Combined wake-up signal and paging signal and extensions for sleep mode signalling

Abstract

A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a wireless fall asleep signal in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching.

Description

[0001] Combined wake-up signal and paging signal and extensions for sleep mode signalling

[0002] Description

[0003] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communication, and more specifically, to devices adapted for a wireless communication.

[0004] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an example of a terrestrial wireless network 100 including, as is shown in Fig. 1 (a), a core network 102 and one or more radio access networks RANi, RAN2, ... RANN. Fig. 1(b) is a schematic representation of an example of a radio access network RANnthat may include one or more base stations gNBi to gNBs, each serving a specific area surrounding the base station schematically represented by respective cells IO61 to IO65. The base stations are provided to serve users within a cell. The term base station, BS, refers to a gNB in 5G networks, an eNB in UMTS / LTE / LTE-A / LTE-A Pro, or just a BS in other mobile communication standards. A user may be a stationary device or a mobile device. The wireless communication system may also be accessed by mobile or stationary loT devices which connect to a base station or to a user. The mobile devices or the loT devices may include physical devices, ground based vehicles, such as robots or cars, aerial vehicles, such as manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the latter also referred to as drones, buildings and other items or devices having embedded therein electronics, software, sensors, actuators, or the like as well as network connectivity that enables these devices to collect and exchange data across an existing network infrastructure.

[0005] Fig. 1(b) shows an exemplary view of five cells, however, the RANnmay include more or less such cells, and RANnmay also include only one base station. Fig. 1(b) shows two users UE1 and UE2, also referred to as user equipment, UE, that are in cell 1062and that are served by base station gNB2. Another user UE3 is shown in cell IO64 which is served by base station gNB4. The arrows IO81, 1082and IO83 schematically represent uplink / downlink connections for transmitting data from a user UE1, UE2and UE3to the base stations gNB2, gNB4 or for transmitting data from the base stations gNB2, gNB4to the users UE1, UE2, UE3. Further,

[0006] Fig. 1 (b) shows two loT devices 110i and 1102in cell 1064, which may be stationary or mobile devices. The loT device 110i accesses the wireless communication system via the base station gNB4to receive and transmit data as schematically represented by arrow 112i . The loT device 1102accesses the wireless communication system via the user UE3 as is schematically represented by arrow 1122. The respective base station gNBi to gNBs may be connected to the core network 102, e.g., via the S1 interface, via respective backhaul links 114i to 114s, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1(b) by the arrows pointing to “core”. The core network 102 may be connected to one or more external networks. Further, some or all of the respective base station gNBi to gNBs may connected, e.g., via the S1 or X2 interface or the XN interface in NR, with each other via respective backhaul links 116i to 116s, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1(b) by the arrows pointing to “gNBs”. Embodiments described herein are not limited to terrestrial networks, TNs, but relate also to networks being implemented, at least in parts, as non-terrestrial network, NTN, as shown in Fig. 1 with reference to a satellite Si that may operate, for example, to bridge communication between different base stations, to serve one or more UE and / or a cell on the ground, e.g., as a nonterrestrial base station, to communicate with a different satellite.

[0007] For data transmission a physical resource grid may be used. The physical resource grid may comprise a set of resource elements to which various physical channels and physical signals are mapped. For example, the physical channels may include the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink shared channels (PDSCH, PLISCH, PSSCH) carrying user specific data, also referred to as downlink, uplink and sidelink payload data, the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying for example a master information block (MIB), the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carrying for example a system information block (SIB), the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink control channels (PDCCH, PLICCH, PSSCH) carrying for example the downlink control information (DCI), the uplink control information (UCI) and the sidelink control information (SCI). For the uplink, the physical channels, or more precisely the transport channels according to 3GPP, may further include the physical random access channel (PRACH or RACH) used by UEs for accessing the network once a UE is synchronized and has obtained the MIB and SIB. The physical signals may comprise reference signals or symbols (RS), synchronization signals and the like. The resource grid may comprise a frame or radio frame having a certain duration in the time domain and having a given bandwidth in the frequency domain. The frame may have a certain number of subframes of a predefined length, e.g., 1 ms. Each subframe may include one or more slots of 12 or 14 OFDM symbols depending on the cyclic prefix (CP) length. All OFDM symbols may be used for DL or UL or only a subset, e.g., when utilizing shortened transmission time intervals (sTTI) or a mini- slot / non-slot-based frame structure comprising just a few OFDM symbols.

[0008] The wireless communication system may be any single-tone or multicarrier system using frequency-division multiplexing, like the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) system, or any other IFFT-based signal with or without CP, e.g., DFT-s-OFDM. Other waveforms, like non- orthogonal waveforms for multiple access, e.g., filter-bank multicarrier (FBMC), generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) or universal filtered multi carrier (LIFMC), may be used. The wireless communication system may operate, e.g., in accordance with the LTE-Advanced pro standard or the NR (5G), New Radio, standard.

[0009] The wireless network or communication system 100 depicted in Fig. 1 may by a heterogeneous network having distinct overlaid networks, e.g., a network of macro cells with each macro cell including a macro base station, like base station gNBi to gNBs, and a network of small cell base stations (not shown in Fig. 1), like femto or pico base stations.

[0010] In addition to the above described terrestrial wireless network also non-terrestrial wireless communication networks exist including spaceborne transceivers, like satellites, and / or airborne transceivers, like unmanned aircraft systems. The non-terrestrial wireless communication network or system may operate in a similar way as the terrestrial system described above with reference to Fig. 1 , for example in accordance with the LTE-Advanced Pro standard or the NR (5G), new radio, standard.

[0011] In mobile communication networks, for example in a network like that described above with reference to Fig. 1 , like an LTE or 5G / NR network, there may be UEs that communicate directly with each other over one or more sidelink (SL) channels, e.g., using the PC5 interface. UEs that communicate directly with each other over the sidelink may include vehicles communicating directly with other vehicles (V2V communication), vehicles communicating with other entities of the wireless communication network (V2X communication), for example roadside entities, like traffic lights, traffic signs, or pedestrians. Other UEs may not be vehicular related UEs and may comprise any of the above-mentioned devices. Such devices may also communicate directly with each other (D2D communication) using the SL channels.

[0012] When considering two UEs directly communicating with each other over the sidelink, both UEs may be served by the same base station so that the base station may provide sidelink resource allocation configuration or assistance for the UEs. For example, both UEs may be within the coverage area of a base station, like one of the base stations depicted in Fig. 1. This is referred to as an “in-coverage” scenario. Another scenario is referred to as an “out-of-coverage” scenario. It is noted that “out-of-coverage” does not mean that the two UEs are not within one of the cells depicted in Fig. 1 , rather, it means that these UEs may not be connected to a base station, for example, they are not in an RRC connected state, so that the UEs do not receive from the base station any sidelink resource allocation configuration or assistance, and / or may be connected to the base station, but, for one or more reasons, the base station may not provide sidelink resource allocation configuration or assistance for the UEs, and / or may be connected to the base station that may not support NR V2X services, e.g., GSM, UMTS, LTE base stations.

[0013] When considering two UEs directly communicating with each other over the sidelink, e.g., using the PC5 interface, one of the UEs may also be connected with a BS, and may relay information from the BS to the other UE via the sidelink interface. The relaying may be performed in the same frequency band (in-band-relay) or another frequency band (out-of-band relay) may be used. In the first case, communication on the Uu and on the sidelink may be decoupled using different time slots as in time division duplex, TDD, systems.

[0014] In an in-coverage scenario in which two UEs directly communicating with each other are both connected to a base station, the base station gNB has a coverage area which, basically, corresponds to the cell schematically represented in Fig. 1. The UEs directly communicating with each other may be both in the coverage area of the base station gNB. Both UEs are possibly connected to the base station gNB and, in addition, they are connected directly with each other over the PC5 interface. The scheduling and / or interference management of the V2V traffic is assisted by the gNB via control signalling over the Uu interface, which is the radio interface between the base station and the UEs. In other words, the gNB provides SL resource allocation configuration or assistance for the UEs, and the gNB assigns the resources to be used for the V2V communication over the sidelink. This configuration is also referred to as a mode 1 configuration in NR V2X or as a mode 3 configuration in LTE V2X.

[0015] In an out-of-coverage scenario in which the UEs directly communicating with each other are either not connected to a base station, although they may be physically within a cell of a wireless communication network, or some or all of the UEs directly communicating with each other are to a base station but the base station does not provide for the SL resource allocation configuration or assistance. UEs may directly communicate with each other over a sidelink, e.g., using the PC5 interface. The scheduling and / or interference management of the V2V traffic is based on algorithms implemented between the vehicles. This configuration is also referred to as a mode 2 configuration in NR V2X or as a mode 4 configuration in LTE V2X. As mentioned above, the out-of-coverage scenario does not necessarily mean that the respective mode 2 UEs (in NR) or mode 4 UEs (in LTE) are outside of the coverage of a base station, rather, it means that the respective mode 2 UEs (in NR) or mode 4 UEs (in LTE) are not served by a base station, are not connected to the base station of the coverage area, or are connected to the base station but receive no SL resource allocation configuration or assistance from the base station. Thus, there may be situations in which, within the coverage area, in addition to the NR mode 1 or LTE mode 3 UEs also NR mode 2 or LTE mode 4 UEs are present.

[0016] Naturally, it is also possible that one of the UEs is covered by the gNB, i.e. connected with Uu to the gNB, wherein the second UE is not covered by the gNB and only connected via the PC5 interface to the first UE, or that the second vehicle is connected via the PC5 interface to the first vehicle UE but via Uu to another gNB.

[0017] With an increase in a volume of communication and with an increase of requirements, facilitating connections between UEs and network(s) is an important issue for wireless communication.

[0018] There is, thus, a need to improve wireless communications.

[0019] It is noted that the information in the above section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form prior art and is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention are described herein making reference to the appended drawings.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a wireless communication system;

[0022] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system comprising a transceiver, like a base station or a relay, and a plurality of communication devices, like UEs, according to an embodiment;

[0023] Figs. 3a-b show schematic representations of in-band signalling of wireless communication signals such as the WUS and the PWUS, according to embodiments;

[0024] Fig. 4a-e show schematic representations of out-of-band signalling of wireless communication signals such as the WUS and the PWUS, according to embodiments; Fig. 5 shows a schematic representations of hybrid signalling of wireless communication signals such as the WUS and the PWLIS, according to embodiments;

[0025] Fig. 6a-c show schematic representations of signal-based wake-up sequences of the device from the sleep and the deep sleep modes, according to embodiments;

[0026] Fig. 7a-c show schematic representations of event-based signal-based wake-up sequences of the device from the sleep and the deep sleep modes, according to embodiments;

[0027] Fig. 8a-g show schematic representations of falling-asleep sequences of the device without transmission of a notification signal, according to embodiments;

[0028] Fig. 9a-h show schematic representations of falling-asleep sequences of the device with transmission of a notification signal such as the FAS, according to embodiments;

[0029] Fig. 10 shows a schematic block diagram relating to different operating modes of the device, according to embodiments;

[0030] Fig. 11a-c show schematic representations of network initiated wake-up and pre-wake up sequences of the device (UE), according to embodiments;

[0031] Fig. 12a-c show schematic representations of UE-initiated wake-up, pre-wake up and wake- me-up sequences of the device (UE), according to embodiments;

[0032] Fig. 13a-c show schematic representations of UE-initiated fall-asleep sequences of the device (UE), according to embodiments;

[0033] Fig. 14 shows a schematic representation of exemplary signalling between devices / UEs and network entities, according to embodiments;

[0034] Fig. 15a-c shows schematic representations of transmission associated DLMCRS and ULMCRS, according to embodiments; and

[0035] Fig. 16 illustrates an example of a computer system on which units or modules as well as the steps of the methods described in accordance with the inventive approach may execute. Equal or equivalent elements or elements with equal or equivalent functionality are denoted in the following description by equal or equivalent reference numerals or namings even if occurring in different figures.

[0036] In the following description, a plurality of details are set forth to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail in order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present invention. In addition, features of the different embodiments described hereinafter may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a wireless communication system or network as depicted in Fig. 1 including a transceiver, like a base station, gNB, or relay, and a plurality of communication devices, like user equipment’s, UEs. Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system comprising a transceiver 200, like a base station or a relay, and a plurality of communication devices 202i to 202n, like UEs. The UEs might communicated directly with each other via a wireless communication link or channel 203, like a radio link (e.g., using the PC5 interface (sidelink)). Further, the transceiver and the UEs 202 might communicate via a wireless communication link or channel 204, like a radio link (e.g., using the uU interface). The transceiver 200 might include one or more antennas ANT or an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, a signal processor 200a and a transceiver unit 200b. The UEs 202 might include one or more antennas ANT or an antenna array having a plurality of antennas, a processor 202a1 to 202an, and a transceiver (e.g., receiver and / or transmitter) unit 202b1 to 202bn. The base station 200 and / or the one or more UEs 202 may operate in accordance with the inventive teachings described herein.

[0038] In niche or longtail applications — for example, Industrial loT (HoT) — that have specific requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) in combination with low-, medium- or high-data rates, the DSP design space requirements easily exceed those of a unified standard set of parameters. A standardized mechanism is thus need to embed domain and application specific DSP requirements for longtail application. To facilitate a DSP alternative on a wireless link between at least two nodes, the transmitter and receiver pair have to be provided with means to be DSP configurable on-demand. This includes without limitation the download of DSP modules and / or code together with their installation, configuration, activation, synchronization and the open-loop or closed-loop control of such DSP modules. These software modules have to be embedded on low PHY or mid PHY in order to provide the required wireless link enhancements needed for longtail applications. Furthermore, the facilitating scheme proposed by the inventors should allow to embed and use DSP modules which fit into the given standardized and regulatory framework, while being in detail implementation specific and therefore quasi proprietary.

[0039] In this section, the problem to be solved by the invention presented herein is described. This is preceded by a brief introduction.

[0040] An introduction to loT devices

[0041] The Internet of Things (loT) refers to the network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems. Application examples and use cases are not limited to include the following:

[0042] • Industrial loT (I loT): The industrial Internet of Things involves interconnected devices in the industrial sector, such as manufacturing machinery and energy management tools.

[0043] • Commercial loT: Businesses and healthcare organizations leverage commercial loT for auditable data trails and consumer management.

[0044] • loT asset tracking encompasses a wide range of applications across various industries, leveraging real-time insights and data to improve logistics, resource management, and security. Some key use cases include: o Manufacturing and Industrial Industry: loT asset tracking is crucial for real-time monitoring and tracking of physical assets, leading to improved efficiency, optimized production, reduced costs, and enhanced safety and regulatory compliance in the workplace. o Transportation and Logistics: Real-time location systems (RTLS) tracking can minimize human errors, losses, and theft, providing insights into the movement of items through the supply chain. This can lead to improved logistics, resource management, and security. o Fleet Management: loT asset tracking solutions are used to track the location of vehicles in a fleet, enabling efficient monitoring and management of transportation assets. o Security and Safety: loT asset tracking can be utilized for monitoring high-value products, pets, children, and valuable assets, enhancing security and safety measures. o Remote Asset Monitoring: loT asset tracking solutions enable remote monitoring of assets, including heavy equipment, robots, shipping containers, railway wagons, and high-value products, providing real-time insights into their location and condition. Agricultural loT applications offer the benefits of increased production, lower production costs, operational efficiencies, and real-time and intelligent cost management. Some specific use cases include: o Monitoring of Climate Conditions: loT sensors are used to monitor and control environmental parameters required for crop growth, such as temperature, humidity, and light. This technology helps in creating smart greenhouses capable of automatically adjusting conditions for optimal crop growth. o Agricultural Drones: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones are employed for real-time data capturing and processing in agriculture. These drones can be ground-based or aerial-based and provide valuable insights for farmers. o Smart Farming Technologies: loT technologies can cut down on the use of pesticides and fertilizers by offering more precise coverage, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a reduced environmental footprint o loT-based Smart Systems for Agricultural Parameters: loT technology is utilized to support agricultural parameters, especially in the face of growing water shortages caused by population growth and climate change.

[0045] • Emergencies and Disasters: loT technology is revolutionizing the way we respond to and mitigate the impact of natural disasters and emergencies. Some specific use cases include: o Disaster Management and Emergency Planning: loT technologies and solutions are crucial in revolutionizing the way we respond to and mitigate the impact of natural disasters and emergencies

[0046] • Home Security: loT devices play a key role in smart and secure homes, with sensors, lights, alarms, and cameras connected via loT to provide security, 24x7.

[0047] • Activity Trackers: loT devices are used in activity trackers to monitor and track physical activities.

[0048] • Military Applications: The Internet of Military Things (loMT) involves the application of loT technologies in the military domain for reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat-related objectives. This includes the use of sensors, munitions, vehicles, robots, and smart technology relevant on the battlefield. loT devices vary in terms of functionality but typically include an integrated CPU, firmware, and a network adapter. They are often connected to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and acquire an IP address to function on the network. Most loT devices are designed to operate on private networks, and some are directly accessible over the public internet. Many loT devices are configured and managed through a software application, while some have integrated web servers, eliminating the need for external applications.

[0049] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized various radio access technologies for loT devices. These technologies include LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) and NB-loT (Narrowband loT), which are designed to provide efficient connectivity for loT devices with extended battery life and improved coverage.

[0050] In summary, loT devices have diverse applications ranging from industrial and commercial use to home security, activity tracking, and military applications. They are connected to the Internet through various standardized radio access technologies (RATs), including IEEE Wi-Fi and 3GPP LTE-M and NB-loT, the latter of which prioritize extended battery life and efficient connectivity. loT energy consumption

[0051] Many of the use cases in the previous section describe non-stationary applications for which loT devices need to be small in size, light in weight and battery-powered. In order to extend the battery life of these devices, the previous section also noted that the 3GPP has developed RATs for loT devices that extend battery life and the ease of connection to networks. For example, LTE-M and NB-loT extend the battery life of an loT device through several key mechanisms:

[0052] • PowerSaving Modes (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX): Both LTE-M and NB-loT support PSM and eDRX, which enable loT devices to enter low- power states for extended periods, conserving energy and extending battery life. Research indicates that using these modes in combination can extend the battery life of an loT device for up to 10 years for LTE-M and 15 years for NB-loT.

[0053] • Reduced Transmission Time: LTE-M’s higher bandwidth allows for faster transmission of data, making it more power-efficient in medium-throughput applications. This reduced transmission time improves battery life as devices can quickly return to sleep mode to save power.

[0054] • Low Energy Consumption: NB-loT modules require less energy than LTE-M modules, contributing to extended battery life. Additionally, the reach of NB-loT’s wavelength is better than LTE-M’s, including inside buildings, which can further optimize energy consumption and battery life.

[0055] • Suitability for Constrained Devices: NB-loT is designed to work with constrained devices that have serious processing power, network connectivity, or battery life limitations. It offers considerable benefits in indoor coverage, low cost, and high connection density, supporting an excellent battery life for many use cases, possibly exceeding a 10-year mark.

[0056] In addition to the above techniques, loT devices can be operated in very low-power or so- called sleep modes. loT modes

[0057] In addition to the above, loT devices can be put into a so-called sleep mode through which the power consumption of the device can be reduced when compared to other modes. This reduces the overall energy consumed by the devive and thus extends in operational lifetime. However, because the device can operate in a “sleep mode”, it needs to have the means to be awoken.

[0058] The wake-up and wake-while-sleeping processes are therefore crucial for extending the operational life of battery-powered loT devices. These processes enable devices to conserve energy during periods of inactivity and efficiently manage power consumption. The following methods are used to achieve this:

[0059] • Deep Sleep Mode: loT devices utilize deep sleep mode to minimize power consumption during periods of inactivity. In this mode, the device shuts down non- essential components and enters a low-power state, conserving energy while remaining operational. This allows the device to extend its operational life by reducing unnecessary power consumption

[0060] • Wake-Up Receivers: Wake-up receivers play a significant role in extending the battery life of loT devices. These receivers enable devices to remain in a low-power state until triggered by an external signal or event, such as a specific sensor reading or a communication request. By activating the device only when necessary, wake-up receivers minimize overall power consumption, thereby extending the operational life of the device.

[0061] • Efficient Power Management: loT devices implement efficient power management strategies to optimize energy usage. This includes the ability to quickly transition between sleep and active states, minimizing the time spent in high-power modes. Additionally, power management techniques ensure that the device consumes minimal power while in a sleep state, contributing to extended operational life

[0062] • Low-Power Modes and Wake-Up Events: Processors in loT devices support low- power modes and wake-up events, allowing the device to remain in a minimal power state until triggered by specific events or signals. This approach enables the device to conserve energy during periods of inactivity and respond promptly when required, ultimately extending its operational life loT devices that sleep

[0063] Sleeping devices can refer to user equipment (UE), custromer premises equipment (CPE), basestations (eNB and gNB) or relays which are neither in active transmission mode nor in active reception mode. Active mode refers to a regular message exchange on control plane (CP) or user plane (UP) or the monitoring of cell broadcasts from a gNB. This allows a device to save energy while being dormant, inactive or idle. However, such devices is preferably or sometimes even must be equipped with a low-power receiver so that the device can be awoken in response to a wireless (wake-up) signal transmitted from another device. It should be noted that the wake-up signal does not have to be a cell broadcast signal or a paging signal.

[0064] Examples of loT applications and use cases that comprise loT devices which have been deployed but have not yet been used include:

[0065] • Forestry protection: Consider a large and remote area of woodland or forest in which summer fires are known to occur every year or so due to severe temperatures coupled with drought, accidents or deliberate acts of arson. In such situations, the timely availability of CO2 levels could be used to provide information from which the early onset or a suspicion of a fire could be determined and from which preventative action could then be take. It can be foreseen that an loT device comprised of, for example, sensors that measure CO2, temperature, humidity and other physical or chemical quantities would be very useful, especially when such data is reported together with date, time and location information. However, when considering the economics of the initial deployment of such devices over a larger area, some form of airborne drop might be the preferred method of providing an affordable solution. In this case, after the deployment of the sleeping devices, it would be useful to determine their location and functionality before they are used (to detect smoke or fire) for the first time.

[0066] • Asset tracking: In a manner similar to the forest protection example, there is a need to determine the location of misplaced assets but perhaps only after it has come to be known that the asset is no longer where it should be or was thought to be. Examples of misplaced assets are wide ranging and are not limited to include: roadside furniture; hospital equipment such as beds, wheelchairs, trolleys and gas bottles; animals; people; vehicles that are driven, flown or sailed. In such situations, the whereabouts of the initial service deployment or location would be useful, even before the device is used or activated upon the detection of vibration for example.

[0067] In the description of loT sleepers or sleeping devices, the inventors have identified two sets of devices:

[0068] • Devices which have not yet been used: A first set of sleepers or sleeping devices comprises devices which have not yet been used. As an example, consider devices which are to be or are already deployed in a particular area, that have not yet been used, and that therefore (might) need to be activated after deployment. The approximate location of a deployed device is either known or not known by the network. In either scenario, the network has to be provided with one or more of the following pieces of information: o The identity of the device (e.g. a serial number, MAC address, IMSI). The devices’ identity can be validated through an MNO using techniques such as geo-fencing and / or in combination with over-the-top software services (two-step verification for example to a manufacturer’s database). o The device has been deployed or has not been deployed or when it is planned to be deployed. o Whether or not the device’s wake-up receiver is activated or when it will be activated. o Whether or not the device’s standardized RAT (e.g. LTE, NR) receiver is activated or when it will be activated. For example, the device will then listen to downlink channels including the broadcast and paging channels.

[0069] • Devices which have already been used: A second set of sleeper or sleeping devices comprises devices which have already been used: o The device’s wake-up receiver is activated. o The device’s standardized RAT (e.g. LTE, NR) receiver is activated.

