Packet discarding

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solution for packet discarding A method comprises receiving at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; obtaining the set of flows; and performing or disabling performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

Description

PACKET DISCARDINGFIELDS

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for packet discarding.BACKGROUND

[0002] Protocol data unit (PDU) discarding procedure is performed at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of a communication device. A multi-modal service, e.g. extended reality (XR), is a communication service that consists of several data flows that relate to each other and that are subject to application coordination. The data flows from a same multi-modal service may transfer different types of data and may come from different sources (e.g., single user equipment (UE), a single device or multiple devices connected to the single UE or multiple UEs).

[0003] Generally speaking, flows (especially for flows of a same multi-modal service) may be correlated with each other. By far, there is no discussions about how to perform PDU discarding on a plurality of correlated flows.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; obtain the set of flows; and perform or disable performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus.The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: generate at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; transmit the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; obtaining the set of flows; and performing or disable performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: generating at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; transmitting the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; means for obtaining the set of flows; and means for performing or disable performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for generating at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; means for transmitting the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereonfor causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0012] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0015] FIG. IB illustrates an example process of packet discarding;

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling chart of communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an example process of packet discarding according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4A and 4B illustrate signaling charts of communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling chart of communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable forimplementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0026] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0027] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0028] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of thelisted terms.

[0029] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0030] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0032] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed foroperation.

[0033] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0034] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0035] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN)split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0036] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customerpremises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0037] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other resource enabling a communication, and the like.

[0038] A multi-modal service, e.g. XR, is a communication service that consists of several data flows that relate to each other and that are subject to application coordination. The data flows from the same multi-modal service can transfer different types of data andmay come from different sources (e.g. a single UE, a single device or multiple devices connected to the single UE or multiple UEs). The typical tactile and multi-modality communication service may include following modalities:-Audio;-Video;-Information perceived by sensors, e.g. detection about brightness, temperature, humidity of the environment; equipment working status report; locality or angle report;-Haptic data: sensing and feedback when touching a surface (e.g., pressure, texture, vibration, temperature), or kinesthetic senses (e.g. gravity, pull forces, sense of position awareness).

[0039] From networking perspective, each modality may generate one or more application layer traffic streams which need to be transported across the network with specific QoS requirements. To guarantee that the multi-modal data is transmitted in a coordinated fashion, the policy control of 5G system (5GS) was enhanced further by for example: the Nnef AFsessionWithQoS service allows the AF to provide, at the same time, for each data flow that belongs to the multi-modal service, a Multi-modal Service ID (MMSID), the service requirements and the QoS monitoring requirements.

[0040] The Multi-modal Service ID is an explicit indication that data flows are related to a multi-modal service. The policy control function (PCF) may use this information to derive the correct policy and charging control (PCC) rules and to apply appropriate Quality of Service (QoS) policies for the data flows that are part of a specific multi-modal application.

[0041] Furthermore, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) radio access network (RAN) started to work on release- 19 work item (WI) on enhancements for XR with the following objectives:- Study and if justified, specify aspects related to multi -modality (intra-UE) (with coordination with systems architecture (SA) 2 / SA 4). Aim to facilitate efficient and effective support for XR application with multiple QoS flows with multi-modal interdependencies, meeting multi-modal QoS requirements, e.g. synchronization and / or coordination. Efficiency enhancements are expected to be visible in terms of capacityor power consumption.

[0042] PDU set based discarding at PDCP layer was specified in 3GPP release-18. One of the new discard functionalities is based on the PDU set integrated handling information (PSIHI) from SMF, which is used to indicate whether all PDUs of a PDU Set are needed for the usage of PDU Set by application layer. When the PSIHI is set for a QoS flow, as soon as one PDU of a PDU set is known to be lost, the remaining PDUs of that PDU set can be considered as no longer needed by the application and may be subject to discard operation at the transmitter to free up radio resources. Since PSIHI is only indicated to the gNB, to control the discard of PDU sets in uplink, pdu-SetDiscard was introduced.

[0043] PDU set refers to one or more PDUs carrying the payload of one unit of information generated at the application level (e.g., frame(s) or video slice(s) and so on for XR Services). A PDU in the PDU Set corresponds to a PDCP SDU.

