Low-power wake-up signal monitoring in a user equipment

Abstract

There is provided techniques for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing WUS for active PO indication. The user equipment responds, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The user equipment responds, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node.

Description

[0001] LOW-POWER WAKE-UP SIGNAL MONITORING IN A USER EQUIPMENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Embodiments presented herein relate to a method, a user equipment, a computer program, and a computer program product for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing wake-up signaling for active paging occasion indication.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Some pieces of user equipment are configured to operate in different modes. For example, some user equipment, for example when served in a cellular network, might be configured to operate in idle mode, whereby the user equipment is reachable by the network by means of paging. Besides the general paging signal transmission during paging occasions (PO) for user equipment in idle mode, signaling enhancements to enable further energy efficient paging monitoring in cellular wireless networks have been introduced. In e.g., the Long Term Evolution (LTE) machine type communication (MTC) and narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) standards in Release 15 of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) suite of standards, a wake up signal (WUS) was introduced for user equipment in idle mode to allow the user equipment to save energy for the purpose of paging monitoring. Rather than to decode the paging channel data for determining if a paging request is received, a wake-up signal is specified to indicate if there is a valid page in the next paging occasion to the user equipment. Hence, the user equipment wakes up for WUS monitoring with same periodicity as the ordinary PO but does not need to decode the paging channel data unless indicated by the WUS.

[0006] Similar to LTE, in for the New Radio (NR) radio interface, the Paging Early Indication is a signal for user equipment in idle mode that the network sends before a user equipment paging occasion to indicate if the user equipment should wake up and actually read the paging channel. For user equipment in connected mode the network might send an indication just before the user equipment discontinued reception (DRX) onDuration timer is about to start to inform the user equipment whether the user equipment shall actually wake up or if the user equipment can continue to sleep (after having read the Paging Early Indication).

[0007] Further, the user equipment might comprise a separate Wake Up Radio (WUR) module or implement a low-power mode in the main receiver to detect a WUS ahead of the PO, with a time offset that allows activating the main receiver in time for PO reception. The WUR design or selected WUR configuration might have a strong trade-off between WUS reception range, or coverage, and WUR power consumption, where significantly lower WUR operating power consumption might be achieved if coverage requirements are relaxed. In such case a WUS might be very energy efficient, but the reception is not guaranteed near the cell edge, while reception is still possible in most of the cell coverage area.

[0008] The use of a WUR can be very energy efficient if the sensitivity requirements are relaxed. But requirements on the WUS reception capability implies that high energy consumption can be expected. If the user equipment is required to operate at the cell edge the WUR operation, e.g., configuring the user equipment to monitor the WUS at maximum sensitivity and with a short monitoring periodicity might consume more energy than ordinary, legacy paging monitoring. On the other hand, the expectations from the network might be different. It might very well be assumed from the network side that WUS monitoring can be implemented, or performed, with high energy efficiency in the user equipment. A user equipment might therefore be configured to perform frequent, or even continuous, WUS monitoring.

[0009] It is beneficial to keep the energy consumption low and the WUR operating power minimized. Hence, there is a need for user equipment implementations allowing for a low power WUR (UP -WUR) mode to be used as much as possible, but also including mechanisms ensuring that the user equipment can be robustly contacted by the network in situations where WUR operation is not beneficial in terms of user equipment energy consumption.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] An object of embodiments herein is to address the above issues.

[0012] A particular object is to enable the user equipment to be robustly contacted by the network in situations where WUR operation is not beneficial.

[0013] According to a first aspect there is presented a method for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing WUS for active PO indication, the method is performed by a user equipment. The method comprises responding, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The method comprises responding, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

[0014] According to a second aspect there is presented a user equipment for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing WUS for active PO indication. The user equipment comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the user equipment to respond, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the user equipment to respond, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

[0015] According to a third aspect there is presented a user equipment for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing WUS for active PO indication. The user equipment comprises a respond module configured to respond, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The user equipment comprises a respond module configured to respond, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect there is presented a computer program for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node utilizing WUS for active PO indication. The computer program comprises computer code which, when run on processing circuitry of a user equipment, causes the user equipment to perform actions. One action comprises the user equipment to respond, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. One action comprises the user equipment to respond, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node. The second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect there is presented a computer program product comprising a computer program according to the fourth aspect and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored. The computer readable storage medium could be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

[0018] Advantageously, these aspects enable the user equipment to be robustly contacted by the network in situations where WUR operation is not beneficial.

