User equipment and method for user equipment

Abstract

A user equipment (UE) is provided, including a transceiver and circuitry. The circuitry, in operation, performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) is to be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal when the UE is configured with at least one discontinuous reception (DRX) including an inactivity period. Based on a result of the first determination, the circuitry performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the first UCI before the multiplexing or regarding whether to omit transmission of the multiplexed signal based on at least one of a timing relationship between resources dedicated to transmission of the first UCI before the multiplexing and the inactivity period and a timing relationship between resources dedicated to transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactivity period. The circuitry further performs the multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal according to results of the first determination and the second determination and causes the transceiver to transmit the multiplexed signal according to a result of the second determination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the transmission and reception of signals in a communication system. In particular, this disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for such transmission and reception. Background Technology

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is dedicated to the technical specifications of next-generation cellular technologies, also known as fifth-generation (5G), which include “New Radio” (NR) radio access technology (RAT) operating in a frequency range up to 100 GHz. NR is the next generation of technologies represented by Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-A Advanced (LTE-A).

[0003] For systems like LTE and NR, further improvements and options can facilitate the effective operation of the communication system and the specific equipment associated with the system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A non-limiting and exemplary embodiment facilitates the transmission of UCI multiplexed with at least one other uplink control information and / or multiplexed on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) within a framework of discontinuous DRX reception.

[0005] In an embodiment, the User Equipment (UE) includes a transceiver and circuitry. During operation, when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, the circuitry performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Furthermore, based on the result of the first determination, the circuitry performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing or whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, based on at least one of the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. The circuitry performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and causes the transceiver to transmit the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0006] It should be noted that general or specific embodiments can be implemented as systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, storage media, or any alternative combination thereof.

[0007] Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the specification and accompanying drawings. Benefits and / or advantages may be obtained individually from the various embodiments and features in the specification and drawings, and not all of them need to be provided to obtain one or more such benefits and / or advantages. Attached Figure Description

[0008] In the following description, exemplary embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and figures.

[0009] Figure 1 An exemplary architecture of a 3GPP NR system is shown;

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the functional division between NG-RAN and 5GC;

[0011] Figure 3 This is a sequence diagram of the RRC connection establishment / reconfiguration process;

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the use cases of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC);

[0013] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary 5G system architecture for non-roaming.

[0014] Figure 6 It is a block diagram of a communication system that includes user equipment (UE) and base stations, as well as their respective structures.

[0015] Figure 7a It is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the circuit on the user equipment side;

[0016] Figure 7b This is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the circuit on the base station side;

[0017] Figure 8a The example illustrates that, according to an embodiment, the first UCI is omitted when the resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX.

[0018] Figure 8b This illustrates that, according to an embodiment, the first UCI is omitted when the resources dedicated to transmitting the first UCI before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX.

[0019] Figure 8c This illustrates a scenario where UCI is multiplexed regardless of the timing relationship between resources dedicated to UCI transmissions prior to multiplexing and inactive periods;

[0020] Figure 8d This illustrates the timing relationship between UCI multiplexing on PUSCH and the inactive period, regardless of the resources dedicated to UCI transmissions before multiplexing.

[0021] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of the process executed by the UE according to the first embodiment;

[0022] Figure 10 The determination of the first symbol after omitting UCI is shown;

[0023] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of the process executed by the UE according to the second embodiment;

[0024] Figures 12a to 12d This illustrates a situation where the transmission of multiplexed signals is not performed when the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals and inactive periods indicates that the resources overlap with the inactive periods of the cell DRX.

[0025] Figures 13a to 13d This illustrates a scenario where the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals and inactive periods indicates that the resources do not overlap with the inactive periods of the cell DRX.

[0026] Figure 14 This is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the UE according to a third embodiment;

[0027] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the UE according to the fourth embodiment;

[0028] Figure 16a and Figure 16b This illustrates a UE configured with both cell DRX and C-DRX. Cell DRX and C-DRX each have their own active and inactive periods, where the inactive period is determined by the inactive periods of both cell DRX and C-DRX; and

[0029] Figure 17 The illustration shows a UE configured with cell DRX and C-DRX, where cell DRX and C-DRX present their own active and inactive periods, and the inactive period used to determine is formed only by the inactive period of C-DRX. Detailed Implementation

[0030] 5G NR System Architecture and Protocol Stack

[0031] 3GPP has been working on the next version of fifth-generation cellular technology (5G), including developing new radio access technology (NR) that operates in a frequency range up to 100 GHz. The first version of the 5G standard was completed at the end of 2017, which allowed for trials of 5G NR-compliant smartphones and commercial deployment.

[0032] Among other things, the overall system architecture assumes that the gNB's NG-RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) provides the UE with NG-Radio Access User Plane (SDAP / PDCP / RLC / MAC / PHY) and Control Plane (RRC) protocol termination. gNBs interconnect with each other via the Xn interface. gNBs also connect to the NGC (Next Generation Core) via the Next Generation (NG) interface, more specifically, to the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Functions) (e.g., specific core entities performing the AMF) via the NG-C interface, and to the UPF (User Plane Functions) (e.g., specific core entities performing the UPF) via the NG-U interface. The NG-RAN architecture in... Figure 1 As shown in (see, for example, 3GPP TS 38.300 v15.6.0, Section 4).

[0033] The user plane protocol stack for NR (see, for example, 3GPP TS 38.300, Section 4.4.1) includes PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol, see Section 6.4 of TS 38.300), RLC (Radio Link Control, see Section 6.3 of TS 38.300), and MAC (Media Access Control, see Section 6.2 of TS 38.300) sublayers, which terminate in the gNB on the network side. Additionally, a new Access Layer (AS) sublayer (SDAP, Service Data Adaptation Protocol) is introduced above PDCP (see, for example, Subclause 6.5 of 3GPP TS38.300). A control plane protocol stack is also defined for NR (see, for example, TS 38.300, Section 4.4.2). An overview of Layer 2 functions is given in Subclause 6 of TS 38.300. The functions of the PDCP, RLC, and MAC sublayers are listed in Sections 6.4, 6.3, and 6.2 of TS 38.300, respectively. The functionality of the RRC layer is listed in Sub-clause 7 of TS 38.300.

[0034] For example, the media access control layer handles logical channel multiplexing and scheduling and scheduling-related functions, including handling different parameter sets.

[0035] The physical layer (PHY) is responsible for things like encoding / decoding, PHY HARQ processing, modulation, multi-antenna processing, and mapping signals to appropriate physical time-frequency resources. It also handles the mapping from transport channels to physical channels. The physical layer provides services to the MAC layer in the form of transport channels. A physical channel corresponds to a set of time-frequency resources used for transmission on a specific transport channel, and each transport channel is mapped to a corresponding physical channel. For example, physical channels are PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel), PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel), and PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) for uplink, and PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel), and PBCH (Physical Broadcast Channel) for downlink.

[0036] NR use cases / deployment scenarios can include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC), each with different requirements in terms of data rate, latency, and coverage. For example, eMBB is expected to support peak data rates (20Gbps downlink and 10Gbps uplink) and user experience rates approximately three times that offered by IMT-Advanced. On the other hand, in the case of URLLC, there are requirements for ultra-low latency (0.5ms for both UL and DL for user plane latency) and high reliability (1-10 times per second within 1ms). -5 This places more stringent requirements on mMTC. Finally, mMTC may preferably require a high connection density (1,000,000 devices / km in urban environments). 2 ), wide coverage in harsh environments, and extremely long-life batteries (15 years) for low-cost devices.

[0037] Therefore, an OFDM parameter set suitable for one use case (e.g., subcarrier spacing, OFDM symbol duration, cyclic prefix (CP) duration, number of symbols per scheduling interval) may not be suitable for another use case. For example, low-latency services may preferably require shorter symbol durations (and therefore larger subcarrier spacings) and / or fewer symbols per scheduling interval (also known as TTI) compared to mMTC services. Furthermore, deployment scenarios with large channel delay spreads may preferably require longer CP durations than scenarios with short delay spreads. Subcarrier spacing should be optimized accordingly to maintain similar CP overhead. NR can support more than one value for subcarrier spacing. Accordingly, subcarrier spacings of 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz… are currently being considered. Symbol duration T u The subcarrier spacing Δf is obtained through the formula Δf=1 / T uDirectly related. In a manner similar to that in LTE systems, the term "resource element" can be used to refer to the smallest resource unit consisting of a subcarrier with a length of one OFDM / SC-FDMA symbol.

[0038] In the new 5G-NR radio system, for each parameter set and carrier, resource grids for subcarriers and OFDM symbols are defined for both uplink and downlink. Each element in the resource grid is called a resource element and is identified based on its frequency index in the frequency domain and its symbol position in the time domain (see 3GPP TS 38.211 v16.2.0, e.g., Section 4). For example, downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames with a duration of 10 ms, each frame consisting of ten subframes, each with a duration of 1 ms. In the 5G NR implementation, the number of consecutive OFDM symbols in each subframe depends on the subcarrier spacing configuration. For example, for a 15 kHz subcarrier spacing, the subframe has 14 OFDM symbols (similar to LTE-compliant implementations, assuming a normal cyclic prefix). On the other hand, for a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing, the subframe has two slots, each containing 14 OFDM symbols.

[0039] 5G NR Function Division between NG-RAN and 5GC

[0040] Figure 2 The functional partitioning between NG-RAN and 5GC is illustrated. NG-RAN logical nodes are either gNBs or ng-eNBs. 5GC has logical nodes AMF, UPF, and SMF.

[0041] Specifically, gNB and ng-eNB host the following main functions:

[0042] - Functions for radio resource management, such as radio bearer control, radio access control, connection mobility control, and dynamic allocation (scheduling) of resources to the UE in both uplink and downlink.

[0043] - Data IP header compression, encryption, and integrity protection;

[0044] – When a route to the AMF cannot be determined from the information provided by the UE, the AMF is selected when the UE is attached;

[0045] - Route user plane data to UPF;

[0046] - Routing control plane information to the AMF;

[0047] – Connection establishment and release;

[0048] - Scheduling and transmission of paging messages;

[0049] -Scheduling and transmission of system broadcast information (originating from AMF or OAM);

[0050] – Configuration for measurement and measurement reporting for mobility and scheduling;

[0051] – Transport-level packet markings in the uplink;

[0052] –Session management;

[0053] –Supports network slicing;

[0054] –QoS flow management and mapping to data radio bearers;

[0055] – Supports UEs in RRC_INACTIVE state;

[0056] –NAS message distribution functionality;

[0057] - Radio access network sharing;

[0058] –Dual connection;

[0059] – Seamless interoperability between NR and E-UTRA.

[0060] The Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) hosts the following key functions:

[0061] –Non-access stratum NAS signaling terminated;

[0062] –NAS signaling security;

[0063] –Access layer AS security control;

[0064] – Core network (CN) inter-node signaling for mobility between 3GPP access networks;

[0065] – Idle mode UE reachability (including paging retransmission control and execution);

[0066] -Registration area management;

[0067] -Supports intra-system and inter-system mobility;

[0068] –Access authentication;

[0069] – Access authorization, including roaming permission checks;

[0070] – Mobility management controls (subscriptions and policies);

[0071] –Supports network slicing;

[0072] –Session Management Function (SMF) selection.

