System and device for data transmission in a network and a method in association thereto

Abstract

System (100), device (104) and a method (300) for data transmission in a network are disclosed. The method (300) includes configuring at least one frame associable with carrier wave transmission, each of the at least one frame indicating permission for data transmission; communicating the at least one frame to at least one user device; and transmitting data, via the at least one frame, by the at least one user device if the at least one frame indicates an allowance of data transmission.

Description

SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR DATA TRANSMISSION IN A NETWORK AND A METHOD IN ASSOCIATION THERETOField Of Invention

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to one or both of a system and a device for data transmission in a network in association with, for example, a base station usable for communication. The present disclosure further relates a method which can be associated with the system and / or the device.Background

[0002] Generally, energy efficiency would be helpful or desired in communication networks. An example of a communication network would be a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G (fifth generation) New Radio (NR) standard-based telecommunications network.

[0003] In conventional techniques for data transmission, a Next generation Node B (gNB) or an intermediate node receive reflected signals from all such nodes (e.g. Ambient Internet-of-Things A-loT nodes) within the vicinity at similar times when transmitting signals to Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) devices which have only backscatter-based transmission capability. This can result in interference and performance degradation. Moreover, there may be situations where the gNB or intermediate node needs to send some information to the A-loT nodes without requiring any reply. In these situations, it can be unclear how the backscatter transmission from A-loT devices can be coordinated.

[0004] The present disclosure thus contemplates that conventional techniques may not facilitate energy efficiency in an optimal manner. For example, conventional techniques may not address the issue of data transmission for energy efficiency when an Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) device transmits data.

[0005] The present disclosure contemplates that it would be helpful to address (or at least mitigate) one or more issues in relation to conventional techniques for facilitating energy efficiency.Summary of the Invention

[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for data transmission in a network comprising: configuring at least one frame associable with carrier wave transmission, each of the at least one frame indicating permission for data transmission; communicating the at least one frame to at least one user device; and transmitting data, via the at least one frame, by the at least one user device if the at least one frame indicates an allowance of data transmission.

[0007] Advantageously, the method as described herein can aid in time division multiplexing of uplink (UL) backscatter transmissions among different User Equipment (UEs) or groups of UEs, thus reducing interference at the receiving Next generation Node B (gNB) or intermediate node. The method may further allow the gNB or intermediate node to dynamically schedule messages or signals to the Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) nodes which are meant only for information to the nodes without a corresponding acknowledgement or only for energy harvesting by the nodes.

[0008] In an embodiment, the at least one frame comprises a 1 -bit indication in a first symbol.

[0009] In an embodiment, the at least one frame further comprises a user device identifier and / or a group identifier for a plurality of user devices.

[0010] In an embodiment, indicating permission for data transmission comprises indicating permission for backscatter data transmission.

[0011] In an embodiment, the method further includes pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission.

[0012] In an embodiment, pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission comprises pre-determining based on at least one of: type of user device, priority of data and / or remaining energy in the user device.

[0013] In an embodiment, the user device comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) device.

[0014] In an embodiment, there is provided a computer program (not shown) which can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (not shown), cause the computer to carry out the method of the first aspect.

[0015] In an embodiment, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the method of the first aspect.

[0016] In accordance with a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a device for data transmission in a network comprising: a first module configured to receive at least one input signal associated with permission for data transmission; a second module configured to at least one of process and facilitate the method of the first aspect to generate at least one output signal; and a third module configured to communicate at least one output signal, wherein the output signal corresponds to a control signal for data transmission in a network.

[0017] In an embodiment, the device can correspond to a base station which can communicate with an apparatus corresponding to a User Equipment (UE). The base station can, for example, correspond to a Next generation Node B (gNB) which can be configured to communicate one or more signals (e.g., output signal(s)) to the UE.

[0018] In an embodiment, there is provided a system comprising one or more apparatuses and one or more devices. The apparatus(es) and the device(s) can, for example, be capable of being coupled via wired coupling and / or wireless coupling.