[0070] A sleeping device can be awoken from its sleep mode by different means not limited to include the following examples: after a defined time period from deployment; upon a trigger event such as a sensor level compared to a threshold; a movement detected by a motion detector or a GNSS service; or through the use of a wake-up signal received by the device’s wake-up receiver.

[0071] In consideration of these two sets of sleeper or sleeping devices, a set of problem statements have been developed which are subsequently addressed with corresponding solution proposals further below in this disclosure.

[0072] A set of problem statements to be solved

[0073] The following problem statements have been drafted:

[0074] 1 . How to notify a network about the existence of deployed (loT) devices before they are used for the first time (1stconnection to the network)?

[0075] 2. How to activate "sleeper" or sleeping (loT) devices?

[0076] 3. How to handle once active devices which are moved out of the paging area whilst asleep?

[0077] 4. How to manage / configure devices in receive mode only (n / w-controlled repeaters [NRC] RIS, solar panels, positioning anchors) --> paging-like, control and management mechanisms?

[0078] 5. How to manage / configure devices with reduced or limited transmission capabilities (n / w-controlled repeaters [NRC] RIS, solar panels, positioning anchors)

[0079] 6. How should WUS be designed in terms of frequency assignment, time assignment and sequencing?

[0080] 7. How to inform the network about reachability in the future before a device goes into en energy saving mode,, e.g. sleep modes or inactive, idle, intermittent links?

[0081] 8. How to initiate in sparse connection opportunity scenarios, wherein the network has temporarily limited coverage possibilities? 9. How can a device signal its presence and intention to communicate while in an environment which might be sparsely covered by a communication network? Here energy efficiency is of importance?

[0082] 10. How to inform the network in the future before a device goes into sleep mode (falling asleep signal, FAS)?

[0083] It is emphasised here the invention presented herein may not be limited to only solving the aforementioned problems. These problems serve to illustrate an exemplary collection of problems that the invention addresses, additional problem statements, which have not identified here in their explicit form, may be present in implicit forms and may also be addressed by the invention.

[0084] State-of-the-art

[0085] US 2018 / 0332533 A1 assumes that the UE is always in coverage, that the network is always available and that the UE can always connect to it. The invention presented herein does not rely on such assumptions and therefore offers solutions to situations in which the UE is out-of- coverage, the network is not always available and the UE cannot therefore always connect to it.

[0086] Standardization

[0087] SOTA — NB loT (release 14), ambient loT, NB loT over satellite, active / passive RFID, AirTag™

[0088] Research Literature

[0089] Outcome — Having searched publicly available source of standardization and research literature, the inventors concluded that the invention disclosed herein is not state-of-the-art.

[0090] Addressing the problem set

[0091] In connection with the set of technical problem statements detailed earlier in the disclosure, solutions proposed by the inventors are presented below. For convenience, each of the aforementioned problems is followed by a detailed solution proposal.

[0092] Problem 1 :

[0093] How to notify a network about the existence of deployed (loT) devices before they are used for the first time, that is, before the first connection of the devices to the network is established? Solution 1 :

[0094] Embodiments providing a solution to the above identified problem may relate to the following:

[0095] • Registration via a 3rd party device / database (e.g. barcode, QR code) [UL via OTT]

[0096] • Software app links QR-code scanning with time and location, e.g. as a picture or realtime video to prove authentic correlation of these features

[0097] • Using a relay (including trusted / authenticated devices [trusted agent] in sidelink) [UL via relay]

[0098] • Similar procedure like with PV-devices

[0099] • Announcement of device deployment with geo-location by a network entity or data base (a-priori knowledge about expected deployment of particular devices)

[0100] • If not before first network interaction then a device can let the network know during initial access of the device [UL] (with SIM and w / o SIM).

[0101] Problem 2:

[0102] How to activate "sleeper" or “sleeping” devices?

[0103] Solution 2:

[0104] The inventors have recognised that the present invention provides a solution for the need to improve communication, e.g., relating to the above mentioned problem.

[0105] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a device adapted for a wireless communication comprises a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on a received wake up signal, WUS, being a wireless signal. A third operating mode of the set of operating mode is a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the second operating mode. The communication arrangement is configured for switching from the third operating mode to the second operating mode based on a received pre-wakeup signal, PWUS. It is emphasised that the device may be referred to as the UE interchangeably throughout the present disclosure. The just-described device may be referred to as a sleeper or sleeping device when it is operating in a sleep mode. That is, the device may be operating in the second operating mode, i.e. the sleep mode, or the third operating mode, i.e. the deep sleep mode, and thus may be unable to receive the wireless communication signal. In the sleep mode, the communication arrangement of the device may be partially inactive to save or conserve power of the device compared to the scenarios where the device can receive, or allows a reception of, the wireless communication signal such as being in an awake mode. In the deep sleep mode, the communication arrangement of the device may be partially further inactive in comparison to the sleep mode, thereby saving or conserving even more power than in the sleep mode. In other words, in both the device may be maintained to be dormant or idle thereby rendering the communication arrangement partially inactive and saving differing values of the device’s power.

[0106] For example, in the sleep mode, one or more components of the communication arrangement may be maintained in an inactive state wherein a number of such one of more components may be adapted to allow a lesser power consumption in the sleep mode than in the awake mode. Further, for example, in the deep sleep mode, one or more components of the communication arrangement may be maintained in an inactive state, wherein a number of such one of more components may be adapted to allow a lesser power consumption in the deep sleep mode than in the sleep mode.

[0107] It is noted that although the device may not allow a reception of the wireless communication signal in the second and the third operating modes, it may allow a reception of signals configured for reception in those modes, example of such signal include the WUS and the PWLIS, each of which is adapted to be received by the device in the respective operating mode.

[0108] It is also noted that the device could also allow a transmission of the wireless communication signal(s). For instance, in the first operating mode (awake mode) the device / UE may transmit the wireless communication signal. Further, transmission may be enabled in the second and / or the third operating modes depending on an event or to indicate a future reception opportunity or to announce or request switching to a different operating mode. It is feasible that variations of such embodiments may relate to allowing transmission in any of the set of operating modes.

[0109] The communication arrangement allows for switching, or changing, from the second operating the mode (the sleep mode) to the first operating mode (the awake mode) based on the wake up signal, WUS, received by the device, and from the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) based on the pre-wake up signal, PWUS, received by the device. For instance, the communication arrangement may comprise a set of procedures for operating in an operating mode belonging to the set of operating modes. The set of procedures may be associated with organizing communication between the device (UE) (and additional UEs, if preferred) and the network. For example, the set of procedures may comprise any of: one or more network management mechanisms, one or more connection establishment mechanisms, one or more resource allocation mechanisms, one or more synchronization mechanisms, one or more session management mechanisms, and one or more coding mechanisms.

[0110] For example, the communication arrangement may comprise one or more receiver units. These receiver units may be a part of the device (UE) or it could even, additionally or alternatively, be not part of the device (UE) as standalone receiver units. These receiver units could also be a part of the network as the standalone receiver units. For example, the receiver units may be parts of at least one of base stations (e.g. gnB), network elements such as relay, repeaters and other intermediary network units. Such details can be applied onto the configurations wherein the communication arrangement comprises one or more transmitter units or one or more transceiver units.

[0111] For example, the device / UE may be adapted for wireless radio communication, and thus it may receive and transmit wireless communication signals being radio signals. In other words, the wireless communication may be configured to occur in a range of frequencies associated with radio signalling.

[0112] For example, either one or both of the WUS and the PWUS may be wireless signals such as wireless radio signals. In accordance with embodiments, the WUS and the PWUS may comprise different parts of a same wireless signal. For instance, the WUS and the PWUS may comprise different units of the same wireless signal. For example, the WUS and PWUS may comprise distinct parts of the same wireless signal in a coded form. In such embodiments, the wireless signal may be transmitted by the network and the received by the device as a combination of the WUS and the PWUS. Therefore, the device may be further configured to derive from the same wireless signal the WUS and the PWUS. This could provide advantageous scenarios for the device when it can maintain reception for a substantially short or receive only a few signals (e.g. possibly due to an event or its low power). Embodiments in more details which may evaluate characteristics of the WUS and the PWUS from the wireless signal are described in the following.

[0113] According to embodiments, the communication interface may be adapted to evaluate, in the third operating mode (e.g. the deep sleep mode), a received signal for a pre-wakeup characteristic related to the pre-wakeup signal (PWLIS) and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication interface based on the pre-wakeup characteristic to change from the third operation mode (e.g. the deep sleep mode) to the second operation mode (e.g. the sleep mode). Further, the communication interface may be adapted to evaluate, in the second operation mode (e.g. the sleep mode), the received signal for a wakeup signal characteristic associated with the wakeup signal, WUS, and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication interface based on the wakeup characteristic to change from the second operation mode (e.g. the sleep mode) to the first operation mode (e.g. the awake mode).

[0114] Alternatively, in accordance with embodiments, the wake up signal, WUS, and the pre-wake up signal, PWUS, may be different, or distinct, signals. According to embodiments, the WUS or the PWUS may comprise a chirp characteristic. Alternatively, according to embodiments, the WUS or the PWUS may comprise a frequency sweep characteristic.

[0115] In accordance with embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise a first receiver unit and a second receiver unit. The first receiver unit may be adapted for instance, for receiving the wake-up signal, WUS. The second receiver unit may be adapted for instance, for receiving the pre-wake-up signal, PWUS. When being / operating in the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode), the device may at least partially deactivate the first receiver unit. The device could even deactivate the first receiver unit entirely if so preferred. The device may activate the first receiver unit based on the PWUS.

[0116] Further, according to embodiments, the second receiver unit may comprise an average power consumption being lower than an average power consumption of the first receiver unit.

[0117] In accordance with embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise one or more variable receiver stages adapted to consume a different amount of power in different configurations. A first configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages of the communication arrangement may be configured for receiving or processing the pre-wakeup signal, PWUS, and not the wakeup signal, WUS. A second configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages the communication arrangement may be configured for receiving or processing the wakeup signal, WUS.

[0118] For example, the one or more variable receiver stages may use a different number of stages. For example, additionally or alternatively, the one or more variable receiver stages may adapt at least one element of a receiver stage. Further, in accordance with embodiments, in the first configuration, the communication arrangement may comprise an average power consumption that is lower than than in the second configuration.

[0119] Although so far, examples relating to three operating modes in the set of operating modes have been exemplarily disclosed, in general, the communication arrangement of the device may comprise at least two, or at least three, or at least four operating modes. In other words, a cardinality of the set of operating modes may be at least two, or at least three, or at least four, that is more than four.

[0120] Therefore, the solution may involve:

[0121] • Dormant, inactive, idle devices with known location or paging area: Send a wake-up signal (that can be understood by one or more devices) or paging signal to them / that area.

[0122] In other words, the sleeper or sleeping device, i.e. the device in either the second or the third operating mode, may be provided the WUS or at least one paging signal. It is noted that in the case the device is in the third operating mode (deep sleep), the device may be first provided with a PWLIS signal enabling it to switch to the second operating mode (sleep mode), being provided the WUS or the at least one paging signal subsequently. Alternatively, for example, the device could also be provided the at least one paging signal in the third operating mode (deep sleep) wherein the at least one paging signal is processed so that the device allows a reception thereof. The WUS (and the PWUS) or the at least one paging signal could be understood by one or more devices (i.e. each of the one or more devices may be in accordance with embodiments of the invention), wherein location information and / or paging area information associated to each of the one or more devices may be made available to the network 100, as depicted in Fig. 1. In other words, for instance, the location information (or equivalently, information related to spatial locations of the one or more devices) and / or paging area information (or equivalently, information related to positions where paging to or from the one or more devices is feasible) may be readable by any entity participating in the wireless communication in the network 100.

[0123] The solution may also involve:

[0124] • The device itself is sending a beacon, once or repeatedly. The beacon signal contains information describing how the device sending the beacon signal should be activated (e.g. frequency, signal type, wake-up pattern / sequence). Public key encryption.

[0125] Thus, in accordance with embodiments, the device may enter the first operating mode (awake mode) for transmitting a beaconing signal using the communication arrangement and may leave the first operating mode (awake mode) again, i.e., after the transmission. For example, the device may enter / transition from the second (sleep) or the third (deep sleep) operating mode or the other operating modes for the transmission of the beaconing signal. The device may be configured to transmit the beaconing signal once or repeatedly. For example, the repeated transmission of the beaconing signal may be performed at a specific beaconing signal frequency. For instance, this specific beaconing signal frequency may be predetermined. This means that the beaconing signal may transmitted at regular intervals. Alternatively, the beaconing signal could be transmitted repeatedly in a specific pattern without a specific beaconing signal period / frequency. For instance, this predetermined beaconing frequency could be made known or available to the network 100. The beaconing signal may comprise beaconing signal information such as at least one of the predetermined beaconing signal frequency, a beaconing signal type and a wake-up pattern (or equivalently, wake-up sequence).

[0126] Moreover, in accordance with embodiments, the device may perform a change from the first operation mode into a different operation mode (i.e. could be the second, the third or the fourth) of the set of operating modes in which at least a part of the communication arrangement is inactive to save power consumption, wherein the device may transmit the beaconing signal using the communication arrangement to announce the change to the different operation mode. Therefore, when the device transmits the beaconing signal, it may use less power as compared to when it is operating in the awake mode.

[0127] The beaconing signal, along with the comprised beaconing signal information, may be encrypted using public key encryption technology. Additionally or alternatively, other encryption technologies may be used.

[0128] The solution may also involve:

[0129] • Multi-stage wake-up / initialization / configuration (with or without a bi-directional flow of information). Achieved through the use of a change of the information content of the beacon signal (short beacon, mid-length beacon, long beacon etc.)

[0130] As already explained earlier, the device when it is in the third operating mode (deep sleep mode) may first receive the PWLIS, based on which the device switches (e.g. a first switch) to the second operating mode (sleep mode). In its second operating mode (sleep mode), the device may now allow a reception of the WUS, allowing a further switching (e.g. a second switch) to the first operating mode (awake mode), thereby waking up and allowing the reception of the wireless communication signal for wireless communication. This is an example of a multistage wake-up mechanism that the device may be involved in. Other possibilities of multi-stage wake up mechanisms may, for instance, comprise an exchange of the beaconing signal and the beaconing signal information from the network to the device and vice versa, implying a bidirectional flow of the exchange. Further, for example, the multi-stage wake up mechanisms may comprise a processing of the beaconing signal information. For example, a set of lengths or time periods associated with the beaconing signal may be altered. For instance, the beaconing signal information may comprise different lengths or time periods associated with different characteristics of the beaconing signal(s) as options or parameters to be chosen / fixed. For instance, an exemplary classification of the beaconing signal(s) depending on their lengths or time periods may include short beacon, mid-length beacon and long beacon among others.

[0131] The solution may involve:

[0132] • The content of the beacon signal can change to include information that describes: o how long the loT device will sleep before it next awakes; o how long it will be awake the next time it awakes; or o the next beacon transmission (relative to, absolute (to own clock by including the loT current time in the beacon))

[0133] Thus, in accordance with embodiments, the beaconing signal(s) may indicate at least one of:

[0134] • how long the device will sleep before it next enters the third, second or first operating mode;

[0135] • how long it will stay in the third, second or first operating mode the next time it awakes;

[0136] • information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beacon signal, e.g., as relative information or as absolute information

[0137] • a location of the device.

[0138] This list of indications may, for instance, be comprised as part of the beaconing signal information.

[0139] For example, the information (including timing, control and resource allocation) associated with the next beacon transmission may be provided relative to a predetermined timing standard, wherein the predetermined timing standard may be part of the communication arrangement that the device comprises. Additionally, or alternative, this predetermined timing standard may be established in the network to which the device belongs. For instance, the predetermined timing standard may be absolute, meaning that, it may be set to a (internal) clock of the device. Further, for example, the location information of the device may correspond to a spatial location or a processed location of the device. The processed location of the device may, for instance, be determined on a basis of information associated with signals received and / or transmitted by the device.

[0140] The solution may also involve:

[0141] • The device can send a beacon in the form of a suitably formatted or structured wake- me-up signal (WMLIS) which allows the network to identity the WMLIS as a beacon rather than as a request for the network to awake the device. In this sense, the WMLIS is neither a request nor a response.

[0142] This means that the device may transmit the beaconing signal as an beaconing wake me up signal (i.e. a beaconing WMLIS) along with information identifying the beaconing WMLIS as a beacon. By this measure, when the network receives the beaconing WMLIS and the associated information, it identifies the transmitted beaconing WMLIS as the beaconing signal by virtue of the transmitted information.

[0143] The solution may involve:

[0144] • gNB uses extremely narrowband signals (like NB-loT) to wake up the sleeping device. The narrowband signal allows for aggregated power spectral density to support simple omni-Rx antennas. Initially, a first sequence could be allocated within a coarser frequency grid followed by a finer frequency allocation (another information element) to distinguish UEs and / or address modes, e.g. alerts such as by a public warning system, PWS, an earthquake and tsunami warning system, ETWS and / or commercial mobile alert system, CMAS. A third stage could cover the full wake up of the receiver, when the UE is addressed to become ready for paging or to start PRACCH. Alternatively, the narrowband signal could be swept with and without a particular sweep property I pattern allowing the receiver to do frequency sync.

[0145] That is, the network, such as one or more of the base stations gNB#, may allow a switching of the device in the third (deep sleep) or second (sleep) operating mode to the first (awake) operating mode by use of narrowband signals. For example, the narrowband signals may be transmitted by the network, or as a specific example by one base station gNB, to the device in a form compliant with Narrowband loT, NB-loT. By this measure, omni-Rx antennas could be supported with improved power characteristics of the narrowband signals, thereby improving communication of the network with the device. The wake-up of the device may comprise a multi-stage wake-up mechanism comprising firstly, processing (e.g. allocation) of a first sequence in association a frequency grid having a first pitch. The mechanism may comprise: secondly, further processing (e.g. allocation, or reallocation) of the first sequence to obtain a second sequence in association with a frequency grid having a second pitch, which is finer than the first pitch. By this measure, the second sequence in association with a finer frequency grid, or less coarsely spaced than earlier (due to the fine allocation) allows a distinction between devices (UEs) and / or address mode (e.g. public warning messages and / or commercial mobile messages). The mechanism may comprise: thirdly, the second sequence could be used to switch the device into the first operating mode and allow the device to perform further functions associated with paging and / or initial access to the network. For instance, the further functions may comprise a reception of paging signals and / or initialization of PRACCH by the device. Alternatively, depending on at least one of a sweep pattern and a sweep property of the narrowband signals, or sequence thereof, (either prior or post refinement of the associated frequency grid), the receiver may perform a synchronization (e.g. a frequency synchronization) with the device (UE).

[0146] According to embodiments, the device may be a battery powered device.

[0147] Problem 3:

[0148] Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of how to handle once active devices (e.g. the device which may be in the first operating mode, awake mode) which are moved out of the paging area whilst asleep. For example: an asset such as a lamp post or traffic light is assumed to be in a permanent and non-changing deployment. However, after some time the asset is relocated.

[0149] Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of how does the NW know about the relocation, especially when the asset / loT device has not communicated since the relocation has happened. Furthermore, we can assume other type of devices which are expected to move, e.g. asset trackers for parcels, railway wagons, cars, ocean sensing equipment, shipping containers.

[0150] Solution 3:

[0151] • In network centric embodiments, when NW discovers that a particular device (e.g. the device, or alternatively, one or more devices of a group of devices) is not responding to wakeup signals transmitted in a particular paging area, then: o the NW can extend the paging area or conclude that the device is currently or permanently not reachable within the previously known paging area; o NW could start repeated paging to re-establish connectivity to the device; o NW can increase paging area; o NW can go through various paging areas in a sequence; o NW can send a ETWS like message combined with a cell-ID or paging area ID to request a response of all sleeping UEs which have not been in that paging area the last time they detected such signal. Such signal can be transmitted in a channel usually monitored by wake up receivers.

[0152] • In relation to embodiments relating to, or centered around, the device, or the device being an loT device: o The device, or the device being an loT device, detecting motion or vibration could interrupt sleep mode to confirm its location. If the location has changed it can use PRACCH to inform network about a new location. If location while moving (e.g. lamp post swinging in wind) remains constant over time the interval of waking up can be extended (i.e. the interval may be configurable). o If the device is aware of being moved then the device will measure the received cell broadcast in regular / configurable intervals and if needed access the network to update its cell location OR sends a device / UE specific beacon I message allowing the network to identify the device / UE identity and its new location. o The device / UE monitors a ETWS like message combined with a cell-ID or paging area ID to request a response of all sleeping devices / UEs which have not been in that paging area the last time they detected such signal.

[0153] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may: detect a dynamic stimulus (such as a motion or a vibration), determine the current location information taking into account the dynamic stimulus and perform switching to the first operating mode (awake mode) from either the second (sleep mode) or the third (deep sleep) operating mode on a basis of the current location information, wherein in the case the current location information is determined to differ from a previous location information, the device may receive the WUS (and the PWUS if relevant) to perform the switching, and transmit the current location information and wherein in the case the current location information is determined to not differ from, or is the same as, the current location information for a specific time interval, the device may perform the switching and remain in the first operating mode for an awake time interval. Further, as a part of the transmission of the current location information, the device may use PRACCH to inform the network about the current location information. In the case of no change in the current location information in comparison with the previous location information during the course of the specific time interval (e.g. the location associated with the device remains constant despite the presence of the dynamic stimulus; e.g. a lamp post swinging in the wind), the awake time interval may be configured (e.g. extended; e.g. reduced) depending on the dynamic stimulus.

[0154] It should be noted that the switching from the second to the first operating mode may be direct (e.g. may comprise a single mode switch / change), while the switching from the third to the second operating mode may be indirect (e.g. may comprise more than one mode switches / changes).

[0155] Further, in the scenario wherein the current location information is determined to differ from the previous location information (or in other words, the device is in a dynamic state), the device may measure the received wireless signal in intervals. The intervals may be fixed or regular or equally spaced. Alternatively, the intervals may be adaptable / configurable or unequally spaced. Furthermore, in this present scenario, the device may access the network to update its current location information, i.e. its cell location, or equivalently, its location in the network. The device may transmit the current location information for the same. Additionally, or alternatively, the device, or UE, may transmit a specific message or a specific beaconing signal for allowing the network to identify an identity and the current location information associated with the device.

[0156] The device (UE) may perform a monitoring of warning messages (e.g. public warning messages; e.g. ETWS like messages), cell specific information and paging area information to request response signals from the sleeping devices / UEs (one or more devices in second / sleep mode or third / deep sleep mode) depending on their previously determined paging area information. For instance, the UE may request the response signals from the sleeping devices / UEs especially if they were not present in the paging area at the time of reception of previous warning messages.

[0157] Problem 4:

[0158] How to manage / configure devices in receive mode only?

[0159] Solution 4:

[0160] • Open-loop e.g. via SSB, SIB, DCI, CORESET, information elements (Information element = A structural element containing a single or multiple fields is referred to as information element.)

[0161] Paging-like, control and management mechanisms For example, the devices described herein may be configured to operate in operating modes wherein only reception of wireless communication signals is allowed with help of the aforementioned mechanisms.

[0162] Problem 5:

[0163] How to manage / configure devices with reduced or limited transmission capabilities (n / w- controlled repeaters [NRC] RIS, solar panels, positioning anchors)

[0164] Solution 5:

[0165] • Closed-loop mechanisms e.g. explicit feedback from an MT (mobile termination) or indirect / implied / inferred feedback based on the use of identifiable signalling, modulation. Directly to the controlling entity or indirectly via observing / monitoring entities.

[0166] For example, the devices described herein may be configured to operate in operating modes wherein transmission of wireless communication signals is limited with help of the aforementioned mechanism.

[0167] Problem 6:

[0168] Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of how should WUS be designed in terms of frequency assignment, time assignment and sequencing.

