Activation of a wireless transceiver for receiving paging signals

Abstract

A user equipment (UE) comprises a transceiver operable in a normal mode and a sleep mode, and a low power (LP) receiver configured to detect low power wakeup signals (WUS i.e. LP-WUS). The UE receives, from a radio access network (RAN) node, a request for the UE’s capabilities. The UE responds with a message comprising LP wakeup information for the UE, comprising at least one of an indication of a lead time required between the UE detecting the LP-WUS and transitioning the transceiver from sleep to normal mode, an indication of support for a LP-WUS, and an indication of LP-WUS configuration and LP receiver type. The UE uses the LP receiver to detect a LP-WUS and in response transitions the transceiver from sleep to normal mode. A RAN node uses UE LP wakeup information, the information comprising at least one of UE LP wakeup capability, UE LP wakeup configuration, UE LP wakeup support for LP wakeup, cell support of LP-WUS, and whether the UE is configured with LP-WUS) to generate and perform a paging operation.

Description

The energy efficiency of devices within networks, particularly small devices without a continuous energy source, such as UEs using small rechargeable and single coin cell batteries is increasingly important. A wireless transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals consumes a significant amount of power, and thus, to reduce power consumption discontinuous operation using different level sleep modes, such as sleep, deep sleep, ultra deep sleep etc for the transceiver may be used. A disadvantage with such a system is that the receipt of relevant signals may be missed and latency increased. It would be desirable to be able to reduce power consumption without unduly increasing the latency of receiving signals such as paging signals. BRIEF SUMMARY The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The example embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, said transceiver comprising a normal mode and a sleep mode; a lower power receiver configured to detect wakeup signals; and at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive, from a network node, a request for capabilities of said apparatus; and in response to the received request, transmit, to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and said transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type; detect, by said lower power receiver of the apparatus, a low power wakeup signal; in response to detection of said low power wakeup signal, cause said transceiver to transition from said sleep to said normal mode. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response transmitting to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: receive from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response generate a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: receive from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response generate a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, an apparatus, comprising: means for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, said means for transmitting and receiving comprising a normal mode and a sleep mode; and a lower power means for detecting low power wakeup signals; means for activating said transceiver in response to said low power means detecting said low power wakeup signal such that said transceiver transitions from said sleep to said normal mode; means for generating a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, an apparatus, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, said transceiver comprising a normal mode and a sleep mode; and a lower power receiver configured to detect wakeup signals; detect, by said lower power receiver of the apparatus, a low power wakeup signal; circuitry configured to activate said transceiver in response to said low power receiver detecting said low power wakeup signal such that said transceiver transitions from said sleep mode to said normal mode; circuitry configured to generate a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a network node comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to: use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and perform said paging operation using said low power information. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a network node comprising: means for generating a paging operation using low power wakeup information, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and means for performing said paging operation using said low power information. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a network node comprising: circuitry configured to generate a paging operation using low power wakeup information, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and circuitry configured to perform said paging operation using said low power information. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a method comprising: using low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and performing said paging operation using said low power information. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided, a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and perform said paging operation using said low power information. According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and perform said paging operation using said low power information. The means may perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned in the description below. The processor, memory, and example algorithms, encoded as instructions, program, or code, may be the means for providing or causing the performance of the operation. The circuitry may be configured perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned in the description below. Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a signalling diagram of an example embodiment; Fig.2 illustrates a further signalling diagram of an example embodiment; Figure 3 schematically illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment; Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method performed at a user equipment according to an embodiment; Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method performed at a network access node according to an embodiment; and Fig. 6 schematically shows steps in a method performed at a control network node such as an AMF according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Before discussing the example embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided. Latency, reliability, availability, and UE energy efficiency are all very important in 5G systems. Currently, 5G devices may have to be recharged per week or day, depending on individual’s usage time. In general, 5G devices consume tens of milliwatts in RRC idle / inactive state and hundreds of milliwatts in RRC connected state. Designs to prolong battery life is a necessity for improving energy efficiency as well as for better user experience. Energy efficiency is even more critical for UEs without a continuous energy source, e.g., UEs using small rechargeable and single coin cell batteries. Among vertical use cases, sensors and actuators are deployed extensively for monitoring, measuring, charging, etc. Generally, their batteries are not rechargeable and expected to last at least a few years. Wearables include smart watches, rings, eHealth related devices, and medical monitoring devices. With typical battery capacity, it is challenging to sustain up to 1-2 weeks as required. The power consumption depends on the configured length of wake-up periods, e.g., paging cycle. To meet the battery life requirements above, long der cycle may be used, resulting in high latency, which is not suitable for services with requirements of both long battery life and low latency. For example, in fire detection and extinguishment use case, fire shutters shall be closed and fire sprinklers shall be turned on by the actuators within 1 to 2 seconds from the time the fire is detected by sensors, long eDRX extended discontinuous reception, cycle cannot meet the delay requirements. eDRX is apparently not suitable for latency-critical use cases. Devices may be configured with a low-power wake-up signal and receiver LP-WUS, LP-WLIR, to provide power saving benefits and yet allow paging. These signals may be detected by a low power receiver, which may then wake up the main transceiver which can then detect paging signals. The following points are relevant. In RRC IDLE / INACTIVE modes, it’s observed that significant UE power saving are obtained (may be more than 90%). By using LP-WUS / WUR to trigger UE main receiver MR paging monitoring compared with existing I-DRX operation (with and without paging early indication PEI), if sufficient relaxation to MR RRM radio resource management is applied. Further, compared with existing eDRX operation, significant paging latency reduction and moderate UE power saving gain is observed, if LP-WUS monitoring and the corresponding paging monitoring after MR wake-up is performed and is not restricted to be within existing paging time windows PTW of eDRX. In RRC CONNECTED mode, it’s observed that moderate UE power saving gain (up to more than 10%) is obtained with marginal impact to capacity by using LP-WUS / WUR to trigger UE MR PDCCH monitoring compared with existing UE power saving techniques, across different types of XR traffic and system load scenarios. It is also observed that significant UE power saving gain (up to more than 60%) and moderate UPT improvement (up to more than 10%) is obtained for FTP file transfer protocol and IM traffic, when the UE MR enters deep sleep state during LR LP-WUS monitoring. Furthermore, Rel-18 study verified the feasibility on serving cell RRM measurement offloading from UE MR to LP-WUR by reasonable evaluation methodology. Embodiments seek to make the CN, core network / network node such as gNB aware of the UE’s LP-WUS information. This application discloses a method for the NG-RAN to inform the AMF (access and mobility function) of variable lead time for CN paging and the AMF to adjust the CN paging lead time to ensure that the NG-RAN can in all cases send the required paging (WUS) information in time for the target UE to receive it. This indication of CN paging lead time can take the form of a timer value or an indication that extended CN paging lead time is required. The AMF may apply its default CN paging lead time if it has not received any other indication from the NG-RAN. The variable lead time relates to the time taken between the LP_WUR receiving a wakeup signal and the MR being active and able to receive a paging signal. Any paging signals sent too early may not be received. • Problem: paging can be initiated by the core network or serving NG-RAN node and they are not aware whether the UE is using / supporting LP-WUS which requires more time before the paging DCI downlink control information. For the sake of compatibility between the RAN and the ON, the NG-RAN and the CN may exchange capability information on LP-WUS support. If the AMF CN paging lead time has been tuned to be as short as possible, it may risk the UE losing paging when LP-WUS is used by the NG-RAN. As an additional optional enhancement, the NG-RAN may avoid using LP-WUS if the AMF does not indicate LP-WUS signalling support. In summary for power saving reasons a user equipment may turn its main radio receiver off for prolonged periods of time and use a low power receiver to enable it to detect low power wake up signals. In response to detecting a low power wake up signal at the low power receiver LP-WUR the UE can activate its main receiver MR enabling it to receive paging messages for example. The time taken between receiving the LP-WUS and activating the MR may vary between devices and thus, in some circumstances paging information may not be successfully received where it is sent too soon following the LP-WUS for that particular UE. Informing the nodes that are responsible for sending the paging information of the time required allows for the LP-WUS and paging information