[0019] Advantageously, the system can aid in time division multiplexing of uplink (UL) backscatter transmissions among different UEs or groups of UEs, thus reducing interference at the receiving gNB or intermediate node. The system may also allow the gNB or intermediate node to dynamically schedule messages or signals to the A- loT node which are meant only for information to the nodes without a corresponding acknowledgement or only for energy harvesting by the nodes.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] Embodiments of the disclosure are described hereinafter with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0021] Fig. 1A shows a schematic diagram illustrating a system for data transmission in a network which can include at least one device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] Fig. 1 B to Fig. 1 F show example scenarios in association with the system of Fig. 1 A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the device of Fig. 1A in further detail, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a method in association with the system of Fig. 1A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] Fig. 4A to Fig. 4B show schematic diagrams illustrating example scenarios in association with the method of Fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.Detailed Description

[0026] The present specification discloses apparatus and / or device for performing the operations of the methods. Such apparatus and / or device may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or may comprise a computer or other deviceselectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various machines may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein. Alternatively, the construction of more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps may be appropriate. The structure of a computer will appear from the description below.

[0027] In addition, the present specification also implicitly discloses a computer program, in that it would be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the individual steps of the method described herein may be put into effect by computer code. The computer program is not intended to be limited to any particular programming language and implementation thereof. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages and coding thereof may be used to implement the teachings of the disclosure contained herein. Moreover, the computer program is not intended to be limited to any particular control flow. There are many other variants of the computer program, which can use different control flows without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

[0028] Furthermore, one or more of the steps of the computer program may be performed in parallel rather than sequentially. Such a computer program may be stored on any computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include storage devices such as magnetic or optical disks, memory chips, or other storage devices suitable for interfacing with a computer. The computer readable medium may also include a hard-wired medium such as exemplified in the Internet system, or wireless medium such as exemplified in the mobile telephone system. The computer program when loaded and executed on such a computer effectively results in an apparatus and / or a device that implements the steps of the preferred method.

[0029] The detailed description set forth below, with reference to annexed drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In particular, although terminology from 3GPP 5G NR may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0030] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0031] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term User Equipment (UE) or wireless device or user device may be used and may refer to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and / or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device-to-device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, PAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, UE category Ml, UE category M2, ProSe UE, V2V UE, V2X UE, etc.

[0032] In some embodiments, a more general term “network node” may be used and may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a User Equipment (directly or via another node) and / or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, ENB, anetwork node belonging to MCG or SCG, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU, RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), etc), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Operations Support System (OSS), Self Optimized Network (SON), positioning node (e.g. Evolved- Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC)), Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT), test equipment (physical node or software), etc.

[0033] Additionally, terminologies such as base station / gNodeB and UE should be considered non-limiting and do in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two; in general, “gNodeB” could be considered as device 1 and “UE” could be considered as device 2 and these two devices communicate with each other over some radio channel. And in the following the transmitter or receiver could be either gNodeB (gNB), or UE.

[0034] The present disclosure generally contemplates the facilitation of, for example, network (e.g., in association with 3GPP based standard / specification etc.), base station and / or user equipment (UE) efficiency (e.g., energy / power efficiency), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0035] The present disclosure contemplates that for UE with uplink (UL) transmission backscattered on carrier wave provided by the base station or gNB or intermediate node, the gNB or intermediate node may not always require UL response via backscatter. Moreover, when a large number of ambient loT UEs are involved, backscattering of these UEs at the same time may cause interference at the gNB or intermediate node.

[0036] The present disclosure thus contemplates the possibility that a base station or gNB or intermediate node can provide an indication to a subset of A-loT UEs on whether to enable or disable backscatter transmission in the current frame or slot.The present contemplates a method by which a gNB or an intermediate node can indicate whether backscatter communication is allowed in the current slot or frame by a subset of UEs.

[0037] In the above manner, power and energy consumption efficiency can be possibly facilitated, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0038] The foregoing will be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig.4 hereinafter.

