Mapping of data into partitions of data block

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and storage medium for mapping of data into partitions of a data block In a method, a first apparatus receives at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule. The mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block. Based on the mapping rule, the first apparatus communicates one or more data blocks with a second apparatus.

Description

MAPPING OF DATA INTO PARTITIONS OF DATA BLOCKFIELDS

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to apparatuses, methods and computer readable storage medium for mapping of data into partitions of a data block.BACKGROUND

[0002] In a design of the sixth generation (6G) radio protocols, an approach is suggested which relies on the following two stacks: an anchor protocol stack (APS) which is designed for low bitrate services, coverage (e.g., bit-level optimizations) and reliability (e.g., radio link control (RLC) automatic repeat request (ARQ); and a fast protocol stack (FPS) which is designed for high bitrate services, where the focus is on a processingfriendly and implementation-friendly design employing the concept of radio processing units (RPU), enabling parallel processing of the radio functions. Simplifications at the FPS may include: no header compression, no RLC ARQ (i.e., RLC un-acknowledge mode (UM) only). Data from the APS and the FPS may be mapped into a single transport block (TB) where data from the FPS may come from multiple RPUs. If a receiver detects a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) failure in a single CB, then the whole TB may need to be retransmitted.SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus includes at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicate one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0004] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus includes at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus iat least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicate one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method includes: receiving at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicating one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0006] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method includes: transmitting, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicating one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0007] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus includes means for receiving at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and means for communicating one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0008] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus includes means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and means for communicating one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0009] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0010] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0011] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure may become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Some example embodiments may now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example communication process between a first apparatus and a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate example processes of data mapping in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling flow of CBG mapping for a DL transmission in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling flow of CBG mapping for an UL transmission in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow of a mix of a new transmission (Tx) and a retransmission (ReTx) in DL in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a signaling flow of a mix of a New Tx and a ReTx in UL in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure

[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a secondapparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

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

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

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

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

[0028] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” ... , etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements may not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

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

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

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

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

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

[0034] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there may of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It may not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

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

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

[0037] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in bothfrequency domain and time domain may be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0038] The current 5G NR standards include options for multiplexing different internet protocol (IP) packets, signaling and data from different radio bearers (RBs) into one medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (PDUs). For example, prior to an actual transmission of an MAC PDU in one transport block (TB) on a downlink (DL) physical layer, the following processing steps may occur: transport block cyclic redundancy check (CRC) attachment; code block segmentation and code block CRC attachment; channel coding such as Low-density Parity-check (LDPC) coding; physical-layer hybrid-ARQ processing; rate matching; scrambling; modulation such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM), 64QAM, 256QAM, and 1024QAM; layer mapping; and mapping to assigned resources and antenna ports. At a UE side, corresponding actions are taken in an inverse order to recreate the initial TB and to recover the transmitted MAC PDU.

[0039] For the above dual-stack architecture, data from an APS and an FPS may be mapped into a single TB where data from the FPS may come from multiple RPUs. All of the RLC PDUs (from both APS and one or more RPUs within FPS) may be multiplexed into a single TB. If a receiver detects a CRC failure in a single CB, then the whole TB may need to be retransmitted, which may stall all of the RPUs (and APS data) regardless of whether their portions of the TB were successfully received. This may eliminate the flexibility potential of a more efficient retransmission or link adaptation schemes, especially when data from the APS and the FPS or from the APS and different RPUs in the FPS are mapped arbitrarily into a single TB. Even though terms dual-stack “APS” and “FPS” are used in the present disclosure to refer to two (parallel) radio protocol stacks of different types, it is to be understood that other terms may be used, instead, to refer to two separate configurations of radio protocols and radio protocol stacks having at least one characteristic (e.g., a supported highest bitrate) different from one another. The teachings of the present disclosure should, thus, not be construed to be limited to said two terms.

[0040] Options with a code block groups (CBG)-based Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission are also supported by 5G NR. In the CBG-based HARQtransmission, a TB is split into multiple code blocks (CBs) where the maximum size of each CB is 8448 bits, and the CBs are further grouped into CBGs. For each received TB, a receiver may provide HARQ acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback to indicate which CBGs are error, such that only the erroneously received CBGs are thereafter retransmitted by a transmitter.

[0041] For transmission of large TB sizes (as is the case for XR use cases), such techniques are promising. Cases with up to 8 CBGs per TB are supported by current NR specification. More generally, the maximum number of CBGs per TB is configurable as C {2, 4, 6, 8} for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0042] However, even if a CBG based retransmission is enabled, the data in each CBG may have a mix of content from multiple different RPUs and / or the APS. Partial retransmissions may still stall the operation of the relevant RPUs. The issue becomes even more severe when considering no RLC acknowledge mode (AM) for data transmitted via an FPS side (where the increased maximum number of HARQ retransmissions may be potentially configured).