[0044] Considering the joint operation of the QoS flows / Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) with the same Multi-modal Service ID (MMSID), further enhancements can be done in 5G RAN assuming that the MMSID is available at NG-RAN nodes, or at least that an indication that QoS flows belong to the same multi-modal service is available at NG-RAN nodes.

[0045] DiscardTimer based PDCP discard was already supported. PDU set based enhanced PDCP discard has been specified: a new radio resource control (RRC) parameter pdu-SetDiscard was introduced to enable discarding of all remaining PDUs of a PDU set in uplink. Moreover, a new shorter timer called discardTimerForLowImportance is introduced to enable early discarding of PDU sets with lower importance than others in the PDCP buffer.

[0046] Currently, the discussion is mainly on RAN plenary level and there is no discussion about how to enhance PDCP discarding by leveraging MMSID for example. In summary, there is no discussions about how to perform PDU discarding on a plurality of correlated flows, and thus it is desirable to propose a more practicable and flexible solution for packet discarding.

[0047] According to the present disclosure, the first apparatus receives at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow inthe set comprising at least one packet; obtains the set of flows; and performs or disables performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0048] In this way, a more practicable and flexible solution for packet discarding is achieved.

[0049] In the context of the present disclosure, as there is association between a flow, a bearer, a stream and a media component, terms of flow, bearer, stream and media component may be used interchangeably.

[0050] As used herein, a packet may refer to a protocol data unit (PDU), a service data unit (SDU) or even a medium access control (MAC) packet.

[0051] It is to be understood although some example embodiments are discussed by using a packet discarding during an uplink transmission, the packet discarding solution discussed herein is applicable to both uplink and downlink transmissions. Merely for brevity, the same or similar contents are omitted.

[0052] It is to be understood although some example embodiments are discussed by using a packet discarding, the packet discarding solution discussed herein is equally applicable to packet set based discarding. In the other words, term ‘packet’ may be replaced by “packet set”, “SDU set”, “SDU set” or other similar wordings.

[0053] In the present disclosure, a first apparatus refers to an apparatus that performs the packet discarding, while the second apparatus refers to an apparatus that configures the packet discarding. According to different application scenarios, the first apparatus may be a terminal device, a network device or a core network entity, while the second apparatus may be a network device or a core network device (such as, a session management function, SMF, or an application function, AF, or other suitable core network (CN) entity).Example Environment

[0054] FIG. 1A illustrates an example communication environment 100A in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The communication environment 100 includes apparatus 110, 120 and 130.

[0055] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 110 may be comprised in a terminal device and the apparatus 120 may be comprised in a network device serving the terminal apparatus, while the apparatus 130 may be comprised in a core network device (which may be an SMF, AF or other suitable CN entity / function). Further, the apparatus 120 may provide one or more cells, for example, a cell 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0056] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the apparatus 110 operating as a terminal apparatus and the apparatus 120 operating as a network apparatus. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal apparatus may be implemented at a network apparatus or other apparatus, and operations described in connection with a network apparatus may be implemented at a terminal apparatus or other apparatus.

[0057] In some example embodiments, if the apparatus 110 is a terminal apparatus and the apparatus 120 is a network apparatus, a link from the apparatus 120 to the apparatus 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link from the apparatus 110 to the apparatus 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) apparatus (or a transmitter) and the apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) apparatus (or a receiver). In UL, the apparatus 110 is a TX apparatus (or a transmitter) and the apparatus 120 is a RX apparatus (or a receiver).

[0058] Communications in the communication environment 100 A may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0059] As discussed above, by far, the discussion is mainly on 3GPP RAN plenary level and there is no discussion about how to enhance PDCP discarding by leveraging MMSID for example.

[0060] In view of this, the present disclosure proposes a solution about how to leverage the multi-modal service ID information in RAN to increase the efficiency of radio resource usage.

[0061] Reference is now made to FIG. IB, which illustrates an example process 100B of packet discarding. In the example FIG. IB, three QoS flows belong to the same multimodal service. If one PDCP SDU (SDU #1.M) is discarded at the PDCP layer, it is pending about how to handle the SDUs coming from the other two QoS flows (i.e., SDU #2.N and SDU #3.K in the example).

