Radio network node, user equipment and methods performed therein

Abstract

Embodiments herein disclose, for example, a method performed by a UE (10) for handling access in a wireless communication network. The UE (10) receives, in a RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The UE (10) further transitions to a second RRC state; and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

Description

[0001] RADIO NETWORK NODE, USER EQUIPMENT AND METHODS PERFORMED

[0002] THEREIN

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] Embodiments herein relate to a radio network node, a user equipment (UE), and methods performed therein for wireless communication. Furthermore, a computer program and a computer readable storage medium are also provided herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to accessing a wireless communication network.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] In a typical wireless communication network, UEs, also known as wireless communication devices, mobile stations, stations (STA) and / or wireless devices, communicate via a Radio Access Network (RAN) with one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cell areas, with each service area or cell area being served by radio network node such as an access node e.g. a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be called, for example, a NodeB, a gNodeB, or an eNodeB. The service area or cell area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node operates on radio frequencies to communicate over an air interface with the UEs within range of the radio network node. The radio network node communicates over a downlink (DL) to the UE and the UE communicates over an uplink (UL) to the radio network node.

[0007] A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation telecommunications network, which evolved from the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN using wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and / or High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for communication with user equipment. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for present and future generation networks and UTRAN specifically, and investigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some RANs, e.g., as in UMTS, several radio network nodes may be connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural radio network nodes connected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more core networks.

[0008] Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) have been completed within the 3GPP and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases, such as 5G networks for example New Radio (NR). The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E-UTRAN / LTE is a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio network nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network. As such, the Radio Access Network (RAN) of an EPS has an essentially “flat” architecture comprising radio network nodes connected directly to one or more core networks.

[0009] With the emerging 5G technologies such as new radio (NR), focus is on a set of features such as the use of very many transmit- and receive-antenna elements that makes it possible to utilize beamforming, such as transmit-side and receive-side beamforming. Transmit-side beamforming means that the transmitter can amplify the transmitted signals in a selected direction or directions, while suppressing the transmitted signals in other directions. Similarly, on the receive-side, a receiver can amplify signals from a selected direction or directions, while suppressing unwanted signals from other directions. NR is connected to the 5G Core Network (5GC) which comprises a number of Network Functions (NF) such as Session Management Function (SMF), Access Management Function (AMF), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Unified Data Manager (UDM), Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), just to mention some. In the 5GC, NFs can discover other NFs by using a discovery service provided by the NRF.

[0010] The radio resource control (RRC) inactive state in 5G is designed for low energy consumption and fast resume to the RRC connected state (or mode) when compared to the RRC idle state. It can be envisioned that similar states will be designed also for 6G. The different RRC states in NR are characterized as follows according to TS 38.300 v.18.0.0:

[0011] RRC supports the following RRC states which can be characterized as follows:

[0012] - RRC IDLE:

[0013] PLMN selection;

[0014] Broadcast of system information;

[0015] Cell re-selection mobility; Paging for mobile terminated data is initiated by 5GC;

[0016] Transfer of MBS broadcast data to the UE over MRB(s);

[0017] DRX for CN paging configured by NAS.

[0018] - RRC INACTIVE:

[0019] - PLMN selection;

[0020] - Broadcast of system information;

[0021] - Cell re-selection mobility;

[0022] - Paging is initiated by NG-RAN (RAN paging);

[0023] - RAN-based notification area (RNA) is managed by NG- RAN;

[0024] - DRX for RAN paging configured by NG-RAN;

[0025] - 5GC - NG-RAN connection (both C / U-planes) is established for UE;

[0026] - The UE Inactive AS context is stored in NG-RAN and the UE;

[0027] - NG-RAN knows the RNA which the UE belongs to;

[0028] - T ransfer of MB S broadcast data to the UE over MRB (s) ;

[0029] - Transfer of unicast data and / or signalling to / from the UE over radio bearers configured for SDT.

[0030] - RRC CONNECTED:

[0031] - 5GC - NG-RAN connection (both C / U-planes) is established for UE;

[0032] - The UE AS context is stored in NG-RAN and the UE;

[0033] - NG-RAN knows the cell which the UE belongs to;

[0034] - Transfer of unicast data to / from the UE;

[0035] - T ransfer of MB S multicast / broadcast data to the UE over MRB (s) ;

[0036] Network controlled mobility including measurements.

[0037] The UE can transit between RRC states either triggered by itself, e.g., UL data arrival while in RRC inactive or idle state, expiration of different timers or by indication from network. Below is an example from TS 38.300 v17.6.0:

[0038] 9.2.2.4.1 UE triggered transition from RRCJNACTIVE to RRC_CONNECTED

[0039] The following figure describes the UE triggered transition from RRC INACTIVE to RRC CONNECTED in case of UE context retrieval success:

[0040] Figure la or Fig. 9.2.2.4.1-1 in TS 38.300 shows a UE triggered transition from RRC INACTIVE to RRC CONNECTED (UE context retrieval success)

[0041] 1. The UE resumes from RRC INACTIVE, providing the I-RNTI, allocated by the last serving gNB.

[0042] 2. The gNB, if able to resolve the gNB identity contained in the I-RNTI, requests the last serving gNB to provide UE Context data. 3. The last serving gNB provides UE context data.

[0043] 4 / 5. The gNB and UE completes the resumption of the RRC connection.

[0044] NOTE: User Data can also be sent in step 5 if the grant allows.

[0045] 6. If loss of DL user data buffered in the last serving gNB shall be prevented, the gNB provides forwarding addresses.

[0046] 7 / 8. The gNB performs path switch.

[0047] 9. The gNB triggers the release of the UE resources at the last serving gNB.

[0048] After step 1 above, when the gNB decides to use a single RRC message to reject the Resume Request right away and keep the UE in RRC INACTIVE without any reconfiguration (e.g. as described in the two examples below), or when the gNB decides to setup a new RRC connection, SRBO (without security) is used. Conversely, when the gNB decides to reconfigure the UE (e.g. with a new DRX cycle or RNA) or when the gNB decides to push the UE to RRC IDLE, SRB 1 (with integrity protection and ciphering as previously configured for that SRB) shall be used.

[0049] NOTE: SRB 1 can only be used once the UE Context is retrieved i.e. after step 3.”

[0050] There may be at least two different sorts of synchronization signal blocks (SSB) in present or upcoming releases.

