UE Information Reporting and Packet Delay Management in Wireless Communication

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to UE information reporting and packet delay management techniques in a communication system. In one exemplary aspect, a method for digital communication includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including buffer size reporting information to a first communication device, the buffer size reporting information comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information. In one embodiment, the buffer size reporting information includes at least one of 1) a current buffer size level, 2) an interpolated current buffer size level for finer granularity, 3) a TB size value, or 4) a plurality of TB size values.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to UE information reporting and packet delay management techniques in a communication system.

Background Art

[0002] Mobile telecommunications technology is moving the world towards an increasingly connected and networked society. Compared to current wireless networks, next-generation systems and communication techniques will need to support a much wider range of use case characteristics and provide a more complex and sophisticated range of access requirements and flexibility.

[0003] Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication for mobile devices and data terminals developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)). LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) is a wireless communication standard that improves the LTE standard. The 5th generation wireless system, known as 5G, is working to advance the LTE and LTE-A wireless standards to support higher data rates, a large number of connections, ultra-low latency, high reliability, and other newly emerging business needs.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] This patent document discloses techniques, in particular, rate matching designs for polar coding, PAC coding, and / or other pre-transform polar coding schemes.

[0005] In one exemplary aspect, a first wireless communication method is disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including buffer size reporting information to a first communication device, the buffer size reporting information comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information.

[0006] In another exemplary aspect, another method of wireless communication is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a first communication device, a signal including buffer size report information transmitted by a wireless device, where the buffer size report includes identification information, buffer size information, and time information, and determining, by the first communication device, resource allocation for the wireless device based on the buffer size report information.

[0007] In yet another exemplary aspect, a wireless communication device comprising a processor configured or operable to perform the method described above is disclosed.

[0008] In yet another exemplary aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is disclosed. The computer-readable storage medium stores code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the method described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]

Figure 1

[0010]

Figure 2

[0011]

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

[0012]

Figure 3

[0013]

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

[0014]

Figure 3C

[0015]

Figure 4

[0016]

Figure 5

[0017]

Figure 6

[0018]

Figure 7

[0019]

Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The headings for the various sections below are used to facilitate understanding of the disclosed subject matter and do not in any way limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus, one or more features of one section can be combined with one or more features of another section. Further, while 5G terminology is used for clarity of explanation, the techniques disclosed in this document are not limited to 5G terminology only and can be used in wireless systems implementing other protocols.

[0021] This application discloses methods and apparatuses related to reporting buffer sizes and associated delay budget information in a wireless communication system.

[0022] In a wireless communication system, such as an LTE, NR, or 6G system, the core network may send the following delay budgets to radio network elements (e.g., eNB, gNB). · Packet Delay Budget (PDB): Indicates the upper limit on the time by which a packet can be delayed between a UE and an N6 endpoint in a User Plane Function (UPF). · Core Network Packet Delay Budget (CN PDB): Represents the delay between any N6 endpoint in the UPF and a radio network element. · PDU Set Delay Budget (PSDB): Indicates the upper limit on the time by which a PDU set can be delayed between a UE and an N6 endpoint in a User Plane Function (UPF). · Core Network PDU Set Delay Budget (CN PSDB): Represents the PDU set delay between any N6 endpoint in the UPF and a radio network element. In some cases, the CN PSDB can be replaced by the CN PDB (e.g., with the same value).

[0023] Based on the PDB and CN PDB, the 5G Access Network Packet Delay Budget (5G-AN PDB) can be determined, which indicates the upper limit regarding the time by which a packet can be delayed between the UE and the radio network element, and is determined by subtracting the CN PDB from the PDB. Similarly, the 5G Access Network Packet Scheduling Delay Budget (5G-AN PSDB) can be determined by PSDB-CN PDDB.

[0024] For UL packet delivery, the following steps are typically used. · The UE reports a buffer size level to the radio network element (e.g., reports the amount of UL packets in the UE buffer by means of a BSR MAC CE), · The radio network element distributes a UL grant for the UE based on the reported BSR and AN PDB, · The UE transmits UL packets by means of the allocated UL grant.

[0025] When the radio network element distributes a UL grant for the UE based on the legacy procedure, the radio network element cannot grasp the length of time that the UL packet has been buffered before transmitting the BSR, and the length of time that the remaining AN PDB can be used for transmission. When the radio network element distributes a UL grant based on the AN PDB (e.g., without considering the duration for which the UL packet has been buffered in the UE), the UL packet transmission delay (e.g., the delay from when the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP until the packet arrives at the radio network element) may exceed the AN PDB, and UL transmission may not be able to meet the service requirements.

[0026] Based on the current specifications, PDB and CN PDB are configured for each QoS flow, while BSR is reported for each logical channel group (LCG), and one LCG may include multiple logical channels. The mapping between QoS flows and logical channels is shown in Figure 1.

