WTRU Reachability in Energy-Saving Networks
By configuring WTRUs to monitor NES groups and adjust DRX cycles, the WTRU addresses inefficiencies in 5G networks, reducing energy consumption and operational costs through optimized resource usage.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025504836
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-27
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-08-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing 5G networks consume significant power even when there are no transmissions or activities, particularly due to unnecessary baseband processing and beamforming, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy consumption.
Implementing a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to monitor network energy-saving (NES) groups, utilize discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles, and adjust paging monitoring based on NES states, reducing unnecessary signal transmissions and optimizing port usage.
Reduces network energy consumption by minimizing unnecessary activities and optimizing resource usage, promoting greener network deployments and lower operational costs.
Smart Images

Figure 2025529653000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 394,735, filed August 3, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 410,327, filed September 27, 2022, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]
[0002] Techniques for energy conservation in a particular network (e.g., a 5G network) may be under consideration. For example, one or more enhancements may be considered to enable the network to minimize power consumption by transmission and / or reception. Such minimization may be beneficial for reduced operational costs and / or environmental sustainability.
[0003] Compared to previous systems, for example, one or more (e.g., specific) networks (e.g., 5G NR) may minimize one or more transmissions from the network, for example, when there is no data. For example, always-on cell-specific reference signals (CRS) may be unused in one or more (e.g., specific) efficient networks, which may result in further energy consumption reductions.
[0004] In one or more examples, a network may consume energy even when there is no transmission from one or more other activities, such as baseband (e.g., digital) processing for reception and / or beamforming. Such wasted power consumption may be significant (e.g., in a dense network) even when there are no WTRUs being served during a given period. For example, energy consumption may be reduced if the network avoids such activities when there are no transmissions to WTRUs.
[0005] Additionally or alternatively, one or more (e.g., a particular) network (e.g., 5G NR) may support beamforming using one or more (e.g., a large number) ports (e.g., up to 64 transmit and receive ports), and / or energy consumption may increase as the number of ports utilized increases. For one or more (e.g., all) particular WTRUs, it may not be necessary to utilize the maximum number of ports. For example, energy consumption may be reduced if the network optimizes the number of ports (e.g., to only the required number).
[0006] In an example, network energy conservation may aim to improve the operation of the cellular ecosystem and / or enable more efficient optimization of network transmission and / or reception resources in the time, frequency, spatial, and / or power domains. For example, such scenarios may receive support, feedback, and / or assistance from one or more WTRUs. In an example, echo-friendly WTRU operation (e.g., enabling the deployment of greener network deployments and / or reduced emissions and running costs associated with operating cellular networks) may be provided. For example, one or more (e.g., certain) networks (e.g., 5G) may eliminate the need for always-on synchronization and / or reference signal transmission and / or support scalable bandwidth and / or MIMO capabilities, thereby achieving greater efficiency in the operation of newer deployments. Summary of the Invention
[0007] A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) may be associated with a network energy saving (NES) group. The WTRU may be configured to monitor downlink resources associated with the NES group. For example, the WTRU may receive a notification associated with the NES group via the downlink resources. The WTRU may be configured to receive configuration information related to discontinuous reception (DRX). For example, the configuration information may include an indication of a first DRX cycle. The WTRU may monitor paging messages from a serving cell according to the first DRX cycle. The WTRU may receive, for example, an indication that the serving cell is in an NES state via downlink resources associated with the NES group. The WTRU may transition to a second DRX cycle (e.g., an NES DRX cycle) in response to the received indication that the serving cell is in the NES state. For example, the WTRU may determine the second DRX cycle based on a function. In response to the indication that the serving cell is in the NES state, the WTRU may monitor for paging messages from the serving cell according to the second DRX cycle. Additionally or alternatively, in response to the received indication that the serving cell is in the NES state, the WTRU may monitor for paging messages from the second cell according to the first DRX cycle.
[0008] The WTRU may receive configuration information. The WTRU may receive configuration information indicating that a first cell is associated with a second cell. The configuration may include, for example, an indication that the second cell should be used for paging early indication (PEI) monitoring when the first cell is selected as a camped cell and / or the first cell is in a network energy saving (NES) state. The configuration information may indicate a first PEI subgroup and / or a second PEI subgroup. The first PEI subgroup may be associated with the second cell. The second PEI subgroup may be associated with the first cell. The WTRU may monitor the PEI via the second cell, for example, based on determining that the first cell is in the NES state. The WTRU may receive the PEI via the second cell, for example. The WTRU may monitor paging. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging via a second cell on the condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates a first PEI subgroup. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging via a first cell on the condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates a second PEI subgroup. The WTRU may transmit a signal via the first cell if the page is received via the first cell, and / or the WTRU may transmit an indication via the second cell indicating the identity of the first cell if the page is received via the second cell. The WTRU may determine, for example, that the first cell is no longer in the NES state if the page is received via the first cell.
[0009] The first cell may be associated with a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle. The second cell may be associated with a second DRX cycle. The WTRU may apply the first DRX cycle, for example, on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the first cell. The WTRU may apply the second DRX cycle, for example, on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the second cell. The WTRU may determine a paging frame (PF) and / or a paging occasion (PO) for the first cell or the second cell, for example, based on an NES-specific WTRU identity (ID).
[0010] The WTRU may receive broadcast signaling and / or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions. The WTRU may determine that one or more SSB transmissions and / or one or more POs are delayed and / or skipped in the first cell. The WTRU may determine that a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) POs for the second DRX cycle will not be transmitted, for example, based on the determination that one or more SSB transmissions and / or one or more POs are delayed or skipped in the first cell. The WTRU may receive the broadcast signaling and / or one or more SSB transmissions to determine the first cell and / or the second cell. For example, the WTRU may determine the first cell and / or the second cell based on the received broadcast signaling and / or one or more properties associated with the one or more SSB transmissions.
[0011] The WTRU may determine the second cell. For example, the WTRU may determine the second cell based on one or more channel measurements and / or one or more handover candidate configurations.
[0012] The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell based on, for example, receiving a primary synchronization signal (PSS) transmission. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell based on, for example, receiving a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) transmission. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell based on both receiving a PSS transmission and receiving an SSS transmission.
[0013] The WTRU may receive configuration information including an indication that the WTRU is included in a set of one or more WTRUs, for example, provided that the set of one or more WTRUs is in one or more cells that are in the NES state. The WTRU may monitor and / or receive one or more group common indications associated with the set of one or more WTRUs in the NES state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0014] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an example communication system in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. [Figure 1B] 1B is a system diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communication system illustrated in FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment. [Figure 1C] 1A is a system diagram illustrating an example radio access network (RAN) and an example core network (CN) that may be used within the communication system illustrated in FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment. [Figure 1D] 1B is a system diagram illustrating a further exemplary RAN and a further exemplary CN that may be used within the communication system illustrated in FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] An example related to the time / frequency structure of SSB is given below. [Figure 3] An example related to beam sweeping is given below. [Figure 4] An example is provided relating to switching the NES DRX cycle while the WTRU is in an idle / inactive state for the NES. [Figure 5] An example relating to an illustrative example of a paging procedure in an NES state, including receiving a paging from a second cell, is shown. [Figure 6] A second example is given relating to an example of a paging procedure in an NES state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] 1A is a diagram illustrating an example communication system 100 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. Communication system 100 may be a multiple-access system that provides content, such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcasts, etc., to multiple wireless users. Communication system 100 may enable multiple wireless users to access such content through sharing of system resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communication system 100 may employ one or more channel access methods such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), zero-tail unique-word DFT-Spread OFDM (ZT UW DTS-s OFDM), unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), resource block filtered OFDM, filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), etc.
[0016] 1A, communications system 100 may include wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs) 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, RANs 104 / 113, CNs 106 / 115, public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, and other networks 112, although it will be understood that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and / or network elements. Each of WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may be any type of device configured to operate and / or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, any of which may be referred to as a "station" and / or "STA," may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals and may include user equipment (WTRU), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a subscription-based unit, a pager, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, a netbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor, a hotspot or Mi-Fi device, an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable device, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and application (e.g., for remote surgery), an industrial device and application (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless device operating in an industrial and / or automated processing chain context), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on a commercial wireless network and / or an industrial wireless network, etc. Any of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may be referred to interchangeably as a WTRU.
[0017] The communications system 100 may also include a base station 114a and / or a base station 114b. Each of the base stations 114a, 114b may be any type of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to facilitate access to one or more communications networks, such as the CN 106 / 115, the Internet 110, and / or other networks 112. By way of example, the base stations 114a, 114b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node B, an eNodeB, a Home Node B, a Home eNodeB, a gNB, an NR Node B, a site controller, an access point (AP), a wireless router, etc. Although the base stations 114a, 114b are each depicted as a single element, it will be understood that the base stations 114a, 114b may include any number of interconnected base stations and / or network elements.
[0018] The base station 114a may be part of the RAN 104 / 113, which may also include other base stations and / or network elements (not shown), such as a base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relay nodes, etc. The base station 114a and / or base station 114b may be configured to transmit and / or receive radio signals on one or more carrier frequencies, which may be referred to as a cell (not shown). These frequencies may be licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A cell may provide wireless service coverage for a particular geographic area, which may be relatively fixed or may change over time. A cell may be further divided into cell sectors. For example, the cell associated with the base station 114a may be divided into three sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, the base station 114a may include three transceivers, i.e., one transceiver for each sector of the cell. In one embodiment, the base station 114a may employ multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) technology and may utilize multiple transceivers per sector of the cell, for example, using beamforming to transmit and / or receive signals in desired spatial directions.
[0019] The base stations 114a, 114b may communicate with one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d over an air interface 116, which may be any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF), microwave, centimeter wave, micrometer wave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). The air interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio access technology (RAT).
[0020] More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may be a multiple-access system, but may employ one or more channel access schemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, etc. For example, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c in the RAN 104 / 113 may implement a radio technology such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), which may establish the air interface 115 / 116 / 117 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA). WCDMA may include communications protocols such as High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and / or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-Speed Downlink (DL) Packet Access (HSDPA) and / or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
[0021] In one embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface 116 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or LTE-Advanced (LTE-Advanced, LTE-A) and / or LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-Advanced Pro, LTE-A Pro).
[0022] In one embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as NR radio access, which may establish the air interface 116 using New Radio (NR).
[0023] In one embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement multiple radio access technologies. For example, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may jointly implement LTE radio access and NR radio access, e.g., using dual connectivity (DC) principles. Thus, the air interface utilized by the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be characterized by multiple types of radio access technologies and / or transmissions to and from multiple types of base stations (e.g., eNBs and gNBs).
[0024] In other embodiments, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a wireless technology such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e., Wireless Fidelity, WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), or the like.
[0025] 1A may be, for example, a wireless router, a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or an access point and may utilize any suitable RAT to facilitate wireless connectivity in a local area such as a business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, an industrial facility, an air corridor (e.g., for use by drones), a road, etc. In one embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In yet another embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may establish a picocell or a femtocell using a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1A, the base station 114b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110. Thus, the base station 114b may not need to access the Internet 110 through the CN 106 / 115.
[0026] The RAN 104 / 113 may communicate with the CN 106 / 115, which may be any type of network configured to provide voice, data, application, and / or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. The data may have various quality of service (QoS) requirements, such as different throughput, latency, error tolerance, reliability, data throughput, mobility, etc. The CN 106 / 115 may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-based services, prepaid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution, etc., and / or perform high-level security functions such as user authentication. Although not shown in FIG. 1A , it will be understood that the RAN 104 / 113 and / or the CN 106 / 115 may communicate directly or indirectly with other RANs employing the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 113 or a different RAT. For example, the CN 106 / 115, in addition to being connected to the RAN 104 / 113, which may utilize NR radio technology, may also communicate with another RAN (not shown) employing GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, WiMAX, E-UTRA, or WiFi radio technology.
[0027] The CN 106 / 115 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and / or other networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include a circuit-switched telephone network providing plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet 110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks and devices, which use common communication protocols such as the transmission control protocol (TCP), the user datagram protocol (UDP), and / or the internet protocol (IP) of the TCP / IP Internet protocol suite. The network 112 may include wired and / or wireless communication networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. For example, the network 112 may include another CN connected to one or more RANs, which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 113 or a different RAT.
[0028] Some or all of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d in the communications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities (e.g., the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may include multiple transceivers for communicating with different wireless networks over different wireless links.) For example, the WTRU 102c shown in FIG. 1A may be configured to communicate with a base station 114a, which may employ a cellular-based wireless technology, and a base station 114b, which may employ an IEEE 802.2 wireless technology.
[0029] 1B is a system diagram illustrating an example WTRU 102. As shown in FIG. 1B, the WTRU 102 may include, among other things, a processor 118, a transceiver 120, a transmit / receive element 122, a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, a display / touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132, a power source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, and / or other peripherals 138. It will be understood that the WTRU 102 may include any sub-combination of the foregoing elements while remaining consistent with an embodiment.
[0030] The processor 118 may be a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuit, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, etc. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, and / or any other functionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wireless environment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120, which may be coupled to the transmit / receive element 122. While FIG. 1B depicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separate components, it will be understood that the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package or chip.
[0031] The transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit or receive signals to or from a base station (e.g., base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmit and / or receive RF signals. In one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an emitter / detector configured to transmit and / or receive IR signals, UV signals, or visible light signals, for example. In yet another embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive both RF signals and light signals. It will be understood that the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive any combination of wireless signals.
[0032] 1B as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit / receive elements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 may employ MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two or more transmit / receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface 116.
[0033] The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate signals transmitted by the transmit / receive element 122 and demodulate signals received by the transmit / receive element 122. As noted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, the transceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers to enable the WTRU 102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as, for example, NR and IEEE 802.11.
[0034] The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to and may receive user-entered data from a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, and / or a display / touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor 118 may also output user data to the speaker / microphone 124, the keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128. Additionally, the processor 118 may access information from and store data in any type of suitable memory, such as non-removable memory 130 and / or removable memory 132. The non-removable memory 130 may include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storage device. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card, etc. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may access information from and store data in memory that is not physically located on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or home computer (not shown).
[0035] The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134 and may be configured to distribute and / or control the power to other components in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitable device for providing power to the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 may include one or more dry batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, etc.
[0036] The processor 118 may also be coupled to a GPS chipset 136, which may be configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude and latitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In addition to, or instead of, information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU 102 may receive location information from base stations (e.g., base stations 114a, 114b) over the air interface 116 and / or determine its location based on the timing of signals received from two or more nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may acquire location information by way of any suitable location-determination method while remaining consistent with an embodiment.
[0037] The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, which may include one or more software and / or hardware modules that provide additional features, functionality, and / or wired or wireless connectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include an accelerometer, an electronic compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera (for photos and / or videos), a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vibration device, a television transceiver, a hands-free headset, a Bluetooth module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an internet browser, a virtual reality and / or augmented reality (VR / AR) device, an activity tracker, etc. The peripheral device 138 may include one or more sensors, which may be one or more of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a Hall effect sensor, a magnetometer, a direction sensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a time sensor, a geolocation sensor, an altimeter, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a magnetometer, a barometer, a gesture sensor, a biometric sensor, and / or a humidity sensor.
