Method and apparatus for handling random access procedure in a wireless communication system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. According to embodiments of the present disclosure methods and systems for RA handling for NES, wherein the RA is triggered due to emergency service when a UE is operating with a radio cell / network node that employs NES. Embodiments herein disclose scenarios, wherein a MAC entity of the UE may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated, and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period. Embodiments herein disclose scenarios, wherein the MAC entity may stop, if any, ongoing Random Access procedure due to a pending SR for BSR, which was initiated by the MAC entity prior to the MAC PDU assembly and which has no valid PUCCH resources configured, or which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated, and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RANDOM ACCESS PROCEDURE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to method and apparatus for handling random access procedure in a wireless communication system.

[0002] 5G mobile communication technologies define broad frequency bands such that high transmission rates and new services are possible, and can be implemented not only in “Sub 6GHz” bands such as 3.5GHz, but also in “Above 6GHz” bands referred to as mmWave including 28GHz and 39GHz. In addition, it has been considered to implement 6G mobile communication technologies (referred to as Beyond 5G systems) in terahertz (THz) bands (for example, 95GHz to 3THz bands) in order to accomplish transmission rates fifty times faster than 5G mobile communication technologies and ultra-low latencies one-tenth of 5G mobile communication technologies.

[0003] At the beginning of the development of 5G mobile communication technologies, in order to support services and to satisfy performance requirements in connection with enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), there has been ongoing standardization regarding beamforming and massive MIMO for mitigating radio-wave path loss and increasing radio-wave transmission distances in mmWave, supporting numerologies (for example, operating multiple subcarrier spacings) for efficiently utilizing mmWave resources and dynamic operation of slot formats, initial access technologies for supporting multi-beam transmission and broadbands, definition and operation of BWP (BandWidth Part), new channel coding methods such as a LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code for large amount of data transmission and a polar code for highly reliable transmission of control information, L2 pre-processing, and network slicing for providing a dedicated network specialized to a specific service.

[0004] Currently, there are ongoing discussions regarding improvement and performance enhancement of initial 5G mobile communication technologies in view of services to be supported by 5G mobile communication technologies, and there has been physical layer standardization regarding technologies such as V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) for aiding driving determination by autonomous vehicles based on information regarding positions and states of vehicles transmitted by the vehicles and for enhancing user convenience, NR-U (New Radio Unlicensed) aimed at system operations conforming to various regulation-related requirements in unlicensed bands, NR UE Power Saving, Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) which is UE-satellite direct communication for providing coverage in an area in which communication with terrestrial networks is unavailable, and positioning.

[0005] Moreover, there has been ongoing standardization in air interface architecture / protocol regarding technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for supporting new services through interworking and convergence with other industries, IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) for providing a node for network service area expansion by supporting a wireless backhaul link and an access link in an integrated manner, mobility enhancement including conditional handover and DAPS (Dual Active Protocol Stack) handover, and two-step random access for simplifying random access procedures (2-step RACH for NR). There also has been ongoing standardization in system architecture / service regarding a 5G baseline architecture (for example, service based architecture or service based interface) for combining Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) for receiving services based on UE positions.

[0006] As 5G mobile communication systems are commercialized, connected devices that have been exponentially increasing will be connected to communication networks, and it is accordingly expected that enhanced functions and performances of 5G mobile communication systems and integrated operations of connected devices will be necessary. To this end, new research is scheduled in connection with eXtended Reality (XR) for efficiently supporting AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), MR (Mixed Reality) and the like, 5G performance improvement and complexity reduction by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), AI service support, metaverse service support, and drone communication.

[0007] Furthermore, such development of 5G mobile communication systems will serve as a basis for developing not only new waveforms for providing coverage in terahertz bands of 6G mobile communication technologies, multi-antenna transmission technologies such as Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas and large-scale antennas, metamaterial-based lenses and antennas for improving coverage of terahertz band signals, high-dimensional space multiplexing technology using OAM (Orbital Angular Momentum), and RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface), but also full-duplex technology for increasing frequency efficiency of 6G mobile communication technologies and improving system networks, AI-based communication technology for implementing system optimization by utilizing satellites and AI (Artificial Intelligence) from the design stage and internalizing end-to-end AI support functions, and next-generation distributed computing technology for implementing services at levels of complexity exceeding the limit of UE operation capability by utilizing ultra-high-performance communication and computing resources.

[0008] The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for handling a random access procedure in a wireless communication system.