[0051] For idle and inactive UEs, a first type of SSB may be defined. This signal may be denoted as l-SSB, where T refers to Idle state. The l-SSB can be found by idle state UEs without any network assistance. These are typically associated with system information broadcast, are always on and used for initial access and to resume an inactive RRC connection. There will also be a mapping from l-SSBs to random access channel (RACH) resources, i.e., preambles and random access occasions (RO). This enables the UE to indicate a selected l-SSB, which has a synchronization signal (SS)- reference signal received power (RSRP) above a threshold during the random access (RA) procedure triggered by the resume procedure initiated to go to connected state.

[0052] For the RRC connected state, a second type of SSB signals may be used. This second type of SSB signal may be denoted as M-SSB, where ‘M’ refers to Mobility. These signals are self-detectable by the UE once the UE has received additional information from the network, e.g., in an RRC configuration, which additional information specifies where in time and frequency the M-SSB is transmitted. The M-SSB identifies a physical transmission point or a beam in the network and can be a narrow-beam, compared to a typical l-SSB. In general, the overall coverage of l-SSBs and M-SSBs are the same, but the coverage of an individual M-SSB could be smaller since the beamwidth of an M-SSB could be narrower than of an l-SSB. This is illustrated in Fig. 1b, where the l-SSBs are illustrated as circular beams and the M-SSBs are illustrated as narrower oval beams. Hence, Fig. 1b illustrates l-SSB and M-SSB coverages and beam widths.

[0053] The UE will measure M-SSBs from the serving and neighbour cells or transmission and reception points (TRP) and the RSRP measurements of the different M- SSBs are used to control mobility. Indication of a selected M-SSB in the target cell could be indicated by a contention free random access (CFRA) procedure.

[0054] Fig. 1c shows an illustration of how l-SSBs and M-SSBs may be used in RRC connected and inactive states (or modes).

[0055] Action 101. The UE is configured with connected mode M-SSBs.

[0056] Action 102. The serving and / or neighbouring gNB transmit M-SSB in narrow beams.

[0057] Action 103. The UE is released to RRC inactive mode.

[0058] Action 104. The serving gNB transmits SI with l-SSB configuration.

[0059] Action 105. The serving gNB transmits l-SSBs.

[0060] Action 106. The UE is triggered to perform a resume procedure to RRC connected state.

[0061] Action 107. The UE indicates selected l-SSB to the serving gNB.

[0062] Action 108. The UE goes into RRC connected mode with configured M-SSBs.

[0063] Action 109. The UE receives M-SSBs from serving gNB and / or the neighbouring gNB.

[0064] Action 110. The UE indicates selected M-SSB to the serving gNB.

[0065] SUMMARY

[0066] As part of developing embodiments herein one or more problems have been identified. For 6G, different RRC states will likely be similar to 5G, i.e. containing a connected state where UEs are fully configured and active and use network controlled mobility procedures, such as handover procedures, as well as an inactive state, where UEs have a suspended configuration and monitor system information and do UE controlled mobility, such as cell reselection. l-SSBs, which are used by UEs in RRC idle and inactive state, and M-SSBs, which are self-detectable after the UE has been configured in RRC connected state, may be used in the wireless communication network. Thus, when in RRC connected state, the UE measures on a configured set of M-SSBs, both intra and inter cell, i.e., between different cells and within the same cell. When the UE is released to RRC inactive state, it would be advantageous if the UE could continue to measure on these M-SSBs and be able to also indicate a selected M-SSB, which has a signal strength, such as SS-RSRP, above a threshold during the RA procedure triggered by the resume procedure initiated to go to RRC connected state. This would be advantageous since the M-SSBs can be transmitted on a narrower beam than l-SSBs or even from a TRP located closer to the UE and therefore provide a higher signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) than the l-SSB. If only l-SSBs are measured in RRC inactive state, there will be an additional delay for configuring, measuring and reporting the M-SSB once the UE is in RRC connected state. In addition, if l-SSB and M-SSB are transmitted from different TRPs, there may be additional delays for DL and UL synchronization.

[0067] If M-SSBs are measured in RRC inactive state, there should also be means to indicate a selected M-SSB. Since RA resources, such as preambles and RACH occasions, are limited and are also used to indicate other things, for example, in NR, preambles and ROs are used to indicate: SSB, on-demand SI, preamble group B, 2-step RA and CFRA. It may therefore not always be possible to indicate both l-SSBs and M- SSBs in addition to the above-mentioned things, without a considerable overhead.

[0068] Methods for how to configure a M-SSB to preamble and RO mapping for inactive UEs are needed for 6G as well as a resume procedure for cases where there is a M-SSB to preambles and ROs.

[0069] An object of embodiments herein is to provide a mechanism for enabling communication, such as handling access, in a wireless communication network in an efficient manner.

[0070] According to another aspect the object is achieved by providing a method performed by a UE for handling access to a wireless communication network. The UE receives, in an RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as SSBs. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The UE transitions to a second RRC state, such as RRC inactive state, and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, the UE measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

[0071] According to another aspect the object is achieved by providing a method performed by a radio network node for handling access to a wireless communication network. The radio network node transmits to a UE in an RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The radio network node transitions the UE to a second RRC state by transmitting to the UE, in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration. The second configuration comprises further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE to, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals. The radio network node transmits the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0072] It is furthermore provided herein a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods herein, as performed by the UE or the radio network node, respectively. It is additionally provided herein a computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the methods herein, as performed by the UE or the radio network node, respectively.

[0073] According to yet another aspect the object is achieved, according to embodiments herein, by providing a radio network node, and a UE configured to perform the methods herein, respectively.

[0074] Thus, according to an aspect the object is achieved by providing a UE for handling access to a wireless communication network. The UE is configured to receive, in an RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as SSBs. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The UE is configured to transition to a second RRC state, such as RRC inactive state, and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, to measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

[0075] According to another aspect the object is achieved by providing a radio network node for handling access to a wireless communication network. The radio network node is configured to transmit to a UE in an RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The radio network node is configured to transition the UE to a second RRC state by transmitting to the UE, in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration. The second configuration comprises further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE to, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals. The radio network node is configured to transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0076] According to embodiments herein, the UE is in RRC connected state configured with a set of first signals with a respective synchronization signal component such as M- SSBs for a radio network node such as a serving and / or some neighbour cells or TRPs which the UE measures. When the UE is released to the second state such as to RRC inactive state, the radio network node may provide an optional mapping from the further first signals to preambles and ROs. This mapping may then be a part of the RRCRelease message, or Suspendconfig in NR terms. The RRCRelease may also contain the second configuration of how (where) to find additional M-SSBs in the cell(s).

