Method, apparatus and computer program

Abstract

User equipment (UE) 404 obtains configuration information S402 from a network device 400, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by an ambient internet of things (A-IoT) device 402 and relating to providing of reporting information relating to the A-IoT device 402 to a reader device 406. The UE 404 monitors signals S404 transmitted by the A-IoT device 402, based on the configuration information, and determines reporting information S407 which is to be reported in a report to the reader device 406 based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from the monitored signals. Determining the reporting information is for performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from the monitored signals to provide as reporting information, selecting which of obtained information from monitored signals is to be provided as reporting information, combining obtained information from monitored signals to provide as reporting information, and determining from obtained information from the monitored signals that conditions are satisfied and providing an indication in the reporting information. The UE 404 sends the determined reporting information S408 in the report to the reader device 406.

Description

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and / or other nodes by providing carriers 10 between the various entities involved in the communications path. A communication system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and / or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided comprise two-15 way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet. The communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and / or parameters which 20 shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. One example of a communications system is UTRAN (3G radio). Other examples of communication systems are the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology and so-called 5G or New Radio (NR) networks. NR is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). SUMMARY Some example embodiments of this disclosure will be described with respect to certain aspects. These aspects are not intended to indicate key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor are they intended to be used to limit the scope of thereof. Other features, aspects, and 30 elements will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. According to a first aspect there is disclosed a user equipment comprising: means for obtaining configuration information from a network device, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet of things device to a 35 reader device; means for monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, based on the configuration information; means for determining reporting information which is to be reported in a report to the reader device, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices, wherein the means for determining the reporting information is for performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; selecting which of obtained 5 information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as reporting information; combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; and determining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices that one or more conditions are satisfied and providing an indication in the 10 reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied. According to the first aspect, the user equipment further comprising means for sending the determined reporting information in the report to the reader device. According to some examples, the means for determining the reporting information is for removing some but not all of data in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient 15 internet of things device and processing remaining data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information. According to some examples, the means for determining the reporting information is for selecting only a part of data provided in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient internet of things device and processing the selected part of the data from the respective 20 monitored signal to provide the reporting information. According to some examples, one or more of the means for determining and the means for sending is for delaying sending of reporting information associated with obtained information from a plurality of monitored signal. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to monitoring signals 25 comprises configuration information defining at least one of: at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or frequency resources on which the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored is expected to transmit; identity information associated with the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored; one or more types of data carried in the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be 30 monitored; and a power and / or range threshold of the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to providing of reporting information comprises configuration information relating to the sending of the reporting information, said configuration information defining at least one of: a power of a signal carrying the determined 35 reported information that is to be sent to the reader device; a reporting information occasion in which the user equipment is to send the report to the reader device, the reporting information occasion is defined by one or more time and / or frequency resources on which the user equipment is allowed to transmit reporting information; when to send a signal carrying the determined reported information to the reader device; at least one of a frequency, phase or direction shift of a signal carrying the determined reported information, the at least one of the frequency, phase or direction shift being defined with respect to a respective signal transmitted by a respective ambient internet of things device; and an 5 indication to be included in a signal earning the determined reported information that the respective signal is a secondary signal transmission. According to some examples, at least one of the reporting signal transmission occasions is the same as one or more occasions defined for monitoring of one or more signals transmitted by one or more ambient internet of things devices. 10 According to some examples, the user equipment further comprises means for selecting reporting information to be transmitted to the reader device based on at least one or more of the following criteria: a power and / or range threshold of at least one signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device; a number of times a signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device has been received; an identification of at least one ambient internet of things device 15 that has transmitted at least one signal to the user equipment; an identification of a group to which the at least one ambient internet of things device, that has transmitted the at least one signal to the user equipment, belongs; information contained in at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device; and when at least one signal transmitted by each of a plurality of ambient internet of things devices have been obtained by the user equipment. 20 According to some examples, the configuration information further comprises configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by the network device. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to monitoring signals transmitted by the network device comprises configuration information defining one or more of: at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or frequency resources on 25 which the at network device is expected to transmit; and when to monitor for one or more signals transmitted by the network device. According to some examples, the user equipment further comprises means for indicating to the at least one ambient internet of things device that the user equipment is available to send the at least one signal obtained from the at least one ambient internet of things device, to the reader device. 30 According to some examples, the user equipment further comprises means for informing the at least one ambient internet of things device of at least one of: the presence of the user equipment; and the presence of other user equipment that are able to perform secondary signal transmissions to the reader device. According to some examples, the user equipment is an ambient internet of things device. 35 According to a second aspect there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to perform: obtaining configuration information from a network device, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet of things device to a reader device; monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, based on the configuration 5 information; determining reporting information which is to be reported in a report to the reader device, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices, wherein determining the reporting information comprises performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting 10 information; selecting which of obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as reporting infonnation; combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; an determining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices that one or more conditions are 15 satisfied and providing an indication in the reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied. According to the second aspect, the user equipment comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the user equipment to further perform sending the determined reporting infonnation in the report to the reader device. 20 According to a third aspect there is provided a method comprising: obtaining configuration information from a network device, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet of things device to a reader device; monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, 25 based on the configuration information; determining reporting infonnation which is to be reported in a report to the reader device, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices, wherein detennining the reporting information comprises performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices 30 to provide as reporting information; selecting which of obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as reporting information; combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; an determining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices 35 that one or more conditions are satisfied and providing an indication m the reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied. According to the third aspect, the method further comprising sending the determined reporting information in the report to the reader device. According to some examples, determining the reporting information comprises removing some but not all of data in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient internet of things device and processing remaining data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information. 5 According to some examples, determining the reporting information comprises selecting only a part of data provided in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient internet of things device and processing the selected part of the data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information. According to some examples, the method may comprise delaying sending of reporting 10 information associated with obtained information from a plurality of monitored signal. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to monitoring signals comprises configuration information defining at least one of: at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or frequency resources on which the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored is expected to transmit; identity information associated 15 with the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored; one or more types of data carried in the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored; and a power and / or range threshold of the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to providing of reporting 20 information comprises configuration information relating to the sending of the reporting information, said configuration information defining at least one of: a power of a signal carrying the determined reported information that is to be sent to the reader device; a reporting infonnation occasion in which a user equipment is to send the report to the reader device, the reporting information occasion is defined by one or more time and / or frequency resources on which the user equipment is allowed to transmit 25 reporting information; when to send a signal carrying the determined reported information to the reader device; at least one of a frequency, phase or direction shift of a signal carrying the determined reported information, the at least one of the frequency, phase or direction shift being defined with respect to a respective signal transmitted by a respective ambient internet of things device; and an indication to be included in a signal carrying the determined reported information that the respective signal is a 30 secondary signal transmission. According to some examples, at least one of the reporting signal transmission occasions is the same as one or more occasions defined for monitoring of one or more signals transmitted by one or more ambient internet of things devices. According to some examples, the method may comprise selecting reporting information to be 35 transmitted to the reader device based on at least one or more of the following criteria: a power and / or range threshold of at least one signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device; a number of times a signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device has been received; an identification of at least one ambient internet of things device that has transmitted at least one signal to a user equipment; an identification of a group to which the at least one ambient internet of things device, that has transmitted the at least one signal to the user equipment, belongs; information contained in at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device; and when at least 5 one signal transmitted by each of a plurality of ambient internet of things devices have been obtained by the user equipment. According to some examples, the configuration information further comprises configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by the network device. According to some examples, the configuration information relating to monitoring signals 10 transmitted by the network device comprises configuration information defining one or more of: at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or frequency resources on which the at network device is expected to transmit; and when to monitor for one or more signals transmitted by the network device. According to some examples, the method may comprise indicating to the at least one ambient 15 internet of things device that a user equipment is available to send the at least one signal obtained from the at least one ambient internet of things device, to the reader device. According to some examples, the method may comprise informing the at least one ambient internet of things device of at least one of: the presence of the user equipment; and the presence of other user equipment that arc able to perform secondary signal transmissions to the reader device. 20 According to some examples, the method is performed by an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a user equipment. According to some examples, the user equipment may comprise an ambient internet of things device. According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least one of the above methods. 25 According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least one of the above methods. According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a non-volatile tangible memory medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least one of the above methods. In the above, many different aspects have been described. It should be appreciated that further 30 aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the aspects described above. Various other aspects are also described in the following detailed description and in the attached claims. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Some example embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting and illustrative 35 example only, with reference to the accompanying FIGs in which: FIG. 1 shows a representation of a 5th generation communication system; FIG. 2A shows a representation of a topology for Ambient loT networks and devices; FIG. 2B shows a representation of a topology for Ambient loT networks and devices; FIGs. 3A and 3B show example schematic overviews of information transmission from an Ambient loT device; FIG. 3C shows an example schematic overview of information transmission from an Ambient 5 loT device, according to some example embodiments; FIG. 4 shows a signaling diagram according to an example embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a representation of a control apparatus according to some example embodiments; FIG. 6 shows a representation of an apparatus for the communication system of FIG. 1 according to some example embodiments; 10 FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment; FIG. 8 shows a representation of an apparatus according to some example embodiments; DETAILED DESCRIPTION Some examples of the present disclosure relates to supporting information transmission from ambient Internet of Things (AIoT) devices using user equipment (UEs) in the vicinity of the AIoT 15 devices to make the information transmission to the network. In tire following, various example embodiments are explained with reference to communication devices capable of communication with a communication system. Before explaining in detail the embodiments of the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure, a 5th generation communication system (5GS), an access network and a core network (5GC) thereof, and communication devices arc 20 briefly explained with reference to FIG. 1. It should be noted that this is by way of example only and other embodiments may be implemented in other communication systems. FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a 5G communication system (5GS). The 5GS may comprise a user equipment (UE) or Terminal 100, an access network, such as a 5G radio access network (5G-RAN) 101 or next generation radio access network (NG-RAN), a 5G core network 102, and one 25 or more application functions 103. An application function 103 may be deployed in the 5GS as trusted application function or may be deployed or host on one or more application servers of the data network (DN) 104. Such application functions are untrusted application functions. The 5GS connects the UE to a data network the access network and the 5GC 102 (e.g., a UPF of the 5GC). The 5G-RAN 101 may comprise one or more radio access nodes, such as a gNodeB (gNB). A 30 gNB may include one or more gNodeB (gNB) distributed units (DUs) connected to one or more gNodeB (gNB) centralized units (CUs). The 5GC may comprise the following network functions: Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF); Network Exposure Function (NEF) 105; Network Repository Function (NRF); Policy Control Function (PCF); Unified Data Management (UDM) 106; Application Function (AF) 103; 35 Authentication Server Function (AUSF) 107; an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 108; Session Management Function (SMF) 109; and a user plane function (UPF) 110. FIG. 1 also shows the various interfaces (Nl, N2 etc.) that may be implemented between the various elements of the system. In some networks, one or more ambient devices may be deployed. Example ambient devices include AIoT devices. An ambient device may harness energy from wireless signals sent on specific 5 carriers and / or bandwidths and charge a simple circuitry that, once activated, may emit and / or reflect a signal which encodes at least the ID of the ambient device. Some ambient devices may not comprise a power source (e.g., a battery) and may have no energy storage capability. Instead, such ambient devices may depend on availability of an external source of energy. Other ambient devices may have a limited energy storage capability that does not need to be replaced or recharged manually. 10 An example system architecture around an ambient device comprises an activator (a device that sends an activation signal (e.g., RF signals) targeted at waking up the ambient device), an ambient device (which harnesses energy over a range of frequencies and listens for activation signals) and a reader device (that listens and detects signals, such as RF signals, from the ambient device). The reader device may or may not be collocated with the activator. In some examples, the 15 activator device is a netw ork device or an illuminator device. When an activation signal is detected by the ambient device, the ambient device may emit / reflect a further signal which is specific to that device. For example, the ambient device may emit / reflect a further signal which is specific to that device by modulating the activation signal based on an identifier on the ambient device. In some examples, the further signal may also be used to convey other information from the 20 ambient device, such as sensor information or tracking and delivery information for logistics. The further signal may be received by the reader device from the ambient device. As used herein, the further signal may be referred to as a backscatter signal. In some examples, the ambient device may transmit independent signals (i.e., signals originating from the ambient device) using the limited stored energy of the ambient device. 25 Ambient devices may be applied in many different use cases. For example, ambient devices may be used as ID tags, as sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), as healthcare devices (e.g., monitoring personal medical information), or in logistics (e.g. asset type and delivery information). In some examples, the reader device is used to extract information from the signals received from the AIoT devices, in order to implement one or more use case. For example, the reader device 30 may extract at least one of: inventory information; sensor information; position information; and command information. In some examples, the reader devices are configured to transmit information received from the AIoT devices to a serving cell of the reader device. For example, if the reader device is a UE, the reader UE is configured to transmit information received from the AIoT devices to a serving cell of the reader 35 UE. In some examples, the reader device may transmit signals received from the AIoT devices as measurement reports. 