to be appropriately time. Thus, embodiments seek to provide ways of providing information regarding the capability, configuration and required lead time, that is the time required between receipt of the LP-WUS for a particular UE and the time at which it can successfully receive a paging signal to the different nodes involved in generating and sending these signals, From the network perspective: • An access node may transmit LP-WUS information received from at least one target device to neighbouring access nodes I AMF • The access node / AMF may determine based on the LP-WUS information when to send a paging indication comprising LP-WUS information to another access node • The LP-WUS indication may comprise one or more of the following: LP-WUS support, LP-WUS capability information, whether the UE is configured with LP-WUS, time information • The access nodes may determine when to send LP-WUS information to the device prior to the paging message transmission • The access node may transmit the LP-WUS information to the device comprising time information between LP-WUS, PEI and paging / paging DCI. • The access node may receive the LP-WUS information from a device or from another access node, or from a control node. From the UE perspective • The device may transmit LP-WUS information to an access node i. The device may transmit LP-WUS information comprising time information between LP-WUS, PEI and paging / paging DCI, configuration of the LP receiver, ii. The device may receive LP-WUS information on time before the paging occasion. iii. The device is able to receive paging message after LP-WUS has indicated that the UE shall monitor paging i.e. there is enough time to switch main radio receiver to an active state, or normal mode. Fig 1 schematically shows signalling between a user equipment UE 10, network node 20 which may be a gNB and access and mobility function AMF 30 according to an embodiment. The UE 10 starts in a connected state where it is connected and served by a cell generated by network node 20. Network node 20 transmits a UE capability enquiry as signal 1 and UE 10 responds with signal 2 comprising capability information. This includes information as to whether or not the UE supports a low power wake up signal LP-WUS and other information regarding the LP-WUS including the lead time. The lead time is the time that the UE requires between detecting a low power wakeup signal and activating its main receiver which will allow it to receive a paging signal. Network node 20 will then generate from the received capability information assistance data relevant to any paging procedure and will transmit this as signal 3 to the AMF 30. The assistance data may include information as to whether or not the UE supports the LP-WUS, other LP configuration data such as information regarding the low power receiver and also its lead time. The AMF 30 will store the UE’s assistance data for paging in a data store at step 4. At step 5 the connection of the UE will be released and the UE will enter idle mode step 6. In idle mode the main receiver of the UE 10 is in sleep mode and the UE monitors for LP-WUS with its low power receiver step 7. At step 8 the AMF 30 determines that there is a need to page the UE 10 and at step 9 the AMF uses the assistance data for paging that is stored when it generates its paging transmission. It will then transmit at signal 10 its paging transmission the paging transmission will indicating the paging signal to be sent to the UE and also information indicating whether or not the UE 10 supports LP-WUS and the lead time. This information will be transmitted as signal 10 to network node 20. At step 11 network node 20 will use the information received to generate the LP-WUS transmission as signal 12. It will then wait at least the lead time before sending the paging signal as signal 15. During this time the UE 10 will receive the LP-WUS signal at step 13 and will wake up its main receiver, which will then start monitoring during paging occasions at step 14 and during one of these occasions the network node 20 will transmit the paging message. Connection may then be established step 16. In this way, the UE is ensured to be awake when the paging is transmitted as the timing of the paging signal and the LP-WUS take account of the time it takes the UE 10 to wake up its main receiver following receipt of a LP-WUS. Fig 2 shows an alternative signal diagram where information is transmitted between two gNB’s 20a and 20b. In this embodiment initially the UE 10 is in an inactive state 100 and is monitoring for LP-WUS while its main receiver is in sleep mode 101. The network node 20b is aware of the UE’s low power configuration 102 that is whether it supports low power wake up signals and the lead time. At step 103 it determines that there is a need to page the UE and it uses the assistance data for paging information at step 104 to generate a paging signal. This paging signal 105 includes information as to whether the UE supports LP-WUS and if so its lead time and this signal 105 is sent to other network nodes in the area. Network node 20a receives this signal as may other network nodes (not shown) and at step 106 uses the information to generate a LP-WUS 107. At step 108 the UE 10 receives the LP-WUS and wakes its main receiver up this takes some time, this time being equal to the lead time. At step 109 the main receiver starts monitoring during paging occasions and at step 110 which is at least the lead time after the transmission at step 107 of the LP-WUS a paging signal is transmitted and connection is then established at step 111 between UE 10 and the gNB20A. This is similar to the embodiment of Fig 1 but in this case the paging information is retrieved from a nearby network node gNB 20b rather than from the AMF 30. It should be noted that Idle mode and inactive states are UEs RRC states, and In IDLE mode paging is mainly initiated by AMF and in INACTIVE mode paging is initiated by gNB. In one example LP-WUS capability info between the NG-RAN and the AMF can be signalled