[0043] Example embodiments of the present disclosure propose a mapping solution for data to be mapped into partitions of a data block. In this solution, a first apparatus receives at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule. The mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (e.g., an APS or one or more RPUs of an FPS) is mapped into a different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block (for example, a TB). Based on the mapping rule, the first apparatus transmits one or more data blocks to or receives one or more data blocks from a second apparatus.

[0044] This solution allows data from different processing chains to be mapped different partitions of a data block. As such, a distinct partition of the data block may be retransmitted (in case of failure) in an independent manner to enhance parallel functionalities. Further, each of the processing chains may not be stalled due to an ongoing retransmission.

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0046] In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a first apparatus 110 and a second apparatus 120, may communicate with eachother. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may operate as a terminal device such as a UE, and the second apparatus 120 may operate as a network device (such as a gNB) serving the terminal device.

[0047] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as a terminal device and the second apparatus 120 operating as a network device. However, in some example embodiments, operations described with respect to a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other devices, and operations described with respect to a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other devices.

[0048] In some example embodiments, if the first device 110 is a terminal device and the second device 120 is a network device, a link from the second device 120 to the first device 110 is referred to as a DL, while a link from the first device 110 to the second device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter), and the first device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the first device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter), and the second device 120 is an RX device (or a receiver). If both the first device 110 and the second device 120 are terminal devices, a link between two terminal devices is referred to as a sidelink (SL). In SL, one of the first and second devices 110 and 120 is a TX device (or a transmitter), and the other of the first and second devices 110 and 120 is an RX device (or a receiver).

[0049] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), including, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, including but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developedin the future.

[0050] It is to be understood that the number and types of apparatuses are shown in FIG. 1 for the purpose of illustration, without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable numbers and types of devices and apparatuses.

[0051] In the communication environment 100, data communication between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 may follows a mapping rule which indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into a different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block. Some example implementations may be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0052] FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram showing an example communication process 200 between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 2, in the process 200, the second apparatus 120 transmits (210) at least one indication (referred to as at least one first indication) of activation of a mapping rule which indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block.

[0054] In some example embodiments, the processing chains may include one or more protocol stacks (such as an APS and an FPS) and one or more processing chains from a protocol stack (such as one or more RPUs from the FPS) at either or both of the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. Other processing chains at either or both of the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 are also possible.

[0055] A data block for containing data associated with different processing chains may be implemented in any suitable form. In some example embodiments, a data block may be implemented by a TB. In some example embodiments, a partition of a data block may include a CBG. It is possible that a partition of a data block includes a CB or any other portion or segment of the data block.

[0056] Using the at least one first indication, the second apparatus 120 may indicate to the first apparatus 110 that the mapping rule is activated. The at least one first indication may be implemented in various ways. In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication may include at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication. In an example, the second apparatus 120 may use semi-static signaling such as RRCsignaling to indicate that a TBs in DL and / or UL is to follow the mapping rule. Alternatively, or in addition, the second apparatus 120 may use a dynamic indication via, for instance, a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI). For example, for each transmission grant, a flag bit to activate the mapping rule may be toggled to indicate the activation of the mapping rule.

[0057] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may transmit a configuration of the mapping rule to the first apparatus 110. Correspondingly, the first apparatus 110 may receive this configuration. In an example, the configuration may be carried in an RRC message. This configuration may be used to configure the first apparatus 110 to use the mapping rule for UL and / or DL data transmission. In an example, the configuration may indicate how data associated with a plurality of processing chains is organized into different partitions of a data block. Some example mapping mechanisms will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0058] FIGS. 3A and 3B show example mechanisms of mapping data from an APS 302 and an FPS 303 with a plurality of RPUs 304-1, ..., 304-N to CBGs out of and inside MAC -LOW mapping, respectively, in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in producing a MAC PDU to be contained in a TB 308, the mapping of MAC -HI PDUs may be organized in a way that the data from each RPU 304-1, ..., 304-N (or the APS 302) ends up in one or more (integer multiplier) of CBGs 306-1, ..., 306-M. N and M are positive integers. In an example, it may be configured to map each processing chain (such as each RPU 304-1, ..., 304-N or the APS 302) into separate CBGs. In this case, after data from each RPU 304-1, ..., 304-N and the APS 302 is coded into CBs while grouping them into CBGs 306-1, ..., 306-M, the CBs from two different RPUs or from a RPU and the APS may not be placed into a single CBG. In another example, after data from each RPU 304-1, ..., 304-N and the APS 302 is coded into CBs while grouping them into CBGs 306-1, ..., 306-M, the CBs from two or more different RPUs may be placed into a single CBG.

[0060] It is to be understood that both stacks may rely on the same radio protocols such as service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC) and medium access control (MAC). It is also to be understood that although the term “stack” is used, the terms “track” or “path” is applicable to refer totwo distinct or independent configurations of the same radio protocol.