[0019] Advantageously, these aspects allow the user equipment to operate in as energy efficient modes as possible. Advantageously, these aspects enable the user equipment to avoid the most energy consuming situations of WUS monitoring in poor radio conditions.

[0020] Advantageously, these aspects are beneficial if LP-WUR either is not capable by design of receiving WUS in poor coverage (i.e., the user equipment uses its main receiver for poor coverage WUS monitoring) or if the UP-WUR operates in different modes where a poor coverage mode is suboptimal from an energy consumption perspective.

[0021] Advantageously, these aspects obviate the need for unnecessary WUS monitoring by the user equipment.

[0022] Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

[0023] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, module, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, module, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The inventive concept is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communications network according to embodiments;

[0027] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates paging monitoring as performed by a user equipment according to an embodiment;

[0028] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of methods according to embodiments;

[0029] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of user equipment according to embodiments;

[0030] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing structural units of a user equipment according to an embodiment;

[0032] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing functional modules of a user equipment according to an embodiment; and

[0033] Fig. 8 shows one example of a computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. Any step or feature illustrated by dashed lines should be regarded as optional.

[0035] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communications network 100 where embodiments presented herein can be applied. The communications network 100 comprises a network node 110, such as a (radio) access network node, radio base station, base transceiver station, node B (NB), evolved node B (eNB), gNB, access point, access node, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, transmission and reception point (TRP), etc. The network node 110 is configured to provide coverage, and thus network access, within a coverage area. In Fig. 1 this coverage area is divided into an inner coverage area 130a and an outer coverage area 130b. The outer coverage area 130b corresponds to the cell edge area. The separation between the inner coverage area 130a and the outer coverage area 130b is schematically illustrated as an inner circle 140 and the outer edge of the outer coverage area 130b is schematically illustrated as an outer circle 150. The network node 110 is illustrated as serving two user equipment 120a, 120b. User equipment 120a is illustrated as being located within the inner coverage area 130a and user equipment 120b is illustrated as being located within the outer coverage area 130b. Each of the user equipment 120a, 120b might be any of a portable wireless device, mobile station, mobile phone, handset, wireless local loop phone, smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer, wireless sensor device, Internet of Things device, network equipped vehicle, network equipped gaming control, etc. as long as the user equipment 120a, 120b is capable of implementing the herein disclosed embodiments.

[0036] One existing method for contacting a user equipment 120a, 120b in idle mode is for the network node 110 to transmit a paging signal at POs. These occur with a given periodicity (such as a DRX interval or extended DRX (eDRX) interval). However, WUS, which are used to precede a (non-legacy) paging occasion with e.g., a downlink control channel, can be transmitted, targeting to reach a user equipment 120a, 120b in idle mode. WUS could be used to prompt a connection request by the user equipment 120a, 120b directly, without a conventional PO.

[0037] As will be further disclosed below, there might be different implementations of the user equipment 120a, 120b. As a consequence, the receiver sensitivity for WUS detection and legacy paging detection might be different for different user equipment 120a, 120b. From the network perspective, it might therefore be reasonable to utilize legacy paging signaling as a back-up method, trying to reach a user equipment 120a, 120b in idle mode if the user equipment 120a, 120b does not respond to WUS transmissions. Further, from the network perspective, the WUS coverage area might be smaller than that of the legacy paging signal.

[0038] In this respect, the user equipment 120a, 120b is assumed to be able to operate an energy efficient wake up signaling (WUS) monitoring within a subset of the total cell coverage. The user equipment 120a, 120b is configured to evaluate network behavior, radio signal performance and the WUS configuration to determine if the WUS monitoring should be performed (as for user equipment 120a located in the inner coverage area 130a) or skipped (as for user equipment 120b located in the outer coverage area 130b). In some aspects, this implies that the behavior of the user equipment 120a, 120b is dynamically adjusted during paging monitoring in idle mode. In particular, WUS is configured to precede the paging transmission, and the WUS (and the resulting effective POs to be monitored) might be configured with a significantly shorter period, e.g., tens or hundreds of ms, compared to conventional POs (configured with time intervals in the range of seconds).