in N2 connection establishment procedure. In one example LP-WUS information comprises one or more of the following: UE LP-WUS support, UE LP-WUS configuration, cell support of LP-WUS, whether the UE is configured with LP-WUS. In one example, in addition to the LP-WUS timing related and MR wake-up / transition time information, also the periodicity and timing of LP-SS is accounted for to enable providing LP-WUS assistance information on LP-SS. In one example UE LP-WUS configuration comprises information about the time between LP-WUS and paging and / or paging DCI. In another example UE LP-WUS configuration comprises information about the time between LP-WUS and PEI. In another example UE LP-WUS configuration comprises information about the time between LP-WUS, PEI and paging / paging DCI. In one example time between LP-WUS and paging / paging DCI / PEI is hundreds of ms e.g. 400ms or 800ms or 1200ms etc. In one example gNB informs / signals other gNB via X2 / Xn about the UEs LP-WUS information. In one example gNB informs / signals CN / AMF via S1 / NG of the UE’s LP-WUS information. In one example LP-WUS information is used in CN paging or RAN paging or both. In one example CN or serving gNB takes the LP-WUS information into account in paging. In one example CN or serving gNB initiates paging earlier for the UEs for which the LP-WUS information is available. In one example LP-WUS information is stored in CN or RAN or both. LP-WUS information can be stored in the UE context and / or in the UE capability information. Fig 3 shows a communication network according to an embodiment comprising multiple access network nodes 20a, 20b that provide radio coverage via one or more cells, an access and mobility function 30, that is part of the core network and a user equipment 10 configured to communicate wirelessly with the network. User equipment 10 comprises a transceiver with a main receiver 12, UE 10 also comprises a low power receiver 14 configured to detect low power wake signals. UE 10 comprises processing circuitry 16 that may be in the form of one or more processors and a data store 18. User equipment 10 is configured to operate in a power saving state where the main receiver 12 is in a sleep mode and is not monitoring for paging or performing RRM radio resource management measurements. The lower power receiver 14 is configured to monitor for low power wake-up signals LP-WUS and, in response to detecting one of these, will activate the main receiver 12. There is a time between the low power receiver 14 receiving the LP-WUS and the main receiver transitioning between a sleep mode and a normal mode, and this is termed the lead time. Processing circuitry 16 may generate a message indicative of this lead time and may configure the main receiver 12 to output this message along with other UE capability information to a serving network node 20A in response to a request for UE capabilities. The network node 20A may transmit this information to the AMF 30 and it may broadcast it to other network nodes such as network node 20B. Network node 20A comprises processing circuitry 26, a data store 24 and a transceiver 22. The data store 24 may store the received UE capability information, including the lead time, in a UE capability portion of the data store. The network node 20B may also receive and store this information. In some embodiments, the network node 20B may have received the information from network node 20A or from the AMF 30. AMF 30 may comprise a data store 38 and processing circuitry 36. The data store 38 may store information regarding the UE’s assistance data required for paging and the AMF processing circuitry 36 may determine that there is a need to page a UE, whereupon it may retrieve the relevant assistance information form the data store and generate a paging message using the assistance data and taking the lead time into account. This paging message may be transmitted to network node 20A which in turn may use this information to generate a LP-WUS for transmission to user equipment 10, and after the lead time indicated in the paging assistance information it may transmit the paging signal. Fig 4 schematically shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method performed at a user equipment according to an embodiment. In a first step S10, the user equipment receives from a network node a request for capabilities of the user equipment. In a subsequent step S20, the user equipment responds to the received request by transmitting to the network node a message comprising LP-WUS information, which may include an indication of whether LP-WUS are supported and if so a lead time required between detecting the low power wakeup signal and transitioning the main receiver from the sleep mode to the normal mode. Later, at step S30, the user equipment may receive a LP-WUS and, in response, may activate a transceiver at step S40. Once the lead time has passed D5, the transceiver will be active and the UE may then monitor paging occasions for a paging signal at step S50. The paging signal will be received at least a lead time after the receipt of the wake-up signal, so the UE can be sure that the receiver will be in normal mode and the paging signal received successfully. Fig. 5 schematically shows steps in a method performed at a control network node such as an AMF according to an embodiment. At step S100 UE paging assistance data is received from a network node, this indicates whether a UE supports LP-WUS and if so the lead time required between receiving a LP-WUS and a paging signal. At step S110 this information is stored, at step S120 the UE disconnects from the network and enters idle mode. At step S130 it is determined by the AMF that the UE is to be paged. At step S140 the AMF transmits paging instructions to a network node close to the UE, the paging instructions including the paging assistance data . Fig. 6 schematically shows steps in a method performed at an access network node such as a gNB. In a first step S200, the network node requests capability information from a