[0061] Still with reference to FIG. 2, after the first apparatus 110 receives (220), from the second apparatus 120, the at least one first indication of activation of the mapping rule, one or more data blocks may be communicated (230, 240) between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 based on the mapping rule. This communication (230, 240) may include an UL communication and / or a DL communication.

[0062] For example, with the mapping rule, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 may map data from each of the parallel tracks of the 6G radio protocol stack (e.g., RPUs and the APS) to a distinct partition of a transport block (TB). Each of these partitions may then be further composed of one of more code block groups (CBGs).

[0063] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks communicated (230, 240) between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 may include a data block (referred to as a first data block), e.g., a DL data block, from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110. In the DL scenario, the first indication may inform to the first apparatus 110 that the processing chains (e.g., the RPUs and the APS) may be fully independent in their retransmissions, e.g., their HARQ procedures.

[0064] In some example embodiments, in response to failed decoding of one or more partitions (referred to as one or more first partitions) of the first data block, the first apparatus 110 may transmit, to the second apparatus 120, a request for retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the first data block. After the second apparatus 120 receives, from the first apparatus 110, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the first data block, the second apparatus 120 may retransmit, to the first apparatus 110, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0065] In some example embodiments, in response to successful decoding of a partition (referred to as a second partition) of the first data block, the first apparatus 110 may perform further processing of the second partition of the first data block. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, from the plurality of processing chains, a processing chain associated with the second partition of the first data block. The further processing of the second partition of the first data block may be performed using the second processing chain.

[0066] In this way, data from each of the parallel processing chains (or processing units)of radio protocol stacks may be mapped into a distinct partition of a TB, and then a distinct partition of the TB may be retransmitted (in case of failure) in an independent manner. With this mapping mechanism, the HARQ retransmission of data from different RPUs and the APS may be isolated to enhance the parallel functionalities. Each of the RPUs may not be stalled due to an ongoing HARQ retransmission.

[0067] In the case that physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) data is transmitted in a TB, the mapping of RPUs to CBGs may be visible in a TB header once the first apparatus 110 receives the PDSCH data. However, a UE may not know whether the data in each CBG may be isolated to belong into separate RPUs or not until the UE does the full decoding of a MAC PDU in the TB. According to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, with the first indication received from the second apparatus 120 (e.g., the knowledge about the activation of the mapping rule in a RRC message), after checking a CRC of each CB and finding out some of the CBGs are failed, instead of waiting for retransmissions to forward the whole TB to upper layers, the first apparatus 110 may perform further processing of valid CBGs (i.e., successfully decoded CBGs), e.g., forward the valid CBGs to their respective RPUs so that those RPUs are not stalled.

[0068] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, from the plurality of processing chains, one or more processing chain associated with the one or more first partitions (i.e., failed partitions) of the first data block. Then, the first apparatus 110 may deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains where the one or more idle processing chains excludes the one or more processing chains associated with the failed first partitions. In this way, the power saving gain may be achieved. For the purpose of discussion, the processing chain(s) associated with the failed partitions of the first data block will be referred to as first processing chain(s), and the processing chain(s) associated with the successful partitions of the first data block will be referred to as second processing chain(s).

[0069] In an example, in the case that the first apparatus 110 operates as a terminal device and the second apparatus 120 operates as a network device, after the mapping rule is configured, for each DL transmission, the first apparatus 110 may follow the mapping rule (or a mapping instruction) to figure out the relationship between the CBGs (as examples of partitions of the data block) and the RPUs and APS (as examples of the processing chains). This helps the first apparatus 110 to keep the processing running in those processing chains (or processing units) that do not have failed CBG(s) and avoidstalling the processing chains while waiting on the completion of task(s) of other processing chains. The first apparatus 110 may turn off the idle RPUs or put the idle RPUs to sleep to save power. The CBG retransmissions may occur for some other RPUs with failed CBGs. An example process of DL data mapping will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a signaling flow 400 of CBG mapping for a DL transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, a UE 410 is an example of the first apparatus 110, and a gNB 420 is an example of the second apparatus 120.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, an RRC configuration may be transmitted (422) from the gNB 420 to the UE 410 to configure the UE 410 to use the mapping rule for UL and / or DL TBs (as examples of data blocks). Alternatively, or in addition, a DCI message may be transmitted (424) from the gNB 420 to the UE 410 to instruct the UE 410 to use the mapping rule for the upcoming DL TBs. Alternatively, or in addition, a MAC CE may be transmitted (424) from the gNB 420 to the UE 410 to instruct the UE 410 to use the mapping rule for the upcoming DL TBs. The UE 410 may process (426) the DCI message.

