Carrier wave device selection

The method of selecting external carrier wave nodes using time and frequency diversity in Ambient IoT devices addresses the challenge of powering and maintaining low-power IoT devices by enhancing signal quality and reducing maintenance costs through backscattering techniques.

WO2025150022A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-07-17LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/IB2025/052217
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-03-01
Filing Date
2025-02-28
Publication Date
2025-07-17

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in powering large numbers of low-power IoT devices, such as Ambient IoT devices, which are difficult to maintain due to battery replacement needs, and require energy-efficient solutions for seamless communication.

Method used

A method for selecting external carrier wave nodes by a base station to enhance the quality of backscattered signals in Ambient IoT devices, utilizing time and frequency diversity through backscattering techniques without modulation during a selection period, followed by modulation during data transmission.

Benefits of technology

Enhances the quality of backscattered signals at the base station, enabling efficient communication with Ambient IoT devices by selecting optimal carrier wave nodes, reducing maintenance costs, and ensuring reliable data transmission.

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Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to carrier wave device selection. During a selection period, multiple external carrier wave nodes are configured by a base station to transmit a carrier wave, a low power device backscatters the carrier waves, and the base station receives the backscattered signals. This backscattering is done by the low power without modulating the carrier wave. The different external carrier wave nodes can be configured to transmit carrier waves on one or both of different time resources or different frequency resources. Based on the backscattering, the base station selects which one or more external carrier wave nodes to use for subsequent communication with the Ambient IoT device.
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Description

CARRIER WAVE DEVICE SELECTIONRELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 560,180 filed March 1, 2024 entitled “CARRIER WAVE DEVICE SELECTION,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to selection of a wireless device associated with a carrier wave.BACKGROUND

[0003] A wireless communications system may include one or multiple network communication devices, which may be otherwise known as network equipment (NE), supporting wireless communications for one or multiple user communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE), or other suitable terminology. The wireless communications system may support wireless communications with one or multiple user communication devices by utilizing resources of the wireless communication system (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers, or the like)). Additionally, the wireless communications system may support wireless communications across various radio access technologies including third generation (3G) radio access technology, fourth generation (4G) radio access technology, fifth generation (5G) radio access technology, among other suitable radio access technologies beyond 5G (e.g., sixth generation (6G)).SUMMARY

[0004] An article “a” before an element is unrestricted and understood to refer to “at least one” of those elements or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ or “one or both of’) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Byway of another example, a list of at least one of A; B; or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on”. Further, as used herein, including in the claims, a “set” may include one or more elements.

[0005] An apparatus (e.g., a UE) for wireless communication is described. The apparatus may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the apparatus may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a first configuration for the apparatus for a duration; perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receive a second configuration for the apparatus to perform carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering; and perform a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0006] A processor (e.g., a standalone processor chipset or a component of a UE) for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a first configuration for the processor for a duration; perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receive a second configuration for the processor to perform carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering; and perform a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0007] A method performed or performable by an apparatus (e.g., a UE) for wireless communication is described. The method may include receiving a first configuration for the wireless device for a duration; performing a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receiving a second configuration for performing carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering; and performing a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0008] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0009] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0010] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0011] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0012] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to perform the carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots.

[0013] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to perform the carrierwave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device.

[0014] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device.

[0015] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to perform carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device.

[0016] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to perform carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device.

[0017] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the at least one wireless device comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (loT) device.

[0018] An apparatus (e.g., an Ambient loT device) for wireless communication is described. The apparatus may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the apparatus may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receive, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscatter without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0019] A processor (e.g., a standalone processor chipset or a component of an Ambient loT device) for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receive, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscatter without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0020] A method performed or performable by an apparatus (e.g., an Ambient loT device) for wireless communication is described. The method may include receiving a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receiving, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscattering without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0021] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

[0022] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on different time resources and different frequency resources.

[0023] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource but on different frequency resources.

[0024] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable,or operable to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same frequency resource but on different time resources.

[0025] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration with frequency hopping on different slots.

[0026] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive, during a second duration, second one or more carrier waves; and backscatter with modulation the second one or more carrier waves received during the second duration.

[0027] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

[0028] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources and different frequency resources.

[0029] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources but a same frequency resource.

[0030] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different frequency resources but a same time resource.

[0031] In some implementations of the apparatus, processor, and method described herein, the apparatus comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0032] An NE (e.g., a base station) for wireless communication is described. The NE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the NE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to transmit a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmit a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; select a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmit a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0033] A processor (e.g., a standalone processor chipset, or a component of a NE (e.g., a base station)) for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to transmit a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmit a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; select a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmit a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0034] A method performed or performable by an NE (e.g., a base station) for wireless communication is described. The method may include transmitting a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmitting a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration;selecting a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmitting a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0035] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

[0036] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on different time resources and different frequency resources than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0037] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0038] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

[0039] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots.

[0040] In some implementations of the NE, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to select the second wireless device based at least in part on a backscattering responsefrom the first wireless device within the duration at different time slots and different carrier frequencies.

[0041] In some implementations of the NE, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

[0042] In some implementations of the NE, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on different time and different frequency resources than carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

[0043] In some implementations of the NE, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than the third wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

[0044] In some implementations of the NE, processor, and method described herein, the NE, processor, and method may further be configured to, capable of, performed, performable, or operable to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than the third wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

[0045] In some implementations of the NE, the processor, and the method described herein, the first wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 2 illustrates an example topology of a wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates an example of transmitted carrier wave and received backscattering at a base station corresponding to different carrier wave nodes in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 4 illustrates an example of transmitted carrier wave and received backscattering at a base station corresponding to different carrier wave nodes in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 5 illustrates an example of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on the same time resources in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 6 illustrates an example of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on different time resources in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 7 illustrates an example of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on different frequencies in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0053] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a processor in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0055] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a NE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0056] Figures 11 through 13 illustrate flowcharts of methods in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] For various applications, numerous (e.g., billions) of loT devices are expected to be deployed in wireless communications systems. However, it is difficult to power this large number of devices with batteries that need to be replaced for re-charging, which leads to high maintenance cost. Accordingly, devices that consume very low power and / or rely on harvesting the energy are considered. One example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as a passive device) that has no energy storage, no independent signal generation, and uses backscattering transmission. Another example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as a semi-passive device) that has energy storage, no independent signal generation, and uses backscattering transmission. Use of stored energy can include amplification for reflected signals. Another example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as an active device) that has energy storage, has independent signal generation (e.g., an active RF component for transmission), and may use backscattering transmission.

[0058] loT devices may include Ambient loT devices. An Ambient loT device refers to a low- power (e.g., self-powered) sensor or device, which is typically small and / or low-cost. For example, Ambient loT devices may include an energy harvester with an output power of from 1 microwatt (pW) to a few hundreds of pW. Ambient loT devices also typically do not include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. There are different topologies and deployment scenarios of Ambient loT devices. Examples of these topologies include a topology where a base station acts as reader and as source of a carrier wave, a topology where the base station acts as a reader but another device is used as a source of the carrier wave, a topology where the base station acts as a controller and another intermediate node is used as a reader and as a source of the carrier wave, and so forth. The source of the carrier wave may also be referred to as an external carrier wave node, a carrier wave node, an external node, an emitter node, and so forth. The external carrier wave node can be a UE or another device.