[0039] In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b is configured to analyze whether or not the user equipment 120a, 120b can be reached also without idle mode WUS monitoring. If so, the user equipment 120a, 120b might abstain from WUS monitoring in poor channel conditions, typically corresponding to higher WUS monitoring energy consumption, and revert to legacy paging monitoring. In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b applies the abstaining strategy if the current quality of service, or quality of experience, or traffic type is not affected by the longer paging latency.

[0040] The analysis regarding being reached can, for example, be performed, by the user equipment 120a, 120b evaluating the network behavior and determining whether or not the network will perform normal paging (i.e. uses conventional or cell-default POs) as a fallback, or escalation, for trying to reach the user equipment 120a, 120b if the user equipment 120a, 120b does not respond to POs associated with WUS transmissions. An example of this is illustrated in Fig. 2, where the user equipment 120a, 120b is configured with WUS occasions. In Fig. 2 is illustrated a paging scheme 200 comprising WUS occasions 210 and a fallback paging scheme 220. In more detail, the user equipment 120a, 120b is expected to respond to the network node 110 in at least one of the WUS occasions 210. When the user equipment 120a, 120b abstains from responding to paging transmission (i.e., when the network node 110 as a consequence fails to receive a response from the user equipment 120a, 120b to a paging request to the user equipment 120a, 120b), the network node 110 switches (as illustrated by arrow 230) to a fallback paging scheme 220 with a longer paging cycle, or utilizes POs corresponding to the fallback paging pattern 220 for paging re-transmissions, after some WUS-paging offset. In Fig. 2 this fallback paging scheme 220 is represented by Paging PDCCH occasions (where PDCCH is short for physical downlink control channel), i.e., paging downlink control information (DCI) transmissions on PDCCH. Other methods can be used, e.g., the user equipment 120a, 120b analyzing statistics with respect to if and how often the user equipment 120a, 120b typically is in active mode and detect deviations from that in case WUS monitoring is omitted. In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b is configured to aim at using a low-power operation mode whenever possible. This low power operation mode can be used for WUS monitoring; the user equipment 120a, 120b might employ a separate low power wake up radio (LP-WUR) or a special mode of the main receiver. The receiver in such low power operation mode might have worse receiver sensitivity than a different, more energy consuming, common operation mode. Such a common operation mode might utilize the main receiver in the user equipment 120a, 120b in its conventional regime.

[0041] If the user equipment 120a, 120b is operating in the low power operating mode when frequent WUS monitoring is configured, but the user equipment 120a, 120b detects that the received WUS signal quality is low, the user equipment 120a, 120b might need to switch to a more power consuming receiver mode with better reception sensitivity. If continuing to perform WUS monitoring with the main receiver, this might consume significant amount of energy in the frequent WUS monitoring configuration. From the user equipment perspective, it might be more energy efficient to use legacy paging monitoring instead, as the legacy POs are sparser.

[0042] At least some of the herein disclosed embodiments are based on that the user equipment 120a, 120b is configured to analyze whether or not the user equipment 120a, 120b still communicates with the network even without WUS monitoring. As will be disclosed in further detail below, this can be implemented in different ways, e.g., by the user equipment 120a, 120b analyzing statistics of idle / active mode switching, or the data communication pattern in general, or by the user equipment 120a, 120b analyzing network behavior during idle mode.

[0043] The network node 110 might use different signaling methods for contacting a user equipment 120a, 120b in idle mode, for example transmitting wake-up signals, or utilizing the legacy paging signal transmissions. The network node 110 might e.g., configure legacy POs and WUS-aided POs so that the former is a subset of the latter, or the user equipment 120a, 120b might be configured to monitor the union of the two PO sets. As one example, the network node 110 might also escalate the signaling to user equipment 120a, 120b in idle mode over time in multiple stages. If the user equipment 120a, 120b does not respond to a WUS-aided PO, legacy POs might first be used in the current paging area, and only thereafter the paging transmissions are increased into additional cells and perform paging transmissions over larger areas until the network gets in contact with the user equipment 120a, 120b.

[0044] Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating embodiments of methods for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node 110 utilizing WUS for active PO indication. The methods are performed by the user equipment 120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700. The methods are advantageously provided as computer programs 820.

[0045] S 104-2: The user equipment 120a, 120b responds, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node 110 when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the equipment 120a, 120b is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node 110.

[0046] S 104-4: The user equipment 120a, 120b responds, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node 110, to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the equipment 120a, 120b is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node 110.