[0062] As one possible solution, the transmitter may continue transmitting both SDU #2.N and SDU #3.K independent of what happens to SDU #1.M. This solution only works fine if the application does not require the successful delivery of internet protocol (IP) packets / SDUs from all QoS flows with the same multi-modal service ID. However, when the application requires the successful delivery of all QoS flows with the same multimodal service ID, this solution is not optimal anymore since delivering SDU #2.N and SDU #3.K becomes useless and obviously it will lead to wasted resource over the air.

[0063] An alternative possible solution may be always jointly discarding all the SDUs belonging to the same multi-modal service, which might not be optimal either as application might not have the requirement of successful delivery of all QoS flows with the same multi-modal service ID.

[0064] According to the present disclosure, an enhanced packet discarding solution is proposed. With this solution, network may take the best advantage of multi-modal service information to reduce unnecessary transmission, and hence to increase the overall spectrum efficiency.Work Principle and Example Signaling for Communication

[0065] According to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for an enhanced packet discarding. Reference is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a signaling flow 200 of communication in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure.

[0066] For the purposes of discussion, the signaling flow 200 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1A. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 2, the first apparatus refers to an apparatus that performs the packet discarding, while the second apparatus refers to an apparatus that configures the packet discarding. According to different application scenario, the first apparatus may be a terminal device (such as, the apparatus 110 in FIG. 1A) or a network device (such as, the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1A) or a CN entity (such as, the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1A), while the second apparatus may be a network device (such as, the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1 A) or a core network device (such as, a session management function, SMF, or an application function, AF, or other suitable core network (CN) entity, e.g., the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1 A).

[0067] It is to be understood that the operations at the first apparatus and the second apparatus should be coordinated. In other words, the second apparatus and the first apparatus should have common understanding about configurations, parameters and so on. Such common understanding may be implemented by any suitable interactions between the second apparatus and the first apparatus or both the second apparatus and the first apparatus applying the same rule / policy.

[0068] In the following, although some operations are described from a perspective of the first apparatus, it is to be understood that the corresponding operations should be performed by the second apparatus. Similarly, although some operations are described from a perspective of the second apparatus, it is to be understood that the corresponding operations should be performed by the first apparatus. Merely for brevity, some of the same or similar contents are omitted here.

[0069] In the following descriptions, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented incombination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0070] In addition, in the following descriptions, some interactions are performed among the first apparatus and the second apparatus. It is to be understood that the interactions may be implemented either in one single signaling / message / configuration or multiple signaling / messages / configurations, including system information, a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), media access control (MAC) control element (CE), or any suitable signaling / message. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second apparatus generates (210) at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, where each flow in the set comprises at least one packet.

[0072] Then the second apparatus transmits (220-1) the at least one first message to the first apparatus, and the first apparatus receives (220-2) the at least one first message accordingly.

[0073] In the following, the first apparatus obtains (240) the set of flows. Based on the at least one parameter, in some cases, the first apparatus may perform (250) the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows. Alternatively, in some other cases, the first apparatus also may disable (250) performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows.

[0074] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates an example process 300 of packet discarding according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 3, when one PDCP SDU (e.g. SDU #1.M) is discarded at the PDCP layer, the first apparatus may determine whether to discard the SDUs coming from the other two QoS flows (SDU #2.N and SDU #3.K) based on the configured rules. As illustrated, SDU #2.N and SDU #3.K are discarded based on the configured rule of joint discarding.

[0075] As discussed above, the present disclosure is applicable for both uplink transmission and the downlink transmission. Reference is now made to FIG. 3 A and FIG.3B, which illustrate example uplink transmission process 300A and downlink transmission process 300B, respectively.