[0009] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a method for handling a random access procedure in a wireless network. The method includes determining, by a User Equipment (UE), that at least one of: a Buffer Status report (BSR) and a pending Scheduling Request (SR) in a non-active period of an activated cell Discontinuous Reception (DRX) associated with a cell (e.g., NES cell or the like) pertains to an emergency service initiated by an upper layer. Further, the method includes initiating, by the UE, the Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell based on the determination.

[0010] In an embodiment, at least one of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer and a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer of the UE configures the MAC entity to initiate the Random Access procedure in response to the determining emergency service is initiated by the upper layer, wherein the cell comprises a Network Energy Saving (NES) cell.

[0011] In an embodiment, the BSR includes at least one of a buffer status of a data pertaining to the emergency service and at least one pending SR is triggered due to this BSR.

[0012] In an embodiment, at least one of: the BSR or the pending SR in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell pertains to the emergency service is determined by a medium access control (MAC) entity of the UE.

[0013] In an embodiment, the Random Access procedure is selectively allowed to be initiated when the cell is being in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX.

[0014] In an embodiment, the selectivity is determined based on at least one of: a type of the SR, a priority of a service, a criticality of the service, a latency of the service, a priority of a Logical channel Group (LCG), a priority of Logical Channel, a priority of a Scheduling Request configuration to which the RA procedure corresponds.

[0015] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a method for handling a random access procedure in a wireless network. The method includes determining, by a UE, that a cell DRX is activated, a serving cell is not in a cell DRX active period, and an emergency service is initiated by an upper layer. Further, the method includes initiating, by the UE, the Random Access procedure based on the determination.

[0016] In an embodiment, the serving cell is a SpCell, wherein the SpCell is at least one of: a primary serving cell in a master cell group (MCG) and a primary serving cell in a secondary cell group (SCG).

[0017] In an embodiment, the RA procedure is initiated due to the emergency service.

[0018] In an embodiment, the method includes receiving, by the UE, an uplink grant and stopping, by the UE, an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX active period.

[0019] In an embodiment, the ongoing Random Access procedure is stopped when at least one of: a MAC Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant other than a UL grant provided by a random access response (RAR) or an UL grant determined for a transmission of a message A (MSGA) payload.

[0020] In an embodiment, the MAC PDU comprises a BSR MAC CE that includes a buffer status up to an event that triggers a BSR prior to a MAC PDU assembly.

[0021] In an embodiment, the ongoing Random Access procedure is stopped when a UL grant accommodates all pending data available for at least one of: transmission and the emergency service.

[0022] In an embodiment, the UE stops an ongoing Random Access procedure that was initiated due to an emergency service, upon determining that the cell DRX is activated and the SpCell is no longer in the non-Active Period.

[0023] In an embodiment, a deactivation of the cell DRX is performed based on a Downlink Control Indication (DCI) comprising an indication for deactivation of the cell DRX.

[0024] In an embodiment, the UE stops an ongoing Random Access procedure that is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is de-configured, wherein a de-configuration of the cell DRX is performed based on a reception of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0025] In an embodiment, the MAC entity stops the ongoing random access procedure that is initiated due to an emergency service, when at least one of: a secondary cell in carrier aggregation and a dual connectivity configuration receives an uplink grant and when a MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant.

[0026] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a UE including a random access procedure handling controller coupled with a processor and a memory. The random access procedure handling controller is configured to determine that at least one of: a BSR or a pending SR in a non-active period of an activated cell DRX associated with a cell (e.g., NES cell or the like) pertains to an emergency service initiated by an upper layer. Further, the random access procedure handling controller is configured to initiate the Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell based on the determination.

[0027] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a UE including a random access procedure handling controller coupled with a processor and a memory. The random access procedure handling controller is configured to determine that a cell DRX is activated, a serving cell is not in a cell DRX active period, and an emergency service is initiated by an upper layer. Further, the random access procedure handling controller is configured to initiate the Random Access procedure based on the determination.

[0028] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the scope thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

[0029] Aspects of the present disclosure provide efficient communication methods in a wireless communication system.

[0030] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the following illustratory drawings. Embodiments herein are illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, and in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network for handling a Random Access (RA) for NES, wherein the RA is triggered due to an emergency service when a UE is operating with a radio cell / network node that employs NES, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates various hardware components of the UE, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0033] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate flow charts illustrating a method for handling a random access procedure in the wireless network, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method to handle the RA for the NES, where the RA is triggered due to the emergency service when the UE is operating with the radio cell / network node that employs NES, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates the configuration of a UE in a wireless communication system according to various embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of a base station or a network entity in a wireless communication system according to various embodiments.