[0047] The second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

[0048] In this respect, the user equipment 120a, 120b can monitor paging transmissions according to different PO patterns and respond to a paging transmissions in such PO patterns. Here, and as will be disclosed in further detail below, the first PO pattern could be a WUS-associated PO pattern. The first PO pattern could be configured per individual user equipment 120a, 120b, or group of user equipment 120a, 120b, via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. The second PO pattern could be non-WUS-associated PO pattern. The second PO pattern could be broadcasted as system information (SI).

[0049] Advantageously, this method enables the user equipment 120a, 120b to be robustly contacted by the network node 110 in situations where WUR operation is not beneficial.

[0050] Advantageously, this method allows the user equipment 120a, 120b to operate in as energy efficient modes as possible.

[0051] Advantageously, this method enables the user equipment 120a, 120b to avoid the most energy consuming situations of WUS monitoring in poor radio conditions.

[0052] Advantageously, this method is beneficial if LP-WUR either is not capable by design of receiving WUS in poor coverage (i.e., the user equipment 120a, 120b uses its main receiver for poor coverage WUS monitoring) or if the UP -WUR operates in different modes where poor coverage mode is suboptimal from an energy consumption perspective.

[0053] Advantageously, this method obviates the need for unnecessary WUS monitoring by the user equipment 120a, 120b.

[0054] Advantageously, this method is beneficial as a power saving function in the user equipment if UP -WUR either is not capable of receiving WUS in poor coverage (i.e., the user equipment uses its main receiver for poor coverage WUS monitoring) or if the UP -WUR operates in different modes where a poor coverage mode is less advantageous from the energy consumption perspective. Embodiments relating to further details of monitoring paging transmissions from a network node 110 utilizing WUS for active PO indication as performed by the user equipment 120a, 120b will now be disclosed with continued reference to Fig. 3.

[0055] Aspects of the channel conditions will be disclosed next. In some embodiments, the second channel quality condition corresponds to a lower link quality than the first channel quality condition, and / or to a link quality metric being below a threshold value, such as a WUS signal quality threshold that will be disclosed below.

[0056] Aspects of the idle reception modes will be disclosed next.

[0057] In some aspects, the first reception mode corresponds to LP-WUR operation, that is, in some embodiments, using the first idle reception mode comprises using an LP-WUR mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node 110. In some aspects, the second reception mode corresponds to non-LP operation. That is, in some embodiments, using the second idle reception mode comprises using a non-low power mode, a non-WUR, mode, or a default radio mode, for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node 110.

[0058] Aspects of the PO patterns will be disclosed next.

[0059] In some aspects, the second PO pattern is sparser than the first PO pattern. In particular, in some embodiments, the first PO pattern and the second PO pattern define a respective paging cycle, and the paging cycle of the second PO pattern is longer than the paging cycle of the first PO pattern. In this respect, the (e)DRX cycle length is longer for the second PO pattern. In some examples, the second PO pattern is a legacy, or cell-default, PO pattern, or a PO pattern broadcasted in the cell, which may also be known as the paging control channel configuration (PCCH-config) provided by the cell. In other words, in some embodiments, the paging cycle of the second PO pattern is a cell-default paging cycle.

[0060] In some aspects, the second idle reception mode is used only if the cell applies a first paging pattern (i.e., where the network supports reception of the second PO pattern as used by the user equipment 120a, 120b). Therefore, in some embodiments, the user equipment 120a, 120b is using the second idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on that the user equipment 120a, 120b has obtained an indication that the network node 110 supports reception of responses to the paging transmissions in accordance with the second PO pattern. Therefore, in some embodiments, the user equipment 120a, 120b is configured to perform (optional) step SI 02:

[0061] S 102: The user equipment 120a, 120b obtains an indication that the network node 110 supports reception of responses to the paging transmissions in accordance with the second PO pattern.

[0062] As will be disclosed next, there can be different examples of such indications. In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b by default assumes that the network (always) supports a legacy mode. Therefore, in some embodiments, the indication is a default setting in the user equipment 120a, 120b. This is in line with what disclosed above, namely that it might be reasonable for the network to utilize legacy paging signaling as a back-up method.

[0063] In some aspects, the first paging pattern comprises paging the user equipment 120a, 120b using the second PO pattern if the user equipment 120a, 120b does not respond to the WUS and paging transmitted according to the first PO pattern. Therefore, in some embodiments, the user equipment 120a, 120b abstains from responding to a first paging transmission in accordance with the first PO pattern, and in response thereto receives a second paging transmission from the network node 110. The paging transmission that the user equipment 120a, 120b responds to in accordance with the second PO pattern is then the second paging transmission.