[0039] Referring to Fig. 1A, a system 100 for data transmission in a network is shown, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The system 100 can, for example, be suitable for facilitating energy / power efficiency in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] As shown, the system 100 can include one or more apparatuses 102, at least one device 104 and, optionally, a communication network 106, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0041] The apparatus(es) 102 can be coupled to the device(s) 104. Specifically, the apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be coupled to the device(s) 104 via the communication network 106, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0042] In one embodiment, the apparatus(es) 102 can be coupled to the communication network 106 and the device(s) 104 can be coupled to the communication network 106. Coupling can be by manner of one or both of wired coupling and wireless coupling. The apparatus(es) 102 can, in general, be configured to communicate with the device(s) 104 via the communication network 106, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0043] The apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be associated with / correspond to / include one or more user equipment (UE) which can carry one or more computers, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus 102can correspond to a UE carrying at least one computer (e.g., an electronic device / module having computing capabilities such as an electronic mobile device which can be carried into a vehicle or an electronic module which can be installed in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure) which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with adaptive / dynamic / gradual control, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In a more specific example, the apparatus(es) 102 can, in one embodiment, include one or more processors (not shown) which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with dynamic / adaptive / gradual control, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus(es) 102 can be configured to generate one or more input signals which can be communicated to the device(s) 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. This will be discussed later in further detail in the context of an example scenario, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0044] The device(s) 104 can, for example, be associated with / correspond to at least one base station (e.g., at least one gNB). Moreover, the device(s) 104 can, for example, be configured to carry / be associated with / include one or more computers (e.g., an electronic device / module having computing capabilities) which can, for example, be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with the base station. In one embodiment, the device(s) 104 can, for example, be configured to receive one or more input signals and perform at least one processing task based on the input signal(s) in a manner to generate one or more output signals. The input signal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the apparatus(es) 102 and received by the device(s) 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As a possible option, the output signal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the device(s) 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The device(s) 104 will be discussed later in further detail with reference to Fig. 2, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0045] The communication network 106 can, for example, correspond to an Internet communication network, a cellular-based communication network, a wired-based communication network, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based communication network, a wireless-based communication network, or anycombination thereof. Communication (e.g., between the apparatuses 102 and / or between the apparatus(es) 102 and the device(s) 104) via the communication network 106 can be by manner of one or both of wired communication and wireless communication.

[0046] Earlier mentioned, the device(s) 104 can, for example, be configured to receive at least one input signal and perform at least one processing task in association with dynamic / adaptive / gradual control on the input signal(s) in a manner so as to generate at least one output signal. Moreover, the apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be configured to generate (and communicate) the input signal(s) to the device(s) 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. This will be discussed, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, in the context of an example scenario with reference to Fig. 1 B to Fig. 1 F, hereinafter.

[0047] Fig. 1 B and Fig. 1 C show example scenarios for Ambient loT (A-loT) in 3GPP in relation to, for example, Rel-18: RAN study item (outcome TR 38.848), Rel-19: RAN1-led study item and / or RAN2-led study item, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 1 B shows a Topology 1 scenario of communication between a base station and an A-loT device while Fig. 1 C shows a Topology 2 scenario of communication between a base station, an intermediate node (or an intermediate UE) and an A-loT device.

[0048] In the example scenarios, the present disclosure contemplates that harmonized air interface design with minimized differences for Ambient loT can be studied in order to enable approximately 1 pW peak power consumption together with energy storage and having neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification in the device. In addition, UL transmission backscattered on a carrier wave can be provided externally, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In another embodiment, the study of harmonized air interface design with minimized differences for Ambient loT can also provide a less than or equal to a few hundred pW peak power consumption together with energy storage and having both DL and / or UL amplification in the device. The UL transmission may also be generated internally or backscattered. Further, the coverage target can be a maximum of 10-50m with thedevice indoors and for Topologies 1 and 2 (as shown in Fig. 1 B and Fig. 1 C) with no Radio Resource Control (RRC) states, no mobility, no Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) and no Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ).

[0049] The present disclosure contemplates the possibility of deployment scenario 1 (micro- or pico-cell) with Topology 1 and deployment scenario 2 (macro- or micro-cell) with Topology 2. The present disclosure further contemplates the possibility of FR1 licensed spectrum in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), spectrum deployment in- band to NR, in guard-band to LTE / NR and in standalone band(s). In addition, there can also be traffic types DO-DTT, DT, focus on rUC1 (indoor inventory) and rllC4 (indoor command) including transmission from Ambient loT to occur at least in UL spectrum.

[0050] In an example embodiment, RAN1-led Ambient loT DL and UL can include but not limited to frame structure, synchronization and timing, random access, numerologies, bandwidths, multiple access, waveforms and modulations, channel coding, downlink channel or signal aspects, uplink channel or signal aspects, scheduling and timing relationships and the study of necessary characteristics of carrier-wave waveform for a carrier wave provided externally to the Ambient loT device, including interference handling at Ambient loT UL receiver, and at NR base station. There may be no difference in physical layer design between Topology 2 and Topology 1 .