[0037] This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application IN 202441004674, and Indian Complete Application IN 202441004674, the contents of which are incorporated herein by references.

[0038] The present disclosure relates to enhanced methods and systems for Random Access (RA) handling for Network Energy Saving (NES).

[0039] The embodiments of the present disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0040] The words / phrases "exemplary", “example”, “illustration”, “in an instance”, “and the like”, “and so on”, “etc.”, “etcetera”, “e.g.,”, “i.e.,” are merely used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein using the words / phrases "exemplary", “example”, “illustration”, “in an instance”, “and the like”, “and so on”, “etc.”, “etcetera”, “e.g.,” , “i.e.,” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0041] Embodiments herein may be described and illustrated in terms of blocks which carry out a described function or functions. These blocks, which may be referred to herein as managers, units, modules, hardware components or the like, are physically implemented by analog and / or digital circuits such as logic gates, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory circuits, passive electronic components, active electronic components, optical components, hardwired circuits and the like, and may optionally be driven by a firmware. The circuits may, for example, be embodied in one or more semiconductor chips, or on substrate supports such as printed circuit boards and the like. The circuits constituting a block may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or by a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry), or by a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions of the block and a processor to perform other functions of the block. Each block of the embodiments may be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, the blocks of the embodiments may be physically combined into more complex blocks without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0042] It should be noted that elements in the drawings are illustrated for the purposes of this description and ease of understanding and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flowcharts / sequence diagrams illustrate the method in terms of the steps required for understanding of aspects of the embodiments as disclosed herein. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present embodiments so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Furthermore, in terms of the system, one or more components / modules which comprise the system may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present embodiments so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0043] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any modifications, equivalents, and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings and the corresponding description. Usage of words such as first, second, third etc., to describe components / elements / steps is for the purposes of this description and should not be construed as sequential ordering / placement / occurrence unless specified otherwise.

[0044] The embodiments herein achieve methods for handling a random access procedure in a wireless network. The method includes determining, by a UE, that at least one of: a BSR and a pending SR in a non-active period of an activated cell DRX associated with a NES cell pertains to an emergency service initiated by an upper layer. Further, the method includes initiating, by the UE, the Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell based on the determination.

[0045] Also, the embodiments herein provide a method for handling a random access procedure in a wireless network. The method includes determining, by a UE, that a cell DRX is activated, a serving cell is not in a cell DRX active period, and an emergency service is initiated by an upper layer. Further, the method includes initiating, by the UE, the Random Access procedure based on the determination.

[0046] The embodiments herein achieve methods and systems for RA handling for the NES. It is significant that random access transmissions are curtailed for the NES cell from energy saving perspective, however, emergency services and / or priority services are also required to be supported given the criticality and the importance of these services. Therefore, there is a need for a random access mechanism which can achieve both these targets on the NES cell. The invention addresses this aspect.

[0047] Network Energy Saving (NES) has become one of the most significant aspects recently considering the ever-increasing power consumption by wireless networks that serve User Equipment’s (UEs), and the associated high cost involved. Towards enabling energy efficiency for networks operations, more particularly, for the transmission and the reception by Radio Access Network (RAN) nodes that account for 22 percent (for example) of the overall power consumption by the communication networks, there is a need for efficient approaches that can achieve energy savings for the wireless networks. Some of these approaches may include special operation modes (for example, termed as NES mode), wherein the network nodes may apply discontinuous transmission (DTX) and / or discontinuous reception (DRX) to curtail power consumption by the networks nodes.

[0048] One potential issue with the NES approaches is related to handling of the random access that is triggered for an emergency service, when the UE is operating with the radio cell / network node that employs NES. Present mechanism is not well equipped to handle such random access procedure with respect to how and when to stop or continue the procedure.

[0049] Hence, there is a need in the art for solutions which will overcome the above mentioned drawback(s), among others.

[0050] The present disclosure discloses method and apparatus for handling a random access procedure in a wireless communication system.

[0051] The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for Random Access (RA) handling for Network Energy Saving (NES), wherein the RA is triggered due to an emergency service when the UE is operating with the radio cell / network node that employs NES.

[0052] The present disclosure discloses scenarios, wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of the UE may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and a serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in a cell DRX active period.

[0053] The present disclosure discloses scenarios, wherein the MAC entity may of the UE stops, if any, ongoing Random Access procedure due to a pending Scheduling Request (SR) for Buffer Status Report (BSR), which was initiated by the MAC entity prior to a MAC PDU assembly and which has no valid PUCCH resources configured, or which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period.