[0059] In a dynamic environment, where the radio channels between an Ambient loT device and external carrier wave nodes are not known or where the Ambient loT device is not properly localized, the quality of the backscattering at the reader (e.g., a base station) fluctuates depending on whether the external carrier wave node is close to the Ambient loT device and whether the chosen carrier wave frequency is faded due to the channel. To enhance the quality of backscattered signalreceived at the reader (e.g., a base station) the techniques discussed herein select one or more the proper nodes to transmit the carrier wave.

[0060] The techniques discussed herein describe a first duration (e.g., a time duration or a selection period) followed by a second duration (e.g., a time duration or a data transmission period). During the selection period, multiple external carrier wave nodes are configured by the base station to transmit a carrier wave, the Ambient loT device backscatters the carrier waves, and the base station receives the backscattered signals. This backscattering is done by the Ambient loT device without modulating the carrier wave. The different external carrier wave nodes can be configured to transmit carrier waves on one or both of different time resources (e.g., at different times) or different frequency resources (e.g., at different frequencies). Based on the backscattering, the base station selects which one or more external carrier wave nodes to use for subsequent communication with the Ambient loT device, as well as one or both of different time resources or different frequency resources for the selected one or more external carrier wave nodes. For example, the base station can select one or more external carrier wave nodes that resulted in a strongest backscattered signal at the base station.

[0061] During the data transmission period, the selected one or more external carrier wave nodes can be used to communicate with the Ambient loT device. The selected one or more external carrier wave nodes are configured by the base station to transmit a carrier wave, the Ambient loT device modulates and backscatters the carrier wave, and the base station receives the modulated backscattered signal.

[0062] When communication with an Ambient loT device is desired it is difficult to know which external carrier wave node to use given potentially unknown location of the Ambient loT, fading in different channels (e.g., different frequencies), and so forth. The techniques discussed herein account for this lack of knowledge by providing for a selection period that allows the strength or quality of the backscattered signal at the reader (e.g., a base station) to be evaluated for one or more of different external carrier wave nodes, different frequency resources, or different time resources. This allows the reader to select one or more of at least one external carrier wave node, at least one frequency resource, or at least one time resource to be used to transmit at least one carrier wave to the Ambient loT device. This selection accounts for the qualities of the channels between the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device, and between the Ambient loT deviceand the base station, without estimating the quality of any one particular channel between the Ambient loT device and the reader, or between the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device.

[0063] Reference is made herein to communicating data or information, such as signaling communication resources and / or communications that are transmitted or received between devices. It is to be appreciated that other terms may be used interchangeably with communicating, such as signaling, transmitting, receiving, outputting, forwarding, retrieving, obtaining, and so forth.

[0064] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in the context of a wireless communications system.

[0065] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 may include one or more NE 102, one or more UE 104, and a core network (CN) 106. The wireless communications system 100 may support various radio access technologies. In some implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a 4G network, such as an LTE network or an LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) network. In some other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a new radio (NR) network, such as a 5G network, a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, or a 5G ultrawideband (5G-UWB) network. In other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a combination of a 4G network and a 5G network, or other suitable radio access technology including Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20. The wireless communications system 100 may support radio access technologies beyond 5G, for example, 6G. Additionally, the wireless communications system 100 may support technologies, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or code division multiple access (CDMA), etc.

[0066] The one or more NE 102 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region to form the wireless communications system 100. One or more of the NE 102 described herein may be or include or may be referred to as a network node, a base station, a network element, a network function, a network entity, a radio access network (RAN), a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a nextgeneration NodeB (gNB), an external carrier wave node, or other suitable terminology. An NE 102 and a UE 104 may communicate via a communication link, which may be a wireless or wiredconnection. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may perform wireless communication (e.g., receive signaling, transmit signaling) over a Uu interface.

[0067] An NE 102 may provide a geographic coverage area for which the NE 102 may support services for one or more UEs 104 within the geographic coverage area. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may support wireless communication of signals related to services (e.g., voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc.) according to one or multiple radio access technologies. In some implementations, an NE 102 may be moveable, for example, a satellite associated with a nonterrestrial network (NTN). In some implementations, different geographic coverage areas associated with the same or different radio access technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas may be associated with different NE 102.

[0068] The one or more UE 104 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region of the wireless communications system 100. A UE 104 may include or may be referred to as a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a subscriber device, a transmitter device, a receiver device, or some other suitable terminology. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE 104 may be referred to as an Internet-of-Things (loT) device, an Internet-of- Everything (loE) device, or machine-type communication (MTC) device, among other examples.

[0069] A UE 104 may be able to support wireless communication directly with other UEs 104 over a communication link. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link. In some implementations, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) deployments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) deployments, or cellular-V2X deployments, the communication link may be referred to as a sidelink. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a PC5 interface.

[0070] An NE 102 may support communications with the CN 106, or with another NE 102, or both. For example, an NE 102 may interface with other NE 102 or the CN 106 through one or more backhaul links (e.g., SI, N2, N6, or other network interface). In some implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other directly. In some other implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other indirectly (e.g., via the CN 106). In some implementations, one or more NE 102 may include subcomponents, such as an access network entity, which may be anexample of an access node controller (ANC). An ANC may communicate with the one or more UEs 104 through one or more other access network transmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission-reception points (TRPs).

[0071] In some implementations, an NE 102 may be configured in a disaggregated architecture, which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack physically or logically distributed among two or more NEs 102, such as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open RAN (O-RAN) (e.g., a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN) (e.g., a cloud RAN (C-RAN)). For example, an NE 102 may include one or more of a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a radio unit (RU), a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) (e.g., a Near-Real Time RIC (Near-RT RIC), a Non-Real Time RIC (Non-RT RIC)), a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) system, or any combination thereof.

[0072] An RU may also be referred to as a radio head, a smart radio head, a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio unit (RRU), or a transmission reception point (TRP). One or more components of the NEs 102 in a disaggregated RAN architecture may be co-located, or one or more components of the NEs 102 may be located in distributed locations (e.g., separate physical locations). In some implementations, one or more NEs 102 of a disaggregated RAN architecture may be implemented as virtual units (e.g., a virtual CU (VCU), a virtual DU (VDU), a virtual RU (VRU)).

[0073] Split of functionality between a CU, a DU, and an RU may be flexible and may support different functionalities depending upon which functions (e.g., network layer functions, protocol layer functions, baseband functions, radio frequency functions, and any combinations thereof) are performed at a CU, a DU, or an RU. For example, a functional split of a protocol stack may be employed between a CU and a DU such that the CU may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the DU may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. In some implementations, the CU may host upper protocol layer (e.g., a layer 3 (L3), a layer 2 (L2)) functionality and signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC), service data adaption protocol (SDAP), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). The CU may be connected to one or more DUs or RUs, and the one or more DUs or RUs may host lower protocol layers, such as a layer 1 (LI) (e.g., physical (PHY) layer) or an L2 (e.g., radio link control (RLC) layer, medium accesscontrol (MAC) layer) functionality and signaling, and may each be at least partially controlled by the CU.

[0074] Additionally, or alternatively, a functional split of the protocol stack may be employed between a DU and an RU such that the DU may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the RU may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. The DU may support one or multiple different cells (e.g., via one or more RUs). In some implementations, a functional split between a CU and a DU, or between a DU and an RU may be within a protocol layer (e.g., some functions for a protocol layer may be performed by one of a CU, a DU, or an RU, while other functions of the protocol layer are performed by a different one of the CU, the DU, or the RU).