[0169] Solution 6:

[0170] Wake-up receivers, WUR, usually use a sequence of signals arranged in the power and pulse width or position domain.

[0171] In accordance with embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise a wake up receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive the wakeup signal, wherein the WUR is active in the second operating mode and inactive in the third operating mode. Further, in accordance with embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise a pre-wake up receiver, PWUR, adapted to receive the pre-wake up signal; wherein the PWUR is active in the third operating mode. More details on both the WUR and the PWUR will be provided later in the disclosure.

[0172] In accordance with embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may check for control information provided to the device, for instance, by the network. This control information could be involved in one or more mechanisms of the wireless communication. For example, one or more mechanisms may comprise scheduling, resource allocation, transmission indication, power control among others. Further in accordance with embodiments, the monitoring unit may be active in the first operating mode and may be inactive in the second operating mode as well as the third operating mode. An example of the monitoring unit is a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, monitoring unit.

[0173] The present application further proceeds with detailing different types of signalling of the wake up signal, WUS, and the pre-wake up signal, PWLIS, in relation to a first frequency band (having a bandwidth) used for operations of the device described herein. The first frequency band may be associated with a carrier frequency associated with the device. For example, the first frequency band may be centered upon the carrier frequency associated with the device. These types of signalling comprise in-band signalling, out-of-band signalling and hybrid signalling. In-band signalling may refer to the signalling of the WUS and / or the PWUS within the band of the device whereas out-of-band signalling may refer to signalling of the WUS and / or the PWUS out of the band of the device. Hybrid signalling may refer to signalling of the WUS and / or the PWUS, wherein one of the WUS and PWUS is signalled within the band and the other is signalled out of the band.

[0174] Out-of-band WUS placement provides the following advantages:

[0175] • Improved interference resilience based on the guard distance between the WUS band and the service band.

[0176] • Tolerates greater frequency offset errors due to frequency drifting that might occur during sleeping.

[0177] In-band WUS placement provides the following advantages:

[0178] • Optimal use of frequency spectrum (no need for guard band and additional resources)

[0179] • Easier to combine with other broadcast and cell specific signals.

[0180] Further details pertaining to each signalling will be described further by way of pictorial representations provided by Figs. 3 and 4.

[0181] It should be noted that throughout the present application, the device may be an Internet-of- Things, loT, device. This means that the device may be connected to a network such as the network described in regards to Fig. 1 , the Internet, or any communication network, wherein the network is configured to connect a plurality of other devices with each other and with the device of the present application.

[0182] In-band and out-of-band sianallina with relation to the bandwidth part

[0183] The pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) and the wake-up signal (WUS) can be arranged to occupy resource elements: within the bandwidth part (BWP) used by the loT deviceSignal composition — so-called in-band signalling (IBS); outside of the BWP — out-of-band signalling (OBS); or a combination of the two. Pictorial representations of these concepts are presented in the following.

[0184] In addition, partial or fragmented PWLIS signals can be sent at different times and / or different frequencies. These are combined by the device which then decides whether to power on its WUR.

[0185] In-band signalling

[0186] Figs. 3a-b show representations 300a, 300b of in-band signalling of the WUS and the PWLIS within the band 320a, 320b of the device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0187] In particular, Fig. 3a shows a pictorial representation 300a(in a frequency-time plane) of a bandwidth part (BWP) 320abeing used by the device for loT operation and in which a wakeup signal (WUS) is operable within the same BWP 320a. Thus, in accordance with embodiments, the device may receive the WUS in a second frequency band 330ainside a first frequency band 320aused in the first operating mode (e.g. awake mode). Here the first frequency band 320amay refer to a part of, or alternatively a whole of, the band 320aused by the device (e.g. being an loT device) for operation, the operation, for example, comprising receiving the wireless communication signal for wireless communication among other possibilities.

[0188] It is shown in Fig. 3a that a bandwidth of the second frequency band 330a(WUS frequency band) is a fraction of a bandwidth of the first frequency band 320a(e.g. the bandwidth part, BWP, or equivalently the in-band frequency range) used by the device for its loT operation. Further, as per Fig. 3a, the first frequency band 320a(e.g. the bandwidth part, BWP, or equivalently the in-band frequency range) of the device may be active or operable for a specific time period during, or within, which the WUS may be received (e.g. during which the second frequency band 330ais active or operable).

[0189] In particular, Fig. 3b shows a pictorial representation 300b (in a frequency-time plane) of a bandwidth part (BWP) 320bbeing used for loT operation and in which a wake-up signal (WUS) and a pre-wake up signal (PWS) are operable within the same BWP (in-band). This, in accordance with embodiments, the device may receive: the WUS in the second frequency band 330bbeing inside the first frequency band 320bused in the first operating mode (e.g. awake mode) and the PWUS in a third frequency band 334bbeing inside the first frequency band used in the first operating mode (e.g. awake mode).

[0190] It can be seen from Fig. 3b that the time slots associated with the WUS and the PWUS may be overlapping. Further, the first frequency band 320b(e.g. the bandwidth part, BWP, or equivalently the in-band frequency range) of the device may be active or operable for the specific time period during, or within, which both the WUS and the PWLIS may be received (e.g. during which the second frequency band 330b and the third frequency band 334b are active or operable).

[0191] In contrast to what is shown in Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b further shows that the first frequency band 320b of the device is arranged between guard bands 340b, the guard bands 340b configured for reducing interference. Specifically, two guard bands 340b are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the first frequency band 320b. Alternatively, it may be feasible in embodiments that guard bands 340bfewer or greater in number than two may be used. As can be seen in Fig. 3b, bandwidth associated with the guard bands 340bis substantially narrower than the bandwidth of the first frequency band 320b.

[0192] Out-of-band signalling

[0193] When using spectrum outside of the BWP, the PWLIS and / or WUS can operate in bands that are arranged either symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the carrier frequency upon which the BWP is carried. Pictorial representations 400a . eof these concepts are presented in figures 4a-e in accordance with embodiments.

[0194] Symmetric signal transmission

[0195] Symmetric signal transmission can be used for PWUS or WUS wherein the position of the frequency bands are symmetric with respect to the carrier frequency of the first frequency band (or equivalently, the BWP). The signal transmission uses a left out-of-band, OOB, and a right OOB signal suitably designed to allow correlation detection of the carrier frequency.

[0196] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the second and the third frequency bands (i.e. the respective frequency bands associated with the WUS and the PWUS) may be arranged to be symmetric relative to the carrier frequency associated with the first frequency band of the device. By this measure, such arrangement of the second and third frequency bands may be used for symmetric signal transmission by the device. Further, at least one signal within the second frequency band or within the third frequency band may be used as a left out of band signal, and at least another signal within the second frequency band or within the third frequency band may be used as a right out of band signal. The left out of band and the right out of band signals may be configured for determination of the carrier frequency associated with the first frequency band. For instance, the determination of the carrier frequency may be based upon a correlation of the left and the right out of band signals.

[0197] Fig. 4a shows a pictorial representation 400aof the first frequency band 420a(i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the pre-wake up signals (PWUS) and the wake up signals (WUS) are operable outside of the first frequency band 420a(or the spectrum used for the loT BWP). The sequential time slots associated with the WUS and the PWLIS are overlapped, possibly shown as such due to ease of presentation.

[0198] In accordance with embodiments, the device may receive: the WUS in the second frequency bands 430a,i , 430a,2 being outside the first frequency band 420aused in the first operating mode and the PWUS in the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2 being outside the first frequency band 420a, and outside the second frequency bands 430a,i , 430a,2. Further, as shown in Fig. 4a, the sequential time slots associated with the second 430a,i , 430a,2 and the third frequency bands 434a, 434a,2 are overlapping and together span the time slot associated with the first frequency band. The sequential time slot associated with the second frequency bands (the WUS bands) 430a, 430a,2 is bigger than that of the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2(the PWUS bands). Alternatively, the opposite may be preferred in other examples.

[0199] It can also be seen in Fig. 4a that third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2 are arranged to be spaced, or separated, from the guard bands 440a, 440a,2 (which is adjacent to the first frequency band 420a), wherein the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2 and the guard bands 440a, 440a,2 have a spacing between them. In the example of Fig. 4a, the spacing equals the bandwidth of the second frequency bands 430a, 430a,2. In other examples, this spacing may be allowed to vary. In further examples, each of the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2 may have a different spacing between the corresponding guard bands 440a,i , 440a,2. The second (the WUS bands) 430a,i , 430a,2 and the third frequency bands (the PWUS bands) 430a,i , 430a,2 are depicted in Fig. 4a having the same bandwidth. This could, naturally, be allowed to vary in embodiments.

[0200] Further, as shown in Fig. 4a, the second (the WUS bands) 430a,i , 430a,2 and the third frequency bands (the PWUS bands) 434a,i , 434a,2, both bands being symmetrically arranged on sides of the the guard bands 440a,i , 440a,2 (itself symmetrically arranged on sides of the first frequency band 420a), completely overlap in their sequential time slots with their respective symmetrically arranged counterpart. Variations of this particular embodiment, wherein the sequential time slots of the second 430a, 430a,2and the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2only partially overlap with their respective symmetrically arranged counterpart are feasible. Variations of these described embodiments, wherein the sequential time slots of the second 430a, 430a,2 and the third frequency bands 434a,i , 434a,2 do not overlap with their respective symmetrically arranged counterpart are also feasible. It is noted that symmetric arrangement of the bands here refers to their positions along the frequency axis / domain.

[0201] Fig. 4b shows a pictorial representation 400bof the first frequency band 420b(i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the pre-wake-up signal (the PWUS) is operable outside of the first frequency band 420b, or the BWP. This figure is another instantiation of the out-of-band signalling. The two distinct positions of the third frequency bands (the PWLIS bands) 434b, 1 , 434b, 2 are shown as examples.

[0202] It is to be noted that Fig. 4b can be considered as a variation of the embodiment presented in Fig. 4a, wherein only the third frequency bands (the PWLIS bands) 434b, 1 , 434b, 2 are present whilst the second frequency bands (the WUS bands) are absent.

[0203] In particular, as detailed earlier and as shown in Fig. 4b, the PWLIS band 434b, 1 arranged on the left of the left guard band 440b, 1 and the PWLIS band 434b, 2 arranged on the right of the right guard band 440b,2 are symmetric in terms of their position in the frequency domain but do not overlap or share their sequential time slots. Further, as detailed earlier, the third frequency bands (the PWLIS bands) 434b,i , 434b, 2 are spaced from the guard bands 440b, 1 , 440b, 2 having the spacing between them. By virtue of being symmetrically arranged, the spacing is the same for the third frequency bands 434b,i , 434b, 2.

[0204] Fig. 4c shows a pictorial representation 400cof the first frequency band 420c(i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the wake-up signal (the WUS) is operable outside of the first frequency band 420cor the BWP. This figure is another instantiation of the out-of-band signalling. The two distinct positions of the second frequency bands 430c,i , 430c,2 (the WUS bands) are shown as examples.

[0205] It is to be noted that Fig. 4c can also be considered as a variation of the embodiment presented in Fig. 4a, wherein only the second frequency bands 430c,i , 430c,2 (the WUS bands) are present whilst the third frequency bands (the PWUS bands) are absent.

[0206] In particular, as detailed earlier and as shown in Fig. 4c, the WUS band 430c,i arranged on the left of the left guard band 440c,i and the WUS band 430c,2 arranged on the right of the right guard band 440c,2 are symmetric in terms of their position in the frequency domain and only partially overlap or share their sequential time slots. Further, the second frequency bands 430c, 1 , 430c, 2 (the WUS bands) are not spaced from the guard bands 440c,i , 440c,2 having no spacing between them, in harmony with the arrangement of the WUS bands in Fig. 4a. Although not shown by way of figures in this disclosure, in embodiments the WUS bands could be adapted to have a spacing between them and the guard bands.

[0207] Asymmetric signal transmission

[0208] In embodiments, asymmetric signal transmission for the PWUS and / or the WUS may be used. Asymmetric here means frequency asymmetric with respect to the carrier frequency of the first frequency band (i.e. the BWP). The signal transmission may use a left OOB and a right OOB signal suitably designed to allow correlation detection of the carrier frequency. Figs. 4d and 4e present examples 400d , 400eof asymmetric signal transmission in accordance with embodiments. It is noted that Fig. 4d can be considered as a variation of the exemplary signalling representation presented in Fig. 4a with retaining only the PWLIS band 434d,i and the WUS band 430d,i being arranged on the left (lower frequency) side outside the first frequency band 420d whilst Fig. 4e can be considered as a variation of the exemplary signalling representation presented in Fig. 4a with retaining only the PWLIS bands 434d,2 and the WUS band 430d,2 being arranged on the right (higher frequency) side outside the first frequency band 420d,. Other details described in regard to Fig. 4a are applicable to examples presented in Figs. 4d and 4e.

[0209] In accordance with embodiments, the at least one signal within the second frequency band or within the third frequency band may be used as the left out of band signal, or at least another signal within the second frequency band or within the third frequency band may be used as the right out of band signal. It is emphasized here in embodiments that either the left out of band signal or the right out of band signal may be used. The left out of band and the right out of band signals may be configured for determination of the carrier frequency associated with the first frequency band. For instance, the determination of the carrier frequency may be based upon a correlation of the left or the right out of band signals.

[0210] In particular, Fig. 4d shows a pictorial representation 400d Of the first frequency band (i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the pre-wake-up signals (the PWUS band) and the wake-up signals (the WUS band) are operable outside of the first frequency band 420d(or the spectrum used for the loT BWP). This figure is an instantiation of out-of-band, low-side spectrum signalling. It is noted that low-side spectrum here refers to the arrangement of the PWUS 434d,i and the WUS bands 430d,i outside in the lower frequency side of the first frequency band 420e. For ease of presentation, sequential time slots associated with the PWUS 434dand the WUS 430d,i bands are overlapped.

[0211] In particular, Fig. 4e shows a pictorial representation 400eof the first frequency band (i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the pre-wake-up signals (PWUS) and the wake-up signals (WUS) are operable outside of the first frequency band 420e(or the spectrum used for the loT BWP). This figure is an instantiation of out-of-band, high-side spectrum signalling, t is noted that high-side spectrum here refers to the arrangement of the PWUS 434e,2 and the WUS bands 430e,2 outside in the higher frequency side of the first frequency band 420e. For ease of presentation, sequential timeslots associated with the PWUS 434e,2 and the WUS 430e,i bands are overlapped.

[0212] Hybrid signalling (in-and out-of-band) So far, in-band signalling and out-of-band signalling has been described in regards to Figs. Safa and Figs. 4a-e respectively. Hybrid signalling meaning a combination of in-band signalling and out-of-band signalling is described in regards to Fig. 5. Before Fig. 5 is described in more detail, it is emphasised here that embodiments (and details thereof) presented in Figs. 3a-b and Figs. 4a-e can be combined with each other to yield further embodiments. Instead of explicitly explaining every feasible combination borne out of the previously described details, for the sake of brevity and conciseness of this disclosure, one of such feasible combinations is rather presented. The detailing of this particular combination as an embodiment shall not exclude the other possible combinations of in-band and out-of-band signalling approaches.

[0213] Fig. 5 shows a pictorial representation 500 of the first frequency band 520 (i.e. the bandwidth part (BWP) being used for loT operation) in which the wake-up signal (WUS) is operable within the first frequency band 520 (i.e. the same BWP) implying in-band signalling and in which the pre-wake-up signals (PWLIS) are operable outside of the first frequency band 520 (i.e. the spectrum used for the loT BWP) implying out-of-band signalling. Thus, this figure is an instantiation of hybrid signalling. The positions of the WUS band 530i and the PWUS bands 534i, 5342 are shown as examples. For ease of presentation, sequential time slots associated with the PWUS bands 534i, 5342 and the WUS band 530i are overlapped.

[0214] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to receive the WUS in the second frequency band being inside the first frequency band used in the first operating mode and to receive the PWUS in the third frequency band being outside the first frequency band. Naturally, variation of the embodiment where the WUS is received in the second frequency band being outside the first frequency band and the PWUS is received in the third frequency band being inside the first frequency band is feasible.

[0215] Although in Fig. 5, the third frequency bands (the PWUS bands) 534i, 5342 have been symmetrically arranged on sides of the guard band 540i, 5402 with the spacing between them, asymmetric arrangements as already described are feasible. Further possible are asymmetric arrangements of the PWUS bands 534i, 5342 in terms of their time slots so that they no longer overlap or partially overlap.

[0216] A signal-based awakening from sleep modes

[0217] Figs. 6a-c show pictorial representations 600a, 600b, 600cof different scenarios in which the device is awakened from sleep modes 650a,i , 650b, 1, 650c,i , 650c,2 (i.e. the device may either be in the second operating mode or in the third operating mode). The term awakening here refers to the eventual switching of the operating mode of the device from the second or the third operating mode (sleep and deep sleep modes respectively) to the first operating mode (awake mode), wherein the device is able to receive the wireless communication signal. As will be further detailed by way of examples below, this switching / changing / toggling may be achieved using a signal such as the PWLIS and the WUS.

[0218] Specifically, Fig. 6a shows a pictorial representation 600aof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the pre-wake-up signal (PWLIS) 660a. After operating in its first operating mode 650a,2 (i.e. the awake mode), the device enters a different mode 650a,3.

[0219] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 6a, the device is at first in the deep sleep mode (i.e. the third operating mode) 650a,i and receives the PWLIS 660a, thereby transitioning to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 650a,2. In this first operating mode 650a,2, the device could participate in the wireless communication from the network such as for receiving the wireless communication signal. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 650a,2 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode 650a,2) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the PWLIS signal 660a. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the first operating mode 650a,2.

[0220] It is shown in Fig. 6a that the device transitions to the different mode 650a,3 from the first operating mode 650a,2. For instance, this could be due to instructions or messages received in the first operating mode 650a,2. Additionally, or alternatively, this could also be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the PWLIS signal 660a. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the PWLIS signal 660acould indicate a sequential switching first to the awake mode 650a,2(and its corresponding duration) and then to the different mode 650a,3.

[0221] Fig. 6b shows a pictorial representation 660b of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the wake-up signal (WUS) 670b. After operating in its first operating mode (i.e. the awake mode) 650b, 2, the device enters a different mode 650b,3.

[0222] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 6b, the device is at first in the sleep mode (i.e. the second operating mode) 650b, 1 and receives the WUS 670b, thereby transitioning to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 650b,2. In this first operating mode 650b, 2, the device could participate in the wireless communication from the network such as for receiving the wireless communication signal. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 650b,2 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode 650b, 2) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the WUS signal 670b. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the first operating mode 650b,2. It is shown in Fig. 6b that the device transitions to the different mode 650b, 3 from the first operating mode 650b, 2. For instance, this could be due to instructions or messages received in the first operating mode 650b, 2. Additionally, or alternatively, this could also be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the WUS signal. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the WUS signal 670b could indicate a sequential switching first to the awake mode 650b, 2 (and its corresponding duration) and then to the different mode 650b, 3.

[0223] It is noted that the instantiation of Fig. 6b can be a considered as a variation of the instantiation of Fig. 6a, wherein the device is in the second operating mode (i.e. the sleep mode) 650b,i instead of the third operating mode (i.e. the deep sleep mode) (denoted by 650a,i in Fig. 6a) and receives the WUS 670binstead of the PWUS (denoted by 660ain Fig. 6a).

[0224] Fig. 6c shows a pictorial representation 600cof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) 660cand the wake-up signal (WUS) 670c. After operating in its first operating mode (i.e. the awake mode) 650c, 3, the device enters a different mode 650c,4.

[0225] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 6c, the device is at first in the deep sleep mode (i.e. the third operating mode) 650c,i and receives the PWUS 660c, thereby transitioning to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 650c,2. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the second operating mode 650c,2(or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the second operating mode 650c,2) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the PWUS signal 660c. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the second operating mode 650c,2.

[0226] It is also depicted in Fig. 6c that the device in its sleep mode (the second operating mode) 650c, 2 may eventually receive the WUS 670cfor switching to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 650c, 3. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 650c, 3 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the WUS signal 670c. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the first operating mode 650c,3.

[0227] Finally, as shown in Fig. 6c, the device may switch / transition to the different mode 650c,4from the first operating mode (the awake mode) 650c,3. For instance, this could be due to instructions or messages received in the first operating mode (the awake mode) 650c,3. Additionally, or alternatively, this could also be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the WUS signal 670c. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the WUS signal 670ccould indicate a sequential switching first to the awake mode (and its corresponding duration) 650c,3 and then to the different mode 650c,4. Further, additionally or alternatively, the switching to the different mode 650c,4 could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the PWLIS signal 660c. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the PWLIS signal 660ccould indicate a sequential switching first to the sleep mode 650c,2 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then to the awake mode 650c,3 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and finally to the different mode 650c,4.

[0228] It is noted that the instantiation of Fig. 6c can be a considered as a combination of the instantiations provided in Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b.

[0229] An event-based awakening from hibernation modes

[0230] Figs. 7a-c show pictorial representations 700a, 700b , 700cof different scenarios in which the device is awakened from a hibernation mode 750a.c,i. The term awakening here refers to the eventual switching of the operating mode of the device from the hibernation mode 750a.c,i to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750a,2 , 750b, 3 , 750c,4, wherein the device is able to receive the wireless communication signal. As will be further detailed by way of examples below, this switching / changing / toggling may be achieved based on an event and / or a signal such as the PWLIS 760cand the WUS 770b , 770c. In this regard, the hibernation mode 750a.c,i may be considered as an additional operating mode. For example, this additional operating mode being the fourth operating mode when the set of operating modes may only comprise the awake mode, the sleep mode and the deep sleep mode.

[0231] In accordance with embodiments, the set of operating modes may comprise the fourth operating mode being the hibernation mode 750a.c,i in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement is inactive; wherein the device may change from the fourth operating mode into one of the first 750a,2 , 750b, 3 , 750c,4, the second 750b, 2 , 750c,3 or the third operating modes 750c,2 based on the event 780b, 780c. For instance, the receiver arrangement being inactive may imply that the device may receiver neither the communication signal, the WUS (the first signal) nor the PWUS (the second signal). Therefore, in the hibernation mode 750a.c,i, the device may comprise a power consumption being lower than the first 750a,2 , 750b, 3 , 750c, 4, the second 750b, 2 , 750c,3 or the third 750c,2 operating modes, and may remain in the hibernation mode 750a.c,i until the event 780b, 780cis triggered.

[0232] The triggering of the event 780b, 780cmay, for example, be related to a detection or sensing mechanism. In accordance with embodiments, the event 780b, 780cmay relate to a sensor signal received from a sensor coupled to the device. For instance, the sensor may, preferably, be a sensor for measuring an environmental parameter of the device. That is, the environmental parameter may concern the environment that the device may operate in. For example, the environmental parameter may relate to a position, a temperature, a pressure, a humidity or one or more combinations thereof. Possibly, the device may be coupled to more than one sensor, or to a sensing or detection system. Thus, for instance, the device could receive a set of sensor signals related to more than one environmental parameter.

[0233] Further, in accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to change from the fourth operating mode 750a.c,i directly or indirectly into the first operating mode 750a,2 , 750b, 3 , 750c, 4 without prior authentication to the network. Fig. 7a shows a direct change from the fourth operating mode 750a.c,i to the first operating mode 750a,2, 750b, 3 , 750c, 4 whilst Figs. 7a and 7b show an indirect change (e.g. an eventual switch) from the fourth operating mode 750a.c,i to the first operating mode 750a,2, 750b, 3 , 750c,4.

[0234] Fig. 7a shows a pictorial representation 700aof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the event (EVENT) 780b, 780c. After operating in its first operating mode (i.e. the awake mode) 750a,2,750b, 3 , 750c,4, the device enters a different mode (depicted in the figure 7a as ‘other mode’) 750a,3 , 750b, 4 , 750c,s.