[0072] The gNB 420 may perform (428) DL transmission with the mapping rule for the TBs. In reception of the TB in DL, the UE 410 may apply the mapping rule to find the relation between the RPUs and APS (as examples of the processing chains) and CBGs (as examples of partitions of the data block). The UE 410 may transmit a HARQ feedback indicating failed CBGs (as an example request for a retransmission). The gNB 420 may perform a retransmission of the indicated failed CBGs.

[0073] In addition to the data communication from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110, or as an alternative, the mapping rule may be applied in the data communication from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. For example, the one or more data blocks communicated (230, 240) between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 may include a data block (referred to as a second data block), e.g., an UL data block, from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120.

[0074] The first apparatus 110 may perform retransmissions of failed partition(s) of the second data block in an independent way. In some example embodiments, in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the second data block, the second apparatus 120 may transmit, to the first apparatus 110, a request for a retransmission ofthe one or more first partitions of the second data block. After the first apparatus 110 receives, from the second apparatusl20, a request for retransmission of one or more first partitions (e.g., failed partitions) of the second data block, the first apparatus 110 may retransmit, to the second apparatus 120, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0075] In some example embodiments, for power saving, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, from the plurality of processing chains, one or more processing chains (referred to as third processing chains) associated with the one or more first partitions of the second data block. Further, the first apparatus 110 may deactivate (or turn off or put to sleep) one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains where the one or more idle processing chains excludes the one or more third processing chains.

[0076] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 determines that a second partition (e.g., a successful partition) of the second data block is successfully decoded, the first apparatus 110 may flush a buffer for the second partition of the second data block. As such, the storage resources may be saved.

[0077] An example process of DL data mapping will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 which shows a signaling flow 500 of CBG mapping for an UL transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, a UE 510 is an example of the first apparatus 110, and a gNB 520 is an example of the second apparatus 120.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 5, an RRC message may be transmitted (522) from the gNB 520 to the UE 510 to configure the UE 510 to use the mapping rule for UL and / or DL TBs (as examples of data blocks). Alternatively, or in addition, a DCI message may be transmitted (524) from the gNB 520 to the UE 510 to instruct the UE 510 to use the mapping rule for the upcoming UL TBs. Alternatively, or in addition, a MAC CE may be transmitted (524) from the gNB 520 to the UE 510 to instruct the UE 510 to use the mapping rule for the upcoming UL TBs. The UE 510 may process (526) the DCI message.

[0079] Then, for each UL transmission, the UE 510 may follow the mapping instructions to generate the TB by following the mapping rule to map the RPUs / APS (as examples of the processing chains) into separate CBGs (as examples of partitions of the data block). As shown in FIG. 5, the UE 530 may prepare (530) a next TB using themapping rule.

[0080] Next, the gNB 520 may receive (532) UL transmissions with the mapping rule for the TBs. In reception of the TB in UL, the gNB 520 may apply (534) the mapping rule to find the relation between the RPUs / APS and CBGs. For example, the gNB 520 may figure out the RPU / APS mapping relation to the CBGs. Then, the gNB 520 may start to process the CBGs by checking the individual CRCs of the CBs in each CBG.

[0081] If there is / are some failed CRC check(s) in any of the CBs which results in failed CBG(s), then the gNB 520 may perform (536) scheduling of retransmission for the failed CBG(s) (as an example request for a retransmission). For example, a new scheduling grant may be sent to the UE 510 to resend the failed CBGs. This helps the UE 510 to keep the processing running in those processing chains (or the processing units) that do not have a failed CBG(s) and avoid stalling the processing chains while waiting on the completion of the task(s) of other processing chains. The UE 510 may turn off (put to sleep) the idle RPUs, while the CBG retransmissions is performed for some other RPUs with failed CBGs.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5, the UE 510 may flush (538(1)) a buffer for CBGs with ACK received (or not included in a retransmission grant) and prepare (538(2)) a retransmission for CBGs with NACK received (or included in retransmission grant). The UE 510 may perform (540) a retransmission of the indicated failed CBGs.

[0083] With the proposed mapping rule, the parallelization of the functionalities may be available in the HARQ retransmissions. This may enable the UE to manage the HARQ retransmissions of different RPUs / APS independently and avoid stalling the processing chains (or units) that do not have failed CBGs. The UE may turn off or put to sleep the processing chains that do not have active HARQ retransmissions, which is useful for the UE.

[0084] As discussed above, based on the mapping rule (or the mapping scheme or mechanism), data from each RPU / APS may be mapped into a separate set of CBGs. There may be cases where data from some RPUs is successfully received (corresponding CBGs have CRC checked in all of their CBs) while data from other RPUs is failed and requires retransmissions. In this case, the HARQ process may keep retransmitting the failed data (e.g., failed CBGs) while other RPUs with new data may wait for another scheduling DCI for sending their buffered data.