[0075] A CU may be functionally split further into CU control plane (CU-CP) and CU user plane (CU-UP) functions. A CU may be connected to one or more DUs via a midhaul communication link (e.g., Fl, Fl-c, Fl-u), and a DU may be connected to one or more RUs via a fronthaul communication link (e.g., open fronthaul (FH) interface). In some implementations, a midhaul communication link or a fronthaul communication link may be implemented in accordance with an interface (e.g., a channel) between layers of a protocol stack supported by respective NEs 102 that are in communication via such communication links.

[0076] The CN 106 may support user authentication, access authorization, tracking, connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The CN 106 may be an evolved packet core (EPC), or a 5G core (5GC), which may include a control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management functions (AMF)) and a user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). In some implementations, the control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management (e.g., data bearers, signal bearers, etc.) for the one or more UEs 104 served by the one or more NE 102 associated with the CN 106.

[0077] The CN 106 may communicate with a packet data network over one or more backhaul links (e.g., via an SI, N2, N6, or other network interface). The packet data network may include an application server. In some implementations, one or more UEs 104 may communicate with theapplication server. A UE 104 may establish a session (e.g., a protocol data unit (PDU) session, or the like) with the CN 106 via an NE 102. The CN 106 may route traffic (e.g., control information, data, and the like) between the UE 104 and the application server using the established session (e.g., the established PDU session). The PDU session may be an example of a logical connection between the UE 104 and the CN 106 (e.g., one or more network functions of the CN 106).

[0078] In the wireless communications system 100, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may use resources of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers)) to perform various operations (e.g., wireless communications). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different resource structures. For example, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different frame structures. In some implementations, such as in 4G, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support a single frame structure. In some other implementations, such as in 5G and among other suitable radio access technologies, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures (i.e., multiple frame structures). The NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures based on one or more numerologies.

[0079] One or more numerologies may be supported in the wireless communications system 100, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing and a cyclic prefix. A first numerology (e.g., / r=0) may be associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. In some implementations, the first numerology (e.g., / r=0) associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may utilize one slot per subframe. A second numerology (e.g., / r=l) may be associated with a second subcarrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A third numerology (e.g., / r=2) may be associated with a third subcarrier spacing (e.g., 60 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix or an extended cyclic prefix. A fourth numerology (e.g., / r=3) may be associated with a fourth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 120 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A fifth numerology (e.g., / r=4) may be associated with a fifth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 240 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix.

[0080] A time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to frames (also referred to as radio frames). Each frame may have a duration, for example, a 10 millisecond (ms) duration. In some implementations, each frame may include multiple subframes. For example, each frame may include 10 subframes, and each subframe mayhave a duration, for example, a 1 ms duration. In some implementations, each frame may have the same duration. In some implementations, each subframe of a frame may have the same duration.

[0081] Additionally or alternatively, a time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to slots. For example, a subframe may include a number (e.g., quantity) of slots. The number of slots in each subframe may also depend on the one or more numerologies supported in the wireless communications system 100. For instance, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth numerologies (i.e., / r=0, jU=l , / r=2, / r=3, / r=4) associated with respective subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz may utilize a single slot per subframe, two slots per subframe, four slots per subframe, eight slots per subframe, and 16 slots per subframe, respectively. Each slot may include a number (e.g., quantity) of symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols). In some implementations, the number (e.g., quantity) of slots for a subframe may depend on a numerology. For a normal cyclic prefix, a slot may include 14 symbols. For an extended cyclic prefix (e.g., applicable for 60 kHz subcarrier spacing), a slot may include 12 symbols. The relationship between the number of symbols per slot, the number of slots per subframe, and the number of slots per frame for a normal cyclic prefix and an extended cyclic prefix may depend on a numerology. It should be understood that reference to a first numerology (e.g., / r=0) associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may be used interchangeably between subframes and slots.

[0082] In the wireless communications system 100, an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum may be split, based on frequency or wavelength, into various classes, frequency bands, frequency channels, etc. By way of example, the wireless communications system 100 may support one or multiple operating frequency bands, such as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may perform wireless communications over one or more of the operating frequency bands. In some implementations, FR1 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for cellular communications traffic (e.g., control information, data). In some implementations, FR2 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for short-range, high data rate capabilities.

[0083] FR1 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least three numerologies). For example, FR1 may be associated with a first numerology (e.g., / r=0), whichincludes 15 kHz subcarrier spacing; a second numerology (e.g., / r=l), which includes 30 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a third numerology (e.g., / r=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing. FR2 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least 2 numerologies). For example, FR2 may be associated with a third numerology (e.g., / r=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a fourth numerology (e.g., / r=3), which includes 120 kHz subcarrier spacing.

[0084] Communication between devices discussed herein, such as between NEs 102 and external carrier wave nodes, or between NEs 102 and Ambient loT devices, is performed using any of a variety of different signaling. For example, such signaling can be any of various messages, requests, or responses, such as triggering messages, configuration messages, and so forth. By way of another example, such signaling can be any of various signaling mediums or protocols over which messages are conveyed, such as any combination of radio resource control (RRC), downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), medium access control element (MAC-CE), and so forth.

[0085] In some cases, a cell refers to a radio access node in communication with a base station or including a base station. A cell typically has a coverage area, which is a geographic area in which the cell provides wireless connectivity to devices within. Different cells may operate on defined frequencies or frequency bands, referred to as subcarriers. In some examples, a UE 104 establishes a wireless connection with a cell, and subsequently that cell may be referred to as a serving cell of the UE 104.

[0086] The wireless communications system 100 may also include various low power devices, such as Ambient loT devices. These low power devices may communicate with any of various NEs 102 or UEs 104. One usage of such low power devices is to track inventory in an indoor area (e.g., a factory or warehouse) where low power devices are attached to objects (e.g., products, boxes, pallets) being tracked. These low power devices do random access and data transmission for transmitting, e.g., an electronic product code identifier (ID) to the network.

[0087] In recent years, loT has attracted much attention in the wireless communication world. More things are expected to be interconnected for improving productivity, efficiency, and increasing comforts of life. Further reduction of size, complexity, and power consumption of loTdevices can enable the deployment of tens or even hundreds of billion loT devices for various applications and provide added value across the entire value chain. It is impractical to power all the loT devices by batteries that need to be replaced or recharged manually, which leads to high maintenance cost, serious environmental issues, and even safety hazards for some use cases (e.g., wireless sensor in electric power and petroleum industry).

[0088] Many existing wireless communication devices are powered by battery that needs to be replaced or recharged manually. The automation and digitalization of various industries open numbers of new markets considering new loT technologies of supporting battery-less devices with no energy storage capability or devices with energy storage that do not need to be replaced or recharged manually. The form factor of such devices are expected to be reasonably small to convey the validity of target use cases.

[0089] Various use cases, traffic scenarios, device constraints of ambient power-enabled Internet of Things are considered and identification of new potential service requirements as well as new KPIs are considered. Devices being battery-less or with limited energy storage capability (e.g., using a capacitor) are considered and the energy is provided through the harvesting of radio waves, light, motion, heat, or any other power source.