3GPP TR 38.848 VO. 1.0 describes three ambient loT device types, A, B and C: • Device A: No energy storage, no independent signal generation / amplification, i.e., backscattering transmission. • Device B: Has energy storage, no independent signal generation, i.e., backscattering transmission. Use of stored energy can include amplification for reflected signals. 5 • Device C: Has energy storage, has independent signal generation, i.e., active radio frequency (RF) components for transmission. The design targets for each device type's power consumption are as follows: • Device A <10 pW • Device A <Device B <Device C 10 • Device C <1 mW The design targets for complexity for each device are as follows: • Device A: Comparable to Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (UHF RFID) • Device A <Device B <Device C, 15 • Device C: Orders-of-magnitude lower than Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) 3GPP TR 38.848 describes topologies for Ambient loT networks and devices. These topologies are shown in FIGs 2A and 2B. In both of these topologies, the AIoT device may be provided with a carrier wave from other node(s) either inside or outside the topology. The mixture of indoor and outdoor placement of such nodes is regarded as a network implementation choice. The links in each topology 20 may be bidirectional or unidirectional. Some example embodiments may be used with AIoT device such as these example devices, device A, device B and device C. FIG. 2A shows a first topology with BS 200 and A-IoT device 202 which communicate directly and bidirectionally. The communication between the BS 200 and the AIoT device 202 includes Ambient 25 loT data and / or signalling. This topology includes the possibility that the BS 200 transmitting to the AIoT 202 device is a different from a BS receiving from the AIoT device 202. FIG. 2B shows a second topology with a BS 200, an intermediate node 204 and an AIoT device 202. The AIoT device 202 communicates bidirectionally with an intermediate node 204 between the AIoT device 202 and the BS 200. In this topology, the intermediate node 204 can be a relay, IAB node, 30 UE, repeater, etc. which is capable of Ambient loT. The intermediate node 204 transfers the information between the BS 200 and the AIoT device 202. FIGs. 3A, 3B and 3C show three different scenarios that support information transmission from AIoT devices. FIG. 3A shows one reader device (e.g., a reader UE) which can receive signals from AIoT devices. While having one reader device means that there is only one measurement report 35 (reducing resource overhead), this may result in insufficient coverage. For example, if there is just one reader device 300, reliable information transmission from AIoT devices (especially those far away from the reader device) may not be possible. FIG. 3B shows two reader devices (e.g., two reader UEs) which can both receive signals from AIoT devices and can both transmit measurement reports. Therefore, in comparison to having just one 5 reader device, the coverage may be improved. However, each of the reader devices may require resources for sending measurement reports to the network, increasing the resource overhead, which incurs higher costs for network deployment. FIG. 3C shows an example embodiment described herein. FIG. 3C may provide advantages to the examples shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B in some circumstances. FIG. 3C shows one reader device and 10 one secondary transmission UE configured with secondary signal transmissions. In this example, the secondary transmission UE is configured to obtain signals from AIoT devices, process the signals from the AIoT devices (e.g., combine information comprised in signals received from AIoT devices and / or select specific information comprised in signals received from AIoT devices) and determine information to be sent to the reader device, based on the signals received and configuration information. 15 In this way, the reader UE may reliably cover an area with the help of the one or more secondary transmission UEs. As each of the secondary transmission UEs report to the reader device, this avoids the need for each secondary transmission UE to be assigned resources for transmitting its own measurement report to the network. The secondary transmission UEs configured with secondary signal transmissions may ensure coverage without the need for excessive resource consumption, as the 20 secondary signal transmissions may be performed on resources used for AIoT transmissions. According to some example embodiments described herein, information transmission from AIoT devices may be supported by using secondary’ transmission UEs in the vicinity of the AIoT devices. This may reduce resource consumption and / or improve the reliability of information transmission to the serving network. 25 In some example embodiments, a secondary transmission UE may be configured to monitor transmissions from one or more AIoT device. For example, the UE may be configured to monitor at least one signal transmitted by one or more AIoT device. As used herein, die UE configured to monitor transmissions and / or signals from one or more AIoT device may be referred to as a secondary' transmission UE. 30 In some examples, AIoT devices may be a backscatter device. A backscatter device is a type of device that communicates by absorbing and reflecting RF signals. Some ambient backscatter devices may use radio frequency signals to transmit data without requiring a power source such as a battery. It should be appreciated that some AIoT devices may have no power source and other AIoT devices may have a power source. 35 By way of example, some AIoT devices may have a peak power consumption of around ~1 nW. The device may provide neither DL nor UL amplification in the device. The UL transmission may be backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally. In another example, some AIoT devices may have a peak power consumption of around few hundred pW. Hie device may provide DL and / or UL amplification. The UL transmission may be generated internally by the device (e.g. using a power source), or be backscattered on a carrier wave provided. 5 In some examples, a RF signal is transmitted by a network device (e.g., an illuminator device). That RF is signal is absorbed and reflected by the AIoT device. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE may be configured to monitor backscattered signals from one or more AIoT devices. In some example embodiments, the secondary transmission UE may be configured to perform secondary signal transmissions associated with the monitored signals 10 obtained from the AIoT devices. In some examples, a secondary signal transmission is defined as transmitting information associated with the monitored signals obtained from the one or more AIoT devices, to a reader device. For example, the information associated with the monitored signals obtained from the one or more AIoT devices may comprise at least one of: inventory information; sensor information; position 15 information; and command information. For example, a secondary transmission UE is configured to monitor signals (or backscattered signals) transmitted by AIoT devices. The secondary transmission UE may receive and / or decode information comprised in the signals obtained from the AIoT devices. The secondary transmission UE may generate an associated secondary signal transmission. 20 In some examples, a secondary transmission UE configured to monitor backscattered signals may be aware of the original signal transmitted by the network device. In some embodiments, a single secondary signal transmission provided by the secondary transmission UE may comprise information transmitted by a single AIoT device or two or more AIoT devices. The two or more AIoT devices may be part of a group of AIoT devices. In some examples, a 25 group of AIoT devices may be defined by assigning a (common) group ID to the members of the group. In some further examples, parts of a shipment, with each part having its own tag, i.e., AIoT device, may form a group. For example, after receiving signal transmissions from AIoT devices belonging to a group, the secondary transmission UE may perform a secondary signal transmission indicating the presence of 30 each of the AIoT devices in the group or which one or more AIoT device of the group is present. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE may indicate the presence of each of the AIoT devices in a group by using a sequence number or other identity information associated with the group. In some embodiments, a secondary signal transmission may be performed by the secondary transmission UE for a specific signal (or backscattered signal) transmitted by the AIoT devices. In some 35 examples, the secondary signal transmission may comprise specific information received from the AIoT devices. For example, a secondary signal transmission may be performed to indicate detection of an AIoT device, but may or may not convey any other information present in the signal (or backscattered signal) transmitted by the AIoT device. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission occasions and / or the monitoring occasions of signals (or backscattered signals) transmitted by the AIoT devices are configured by a network 5 device. In some examples, the network device may take into account the configuration of AIoT devices when configuring the monitoring occasions of those AIoT devices to transmit and / or backscatter a signal. In some examples, the secondary signal transmissions may be performed on the same resources 10 used for the signals (or backscattered signals) transmitted by the AIoT devices. In this example, this reduces and / or prevents the need for additional resource reservation. For example, a secondary transmission UE may be configured to monitor signals (or backscattered signals) transmitted by configured AIoT devices, until it receives one or more required signals. The secondary transmission UE may then stop monitoring signals and in a next available occasion perfonn an associated secondary 15 signal transmission. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE does not merely act as a repeater and instead the secondary transmission UE processes the signals received from the AIoT devices. For example, the secondary transmission UE may perform a secondary signal transmission indicating a group of AIoT devices. 20 In some examples, the secondary transmission UE may perform a secondary signal transmission for specific information transmitted from one or more AIoT devices. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE may perform a secondary signal transmission which indicates that it is a secondary signal transmission (e.g., by using a configured sequence for that secondary transmission). In this example, this means that the network device can be made aware that the backscattered signal 25 transmitted by the AIoT device cannot directly reach the reader device, but instead can be processed by the secondary transmission UE and then sent to the reader device. In some examples, the secondary transmission UEs performing secondary signal transmissions differ from the reader devices. In some examples, the intended receivers of secondary signal transmissions are reader devices (for example reader UEs or a network entity). In comparison, the 30 intended receivers of transmissions from reader devices may be the serving cells of the reader devices. In some examples, the secondary transmission UEs performing secondary signal transmissions may extend the coverage area. This may then reduce the need for more network devices (e.g., illuminators) and / or more reader devices. In some examples, the secondary signal transmissions may be performed on the resources used 35 for AIoT transmissions. FIG. 4 shows a schematic overview of some example embodiments. FIG. 4 shows an example communication between a network device 400, an AIoT device 402, a secondary transmission UE 404 and a reader device 406. In some examples, the network device 400 is an illuminator. In some examples, the network device 400 is a gNB, UE or other access node. 400 In some examples, the reader device 406 is a UE. In some other examples, the reader device 406 is a network entity. In some embodiments, the reader device may be a gNB or other access node. 5 In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 is an AIoT device. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 is an AIoT device which can store energy and perform independent transmissions. In this example, the signals transmitted by the AIoT device 402 may be backscattered signal transmissions originating at the network device 400 and / or independent signals originating at the AIoT device 402 . 10 At S401, the network device 400 sends information to the reader device 406. In some examples, the information indicates to the reader device 406 about expected signal transmissions from the AIoT device 402 and / or expected secondary signal transmissions from the secondary transmission UE 404. For example, the information sent to the reader device 406 may indicate that the AIoT device 402 may transmit signals and / or backscattered signals. 15 For example, the information sent to the reader device 406 may indicate that the secondary transmission UE 404 may transmit secondary signal transmissions. In some examples, the network device 400 may inform the reader device 406 about the different sequences used by the secondary transmission UE 404 to indicate the detection of a group of AIoT devices. In this example, each group of AIoT devices may be associated with a sequence. The network 20 device 400 may provide to the reader device 406 a list of the group IDs and the associated sequences. In the event of reception of a transmission from one or more of the AIoT devices in the group, the secondary transmission UE 404 may perform a secondary signal transmission including the sequence associated with the group. In some examples, the network device 400 may inform the reader device 406 about the transmission occasions and / or resources used for signal transmissions or backscattered signal 25 transmissions from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the network device 400 may inform the reader device 406 about transmission occasions and / or resources used for secondary signal transmissions from the secondary transmission UE 404. Informing the reader device 406 of this information may enable an improved reception of the secondary signal transmissions from the secondary transmission UE 404. 30 At S402, the network device 400 sends configuration information to the secondary transmission UE 404. In some examples, the configuration information relates to at least one of: monitoring of signals transmitted by the AIoT device 402; monitoring of signals transmitted by the network device 400; providing information related to a monitored signal received from the AIoT device 402, to the 35 reader device 406. In some examples, configuration information related to providing information related to a monitored signal received from the AIoT device 402, to the reader device 406, is defined as configuration information related to the secondary signal transmission. In some examples, the configuration information related to monitoring signals transmitted by 5 the AIoT device 402 may include at least one of: at least one monitoring occasion; data carried in the signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402; and a power and / or range threshold of the signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the monitoring occasion is configured by the network device 400. In some 10 examples, the monitoring occasion may comprise at least one of: time and / or frequency resources on which the AIoT device 402 is expected to transmit signals; a bandwidth on which the AIoT device 402 is expected to transmit signals; a time frame and / or window in which the AIoT device 402 is expected to transmit signals; a code (for example a spreading sequence) with which the AIoT device 402 is expected to 15 transmit signals; and a periodicity with which the AIoT device 402 is expected to transmit signals. In some examples, the data carried in the signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402 may comprise an AIoT device ID embedded in the signal. In some examples, the configuration information related to monitoring signals transmitted by 20 the AIoT device 402 may also indicate that the secondary transmission UE 404 is to monitor signals from one or more specific AIoT devices and / or group of AIoT devices. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured to monitor transmissions related to the detection of one or more specific AIoT devices and / or group of AIoT devices. In some examples, the one or more specific AIoT devices may be indicated by the AIoT device ID embedded in the signal transmitted by the respective 25 AIoT device. In some examples, the configuration information related to monitoring signals transmitted by the AIoT device 402 may indicate that the secondary transmission UE 404 is to monitor specific transmissions from one or more specific AIoT devices. For example, the configuration information may indicate that the secondary transmission UE 404 is to monitor specific information in signals transmitted 30 by one or more AIoT devices. In some examples, the configuration information relating to the secondary signal transmission comprises configuration information relating to sending information received in the signals from the AIoT device 402 to the reader device 406. In some examples, the configuration information relating to the secondary signal transmission 35 comprises at least one of: a power of die secondary signal transmission that is to be sent to the reader device 406; at least one secondary signal transmission occasion; when to send the secondary signal transmission to the reader device 406; at least one of a frequency, phase or direction shift of the secondary signal transmission (the at least one of the frequency, phase or direction shift may be defined with respect to the original backscattered signal transmitted by the network device 400); and 5 an indication to be included in the secondary signal transmission that it is a secondary signal transmission. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission occasion is configured by the network device 400. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission occasion may comprise at least one of: 10 time and / or frequency resources on which the secondary transmission UE 404 is allowed to perform a secondary7 signal transmission; a bandwidth on which the secondary7 transmission UE 404 is allowed to perform a secondary signal transmission; a time frame and / or window in which the secondary transmission UE 404 is allowed to perform 15 a secondary signal transmission; a code (for example a spreading sequence) on which the secondary transmission UE 404 is allowed to perform a secondary signal transmission; and a periodicity with which the secondaiy transmission UE 404 is allowed to perform a secondary signal transmission. 20 In some examples, the configuration information defining when to send the secondary signal transmission to the reader device 406 comprises information indicating the number of times a signal is to be received from the AIoT device 402 and / or a time duration before secondary signal transmission is triggered. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured such that it transmits the 25 secondary signal transmission after receiving a signal from the AIoT device N times. In another example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured such that the secondary transmission UE 404 sends the secondary signal transmission after receiving a signal from the AIoT device N times within a time duration T1. In some examples, the indication that a secondary signal transmission is a secondaiy7 signal 30 transmission, comprises an indication to modulate the secondary signal with an additional modulating sequence (on top of a modulating sequence used by the AIoT device). In some examples, this additional sequence may be an orthogonal sequence to that used by the AIoT device. In some examples, the configuration information relating to the secondary7 signal transmission 35 comprises an indication to perform secondary7 signal transmissions associated with signal transmissions from one or more specific AIoT devices or group of AIoT devices. In some examples, the configuration information relating to the secondary signal transmission comprises an indication to perform secondary signal transmissions associated with specific types of transmissions optionally from one or more specific AIoT devices. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured to perform secondary signal transmissions indicating only the 5 presence of the AIoT device. In some examples, the configuration information related to relating to the secondary signal transmission may indicate modulating sequences to be used in the secondary signal transmission, when a backscattered signal from one or more specific AIoT devices or AIoT device group is received. For example, if the secondary transmission UE 404 receives backscattered signals from one or more or all 10 of the AIoT devices which belong to a group, the secondary transmission UE 404 may perform a secondary signal transmission comprising the original signal transmitted by the network device 400, modulated by a sequence associated with the group to which the one or more AIoT devices belong. In some examples, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by the network device 400 comprises configuration information comprising at least one of: 15 when signals are transmitted by the network device 400; when the AIoT device 402 is configured to transmit the signal received by network device 400 (i c., the backscattered signal); and monitoring occasions. In some examples, the monitoring occasion may comprise at least one of: 20 time and / or frequency resources on which the network device 400 is expected to transmit signals; a frequency band in which the network device 400 is expected to transmit signals; a time frame and / or window in which the network device 400 is expected to transmit signals; a code (for example a spreading sequence) with which the network device 400 is expected to 25 transmit signals; and a periodicity with which the network device 400 is expected to transmit signals. In some embodiments, separate monitoring occasions and transmitting secondary signal occasions may be defined, hi some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured to transmit a secondary signal transmission in for example an orthogonal occasion to a monitoring 30 occasion. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured to transmit a secondary signal transmission in another set of occasions if the AIoT device 402 provides only a single backscattered transmission and subsequent transmissions are performed by the secondary transmission UE 404. In some embodiments, occasions may be defined. The occasions may be used for monitoring 35 of the AIoT or transmitting secondary signals. For example, the secondaiy transmission UE 404 may be configured with joint monitoring and secondary signal transmission occasions. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may be configured to monitor the joint occasions until it receives a backscattered signal from the AIoT device 402 and in a subsequent joint occasion transmit the secondary signal transmission. In some examples, the joint occasions may be used when the detection of an AIoT device is required. At S403, the secondary transmission UE 404 may indicate to the AIoT device 402 that it is 5 available to perform secondary signal transmissions. In some examples, the AIoT device 402 may use this availability indication to avoid excessive signal transmissions that may not reach the reader device 406. For example, the AIoT device 402 may be configured such that, after receiving an availability indication from the secondary transmission UE 404, the AIoT device 402 performs a signal transmission 10 carrying specific information. In this example, if the transmission signal does not reach the reader device 406, the AIoT device 402 may then rely on the secondary transmission UE 404 to send the information to the reader device 406 in a secondary signal transmission. In this way, the AIoT device 402 may save power as it may not need to repeat transmissions. In some examples, the network device 400 or the secondary transmission UE 404 may inform 15 the AIoT device 406 of the presence of the secondary transmission UE 404 or of other UEs or AIoT devices that can perform secondary signal transmissions. In this example, this allows the AIoT device 406 to avoid multiple retransmissions of signals, which may save power. At S404, the secondary transmission UE 404 monitors signal transmissions from the AIoT device 402, based on the configuration information received from network device 400 in S402. In some 20 examples, the signal transmissions from the AIoT device are backscattered signal transmissions. At S405, the network device 400 transmits a signal to the AIoT device 402. For example, the network device 400 may transmit a signal to the AIoT device 402 which the AIoT device 402 subsequently sends (backscatters) to the UE secondary transmission 404 (i.e., a backscattered signal). At S406, the AIoT device 402 transmits a signal to the secondary transmission UE 404. In some 25 examples, the AIoT device 402 backscatters a signal received from the network device 400. In some examples, the AIoT device 402 modulates the received signal with an information signal. In some other examples, the AIoT device performs an independent signal transmission (that is not a backscatter).402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 receives the signal transmission from the AIoT device 402. 30 At S407. the secondary transmission UE 404 determines information, relating to the monitored signal received from the AIoT device 402, to be transmitted to the reader device 406. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines whether a secondary signal transmission is required or not, based on the configuration information provided to the secondary transmission UE 404 in S402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines information to be sent to the 35 reader device 406 based on the configuration information received from tire network device 400 in S402 and based on the information monitored signal obtained from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines information to be sent to the reader device 406 by processing the information obtained from the signal received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines information to be sent to the 5 reader device 406 by removing some, but not all, of the data and / or information comprised in the signal received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 processes the remaining data and / or information comprised in the signal received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the processed data and / or information comprises the information to be sent to the reader device 406. 10 In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines information to be sent to the reader device 406 by selecting a part of the data and / or information comprised in the signal received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 processes the selected part of the data and / or information comprised in the signal received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the processed data and / or infonnation comprises the information to be sent to the 15 reader device 406. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 determines the information to be sent to the reader device 406 by at least one of: collecting the information obtained from the signal received from the AIoT device 402; selecting which information obtained from the signals from the AIoT device 402 is to be included in the information that is to be sent to the reader device 406; combining obtained 20 information from the signals received from one or more AIoT devices; determining from the information obtained from the signal received from the AIoT device 402 that one or more conditions are satisfied and providing an indication in the information that is to be sent to the reader device that the one or more conditions are satisfied. In some examples, determining that one or more conditions are satisfied is based on the 25 configuration information provided to the secondary transmission UE 404 in S402. In some examples, determining that one or more conditions are satisfied is based on determination criteria determined by the secondary' transmission UE 404. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 may determine whether to transmit a secondary signal transmission based on determination criteria determined by the secondary 30 transmission UE 404. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may autonomously determine whether to transmit a secondary signal transmission based on autonomous determination criteria at the secondary transmission UE 404. In some examples, the secondary transmission UE 404 may select information to be transmitted 35 to the reader device 406 based on at least one of the following criteria: a power and / or range threshold of a signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402; a number of times a signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402 has been received; an identification of the AIoT device 402 that has transmitted the signal to the secondary transmission UE 404; an identification of a group to which the AIoT device 402, that has transmitted the signal to the secondary transmission UE 404, belongs; information contained in the signal transmitted by the AIoT 5 device 402; and a determination that each of the signals transmitted by a plurality of AIoT devices have been obtained by the secondary transmission UE 404. In some examples, the information contained in the signal transmitted by the AIoT device 402 may comprise an indication that the AIoT device 402 has low energy. In some examples, the secondary 10 transmission UE 404 will only transmit the secondary signal transmission if the information contained in the signal received from the AIoT device 402 indicates that the AIoT device 402 has low energy. In some examples, a secondary signal transmission is only transmitted when signals from each AIoT device in an AIoT group have been obtained by the secondary transmission UE 404. At S408, the secondary transmission UE 404 generates and sends a secondary signal 15 transmission to the reader device 406. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission comprises the determined information obtained from the monitored signal, received from the AIoT device 402. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission is based on the configuration information received from the network device 400 at S402. In some examples, multiple UEs may be configured to generate and send secondary signal transmissions for the same signal transmission from the AIoT device 20 406. For example, this may increase the diversity gains at the reader device 406. In some examples, there may be multiple devices (e.g., multiple secondary transmission UEs or transmission reception points (TRPs)) transmitting signals to the reader device 406. In some examples, these transmissions may use the same set of radio resources (e.g., in time / frequency / code). In some examples, the secondary signal transmission comprises an indication that one or more 25 conditions are satisfied. In some examples, the one or more conditions are based on the configuration information provided to the secondary’ transmission UE 404 in S402. In some examples, the one or more conditions are based on determination criteria determined by the secondary transmission UE 404. 30 In some examples, the secondary-’ signal transmission may include information obtained and / or determined from signals from multiple AIoT devices. For example, multiple modulating sequences (e.g., orthogonal modulating sequences) corresponding to multiple AIoT devices may be superimposed on the secondary signal transmission. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission encodes information about a group of 35 AIoT devices by modulating signals transmitted by the network device 400 (or a local copy of those signals) with a sequence associated with a group of AIoT devices. In some examples, a group of AIoT devices may be defined by assigning a (common) group ID to the AIoT devices which are members of the group. In some further examples, parts of a shipment, with each part having its own tag, i.e., AIoT device, may form a group. For example, the secondary transmission UE 404 may modulate signals transmitted by the network device 400 with a sequence if the secondary transmission UE 404 detects a backscattered signal transmission from the AIoT device 402 or from all the AIoT devices in an AIoT 5 group. In some examples, the secondary-' signal transmission may be delayed in time compared to a backscattered signal transmission. In some examples, the delay may be configured by the network device 400. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission may occur in the next available secondary 10 signal transmission occasion. For example, a delayed secondary signal transmission may prevent the need for simultaneous transmission from the network device 400 and reception from the reader device 406, when the network device 400 and the reader device 406 are implemented on the same device. In some examples, a delayed secondary signal transmission may enable other AIoT devices, which can store energy and perform independent signal transmission, to act as the secondary 15 transmission UE 404. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission includes an indication that it is a secondary signal transmission, based on the configuration information received from the network device 400 in S402. In some examples, the secondary signal transmission may comprise an identification of the secondary transmission UE 404. In some examples, the identification of the secondary transmission UE 404 may be indicated by using an appropriate sequence. 