[0027] Therefore, even if the UE reports the remaining AN PDB for each LCG, the radio network element cannot determine the logical channels corresponding to the remaining AN PDB. And the UE cannot grasp the PDB for non-standardized 5QI cases and cannot determine the remaining AN PDB.

[0028] Furthermore, when the UE receives a UL grant and there are multiple logical channels with data to be transmitted, the UE should prioritize the logical channels (Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP)) and select one or more logical channels with data to be transmitted. Based on the current specifications, only the PBR (Prioritized Bit Rate) and the elapsed time that the data is buffered at the UE are considered, and the remaining PDB is not considered. Therefore, logical channels with smaller PDBs are not prioritized for transmission, and the UL packet transmission delay (e.g., the delay from when the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP until the packet arrives at the radio network element, e.g., the radio network element PDCP) can exceed the AN PDB, and the UL transmission may not be able to meet the service requirements.

[0029] Among other problems, in particular, solutions are provided to overcome these problems.

[0030] (Introduction to Embodiments) This section discloses multiple examples related to UE information reporting and packet delay management techniques in a wireless communication system. The details of the examples will be described in the following embodiments.

[0031] (Embodiment 1) This section discloses an example including a frame design including time information and BSR.

[0032] Based on the PDB and the CN PDB, a 5G access network packet delay budget (5G-AN PDB) can be determined, which indicates an upper limit on the time for which a packet can be delayed between the UE and the radio network element, and is determined by subtracting the CN PDB from the PDB. The radio network element can also determine a packet discard timer for each DRB based on the AN PDB or a PDU set discard timer for each DRB based on the AN PSDB.

[0033] As discussed in the background section, the radio network element cannot grasp the length for which UL packets are buffered on the UE side based on the legacy procedure. If the radio network element distributes UL grants based on the AN PDB (for example, without considering the duration for which UL packets are buffered at the UE) or the packet discard timer, the UL packet transmission delay (for example, the delay from when the packet arrives at the UE PDCP until the packet arrives at the radio network element, for example, the radio network element PDCP) can exceed the AN PDB or the packet discard timer, and UL transmission cannot meet the service requirements.

[0034] And based on the current specification, PDB, CN PDB, PSDB, and CN PSDB are configured for each QoS flow, the packet discard timer is configured for each DRB, but the BSR is reported for each logical channel group (LCG), one LCG may include multiple logical channels, and multiple QoS flows and / or multiple DRBs may be mapped to one logical channel. Therefore, even if the UE reports the remaining AN PDB for each LCG, the remaining AN PSDB for each LCG, or the remaining packet discard time, the radio network element cannot determine the corresponding logical channel for the remaining AN PDB, the remaining AN PSDB for each LCG, or the remaining packet discard time. And the UE cannot grasp the PDB for non-standardized 5QI cases and cannot determine the remaining AN PDB.

[0035] This embodiment proposes an example for solving the above problem.

[0036] Figure 2 shows an example of a buffer size and related time information reporting MAC CE.

[0037] As disclosed in Figure 2,

[0038] The LCG ID indicates logical channel group identification, which identifies the group of logical channels for which the buffer status is reported.

[0039] Buffer size: After all MAC PDUs for a TTI are constructed, it identifies the amount of data available across all logical channels in the logical channel group. The amount of data is indicated in bytes. This is considered to include data available for transmission in the RLC layer and PDCP layer corresponding to the time information, and the buffer size level includes at least one of the following: the current buffer size level, an interpolated current buffer size level for finer granularity, the TB size value, multiple TB size values.

[0040] Time information: The buffer size identifies the time cached at the UE, which includes at least one of the following: the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP; the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget; the remaining time until the packet discard timer expires; the arrival time when the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP; an immediate scheduling indication indicating whether the packet corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately, a scheduling priority indication indicating whether the packet corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled with a higher priority or transmitted; the elapsed time since the PDU set arrived at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP; the remaining time until the elapsed time since the PDU set arrived at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) PDU set delay budget; the remaining time until the PDU set discard timer expires, the arrival time when the PDU set arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP; an immediate scheduling indication indicating whether the PDU set corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately, a scheduling priority indication indicating whether the PDU set corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled with a higher priority or transmitted.

[0041] (AN) The packet delay budget is used to determine the time information. When one LCG corresponds to multiple (AN) packet delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN) packet delay budgets are mapped to one LCG), the minimum value of the (AN) packet delay budget of the QoS flows mapped to the LCG is used to calculate the time information of the LCG.

[0042] (AN) PDU set delay budget is used to determine time information. When one LCG corresponds to multiple (AN) PDU set delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN) PDU set delay budgets are mapped to one LCG), the minimum value of the (AN) PDU set delay budget of the QoS flows mapped to the LCG is used to calculate the time information of the LCG.