[0085] In order to further reduce transmission delays and mitigate dependencies between the RPUs, some example embodiments of the present disclosure propose a form of data block composition where a part of the data block may contain data for an initial transmission and another part of the data block may contain data for retransmissions (for previously failed attempts). This may allow a transmission of new data from a subset of RPUs together with retransmissions of another subset of RPUs.

[0086] Such data block composition may be applied to 6G era. For example, in case with dual stack approach, the data from each track of the 6G radio protocol stack (APS / FPS or RPUs) may be mapped into a distinct partition of a TB. Each of these partitions may then be further composed of one of more CBGs. Next, while composing a TB, data for some RPUs (a set of CBGs) may be new data, and data for other RPUs may be retransmitted data (e.g., HARQ retransmitted data). In this way, RPU stalling in case of HARQ retransmissions may be further avoided.

[0087] This data block composition may be applicable in both UL and DL. In some example embodiments, in the case that the first data block is transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110, after the first apparatus 110 determines decoding of the one or more first partitions of the first data block is failed and transmits a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the first data block, the first apparatus 110 may receive a further first data block from the second apparatus 120. One or more partitions of the further first data block carry retransmitted data, one or more remaining partitions carry initially transmitted data, and the retransmitted data includes data carried in the one or more first partitions (e.g., failed partitions) of the previous first data block.

[0088] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive, from the second apparatus 120, an indication (referred to as a second indication) that a type of data blocks is enabled. One or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data, and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data. The second indication may include a semi-static and / or dynamic indication. In an example, the second apparatus 120 may transmit a DCI message to indicate to the first apparatus 110 a type of data blocks that carry both a new transmission (NT) and a retransmission (RT) of CBGs with the same HARQ process or the same HARQ processing identifier (ID).

[0089] An example process of DL data transmission will be described below with reference to FIG. 6 which shows a signaling flow 600 of a mix of a new transmission (Tx) and a retransmission (ReTx) in DL according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, a UE 610 is an example of the first apparatus 110, and a gNB 620 is an example of the second apparatus 120. A scheduling grant type for multi-track protocol stacks and code block groups may enable a mix of New Tx and ReTx on CBGs (as examples of partitions of a data block) and RPUs (as examples of the processing chains) within the same TB (as example of a data block) in DL.

[0090] In Step 1, the gNB 620 may perform (622) data transmission to the UE 610. For example, the gNB 620 may send its TB which is composed of several CBGs carrying data from different processing chains. As shown in FIG. 6, data from an APS 602 and RPUs 604-1, ..., 604-N is mapped to different CBGs 606-1, ..., 606-M.

[0091] In Step 2, the UE 610 may process the received TB and check the CRC of all the code blocks within the CBGs. In this example, it is assumed that CBGs 606-2 and 606-3 are failed and require retransmission.

[0092] In Step 3, the UE 610 may send (624) a HARQ feedback indicating that the CBGs 606-2 and 606-3 need a retransmission. For example, the UE 610 may send a multibit HARQ feedback indicating the need for a retransmission for a subset of the CBGs. In this example, the feedback may have a form of [10011111], assuming 1 stands for ACK and 0 for NACK and there are maximum of 8 CBGs per TB.

[0093] In Step 4, the gNB 620 may send (626) a type of DCI indicating a type of TBs (or TB composition) that carries both NT and RT CBGs with the same HARQ processing ID. In one implementation, a new data indicator (NDI) field in DCI may indicate what type of data is carried in each CBG. In this implementation, the NDI may have a vector format with the size of maximum number of CBGs, e.g., 8 bits. Then, in the case that the CBGs 606-2 and 606-3 are failed, the NDI vector may be [10011111], indicating CBGs 616-2 and 616-3 do not carry new data.

[0094] It is to be understood that the CBGs are used as partitions of a TB only for the purpose of illustration, without suggesting any limitation. In the scenarios where CBGs based HARQ is not used, detailed bit addresses may be shared in the DCI to indicate which CBs or other type of partitions in the TB carry new data and which ones carry retransmitted data.

[0095] In Step 5, the gNB 620 may perform (628) data transmission with new and ReTx data. For example, the gNB 620 may compose a type of TBs where data for some of the CBGs is new and some other carry ReTx data. Then, the gNB 620 may send the TB according to the resources allocated with the previous DCI.

[0096] In Step 6, similar to Step 2, the UE 610 may process the new TB. In Step 7, upon successful reception of all the CBGs, the UE 610 may send (630) a HARQ feedback, indicating successful reception of all the CBGs. In Step 8, for future data transmissions in DL, the gNB 620 may repeat the procedure starting from Step 1, and the gNB 620 may decide to terminate the previous HARQ process and use a different ID for the UE for future transmissions. As shown in FIG. 6, the gNB may transmit (632) an DCI for new data for all CBGs.