[0077] When the UE resumes the RRC connection, the UE may measure and indicate a selected first signal already during the random access procedure during the resume procedure and not after the resume procedure. Thus, enabling communication, enabling access, to the wireless communication network in an efficient manner.

[0078] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] Embodiments will now be described in more detail in relation to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0080] Fig. 1a shows a UE triggered transition from RRCJNACTIVE to RRC_CONNECTED;

[0081] Fig. 1b is a schematic overview depicting usage of different reference signals;

[0082] Fig. 1c is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to a scenario using l-SSBs and M-SSBs;

[0083] Fig. 2 is a schematic overview depicting a wireless communication network according to embodiments herein;

[0084] Fig. 3a is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to some embodiments herein;

[0085] Fig. 3b is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to some embodiments herein;

[0086] Fig. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method performed by a UE according to embodiments herein;

[0087] Fig. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method performed by a radio network node according to embodiments herein;

[0088] Fig. 6 is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to some embodiments herein; Fig. 7 is a block diagram depicting a UE according to embodiments herein;

[0089] Fig. 8 is a block diagram depicting a radio network node according to embodiments herein;

[0090] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates embodiments of a communication system,

[0091] Fig. 10 is a generalized block diagram of embodiments of a UE,

[0092] Fig. 11 is a generalized block diagram of embodiments of a network node, and

[0093] Fig. 12 is a generalized block diagram of embodiments of a virtualization environment.

[0094] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] Embodiments herein relate to communication networks in general. Fig. 2 is a schematic overview depicting a wireless communication network 1. The wireless communication network 1 comprises one or more RANs and one or more CNs. The wireless communication network 1 may use a number of different technologies, such as 6G, Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, NR, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile communications / Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM / EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations.

[0096] In the wireless communication network 1, wireless devices e.g. a user equipment (UE) 10 such as a mobile station, a non-access point (non-AP) STA, a STA, a wireless device and / or a wireless terminal, communicate via one or more Access Networks (AN), e.g. RAN, to one or more core networks (CN). It should be understood by those skilled in the art that “UE” is a non-limiting term which means any terminal, wireless communication terminal, internet of things (loT) capable device, Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or node, e.g., smart phone, laptop, mobile phone, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or even a base station communicating within a cell.

[0097] The wireless communication network 1 comprises a first radio network node 12 providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a first service area or first cell 11 , of a first radio access technology (RAT), such as 6G, NR, LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi or similar. The radio network node 12 may be a radio access network node such as a transmission and reception point (TRP), an access point such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point or an Access Point Station (AP STA), an access controller, a base station, e.g. a radio base station such as a NodeB, an eNodeB, a gNodeB (gNB), a base transceiver station, Access Point Base Station, base station router, a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit capable of serving a UE within the service area served by the first radio network node 12 depending e.g. on the first radio access technology and terminology used. The first radio network node 12 may be denoted as serving RAN node, serving node, source node, or first radio network node 12.

[0098] The wireless communication network 1 comprises a second radio network node 13 providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a second service area, or second cell 14, of a second RAT, such as 6G, NR, LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi or similar. The second radio network node 13 may be a radio access network node such as TRP, an access point such as a WLAN access point or an AP STA, an access controller, a base station, e.g. a radio base station such as a NodeB, an eNodeB, a gNodeB (gNB), a base transceiver station, Access Point Base Station, base station router, a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit capable of serving a UE within the service area served by the second radio network node 13 depending e.g. on the second radio access technology and terminology used. The second radio network node 13 may be denoted as target RAN node, neighbouring node, target node or radio network node.

[0099] The respective node may be a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or processing resources in a server farm or same node. Embodiments herein may be implemented as physical bare metal, virtual or cloud native such as Kubernetes environment in, e.g., hyper-cloud networks.

[0100] According to embodiments herein the UE 10 receives, in an RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as SSBs. The configuration may be received from a radio network node 120 such as the first radio network node 12 or the second network node 13. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state, such as M-SSBs. The UE 10 transitions to a second RRC state, such as RRC inactive state or RRC idle state, and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, the UE 10 measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals. Embodiments herein may be used in cases where the UE 10 is relatively stationary and has not moved to an area where the M-SSBs configured when the UE was released cannot be heard.

[0101] Embodiments herein reduce the latency of the resume procedure, since, prior the claimed solution, the UE would only measure l-SSBs in inactive state and start measuring the M-SSBs after being resumed. The selected M-SSB would be indicated after the measurements have been completed. According to embodiments herein a selected access signal may be indicated during the resume procedure leading to an efficient access procedure with reduced latency.

[0102] Fig. 3a is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to some embodiments herein exemplifying one embodiment herein.

[0103] Action 301. The radio network node 120 transmits to the UE 10 in the RRC connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as SSB for mobility measurements. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state, i.e. , UEs in RRC connected state are measuring signal strength or quality on these first signals.

[0104] Action 302. The UE 10 transitions to the second RRC state such as RRC inactive state.

[0105] Action 303. The UE 10, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

[0106] Action 304. The UE 10 may further select the one or another first signal, for example, based on measured RSRP, as an access signal.

[0107] Action 305. The UE 10 may further indicate the selected access signal to the radio network node 120 by transmitting a selection indication or use certain RACH resources.

[0108] Action 306. The radio network node 120 may then setup communication based on the indicated access signal.

[0109] Fig. 3b is a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to some embodiments herein exemplifying one embodiment herein.

[0110] Action 311. The radio network node 120 transmits to the UE 10 in the RRC connected state, the configuration comprising the one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as SSB for mobility measurements. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state, i.e., UEs in RRC connected state are measuring on these first signals.

[0111] Action 312. The radio network node 120 may transition the UE 10 to the second RRC state and may transmit to the UE 10, in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration. The second configuration comprises further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE 10 to, during the resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals. Thus, the second configuration may indicate further M-SSBs for RRC connected state.

[0112] Action 313. The radio network node 120 may transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals. The UE 10, during the resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0113] Action 314. The UE 10 may further select the one or another first signal, for example, based on measured RSRP, as an access signal.

[0114] Action 315. The UE 10 may further indicate the selected access signal to the radio network node 120 in a selection indication or using certain RACH resources.

[0115] Action 316. The radio network node 120 may then setup communication based on the indicated access signal.

[0116] The method actions performed by the UE 10 for handling access to the wireless communication network according to embodiments will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in Fig. 4. The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below but may be taken in any suitable order. Dashed boxes indicate optional features.