[0076] In the example of FIG. 3 A, the first apparatus is a UE, such as, the apparatus 110 in FIG. 1A. Further, the second apparatus is a gNB / CN, such as, the apparatus 120 / 130 in FIG. 1A. Specifically, the apparatus 130 / CN may generate related configuration and transmit the related configuration to the apparatus 110 / UE (via such as, the apparatus 120 / gNB). Alternatively, or in addition, the apparatus 120 / gNB also may generate related configuration and transmit the related configuration to the apparatus 110 / UE.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the CN may determine the at least one parameter to be used by the UE, and transmit the at least one parameter to the gNB. The gNB may generate (210) the at least one first message and transmits (220-1) the at least one first message to the UE.

[0078] As for the UE, the UE may receive (220-2) the at least one first message and then obtain (240) the set of flows. Based on the at least one parameter, in some cases, when performing uplink transmission, the UE may perform (250) the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows. Alternatively, in some other cases, the UE may disable (250) performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows.

[0079] In the example of FIG. 3B, in some cases the first apparatus is a gNB, such as, the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1A, and the second apparatus is a CN, such as, the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1A.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the CN may generate (210) the at least one first message comprising the at least one parameter and transmits (220-1) the at least one first message to the gNB.

[0081] As for the gNB, the gNB may receive (220-2) the at least one first message and then obtain (240) the set of flows. Based on the at least one parameter, in some cases, when performing downlink transmission, the gNB may perform (250) the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows. Alternatively, in some other cases, the gNB may disable (250) performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows.

[0082] Alternatively, in some other cases, in the example of FIG. 3B (i.e., downlink), the first apparatus also may be a NW entity. It should be noted that if the first apparatusand the second apparatus are a same NW entity, the signaling interaction between the first and second apparatuses may be omitted accordingly. For brevity, such example embodiments will not be discussed separately.

[0083] In a case that the first apparatus is a NW entity, the NW entity may obtain the at least one parameter by: receiving the at least one parameter from a further CN or determining the at least one parameter by itself. Then, the NW entity may obtain (240) the set of flows (such as, obtain the flows from the user plane function, UPF). Based on the at least one parameter, in some cases, the NW entity may perform (250) the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows. Alternatively, in some other cases, the NW entity may disable (250) performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows.

[0084] In some example embodiments, the plurality of packets comprised in each flow may be SDUs, PDUs, SDU sets and / or PDU sets and the joint discarding may be performed at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the first apparatus.

[0085] In some example embodiments, the at least part of the set of flows may be associated with a same multi-modal service. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may apply the at least one parameter to a set of packets of the at least part of the set of flows, wherein the set of packets belong to a same data burst or within a same period. In the example of FIG. 3, the SDUs (within one time window) from QoS flows with the same MMSID are discarded.

[0086] In some example embodiments, the at least first message may be received during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

[0087] In some example embodiments, the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

[0088] In some cases, when to activate the joint discarding feature / the joint discarding configuration may be controlled by the second apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second apparatus may transmit (230-1) a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter. As for the first apparatus, the first apparatus may receive (230-2) the second message from thesecond apparatus accordingly.

[0089] In the following, more details about the at least one parameter will be discussed.

[0090] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter may indicate at least one of the following:• whether the joint discarding is allowed,• at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding,• a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed,• a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed,• at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed,• at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed,• configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or• configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter may comprise a first indication. Further, a first value of the first indication may indicate the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication may indicate the joint discarding is not allowed.

[0092] As one example embodiment, an explicit indication may be used indicate whether and how the joint discarding at PDCP layer should be applied. For example, introduce a new parameter Multi-modal service flow processing indicator (MMSPI), and the MMSPI may be transmitted together with the MMSID. Further, the MMSPI may be a 1-bit indication. In this event, a value ‘07‘ l’ of MMSPI may indicat that the joint discarding over multiple QoS flows / bearers (belonging to the same multi-modal service) is not applied, while a value ‘ 17‘0’ of MMSPI may indicat that joint discarding over multiple QoS flows / bearers (belonging to the same multi-modal service) is applied.

[0093] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter may comprise asecond indication. Further, a first value of the second indication may indicate the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication may indicate the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication may indicate that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

[0094] As one example embodiment, the MMSPI may be a 2-bit indication. In this event, a value ‘00’ of MMSPI may indicate that joint discarding over multiple QoS flows / bearers (belonging to the same multi-modal service) is not applied, while a value ‘01’ of MMSPI may indicate that the joint discarding over multiple QoS flows / bearers (belonging to the same multi-modal service) is applied. In addition, a third value of “10” may indicate that if a packet discard happens to any of the PDUs in the same MMSID, prohibit discarding of other PDUs with that MMSID, and a value “11” may be reserved for future use for now.