[0073] In addition, the User Plane Function UPF hosts the following main functions:

[0074] – Anchor points for mobility within / between RATs (where applicable);

[0075] – External PDU session point for interconnection to the data network;

[0076] - Packet routing and forwarding;

[0077] – Group checks and user plane components for policy rule enforcement;

[0078] – Traffic usage report;

[0079] – An uplink classifier is used to support routing traffic flows to the data network;

[0080] -Supports branch points for multi-homed PDU sessions;

[0081] – Used for QoS processing in the user plane, such as packet filtering, gating, and UL / DL rate implementation;

[0082] -Uplink traffic verification (SDF to QoS flow mapping);

[0083] – Downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering.

[0084] Finally, the session management function SMF hosts the following main functions:

[0085] –Session management;

[0086] –UE IP address allocation and management;

[0087] –Selection and control of UP function;

[0088] - Configure traffic routing at the User Plane Function (UPF) to route traffic to the appropriate destination;

[0089] – The policy implementation and QoS control section;

[0090] – Downlink data notification.

[0091] RRC connection establishment and reconfiguration process

[0092] Figure 3 This document illustrates some interactions between the UE, gNB, and AMF (5GC entity) in the context of the UE's transition from RRC_IDLE to RRC_CONNECTED for the NAS portion (see TS 38.300 v15.6.0).

[0093] RRC is a higher-level signaling (protocol) used for UE and gNB configuration. Specifically, this transition involves the AMF preparing UE context data (including, for example, PDU session context, security keys, UE radio capabilities, and UE security capabilities) and sending it to the gNB along with an Initial Context Establishment Request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST). The gNB then activates AS security with the UE, which is performed by the gNB sending a SecurityModeCommand message to the UE and the UE responding to the gNB with a SecurityModeComplete message. The gNB then performs reconfiguration to establish Signaling Radio Bearer 2 (SRB2) and Data Radio Bearer (DRB) by sending an RRCReconfiguration message to the UE and receiving an RRCReconfigurationComplete message from the UE in response. For signaling-only connections, the steps related to RRCReconfiguration are skipped because SRB2 and DRB are not set. Finally, the gNB notifies the AMF that the establishment process is complete with an Initial Context Establishment Response (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE).

[0094] Therefore, this disclosure provides an entity for a fifth-generation core (5GC) (e.g., AMF, SMF, etc.), comprising: a control circuit that establishes a next-generation (NG) connection with the gNodeB during operation; and a transmitter that sends an initial context establishment message to the gNodeB via the NG connection during operation to establish a signaling radio bearer between the gNodeB and the user equipment (UE). Specifically, the gNodeB sends radio resource control (RRC) signaling containing resource allocation configuration information elements to the UE via the signaling radio bearer. The UE then performs uplink transmission or downlink reception based on the resource allocation configuration.

[0095] Use cases of IMT in 2020 and beyond

[0096] Figure 4 Some use cases for 5G NR are shown. In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project New Radio (3GPP NR), three use cases are being considered, envisioned to support a wide variety of services and applications through IMT-2020. The first phase of specifications for Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) has been completed. In addition to further expanding eMBB support, current and future work will involve the standardization of Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) and Massive Machine-Type Communication. Figure 4 Examples of anticipated use cases for IMT in 2020 and beyond are shown (see, for example, ITU-R M.2083). Figure 2).

[0097] URLLC use cases have stringent requirements for capabilities such as throughput, latency, and availability, and have been envisioned as one of the driving forces for future vertical applications, such as wireless control of industrial manufacturing or production processes, telemedicine surgery, distribution automation in smart grids, and transportation safety. Ultra-reliability of URLLC is supported by identifying technologies that meet the requirements set forth in TR 38.913. For NR URLLC in Release 15, key requirements include a target user plane latency of 0.5 ms for UL (uplink) and 0.5 ms for DL ​​(downlink). A typical URLLC requirement for a single packet transmission is a BLER (Block Error Rate) of 1E-5 for a 32-byte packet size with a user plane latency of 1 ms.

[0098] From a physical layer perspective, reliability can be improved in a variety of ways. Current approaches to improving reliability involve defining a separate CQI table for URLLCs, a more compact DCI format, and PDCCH repetition. However, as NR becomes more stable and evolves (a critical requirement for NR URLLCs), the scope for achieving ultra-reliability may expand. Specific use cases for NR URLLCs in Rel.13 include augmented reality / virtual reality (AR / VR), eHealth, eSafety, and mission-critical applications.

[0099] Furthermore, the technical enhancements targeted by NR URLLC aim to improve latency and reliability. Enhancements for latency improvement include configurable parameter sets, non-slot-based scheduling with flexible mapping, unlicensed (configured licensed) uplinks, slot-level repetition for data channels, and downlink preemption. Preemption means stopping a transmission for which resources have already been allocated, and using those resources for another transmission that is requested later but has lower latency / higher priority requirements. Thus, an already licensed transmission is preempted by a later transmission. Preemption can be applied independently of a specific service type. For example, a transmission of service type A (URLLC) can be preempted by a transmission of service type B (e.g., eMBB). Technical enhancements for reliability improvement include a dedicated CQI / MCS table for the target BLER of 1E-5.

[0100] The use cases for mMTC (massive machine-type communication) are characterized by a very large number of connected devices typically sending relatively small amounts of non-latency-sensitive data. The devices need to be low-cost and have very long battery life. From an NR (Radio Frequency Identification) perspective, utilizing a very narrow bandwidth segment is a possible solution for saving power and achieving long battery life from the UE's (User Equipment) perspective.

[0101] As mentioned above, the range of reliability expected in NR becomes broader. A key requirement across all scenarios, especially essential for URLLC and mMTC, is high or ultra-high reliability. Several mechanisms can be considered to improve reliability from both radio and network perspectives. Typically, there are several key potential areas that can help improve reliability. These areas include compact control channel information, data / control channel repetition, and diversity in the frequency, time, and / or spatial domains. These areas generally apply to reliability regardless of the specific communication scenario.

[0102] For NR URLLC, further use cases with more stringent requirements have been identified, such as factory automation, the transportation industry, and power distribution. The more stringent requirements include higher reliability (up to 10). -6 (Level), higher availability, packet size up to 256 bytes, time synchronization in the order of a few μs (where the value can be 1 or a few μs depending on the frequency range), and short latency in the order of 0.5 to 1 ms (especially 0.5 ms target user plane latency, depending on the use case).

[0103] In addition, several technical enhancements from a physical layer perspective have been identified for NR URLLC. These include PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) enhancements related to compact DCI, PDCCH repetition, and increased PDCCH monitoring. Furthermore, UCI (Uplink Control Information) enhancements are associated with enhanced HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) and CSI feedback enhancements. PUSCH enhancements related to micro-slot level hopping and repeat / repetition enhancements have also been identified. The term "micro-slot" refers to a transmission time interval (TTI) comprising fewer symbols than a time slot (a time slot comprising fourteen symbols).

[0104] QoS control

[0105] The 5G QoS (Quality of Service) model is based on QoS flows and supports both QoS flows requiring guaranteed flow bit rates (GBRQoS flows) and QoS flows not requiring guaranteed flow bit rates (non-GBR QoS flows). Therefore, at the NAS level, QoS flows represent the finest granularity of QoS differentiation within a PDU session. QoS flows are identified within a PDU session by the QoS Flow ID (QFI) carried in the encapsulation header on the NG-U interface.

[0106] For each UE, 5GC establishes one or more PDU sessions. For each UE, NG-RAN establishes at least one data radio bearer (DRB) along with the PDU session, and additional DRBs for QoS flows used in that PDU session can subsequently be configured (when to do so depends on NG-RAN), for example, as referenced above. Figure 3 As shown, NG-RAN maps packets belonging to different PDU sessions to different DRBs. NAS-level packet filters in the UE and 5GC associate UL and DL packets with QoS flows, while AS-level mapping rules in the UE and NG-RAN associate UL and DL QoS flows with DRBs.

[0107] Figure 5 A 5G NR non-roaming reference architecture is shown (see TS 23.501 v16.1.0, Section 4.23). In Figure 4 The application functions (AFs) exemplified in the description (e.g., external application servers hosting 5G services) interact with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as supporting the application's influence on traffic routing, accessing network open functions (NEFs), or interacting with policy frameworks for policy control (see Policy Control Functions, PCFs), such as QoS control. Based on operator deployment, application functions considered trusted by the operator may be allowed to interact directly with the relevant network functions. Application functions that operators do not allow to directly access network functions may interact with the relevant network functions via external open frameworks through NEFs.

[0108] Figure 5 Other functional units of the 5G architecture are illustrated, namely Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Network Repository Function (NRF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), and Data Network (DN), such as operator services, internet access, or third-party services. All or part of the core network functions and application services can be deployed and run on a cloud computing environment.

[0109] Therefore, this disclosure provides an application server (e.g., an AF in a 5G architecture) comprising a transmitter that, in operation, sends a request containing at least one of URLLC, eMMB, and mMTC services to at least one function of the 5GC (e.g., NEF, AMF, SMF, PCF, UPF, etc.) to establish a PDU session including a radio bearer between the gNodeB and the UE according to the QoS requirements, and a control circuit that, in operation, performs services using the established PDU session.

[0110] terminal

[0111] In LTE and NR, a terminal, user terminal, user equipment, mobile station, or mobile node is referred to as a User Equipment (UE). This can be a mobile device or communication device, such as a wireless phone, smartphone, tablet computer, or USB (Universal Serial Bus) stick with UE functionality. However, the term mobile device is not limited to this; typically, a repeater can also have the functionality of such a mobile device, and a mobile device can also be used as a repeater. For example, a terminal is a physical entity (physical node) within a communication network. Furthermore, a communication device can be any type of machine communication device, such as an IoT device. A node can have several functional entities. A functional entity refers to a software or hardware module that implements and / or provides a predetermined set of functions to the same or another node or other functional entities in the network. A node can have one or more interfaces that allow the node to be attached to a communication facility or medium through which it can communicate. Similarly, a network entity can have a logical interface that allows functional entities to be attached to a communication facility or medium through which it can communicate with other functional entities or communication nodes.

[0112] base station

[0113] In this disclosure, for example, a base station can be a Transmitter Receiver Point (TRP), cluster head, access point, Remote Radio Header (RRH), eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), base station (BS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), base station unit, or gateway. Furthermore, in sidelink communication, a terminal may be used instead of a base station. A base station can be a relay device for communication between a relay host node and a terminal. A base station can also be a roadside unit. A base station can be a scheduling node or a network node, for example, forming part of a network for providing services to terminals. Specifically, a base station can provide radio access to a terminal. Communication between a terminal and a base station is typically standardized and can be defined by different layers (such as PHY, MAC, RRC, etc.). In LTE and NR, the radio interface protocol stack includes a physical layer, a Media Access Layer (MAC), and higher layers. In the control plane, a higher-layer protocol, Radio Resource Control (RRC), is provided. Through RRC, the base station can control the configuration of the terminal, and the terminal can communicate with the base station to perform control tasks, such as connection and bearer establishment, modification, measurement, and other functions. The term used in LTE is eNB (or eNodeB), while the term currently used for 5G NR is gNB. Here, the term base station or radio base station refers to a physical entity within a communication network. Like a mobile station, a base station can have several functional entities. A functional entity refers to a software or hardware module that implements and / or provides a predetermined set of functions to other functional entities in the same or another node or network. The physical entity performs some control tasks regarding the communication equipment, including one or more of scheduling and configuration. Note that base station functions and communication equipment functions can also be integrated within a single device. For example, a mobile terminal can also implement the functions of a base station for other terminals. The term used in LTE is eNB (or eNodeB), while the term currently used for 5G NR is gNB.

