Methods, communications devices, and infrastructure equipment for uplink power control

Abstract

A method of operating a communications device is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a first transmission and reception point (TRP) of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point (URP) of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, determining, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and calculating, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

Description

[0001] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT FOR UPLINK POWER CONTROL

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Field of Disclosure

[0004] The present disclosure relates to communications devices and infrastructure equipment (such as transmission and reception points (TRPs)) of wireless communications networks and methods of operating such communications devices and infrastructure equipment (e.g., TRPs) which allow for the more effective and efficient operation of communications devices in heterogeneous network which comprise uplink only reception points (URPs).

[0005] The present application claims the Paris Convention priority from European patent application number EP24158334.3, filed on 19 February 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0006] Description of Related Art

[0007] The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

[0008] Previous generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0009] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other cntical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles / characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different consideration may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements). In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0011] The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

[0012] Embodiments of the present technique can provide a method of operating a communications device. The method comprises receiving, from a first transmission and reception point (TRP) of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink- only reception point (URP) of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, determining, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and calculating, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0013] Embodiments of the present technique, which, in addition to methods of operating communications devices, relate to methods of operating infrastructure equipment (e.g. TRPs), to communications devices and infrastructure equipment (e.g. TRPs), to circuitry for communications devices and infrastructure equipment (e.g. TRPs), to wireless communications systems, to computer programs, and to computer- readable storage mediums, can allow for the more effective and efficient operation of communications devices in heterogeneous network which comprise uplink only reception points (URPs), particularly in respect of the transmission of uplink signals by such communications device to such URPs.

[0014] Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

[0015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of an NR-type wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 4 schematically represents an example of a Heterogeneous Network (HetNet);

[0021] Figure 5 schematically represents an example of a HetNet including a plurality of uplink-only reception points (URPs);

[0022] Figure 6 is reproduced from [8], and illustrates how pathloss could be measured using uplink signals transmitted by a communications device;

[0023] Figure 7 shows a part schematic, part message flow diagram representation of a heterogeneous communications system comprising a communications device and an infrastructure equipment in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0024] Figure 8 illustrates how a pathloss offset may be calculated and configured for a communications device in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0025] Figure 9 shows changes that may be made to the current Uplink-PowerControl Information Element (IE) in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0026] Figure 10 shows changes that may be made to the current TCI-UL-State IE in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0027] Figure 11 illustrates how a UE may autonomously update an uplink pathloss value for a URP based on its position in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0028] Figure 12 illustrates how a UE may autonomously update an uplink pathloss value for a URP based on measurements received from a serving transmission and reception point (TRP) and / or neighbour TRPs in accordance with embodiments of the present technique; and

[0029] Figure 13 shows a flow diagram illustrating an example process of communications in a heterogeneous communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present technique.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0032] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0033] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2, which may be for example an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e., a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0034] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Terminal devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e., page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0035] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, eNodeBs, eNB, gNodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0036] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0037] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, forms a cell of the wireless communications network as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the cells 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 (which may be for example referred to as 5GC) which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 25.

[0038] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0039] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

[0040] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the first communication cell 12.

[0041] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0042] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0043] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation. The transmiters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmiters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0045] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the F 1 interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with 3GPP technical specifications [2] and [3], and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

[0046] As will be appreciated by those acquainted with 5G architecture, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocols, Service Data Adaptation Protocols (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocols (PDCP) of a gNB. Alternatively, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts RRC and PDCP protocols of an en-gNB (which is a gNB that is able to connect with both EPC and eNBs and can be understood as being, for example, a secondary node (SgNB) used in dual connectivity scenarios). The CU 40 partly controls the operation of one or more DUs 40 and terminates the Fl interface 46 for the DUs that it controls. The DU 42 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers of a gNB or en-gNB. The operation of the DU 42 is partly controlled by the CU 40 for which the DU 42 terminates the Fl interface 46.

[0047] Although not shown in Figures 2 or 3, it will be familiar to those acquainted with 5G architecture that the CU 40 may be further split into a CU-CP which performs the control plane (CP) functions of the CU 40 and a CU-UP which performs the user plane (UP) functions of the CU 40 (see for example, [4]). In more detail, the CU-CP may be a logical node hosting an RRC protocol and a control plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for the gNB or en-gNB. The CU-CP terminates an El interface connected with the CU-UP and an Fl-C interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the Fl-C interface carries control plane signalling of the Fl interface 46. The CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for an en-gNB. Alternatively, the CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of the PDCP protocol and an SDAP protocol of the CU 40 for a gNB. The CU-UP terminates an El interface connected with the CU-CP and an Fl-U interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the Fl-U interface carries user plane signalling of the Fl interface 46

[0048] Release 19 MIMO

[0049] A work item description (WID) [5] for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) has been agreed. The objectives of the WID are reproduced from [5] below:

[0050] 1. Specify enhancement to facilitate UE-initiated / event-driven beam management for reducing overhead and / or latency, assuming the unified transmission configuration indication (TCI) while leveraging (as much as possible) legacy channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting configuration frameworks, targeting Frequency Range 2 (FR2) and single TRP (sTRP) with intra- and inter-cell beam management: a. UL signaling content(s) (and procedure(s) as required) for UE-initiated / event-driven beam reporting facilitating fast beam switching; and b. UL signaling medium / container considering the UE-initiated / event-driven nature of the UL transmission, designed primarily for the purpose of beam reporting.

[0051] 2. Specify CSI support for up to 128 CSI Reference Signal (CSI-RS) ports, targeting Frequency Range 1 (FR1): a. Type-I codebook refinement supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS ports across all resources, assuming legacy CSI-RS resources (with up to 32 CSI-RS ports per resource), based on extension of legacy codebooks; b. Type-II codebook refinement supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS ports across all resources, assuming legacy CSI-RS resources (with up to 32 CSI-RS ports per resource), based on extension of legacy codebooks, without modifying any codebook parameter other than introducing additional values for the number of ports codebook parameter(s); and c. Extension of CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI)(s)-based CSI reporting (CQI / PMI / RI calculated per CRI for >1 CRIs) for hybrid beamforming supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS ports across all resources, with up to 32 CSI-RS ports per resource, without new codebook design.