[0090] Considering the limited size and complexity required by practical applications for battery-less devices with no energy storage capability or devices with limited energy storage that do not need to be replaced or recharged manually, the output power of energy harvester is typically from 1 microwatt (pW) to a few hundreds of pW. Existing cellular devices may not work well with energy harvesting due to their peak power consumption of higher than 10 milliwatts (mW).

[0091] An example type of application is asset identification, which presently resorts mainly to barcode and radio frequency identification (RFID) in most industries. An advantage of these two technologies is the ultra-low complexity and small form factor of the tags. However, the limited reading range of a few meters usually requires handheld scanning which leads to labor intensive and time-consuming operations, or RFID portals or gates, which leads to costly deployments. Moreover, the lack of interference management scheme results in severe interference between RFID readers and capacity problems, especially in case of dense deployment. It is difficult to support large-scale network with seamless coverage for RFID.

[0092] Since existing technologies cannot meet all the requirements of target use cases, a new loT technology is desired to open new markets within 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) systems, whose number of connections and / or device density can be orders of magnitude higher than existing 3GPP loT technologies. The new loT technology is expected to provide complexity and power consumption orders of magnitude lower than the existing 3 GPP low power wide area (LPWA) technologies (e.g., narrowband (NB)-IoT and enhanced machine type communication (eMTC)), and is expected to address use cases and scenarios that cannot otherwise be fulfilled based on existing 3GPP LPWA loT technologies.

[0093] Assessment of Ambient loT suitable for deployment in a 3GPP system that relies on ultra-low complexity devices with ultra-low power consumption for the very-low end loT applications is taken into consideration. Addressing use cases and scenarios that cannot otherwise be fulfilled based on existing 3GPP LPWA loT technology, e.g., NB-IoT including with reduced peak transmit (TX) power is taken into consideration.

[0094] A harmonized air interface design with reduced (e.g., minimized) differences (where appropriate) for Ambient loT to enable the following devices is considered: a) an approximately 1 pW peak power consumption, has energy storage, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) up to 10xppm, neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification in the device, where X is to be decided; the device’s UL transmission is backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally; b) less than or equal to a few hundred pW peak power consumption, has energy storage, initial SFO up to 10xppm, both DL and / or UL amplification in the device, where X is to be decided; the device’s UL transmission may be generated internally by the device, or be backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally. The coverage design target is a largest distance of 10-50 meters with device indoors. Devices where a UE operates as an intermediate node under network (e.g., base station) control), with no RRC states, no mobility (e.g., at least no cell selection or re-selection -like function), no hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), no automatic repeat request (ARQ), is considered.

[0095] Deployment scenarios with the following characteristics are considered. A deployment and topology scenario with a base station and coexistence characteristics of micro-cell, co-site. A deployment and topology scenario with a UE as an intermediate node, under network (e.g., base station) control and base station and coexistence characteristics of macro-cell, co-site; and thelocation is of intermediate node is indoor. FR1 licensed spectrum in frequency division duplex (FDD). Spectrum deployment in-band to NR, in guard-band to LTE / NR, in one or more standalone bands. Traffic types DO-DTT, DT, with focus on rUCl (indoor inventory) and rUC4 (indoor command). Whether the harmonized air interface design can address the device-originated autonomous (DO-A) use case is also considered.

[0096] The occurrence of transmission from Ambient loT device (including backscattering when used) at least in UL spectrum is considered.

[0097] The following is considered: applicable largest (e.g., maximum) distance target values(s); latency suitable for use in RAN; 2-dimensional (2D) distribution of devices; deployment scenarios for coverage and coexistence evaluations; identify basic blocks or components of possible Ambient loT device architectures, taking into account implementations of low-power low- complexity devices which meet the RAN design target for power consumption and complexity; link budget calculation for coverage, including whether or how to model carrier wave from one or more nodes inside or outside the connectivity topology.

[0098] The following is considered: appropriate and feasible solutions for Ambient loT, including decisions on which functions, procedures, etc. are used, and providing at least desired (e.g., required) functionalities; positioning, restricted to functionalities which would have no, or little, specification impact; the feasibility and desired (e.g., required) functionalities for proximity determination.

[0099] For the Ambient loT DL and UL, the following is considered: frame structure, synchronization and timing, random access; numerologies, bandwidths, and multiple access; waveforms and modulations; channel coding; downlink channel / signal aspects; uplink channel / signal aspects; scheduling and timing relationships; characteristics of carrier-wave waveform for a carrier wave provided externally to the Ambient loT device, including for interference handling at Ambient loT UL receiver, and at NR base station.

[0100] The following is also considered: functions used for an Ambient loT compact protocol stack and lightweight signaling procedure to enable DO-DTT and DT data transmission; for example, paging, random access, data transmission, including radio resource control aspects, interactions with upper layers.

[0101] The following is also considered: impacts on signaling and procedures for CN-RAN interface, to enable paging, device context management, data transport; RAN architecture aspects, including whether support for split architecture is used; solutions for locating an Ambient loT device with no specification impact, e.g., reusing existing user location report, or reduced (e.g., minimal) specification impact to convey location information to core network.

[0102] The following is also considered: coexistence of Ambient loT and NR / LTE; RF for Ambient loT, including Ambient loT base station transmission and reception, Ambient loT Device transmission and reception, intermediate node (e.g., UE), transmission and reception.

[0103] For various applications, numerous (e.g., billions) of loT devices are expected to be deployed in a wireless communications system. However, it is difficult to power this large number of devices with batteries that need to be replaced for re-charging, which leads to high maintenance cost. Accordingly, devices that consume very low power and / or rely on harvesting the energy are considered. One example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as a passive device) that has no energy storage, no independent signal generation, and uses backscattering transmission. Another example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as a semi-passive device) that has energy storage, no independent signal generation, and uses backscattering transmission. Use of stored energy can include amplification for reflected signals. Another example of such a device is a device (e.g., referred to as an active device) that has energy storage, has independent signal generation (e.g., an active RF component for transmission), and may use backscattering transmission.

[0104] loT devices may include Ambient loT devices. An Ambient loT device refers to a low- power (e.g., self-powered) sensor or device, which is typically small and / or low-cost. These low- power sensors or device may be, for example, passive devices, semi-passive devices, or active devices. There are different topologies and deployment scenarios of Ambient loT devices.Examples of these topologies include a topology where a base station acts as reader and as source of a carrier wave, a topology where the base station acts as a reader but another device is used as a source of the carrier wave, a topology where the base station acts as a controller and another intermediate node is used as a reader and as a source of the carrier wave, and so forth.

[0105] The techniques discussed herein describe selecting one or more external carrier wave nodes for passive Ambient loT device especially in a dynamic environment, where the channelsbetween an Ambient loT device and external carrier wave nodes are unknown, or where the Ambient loT device is not properly localized. To enhance the quality of a backscattered signal at the base station, a procedure for selecting the suitable one or more external carrier wave nodes to excite the Ambient loT device before the actual data transmission is discussed. Furthermore, the quality of backscattering can be enhanced by selecting multiple external carrier wave nodes for transmitting carrier waves to an Ambient loT device. This enhancement utilizes the time and frequency diversity of the channel.

[0106] Figure 2 illustrates an example topology 200 of a wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the topology 200 implements aspects of the wireless communications system 100. The topology 200 illustrates an example of multiple external nodes transmitting carrier waves. Although illustrated as external nodes, these external nodes are sources of carrier waves and may also be referred to as external carrier wave nodes, carrier wave nodes, emitter nodes, and so forth.