[0064] In some embodiments, the indication that the network node 110 supports reception of responses to the paging transmissions in accordance with the second PO pattern is obtained by the user equipment 120a, 120b monitoring network behavior of the network node 110. Further aspects of such network paging behavior evaluation will be disclosed next.

[0065] In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b evaluates the network behavior with respect to the network node 110 transmitting signals to the user equipment 120a, 120b when the user equipment 120a, 120b is in idle mode. One purpose of this evaluation is for the user equipment 120a, 120b to understand how the network will behave if the user equipment 120a, 120b abstains from responding to WUS. As an example, the user equipment 120a, 120b might temporarily abstain from responding to a detected network connection initiation attempt conducted via the WUS transmission in order to evaluate the network behavior. The user equipment 120a, 120b might in some examples wait for a period of time after detecting such WUS transmission and monitor other possible transmissions from the network during that period of time. In some examples, such a period of time might be a number of seconds, such as 10 seconds or 100 seconds. In some examples, the network has a configured DRX or eDRX period for user equipment paging monitoring within the cell, and the period of time might be a number of such DRX or eDRX periods.

[0066] If the user equipment 120a, 120b detects a second paging transmission to the user equipment 120a, 120b during the period of time, i.e., a repeat attempt to reach the user equipment 120a, 120b, the user equipment 120a, 120b might preferably respond to that paging. Of particular interest is the user equipment 120a, 120b detecting the second paging transmission during a PO corresponding to the legacy- or cell-wide paging configuration. Further, the user equipment 120a, 120b might use the information about such detected paging transmission to identify that the network will still be able to reach the user equipment 120a, 120b if the user equipment 120a, 120b would miss WUS monitoring. In that case, the user equipment 120a, 120b might infer that monitoring the legacy PO pattern is sufficient for being reachable by the network, albeit with an additional delay. Additionally, or alternatively, the user equipment 120a, 120b might, for detecting different paging escalation schemes as used by the network, evaluate statistics on when and how often the user equipment 120a, 120b is being woken up by the network. The network node 110 might, because of certain applications, or services, run in the user equipment 120a, 120b e.g., repeatedly transmit data to the user equipment 120a, 120b, and therefore the user equipment 120a, 120b is being reached (paged or similar) with a repeated pattern. Hence, as one method of evaluating the network behavior the user equipment 120a, 120b might adjust its WUS monitoring and over time evaluate how often the user equipment 120a, 120b is connecting to the network. If the user equipment 120a, 120b is still reached (e.g., paged) by the network in with the same frequency of repetition, the user equipment 120a, 120b can conclude that the WUS monitoring can be adapted without impact to the running application, or service, of the user equipment 120a, 120b.

[0067] In some aspects the user equipment 120a, 120b determines whether the network applies the first paging pattern or not based on the user equipment 120a, 120b regularly receiving paging requests compatible with the ongoing traffic pattern. In particular, in some embodiments, the indication is obtained by the user equipment 120a, 120b regularly receiving paging transmissions compatible with the second PO pattern from the network node 110.

[0068] In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b repeats the evaluation of the network behavior multiple times, with a readiness to respond to the second paging transmission, in order to more conclusively verify the paging retransmission, or escalation, behavior of the network.

[0069] Aspects of evaluation of WUS monitoring versus paging signal monitoring will be disclosed next.

[0070] In some aspects, in case the user equipment 120a, 120b has determined that the network behavior is suitable for the herein disclosed dynamic WUS monitoring to be performed, the user equipment 120a, 120b might evaluate the required WUS monitoring characteristics, the cell DRX and / or eDRX parameters and identify one or more situations when the user equipment 120a, 120b would benefit from abstaining, or skipping, WUS monitoring in certain radio signal conditions. As one example, the user equipment 120a, 120b might determine that the user equipment 120a, 120b would benefit from abstaining WUS monitoring in case the WUS monitoring cannot be done in a sufficiently energy-efficient manner and at cell edge conditions therefore requires the receiver in the user equipment 120a, 120b to be switched on frequently with high energy consumption, while the legacy paging monitoring also might require high energy consumption but can be performed less frequently. For example, the energy consumption of the user equipment 120a, 120b might be lower if performing paging monitoring during cell edge conditions every minute compared to performing WUS monitoring during cell edge conditions every second.