[0052] 3. Specify UE reporting enhancement for coherent joint transmission (CJT) deployments under nonideal synchronization and backhaul, targeting FR1, both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD): a. Inter-TRP time misalignment and frequency / phase offset measurement and reporting, assuming legacy CSI-RS design, with stand-alone aperiodic reporting on physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0053] 4. Specify non-coherent UL codebook to facilitate 3 -antenna-port codebook-based transmissions, without enhancement on UL full power transmission and without enhancement on sounding reference signal (SRS) resource. It should be noted that UL full power transmission modes 1 and 2 are not supported.

[0054] 5. Specify enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP / UL multiple TRP (mTRP) deployment scenarios, assuming intra-band intra-DU non-co-located mTRP scenarios, without changing existing cell definition or defining a new cell (e.g. UL-only cell), assuming the Rel-17 / 18 unified TCI framework and fully reusing the legacy quasi-co-location (QCL) / UL spatial relation rules, targeting FR1 and FR2 a. Two closed-loop power control adjustment states for SRS, both separate from PUSCH; and pathloss offset configurations for pathloss calculation to UL TRP(s), when the pathloss RS is from DL sTRP.

[0055] As can be understood from [5] and as described above, one of the objectives for Release 19 MIMO is that an enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP / UL mTRP deployment scenarios will be specified. This objective implies that the introduction and / or enhancement of transmission power control for UEs operating in UL-only cells.

[0056] Heterogeneous Network (HetNet)

[0057] In a 5G operation, a Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) may be deployed. A HetNet is a network comprising a plurality of TRPs including a TRP which provides a macro cell and one or more TRPs which provide a respective one or more small cells. A TRP which provides a macro cell may alternatively be referred to as a “macro gNB”. As will be known to one skilled in the art, a TRP providing a macro cell transmits with a higher power than a TRP providing a small cell. Therefore, a macro cell provides a larger coverage area for UEs than a small cell. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, small cells are typically provided to alleviate a load on the TRP which provides the macro cell caused by uplink and downlink traffic. This is particularly advantageous when there are a large number of UEs present in the macro cell (referred to as “dense macro cell deployment”). Furthermore, TRPs providing small cells may be deployed near the edge of the macro cell to enhance coverage near the cell edge. An example of a HetNet is schematically illustrated in Figure 4.

[0058] As shown in Figure 4, a first TRP 402 provides a macro cell 404 for a first UE 424, a second UE 426, a third UE 428 and a fourth UE 430 located within the macro cell 404. Also shown is a second TRP 406 providing a small cell 408 for the first UE 424 which is located within the small cell 408 provided by the second TRP 406. Also shown is a third TRP 414 providing a small cell 416 for the third UE 428 which is located within the small cell 416 provided by the third TRP 414. The second UE 426 and the fourth UE 430 are located within the macro cell 404 but are not located within the small cell 408 provided by the second TRP 406 or the small cell 416 provided by the third TRP 414.

[0059] Although not shown in Figure 4, the second TRP 406 and the third TRP 414 may be connected to the first TRP 402 via wired backhaul connections such as fibre optic cables or wireless backhaul connections, thereby allowing communication between the first TRP 402 and the second TRP 406 and between the first TRP 402 and the third TRP 414. When the second TRP 406 and the third TRP 414 are connected to the first TRP 402, scheduling may be coordinated and multi-TRP MIMO may be provided.

[0060] A technical problem associated with HetNets is that UEs, particularly those near the edge of a small cell, may experience significant downlink interference from the TRP which provides the macro cell. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the first UE 424 is located near the edge of the small cell 408 provided by the second TRP 406. The first UE 424 is receiving a downlink transmission 420 from the second TRP 406. At the same time, the second UE 418 is receiving a downlink transmission 418 from the first TRP 402. Since the first UE 424 is near the edge of the small cell 408 provided by the second TRP 406, a power of the downlink transmission 420 from the second TRP 406 is likely to be lower than a power of the downlink transmission 418 from the first TRP 402 at the location of the first UE 424. Therefore, the downlink transmission 418 from the first TRP 402 causes significant interference 418a to the downlink transmission from the second TRP 406. Similarly, UEs being served by the TRP providing the macro cell may experience significant downlink interference from UEs being served by a TRP providing a small cell. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the fourth UE 430 is located near the edge of the macro cell 404 provided by the first TRP 402. The fourth UE 430 is receiving a downlink transmission 432 from the first TRP 402 At the same time, the third UE 428 is receiving a downlink transmission 422 from the third TRP 414. Since the fourth UE 430 is near the edge of the macro cell 404 provided by the first TRP 402, a power of the downlink transmission 432 from the first TRP 402 is likely to be lower than a power of the downlink transmission 422 from the third TRP 414 at the location of the fourth UE 430. Therefore, the downlink transmission 422 from the third TRP 414 causes significant interference 422a to the downlink transmission 432 from the first TRP 402.

[0061] On the other hand, uplink interference may also be experienced in HetNet deployments. For example, interference may occur between an uplink transmission from a UE to a TRP providing a small cell and an uplink transmission from another UE to a TRP providing a macro cell, or another small cell. However, uplink interference can typically be reduced by one of the UEs reducing a transmission power of its uplink transmission.

[0062] Uplink-only Reception Point (URP)

[0063] It has been observed that there is often a bottleneck of uplink traffic in dense macro cell deployments. The load caused by the uplink traffic on the TRP providing the macro cell can be alleviated by providing a HetNet deployment such as that described with reference to Figure 4. However, as described above, such networks can present significant problems due to downlink interference. Recognising this, it has been proposed to introduce uplink-only reception points (URP) in HetNets (see [5] and [6] for example). URPs are configured to receive uplink transmissions from UEs but cannot transmit downlink transmissions to UEs. A URP may be connected to a TRP providing a macro cell via a wired backhaul connection, such as a fibre optic cable, thereby allowing communication between the URP and the TRP providing the macro cell. By deploying URPs in a HetNet, the load on the TRP providing the macro cell can be alleviated and the downlink interference which would otherwise be experienced, or caused, by TRPs providing small cells can be prevented. However, URPs are not able to alleviate the load on the TRP providing the macro cell caused by downlink transmissions. URPs deployed near the macro cell edge may increase the throughput of a UE being served by that URP because the UE may be close to the URP and therefore likely have better radio conditions with the URP compared to the TRP providing the macro cell. Furthermore, UEs near the macro cell edge may transmit uplink transmissions to the URP with a lower transmission power than a transmission power with which the UE transmits uplink transmissions to the TRP providing the macro cell, which results in reduced uplink interference. Furthermore, URPs can be low cost because they do not require a wireless transmitter for communicating downlink transmissions to UEs. URPs may also help replacing dual connectivity (DC) and solve uplink problems such as traffic split ratio and power sharing in DC scenarios. Traffic split ratios and power sharing are typically semi statically configured in DC but they may be dynamically configured if URPs are used.