[0107] The topology 200 includes a NE 202 (e.g., a base station), and a low power (e.g., Ambient loT device) 204. In the topology 200, the NE 202 transmits configuration or control 206 for transmitting a carrier wave to an external node 208. The NE 202 also transmits configuration or control 210 for transmitting a carrier wave to an external node 212. The NE 202 can also transmit any of various information to the Ambient loT device 204 in a DL for the Ambient loT device transmission 214.

[0108] The configuration or control 206 signaling from the NE 202 is to configure the external node 208 to transmit a carrier wave 216 to the Ambient loT device 204 to excite the Ambient loT device 204 to transmit (backscatter 218) data or information to the NE 202. Similarly, the configuration or control 210 signaling from the NE 202 is to configure the external node 212 to transmit a carrier wave 220 to the Ambient loT device 204 to excite the Ambient loT device 204 to transmit (backscatter 218) data or information to the NE 202.

[0109] Accordingly, in the topology 200, the NE 202 (e.g., a base station) acts as a reader but another device (the external node 208 or the external node 212) is used as a source of the carrier wave.

[0110] It should be noted that although a single Ambient loT device 204 and two external nodes 208 and 212 are illustrated in the topology 200, any number of low power devices (e.g., Ambient loT devices) may receive carrier waves from any number of external nodes in the topology 200.

[0111] The Ambient loT device 204 may be classified or defined as a low power device if a power consumption level of the Ambient loT device 204 satisfies (e.g., is less than) a threshold value. The Ambient loT device 204 may include a low power processor to reduce the power consumption level of the Ambient loT device 204. A low power processor may be a processor that operates with a power consumption level that satisfies (e.g., is less than) a threshold value. A low power processor and / or the Ambient loT device 204 may have reduced functionality when compared with a processor or other wireless device that operates at a power consumption level that is greater than the threshold values. For example, the low power processor and / or the Ambient loT device 204 may have reduced processing capabilities for decoding and generating signaling, may have reduced transmission and / or reception capabilities (e.g., transmission and / or reception range, among others), reduced energy storage capabilities (e.g., smaller battery), or the like when compared with a processor or wireless device that operates at a power consumption level that is greater than the threshold values.

[0112] In one or more implementations, the Ambient loT device 204 may be a sensor (e.g., a tag), an actuator, an appliance, or another device capable of connecting to a wireless network. In some examples, the Ambient loT device 204 is categorized according to a set of components and / or capabilities of the Ambient loT devices, where the categories include one or more of an active Ambient loT device category, a semi-passive Ambient loT device category, and / or a passive Ambient loT device category. An active Ambient loT device includes a power source and an active radio frequency component, such as a transmitter and / or receiver component, for signal generation. The transmitter and / or receiver component may include one or more antennas for transmitting and receiving signaling. A semi-passive Ambient loT device may have energy storage capabilities but may not include an active radio frequency component for signal generation. A passive Ambient loT device may not have energy storage capabilities or an active radio frequency component.

[0113] In some cases, semi-passive Ambient loT devices and passive Ambient loT devices use backscattering techniques and / or energy harvesting for transmitting and / or receiving transmissions. In variations, an active Ambient loT device may use a transmitter and / or receiver component fortransmitting or receiving transmissions and / or may use backscattering techniques for transmitting and / or receiving transmissions. Semi-passive Ambient loT devices may use the stored energy to amplify a signal when using backscattering techniques. Backscattering techniques include receiving signaling from a source (e.g., a node such as the external node 208 or the external node 212) and reflecting the incoming signaling towards a destination (e.g., a reader such as the NE 202). The Ambient loT device 204 may modulate the reflection of the incoming signal towards the destination in some situations (e.g., during a data transmission period) but not modulate the reflection of the incoming signal towards the destination in other situations (e.g., during a selection period) as discussed in more detail below. Thus, the Ambient loT device 204 may not use an active receiver and / or transmitter component for receiving and transmitting signaling, which reduces a power consumption level of the device.

[0114] In some examples, the Ambient loT device 204 may be capable of energy harvesting using energy harvesting techniques. For example, the Ambient loT device 204 may extract energy from transmission waves from a source device (e.g., the NE 202) to power the Ambient loT device 204. The source device may transmit the signaling using a continuous wave waveform in which the signaling has a constant amplitude and frequency and / or a carrier wave waveform in which the signaling has a periodic variation in amplitude, duration, and position. Signaling transmitted using a continuous wave waveform may be referred to as a continuous wave transmission, while signaling transmitted using a carrier wave waveform may be referred to as a carrier wave transmission. If the Ambient loT device 204 includes an energy storage component, then the Ambient loT device 204 may store the extracted energy for later use (e.g., to amplify a reflection of signal or to generate a new signal).

[0115] With respect to external carrier wave node selection, in one or more implementations, a base station sends configuration to multiple external carrier wave nodes or intermediate nodes to transmit carrier waves to one or more Ambient loT devices. Although discussed herein with reference to Ambient loT devices, the techniques are also applicable to other (e.g., low power) devices. The configuration includes information about time resources, frequency resources, and transmit power of the carrier wave transmitted from the multiple external carrier wave nodes. The quality of the backscattered signal at the base station depends on different factors such as the distance between the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device, the transmit power ofthe external carrier wave node, and the channel between the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device, e.g., whether the chosen carrier frequency or carrier wave lies on one of channel deep fades or not (the channel between the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device). To choose the right external node to excite the Ambient loT device, the base station measures the Ambient loT backscattering associated with different external carrier wave nodes to identify or select the suitable one or more carrier wave nodes to be used for further communication with the Ambient loT device. In one or more implementations, during the selection procedure, each external carrier wave node transmits on different time resources or slots and the base station measures the received backscattering on the corresponding slots.

[0116] Figure 3 illustrates an example 300 of transmitted carrier wave and received backscattering at a base station corresponding to different carrier wave nodes in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In the example 300, the base station receives backscattering corresponding to different carrier wave nodes at different time resources (e.g., different time durations or time slots). The receive (RX) power 302 of the backscattering received from node #1 in a first time resource (e.g., a first time duration), the RX power 304 of the backscattering received from node #2 in a second time resource, the RX power 306 of the backscattering received from node #3 in a third time resource, and the RX power 308 of the backscattering received from node #4 in a fourth time resource are illustrated. As shown, the RX power 304 of the backscattering received from node #2 in a second time resource is the largest or highest of the four.

[0117] Based on the quality of the received signal or on the strength of the backscattering, the base station identifies the external carrier wave node and sends indication to the external carrier wave node. In the example 300, the base station identifies node #2 to be the suitable external carrier wave node for transmitting carrier wave. For utilizing time diversity, the base station may choose both node #1 and node #2.

[0118] Additionally or alternatively, the transmission of carrier waves can be simultaneous, where all external carrier wave nodes, during the selection procedure, transmit carrier waves to the Ambient loT device at the same time, but each carrier wave is transmitted on a different configured carrier frequency within the frequency response of the Ambient loT device to allow the base station to distinguish between different backscattering based on the response of the Ambient loT device at different frequencies.