[0043] Packet discard timer is used to determine time information. When one LCG corresponds to multiple packet discard timers (for example, multiple radio bearers are mapped to one LCG), the minimum value of the packet discard timer of the radio bearers mapped to the LCG is used to calculate the time information of the LCG.

[0044] PDU set discard timer is used to determine time information. When one LCG corresponds to multiple PDU set discard timers (for example, multiple radio bearers are mapped to one LCG), the minimum value of the PDU set discard timer of the radio bearers mapped to the LCG is used to calculate the time information of the LCG.

[0045] When elapsed time or remaining time is reported, the reference timing should also be indicated considering the MAC CE (re) transmission delay, for example, it should be explicitly indicated by the reference SFN field or implicitly defined based on the predefined nearest SFN (for example, SFN0), and the time information is counted based on the SFN end boundary. The elapsed time or remaining time can be the duration (indicated by units such as milliseconds, microseconds, number of slots, number of subframes, etc.), percentage of the (AN) packet delay budget, percentage of the (AN) PDU set delay budget, percentage of the packet discard timer.

[0046] When arrival time is reported, it includes at least one of the following information: the value of the least significant (rightmost) 2 bits of the hyper SFN, the SFN (System Frame Number), the sub SFN, the slot number.

[0047] When an immediate scheduling instruction or a scheduling priority instruction is reported, it can be reported explicitly by an indicator field in the MAC CE or implicitly by a pre - defined logical channel ID in the MAC header (e.g., a specific logical channel ID is pre - defined for reporting a higher - priority buffer size).

[0048] If multiple PDUs belong to a PDU set, the PDU remaining time, the PDU set elapsed time, and the PDU set delay budget are used for remaining time or elapsed time calculation. In that case, the maximum elapsed time of the PDUs in the PDU set is used as the PDU set elapsed time, and the minimum remaining time of the PDUs in the PDU set is used as the PDU set remaining time. This rule is also used for all inventions (e.g., when a PDU belongs to a PDU set, the PDU set time replaces the PDU time for time calculation).

[0049] The number of bits of each field in the MAC CE is only an example, and it can be less or more. The number of octets is also an example, and more octets can be used for each MAC CE.

[0050] As disclosed in Figure 2A,

[0051] Field information is the same as that in Figure 2, except that the radio bearer identification is included in the buffer size and related time information reporting MAC CE (e.g., the LCG ID is replaced by the radio bearer identification), and it can report the buffer size and related time information for each radio bearer with, for example, finer granularity.

[0052] (AN) Packet delay budget is used to determine time information. When one radio bearer corresponds to multiple (AN) packet delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN) packet delay budgets are mapped to one radio bearer), the minimum value of the (AN) packet delay budget of the QoS flows mapped to the radio bearer is used to calculate the time information of the radio bearer.

[0053] (AN) PDU set delay budget is used to determine time information. When one radio bearer corresponds to multiple (AN) PDU set delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN) PDU set delay budgets are mapped to one radio bearer), the minimum value of the (AN) PDU set delay budget of the QoS flows mapped to the radio bearer is used to calculate the time information of the radio bearer.

[0054] As disclosed in Figure 2B,

[0055] The field information is the same as that in Figure 2, except that the logical channel identification is included in the buffer size and the related time information reporting MAC CE (the LCG ID is replaced by the logical channel identification), and it reports the buffer size and the related time information for each logical channel. For example, more bits of MAC CE can be used to report the buffer size and the related time information with finer granularity.

[0056] (AN) Packet delay budget is used to determine time information. When one logical channel corresponds to multiple (AN) packet delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN) packet delay budgets are mapped to one logical channel), the minimum value of the (AN) packet delay budget of the QoS flows mapped to the logical channel is used to calculate the time information of the logical channel.

[0057] (AN)PDU set delay budget is used to determine time information, and when one logical channel corresponds to multiple (AN)PDU set delay budgets (for example, multiple QoS flows with different (AN)PDU set delay budgets are mapped to one logical channel), the minimum value of the (AN)PDU set delay budget of the QoS flow mapped to the logical channel is used to calculate the time information of the logical channel.

[0058] Packet discard timer is used to determine time information, and when one logical channel corresponds to multiple packet discard timers (for example, multiple radio bearers are mapped to one logical channel), the minimum value of the packet discard timer of the radio bearer mapped to the logical channel is used to calculate the time information of the logical channel.

[0059] PDU set discard timer is used to determine time information, and when one logical channel corresponds to multiple PDU set discard timers (for example, multiple radio bearers are mapped to one logical channel), the minimum value of the PDU set discard timer of the radio bearer mapped to the logical channel is used to calculate the time information of the logical channel.