[0235] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 7a, the device is at first in the hibernation mode 750a,i (e.g. as the fourth operating mode) and receives the sensor signal related to the event 780a, based on which the device transitions to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750a,2. In this first operating mode 750a,2, the device could participate in the wireless communication from the network such as for receiving the wireless communication signal. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 750a,2(or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode 750a,2) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780a. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the first operating mode (in other words, once the device is awake) 750a,2.

[0236] It is shown in Fig. 7a that the device transitions to the different mode 750a,3 (other mode(s) implying or one or more different / other modes) from the first operating mode 750a,2. For instance, this could be due to instructions or messages received in the first operating mode. Additionally, or alternatively, this could also be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the the sensor signal related to the event. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the the sensor signal related to the event could indicate a sequential (e.g. step-wise) switching first to the awake mode 750a,2(and its corresponding duration) and then to the different mode 750a,3.

[0237] Fig. 7b shows a pictorial representation 700b of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the event (EVENT) 780b, and the wake-up signal (WUS) 770b. After operating in its first operating mode 750b, 3 (i.e. the awake mode), the device enters a different mode 750b, 4.

[0238] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 7b, the device is at first in the hibernation mode 750b, 1 (i.e. as the fourth operating mode) and receives the sensor signal related to the event 780b, based on which the device transitions to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 750b,2. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the second operating mode 750b,2 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the second operating mode) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780b,. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the second operating mode 750b,2.

[0239] It is also depicted in Fig. 7b that the device in its sleep mode (the second operating mode) 750b, 2 eventually receives the WUS 770b for switching to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750b, 3. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 750b, 3 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode 750b, 3) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the WUS signal 770b. Additionally or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, be provided once the device enters the first operating mode 750b, 3. Further, additionally or alternatively, the switching to the first operating mode 750b, 3 could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780b. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal could indicate a sequential switching first to the sleep mode 750b,2 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then to the awake mode 750b,3 (along with its corresponding duration).

[0240] Finally, as shown in Fig. 7b, the device may switch / transition to the different mode 750b, 4 from the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750b,3. For instance, this could be due to instructions or messages received in the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750b,3. Additionally, or alternatively, this could also be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the previously received WUS signal 770b. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the previously received WUS signal 770b could indicate a sequential switching first to the awake mode 750b, 3 (and its corresponding duration) and then to the different mode 750b, 4. Further, additionally or alternatively, the switching to the different mode 750b, 4 could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages received associated with the previously received sensor signal related to the event 780b. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the previously received sensor signal related to the event 780b could indicate a sequential switching first to the sleep mode 750b,2 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then to the awake mode 750b, 3 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then finally to the different mode 750b, 4.

[0241] It is noted that the instantiation of Fig. 7b can be a considered as a variation of the instantiation of Fig. 7a, wherein the device is additionally in the second operating mode 750b, 2 (i.e. the sleep mode) and receives the WUS 770bbefore switching to the first operating mode 750b, 3 and then finally switching to the different mode 750b,4.

[0242] Fig. 7c shows a pictorial representation 700cof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its mode of operation according to the event (EVENT) 780c, a pre-wake-up signal (PWLIS) 760cand a wake-up signal (WUS) 770c. After operating in its first operating mode (i.e. the awake mode) 750c4, the device enters a different mode 750c,s.

[0243] As explicitly depicted in Fig. 7c, the device is at first in the hibernation mode 750c,i (i.e. as the fourth operating mode) and receives the sensor signal related to the event 780c, based on which the device transitions to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 750c,2. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the third operating mode 750c,2 (or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the third operating mode 750c,2) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780c. Additionally, or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, also be provided once the device enters the third operating mode 750c,2.

[0244] It is depicted in Fig. 7c that the device in its deep sleep mode (the third operating mode) 750c,2 eventually receives the PWUS 760cfor switching to the second operating mode (the awake mode) 750C,3. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the second operating mode 750C,3(or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the second operating mode 750c,3) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the PWUS signal. Additionally or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, be provided once the device enters the second operating mode 750c,3. Further, additionally or alternatively, the switching to the second operating mode 750c,3could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780c. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal could indicate a sequential switching first to the deep sleep mode 750c,2 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then to the sleep mode 750c,3 (along with its corresponding duration).

[0245] Further, it is also depicted in Fig. 7c that the device in its sleep mode 750c,3 (the second operating mode) eventually receives the WUS 770cfor switching to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750c,4. For example, a duration for which the device remains in the first operating mode 750c,4(or equivalently, a length of time elapsed in the first operating mode) could be adapted through messages or instructions associated with the WUS signal 770c. Additionally or alternatively, such instructions or messages could, for instance, be provided once the device enters the first operating mode 750c,4. Further, additionally or alternatively, the switching to the first operating mode 750c,4could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages associated with the PWLIS 760c. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the PWLIS 760ccould indicate a sequential switching first to the sleep mode 750c,3 (possibly along with its corresponding duration) and then to the awake mode (possibly along with its corresponding duration) 750c,4. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the sequential (or eventual) switching to the first operating mode 750c,4could be achieved, for example, due to instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780c. In other words, for example, instructions or messages associated with the sensor signal related to the event 780ccould indicate a sequential switching first from the hibernation mode to the deep sleep mode 750c,2(possibly along with its corresponding duration), then to the sleep mode 750c,3(possibly along with its corresponding duration) followed by the switching to the awake mode 750c,4(along with its corresponding duration).

[0246] Finally, as shown in Fig. 7c, the device may switche / transition to the different mode 750c,sfrom the first operating mode (the awake mode) 750c,4. Various details pertaining to messages or instructions from previously reached / arrived operating modes and associated signals as described already for the previous figures 7a-b and this figure 7c are not repeated in relation to switching to the different modes for the sake of brevity and conciseness of the disclosure.

[0247] Falling asleep

[0248] The various operating modes (e.g. four described in this instance) in relation to the (operational) state (e.g. active or inactive) of the pre-wake up receiver unit, PWUR, the wake up receiver unit, WUR, and the PDCCH monitoring unit are summarized in Table 1 for which notes are provided thereafter.

[0249] Table 1 : A summary of the operating modes along with the states of the pre-wake up receiver unit, PWUR, the wake up receiver unit, WUR, and the PDCCH monitoring unit.

[0250] Notes: 1 . When in a state of hibernation (in other words, when the device is in the fourth operating mode being the hibernation mode), the device may not receive the wireless communicational signal(s) or lack receiving capabilities, it is expected to come out of hibernation and then go into another state after an interval of time that is either known or is not known to the device and / or the network when entering hibernation. In other words, the device may switch to an operating mode other than the fourth operating mode (i.e. the hibernation mode). Possibilities pertaining to the device and / or the network being aware of the interval of time the device may remain one state have already been described in regards to Figs. 7a-c. The concept of hibernation (exemplarily implemented in the device as the hibernation mode) has applications beyond the third operating mode, or the deep sleep mode, to further extend battery life in situations that are known to be unlikely during the event or certain time frames such as “fires in the winter and avalanches in the summer”. The event can bring the device out of hibernation, for example a temperature threshold, battery critical or gas level exceeded.

[0251] 2. When in a deep sleep mode (in other words, when the device is in the third operating mode being the deep sleep mode), it is necessary for the PWLIR to be powered ON or active and for the other receivers (including the PDCCH monitoring unit) to be powered OFF or inactive in this mode.

[0252] 3. When in a sleep mode (in other words, when the device is in the second operating mode being the sleep mode), it is necessary for the WUR to be powered ON or active and for the PDCHH monitor to be powered OFF or inactive in this mode. The PWLIR can be powered ON or OFF.

[0253] 4. When in an active or awake mode (in other words, when the device is in the first operating mode being the awake mode), it is necessary for the PDCHH monitor to be powered ON or active in this mode. The PWLIR and WUR can be powered on or off.

[0254] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments and as shown in Table 1 , the communication arrangement may comprise the monitoring unit being the PDCCH monitoring unit, wherein the PDCCH monitoring unit is active in the first operating mode (the active mode) and is inactive in the second and the third operating mode.

[0255] The aforementioned details in relation to the (operational) state (e.g. active or inactive) of the pre-wake up receiver unit, PWUR, the wake up receiver unit, WUR, and the PDCCH monitoring unit may be applicable to the embodiments (and details thereof) disclosed herein. without notification In this section, examples are presented that illustrate the manner in which the device (for instance, being a loT device) changes its operating modes (e.g. or state or mode of operation). Emphasis is devoted to the illustration in Figs. 8a-g wherein the transition from the awake mode 850a-c,i into one or more sleep modes 850a.c,3, such as the sleep mode 850b, 3, the deep sleep mode 850a,3 and the hibernation mode 850c,3, is depicted in different scenarios.

[0256] It should be noted that Figs. 8a-g especially show the switching or transition between the set of operating modes of the device without a notification signal, i.e. without notifying or alerting or addressing the network (or other devices in the group of devices that the device may be a part of). Such examples illustrate embodiments wherein a lack of the notification signal may be preferred due to requirements of the event, power / energy conservation reasons or possible improvements in speed or efficiency of the wireless communication.

[0257] Fig. 8a shows a pictorial representation 800aof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8a depicts that after operating in one 850a,i of the other operating mode(s), the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850a,2, and thereafter the device may enter (or transition / switch to) the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 850a,3.

[0258] Fig. 8b shows a pictorial representation 800b of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8b depicts that after operating in one 850b,i of the other operating mode(s), the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850b,2, and thereafter the device may enter (or transition / switche to) the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 850b,3.

[0259] Fig. 8c shows a pictorial representation 850cof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8c depicts that after operating in one 850c,i of the other operating mode(s), the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850c,2, and thereafter the device enters (or transitions / switches to) the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) 850c,3.

[0260] Fig. 8d shows a pictorial representation 800d of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8d depicts that after operating in one 850d,i of the other operating mode(s), the device may switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850d,2, followed by transitioning / switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 850d,3which is finally succeeded by transitioning / switching to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 850d,4.

[0261] Fig. 8e shows a pictorial representation 800eof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8d depicts that after operating in one 850e,i of the other operating mode(s), the device may switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850e,2, followed by transitioning / switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 850e,3 which is finally succeeded by transitioning / switching to the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) 850e,4.

[0262] Fig. 8f shows a pictorial representation 800fOf the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operational mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8e depicts that after operating in one 850f,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850f,2, followed by transitioning / switching to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 850f,3which is finally succeeded by transitioning / switching to the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) 850f,4.

[0263] Fig. 8g shows a pictorial representation 800gof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operational mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In particular, Fig. 8g depicts that after operating in one 850g,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 850g,2, followed by transitioning / switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 850g,3, further followed by transitioning / switching to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 850g,4 which is finally succeeded by transitioning / switching to the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) 850g, 5.

[0264] In accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to transition / switch among the set of operating modes without a communication (e.g. a transmission) of the notification signal associated with the switching between two operating modes (of the set of operating modes) to the network.

[0265] It is noted that Fig. 8d can be considered as a variation of the example described by Fig. 8b with an additional final switching to the deep sleep mode 850d,4, Fig. 8e can be considered as a variation of the example described by Fig. 8b with an additional final switching to the hibernation mode 850e,4, Fig. 8f can be considered as a variation of the example described by Fig. 8a with an additional final switching to the hibernation mode 850f,4 and Fig. 8g can be considered as a variation of the example described by Fig. 8d with an additional final switching to the hibernation mode 850g,s.

[0266] For instance, the switching of operating modes in Fig. 8g may be understood as an embodiment relating to switching of operating modes of the set of operating modes in a descending order of average power consumption associated with the device, or a descending order of activity of the communication arrangement of the device (or equivalently, an ascending order of inactivity of the communication arrangement of the device). Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to operate and switch among the set of operating modes in an order based on at least one of power consumption, activity of the communication arrangement and inactivity of the communication arrangement. with notification

[0267] In this section, examples are presented that illustrate the manner in which the device (for instance, being a loT device) changes its operating modes (e.g. or state or mode of operation). Emphasis is devoted to the illustration in Figs. 9a-h wherein the transition from awake mode into one or more sleep modes, such as the sleep mode, the deep sleep mode and the hibernation mode, is depicted along with the manner in which the device sends a falling-asleep signal, FAS, when transitioning between the operating modes.

[0268] Fig. 9a shows a pictorial representation 900aof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8a, Fig. 9a depicts that after operating in one 950a,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950a,2, and may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990aas the notification signal before entering (or transitioning / switching to) the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 950a,3.

[0269] Fig. 9b shows a pictorial representation 900b of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8b, Fig. 9b depicts that after operating in one 950b,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950b,2, and may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990bas the notification signal before entering (or transitioning / switching to) the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 950b,3.

[0270] Fig. 9c shows a pictorial representation 900cof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8c, Fig. 9c depicts that after operating in one 950c,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950c,2, and may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990cas the notification signal before entering (or transitioning / switching to) the fourth operating mode (the hibernating mode) 950c,3.

[0271] Fig. 9d shows a pictorial representation 900d of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8d, Fig. 9d depicts that after operating in one 950d,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950d,2, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990das the first notification signal before transitioning / switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 950d,3, may sends the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990d,2again as the second notification signal before switching (or entering / transitioning) to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 950d,4. Fig. 9e shows a pictorial representation 900eof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8e, Fig. 9e depicts that after operating in one 950e,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950e,2, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990e,i as the first notification signal before switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 950e,3, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990e,2 again as the second notification signal before switching (or entering / switching to) to the fourth operating mode (the hibernating mode) 950e,4.

[0272] Fig. 9f shows a pictorial representation 900f of the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8f, Fig. 9f depicts that after operating in one 950fof the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950f,2, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990fas the first notification signal before switching (or transitioning / entering) to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 950f,3, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990f,2 again as the second notification signal before switching (or entering / switching to) to the fourth operating mode (the hibernating mode) 950f,4.

[0273] Fig. 9g shows a pictorial representation 900gof the device (e.g. the device being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to Fig. 8g, Fig. 9g depicts that after operating in one 950g,i of the other operating modes, the device may transition / switch at first to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950g,2, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990gas the first notification signal before switching to the second operating mode (the sleep mode) 950g,3, may send the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990g,2again as the second notification signal before switching (or transitioning / entering) to the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) 950g,4and sends the falling asleep signal, FAS, 990g,3again as the third notification signal before switching (or transitioning / entering) to the fourth operating mode (the hibernating mode) 950g,5.

[0274] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to transmit the (wireless) fall asleep signal, FAS, as the notification signal in one of the first, the second and the third operating modes to announce or request the switching. In the cases described in regard to Figs. 9a-g, the FAS (being the notification signal) may be transmitted as an announcement, implying that the device may not rely on an acknowledgement or a response from the network in order to perform the switching to the sleep modes (i.e. the second or the third operating modes) or the hibernating mode. Alternatively, the FAS (being the notification signal) may be transmitted as a request, implying that the device may rely on an acknowledgement or a response from the network in order to perform the switching to the sleep modes (i.e. the second or the third operating modes) or the hibernating mode. An exemplary scenario where the device may send the FAS (being the notification signal) as the request is provided by way of Fig. 9h.

[0275] Fig. 9h shows a pictorial representation 900h Of the device (e.g. being an loT device) changing its operating mode (belonging to the set of operating modes). In contrast to the examples presented in Figs. 9a-g, Fig. 9g depicts that after operating in one 950h,i of the other operating modes the device may transition / switch to the first operating mode (the awake mode) 950h,2, the device may attempt to switch or transition to the second operating mode (the sleep mode), the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) or the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) or other operational modes, if available. Before doing so (i.e. before the switches or transitions) however, the device may send the falling-asleep signal 990g,i as the (first) notification signal to notify the network of its intentions (i.e. the switches or transitions and possibly associated messages or instructions relating to the duration for which the device may stay in one of the operating modes). In the example illustrated in Fig. 9h, the network may respond with a wake-up signal, WAS, 970gto keep the device in its first operating mode (the awake mode) 950h,2 and may thus prevent it from sleeping (or equivalently, switching to one of the one or more sleep modes).

[0276] In other words, the network might reject the FAS (as the request transmitted by the device) 990g, 1 and transmits the WUS 970gas the response (e.g. a rejection response signal). In the scenario, where the network may accept the FAS 990g,i (as the request transmitted by the device), it may not transmit any response to the device. However, it is feasible that the network may transmit the response as a confirmation signal or even provide messages or instructions associated with the duration that the device may remain in the first operating mode (the awake mode).

[0277] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may be adapted to receive the rejection response signal from the network (e.g. the WUS or the PWUS) after the transmission of the FAS for preventing the switching from its current operational mode to the second or the third or the fourth operational modes. Here, the rejection response signal may be at least one of the WUS and the PWUS.

[0278] Whilst the device can only be brought out of hibernation due to an event (such as the event described already), it can only be brought out of the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode) or the second operating mode (the sleep mode) due to a signal (such as the WUS or the PWUS). In other words, the device may be adapted to change / switch from the fourth operating mode (the hibernation mode) to one of the first or the second or the third operating modes based on the event. For instance, the device could switch to one of the other operating modes, if available, as well. Examples of the event may comprise:

[0279] A. Known, fixed or defined state and state transition schedule or decision tree (e.g. if / then / else case / switch triggering). a. Parameter updates for schedule or decision tree triggers or events (e.g. thresholds, levels, limits, time appointment).

[0280] B. Instant change or planned deviations of states and state transitions within A (e.g. already in different state, will change state earlier, followed different decision branch of decision tree).

[0281] C. Change of A), for example a change of plan or order of states, decision tree branches, logical branching (e.g. a change of plan [decision tree] or order of states).

[0282] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the event may comprise one or more predetermined states, wherein the one or more predetermined states may depend on a state transition structure. For instance, the state transition structure may comprise at least one of a state transition schedule and one or more state transition decision trees.

[0283] Examples of a simplified loT response scheme

[0284] In the following, an example of a response scheme of a device is presented, wherein the device is an loT device.

[0285] 1. loT device rx WuS from N / W. That is, for instance, the device may receive the wake up signal, WUS, from the network.

[0286] 2. loT device wakes up and rxs a further signal from N / W. That is, for instance, the device may switch or change to the first operating mode (the active mode), hence wake up (for instance, the device was previously in one of the second, the third or the fourth operating modes). The device may receive a further signal (e.g. a wireless communication signal) from the network.

[0287] 3. loT device determines from the signal the need to respond to the signal based on, for example: a) The targeted singular / multiple addressee(s) of the signal b) A control element (configuration / trigger) c) Content of the payload (directly or interpreted)

[0288] That is, for instance, the device may determine a response based on the further signal. In particular, the device may determine the response based on messages and / or instructions associated with the further signal, wherein the messages and / or instructions have been received by the device. Examples of messages and / or instructions may comprise target address information, control information and payload information among other information.

[0289] 4. loT device determines from the rx signal the return path loss (open-loop link power control). That is, for example, the device may determine path loss information (e.g. return path loss) based on the (received) further signal. This instance provides a scenario where the device performs open-loop link power control. For example, the device may be configured to adapt the wireless communication on a basis of the received further signal. Adapting the wireless communication may comprise adapting reception and / or transmission characteristics of the wireless communication.

[0290] 5. Depending on the result of 4 and other parameters, e.g. interference, the loT device selects a transmit scheme, e.g. MCS / k-reps / Tx pwr, to be used for the response transmission. For instance, the device may be configured to select a transmission scheme for transmitting the response on the basis of the received further signal, wherein the basis may comprise other parameters, such as ones depending on signal interference. Examples of the transmission scheme may comprise a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, a repetition coding scheme and a scheme depending on transmission power of the device.

[0291] 6. In response to 3, the loT device prepares a message. That is, for instance, the device may adjust structure and formatting of the response (based on the further signal) for transmission. For instance, structure and formatting of the response may relate to control information (e.g. header information), scheduling information, resource allocation information and power control information.

[0292] 7. loT transmits the response according to the parameters of 5. That is, the device may transmit the response in accordance with the selected transmission scheme (and in accordance with the comprised other parameters associated with the selected transmission scheme).

[0293] Fig. 10 shows a block diagram representation 1000 of the device being an loT device and operating in its operating modes (or states (such as the deep sleep mode, the sleep mode and the awake mode). The device transitions from one operating mode (or state) to the next according to a signal (i.e. , a trigger, a wake-up signal or a network broadcast). Three trigger sets 1098A, B, c are exemplarily included. In particular, Fig. 10 shows that the device is at first in the fourth operating mode being the hibernating mode 1050i. The PWUR is in an inactive (OFF) state, the WUR is an inactive (OFF) state and the PDCCH monitor is also an inactive (OFF) state. The device may be subject to a signal such as the trigger 1098 (denoted by the arrow on the right).

[0294] Upon receiving the trigger belonging to a first trigger set (Trigger set A) 1098A, the device switches the PWUR to an active (ON) state. Thus, the device may therewith receive the PWUS 1070i and switch to the third operating mode being the deep sleep mode 10502 from the fourth operating mode being the hibernating mode 1050i. For instance, the first trigger set 1098A may comprise predetermined timing information, predetermined scheduling information and predetermined interval information. In other words, the first trigger set 1098Amay indicate information relating to when (either in reference to time or some event) the PWUR may be put into an active state or the device may switch to the deep sleep mode 10502and information relating to the duration for which the device may operate in the deep sleep mode 10502or the PWUR may be switched ON.

[0295] Upon receiving the trigger belonging to a second trigger set (Trigger set B) 1098B, the device switches the WUR to an active (ON) state. Thus, the device may therewith receive the WUS 1060i and switch to the second operating mode being the sleep mode 10503 from the third operating mode being the deep sleep mode 10502. For instance, the second trigger set 1098B may comprise a sensor event (e.g. a sensing of CO2or change in temperature), a threshold detection (e.g. a detection of amount of CO2or change in temperature exceeding one or more predetermined thresholds) and a location change of the device.

[0296] Upon receiving the trigger belonging to a third trigger set (Trigger set C) 1098c, the device switches the PDCCH monitoring unit to an active (ON) state and thus indicating that the device may monitor the PDCCH for receiving control information from the network. Thus, the device may therewith receive the wireless communication (e.g. wireless communication signals), such as a PDCCH communication 1095i from the network and switch to the first operating mode being the awake mode lOSCU from the second operating mode being the sleep mode 10503. For instance, the third trigger set 1098c may comprise one or more triggers from a unit (such as a box or another device), wherein the unit may have received a transmission. The transmission could be a terrestrial transmission (e.g. cell broadcast, TV broadcast, domestic radio, paging) or a non-terrestrial transmission (e.g. UAV, satellite).

[0297] The following sub-sections with Figs. 11a-c, 12a-c and 13 introduce a variety of signalling examples in which both network- and device-initiated sequences are disclosed.

[0298] Network-initiated pre-wake-up and wakevariants Figs. 11a-c show instantiations 1100a-c where the device / UE is woken up (i.e. its operating mode is switched to the first operating mode, that is, the awake mode) using different sequences initiated by the network.

[0299] Figure 11a shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1100athat illustrates the transition of the device being an loT device between its different operating modes (or states or modes of operation) wherein the network initiates a wake-up sequence of the device with the pre-wake- up signal, PWLIS 1170a.

[0300] In particular, Figure 11a relates to the configuration wherein the device may, at first, be in the third operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the deep sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered off. In order to prepare the device for an eventual wireless communication, the basestation may transmit / send the pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) 1160ato the device / UE. This signal (the PWUS) 1160amay be detected by the device / UE’s pre-wake-up receiver unit (PWUR) and thereafter, the device may enter, secondly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it either powers ON or otherwise activates its wake-up receiver unit (WUR). Next, when the basestation transmits / sends the wake-up signal (WUS) 1170a, the device / UE’s now active WUR may be capable of detecting the WUS and may thus enter, thirdly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its PDCCH monitoring unit. The device / UE may thus be ready to receive the network’s (the basestation’s) PDCCH transmissions, as exemplarily represented by the PDCCH communication 1195abeing received by the UE.