[0117] Action 401. The UE 10 receives, in the RRC connected state, the configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component such as SSB. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The configuration may define one or more criteria for measuring on the one or more first signals. Such one or more criteria may comprise: how to measure, e.g., applying time and / or frequency averaging; when to measure, e.g., based on timers or event triggers, and when to report, e.g., based on events or on timers, and what to report, e.g., a list of best N measurements; or only that a triggering criterion is fulfilled, etc.

[0118] Action 402. The UE 10 may store the configuration at the UE 10.

[0119] Action 403. The UE 10 transitions to the second RRC state, such as an RRC inactive state. The second state may be different from RRC connected, in that user plane information exchange is not supported. The second RRC state may be a low power state, an idle state, an inactive state, and / or a state where UP data exchange is not supported. The UE may transition to the second RRC state by receiving from the radio network node 120, in the release message to the second RRC state, the second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state. The respective configuration may comprise a mapping of RACH resources to first signals.

[0120] Action 404. The UE 10 may keep the stored configuration after transitioning to the second RRC state.

[0121] Action 405. The UE 10, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measures on at least one signal of the one or more first signals. The measured at least one signal may be a signal out of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0122] Action 406. The UE 10 may, when the UE 10 is in the second RRC state, measure on one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, such as l-SSBs. The one or more second signals are for the second RRC state, and the UE may during the resume procedure in addition measure on the one or more first signals for the RRC connected state. The one or more second signals may comprise a SSB for the second RRC state, and the one or more first signals may comprise a SSB for RRC active state. The one or more second signals may be periodically received, and the one or more first signals may be aperiodically received. The information of resources for the one or more second signals may be preconfigured at the UE and information of resources for the one or more first signals may be RRC configured at the UE. Enabling UEs to differentiate between different types of SSBs, e.g. I-SSB, M- SSB, etc, can be achieved in several different ways. For example, the UE 10 may be capable of detecting l-SSBs without any network assistance for the purpose of performing a first initial access to the system. Once connected, the UE 10 may receive an additional configuration, e.g., using RRC configuration signalling, on how to find additional SSB types, e.g., M-SSBs, etc Hence, when detecting an SSB the UE 10 can then compare if it matches the corresponding configuration for each SSB type, and thereby determine the type of the detected SSB. There are also possibilities to signal the SSB type: by using different primary synchronization signal (PSS) and / or secondary synchronization signal (SSS) sequence for different SSB types; by inserting a few explicit bits indicating the SSB- type in a master information block (MIB)-part of the SSB; by having different content and / or encoding and / or scrambling of the MIB-part of the SSB and relying on UE blind detection, i.e. , assuming different hypothesis for the SSB type when decoding the MIB- part of the SSB and checking if the SRS matches or not; or by using different demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequences for a physical broadcast channel (PBCH)-part, i.e., the physical channel included in the SSB that contains the MIB, for SSBs of different types. Action 407. The UE 10 may verify one or more first signals by analysing the one or more first signals. As an example, the UE 10 may e.g. measure on the received power on the SSB or on parts of the SSB. The UE 10 may measure on the PSS / SSS part of the SSB and the SSB may explicitly be signalled in the MIB-part of the SSB. Then, in this example the verification of the SSB type may involve decoding the corresponding MIB- part of the SSB to determine the SSB-type and then associating the SSB-type to the measurement.

[0123] Action 408. The UE 10 may select the access signal based on the measured at least one signal.

[0124] Action 409. The UE 10 may transmit to the radio network node 120, the selection indication indicating the selected access signal during a random access procedure. The selection indication may be comprised in a MsgA or Msg3 in the RA procedure. For example, no M-SSB that has a mapping to preambles and ROs, i.e. , a second set of M- SSB is found above the threshold, the UE 10 may indicate another M-SSB in msg3 for which the UE has no configured PRACH occasion or preamble available.

[0125] Action 410. The UE 10 may use a RACH resource mapped to the selected access signal. Thus, the UE 10 may indicate selected access signal by using RACH resources mapped to the selected access signal.

[0126] The method actions performed by the radio network node 120 for handling access in the wireless communication network according to embodiments will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in Fig. 5. The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below but may be taken in any suitable order. Dashed boxes indicate optional features.

[0127] Action 501. The radio network node 120 transmits, to the UE 10, in the RRC connected state, the configuration comprising the one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state. The configuration may define the one or more criteria for performing the measuring on the one or more first signals. Such one or more criteria may comprise: how to measure, e.g., applying time and / or frequency averaging; when to measure, e.g., based on timers or event triggers, and when to report, e.g., based on events or on timers, and what to report, e.g., a list of best N measurements; or only that a triggering criterion is fulfilled, etc.

[0128] Action 502. The radio network node 120 transitions the UE 10 to the second RRC state by transmitting to the UE 10, in the release message to the second RRC state, the second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE to, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals. The respective configuration may comprise a mapping of RACH resources to first signals.

[0129] Action 503. The radio network node 120 transmits the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals, such as M-SSBs. The radio network node 120 may further transmit one or more second signals for the second RRC state, such as I- SSBs.

[0130] Action 504. The radio network node 120 may receive the selection indication from the UE 10 indicating the selected access signal out of the one or more first signals, the further one or more first signals, and / or one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state.

[0131] Action 505. The radio network node 120 may determine to change the configuration of the one or more first signals, and / or to stop transmitting the one or more first signals when one or more conditions is fulfilled. Such one or more conditions may: e.g. be that the traffic is below a threshold; that a timer expires; the time of day has a predefined value; that no traffic with priority above a threshold is present in the cell, that the number of connected UEs with certain characteristics, such as UE capability, UE slice association, UE rate requirements, UE latency requirements, etc, is below a threshold. Or any combination of the above examples and other examples.

[0132] Referring to Fig. 6. According to some embodiments herein, the UE 10 is in RRC connected state and may be configured, see action 601 , with a first set of M-SSBs to both the serving and some neighbour cells or TRPs which the UE 10 measures, see action 602. When the radio network node 120 releases, e.g., by RRC release with suspend indication, the UE 10 to the second RRC state, see action 603, it provides an (optional) mapping from a second set of M-SSBs to preambles and PRACH occasions (ROs), see action 604. This second set would typically be a subset of the first set of M- SSBs. Each M-SSB in the second set is mapped to a set of preambles and ROs. These mappings are part of a configuration, e.g., a Suspendconfig, of the release message, such as a RRCRelease message in NR terms. In another embodiment, this random access information is derived from a data field in the M-SSB, e.g., in a master information block (MIB). The RRCRelease message may also comprise the second configuration of how (where) to find further first signals such as additional M-SSBs in the cell(s). These configurations and mappings are saved in the UE context.