[0114] frequency band

[0115] This disclosure can be applied to either licensed or unlicensed frequency bands.

[0116] Uplink / Downlink / Sidelink

[0117] This disclosure can be applied to any of the uplink, downlink, and sidelink.

[0118] This disclosure can be applied to, for example, uplink channels such as PUSCH, PUCCH and PRACH, downlink channels such as PDSCH, PDCCH and PBCH, and sidelink channels such as Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) and Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH).

[0119] PDCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH, and PUCCH are examples of downlink control channel, downlink data channel, uplink data channel, and uplink control channel, respectively. PSCCH and PSSCH are examples of sidelink control channel and sidelink data channel, respectively. PBCH and PSBCH are examples of broadcast channels, and PRACH is an example of a random access channel.

[0120] Data channel / control channel

[0121] This disclosure can be applied to either a data channel or a control channel. The channels in this disclosure can be replaced with data channels including PDSCH, PUSCH, and PSSCH and / or control channels including PDCCH, PUCCH, PBCH, PSCCH, and PSBCH.

[0122] Uplink Control Information (UCI)

[0123] In the context of LTE and 5G NR, UCI stands for "Uplink Control Information". UCI plays an important role in managing and controlling uplink communication from user equipment (UE) to the network.

[0124] For example, 5G NR wireless communication networks rely on control signaling to manage various aspects of communication, such as resource allocation, power control, and beamforming. UCI is a specific type of control signaling sent by the UE to transmit important information to the network.

[0125] UCI is transmitted on the uplink, which is the communication path from the UE to the base station (gNB in ​​5G NR terminology). This is important because it allows the network to receive feedback and instructions from the UE, thereby enabling efficient resource management.

[0126] PUCCH is the uplink physical channel that carries UCI (Uplink Control Information). Since DCI (Downlink Control Information) is carried by PDCCH, UCI is carried by PUCCH. A significant difference between DCI and UCI is that, depending on the situation, UCI can be carried by either PUCCH or PUSCH, while DCI can be carried only by PDCCH (in no case by PDSCH).

[0127] The content of the UCI is as follows. Not all of these are carried by a single UCI. Depending on the situation, sometimes only CSI is carried, sometimes only ACK / NACK, sometimes only SR, sometimes both CSI and ACK / NACK, etc. These three elements are combined in various ways and reported to the network via the uplink physical channel (PUCCH or PUSCH).

[0128] –ACK / NACK

[0129] - Scheduling Request (SR)

[0130] –CSI

[0131] UCI reuse

[0132] Uplink Control Information (UCI) messages consist of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK), Channel State Information (CSI), and Scheduling Request (SR). These UCI messages are encoded and transmitted via the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or multiplexed on the PUSCH. This is known as UCI multiplexing on the PUSCH.

[0133] UCI multiplexing is the process of combining or multiplexing different types of UCIs into a single uplink transmission. This is achieved using specific resource blocks and signaling formats. The decision of whether to multiplex different types of UCIs and how to prioritize them is typically determined by the UE's built-in logic, the current network configuration, and the specific requirements of the network and application in use. The UE and gNB communicate through various control channels and signaling procedures to effectively coordinate UCI transmissions while optimizing resource utilization and network performance.

[0134] UCI multiplexing on a PUSCH involves combining one or more types of UCIs into a single transmission on a PUSCH resource. This is achieved by mapping different UCI types to specific resource blocks or symbols within the PUSCH. The UE communicates with the gNB to efficiently coordinate the transmission of UCIs on the PUSCH. This coordination involves the use of control channels, uplink granting, and signaling procedures to ensure that UCIs are effectively multiplexed, thereby optimizing resource utilization and network performance. The exact procedures and parameters can vary depending on the specific network configuration and the types of UCIs involved.

[0135] Sending multiple UCIs individually leads to overhead and inefficiency. Multiplexing helps reduce this overhead, allowing for more efficient use of uplink resources. By transmitting multiple types of UCIs in a single transmission, latency is reduced because the user equipment can transmit all the necessary control information at once. Furthermore, multiplexing enables the simultaneous transmission of different types of UCIs, thereby improving resource utilization and network efficiency.

[0136] Scheduling Request – SR

[0137] Scheduling requests in wireless communication networks such as LTE and 5G NR are mechanisms that allow user devices (UEs) to request network resources for transmitting data. They are part of the dynamic resource allocation process and play a key role in optimizing the utilization of available resources.

[0138] SR is triggered when the UE is in uplink synchronization with the base station and does not have allocated uplink (PUSCH / PUCCH) resources for data transmission. SR is used to request UL-SCH resources (uplink grants for new transmissions on the PUCCH channel). The base station replies to the UE with uplink grants in a DCI 0_0 or DCI 0_1 message on the PDCCH channel.

[0139] In other words, when data is ready to be transmitted but there is no resource authorization for PUSCH, the UE uses SR to request the allocation of uplink resources.

[0140] Exemplary details regarding SR can be found, for example, in 3GPP TS 38.213 V18.0.0 dated September 2023: “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 18)”, Section 9.2.4, and in 3GPP TS 38.321 V17.6.0 dated September 2023: “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (Release 17)”.

[0141] Reference signal

[0142] In this disclosure, the reference signal is a signal known to both the base station and the UE, and each reference signal may be referred to as a reference signal (RS) or sometimes as a pilot signal. The reference signal may be any one of DMRS, Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Tracking Reference Signal (TRS), Phase Tracking Reference Signal (PTRS), Cell-Specific Reference Signal (CRS), and Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

[0143] Detection Reference Signal - SRS

[0144] A sounding reference signal (SRS) is a signal used in wireless communication systems such as 4G LTE and 5G NR to enable the network to obtain information about the radio channel quality from user equipment (UE) within a cell. It serves as a reference for channel quality estimation, allowing the network to adjust transmission parameters to optimize communication.

[0145] The primary purpose of SRS is to provide the network with information about the channel conditions experienced by the UE. The network can use this information to optimize transmission to each UE, as well as to perform beamforming and spatial processing in multi-antenna systems.

[0146] SRS allows the network to estimate the quality of the uplink channel from each UE to the base station. This information helps adapt modulation and coding schemes, power control, and other transmission parameters. In multi-antenna systems, SRS assists in determining the optimal beamforming weights for data transmission, thereby improving signal quality and coverage. SRS information can be further used to mitigate interference and improve overall network performance.

[0147] SRS transmission parameters are configured by the network and are specific to each UE. These parameters include the frequency, time, and duration of SRS transmissions. This configuration is based on network requirements and can vary depending on factors such as network load, device mobility, and service requirements.

[0148] SRS can be configured to be transmitted on a specific subcarrier (frequency) and at certain time intervals (time). This allows the network to collect channel quality information at desired locations and times.

[0149] SRS can be transmitted in different modes, including periodic and aperiodic modes. In periodic mode, SRS is transmitted at regular intervals configured by the network. It provides continuous feedback on channel conditions, which is beneficial for maintaining optimal performance. In aperiodic mode, the UE can also transmit SRS in response to specific events or commands from the network. This provides more flexible feedback when channel quality changes rapidly.

[0150] The UE sends an SRS report according to its configuration. The network receives and processes the SRS report to make adjustments to optimize communication with the UE, which may include adjusting transmission power, modulation, encoding / decoding, and antenna beamforming.

[0151] Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS)

[0152] CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal) is a signal used in LTE and 5G NR to measure the quality of the radio channel between the UE and the base station. It can be periodically transmitted by the base station on specific resource elements (resources) in the frequency domain, and the UE uses the received CSI-RS to estimate channel quality, which can be used for beamforming and other techniques. The UE can also use CSI-RS to provide feedback to the base station, indicating the modulation and coding schemes that can be supported on the current channel. CSI-RS is a component that provides high data rates and reliable communication.

[0153] CSI-RS Resource Group

[0154] A CSI-RS resource set group refers to a group of CSI-RS resources with similar transmission characteristics. CSI-RS resource sets can be used to optimize transmission efficiency and reduce the overhead associated with individualized control signaling. It allows a base station to transmit a single CSI-RS resource set for multiple antennas or transmission points, thereby reducing the number of control signals required for beamforming and other transmission optimization techniques.

[0155] The defining characteristic of a CSI-RS resource set is its unique identifier, called the CSI-RS Configuration Index (CRI). The CRI is used by the UE to identify the CSI-RS resource set and its associated transmission characteristics. CSI-RS resource sets can be used for various transmission parameters, including beamforming, channel quality measurement, and handover.

[0156] CSI Report

[0157] Channel state information is a general term for information used to describe the characteristics of a radio channel.

[0158] For example, CSI reporting in LTE or 5G NR is a mechanism through which the UE can provide feedback to the base station regarding the quality of the radio channel. To do this, the UE estimates the channel quality based on a reference signal transmitted by the base station and reports this information to the base station.

[0159] CSI reporting in 5G NR is more advanced than in LTE, and includes various feedback types and reporting configurations. The UE estimates channel quality based on reference signals (including CSI-RS and DMRS (demodulation reference signals)) transmitted by the base station. The UE then reports this information to the base station using one or more feedback types, for example:

[0160] - Periodic CSI Feedback: The UE sends CSI feedback at regular intervals specified by the base station.

[0161] – Non-periodic CSI feedback: The UE sends CSI feedback when the channel conditions change significantly.

[0162] - Semi-persistent CSI feedback: The UE periodically sends CSI feedback with a certain offset, thus allowing the base station to anticipate when it will receive feedback.

[0163] The feedback type can be configured with different reporting configurations, including the number of bits used to encode the feedback, the frequency of the feedback report, and the aggregation of multiple subcarriers or antennas.

[0164] Base stations can use CSI feedback to adapt transmission parameters (such as modulation and encoding / decoding schemes) to the current channel conditions. CSI reporting is a mechanism for achieving high data rates and efficient use of radio spectrum in 5G NR.

[0165] HARQ-ACK

[0166] HARQ-ACK, or Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgment, is a concept in wireless communication, particularly in 4G LTE and 5G NR (New Radio) systems. HARQ-ACK is used to manage data transmission between User Equipment (UE) and the network, ensuring data reliability and efficient use of communication resources.

[0167] HARQ-ACK is used to confirm successful data reception. When the network (eNodeB in LTE or gNodeB in 5G) sends data to the user equipment, it expects confirmation that the data has been correctly received. The confirmation indicates whether the data should be considered successfully received or whether retransmission is necessary. If the UE detects an error in the received data, it sends a negative confirmation (NACK) to request retransmission. This ensures that data errors are corrected for reliable communication.

[0168] The network (eNodeB or gNodeB) transmits data to the user equipment (UE) via the downlink channel. The UE attempts to correctly decode and receive the data. After receiving the data, the UE performs error detection and checks whether the data has been received correctly. If the data is error-free, the UE sends a positive acknowledgment (ACK) to the network to confirm successful reception. If an error is detected, it sends a negative acknowledgment (NACK) to request a retransmission. If the UE sends a NACK, the network can schedule a retransmission of the data. This process continues until the UE successfully receives the data or until a predefined maximum number of transmission attempts is reached.