[0064] An example of a HetNet which includes URPs is shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, a first TRP 502 provides a macro cell 504 for a first UE 534, a second UE 536, a third UE 538 and a fourth UE 540 located within the macro cell 504. Also shown is a first URP 506 providing a small cell 508 (i.e., an UL- only cell) for the first UE 534 which is located within the small (UL-only) cell 508 provided by the first URP 506. Also shown is a second URP 510 providing a small cell 512 (i.e., an UL-only cell) for the third UE 538 which is located within the small (UL-only) cell 512 provided by the second URP 510. Also shown is a second TRP 514 providing a small cell 516 for the fourth UE 540 which is located within the small cell 516 provided by the second TRP 514. The second UE 536 is located within the macro cell 504 but is not located within the small cell 508 provided by the first URP, the small cell 512 provided by the second URP 510 or the small cell 516 provided by the second TRP 514.

[0065] Since the first UE 534 is located within the macro cell 504 provided by the first TRP 502 and the small cell 508 provided by the first URP 506, then the first UE 534 is served by the first URP 506 for uplink transmissions 520 and is served by the first TRP 502 for downlink transmissions 518. In other words, the first UE 534 is able to transmit uplink transmissions 520 to the first URP 506 and receive downlink transmissions 518 from the first TRP 502.

[0066] Since the second UE 536 is within the macro cell 504 provided by the first TRP 502 but is not located within the small cell 508 provided by the first URP, the small cell 512 provided by the second URP 510 or the small cell 516 provided by the second TRP 514, then the second UE 536 is served by the first TRP 502 for uplink transmissions 522 and downlink transmissions 524. In other words, the second UE 536 is able to transmit uplink transmissions 522 to the first TRP 502 and receive downlink transmissions 524 from the first TRP 502.

[0067] Since the third UE 538 is located within the macro cell 504 provided by the first TRP 502 and the small cell 512 provided by the second URP 510, then the third UE 538 is served by the second URP 510 for uplink transmissions 528 and is served by the first TRP 502 for downlink transmissions 526. In other words, the third UE 538 is able to transmit uplink transmissions 528 to the second URP 510 and receive downlink transmissions 526 from the first TRP 502.

[0068] Since the fourth UE 540 is located within the small cell 516 provided by the second TRP 514, then the fourth UE 540 is served by the second TRP 514 for uplink transmissions 532 and for downlink transmissions 530. In other words, the fourth UE 540 is able to transmit uplink transmissions 532 and receive downlink transmissions 530 from the second TRP 514.

[0069] Although not shown in Figure 5, the first URP 506, second URP 510 and second TRP 514 may be connected to the first TRP 502 via a wired backhaul connections, such as fibre optic cables, thereby allowing communication between the first URP 06, second URP 510, second TRP 14 and the first TRP 502.

[0070] UL Transmission Power Determination

[0071] Uplink transmission power is something which is ultimately determined by the UE itself for its own transmission, by using a formula to calculate the UL transmission power based on a number of variables associated with the UE and gNB which may be configured by the network. For example, [7] describes the following equation as an example of a PUSCH transmission power formula, which measured in dBm: where, PCMAX, / ,C(0 isthe UE’s configured maximum output power, PoPUSCH, b,f,c(J) is a target received signal power parameter at the gNB which is configured by higher layers, ctbifC(J) is a pathloss coefficient parameter which is also configured by higher layers, PLb cqd') is a downlink pathloss estimate calculated by the UE by subtracting a higher layer filtered reference signal received power (RSRP) value from a referenceSignalP over value, where the referenceSignalPower value is provided by higher layers, and 0 is the PUSCH power control adjustment state. Technical Issue with UL Transmission Power Determination in Deployments Utilising URPs

[0072] Since pathloss cannot be measured by using received DL signals in UL-only cells, because UL-only cells do not transmit any DL signals, a technique for pathloss measurement based on UL signals for UL-only cells was disclosed in co-pending patent application [8], the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0073] An example is shown in Figure 6, which is reproduced from [8] . In the example of Figure 6, a UE 601 needs to determine its UL transmission power to be used for transmitting signals to a URP 602, which controls an UL-only cell. Determination of the UL transmission power is therefore made by a base station (i.e. a gNB / TRP) 603, though exchanging signals with both the UE 601 and URP 602 as can be seen in Figure 6. The sequence of this signal exchange is as follows:

[0074] Step S 1 : The gNB 602 sends an SRS configuration to the UE. The SPS configuration may specify that the UE 601 is to transmit SRS signalling a constant UE transmission power over a predetermined uplink measurement period;

[0075] Step S2: The gNB 602 sends a message activating an uplink pathloss measurement process to UE 601, which may initiate the transmission of SRS signalling 611 and power headroom measurements, as well as begin an uplink measurement period 612;

[0076] Step S3: The UE 601 then transmits the SRS signalling to the UL-only cell 603;

[0077] Step S4: The UL-only cell 603 receives the SRS signalling from the UE 601 and performs measurements (e g. of the received signal power) on the received SRS signalling. The result is then indicated by the URP 603 to the gNB 602. The measurement result may be averaged for pathloss;

[0078] Step S5: The UE 601 measures its current transmission (Tx) power (power headroom) or average power of the SRS transmissions and stores it for the purpose of reporting;

[0079] Step S6: The gNB 602 deactivates the uplink pathloss measurement configuration to the UE 601. The UE 601 accordingly stops the transmission of SRS 611;

[0080] Step S7: The UE 601 sends the stored power headroom (or averaged Tx power) to the gNB 602; Step S8: The gNB 602 calculates the uplink pathloss. The uplink pathloss is calculated as the transmission power of the SRS transmissions minus the received signal power of the SRS transmissions;

[0081] Step S9: The gNB 602 then sends the calculated uplink pathloss to the UE 601. It may reuse the existing power control signalling to do this; and

[0082] Step S10: The UE 601 is then able to calculate and control the uplink power to use for its uplink transmissions to the URP 603 based on the pathloss value received from the gNB 602 and other power control parameters.