[0038] The WTRU 102 may include a full-duplex radio where transmission and reception of some or all of the signals associated with a particular subframe (e.g., for both the UL (e.g., for transmission) and downlink (e.g., for reception)) may be parallel and / or simultaneous. The full-duplex radio may include an interference management unit 139 to reduce and or substantially eliminate self-interference either through hardware (e.g., chokes) or signal processing via a processor (e.g., via a separate processor (not shown) or processor 118). In one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include a half-duplex radio for transmission and reception of either some or all of the signals (e.g., associated with a particular subframe for either the UL (e.g., for transmission) or downlink (e.g., for reception)).
[0039] 1C is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 104 and the CN 106, according to one embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ E-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also communicate with the CN 106.
[0040] The RAN 104 may include eNodeBs 160a, 160b, and 160c, although it will be understood that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNodeBs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNodeBs 160a, 160b, and 160c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c over the air interface 116. In an embodiment, the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, and 160c may implement MIMO technology. Thus, the eNodeB 160a may, for example, use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to and / or receive wireless signals from the WTRU 102a.
[0041] Each of the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of users in the UL and / or DL, etc. As shown in FIG. 1C, the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c may communicate with one another via an X2 interface.
[0042] 1C may include a mobility management entity (MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network (PDN) gateway (or PGW) 166. Although each of the foregoing elements is depicted as part of the CN 106, it will be understood that any of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than the CN operator.
[0043] The MME 162 may be connected to each of the eNodeBs 162a, 162b, 162c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may function as a control node. For example, the MME 162 may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, activating / deactivating bearers, selecting a particular serving gateway during initial attach of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, etc. The MME 162 may provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies such as GSM and / or WCDMA.
[0044] The SGW 164 may be connected to each of the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface. The SGW 164 may generally route and forward user data packets to and from the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. The SGW 164 may perform other functions, such as anchoring the user plane during inter-eNodeB handovers, triggering paging when DL data is available to the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and managing and storing the context of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c.
[0045] The SGW 164 may be connected to a PGW 166, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to packet-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices.
[0046] The CN 106 may facilitate communications with other networks. For example, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and traditional landline communications devices. For example, the CN 106 may include or communicate with an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 106 and the PSTN 108. Additionally, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to other networks 112, which may include other wired and / or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers.
[0047] Although the WTRU is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D as a wireless terminal, it is contemplated that in certain representative embodiments, such a terminal may use a wired communication interface (e.g., temporarily or permanently) with the communication network.
[0048] In a representative embodiment, the other network 112 may be a WLAN.
[0049] A WLAN in infrastructure Basic Service Set (BSS) mode may have an access point (AP) of the BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated with the AP. The AP may have access to or interface with a Distribution System (DS) or another type of wired / wireless network that carries traffic within and / or outside the BSS. Traffic originating from outside the BSS to a STA may arrive through the AP and be delivered to the STA. Traffic originating from a STA to a destination outside the BSS may be sent to the AP for delivery to the respective destination. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be sent, for example, through the AP, where the source STA may send traffic to the AP, and the AP may deliver the traffic to the destination STA. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be considered and / or referred to as peer-to-peer traffic. Peer-to-peer traffic may be sent between (e.g., directly between) a source STA and a destination STA using a direct link setup (DLS). In certain representative embodiments, the DLS may use 802.11e DLS or 802.11z tunneled DLS (TDLS). A WLAN using an Independent BSS (IBSS) mode may not have an AP, and STAs within or using the IBSS (e.g., all of the STAs) may communicate directly with each other. The IBSS mode of communication may sometimes be referred to herein as an "ad hoc" communication mode.
[0050] When using the 802.11ac infrastructure mode of operation or a similar mode of operation, an AP may transmit beacons on a fixed channel, such as a primary channel. The primary channel may be a fixed width (e.g., a 20 MHz wide bandwidth) or a width that is dynamically set via signaling. The primary channel may be the operating channel of the BSS, but may be used by STAs to establish a connection with the AP. In certain representative embodiments, for example, in an 802.11 system, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA) may be implemented. With CSMA / CA, STAs (e.g., all STAs), including the AP, may sense the primary channel. If a particular STA senses / detects and / or determines that the primary channel is busy, the particular STA may back off. One STA (e.g., only one station) may transmit in a given BSS at any given time.
[0051] High Throughput (HT) STAs may use 40 MHz wide channels for communication, which may be formed, for example, through a combination of a primary 20 MHz channel and adjacent or non-adjacent 20 MHz channels.
[0052] A Very High Throughput (VHT) STA may support channels with widths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and / or 160 MHz. A 40 MHz and / or 80 MHz channel may be formed by combining contiguous 20 MHz channels. A 160 MHz channel may be formed by combining eight contiguous 20 MHz channels or by combining two non-contiguous 80 MHz channels, which may be referred to as an 80+80 configuration. For the 80+80 configuration, after channel encoding, the data may pass through a segment parser, which may separate the data into two streams. Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) processing and time-domain processing may be performed separately on each stream. The streams may be mapped to two 80 MHz channels, and the data may be transmitted by the transmitting STA. At the receiver of the receiving STA, the operations described above for the 80+80 configuration may be reversed, and the combined data may be sent to Medium Access Control (MAC).
[0053] Sub-1 GHz operating modes are supported by 802.11af and 802.11ah. Channel operating bandwidths and carriers are reduced in 802.11af and 802.11ah compared to those used in 802.11n and 802.11ac. 802.11af supports bandwidths of 5 MHz, 10 MHz, and 20 MHz in the TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum, while 802.11ah supports bandwidths of 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz using non-TVWS spectrum. According to representative embodiments, 802.11ah may support meter-type control / machine-type communications, such as MTC devices, within a macro coverage area. MTC devices may have limited capabilities, including, for example, support for (e.g., only support for) specific and / or limited bandwidths. MTC devices may include batteries with above-threshold battery life (e.g., to maintain very long battery life).
[0054] WLAN systems that can support multiple channels and channel bandwidths, such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11af, and 802.11ah, include a channel that can be designated as a primary channel. The primary channel can have a bandwidth equal to the maximum common operating bandwidth supported by all STAs in the BSS. The bandwidth of the primary channel can be configured and / or limited by the STAs among all STAs operating in the BSS that support the minimum bandwidth operating mode. In an 802.11ah embodiment, the primary channel can be 1 MHz wide for STAs (e.g., MTC-type devices) that support (e.g., only) the 1 MHz mode, even if the AP and other STAs in the BSS support 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, 16 MHz, and / or other channel bandwidth operating modes. Carrier sensing and / or Network Allocation Vector (NAV) configuration can depend on the status of the primary channel. For example, if the primary channel is busy due to a STA (that only supports 1 MHz operating mode) transmitting to the AP, the entire available frequency band may be considered busy, even though most of the frequency band may remain idle and be available for use.
[0055] In the United States, the available frequency band that can be used by 802.11ah is 902MHz to 928MHz. In South Korea, the available frequency band is 917.5MHz to 923.5MHz. In Japan, the available frequency band is 916.5MHz to 927.5MHz. The total bandwidth available for 802.11ah is 6MHz to 26MHz depending on the country code.
[0056] 1D is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 113 and the CN 115, according to one embodiment. As mentioned above, the RAN 113 may employ NR radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 113 may also communicate with the CN 115.
[0057] The RAN 113 may include gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c, although it will be understood that the RAN 113 may include any number of gNBs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c over the air interface 116. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may implement MIMO technology. For example, the gNB 180a, 180b may transmit signals to and / or receive signals from the gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c using beamforming. Thus, the gNB 180a may transmit and / or receive wireless signals to and / or from the WTRU 102a using, for example, multiple antennas. In one embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement carrier aggregation technology. For example, the gNB 180a may transmit multiple component carriers to the WTRU 102a (not shown). A subset of these component carriers may be on unlicensed spectrum, while the remaining component carriers may be on licensed spectrum. In one embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) technology. For example, the WTRU 102a may receive coordinated transmissions from the gNBs 180a and 180b (and / or 180c).
[0058] The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using scalable numerology and associated transmissions. For example, the OFDM symbol spacing and / or OFDM subcarrier spacing may vary for different transmissions, different cells, and / or different portions of the wireless transmission spectrum. The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using subframes or transmission time intervals (TTIs) of different or scalable lengths (e.g., including different numbers of OFDM symbols and / or lasting different absolute times).
[0059] The gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be configured to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c in a standalone configuration and / or a non-standalone configuration. In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c without accessing another RAN (e.g., eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c, etc.). In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may utilize one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c as mobility anchor points. In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using signals in unlicensed bands. In a non-standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate / connect with a gNB 180a, 180b, 180c while also communicating / connecting with another RAN, such as an eNodeB 160a, 160b, 160c. For example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a DC principle to communicate with one or more gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c and one or more eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c substantially simultaneously. In a non-standalone configuration, the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c may act as mobility anchors for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may provide additional coverage and / or throughput for serving the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c.
[0060] Each of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of users in the UL and / or DL, support for network slicing, dual connectivity, interworking between NR and E-UTRA, routing of user plane data to User Plane Functions (UPFs) 184a, 184b, routing of control plane information to Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs) 182a, 182b, etc. As shown in FIG. 1D, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may communicate with each other via an Xn interface.
[0061] 1D may include at least one AMF 182a, 182b, at least one UPF 184a, 184b, at least one Session Management Function (SMF) 183a, 183b, and possibly a Data Network (DN) 185a, 185b. While each of the foregoing elements is depicted as part of the CN 115, it will be understood that any of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than the CN operator.
[0062] The AMF 182a, 182b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c in the RAN 113 via an N2 interface and may function as a control node. For example, the AMF 182a, 182b may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, supporting network slicing (e.g., handling different PDU sessions with different requirements), selecting a particular SMF 183a, 183b, managing registration areas, terminating NAS signaling, mobility management, etc. Network slicing may be used by the AMF 182a, 182b to customize the CN support of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c based on the type of service utilizing the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. For example, different network slices may be established for different use cases, such as services relying on ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) access, services relying on enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB) access, services for machine type communication (MTC) access, etc. The AMF 162 may provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 113 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and / or non-3GPP access technologies, such as WiFi.
[0063] The SMFs 183a, 183b may be connected to the AMFs 182a, 182b in the CN 115 via an N11 interface. The SMFs 183a, 183b may also be connected to the UPFs 184a, 184b in the CN 115 via an N4 interface. The SMFs 183a, 183b may select and control the UPFs 184a, 184b and configure the routing of traffic through the UPFs 184a, 184b. The SMFs 183a, 183b may perform other functions such as managing and assigning IP addresses for WTRUs, managing PDU sessions, controlling policy enforcement and QoS, providing downlink data notification, etc. The PDU session type may be IP-based, non-IP-based, Ethernet-based, etc.
[0064] The UPFs 184a, 184b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c in the RAN 113 via an N3 interface, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to packet-switched networks such as the Internet 110 to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices. The UPFs 184, 184b may perform other functions such as routing and forwarding packets, enforcing user plane policy, supporting multi-homed PDU sessions, handling user plane QoS, buffering downlink packets, providing mobility anchoring, etc.
[0065] The CN 115 may facilitate communication with other networks. For example, the CN 115 may include or communicate with an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that acts as an interface between the CN 115 and the PSTN 108. Additionally, the CN 115 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to other networks 112, which may include other wired and / or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. In one embodiment, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be connected to local data networks (DNs) 185a, 185b through the UPFs 184a, 184b via an N3 interface to the UPFs 184a, 184b and an N6 interface between the UPFs 184a, 184b and the DNs 185a, 185b.
[0066] 1A-1D and the corresponding descriptions thereof, one or more or all of the functions described herein with respect to one or more of the WTRUs 102a-d, base stations 114a-b, eNode-Bs 160a-c, MME 162, SGW 164, PGW 166, gNBs 180a-c, AMFs 182a-ab, UPFs 184a-b, SMFs 183a-b, DNs 185a-b, and / or any other devices described herein may be performed by one or more emulation devices (not shown). The emulation devices may be one or more devices configured to emulate one or more or all of the functions described herein. For example, the emulation devices may be used to test other devices and / or simulate network and / or WTRU functions.
[0067] The emulation devices may be designed to implement one or more tests of other devices in a lab environment and / or an operator network environment. For example, one or more emulation devices may perform one or more or all functions while fully or partially implemented and / or deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network to test other devices in the communication network. One or more emulation devices may perform one or more or all functions while temporarily implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. The emulation devices may be directly coupled to another device for testing purposes and / or may perform testing using terrestrial wireless communications.
[0068] One or more emulation devices may perform one or more functions, inclusive, while not being implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. For example, the emulation devices may be utilized in test scenarios in a test lab and / or in an undeployed (e.g., test) wired and / or wireless communication network to implement testing of one or more components. One or more emulation devices may be test equipment. Direct RF coupling and / or wireless communication via RF circuitry (which may include, e.g., one or more antennas) may be used by the emulation devices to transmit and / or receive data.
[0069] Systems, methods, and / or apparatuses provided herein may relate to grouping of WTRUs. For example, one or more methods may be provided herein for tailoring discontinuous reception (DRX) to NES conditions, such as group-based DRX.
[0070] Systems, methods, and / or apparatuses provided herein may relate to paging. Tailoring paging occasions and / or frames to align with network energy saving (NES) states may be described herein. Monitoring of paging on alternate serving cells may be provided herein. For example, a WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more alternate cells when a best serving cell and / or camped cell (e.g., based on one or more measured channel conditions) is in a particular availability state (e.g., deep sleep, dormant, and / or off) and / or does not detect a presence signal (e.g., a discovery signal, synchronization signal block (SSB), reference signal, and / or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmitted from a cell in the NES) associated with the best cell, possibly in a different synchronization signal (SS). NES-based subgroup indication in a paging early indication (PEI) may be provided herein. For example, a WTRU may monitor a PEI with a cell-specific subgroup when the best serving cell is asleep. The PEIs may be received from the same best cell and / or different cells. Delayed paging based on detection of a cell signal block and / or lack of signal detection may be provided herein.
[0071] As described herein, channel state information (CSI) may include one or more of a channel quality index (CQI), a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix index (PMI), an L1 channel measurement (e.g., a reference signal received power (RSRP) such as L1-RSRP, or a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR)), a CSI-reference signal (CSI-RS) resource indicator (CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), a SS / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block resource indicator (SSBRI), a layer indicator (LI), and / or any other measurement measured by the WTRU from a configured CSI-RS or SS / PBCH block.
[0072] As described herein, uplink control information (UCI) may include one or more of CSI, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for one or more HARQ processes, a scheduling request (SR), a link recovery request (LRR), a configuration grant or cell group (CG-UCI), and / or one or more other control information bits that may be transmitted on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and / or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).
[0073] As described herein, channel conditions may refer to one or more (e.g., any) conditions related to radio / channel conditions, which may be determined by the WTRU based on one or more of WTRU measurements (e.g., L1 / SINR / RSRP, CQI / modulation and coding scheme (MCS), channel occupancy, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), power headroom, exposure headroom), L3 / mobility-based measurements (e.g., RSRP, reference signal received quality (RSRQ)), radio link monitoring (RLM) status, and / or channel availability in the unlicensed spectrum (e.g., whether the channel is considered occupied based on a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure determination and / or whether consistent LBT failures have occurred on the channel).