[0095] In this way, if the application of the second apparatus wants to use data from other flows to reconstruct / estimate the discarded packets, the second apparatus may make sure the other flows within the same MMSID get a second chance to deliver their packets by using the third value of “10”. In some embodiments, this prohibition may be implemented via a preconfigured timer that overwrites the triggering of any discard timer for the rest of the flows with the same MMSID. Specifically, as discussed above, the second apparatus may provide configuration information of a timer to the first apparatus. As for the first apparatus, the first apparatus may start the timer in response to discarding a packet, and a packet discarding procedure of other flow(s) is not allowed if the timer is running even a packet discarding condition is met.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter may comprise a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set. In this event, the first apparatus may apply a first discarding rule to a first subset of flows of the set, each flow in the first subset being associated with a bit with a first value, and may further apply a second discarding rule to a second subset of flows of the set, each flow in the second subset being associated with a bit with a second value, where the second discarding rule may be the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

[0097] As one example embodiments, there may be six flows #1 to #6 and the bitmap may be { 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1 }. In this event, a first discarding rule may apply on flows #1, #4,# 5 and #6, while the second discarding rule may apply on flows #2, #3. For example, the first and the second discarding rules may be the joint discarding is allowed. If so, in a case that a packet in flow #1 is discarded, the packets in flows #4, # 5 and #6 may be discarded, and the processing on packets in flows #2, #3 is independent from this discarding in flow #1. Accordingly, in a case that a packet in flow #2 is discarded, the packets in flow #3 may be discarded, and the processing on packets in flows #1, #4, # 5 and #6 is independent from this discarding in flow #2.

[0098] As another example, the first discarding rule may be a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus, and the second discarding rule may be the joint discarding is allowed. If so, when a packet in flow #1 is discarded, packets in flows #4, # 5 and #6 are not discarded. However, the packet(s) in flow #2 (or flow #3) is allowed to be discard. Further, in a case that a packet in flow #2 is discarded, the packets in flow #3 may be discarded.

[0099] It can be seen that any of the first and second discarding rule may be any of the following: 1) the joint discarding is allowed; 2) the joint discarding is not allowed; 3) a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

[0100] As one example embodiment, the parameter MMSPI may be a bitmap corresponding to the number of flows in the multi-modal application. In this way, some of the flows could be indicated to be jointly treated for discarding purposes and others not. An example of such a case could be where pose and video flows are indicated to be jointly treated and audio not. This can be achieved by setting the MMSPI as

[0110] for [pose, video, audio] flows. It should be noted that this embodiment may be extended to any number of flows and to multi -UE case (at least for DL) as well.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter may comprise a multimodal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

[0102] As one example embodiments, when multi-modal service ID (MMSID) is delivered to the first apparatus, the joint discarding is applied. Otherwise, the joint discarding just occurs on each individual QoS flow / bearer. In other words, the MMSID is used as an implicit indication to indicate whether to apply the joint discarding.

[0103] For a better understanding, some example processes are further discussed withreference to FIG. 5, which illustrates a signaling chart 500 of communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0104] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, an explicit indication (i.e., the MMSPI as discussed above) may be used. In operation, during radio bearer establishment / modification procedure, MMSID and MMSPI may be delivered from CN entity (e.g. AF / SMF) to gNB. Then, gNB may configure such information (MMSID and MMSPI) to UE via such as RRC signalling.

[0105] Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an implicit indication (i.e., MMSID as discussed above) may be used. In operation, during radio bearer establishment / modification procedure, only MMSID may be delivered from CN entity (e.g. AF / SMF) to gNB. Then, gNB may configure MMSID to UE via such as RRC signalling.

[0106] It is noted that if MMSID is not used for other purpose, the MMSID may be used as implicit indication as discussed. However, in a case that the MMSID is used for other purpose (such as admission control), an explicit indication is needed.