[0083] An issue with the solution exemplified by the example of Figure 6 however is that the UE is a mobile device, and the pathloss value provided by the gNB in step S9 is a single value. Hence, without a detailed configuration and update mechanism, it would be hard to use such a method as that illustrated by Figure 6 for the efficient and effective operation of a UE in an UL-only cell because the pathloss value configured and sent to the UE by the gNB will be changed if and when the UE moves. As discussed above, [8] discloses techniques for measuring and determining pathloss based on UL signals only. However, this is something done by the gNB / TRP, rather than the UE, and would need to be performed every time the UE moves (which causes a change in the channel conditions and hence pathloss). There is therefore a need to provide methods for an appropriate configuration that would enable a UE to determine and update a transmission power for UL signals transmitted to URPs in UL-only cells. Arrangements of embodiments of the present technique propose solutions to such a problem. UL Transmission Power Control Configuration and Update for UL-only Cell

[0084] Figure 7 shows a part schematic, part message flow diagram representation of a first wireless communications system (which may, for example, be a heterogeneous communications system) comprising a communications device 701 (e.g. a UE 14), a first infrastructure equipment (e.g. first TRP such as a gNB) 702, and a second infrastructure equipment (e.g. a URP) 703 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique. Here, the first TRP 702 (which is a serving TRP to the communications device 701) provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device 701, while the URP 703 provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device 701; that is, the URP 703 is unable to transmit downlink signals to the communications device 701. The first TRP 702 is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the URP 703 via a backhaul communications link. Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the wireless communications network of Figure 7 may comprise a number of other TRPs and URPs (as well as UEs) to those shown, and the communications device 701 may be configured to transmit and / or receive signals from such other TRPs and URPs as well. The communications device 701, the first TRP 702, and the URP 703 each comprise a transceiver (or transceiver circuitry) 701.1, 702.1, 703.1, and a controller (or controller circuitry) 701.2, 702.2, 703.2. Each of the controllers 701.2, 702.2, 703.2 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc. The controllers 701.2, 702.2, 703.2 may also each be equipped with a memory unit (which is not shown in Figure 7).

[0085] As shown in the example of Figure 7, the transceiver circuitry 701.1 and the controller circuitry 701.2 of the communications device 701 are configured in combination to receive 704, from the TRP 702, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device 701 in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device 701 to the URP 703, to determine 705, based on the first pathloss information received 704 from the first TRP 702, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device 701 to the URP 703, and to calculate 706, based on the determined pathloss value 705, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device 701 for transmitting uplink signals to the URP 703. Here, the indication of the first pathloss information received 704 from the first TRP 702 - i.e. uplink configuration information relating to the URP 703 - means that the communications device 701 does not have to estimate the uplink pathloss in such a manner as defined in prior art solutions. After calculating 706 the uplink transmission power, the communications device 701 may later transmit 707 one or more uplink signals to the URP 703 in accordance with that calculated 706 uplink transmission power.

[0086] Essentially, such embodiments of the present technique as exemplified by Figure 7 propose that the network (e g., the TRP within the cell of which the UE is currently located, which may be a macro gNB) provides information to UEs that enable the configuration and updating of uplink pathloss between such UEs and URPs of the network. In accordance with such embodiments of the present technique, of which further specific arrangements are described in the paragraphs below, and throughout the present disclosure, reference to the terms TRP and macro gNB (or indeed just gNB) is made interchangeably, where such terms are considered to refer to the same thing. Furthermore, reference to the terms URP and UL-only cell is made interchangeably, where such terms are considered to refer to the same thing.

[0087] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, an absolute value of pathloss may be configured to a UE. In other words, the first pathloss information may be the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP. Such a configuration is based on the UE being configured with uplink parameters of the URP or UL-only cell, such as in the example of Figure 6 as described above, where the URP uplink pathloss value itself is provided to the UE by a TRP. However, it may be the case that no uplink configuration information relating to the URP is provided to the communications device. In such a case, the UE may be required to estimate the uplink pathloss in such a manner as defined in prior art solutions, and this may be something determined by the UE based on its defined behaviour or indicated via the first pathloss information. Here, if indicated via the first pathloss information, the TRP indicates to the UE that it is reuse the pathloss between the URP in the downlink for the uplink. In other words, the first pathloss information may be an indication that the communications device is to determine that the pathloss value is the same as a pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from a reference TRP, on the condition that the communications device has not been provided with uplink configuration information relating to the URP. Here, the reference TRP may either by the first (i.e. serving) TRP or a second (i.e. neighbouring) TRP of the wireless communications network.

[0088] Such an approximation may be reasonable due to channel reciprocity, since the downlink and uplink signals are transmitted between effectively the same physical positions, so any obstacles or attenuation of signals should be the same, though of course there may be some small differences in the channel due to the transmission / reception antennas being different, for example. The following text is an example extract showing how the formula in the specifications used to determine an UL transmission power (i.e. Equation (1) above) could be changed to support such embodiments of the present technique, with the modifications shown in the bold and underlined font:

[0089] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, a pathloss offset value may be provided to the UE, with the offset being between the uplink pathloss between the UE and a reference TRP which offers both DL and UL services and the uplink pathloss between the UE and the UL-only cell. In other words, the first pathloss information may be an offset between the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP and a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to a reference TRP, wherein the reference TRP is either the first (i.e. serving) TRP or a second (i.e. neighbouring) TRP of the wireless communications network. When the reference TRP and UL-only cell can receive the same UL signal (with the same transmission power) from the UE, the network is able calculate the pathloss offset between the reference TRP and the UL-only cell.

[0090] Figure 8 shows an example calculation of pathloss offset in accordance with such arrangements. First, the UE 801 transmits an UL signal (e.g. SRS) 804 to both the reference TRP 802 (which may be the serving TRP or another TRP in the network of which the UE 801 is within range) and the UL-only cell / URP 803. Since the reference TRP 802 and the UL-only cell 803 are connected by a backhaul communications link (not shown in the example of Figure 8), the received powers (e.g. RSRPs) 805, 806 of the UL signal (e.g. SRS) 804 received from the UE 801 can be shared between them. Through subtracting the UL received power 805 at the UL-only cell 803 from the UL received power 806 at the reference TRP 802, the network is able obtain a pathloss offset 807 between the reference TRP 802 and the UL-only cell 803, and subsequently configure this calculated pathloss offset 807 to the UE 801.