[0051] In an example embodiment, RAN2-led can include the study and decision of which functions are needed for an Ambient loT compact protocol stack and lightweight signaling procedure to enable DO-DTT and DT data transmission and study those functions. Example functions can include Paging, Random access, Data transmission, including necessary radio resource control aspects, respecting the limitation in the General Scope and interactions with upper layers. For all other functionalities, they can be studied only if it is found to be essential.

[0052] Fig. 1 D shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of backscatter communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFig. 1 D, backscatter radio principle may include information that is modulated on reflection at the tag of an illuminating signal, using (at least) two loadsIn this example, only switching at the tag between loads is needed, omitting powerconsuming signal conditioning and generating modules (e.g., amplifiers). The present disclosure contemplates the simplest case for backscatter communication can include only two passive loads such that the tag or the reflector modulates information by modifying the refection coefficient of the tag antenna and connected load. The induced signal of such communication is at the tag antenna and reflected back with modified amplitude and phase. Specifically, there can be a modifiedreflection coefficient * ', where ie {0,1} for the two loads£", “i. In addition,can be the (complex in general) tag antenna characteristic impedance at the relevant carrier frequency and the baseband equivalent signal, when tag antenna is connected at loadwith corresponding reflection coefficient *:, can be given by ’’’ ” *:. Furthermore, ’’’ can be the (complex) load-independent tag antenna structural mode which depends on geometry and construction material and more than two loads may be demonstrated with energy-efficient circuits.

[0053] Fig. 1 E shows an example of a frame structure in a new radio (NR) network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to Fig. 1 E, time intervals in NR specifications can be defined as multiples of basic time unit * = =1 / (480000-4096) such that sampling time of FFT-based transceiver (TRX) can be implemented for 480 kHz subcarrier spacing and FFT size 4096. Moreover, in a time-domain structure, NR transmissions can be organized into frames of length 10 ms, each divided into 10 equally sized subframes of length 1 ms and the subframe can be divided into slots having 14 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols each. Each frame can be identified by System Frame Number (SFN) with period 1024, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0054] Fig. 1 F shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to Fig. 1 F, the gNB (or base station) may transmit carrier waveto potentially multiple A-loT devices such that the A-loT devices may use carrier wave to harvest energy and reflect modulated carrier wave back to gNB.

[0055] The present disclosure contemplates, as will be discussed further in detail in the context of an example scenario associated with the system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, that it may be helpful to consider some form of dynamic / adaptive / gradual configuration / determination strategy which will aid in power / energy consumption efficiency, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The dynamic / adaptive / gradual control configuration / determination strategy can, for example, be in relation to dynamic / adaptive / gradual control based on data transmission in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0056] The above-described advantageous aspect(s) of the system 100 of the present disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of a below described device 104 of the present disclosure. Likewise, all below described advantageous aspect(s) of the device 104 of the disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of above described system 100 of the disclosure.

[0057] The aforementioned device(s) 104 will be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 2 hereinafter.

[0058] Referring to Fig. 2, a schematic diagram illustrating a device 104 is shown in further detail in the context of an example implementation 200, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0059] In the example implementation 200, the device 104 can correspond to an electronic module 200a. The electronic module 200a can, in one example, correspond to a base station or a cell (or gNB), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In another example, the electronic module 200a can correspond to an electronic device which can be installed / mounted in the base station (or gNB), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0060] It is contemplated that the electronic module 200a can be capable of performing one or more processing tasks in association with adaptive / dynamic / gradual control related processing, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0061] The electronic module 200a can, for example, include a casing 200b. Moreover, the electronic module 200a can, for example, carry any one of a first module 202, a second module 204, a third module 206, or any combination thereof.

[0062] In one embodiment, the electronic module 200a can carry a first module 202, a second module 204 and / or a third module 206. In a specific example, the electronic module 200a can carry a first module 202, a second module 204 and a third module 206, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0063] In this regard, it is appreciable that, in one embodiment, the casing 200b can be shaped and dimensioned to carry any one of the first module 202, the second module 204 and the third module 206, or any combination thereof.