20 In some example embodiments, if the secondary transmission UE 404 is an AIoT device which can store energy and perform independent transmissions, the configured AIoT device may harvest energy from the network device 400. In this case, the configured AIoT device may perform a delayed secondary backscattered transmission to the reader device 406 based on backscattered AIoT data and / or signaling from the other AIoT devices. In some example embodiments, a plurality of secondary 25 transmission UEs may be AIoT devices. These AIoT devices may perform delayed secondary backscattered signal transmissions in the same resource. Secondary transmission from a plurality of secondary transmission UEs may increase detectability at the reader device 406, while enabling efficient resource utilization. An advantage of some of the example embodiments may comprise improving the reliability of 30 information transmissions from AIoT devices, by employing secondary signal transmissions from a secondary transmission UE. A secondary transmission UE may be a device with higher capabilities than AIoT devices, both in terms of processing power and transmission power. Therefore in some examples, the secondary transmission UE can receive and process signals from one, two or more AIoT devices and perform associated transmissions that can reach the intended receiver (i.e., the reader device). 35 Some example embodiments may enable power savings at the AIoT devices. This may be advantageous for AIoT devices which provide amplification of UL and / or DL transmissions. Hie power savings may be achieved as the secondary' signal transmissions from the secondary transmission UEs prevent unnecessary (re-)transmissions from the AIoT device that may not anyway not reach the reader device. Some example embodiments may have the advantage that AIoT devices without any capability to provide amplification of UL and / or DL transmissions may be used in a wider range of applications. 5 In some example embodiments, when the AIoT device is informed that certain secondary' transmission UEs are available for secondary-’ signal transmissions, the AIoT devices may be configured to avoid retransmissions. In some example embodiments,, the secondary signal transmissions can be performed on resources and / or occasions that would otherwise be used for transmissions from the AIoT devices, 10 which may avoid resource overhead. In some example embodiments, a given reader UE may reliably cover an area with the help of the secondary transmission UEs. As each of the secondary transmission UEs reports to the reader UE, this avoids the need for each secondary' transmission UE to be assigned resources for transmitting its own measurement report to the network. The secondary transmission UEs configured with secondary 15 signal transmissions may ensure coverage without the need for excessive resource consumption, as the secondary signal transmissions may be performed on resources used for AIoT transmissions. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a control apparatus X00 for controlling a function of the access network (e.g., a 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN illustrated in FIG. 1) illustrated on FIG. I. The control apparatus 500 may comprise at least one random access memory' (RAM) 511a, at least on read only 20 memory (ROM) 511b, at least one processor 512, 513 and a network interface 514. The at least one processor 512, 513 may be coupled to the RAM 511a and the ROM 511b. The at least one processor 512, 513 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 515. Execution of the software code 515 may for example cause the apparatus to perform operations for controlling a function of the access network. The software code 515 may be stored in the ROM 511b. The control apparatus 500 25 may be interconnected with another control apparatus 500 for controlling another function of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN. In some embodiments, each function of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN is deployed or hosted on a control apparatus 500. In alternative embodiments, two or more functions of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN may share a control apparatus. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a communication device 600, such as the UE illustrated on 30 FIG. 1. The communication device 600 may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples of a communication device 600 comprise a user equipment, a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a ’smart phone’, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), a personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, a 35 machine-type communications (MTC) device, an Internet of things (loT) type communication device or any combinations of these or the like. The communication device 600 may comprise a transceiver for transmitting and / or receiving, for example, wireless signals carry ing communications, for example radio signals. The communications may be one ormore of voice, electronic mail (email), text messages, multimedia data, machine data and so on. The communication device 600 may receive wireless signals (e.g., radio signals) over an air or radio interface 607 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit wireless signals via 5 appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In FIG. 6 transceiver is designated schematically by block 606. The transceiver 606 may comprise, for example, a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the mobile device and may comprise one or more antenna elements. Tire antenna arrangement may be a multi-input multi output (MIMO) antenna. 10 The communication device 600 may be provided with at least one processor 601, at least one memory ROM 602a, at least one RAM 602b and other possible components 603 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access networks (e.g., the 5G-RAN or NG-RAN illustrated in FIG. 1) and other communication devices. Tire at least one processor 601 is coupled to the RAM 602b and the ROM 602a. 15 The at least one processor 601 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 608. The software code 608 may for example allow to perform one or more operations of the communication device 600. The software code 608 may be stored in the ROM 602a. The processor, the ROM, and the RAM, the transceiver and other circuitry of the communication device (e.g., a modem) can be provided on a circuit board, in chipsets, or in a system 20 on chip. This circuit board, chipsets or system on chip is denoted by reference 604. The communication device 600 may optionally have a user interface such as key pad 605, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. Optionally one or more of a display, a speaker and a microphone maybe provided depending on the type of the communication device. Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method according to an example. The flow chart of Figure 7 is 25 viewed from the perspective of an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may comprise a user equipment. For example, the apparatus may comprise a secondary- transmission UE. For example, the apparatus may comprise an AIoT device. In some examples, the secondary- transmission UE 404 is an AIoT device which can store energy- and perform independent transmissions. As shown at S70I, the method may comprise obtaining configuration information from a 30 network device, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet of things device to a reader device. At S702, the method may comprise monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, based on the configuration information. 35 At S703, the method may comprise determining reporting information which is to be reported in a report to the reader device, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices. Determining the reporting information may comprise performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; selecting which of obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as 5 reporting information; combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information: and determining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices that one or more conditions are satisfied and providing an indication in the reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied. 10 At S704, the method may comprise sending the determined reporting information in the report to the reader device. FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 800a (e.g. computer disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 800b (e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) storing instructions and / or parameters 802 which when executed by a processor allow the processor to 15 perform one or more of the steps of the method of FIG. 7. It is understood that references in the above to various network functions (e.g., to an AMF, an SMF, TNF etc.) may comprise apparatus that perform at least some of the functionality associated with those network functions. Further, an apparatus comprising a network function may comprise a virtual network function instance of that network function. 20 It should be understood that the apparatuses may comprise or be coupled to other units or modules etc., such as radio parts or radio heads, used in or for transmission and / or reception. Although the apparatuses have been described as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities. It is noted that whilst some embodiments have been described in relation to 5G networks, 25 similar principles can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein. It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several 30 variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the 35 elements, or at least all the elements. In general, die various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these 5 blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as nonlimiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof. As used herein, the term circui try may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital 10 circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processors) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, 15 to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.” This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this tenn herein, including in any claims. As a 20 further example, as used herein, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing 25 or network device. The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity7, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and / or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data 30 storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computer-executable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it. Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the FIGs may 35 represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM). 5 The memory7 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, 10 microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. Various example embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated 15 process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate. The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The example embodiments and features thereof, if any, described in this disclosure that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims arc to be interpreted as examples 20 useful for understanding various example embodiments of the disclosure. The foregoing description has provided, by way of non-limiting and illustrative examples, a full and informative description of the various example embodiments of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims. 25 However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings will still fall within the various example embodiments of the disclosure as set forth in the claims. By way of non-limiting and illustrative example, there is a further example embodiment comprising a combination of one or more example embodiments with any of the other example embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