[0091] The UE 801 is then able to calculate the pathloss for the UL-only cell 801 by using the configured pathloss offset 807, by adding the pathloss offset 807 between the reference TRP 802 and the UL-only cell 803 to the pathloss between the reference TRP 802 and UE 803, which it is able to determine itself based on measurements performed on DL signals (e.g. SSB, CSI-RS) received by the UE 801 from the reference TRP 802. The UE 801 is therefore able to obtain the uplink pathloss for the UL-only cell 803 by using the pathloss for reference TRP 802 and the pathloss offset. In other words, the communications device is configured to determine the pathloss value by calculating the sum of the pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from the reference TRP and the offset. The following text is an example extract showing how the formula in the specifications used to determine an UL transmission power (i.e. Equation (1) above) could be changed to support such embodiments of the present technique, with the modifications shown in the bold and underlined font:

[0092] PLbfC(Ra)=referenceSignalPower - higher layer filtered RSRP, where referenceSignalPower is provided by higher layers and RSRP is defined in [TS 38.215] for the reference serving cell and the higher layer filter configuration provided by QuantityConfig is defined in [TS 38.331] for the reference serving cell if UE is not configured with UL-only cell parameters,

[0093] PLbf figfi = pathloss offset + PLhf fiQf) for reference TRP if UE is configured with UL-only cell parameters, where the pathloss offset is configured by higher layers

[0094] As those skilled in the art would appreciate, when a UE moves, the pathloss between the UE and other devices or network infrastructure equipment will be change, because pathloss depends on factors such as the distance between the UE and other devices (e.g. TRP), or the obstacles between them, which will of course be changed due to the UE moving. It is therefore necessary to disclose some methods for updating the uplink pathloss between a UE and a URP.

[0095] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the pathloss is updated via dedicated RRC signalling. In other words, the indication of first pathloss information (which may be updated pathloss information) may be received via radio resource control, RRC, signalling from the first TRP. To indicate the pathloss via RRC signalling in this manner, a new (or, at least, updated) IE needs to be defined. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate two examples of such lEs that demonstrate the expected specification changes to support such arrangements. The new portions of these lEs are highlighted, as can be seen in Figures 9 and 10. The higher layer parameter pathlossOffset, which may be used to configure and update pathloss, may indicated either in the IE Uplink-PowerControl as shown in Figure 9 or in the IE TCLUL- State as shown in Figure 10.

[0096] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the pathloss is updated via DCI or MAC CE signalling. In other words, the indication of first pathloss information (which may be updated pathloss information) may be received within either downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) from the first TRP. Here, the DCI may be a DL grant, UL grant, or either UE-specific or group-common DCI.

[0097] The DCI or MAC CE may contain an indication of the pathloss update related parameter itself (e.g. in a field of the DCI or MAC CE), such that the UE can update the pathloss through using the value (e . an absolute value or an offset as described above) indicated in the field. In other words, the DCI or MAC CE may comprise a field containing the indication of first pathloss information (which may be updated pathloss information).

[0098] Alternatively, the DCI or MAC CE signalling may indicate an index of a list of possible pathloss absolute / offset values previously configured via RRC signalling. In other words, the communications device may be configured to receive, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information, wherein here the DCI or MAC CE may indicate an index of the table associated with the first pathloss information (which may be updated pathloss information). For example, the DCI or MAC CE contains a 2 -bit field of pathloss indication, thus indicating one of four possible pathloss values (e.g. absolute values or offsets, in accordance with such arrangements of embodiments of the present technique as described above). An example of the list pathloss values is shown in Table I below, where here, four states / indices correspond to different pathloss values configured by RRC signalling (e.g. within dedicated RRC signalling to the UE itself or broadcast in a system information block (SIB)):

[0099] Table I: Pathloss table configured by RRC signalling

[0100] The UE is able to update the uplink pathloss to the URP through applying the indication received within the DCI / MAC CE via the index of the pathloss table previously configured via RRC signalling. The pathloss values can be either offsets, absolute values, or accumulated values.

[0101] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the uplink pathloss between the UR and URP is updated by the UE autonomously; that is, the UE updates the pathloss without network signalling when a particular event is triggered. The autonomous pathloss update may be based on a previously configured list of values, such as the list indicated in Table I above. In other words, the communications device may be configured to receive, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information and a configuration of a trigger event, and to select the first pathloss information (which may be updated pathloss information) from the table based on the configured trigger event.

[0102] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the triggering event is based on UE positions, where if the UE’s position changes, e.g. by a certain amount and / or within certain direction(s), then this triggers the UE to update the UL pathloss to the URP. In other words, the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

[0103] An example is shown in Figure 11, where here, the coverage of an UL-only cell 1103 is divided into an N xM grid (which of course is only an illustrative example of how the coverage of a URP 1103 could be divided), where N is the number of units of the grid in the horizontal direction and AT is the number of units of the grid in the vertical direction. If a UE within the URP’s 1103 coverage is capable of measuring its own position (e.g. by using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)), the UE is able to remain aware of where in the coverage (e.g. the grid) it is located. In addition, the UE may be configured with a table of pathloss values (e.g. absolute values, accumulated values, or offsets) via RRC signalling (which may be dedicated RRC signalling or SIB) received from the network. An example is in Table II below.

[0104] When the position in which the UE is located is changed, for example from position 1101 to position 1102 as shown in the example of Figure 11, the UE applies the pathloss value corresponding to the position in the grid according to Table II in order to determine the UL pathloss between the UE and the URP 1103. In accordance with such arrangements, the UE is required to have the capability to measure its own location; e g. the capability to implement GNSS or to support 3GPP positioning. Table II: Pathloss table corresponding to UE positions

[0105] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the pathloss update is based on the measured RSRP of signals received by the UE from the serving cell / TRP and / or neighbouring cells / TRPs. In other words, the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

[0106] An example is shown in Figure 12 where three TRPs 1203, 1204, 1205 are densely deployed and an UL- only cell 1206 is deployed at the edge of these three TRPs. 1203, 1204, 1205. In this example deployment scenario, a UE 1201 could receive and measure DL signals 1207 transmitted from each TRP 1203, 1204, 1205. If the UE 1201 is located at or near the centre 1201 of the coverage of a first (which may be a serving) TRP 1203, the measured RSRP of that serving TRP 1203 is strong because the UE 1201 is close to that TRP 1203, while the measured RSRP of the neighbouring TRPs 1204, 1205 is relatively weak because the UE 1201 is further from those TRPs 1204, 1205. If the UE 1201 moves from the centre 1201 of the first TRP’s 1203 coverage to the edge 1202 of the first TRP’s 1203 coverage, the measured RSRP of the DL signals 1207 received from that TRP 1203 will becomes worse, while the RSRP of the neighbouring TRPs 1204, 1205 becomes better.