[0169] There are two main types of HARQ-ACK feedback: Acknowledgment (ACK), which is sent by the UE to acknowledge successful data reception. The network does not need to retransmit data in response to the ACK, and Negative Acknowledgment (NACK), which is sent by the UE to indicate that an error was detected in the received data and retransmission is required.

[0170] When data is successfully received (ACK), it avoids unnecessary retransmissions, saving bandwidth and reducing latency. When an error is detected (NACK), the network can quickly retransmit the data, thus ensuring reliable communication. HARQ-ACK is adaptive, meaning it allows for several transmission attempts before determining that data reception could not be successfully completed. This adaptability increases the chances of successful data transmission under changing channel conditions.

[0171] Exemplary details regarding HARQ-ACK can be found, for example, in 3GPP 38.212V18.0.0, dated September 2023: “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group RadioAccess Network; NR; Multiplexing and channel coding (Release 18)”, sections 6.3.1.1 and 6.3.2.1.

[0172] Discontinuous reception – DRX

[0173] In the context of 5G NR and LTE wireless communication standards, DRX (Discontinuous Receive) is a power-saving feature that helps extend the battery life of a UE by allowing the UE to periodically enter low-power or sleep modes.

[0174] In LTE, DRX is used to save power for user equipment (UE) when it is not actively communicating with the network. This is particularly important for extending the battery life of mobile devices. DRX works by allowing the device to periodically turn off its receiver for short periods. During these "off" or inactive periods, the device does not listen for incoming data, which saves power. The device wakes up at predefined intervals to check for any pending data, and if there is data waiting, it turns on the receiver and receives the data. DRX parameters are typically configured by the network and can vary depending on the specific use case. Parameters include the on duration (when the receiver is on; active period) and the off duration (when the receiver is off; inactive period).

[0175] Similar to LTE, DRX in 5G NR is designed to conserve power for user equipment while maintaining the ability to receive data when needed. It is a key feature for battery-efficient operation in 5G networks. 5G NR DRX operates in a manner similar to LTE, with the key difference being the flexibility and granularity it offers. 5G NR provides more configurable DRX parameters, allowing for finer-grained control over the sleep and wake-up modes of a device's receiver. In 5G NR, network operators have greater flexibility in configuring DRX parameters. This includes the ability to set on durations (active periods), off durations (inactive periods), and DRX cycles to better match the specific requirements of different applications and services.

[0176] Exemplary details regarding DRX can be found, for example, in 3GPP TS 38.304 V17.6.0, dated September 2023: “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; User Equipment (UE) procedures in Idle mode and RRC Inactive State (Release 17)”, section 7.1.

[0177] DRX Community

[0178] Cell DRX, representing "discontinuous cell reception," is a power-saving feature used in 4G LTE and 5G NR wireless communication standards. It allows a UE to reduce its power consumption by entering a low-power state when there is no data to receive from the network. For example, periodic cell DRX (i.e., active and inactive periods) can be configured by the base station via UE-specific RRC signaling for each serving cell.

[0179] Cell DRX operates at the cell level, meaning it's a feature managed by the network cell (base station) to control the behavior of UEs within its coverage area. The network configures cell DRX parameters for the UE. This includes specifying the DRX period and various timing parameters, including the duration of the on state (active mode; active period) and the off state (inactive state; inactive period). The network can page (send a message) the device during the off state to wake it up when there is incoming data or communication is needed. This minimizes power consumption during idle periods while ensuring the device remains responsive to network commands.

[0180] The network can configure cell DRX parameters to match the specific requirements of different use cases, ensuring an optimal balance between power savings and responsiveness. In other words, by configuring DRX period and timing parameters, the network can optimize power efficiency while ensuring that devices remain responsive to network commands and incoming data.

[0181] Connection modes: DRX–C-DRX

[0182] Connected-mode DRX (C-DRX) is a power-saving feature used in wireless communication. It enables user equipment to reduce its power consumption while maintaining a connection to the network, primarily during active data transmission and reception.

[0183] The primary purpose of Connected Mode DRX is to conserve power in user equipment during active communication sessions. While conventional Discontinuous Receive (DRX) is used during idle or standby periods, Connected Mode DRX is designed to optimize power usage when the device is actively communicating with the network.

[0184] Connected-mode DRX (C-DRX) operates while the UE is connected, meaning it actively participates in data transmission or reception with the network. The network can dynamically configure C-DRX parameters for the UE during active connection. These parameters include the DRX period, inactivity timer, the on duration of the period (active period), and / or the off duration (inactive period). Compared to idle-mode DRX, the connected-mode DRX period can be shorter and more frequent. It defines the timing of the device's periodic switching between active (receive) and sleep (low power) modes during active connection. The inactivity timer is a parameter that defines how long the device will remain in active mode after the last data transmission or reception. If there is no activation during this period, the device enters sleep mode to conserve power. The network can dynamically adjust C-DRX parameters based on the device's specific communication needs and traffic patterns. For example, if the device is participating in an ongoing data session, the on duration (active period) can be extended to ensure responsiveness.

[0185] C-DRX reduces the power consumption of user equipment during active communication sessions, thereby improving its overall energy efficiency. This feature balances power savings with network responsiveness. Devices can quickly wake up from a low-power state when data needs to be sent or received, ensuring a seamless user experience. Networks can adjust C-DRX parameters to suit different use cases, such as streaming video, web browsing, or voice calls. This customization ensures optimal power management during various types of connections.

[0186] By dynamically configuring C-DRX parameters, the network can balance power efficiency and network responsiveness, ensuring that devices remain responsive during data transmission and reception while conserving power during idle periods.

[0187] Exemplary details about C-DRX can be found, for example, in 3GPP TS 38.321V17.6.0 dated September 2023: “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (Release 17)”, Section 5.7.

[0188] Signal transmission within the framework of the DRX configuration

[0189] According to the current RAN1 / RAN2 protocol, certain channels / signals may not be transmitted during the inactive period of the cell DRX. In other words, UCIs and / or data on the PUSCH may not be transmitted during the inactive period, wherein the UCIs / data include content from one of the following: scheduling requests (SRs), data on configured grants (CGs) on the PUSCH, periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports, and periodic or semi-persistent SRSs.

[0190] On the other hand, certain channels / signals are unaffected by the DRX configuration, and in other words, can also be transmitted by the UE during the inactive period of the cell DRX configuration. Specifically, the channels / signals transmitted during the inactive period of the cell DRX include SRS for positioning, HARQ-ACK for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), PDSCH, and / or HARQ-ACK in DCI format without PDSCH scheduling. Furthermore, signals / channels that may be transmitted even during the inactive period of the cell DRX may include aperiodic CSI reports on the PUSCH (e.g., triggered by the PDCCH) (which partially or completely overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX), HARQ-ACKs for dynamically scheduled PDSCH (which partially or completely overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX), and dynamically scheduled PUSCH (e.g., scheduled by the PDCCH) (which partially or completely overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX).

[0191] However, during the inactive period of the cell DRX, the following channels / signals may or may not be transmitted: scheduling requests (SR), data on configured grant (CG) PUSCH, periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports, and periodic or semi-persistent SRS, wherein said signals / channels partially overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX; UCIs multiplexed on PUCCH, wherein the corresponding PUCCH resources before and / or after multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX, and at least one of the multiplexed UCIs relates to scheduling requests (SR), data on configured grant (CG) PUSCH, and periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports; and UCIs multiplexed on PUSCH, wherein the corresponding PUCCH and / or PUSCH resources overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX, and at least one of the multiplexed UCIs relates to scheduling requests (SR), data on configured grant (CG) PUSCH, and periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports.

[0192] Therefore, if the UE transmits a UCI multiplexed with another UCI and / or multiplexed on the PUSCH, but the network (e.g., eNB or gNB) does not expect the transmission of the multiplexed signal, it causes unnecessary power consumption and processing load in the UE. On the other hand, if the UE does not transmit the multiplexed signal or selectively transmits some UCIs, the network (e.g., eNB or gNB) will need to blindly detect multiple possibilities, which will negatively impact network stability and the alignment operation between the network (e.g., eNB or gNB) and the UE.

[0193] This disclosure addresses the channels / signals that may or may not be transmitted during inactive periods of a cell DRX. However, this disclosure is not limited to cell DRX configuration, but can be applied to any DRX where a UE can be configured.

[0194] Example

[0195] This disclosure addresses a scenario where a UE 100 is configured with a cell DRX and needs to reuse one or more UCIs on a PUCCH or PUSCH. The UE 100 determines whether to discard / omit a UCI or not generate and / or transmit a reused signal including the UCI before reuse, or not to generate and / or transmit a reused signal including the UCI, based on whether the UCI overlaps with the inactive period of the cell DRX before reuse, whether the PUCCH or PUSCH resources used after reuse overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX, whether any of the UCI / PUSCHs to be reused is unaffected by cell DRX operation around the boundary between the active and inactive periods, whether any of the UCI / PUSCHs to be reused is unaffected by cell DRX operation during the inactive period, whether any of the UCI / PUSCHs to be reused will be affected by cell DRX operation during the inactive period, and whether the UCI is outside the active period of the C-DRX (if configured) and / or the active period of the cell DRX. However, the inactive period is not limited to the inactive period of the cell DRX or C-DRX, but can involve the inactive period of any DRX, including the inactive periods of multiple DRXs.

[0196] The following description addresses a novel radio access technology envisioned for 5G mobile communication systems, including the UE, base station, and procedures. However, it can also be used in LTE mobile communication systems, 6G mobile communication systems, and other wireless or wired communication systems. Different implementation methods and variations will also be explained. The following disclosure was facilitated by the discussion and findings described above, and may be based, for example, at least in part.

[0197] Generally, it should be noted that many assumptions have been made herein in order to explain the basic principles of this disclosure in a clear and understandable manner. However, these assumptions should be understood as merely examples made herein for illustrative purposes and should not limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0198] Furthermore, some terms used below, such as processes, entities, and layers, are closely related to those used in LTE / LTE-A systems or current 3GPP 5G standards, even though specific terms used in the context of new radio access technologies for the next 3GPP 5G communication system have not been fully determined or may eventually change. Therefore, terminology may be changed in the future without affecting the functionality of the embodiments. Consequently, those skilled in the art will understand that, due to the lack of newer or finally agreed-upon terminology, the embodiments and their scope of protection should not be limited to the specific terms used exemplarily herein, but should be understood more broadly as the functions and concepts upon which the functions and principles of this disclosure are based.

[0199] For example, a mobile station, mobile node, user terminal, or user equipment (UE) is a physical entity (physical node) within a communication network. A node can have several functional entities. A functional entity refers to a software or hardware module that implements and / or provides a predetermined set of functions to the same or another node or other functional entities in the network. A node can have one or more interfaces that allow the node to be attached to a communication facility or medium through which it can communicate. Similarly, a network entity can have a logical interface that allows functional entities to be attached to a communication facility or medium, through which it can communicate with other functional entities or communication nodes.