[0097] In the scenario where the second data block is transmitted from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120, after the first apparatus 110 receives, from the second apparatus 120, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions (i.e., failed partitions) of the second data block, a further second data block may be transmitted from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 where one or more partitions of the further second data block carry the retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the further second data block carry initially transmitted data. In this scenario, the first apparatus 110 may receive, from the second apparatus 120, the second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data. An example process of UL data transmission will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0098] FIG. 7 shows a signaling flow 700 of a mix of a New Tx and a ReTx in UL according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, a UE 710 is an example of the first apparatus 110, and a gNB 720 is an example of the second apparatus 120. A scheduling grant type for multi-track protocol stacks and code block groups may enable a mix of New Tx and ReTx on CBGs (as examples of partitions of a data block) and RPUs (as examples of the processing chains) within the same TB (as example of a data block) in UL.

[0099] In Step 1, the gNB 720 may schedule (722) the UE 710 with an DCI for the upcoming UL transmission, e.g., new data for all CBGs.

[0100] In Step 2, the UE 710 may perform (724) data transmission. For example, the UE 710 may send its TB which is composed of several CBGs carrying data from different processing stacks. In FIGS. 6 and 7, CBG i [NT / RT] indicates CBG number i.

[0101] In Step 3, the gNB 720 may process (726) the TB and CBGs. For example, the gNB 720 may process the received TB and check the CRCs of all the code blocks within the CBGs. In this example, it is assumed that CBGs 706-2 and 706-3 are failed and require a retransmission.

[0102] In Step 4, the gNB 720 may send (728) a type of DCI indicating a type of TBs or TB composition that carries both NT and RT CBGs with the same HARQ processing ID. In one implementation, the new data indicator (NDI) field in DCI may indicate what type of data is carried in each CBG. In this implementation, the NDI may have a vector format with the size of maximum number of CBGs, e.g., 8 bits. In this case, the NDI vector is [10011111], indicating CBGs 2 and 3 do not carry new data.

[0103] It is to be noted that for the cases where CBG based HARQ is not used, the information carried in the DCI in Step 4 above, may indicate the bit addresses to point to the partitions (e.g., CBs) in the TB where there is new data and the partitions that carry retransmitted data. In order to further reduce overhead, the DCI may indicate a single bit address where the data bits before that bit address may carry new Tx (or ReTx) and the rest of the TB will carry ReTx (or new Tx).

[0104] In Step 5, the UE 710 may perform (730) data transmission with new and retransmitted data. For example, the UE 710 may compose a new type of TB where data for some of the CBGs is new and some other carry retransmitted data.

[0105] In Step 6, similar to Step 3, the gNB 720 may process (732) the TB and CBGs. For example, the gNB 720 may process the new TB and upon successful reception of all the CBGs, it may decide to terminate the HARQ process and use a different ID for the UE for future transmissions.

[0106] For future data transmissions in UL, the gNB 720 may repeat the procedure starting from Step 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the gNB 720 may schedule (734) the UE 710 with an DCI for new data for all CBGs. It is to be noted that decision on continuing on the same HARQ process ID or starting a new one after successful reception of all CBGs is up to the gNB implementation.

[0107] In this way, a scheduling grant type for multi -track / dual-stack protocol stacks and code block groups may enable a mix of New Tx and ReTx on CBG / RPUs within the same TB, where some CBGs can correspond to a new transmission while other CBGs in the same TB contain a retransmission. With this enhanced scheduling approach, the HARQ retransmission of data from different RPUs / APS may be further isolated to enhance the parallel functionalities regardless of the need to provide a grant for a new transmission or a retransmission on individual CBGs, so as to further avoid RPUs stalling due to the lack of support for a mix of New Tx and ReTx on CBG within the same TB.

[0108] It is to be understood that although some example embodiments are described by taking a dual-stack approach of 6G as an example, the proposed solution may be generally applicable for a single-track radio stack in legacy (e.g., 5G and 4G) where each TB may contain data for new transmissions and retransmissions and with or without CBGs. In the case without CBGs, the signaling may clarify which partitions or segments of the TB are for new transmissions and retransmissions.

[0109] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0110] At block 810, the first apparatus 110 receives at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block.

[0111] At block 820, the first apparatus 110 communicates one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication may include at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0113] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality of partitions of the data block may include one or more code block groups.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks may include one or more of a first data block from the second apparatus to the first apparatus; or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus.

[0115] In some example embodiments, in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the first data block, the first apparatus 110 may transmit, to the second apparatus, a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, one or more first processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more first processing chain being associated with the one or more first partitions of the first data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more first processing chains.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive a further first data block from the second apparatus. One or more partitions of the further first data block may carry retransmitted data that includes data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block. One or more remaining partitions of the further first data block may carry initially transmitted data.