[0107] Here, the UE 1201 is configured with a pathloss table which corresponds to various RSRP relationships (e g. to threshold RSRP values) by RRC signalling (e g. dedicated RRC or SIB). An example table is shown in Table III below, where M state of pathloss value is defined. Each state is defined RSRP condition by using RSRP threshold. UE updates the pathloss according to measured RSRP from serving TRP and neighbouring TRPs and RSRP thresholds.

[0108] Table III: Pathloss table corresponding to RSRP relationship

[0109] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the RSRP relationships shown in the example of Table III above are only examples, and any number of cells / TRPs (e.g. 1, 2, or 4 or more) and any appropriate threshold values (e.g. different threshold values to those defined in Table III above or multiple threshold values for one or more of the TRPs such as shown for TRP#1 for pathloss values 1 and 2 in Table III above) may be used, depending on the deployment scenario for example. Furthermore, in accordance with such arrangements, UE does not need to have capability to directly determine its location. The UE may of course however be aware of its position through the RSRP relationships with the serving TRP and neighbouring TRPs if TRPs are densely deployed.

[0110] While in arrangements of embodiments of the present technique as described above the UE performing autonomous pathloss updates, it is recognised that this requires the UE to be able to determine an appropriate pathloss value (e.g. absolute value, accumulated value, or offset) from a pre-configured table to do so. It may be the case that no appropriate pathloss value is contained within the table, or indeed no table or list has been configured by prior RRC signalling.

[0111] Accordingly, in some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the UE transmits a request for the updating of the uplink pathloss between the UE and an UL-only cell based on a trigger event being triggered, where such a request may take the form of an explicit request for an updated pathloss or an UL measurement signal (e.g. SRS) transmitted for the purpose of pathloss measurement by the network - which can then determine that the UE has moved. That is, the UE may request a pathloss update or transmit SRS for the purpose of UL measurement only if a triggering event condition is met. In other words, the communications device may be configured to transmit, to the first TRP based on a configured trigger event (which may be configured by RRC signalling received from the first TRP), a request that the first TRP transmit the indication of first pathloss information, wherein here, the indication of first pathloss information may be received from the first TRP in response to the request.

[0112] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the triggering event is the UE geographical location. In other words, the configured trigger event may be a change in a geographical location of the communications device. If the UE’s location is changed, such as in the manner of the example of Figure 11 as described above, and the UE detects this location change (e g. through GNSS measurements), the UE will transmit a request of pathloss update or send an UL measurement signal (e.g. SRS) to the URP. In accordance with such arrangements, the UE is required to have the capability to measure its location, e.g. the capability to implement GNSS or to support 3GPP positioning.

[0113] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the triggering event is based on an RSRP measurement or measurements on signals received from the serving TRP and / or one or more neighbouring TRPs. In other words, the configured trigger event may be a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined or configured threshold. Here, if the RSRP measurements on signals received from one of the serving or neighbouring TRPs falls below (or above) one or more thresholds associated with those TRPs, the UE transmits a request of pathloss update or sends an UL measurement signal (e.g., SRS) to the URP.

[0114] If the UE sends SRSs for the purpose of measurement when the event is triggered, the SRS resources used for this may be configured via RRS signalling dedicated for UL measurement, or the SRS sequence can indicate that these SRS signals are for the purposes of UL measurement if the SRS resource is shared with other SRS resource for the other purpose.

[0115] A transmit power of the SRS for the purpose of UL measurement may be constant, and is configured by the network to enable the calculation of the uplink pathloss for the URP. Alternatively, the UE may inform the network of the transmit power of the SRS to enable it to correctly calculate the uplink pathloss for the URP.

[0116] In NR, the concept of a transmit power adjustment state has been introduced. It is recognised that even if an accurate pathloss value is applied to the calculation of transmission power, fine tuning may still be required due to several factors, such as pathloss measurement errors. A legacy transmission power control (TPC) command table is shown in Table IV below. The TPC command field carries two bits to indicate either an accumulated value or absolute value for the UL transmit power adjustment. The TPC command is sent via UE-specific or group-common DCI (DCI format 2 2 for PUSCH / PUCCH and DCI format 2 3 for SRS).

[0117] Table IV: Legacy TPC command table

[0118] On the other hand, for UL-only cells, pathloss is applied based on signalling received from the serving TRP, because the UE is not able to measure any DL signals from the UL-only cell as has been described above. Signalling of pathloss may therefore cause more errors to be made compared to actual pathloss measurement due to signalling latency, etc, in addition to errors in the actual pathloss calculation by the TRP. Therefore, quick adjustment may be needed for pathloss values for UL-only cells. To enable such quick adjustment, a range of values of the TPC command field as shown in Table IV above can be extended, assuming that the error between the estimated pathloss and the actual pathloss is larger than in legacy scenarios.

[0119] In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, a new TPC command table for UL-only cells is therefore defined. The new TPC command table, containing larger accumulated or absolute adjustment values, may be created through either extending states or replacing some legacy values with new (larger) values. If the UE is indicated or configured to transmit UL signals to an UL-only cell, then such a new table is applied, otherwise (e.g. if the UE is transmitting UL signals to legacy TRPs), then the legacy table (e.g. Table IV above) is applied. In other words, the communications device may be configured to calculate the uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP based on both of the determined pathloss value and a first adjustment value indicated by a transmit power control, TPC, command table, wherein the TPC command table comprises a plurality of adjustment values including the first adjustment value.

[0120] In some such arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, in the new table, the TPC command field is extended. In other words, a first one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table may be for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to TRPs of the wireless communications network (or to URPs of the wireless communications network if the pathloss value error is small), while a second one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table may be for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network. An example table is shown as Table V below. Here, in Table V, an additional bit is included in the TPC command field, therefore allowing for the indication of eight different states / indices with different accumulated or absolute power adjustment values. In the example of Table V, the first four states indicate legacy values and last four states indicate new (e.g. larger) values.

[0121] Table V: Example of new TPC command table for UL-only cells by adding bit to TPC command field

[0122] In some other such arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, in the new table, the TPC command field has new values replacing legacy values. In other words, all of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table may be for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network. An example table according to such arrangements is shown as Table VI below. In the accumulated power adjustment value column, the fourth state is replaced by a new value (5 dB), while in the of absolute power adjustment value column, the first and fourth states are both replaced by new values (-7 and 7 dB, respectively).