[0133] In case some M-SSBs belong to a neighbour cell or TRP, this may require signalling between radio network nodes to obtain the mapping from potential cells or TRPs that the UE 10 might move to. For example, the first radio network node 12 that controls the current serving cell ask for the current M-SSB that the neighbouring second radio network node 13 has used, e.g., via Xn interface.

[0134] When the UE 10 is in the second RRC state, it reads system information to obtain RACH configuration, i.e., time / frequency for PRACH transmissions, common search space for detection of random access response (RAR), l-SSB to preamble and RO mapping etc. for the cell it is camping on.

[0135] The UE 10 may then measure RSRP, reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and / or SI NR on the l-SSBs and the M-SSBs that are configured in the UE context and measurable, see actions 605-606. Action 607. The UE 10 may perform resume procedure triggered and may indicate selected access signal, action 608. The UE 10, action 609, gets into RRC connected state for the M-SSB selected, and may receive M- SSBs from the serving gNB or the neighbouring gNB, action 610.

[0136] When the UE 10 is triggered for a state switch to RRC connected state from the RRC second state, examples of action 607 or action 408:

[0137] 1 . If there is any configured M-SSB in the second set whose measurement, e.g. RSRP / RSRQ / SINR, is above a configured threshold, the threshold can be configurable per M-SSB, the UE 10 selects one such M-SSB and may use the preamble / RO mapped to this M-SSB; as one alternative, the UE 10 selects the M-SSB with the best absolute quality or the best relative quality, i.e., difference between the measurement and the configured threshold; as another alternative, the UE 10 selects an M-SSB from the first set of M- SSBs, i.e., an SSB the UE used as serving M-SSB before the transition to the second RRC state; as another alternative, the UE 10 selects an M-SSB that is co-located with an M-SSB of the first set of M-SSBs; as another alternative, the UE 10 selects a M-SSB that is co-located with the strongest measured l-SSB; else the UE 10 selects the best l-SSB and uses the preamble and / or RO mapped to this l-SSB. 2. Transmit preamble indicating the selected M-SSB / I-SSB;

[0138] 3. Receive RAR according to indicated SSB;

[0139] 4. Transmit msg3 (RRCResumeRequest) according to the indicated SSB.

[0140] If l-SSB was used in 2, i.e., no M-SSB that has a mapping to preambles and ROs, i.e., the second set of M-SSB, is found above the threshold, the UE 10 may indicate another M-SSB in msg3 for which the UE 10 has no configured physical random access channel (PRACH) occasion or preamble available, e.g., the measurement of the detectable M-SSB, or the measurement of any other M- SSBs the UE may detect, or the best M-SSB in terms of measured quality.

[0141] 5. Receive Msg4 (RRCResume) according to M-SSB or l-SSB.

[0142] If l-SSB was used in step 2 and M-SSB is indicated in msg3 according to the step 4, then the UE 10 may only expect Msg4 received according to the indicated M-SSB if M-SSB quality is larger than a configurable threshold.

[0143] At this point, if msg4 was received according to M-SSB, the UE 10 is already configured with the M-SSBs of the serving cell and can measure on these.

[0144] In one embodiment, the UE 10 may monitor l-SSBs and the configured M-SSBs. If no such configured M-SSBs has been detected for a configurable time period or a configurable number of times, the UE 10 may indicate this information to the radio network node 120 so that the radio network node 120 can configure further M-SSBs to allow UE a faster transition to RRC Connected state.

[0145] In one embodiment, applicable to the case when the inactive UE is configured with positioning uplink transmissions, e.g. uplink Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) or a 6G equivalent uplink reference signal, i.e. UL transmissions to enable for the radio network node 120 to estimate the UEs position. In this case, the radio network node 120 may update the M-SSB configuration including preambles and / or RO mapping to M-SSBs so that the UE 10 has a useful configuration when the UE 10 has moved to, e.g., a new cell or TRP. This can be done by a mobile terminated (MT)-small data transmission (SDT) procedure, or 6G equivalent, where the UE 10 receives the new configuration and saves it into the UE context without entering the RRC connected state.

[0146] In some embodiments the UE 10 is configured with additional information that indicates which l-SSBs and M-SSBs that can be assumed to be transmitted from the same TRP, i.e., they have some level of quasi co-location. In some embodiments this additional information is provided as part of an RRC configuration message. In other embodiments this information is derived from a data field in the l-SSB and / or M-SSB, e.g., in a master information block (MIB).

[0147] In other embodiments the information relating l-SSBs and M-SSBs may be implicitly derived, e.g., from the sequences used on some of the signals comprised in the SSB, e.g., the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and / or secondary synchronization signal (SSS) indices are the same in case an l-SSB and an M-SSB are quasi co-located.

[0148] Fig. 7 shows a block diagram depicting the UE 10 for handling access to the wireless communication network 1.

[0149] The UE 10 may comprise processing circuitry 701 , e.g. one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein.

[0150] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 is configured to receive, in the RRC connected state, the configuration comprising the one or more first signals with the respective synchronization signal component. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state.

[0151] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 is configured to transition to the second RRC state, and during the resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, to measure on the at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

[0152] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to store the configuration at the UE.

[0153] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to keep the stored configuration after transitioning to the second RRC state.

[0154] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to transition to the second RRC state by receiving from the radio network node, in the release message to the second RRC state, the second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state. The measured at least one signal may be a signal out of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0155] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to select the access signal based on the measured at least one signal.

[0156] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to transmit to the radio network node 120, the selection indication indicating the selected access signal during the random access procedure. The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to use the RACH resource mapped to the selected access signal.

[0157] The respective configuration may comprise the mapping of RACH resources to first signals.

[0158] The configuration may define the one or more criteria for measuring on the one or more first signals.

[0159] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to verify the one or more first signals by analysing the one or more first signals.

[0160] The UE 10 and / or the processing circuitry 701 may be configured to, when the UE 10 is in the second RRC state, measure on the one or more second signals with the respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state, and to measure on the one or more first signals for the RRC connected state.

[0161] The one or more second signals may comprises a synchronization signal block, SSB, for the second RRC state, and the one or more first signals comprises a SSB for RRC active state; and / or wherein the one or more second signals are periodically received and the one or more first signals are aperiodically received; or information of resources for the one or more second signals are preconfigured at the UE and information of resources for the one or more first signals are RRC configured at the UE.