[0054] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

[0055] FIG. 1 depicts a wireless network (1000) for handling a RA for NES, wherein the RA is triggered due to an emergency service when a UE (100) is operating with a radio cell (servicing cell (210)) / a network node that employs NES, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The emergency service can be, for example, but not limited to 911 call, save our souls (SOS), mission critical communication service. The wireless network (1000) includes the UE (100) and a network entity (200). The network entity (200) includes the servicing cell (210). Consider that a cell is the serving cell (210) for the UE (100). In an embodiment, the network entity (200) can comprise of one or more other cells (not shown), which can also provide one or more services to the UE (100). The UE (100) communicates with the network entity (200).

[0056] The wireless communication system (1000) can be, for example, but not limited to a fourth generation (4G) network, a 5G network, a sixth generation (6G) network, an ORAN or the like. The UE (100) can be, for example, but not limited to a laptop, a desktop computer, a television, a notebook, a Device-to-Device (D2D) device, a vehicle to everything (V2X) device, a smartphone, a foldable phone, a smart TV, a tablet, an immersive device, and an internet of things (IoT) device. The network entity (200) can be, for example, but not limited to an eNodeB, gNB, a 5G node or the like.

[0057] In an embodiment herein, the UE (100) selectively prioritizes the emergency service handling during non-Active Period of an activated cell DRX of a NES cell (for example, SpCell which is either a primary cell of a Master Cell Group (MCG) or a primary cell of a Secondary Cell Group).

[0058] In an embodiment herein, a MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) determines if a BSR or a pending SR in the non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell pertains to the emergency service initiated by upper layers. The MAC entity (150) then initiates a Random Access procedure in the non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell based on the determination that the BSR or the pending SR pertains to the emergency service. The determination is based on whether the BSR includes at least one of the buffer status of the data pertaining to the emergency service (for example, pertinent logical channel or logical channel group) or there is at least one pending SR that is triggered due to such BSR.

[0059] In an embodiment herein, an RRC layer (or a NAS layer) of the UE (100) indicates or configures to the MAC entity (150) to initiate a Random Access procedure in response to the determining emergency service is initiated by the upper layers, while the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) (for example, pertains to SpCell) is in the non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell.

[0060] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if the emergency service is initiated by the upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period:

[0061] A. If a MAC PDU is transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant other than a UL grant provided by Random Access Response or a UL grant determined for the transmission of a message A (MSGA in 2-step RA procedure) payload, and this PDU includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly; or

[0062] B. If the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0063] In an embodiment herein, an example specification is provided depicting the handling of the RA procedure, which was initiated due to the emergency service, upon receiving an uplink (UL) grant, as follows.

[0064] In a first example, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period, if:

[0065] A. The MAC PDU is transmitted using a UL grant other than a UL grant provided by Random Access Response or a UL grant determined as specified in clause 5.1.2a in technical standard (TS) 38.321 for the transmission of the MSGA payload, and this PDU includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR (see clause 5.4.5 in TS 38.321) prior to the MAC PDU assembly; or

[0066] B. The UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0067] In an embodiment herein, an example specification is provided depicting the handling of the RA procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service, upon receiving the UL grant (as follows). In a second example, the MAC entity (150) may stop, if any, the ongoing Random Access procedure due to a pending SR for BSR, which was initiated by the MAC entity (150) prior to the MAC PDU assembly and which has no valid PUCCH resources configured, or which is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period, if:

[0068] a. The MAC PDU is transmitted using a UL grant other than a UL grant provided by Random Access Response or a UL grant determined as specified in clause 5.1.2a in TS 38.321for the transmission of the MSGA payload, and this PDU includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR (see clause 5.4.5 in TS 38.321) prior to the MAC PDU assembly; or

[0069] b. The UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0070] In an embodiment herein, an example specification is provided depicting the handling of the RA procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service, upon receiving an uplink (UL) grant (as follows). In a third example, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period, if:

[0071] a. The MAC PDU is transmitted using a UL grant, and this PDU includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR (see clause 5.4.5 in TS 38.321) prior to the MAC PDU assembly; or

[0072] b. The UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0073] In an embodiment herein, an example specification is provided depicting the handling of the RA procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service, upon receiving an uplink (UL) grant (as follows). In a fourth example, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period, if:

[0074] a. The UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for the emergency service.