[0119] Figure 4 illustrates an example 400 of transmitted carrier wave and received backscattering at a base station corresponding to different carrier wave nodes in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In the example 400, the base station receives backscattering corresponding to different carrier wave nodes at different frequency resources (e.g., different frequencies). The RX power 402 of the backscattering received from node #1 in a first frequency resource, the RX power 404 of the backscattering received from node #2 in a second frequency resource, the RX power 406 of the backscattering received from node #3 in a third frequency resource, the RX power 408 of the backscattering received from node #4 in a fourth frequency resource, and the RX power 410 of the backscattering received from node #5 in a fifth frequency resource are illustrated. As shown, the RX power 404 of the backscattering received from node #2 in a second frequency resource is the largest or highest of the five.

[0120] In the example 400, the base station selects external carrier wave node #2 since the measured backscattering or response at the corresponding carrier is the highest, which indicates that the node #2 is either close to the device or the chosen carrier is not on channel fades. In one example, the base station may configure the Ambient loT device during the node selection procedure to backscatter an unmodulated signal, e.g., to reflect or backscatter the carrier wave directly at the antenna to improve base station selection. In another example the selection or reselection of nodes can be performed during usual data transmission from the Ambient loT device.

[0121] Additionally or alternatively, the base station configures one or more external carrier wave nodes with different carrier frequencies of the carrier wave transmitted either on the same slot or in different slots. This helps on selecting a suitable (e.g., the best) carrier frequency of a node that avoids the channel fades between the corresponding node and the Ambient loT device.

[0122] The Ambient loT device may respond on the same carrier wave frequencies, configured to apply fixed frequency shift on the carrier wave, or configured to apply variable frequency shifts (hopping) for each slot. This helps to identify a suitable (e.g., the best) carrier frequency for backscattering to avoid fading of the channel between the Ambient loT device and the base station.

[0123] The base station sends the configuration to a group of external carrier wave nodes involved in the selection procedure using unicast or groupcast control message. For example, when all external carrier wave nodes transmit on the same time resources, a groupcast message can besent to the nodes involved in the selection procedure. In cases of different time or frequency resources, a unicast message can be sent individually to each node of the group of nodes.

[0124] With respect to configuring multiple carrier wave nodes for utilizing channel diversity for backscattering, in one or more implementations the base station sends configuration to multiple external carrier wave nodes or intermediate nodes to transmit carrier waves to one or more Ambient loT devices. Although discussed herein with reference to Ambient loT devices, the techniques are also applicable to other (e.g., low power) devices. The configuration includes information about time resources, frequency resources, and transmit power of the carrier wave transmitted from multiple external carrier wave nodes. The Ambient loT device modulates and backscatters carrier waves from different nodes, which enhances the quality of the backscattering at the base station. In one or more implementations, the selected nodes to be used for exciting the Ambient loT device may transmit the same carrier wave on the same time and frequency resources to enhance the power of the received backscattering.

[0125] Figure 5 illustrates an example 500 of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on the same time resources in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the carrier wave (CW) from node #1, the carrier wave from node #2, and the carrier wave from node #3 are transmitted on the same frequency in the same time resources (e.g., slot #1, slot #2, and slot #3). The accumulated signal power at the Ambient loT device increases with increasing the number of carrier waves, leading to high power of backscattering. This may be applicable in cases where the Ambient loT device uses amplitude-shift keying (ASK) modulation since the carrier waves from different nodes are received at the Ambient loT device with different phases due to different distances, which may make phase shift keying (PSK) modulation more difficult. As illustrated at 502, the modulating of the backscatter from the Ambient loT device allows data to be transmitted from the Ambient loT device to the base station.

[0126] Additionally or alternatively, the selected external carrier wave nodes transmit their carrier waves on different time resources to enhance the time diversity of the backscattered signal. If the Ambient loT device is configured to backscatter UL data with repetition, for each repetition one carrier wave node transmits the carrier wave. The base station accumulates and decodes the received signal at different repetitions to utilize time diversity of both channels, the channelbetween the external carrier wave node and the Ambient loT device due to different nodes and the channel between the Ambient loT device and the base station due to different repetitions.

[0127] Figure 6 illustrates an example 600 of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on different time resources in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated for first data (data #1), the data is transmitted by node #1 in first time resource 602, transmitted by node #2 in second time resource 604, and transmitted by node #3 in third time resource 606. Similarly, for second data (data #2), the data is transmitted by node #1 in first time resource 608, transmitted by node #2 in second time resource 610, and transmitted by node #3 in third time resource 612.

[0128] In another example, the UL slots or symbols are divided into multiple portions, and for each portion a different external carrier wave node transmits the carrier wave.

[0129] Additionally or alternatively, the selected external carrier wave nodes are configured to transmit carrier waves using different carrier frequencies within the Ambient loT device frequency response. This enhances the quality of the received backscattering by utilizing frequency diversity.

[0130] Figure 7 illustrates an example 700 of carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on different frequencies in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The example 700 illustrates carrier waves from different external carrier wave nodes on different frequencies with applying frequency hopping on different time resources.

[0131] The external carrier wave nodes may transmit their carrier waves on the same time slot or on different time slots. The base station accumulates and decodes the UL received at different frequencies so that the frequency diversity is utilized. The baser station may configure the external carrier wave nodes to apply frequency hopping within the Ambient loT device frequency response to further enhance frequency diversity and to avoid channel fading, especially if the Ambient loT device is mobile. The Ambient loT device may respond on the same carrier wave frequencies, configured to apply fixed frequency shift on carrier wave, or configured to apply variable frequency shift (hopping) for each slot.

[0132] Additionally or alternatively, the base station configures one external carrier wave node with different carrier frequencies of the carrier wave transmitted either on the same slot or indifferent slots by applying frequency hopping to avoid channel fading and to improve (e.g., maximize) frequency diversity.

[0133] The base station sends the configuration to the selected external nodes using unicast or groupcast control message, e.g., depending on whether the nodes are configured with the same carrier wave transmission parameters or not.

[0134] Accordingly, the techniques discussed herein describe configuration of multiple external carrier wave nodes to assist node selection.

[0135] The techniques discussed herein also describe configuration of multiple external carrier wave nodes to utilize channel diversity.

[0136] The techniques discussed herein also describe performing selection by the base station of one or more external carrier wave nodes.

[0137] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a device 800 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device 800 may include a processor 802, a memory 804, a controller 806, and a transceiver 808. The processor 802, the memory 804, the controller 806, or the transceiver 808, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces. The device 800 may be a low power device (e.g., an Ambient loT device), a UE, a wireless device associated with a carrier wave (e.g., an external carrier wave node as discussed above), and so forth.