[0162] The UE 10 may further comprise a memory 705. The memory comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as indications, configuration, signal strengths or qualities, indications, RACH resource mappings to SSBs, values, timers, applications to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed, and similar. The UE 10 comprises a communication interface 706 comprising transmitter, receiver, transceiver and / or one or more antennas. Thus, it is herein provided the UE for handling access to a communication network, wherein the UE comprises processing circuitry and a memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said UE is operative to perform any of the methods herein.

[0163] The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the UE 10 are respectively implemented by means of, e.g., a computer program product 707 or a computer program product, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the UE 10. The computer program product 707 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 708, e g. a universal serial bus (USB) stick, a disc or similar. The computer-readable storage medium 708, having stored thereon the computer program product, may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the UE 10. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory or transitory computer- readable storage medium.

[0164] Fig. 8 shows a block diagram depicting the radio network node 120 for handling communication in the communication network.

[0165] The radio network node 120 may comprise processing circuitry 801 , e.g., one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein.

[0166] The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 is configured to transmit to the UE 10 in the RRC connected state, the configuration comprising the one or more first signals with the respective synchronization signal component. The one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state.

[0167] The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 is configured to transition the UE to the second RRC state by transmitting to the UE 10, in the release message to the second RRC state, the second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE 10 to, during the resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on the at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0168] The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 is configured to transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

[0169] The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 may be configured to receive the selection indication from the UE 10 indicating the selected access signal out of the one or more first signals, the further one or more first signals, and / or the one or more second signals with the respective synchronization signal component. The one or more second signals are for the second RRC state.

[0170] The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 may be configured to transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals, and to transmit one or more second signals for the second RRC state.

[0171] The respective configuration may comprise the mapping of RACH resources to first signals.

[0172] The configuration may define the one or more criteria for performing the measuring on the one or more first signals. The radio network node 120 and / or the processing circuitry 801 may be configured to determine to change the configuration of the one or more first signals, and / or to stop transmitting the one or more first signals when one or more conditions is fulfilled.

[0173] The radio network node 120 further comprises a memory 805. The memory comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as indications, configuration, signal strengths or qualities, indications, RACH resource mappings to SSBs, values, timers, applications to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed, and similar. The radio network node 120 comprises a communication interface 806 comprising transmitter, receiver, transceiver and / or one or more antennas. Thus, it is herein provided the radio network node 120 for handling communication in a communication network, wherein the radio network node 120 comprises processing circuitry and a memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said radio network node 120 is operative to perform any of the methods herein.

[0174] The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the radio network node 120 are respectively implemented by means of, e.g., a computer program product 807 or a computer program product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the radio network node 120. The computer program product 807 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 808, e.g., a USB stick, a disc or similar. The computer-readable storage medium 808, having stored thereon the computer program product, may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the radio network node 120. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory or transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0175] In some embodiments a more general term “network node” is used and it can correspond to any type of radio-network node or any network node, which communicates with a UE and / or with another network node.

[0176] In some embodiments the non-limiting term wireless device or user equipment (UE) is used and it refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and / or with another wireless device in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, proximity capable UE (aka ProSe UE), loT capable device, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles etc.

[0177] Embodiments are applicable to any RAT or multi-RAT systems, where the wireless device receives and / or transmit signals (e.g. data) e.g. NR, Wi-Fi, LTE, LTE-Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile communications / enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM / EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations.

[0178] In some embodiments a more general term “network node” is used and it can correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a wireless device and / or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, Master eNB, Secondary eNB, a network node belonging to Master cell group (MCG) or Secondary Cell Group (SCG), base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node e.g. Mobility Switching Centre (MSC), Mobile Management Entity (MME) etc., Operation and Maintenance (O&M), Operation Support System (OSS), SelfOrganizing Network (SON), positioning node e.g. Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC), Minimizing Drive Test (MDT), etc.

[0179] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term wireless device or user equipment (UE) is used and it refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and / or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device-to-device (D2D) UE, proximity capable UE (aka ProSe UE), machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, PAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles etc.

[0180] The embodiments are described for 5G. However, the embodiments are applicable to any RAT or multi-RAT systems, where the UE receives and / or transmit signals (e.g. data) e.g. LTE, LTE FDD / TDD, WCDMA / HSPA, GSM / GERAN, Wi Fi, WLAN, CDMA2000 etc.

[0181] As will be readily understood by those familiar with communications design, functions means or modules may be implemented using digital logic and / or one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other digital hardware. In some embodiments, several or all of the various functions may be implemented together, such as in a single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or in two or more separate devices with appropriate hardware and / or software interfaces between them. Several of the functions may be implemented on a processor shared with other functional components of a wireless device or network node, for example.

[0182] Alternatively, several of the functional elements of the processing means discussed may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware, while others are provided with hardware for executing software, in association with the appropriate software or firmware. Thus, the term “processor” or “controller” as used herein does not exclusively refer to hardware capable of executing software and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random-access memory for storing software and / or program or application data, and non-volatile memory. Other hardware, conventional and / or custom, may also be included. Designers of communications devices will appreciate the cost, performance, and maintenance trade-offs inherent in these design choices.

[0183] Fig. 9 shows an example of a communication system QQ100 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0184] In the example, the communication system QQ100 includes a telecommunication network QQ102 that includes an access network QQ104, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network QQ106, which includes one or more core network nodes QQ108. The access network QQ104 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes QQ110a and QQ110b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes QQ110 being examples of the radio network nodes), or any other similar 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunication network QQ102 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in the telecommunication network QQ102 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the telecommunication network QQ102, including one or more network nodes QQ110 and / or core network nodes QQ108.

[0185] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (0-Rll), an open distributed unit (0-Dll), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O- CLI-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). The network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1 , F1 , W1, E1 , E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies. The network nodes QQ110 facilitate direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as by connecting UEs QQ112a, QQ112b, QQ112c, and QQ112d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs QQ112 or UE 10) to the core network QQ106 over one or more wireless connections.

[0186] Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system QQ100 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system QQ100 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.

[0187] The UEs QQ112 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes QQ110 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes QQ110 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UEs QQ112 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunication network QQ102 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunication network QQ102.