[0301] Figure 11 b shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1100b that illustrates the transition of the device being an loT device between its different operating modes (or states or modes of operation) wherein the network initiates a wake-up sequence of the device with a pre-wake-up signal request 1170bto which the device / UE transmits / sends a wake-me-up signal, WMUS, 1175bas a response.

[0302] In particular, Figure 11 b relates to the configuration wherein the device may, at first, be in in the third operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the deep sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered OFF. In order to prepare the device for an eventual wireless communication, the basestation may transmit / send the pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) 1160b. This signal may be detected by the device / UE’s pre- wake-up receiver unit (PWUR) and thereafter, the device may enter, secondly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its wake-up receiver unit (WUR). To inform the basestation that the PWUS has been received, the device / UE may transmit / send / use its wake-me-up signal (WMUS) 1175bas a response or an acknowledgment. Further handshaking between the basestation and UE may follow. Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may transmit the wake-me-up signal, WMLIS, once or repeatedly. The WMLIS may be transmitted to request the network to transmit the WUS to the device. Futher, in accordance with embodiments, the WMLIS may be transmitted to a different node of the network to request it to transmit the WUS to the device. For example, the device may transmit the WMUS once or repeatedly while being in the first (awake mode) or the second (sleep mode) operating mode.

[0303] According to embodiments, the device may receive the WUS and transmit an acknowledgement signal to confirm reception of the WUS. Further, the acknowledgement signal may be a WMUS or a different signal, wherein the WMUS may be used also to request the network (e.g. a different node of the network) to transmit the WUS to the device.

[0304] Figure 11c shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1100cthat illustrates the transition of the device being an loT device between its different operating modes (or states or modes of operation) wherein the network initiates a wake-up sequence of the device with a wake-up signal, WUS, request to which the device / UE sends the wake-me-up signal, WMUS, as a response.

[0305] In particular, figure 11c shows that the device may, at first, be in the second operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered ON. In order to prepare the device for an eventual communication, the basestation may send the wake-up signal (WUS) 1170c. This signal may be detected by the device / UE’s wake-up receiver (WUR) and thereafter, the device may enter, secondly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its PDCCH monitoring unit. To inform the basestation that the WUS 1170chas been received, the device / UE may transmit / send / use its wake-me-up signal (WMUS) 1175cas a response or an acknowledgment. Further handshaking between the basestation and UE may follow.

[0306] UE-initiated wake-up sequence variants

[0307] Figs. 12a-c show instantiations 1200a.cwhere the device / UE is woken up (i.e. its operating mode is switched to the first operating mode, that is, the awake mode) using different sequences initiated by the device / UE.

[0308] Figure 12a shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1200athat illustrates the transition of the device being an loT device between its different operating modes (or states or modes of operation) wherein the device / UE uses an asynchronous signal such as an asynchronous RACH 1255ato initiate a wake up sequence of the device (or equivalently, request a wake up from the network). The use of the asynchronous RACH 1255amay be advantageous especially in scenarios where synchronization with the network is challenging and wherein establishing wireless communication with the network may be preferred, the asynchronous quality of the communication notwithstanding.

[0309] In particular, figure 12a relates to the configuration wherein the device / UE may, at first, be in the second operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered ON. In order to conserve energy, the device / UE’s PDCCH monitoring unit may be powered OFF. The device / UE may not be connected to the network and may therefore not be synchronized to the network. In order to conserve energy, the device / UE may send the asynchronous signal as an asynchronous RACH (ARACH) request 1255a. Upon receipt of the ARACH 1255a, the basestation may send a wake-up signal (WUS) 1270a. This signal may be detected by the device / UE’s wake-up receiver unit (WUR) and thereafter, the device, secondly, may enter an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its PDCCH monitoring unit. The device / UE may thus be ready to receive the network’s (e.g. the basestation’s) PDCCH transmissions, as exemplarily represented by the PDCCH communication 1295abeing received by the UE.

[0310] Figure 12b and 12c show simplified timing and signalling charts 1200b ,1200cthat illustrate the transition of the device being an loT device between its different operating modes (or states or modes of operation) wherein the device / UE uses the wake-me-up signal, WMUS, to initiate a wake up sequence of the device (or equivalently, request a wake up from the network).

[0311] In particular, figure 12b relates to the configuration wherein the device may, at first, be in the second operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered ON. In order to conserve energy, the device / UE’s PDCCH monitoring unit may be powered OFF. The device / UE may not be connected to the network and might also be out-of-coverage i.e. the device may not be in a coverage area of the network. In order to conserve energy, the UE may send the wake- me-up signal (WMUS) request 1255b,i as it wishes to communicate with the network. If the network does not respond within a defined (or a predetermined) interval, the device / UE may resend the WMUS. The instance where the device / UE may resend the WMUS repeatedly, i.e. more than once, is shown in Fig. 12b as a dashed arrow indicating repeated WMUS 1255b,#. It may transmit the WMUS 1255b,# repeatedly with a specific (time) period. That is, the WMUS 1255b,# may be transmitted repeatedly at equal specific (time) intervals. Alternatively, the WMUS 1255b,# could be sent without a specific period. The number of times WMUS 1255b,# may be resent may depend on further considerations such as the device / UE’s power consumption, interference and network characteristics. Upon receipt of the WMUS, the basestation may send a wake-up signal (WUS) 1270b. This signal may be detected by the device / UE’s wake-up receiver (WUR) and thereafter, the device, secondly, may enter an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its PDCCH monitoring unit. The device / UE may thus be ready to receive the network’s (the basestation’s) PDCCH transmissions, as exemplarily represented by the PDCCH communication 1295b being received by the UE.

[0312] In particular, figure 12c relates to the configuration wherein the device / UE may, at first, be in the second operating mode (or state or mode of operation) i.e. the device / UE may be in the sleep mode and in which its wake-up receiver unit, WUR, may be powered OFF. In order to conserve energy, the device / UE’s PDCCH monitoring unit may also be powered OFF. The device / UE may not be connected to the network and might also be out-of-coverage i.e. the device may not be in a coverage area of the network. In order to conserve energy, the device / UE may send the wake-me-up signal (WMUS) request 1255c,i as it wishes to communicate with the network. If the network does not respond within a defined interval, the UE may resend the WMUS 1255b,#, once or repeatedly (either regularly at the specific period or irregularly depending on further considerations). Upon receipt of the WMUS, the network (e.g. the basestation) may send the pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) 1260c. This signal may be detected by the device’s / UE’s pre-wake-up receiver unit (PWUR) and thereafter, the device may enter, secondly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers ON or otherwise activates its wake-up receiver unit (WUR). The network may then send the wake-up signal(WUS) 1270c. When the network’s (e.g. the basestation’s) wake-up signal (WUS) 1270cis received by the UE’s WUR, it may enter, thirdly, an operating mode (or state) wherein it powers on its PDCCH monitoring unit. The device / UE may thus be ready to receive the network (e.g. the basestation’s) PDCCH transmissions.

[0313] UE-initiated fall-,

[0314] Figs. 13a-c show instantiations 1300a.cwhere the device / UE is woken up (i.e. its operating mode is switched to the first operating mode, that is, the awake mode) using different sequences initiated by the device / UE. Thus, these instances may form embodiments relating to self-initiated fall-asleep sequences, and UE initiated fall-asleep sequence, the latter indicating that another UE (or for instance, another network entity) may, alternatively to the former, initiate fall-asleep sequences of the device / UE. Although in the following, self-initiated fall-asleep sequences of the device / UE, the other sequences initiated by another UE(s) (or another network entity(ies)) are feasible.

[0315] Figure 13a shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1300athat illustrates the device being an loT device informing the network that it is or will be falling asleep. In other words, Fig. 13a relates to configurations wherein the device may make the network aware of its (current or eventual) switching to the second (the sleep mode) or the third (the deep sleep mode) operating modes. In particular, figure 13a shows that the device / UE that may be going to fall asleep, either immediately or after a defined or predefined (i.e. predetermined) interval. Before powering off or otherwise deactivating its wake-up receiver unit (WUR) and PDCCH monitoring unit, it may transmit / send the fall-asleep signal (FAS) 1390ato the network. This fall-asleep signal 1390acould be sent once or repeatedly more than once, either within a specific time interval regularly at a specific frequency / period, or irregularly. This signal may contain information of when and / or for how long the device / UE will fall asleep. That is, the trigger information which may cause the device / UE to perform the switching to the second or the third operating mode and / or the duration for which the device / UE may remain in the second or third operating mode after the switching. According to embodiments, the device may be adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the second operating mode (the sleep mode) or the device may be adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the third operating mode (the deep sleep mode); or the device may be adapted for transmitting a signal when being in a fourth operating mode operating being a hibernation mode in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement is inactive.

[0316] For example, the device could transmit the wake me up signal, WMUS, or a falling asleep signal, FAS, in the fourth operating mode being the hibernation mode. It is even possible that the device may switch the receiver arrangement to be active after a time interval (which could be predetermined or determined at the time of transmission from the communication arrangement) measured from a time of the transmission of the WMUS, or the FAS.

[0317] In accordance with embodiments and with Fig. 13a, the device / UE may be adapted to use the PDCCH monitoring unit for communicating in the first operating mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the transmitted FAS. Further, the device may be adapted to announce the switching (e.g. with a switching announcement) and to execute the switching corresponding to the switching announcement.

[0318] Figure 13b shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1300bthat illustrates the device being an loT device requesting the network for permission to fall asleep, i.e. requesting the network to switch to the second or the third or the fourth operating modes. In this example, the request is denied and the network instructs the device to stay in an awake mode (the first operating mode).

[0319] In the example illustrated in Figure 13b, the device / UE may have the intention of falling asleep — specifically switching to the third operating mode i.e. the deep sleep mode — either immediately or after a defined or predefined (e.g. predetermined) interval. Before powering off or otherwise deactivating its wake-up receiving unit (WUR) the device may transmit / send the fall-asleep signal (FAS) 1390b,i to the network. This signal 1390b,i may contain information of when and / or for how long the UE wants to enter the deep sleep mode. Similarly, the device / UE may intend to fall into the second operating mode (i.e. the (light) sleep mode) and deactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit which may be announced by the same or a different FAS. Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may send a set of FAS to indicate transitioning / switching of its operating mode.

[0320] Further to the example shown in Figure 13b, the device / UE may transmit / send the FAS 1390b,i in the form of a request because the device / UE is asking (requesting) the network for permission to fall asleep. In this case, the request is answered in the form of a WUS response 1370b (i.e. being a refusal signal, and thus denying ‘sleeping’) which contains messages or instructions for the device to switch on its PDCCH monitoring unit so that it is prepared to receive a subsequent PDCCH transmission from the network. In other words, the previously transmitted FAS request 1390b,i of the device was answered with the refusal signal as the WUS response 1370bthat denied the device permission to enter into the sleep mode — instead it is instructed or notified to keep its PDCCH monitoring unit active (indefinitely; or according to a schedule or a defined or predefined period; or until it has received a PDCCH transmission from the network). The purpose of the network’s request to keep the PDCCH monitoring unit active can be a configuration of the sleeping procedure (i.e. steps of a procedure relate to the switching of its operating mode to one to the second or the third or the fourth operating mode) the device wants to execute, e.g. setting certain points in time or time period, wherein the device will be requested to go from hibernation to a deep sleep mode (PWUR switched on) or a sleep mode (WUR switched on).

[0321] It is noted that the WUS 1370b as the refusal signal may be same as the regular WUS or may be a different WUS as the regular WUS. For example, the difference between the (regular) WUS and the WUS as the refusal signal may be indicated by associated messages or instructions, these messages or instructions may be comprised as part of the WUS.

[0322] A subsequent PDCCH transmission 1395cfrom the network can contain a variety of information including instructions of when and / or for how long the device may fall asleep. Furthermore, such information could instruct the device that it can fall asleep (in the future) without it having to initiate a further FAS request. Alternatively, the PDCCH transmission 1395cmight be void of any instructions relating to when and / or for how long the device may fall asleep. In this case, the device may initiate a FAS request afresh.

[0323] As depicted using Fig. 13b, the device may postpone, or alternatively, skip, the switching (or in this instance, switching for sleeping) in response to receiving a refusal signal indicating a refusal of the switching by the network. The refusal signal, as explained earlier, being the WUS response indicating the refusal by an order or instruction to the device to switch its PDCCH monitoring unit ON.

[0324] Thus, in accordance with embodiments that the device may reactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the refusal signal indicating the refusal of the switching. Alternatively, the device may postpone deactivating the PDCCH monitoring unit until an event, such as a deactivation event, happens. For instance, the deactivation event may be, or relate to, a confirmation signal. The confirmation signal may indicate that a confirmation to fall asleep is received by the device (provided by the network) using the PDCCH monitoring unit or using the WUR. For instance, the deactivation event may be related to a passing of time (i.e. completion of a time interval) since (or relative to, or measured relative to ) announcing the switching. This could be combined with the reception of the confirmation signal. For instance, the PDCCH monitoring unit may be deactivated after a passage of time has elapsed relative to the device receiving (either its ) the confirmation signal.

[0325] In the course of falling asleep, the device may switch to the second operating mode. In accordance with embodiments, in the second operating mode the PDCCH monitoring unit and the WUR may be inactive (or switched OFF).

[0326] Figure 13c shows a simplified timing and signalling chart 1300cthat illustrates the device being an loT device requesting the network for permission to fall asleep , i.e. requesting the network to switch to the second or the third or the fourth operating modes. In this example, the request is approved and the network permits the device to fall asleep.

[0327] Figure 13c shows that the device / UE may have the intention of falling asleep, either immediately or after a defined or predefined (e.g. predetermined) interval. Before powering off or otherwise deactivating its wake-up receiving unit (WUR) and / or the PDCCH monitoring unit the device may transmit / send the fall-asleep signal (FAS) 1390c,i to the network. This signal 1390c,i may contain information of when and / or for how long the UE will fall asleep. In this example, the device sends the FAS in the form of a request because it is asking the network for permission to fall asleep. In this case, the request is answered in the form of a FAS response 1390c,2which may take the form of either a simple confirmation message or, alternatively, contains instructions for when the device can switch off its WUR. In other words, the device’s FAS request 1390c,i was answered with the FAS response 1390c,2 that granted the device permission to enter into a sleep mode, immediately or not immediately. The FAS response 1390c,2sent from the network and received by the device’s WUR (rather than its PDCCH monitor) contained information that instructed the device to switch off its WUR.

[0328] In other words, in accordance with embodiments and the example presented in Fig. 13c, the device / UE may transmit the FAS 1390c,i as a request to the network and may await a response signal from the network. The response signal may be a confirmation signal (e.g. the FAS 1390c,i as a response signal, an acknowledgement, AWK) indicating a confirmation (e.g. grant of permission) to fall asleep. The confirmation signal may further indicate the confirmation to execute the switching.

[0329] It should be noted that in accordance with the examples presented herein (especially in regard to Figs. 13a-c)- Falling asleep with notification, the FAS can include information of the intended or requested sleep mode (“sleep mode”, “deep sleep mode” or “hibernation mode”) and that in association with this, one or more of the device’s receivers (“PDCCH monitoring unit”, “wakeup receiver, WUR” or “pre-wake-up receiver, PWLIR”) are powered off or otherwise deactivated.

[0330] Whist both Fig. 13b and Fig. 13c show a well-behaved and bilateral request-response communication between the device / UE and the network, the invention allows for an ill-behaved negotiation. For example, when a device / UE sends a FAS request but does not receive a FAS response, it is not limited to perform one or more of the following: resend FAS requests of a given number; resend FAS requests for a given period; abort any attempts to enter a sleep mode; or enter a sleep mode pattern.

[0331] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the device may execute the switching in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event. Further, the device may transmit another fall asleep (e.g. of the set of FAS) or to resend the FAS in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

[0332] Further, the device may transmit another fall asleep signal (or even more FAS) enhanced (e.g. according to) by a time schedule when the device intends to activate the WUR or PDCCH monitor in the future or to resend the FAS in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event. For example, the purpose of transmitting another FAS may be to allow another network connection attempt or initiation in the future. This could be equivalent to the device / UE sleeping currently (or in one of the second, the third and the fourth operating modes) and checking for WUS or paging signals (or other signals) at predetermined time points, or predetermined time intervals. This checking for the WUS or the paging signals (or other signals) could also be executed according to predetermined patterns.

[0333] For example, the predetermined event may comprise at least one of a time out associated with the confirmation signal; a loss of a link to at least one network node; a battery or power level of the device; and a reception of a request to leave an operating mode and / or to enter (or switch to) a specific operating mode.

[0334] Since the device / UE communicates with the network, it could be that other devices (or nodes) in the network may receive or transmit signals to the device / UE described here. For example, the device / UE may receive the response signal comprising the confirmation signal or the refusal signal from another device / UE to which the FAS was sent to. Alternatively, the device / UE may receive the response signal comprising the confirmation signal or the refusal signal from a different device (compared to the device / UE to which the FAS was sent to). This different device could be based on the transmitted FAS.

[0335] Further, the device may receive the response signal based on the FAS indicating an operating mode of the switching. In particular, the device may enter (switch to) the indicated operating mode based on the response signal when switching from the first operating mode.

[0336] Notes on the fall-asleep signal and wake-up signals

[0337] In the foregoing discussion, a fall asleep signal (FAS) has been shown to take different forms depending on its use. For example, the FAS can be considered as or take the form of:

[0338] • A statement in which a device sends a transmission to inform the network that it is going to fall asleep either: o immediately; or o at a time in the future which is:

[0339] • defined absolutely with reference to a system time, a reference time, a network time, a time server; or

[0340] • defined relatively with reference to the time of the transmission, for example, “In T seconds from now”.

[0341] • A statement may also include information relating to the planned: o sleep mode (e.g. “sleep mode”, “deep sleep mode”, “hibernation mode”); o sleep duration (e.g. “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds); o sleep pattern

[0342] ■ e.g. pattern 1 comprises “sleep mode” for L-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds, “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for P-seconds, “sleep mode” for L-seconds, repeat;

[0343] ■ e.g. pattern 2 comprises “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “sleep mode” for L-seconds, repeat.

[0344] • A reguest in which a transmission is sent from the device to the network asking for permission to fall asleep either: o immediately; or o at a time in the future which is:

[0345] ■ defined absolutely with reference to a system time, a reference time, a network time, a time server; or

[0346] ■ defined relatively with reference to the time of the transmission, for example, “In T seconds from now”. A request may also include information relating to the requested: o sleep mode (e.g. “sleep mode”, “deep sleep mode”, “hibernation mode”); o sleep duration (e.g. “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds); o sleep pattern;

[0347] ■ e.g. pattern 1 comprises “sleep mode” for L-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds, “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for P-seconds, “sleep mode” for Q-seconds, repeat (where L, M, N, P and Q can be zero or any real value;

[0348] ■ e.g. pattern 2 comprises “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “sleep mode” for L-seconds, repeat.

[0349] • A response in which a transmission is sent from the network to: o a device that sent a request to the network; or o a plurality of devices that form a group of devices including the device that sent a request to the network.

[0350] • A response in which a transmission is sent from the network to one or more devices may grant or deny permission for the device(s) to fall asleep either: o immediately; or o at a time in the future which is:

[0351] ■ defined absolutely with reference to a system time, a reference time, a network time, a time server; or

[0352] ■ defined relatively with reference to the time of the transmission, for example, “In T seconds from now”.

[0353] • A response may also include information relating to the permitted: o sleep mode (e.g. “sleep mode”, “deep sleep mode”, “hibernation mode”); o sleep duration (e.g. “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds); o sleep pattern;

[0354] ■ e.g. pattern 1 comprises “sleep mode” for L-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for M-seconds, “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “deep sleep mode” for P-seconds, “sleep mode” for L-seconds, repeat;

[0355] ■ e.g. pattern 2 comprises “hibernation mode” for N-seconds, “sleep mode” for L-seconds, repeat;

[0356] In comparison to the FAS, the wake-up signal (WUS) can be:

[0357] An instruction or request as discussed in Sections “Network-initiated pre-wake-up sequence variants” and “UE-initiated wake-up sequence variants”

[0358] A response as discussed in Section “UE-initiated wake-up sequence variants

[0359] A response (to a FAS request) as discussed in this section (see above) In accordance with embodiments, the device may indicate an information associated with the switching with the fall asleep signal and / or an associated signal, the information indicating at least one of: an operating mode entered when falling asleep, e.g., sleep, deep sleep or hibernation; a time of the switching and / or a time duration until the switching; a duration of the entered operating mode; a pattern of operating modes entered based on the switching a time or duration of a switch from the entered operating mode into another operating mode; an operating mode following the operating mode entered when falling asleep.

[0360] In the following paragraphs, a device is described (along with its embodiments) which may be considered as a distinct device from the already described device(s) in this disclosure. However, the following device may also be considered the same as the already described device(s) apart from additional features and details not comprised in the latter. Therefore, it is emphasized that in both such considerations, embodiments, features and details not comprised in one device, when compared to other device(s), are transferable to other device(s), wherein the embodiments, features and details are so configured to apply them onto the other device(s), thereby forming further embodiments, and vice versa. These further embodiments and details as transferred onto each other are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure. For instance, in accordance with embodiments and in regard to Figs. 13a-c, a device may be adapted for a wireless communication comprising a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating modes may be a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The device may be adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. The device may be adapted to transmit a falling asleep signal, FAS, in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching. By this measure, this device may implement two options: one related to requesting the switching from the network and other related to announce the switching to the network.

[0361] To summarize, this section has taught that the FAS can be a statement, a request or a response and that the WUS can be an instruction, a request or a response. Furthermore, it has been explained that the nature of a response may be dependent upon the nature of a request.

[0362] As can be seen from the examples described above, e.g., Figures 13a-c in connection with the FAS and corresponding signalling, whilst a similar implementation is also for other signals such as the WMLIS, the WUS, the PWUS or the like, a signal transmitted and / or received by a device herein may be interpreted in multiple ways or, stated differently, a context of transmission or reception may provide for at least a part of interpretation of such a signal.

[0363] A possible reason is that receivers and / or transmitters with reduced complexity such as the WUR and / or the PWLIR or a wakeup transmitter, WUT, or a pre-wakeup transmitter PWLIT may also transmit comparatively simple signals in order to allow a low energy consumption at the transmitter and / or the receiver. In one example, the wakeup signal or the pre-wakeup signal comprises a chirp characteristic or a frequency sweep characteristic. Alternatively or in addition an ASK, FSK, PSK and / or QAM or other simple modulation techniques may be used. When referring to the examples of frequency sweep or chirp, such a signal may be received and its reception may be considered in view of the past actions perceived or performed by the device.

[0364] In the following paragraphs, a device is described (along with its embodiments) which may be considered as a distinct device from the already described device(s) in this disclosure. However, the following device may also be considered the same as the already described device(s) apart from additional features and details not comprised in the latter. Therefore, it is emphasized that in both such considerations, embodiments, features and details not comprised in one device, when compared to other device(s), are transferable to other device(s), wherein the embodiments, features and details are so configured to apply them onto the other device(s), thereby forming further embodiments, and vice versa. These further embodiments and details as transferred onto each other are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure. For example, a device having a communication arrangement adapted to at least temporarily operate in an operating mode where a receiver unit, e.g., the WUR and / or PWUR, of the communication arrangement may be configured to receive a wireless signal and to provide a receiver signal based on the wireless signal. This device may comprise a controller unit. The controller unit of the device may be configured for processing the receiver signal and to interpret the receiver signal as a response signal if the device has previously transmitted a request signal and to await a response to the request signal. The controller unit may be configured to interpret the receiver signal as a request signal if the device does not await a response to a request signal.