[0200] The term "base station" or "radio base station" here refers to a physical entity within a communication network. Like a mobile station, a base station can have several functional entities. A functional entity refers to a software or hardware module that implements and / or provides a predetermined set of functions to other functional entities in the same or another node or network. The physical entity performs some control tasks regarding the communication equipment, including one or more of scheduling and configuration. Note that base station functions and communication equipment functions can also be integrated within a single device. For example, a mobile terminal can also implement the functions of a base station for other terminals. The term used in LTE is eNB (or eNodeB), while the term currently used for 5G NR is gNB.

[0201] Communication between the UE and the base station is typically standardized and can be defined by different layers, such as PHY, MAC, RRC, etc. (see the background discussion above).

[0202] This disclosure relates to a UE, a base station, and methods for resolving issues related to CSI transmission within a framework of DRX configuration.

[0203] Figure 6 A general, simplified, and exemplary block diagram of user equipment 100 (also referred to as a communication device) and base station 200 is shown, wherein base station 200 is exemplarily assumed to be a scheduling device such as an eNB or gNB (network node). However, typically, in the case of a sidelink connection between two terminals, the scheduling device can also be a terminal. Furthermore, particularly with regard to use cases of URLLC, eMBB, and mMTC, communication device 100 can also be a sensor device, wearable device, or connected vehicle, or a controller for automated machines in an industrial plant. Additionally, communication device 200 can be used as a relay between a base station and another communication device (e.g., this disclosure is not limited to a communication "terminal" or a user "terminal").

[0204] UE 100 and base station 200 (eNB / gNB) communicate with each other via (wireless) physical channel 300 using their transceivers 110 (UE side) and 210 (base station side), respectively. Base station 200 and UE 100 together form communication system 10. Communication system 10 may also include, for example, Figure 1 Other entities shown.

[0205] UE 100 may include transceiver 110 and (processing) circuitry 120, and scheduling device 200 may include transceiver 210 and (processing) circuitry 220. Transceivers 110 and 210 may further include and / or function as receivers and / or transmitters. In this disclosure, in other words, the term "transceiver" is used for the hardware and software components that allow UE 100 or base station 200 to transmit and / or receive radio signals via wireless channel 300, respectively. Thus, a transceiver corresponds to a receiver, a transmitter, or a combination of a receiver and a transmitter. Generally, it is assumed that base station 200 and UE 100 are capable of both transmitting and receiving radio signals. However, particularly for some applications such as eMBB, mMTC, and URLLC (smart home, smart city, industrial automation, etc.), it is conceivable that devices such as sensors may only receive signals. Furthermore, the term "circuitry" includes processing circuitry formed by one or more processors or processing units.

[0206] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the user equipment UE 100 includes a transceiver 110 and a circuit 120. During operation, when the UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, the circuit 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, the circuit 120 performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI or the transmission of the multiplexed signal before multiplexing, based on at least one of the timing relationships between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationships between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. The circuit 120 also performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and causes the transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0207] For example, if, as a result of the first determination, the first UCI is to be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the PUSCH to form a multiplexed signal, then circuit 120 performs the second determination in operation.

[0208] Note that the UE 100 can be configured with only one DRX configuration or more than one (e.g., two or more) DRX configurations. DRX configurations can include any of the following: regular DRX configuration (idle mode DRX), cell DRX configuration, or connected mode DRX configuration (C-DRX configuration). The activation time (on period) and deactivation time (off period) can be adjusted dynamically according to the corresponding configuration, whereby the base station (e.g., gNB) dynamically indicates parameters defining the period and / or duration of the activation and deactivation periods via signaling. In other words, the deactivation period of the DRX may not necessarily be based solely on the configuration.

[0209] A temporal relationship can be the relationship between the time location of a resource and a certain time period (e.g., an inactive time period). A temporal relationship can indicate that the resource overlaps with the time period in time (including cases where the time location of the resource is completely included in the time period; that is, the temporal relationship can indicate that the time location of the resource at least partially overlaps with the time period), or that the time location of the resource does not overlap with the time period, i.e., it is completely outside the time period.

[0210] Multiplexing is performed when the first UCI is omitted before multiplexing, wherein the UCI is not multiplexed with another UCI and / or not multiplexed on the PUSCH. In other words, multiplexing can still be performed by multiplexing other UCIs with each other and / or multiplexing them on the PUSCH. However, if the first UCI is to be multiplexed with a single other UCI or only on the PUSCH, multiplexing may not be performed, and in this case, the signal referred to as the "multiplexed signal" is only related to the other UCIs or the PUSCH.

[0211] In the sense that if it is determined that a multiplexed signal will not be transmitted, then transmission is omitted / not performed. The multiplexed signal can be transmitted based on the result of the second determination. Furthermore, if it is determined in the second determination that a multiplexed signal will not be transmitted, then multiplexing to form a multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations can be interpreted as omitting / not performing multiplexing, since the transmission of the multiplexed signal generated by said multiplexing will not be performed. Therefore, multiplexing can be omitted in this case, resulting in reduced power consumption and / or reduced processing load.

[0212] Resources dedicated to UCI transmissions prior to multiplexing are related to resources calculated or determined by UE 100, which will be used if the UCI is not multiplexed with another UCI and / or not multiplexed on the PUSCH.

[0213] The first UCI can be a UCI carrying at least one of the following: a scheduling request, an SR, and a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report, or any other content that would result in no UCI being sent if the corresponding resource overlaps with an inactive period (if multiplexing is not performed).

[0214] Figure 7a The functional structure of circuit 120 is shown. Specifically, it includes transceiver control circuit 121. Transceiver control circuit 121 controls transceiver 110 to perform the described operations during operation. Furthermore, circuit 120 includes determining circuit 122, which performs the operations of circuit 120 as described during operation.

[0215] Figure 7b The functional structure of circuit 220 is shown. Specifically, circuit 220 includes transceiver control circuit 221. Transceiver control circuit 221 controls transceiver 210 during operation. Furthermore, circuit 220 includes processing circuit 222, which performs the operations of circuit 220 during operation.

[0216] Circuits 120 and 220 can be one or more pieces of hardware, such as one or more processors or any LSI. Input / output points (or nodes) 130 and 230 exist between transceivers 110 and 210 and circuits 120 and 220. During operation, processing circuits 120 and 220 can control transceivers 110 and 210 through input / output points 130 and 230, i.e., control the receiver and / or transmitter and exchange received / transmitted data. Transceivers 110 and 210, as transmitters and receivers, can include RF (radio frequency) front-ends, which include one or more antennas, amplifiers, RF modulators / demodulators, etc. Circuits 120 and 220 can perform control tasks, such as controlling transceivers 110 and 210 to transmit user data and control data provided by circuits 120 and 220 and / or receive user data and control data further processed by circuits 120 and 220. Circuits 120 and 220 can also be responsible for performing other processes, such as determination, decision-making, calculation, measurement, etc. The transmitter is responsible for performing the sending process and other related processes. The receiver is responsible for performing the receiving process and other related processes.

[0217] Note that circuits 120 and 220 may be general-purpose processing circuits including one or more processors that can execute code instructions stored in memory (which may also be part of circuits 120 and 220) and may include portions of code instructions corresponding to the functions described above with reference to the respective circuits. This functionality may be provided by hardware adaptation and / or software. This disclosure is not limited to any particular circuit, and embodiments of this disclosure may include dedicated or programmable hardware or general-purpose hardware or any combination thereof.

[0218] It should also be noted that any steps / operations described below may be performed or controlled by circuit 120 (on the UE 100 side) and / or circuit 220 (on the base station 200 side). Specifically, in the further description, unless explicitly stated or indicated by the context, the details and embodiments apply to each of the UE 100, base station 200, and methods.

[0219] It should also be noted that these and other aspects may be combined with or included in the following specific embodiments of this disclosure.

[0220] First Embodiment

[0221] According to a first embodiment, UE 100 includes transceiver 110 and circuitry 120. During operation, when UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Furthermore, based on the result of the first determination and the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a second determination regarding whether the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing. Then, based on the results of the first and second determinations, circuitry 120 performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal and, based on the result of the second determination, causes transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal.

[0222] For example, if the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, then circuit 120 determines in operation, in a second determination, that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing.

[0223] In other words, when reusing a UCI that overlaps with an inactive period of the DRX, the UE 100 discards / omits the UCI that overlaps with the inactive period of the DRX before reusing it. The UCI discarded / omitted before reusing may be a UCI carrying at least one of the following: a scheduling request (SR) and a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report, or any other content that would result in no UCI being sent if the corresponding resource overlaps with an inactive period (if reusing is not performed).

[0224] Figure 8a An example is shown where the first UCI is omitted when resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX. Specifically, in the example shown in the figure, the resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #2 before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX, while the resources of UCI #1 and #3 before multiplexing are entirely within the active period of the cell DRX cycle in time.

[0225] That is, in the example shown, UCI #2 represents the first UCI, and UCI #1 and #3 represent the second UCI. In this case, UE 100 (e.g., circuit 120) determines to multiplex UCI #1 to #3. On the other hand, since the resources of UCI #2 before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period in time, UCI #2 is discarded / omitted before generating the multiplexed signal.

[0226] Therefore, in this example, circuit 120 determines that UCI #2 should be omitted before multiplexing, and only UCI #1 and #3 that do not overlap with the non-active period are multiplexed to form a multiplexed signal and transmit it.

[0227] Figure 8b An example is shown where, prior to multiplexing, resources dedicated to the first UCI overlap with an inactive period of the cell DRX, and the first UCI is omitted before multiplexing on the PUSCH. Specifically, in the example shown, resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #2 prior to multiplexing overlap with an inactive period; therefore, UCI #2 is discarded / omitted before multiplexing. Thus, UCI #2 represents the first UCI whose timing relationship before multiplexing, where the resources dedicated to transmission and the inactive period indicate an overlap between the first UCI (UCI #2) and the inactive period, is described.

[0228] Therefore, UCI #2 (i.e., the first UCI) is omitted before multiplexing UCI #1 (i.e., the second UCI) on the PUSCH. That is, the second UCI (UCI #1) is multiplexed on the PUSCH and transmitted by transceiver 110.

[0229] On the other hand, if the first UCI is not omitted, the resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period. However, the resources of the multiplexed signal that is estimated / determined may also be located within or overlap with the inactive period. In this case, whether the multiplexed signal is actually transmitted may depend on the configuration of the UE 100 and / or other factors (see Implementation 3). That is, if the dedicated resources used for transmission before multiplexing overlap with the first UCI during the inactive period, there is a risk that the multiplexed signal may not be transmitted depending on its timing relationship with the inactive period.

[0230] As an example, Figure 8c One scenario is illustrated where three UCIs #1 through #3 are multiplexed regardless of the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to UCI transmissions before multiplexing and the inactive period, thereby generating a multiplexed signal (“UCI”) whose estimated / determined resources are fully contained within the inactive period.

[0231] In addition, such as Figure 8dAs shown in the example, resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI (UCI #2) prior to multiplexing are positioned to overlap with the inactive period. Furthermore, resources for the second UCI (UCI #1) and PUSCH are located within the active period. When a UCI is to be multiplexed, the estimated / determined resources for the transmission of the resulting multiplexed (“UCI”) signal may be located within the inactive period, which could result in the multiplexed signal not being transmitted.

