of the preferred embodiments of this invention may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features.The foregoing description should therefore be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and not in limitation of the invention.

Claims

1. A device comprising: at least one processor; as well as at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: detecting, by a user equipment of a communication network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; determining a random access preamble for a random access procedure for transmission at a random access opportunity; identifying that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration, the semi-persistent configuration being associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; as well as Based on the identifier, a semi-persistent configuration of at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response signal is selected for use in data communication with the communication network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pointer points to at least one of: the random access preamble, the identified random access opportunity, or the identified random access opportunity of the semi-persistent configuration.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about a sending period, a receiving period, beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel timing for the preamble code.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further comprising at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment uses at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources for the data communication, at least for completion of the random access procedure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory stores instructions that are executed by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected at least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources is released based on one of: expiration of a time window, or a release message or release indication or reconfiguration message from the communication network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources is used for a random access procedure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the random access procedure includes the acquired set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources being predetermined by the user equipment or received from the communication network.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification comprises: Determining that a random access preamble in a random access channel opportunity indicates to the network a request to employ semi-persistent resources.

10. A method comprising: detecting, by a user equipment of a communication network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; determining a random access preamble for a random access procedure for transmission at a random access opportunity; identifying that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration, the semi-persistent configuration being associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; as well as Based on the identifier, a semi-persistent configuration of at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response signal is selected for use in data communication with the communication network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pointer points to at least one of: the random access preamble, the identified random access opportunity, or the identified random access opportunity of the semi-persistent configuration.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about at least one of a sending period and a receiving period, beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel timing for the preamble code.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further comprising at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the user equipment uses at least one of the selected semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources for the data communication, at least for completion of the random access procedure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory stores instructions that are executed by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected at least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resources is released based on one of: expiration of a time window or a release message from the communication network.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources is used for the random access procedure.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the random access procedure includes the acquired set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources being predetermined by the user equipment or received from the communication network.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the identification comprises: Determining that a random access preamble in a random access channel opportunity indicates to the network a request to employ semi-persistent resources.

19. An apparatus comprising: means for detecting, by a user equipment of a communications network, a set of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources; means for determining a random access preamble for a random access procedure for transmission on a random access opportunity; means for identifying that a random access response signal to the random access preamble carries a pointer to a semi-persistent configuration, the semi-persistent configuration being associated with at least one semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel resource in the detected set; as well as means for selecting, based on the identification, a semi-persistent configuration of at least one semi-persistent configuration indicated by the random access response for use in data communication with the communication network.

20. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; as well as at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receiving, by a network node of the communication network, a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determining comprises: determining use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; as well as Based on the determination, data communication with the user equipment is performed using semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about at least one of a sending period and a receiving period, beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further comprising at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the network node transmits configuration of semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources to the user equipment.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the network node transmits an expiration timer for the configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the random access response signal is used for the random access preamble together with an identifier of a physical random access channel opportunity and carries a pointer to one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel configuration or a semi-persistent physical uplink shared channel configuration.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to: determining that the user equipment uses the selected semi-persistent resource for the data communication; and At least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel configuration resources is released, and dynamic scheduling is used.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the release of the semi-persistently configured resources is based on a dynamically granted allocation or release message.

28. A method comprising: receiving, by a network node of the communication network, a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determining comprises: determining use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and Based on the determination, data communication with the user equipment is performed using semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the network node transmits the configuration of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources to the user equipment.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the network node transmits an expiration timer for the configuration.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the random access response signal is used for the random access preamble together with an identifier of a physical random access channel opportunity and carries a pointer to one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel configuration or a semi-persistent physical uplink shared channel configuration.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to: determining that the user equipment uses the selected semi-persistent resource for the data communication; and At least one of the semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or physical uplink shared channel configuration resources is released, and dynamic scheduling is used.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the releasing of the semi-persistently configured resources is based on a dynamically granted allocation or release message.

34. A method according to claim 29, wherein at least one of the following is provided in the random access response signal: information about at least one of a sending period and a receiving period, beam information, modulation and coding information for the indicated semi-persistent configuration, or an identifier of the physical random access channel opportunity for the preamble code.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein information is provided in the random access response signal, the information further comprising at least one of a semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel or a physical uplink shared attribute.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the information further includes at least one of the following: a transmission period, a reception period, beam information for the semi-persistent configuration, or modulation and coding information.

37. An apparatus comprising: means for determining, by a network node of a communication network, to receive a random access preamble for a random access procedure from a user equipment, wherein the determining comprises: determining use of a semi-persistent configuration for the random access procedure, the semi-persistent configuration being indicated in a random access response signal from the network node; and Means for performing data communications with the user equipment using semi-persistent physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel resources according to the semi-persistent configuration based on the determination.

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