[0365] For example, the communication arrangement of the just-described device may comprise a WUR for receiving the wireless communication signal as a wakeup signal. For example, when referring to the WUR, the possibly same signal may be interpreted as a request to wake up i.e. the request signal may comprise a FAS that is responded with the wireless communication signal, the request signal being a wake-up request, see for example Fig. 11c or as a response indicating a refusal to fall asleep, see Fig. 13b, wherein the understanding, reaction or interpretation may be based on or may depend on the current message flow or prior signals or the fact that no prior signal provides context. For example, the FAS may be considered a request when being initiated by the device or may be a response / confirmation in case the procedure is initiated from outside the device. Signalling generalization

[0366] To generalize the discussion of previous sub-sections, Figure 14 introduces the concept of operating mode change signalling and the use of a downlink mode change request / response signal (DLMCRS) and an uplink mode change request / response signal (ULMCRS), as instantiated by a pictorial representation 1400. Here the mode in DLMCRS and LILMCRS refers to one of the operating modes that the device may operate in.

[0367] When considered together as signalling partners, the DLMCRS can request a operating mode change whilst the ULMCRS can respond that is has made a mode change or that the request is acknowledged. Similarly, the ULMCRS can request a mode change whilst the DLMCRS can respond that is has made a mode change or that the request is acknowledged. Furthermore, an acknowledgment of the acknowledgment can also be returned.

[0368] The DLMCRS thus forms a set of signals that can include both requests and responses. Examples are not limited to include: the pre-wake-up signal (PWUS) and the wake-up signal (WUS), transmitted / sent from the network to one or more devices as a request; and the WUS sent from the network to one or more devices in response to the FAS.

[0369] Similarly, the ULMCRS forms a set of signals that can include both requests and responses. Examples are not limited to include: the wake-me-up signal (WMUS) and the falling-asleep signal (FAS) sent from the device to the network as a request; and the WMUS sent from the device to the network as a request to the WUS.

[0370] In addition to the request / response as a dual nature of the ULMCRS, such signals can also be used for purpose of transmitting the beaconing signal (which has already been described previously in this disclosure) from the device to the network or from the device to other devices. The beaconing signal can be arranged to provide information about the device not limited to include the following examples: capabilities; category; availability; schedule; identity; location; position; orientation; and membership. Beacon messages may offer the advantages of a simplified form of unidirectional information transmission which avoids the need for handshaking, resource allocation, scheduling and the such like. For example, an loT device may send a repeated beacon transmission within a limited timeframe once per week.

[0371] In particular, figure 14 shows how the DLMCRS and the ULMCRS can be forwarded or relayed from one network entity to another or to an over-the-top (OTT) 1412. Examples of forwarding are not limited to include: from a first device / UE (UEi) 1402i to a second device / UE (UE2) 14022; from the second device / UE (UE2) 14022to another device / UE (UEN) 1402N; from a first basestation (BSi)1406i to a second basestation (the latter not shown); and from a first core network (CNi) 1404i to another (second) core network (CNN) 1404N. Additional examples of DLMCRS and ULMCRS are possible and the above listed instances shall not restrict such additional examples.

[0372] The figure 14 also illustrates that forwarding between devices / UEs 14042, 1404N might involve one or more satellite hops 14181, 14182 involving (at least one) satellite 1416i . For example, the forwarding involving the DLMCRS and the LILMCRS between UE2 14022 and UEN 1402N may comprise a first satellite hop 14181 from the UE214022 to the satellite 1416i and a second satellite hop from the satellite 14161 to the UEN 1402N..

[0373] Relaying may make use of 3GPP radio access technology (RAT) including sidelink (SL), other RATs and may operate in either licensed or unlicensed spectrum. For instance, as shown in Fig. 14, the relaying between UE1 1402i and the first basestation (BSi)1406i may make use of the 3GPP RAT unlicensed, or, licensed spectrum. In particular, as shown in Fig. 14, the forwarding involving the DLMCRS and the ULMCRS between any of the UEs 1402i.Nmay be communicated, or operated, in 3GPP sidelink or other RATs, wherein the forwarding may be adapted for communication in either any licensed spectrum or any unlicensed spectrum.

[0374] The process of signal and / or message forwarding is related to the discussion of groups provided further in the disclosure.

[0375] The physical transmission of the DLMCRS and the ULMCRS can be associated with a spatial, spectral or temporal quantity as represented by Figure 15a-c. From left to right, Fig. 15 shows simplified representations of DLMCRS and ULMCRS signalling association with physical entities or signal that are: a) spatial; b) spectral and c) temporal. In addition, and not shown in the figure, is an association with a polarization of an electromagnetic wave (e.g., left-hand circular, right-hand circular, vertical, horizontal, +45°, -45° polarization and so on). The physical signals can be transmitted using a modulation scheme not limited to include: amplitude modulation; frequency modulation; phase modulation; amplitude shift keying modulation; frequency shift keying modulation; phase shift keying modulation; pulse-amplitude modulation; pulse-position modulation; pulse-width modulation; pulse-code modulation; or any combination thereof. Similarly, the signals may also be coded or encrypted.

[0376] The content or the message part contained within a DLMCRS or ULMCRS may include:

[0377] Device o identification o location, position and orientation o status - e.g. battery voltage, batter capacity o capabilities o class o group identifier o contractability (time, date) o connectivity (3GPP RRC, 3GPP sidelink, non-3GPP RAT) o status (PWLIR on / off, WUR on / off, PDCCH monitor on / off) o availability mechanism (by PWLIS, WUS, PDCCH)

[0378] Message o type o priority o importance o urgency o validity o request or response o source address and destination address

[0379] I ntention / expectation o transmit request o keep-me-alive signal o available to be contacted

[0380] Messages can be comprised of content that is intended for one or more than one recipient. The device or the one or more Devices may have the ability to retrieve device-specific content whilst forwarding the message towards other addressees as will be further explained later in this disclosure.

[0381] According to embodiments, a device adapted for a wireless communication may comprise a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The device may change from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operating mode according to the reception opportunity.

[0382] In accordance with embodiments, the power saving modes may include a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode. Further, in accordance with embodiments, the wireless communication signal may comprise a beaconing signal indicating at least one of: how long the device will sleep before it next enters the first operation mode; • how long it will stay in the first operation mode the next time it awakes;

[0383] • information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beaconing signal, e.g. as relative information or as absolute information;

[0384] • a location of the device or alternatively, the wireless communication signal may comprise a request to a different mode to transmit a wakeup signal to the device to cause the device to enter the first operating mode.

[0385] It is emphasized that this just-described device (referred to also as second device henceforth) may be considered as a distinct device in comparison to the previously described device (i.e. referred to as the first device when comparing to other devices) in this disclosure. However, the second device could alternatively be the same device as the first device but with additional details described in the previous paragraphs. Therefore, in both such considerations, embodiments of the first device disclosed previously and embodiments of the second device are transferable on to one another, so as to be configured to apply these details onto each other alternatively or additionally, thereby forming new embodiments for each of the devices. Further, examples and details of embodiments described in Figs. 1-16 may also be applied to the second device with appropriate adjustments. These embodiments and details as applied are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure.

[0386] According to embodiments, a device adapted for a wireless communication may comprise a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The communication arrangement may be configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event. The device may be adapted to transmit a fist signal in the first operating and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

[0387] Further, in accordance with embodiments, an average power consumption of the communication arrangement in the second operating mode is lower when compared to the first operating mode and / or a processing of the second signal is less complex or consumes less energy at the device and / or a decoding of the second signal at a receiver device / unit of the signal is less complex or consumes less energy when compared to the first signal.

[0388] It is emphasized that this just-described device (referred to also as third device henceforth) may be considered as a distinct device in comparison to the previously described devices (i.e. the first device and the second device) in this disclosure. However, the third device could alternatively be the same device as the first or the second device but with additional details described in the previous paragraphs. Therefore, in both such considerations, embodiments of the first and / or the second devices disclosed previously and embodiments of the third device are transferable on to one another, so as to be configured to apply these details onto each other alternatively or additionally, thereby forming new embodiments for each of the devices. Further, examples and details of embodiments described in Figs. 1-16 may also be applied to the third device with appropriate adjustments. These embodiments and details as applied are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure.

[0389] Problem 7:

[0390] Embodiments provide for a solution on how to inform the network about reachability in the future before the device goes into an energy saving mode,, e.g. one of the sleep modes such as the sleep mode and the deep sleep, or inactive, idle, intermittent links.

[0391] Solution 7:

[0392] The device may, for instance, when determining that a link will be interrupted, transmit a signal comprising information about its future availability, e.g., as it will enter sleep or deep sleep mode or even hibernation mode.

[0393] Problem 8:

[0394] Embodiments provide for a solution regarding how to initiate in sparse connection opportunity scenarios, wherein the network has temporarily limited coverage possibilities.

[0395] Solution 8:

[0396] According to embodiments, the communication arrangement may comprise different transmitter stages or transmitter units being able to be configured differently or comprising different complexity resulting in a decreased energy consumption when operating in lower complex modes. This may be implemented similar to the receiver stages or receiver units and may be implemented accordingly or independently from the receiver stages.

[0397] That is, whilst embodiments for the receiver side relate to increasingly save energy when limiting the reception capability from the awake mode to the sleep mode to the deep sleep mode to the hibernation mode regardless whether the device is able to transmit or not, a similar approach may be implemented for the transmitter side regardless whether the device is able to receive or not. For example, the device may be a TX device that is configured as a store and forward device, e.g., that has stored information to be transmitted or distributed. The device may be adapted, e.g., for different transmit tasks (e.g., messages of different priorities, different amount of data, ... .) use one of a configuration of a transmitter stage or to use a respective transmitter unit of the communication arrangement. For example, the device may transmit a message one or repeatedly and may then enter an energy saving mode again, e.g., without transmitting the same and / or a different message until a next transmission event. The device may announce such an event, e.g., the time, location, frequency, and / or space to allow preparation for this event at a receiver side and / or at other transmitters.

[0398] Problem 9

[0399] How can a device signal its presence and intention to communicate whilst in an environment which is sparsely covered by a communications network? Here, energy efficiency is of importance.

[0400] Solution 9

[0401] The present disclosure considers a device being in a situation wherein the device has detected that currently no communication opportunities towards a network are available.

[0402] In order to reduce energy consumption the device may not monitor all possible communication channels and switch of its receiver units (such as PDCCH monitor, WUR, PWLIR, etc.). Such an operational mode makes the device unavailable or undetectable or non-contactable through the use of paging, WUS or PWLIS.

[0403] The inventors propose to solve this situation by operating the device with the receivers switched OFF and to transmit at particular points of time or in intervals a transmission signal. Such a transmission signal may contain information not limited to include the following: a beacon, e.g. an “being alive beacon”

[0404] Location, e.g. “I am here beacon” in form of a positioning reference signal

[0405] ID of the device about the intention of the device to communicate

[0406] Time or periods when the device will have a receiver active (PDCCH On, PWLIR On OR WUR On)

[0407] - Announcements (explicit or implicit) about further information containing signals

[0408] To operate a transmission mode effectively and efficiently the transmitted signal shall be energy efficient, wherein energy efficiency refers to at least one of:

[0409] Transmission occurs seldomly, e.g. every few minutes, hours Transmission bursts are as short as possible to save power consumed by the signal processing and power amplifier devices / components / modules

[0410] • Waveforms should be energy efficient, e.g. waveforms with low peak to average power ratio, PAPR

[0411] • Waveform generation should require low computation and reduced processing complexity

[0412] • Signal detection at a receiving device, e.g. a gNB or satellite, should require low processing complexity and / or good auto / cross correlation properties.

[0413] Such combinations of energy saving methods can be reflected in the proposed transmit signal design.

[0414] In the following paragraphs, a device is described (along with its embodiments) which may be considered as a distinct device from the already described device(s) in this disclosure. However, the following device may also be considered the same as the already described device(s) apart from additional features and details not comprised in the latter. Therefore, it is emphasized that in both such considerations, embodiments, features and details not comprised in one device, when compared to other device(s), are transferable to other device(s), wherein the embodiments, features and details are so configured to apply them onto the other device(s), thereby forming further embodiments, and vice versa. These further embodiments and details as transferred onto each other are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure.

[0415] Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, a device adapted for a wireless communication may comprise a communication arrangement comprising a receiver arrangement and a transmitter arrangement. The receiver arrangement may be adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode (e.g. alive mode) to receive wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second of the set of operating modes may be a mode where the receiver arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode and the receiver arrangement is configured for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. For example, this switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode may be to execute or achieve sleeping. The transmitter arrangement may be adapted to transmit a wireless signal during a time where the receiver arrangement operates in the second operating mode.

[0416] For instance, in accordance with embodiments, the device may switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on an unavailability of at least a part of a connection to the wireless communication network or a communication partner. For instance, in accordance with embodiments, the wireless signal may comprise information indicating at least one of: a beacon, e.g. a “being alive” beacon; a location, e.g. “I am here” beacon in form of a positioning reference signal; an identifier of the device; an intention or request of the device to communicate; a time or a period when the device will have a receiver unit active (e.g. PDCCH ON, or, PWUR ON, or WUR ON) or one or more receiver units active, such as combinations where at least two of the PDCCH monitoring unit, PWLIR and WUR are active simultaneously; an announcement about further information containing signals, for instance, such an announcement could be an explicit or implicit announcement.

[0417] For instance, in accordance with embodiments, the device may transmit and / or retransmit the wireless signal based on at least one of:

[0418] • that the transmission occurs seldom, e.g. a frequency of the transmission, or in other words, how often the transmission is performed, this could be every few minutes or hours;

[0419] • that a transmission burst (or bursts) is as short as possible or below a predetermined threshold to save power consumed by the signal processing and transmitter unit such as power amplifier devices / components / modules;

[0420] • that an energy efficient waveform is used, e.g. waveforms with low peak to average power ratio, PAPR;

[0421] • that generation of the waveform requires low computation and reduced processing complexity that a signal detection at a receiving device, such as gNB or a satellite, requires low processing complexity and / or good auto- / cross-correlation properties. Possible implementation options include:

[0422] • T ransmission of a short and simple signal at regular intervals (easier to recognise by a scanning receiver) Signal A

[0423] • Signal A might be followed by a more complex or longer transmission signal B at a smaller repetition rate (larger intervals if repeated) o Signal B can be split up into parts, B1 , B2, B3, wherein the different parts may represent different versions of the same signal (different waveforms, different standards, etc.) OR the combination of B1 ,... ,Bn allows extraction of more information by a receiver.

[0424] • Signal A and signal B would be different in the level of energy consumed by either transmitting them or by receiving them with a scanning / monitoring receiver at the network side. Besides energy consumption signal processing complexity or the ease to detect may be a further / alternative design criteria. Low-complexity and energy-efficient transmitters and receivers aim to optimize the use of resources while maintaining reliable communication. These systems typically require specific implementations of transmitter electronics and receiver electronics. Here follows a set of examples of signals and modulation schemes that can be implemented using such systems, along with their corresponding transmitter and receiver implementations:

[0425] • Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK): o Transmitter Implementation: ASK modulation involves varying the amplitude of the carrier signal to represent digital data. In a low-complexity ASK transmitter, the implementation can be as simple as an on-off switch that controls the power amplifier to generate the desired carrier amplitude. o Receiver Implementation: The receiver for ASK involves detecting the amplitude variations of the received signal. A low-complexity ASK receiver typically consists of a bandpass filter, envelope detector, and a comparator to recover the digital data from the received signal.

[0426] • Frequency Shift Keying (FSK): o Transmitter Implementation: FSK modulation requires switching the frequency of the carrier signal based on the digital data. In a low-complexity FSK transmitter, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) can be used to generate two different frequencies corresponding to the binary states. o Receiver Implementation: The receiver for FSK involves detecting the frequency changes in the received signal. A low-complexity FSK receiver typically consists of a bandpass filter, frequency discriminator, and a comparator to decode the digital data from the received signal.

[0427] • Phase Shift Keying (PSK): o Transmitter Implementation: PSK modulation involves changing the phase of the carrier signal to represent digital data. In a low-complexity PSK transmitter, a phase-locked loop (PLL) or a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) can be used to generate the desired carrier phases. o Receiver Implementation: The receiver for PSK involves demodulating the phase changes in the received signal. A low-complexity PSK receiver typically consists of a bandpass filter, phase detector, and a decision circuit to recover the digital data from the received signal.

[0428] • Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM): o Transmitter Implementation: QAM modulation combines both amplitude and phase variations to transmit digital data. In a low-complexity QAM transmitter, the implementation can involve generating two orthogonal carrier signals with different amplitudes and phases, which are then combined to form the QAM signal. o Receiver Implementation: The receiver for QAM involves demodulating both amplitude and phase variations in the received signal. A low-complexity QAM receiver typically consists of a bandpass filter, quadrature demodulator, and a decision circuit to recover the digital data from the received signal.

[0429] • Signal A could be transmitted at points of time which are known a priori and shared across different networks, e.g. emergency time slots where every other communication is silenced or where other devices switch on their receivers to scan for transmission signals.

[0430] • Signal A could by a “I am alive signal” while signal B might describe the intention to communicate and when the device will be ready / available to initiate a communication (i.e. a receiver will be switched on).

[0431] • Signal A, an “I am alive signal” could also contain information about who is alive or in other words to provide a means of identification such as a device ID, MAC address, serial number, group identifier.

[0432] By introducing such TX on & RX off operational modes, a device can announce its presence and intention to communicate in an energy efficient manner, most suitable for situations with rare communication opportunities (e.g. a sensor device in a remote area where satellite or other communication capable devices pass by from time to time, requiring the device to initiate communication in an energy conservative way). of devices

[0433] A group can be formed of devices belonging to a defined set. A member of the group can respond to a specific PWLIS or a specific WUS signal or a part of the signals therein.

[0434] Members of a group can be configured to relay the PWLIS and / or the WUS and / or the WMUS and / or the PDCCH and / or the PDSCH and / or the PUCCH and / or the PUSCH or parts thereof to other members of the group or of the network. This can be used for outdoor-to-(deep)indoor relaying. The WMUS can contain an asynchronous RACH signal (which can be forwarded by members of the group).

[0435] The concept of "Chinese Whispers" refers to a game in which a message is whispered from one person to another in a chain, often resulting in a distorted or entirely altered end message. It is a playful reminder of how easily miscommunication can occur when information is relayed through word of mouth.

[0436] In the game, players sit in a line or a circle, and the first player whispers a message to the next player, who then whispers it to the next, and so on. The final player announces the message they received, which is often significantly different from the original message. This game highlights the potential for errors and misinterpretations that can arise when information is passed along a chain of individuals. Whereas in the game of Chinese whispers the relaying from one player to the next is done as quickly as possible, in a network of loT devices it might not be possible for a first device to establish communication with a second device at the same moment of time or within a short time interval after the first device has received information for an intended second device. The “instant” and “delayed” message propagation are described with the following two examples:

[0437] 1 . The device being a first loT device receives from the base station transceiver, BTS, a Wake-up / Paging / Broadcast signal that the first loT device is capable of passing on to many additional loT devices. This is an example of one-to-many propagation.

[0438] 2. The device being a first loT device that at some point in time may not necessarily be in coverage of a basestation is capable of passing on loT beacon information to another device being a second loT device wherein the second loT device is either in coverage or not in coverage of a basestion. Depending on whether or not it is in coverage, the second loT device either further forwards the beacon information or transmits the beacon signal, respectively. This is an example of one-to-one propagation. loT-like repeater (range extender)

[0439] 1 . Downlink (FDD Band X) a. Case A i. loT repeater (Forwarding in same or different time slot, e.g. A&F, S&F / D&F. For the repeater, a repeating window size allows future time slots used for N / W<— >loT to be covered — single-hop, multi-hop, etc.) ii. loT repeater loT device(s) b. Case B i. N / W -> loT device(s) ii. loT device(s) loT repeater(s) iii. loT repeater(s) loT device(s) c. Case C i. N / W -> loT device(s) ii. loT devices(s) loT device(s) d. Case D i. N / W -> loT device(s)

[0440] 2. Uplink (FDD Band Y) a. Case A i. loT device(s) loT repeater(s) ii. loT repeater( b. Case B i. loT device(s) loT repeater(s) ii. loT repeater(s) loT device(s) iii. loT device(s) N / W(s) c. Case C i. loT device(s) loT device(s) ii. loT device(s) N / W(s) d. Case D i. loT device(

[0441] Considerations for signals to be forwarded

[0442] • Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of who should forward. This could include for example: o A single loT device o A group of loT devices o All loT devices receiving the forwarding request

[0443] • Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of to whom should the forwarded message be forwarded to. Matters to be considered include the following for example: o Number of hops permitted for forwarding o Number of hops made

[0444] • Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of what should be forwarded. Any one or more of the following: o WUS o paging information o broadcast signal o beacon signal o ephemris data o activation / deactivation schedules (windows of opportunity for communication / power saving / interference management / “listening for distress signals or weaklings”) o payload o energy (e.g. to charge passive RFID / loT devices) (energy can be provided in Bands X, Y or Z where Z is different to X or Y or a sweep across a range of frequencies)

[0445] • Embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of when should a signal be received / transmitted / forwarded. o According to an absolute or relative schedule including for example: a start time / frequency; a stop time / frequency; ■ a duration / sweep;

[0446] ■ a number of cycles / repetitions / sweeps;

[0447] ■ a regular or irregular sequence or pattern (hopping pattern); or

[0448] ■ upon a trigger / event / threshold / decision. o Time can be referenced to:

[0449] ■ the device;

[0450] ■ the repeater;

[0451] ■ accumulated timing shift (through multi-hop); or

[0452] ■ the network.

[0453] According to embodiments, a device adapted for a wireless communication may comprise a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The device may change from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operating mode according to the reception opportunity.

[0454] In accordance with embodiments, the power saving modes may include a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode. Further, in accordance with embodiments, the wireless communication signal may comprise a beaconing signal indicating at least one of:

[0455] • how long the device will sleep before it next enters the first operation mode;

[0456] • how long it will stay in the first operation mode the next time it awakes;

[0457] • information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beaconing signal, e.g. as relative information or as absolute information;

[0458] • a location of the device or alternatively, the wireless communication signal may comprise a request to a different mode to transmit a wakeup signal to the device to cause the device to enter the first operating mode.

[0459] It is emphasized that this just-described device (referred to also as second device henceforth) may be considered as a distinct device in comparison to the previously described device (i.e. referred to as the first device when comparing to other devices) in this disclosure. However, the second device could alternatively be the same device as the first device but with additional details described in the previous paragraphs. Therefore, in both such considerations, embodiments of the first device disclosed previously and embodiments of the second device are transferable on to one another, so as to be configured to apply these details onto each other alternatively or additionally, thereby forming new embodiments for each of the devices. Further, examples and details of embodiments described in Figs. 1-16 may also be applied to the second device with appropriate adjustments. These embodiments and details as applied are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure.

[0460] According to embodiments, a device adapted for a wireless communication may comprise a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes. A first operating mode of the set of operating modes may be an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication. A second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode. The communication arrangement may be configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event. The device may be adapted to transmit a fist signal in the first operating and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

[0461] Further, in accordance with embodiments, an average power consumption of the communication arrangement in the second operating mode is lower when compared to the first operating mode and / or a processing of the second signal is less complex or consumes less energy at the device and / or a decoding of the second signal at a receiver device / unit of the signal is less complex or consumes less energy when compared to the first signal.