[0107] In some embodiments, the PDUs / PDU sets (on which the discarding rule is applied) may be part of the same data burst spanning the multiple QoS flows / bearers in order to avoid discarding PDU sets that are not related. In uplink, this can be defined as data being sent within the same period of the XR traffic at the UE (for instance by using as a timing reference the information signaled in the ul-TrafficInfo [as specified in TS 38.331]). In downlink, the gNB may use the XR traffic assistance information provided by 5GC through NG AP TSC Assistance Information (TSCAI) - as specified in clause 5.37.8 of TS 23.501, and / or the indication of End of Data Burst in the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane (GTP-U) header of the last PDU through NG-U - as specified in clause 5.37.5.2 of TS 23.501. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited with regard to how to identity the same data burst.

[0108] Optionally, at Step 3, in some embodiments, an activation message may be sent from gNB to UE. As a result, at Step 4, UE may apply joint PDCP discarding based on the configuration. It should be noted, in some embodiments, the first apparatus device may apply the discarding configuration directly. That is, the activation message is not needed.

[0109] Then based on the information received at RAN (gNB / UE), RAN (gNB / UE) mayprocess multiple QoS flows / bearers with the same MMSID accordingly.

[0110] It should be noted that certain steps in FIG. 5 may be combined into one same message, such as, the activation message and the configuration message (such as, RRC) may be combined.Example Methods

[0111] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method 600 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 600 will be described from the perspective of a first apparatus, which may be the apparatus 110 or the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1 A.

[0112] At block 610, the first apparatus receives at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet.

[0113] At block 620, the first apparatus obtains the set of flows.

[0114] At block 630, the first apparatus performs or disables performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises a multimodal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

[0117] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a firstindication, and wherein a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

[0118] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a second indication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

[0119] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor cause the first apparatus to: apply a first discarding rule to a first subset of flows of the set, each flow in the first subset being associated with a bit with a first value; and apply a second discarding rule to a second subset of flows of the set, each flow in the second subset being associated with a bit with a second value, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may apply the at least one parameter to a set of packets of the at least part of the set of flows, wherein the set of packets belong to a same data burst or within a same period.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may receive, a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the at least first message is received during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the at least one packet comprised in each flow is at least one service data unit (SDU) or at least one protocol data unit (PDU) and thejoint discarding is performed at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the first apparatus.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, a network device or a core network entity.

[0127] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the second device 110, which may be the apparatus 120 or the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1 A.

[0128] At block 710, the second apparatus generates at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet.

[0129] At block 720, the second apparatus transmits the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises a multimodal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

[0132] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a first indication, and wherein, a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

[0133] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a secondindication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

[0134] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein a first value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a first discarding rule on a respective flow, and a second value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a second discarding rule on a respective flow, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may transmit, to the first apparatus, a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, at least one third message indicating the at least one parameter; and generate the at least one first message based on the at least one third message.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the at least first message is transmitted during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus is a network device or a core network device.

[0141] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 600 (for example, first apparatus, which may be the apparatus 110 or the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1A) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus maybe implemented as or included in the first apparatus, which may be the apparatus 110 or the apparatus 120 in FIG. 1A.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; means for obtaining the set of flows; and means for performing or disable performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, or configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises a multi-modal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

[0145] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a first indication, and wherein a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

[0146] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a second indication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

[0147] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor cause the first apparatus to: apply a first discarding rule to afirst subset of flows of the set, each flow in the first subset being associated with a bit with a first value; and apply a second discarding rule to a second subset of flows of the set, each flow in the second subset being associated with a bit with a second value, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

[0149] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for applying the at least one parameter to a set of packets of the at least part of the set of flows, wherein the set of packets belong to a same data burst or within a same period.

[0150] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for receiving, a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter.[015 f]In some example embodiments, the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the at least first message is received during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the at least one packet comprised in each flow is at least one service data unit (SDU) or at least one protocol data unit (PDU) and the joint discarding is performed at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the first apparatus.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, a network device or a core network entity.