[0118] In some example embodiments, in response to successful decoding of a second partition of the first data block, the first apparatus 110 may perform further processing of the second partition of the first data block.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, a second processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the second processing chain being associated with the second partition of the first data block. The further processing of the second partition of the first data block may be performed using the second processing chain.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks may include a second data block from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive, from the second apparatus, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the second data block; and retransmit, to the second apparatus, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may determine, based on the mapping rule, one or more third processing chains from the plurality of processingchains, the one or more third processing chains being associated with the one or more first partitions of the second data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more third processing chains.

[0123] In some example embodiments, a further second data block may be transmitted from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, one or more partitions of the further second data block carrying the retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the further second data block carrying initially transmitted data.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive, from the second apparatus, a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled. One or more partitions of a data block of the type may carry retransmitted data, and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type may carry initially transmitted data.

[0125] In some example embodiments, in accordance with a determination that a second partition of the second data block is successfully decoded, the first apparatus 110 may flush a buffer for the second partition of the second data block.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive a configuration of the mapping rule.

[0127] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0128] At block 910, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block.

[0129] At block 920, the second apparatus 120 communicates one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication may include at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0131] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality ofpartitions of the data block may include one or more code block groups.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks may include one or more of a first data block from the second apparatus to the first apparatus; or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may receive, from the first apparatus, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the first data block; and retransmit, to the first apparatus, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0134] In some example embodiments, a further first data block may be transmitted from the second apparatus to the first apparatus. One or more partitions of the further first data block may carry the retransmitted data, and one or more remaining partitions of the further first data block may carry initially transmitted data.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks may include a second data block from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0136] In some example embodiments, in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the second data block, the second apparatus 120 may transmit, to the first apparatus, a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may receive a further second data block from the first apparatus. One or more partitions of the further second data block may carry retransmitted data, one or more remaining partitions of the further second data block may carry initially transmitted data, and the retransmitted data may include data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may transmit, to the first apparatus, a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block carry initially transmitted data.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may transmit, to the first apparatus, a configuration of the mapping rule.

[0140] All operations and features related to the first apparatus 110 and the secondapparatus 120 as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 are likewise applicable to the methods 800 and 900 and have similar effects.

[0141] FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1000 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 1000 includes one or more processors 1010, one or more memories 1020 coupled to the processor 1010, and one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processor 1010.

[0142] The communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1040 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1040 may include at least one antenna.

[0143] The processor 1010 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1000 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0144] The memory 1020 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1024, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1022 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0145] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The instructions of the program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1030 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024.The processor 1010 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1030 into the RAM 1022.

[0146] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1030 so that the device 1000 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the program 1030 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1000 (such as in the memory 1020) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1000. The device 1000 may load the program 1030 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1022 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0148] FIG. 11 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1100 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1100 has the program 1030 stored thereon.

[0149] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0150] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non- transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0151] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0152] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0153] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0154] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should notbe understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0155] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0156] Various example embodiments of the techniques have been described. In addition to or as an alternative to the above, the following examples are described. The features described in any of the following examples may be utilized with any of the other examples described herein.

[0157] In an aspect, a first apparatus (110) includes: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus (110) at least to: receive (220; 810; 422, 424; 522, 524) at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of a data block (308); and communicate (230, 820, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with a second apparatus (120) based on the mapping rule.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication includes at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0159] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of the data block (308) includes one or more code blockgroups.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks include one or more of: a first data block from the second apparatus (120) to the first apparatus (HO); or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus (120).

[0161] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to perform one or more of receive a configuration of the mapping rule; or in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the first data block, transmit (432), to the second apparatus (420), a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: determine (430), based on the mapping rule, one or more first processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more first processing chain being associated with the one or more first partitions of the first data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more first processing chains.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: receive (628) a further first data block (618) from the second apparatus (620), where one or more partitions (616-2, 616-3) of the further first data block (618) carry retransmitted data that includes data carried in the one or more first partitions (606-2, 606-3) of the first data block (608), and where one or more remaining partitions (616-1 to 616-M) of the further first data block (618) carry initially transmitted data.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: in response to successful decoding of a second partition of the first data block, perform further processing of the second partition of the first data block.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: determine, based on the mapping rule, a second processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the second processing chain being associated with the second partition of the first data block, where the furtherprocessing of the second partition of the first data block is performed using the second processing chain.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: receive (536), from the second apparatus (520), a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the second data block; and retransmit (540), to the second apparatus (520), data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: determine, based on the mapping rule, one or more third processing chains from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more third processing chains being associated with the one or more first partitions of the second data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more third processing chains.

[0168] In some example embodiments, a further second data block (718) is transmitted (730) from the first apparatus (710) to the second apparatus (720), one or more partitions (716-2, 716-3) of the further second data block (718) carrying the retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions (716-1 to 716-M) of the further second data block (718) carrying initially transmitted data.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: receive (626, 728), from the second apparatus (620, 720), a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus (110) to: in accordance with a determination that a second partition of the second data block is successfully decoded, flush (538(1)) a buffer for the second partition of the second data block.