[0060] (Embodiment 2) This section discloses an example with a method by which a UE, when receiving a UL grant and having multiple logical channels with data to be transmitted, prioritizes the logical channels (Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP)) and selects one or more logical channels with data to be transmitted.

[0061] Multiple examples considering PDB or discard timer with relative priority are disclosed for LCP improvement.

[0062] This embodiment is related to the foregoing embodiments.

[0063] The Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) procedure is always applied when a new transmission is performed.

[0064] RRC controls the uplink data scheduling by signaling the following for each logical channel for each MAC entity: - priority, which indicates a lower priority level the larger the priority value - prioritisedBitRate, which sets the prioritised bit rate (PBR) - bucketSizeDuration, which sets the bucket size duration (BSD)

[0065] The following UE variables are used for the logical channel prioritization procedure. - Bj, which is maintained for each logical channel j

[0066] When a logical channel is established, the MAC entity shall initialize Bj of the logical channel to zero.

[0067] For each logical channel j, the MAC entity shall: 1> Prior to all instances of the LCP procedure, increment Bj by the product (PBR × T × 1 / remaining T), where T is the time elapsed since Bj was last incremented, and remaining T is the remaining time until the packet arrival time at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget, the remaining time until the time elapsed since the PDU set arrival time at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) PDU set delay budget, the remaining time until the packet discard timer expires, or the remaining time until the PDU set discard timer expires. 1> If the value of Bj exceeds the bucket size (i.e., PBR × BSD), 2> Set Bj to the bucket size.

[0068] When a new transmission is performed, the MAC entity shall: 1> Allocate resources to logical channels as follows. 2> For the UL grant where Bj>0, the logical channels selected in clause 5.4.3.1.2 are allocated resources in ascending order of priority. If the PBR of a logical channel is set to infinity, the MAC entity shall allocate resources for all data available for transmission on the logical channel before reaching the PBR of the lower priority logical channel. 2> Decrement Bj by the total size of the MAC SDUs served on the logical channel j.

[0069] (Embodiment 3) This section discloses an example with a method by which a UE prioritizes logical channels (Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP)) and selects one or more logical channels with data to be transmitted when the UE receives a UL grant and there are multiple logical channels with data to be transmitted.

[0070] In particular, multiple examples of the absolute priority scheme are disclosed with respect to the PDB or discard timer for LCP improvement.

[0071] This embodiment is related to the foregoing embodiments.

[0072] The Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) procedure is always applied when a new transmission is performed.

[0073] The RRC controls the scheduling of uplink data by signaling the following for each logical channel for each MAC entity.

[0074] - priority, where a larger priority value indicates a lower priority level

[0075] - prioritisedBitRate for setting the prioritized bit rate (PBR)

[0076] - Set the bucket size duration (BSD) as bucketSizeDuration

[0077] - Set the time threshold for LCP determination as lcpTimeThreshold

[0078] When the remaining T is less than or equal to lcpTimeThreshold, the MAC will select the logical channel with the highest priority. Here, the remaining T is the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget, or the remaining time until the PDCP discard timer expires, or the remaining PDU set time.

[0079] The following UE variables are used for the logical channel prioritization procedure.

[0080] - Bj maintained for each logical channel j

[0081] When a logical channel is established, the MAC entity shall initialize Bj of the logical channel to zero.

[0082] For each logical channel j, the MAC entity shall do the following: 1> Before all instances of the LCP procedure, increment Bj by the product PBR×T, where T is the time elapsed since Bj was last incremented. 1> If the value of Bj exceeds the bucket size (i.e., PBR×BSD), 2> Set Bj to the bucket size.

[0083] When a new transmission is performed, the MAC entity shall do the following. 1> Allocate resources to logical channels as follows. 2> For UL grants with Bj>0, the logical channels selected in Section 5.4.3.1.2 are allocated resources in ascending order of priority.

[0084] If the remaining T is less than or equal to the lcpTimeThreshold, the MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the data with the remaining T less than or equal to the lcpTimeThreshold for transmission on the logical channel.

[0085] If some PDUs are successfully transmitted, the MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the data in the PDU set with some PDUs that are successfully transmitted for transmission on the logical channel; if the PDU set is successfully transmitted, the MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the PDU set for transmission on the logical channel, which depends on the PDU set that is successfully transmitted.

[0086] If the PBR of the logical channel is set to infinity, the MAC entity shall allocate resources for all the data available for transmission on the logical channel before reaching the PBR of the lower-priority logical channel.

[0087] 2> Decrement Bj by the total size of the MAC SDUs served on the above logical channel j.

[0088] (Embodiment 4) This section discloses an example with a transmission procedure for PDB, PSDB, or LCP time threshold distribution.

[0089] This embodiment is related to the foregoing embodiments.