[0071] Aspects of the user equipment 120a, 120b determining to abstain from WUS monitoring will be disclosed next. In some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b evaluates the WUS signal quality and determines when to abstain the WUS monitoring and instead rely on paging signal monitoring. That is, the decision for how the user equipment 120a, 120b is to respond to the paging transmission from the network node 110 involves the user equipment 120a, 120b to not respond to a first paging transmission sent using the first PO pattern and then detecting whether the timing of a second, subsequent, paging transmission is compatible with the second PO pattern. In particular, in some embodiments, monitoring the network behavior of the network node 110 comprises the user equipment 120a, 120b to abstain from responding to a first paging transmission in accordance with the first PO pattern and confirming that reception of a second paging transmission from the network node 110 is compatible with the second idle reception mode. The paging transmission that the user equipment 120a, 120b then responds to in accordance with the second PO pattern is the second paging transmission.

[0072] Switching between different paging monitoring, or response, modes might be performed depending on one or more WUS signal quality threshold(s). Some non-limiting examples of WUS signal quality thresholds are: absolute power level (such as in terms of reference signal received power, RSRP) or signal -to-interference and noise-ratio (SINR) or any other suitable metric or combination of metrics.

[0073] Detection that the user equipment 120a, 120b is located in the outer coverage area 130b might therefore be selected by the user equipment 120a, 120b as an exemplary channel condition where the user equipment 120a, 120b abstains from frequent WUS monitoring although the user equipment 120a, 120b could activate a receiver or receiver mode to perform such WUS monitoring. Instead, the user equipment 120a, 120b uses ordinary paging monitoring, and thereby reduces its total energy consumption. In other words, the user equipment 120a, 120b makes this selection when the WUS monitoring operation would consume too much energy.

[0074] In some aspects, the second monitoring mode is only applied if the latency sensitivity of the traffic type tolerates is sparser than the used PO pattern, i.e. a latency shorter or equal to the PO pattern period is tolerated by the use case. Therefore, in some embodiments, the user equipment 120a, 120b is using the second idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on a traffic type of the user equipment 120a, 120b being compatible with the second PO pattern. Further, in some aspects, the user equipment 120a, 120b might occasionally revert to full WUS monitoring and / or to perform a yet further network behavior evaluation to ensure that omitting WUS monitoring does not lead to missed POs, i.e. paging reattempts outside the legacy PO pattern. The reverting might be periodic, or triggered by an unexpectedly long gap form last received paging, e.g., based on expected paging pattern related to the ongoing traffic type, etc. That is, the user equipment 120a, 120b might be configured to revert to monitoring in the first idle reception mode if paging in the second idle reception mode leads to missing an expected paging request. In particular, in some embodiments, the user equipment 120a, 120b is using the first idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on the user equipment 120a, 120b having missed paging transmissions from the network node 110 when using the second idle reception mode.

[0075] In general terms, WUS monitoring might be conducted by means of utilizing a separate low power wake up radio (LP-WUR) in the user equipment. In Fig. 4 is shown block diagrams of user equipment 400a, 400b, 400c, 400d with different examples of implementations of a LP-WUR 410, 410a, 410b with respect to a baseband unit (referred to as “modem baseband”) a radio modem (referred to as “Modem RF”, where RF is short for radio frequency). In the user equipment 400a the LP-WUR 410 is separated from the radio modem 430 and the baseband unit 420. This user equipment 400a thus has a (separate) LP-WUR 410 with both radio reception capabilities and signal detection / demodulation capabilities. In the user equipment 400b, the user equipment 400b comprises an LP-WUR baseband unit 410a and an LP-WUR radio unit 410b that are separated from the radio modem 430 and the baseband unit 420. This user equipment 400b thus one (separate) LP-WUR 410b with radio reception capabilities and another (separate) LP-WUR 410a with signal detection / demodulation capabilities. In the user equipment 400c the LP-WUR 410a is separated from the baseband unit 420 but utilizes the radio interface of the radio modem 440. The radio modem 440 is thus common for the baseband unit 420 and the LP-WUR 410a. In the user equipment 400d the functionality of the LP-WUR is completely integrated with the radio modem 420 and the baseband unit 430 (and therefore not illustrated). The LP-WUR implementations in the user equipment 400a, 400b, 400c are thus using at least partly dedicated hardware for low power operation. Such dedicated hardware might be implemented to operate with very low energy consumption. Depending on the design constraints for its low power operation, the dedicated hardware might not be capable to detect or correctly receive (such as decode, demodulate, etc.) signals when the user equipment is located at the cell edge. In that case, the user equipment 400a:400c might utilize its main receiver hardware for WUS monitoring in poor channel conditions. In some examples, the LP-WUR might, as in user equipment 400c, or use at least partly common hardware components. In some examples, the LP- WUR might, as in user equipment 400d, operate as a functionality fully within the common hardware, i.e., the transceiver used for regular user equipment operation. When using such a common hardware, the LP-WUR might still operate in different configurations or modes, where some hardware or software parameters are adapted depending on the usage of the LP-WUR. As example, the modem in the user equipment might have one or more specific operation modes for energy efficient WUS detection operation, where such efficient modes might imply that only strong signals can be detected in case sensitivity, linearity, and / or other requirements can be relaxed.