[0075] In an embodiment herein, a RA may be selectively allowed or not allowed to be initiated when the corresponding cell(s) is being in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX. The selectivity is based on the at least one of type of SR, priority of the service, criticality of the service (for example, emergency service), latency of the service, priority of the Logical channel Group (LCG) or Logical Channel or Scheduling Request configuration to which the RA corresponds.

[0076] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is no longer in the non-Active Period.

[0077] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is deactivated. The deactivation of the cell DRX may be performed based on the Downlink Control Indication (DCI, e.g. DCI format 2_9) including an indication for deactivation of the cell DRX.

[0078] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is de-configured. The de-configuration of the cell DRX may be performed based on the reception of the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0079] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is no longer in the non-Active Period.

[0080] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service, when at least one SCell (secondary cell in carrier aggregation or dual connectivity configuration) receives an uplink grant and if a MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly or the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0081] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service, when SpCell receives an uplink grant and if a MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly or the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0082] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates a Random Access procedure and cancel all the pending SR(s).

[0083] In an embodiment herein, when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by upper layers and this serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates the Random Access procedure and cancel the pending SR that corresponds to emergency service that triggered this Random Access procedure.

[0084] In an embodiment herein, the pending BSR that corresponds to emergency service that triggered the Random Access procedure in non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell, is cancelled when the MAC PDU is transmitted in the uplink grant and this PDU includes a Long, Refined Long or Short BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly or the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission. The Uplink grant can be at least one of the uplink grant received during the RA procedure or after completion of the RA procedure.

[0085] In an embodiment herein, the pending SR that corresponds to emergency service that triggered the Random Access procedure in non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell, is cancelled when the MAC PDU is transmitted in the uplink grant and this PDU includes a Long, Refined Long or Short BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly or the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission. The Uplink grant can be at least one of the uplink grant received during the RA procedure or after completion of the RA procedure.

[0086] In an embodiment herein, for the Random Access procedure that is initiated for the emergency service in the non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell, the MAC entity (150) only includes the BSR in the Msg1 and / or Msg3 of the RA procedure that corresponds to the emergency service.

[0087] In an embodiment herein, for the Random Access procedure that is initiated for the emergency service in the non-Active Period of the activated cell DRX of the NES cell, the MAC entity (150) includes all the BSR in the Msg1 and / or Msg3 of the RA procedure that is, BSR that corresponds both to data for the emergency service and to data that does not correspond to the emergency service.

[0088] In an embodiment herein, as long as at least one SR is pending, the MAC entity shall for each pending SR, if the MAC entity (150) has no valid PUCCH resource configured for the pending SR and if the corresponding cell (for example, SpCell) is in non-active period of the cell DRX, the MAC entity (150) does not initiate a Random Access procedure on the SpCell and keeps the SR pending. Once the UE (100) comes out of non-active period of the cell DRX, the UE (100) triggers the SR transmission in a valid PUCCH resource and starts the sr-Prohibittimer and increments the sr-Counter. If the triggered SR could not be transmitted due to a valid PUCCH resource not being available or not configured, a random access (RA) preamble transmission is triggered.

[0089] The UE (100) may comprise the MAC entity (150) and the physical layer (160). In an embodiment herein, consider that the UE (100) is configured with a NES mode. In an embodiment herein, consider that the UE (100) is configured with at least one NES configuration by the network 200. In an embodiment herein, consider that the UE (100) is operating in a network node employing a NES mode. The NES configuration can comprise of one or more cell DRX and / or cell DTX configurations that can be applied together or independently. The cell DRX and / or cell DTX configurations may be configured and / or activated and / or deactivated per cell basis for one or more cells. The cell DRX and / or cell DTX configuration may further comprise of one or more parameters including a periodicity parameter, a start slot / offset parameter, an on-duration window parameter, and an on-duration Timer parameter. Based on the configured parameters (for example, on-duration Timer) for one or more cell DRX and / or cell DTX configurations, the MAC entity (150) can determine the time duration when the cell DRX state and / or cell DTX state is applicable for the cell (for example, when on-duration Timer of the cell DRX and / or cell DTX configuration is not running).

[0090] Consider the UE (100) wants to initiate the emergency service. The upper layer(s) of the UE (100) initiates the emergency service. The MAC entity (150) determines, that when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period and if an emergency service is initiated by the upper layers and the serving cell is the SpCell, the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100) initiates the Random Access procedure. Further, the MAC entity (150) may stop the ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to an emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (for example, SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period:

[0091] a. If the MAC PDU is transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant other than a UL grant provided by Random Access Response or a UL grant determined for the transmission of the message A (MSGA in 2-step RA procedure) payload, and this PDU includes a BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly; or

[0092] b. The UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission.