[0232] Therefore, according to an embodiment, discarding / omitting the first UCI, which is a dedicated resource used for multiplexing previous transmissions, allows all UCIs whose timing relationship with the inactive period indicates that the corresponding resource does not overlap with the inactive period to be maintained / transmitted. Thus, maintaining UCIs within the active period without the risk of multiplexed signals including UCIs overlapping with the inactive period may result in the non-transmission of multiplexed signals, such as... Figure 8c and Figure 8d As shown.

[0233] Furthermore, by omitting the UCIs that overlap with the dedicated resources and inactive periods before reuse, the complexity of the processing to be performed by the UE 100 is reduced, as fewer UCIs need to be processed and reused.

[0234] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a process performed by UE 100 according to a first embodiment. UE 100 is configured or instructed that a UCI will be multiplexed on a PUCCH or PUSCH. That is, the UCI will be multiplexed with at least one other UCI and / or multiplexed on a PUSCH. In step S100, circuit 120 determines whether the resources used for transmission of any of the UCIs before multiplexing overlap with an inactive period. If yes ("Yes" in step S100), the UCI whose resources used for transmission before multiplexing overlap with an inactive period is the first UCI, and is therefore discarded / omitted in step S110 before multiplexing. In the subsequent step S120, multiplexing is performed without the first UCI whose resources used for transmission before multiplexing overlap with an inactive period. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S100 that no UCI's resources overlap with an inactive period ("No" in step S100), the UCI is not discarded and is included in the multiplexing process in step S120. Subsequently, in step S130, for example, the multiplexed signal generated by the multiplexing process in step S120 is sent to base station 200.

[0235] Variant

[0236] In a variant of the first embodiment, if circuit 120 determines that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing, circuit 120 determines the first symbol of the earliest physical uplink control channel PUCCH or PUSCH after omitting the first UCI in operation, and further checks whether the processing time for multiplexing is sufficient by using the first symbol as a reference.

[0237] For example, as specified in Section 9.2.5 of 3GPP TS 38.213 V.18.0.0 “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 18)” dated September 2023, the first symbol S0 can be determined by the earliest PUCCH or PUSCH. That is, when UE 100 has resources for PUCCH transmissions or for time-overlapping PUCCH and PUSCH transmissions, and each PUCCH transmission is on a single time slot without repetition, in the process of reporting multiple UCI types, UE 100 can anticipate the first symbol S0 of the earliest PUCCH or PUSCH among a set of overlapping PUCCHs and PUSCHs based on the determined timeline conditions. In this variant, the timeline conditions can be checked after determining that the first UCI should be omitted.

[0238] The first symbol S0 indicates the starting point for UE 100 to determine whether there is sufficient processing time between the first symbol S0 and the last symbol of the corresponding PDCCH or PDSCH associated with the multiplexed PUCCH or PUSCH.

[0239] After discarding / omitting the first UCI before reuse, the first symbol S0 can be determined without considering the discarded / omitted UCI.

[0240] For example, such as Figure 10 As shown, UE 100 can determine that the multiplexing of UCI #1 (the first UCI) should be omitted because its dedicated resources for transmission before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX. Therefore, when determining the timeline status, according to this variant, only UCI #2 and #3 are considered to determine the first symbol S0.

[0241] That is, in the illustrated example, the first symbol S0 is determined based on UCI #2. Using the first symbol S0, circuit 120 checks the adequacy of the multiplexed processing time, for example, as described in section 9.2.5 of 3GPP TS 38.213 V.18.0.0 above. This method can result in a more relaxed UE processing timeline.

[0242] Note that this variation can also be applied to the second and / or fifth embodiments.

[0243] Second Embodiment

[0244] According to the second embodiment, UE 100 includes transceiver 110 and circuitry 120. During operation, when UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Furthermore, based on the result of the first determination and the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a second determination regarding whether the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing. Then, based on the results of the first and second determinations, circuitry 120 performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal and, based on the result of the second determination, causes transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal.

[0245] In the second embodiment, if all content to be sent by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH belongs to the (first) predetermined content group, the circuit 120 determines in operation, in the second determination, that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing.

[0246] In other words, if the content to be transmitted by at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to the second predetermined content group, circuit 120 may determine in operation, in a second determination, to omit the first UCI. The second predetermined content may include content other than that included in the aforementioned (first) predetermined content group.

[0247] For example, if at least one content to be sent by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to the (first) predetermined content group, then circuit 120 determines in operation, in a second determination, that the first UCI is not omitted before multiplexing.

[0248] In other words, if the content to be transmitted by at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a second predetermined content group, then circuit 120 determines in operation, in a second determination, that the first UCI will not be omitted. The second predetermined content may include content other than that included in the aforementioned (first) predetermined content group.

[0249] For example, (first) the pre-defined content group includes at least one of the following: a scheduling request (SR), data to be sent on the configured authorization, CG, PUSCH, and a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report.

[0250] For example, the second predetermined content group may include at least one of the following: a sounding reference signal (SRS) for positioning, a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) for a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a downlink control information (DCI) format HARQ-ACK in the absence of PDSCH scheduling, an aperiodic channel state information (CSI) report on a PUSCH that overlaps with an inactive period in time, a HARQ-ACK for a dynamically scheduled PDSCH that overlaps with an inactive period in time, and data scheduled for transmission on a dynamically scheduled PUSCH that overlaps with an inactive period in time.

[0251] In other words, according to the second embodiment, after it has been determined that the first UCI will be multiplexed with one or more second UCIs and / or on a PUSCH, if either the second UCI and / or the PUSCH will be sent even during inactive periods, then the first UCI will be multiplexed with one or more second UCIs and / or on a PUSCH. In other words, the multiplexing of the first UCI is only performed if all second UCIs and PUSCHs carry SRs, data to be sent on configured licenses, CGs, PUSCHs, or periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports.

[0252] Using this method, more UCIs can be sent to base station 200 without requiring base station 200 to receive additional transmissions. Therefore, the energy consumption of base station 200 is not increased, as base station 200 needs to be active and receive multiplexed signals including the second UCI and / or PUSCH. Furthermore, UE 100 can send more UCIs to base station 200, which can improve the scheduling process performed by base station 200.

[0253] Figure 11This is a flowchart of a process performed by UE 100 according to the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, UE 100 is configured or instructed to multiplex a UCI in a PUCCH or PUSCH. That is, the UCI will be multiplexed with at least one other UCI and / or multiplexed on a PUSCH. In step S200, circuit 120 determines whether the resources used for transmission of any of the UCIs before multiplexing overlap with an inactive period. If yes ("Yes" in step S210), it is determined whether all content of the UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group. If so ("Yes" in step S210), in step S220, the UCI whose dedicated resources used for transmission before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period is omitted / discarded before multiplexing. In the subsequent step S230, multiplexing is performed without the first UCI whose resources used for transmission before multiplexing overlap with the inactive period. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S200 that a resource without a UCI overlaps with an inactive period (No in step S200), the UCI is not discarded / omitted and is included in the multiplexing process in step S230. Similarly, when it is determined in step S210 that at least one content of a UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group (No in step S210), the UCI is not discarded / omitted and is included in the multiplexing process in step S230. Subsequently, in step S240, for example, the multiplexed signal generated by the multiplexing process in step S230 is sent to the base station 200.

[0254] Third Embodiment

[0255] In the third embodiment, UE 100 includes transceiver 110 and circuitry 120. During operation, when UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, and considering the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to transmitting the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal. Based on the results of the first and second determinations, circuitry 120 performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal, and based on the result of the second determination, causes transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal.

[0256] For example, if the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, then circuit 120 determines in a second determination during operation that the transmission of multiplexed signals should be omitted.

[0257] Using this method, minimal specification impact can be achieved, and UE processing for UCI multiplexing can follow traditional procedures. Furthermore, as... Figures 13a to 13d As shown, more UCIs can be maintained and reported to base station 200.

[0258] Figures 12a to 12d An exemplary case is shown in which the transmission of multiplexed signals is not performed when the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals and the inactive period indicates that the resources overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX.

[0259] For example, in Figure 12a In this process, UCI #1 will be multiplexed with UCI #2, resulting in multiplexed signals "UCIs". The resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #1 are entirely within the active period, meaning they do not overlap with the inactive period. On the other hand, the resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #2 overlap with the inactive period. Because the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signals "UCIs" overlap with the inactive period, UE 100 does not transmit the multiplexed signals.

[0260] In addition, such as Figure 12b As exemplarily illustrated, UCI #1 is multiplexed with UCI #2 to generate multiplexed signals “UCIs”. The resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #1 are entirely within the active period, meaning they do not overlap with inactive periods. Similarly, the resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #2 are entirely within the active period, meaning they also do not overlap with inactive periods. However, because the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signals “UCIs” overlap with inactive periods, the multiplexed signals are not transmitted by UE100.

[0261] In addition, such as Figure 12c As exemplarily illustrated, three UCIs #1 to #3 are multiplexed to form a multiplexed signal. Resources dedicated to transmissions of UCIs #1 and #3 prior to multiplexing do not overlap with inactive periods, while resources dedicated to transmissions of UCI #2 prior to multiplexing overlap with inactive periods. However, UE 100 determines the resources used for transmissions of the multiplexed signal (multiplexing of UCIs #1 to #3) and determines that these resources overlap with inactive periods. Therefore, the multiplexed signal generated by multiplexing UCIs #1 to #3 is not transmitted by UE 100.

[0262] In addition, such as Figure 12dAs exemplarily illustrated, two UCIs #1 and #2 are multiplexed to form a multiplexed signal, wherein resources dedicated to the transmission of each of UCIs #1 and #2 prior to multiplexing do not overlap with inactive periods. However, UE 100 determines the resources for the transmission of the multiplexed signal (multiplexing of UCIs #1 and #2) and determines that said resources overlap with inactive periods. Therefore, the multiplexed signal generated by multiplexing UCIs #1 and #2 is not transmitted by UE 100.

[0263] Figure 13a and Figure 13b An example is shown where the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals and inactive periods indicates that the resources do not overlap with the inactive periods of the cell DRX.

[0264] For example, in Figure 13a In this process, two UCIs, #1 and #2, are multiplexed in the PUSCH. Before multiplexing, the resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #1 do not overlap with the inactive period, while the resources dedicated to the transmission of UCI #2 overlap with the inactive period. However, after multiplexing UCIs #1 and #2 on the PUSCH (resulting in multiplexed signals), the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signals do not overlap with the inactive period. Therefore, the multiplexed signals are transmitted by UE 100. That is, it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signals is not omitted.

[0265] In addition, such as Figure 13b As exemplarily illustrated, two UCIs, #1 and #2, are multiplexed on the PUSCH, wherein resources dedicated to the transmission of each UCI #1 and #2 before multiplexing do not overlap with inactive periods. However, after UCIs #1 and #2 are multiplexed on the PUSCH (resulting in multiplexed signals), resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signals do not overlap with inactive periods. Therefore, the multiplexed signals are transmitted by UE 100. That is, it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signals is not omitted.

[0266] In addition, such as Figure 13c As exemplified, three UCIs #1 to #3 are to be multiplexed. Prior to multiplexing, resources dedicated to transmissions of UCIs #1 and #3 do not overlap with inactive periods, while resources dedicated to transmissions of UCI #2 prior to multiplexing overlap with inactive periods. However, after the multiplexing of UCIs #1 to #3 leading to the multiplexing of the signal, resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal do not overlap with inactive periods. Therefore, the multiplexed signal is transmitted by UE 100. That is, it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signal is not omitted.