[0462] It is emphasized that this just-described device (referred to also as third device henceforth) may be considered as a distinct device in comparison to the previously described devices (i.e. the first device and the second device) in this disclosure. However, the third device could alternatively be the same device as the first or the second device but with additional details described in the previous paragraphs. Therefore, in both such considerations, embodiments of the first and / or the second devices disclosed previously and embodiments of the third device are transferable on to one another, so as to be configured to apply these details onto each other alternatively or additionally, thereby forming new embodiments for each of the devices. Further, examples and details of embodiments described in Figs. 1-16s may also be applied to the third device with appropriate adjustments. These embodiments and details as applied are not repeated herein for the sake and brevity of the disclosure.

[0463] According to embodiments, a network entity may adapted to operate in a wireless communication network and may serve a plurality of devices with wireless communication. The network entity may transmit a common pre-wake up signal or a common wake up signal to the plurality of devices to cause the plurality of devices to increase a power consumption. For instance, the power consumption may be increased for communication with the network entity. For example, the network entity may comprise a base station, a local management function, LMF, a satellite or a core network function entity.

[0464] It is noted that the aforementioned network entity may correspond to any of the network entities of the wireless network 100 described in regards to Fig. 1.

[0465] It is feasible that the plurality of devices may include at least one of first devices, second devices and third devices, which have already been described. For example, the network entity may also transmit both the common PWLIS and the common WUS. It is also feasible that, for instance, the network entity may transmit common PWLIS and / or common WUS to a subset of the plurality of devices whilst it may transmit different PWUS and / or different WUS to the rest of the plurality of devices. Therefore, in accordance with embodiments, the network entity may select the plurality of devices as a first subset from devices servable by the network entity whilst unselecting at least a second subset from the devices servable by the network entity.

[0466] Further, according to embodiments, the first subset may be selected based on at least one of: an identification of the devices; a location, position and / or orientation of the devices; a status of the devices; a capability of the devices; a class of the devices; a group identifier of the devices; a contactabillity of the devices (time, date); a connectivity of the devices (3GPP RRC, 3GPP sidelink, non-3GPP RAT); a status of a communication arrangement of the devices (PWUR on / off, WUR on / off, PDCCH monitor on / off); an availability mechanism of the devices (by PWUS, WUS, PDCCH).

[0467] Further embodiments (and details thereof) relate to operating and configuring devices described herein, e.g., implemented as a method and / or as a data carrier having stored thereon instructions to execute such a method.

[0468] Benefits of the invention

[0469] The invention disclosed herein can be summarized to offer the following benefits:

[0470] 1. Use of the PWUS to transition from the deep sleep mode to the sleep mode (WUR ON).

[0471] 2. Use of the hibernation mode as an operating mode (or state) from which the operating mode (or state) switch / change is not possibly using 3GPP triggers.

[0472] 3. Definition of triggers outside of 3GPP (wireless signals) - paging, TV and radio transmission. 4. Signalling of operating modes and operating mode transitions from “awake” mode to any sleep mode (including hibernation). Purpose — to allow network to re-initiate awake mode efficiently and effectively.

[0473] 5. Use of WMUS signal

[0474] 6. Beaconing built in to the WMUS signal. “To whom it may concern”; who I am; where I am; when I am going to listen (listening schedule); when I would like to be awoken; what I am; what I want to be; what I want to do.

[0475] 7. The use of groups to signal to defined sets of devices.

[0476] Embodiments of the invention relate to:

[0477] According to a first implementation a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a wireless fall asleep signal in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching, e.g. two options: a) announcing; b) requesting.

[0478] According to a second implementation the device of implementation 1 is provided, wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitor for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitor based on the transmitted fall asleep signal.

[0479] According to a third implementation the device of implementation 1 or 2 is provided, wherein the device is to announce the switching and to execute the switching corresponding to the switching announcement. According to a fourth implementation the device of implementation 3 is provided, wherein the device is to postpone or skip the switching responsive to receiving a refusal signal indicating a refusal of the switching by the network.

[0480] According to a fifth implementation the device of implementation 4 is provided, wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitor for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitor based on the transmitted fall asleep signal; wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive a wakeup signal that causes the device to switch to the first operating mode; wherein the device is configured to receive the refusal signal indicating the refusal of the switching with the WUR, e.g. leaves the structure of the WUS open, e.g., whether it is the same or different to the regular WUS.

[0481] According to a sixth implementation the device of one of implementations 2 to 5 is provided, wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitor for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitor based on the transmitted fall asleep signal; wherein the device is to reactivate the PDCCH monitor based on the refusal signal indicating the refusal of the switching, e.g. reactivate, or to postpone deactivating the PDCCH monitor until a deactivation event happens such as a confirmation signal indicating a confirmation to fall asleep is received using the PDCCH monitor or the WUR and / or a time has lapsed since announcing the switching.

[0482] According to a seventh implementation the device of one of implementations 1 to 6 is provided, wherein in the second operating mode a PDCCH monitor and a wakeup receiver, WUR, is inactive.

[0483] According to an eighth implementation the device of one of implementations 1 to 7 is provided, wherein the device is to transmit the fall asleep signal as a request to the network and to await a response signal, e.g. ACK, from the network, the confirmation signal indicating a confirmation to fall asleep; and to execute the switching based on the confirmation signal. According to a ninth implementation the device of implementation 8 is provided, wherein the device is to execute the switching in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

[0484] According to a tenth implementation the device of one of implementations 8 or 9 is provided, wherein the device is to transmit another fall asleep signal or to resend the fall asleep signal in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

[0485] According to an eleventh implementation the device of one of implementations 8 to 10 is provided, wherein the device is to transmit another fall asleep signal enhanced by a time schedule when the device intends to activate the WUR or PDCCH monitor in the future, e.g. purpose to allow another network connection initiation in the future = equivalent or similar to “I will be OFF from now on, but will check WUS or paging signals then and then”, or to resend the fall asleep signal in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

[0486] According to a twelfth implementation the device of implementation 10 or 11 is provided, wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of:

[0487] • a timeout associated with the confirmation signal;

[0488] • a loss of a link to at least one network node;

[0489] • a battery level of the device;

[0490] • a receive a request to leave a mode and / or to enter a specific mode

[0491] According to a thirteenth implementation the device of one of implementations 8 to 12 is provided, wherein the device is to receive a response signal comprising a confirmation signal or a refusal signal from a device to which the fall asleep signal was sent to or from a different device and based on the fall asleep signal.

[0492] According to a fourteenth implementation the device of one of implementations 8 to 13 is provided, wherein the device is to receive a response signal based on the fall asleep signal indicating an operating mode of the switching; wherein the device is to enter the indicated operating mode based on the response signal when switching from the first operating mode.

[0493] According to a fifteenth implementation the device of one of implementations 1 to 14 is provided, wherein the device is to indicate an information associated with the switching with the fall asleep signal and / or an associated signal, the information indicating at least one of: an operating mode entered when falling asleep, e.g., sleep, deep sleep or hibernation; • a time of the switching and / or a time duration until the switching;

[0494] • a duration of the entered operating mode;

[0495] • a pattern of operating modes entered based on the switching

[0496] • a time or duration of a switch from the entered operating mode into another operating mode;

[0497] • an operating mode following the operating mode entered when falling asleep.

[0498] According to a sixteenth implementation a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement comprising a receiver arrangement and a transmitter arrangement; wherein the receiver arrangement is adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a mode where the receiver arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the receiver arrangement is configured for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, e.g. sleeping; wherein the transmitter arrangement is adapted to transmit a wireless signal during a time where the receiver arrangement operates in the second operating mode.

[0499] According to a seventeenth implementation the device of implementation 16 is provided, wherein the device is to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on an unavailability of at least a part of a connection to the wireless communication network or a communication partner.

[0500] According to a eighteenth implementation the device of implementation 16 or 17 is provided, wherein the wireless signal contains information indicating at least one of:

[0501] • a beacon, e.g. an “being alive beacon”;

[0502] • a location, e.g. “I am here beacon” in form of a positioning reference signal;

[0503] • an identifier of the device;

[0504] • an intention or request of the device to communicate; a time or a period when the device will have a receiver active (PDCCH On, PWUR On OR WUR On); an announcement (explicit or implicit) about further information containing signals.

[0505] According to a nineteenth implementation the device of one of implementations 16 to 18 is provided, wherein the device is to transmit and / or retransmit the signal based on at least one of:

[0506] • that the transmission occurs seldomly, e.g. every few minutes, hours

[0507] • that a transmission burst is as short as possible or below a predetermined threshold to save power consumed by the signal processing and transmitter unit such as power amplifier devices / components / modules;

[0508] • that an energy efficient waveforms is used, e.g. waveforms with low peak to average power ratio, PAPR

[0509] • that generation of the waveform requires low computation and reduced processing complexity

[0510] • that a signal detection at a receiving device, e.g. a gNB or satellite, requires low processing complexity and / or good auto / cross correlation properties.

[0511] According to a twentieth implementation the device of one of implementations 16 to 19 is provided, being in accordance with one of implementations 1 to 15.

[0512] According to a twenty-first implementation a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to at least temporarily operate in an operating mode where a receiver unit, e.g. WUR, of the communication arrangement is configured to receive a wireless signal and to provide a receiver signal based on the wireless signal; a controller unit; wherein the controller unit is configured for processing the receiver signal and to interpret the receiver signal as a response signal if the device has previously transmitted a request signal and awaits a response to the request signal; and to interpret the receiver signal as a request signal if the device does not await a response to a request signal. According to a twenty-second implementation the device of implementation 21 is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, for receiving the wireless signal as a wakeup signal.

[0513] According to a twenty-third implementation the device of claim 22 is provided, wherein the request comprises a fall asleep signal that is responded with the wireless signal; and wherein the request is a wakeup request.

[0514] According to a twenty-fourth implementation the device of one of implementations 21 to 23 is provided, being in accordance with one of implementations 1 to 20.

[0515] According to a twenty-fifth implementation a device configured for operating in a wireless communication network is presented; wherein the device is to transmit, e.g., based on a determined necessity or optimization potential, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicting a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of a second device; and / or wherein the device is to receive, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicting a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of the device and to operate based on the request signal.

[0516] According to a twenty-sixth implementation the device of implementation 25 is provided, wherein the device is to respond the received request signal by transmitting a response signal indicating a confirmation and / or a refusal and / or a counterproposal for the uplink mode or the downlink mode.

[0517] According to a twenty-seventh implementation the device of implementation 25 or 26 is provided, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal comprises device related information related to the device or the second device.

[0518] According to a twenty-eighth implementation the device of one of implementations 25 to 27 is provided, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal comprises message related information related to the request signal or a response signal.

[0519] According to a twenty-ninth implementation the device of one of implementations 25 to 28 is provided, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal is transmitted in the network to request a behavior of at least one device; to request to be kept alive or awake; and / or to be contactable.

[0520] According to a thirtieth implementation the device of one of one of implementations 25 to 29 is provided, being in accordance with one of implementations 1 to 24.

[0521] According to a thirty-first implementation, a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement, e.g. receiver might be too limiting; transceiver might however indicate a necessity to TX signals, adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode, e.g. name may be adapted, to receive e.g. when comparing TX and RX at least RX seems to be mandatory, a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; e.g. device unable to receive the wireless communication signal, wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on a received wakeup signal being a wireless , e.g. radio, signal; wherein a third operating mode of the set of operating mode is a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the second operating mode; e.g. device unable to receive the first wireless signal, wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the third operating mode to the second operating mode based on a received pre-wakeup signal.

[0522] According to a thirty-second implementation the device of implementation 31 is provided, wherein the wakeup signal and the pre-wakeup signal comprise different parts of a same wireless signal.

[0523] According to a thirty-third implementation the device of implementation 32 is provided, wherein the communication interface is adapted to evaluate, in the third operation mode, a received signal for a pre-wakeup characteristic related to the pre-wakeup signal and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication interface based on the pre-wakeup characteristic to change from the third operation mode to the second operation mode; and to evaluate, in the second operation mode, the received signal for a wakeup signal characteristic associated with the wakeup signal and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication interface based on the wakeup characteristic to change from the second operation mode to the first operation mode.

[0524] According to a thirty-fourth implementation the device of implementation 31 is provided, wherein the wakeup signal and the pre-wakeup signal are different or distinct signals.

[0525] According to a thirty-fifth implementation the device of implementation 34 is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a first receiver unit adapted for the wakeup signal; and comprises a second receiver unit adapted for the pre-wakeup signal; wherein the device is to at least partially deactivate the firs receiver unit in the deep sleep mode; and to activate the first receiver unit based on the pre-wakeup signal.

[0526] According to a thirty-sixth implementation the device of implementation 35 is provided, wherein the second receiver unit comprises an average power consumption being lower than an average power consumption of the first receiver unit.

[0527] According to a thirty-seventh implementation the device of one of implementations 34 to 36 is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises one or more variable receiver stages adapted to consume a different amount of power in different configurations, e.g., by using a different number of stages and / or by adapting at least one element of a receiver stage; wherein in a first configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages the communication arrangement is configured for receiving or processing the pre-wakeup signal and not the wakeup signal; and wherein in a second configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages the communication arrangement is configured for receiving or processing the wakeup signal.

[0528] According to a thirty-eight implementation the device of implementation 37 is provided, wherein in the first configuration the communication arrangement comprises an average power consumption that is lower than in the second configuration.

[0529] According to a thirty-ninth implementation the device of one of implementations 34 to 38 is provided, adapted to receive the wakeup signal in a second frequency band being outside a first frequency band used in the first operating mode; and adapted to receive the pre-wakeup signal in a third frequency band being outside the first and outside the second frequency band.

[0530] According to a fortieth implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the wakeup signal or the pre-wakeup signal comprises a chirp characteristic or a frequency sweep characteristic.

[0531] According to a forty-first implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a monitoring unit, e.g., a PDCCH monitoring unit, wherein the monitoring unit is active in the first operation mode and inactive in the second operation mode and in the third operation mode.

[0532] According to a forty-second implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive the wakeup signal; wherein the WUR is active in the in the second operation mode and inactive in the third operation mode.

[0533] According to a forty-third implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a pre-wakeup receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive the pre-wakeup signal; wherein the PWUR is active in the in the third operation mode.

[0534] According to a forty-fourth implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the set of operating modes comprises a fourth operating mode being a hibernation mode in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement inactive [may receive neither the communication signal, the 1st signal nor the 2nd signal]; wherein the device is to change from the fourth operating mode into one of the first second or third operating modes based on an event.

[0535] According to a forty-fifth implementation the device of implementation 44 is provided, wherein the event relates to a sensor signal received from a sensor coupled to the device, preferably a sensor for measuring an environmental parameter of the device such as position, temperature; a pressure; a humidity

[0536] According to a forty-sixth implementation the device of one of implementations 44 or 45 is provided, wherein the device is adapted to change from the fourth operating mode directly or indirectly into the first operation mode without prior authentication to the network.

[0537] According to a forty-seventh implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the device is to perform a change from the first operation mode into a different, i.e. , 2nd, 3rd or 4th, operation mode in which at least a part of the communication arrangement is inactive to save power consumption, wherein the device is to transmit a beaconing signal using the communication arrangement to announce the change to another device.

[0538] According to a forty-eighth implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the device is to enter the first operation mode, e.g., from the 2nd, 3rd or 4th mode, for is transmitting a beaconing signal using the communication arrangement and to leave the first operation mode again. According to a forty-ninth implementation the device of one of previous implementations 47 or 48 is provided, wherein the beaconing signal indicates at least one of:

[0539] • how long the device will sleep before it next enters the third, second or first operation mode;

[0540] • how long it will stay in the third, second or first operation mode the next time it awakes;

[0541] • information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beacon signal, e.g., as relative information or as absolute information

[0542] • a location of the device

[0543] According to a fiftieth implementation the device of one of previous implementations 47 to 49, adapted to transmit the beaconing signal repeatedly and to indicate a parameter of repetition in the beaconing signal, e.g. a time interval, a next transmission, a last transmission.

[0544] According to a fifty-first implementation the device of one of previous implementations 47 to 50, wherein the device is to transmit the beaconing signal by use of a wakeup transmitter of the communication arrangement adapted to transmit a wakeup signal to another device.

[0545] According to a fifty-second implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the device is to transmit a wake-me-up signal once or repeatedly, e.g., in the awake mode or in the sleep mode to request a different node to transmit the wakeup signal to the device.

[0546] According to a fifty-third implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, wherein the device is to receive the wakeup signal and to transmit an acknowledgement signal to confirm reception of the wakeup signal.

[0547] According to a fifty-fourth implementation the device of implementation 53 is provided, wherein the acknowledgement signal is a wake-me-up signal used also to the request a different node to transmit the wakeup signal to the device; or is a different signal.

[0548] According to a fifty-fifth implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, being an Internet-of-Things, loT, device.

[0549] According to a fifty-sixth implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the second operating mode, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal; or being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the third operating mode, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal; or being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in a fourth operating mode operating being a hibernation mode in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement inactive, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal.

[0550] According to a fifty-seventh implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, being a battery powered device.

[0551] According to a fifty-eighth implementation a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate, in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode wherein the device is to change, from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operation mode according to the reception opportunity.

[0552] According to a fifty-nineth implementation the device of implementation 58 is provided, wherein the power saving mode includes a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode.

[0553] According to a sixtieth implementation the device of implementation 58 or 59 is provided, wherein the signal comprises a beaconing signal indicating at least one of:

[0554] • how long the device will sleep before it next enters the first operation mode;

[0555] • how long it will stay in the first operation mode the next time it awakes;

[0556] • information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beacon signal, e.g., as relative information or as absolute information;

[0557] • a location of the device or wherein the signal comprises a request to a different node to transmit a wakeup signal to the device to cause the device to enter the first operating mode.

[0558] According to a sixty-first implementation the device of one of implementation 58 to 60 is provided, wherein the device is in accordance with one of implementations 1 to 57. According to a sixty-second implementation the device of one of previous implementations is provided, having different transmit modes according to claims 63 to 65.

[0559] According to a sixty-third implementation a device adapted for a wireless communication is presented, comprising: a communication arrangement, e.g. transmitter; transceiver, adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode, e.g. name may be adapted, to transmit, a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; e.g. device unable to receive the wireless communication signal, wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a first signal in the first operating mode and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

[0560] According to a sixty-fourth implementation the device of implementation 63 is provided, wherein an average power consumption of the communication arrangement in the second operating mode is lower when compared to the first operating mode and / or wherein a processing of the second signal is less complex or consumes less energy at the device and / or a decoding of the second signal at a receiver device of the signal is less complex or consumes less energy when compared to the first signal.

[0561] According to a sixty-fifth implementation the device of implementation 63 or 64 is provided, being adapted in accordance with one of implementations 1 to 60.

[0562] According to a sixty-sixth implementation the device of implementation 1 to 15 is provided, being adapted in accordance with one of claims 1 to 65.

[0563] According to a sixty-seventh implementation a network entity such as a base station or a location management function, LMF, or a satellite or a core network function / entity adapted to operate in a wireless communication network and to serve a plurality of devices with wireless communication is presented; wherein the network entity is to transmit a common pre-wakeup signal or a common wakeup signal to a plurality of devices to cause the plurality of devices to increase a power consumption, e.g., for communication with the network entity. According to a sixty-eighth implementation the network entity of implementation 67 is provided, wherein the network entity is to select the plurality of devices as a first subset from devices servable by the network entity whilst unselecting at least a second subset. From the devices servable by the network entity.

[0564] According to a sixty-ninth implementation the network entity of implementation 68 is provided, wherein the first subset is selected based on at least one of: an identification of the devices a location, position and / or orientation of the devices a status of the devices - e.g. battery voltage, battery capacity a capability of the devices a class of the devices a group identifier of the devices a contactabillity of the devices (time, date) a connectivity of the devices (3GPP RRC, 3GPP sidelink, non-3GPP RAT) a status of a communication arrangement of the devices (PWLIR on / off, WUR on / off, PDCCH monitor on / off) an availability mechanism of the devices (by PWLIS, WUS, PDCCH).

[0565] According to a seventieth implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication is presented, comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a wireless fall asleep signal in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching. For example, the device may be adapted to transmit the wireless fall asleep signal in two options: a) announcing; b) requesting.

[0566] According to a seventy-first implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication is presented, comprising: adapting a communication arrangement comprising a receiver arrangement and a transmitter arrangement; wherein the receiver arrangement is adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a mode where the receiver arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the receiver arrangement is configured for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the transmitter arrangement is adapted to transmit a wireless signal during a time where the receiver arrangement operates in the second operating mode.

[0567] According to a seventy-second implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement adapted to at least temporarily operate in an operating mode where a receiver unit, e.g. WUR, of the communication arrangement is configured to receive a wireless signal and to provide a receiver signal based on the wireless signal; configuring a controller unit for processing the receiver signal and to interpret the receiver signal as a response signal if the device has previously transmitted a request signal and awaits a response to the request signal; and to interpret the receiver signal as a request signal if the device does not await a response to a request signal.

[0568] According to a seventy-third implementation a method for operating in a wireless communication network is presented, comprising: transmitting, e.g. based on a determined necessity or optimization potential, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of a second device; and / or receiving, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of the device and to operate based on the request signal.

[0569] According to a seventy-fourth implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication is presented, comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode e.g. name of such a mode may be adapted, another name such as an alive mode may be used, to receive, e.g. when comparing Tx and Rx and at least Rx may seem to be mandatory, a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode, e.g. device unable to receive the wireless communication signal; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on a received wakeup signal being a wireless signal, e.g. a wireless radio signal; wherein a third operating mode of the set of operating mode is a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the second operating mode; e.g. device unable to receive the wireless signal, wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the third operating mode to the second operating mode based on a received pre-wakeup signal.

[0570] According to a seventy-fifth implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication is presented, comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate, in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode wherein the device is to change, from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operation mode according to the reception opportunity.

[0571] According to a seventy-sixth implementation a method for adapting a wireless communication is presented, comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode, e.g. name of such a mode may be adapted, , another name such as an alive mode may be used, to transmit, e.g. when comparing TX and RX at least RX seems to be mandatory, a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; e.g. device unable to receive the wireless communication signal, wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a first signal in the first operating mode and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

[0572] According to a seventy-seventh implementation a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program having a program code for performing, when running on a computer, a method according to any of implementations 70 to 76 is presented.

[0573] Further implementations relate to operating and configuring devices described herein, e.g., implemented as a method and / or as a data carrier having stored thereon instructions to execute such a method. Various elements and features of the present invention may be implemented in hardware using analogue and / or digital circuits, in software, through the execution of instructions by one or more general purpose or special-purpose processors, or as a combination of hardware and software. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the environment of a computer system or another processing system. Fig. 16 illustrates an example of a computer system 1600. The units or modules as well as the steps of the methods performed by these units may execute on one or more computer systems 1600. The computer system 1600 includes one or more processors 1602, like a special purpose or a general- purpose digital signal processor. The processor 1602 is connected to a communication infrastructure 1604, like a bus or a network. The computer system 500 includes a main memory 1606, e.g., a random-access memory (RAM), and a secondary memory 1608, e.g., a hard disk drive and / or a removable storage drive. The secondary memory I&08 may allow computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system I600. The computer system 1600 may further include a communications interface 1610 to allow software and data to be transferred between computer system 1600 and external devices. The communication may be in the form of electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being handled by a communications interface. The communication may use a wire or a cable, fibre optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link and other communications channels 1612.

[0574] The terms “computer program medium” and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer to tangible storage media such as removable storage units or a hard disk installed in a hard disk drive. These computer program products are means for providing software to the computer system 1600. The computer programs, also referred to as computer control logic, are stored in main memory 1606 and / or secondary memory 1608. Computer programs may also be received via the communications interface 1610. The computer program, when executed, enables the computer system 1600 to implement the present invention. In particular, the computer program, when executed, enables processor 1602 to implement the processes of the present invention, such as any of the methods described herein. Accordingly, such a computer program may represent a controller of the computer system 1600. Where the disclosure is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system 1600 using a removable storage drive, an interface, like communications interface 1610.