[0093] FIG. 2 shows various hardware components of the UE (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the UE (100) includes a processor (110), a communicator (120), a memory (130), and a random access procedure handling controller (140). The processor (110) is coupled with the communicator (120), the memory (130), and the random access procedure handling controller (140). Further, the UE (100) also includes the MAC entity (150) and the physical layer (160). The processor (110) communicates with the MAC entity (150) and the physical layer (160).

[0094] In an embodiment, the random access procedure handling controller (140) determines that at least one of: the BSR and the pending SR in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell pertains to the emergency service initiated by the upper layer (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer, service layer, application layer). Based on the determination, the random access procedure handling controller (140) initiates the Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell.

[0095] In an embodiment, the BSR includes at least one of the buffer status of the data pertaining to the emergency service and at least one pending SR that is triggered due to the BSR. In an embodiment, at least one of: the BSR or the pending SR in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell pertains to the emergency service is determined by the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100).

[0096] In an embodiment, in response to the determining emergency service is initiated by the upper layer, at least one of: the RRC layer and the NAS layer of the UE (100) configures the MAC entity (150) to initiate the Random Access procedure.

[0097] Further, the random access procedure handling controller (140) selectively allows to initiate the Random Access procedure when the cell is being in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX. In an embodiment, the selectivity is determined based on at least one of: the type of the SR, the priority of the service, the criticality of the service, the latency of the service, the priority of the LCG, the priority of logical channel, the priority of the scheduling request configuration to which the RA procedure corresponds.

[0098] In another embodiment, the random access procedure handling controller (140) determines that the cell DRX is activated, the serving cell is not in the cell DRX active period, and the emergency service is initiated by the upper layer. Based on the determination, the random access procedure handling controller (140) initiates the Random Access procedure.

[0099] In an embodiment, the serving cell is a SpCell. The SpCell is at least one of: a primary serving cell in the MCG and a primary serving cell in the SCG. In an embodiment, the RA procedure is initiated due to the emergency service.

[0100] Further, the random access procedure handling controller (140) receives the uplink grant and stops the ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX active period.

[0101] In an embodiment, the ongoing Random Access procedure is stopped when at least one of: the MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant other than the UL grant provided by the RA response or the UL grant determined for the transmission of the message payload. In an embodiment, the MAC PDU comprises the BSR MAC CE that includes the buffer status up to an event that triggers the BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly.

[0102] In an embodiment, the ongoing Random Access procedure is stopped when the UL grant accommodates all pending data available for at least one of: transmission and the emergency service.

[0103] In an embodiment, the deactivation of the cell DRX is performed based on the DCI comprising the indication for deactivation of the cell DRX.

[0104] In an embodiment, the random access procedure handling controller (140) stops the ongoing Random Access procedure that is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is de-configured. The de-configuration of the cell DRX is performed based on a reception of the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0105] In an embodiment, the MAC entity (150) stops the ongoing random access procedure that is initiated due to the emergency service, when at least one of: the secondary cell in the carrier aggregation and the dual connectivity configuration receives the uplink grant and when the MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant.

[0106] The random access procedure handling controller (140) is implemented by analog and / or digital circuits such as logic gates, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory circuits, passive electronic components, active electronic components, optical components, hardwired circuits and the like, and may optionally be driven by firmware.

[0107] The processor (110) may include one or a plurality of processors. The one or the plurality of processors may be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or the like, a graphics-only processing unit such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), a visual processing unit (VPU), and / or an AI-dedicated processor such as a neural processing unit (NPU). The processor (110) may include multiple cores and is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory (130).

[0108] Further, the processor (110) is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory (130) and to perform various processes. The communicator (120) is configured for communicating internally between internal hardware components and with external devices via one or more networks. The memory (130) also stores instructions to be executed by the processor (110). The memory (130) may include non-volatile storage elements. Examples of such non-volatile storage elements may include magnetic hard discs, optical discs, floppy discs, flash memories, or forms of electrically programmable memories (EPROM) or electrically erasable and programmable (EEPROM) memories. In addition, the memory (130) may, in some examples, be considered a non-transitory storage medium. The term “non-transitory” may indicate that the storage medium is not embodied in a carrier wave or a propagated signal. However, the term “non-transitory” should not be interpreted that the memory (130) is non-movable. In certain examples, a non-transitory storage medium may store data that can, over time, change (e.g., in Random Access Memory (RAM) or cache).