[0267] In addition, such as Figure 13dAs exemplarily illustrated, two UCIs, #1 and #2, will be multiplexed, wherein resources dedicated to the transmission of each UCI #1 and #2 before multiplexing do not overlap with inactive periods. However, after the multiplexing of UCIs #1 and #2 that result in the multiplexed signal, resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal do not overlap with inactive periods. Therefore, the multiplexed signal is transmitted by UE 100. That is, it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signal is not omitted.

[0268] Figure 14 This is a flowchart illustrating a process according to a third embodiment. As in the first and second embodiments, UE100 is configured or instructed to multiplex a UCI in a PUCCH or PUSCH. That is, the UCI will be multiplexed with at least one other UCI and / or multiplexed on a PUSCH. In step S300, circuit 120 performs the multiplexing of the UCI and / or PUSCH. In step S310, it is determined whether the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX. That is, it is determined whether the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period indicates that the resources overlap with the inactive period. If yes ("Yes" in step S310), it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signal will not be performed. That is, in the subsequent step S330, the multiplexed signal whose transmission resources overlap with the inactive period is not transmitted. On the other hand, if the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period of the cell DRX indicates that the resources do not overlap with the inactive period (No in step S310), then the multiplexed signal is transmitted in step S330.

[0269] Fourth embodiment

[0270] In the fourth embodiment, UE 100 includes transceiver 110 and circuitry 120. During operation, when UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, and considering the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal. Based on the results of the first and second determinations, circuitry 120 performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal, and based on the result of the second determination, causes transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal.

[0271] Furthermore, if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, then circuit 120 determines in operation, in a second determination, to omit the transmission of multiplexed signals.

[0272] For example, if at least one piece of content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, then circuit 120 determines in operation, in a second determination, that the transmission of multiplexed signals should not be omitted.

[0273] For example, the pre-defined content group includes at least one of the following: a scheduling request (SR), data to be sent on the configured authorization, CG, PUSCH, or a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report.

[0274] According to the fourth embodiment, when UCIs are to be multiplexed and / or multiplexed on the PUSCH to form multiplexed signals, if all content of the multiplexed signal belongs to a certain content group (e.g., a predetermined content group), and the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX, then UE 100 discards / omits the transmission of the multiplexed signal after multiplexing. In other words, if at least one content of the multiplexed signal does not belong to a predetermined content group, the multiplexed signal is transmitted, even if the dedicated resources used for its transmission overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX.

[0275] This method allows UE 100 to send more UCIs to base station 200, which can facilitate scheduling performed by base station 200. Furthermore, since base station 200 will receive multiplexed signals including content not included in the predetermined content group under any circumstances, the transmission of signals multiplexed with UCIs of content included in the predetermined content group does not result in further energy consumption. Moreover, this method allows for less specification influence and UCI multiplexing by the UE, which could potentially follow conventional procedures.

[0276] Figure 15This is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by UE 100 according to a fourth embodiment. As in the first to third embodiments, UE 100 is configured or instructed to multiplex a UCI in a PUCCH or PUSCH. That is, the UCI will be multiplexed with at least one other UCI and / or multiplexed on a PUSCH. In step S400, circuit 120 performs the multiplexing of the UCI and / or PUSCH. In step S410, it is determined whether the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal overlap with the inactive period of the cell DRX. That is, it is determined whether the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period indicates that the resources overlap with the inactive period. If yes ("Yes" in step S410), then in step S420 it is determined whether all content of the multiplexed signal belongs to a predetermined content group. In other words, it is determined whether any content of the multiplexed signal does not belong to a predetermined content group. If all content belongs to a predetermined content group ("Yes" in step S420), it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signal will not be performed. That is, in the subsequent step S440, the multiplexed signal whose resources for transmission overlap with the inactive period is not transmitted. On the other hand, if the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period of the cell DRX indicates that the resources do not overlap with the inactive period (No in step S410), or if all the contents of the multiplexed signal do not belong to the predetermined content group (No in step S420), then the multiplexed signal is transmitted in step S330.

[0277] Fifth Embodiment

[0278] According to a fifth embodiment, UE 100 includes transceiver 110 and circuitry 120. During operation, when UE 100 is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, circuitry 120 performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, circuitry 120 performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI or the transmission of the multiplexed signal before multiplexing, based on at least one of the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. Furthermore, circuitry 120 performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and causes transceiver 110 to transmit the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0279] UE 100 is configured with a first DRX including a first inactive period and a second DRX including a second inactive period. The inactive period may include both the first and second inactive periods, or only the second inactive period.

[0280] In other words, for the second determination, either the first inactive period of the first DRX and the inactive period of the second DRX are considered, or only the inactive period of the second DRX is considered.

[0281] For example, the first DRX can be a cell DRX. For example, the second DRX can be a cell DRX or a connection mode DRX, C-DRX.

[0282] In other words, when UE 100 is configured with both C-DRX and cell DRX, the decision to discard / omit the transmission of the first UCI or multiplexed signal is made based on the inactive periods of both DRX configurations (C-DRX and cell DRX) or solely on the C-DRX configuration.

[0283] This allows for more flexible control over whether or when to maintain or transmit uplink transmissions by using C-DRX timers and dynamic extensions. Therefore, ambiguous behavior around the boundaries of inactive periods can be prevented.

[0284] This method is in Figure 16a , Figure 16b and Figure 17 This is further illustrated in the text.

[0285] Figure 16a and Figure 16b The illustration shows a UE 100 configured with cell DRX and C-DRX, each exhibiting its own active and inactive periods. To determine whether to omit the first UCI before multiplexing, or whether to omit the transmission of multiplexed signals, based on the timing relationships involving the inactive periods, the inactive periods include both the inactive periods of the cell DRX and the inactive periods of the C-DRX. That is, as... Figure 16a As shown, when the inactive period of C-DRX completely spans the inactive period of cell DRX, the inactive period used to determine corresponds to the inactive period of C-DRX. On the other hand, as... Figure 16b As shown, when the inactive period of the cell DRX completely spans the inactive period of the C-DRX, the inactive period used to determine corresponds to the inactive period of the cell DRX. In other words, the inactive period used to determine the above is formed by the union of the inactive periods of the cell DRX and C-DRX. That is, the uplink operation is performed by UE100 during the period indicated by the arrow.

[0286] on the other hand, Figure 17The illustration shows a UE 100 configured with cell DRX and C-DRX. Cell DRX and C-DRX each have their own active and inactive periods, but the inactive period defined above is formed only by the inactive period of C-DRX. That is, UE 100 performs uplink operations during the period indicated by the arrow.

[0287] Note that the aspects of the fifth embodiment (i.e., the determination of the inactive period for determining the timing relationship) can be applied to each of the first to fourth embodiments and their variations.

[0288] Furthermore, note that the cell DRX and C-DRX are merely examples of the first and second DRXs, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. The first and second DRXs can each be an idle mode DRX, a cell DRX, or a C-DRX, etc.

[0289] Variant

[0290] In all embodiments, where UE 100 determines whether to omit the UCI, UE 100 can independently decide whether to omit the UCI and / or whether to transmit the multiplexed signal before multiplexing. That is, circuit 120, in operation, can perform a second determination regarding whether to omit the first UCI or the transmission of the multiplexed signal before multiplexing, depending on its implementation.

[0291] Therefore, during the inactive period of UE 100, base station 200 can choose not to receive or attempt to receive multiplexed signals by performing multiple blind detections on different possibilities of transmission of multiplexed signals.

[0292] Furthermore, in all embodiments, when PUCCH and / or PUSCH are repeated across multiple time slots, the portion overlapping with the inactive period of the cell DRX can be omitted, and / or the repetition of PUCCH and / or PUSCH can be omitted when it overlaps with the inactive period of the cell DRX. Alternatively, all repetitions can be omitted.

[0293] Furthermore, it should be noted that the aspects described above with reference to any of the first to fifth embodiments can be appropriately combined with each other. For example, in the first to fourth embodiments, the inactivity period used to perform the second determined inactivity period can be one or more of a plurality of DRX inactivity periods, as described with respect to the fifth embodiment.

[0294] The hardware and software implementation methods disclosed herein

[0295] This disclosure can be implemented in software, hardware, or software cooperating with hardware. Each functional block used in the description of each of the above embodiments can be implemented partially or wholly by an LSI such as an integrated circuit, and each process described in each embodiment can be controlled partially or wholly by the same LSI or a combination of LSIs. An LSI can be formed as a separate chip or can be formed as a single chip to include some or all of the functional blocks. An LSI may include data inputs and outputs coupled thereto. Depending on the level of integration, the LSI here may be referred to as an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra-LSI. However, the technology for implementing integrated circuits is not limited to LSIs and can be implemented using dedicated circuits, general-purpose processors, or special-purpose processors. Additionally, FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) that can be programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or reconfigurable processors that can reconfigure the connections and settings of circuit cells arranged within the LSI, can be used. This disclosure can be implemented as digital or analog processing. If future advancements in semiconductor technology or other derivative technologies lead to integrated circuit technology replacing LSIs, then this future integrated circuit technology can be used to integrate the functional blocks. Biotechnology can also be applied.

[0296] This disclosure can be implemented by any kind of device, apparatus or system with communication capabilities (referred to as a communication device).

[0297] Communication devices may include transceivers and processing / control circuitry. A transceiver may include and / or function as both a receiver and a transmitter. A transceiver functioning as both a transmitter and a receiver may include an RF (radio frequency) module and one or more antennas; the RF module may include amplifiers, RF modulators / demodulators, etc.

[0298] Some non-limiting examples of such communication devices include telephones (e.g., cellular phones, smartphones), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (e.g., laptops, desktops, netbooks), cameras (e.g., digital still / video cameras), digital players (digital audio / video players), wearable devices (e.g., wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices), game consoles, digital book readers, remote healthcare / telemedicine (remote healthcare and medical) devices, and vehicles that provide communication capabilities (e.g., cars, airplanes, ships), and various combinations thereof.

[0299] The communication device is not limited to portable or mobile devices, but may also include any kind of non-portable or fixed device, equipment or system, such as smart home devices (e.g., appliances, lighting, smart meters, control panels), vending machines and any other “thing” in a network of “Internet of Things (IoT)”.

[0300] Communication can include exchanging data through, for example, cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, satellite systems, and various combinations thereof.

[0301] The communication device may include devices such as controllers or sensors coupled to a communication device that performs the communication functions described in this disclosure. For example, the communication device may include a controller or sensor that generates control signals or data signals used by the communication device performing the communication functions of the communication device.

[0302] Communication devices may also include infrastructure such as base stations, access points, and any other devices, equipment, or systems that communicate with or control such devices as those in the non-limiting examples above.

[0303] Furthermore, various embodiments can also be implemented using software modules, which are executed by a processor or directly in the hardware. Combinations of software modules and hardware implementations are also possible. The software modules can be stored on any type of computer-readable storage medium. In particular, according to another implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium is provided. The recording medium stores a program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes one or more processors to perform the steps of the method according to this disclosure.