[0123] Table VI: Example of new TPC command table for UL-only cells by replacing some legacy values

[0124] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the lists shown in Tables V and VI are only examples, and the values shown and / or the number of indices could be different. Furthermore, such tables could be reserved for use by UEs in adjusting uplink transmission powers for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs only, or may be shared between such UEs and UEs transmitting uplink signals to conventional TRPs. Such tables such as those shown above in Tables V and VI may be preconfigured and known to the UE (e.g. fixed in the specifications) or may be signalled to the UE by the network (e.g. via RRC signalling).

[0125] Figure 13 shows a flow diagram illustrating a first example process of communications in a wireless communications system (which may, for example, be a heterogeneous communications system) in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. The process shown by Figure 13 is specifically a method of operating a communications device (e.g., UE).

[0126] The method begins in step Si l. The method comprises, in step S12, receiving, from a first transmission and reception point (TRP) of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point (URP) of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device. In step S13, the process comprises determining, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP. Then, in step S14, the method comprises calculating, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP. The process ends in step S15.

[0127] Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the method shown by Figure 13 may be adapted in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. For example, other intermediate steps may be included in such a method, or the steps may be performed in any logical order. Though embodiments of the present technique have been described largely by way of the example wireless communications system shown in Figure 7, and further described by way of the examples illustrated by Figures 8 to 12, it would be clear to those skilled in the art that they could be equally applied to other systems and procedures to those described herein.

[0128] Those skilled in the art would further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment (e.g. TRPs and URPs) and / or communications devices as herein defined may be further defined in accordance with the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. It would be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that such infrastructure equipment (e.g. TRPs and URPs) and communications devices as herein defined and described may form part of communications systems other than those defined by the present disclosure.

[0129] The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technique:

[0130] Paragraph 1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising receiving, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, determining, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and calculating, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0131] Paragraph 2. A method according to Paragraph 1, wherein the first pathloss information is the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP.

[0132] Paragraph 3. A method according to Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, wherein the first pathloss information is an indication that the communications device is to determine that the pathloss value is the same as a pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from a reference TRP on the condition that the communications device has not been provided with uplink configuration information relating to the URP, wherein the reference TRP is either the first TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

[0133] Paragraph 4. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein the first pathloss information is an offset between the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP and a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to a reference TRP, wherein the reference TRP is either the first TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

[0134] Paragraph 5. A method according to Paragraph 4, comprising determining the pathloss value by calculating the sum of the pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from the reference TRP and the offset.

[0135] Paragraph 6. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 5, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received via radio resource control, RRC, signalling from the first TRP.

[0136] Paragraph 7. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 6, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received within either downlink control information, DCI, or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, from the first TRP.

[0137] Paragraph 8. A method according to Paragraph 7, wherein the DCI or MAC CE comprises a field containing the indication of first pathloss information.

[0138] Paragraph 9. A method according to Paragraph 7 or Paragraph 8, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information, wherein the DCI or MAC CE indicates an index of the table associated with the first pathloss information.

[0139] Paragraph 10. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 9, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information and a configuration of a trigger event, and selecting the first pathloss information from the table based on the configured trigger event. Paragraph 11. A method according to Paragraph 10, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device. Paragraph 12. A method according to Paragraph 10 or Paragraph 11, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

[0140] Paragraph 13. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 12, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, a configuration of a trigger event, and transmitting, to the first TRP based on the configured trigger event, a request that the first TRP transmit the indication of first pathloss information, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received from the first TRP in response to the request.

[0141] Paragraph 14. A method according to Paragraph 13, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

[0142] Paragraph 15. A method according to Paragraph 13 or Paragraph 14, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communication network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

[0143] Paragraph 16. A method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 15, comprising calculating the uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP based on both of the determined pathloss value and a first adjustment value indicated by a transmit power control, TPC, command table, wherein the TPC command table comprises a plurality of adjustment values including the first adjustment value.

[0144] Paragraph 17. A method according to Paragraph 16, wherein a first one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to TRPs of the wireless communications network, and wherein a second one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network.

[0145] Paragraph 18. A method according to Paragraph 16 or Paragraph 17, wherein all of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network.

[0146] Paragraph 19. A communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to receive, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, to determine, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and to calculate, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0147] Paragraph 20. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to receive, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the transceiver circuitry to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, to determine, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the transceiver circuitry to the URP, and to calculate, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the transceiver circuitry for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0148] Paragraph 21. A method of operating a transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, the TRP providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the TRP is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the method comprising transmitting, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0149] Paragraph 22. A method according to Paragraph 21, wherein the first pathloss information is the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP.

[0150] Paragraph 23. A method according to Paragraph 21 or Paragraph 22, wherein the first pathloss information is an indication that the communications device is to determine that the pathloss value is the same as a pathloss of downlink signals transmitted by a reference TRP to the communications device on the condition that the TRP has not provided the communications device with uplink configuration information relating to the URP, wherein the reference TRP is either the TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

[0151] Paragraph 24. A method according to any of Paragraphs 21 to 23, wherein the first pathloss information is an offset between the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP and a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the TRP., wherein the reference TRP is either the TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

[0152] Paragraph 25. A method according to any of Paragraphs 21 to 24, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signalling to the communications device.

[0153] Paragraph 26. A method according to any of Paragraphs 21 to 25, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted within either downlink control information, DCI, or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, to the communications device.

[0154] Paragraph 27. A method according to Paragraph 26, wherein the DCI or MAC CE comprises a field containing the indication of first pathloss information.

[0155] Paragraph 28. A method according to Paragraph 26 or Paragraph 27, comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information, wherein the DCI or MAC CE indicates an index of the table associated with the first pathloss information.

[0156] Paragraph 29. A method according to any of Paragraphs 21 to 28, comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information and a configuration of a trigger event, and wherein the communications device is to select the first pathloss information from the table based on the configured trigger event. Paragraph 30. A method according to Paragraph 29, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

[0157] Paragraph 31. A method according to Paragraph 29 or Paragraph 30, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals transmitted to the communications device by the TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

[0158] Paragraph 32. A method according to any of Paragraphs 21 to 31, comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, a configuration of a trigger event, and receiving, from the communications device based on the configured trigger event, a request that the TRP transmit the indication of first pathloss information, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted to the communications device in response to the TRP receiving the request.