[0109] Although FIG. 2 shows various hardware components of the UE (100) but it is to be understood that other embodiments are not limited thereon. In other embodiments, the UE (100) may include less or more number of components. Further, the labels or names of the components are used only for illustrative purposes and does not limit the scope of the invention. One or more components can be combined together to perform the same or substantially similar function in the UE (100).

[0110] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flow charts (S300 and S400) illustrating a method for handling a random access procedure in the wireless network (1000), according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 3, the operations (S302 and S304) are handled by the random access procedure handling controller (140). At S302, the method includes determining that at least one of: the BSR or the SR in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell (e.g., NES cell or the like) pertains to the emergency service initiated by the upper layer. At S304, the method includes initiating the Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell based on the determination.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 4, the operations (S402 and S404) are handled by the random access procedure handling controller (140). At S402, the method includes determining that the cell DRX is activated, the serving cell is not in the cell DRX active period, and the emergency service is initiated by the upper layer. At S404, the method includes initiating the Random Access procedure based on the determination.

[0113] FIG. 5 is a flow chart (S500) illustrating a method to handle the Random Access (RA) for NES, wherein the RA is triggered due to the emergency service when the UE (100) is operating with the radio cell / a network node that employs NES, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The operations (S502-S508) are handled by the random access procedure handling controller (140).

[0114] At S502, the method includes determining that the emergency service is initiated by the upper layers and the serving cell is the SpCell and the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX Active Period. At S504, the method includes initiating the random access procedure for the emergency service based on the determination by the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100).

[0115] At S506, the method includes determining that the MAC PDU is transmitted using the UL grant other than the UL grant provided by the RA Response or the UL grant determined for the transmission of the MSGA (in 2-step RA procedure) payload, and this PDU includes the BSR MAC CE which contains buffer status up to (and including) the last event that triggered a BSR prior to the MAC PDU assembly, or whether the UL grant(s) can accommodate all pending data available for transmission. Based on the determination, at S508, the method includes stopping the Random Access procedure which was initiated, by the MAC entity (150) of the UE (100), due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell (e.g. SpCell) is not in the cell DRX Active Period.

[0116] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the flow charts (S300-S500) may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0117] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of a UE, according to an embodiment. Furthermore, the UE of FIG. 6 corresponds to the UE of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 6, the UE according to an embodiment may include a transceiver 610, a memory 620, and a processor 630. The transceiver 610, the memory 620, and the processor 630 of the UE may operate according to a communication method of the UE described above. However, the components of the UE are not limited thereto. For example, the UE may include more or fewer components than those described above. In addition, the processor 630, the transceiver 610, and the memory 620 may be implemented as a single chip. Also, the processor 630 may include at least one processor.

[0119] The transceiver 610 collectively refers to a UE receiver and a UE transmitter, and may transmit / receive a signal to / from a base station or a network entity. The signal transmitted or received to or from the base station or a network entity may include control information and data. The transceiver 610 may include a RF transmitter for up-converting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and a RF receiver for amplifying low-noise and down-converting a frequency of a received signal. However, this is only an example of the transceiver 610 and components of the transceiver 610 are not limited to the RF transmitter and the RF receiver.

[0120] Also, the transceiver 610 may receive and output, to the processor 630, a signal through a wireless channel, and transmit a signal output from the processor 630 through the wireless channel.

[0121] The memory 620 may store a program and data required for operations of the UE. Also, the memory 620 may store control information or data included in a signal obtained by the UE. The memory 620 may be a storage medium, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD, or a combination of storage media.

[0122] The processor 630 may control a series of processes such that the UE operates as described above. For example, the transceiver 610 may receive a data signal including a control signal transmitted by the base station or the network entity, and the processor 630 may determine a result of receiving the control signal and the data signal transmitted by the base station or the network entity.

[0123] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of a base station or a network entity, according to an embodiment. Furthermore, the base station or the network entity of the FIG. 7 corresponds to the BS or the network entity of the FIG. 1.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 7, the base station or the network entity according to an embodiment may include a transceiver 710, a memory 720, and a processor 730. The transceiver 710, the memory 720, and the processor 730 of the base station or the network entity may operate according to a communication method of the base station or the network entity described above. However, the components of the base station or the network entity are not limited thereto. For example, the base station or the network entity may include more or fewer components than those described above. In addition, the processor 730, the transceiver 710, and the memory 720 may be implemented as a single chip. Also, the processor 730 may include at least one processor.