[0304] By way of example and not limitation, such computer-readable storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and is accessible by a computer. Furthermore, any connection is appropriately referred to as a computer-readable medium. For example, if instructions are sent from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technology (such as infrared, radio, and microwave), then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technology (such as infrared, radio, and microwave) is included in the definition of medium. However, it should be understood that computer-readable storage media and data storage media do not include connections, carrier waves, signals, or other transient media, but are specifically addressed to non-transient tangible storage media. As used herein, disks and optical discs include compact optical discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile optical discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while optical discs optically reproduce data using lasers. The above combinations should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0305] It should also be noted that various features of different embodiments may individually or in any combination form the subject of another embodiment. Those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and / or modifications can be made to this disclosure as illustrated in the specific embodiments. Therefore, this embodiment is to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects.

[0306] Other aspects

[0307] According to a first aspect, a user equipment (UE) is provided. The UE includes a transceiver and circuitry. In operation, when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, the circuitry performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, the circuitry performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing or whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, based on at least one of the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. Furthermore, the circuitry performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and causes the transceiver to transmit the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0308] In other words, according to a first aspect, a user equipment (UE) is provided, including a transceiver and circuitry. During operation, when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, the circuitry performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, the circuitry performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the multiplexing of the first UCI with at least one second UCI and / or on the PUSCH, or whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, based on at least one of the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, and causes the transceiver to transmit the multiplexed signal.

[0309] According to the second aspect, a UE according to the first aspect is provided, wherein if, as a result of the first determination, the first UCI is to be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the PUSCH to form a multiplexed signal, the circuit performs the second determination in operation.

[0310] According to the third aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing.

[0311] In other words, according to the third aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination to omit the multiplexing of the first UCI with at least one second UCI and / or on the PUSCH.

[0312] According to the fourth aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing.

[0313] In other words, according to the fourth aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination to omit the multiplexing on the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH.

[0314] According to the fifth aspect, a UE according to the fourth aspect is provided, wherein if at least one content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination not to omit the first UCI before multiplexing.

[0315] In other words, according to the fifth aspect, a UE according to the fourth aspect is provided, wherein if at least one content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation, in a second determination, not to omit the multiplexing on the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH.

[0316] According to the sixth aspect, a UE according to any one of the third to fifth aspects is provided, wherein if the circuit determines that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing, the circuit determines in operation the first symbol of the earliest physical uplink control channel PUCCH or PUSCH after the omission of the first UCI, and further checks whether the processing time of multiplexing is sufficient by using the first symbol as a reference.

[0317] In other words, according to the sixth aspect, a UE according to any of the third to fifth aspects is provided, wherein if the circuit determines that the multiplexing of the first UCI with at least one second UCI and / or on the PUSCH should be omitted, the circuit determines in operation the first symbol of the earliest physical uplink control channel PUCCH or PUSCH after the omission of the first UCI, and further checks whether the processing time of the multiplexing is sufficient by using the first symbol as a reference.

[0318] According to the seventh aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation in a second determination that the transmission of multiplexed signals should be omitted.

[0319] According to the eighth aspect, a UE according to the seventh aspect is provided, wherein if at least one content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, the circuit determines in operation, in a second determination, that the transmission of multiplexed signals is not omitted.

[0320] According to the ninth aspect, a UE is provided according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, wherein the predetermined content group includes at least one of the following: a scheduling request SR, data to be transmitted on the configured authorization, CG, PUSCH, and a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report.

[0321] According to the tenth aspect, a UE according to the first or second aspect is provided, wherein if a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, the circuit determines in operation, in a second determination, that the transmission of multiplexed signals should be omitted.

[0322] According to the eleventh aspect, a UE is provided according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the at least one DRX is a cell DRX.

[0323] According to the twelfth aspect, a UE according to any one of the first to tenth aspects is provided, wherein the UE is configured with a first DRX including a first inactive period and a second DRX including a second inactive period; and the inactive period includes the first inactive period and the second inactive period, or includes only the second inactive period.

[0324] According to the thirteenth aspect, a UE according to the twelfth aspect is provided, wherein the first DRX is a cell DRX.

[0325] According to aspect fourteen, a UE according to aspect twelfth or thirteenth is provided, wherein the second DRX is a cell DRX or a connection mode DRX, C-DRX.

[0326] According to a fifteenth aspect, a method for a user equipment (UE) is provided, comprising: when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, performing a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. The method further comprises: based on the result of the first determination, performing a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing or regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, based on at least one of a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. The method further comprises: performing multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and transmitting the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0327] In other words, according to the fifteenth aspect, a method for a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes: when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, performing a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. The method further includes: based on the result of the first determination, and based on at least one of the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI prior to multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, performing a second determination regarding whether to omit the multiplexing of the first UCI with at least one second UCI and / or on the PUSCH, or regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, and transmitting the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

[0328] According to the sixteenth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth aspect is provided, wherein the method comprises: performing a second determination if, as a result of the first determination, a first UCI is to be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a PUSCH to form a multiplexed signal.

[0329] According to the seventeenth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein, in a second determination, it is determined that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing if a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI prior to multiplexing indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods.

[0330] In other words, according to the seventeenth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein, in a second determination, it is determined that the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or multiplexing on PUSCH should be omitted if a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI prior to multiplexing indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods.

[0331] According to the eighteenth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein if all content to be sent by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, the first UCI is determined to be omitted before multiplexing in the second determination.

[0332] In other words, according to the eighteenth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, then in the second determination, it is determined that multiplexing on the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH should be omitted.

[0333] According to the nineteenth aspect, a method according to the eighteenth aspect is provided, wherein if at least one content to be sent by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, then in the second determination it is determined that the first UCI is not omitted before multiplexing.

[0334] In other words, according to the nineteenth aspect, a method according to the eighteenth aspect is provided, wherein if at least one content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, then in the second determination, it is determined that multiplexing on the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or PUSCH is not omitted.

[0335] According to aspect 20, a method according to any one of aspects 17 to 19 is provided, wherein if it is determined that the first UCI should be omitted before multiplexing, the first symbol of the earliest physical uplink control channel PUCCH or PUSCH after omitting the first UCI is determined, and the processing time of multiplexing is further checked by using the first symbol as a reference.

[0336] In other words, according to the twentieth aspect, a method according to any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspects is provided, wherein if it is determined that the first UCI and at least one second UCI and / or multiplexing on the PUSCH should be omitted, the first symbol of the earliest physical uplink control channel PUCCH or PUSCH after the omission of the first UCI is determined, and the processing time of the multiplexing is further checked by using the first symbol as a reference.

[0337] According to the twenty-first aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein, if all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, the transmission of signals to be omitted in the second determination is determined.

[0338] According to the twenty-second aspect, a method according to the twenty-first aspect is provided, wherein if at least one piece of content to be transmitted by the first UCI, at least one second UCI, and / or PUSCH does not belong to a predetermined content group, the transmission of signals that are not omitted in the second determination is determined.

[0339] According to aspect 23, a method according to any one of aspects 19 to 22 is provided, wherein the predetermined content group includes at least one of a scheduling request SR, data to be sent on a configured authorization, CG, PUSCH, and a periodic or semi-persistent CSI report.

[0340] According to the twenty-fourth aspect, a method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect is provided, wherein, in a second determination, it is determined that the transmission of the multiplexed signal should be omitted if a timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of multiplexed signals indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods.

[0341] According to aspect 25, a method according to any one of aspects 15 to 24 is provided, wherein the at least one DRX is a cell DRX.

[0342] According to the twenty-sixth aspect, a method according to any one of the fifteenth to twenty-fourth aspects is provided, wherein the UE is configured with a first DRX including a first inactive period and a second DRX including a second inactive period; and the inactive period includes the first inactive period and the second inactive period, or includes only the second inactive period.

[0343] According to aspect 27, a method according to aspect 26 is provided, wherein the first DRX is a cell DRX.

[0344] According to aspect 28, a method according to aspect 26 or 27 is provided, wherein the second DRX is a cell DRX or a connection mode DRX, C-DRX.

[0345] In summary, a user equipment (UE) is provided, including a transceiver and circuitry. During operation, when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, the circuitry performs a first determination regarding whether a first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal. Based on the result of the first determination, the circuitry performs a second determination regarding whether to omit the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing or whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal, based on at least one of the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the first UCI before multiplexing and the inactive period, and the timing relationships between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period. The circuitry also performs multiplexing to form the multiplexed signal based on the results of the first and second determinations, and causes the transceiver to transmit the multiplexed signal based on the result of the second determination.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: transceiver; as well as The circuit, in operation, when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period, Perform a first determination of whether the first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal; Based on the result of the first determination, and based on the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, a second determination is made regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal. Multiplexing is performed based on the results of the first determination and the second determination to form the multiplexed signal; as well as Based on the second determined result, the transceiver is made to send the multiplexed signal.

2. The UE according to claim 1, wherein, If, as a result of the first determination, the first UCI is to be multiplexed with the at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the PUSCH to form the multiplexed signal, then the circuit performs the second determination in operation.

3. The UE according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, If all content to be transmitted by the first UCI, the at least one second UCI, and / or the PUSCH belongs to a predetermined content group, then the circuit determines in operation, in the second determination, that the transmission of the multiplexed signal should be omitted.

4. The UE according to claim 3, wherein, If at least one piece of content to be transmitted by the first UCI, the at least one second UCI, and / or the PUSCH does not belong to the predetermined content group, then the circuit determines in operation, in the second determination, not to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal.

5. The UE according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, The predetermined content group includes at least one of the following: -Schedule Request (SR) - Data to be sent on the configured authorization, CG, and PUSCH, and - Periodic or semi-persistent CSI reports.

6. The UE according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, If the timing relationship between resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal indicates that the resources overlap with inactive periods, then the circuit determines in operation, in the second determination, that the transmission of the multiplexed signal should be omitted.

7. The UE according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The at least one DRX is a cell DRX.

8. The UE according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The UE is configured with a first DRX including a first inactive period and a second DRX including a second inactive period; as well as The inactive periods include: -The first inactive period and the second inactive period, or -Only the second inactive period.

9. The UE according to claim 8, wherein, The first DRX is the cell DRX.

10. The UE according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The second DRX is a cell DRX or a connection mode DRX, C-DRX.

11. A method for a user equipment (UE), comprising: When the UE is configured with at least one discontinuous reception DRX including an inactive period, Perform a first determination of whether the first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal; Based on the result of the first determination, and based on the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, a second determination is made regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal. Multiplexing is performed based on the results of the first determination and the second determination to form the multiplexed signal; as well as The multiplexed signal is sent based on the result determined in the second determination.

12. An integrated circuit configured to control a user equipment (UE), the integrated circuit comprising: Transceiver circuit; as well as The control circuit, in operation when the UE is configured to receive at least one discontinuous DRX including an inactive period: Perform a first determination of whether the first uplink control information (UCI) should be multiplexed with at least one second UCI and / or multiplexed on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to form a multiplexed signal; Based on the result of the first determination, and based on the timing relationship between the resources dedicated to the transmission of the multiplexed signal and the inactive period, a second determination is made regarding whether to omit the transmission of the multiplexed signal. Multiplexing is performed based on the results of the first determination and the second determination to form the multiplexed signal; as well as Based on the second determined result, the transceiver circuit transmits the multiplexed signal.

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