[0064] The first module 202 can be coupled to one or both of the second module 204 and the third module 206. The second module 204 can be coupled to one or both of the first module 202 and the third module 206. The third module 206 can be coupled to one or both of the first module 202 and the second module 204. In one example, the first module 202 can be coupled to the second module 204 and the second module 204 can be coupled to the third module 206, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Coupling between the first module 202, the second module 204 and / or the third module 206 can, for example, be by manner of one or both of wired coupling and wireless coupling. Each of the first module 202, the second module 204 and the third module 206 can correspond to one or both of a hardware-based module and a software-based module, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0065] In one example, the first module 202 can correspond to a hardware-based receiver which can be configured to receive one or more input signals. The inputsignal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the apparatus(es) 102 (or user device or User Equipment UE), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0066] The second module 204 can, for example, correspond to a hardware-based processor which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks (e.g., in a manner so as to generate one or more output signals) as will be discussed later in further detail with reference to Fig. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0067] The third module 206 can correspond to a hardware-based transmitter which can be configured to communicate one or more output signals from the electronic module 200a. The output signal(s) can, for example, include / correspond to one or more instructions / commands / control signals in association with the aforementioned dynamic / adaptive / gradual control configuration / determination strategy so as to facilitate efficiency (e.g., power / energy efficiency and / or communication efficiency), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, the output signal(s) can be a control signal(s) for data transmission by the user device (or UE) to a base station (or gNB).

[0068] The present disclosure contemplates the possibility that the first and second modules 202 / 204 can be an integrated software-hardware based module (e.g., an electronic part which can carry a software program / algorithm in association with receiving and processing functions / an electronic module programmed to perform the functions of receiving and processing). The present disclosure further contemplates the possibility that the first and third modules 202 / 206 can be an integrated softwarehardware based module (e.g., an electronic part which can carry a software program / algorithm in association with receiving and transmitting functions / an electronic module programmed to perform the functions of receiving and transmitting). The present disclosure yet further contemplates the possibility that the first and third modules 202 / 206 can be an integrated hardware module (e.g., a hardware-based transceiver) capable of performing the functions of receiving and transmitting.

[0069] The above-described advantageous aspect(s) of the device 104 of the present disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of a below described processing / communication method of the present disclosure. Likewise, all below described advantageous aspect(s) of the processing / communication method of the disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of above described device 104 of the disclosure. It is to be appreciated that these remarks apply analogously to the earlier discussed system 100 of the present disclosure.

[0070] Referring to Fig. 3, a method in association with the system 100 is shown, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0071] The method 300 can, for example, be suitable for / capable of facilitating energy efficiency, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0072] The processing method 300 can include any one of an input step 302, a processing step 304 and an output step 306, or any combination thereof, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0073] In one embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302. In another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302 and the processing step 304. In another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306. In yet another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the processing step 304 and one or both of the input step 302 and the output step 306. In yet a further embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306. In yet a further additional embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the processing step 304. In yet another further additional embodiment, the processing method 300 can include any one of or any combination of the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306 (i.e. , the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306).

[0074] With regard to the input step 302, one or more input signal(s) can be received. For example, the input signal(s) can be communicated from the apparatus 102 and can be received by the device 104, in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure. In another embodiment, the input signal(s) can be communicated from a separate device and can be received by the device 104. In yet another embodiment, the input signal(s) can be generated and communicated within the device 104.

[0075] The input step 302 can include receiving at least one input signal associated with permission for data transmission. In an embodiment, the input signal(s) may be generated by the apparatus 102 and transmitted from the apparatus 102 to the device 104. Alternatively, the input signal(s) may be generated and received by the device 104 to advance to the processing step 304. For example, the input signal(s) may be generated by another device and received by the device 104.

[0076] With regard to the processing step 304, at least processing task can be performed in association with the received input signal(s) in a manner so as to generate one or more output signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0077] The processing step 304 may include at least one of: configuring at least one frame associable with carrier wave transmission, each of the at least one frame indicating permission for data transmission; communicating the at least one frame to at least one user device; and transmitting data, via the at least one frame, by the at least one user device if the at least one frame indicates an allowance of data transmission. The at least one frame comprises a 1 -bit indication in a first symbol and may further comprise a user device identifier and / or a group identifier for a plurality of user devices. Indicating permission for data transmission may include indicating permission for backscatter data transmission.

[0078] The processing step 304 can also include pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission, where pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission comprises pre-determining based on at least one of: type of user device, priority of data and / or remaining energy in the user device. The user device comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) device.