[0125] The transceiver 710 collectively refers to the base station(or the network entity receiver) and a base station(or the network entity) transmitter, and may transmit / receive a signal to / from a terminal or a network entity or a base station. The signal transmitted or received to or from the terminal or a network entity or the base station may include control information and data. The transceiver 710 may include a RF transmitter for up-converting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and a RF receiver for amplifying low-noise and down-converting a frequency of a received signal. However, this is only an example of the transceiver 710 and components of the transceiver 710 are not limited to the RF transmitter and the RF receiver.

[0126] Also, the transceiver 710 may receive and output, to the processor 730, a signal through a wireless channel, and transmit a signal output from the processor 730 through the wireless channel.

[0127] The memory 720 may store a program and data required for operations of the base station or the network entity. Also, the memory 720 may store control information or data included in a signal obtained by the base station or the network entity. The memory 720 may be a storage medium, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD, or a combination of storage media.

[0128] The processor 730 may control a series of processes such that the base station or the network entity operates as described above. For example, the transceiver 710 may receive a data signal including a control signal transmitted by the terminal or the network entity or the base station, and the processor 730 may determine a result of receiving the control signal and the data signal transmitted by the terminal or the network entity or the base station.

[0129] The embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The elements include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.

[0130] The embodiment disclosed herein describes methods and systems for Random Access (RA) handling for Network Energy Saving (NES). Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in at least one embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g., Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g., hardware means like e.g., an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, for example, an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g., using a plurality of CPUs.

[0131] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Claims

1.A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:determining that at least one of a Buffer Status report (BSR) and a pending Scheduling Request (SR) in a non-active period of an activated cell Discontinuous Reception (DRX) associated with a cell pertains to an emergency service initiated by an upper layer; andinitiating a Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell based on the determination.2.The method of claim 1,wherein at least one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer or a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer of the UE configures a medium access control (MAC) entity to initiate the Random Access procedure in response to the determining emergency service is initiated by the upper layer, andwherein the cell comprises a Network Energy Saving (NES) cell.3.The method of claim 1, wherein the BSR comprises at least one of a buffer status of a data pertaining to the emergency service, and at least one pending SR is triggered due to the BSR.4.The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the BSR and the pending SR in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the NES cell pertains to the emergency service is determined by a medium access control (MAC) entity of the UE.5.The method of claim 1, wherein the Random Access procedure is selectively allowed to be initiated when the cell is being in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX.6.The method of claim 5, wherein the selectivity is determined based on at least one of a type of the SR, a priority of a service, a criticality of the service, a latency of the service, a priority of a Logical channel Group (LCG), a priority of Logical Channel, a priority of a Scheduling Request configuration to which the RA procedure corresponds.7.A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:determining that a cell Discontinuous Reception (DRX) is activated, a serving cell is not in a cell DRX active period, and an emergency service is initiated by an upper layer; andinitiating a Random Access procedure based on the determination.8.The method of claim 7, wherein the serving cell is a SpCell, wherein the SpCell is at least one of a primary serving cell in a master cell group (MCG) and a primary serving cell in a secondary cell group (SCG).9.The method of claim 7, wherein the Random Access procedure is selectively allowed to be initiated when the cell is in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX.10.The method of claim 9, wherein the selectivity is determined based on at least one of a type of the SR, a priority of a service, a criticality of the service, a latency of the service, a priority of a Logical channel Group (LCG), a priority of Logical Channel, a priority of a Scheduling Request configuration to which the RA procedure corresponds.11.The method of claim 7, wherein the RA procedure is initiated due to the emergency service.12.The method of claim 7, wherein the method comprises:receiving an uplink grant; andstopping an ongoing Random Access procedure which is initiated due to the emergency service when the cell DRX is activated and the serving cell is not in the cell DRX active period.13.The method of claim 12, wherein the ongoing Random Access procedure is stopped when at least one of: a MAC Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant other than an UL grant provided by a random access response (RAR) or an UL grant determined for a transmission of a message A (MSGA) payload.14.A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:a transceiver; anda processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:determine that at least one of: a Buffer Status report (BSR) or a pending Scheduling Request (SR) in a non-active period of an activated cell Discontinuous Reception (DRX) associated with a cell pertains to an emergency service initiated by an upper layer, andinitiate a Random Access procedure in the non-active period of the activated cell DRX associated with the cell based on the determination.15.A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:a transceiver; anda processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:determine that a cell Discontinuous Reception　(DRX) is activated, a serving cell is not in a cell DRX active period, and an emergency service is initiated by an upper layer, andinitiate a Random Access procedure based on the determination.

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