[0076] One method for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node 110 utilizing WUS for active PO indication as performed by the user equipment based on at least some of the above-disclosed embodiments, aspects, and examples will be disclosed next with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5.

[0077] S201: The user equipment 120a, 120b is configured for WUS monitoring. S202: The user equipment 120a, 120b evaluates the network behavior with respect to the network node 110 transmitting signals to the user equipment 120a, 120b when the user equipment 120a, 120b is in idle mode.

[0078] S203: The user equipment 120a, 120b checks whether network uses legacy paging as fallback or not. If yes, step S204 is entered. Else, step S202 is entered again, possibly after some delay.

[0079] S204: The user equipment 120a, 120b evaluate WUS monitoring versus paging signal monitoring. For this purpose the user equipment 120a, 120b might perform channel quality measurements and (optionally) evaluating DRX timer configurations to determine whether or not it is beneficial for the user equipment 120a, 120b to abstain from WUS monitoring.

[0080] S205: The user equipment 120a, 120b checks whether it is beneficial for the user equipment 120a, 120b to abstain from WUS monitoring or not. If yes, step S206 is entered. Else, step S207 is entered.

[0081] S206: The user equipment 120a, 120b abstains from WUS monitoring and thus skips WUS monitoring and instead use paging monitoring to save energy in the user equipment 120a, 120b.

[0082] S207: The user equipment 120a, 120b operates to support WUS monitoring and thus perform the WUS monitoring as configured in step S201.

[0083] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of structural units, the components of a user equipment 600 according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry 610 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product 810 (as in Fig. 8), e.g., in the form of a storage medium 630. The processing circuitry 610 might further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0084] Particularly, the processing circuitry 610 is configured to cause the user equipment 600 to perform a set of operations, or steps, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium 630 might store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 610 might be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 630 to cause the user equipment 600 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations might be provided as a set of executable instructions.

[0085] Thus the processing circuitry 610 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed. The storage medium 630 might also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory. The user equipment 600 might further comprise a communications (comm.) interface 620 at least configured for communications with other entities, functions, nodes, and devices, such as one or more network nodes 110. As such the communications interface 620 might comprise one or more transmiters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components. The processing circuitry 610 controls the general operation of the user equipment 600 e.g., by sending data and control signals to the communications interface 620 and the storage medium 630, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface 620, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 630. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the user equipment 600 are omited in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.

[0086] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a user equipment 700 according to an embodiment. The user equipment 700 of Fig. 7 comprises a number of functional modules; a (first) respond module 720 configured to perform step SI 04-2, and a (second) respond module 730 configured to perform step S104-4. The user equipment 700 of Fig. 7 might further comprise a number of optional functional modules, such as an obtain module 710 configured to perform step S102. In general terms, each functional module 710:730 might in one embodiment be implemented only in hardware and in another embodiment with the help of software, i.e., the later embodiment having computer program instructions stored on the storage medium 630 which when run on the processing circuitry makes the user equipment 600 perform the corresponding steps mentioned above in conjunction with Fig 7. It should also be mentioned that even though the modules correspond to parts of a computer program, they do not need to be separate modules therein, but the way in which they are implemented in software is dependent on the programming language used. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules 710:730 might be implemented by the processing circuitry 610, possibly in cooperation with the communications interface 620 and / or the storage medium 630. The processing circuitry 610 might thus be configured to from the storage medium 630 fetch instructions as provided by a functional module 710:730 and to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps as disclosed herein.