[0074] As described herein, a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource may refer to a PRACH resource (e.g., in frequency), a PRACH occasion (RO) (e.g., in time), a preamble format (e.g., in terms of total preamble duration, sequence length, guard time duration, and / or cyclic prefix length), and / or a particular preamble sequence used for transmitting a preamble in a random access procedure.
[0075] The scheduling information (e.g., uplink grant and / or downlink assignment) may include one or more of: a frequency assignment, a time assignment (e.g., aspects of the time assignment such as duration), a priority, a modulation and coding scheme, a transport block (TB) size, one or more (e.g., a certain number of) spatial layers, one or more (e.g., a certain number of) transport blocks to be carried, a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state and / or an SRS resource indicator (SRI) (e.g., the SRI may indicate uplink PUSCH spatial relationship information), one or more (e.g., a certain number of) repetitions, and / or whether the grant is a configured grant type 1, type 2, or dynamic grant.
[0076] The downlink control information (DCI) and / or one or more (e.g., any) other (e.g., suitable) indications may include one or more of an indication of a value used to mask a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) of the PDCCH (e.g., an explicit indication via a DCI field and / or via a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI)), an implicit indication, e.g., via a property such as a DCI format, a DCI size, a core set or search space, an aggregation level, an identity of a first control channel resource for the DCI (e.g., an index of the first control channel element (CCE)) (where the mapping between the property and the value may be signaled by radio resource control (RRC) and / or medium access control (MAC)), and / or an explicit indication (e.g., via a downlink (DL) MAC control element (CE)).
[0077] The terms network availability state and NES state may be used interchangeably herein.
[0078] The terms selected cell, best cell, first cell, best measured cell, serving cell, and / or camp cell may be used interchangeably herein.
[0079] In one or more (e.g., a particular) networks (e.g., NR), system information (SI) may include a master information block (MIB) and / or one or more (e.g., a number of) system information blocks (SIBs). For example, the SIBs may be divided into minimum SIs and other SIs. The minimum SIs may include information used for initial access and / or to obtain one or more (e.g., any other) SIs. The minimum SIs may include MIBs and / or SIB1. In order for a WTRU to camp on a cell, the WTRU may have (e.g., needs to have) acquired the contents of the minimum SI of that cell.
[0080] The one or more other SIs may include SIBs that are not broadcast at the minimum SI (e.g., all of the SIBs). The WTRU may not have received (e.g., may not need to receive) the SIBs until, for example, accessing the cell. Additionally or alternatively, the other SIs may be referred to as on-demand SIs (because, for example, the gNB may transmit and / or broadcast these SIBs only when explicitly requested by one or more WTRUs, for example, to save network energy).
[0081] The MIB may include cell barring status information and / or cell (e.g., mandatory) physical layer information (which may be used to receive further system information, e.g., CORESET#0 configuration). The MIB may be broadcast periodically on a broadcast channel (BCH) (e.g., the MIB may be transmitted with a periodicity of 80 ms (in which case repeated transmissions may occur) and / or may be transmitted within 80 ms).
[0082] SIB1 may include scheduling of one or more other system information blocks and / or may include specific information used for initial access. Additionally or alternatively, SIB1 may be referred to as the remaining minimum SI (RMSI) and / or may be periodically broadcast on a DL shared channel (SCH) and / or transmitted on a dedicated DL-SCH to one or more WTRUs in RRC_CONNECTED state.
[0083] FIG. 2 shows an example related to the time / frequency structure of an SSB. A synchronization signal and PBCH block (SSB) may include a primary synchronization signal and / or a secondary synchronization signal (PSS, SSS). For example, one or more (e.g., each) of the PSS and / or SSS may occupy one symbol and 127 subcarriers. The PBCH may span three orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and 240 subcarriers, but as shown in FIG. 2, the symbols on either side of the SSS may be unused. The time position where an SSB may reside in a half-frame may be determined by the subcarrier spacing. The periodicity of the half-frame in which the SSB is transmitted may be configured by the network. During a half-frame, different SSBs may be transmitted in one or more different spatial directions (e.g., using different beams spanning the coverage area of a cell).
[0084] Within the frequency span of a carrier, one or more (e.g., multiple) SSBs may be transmitted. The physical cell IDs (PCIs) of SSBs transmitted at different frequency locations may not be unique (e.g., different SSBs in the frequency domain may have different PCIs). When an SSB is associated with an RMSI, the SSB may be referred to as a Cell-Defining SSB (CD-SSB). A primary cell (PCell) may be associated with a CD-SSB located on the synchronization raster.
[0085] For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a band-specific subcarrier spacing for the SSBs, unless the network has configured the WTRU to determine (e.g., assume) a different subcarrier spacing. One or more (e.g., several) beams may be associated with a given cell, and / or one or more (e.g., multiple) SSBs may be transmitted on one or more different beams (e.g., beam sweeping) within a given cell.
[0086] 3 shows an example related to beam sweeping. As shown in FIG. 3, one or more (e.g., multiple) SSBs (e.g., 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d, 302e, 302f, 302g, 302h) may be transmitted at specific intervals. For example, each SSB may be identified by a unique number (e.g., an SSB index mapped to each beam, referred to as an SSB index). For example, SSB 302a may have unique identifier 0 (SSB0), SSB 302b may have unique identifier 1 (SSB1), SSB 302c may have unique identifier 2 (SSB2), SSB 302d may have unique identifier 3 (SSB3), SSB 302e may have unique identifier 4 (SSB4), SSB 302f may have unique identifier 5 (SSB5), SSB 302g may have unique identifier 6 (SSB6), and / or SSB 302h may have unique identifier 7 (SSB7). Each SSB may be transmitted via a particular beam radiated in a particular direction. Each transmit beam may be spatial (e.g., how a WTRU perceives one or more beams). For example, SSB 302a may be transmitted via a particular beam radiated in a different direction than SSB 302b, SSB 302c, and / or SSB 302d.
[0087] One or more (e.g., multiple) WTRUs (e.g., WTRU1 304a, WTRU2 304b) may be located at one or more (e.g., various) locations around gNB 301. The WTRUs may measure the signal strength of each of the detected SSBs over a particular period of time (e.g., the period of one SSB set). For example, WTRU1 304a may measure the signal strength of SSB0 302a, SSB1 302b, SSB2 302c, SSB3 302d, SSB4 302e, SSB5 302f, SSB6 302g, and / or SSB7 302h. For example, WTRU2 304b may measure the signal strength of SSB0 302a, SSB1 302b, SSB2 302c, SSB3 302d, SSB4 302e, SSB5 302f, SSB6 302g, and / or SSB7 302h. From the measurement results (e.g., 308a, 308b), the WTRUs (e.g., WTRU1 304a and / or WTRU2 304b) may identify the SSB index (e.g., 308a, 308b) with the strongest signal strength. With reference to the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, WTRU1 304a may identify beam #1 306a as the strongest signal strength 308a, and / or WTRU2 304b may identify beam #7 306b as the SSB index with the strongest signal strength 308b.
[0088] The number of different beams being transmitted may depend on and / or be based on how many SSBs are being transmitted in an SSB burst set (e.g., the set of SSBs transmitted within a 5 ms window 306 of SSB transmission). In frequency range one (FR1), the maximum number of SSBs in an SSB set may be 4 or 8, and in frequency range two (FR2), the maximum number of SSBs in an SSB set may be 64.
[0089] The WTRU may determine whether transmission and / or reception is possible on one or more (e.g., specific) resources based on (e.g., in response to) a network availability state, which may imply a power saving status of the gNB. The availability state may correspond to a network energy saving state and / or a gNB activity level. The availability state may be uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) specific and / or may change on a symbol-by-symbol, slot-by-slot, frame-by-frame, and / or longer duration granularity. The WTRU may determine the availability state, and / or the network may indicate the availability state. The availability state may include, for example, on, DL and UL active, UL active (e.g., only UL active), off, transmit (Tx) power reduction, hibernate, microsleep, light sleep, and / or deep sleep. These states may be abstracted by one or more network configuration parameters and / or values. As described herein, the WTRU may determine the network availability state based on an indication (e.g., a dynamic indication). For example, an indication (e.g., dynamic indication) indicating an active availability state may be sent to the WTRU (e.g., by DCI or MAC CE signaling). For example, an off availability state may imply that the gNB's baseband hardware is turned off. A sleep availability state may imply that the gNB periodically wakes up to transmit one or more (e.g., specific) signals (e.g., presence signals, synchronization, and / or reference signals) and / or receive one or more (e.g., specific) UL signals. In one or more (e.g., some) availability states, one or more (e.g., specific) DL and / or UL resources may be unavailable during one or more (e.g., specific) time periods, which may enable the network to turn off baseband processing and / or one or more other activities. One or more (e.g., some) measurement resources (e.g., SSB and / or CSI-RS) may be made available in (e.g., only in) one or more (e.g., specific) availability states.Additionally or alternatively, one or more (e.g., specific) measurements (e.g., RLM, beam failure detection (BFD), radio resource management (RRM) measurements, CSI-RS feedback configuration, CSI feedback, etc.) may be performed and / or reported in (e.g., only in) a particular availability state.
[0090] In one or more (e.g., specific) scenarios, the WTRU may (e.g., further) transmit a request (e.g., a wake-up request) to the network to change the network availability state. For example, the WTRU may request that the network availability state be changed to a state in which one or more resources are available that meet one or more WTRU requirements. Such a wake-up request may include a transmission that may be decodable by a low-complexity receiver at the gNB, which may minimize energy consumption. As described herein, the terms wake-up request, turn-on request, and / or switch-on WTRU assistance information may be used interchangeably. In one or more (e.g., specific) availability states (e.g., microsleep and / or deep sleep), the wake-up request may be used (e.g., exclusively) and / or may refer to a physical uplink signal transmitted by the WTRU to request a change in the network availability state. One or more (e.g., different) physical layer designs of the wake-up request signal may be used. Alternatively, the switch-on request may be a physical layer (e.g., and / or layer 2 (L2)) indication from the WTRU to the network, which may be delivered via MAC CE, UCI, RRC signaling, and / or RRC reconfiguration signaling (e.g., applicable to NES), PUCCH, and / or random access channel (RACH) indication. For example, the switch-on request may include switch-on WTRU assistance information and / or a positioning report.
[0091] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on, for example, a received availability state indication. For example, the availability state indication may be received via layer one (L1) / L2 signaling (e.g., a group-common DCI and / or indication) and / or may be determined (e.g., implicitly determined based on the reception, or lack thereof, of periodic DL signaling). The WTRU may determine that the first cell is no longer in the NES state, for example, when a page is received via the first cell.
[0092] The WTRU may determine whether resources are available for transmission / reception and / or measurement for the determined network availability state, e.g., whether applicable in an active availability state. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may optimize the WTRU's active connected mode DRX (C-DRX) cycle. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may optimize the WTRU's active spatial elements (e.g., antennas or logical ports). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may optimize the WTRU's active transmission / reception points (TRPs). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may optimize the WTRU's paging occasions depending on the signaled and / or determined NES state. The WTRU may be configured with one or more sets of NES transmission and / or reception parameters (e.g., per NES state). For example, the WTRU may be configured with one or more sets of NES transmission and / or reception parameters via signaling (e.g., broadcast and / or dedicated configuration signaling). The WTRU may apply the NES parameter set according to the determined and / or signaled NES state. The WTRU may apply one or more applicable configurations based on (e.g., in response to) the determined NES state. For example, the set of NES parameters may include one or more (e.g., a certain number of) antenna ports, a C-DRX configuration, a measurement configuration (e.g., for RRM, RLM, and / or BFD), a CSI-RS configuration, an SSB configuration, a conditional handover (CHO) or mobility candidate, and / or a set of active TRPs.
[0093] An availability state may be applicable to one or more transmission, reception, and / or measurement resources. An availability state may be applicable to one or more time periods, such as, for example, a time slot and / or a time symbol. An availability state may be applicable to a serving cell, a cell group, a frequency band, a bandwidth portion, a TRP, a set of spatial elements, and / or a range of frequencies within a bandwidth portion. For example, if the NES changes in a cell, the WTRU may receive an availability state change indication indicating that the state change is for that cell (e.g., only that cell). In an example, if the NES changes in a cell, the WTRU may receive an availability state change indication indicating that the state change is for a specific cell (e.g., all cells of the same frequency). In an example, if the NES changes in a cell, the WTRU may receive an availability state change indication indicating that the state change is for all cells of the same RAT.
[0094] The WTRU may consider an active availability state associated with a cell, carrier, TRP, and / or frequency band to be off, deep sleep, and / or microsleep, for example, based on (e.g., after) receiving DL signaling that changes the availability state of one or more TRPs and / or one or more cells. For example, the WTRU may receive a turn-off command via broadcast signaling, RRC signaling, DCI (e.g., a group-common DCI), and / or DL MAC CE (e.g., the indication portion of a PDSCH). The WTRU may determine its availability state based on (e.g., receiving) an availability state indication, which may be received, for example, via L1 / L2 signaling (e.g., a group-common DCI and / or indication). For example, the WTRU may determine a change in NES state change based on reception of group common command L1 signaling (e.g., a group common DCI, a multi-stage DCI, a specific DCI format, and / or a DCI scrambled by a configured and / or specified NES-specific RNTI). The L1 signaling may indicate one of the configured NES parameter sets to apply. Based on the L1 signaling, the WTRU, upon determining the NES state change, may determine a delta configuration from the current set of parameters. The WTRU may send feedback and / or an acknowledgment to the gNB, for example, following receipt of the NES state change indication. For example, the feedback and / or acknowledgment may be multiplexed with UL data (e.g., a MAC CE and / or part of the UL TB as a subheader indication) based on (e.g., following) receipt of the NES state change indication.
[0095] In an example, the WTRU may determine a change in the NES state based on receiving broadcast signaling associated with the NES state indication and / or change. For example, the change in the NES state may be received via signaling in one or more SIBs and / or as part of a broadcast and / or multicast PDSCH. Additionally or alternatively, the NES may be indicated (e.g., explicitly indicated) to the WTRU in a SIB. The WTRU may be configured with one or more SIBs associated (e.g., exclusively associated) with configuring the NES parameters. For example, the WTRU may be configured to receive (e.g., periodically) such broadcast and / or multicast indications (e.g., SIBs associated with configuring the NES parameters). The WTRU may receive the broadcast signaling and / or one or more SSB transmissions and determine a first (e.g., serving, best, camp) cell and / or a second (e.g., non-serving) cell based on the received broadcast signaling and / or one or more properties associated with the one or more SSB transmissions. The WTRU may determine that a misdetection (e.g., of a periodic SIB indication) has occurred if, for example, the SIB and / or indication is not received at the expected periodic occasion (e.g., if the WTRU is configured to periodically receive SIBs related to the configuration of NES parameters). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine that a misdetection (e.g., of a periodic SIB indication) has occurred if one or more (e.g., a certain number) misdetections have been counted. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine that a misdetection (e.g., of a periodic SIB indication) has occurred if a timer has elapsed since the last receipt of an NES state indication. Based on (e.g., following) a determination of a misdetection of an NES state indication, the WTRU may initiate one or more of the following: Based on (e.g., following) a determination of a misdetection of an NES state indication, the WTRU may initiate inter-cell measurements. The WTRU may initiate inter-frequency measurements based on (eg, following) a false positive determination of the NES status indication.The WTRU may initiate inter-RAT measurements based on (e.g., following) a false positive determination of the NES state indication. The WTRU may initiate mobility procedures following a false positive determination of the NES state indication. The WTRU may initiate evaluation of configured CHO candidates following a false positive determination of the NES state indication.