[0079] With regard to the output step 306, the output signal(s) can, for example, be communicated, as an option, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, the output signal(s) can optionally be communicated from the device 104. In a more specific example, the output signal(s) can optionally be communicated from the device 104 to one or both of at least one other device (or base station or gNB) and an apparatus 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0080] The present disclosure further contemplates a computer program (not shown) which can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (not shown), cause the computer to carry out the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306 as discussed with reference to the method 300. For example, the computer program can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the input step 302 and / or the processing step 304, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0081] The present disclosure yet further contemplates a computer readable storage medium (not shown) having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer (not shown), the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306 as discussed with reference to the method 300. For example, the computer readable storage medium can have data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to carry out the input step 302 and / or the processing step 304, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0082] Further in view of the foregoing, it is appreciable that the present disclosure generally contemplates the device 104 suitable for energy efficiency in a network which can include a first module 202, a second module 204 and / or a third module 206.

[0083] The first module 202 can be configured to receive one or more input signals. The input signal(s) can, for example, be associated with permission for data transmission.

[0084] The second module 204 can be configured to process and / or facilitate processing of the input signal(s) according to the method 300 as discussed earlier to generate one or more output signals.

[0085] The third module 206 can be configured to communicate one or more output signals. The output signal(s) can, for example, correspond to one or more control signals for data transmission in a network by the user device (or UE).

[0086] In one embodiment, the apparatus 102 can correspond to a User Equipment (UE) which can communicate with a device 104 corresponding to a base station. The base station can, for example, correspond to a Next generation Node B (gNB) which can be configured to communicate one or more signals (e.g., output signal(s)) to the UE.

[0087] Yet further in view of the foregoing, it is appreciable that the present disclosure generally contemplates a system 100 which can include one or more apparatuses 102 and one or more devices 104. The apparatus(es) 102 and the device(s) 104 can, for example, be capable of being coupled via wired coupling and / or wireless coupling.

[0088] It should be appreciated that the embodiments described above can be combined in any manner as appropriate (e.g., one or more embodiments as discussed in the “Detailed Description” section can be combined with one or more embodiments as described in the “Summary of the Invention” section).

[0089] It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that variations and combinations of embodiments described above, not being alternatives or substitutes, may be combined to form yet further embodiments.

[0090] In one example, the possibility of the output signal(s) being communicated from the device(s) 104 was discussed. It is appreciable that the output signal(s) need not necessarily be communicated from the device(s) 104. Specifically, the possibility that the output signal(s) need not necessarily be communicated outside of the device(s) 104 is contemplated, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the output signal(s) can, for example, correspond to internal command(s) / instruction(s) (e.g., communicated only within a device 104) for adaptively controlling operational configuration of a device 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0091] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show schematic diagrams illustrating example scenarios in association with the method 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 4A illustrates one example of backscatter data transmission by a group of user devices (or UEs) while Fig. 4B illustrates another example of backscatter data transmission by two groups of user devices (or UEs), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The foregoing will be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B hereinafter.

[0092] Referring to Fig. 4A and in an embodiment of the disclosure, all of the UEs (or user devices) backscatter in the frame or slot 0 when transmitting data in an uplink (UL) communication and none of the UEs (or user devices) backscatter in the frame or slot 1. Referring to Fig. 4B and in an embodiment of the disclosure, only UEs in group 0 backscatter in the frame or slot 0 while only UEs in group 1 backscatter in the frame or slot 1 .

[0093] In an embodiment, the gNB or intermediate node or base station may transmit a 1-bit indication in the first symbol of each frame or slot of the carrier wave transmission, which can indicate if the UE (or user device) that receives such an indication is allowed to backscatter information during the UL in that frame or slot. In an example embodiment, the 1-bit indication can be combined with a UE (or user device) identification (ID) or an identification for a group of UEs (or user devices) and transmitted as part of a frame or slot to allow or disallow backscatter for the specific UE (or user device) or set of UEs (or user devices). In such a situation, the indicationcan occupy the first N symbols of the frame or slot, where N depends on the length of the UE ID or group ID.

[0094] In an embodiment, the first symbol or set of N symbols of the carrier wave transmission can always set to be in “non-backscatter” mode. The subset of UEs (or user devices) to perform backscatter in a particular frame or slot may be decided by the scheduler in the gNB or intermediate node (or base station) and / or can be decided based on criteria such as the type of the A-loT device, priority of data, remaining energy in the UE (or user device) etc.