[0159] Paragraph 33. A method according to Paragraph 32, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

[0160] Paragraph 34. A method according to Paragraph 32 or Paragraph 33, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals transmitted to the communications device by the TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

[0161] Paragraph 35. A transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, the TRP providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the TRP is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the TRP comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0162] Paragraph 36. Circuitry for a transmission and reception point, TRP, of the wireless communications network, the circuitry providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

[0163] Paragraph 37. A communications system comprising a communications device according to Paragraph 19 and a transmission and reception point, TRP, according to Paragraph 35.

[0164] Paragraph 38. A computer program comprising instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to any of Paragraphs 1 to 18 or Paragraphs 21 to 34.

[0165] Paragraph 39. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to Paragraph 38. It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and / or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments.

[0166] Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors.

[0167] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

[0168] References

[0169] [1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0170] [2] TS 38.470, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Fl general aspects and principles (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March

[0171] 2023.

[0172] [3] TS 38.473, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Fl application protocol (F1AP) (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.1, April 2023.

[0173] [4] TS 38.401, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Architecture description (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March 2023.

[0174] [5] RP-234007, “New WID: NR MIMO Phase 5,” 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #102, December 2023.

[0175] [6] RWS-230248, “Views on Rel-19 MIMO / UL enhancements,” NTT DOCOMO, 3GPP TSG RAN Rel-19 workshop, June 2023.

[0176] [7] TS 38.213, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 18)”, 3GPP, V 18.1.0, December

[0177] 2023.

[0178] [8] International Patent Application Publication Number WO 2023 / 180065.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising receiving, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, determining, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and calculating, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the first pathloss information is the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP.

3. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the first pathloss information is an indication that the communications device is to determine that the pathloss value is the same as a pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from a reference TRP on the condition that the communications device has not been provided with uplink configuration information relating to the URP, wherein the reference TRP is either the first TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

4. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the first pathloss information is an offset between the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP and a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to a reference TRP, wherein the reference TRP is either the first TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

5. A method according to Claim 4, comprising determining the pathloss value by calculating the sum of the pathloss of downlink signals received by the communications device from the reference TRP and the offset.

6. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received via radio resource control, RRC, signalling from the first TRP.

7. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received within either downlink control information, DCI, or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, from the first TRP.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the DCI or MAC CE comprises a field containing the indication of first pathloss information.

9. A method according to Claim 7, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information, wherein the DCI or MAC CE indicates an index of the table associated with the first pathloss information.

10. A method according to Claim 1, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information and a configuration of a trigger event, and selecting the first pathloss information from the table based on the configured trigger event.

11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

12. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

13. A method according to Claim 1, comprising receiving, via RRC signalling from the first TRP, a configuration of a trigger event, and transmitting, to the first TRP based on the configured trigger event, a request that the first TRP transmit the indication of first pathloss information, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is received from the first TRP in response to the request.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

15. A method according to Claim 13, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals received from the first TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communication network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

16. A method according to Claim 1, comprising calculating the uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP based on both of the determined pathloss value and a first adjustment value indicated by a transmit power control, TPC, command table, wherein the TPC command table comprises a plurality of adjustment values including the first adjustment value.

17. A method according to Claim 16, wherein a first one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to TRPs of the wireless communications network, and wherein a second one or more of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network.

18. A method according to Claim 16, wherein all of the plurality of adjustment values of the TPC command table are for use by the communications device in calculating an uplink transmission power for uplink signals to be transmitted to URPs of the wireless communications network.

19. A communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitryto receive, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathless information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, to determine, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP, and to calculate, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

20. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to receive, from a first transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the transceiver circuitry to an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network, wherein the first TRP provides both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for the communications device, and wherein the URP provides only uplink connectivity for the communications device, to determine, based on the first pathloss information, a pathloss value defining the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the transceiver circuitry to the URP, and to calculate, based on the determined pathloss value, an uplink transmission power to be used by the transceiver circuitry for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

21. A method of operating a transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, the TRP providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the TRP is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the method comprising transmitting, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

22. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the first pathloss information is the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP.

23. A method according to Claim 21 , wherein the first pathloss information is an indication that the communications device is to determine that the pathloss value is the same as a pathloss of downlink signals transmitted by a reference TRP to the communications device on the condition that the TRP has not provided the communications device with uplink configuration information relating to the URP, wherein the reference TRP is either the TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

24. A method according to Claim 21 , wherein the first pathloss information is an offset between the pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the URP and a pathloss of uplink signals transmitted by the communications device to the TRP., wherein the reference TRP is either the TRP or a second TRP of the wireless communications network.

25. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted via radio resource control, RRC, signalling to the communications device.

26. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted within either downlink control information, DCI, or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, to the communications device.

27. A method according to Claim 26, wherein the DCI or MAC CE comprises a field containing the indication of first pathloss information.

28. A method according to Claim 26, comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information, wherein the DCI or MAC CE indicates an index of the table associated with the first pathloss information.

29. A method according to Claim 21 , comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, an indication of a table comprising a plurality of indices of pathloss information including the first pathloss information and a configuration of a trigger event, and wherein the communications device is to select the first pathloss information from the table based on the configured trigger event.

30. A method according to Claim 29, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

31. A method according to Claim 29, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals transmitted to the communications device by the TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

32. A method according to Claim 21 , comprising transmitting, via RRC signalling to the communications device, a configuration of a trigger event, and receiving, from the communications device based on the configured trigger event, a request that the TRP transmit the indication of first pathloss information, wherein the indication of first pathloss information is transmitted to the communications device in response to the TRP receiving the request.

33. A method according to Claim 32, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a geographical location of the communications device.

34. A method according to Claim 32, wherein the configured trigger event is a change in a measured reference signal received power, RSRP, of signals transmitted to the communications device by the TRP and / or a second TRP of the wireless communications network with respect to a predetermined threshold.

35. A transmission and reception point, TRP, of a wireless communications network, the TRP providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the TRP is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, ofthe wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the TRP comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

36. Circuitry for a transmission and reception point, TRP, of the wireless communications network, the circuitry providing both uplink connectivity and downlink connectivity for communications devices, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from an uplink-only reception point, URP, of the wireless communications network via a backhaul communications link, the URP providing only uplink connectivity for communications devices, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of first pathloss information to be used by the communications device in determining a pathloss of uplink signals received from the communications device to the URP and calculating an uplink transmission power to be used by the communications device for transmitting uplink signals to the URP.

37. A communications system comprising a communications device according to Claim 19 and a transmission and reception point, TRP, according to Claim 35.

38. A computer program comprising instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to Claim 1 or Claim 21.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to Claim 38.

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