[0096] The WTRU may determine (e.g., implicitly determine) a particular availability state (e.g., off, deep sleep, microsleep, and / or hibernate) associated with a cell, carrier, TRP, and / or frequency band from one or more of the following:
[0097] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on receiving a command and / or a signal indicating a change in the availability state. The command and / or signal may include a group-common DCI in connected mode, and / or RRC signaling, and / or a presence signal. The WTRU may determine (e.g., implicitly determine) the availability state based on receiving periodic DL signaling, for example. The WTRU may be configured and / or specified to associate the availability state with one or more DL signal types (e.g., SSB, partial SSB, and / or one or more periodicities).
[0098] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on reception of a paging message, a paging DCI, a paging PDSCH, a paging-related signal (e.g., a paging early indication (PEI)), and / or a subset of paging occasions (POs) (e.g., POs aligned with a configured subset of NES DRX cycles and / or PDCCH resources). The WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that a given NES is active based on reception of a DCI and / or an indication portion of a PDCHH scheduling paging (e.g., depending on the P-RNTI, NES-RNTI). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that a given NES is active based on receiving an indication (e.g., explicit) (e.g., on a reserved bit). One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may determine the availability state based on reception of a paging message with, for example, a particular P-RNTI, a separately configured NES P-RNTI, and / or an NES group RNTI. The WTRU may determine the availability state based on (e.g., subsequently to) receiving a paging message having a particular P-RNTI. The WTRU may be configured with one or more PEI subgroups for the NES, where the subgroup may be associated with one or more availability states. For example, a first PEI subgroup may be associated with a second cell (e.g., a non-serving cell). For example, a second PEI subgroup may be associated with a first cell (e.g., a camp cell). The WTRU may determine the availability state based on receiving a PEI with the NES subgroup (e.g., if a particular availability state is configured and / or associated with the NES subgroup). An indication of the availability state or availability state switch may be indicated in the paging payload, for example, as a flag portion of a paging message and / or short message. Such a paging indication may (e.g., further) indicate one or more other cells to monitor for paging while the cell from which the received signaling is received is in an off, sleep, and / or NES state.Such paging indication may (e.g., further) indicate and / or signal one or more applicable reconfiguration parameters (e.g., for initial access, applicable PRACH resources, applicable SSB / RS occasions, applicable SI cycles, and / or one or more applicable cell and / or associated availability states).
[0099] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on the DTX status of the gNB (e.g., whether the gNB is in an active time and / or whether an associated activity timer is running).
[0100] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on the detection (e.g., or lack thereof) of a presence indication. One or more of the following may apply. For example, the WTRU may determine the availability state (e.g., off and / or deep sleep) associated with a cell if a presence indication is not detected for one or more presence indication occasions. The WTRU may determine the availability state based on the detection (e.g., or lack thereof) of a presence indication. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume and / or change) the availability state of a cell based on (e.g., after) one or more (e.g., a certain number) consecutive false detections and / or based on (e.g., after) the expiration of a timer after failing to detect a presence signal. The WTRU may determine that the availability state is active or inactive after the expiration of a timer associated with the availability state. In an example, the timer may be set and / or maintained in one or more (e.g., specific) states and / or modes (e.g., connected mode only). In an example, the timer may be set and / or maintained in certain other states (e.g., idle state, inactive state). For example, the WTRU may determine the availability state based on detecting (e.g., or lack thereof) a presence indication. The WTRU may (e.g., implicitly) determine the availability state based on failing to detect periodic DL signaling (e.g., lack of reception of periodic DL signaling). For example, the WTRU may be configured with a signal quality threshold (e.g., an RSRP threshold). The WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that an availability state is not active, for example, if the WTRU does not detect a signal associated with an availability state (e.g., a presence signal and / or SSB) having a signal strength above the threshold, and / or may determine (e.g., assume) that a different availability state is active. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that an availability state is not active based on failing to detect an identifying sequence of a presence signal (e.g., detection of a PSS sequence).
[0101] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on the time of day. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may be configured to determine (e.g., automatically determine, automatically assume) a particular availability state (e.g., off, sleep, or dormant) for a configured subset of cells (e.g., capacity-boosting cells) based on (e.g., in response to) the time of day. For example, the WTRU may determine that the capacity-boosting cells have an availability state of on for a first set of times in a day, an availability state of deep sleep for a second set of times in a day, and / or an availability state of off for a third set of times in a day.
[0102] The WTRU may determine the availability status based on the availability status of associated cells (e.g., other carriers of the same MAC entity, other carriers in the same cell group, other carriers in the same gNB, other sectors in the same gNB, and / or configured associated cells and / or capacity-boosting cells).
[0103] The WTRU may determine the availability status based on detection of a PSS signal (eg, a PSS-only signal) and / or an SSB signal (eg, a simplified / stripped-down SSB signal).
[0104] The WTRU may determine the availability status based on the detection (eg, or lack thereof) of RS signals (eg, CSI-RS, Positioning Reference Signals (PRS), TRS).
[0105] The WTRU may determine the availability state based on the RRC state of the WTRU (eg, idle, inactive, and / or connected).
[0106] The WTRU may determine the availability status based on whether a paging message is received (eg, received within a set time window).
[0107] The WTRU may determine the availability status based on whether system information (eg, a subset of periodic SIs and / or SIBs) is received (eg, within a configured time window).
[0108] The WTRU may determine an availability state based on one or more measured channel conditions falling below or above a threshold. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a change in the NES state based on a change in one or more measured channel conditions. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a change in the NES state based on making a channel measurement below (e.g., or above) a threshold. For example, the WTRU may determine the NES state using degradation in one or more measurements of SSB and / or CSI-RS (e.g., in combination with other signaling). For example, the WTRU may measure one or more SSB and / or CSI-RS for degradation using a configured window after receiving a DCI. The WTRU may determine that the NES state has changed and / or determine (e.g., assume) one or more associated actions for such an NES state (e.g., trigger for CHO candidate selection and / or group scheduling for mobility commands) if, for example, a delta of SSB-RSRP drops is measured.
[0109] A WTRU may be configured to monitor indications that may characterize a level of network activity (e.g., availability state). The network activity may be related to a gNB and / or a cell. The WTRU may assume the same availability state for one or more cells (e.g., all cells) that are part of the same gNB, e.g., cells of the same MAC entity. The network activity indication (e.g., presence indication) may include a channel (e.g., PDCCH) and / or a signal (e.g., sequence). The activity indication (e.g., NES state change indication / command) may indicate the level of activity (e.g., low activity, high activity, neutral activity) that the WTRU may expect from the associated gNB and / or cell. Additionally or alternatively, the activity indication may include activity information of other gNBs / cells. The activity indication may be received via a PDCCH transmission that includes group-common signaling. For example, the network may transmit a group-common DCI to a group of WTRUs (e.g., WTRUs in a serving cell) indicating a change in activity state and / or activity level (e.g., in the UL and / or DL). The CRC of the PDCCH may be scrambled with the RNTI (e.g., a dedicated activity indication RNTI, NES-RNTI). The WTRU may be configured with one or more search spaces associated with activity indication PDCCH monitoring occasions. The indication may include a go-to-sleep signal, e.g., a predefined sequence. For example, if the WTRU detects a go-to-sleep signal, the WTRU may expect a low activity level (e.g., for a particular duration). For example, the WTRU may activate C-DRX for the indicated period. Additionally or alternatively, one or more (e.g., two) sequences may be used to indicate (e.g., normal) activity and / or low activity.
[0110] The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include one or more of the following: The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include an expected activity level (e.g., availability state) of the associated gNB / cell over a particular time interval. One or more activity levels may be predetermined and / or configured. For example, the activity levels may include normal activity, low activity, neutral activity, etc. The signaling may indicate the activity level. For example, if a bit of the signal is set to 1, normal activity may be indicated. In an example, if a bit of the signal is set to 0, low activity may be indicated.
[0111] The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include transmission and / or reception attributes for one or more (e.g., each) activity levels (e.g., availability states). For example, during low activity, the WTRU may not be expected to monitor one or more (e.g., specific) PDCCH search spaces (e.g., all SSs), receive a specific type of PDSCH (e.g., all PDSCHs), transmit a PUCCH / PUSCH, and / or perform one or more (e.g., specific) measurements. The WTRU may start (and / or stop) monitoring PDCCH resources and / or TCI conditions associated with the determined NES state. For example, the WTRU may start (e.g., or stop) monitoring PDCCH resources and / or TCI conditions associated with a (de)activated TRP and / or one or more space elements.
[0112] The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include a set of settings. For example, the set of settings may be associated with an activity level and / or may be used / applied when that activity level is indicated (e.g., NES parameter sets). For example, the set of settings may include SS settings, CSI reporting settings, an index of a transmitted SSB, etc. One or more (e.g., each) of the sets of settings may include an attribute associated with the activity level. For example, one or more of the sets of settings may include a tag configurable for low activity.
[0113] The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include a time interval during which the activity level is determined (e.g., is valid, assumed). One or more of the following may apply: The time interval may be signaled in the PDCCH and / or included in the activity indication. For example, the time interval may be indicated using a bitmap, where one or more bits in the bitmap may be associated with a particular duration, e.g., slot and / or frame. For example, bit 1 of the bitmap may indicate normal activity, and bit 0 of the bitmap may indicate low activity in the associated frame. For example, the time interval may be indicated using a start time and a length of the interval. The start time may be defined. For example, the start time may be determined by adding a fixed offset to the time the time indication is received. The length of the interval may be configured and / or signaled via the indication PDCCH.
[0114] The signaling and / or activity indication in the PDCCH may include a time interval during which the activity level is valid (e.g., assumed), which may be determined (e.g., predetermined). The WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) an interruption delay (e.g., time until the NES change is made) based on (e.g., thereafter) receipt of an NES state change command (e.g., after the last symbol and / or slot in which the command was received). The interruption time may be an absolute time. The interruption time may be one or more (e.g., a certain number) symbols. The interruption time may be one or more (e.g., a certain number) slots.
[0115] The WTRU may perform cell reselection (e.g., to another cell, frequency layer, and / or RAT) based on determining an NES change (e.g., an NES change at the camp cell, serving cell, and / or candidate cell for reselection). The WTRU may be configured and / or predefined with alternative serving cells for performing initial access, mobility, and / or cell reselection. For example, if the current serving cell and / or capacity-boosting cell is turned off, the WTRU may be configured and / or predefined with alternative serving cells. Additionally or alternatively, if one or more (e.g., specific) conditions are met, the WTRU may be configured and / or predefined with alternative serving cells per broadcast and / or via dedicated signaling. For example, the WTRU may be configured with one or more lists of fallback and / or alternative serving cells (e.g., per serving cell and / or per gNB). For example, the WTRU may initiate cell reselection and / or mobility procedures to an alternative serving cell associated with the cell and / or gNB from which the received turn-off instruction originated. In an example, the turn-off instruction and / or go-to-sleep instruction may indicate (e.g., dynamically indicate) to which cell the WTRU should fall back and / or connect, e.g., by dedicated signaling and / or broadcast signaling. The fallback / alternate cell may be configured and / or predefined to be a cell within the same gNB where the sector entered the NES state (e.g., off, sleep, and / or low power state). In an example, the fallback cell may be predefined (e.g., as the master node cell when the WTRU is in dual connectivity). The fallback / alternate cell may be configured and / or predefined to be a cell associated with a different RAT and / or frequency band.For example, the WTRU may fall back to the cell from which the received turn-off instruction originated and / or the gNB-associated LTE or FR1 cell (e.g., if the WTRU is in carrier aggregation (CA) and / or DC using one or more (e.g., multiple) RATs and / or multiple frequency bands).
[0116] The WTRU may determine that uplink and / or downlink resources and / or signals are available for transmission and / or reception. The WTRU may perform one or more measurements for the determined network availability state, e.g., if applicable in an active availability state. The WTRU may determine that a subset of measurement resources and / or signals (e.g., SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, PRS) is not applicable in one or more (e.g., specific) availability states. The WTRU may determine that a subset of uplink or downlink resources (e.g., PRACH, PUSCH, PUCCH) is not applicable in one or more (e.g., specific) availability states. The WTRU may transmit one or more (e.g., some) uplink signals (e.g., sounding reference signal (SRS), pSRS, PRACH, UCI) in (e.g., only in) a subset of network (NW) availability states.
[0117] The WTRU may monitor (e.g., monitor for reception of) presence indications and / or signals associated with gNBs configured with one or more availability states (e.g., on, off, dormant, and / or deep sleep). One or more of the following may apply: The presence indication may be a signal (e.g., a physical downlink signal). For example, the presence indication may be transmitted (e.g., a physical downlink signal) by an associated sleeping cell and / or gNB, which may be in a particular availability state (e.g., deep sleep, microsleep, dormant, and / or off). Additionally or alternatively, the presence indication may be a downlink information bit delivered to the WTRU, for example, by broadcast signaling (e.g., SIB) and / or by dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC signaling and / or MAC CE).
[0118] The WTRU may change to an availability state (e.g., the WTRU may assume on) associated with the detected presence signal, e.g., based on (e.g., after) the WTRU successfully receiving a response (e.g., from the requested cell). The response may include the transmitted WTRU assistance information and / or a switch-on request transmitted by the WTRU. For example, the response may be received via DL signals and / or channels (e.g., SSB, CSI-RS, PRS, PDCCH, DCI, PDSCH, and / or HARQ-ACK) and / or L2 messages (e.g., RRC messages, DL MAC CE, Msg2, MsgB, and / or Msg4). The WTRU may monitor (e.g., start monitoring) one or more additional TRP, SSB, and / or CSI-RS resources, e.g., after transmitting the wake-up WTRU assistance information and / or switch-on request and / or based on (e.g., after) successfully receiving a response to the assistance information and / or switch-on request. For example, based on (e.g., after) the WTRU determines (e.g., measures, successfully measures) that one or more channel conditions (e.g., RSRP, SINR) of one or more measurement resources of an associated cell exceed a configured threshold, the WTRU may change the availability state associated with detecting a presence signal (e.g., to ON).
[0119] The presence indication signal may be one or more of a simplified and / or stripped-down SSB signal (e.g., PSS / SSS without multiplexed PBCH), wide-beam and / or omnidirectional SSB, PRS, CSI-RS, a signal detected based on energy sensing the ether (e.g., a DL signal associated with a wake-up radio (if the WTRU has such hardware capable of detecting it)), a PDSCH and / or PDCCH received on a different cell and / or TRP (e.g., on a configured subset of resources, core set, and / or search space), and / or one or more SSBs received on a different cell and / or TRP (e.g., configured on a subset of SSB occasions).