[0095] Advantageously, embodiments of the present disclosure may aid in time division multiplexing of UL backscatter transmissions among different UEs or groups of UEs, thus reducing interference at the receiving gNB or intermediate node. Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure may allow the gNB or intermediate node or base station to dynamically schedule messages or signals to the A-loT node which are meant only for information to the nodes without a corresponding acknowledgement or only for energy harvesting by the nodes.

[0096] In the foregoing manner, various embodiments of the disclosure are described for addressing at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. Such embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the following claims, and are not to be limited to specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and / or modification can be made, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.Abbreviations:A-loT Ambient Internet-of-Things ARQ Automatic Repeat Request BWP Bandwidth part CLI Cross Link Interference CP Cyclic prefix CPU CSI processing unit CQI Channel quality indicator CRB Common resource block CRC Cyclic redundancy check CRI CSI-RS Resource Indicator CSI Channel state information CSI-RS Channel state information reference signal CSI-SINR CSI signal-to-noise and interference ratio CW Carrier Wave D2R Device to Reader DCI Downlink control information DL Downlink DM-RS Demodulation reference signalsDRX Discontinuous Reception EPRE Energy per resource element FDD Frequency Division Duplex HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request L1-RSRP Layer 1 reference signal received power LI Layer Indicator LP-WUR Low power wake up receiver LP-WUS Low power wake up signal MAC-CE MAC Control Element MCS Modulation and coding scheme MR Main receiver PBCH Physical Broadcast Channel PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel PDSCH Physical downlink shared channelPEI Permanent Equipment Identifier PFN Paging Frame Number PMI Precoding Matrix Indicator PRB Physical resource block PRACH Physical Random Access Channel PRG Precoding resource block group PRS Positioning reference signal PSS Primary Synchronisation signal PT-RS Phase-tracking reference signal PUCCH Physical uplink control channel PUSCH Physical uplink shared channel QCL Quasi co-location R2D Reader to Device RACH Random Access Channel RB Resource block RBG Resource block group Rl Rank Indicator RRC Radio Resource Control RS Reference signal RSRP Reference Signal Received Power RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality SCI Sidelink control information SLIV Start and length indicator value SR Scheduling Request SRS Sounding reference signal SS Synchronisation signal SSB Synchronization Signal Block SSS Secondary Synchronisation signal SS-SINR SS signal-to-noise and interference ratio TB Transport Block TCI Transmission Configuration Indicator TDM Time division multiplexing UE User equipment UL Uplink

Claims

Claim(s)1 . A method (300) for data transmission in a network comprising: configuring at least one frame associable with carrier wave transmission, each of the at least one frame indicating permission for data transmission; communicating the at least one frame to at least one user device; and transmitting data, via the at least one frame, by the at least one user device if the at least one frame indicates an allowance of data transmission.

2. The method (300) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame comprises a 1 -bit indication in a first symbol.

3. The method (300) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame further comprises a user device identifier and / or a group identifier for a plurality of user devices.

4. The method (300) according to claim 1 , wherein indicating permission for data transmission comprises indicating permission for backscatter data transmission.

5. The method (300) according to claim 1 , further comprising pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission.

6. The method (300) according to claim 5, wherein pre-determining a plurality of user devices for data transmission comprises pre-determining based on at least one of: type of user device, priority of data and / or remaining energy in the user device.

7. The method (300) according to claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises an Ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) device.

8. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method (300) of any of the preceding claims.

9. A computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the method (300) of claims 1-7.

10. A device (104) for data transmission in a network comprising: a first module (202) configured to receive at least one input signal associated with permission for data transmission; a second module (204) configured to at least one of process and facilitate the method (300) of claim 1 to claim 7 to generate at least one output signal; and a third module (206) configured to communicate at least one output signal, wherein the output signal corresponds to a control signal for data transmission in a network.11 . The device (104) according to claim 10, wherein the device (104) corresponds to a base station communicable with an apparatus (102) corresponding to a User Equipment (UE), and wherein the base station corresponds to a Next generation Node B (gNB) configured to communicate the at least one output signal to the UE.

12. A system (100) comprising: at least one device (104) according to any of claims 10 and 11 ; and at least one apparatus (102) according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus (102) and the device (104) are capable of being coupled via at least one of wired coupling and wireless coupling.

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