[0087] Fig. 8 shows one example of a computer program product 810 comprising computer readable storage medium 830. On this computer readable storage medium 830, a computer program 820 can be stored, which computer program 820 can cause the processing circuitry 610 and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface 620 and the storage medium 630, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program 820 and / or computer program product 810 might thus provide means for performing any steps as herein disclosed.

[0088] In the example of Fig. 8, the computer program product 810 is illustrated as an optical disc, such as a CD (compact disc) or a DVD (digital versatile disc) or a Blu-Ray disc. The computer program product 810 could also be embodied as a memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and more particularly as a non-volatile storage medium of a device in an external memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a Flash memory, such as a compact Flash memory. Thus, while the computer program 820 is here schematically shown as a track on the depicted optical disk, the computer program 820 can be stored in any way which is suitable for the computer program product 810.

[0089] The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node (110) utilizing wake-up signaling, WUS, for active paging occasion, PO, indication, the method being performed by a user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700), the method comprising: responding (SI 04-2), in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node (110) when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110); and responding (SI 04-4), in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node (110), to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110), wherein the second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using the second idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on that the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) has obtained (S 102) an indication that the network node (110) supports reception of responses to the paging transmissions in accordance with the second PO pattern.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indication is a default setting in the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700).

4. The method according to claim 2, the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) abstaining from responding to a first paging transmission in accordance with the first PO pattern, and in response thereto receiving a second paging transmission from the network node (110), and wherein the paging transmission that the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) responds to in accordance with the second PO pattern is the second paging transmission.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indication is obtained by the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) monitoring network behavior of the network node (110).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein monitoring the network behavior of the network node (110) comprises the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) abstaining from responding to a first paging transmission in accordance with the first PO pattern and confirming that reception of a secondpaging transmission from the network node (110) is compatible with the second idle reception mode, and wherein the paging transmission that the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) responds to in accordance with the second PO pattern is the second paging transmission.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using the second idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on a traffic type of the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) being compatible with the second PO pattern.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indication is obtained by the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) regularly receiving paging transmissions compatible with the second PO pattern from the network node (110).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using the first idle reception mode for monitoring the paging transmissions based on the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) having missed paging transmissions from the network node (110) when using the second idle reception mode.

10. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein using the first idle reception mode comprises using a low power, LP, Wake Up Radio, WUR, mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110).

11. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein using the second idle reception mode comprises using a non-low power mode, a non-Wake Up Radio, WUR, mode, or a default radio mode, for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110).

12. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first PO pattern and the second PO pattern define a respective paging cycle, and wherein the paging cycle of the second PO pattern is longer than the paging cycle of the first PO pattern.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the paging cycle of the second PO pattern is a celldefault paging cycle.

14. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the second channel quality condition corresponds to a lower link quality than the first channel quality condition, and / or to a link quality metric being below a threshold value.

15. A user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node (110) utilizing wake-up signaling, WUS, for active paging occasion, PO, indication, the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) comprising processing circuitry (610), the processing circuitry being configured to cause the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) to:respond, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node (110) when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110); and respond, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node (110), to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110), wherein the second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

16. A user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node (110) utilizing wake-up signaling, WUS, for active paging occasion, PO, indication, the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) comprising: a respond module (720) configured to respond, in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node (110) when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110); and a respond module (730) configured to respond, in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node (110), to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110), wherein the second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

17. The user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) according to claim 15 or 16, further being configured to perform the method according to any of claims 2 to 14.

18. A computer program (820) for monitoring paging transmissions from a network node (110) utilizing wake-up signaling, WUS, for active paging occasion, PO, indication, the computer program comprising computer code which, when run on processing circuitry (610) of a user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700), causes the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) to:respond (S 104-2), in accordance with a first PO pattern associated with the WUS, to a paging transmission from the network node (110) when a first channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a:400d, 600, 700) is using a first idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110); and respond (S 104-4), in accordance with a second PO pattern configured via system information signaling from the network node (110), to the paging transmission when a second channel quality condition is fulfilled and the user equipment (120a: 120b, 400a: 400d, 600, 700) is using a second idle reception mode for monitoring paging transmissions from the network node (110), wherein the second PO pattern is different from the first PO pattern, the second channel quality condition is different from the first channel quality condition, and the second idle reception mode is different from the first idle reception mode.

19. A computer program product (810) comprising a computer program (820) according to claim 18, and a computer readable storage medium (830) on which the computer program is stored.

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