[0120] In examples, network energy consumption may be significant at times and, in some cases, unnecessary, e.g., during quiet hours. The network may turn off small cells during quiet hours and / or may rely on (e.g., rely on) one or more macro cells for coverage. The network may turn off one or more (e.g., some) sectors and / or gNBs. The network may reduce power consumption of power amplifiers (PAs). The network may enable sleep patterns on the gNB side (e.g., without significantly impairing WTRU performance). One or more gNBs may combine information (e.g., one or more WTRU measurements, WTRU assistance information, interference status, load information, proprietary information) to determine how to react (e.g., to add and / or reduce energy consumption) in response to significant energy consumption.
[0121] From the WTRU's perspective, the WTRU may experience a loss of coverage when one or more capacity cells activate NES. The WTRU may not be aware that the gNB has transitioned to an NES state (e.g., deep sleep and / or hibernate) when the WTRU is in an idle and / or inactive state, for example. To optimize network availability, the WTRU may know whether one or more (e.g., specific) cell signals (e.g., SSB, paging, SI) are transmitted normally (e.g., rather than not being received due to one or more poor / bad channel conditions).
[0122] One or more (e.g., certain) WTRU control plane procedures for connectivity management, WTRU reachability, cell reselection, and / or WTRU battery consumption may be affected when one or more gNBs are asleep and / or turned off. One or more of the following may apply: One or more paging messages and / or SI may be affected as described herein. For example, one or more paging messages may be transmitted by the core network to one or more (e.g., all) gNBs in a RAN paging / notification area. One or more gNBs in the same RAN paging area may transmit paging messages even if, for example, the WTRU is not in its cell. For example, if one or more gNBs in the same RAN paging area transmit paging messages and the WTRU is not in its cell, one or more (e.g., many) gNBs may wake up to transmit paging messages (e.g., even if some gNBs are in network energy saving, sleep, and / or hibernate states and / or there is a single WTRU paging in the entire notification area). Furthermore, in one or more examples, it may be considered wasteful to have the WTRU battery continue to monitor the normal idle mode DRX cycle for paging. For example, if the gNB is asleep (e.g., according to a different NES cycle and / or the WTRU is not to be paged), it may be considered wasteful to have the WTRU battery continue to monitor the normal idle mode DRX cycle for paging.
[0123] One or more WTRUs in idle mode may not be aware of the sleep cycle of the gNB and / or one or more WTRUs in idle mode may not be aware of whether SIs (e.g., other remaining SIs / SIBs, etc.) are broadcast by the network according to a regular (e.g., configured) periodicity.
[0124] Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to paging occasion optimization. Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to paging from a different (e.g., second, non-serving) cell. Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to indicating delayed paging of a sleeping cell. Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to indicating one or more upcoming pages from a different (e.g., second, non-serving) cell than a first (e.g., serving, camping) cell. Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to indicating one or more network energy saving (NES) states and / or delayed paging using one or more paging early indication (PEI) subgroups. Systems, methods, and / or devices provided herein may relate to muting a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) paging occasions (POs) that are not aligned with one or more transmitted synchronization signal blocks (SSBs).
[0125] A WTRU may receive configuration information. The WTRU may receive configuration information indicating that a first cell is associated with a second cell. The configuration may include, for example, an indication that the second cell should be used for paging early notification (PEI) monitoring when the first cell is selected as a camp cell and / or the first cell is in a network energy saving (NES) state. The configuration information may indicate a first PEI subgroup and / or a second PEI subgroup. The first PEI subgroup may be associated with the second cell. The second PEI subgroup may be associated with the first cell. The WTRU may monitor the PEI via the second cell, for example, based on a determination that the first cell is in an NES state. The WTRU may receive a PEI via the second cell, for example. The WTRU may monitor paging. For example, the WTRU may monitor paging via the second cell on the condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the first PEI subgroup. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging via a first cell, provided that the PEI received via the second cell indicates a second PEI subgroup. The WTRU may transmit a signal via the first cell if the page is received via the first cell, and / or the WTRU may transmit an indication via the second cell indicating the identity of the first cell if the page is received via the second cell. The WTRU may determine, for example, that the first cell is no longer in an NES state if the page is received via the first cell.
[0126] The first cell may be associated with a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle. The second cell may be associated with a second DRX cycle. The WTRU may apply the first DRX cycle, for example, on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the first cell. The WTRU may apply the second DRX cycle, for example, on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the second cell. The WTRU may determine a paging frame (PF) and / or a paging occasion (PO) for the first cell or the second cell, for example, based on an NES-specific WTRU identity (ID).
[0127] The WTRU may receive broadcast signaling and / or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions. The WTRU may determine that one or more SSB transmissions and / or one or more POs are delayed and / or skipped in the first cell. The WTRU may determine that a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) POs for the second DRX cycle will not be transmitted, for example, based on the determination that one or more SSB transmissions and / or one or more POs are delayed or skipped in the first cell. The WTRU may receive the broadcast signaling and / or one or more SSB transmissions to determine the first cell and / or the second cell. For example, the WTRU may determine the first cell and / or the second cell based on the received broadcast signaling and / or one or more properties associated with the one or more SSB transmissions.
[0128] The WTRU may determine the second cell. For example, the WTRU may determine the second cell based on one or more channel measurements and / or one or more handover candidate configurations.
[0129] The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell, for example, based on receiving a primary synchronization signal (PSS) transmission. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell, for example, based on receiving a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) transmission. The WTRU may determine the NES state of the first cell based on both receiving a PSS transmission and receiving an SSS transmission.
[0130] The WTRU may receive configuration information including an indication that the WTRU is included in a set of one or more WTRUs, for example, provided that the set of one or more WTRUs is in one or more cells that are in the NES state. The WTRU may monitor and / or receive one or more group common indications associated with the set of one or more WTRUs in the NES state.
[0131] Systems, methods, and / or apparatus may be provided herein for NES WTRU grouping. For example, described herein may be one or more techniques related to WTRU grouping while a network is in an NES state. For example, one or more DRX configurations may be tailored to the NES state of the network (e.g., group-based DRX, etc.).
[0132] Described herein are one or more techniques related to paging while the network is in an NES state. For example, paging occasions and / or frames may be tailored to the NES state of the network.
[0133] The WTRU may monitor for paging from alternate serving cells. One or more of the following may apply: For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more alternate cells when the serving cell (e.g., best serving cell and / or camp cell) is in a particular availability state (e.g., deep sleep, dormant, and / or off). Additionally or alternatively, if the serving cell (e.g., best serving cell or camp cell) fails to detect a presence signal (e.g., SSB or PDCCH) associated with the serving cell (e.g., possibly in a different SS), the WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more alternate cells.
[0134] The PEI may include an indication of an NES-based subgroup. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may monitor a PEI with a cell-specific subgroup, for example, when the serving cell (e.g., best serving cell) is asleep. For example, the PEI may be received from the serving cell and / or a different cell. The WTRU may monitor a PEI via a second cell, for example, based on a determination that the first cell is in an NES state.
[0135] Paging may be delayed, for example, based on detection (eg, or lack thereof) of a cell signal.
[0136] A WTRU may be grouped with one or more WTRUs. For example, a WTRU may be grouped with one or more WTRUs for NES (e.g., an NES WTRU group). For example, the NES WTRU group may be used to simultaneously control one or more (e.g., a certain number of) WTRUs, to indicate a bandwidth part (BWP) switch, to indicate a change in network availability state, to indicate changes to one or more WTRU DRX cycles and / or parameters, for mobility / cell reselection, for paging, and / or to activate and / or deactivate one or more DL measurement resources. A WTRU may receive configuration information including an indication that the WTRU is included in a set of one or more WTRUs, provided that the set of one or more WTRUs is in one or more cells that are in the NES state. The WTRU may monitor and / or receive one or more group-wide indications related to the set of one or more WTRUs in the NES state. For example, a WTRU may be configured with an NES group RNTI (e.g., an NES group identifier), which may be used for signaling and / or communication with one or more WTRUs in the same serving cell. The WTRU may monitor cell-specific DL resources for control and / or data reception and / or to receive one or more group-common indications for the NES (e.g., a group-common DCI, an availability state switch command, an NES PCell switch command, etc.).
[0137] A WTRU may be configured with one or more (e.g., non-default) NES DRX cycles for use while the WTRU is in an idle, inactive, and / or connected state (e.g., mode). For example, the one or more NES DRX cycles may be configured via SIB and / or RRC signaling. The one or more NES DRX cycles may be configured for WTRUs in a cell (e.g., all WTRUs) and / or may be cell-specific (e.g., applied only by WTRUs in the same cell for which it is configured). An NES DRX cycle may be used by the WTRU to wake up to read paging (e.g., a PDCCH addressed to a paging RNTI (P-RNTI)) in one or more idle and / or inactive states. An NES DRX cycle may be used by the WTRU for scheduling (e.g., a PDCCH addressed to a cell RNTI (C-RNTI)) while the WTRU is in one or more connected and / or inactive states. An NES DRX cycle and / or process may be associated with one or more NES states (e.g., one or more availability states). Such association may define and / or configure and / or be associated with one or more SSB periodicities. For example, the WTRU may apply an NES DRX cycle when the WTRU determines that the serving gNB is in an associated energy saving mode (e.g., an availability state).
[0138] The WTRU may be configured with a mapping between SSB patterns, periodicities, and / or periodicity ranges, and / or NES DRX cycles. One or more of the following may apply: For example, if the serving gNB determines that it has entered and / or applies an associated NES state, the WTRU may decide to activate, switch to, and / or apply an NES DRX cycle.
[0139] The WTRU may determine that a given serving cell is in a particular availability state (e.g., sleep, dormant, deep sleep, and / or off) using one or more techniques described herein (e.g., based on lack of signal detection, based on one or more received commands from the NW, and / or based on receiving a signal related to the sleep / availability state).
[0140] The WTRU may switch to a given C-DRX cycle (e.g., an NES DRX cycle) upon detecting a signal and / or command (e.g., a group-common DCI, an availability state switch command, an NES PCell switch command, and / or a group-common wake up signal (WUS) received from a gNB). The WTRU may switch to a different DRX cycle (e.g., a more frequent on-duration and / or a shorter DRX cycle) upon receiving a WUS (e.g., a group-common WUS, a dedicated WUS, or an NES-specific group / cell-common WUS) from the gNB. The WTRU may be configured to detect the NES-specific group / cell-common WUS. For example, the WTRU may detect the NES-specific group / cell-common WUS based on detecting a differentiated sequence for the DL WUS. For example, the WTRU may monitor the NES and / or cell-common WUS when it is determined that the serving cell and / or camped cell is in the NES state. For example, when the WTRU receives an NES state switch command and / or indication, the WTRU may monitor the NES and / or cell-wide WUS. The WTRU may monitor the WUS in an NES-specific sequence, for example, when the camped cell and / or serving cell is in a given NES state (e.g., deep sleep, off, etc.).
[0141] The WTRU may switch to a given C-DRX cycle (e.g., an NES DRX cycle) based on (e.g., after) receiving a DRX switch command and / or based on (e.g., after) receiving paging (e.g., a paging message, a PEI with a subgroup configured for NES, a paging DCI and / or PDCCH, and / or a paging PDSCH). The DRX switch command may be associated with a subset of paging occasions (POs) (e.g., POs aligned with the NES drx cycle). A first cell may be associated with the first DRX cycle. A second cell may be associated with the second DRX cycle. The WTRU may switch to a given C-DRX cycle (e.g., an NES DRX cycle) upon receiving an availability state switch command (e.g., a group-common DCI, etc.) and / or a WUS. For example, the WTRU may apply the first DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the first cell. For example, the WTRU may apply a second DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to a second cell. The WTRU may switch to a given C-DRX cycle (e.g., an NES DRX cycle) when it determines that a cell (e.g., a camped cell, a selected cell, a serving cell, and / or a best-measured cell) is in a given availability NES state (e.g., off, sleep, dormant, etc.). For example, the WTRU may perform one or more channel condition measurements for one or more (e.g., a certain number of) detectable cells. The WTRU may designate the best-measured cell as the cell with one or more best measurements (e.g., with respect to the channel conditions described herein).
[0142] 4 illustrates examples related to NES DRX cycle switching while a WTRU is in an idle / inactive state with respect to the NES 400. For example, the WTRU may be in (e.g., second) DRX cycle 405a, 405b (e.g., normal DRX cycle, legacy DRX cycle). In 401a, 401b, and / or 401c, for example, the WTRU may monitor one or more PO, paging, PDCCH, and / or paging PDCCH (e.g., associated with the second DRX cycle 405a, 405b).
[0143] At 404, the WTRU may receive a message as described herein. The message 404 may include a gNB sleep indication, a PO skip command, and / or a determination that the serving gNB is in the NES. The WTRU may, for example, switch from a DRX cycle 405a, 405b to an NES DRX cycle 406a, 406b based on the message 404 (e.g., as described herein). A first (e.g., serving, camped, best) cell may be associated with the first DRX cycle 406a, 406b. A second (e.g., non-serving) cell may be associated with the second DRX cycle 405a, 405b. The WTRU may apply the first DRX cycle (e.g., 406a, 406b) when connected to the first (camped, serving, best) cell. The WTRU may apply a second DRX cycle 405a, 405b when connected to a second (eg, non-serving) cell.
[0144] In an example, one or more POs may be skipped. For example, skipping a paging occasion in a (e.g., second) DRX cycle 405a, 405b and / or configuration may imply that the WTRU monitors paging, PO, PDCCH, and / or paging PDCCH in a different (e.g., second) DRX cycle (e.g., NES DRX cycle 406). The WTRU may skip monitoring at 411, 412, and / or 413 (e.g., in the second DRX cycle 405a, 405b) if the WTRU is monitoring at 410b, 410c, 414b, 414c in the second DRX cycle 406a, 406b. The WTRU may determine that a subset of PRACH resources is applicable to one or more DRX cycles (e.g., for use when receiving paging). For a random access (RA) initiated based on (e.g., after) a paging reception, the WTRU may use and / or select (e.g., only) one or more PRACH resources (e.g., RO and / or preamble) associated with the DRX cycle that the WTRU was paged and is monitoring.
[0145] Paging may be performed based on the NES state. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may monitor for paging from a cell if (e.g., only if) the cell is in one or more (e.g., specific) availability states (e.g., on and / or sleep) and / or may skip waking up in the DRX cycle of the cell that (e.g., otherwise) coincides with occasions when the cell is in one or more other availability states (e.g., off, deep sleep, and / or dormant). The WTRU may monitor for gNB wake-up signaling related to DRX and / or paging (e.g., power savings DCI (DCP)) in (e.g., only in) a subset of the cell's availability states (e.g., on or sleep). For example, the DCP may include a DCI with a CRC scrambled by a power savings RNTI (PS-RNTI). The WTRU may use the PS-RNTI (eg, for power saving purposes) to determine whether the WTRU will monitor the PDCCH at the next occurrence of the connected mode DRX on duration.