[0138] The processor 802, the memory 804, the controller 806, or the transceiver 808, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0139] The processor 802 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In someimplementations, the processor 802 may be configured to operate the memory 804. In some other implementations, the memory 804 may be integrated into the processor 802. The processor 802 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 804 to cause the device 800 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0140] The memory 804 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 804 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 802 cause the device 800 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as the memory 804 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0141] In some implementations, the processor 802 and the memory 804 coupled with the processor 802 may be configured to cause the device 800 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 802, instructions stored in the memory 804). For example, the processor 802 may support wireless communication at the device 800 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The device 800 may be a wireless device configured to or operable to support a means for receiving a first configuration for the wireless device during a duration; performing a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receiving a second configuration for performing carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering; and performing a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0142] Additionally, the device 800 may be configured to support any one or combination of where the wireless device is part of a set of wireless devices, and further including, based at least in part on the second configuration, performing the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the wireless device is part of a set of wireless devices, and further including, based at least in part on the second configuration, performing the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the wireless device is part of a set of wireless devices, andfurther including, based at least in part on the second configuration, performing the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the wireless device is part of a set of wireless devices, and further including, based at least in part on the second configuration, performing the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; performing the carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; where the wireless device is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and further including performing the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the wireless device is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and further including performing the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the wireless device is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and further including performing carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device; where the wireless device is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and further including performing carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device; where the at least one wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0143] Additionally, or alternatively, the device 800 may support at least one memory (e.g., the memory 804) and at least one processor (e.g., the processor 802) coupled with the at least one memory and operable to or configured to cause the device 800 (e.g., an apparatus) to: receive a first configuration for the apparatus for a duration; perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receive a second configuration for the apparatus to perform carrier wave transmission to atleast one wireless device for data backscattering; and perform a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0144] Additionally, the device 800 may be operable to support any one or combination of: where the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the apparatus is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to perform the carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; where the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to perform carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on adifferent time resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device; where the apparatus is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to perform carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the other wireless devices of the selected at least one wireless device; where the at least one wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0145] In some implementations, the processor 802 and the memory 804 coupled with the processor 802 may be configured to cause the device 800 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 802, instructions stored in the memory 804). For example, the processor 802 may support wireless communication at the device 800 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The device 800 may be a wireless device configured to or operable to support a means for receiving a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receiving, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscattering without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0146] Additionally, the device 800 may be configured to support any one or combination of further including receiving the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; further including receiving the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on different time resources and different frequency resources; further including receiving the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource but on different frequency resources; further including receiving the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same frequency resource but on different time resources; further including receiving the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration with frequency hopping on different slots; further including: receiving, during a second duration, second one or more carrier waves; and backscattering with modulation the secondone or more carrier waves received during the second duration; further including receiving the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; further including receiving the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources and different frequency resources; further including receiving the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources but a same frequency resource; further including receiving the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different frequency resources but a same time resource; where the apparatus comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0147] Additionally, or alternatively, the device 800 may support at least one memory (e.g., the memory 804) and at least one processor (e.g., the processor 802) coupled with the at least one memory and configured to or operable to cause the device 800 (e.g., an apparatus) to: receive a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receive, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscatter without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0148] Additionally, the device 800 may be configured to support any one or combination of: where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on different time resources and different frequency resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource but on different frequency resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same frequency resource but on different time resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration withfrequency hopping on different slots; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to: receive, during a second duration, second one or more carrier waves; and backscatter with modulation the second one or more carrier waves received during the second duration; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources and different frequency resources; where at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources but a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different frequency resources but a same time resource; where the apparatus comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0149] The controller 806 may manage input and output signals for the device 800. The controller 806 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device 800. In some implementations, the controller 806 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 806 may be implemented as part of the processor 802.

[0150] In some implementations, the device 800 may include at least one transceiver 808. In some other implementations, the device 800 may have more than one transceiver 808. The transceiver 808 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 808 may include one or more receiver chains 810, one or more transmitter chains 812, or a combination thereof.

[0151] A receiver chain 810 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 810 may include one or more antennas to receive a signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 810 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 810 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the receive signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied duringtransmission of the signal. The receiver chain 810 may include at least one decoder for decoding the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0152] A transmitter chain 812 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 812 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phase-shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 812 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 812 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0153] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a processor 900 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The processor 900 may be an example of a processor configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 900 may include a controller 902 configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 900 may optionally include at least one memory 904, which may be, for example, an L1 / L2 / L3 cache. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 900 may optionally include one or more arithmetic-logic units (ALUs) 906. One or more of these components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces (e.g., buses).

[0154] The processor 900 may be a processor chipset and include a protocol stack (e.g., a software stack) executed by the processor chipset to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor chipset may include one or more cores, one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 900) or other memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others).

[0155] The controller 902 may be configured to manage and coordinate various operations (e.g., signaling, receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) of the processor 900 to cause the processor 900 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. For example, the controller 902 may operate as a control unit of the processor 900, generating control signals that manage the operation of various components of the processor 900. These control signals include enabling or disabling functional units, selecting data paths, initiating memory access, and coordinating timing of operations.

[0156] The controller 902 may be configured to fetch (e.g., obtain, retrieve, receive) instructions from the memory 904 and determine subsequent instruction(s) to be executed to cause the processor 900 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The controller 902 may be configured to track memory addresses of instructions associated with the memory 904. The controller 902 may be configured to decode instructions to determine the operation to be performed and the operands involved. For example, the controller 902 may be configured to interpret the instruction and determine control signals to be output to other components of the processor 900 to cause the processor 900 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 902 may be configured to manage flow of data within the processor 900. The controller 902 may be configured to control transfer of data between registers, ALUs 906, and other functional units of the processor 900.

[0157] The memory 904 may include one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor 900 or other memory, such as RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, MRAM, flash memory, etc. In some implementations, the memory 904 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., local to the processor 900). In some other implementations, the memory 904 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., remote to the processor 900).

[0158] The memory 904 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions that, when executed by the processor 900, cause the processor 900 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. The controller 902 and / or the processor 900 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 904 to cause the processor 900 to perform various functions. For example, the processor 900 and / or the controller902 may be coupled with or to the memory 904, the processor 900, and the controller 902, and may be configured to perform various functions described herein. In some examples, the processor 900 may include multiple processors and the memory 904 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein.

[0159] The one or more ALUs 906 may be configured to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, the one or more ALUs 906 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., the processor 900). In some other implementations, the one or more ALUs 906 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 900). One or more ALUs 906 may perform one or more computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on data. For example, one or more ALUs 906 may receive input operands and an operation code, which determines an operation to be executed. One or more ALUs 906 may be configured with a variety of logical and arithmetic circuits, including adders, subtractors, shifters, and logic gates, to process and manipulate the data according to the operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more ALUs 906 may support logical operations such as AND, OR, exclusive-OR (XOR), not-OR (NOR), and not-AND (NAND), enabling the one or more ALUs 906 to handle conditional operations, comparisons, and bitwise operations.

[0160] The processor 900 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support at least one controller (e.g., the controller 902) coupled with at least one memory (e.g., the memory 904) and configured to or operable to cause the processor to: receive a first configuration for the processor for a duration; perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration; receive a second configuration for the processor to perform carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering; and perform a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration.