connected UE. Ina next step S205 the network node receives the capability information from the connected UE. This capability information includes information about the UE’s ability to support LP-WUS and the lead time required for the UE between receipt of a UE-WUS and the main receiver being active and able to receive a paging signal. At step 210 the network node transmits this information further, this may be to an AMF and / or it may be that it broadcasts the information to other neighbouring network nodes. The network node may also store this information along with other UE capability information for that UE, although it may not. The UE then at some point, step 230, enters idle mode and becomes disconnected from the network . At step S240 the network node receives a paging instruction along with paging assistance information from the AMF. It determines at step D25 from the received information whether the UE supports LP-WUS. If it does, it transmits a LP-WUS to an identified US at step S250 and then at step S260 waits for the lead time, before at step S270 transmitting a paging signal to the UE. At step 280 the UE connects the network. If at step D25 it is determined that the UE does not support LP-WUS then the network node proceeds to step S290 and does not generate or transmit a LP-WUS, but rather monitors paging occasions when the transceiver is in normal mode. In summary, example embodiments provide according to an apparatus, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, said transceiver comprising a normal mode and a sleep mode; a lower power receiver configured to detect wakeup signals; and at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive, from a network node, a request for capabilities of said apparatus; and in response to the received request, transmit, to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power mode; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type; detect, by said lower power receiver of the apparatus, a low power wakeup signal; in response to detection of said low power wakeup signal causing said transceiver to transition from said sleep mode to said normal mode . In some example embodiments, said low power wakeup information comprises said indication of said lead time. In some example embodiments, said indication of said lead time comprises one of the following: a timer value or an indication of an extension to a predefined paging lead time. In some example embodiments there are different sleep modes, and the ramp-up I lead time can be different for these different modes. In some embodiments, said low power wakeup information comprises information about the time between LP-WLIS, PEI paging early indicator and paging / paging DCI downlink control information, whether the UE is configured with LP-WUS, lower power receiver type. The lower power receiver type may comprise an envelope detector type receiver or a sequency detector type receiver. In some example embodiments, said lower power receiver is configured to monitor for a wakeup signal in a way indicated in said UE low power wakeup information and said apparatus is caused to receive said low power wakeup signal and in response to cause said transceiver to transition between said sleep and normal mode within said lead time. In some example embodiments, said transceiver is configured in a sleep mode not to monitor paging or perform radio resource management measurements and in a normal mode to monitor paging and perform regular radio resource management measurements. In some example embodiments, said apparatus comprises a user equipment. The user equipment may be any mobile end or terminal device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, user equipment UE may also be referred to as a communication device, a terminal device, a Mobile Station (MS). The user equipment may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, smart devices etc. Further example embodiments provide according to an aspect a network node comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to: use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and perform said paging operation using said low power information. In some example embodiments, said paging operation comprises at least one of the following: initiating paging at another network node by transmitting a paging indication and at least some of said low power wakeup information to said another network node; transmitting assistance data for paging, said assistance data comprising at least some of said low power wakeup information to a network control node; or transmitting a low power wakeup signal and after a predetermined time derived from said receive low power wakeup information transmitting a paging signal to a user equipment. The predetermined time may be the lead time but may be longer than the lead time. In some example embodiments, the network node may use the pow power wakeup information in a paging operation, such that if there is lead time then the lead time is used. If there is low power wakeup support information then LP-WUS is used, with a lead time if indicated, if there is no WUS support information then legacy paging is used. In one example lead time can implicitly indicate that WUS is supported and no further WUS support indication is used. In some example embodiments, said network node is further caused to receive a message comprising said low power information. In other embodiments, said low power information may comprise information regarding support for low power wakeup signals provided by said network node itself, at least a portion of this information may then be transmitted to a control network node for example. . In some example embodiments, said message is received from a user equipment, and in others from a network node, the network node may be a network access node such as a gNB or a network control node such as an AMF or MME mobility management entity. Where the message is received from a user equipment, said low power information may comprise at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting a low power wakeup signal and a transceiver of the user equipment transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of user equipment support for a low power wake up signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and user equipment lower power receiver type. In some example embodiments, said network node may store the low power wakeup information in a data store on the network node, the information may be stored with UE context and / or in the UE capability information. In some example embodiments, where said network node is a network control node, said information may be stored in the RAN or core network. In some example embodiments, said network node is further caused to: transmit a message indicative of said received low power information to one of the following a further network node or a network control node. In some example embodiments, said low power wakeup capabilities of the user equipment comprises an indication of a time between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging signal, said indication comprising an indication of a lead time required by said user equipment between detecting said low power wake up signal and a transceiver of said user equipment transitioning from a sleep to a normal mode. In some example embodiments, said low power wakeup capabilities of the user equipment comprise a lower power receiver type of said user equipment. In some example embodiments, said indication of said time between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging signal comprises at least one of the following, an indication of: the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and the transmission of paging downlink control information DCI, the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and the transmission of a paging early indication PEI signal, or the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and transmission of said paging signal. In some example embodiments a time between LP-WUS and paging / paging DCI / PEI is hundreds of ms e.g. 400ms or 800ms or 1200ms etc. The differences in lead time may be relevant to different sleep modes of the main receiver on the user equipment, so ultra deep sleep may take a longer ramp time than deep sleep or sleep mode. In some example embodiments, said network node comprises a network access node. In some example embodiments, said further network node comprises a network access node such as a gNB and transmitting of said message comprising said low power wake up information to said further network node is done via X2 / Xn signalling. In some example embodiments, said further network node comprises a network control node, for example an AMF and transmitting of said message to said further network node is done via S1 / NG signalling. In some example embodiments, said network node is caused in response to determining that a paging message is to be transmitted to a user equipment and that wakeup information regarding said user equipment including an indication of said lead time is available; to transmit said low power wakeup signal; and to wait at least said indicated lead time before transmitting said paging message. In some example embodiments, said network node is caused in response to determining that a paging message is to be transmitted to a user equipment and that there is no indication of a lead time available for said user equipment; to transmit said low power wakeup signal; and to wait a predefined time value between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging message. Where no information regarding lead time for the user equipment is available the network node may revert to using a predefined time, which may be defined by the core network and in some embodiments, be related to core network paging lead time, that is time for CN paging to be sent to network access node. In some example embodiments, said apparatus is further caused to determine the periodicity and timing of low power synchronisation signals and to determine a time to transmit said low power wakeup signal in dependence upon said low power synchronisation signals. The lower power receiver may need to receive low power synchronisation signals LP-SS before it can receive LP-WUS. The LP-SS includes Synchronization information for LP-WLIS, this may increase the time for paging to be completed. In some example embodiments, said network node comprises a network control node, in some embodiments an AMF, in others an MME. In some example embodiments, said further network node comprises a network access node and transmitting of said message comprising said low power wake up information to said further network node is done in an N2 connection establishment procedure. In some example embodiments, said network node is configured in response to determining that a paging signal is to be transmitted to a user equipment to transmit said paging information and said low power wakeup signal information to a network node. The low power wakeup signal may comprise an indication of the lead time for that UE. Example embodiments further provide according to an aspect, a method comprising: receiving from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response transmitting to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning a transceiver from a sleep mode to a normal mode; an indication of support for a low power mode; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. In some example embodiments the method further comprises: while said transceiver is in a sleep mode; detecting by said lower power receiver a low power wakeup signal; and causing said transceiver to transition from said sleep to said normal mode within a time period that is equal to said lead time. In some example embodiments, said method further comprises monitoring at a lower power receiver for a wakeup signal in a way indicated in said UE low power wakeup information and receiving said low power wakeup signal and in response causing said transceiver to transition between said sleep and normal mode within said lead time. In some example