[0575] Examples of use cases or applications are not limited to include the following: Some, or possibly all, of the embodiments presented in the disclosure might also potentially be described by the following title: for example, “A combined wakeup and paging signal for satellite borne communication systems”. Alternatively or in addition, at least some embodiments may relate to a combined wake-up signal and paging signal for satellite-born communication.

[0576] A first set of examples may relate to Initial identification of an loT device to a n / w without the need for a SIM / eSIM.

[0577] The problems relating to the first set of examples are:

[0578] 1. How to notify a n / w about the existence of deployed (loT) devices before they are used for the first time (1st connection to the n / w)

[0579] 2. How to activate "sleeper" (loT) devices.

[0580] 3. How to manage / configure devices in receive mode only (n / w-controlled repeaters [NRC] RIS, solar panels, positioning anchors) --> paging-like, control and management mechanisms

[0581] Ephemeris

[0582] In astronomy and celestial navigation, an ephemeris (pl. ephemerides; from Latin ephemeris 'diary', and Greek ccpri cpi^ (ephemeris) 'diary, journal')

[0001] [2][3] is a book with tables that gives the trajectory of naturally occurring astronomical objects as well as artificial satellites in the sky, i.e., the position (and possibly velocity) over time. Historically, positions were given as printed tables of values, given at regular intervals of date and time. The calculation of these tables was one of the first applications of mechanical computers. Modern ephemerides are often provided in electronic form. However, printed ephemerides are still produced, as they are useful when computational devices are not available.

[0583] The astronomical position calculated from an ephemeris is often given in the spherical polar coordinate system of right ascension and declination, together with the distance from the origin if applicable. Some of the astronomical phenomena of interest to astronomers are eclipses, apparent retrograde motion / planetary stations, planetary ingresses, sidereal time, positions for the mean and true nodes of the moon, the phases of the Moon, and the positions of minor celestial bodies such as Chiron.

[0584] Ephemerides are used in celestial navigation and astronomy. They are also used by astrologers. GPS signals include ephemeris data used to calculate the position of satellites in orbit. Therefore, embodiments provide solutions to the technical problem of providing a mechanism that allows low-cost loT devices to operate without a SIM / eSIM.

[0585] A second set of examples may relate to the following exemplary problem statements and what the proposed technical solution(s) thereof might comprise:

[0586] 1. How to notify a n / w about the existence of deployed (loT) devices before they are used for the first time (1st connection to the n / w)

[0587] 1. Registration via a 3rd party device / database (e.g. barcode, QR code) [UL via OTT]

[0588] 2. During initial access of the device [UL]

[0589] 3. Using a relay (including trusted / authenticated devices [trusted agent] in sidelink) [UL via relay]

[0590] 2. How to activate "sleeper" devices.

[0591] 1. Dormant, inactive, idle devices with known location or paging area. Send a wake-up or paging signal to them / that area

[0592] 2. The device itself is sending a beacon. The beacon signal contains information describing how the device sending the beacon signal should be activated (e.g. frequency, signal type, wake-up pattern / sequence). Public key encryption.

[0593] 3. Multi-stage wake-up / initialization / configuration (with or without a bidirectional flow of information). Achieved through the use of a change of the information content of the beacon signal (short beacon, mid-length beacon, long beacon etc.)

[0594] 3. How to manage / configure devices in receive mode only or those with reduced or limited transmission capabilities (n / w-controlled repeaters [NRC] RIS, solar panels, positioning anchors)

[0595] 1. Open-loop e.g. via SSB, SIB, DCI, CORESET, information elements (Information element = A structural element containing a single or multiple fields is referred to as information element.)

[0596] 2. Closed-loop mechanisms e.g. explicit feedback from an MT (mobile termination) or indirect / implied / inferred feedback based on the use of identifiable signalling, modulation. Directly to the controlling entity or indirectly via observing / monitoring entities.

[0597] 3. Paging-like, control and management mechanisms For instance, in the following where paging may be described in the literature, for example, 3GPP standards is provided. Details of different mechanisms relating to paging, as referenced in the literature below, may be applied to embodiments provided in the disclosure.

[0598] Paging is described in several 3GPP standards, for instance, including TS 38.304, TS 23.271 , TS 36.331 , and TS 123 501. These standards provide details on the paging procedure in LTE and 5G networks. Specifically, TS 38.304 covers multi-RAT UEs, TS 23.271 covers functional stage 2 description of Location Services (LCS), TS 36.331 covers radio resource control (RRC) protocol specification, and TS 123 501 covers the system architecture for the 5G system.

[0599] A third set of examples set forth below may relate to a review of 3GPP RP-234053.

[0600] For example, the third set of examples may relate to the following exemplary cases: 1.) Define power constraints in R4 language to define the procedure: how to allocate power at a device to achieve maximum power spectral density for transmission from RedCap devices to NTN gnNs. For instance, how could such power constraints in R4 language for the same be defined?

[0601] 2.) if service area is smaller than coverage footprint then SIB could contain information of geofencing of that service.

[0602] 3.) confirmation of UE location by forcing, or for example manipulating or adapting, the

[0603] UE to reply in regular intervals while the satellite is at different distance to the UE. With known TA this could allow for RTT measurements at the satellite and therefore might not be easy to manipulate by the UE.

[0604] If UE has ephemeris data of satellite it still could fake its effective distance, BUT with several satellite receivers this may not be possible anymore.

[0605] — > For example, what other techniques could be used to determine the exact location of a UE on planet earth?, E.g. a first satellite is operated to measure and record UE signals over a period of time, by processing the recorded signal the position (distance satellite to UE) of the UE can be estimated (statement).

[0606] When performed, or done, with more than one satellite:

[0607] — > better position / location / distance accuracy could be achieved;

[0608] — > techniques or procedures or mechanisms to establish if a UE has been spoofing its position or if the deviations coincide with a jitter of the timing reference in a plausible sense may be provided. E.g. service can, or may, be limited to UEs with a location accuracy below a threshold.

[0609] Furthermore, for instance, the UE can use PRS from the satellites to derive another source for self-location.

[0610] For instance, further cases may relate to the following problem statements: is it possible to spoof PRS separately from other signals coming from a satellite, or can one spoof particular satellite signals while keeping others unharmed?

[0611] Embodiments may provide solutions to the technical problem of enabling how to test if spoofing is being used, e.g. UE as victim of spoofing, assuming a possibility to spoof PRS.

[0612] Potential use cases may relate to:

[0613] • restricted access to content (IP geo-blocking)

[0614] • any vehicle which is autonomously driven, sailed or flown (for example, see microwave journal - auto ships)

[0615] • service might be limited to specific geographical area

[0616] For example, PWUS / WUS - could also be described as a network-downlink-signal (NDLS).

[0617] For instance, NDLS can be a request or a response.

[0618] For example, WMUS - could also be described as a device-uplink-signal (DULS). For instance, DULS can be a request or a response.

[0619] For example, content can be derived implicitly or explicitly from received signals. Examples of the content, are not limited to, comprise:

[0620] Device ID, position, location, orientation, battery state / strength, capability;

[0621] Message: type, priority, importance, urgency, request, response;

[0622] Contactability, availability: PWUR / WUR window, configuration, status (on / off); and

[0623] Intention, expectation: transmission request, keep-alive signal, available to be contacted

[0624] For instance, examples may relate to device registration via OTT, via first connection.

[0625] For instance, examples may relate to Handshaking / acknowledgement / response to receipt of PWUS, WUS, WMUS, FAS. For instance, examples may relate to Relaying; message forwarding; piggy-backing; outdoor to indoor scenario. For instance, such examples may be from UE1 to UE2 to UEN and / or from BS to CN to other services.

[0626] For instance, preferably, the UE may not assume that the network is always listening and is omnipresent. The UE preferably, or possibly obligatory, may make assumptions on listening opportunities.

[0627] Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, where a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus.

[0628] Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation can be performed using a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disk, a DVD, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, having electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed.

[0629] Some embodiments according to the invention comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system, such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

[0630] Generally, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code may for example be stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0631] Other embodiments comprise the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0632] In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a computer program having a program code for performing one of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer. A further embodiment of the inventive methods is, therefore, a data carrier (or a digital storage medium, or a computer-readable medium) comprising, recorded thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0633] A further embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may for example be configured to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet.

[0634] A further embodiment comprises a processing means, for example a computer, or a programmable logic device, configured to or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

[0635] A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0636] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are preferably performed by any hardware apparatus.

[0637] The above described embodiments are merely illustrative for the principles of the present invention. It is understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and the details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. It is the intent, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the impending patent claims and not by the specific details presented by way of description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

[0638]

[0639] References

[0640] [1] Technote-Paging - https: / / www.sharetechnote.com / html / 5G / 5G_Paging.html [2] Technote-RRC - https: / / www.sharetechnote.com / html / 5G / 5G_RRC_lnactive.html

[0641] [3] 3GPP-38-804 - https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 38_series / 38.304 / 38304-h50.zip

[0642] [4] US20180332533A1 - https: / / patents.google.com / patent / US20180332533A1 / en

[0643] [5] 3GPP-38-331 - https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 38_series / 38.331 / 38331-h50.zip

Claims

Claims1 . A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a wireless fall asleep signal in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitoring unit for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the transmitted fall asleep signal.

3. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the device is to announce the switching and to execute the switching corresponding to the switching announcement.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is to postpone or skip the switching responsive to receiving a refusal signal indicating a refusal of the switching by the network.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitoring unit for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the transmitted fall asleep signal; wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive a wakeup signal that causes the device to switch to the first operating mode;wherein the device is configured to receive the refusal signal indicating the refusal of the switching with the WUR.

6. The device of one of claims 2 to claim 5, wherein the device is use a PDCCH monitoring unit for communicating in the first operation mode and to deactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the transmitted fall asleep signal; wherein the device is to reactivate the PDCCH monitoring unit based on the refusal signal indicating the refusal of the switching; or to postpone deactivating the PDCCH monitoring unit until a deactivation event happens such as a confirmation signal indicating a confirmation to fall asleep is received using the PDCCH monitoring unit or the WUR and / or a time has lapsed since announcing the switching.

7. The device of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the second operating mode a PDCCH monitoring unit and a wakeup receiver, WUR, is inactive.

8. The device of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device is to transmit the fall asleep signal as a request to the network and to await a response signal from the network, the confirmation signal indicating a confirmation to fall asleep; and to execute the switching based on the confirmation signal.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is to execute the switching in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

10. The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the device is to transmit another fall asleep signal or to resend the fall asleep signal in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

11. The device of one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the device is to transmit another fall asleep signal enhanced by a time schedule when the device intends to activate the WUR or PDCCH monitoring unit in the future or to resend the fall asleep signal in absence of the confirmation signal based on a predetermined event.

12. The device of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of:• a timeout associated with the confirmation signal;• a loss of a link to at least one network node;• a battery level of the device;• a receive a request to leave a mode and / or to enter a specific mode.

13. The device of one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the device is to receive a response signal comprising a confirmation signal or a refusal signal from a device to which the fall asleep signal was sent to or from a different device and based on the fall asleep signal.

14. The device of one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the device is to receive a response signal based on the fall asleep signal indicating an operating mode of the switching; wherein the device is to enter the indicated operating mode based on the response signal when switching from the first operating mode.

15. The device of on of claims 1 to 14, wherein the device is to indicate an information associated with the switching with the fall asleep signal and / or an associated signal, the information indicating at least one of:• an operating mode entered when falling asleep, e.g., sleep, deep sleep or hibernation;• a time of the switching and / or a time duration until the switching;• a duration of the entered operating mode;• a pattern of operating modes entered based on the switching• a time or duration of a switch from the entered operating mode into another operating mode;• an operating mode following the operating mode entered when falling asleep.

16. A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement comprising a receiver arrangement and a transmitter arrangement; wherein the receiver arrangement is adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication;wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a mode where the receiver arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the receiver arrangement is configured for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the transmitter arrangement is adapted to transmit a wireless signal during a time where the receiver arrangement operates in the second operating mode.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on an unavailability of at least a part of a connection to the wireless communication network or a communication partner.

18. The device of claim 16 or 17, wherein the wireless signal contains information indicating at least one of:• a beacon, e.g. an “being alive beacon”;• a location, e.g. “I am here beacon” in form of a positioning reference signal;• an identifier of the device;• an intention or request of the device to communicate;• a time or a period when the device will have a receiver active (PDCCH On, PWLIR On OR WUR On);• an announcement (explicit or implicit) about further information containing signals.

19. The device of one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the device is to transmit and / or retransmit the signal based on at least one of:• that the transmission occurs seldomly, e.g. every few minutes, hours• that a transmission burst is as short as possible or below a predetermined threshold to save power consumed by the signal processing and transmitter unit such as power amplifier devices / components / modules;• that an energy efficient waveforms is used, e.g. waveforms with low peak to average power ratio, PAPR• that generation of the waveform requires low computation and reduced processing complexity,• that a signal detection at a receiving device, e.g. a gNB or satellite, requires low processing complexity and / or good auto / cross correlation properties.

20. The device of one of claims 16 to 19, being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 15.

21. A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to at least temporarily operate in an operating mode where a receiver unit of the communication arrangement is configured to receive a wireless signal and to provide a receiver signal based on the wireless signal; a controller unit; wherein the controller unit is configured for processing the receiver signal and to interpret the receiver signal as a response signal if the device has previously transmitted a request signal and awaits a response to the request signal; and to interpret the receiver signal as a request signal if the device does not await a response to a request signal.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, for receiving the wireless signal as a wakeup signal.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the request comprises a fall asleep signal that is responded with the wireless signal; and wherein the request is a wakeup request.

24. The device of one of claims 21 to 23, being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 20.

25. A device configured for operating in a wireless communication network; wherein the device is to transmit, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of a second device; and / or wherein the device is to receive, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of the device and to operate based on the request signal.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is to respond the received request signal by transmitting a response signal indicating a confirmation and / or a refusal and / or a counterproposal for the uplink mode or the downlink mode.

27. The device of claim 25 or 26, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal comprises device related information related to the device or the second device.

28. The device of one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal comprises message related information related to the request signal or a response signal.

29. The device of one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the request signal or a response signal responding the request signal is transmitted in the network to request a behavior of at least one device; to request to be kept alive or awake; and / or to be contactable.

30. The device of one of one of claims 25 to 29, being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 24.

31. A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on a received wakeup signal being a wireless signal; wherein a third operating mode of the set of operating modes is a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the second operating mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the third operating mode to the second operating mode based on a received pre-wakeup signal.

32. The device of claim 31 , wherein the wakeup signal and the pre-wakeup signal comprise different parts of a same wireless signal.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the communication arrangement is adapted to evaluate, in the third operation mode, a received signal for a pre-wakeup characteristic related to the pre-wakeup signal and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication arrangement based on the pre-wakeup characteristic to change from the third operation mode to the second operation mode; and to evaluate, in the second operation mode, the received signal for a wakeup signal characteristic associated with the wakeup signal and to activate at least one inactive component of the communication arrangement based on the wakeup characteristic to change from the second operation mode to the first operation mode.

34. The device of claim 31 , wherein the wakeup signal and the pre-wakeup signal are different or distinct signals.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a first receiver unit adapted for the wakeup signal; and comprises a second receiver unit adapted for the pre-wakeup signal; wherein the device is to at least partially deactivate the first receiver unit in the deep sleep mode; and to activate the first receiver unit based on the pre-wakeup signal.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the second receiver unit comprises an average power consumption being lower than an average power consumption of the first receiver unit.

37. The device of one of claims 34 to 36, wherein the communication arrangement comprises one or more variable receiver stages adapted to consume a different amount of power in different configurations, e.g., by using a different number of stages and / or by adapting at least one element of a receiver stage; wherein in a first configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages the communication arrangement is configured for receiving or processing the pre-wakeup signal and not the wakeup signal; and wherein in a second configuration of the one or more variable receiver stages the communication arrangement is configured for receiving or processing the wakeup signal.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein in the first configuration the communication arrangement comprises an average power consumption that is lower than in the second configuration.

39. The device of one of claims 34 to 38, adapted to receive the wakeup signal in a second frequency band being outside a first frequency band used in the first operating mode; and adapted to receive the pre-wakeup signal in a third frequency band being outside the first frequency band and being outside the second frequency band.

40. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the wakeup signal or the pre-wakeup signal comprises a chirp characteristic or a frequency sweep characteristic.

41. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a monitoring unit, e.g., a PDCCH monitoring unit, wherein the monitoring unit is active in the first operation mode and inactive in the second operation mode and in the third operation mode.

42. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a wakeup receiver unit, WUR, adapted to receive the wakeup signal; wherein the WUR is active in the in the second operation mode and inactive in the third operation mode.

43. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the communication arrangement comprises a pre-wakeup receiver unit, PWUR, adapted to receive the pre-wakeup signal; wherein the PWUR is active in the in the third operation mode.

44. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the set of operating modes comprises a fourth operating mode being a hibernation mode in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement is inactive; wherein the device is to change from the fourth operating mode into one of the first second or third operating modes based on an event.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the event relates to a sensor signal received from a sensor coupled to the device, preferably a sensor for measuring an environmental parameter of the device such as position, temperature; a pressure; a humidity.

46. The device of claim 44 or 45, wherein the device is adapted to change from the fourth operating mode directly or indirectly into the first operation mode without prior authentication to the network.

47. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the device is to perform a change from the first operation mode into a different operation mode in which at least a part of the communication arrangement is inactive to save power consumption, wherein the device is to transmit a beaconing signal using the communication arrangement to announce the change to another device.

48. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the device is to enter the first operation mode for transmitting a beaconing signal using the communication arrangement and to leave the first operation mode again.

49. The device of claim 47 or 48, wherein the beaconing signal indicates at least one of:• how long the device will sleep before it next enters the third, second or first operation mode;• how long it will stay in the third, second or first operation mode the next time it awakes;• information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beacon signal, e.g., as relative information or as absolute information;• a location, position and / or orientation of the device;• a capability of the device;• a category of the device;• an availability of the device;• a schedule of the device;• an identity of the device; and• a membership of the device, e.g., in a group of devices.

50. The device of one of claims 47 to 49, adapted to transmit the beaconing signal repeatedly and to indicate a parameter of repetition in the beaconing signal, e.g., a time interval, a next transmission, a last transmission.51 . The device of one of claims 47 to 50, wherein the device is to transmit the beaconing signal by use of a wakeup transmitter of the communication arrangement adapted to transmit a wakeup signal to another device.

52. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the device is to transmit a wake-me-up signal once or repeatedly, e.g., in the awake mode or in the sleep mode to request a different node to transmit the wakeup signal to the device.

53. The device of one of previous claims, wherein the device is to receive the wakeup signal and to transmit an acknowledgement signal to confirm reception of the wakeup signal.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the acknowledgement signal is a wake-me-up signal used also to request a different node to transmit the wakeup signal to the device; or is a different signal.

55. The device of one of previous claims, being an Internet-of-Things, loT, device.

56. The device of one of previous claims, being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the second operating mode, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal; or being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in the third operating mode, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal; or being adapted for transmitting a signal when being in a fourth operating mode operating being a hibernation mode in which at least a receiver arrangement of the communication arrangement inactive, e.g., a wake me up signal or a going to sleep signal.

57. The device of one of previous claims, being a battery powered device.

58. A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is to change from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operation mode according to the reception opportunity.

59. The device of claim 58, wherein the power saving mode includes a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode.

60. The device of claim 58 or 59, wherein the signal comprises a beaconing signal indicating at least one of:• how long the device will sleep before it next enters the first operation mode;• how long it will stay in the first operation mode the next time it awakes;• information indicating a time and / or resources used to transmit a next beacon signal, e.g., as relative information or as absolute information;• a location of the device; or wherein the signal comprises a request to a different node to transmit a wakeup signal to the device to cause the device to enter the first operating mode.

61. The device of one of claims 58 to 60, wherein the device is in accordance with one of claims 1 to 57.

62. The device of one of previous claims, having different operating modes for transmission according to claims 63 to 65.

63. A device adapted for a wireless communication, the device comprising: a communication arrangement adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event;wherein the device is adapted to transmit a first signal in the first operating mode and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

64. The device of claim 63, wherein an average power consumption of the communication arrangement in the second operating mode is lower when compared to the first operating mode and / or wherein a processing of the second signal is less complex or consumes less energy at the device and / or a decoding of the second signal at a receiver unit of the signal is less complex or consumes less energy when compared to the first signal.

65. The device of claim 63 or 64 being adapted in accordance with one of claims 1 to 60.

66. The device of one of claims 1 to 15 being in accordance with one of claims 31 to 65.

67. A network entity such as a base station or a location management function, LMF, or a satellite or a core network function / entity adapted to operate in a wireless communication network and to serve a plurality of devices with wireless communication; wherein the network entity is to transmit a common pre-wakeup signal or a common wakeup signal to a plurality of devices to cause the plurality of devices to increase a power consumption, e.g., for communication with the network entity.

68. The network entity of claim 67, wherein the network entity is to select the plurality of devices as a first subset from devices servable by the network entity whilst unselecting at least a second subset from the devices servable by the network entity.

69. The network entity of claim 68, wherein the first subset is selected based on at least one of: an identification of the devices a location, position and / or orientation of the devices a status of the devices - e.g. battery voltage, battery capacity a capability of the devices a class of the devices a group identifier of the devices a contractibility of the devices (time, date)a connectivity of the devices (3GPP RRC, 3GPP sidelink, non-3GPP RAT) a status of a communication arrangement of the devices (PWLIR on / off, WUR on / off, PDCCH monitor on / off) an availability mechanism of the devices (by PWLIS, WUS, PDCCH).

70. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode or a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is adapted to execute a switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the device is adapted to transmit a wireless fall asleep signal in the first operating mode to announce or request the switching.

71. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement comprising a receiver arrangement and a transmitter arrangement; wherein the receiver arrangement is adapted to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a mode where the receiver arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to theawake mode; wherein the receiver arrangement is configured for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; wherein the transmitter arrangement is adapted to transmit a wireless signal during a time where the receiver arrangement operates in the second operating mode.

72. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement adapted to at least temporarily operate in an operating mode where a receiver unit of the communication arrangement is configured to receive a wireless signal and to provide a receiver signal based on the wireless signal; configuring a controller unit for processing the receiver signal and to interpret the receiver signal as a response signal if the device has previously transmitted a request signal and awaits a response to the request signal; and to interpret the receiver signal as a request signal if the device does not await a response to a request signal.

73. A method for operating in a wireless communication network; transmitting, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of a second device; and / or receiving, in the wireless communication network, a request signal indicating a request to change an uplink mode and / or a downlink mode of the device and to operate based on the request signal.

74. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to receive a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configuredfor switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on a received wakeup signal being a wireless signal; wherein a third operating mode of the set of operating modes is a deep sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the second operating mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the third operating mode to the second operating mode based on a received pre-wakeup signal.

75. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a power saving mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the device is to change from the power saving mode to the first operating mode to transmit a signal indicating a future reception opportunity of the device and to then return into the power saving mode and to operate in an operation mode according to the reception opportunity.

76. A method for adapting a wireless communication, the method comprising: adapting a communication arrangement to operate in one of a set of operating modes; wherein a first operating mode of the set of operating modes is an awake mode to transmit a wireless communication signal for the wireless communication; wherein a second operating mode of the set of operating modes is a sleep mode where the communication arrangement is at least partially inactive to save power when compared to the awake mode; wherein the communication arrangement is configured for switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode based on an event;wherein the device is adapted to transmit a first signal in the first operating mode and to transmit a second signal in the second operating mode.

77. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program having a program code for performing, when running on a computer, a method according to any of claims 70 to 76.

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