[0090] Figure 3 shows an example where the (AN) packet delay budget and / or the PDU set delay budget are delivered from the core network to the UE.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 3, the packet delay budget, AN packet delay budget, PDU set delay budget (PSDB), and / or AN PDU set delay budget are transmitted from the core network to the UE by the NAS for the UE to evaluate the remaining time until the elapsed time after the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget (as shown in FIGS. 2, 2-1, and 2-2), or to perform logical channel prioritization based on the packet delay budget in Embodiments 2 and 3.

[0092] Here, the packet delay budget or AN packet delay budget is the PDU set delay budget or AN PDU set delay budget.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 3A, the per-RB or per-DRB packet delay budget, AN packet delay budget, PDU set delay budget (PSDB), and / or AN PDU set delay budget are transmitted from the gNB to the UE by RRC signaling. For example, the packet delay budget or AN packet delay budget is included in the RadioBearerConfig IE, SDAP-Config IE, or DRB-ToAddMod IE.

[0094] It is used for the UE to evaluate the remaining time until the elapsed time after the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget (as shown in FIGS. 2, 2-1, and 2-2), or to perform logical channel prioritization based on the packet delay budget in Embodiments 2 and 3.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 3B, the packet delay budget per logical channel, the AN packet delay budget, the PDU set delay budget (PSDB), and / or the AN PDU set delay budget are transmitted from the gNB to the UE by RRC signaling. For example, the packet delay budget or the AN packet delay budget is included in the LogicalChannelConfig IE. These can be used by the UE to evaluate the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrives at the UE PDCP or the PDCP upper SAP reaches the (AN) packet delay budget (as shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, and 2B), or to perform logical channel prioritization based on the packet delay budget in Embodiments 2 and 3.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 3C, a time threshold (lcpTimeThreshold) for logical channel prioritization is transmitted from the gNB to the UE by RRC signaling. For example, the time threshold (lcpTimeThreshold) for logical channel prioritization is included in the LogicalChannelConfig IE. These can be used by the UE to determine the logical channel priority in the LCP procedure in Embodiment 3.

[0097] (Embodiment 5) This section discloses examples with examples related to the UE determining channel transmission priorities based on the received information.

[0098] This embodiment is related to the foregoing embodiments.

[0099] In this embodiment, the logical channel ID, LCG ID, or DRB ID is included in the PDCCH DCI for the UL grant to explicitly indicate that it is used for the logical channel ID, LCG ID, or DRB ID for which the UL grant is shown with the highest priority.

[0100] For example, when the logical channel ID is included in the PDCCH DCI containing the UL grant, the UE's MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the packet or PDU set for transmission on the logical channel associated with the logical channel ID included in the DCI; when the LCG ID is included in the PDCCH DCI containing the UL grant, the UE's MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the packet or PDU set for transmission on the logical channel included in the LCG associated with the LCG ID included in the DCI; when the DRB ID is included in the PDCCH DCI containing the UL grant, the UE's MAC entity shall first allocate resources for the packet or PDU set for transmission on the logical channel corresponding to the DRB associated with the DRB ID included in the DCI.

[0101] (Embodiment 6) This section discloses examples including methods involving UE capability reporting.

[0102] In the rel-17 NB-IoT, eMTC, and NR specifications, NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) is supported. Thus, the UE may support both TN and NTN. For example, the UE may access a TN cell or an NTN cell, but the radio capabilities may be different. For example, the UE supports some features in TN but does not support the features in NTN.

[0103] Generally, the UE reports its radio capabilities in TN. To distinguish the UE radio capabilities between TN and NTN, one possible method is for the UE to report both its TN radio capabilities and NTN radio capabilities.

[0104] Consider that some characteristic capabilities are different between TN and NTN for the same UE, while most characteristic capabilities are the same in TN and NTN for the same UE. Therefore, if the UE reports its overall TN radio capabilities and overall NTN radio capabilities simultaneously, the payload of the UE radio capabilities report is large, and the common characteristic capability information (e.g., supported by both TN and NTN, or not supported in either TN or NTN) is redundant.

[0105] Normally, the UE reports its overall TN radio capabilities, and one optimized way to report its TN and NTN capabilities is as follows:

[0106] If a feature is applicable in both TN and NTN and the radio capability field for NTN is not included in the NTN radio capability IE, the same field of the radio capability for TN within the TN radio capability IE is also applicable in NTN (e.g., for features supported by the UE in both TN and NTN, or features not supported in either TN or NTN, the UE can implicitly report its NTN radio capabilities using its TN radio capability IE. That is, for features applicable in TN and NTN, if the feature capability field is not included in the NTN radio capability IE, the TN feature radio capabilities within the TN radio capability IE are applicable in both TN and NTN, if the feature capability field is included in the NTN radio capability IE, the feature capability field within the NTN radio capability IE indicates only that NTN radio capability, and for features applicable only in TN or NTN, the feature capability field within the NTN radio capability IE indicates only that NTN radio capability, and the TN feature radio capabilities within the TN radio capability IE indicate only that NTN radio capability). Using this method, the payload of the UE radio capabilities report can be reduced. The method can be applied in any case where there are two IEs with the same sub-IE, and when the sub-IE is not included in one IE, the value of the same sub-IE in the other IE will be applicable in both IEs.