[0155] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the second device 110, which may be the apparatus 120 or the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1A) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second device 110, which may be the apparatus 120 or the apparatus 130 in FIG. 1 A.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for generating at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; means for transmitting the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises a multi-modal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

[0159] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a first indication, and wherein, a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

[0160] In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a second indication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.[016 l]In some example embodiments, at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein a first value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a first discarding rule on a respective flow, and a second value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a second discarding rule on a respective flow, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for receiving, at least one third message indicating the at least one parameter; and the second apparatus comprises means for generating the at least one first message based on the at least one third message.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the at least first message is transmitted during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus is a network device or a core network device.Example Apparatus, Device and Medium

[0168] FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a device 800 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 800 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the apparatus 110, the apparatus 120 or the apparatus 130. As shown, the device 800 includes one or more processors 810, one or more memories 820 coupled to the processor 810, and one or more communication modules 840 coupled to the processor 810.

[0169] The communication module 840 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 840 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 840 may include at least one antenna.

[0170] The processor 810 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 800 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0171] The memory 820 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 824, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 822 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0172] A computer program 830 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 810. The instructions of the program 830 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 830 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 824. The processor 810 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 830 into the RAM 822.

[0173] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 830 so that the device 800 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 7. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the program 830 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 800 (such as in the memory 820) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 800. The device 800 may load the program 830 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 822 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitationof the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0175] FIG. 9 shows an example of the computer readable medium 900 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 900 has the program 830 stored thereon.

[0176] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0177] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non- transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0178] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified inthe flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0179] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0180] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0181] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0182] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific featuresor acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by the first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; obtain the set of flows; and perform or disable performing the joint discarding on the at least part of the set of flows based on the at least one parameter.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the timer is running.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a multi-modal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

4. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one parameter comprises a first indication, and wherein a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, anda second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

5. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a second indication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

6. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor cause the first apparatus to: apply a first discarding rule to a first subset of flows of the set, each flow in the first subset being associated with a bit with a first value; and apply a second discarding rule to a second subset of flows of the set, each flow in the second subset being associated with a bit with a second value, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor cause the first apparatus to: apply the at least one parameter to a set of packets of the at least part of the set of flows, wherein the set of packets belong to a same data burst or within a same period.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor cause the first apparatus to: receive, a second message used for activating the joint discarding or indicating the first apparatus to apply the at least one parameter.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least first message comprises at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) signalling,a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), a physical layer signalling.

11. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least first message is received during a radio bearer establishment procedure or a radio bearer modification procedure.

12. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the at least one packet comprised in each flow is at least one service data unit (SDU) or at least one protocol data unit (PDU) and the joint discarding is performed at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the first apparatus.

13. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, a network device or a core network entity.

14. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: generate at least one first message indicating at least one parameter to be used by a first apparatus for performing or disabling performing a joint discarding on at least part of a set of flows, each flow in the set comprising at least one packet; transmit the at least one first message to the first apparatus.

15. The second apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one parameter indicates at least one of the following: whether the joint discarding is allowed, at least one discarding rule about the joint discarding, a first time window within which the joint discarding is allowed, a second time window within which the joint discarding is not allowed, at least one first flow on which the joint discarding is allowed, at least one second flow on which the joint discarding is not allowed, configuration information of a first timer, wherein the first timer is started inresponse to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is not allowed if the first timer is running, or configuration information of a second timer, wherein the second timer is started in response to discarding a packet and a packet discarding procedure is allowed if the second timer is running.

16. The second apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a multi-modal service identity, which implies that the joint discarding is allowed.

17. The second apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a first indication, and wherein, a first value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, and a second value of the first indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed.

18. The second apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a second indication, and wherein, a first value of the second indication indicates the joint discarding is allowed, a second value of second indication indicates the joint discarding is not allowed, and a third value of second indication indicates that a packet discarding procedure is not allowed in response to discarding a packet by the first apparatus.

19. The second apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap corresponding to a flow in the set, and wherein a first value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a first discarding rule on a respective flow, and a second value of a bit of the bitmap indicating the first apparatus to apply a second discarding rule on a respective flow, the second discarding rule being the same as or different from the first discarding rule.

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the at least part of the set of flows is associated with a same multi-modal service.

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