1. A user equipment comprising:means for obtaining configuration information from a network device, the configuration5 information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet of things device to a reader device;means for monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, based on the configuration information;10 means for determining reporting information which is to be reported in a report to the readerdevice, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices,wherein the means for determining the reporting information is for performing one or more of: collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more 15 ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information;selecting which of obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as reporting information;combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; and20 determining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from oneor more ambient internet of things devices that one or more conditions are satisfied and providing an indication in the reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied; andmeans for sending the determined reporting information in the report to the reader device.25 2. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for determining the reportinginformation is for removing some but not all of data in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient internet of things device and processing remaining data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information.30 3. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for determining the reportinginformation is for selecting only a part of data provided in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient internet of things device and processing the selected part of the data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information.35 4. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the means for detenu inmgand the means for sending is for delaying sending of reporting infonnation associated with obtained information from a plurality of monitored signal.

5. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the configuration information relating tomonitoring signals comprises configuration information defining at least one of:at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or5 frequency resources on which the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored is expected to transmit;identity information associated with the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored;one or more types of data carried in the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet 10 of tilings device that is to be monitored; anda power and / or range threshold of the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored.

6. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the configuration information relating to 15 providing of reporting information comprises configuration information relating to the sending of the reporting information, said configuration information defining at least one of:a power of a signal carrying the determined reported information that is to be sent to the reader device;a reporting information occasion in which the user equipment is to send the report to the reader 20 device, the reporting information occasion is defined by one or more time and / or frequency resources on which the user equipment is allowed to transmit reporting information;when to send a signal carrying the determined reported information to the reader device;at least one of a frequency, phase or direction shift of a signal canying the determined reported information, the at least one of the frequency, phase or direction shift being defined with respect to a 25 respective signal transmitted by a respective ambient internet of things device; andan indication to be included in a signal carrying the determined reported information that the respective signal is a secondary signal transmission.

7. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the reporting signal30 transmission occasions is the same as one or more occasions defined for monitoring of one or more signals transmitted by one or more ambient internet of things devices.

8. The user equipment of any preceding claim, comprising means for selecting reporting information to be transmitted to the reader device based on at least one or more of the following criteria: 35 a power and / or range threshold of at least one signal transmitted by at least one ambient internetof things device;a number of times a signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device has been received;an identification of at least one ambient internet of things device that has transmitted at least one signal to the user equipment;5 an identification of a group to which the at least one ambient internet of things device, that hastransmitted the at least one signal to the user equipment, belongs;information contained in at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device; andwhen at least one signal transmitted by each of a plurality of ambient internet of things devices 10 have been obtained by the user equipment.

9. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the configuration information further comprises configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by the network device.1510. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the configuration information relating to monitoring signals transmitted by the network device comprises configuration information defining one or more of:at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / or 20 frequency resources on which the at network device is expected to transmit; andwhen to monitor for one or more signals transmitted by the network device.

11. The user equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising means for indicating to the at least one ambient internet of things device that the user equipment is available to send the at least one 25 signal obtained from the at least one ambient internet of things device, to the reader device.

12. The user equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising means for informing the at least one ambient internet of things device of at least one of:the presence of the user equipment; and30 the presence of other user equipment that are able to perform secondary signal transmissions tothe reader device.

13. The user equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the user equipment is an ambient internet of tilings device.

14. A method comprising:obtaining configuration information from a network device, the configuration information relating to monitoring of signals transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device and relating to providing of reporting information relating to one or more of the at least one ambient internet 5 of things device to a reader device;monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device, based on the configuration information;determining reporting information which is to be reported in a report to the reader device, based on the configuration information and based on information obtained from one or more monitored signals 10 from one or more ambient internet of things devices, wherein determining the reporting comprises performing one or more of:collecting obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information;selecting which of obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one 15 or more ambient internet of things devices is to be provided as reporting information;combining obtained information from two or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of things devices to provide as reporting information; anddetermining from obtained information from one or more monitored signals from one or more ambient internet of tilings devices that one or more conditions arc satisfied and providing an 20 indication in the reporting information that the one or more or more conditions are satisfied; and sending the determined reporting information in the report to the reader device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein determining the reporting information comprises removing some but not all of data in a respective monitored signal received from a respective ambient 25 internet of things device and processing remaining data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein determining the reporting information comprises selecting only a part of data provided in a respective monitored signal received from a respective 30 ambient internet of things device and processing the selected part of the data from the respective monitored signal to provide the reporting information.

17. The method of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the configuration information relating to monitoring signals comprises configuration information defining at least one of:35 at least one monitoring occasion, wherein a monitoring occasion comprises time and / orfrequency resources on which the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored is expected to transmit;identity information associated with the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored;one or more types of data carried in the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device that is to be monitored; and5 a power and / or range threshold of the signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet ofthings device that is to be monitored.

18. The method of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the configuration information relating to providing of reporting information comprises configuration information relating to the sending of the 10 reporting information, said configuration information defining at least one of:a power of a signal carrying the determined reported information that is to be sent to the reader device;a reporting information occasion in which a user equipment is to send the report to the reader device, the reporting information occasion is defined by one or more time and / or frequency resources 15 on which the user equipment is allowed to transmit reporting information;when to send a signal carrying the determined reported information to the reader device;at least one of a frequency, phase or direction shift of a signal cany ing the determined reported information, the at least one of the frequency, phase or direction shift being defined with respect to a respective signal transmitted by a respective ambient internet of tilings device; and20 an indication to be included in a signal carrying the determined reported information that therespective signal is a secondary signal transmission.

19. The method of any of claims 14 to 18, wherein at least one of the reporting signal transmissionoccasions is the same as one or more occasions defined for monitoring of one or more signals 25 transmitted by one or more ambient internet of things devices.

20. The method of any of claims 14 to 19, comprising selecting reporting information to be transmitted to the reader device based on at least one or more of the following criteria:a power and / or range threshold of at least one signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet 30 of things device;a number of times a signal transmitted by at least one ambient internet of things device has been received;an identification of at least one ambient internet of things device that has transmitted at least one signal to a user equipment;35 an identification of a group to which the at least one ambient internet of things device, that hastransmitted the at least one signal to the user equipment, belongs;information contained in at least one signal transmitted by the at least one ambient internet of things device; andwhen at least one signal transmitted by each of a plurality of ambient internet of things devices have been obtained by the user equipment.32

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