[0146] In an example, a WTRU may be configured to send tracking area updates (TAUs) and / or RAN paging area updates (RAUs) on (e.g., only on) a subset of cells that are in one or more (e.g., specific) availability states. For example, the WTRU may send TAUs and / or RAUs on (e.g., only on) a subset of cells, e.g., macro cells, based on (e.g., in response to) the availability state (e.g., when the camped cell switches to a specific availability state such as off or deep sleep). The WTRU may avoid sending one or more TAUs on capacity-boosting cells and / or cells with an availability state determined to be off, dormant, and / or sleep. The WTRU may trigger and / or send RAUs and / or TAUs, for example, when the WTRU performs mobility and / or cell reselection to a cell in an NES state, which may be based on (e.g., in response to) a change in the NES state between the camped cell and the reselected cell. For example, the WTRU may trigger a RAU and / or TAU when the WTRU reselects from an NES cell (e.g., an NES-only cell) to a non-NES cell (e.g., a cell that is not NES-capable and / or a cell that serves one or more legacy WTRUs). For example, the WTRU may trigger a RAU and / or TAU when the WTRU reselects from an NES cell (e.g., an NES-only cell) to a non-NES cell (e.g., a cell that does not support NES and / or a cell that serves one or more legacy WTRUs) even if the WTRU remains in the same paging and / or tracking area. The WTRU may determine from broadcast signaling (e.g., from SIB information) whether a cell is an NES-only cell (e.g., a cell that serves only NES-capable WTRUs) or a non-NES-only cell (e.g., a cell that serves both legacy and NES-capable WTRUs).Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine (e.g., implicitly determine) whether a cell is an NES-only cell or a non-NES-only cell based on one or more SSB reception properties (e.g., upon reception of an NES SSB, an on-demand SSB, and / or an SSB NES-only occasion).
[0147] Paging of sleeping gNBs and / or paging from alternate cells may be reduced. One or more of the following may apply: A paging message may be transmitted by the core network to (e.g., all) gNBs in a RAN paging / notification area (e.g., for an inactive WTRU) and / or tracking area. One or more gNBs in the same RAN paging area may transmit the same paging message (e.g., even if the WTRU is not in its cell). If gNBs in the same RAN paging area transmit the same paging message, for example, one or more (e.g., many) gNBs may wake up to transmit the page (e.g., when some gNBs are in NES, sleep, and / or dormant states).
[0148] If the WTRU's current best server (e.g., camp cell, selected cell, best serving cell according to one or more L3 channel measurements) is in an NES state, the WTRU may skip monitoring the PO on that cell (e.g., suspend PDCCH monitoring and / or monitor the PDCCH using an NES DRX cycle). For example, if the WTRU determines that the serving gNB's current / previous NES state is in a certain availability state, the WTRU may ignore the configured and / or default PO cycle and / or monitor paging using the NES DRX cycle. Additionally or alternatively, if the WTRU has not received an updated NES state change command and / or a timer related to an availability state change has expired and / or passed, the WTRU may ignore the configured and / or default PO cycle and / or monitor paging using the NES DRX cycle.
[0149] The WTRU may continue to use the DRX cycle and / or may wake up to monitor for pages from different or alternative serving cells (e.g., camp cell and / or cells in a CA with an anchor cell). For example, in an idle and / or inactive state, the WTRU may measure and / or monitor one or more signals from one or more alternative serving cells when the best serving cell is in a sleep and / or dormant mode (e.g., camp cell, selected cell). The WTRU may receive an indication from the serving cell indicating which one or more alternative cells to monitor for pages from while the serving cell (e.g., camp cell, selected cell, and / or best measured cell) is in a (e.g., NES) state. The WTRU may be configured (e.g., pre-configured, pre-defined) to monitor one or more (e.g., specific) designated cells, e.g., alternative cells, a portion of cells of the same gNB (e.g., cells in a CA with a camp cell), and / or cells from a secondary node (SN) and / or master node (MN) (e.g., cells in a DC with a camp cell), associated with a cell in the NES state. The WTRU may monitor paging according to a DRX cycle associated with the monitored alternative cell. The WTRU may monitor paging on an alternative serving cell (e.g., an alternative best serving cell, a second cell in a CA, etc., an anchor cell, and / or an unselected cell), a neighbor cell of the best serving cell, and / or a candidate cell for handover (e.g., when the camp cell or selected cell is in a certain availability state, such as sleep, dormant, and / or off). For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging on a handover candidate cell if the best serving cell (e.g., camp cell, selected cell) is in one or more availability states (e.g., sleep, dormant, and / or off). If the WTRU detects a presence DL signal (e.g., SSB, PDCCH, PBCH, and / or RS) associated with the best serving cell (e.g., camp cell, selected cell), e.g., within a period before PO, the WTRU may monitor for paging on an alternative cell.
[0150] The WTRU may determine one or more alternative cells to monitor for paging based on one or more of the following: The WTRU may determine to monitor for paging based on one or more measured channel conditions. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging from one or more alternative cells (e.g., only among) cells whose measured channel conditions are above a configured threshold (e.g., RSRP and / or RSRQ are above a threshold). The WTRU may determine to monitor for paging from one or more alternative cells based on respective availability states associated with each alternative cell. The WTRU may monitor for paging from an alternative cell if (e.g., only if) the cell is in one or more (e.g., specific) availability states. The WTRU may determine to monitor for paging from an alternative cell based on reception of a paging PDCCH. For example, the WTRU may monitor an alternative cell if the WTRU detects a PDCCH from such a cell. The WTRU may determine to monitor for paging from an alternative cell based on reception of a synchronization signal and / or RS signal associated with the alternative cell.
[0151] The WTRU may (e.g., further) monitor an alternative cell if the WTRU is downlink synchronized to the alternative cell (e.g., based on reading and / or receiving a PSS / SSS, one or more SIBs, SI, and / or PBCH associated with the cell). The WTRU may determine to monitor for pages from an alternative cell based on an indication received by the WTRU. For example, the indication may be received by the WTRU via one or more previous paging messages (e.g., part of one or more previous paging messages) and / or may be signaled in (e.g., and / or inferred from) one or more availability state change commands. The WTRU may determine to monitor for pages from an alternative cell based on the WTRU's RRC connection state (e.g., whether the WTRU is in an idle and / or inactive state). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may determine to monitor for pages from an alternative cell based on whether the WTRU has its context maintained.
[0152] The WTRU may determine (e.g., identify) the measured cell (e.g., best measured cell) and / or the selected cell with the best (e.g., best) L3 measurement (e.g., RSRP). The WTRU may camp on a cell that does not have the best (e.g., best) measured channel conditions (e.g., RSRP and / or RSRQ). The WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more other alternate cells, for example, based on one or more of the following: The WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more other alternate cells when the WTRU is in an RRC idle state and / or an RRC inactive state. The WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more other alternate cells based on the type of data being transmitted. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging on one or more alternate cells when one or more data radio bearers (DRBs) (e.g., DRBs configured for small data, DRBs configured of low latency communication, and / or DRBs configured by the network for such purposes) are resumed. The WTRU may monitor for paging in one or more other alternate cells based on the type of active DRB, service, and / or QoS (e.g., configured, activated, and / or resumed flows). The WTRU may monitor for paging in one or more other alternate cells based on the WTRU type and / or capabilities.
[0153] The WTRU may determine a differentiated P-RNTI for the NES (e.g., or may use an alternative P-RNTI). Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may use the same P-RNTI for the NES (e.g., if a best serving cell, such as a camped cell or selected cell, is determined to be in a particular availability state, such as sleep, dormant, and / or off). The WTRU may use an alternative P-RNTI for DCI reception. For example, the alternative P-RNTI may be selected based on the cell from which the WTRU monitors paging. The WTRU may receive an indication of the cell ID (e.g., indicating the cell ID) from which the received PDSCH originates and / or the timing of the paging message via the paging message (e.g., in a short message, part of the paging message). The WTRU may use the NES group RNTI for paging reception (e.g., if paging is monitored in a non-best serving cell and / or a non-serving cell). The WTRU may monitor a second paging search space (e.g., and / or core set) associated with paging reception on a second serving cell (e.g., a second serving cell in CA, a non-best serving cell, and / or an alternate / anchor cell). The WTRU may be configured with the second paging search space. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may obtain the second paging search space via system information and / or broadcast signaling of the second (e.g., non-best) serving cell.
[0154] The WTRU may receive configuration information. The WTRU may be configured with a paging subgroup associated with an NES (e.g., a WTRU NES subgrouping). The WTRU may receive configuration information including an indication that a second cell should be used for paging early notification (PEI) monitoring when a first cell is selected as a camp cell and the first cell is in a network energy saving (NES) state. The configuration information may indicate a first PEI subgroup and a second PEI subgroup. The configuration information may indicate that the first cell is associated with the second cell. The WTRU may be configured to monitor the PEI simultaneously with paging monitoring. The WTRU may be configured to monitor the PEI at a different time (e.g., separately) from monitoring paging. One or more WTRU NES subgroups may be cell-specific and / or apply to a WTRU served by a cell in an NES state (e.g., apply to all WTRUs served by a cell in an NES state). One or more WTRU NES subgroups may be applicable when a serving cell (e.g., best serving cell, camp cell, and / or selected cell) is in an NES state and / or availability state (e.g., off, sleep, and / or dormant). One or more (e.g., each) subgroup may be associated with one or more availability states. The WTRU may monitor paging early indications (PEIs) corresponding to such subgroups. For example, the PEIs may include one or more of the following: reception (e.g., or lack thereof) of a presence indication signal; reception (e.g., or lack thereof) of an NES state / network availability state change command and / or broadcast signaling; and a determination that the best serving cell is in a given availability state (e.g., off, sleep, and / or dormant). The WTRU may monitor one or more POs based on (e.g., following) reception of a PEI from an alternate and / or non-best serving cell. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may monitor one or more POs from alternate and / or non-best serving cells based on receiving a PEI with a particular subgroup (eg, an NES paging subgroup).
[0155] A WTRU may, for example, monitor the PDCCH in its PO for paging if the subgroup to which it belongs is paged (e.g., as indicated via the associated PEI). A WTRU may monitor for paging in its PO if it cannot find its subgroup ID in the PEI configuration in the cell and / or if it is unable to monitor the associated PEI occasion corresponding to that PO.
[0156] The WTRU may monitor for paging on non-serving cells (e.g., a second cell, a non-selected cell, and / or a non-best serving cell) using a subgroup ID associated with the best serving cell. For example, the WTRU may monitor for paging on a non-serving cell if the best serving cell is in an NES state and / or in a given availability state associated with a subgroup. The WTRU may monitor for paging via a second cell (e.g., a non-serving cell) on the condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the first PEI subgroup, and / or the WTRU may monitor for paging via a first cell on the condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the second PEI subgroup. The WTRU may, for example, send an indication via the second cell (e.g., a non-serving cell) indicating the identity of the first cell when a page is received via the second cell (e.g., a non-serving cell). The WTRU may monitor for paging at a PO associated with the best serving cell (e.g., at a PO associated with the NES DRX paging cycle), for example, if the WTRU receives a paging indication from a different cell (e.g., a PEI having a subgroup associated with the best serving cell) indicating an upcoming paging at the best serving cell.
[0157] One or more paging frame (PF) and / or PO determinations for a gNB in an NES state may be performed. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may determine that a paging frame (PF) is present when system frame number (SFN) mod T = (T div N) × (WTRU_ID mod N). The WTRU may determine one or more of a DRX cycle length, an alternative value for T, and / or an applicable DRX cycle from an active availability state, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4. The WTRU may be configured with a non-default and / or NES value to apply to T (e.g., DRX cycle length). The WTRU may scale T by an NES factor that may be configured by the network (e.g., when the serving cell is in an NES state). The WTRU may determine an alternative value for N, e.g., based on (e.g., in response to) the active availability state. The WTRU may be configured with a non-default and / or NES value to apply to N. The WTRU may, for example, determine the value of N (e.g., and / or scale the value of N) when the serving gNB is in an NES state (e.g., a non-default availability state). In an example, the WTRU may scale the configured values of N and / or T (e.g., the default N configured in the SIB) by the ratio of the default SSB periodicity to the active SSB periodicity (e.g., and / or SIB periodicity rather than SSB).
[0158] The WTRU may be configured with a non-default value and / or NES value to use as the WTRU_ID. For example, the WTRU may determine the PF and / or one or more POs of a first (e.g., serving, camped, best) cell and / or a second (e.g., non-serving) cell based on the NES-specific WTRU_ID. The WTRU may determine the value of the WTRU_ID (e.g., scale the WTRU-ID, add an offset to the WTRU-ID) if the serving gNB is in a NW energy saving state (e.g., a non-default availability state). In an example, the WTRU may use the NES WTRU_ID value if it determines that the camped cell, anchor cell, and / or serving cell is in a particular NES state (e.g., sleep and / or off). The WTRU may use the NES WTRU_ID value, for example, if the WTRU receives an NES state change indication for the camped cell, anchor cell, and / or serving cell. The WTRU may scale the configured values for N and / or T (e.g., the default N configured in the SIB), for example, based on the ratio of the default SSB periodicity to the active SSB periodicity (e.g., and / or the SIB periodicity rather than the SSB). The WTRU may scale the configured values for N or T (e.g., the default N configured in the SIB), for example, based on the ratio of the default SIB periodicity to the active SIB periodicity. The WTRU may (e.g., additionally) check the PF presence criteria if (e.g., only if) the WTRU detects an SSB, presence indication, and / or DL signal before the start of the SFN and / or frame and / or portion of the same frame. The WTRU may skip monitoring the PDCCH for that frame.
[0159] The WTRU may apply an offset to the SFN to determine the paging frame. For example, the WTRU may subtract a gNB sleep counter from the SFN number, so that the gNB sleep counter may include one or more increments for one or more (e.g., each) frames that the gNB was in the NES state. The WTRU may set the counter to 0 if the serving cell is not in an energy saving state.
[0160] One or more PDCCH monitoring occasions within a PO may be optimized. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may skip monitoring a subset of PDCCH monitoring occasions associated with one or more (e.g., multiple) beams, for example, if the serving cell is transmitting stripped-down SSBs (e.g., NES SSBs and / or partial SSBs). For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that a short message (and / or a paging TB containing the same) associated with a multi-beam cell is transmitted on a subset (e.g., one) of the default monitoring occasions (e.g., rather than the default repetition on one or more (e.g., all) SSBs).
[0161] The WTRU may be configured with an alternative search space and / or RNTI (e.g., a non-default and / or NES search space and / or RNTI) for PDCCH paging monitoring, which may be based on the paging cell. For example, the WTRU may monitor one or more alternative values of firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO and / or nrofPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionPerSSB-InPO. The WTRU may monitor the PDCCH based on the one or more alternative values (e.g., and / or NES). The WTRU may monitor the NES search space for paging, for example, when the serving cell is in an NES state (e.g., when the WTRU determines that the serving cell is in a particular availability state). The WTRU may use an alternative NES search space when the WTRU determines that paging is delayed, which may be based on detecting a presence signal (e.g., or lack thereof), as described herein.