embodiments, said method comprises during sleep mode not monitoring paging or performing radio resource management measurements with said transceiver and in said normal mode monitoring paging and performing regular radio resource management measurements. Further example embodiments provide according to an aspect a method comprising: using low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and performing said paging operation using said low power information. In some example embodiments, said method comprises an initial step of an initial step of receiving said low power wakeup information. In some example embodiments, said message is received from a user equipment, and in others from a network node, the network node may be a network access node such as a gNB or a network control node such as an AMF or MME mobility management entity. In some example embodiments, said paging operation comprises at least one of the following: initiating paging at another network node by transmitting a paging indication and at least some of said low power wakeup information to said another network node; transmitting assistance data for paging, said assistance data comprising at least some of said low power wakeup information to a network control node; or transmitting a low power wakeup signal and after a predetermined time derived from said receive low power wakeup information transmitting a paging signal to a user equipment. In some example embodiments, said method comprises storing said received low power information. In some example embodiments, said method comprises transmitting a message indicative of said received low power information to one of the following a further network node or a network control node. In some example embodiments, said method comprises in response to determining that a paging message is to be transmitted to a user equipment and that wakeup information regarding said user equipment including an indication of said lead time is available; transmitting said low power wakeup signal; and waiting at least said indicated lead time before transmitting said paging message. In some example embodiments, said method comprises: in response to determining that a paging signal is to be transmitted to a user equipment transmitting said paging information and said low power wakeup signal information to a network node. Example embodiments further provide according to an aspect a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: receive from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response generate a message comprising low power wakeup information, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power mode; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type. Example embodiments further provide according to an aspect a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; and perform said paging operation using said low power information. A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that steps of various abovedescribed methods can be performed by programmed computers. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machineexecutable or computer-executable programs of instructions, wherein said instructions perform some or all of the steps of said above-described methods. The program storage devices may be, e.g., digital memories, magnetic storage media such as a magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover computers programmed to perform said steps of the above-described methods. The tern 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). As used in this application, the term “circuitry” 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 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 processor(s) 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, 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 term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, 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 or network device. 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 elements, or at least all the elements. The ordering of method steps set out above may not be critical or fixed and the exact ordering of the steps may be varied as appropriate. Although example embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, said transceiver comprising a normal mode and a sleep mode;a lower power receiver configured to detect wakeup signals; andat least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:receive, from a network node, a request for capabilities of said apparatus;in response to the received request, transmit, to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and said transceiver transitioning from said sleep mode to said normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wakeup signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type;detect, by said lower power receiver of the apparatus, a low power wakeup signal; andin response to detection of said low power wakeup signal cause said transceiver to transition from said sleep mode to said normal mode.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low power wakeup information comprises said indication of said lead time.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said indication of said lead time comprises one of the following: a timer value or an indication of an extension to a predefined paging lead time.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lower power receiver is configured to monitor for a wakeup signal in a way indicated in said low power wakeup information and said apparatus is caused to receive said low power wakeup signal and in response to cause said transceiver to transition between said sleep and normal mode within said lead time.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said transceiver is configured in a sleep mode to not monitor paging or perform radio resourcemanagement measurements and in a normal mode to monitor paging and perform regular radio resource management measurements.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said apparatus comprises a user equipment.