[0161] Additionally, the processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support any one or combination of: where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wirelessdevices; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a set of wireless devices, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to, based at least in part on the second configuration, perform the carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to perform the carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource and a different frequency resource than carrier waves transmitted by other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the processor is included in a wireless device that is part of a selected at least one wireless device, and the at least one controller is further operable to cause the processor to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequencyresource than other wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the wireless devices of the at least one selected wireless device; where the device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0162] Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 900 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support at least one controller (e.g., the controller 902) coupled with at least one memory (e.g., the memory 904) and configured to or operable to cause the processor to: receive a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receive, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscatter without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

[0163] Additionally, the processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support any one or combination of: where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on different time resources and different frequency resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource but on different frequency resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same frequency resource but on different time resources; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration with frequency hopping on different slots; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to: receive, during a second duration, second one or more carrier waves; and backscatter with modulation the second one or more carrier waves received during the second duration; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the setof wireless devices on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources and different frequency resources; where at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different time resources but a same frequency resource; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the second one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices on different frequency resources but a same time resource; where the apparatus comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0164] Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 900 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support at least one controller (e.g., the controller 902) coupled with at least one memory (e.g., the memory 904) and configured to or operable to cause the processor to: transmit a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmit a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; select a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmit a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0165] Additionally, the processor 900 may be configured to or operable to support any one or combination of: where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on different time resources and different frequency resources than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the otherwireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; where the at least one processor is operable to cause the base station to select the second wireless device based at least in part on a backscattering response from the first wireless device during the duration at different time slots and different carrier frequencies; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on different time and different frequency resources than carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than the second wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than the third wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the first wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0166] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a NE 1000 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The NE 1000 may include a processor 1002, a memory 1004, a controller 1006, and a transceiver 1008. The processor 1002, the memory 1004, the controller 1006, or the transceiver 1008, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means forperforming various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0167] The processor 1002, the memory 1004, the controller 1006, or the transceiver 1008, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0168] The processor 1002 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 1002 may be configured to operate the memory 1004. In some other implementations, the memory 1004 may be integrated into the processor 1002. The processor 1002 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 1004 to cause the NE 1000 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0169] The memory 1004 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 1004 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 1002 cause the NE 1000 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as the memory 1004 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0170] In some implementations, the processor 1002 and the memory 1004 coupled with the processor 1002 may be configured to cause the NE 1000 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 1002, instructions stored in the memory 1004). For example, the processor 1002 may support wireless communication at the NE 1000 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The NE 1000 may be configured to support a means for transmitting a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wirelessdevices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmitting a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; selecting a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmitting a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0171] Additionally, the NE 1000 may be configured to support any one or combination of where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on different time resources and different frequency resources than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; further including selecting the second wireless device based at least in part on a backscattering response from the first wireless device within the duration at different time slots and different carrier frequencies; further including selecting a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; further including selecting a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on different time and different frequency resources than carrier waves transmitted bythe third wireless device; further including selecting a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than the second wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; further including selecting a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than the third wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the first wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0172] Additionally, or alternatively, the NE 1000 may support at least one memory (e.g., the memory 1004) and at least one processor (e.g., the processor 1002) coupled with the at least one memory and configured to or operable to cause the NE to: transmit a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmit a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; select a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmit a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

[0173] Additionally, the NE 1000 may be operable to support any one or combination of where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on different time resources and different frequency resources than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the setof wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices; where the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots; where the at least one processor is operable to cause the base station to select the second wireless device based at least in part on a backscattering response from the first wireless device during the duration at different time slots and different carrier frequencies; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on different time and different frequency resources than carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than the second wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and where the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than the third wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device; where the first wireless device comprises an Ambient loT device.

[0174] The controller 1006 may manage input and output signals for the NE 1000. The controller 1006 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the NE 1000. In some implementations, the controller 1006 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 1006 may be implemented as part of the processor 1002.

[0175] In some implementations, the NE 1000 may include at least one transceiver 1008. In some other implementations, the NE 1000 may have more than one transceiver 1008. The transceiver 1008 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1008 may include one or more receiver chains 1010, one or more transmitter chains 1012, or a combination thereof.

[0176] A receiver chain 1010 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 1010 may include one or more antennas to receive a signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the receive signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one decoder for decoding the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0177] A transmitter chain 1012 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 1012 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phaseshift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 1012 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 1012 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0178] Figure 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a NE as described herein. In some implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions.

[0179] At 1102, the method may include transmitting a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, where each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave. The operations of 1102 may be performedin accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1102 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 10.

[0180] At 1104, the method may include transmitting a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration. The operations of 1104 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1104 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 10.

[0181] At 1106, the method may include selecting a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device. The operations of 1106 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1106 may be performed a NE as described with reference to Figure 10.

[0182] At 1108, the method may include transmitting a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering. The operations of 1108 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1108 may be performed a NE as described with reference to Figure 10.

[0183] Figure 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a device, such as a UE or a wireless device associated with a carrier wave as described herein. In some implementations, the UE or wireless device associated with a carrier wave may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the UE or wireless device associated with a carrier wave to perform the described functions.

[0184] At 1202, the method may include receiving a first configuration for the wireless device for a duration. The operations of 1202 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1202 may be performed by a device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0185] At 1204, the method may include performing a carrier wave transmission during the duration. The operations of 1204 may be performed in accordance with examples as describedherein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1204 may be performed by a device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0186] At 1206, the method may include receiving a second configuration for performing carrier wave transmission to at least one wireless device for data backscattering. The operations of 1206 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1206 may be performed a device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0187] At 1208, the method may include performing a carrier wave transmission for data backscattering based at least in part on the second configuration. The operations of 1208 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1208 may be performed a device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0188] Figure 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a device, such as a low power or Ambient loT device as described herein. In some implementations, the low power or Ambient loT device may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the low power or Ambient loT device to perform the described functions.

[0189] At 1302, the method may include receiving a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration. The operations of 1302 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1302 may be performed by a low power or Ambient loT device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0190] At 1304, the method may include receiving, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves. The operations of 1304 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1304 may be performed by a low power or Ambient loT device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0191] At 1306, the method may include backscattering without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration. The operations of 1306 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operationsof 1306 may be performed a low power or Ambient loT device as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0192] It should be noted that the method described herein describes a possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0193] It should be noted that the method described herein describes a possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0194] The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A base station for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and operable to cause the base station to: transmit a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, wherein each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmit a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; select a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmit a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

2. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on different time resources and different frequency resources than other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

4. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same time resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different frequency resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission during the duration on a same frequency resource as other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices but on a different time resource than the other wireless devices in the set of wireless devices.

6. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration indicates for each wireless device in the set of wireless devices to perform a carrier wave transmission using frequency hopping on different slots.

7. The base station of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select the second wireless device based at least in part on a backscattering response from the first wireless device during the duration at different time slots and different carrier frequencies.

8. The base station of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and wherein the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a same time resource and a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

9. The base station of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and wherein the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on different time and different frequency resources than carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

10. The base station of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and wherein the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different time resource than the second wireless device but a same frequency resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

11. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to select a third wireless device that is part of the set of wireless devices, and wherein the third configuration indicates to perform the carrier wave transmission for data backscattering on a different frequency resource than the third wireless device but a same time resource as carrier waves transmitted by the third wireless device.

12. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (loT) device.

13. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and operable to cause the apparatus to: receive a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receive, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscatter without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on different time resources and different frequency resources.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same time resource but on different frequency resources.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the apparatus to receive the first one or more carrier waves from multiple wireless devices of the set of wireless devices during the first duration on a same frequency resource but on different time resources.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (loT) device.

19. A method performed by a base station, the method comprising: transmitting a first configuration for selecting one or more wireless devices of a set of wireless devices for a duration, wherein each wireless device of the set of wireless devices is associated with a carrier wave; transmitting a second configuration for a first wireless device that is not part of the set of wireless devices to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from the set of wireless devices during the duration; selecting a second wireless device that is at least part of the set of wireless devices for wireless communication with the first wireless device; and transmitting a third configuration for the second wireless device to perform a carrier wave transmission to the first wireless device for data backscattering.

20. A method performed by an apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a first configuration for the apparatus to backscatter without modulation each carrier wave received from a set of wireless devices during a first duration; receiving, during the first duration, first one or more carrier waves; and backscattering without modulation the first one or more carrier waves received during the first duration.

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