[0107] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary block diagram of a hardware platform 400 that may be part of a network device (e.g., a base station) or a communication device (e.g., a user equipment (UE)). The hardware platform 400 includes at least one processor 410 and a memory 405 having stored instructions. The instructions configure the hardware platform 400 to perform the operations described in the various embodiments described in FIGS. 1-3 and this patent document when executed by the processor 410. A transmitter 415 transmits or sends information or data to another device. For example, a network device transmitter can send a message to a user equipment. A receiver 420 receives information or data transmitted or sent by another device. For example, a user equipment can receive a message from a network device.

[0108] Implementations such as those discussed above would apply to network communications. FIG. 5 shows an example of a communication system (e.g., a 5G or NR cellular network) including a base station 520 and one or more user equipments (UEs) 511, 512, and 513. In some embodiments, a UE accesses a BS (e.g., a network) using a communication link to the network (sometimes called the uplink direction and depicted by dashed arrows 531, 532, 533), which then enables subsequent communication from the BS to the UE (e.g., in the direction from the network to the UE, sometimes called the downlink direction and shown by arrows 541, 542, 543). In some embodiments, the BS sends information to the UE (sometimes called the downlink direction and depicted by arrows 541, 542, 543), which then enables subsequent communication from the UE to the BS (e.g., in the direction from the UE to the BS, sometimes called the uplink direction and shown by dashed arrows 531, 532, 533). A UE can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile computer, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.

[0109] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary flowchart representation of a method for digital communication according to one or more embodiments of the present technology. Operation 602 includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including buffer size report information to a first communication device, the buffer size report information comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information.

[0110] FIG. 7 shows another exemplary flowchart representation of a method for digital communication according to one or more embodiments of the present technology. Operation 702 includes receiving, by a first communication device, a signal including buffer size report information transmitted by a wireless device, the buffer size report comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information. Operation 704 includes determining, by the first communication device, resource allocation for the wireless device based on the buffer size report information.

[0111] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary flowchart representation of a method for digital communication according to one or more embodiments of the present technology. Operation 802 includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including configuration information to a communication device, the configuration information comprising a first group of ability indications regarding a first network environment and a second group of ability indications regarding a second network environment, and at least one ability indication in the first group of ability indications and at least one ability indication in the second group of ability indications indicate the same characteristic ability.

[0112] Various preferred embodiments and additional features of the methods described above with reference to FIGS. 6 - 8 are as follows. Further examples are described with reference to Embodiments 1 - 6.

[0113] In some embodiments, the buffer size report information includes at least one of 1) a current buffer size level, 2) an interpolated current buffer size level for finer granularity, 3) a TB size value, or 4) a plurality of TB size values.

[0114] In some embodiments, the time information includes at least one of: 1) the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the first wireless device; 2) the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the wireless device reaches the delay budget; 3) the remaining time until the expiration time limit; 4) the arrival time when the packet arrives at the wireless device; 5) an indication as to whether a packet corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately; 6) the elapsed time since a packet data unit (PDU) set arrived at the first wireless device; 7) the remaining time until the elapsed time since the PDU set arrived at the wireless device reaches the delay budget; or 8) the arrival time when the PDU set arrives at the wireless device; 9) an indication as to whether a PDU set corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately.

[0115] In some embodiments, the identification information is at least one of: 1) a logical channel group (LCG) identification; 2) a radio bearer identification; or 3) a logical channel identification.

[0116] In some embodiments, the buffer size information indicates the amount of data available for all logical channels mapped to the identification information corresponding to the time information.

[0117] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, by the wireless device, second configuration information from a second communication device.

[0118] In some embodiments, the second communication device is at least one of: 1) a gNB; or 2) a core network.

[0119] In some embodiments, the second configuration information includes at least one of: 1) a packet delay budget; 2) an access network (AN) packet delay budget; 3) a packet data unit (PDU) set delay budget; or 4) an AN PDU set delay budget.

[0120] In some embodiments, the second configuration information is based on at least one of 1) a quality of service (QoS) flow, 2) a data radio bearer (DRB), or 3) a logical channel.

[0121] Another method for wireless communication is disclosed, the method including transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including configuration information to a communication device, the configuration information including a first group of capability indications regarding a first network environment and a second group of capability indications regarding a second network environment, and at least one capability indication in the first group of capability indications and at least one capability indication in the second group of capability indications indicating the same characteristic capabilities.