7. A network node comprising:at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to:use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; andperforming said paging operation using said low power information.

8. A network node according to claim 7, wherein said paging operation comprises at least one of the following: initiating paging at another network node by transmitting a paging indication and at least some of said low power wakeup information to said another network node; transmitting assistance data for paging, said assistance data being derived from at least a portion of said low power wakeup information to a network control node; or transmitting a low power wakeup signal and after a predetermined time derived from said received low power wakeup information transmitting a paging signal to a user equipment.

9. A network node according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said apparatus is further caused to receive said low power wakeup information .

10. A network node according to any one of claims 7 to 9, said network node being caused to:transmit a message indicative of said low power wakeup information to one of the following a further network node or a network control node.

11. A network node according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said low power wakeup information comprises an indication of a time between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging signal, said indication comprises an indication ofa lead time required by said user equipment between detecting said low power wake up signal and a transceiver of said user equipment transitioning from a sleep to a normal mode.

12. A network node according to claim 11, wherein said indication of said time between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging signal comprises at least one of the following, an indication of: the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and the transmission of paging downlink control information DCI, the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and the transmission of a paging early indication PEI signal, or the time between said low power wakeup signal transmission and transmission of said paging signal.

13. A network node according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein said network node comprises a network access node.

14. A network node according to any one of claims 11, 12 and 13, wherein said network node is caused in response to determining that a paging message is to be transmitted to a user equipment and that wakeup information regarding said user equipment including an indication of said lead time is available;to transmit said low power wakeup signal; andto wait at least said indicated lead time before transmitting said paging message.

15. A network node according to 13 or 14, wherein said network node is caused in response to determining that a paging message is to be transmitted to a user equipment and that there is no indication of a lead time available for said user equipment;to transmit said low power wakeup signal; andto wait a predefined time value between transmission of said low power wakeup signal and said paging message.

16. A network node according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said apparatus is further caused to determine the periodicity and timing of low power synchronisation signals and to determine a time to transmit said low power wakeup signal in dependence upon said low power synchronisation signals.

17. A network node according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein said network node comprises a network control node.

18. A network node according to claim 17, wherein said network node is configured in response to determining that a paging signal is to be transmitted to a user equipment to transmit said paging information and said low power wakeup signal information to a network node.

19. A method comprising:receiving from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and and in response transmitting to the network node, a message comprising low power wakeup information for said apparatus, said low power wakeup information comprising at least one of the following: an indication of a lead time required between detecting said low power wakeup signal and a transceiver transitioning a transceiver from a sleep mode to a normal mode; an indication of support for a low power wakeup signal; an indication of low power wakeup signal configuration and lower power receiver type.

20. A method according to claim 19, said method further comprisingwhile said transceiver is in a sleep mode;detecting by said lower power receiver a low power wakeup signal; and causing said transceiver to transition from said sleep mode to said normal mode within said lead time.

21. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to: receive from a network node, a request for capabilities of the apparatus; and in response generate a message comprising an indication of a lead time required between detecting a low power wake up signal at a lower power receiver and causing a transceiver on the apparatus to transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode; and transmit said message to the network node.

22. A method comprising:using low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said low power wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low powerwake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup signal; andperforming said paging operation using said low power information.5 23. A method according to claim 22, comprising an initial step of receiving said lowpower wakeup information.

24. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor on an apparatus are operable to cause said apparatus to:10 use low power wakeup information to generate a paging operation, said lowpower wakeup information being indicative of at least one of the following: low power wakeup capabilities of a user equipment, low power wakeup configuration of a user equipment, low power wakeup support for a user equipment, cell support of low power wake signal, or whether the user equipment is configured with low power wakeup15 signal; andperform said paging operation using said low power information.

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