[0188] In the depicted example, the core network QQ106 connects the network nodes QQ110 to one or more host computing systems, such as host QQ116. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network QQ106 includes one more core network nodes (e.g., core network node QQ108) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node QQ108. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0189] The host QQ116 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network QQ104 and / or the telecommunication network QQ102. The host QQ116 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

[0190] As a whole, the communication system QQ100 of Figure 9 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0191] In some examples, the telecommunication network QQ102 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Accordingly, the telecommunications network QQ102 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunication network QQ102. For example, the telecommunications network QQ102 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) / Massive loT services to yet further UEs.

[0192] In some examples, the UEs QQ112 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network QQ104 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network QQ104. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi- RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0193] In the example, the hub QQ114 communicates with the access network QQ104 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE QQ112c and / or QQ112d) and network nodes (e.g., network node QQ110b). In some examples, the hub QQ114 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub QQ114 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network QQ106 for the UEs. As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes QQ110, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub QQ114. As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR device, display, loudspeaker, or other media delivery device, the hub QQ114 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub QQ114 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub QQ114 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0194] The hub QQ114 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node QQ110b. The hub QQ114 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub QQ114 and UEs (e.g., UE QQ112c and / or QQ112d), and between the hub QQ114 and the core network QQ106. In other examples, the hub QQ114 is connected to the core network QQ106 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub QQ114 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network QQ104 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes QQ110 while still connected via the hub QQ114 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub QQ114 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node QQ110b. In other embodiments, the hub QQ114 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node QQ110b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0195] Fig. 10 shows a UE QQ200 in accordance with some embodiments. The UE QQ200 presents additional details of some embodiments of the UE QQ112 of Figure 9. As used herein, a UE refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other UEs. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage / playback device, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), an Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehiclemounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. A UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

[0196] The UE QQ200 includes processing circuitry QQ202 that is operatively coupled via a bus QQ204 to an input / output interface QQ206, a power source QQ208, a memory QQ210, a communication interface QQ212, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Fig. 10. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0197] The processing circuitry QQ202 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory QQ210. The processing circuitry QQ202 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry QQ202 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0198] In the example, the input / output interface QQ206 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into the UE QQ200. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

[0199] In some embodiments, the power source QQ208 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. The power source QQ208 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source QQ208 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of the UE QQ200 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging of the power source QQ208. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from the power source QQ208 to make the power suitable for the respective components of the UE QQ200 to which power is supplied.

[0200] The memory QQ210 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory QQ210 includes one or more application programs QQ214, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data QQ216. The memory QQ210 may store, for use by the UE QQ200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0201] The memory QQ210 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The IIICC may for example be an embedded IIICC (elllCC), integrated IIICC (illlCC) or a removable IIICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory QQ210 may allow the UE QQ200 to access instructions, application programs and the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory QQ210, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0202] The processing circuitry QQ202 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using the communication interface QQ212. The communication interface QQ212 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna QQ222. The communication interface QQ212 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter QQ218 and / or a receiver QQ220 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter QQ218 and receiver QQ220 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna QQ222) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0203] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface QQ212 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented in according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0204] Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface QQ212, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0205] As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

[0206] A UE, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smartwatch, a fitness tracker, a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the UE QQ200 shown in Fig. 10.

[0207] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another UE and / or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0208] Fig. 11 shows a network node QQ300 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunication network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)), O- RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).

[0209] Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

[0210] Other examples of network nodes include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi- cel l / multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs). The network node QQ300 includes a processing circuitry QQ302, a memory QQ304, a communication interface QQ306, and a power source QQ308. The network node QQ300 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node QQ300 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node QQ300 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory QQ304 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna QQ310 may be shared by different RATs). The network node QQ300 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node QQ300, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node QQ300.

[0211] The processing circuitry QQ302 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node QQ300 components, such as the memory QQ304, to provide network node QQ300 functionality.

[0212] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ302 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ302 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ312 and baseband processing circuitry QQ314. In some embodiments, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ312 and the baseband processing circuitry QQ314 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ312 and baseband processing circuitry QQ314 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units. The memory QQ304 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer- readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device- readable and / or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry QQ302. The memory QQ304 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry QQ302 and utilized by the network node QQ300. The memory QQ304 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry QQ302 and / or any data received via the communication interface QQ306. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ302 and memory QQ304 is integrated.

[0213] The communication interface QQ306 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between a network node, access network, and / or UE. As illustrated, the communication interface QQ306 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) QQ316 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. The communication interface QQ306 also includes radio front-end circuitry QQ318 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, the antenna QQ310. Radio front-end circuitry QQ318 comprises filters QQ320 and amplifiers QQ322. The radio front-end circuitry QQ318 may be connected to an antenna QQ310 and processing circuitry QQ302. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ310 and processing circuitry QQ302. The radio front-end circuitry QQ318 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry QQ318 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ320 and / or amplifiers QQ322. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna QQ310. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna QQ310 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry QQ318. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry QQ302. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components. In certain alternative embodiments, the network node QQ300 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry QQ318, instead, the processing circuitry QQ302 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna QQ310. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry QQ312 is part of the communication interface QQ306. In still other embodiments, the communication interface QQ306 includes one or more ports or terminals QQ316, the radio front-end circuitry QQ318, and the RF transceiver circuitry QQ312, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface QQ306 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry QQ314, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0214] The antenna QQ310 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna QQ310 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry QQ318 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna QQ310 is separate from the network node QQ300 and connectable to the network node QQ300 through an interface or port.

[0215] The antenna QQ310, communication interface QQ306, and / or the processing circuitry QQ302 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and / or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna QQ310, the communication interface QQ306, and / or the processing circuitry QQ302 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment.

[0216] The power source QQ308 provides power to the various components of network node QQ300 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source QQ308 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node QQ300 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node QQ300 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source QQ308. As a further example, the power source QQ308 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

[0217] Embodiments of the network node QQ300 may include additional components beyond those shown in Fig. 11 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node QQ300 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node QQ300 and to allow output of information from the network node QQ300. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node QQ300. In some embodiments providing a core network node, such as core network node 108 of Fig. 9, some components, such as the radio front-end circuitry QQ318 and the RF transceiver circuitry QQ312 may be omitted.

[0218] Fig. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment QQ500 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments QQ500 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment QQ500 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface. Virtualization may facilitate distributed implementations of a network node, UE, core network node, or host.

[0219] Applications QQ502 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q500 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Hardware QQ504 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers QQ506 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs QQ508a and QQ508b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs QQ508), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer QQ506 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs QQ508.