[0122] In some embodiments, the procedure includes determining an increment for transmission resources, the increment depending on an index indicating a remaining time for transmission to be completed.

[0123] In some embodiments, the increment further depends on 1) a remaining time from when a packet arrives at the wireless device until a delay budget is reached, 2) a remaining time until a discard time limit, or 3) an elapsed time indicating a predetermined remaining time.

[0124] In some embodiments, the increment is determined by a prioritized bit rate (PBR) × T × 1 / remaining T, where PBR is a prioritized bit rate configured by the communication device, T is a time elapsed since the increment was last incremented, and remaining T is 1) a remaining time until an elapsed time from when a packet arrives at the wireless device, 2) a remaining time until a discard time limit, or 3) a predetermined remaining time.

[0125] In some embodiments, the procedure includes setting a transmission resource with the highest transmission priority based on an index indicating a remaining time for transmission to be completed and a threshold value, the remaining time being below a predetermined remaining time threshold.

[0126] In some embodiments, the remaining time is at least one of: 1) the remaining time from when the packet arrives at the wireless device until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the wireless device reaches the delay budget; 2) the remaining time until the discard time limit; or 3) a predetermined remaining time.

[0127] In some embodiments, the threshold is transmitted from the communication device to the wireless device through signaling.

[0128] In some embodiments, the procedure includes setting a priority for the transmission resource in the transmission resource based on the identification information received by the wireless device from the communication device.

[0129] In some embodiments, the identification information is at least one of: 1) a logical channel ID; 2) a logical channel group (LCG) ID; or 3) a data radio bearer (DRB) ID.

[0130] Another method for wireless communication is disclosed, the method including transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including configuration information to a communication device, the configuration information including a first group of ability indications regarding a first network environment and a second group of ability indications regarding a second network environment, and at least one ability indication in the first group of ability indications and at least one ability indication in the second group of ability indications indicating the same characteristic ability.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first network environment is a terrestrial network (TN).

[0132] In some embodiments, the second network environment is a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0133] In some embodiments, the ability indication in the first group of abilities is applied to the second group of abilities when the corresponding ability indication in the second group of abilities is not included, and the ability indication in the second group of abilities is applied to the second group of abilities when the ability indication in the second group of abilities is included.

[0134] It is to be understood that this document discloses methods and apparatuses related to reporting buffer sizes and related delay budget information in a wireless communication system. In a wireless communication system, such as an LTE, NR, or 6G system, a core network may transmit multiple delay budgets to radio network elements (e.g., eNB, gNB). The delay budget may include a packet delay budget (PDB), a core network packet delay budget (CN PDB), a PDU set delay budget (PSDB), and a core network PDU set delay budget (CN PSDB). Based on the PDB and CN PDB, a 5G access network packet delay budget (5G-AN PDB) can be determined. Similarly, a 5G access network packet delay budget (5G-AN PSDB) can be determined by the PSDB-CN PDDB. Under the current system, when a radio network element allocates a UL grant for a UE, the radio network element cannot know the length of time that UL packets are buffered before transmitting a BSR and the remaining AN PDB can be used for transmission, which can cause unnecessary delay and inefficiency in communication. Moreover, based on the current specification, the PDB and CN PDB are configured for each QoS flow, while the BSR is reported for each logical channel group (LCG), and one LCG may include multiple logical channels. Therefore, even if the UE reports the remaining AN PDB for each LCG, the radio network element cannot determine the corresponding logical channel for the remaining AN PDB. And the UE cannot know the PDB for non-standardized 5QI cases and cannot determine the remaining AN PDB.

[0135] Furthermore, upon receiving a UL grant, the UE should prioritize logical channels (Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP)) and select one or more logical channels with data to be transmitted. Based on the current specification, only the PBR (Prioritized Bit Rate) and the elapsed time during which data is buffered at the UE are considered, and the remaining PDB is not considered, which may cause delays and inefficiencies in the communication process. This application proposes a plurality of methods to overcome the above problems.

[0136] The disclosed and other embodiments, modules, and functional operations described in this document can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware including the structures disclosed in this document and their functional equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. The disclosed and other embodiments can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., as one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, a data processing apparatus. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition that generates a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them. The term "data processing apparatus" includes, by way of example, all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including programmable processors, computers, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program, e.g., processor firmware, protocol stack, database management system, operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, generated to encode information for transmission to a suitable receiver device.