[0162] In an example, if an NES paging search space is configured, the WTRU may determine one or more (e.g., a certain number) paging occasions within a frame and / or the timing of their POs. The WTRU may determine which PDCCH monitoring occasions, POs, and / or which PFs to monitor based on reception of PDCCHs and / or RNTIs in such search spaces. For example, the WTRU may monitor the POs and / or PFs using different DRX cycles (e.g., NES drx cycles) based on reception of paging DCIs (e.g., paging DCIs addressed in the P-RNTI, paging DCIs addressed in the NES-RNTI, and / or paging DCIs addressed in an alternative NES search space). The WTRU may determine that the timing of the paging occasions is in a portion of the frame that aligns with the gNB's SSB transmissions. The WTRU may determine the value of i_s (e.g., the slot number in which the paging occasion resides) if the NES paging search space is configured.
[0163] The WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a different number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for each PO. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a different number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for each PO when an NES paging search space is configured. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for each PO is the same number of SSBs (e.g., and / or is a scalar of the number of SSBs) transmitted by the gNB in an active availability state.
[0164] The WTRU may skip monitoring the PDCCH for one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions associated with default SSBs that are not transmitted (e.g., due to the gNB being in a particular availability state). The WTRU may skip PDCCH monitoring in one or more POs and / or PFs, for example, when the serving cell is in a particular availability state (e.g., sleep, dormant, and / or off). For example, the WTRU may monitor (e.g., monitor only) one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions corresponding to SSBs that are received (e.g., with measured channel conditions above a threshold). The WTRU may not monitor (e.g., skip monitoring) one or more other PDCCH monitoring occasions (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasions for which no SSB was detected on the associated beam).
[0165] The WTRU may determine that a subset of SSBs in an SSB burst are not transmitted and / or muted. The WTRU may determine that an SSB in a burst is missing, for example, if the difference in measurements (e.g., L1 SS-RSRP) varies and / or differs by a margin greater than a configured and / or specified threshold. The WTRU may (e.g., further) determine whether an SSB is transmitted based on one or more channel conditions (e.g., one or more absolute channel condition measurements associated with the SSBs). For example, the WTRU may determine whether an SSB is transmitted based on whether one or more channel conditions are greater than or less than a configured and / or specified threshold. For example, the WTRU may measure SSB1 at x dB and / or SSB2 at y dB. For example, if the difference between x dB and y dB is greater than a first threshold (e.g., (xy) > first threshold), the WTRU may determine that SSB2 is missing. The WTRU may determine that SSB1 is to be transmitted if x is greater than a second threshold.
[0166] The WTRU may determine that one or more SSBs in a burst will not be transmitted, for example, if the WTRU detects one or more SSBs associated with an NES (e.g., a simplified SSB, a stripped-down SSB, an SSB with only a PSS, an SSB without a PBCH, etc.). The WTRU may determine that an SSB burst uses a different structure for the NES, for example, if the WTRU detects a PSS and / or SSS using differentiated sequences for the NES and / or NES state. For example, the WTRU may determine the NES state of a first (e.g., serving, best, camp) cell based on receiving a PSS and / or SSS transmission. The WTRU may determine a first (e.g., serving, camp, best) cell and / or a second (e.g., non-serving) cell based on one or more properties associated with one or more SSBs and / or based on a received broadcast signaling. The WTRU may be configured with an alternative SSB structure for the NES, whereby the number of beams and / or SSBs in a burst is reduced and / or tailed to the WTRU (e.g., by configuration and / or by dedicated signaling such as RRC and / or DCI).
[0167] Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may configure an alternative SSB structure in the broadcast information (e.g., in a SIB associated with the NES). For example, the configured alternative SSB structure may include the NES SSBs. For example, the alternative SSB structure (e.g., the NES SSBs) may indicate to the WTRU one or more (e.g., a certain number of) SSBs per burst and / or a subset of SSBs that may or may not be transmitted in one or more NES states. The configuration of the alternative NES SSB structure may be configured and / or determined for each NES state. The configuration of the alternative NES SSB structure may be configured and / or determined in response to receiving NES state change signaling. In an example, the WTRU may read a SIB IE having an SSB position in a burst and / or determine whether one or more SSBs are to be muted in one or more NES states. In an example, the WTRU may read a SIB IE having an SSB position in a burst and / or determine whether an SSB is present in one or more NES states.
[0168] Paging may be delayed, for example, based on detection (e.g., or lack thereof) of a cell signal. One or more of the following may apply: For example, if the WTRU receives a signal indicating that one or more (e.g., all) pages from a cell are to be delayed until the next NES DRX occasion, the WTRU may skip paging until the next NES DRX occasion.
[0169] The WTRU may not wake up for paging (e.g., may skip waking up) if, for example, the WTRU does not detect a signal (e.g., a presence indication and / or a presence signal) from the serving cell. The WTRU may skip one or more DRX occasions (e.g., PF and / or PO) until the next NES DRX occasion if, for example, the WTRU fails to detect a presence indication signal. The WTRU may maintain a counter, which may be used to determine whether the WTRU can skip one or more (e.g., remaining) POs until the next NES DRX cycle.
[0170] The timing of one or more subsequent paging and / or SI transmission occasions may be determined based, for example, on whether the WTRU detects a transmission from the network. For example, if the WTRU receives a DCI for paging, a presence signal, and / or an SI transmission during the awake time, the WTRU may determine future paging and / or SI transmission occasions (e.g., from a default set of timings). If the WTRU receives, for example, a signal indicating an acquired channel (e.g., only that signal) during the awake time (e.g., and nothing else), the WTRU may decide to skip a subset of one or more future paging and / or SI transmission occasions. If the WTRU receives, for example, a signal indicating an acquired channel (e.g., only that signal) during the awake time (e.g., and / or nothing else), the WTRU may determine timings from a different set of configuration parameters (e.g., a non-default and / or NES DRX cycle). If the WTRU does not receive a transmission during the awake time, the WTRU may determine future paging or SI transmission occasions from a third function (eg, and / or a function using a third set of one or more inputs).
[0171] The WTRU may receive a paging delay indication and / or signal. For example, the WTRU may receive a paging delay indication from a cell other than the best serving cell (e.g., camp cell, selected cell). The WTRU may determine, for example, based on receiving the paging delay indication, that paging will be delayed and / or postponed by one more paging occasion. For example, a bit in the short message and / or PEI may indicate that the WTRU should monitor one or more additional paging occasions (e.g., even if a P-RNTI has been received). A bit in the short message may indicate a cell that the WTRU should monitor for paging reception and / or PDSCH reception. In an example, the WTRU may skip one or more POs (e.g., may not wake up from DRX to monitor a PO) unless the WTRU is informed to wake up for a PO (e.g., unless it is explicitly informed via the PEI that only it has received the PEI). The WTRU may skip one or more POs if the WTRU determines that the cell is in a given availability state. The WTRU may skip a PO if the time elapsed since the last availability state change (e.g., and / or state change command receipt) is greater than (e.g., or less than) a (e.g., configured) threshold. For example, the WTRU may start and / or resume monitoring one or more (e.g., regular) POs in response to receiving a PEI (e.g., a new and / or updated PEI). One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may start and / or resume monitoring one or more (e.g., regular) POs in response to receiving a PEI (e.g., a new and / or updated) PEI based on (e.g., after) the WTRU determines that the cell is in a given availability state. The WTRU may start and / or resume monitoring one or more (e.g., regular) POs in response to receiving a PEI (e.g., a new and / or updated PEI) if the time elapsed since the last availability state change (e.g., and / or state change command receipt) is greater than (e.g., or less than) a (e.g., configured) threshold.For example, in the case of a state change command, the WTRU may start and / or resume monitoring one or more (e.g., normal) POs based on (e.g., in response to) receiving a PEI (e.g., a new and / or updated PEI).
[0172] The WTRU may determine that paging is delayed and / or skipped in one or more cells (e.g., one or more cells in a CA with a camp cell) based on receiving an indication in broadcast signaling (e.g., indicated in a MIB and / or one or more other SIBs) and / or from one or more properties of the received SSB (e.g., an NES SSB). For example, the WTRU may receive (e.g., in a MIB or SIB) an indication of an NES paging occasion and / or frame timing, an indication to skip decoding of a paging PDSCH and / or PDCCH, an indication that paging is delayed, and / or an indication that the WTRU should monitor for paging using a different DRX cycle (e.g., an NES paging cycle). The WTRU may receive (e.g., in a MIB or SIB) an indication indicating a wake-up indication and / or signal (e.g., to monitor one or more upcoming paging occasions and / or frames that include an indicator for paging). The WTRU may receive broadcast signaling and / or the WTRU may receive one or more SSB transmissions. The WTRU may determine, for example, based on the one or more received POs and / or the one or more received SSB transmissions, that one or more SSB transmissions and / or one or more POs are delayed and / or skipped in a first (e.g., serving, camped, best) cell.
[0173] The WTRU may transmit an RA and / or WUS in response to the paging. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may respond with an UL indication (e.g., RACH and / or NES WUS) to indicate to the network which cell the WTRU is camped on and / or the best measured cell (e.g., and / or camped cell, selected cell), e.g., upon receiving the paging. For example, the UL indication may be an NES wake-up signal, RACH, PUCCH, and / or PUSCH. The WTRU may transmit a signal via the first cell, e.g., when the page is received via the first cell. The WTRU may indicate the identity of the first cell by transmitting a signal via the first cell.
[0174] The UL indication may include indication information to the network (e.g., part of the UCI, MAC CE, and / or the RRC message portion of the PUSCH payload). The UL indication may indicate the WTRU's best serving cell and / or best measured cell (e.g., camp cell and / or selected cell). For example, the WTRU may send an indication via the second cell indicating the identity of the first cell when a page is received via the second cell. The indication may include an RRC message, such as an RRC connection resume request and / or an RRC connection re-establishment request. The UL indication may include the WTRU's identity and / or RNTI (e.g., C-RNTI and / or inactive RNTI (I-RNTI) and / or international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)). The WTRU may include an RRC connection resumption request, for example, if the WTRU is in an inactive state and / or has one or more resources applicable for small data transmission. The WTRU may include an RRC re-establishment request, for example, if in idle mode. The WTRU may monitor PDSCH and / or PDCCH reception based on (e.g., following) the transmission of an UL signal indication and / or based on (e.g., thereafter) the successful completion of an RA procedure (e.g., to receive a DL TB, a paging message, and / or an uplink grant).
[0175] The WTRU may transmit an UL signal (e.g., an RA and / or a WUS) in response to a paging. One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may transmit an UL signal (e.g., an RA and / or a WUS) in response to a paging received from a first cell that is different from a second cell from which the uplink signal and / or indication is sent (e.g., the paging is received from a non-best cell, a second cell, a non-selected cell, a non-serving cell, and / or an alternate cell). For example, the first cell may include the cell on which the WTRU is monitoring paging in a default (e.g., non-NES) state, the last connected cell, the cell with one or more best L1 and / or L3 measurements (e.g., the cell with the best measured SS-RSRP), and / or the cell from which the last availability state change command was received. The first cell may refer to the second cell. The second cell may be determined (e.g., predetermined) to be, for example, part of the same gNB as the first cell and / or a cell in the same cell group of the first cell. The second cell may be in dual connectivity (DC) with the first cell (e.g., the first cell may be in the MN and / or the second cell may be in the SN, or vice versa). The second cell may be in CA with the first cell (e.g., part of the same MAC entity as the first cell, etc.). The WTRU may determine (e.g., determine independently, independently) the second (e.g., non-serving) cell, for example, based on one or more channel measurements and / or one or more handover candidate configurations. The association between the first cell and the second cell may be configured by the network (e.g., by a dedicated signaling portion and / or a broadcast signaling portion of the SI).
[0176] The WTRU may transmit UL signals (e.g., RA and / or WUS) in response to receiving the PEI. For example, the received PEI may include one or more of: a received PEI with a configured NES subgroup; a received PEI with a subgroup associated with the availability status of a best measured cell (e.g., and / or camp cell, selected cell); and / or a PEI with a subgroup corresponding to the WTRU's serving / best measured cell.
[0177] The WTRU may transmit an UL signal (e.g., RA and / or WUS) if the best measured cell is in a certain availability and / or NES state. For example, the WTRU may transmit an UL signal (e.g., RA and / or WUS) if one or more measured channel conditions for the paging cell are below (e.g., or above) a threshold. For example, the WTRU may transmit an UL signal (e.g., RA and / or WUS) if one or more measured channel conditions for the best measured cell (e.g., and / or camp cell and / or selected cell) are above (e.g., or below) a threshold.
[0178] The WTRU may transmit UL signals (eg, RA and / or WUS) when the L3 measurement conditions are below (eg, or above) a threshold (eg, L3 RSRP and / or SINR).
[0179] The WTRU may transmit UL signals (e.g., RA and / or WUS) when the L2 measurement conditions are below (e.g., or above) a threshold (e.g., Qin, block error rate (BLER), L1-RSRP, L1-SINR).
[0180] The WTRU may transmit UL signals (eg, RA and / or WUS) based on whether the WTRU is camped on the cell in which the uplink signals and / or indications are transmitted.
[0181] The WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a change in availability state (e.g., a particular availability state, such as, and / or being active, e.g., on) for a cell from which an UL signal was transmitted. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) a change in availability state for a cell when transmitting such an uplink signal based on (e.g., at the time, subsequently) receiving a network response to the UL signal and / or based on (e.g., at the time) successful completion of a procedure related to the transmitted uplink signal (e.g., RA completion and / or successful WUS reception).
[0182] The WTRU may transmit an NES wake-up signal. For example, the WTRU may transmit an NES wake-up signal when the WTRU is camped on a cell and / or when the WTRU is in an inactive state (e.g., following receipt of a paging from a second cell). The NES wake-up signal and / or indication may be transmitted on one or more PUSCH, PUCCH, and / or PRACH resources.
[0183] In an example, the network may not know which cell the WTRU is camped on and / or located in (e.g., the best measured cell by the WTRU). If the network does not know which cell the WTRU is camped on and / or located in, for example, the network may page the WTRU in one or more (e.g., several) cells that it is on. The WTRU may respond, for example, based on receiving a page (e.g., from a second cell other than the first cell) (e.g., at the time), with an UL signal that indicates to the network which cell the WTRU is camped on and / or the best cell (e.g., a RACH on the best cell). The network may turn on and / or change the availability state associated with that cell (e.g., the cell the WTRU is camped on) and / or may page the WTRU in that cell (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5) (e.g., and / or the network may send a PDSCH transmission to the WTRU).
[0184] 5 illustrates an example 500 relating to an example paging procedure in an NES state, including receiving a page from a second cell. A WTRU may receive configuration information including an indication that a first cell is selected as a camp cell and / or that a second cell should be used for PEI monitoring when the first cell is in the NES state. The configuration information may indicate a first PEI subgroup and / or a second PEI subgroup. The configuration information may indicate that the first (e.g., camp, best, serving) cell is associated with a second (e.g., non-serving) cell.
[0185] At 502, the WTRU may determine that the best serving cell is in an NES state (e.g., sleep, dormant, and / or off). For example, the WTRU may determine that the best serving cell is in an NES state based on receiving an NES state switch command (e.g., a group-common DCI) and / or lack of detection of a periodic presence signal (e.g., SSB, RS, and / or PDCCH) associated with the cell.