[0220] The VMs QQ508 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer QQ506. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance QQ502 may be implemented on one or more of VMs QQ508, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

[0221] In the context of NFV, a VM QQ508 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, nonvirtualized machine. Each of the VMs QQ508, and that part of hardware QQ504 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs QQ508 on top of the hardware QQ504 and corresponds to the application QQ502.

[0222] Hardware QQ504 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware QQ504 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware QQ504 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration QQ510, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications QQ502. In some embodiments, hardware QQ504 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system QQ512 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0223] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0224] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.

[0225] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings represent non-limiting examples of the methods and apparatus taught herein. As such, the apparatus and techniques taught herein are not limited by the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Instead, the embodiments herein are limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

[0226] References: 1. 3GPP TS 38.331 V17.6.0

[0227] 2. 3GPP TS 38.300 V17.6.0

[0228] 3. 3GPP TS 38.321 V17.6.0

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method performed by a user equipment, UE, (10) for handling access to a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving (401), in a radio resource control, RRC, connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state; transitioning (403) to a second RRC state; and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measuring (405) on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing (402) the configuration at the UE, and keeping (404) the stored configuration after transitioning to the second RRC state.

3. The method according to any of the claims 1-2, wherein transitioning (403) to the second RRC state comprises receiving from a radio network node, in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state; and the measured at least one signal is a signal out of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

4. The method according to any of the claims 1-3, further comprising selecting (408) an access signal based on the measured at least one signal.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising transmitting (409) to the radio network node (120), a selection indication indicating the selected access signal during a random access procedure.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising using (410) a random access channel, RACH, resource mapped to the selected access signal.

7. The method according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the respective configuration comprises a mapping of random access channel, RACH, resources to first signals.

8. The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the configuration defines one or more criteria for measuring on the one or more first signals.

9. The method according to any of the claims 1-8, further comprising verifying (407) one or more first signals by analysing the one or more first signals.

10. The method according to any of the claims 1-9, further comprising- when the UE is in the second RRC state, measuring (406) on one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state, and measuring (405) on the one or more first signals for the RRC connected state.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more second signals comprises a SSB for the second RRC state, and the one or more first signals comprises a SSB for RRC active state; and / or wherein the one or more second signals are periodically received and the one or more first signals are aperiodically received; or information of resources for the one or more second signals are preconfigured at the UE and information of resources for the one or more first signals are RRC configured at the UE.

12. A method performed by a radio network node (120) for handling access in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: transmitting (501), to a user equipment, UE, (10) in a radio resource control, RRC, connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state; transitioning (502) the UE to a second RRC state by transmitting to the UE (10), in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE to, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRCconnected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals; and transmitting (503) the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving (504) a selection indication from the UE indicating a selected access signal out of the one or more first signals, the further one or more first signals , and / or one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state.

14. The method according to any of the claims 12-13, wherein transmitting the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals further comprises transmitting one or more second signals for the second RRC state.

15. The method according to any of the claims 12-14, wherein the respective configuration comprises a mapping of random access channel, RACH, resources to first signals.

16. The method according to any of the claims 12-15, wherein the configuration defines one or more criteria for performing the measuring on the one or more first signals.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining (505) to change configuration of the one or more first signals and / or to stop transmitting the one or more first signals when one or more conditions is fulfilled.

18. A user equipment, UE, (10) for handling access to a wireless communication network, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: receive, in a radio resource control, RRC, connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state;transition to a second RRC state; and during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals.

19. The UE (10) according to claim 18, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: store the configuration at the UE; and keep the stored configuration after transitioning to the second RRC state.

20. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-19, wherein the UE (10) is configured to transition to the second RRC state by receiving from a radio network node, in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state; and the measured at least one signal is a signal out of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

21. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-20, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: select an access signal based on the measured at least one signal.

22. The UE (10) according to claim 21, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: transmit to the radio network node (120), a selection indication indicating the selected access signal during a random access procedure.

23. The UE (10) according to claim 21 , wherein the UE (10) is configured to: use a random access channel, RACH, resource mapped to the selected access signal.

24. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-23, wherein the respective configuration comprises a mapping of random access channel, RACH, resources to first signals.

25. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-24, wherein the configuration defines one or more criteria for measuring on the one or more first signals.

26. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-25, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: verify one or more first signals by analysing the one or more first signals.

27. The UE (10) according to any of the claims 18-26, wherein the UE (10) is configured to: when the UE (10) is in the second RRC state, measure on one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state, and to measure on the one or more first signals for the RRC connected state.

28. The UE (10) according to claim 27, wherein the one or more second signals comprises a synchronization signal block, SSB, for the second RRC state, and the one or more first signals comprises a SSB for RRC active state; and / or wherein the one or more second signals are periodically received and the one or more first signals are aperiodically received; or information of resources for the one or more second signals are preconfigured at the UE and information of resources for the one or more first signals are RRC configured at the UE.

29. A radio network node (120) for handling access in a wireless communication network, wherein the radio network node (120) is configured to: transmit, to a user equipment, UE, (10) in a radio resource control, RRC, connected state, a configuration comprising one or more first signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more first signals are for the RRC connected state; transition the UE to a second RRC state by transmitting to the UE (10), in a release message to the second RRC state, a second configuration comprising further one or more first signals for the RRC connected state, for the UE to, during a resume procedure from the second RRC state to the RRC connected state, measure on at least one signal of the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals; and transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals.

30. The radio network node (120) according to claim 29, wherein the radio network node (120) is configured to: receive a selection indication from the UE indicating a selected access signal out of the one or more first signals, the further one or more first signals, and / or one or more second signals with a respective synchronization signal component, wherein the one or more second signals are for the second RRC state.

31. The radio network node (120) according to any of the claims 29-30, wherein the radio network node is configured to transmit the one or more first signals and / or the further one or more first signals, and to transmit one or more second signals for the second RRC state.

32. The radio network node (120) according to any of the claims 29-31 , wherein the respective configuration comprises a mapping of random access channel, RACH, resources to first signals.

33. The radio network node (120) according to any of the claims 29-32, wherein the configuration defines one or more criteria for performing the measuring on the one or more first signals.

34. The radio network node (120) according to claim 15, wherein the radio network node (120) is configured to: determine to change configuration of the one or more first signals and / or to stop transmitting the one or more first signals when one or more conditions is fulfilled.

35. A computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to any of the claims 1-17, as performed by the UE (10) or the radio network node (120), respectively.

36. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method accordingto any of the claims 1-17, as performed by the UE (10) or the radio network node (120), respectively.

Images