[0137] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be described in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. The program can be stored in a part of a file that holds other programs or data (such as one or more scripts stored within a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program, or in multiple cooperating files (such as files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer, or located at one site, or distributed across multiple computers located at multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0138] The processes and logical flows described in this specification can be implemented by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logical flows can also be implemented by, and the apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0139] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. Essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing the instructions and one or more memory devices for storing the instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks, or to receive data therefrom, or to transfer data thereto, or both. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include, by way of example, all forms of nonvolatile memory, media, and memory devices including semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0140] This book contains many details, but these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the claimed invention or what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features described in this book in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented separately in multiple embodiments or in any suitable sub-combination. Further, although a feature may be described above as acting in a certain combination and may even be initially claimed as such, one or more features from the claimed combination can in some cases be deleted from the combination, and the claimed combination can be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, although operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all of the illustrated operations be performed, in order to achieve a desirable result.

[0141] Only some examples and implementations are disclosed. Examples and implementations and variations, modifications, and improvements of other implementations can be made based on the disclosed content.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including buffer size report information to a first communication device, the buffer size report information comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information.

2. A method for digital communication, the method comprising: receiving, by a first communication device, a signal including buffer size report information transmitted by a wireless device, the buffer size report comprising identification information, buffer size information, and time information; and determining, by the first communication device, resource allocation for the wireless device based on the buffer size report information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buffer size report information includes at least one of 1) a current buffer size level, 2) an interpolated current buffer size level for finer granularity, 3) a TB size value, or 4) a plurality of TB size values.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time information includes at least one of 1) the elapsed time since a packet arrived at the first wireless device, 2) the remaining time until the elapsed time since a packet arrived at the wireless device reaches a delay budget, 3) the remaining time until an expiration time limit, 4) the arrival time at which a packet arrives at the wireless device, 5) an indication indicating whether a packet corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately, 6) the elapsed time since a packet data unit (PDU) set arrived at the first wireless device, 7) the remaining time until the elapsed time since the PDU set arrived at the wireless device reaches a delay budget, 8) the arrival time at which the PDU set arrives at the wireless device, or 9) an indication indicating whether a PDU set corresponding to the buffer size should be scheduled or transmitted immediately.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification information is at least one of 1) a logical channel group (LCG) identification, 2) a radio bearer identification, or 3) a logical channel identification.

6. ​ The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buffer size information indicates the amount of data available for all logical channels mapped to the identification information corresponding to the time information.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the wireless device, second configuration information from a second communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second communication device is at least one of 1) a gNB or 2) a core network.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second configuration information comprises at least one of 1) a packet delay budget, 2) an access network (AN) packet delay budget, 3) a packet data unit (PDU) set delay budget, or 4) an AN PDU set delay budget.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second configuration information is based on at least one of 1) a quality of service (QoS) flow, 2) a data radio bearer (DRB), or 3) a logical channel.

11. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising transmitting, by a wireless device, information regarding at least one transmission resource based on a logical channel priority, the logical channel priority being determined by a certain procedure.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the procedure comprises determining an increment for the transmission resource, the increment depending on an index indicating the remaining time for transmission to be completed.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the increment further depends on 1) the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the wireless device reaches the delay budget, 2) the remaining time until the discard time limit, or 3) the elapsed time indicating a predetermined remaining time.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the increment is determined by priority bit rate (PBR) × T × 1 / remaining T, where PBR is a priority bit rate configured by a communication device, T is the time elapsed since the increment was last incremented, and remaining T is 1) the remaining time until the elapsed time since the packet arrived at the wireless device, 2) the remaining time until the discard time limit, or 3) a predetermined remaining time.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the procedure includes setting a transmission resource with the highest transmission priority based on an index indicating a remaining time until transmission is completed and a threshold value, and the remaining time is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining time threshold value.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the remaining time is at least one of 1) a remaining time from when a packet arrives at the wireless device until the elapsed time reaches a delay budget, 2) the remaining time until a discard time limit, or 3) a predetermined remaining time.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the threshold value is transmitted from the communication device to the wireless device through signal transmission.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the procedure includes setting a priority for a transmission resource in the transmission resource based on identification information received by the wireless device from a communication device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the identification information is at least one of 1) a logical channel ID, 2) a logical channel group (LCG) ID, or 3) a data radio bearer (DRB) ID.

20. A method for wireless communication, the method including transmitting, by a wireless device, a signal including configuration information to a communication device, the configuration information including a first group of capability values related to a first network environment and a second group of capability values related to a second network environment, and at least one capability indication in the first group of the capability indications and at least one capability indication in the second group of the capability indications indicate the same characteristic capability.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first network environment is a terrestrial network (TN).

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the second network environment is a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein a capability indication in the first group of the capabilities is applied to the second group of the capabilities when a corresponding capability indication in the second group of the capabilities is not included, and a capability indication in the second group of the capabilities is applied to the second group of the capabilities when the capability indication in the second group of the capabilities is included.

24. An apparatus for a communication network, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-23. **Claim 25** A computer-readable storage medium storing code, the code causing a processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-23 when executed by the processor.

Images