[0186] The WTRU may monitor the PDCCH for paging at the sleeping serving cell using a configured non-default NES DRX configuration, e.g., based on (e.g., following) a determination that the cell is in an associated availability state. The WTRU may skip one or more on-durations (e.g., one or more default on-durations) that are not aligned with the active time of the gNB (e.g., do not overlap and / or are not within the time from SSB and / or PDCCH reception). For example, the WTRU may monitor one or more specific PDCCH occasions (e.g., only PDCCH occasions associated with the cell NES state). For example, if the serving cell is transmitting stripped-down SSBs, the WTRU may skip monitoring a subset of PDCCH monitoring occasions (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasions in POs associated with multiple beams). For example, the WTRU may determine that a subset of PDCCH POs for the second DRX cycle will not be transmitted based on a determination that one or more SSBs and / or one or more POs are delayed and / or skipped in the first (e.g., serving, camped, best) cell.
[0187] The WTRU may, for example, skip monitoring one or more of the next on-durations (e.g., next default on-durations) on the best cell and / or serving cell until the next NES on-duration. For example, the WTRU may skip monitoring one or more of the next default on-durations on the best / serving cell based on receiving (e.g., or lack thereof) an indication (e.g., from the serving cell) of monitoring one or more of the default on-durations. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may skip monitoring one or more of the next default on-durations on the best and / or serving cell based on (e.g., after) receiving, or lack of receiving, a DL signal (e.g., a presence indication) from the serving cell of strength above a threshold.
[0188] At 504, the WTRU may monitor paging in one or more other cells. The WTRU may monitor paging in a best cell and / or the WTRU may monitor paging in one or more other (e.g., non-best) cells. For example, the WTRU may monitor a PDCCH for paging in a second cell (e.g., a non-best cell). The WTRU may monitor for a search space associated with the second cell. The WTRU may use a P-RNTI (e.g., the same P-RNTI and / or an alternative P-RNTI associated with an NES state) to monitor the PDCCH for paging from the second cell. The WTRU may monitor a PEI via the second cell, for example, based on a determination that the first cell is in an NES state. The WTRU may monitor a PEI with a cell-specific subgroup and / or an NES subgroup from the first cell (e.g., serving cell) and / or the second cell. The WTRU may monitor the next one or more On-durations in the first cell (e.g., the serving cell or the best measured cell) based on receiving an indication from the second cell (e.g., a non-best cell) including an NES subgroup and / or a PEI associated with the first cell and / or a subgroup corresponding to a cell in the NES state. Upon receiving such an indication, the WTRU may, for example, skip one or more On-durations and / or POs associated with other cells (e.g., until the next NES On-duration of the first cell).
[0189] At 506, the WTRU may receive a paging from a second cell (e.g., a non-best cell), but may receive a paging (e.g., via a PDSCH transmission) from a first cell (e.g., a serving cell or best measured cell) (512). For example, the WTRU may receive a PEI via the second cell. The WTRU may monitor for paging via the first (e.g., best, camp, serving) cell, provided that the PEI received via the second (e.g., non-serving) cell indicates a second PEI subgroup. The WTRU may, for example, transmit a signal via the first (e.g., best cell, camp cell, serving cell) if the page is received via the first cell (e.g., best cell, camp cell, serving cell). The signal may include an indication indicating the identity of the first (e.g., best, camp, serving) cell.
[0190] At 508, the WTRU may transmit one or more UL signals and / or information. The WTRU may transmit on one or more UL signals (e.g., RACH, PUSCH, and / or PUCCH resources) associated with a cell availability state. For example, the WTRU may transmit the UL signals and / or information based on (e.g., upon) receiving a paging on a second cell (e.g., a non-best cell). One or more of the following may apply: The WTRU may send a RACH transmission on the paging cell (e.g., and / or best cell). The WTRU may determine (e.g., select) one or more PRACH resources associated with the NES state, e.g., if the RACH is transmitted on a first cell in the NES state. For example, the WTRU may transmit a RACH on a second cell (e.g., a paging cell) if one or more measured channel conditions are above a threshold (e.g., a configured and / or predetermined threshold). For example, based on (e.g., at) receiving a paging on a second cell (e.g., a non-best cell), the WTRU may transmit an NES WUS on a cell such as the best cell (e.g., if the best cell is sleeping). For example, based on (e.g., at) receiving a paging on a second cell (e.g., a non-best cell), the WTRU may transmit a MAC CE and / or UCI (e.g., a cell ID in the Msg3 payload and / or MsgA) indicating the best serving cell. For example, based on (e.g., at) receiving a paging on the second cell (e.g., a non-best cell), the WTRU may transmit an RRC message (e.g., an RRC resume request, an RRC re-establishment request, and / or an RRC reconfiguration request).
[0191] At 510, for example, the WTRU may receive a message (e.g., Msg4) that may indicate successful RA completion. The WTRU may monitor the PDSCH in the indicated cell (e.g., at the next NES On duration). Based on (e.g., at) receiving a response from the first cell, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that the associated availability state has changed, for example, to a default availability state and / or an On availability state.
[0192] At 514, for example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that the best cell is on based on (e.g., subsequently to) receiving a paging PDSCH. The WTRU may determine that the first (e.g., camped, serving, best measured) cell is no longer in the NES state, for example, when a page is received via the first (e.g., camped, serving, best measured) cell.
[0193] 6 shows a second example diagram 600 relating to an illustrative example of a paging procedure in an NES state. At 602, an alternative paging cell (e.g., a second non-serving cell) may be associated by configuration, as described herein. The WTRU may receive configuration information, as described herein, indicating that a first cell (e.g., camp cell, best cell, serving cell) is associated with a second (e.g., non-serving) cell. At 604, the WTRU may determine (e.g., via broadcast, paging, one or more measurements, etc.) that the best cell and / or camp cell (e.g., as described herein) are in an NES state.
[0194] At 606, the WTRU may monitor the PEI in an alternate (e.g., second, non-serving) cell (e.g., as described herein). The second (e.g., alternate, non-serving) cell may be associated with a DRX cycle that is different from the DRX cycle associated with the first (e.g., serving, camped, best) cell (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0195] At 608, the WTRU may detect a PEI. The PEI may indicate one or more configured subgroups. For example, the PEI may indicate one of two configured subgroups. The PEI may indicate one or more configured subgroups. The one or more configured subgroups may include an NES-specific subgroup and / or a subgroup for a camp cell.
[0196] At 610a, the WTRU may monitor for paging on an alternative cell, for example, if the indicated subgroup (e.g., by the PEI at 608) is an NES-specific subgroup. If the WTRU is paged, the WTRU may perform an RA to the alternative cell. If the WTRU is paged, the WTRU may indicate its camp cell via the preamble / resources and / or via the msgA and / or msg3 payloads.
[0197] For example, if the indicated subgroup (e.g., by the PEI at 608) is a subgroup for the camp cell, then at 610b the WTRU may monitor for paging at the camp cell. If the WTRU is paged, for example, the WTRU may perform an RA to the camp cell. If the WTRU is paged, for example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that the NES state for the camp cell has ended (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5).
[0198] The WTRU may receive and / or acquire SI while the network is in the NES state. One or more of the following may apply: For a WTRU in an idle and / or inactive state, the WTRU may attempt to acquire SI, for example, at one or more different occasions when the network is in the NES state and / or another given availability state. The WTRU may determine modified timing for acquiring SI and / or a subset of one or more SI transmissions (e.g., a subset of SIBs and / or other SIs). For example, the timing and / or periodicity of such SI acquisition (e.g., remaining SI) may be obtained from reading the minimum SI (e.g., which may be obtained using a default periodicity). The minimum SI may have the same periodicity as one or more other (e.g., legacy) periodicities, but may differ from the periodicity of the other SIs and / or the remaining SIBs. The minimum SI may indicate an alternative NES SI periodicity. A flag (eg, in the minimum SI and / or resources used to receive the PBCH transmission) may be broadcast so that the WTRU knows which periodicity is used.
[0199] The WTRU may be configured with one or more alternative NES SI periodicities. The WTRU may determine the periodicity of the active NES SI periodicity pattern based on one or more of the following: a difference between and / or a comparison of the current SSB and / or RS measurement occasion and one or more (e.g., a certain number) previous measurements; the overall signal quality of the cell (e.g., based on one or more measurements of L3 RSRP and / or presence signals); and / or the mobility status of the WTRU. The WTRU may determine the periodicity of the active NES SI periodicity pattern from the resources and / or timing of the received minimum SI.
[0200] For a WTRU in connected mode, for example, L1 signaling and / or L2 signaling may indicate switching between one or more configured NES SI periodicities. The WTRU may, for example, upon receiving such a command, determine (e.g., assume) a different periodicity for the SI, other SIs, and / or a subset of SIBs.
[0201] For a WTRU in idle mode, for example, the WTRU may determine SI periodicity and / or determine whether an SI occasion is missing (e.g., whether transmitted from a gNB) based on one or more past measurements. The WTRU may associate reception of SI with reception of SSBs. For example, the WTRU may determine (e.g., assume) that one or more SI reception occasions within a time period from one or more received SSBs (e.g., having a communication metric above a threshold) are valid SI and / or one or more broadcast occasions. The WTRU may determine that broadcast SI will not be transmitted if, for example, the current SSB measurement value at the measurement occasion differs from one or more (e.g., a certain number) past measurements (e.g., and / or a running average over a certain number of past measurements) by more than a predetermined and / or configured value. For example, the number of past measurements may be predetermined and / or configured.
[0202] The WTRU may use a window for minimum SI reception and / or other SI reception. During such a window, the WTRU may monitor broadcasts of the minimum SI and / or other SI. The WTRU may initiate the window periodically, e.g., according to a set and / or predetermined period. For example, the WTRU may initiate the window based on (e.g., following) reception of an SSB, RS, and / or presence signal (e.g., a presence signal having a signal strength and / or measured channel conditions above a threshold).
[0203] The WTRU may request a change in the NES SI periodicity. In an example, the WTRU may trigger a request to change the NES SI periodicity by sending a request for on-demand SI. In an example, the WTRU may trigger a request to change the NES SI periodicity by sending a wake-up request. In an example, the WTRU may trigger a request to change the NES SI periodicity by sending an assistance information request. The WTRU may trigger a request for SI and / or other SI (e.g., by initiating an RA for SI acquisition), for example, if it determines that the serving cell is in one or more NES states. The WTRU may request other SI after expiration of the NES sleep duration window (e.g., a period associated with the NES cell validity timer and / or the NES SBB periodicity). For example, if the WTRU fails to receive a DL signal and / or a presence indication from the gNB within a certain period, the WTRU may request other SI after expiration of the NES sleep duration window. Additionally or alternatively, the WTRU may request another SI after the expiration of the NES sleep duration window based on whether (e.g., after) the WTRU receives broadcast signaling and / or one or more SSB transmissions from the serving cell.
Claims
1. 1. A wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a memory; and a processor, the processor: receiving configuration information including an indication that a second cell should be used for paging early notification (PEI) monitoring when a first cell is selected as a camp cell and the first cell is in a network energy saving (NES) state, the configuration information indicating a first PEI subgroup and a second PEI subgroup; monitoring PEI via the second cell based on a determination that the first cell is in the NES state; receiving the PEI via the second cell; configured to monitor paging via the second cell (1) on condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the first PEI subgroup, or (2) via the first cell on condition that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the second PEI subgroup; The processor is configured to (1) transmit a signal via the first cell if the page is received via the first cell, or (2) transmit an indication indicating the identity of the first cell via the second cell if the page is received via the second cell.
2. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the first cell is no longer in the NES state if the page is received via the first cell.
3. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive configuration information indicating that the first cell is associated with the second cell.
4. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the first PEI subgroup is associated with the second cell and the second PEI subgroup is associated with the first cell.
5. the first cell is associated with a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and the second cell is associated with a second DRX cycle; 2. The WTRU of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to apply the first DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the first cell, and to apply the second DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the second cell.
6. 2. The WTRU of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a paging frame (PF) or a paging occasion (PO) of the first cell or the second cell based on a NES-specific WTRU identification (ID).
7. The processor: receiving broadcast signaling or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions; The WTRU of claim 1 , further configured to determine that the one or more SSB transmissions or one or more paging occasions are delayed or skipped in the first cell.
8. 8. The WTRU of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) paging occasions for a second DRX cycle are not transmitted based on the determination that the one or more SSB transmissions or the one or more paging occasions are delayed or skipped in the first cell.
9. The processor: determining the second cell based on one or more channel measurements or one or more handover candidate configurations; determining the NES state of the first cell based on receiving a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) transmission or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) transmission; or 10. The WTRU of claim 1, further configured to: receive broadcast signaling or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions; and determine the first cell or the second cell based on the received broadcast signaling or one or more properties associated with the one or more SSB transmissions.
10. the configuration information includes an indication that the WTRU is included in a set of one or more WTRUs, provided that the set of one or more WTRUs is in one or more cells that are in a NES state; The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor or receive one or more group common indications associated with the set of one or more WTRUs in the NES state.
11. 1. A method performed by a wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving configuration information indicating that a second cell should be used for paging early notification (PEI) monitoring when a first cell is selected as a camp cell and the first cell is in a network energy saving (NES) state, and indicating a first PEI subgroup and a second PEI subgroup; monitoring a PEI via the second cell based on a determination that the first cell is in the NES state; receiving the PEI via the second cell; (1) monitoring paging via the second cell, provided that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the first PEI subgroup, or (2) via the first cell, provided that the PEI received via the second cell indicates the second PEI subgroup; The method includes: if the page is received via the first cell, transmitting a signal via the first cell; or if the page is received via the second cell, transmitting an indication via the second cell indicating the identity of the first cell.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining that the first cell is no longer in the NES state if the page is received via the first cell.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving configuration information indicating that the first cell is associated with the second cell.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first PEI subgroup is associated with the second cell and the second PEI subgroup is associated with the first cell.
15. the first cell is associated with a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and the second cell is associated with a second DRX cycle; 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: applying the first DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the first cell; and applying the second DRX cycle on the condition that the WTRU is connected to the second cell.
16. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a paging frame (PF) or paging occasion (PO) of the first cell or the second cell based on a NES-specific WTRU identity (ID).
17. The method comprises: receiving broadcast signaling or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions; 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining that the one or more SSB transmissions or one or more paging occasions are delayed or skipped in the first cell.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining, based on the determination that one or more SSB transmissions or one or more paging occasions are delayed or skipped in the first cell, that a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) paging occasions for a second DRX cycle are not to be transmitted.
19. The method comprises: determining the second cell based on one or more channel measurements or one or more handover candidate configurations; determining the NES state of the first cell based on receiving a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) transmission or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) transmission; or 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving broadcast signaling or one or more synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions and determining the first cell or the second cell based on the received broadcast signaling or based on one or more properties associated with the one or more SSB transmissions.
20. the configuration information includes an indication that the WTRU is included in a set of one or more WTRUs, provided that the set of one or more WTRUs is in one or more cells that are in a NES state; The method of claim 11 , further comprising monitoring or receiving one or more group common indications associated with the set of one or more WTRUs in the NES state.
Citation Information
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