[0171] In an aspect, a second apparatus (140) includes: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus (120) at least to: transmit (210; 910; 422, 424; 522, 524), to afirst apparatus (HO), at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of a data block (308); and communicate (240, 920, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with the first apparatus (110) based on the mapping rule.

[0172] In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication includes at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0173] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of the data block (308) includes one or more code block groups.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks include one or more of a first data block from the second apparatus (120) to the first apparatus (HO); or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus (120).

[0175] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus (120) to: receive (432), from the first apparatus (410), a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the first data block; and retransmit (434), to the first apparatus (410), data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0176] In some example embodiments, a further first data block (618) is transmitted (628) from the second apparatus (620) to the first apparatus (610), one or more partitions (616-2, 616-3) of the further first data block (618) carry the retransmitted data, and one or more remaining partitions (616-1 to 616-M) of the further first data block (618) carry initially transmitted data.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus (120) to perform one or more of transmit, to the first apparatus (HO), a configuration of the mapping rule; or in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the second data block, transmit (536), to the first apparatus (510), a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus (120) to: receive (730) a further second datablock (718) from the first apparatus (710), where one or more partitions (716-2, 716-3) of the further second data block (718) carry retransmitted data, one or more remaining partitions (716-1 to 716-M) of the further second data block (718) carry initially transmitted data, and the retransmitted data includes data carried in the one or more first partitions (706-2, 706-3) of the second data block (708).

[0179] In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus (120) to: transmit (626, 728), to the first apparatus (610, 710), a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block carry initially transmitted data.

[0180] In an aspect, a first apparatus (110) includes: means for receiving (220; 810; 422, 424; 522, 524) at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of a data block (308); and means for communicating (230, 820, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with a second apparatus (120) based on the mapping rule.[018 l]In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication includes at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0182] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of the data block (308) includes one or more code block groups.

[0183] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks include one or more of: a first data block from the second apparatus (120) to the first apparatus (110); or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus (120).

[0184] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes at least one of: means for receiving a configuration of the mapping rule; or means for in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the first data block, transmitting (432), to the second apparatus (420), a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for determining (430), based on the mapping rule, one or more first processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more first processing chain being associatedwith the one or more first partitions of the first data block; and deactivating one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more first processing chains.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for receiving (628) a further first data block (618) from the second apparatus (620), where one or more partitions (616-2, 616-3) of the further first data block (618) carry retransmitted data that includes data carried in the one or more first partitions (606-2, 606-3) of the first data block (608), and where one or more remaining partitions (616-1 to 616-M) of the further first data block (618) carry initially transmitted data.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for in response to successful decoding of a second partition of the first data block, performing further processing of the second partition of the first data block.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for determining, based on the mapping rule, a second processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the second processing chain being associated with the second partition of the first data block, where the further processing of the second partition of the first data block is performed using the second processing chain.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for receiving (536), from the second apparatus (520), a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the second data block; and retransmitting (540), to the second apparatus (520), data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0190] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for determining, based on the mapping rule, one or more third processing chains from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more third processing chains being associated with the one or more first partitions of the second data block; and deactivating one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more third processing chains.

[0191] In some example embodiments, a further second data block (718) is transmitted (730) from the first apparatus (710) to the second apparatus (720), one or more partitions (716- 2, 716-3) of the further second data block (718) carrying the retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions (716-1 to 716-M) of the further second data block (718)carrying initially transmitted data.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for receiving (626, 728), from the second apparatus (620, 720), a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus (110) further includes: means for in accordance with a determination that a second partition of the second data block is successfully decoded, flushing (538(1)) a buffer for the second partition of the second data block.

[0194] In an aspect, a second apparatus (120) includes: means for transmitting (210; 910; 422, 424; 522, 524), to a first apparatus (110), at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of a data block (308); and means for communicating (240, 920, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with the first apparatus (110) based on the mapping rule.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the at least one first indication includes at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

[0196] In some example embodiments, each different partition of the plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of the data block (308) includes one or more code block groups.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the one or more data blocks include one or more of: a first data block from the second apparatus (120) to the first apparatus (110); or a second data block from the first apparatus (110) to the second apparatus (120).

[0198] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus (120) further includes: means for receiving (432), from the first apparatus (410), a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the first data block; and retransmitting (434), to the first apparatus (410), data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

[0199] In some example embodiments, a further first data block (618) is transmitted (628) from the second apparatus (620) to the first apparatus (610), one or more partitions (616- 2, 616-3) of the further first data block (618) carry the retransmitted data, and one or moreremaining partitions (616-1 to 616-M) of the further first data block (618) carry initially transmitted data.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus (120) further includes one or more of: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus (HO), a configuration of the mapping rule; or means for in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the second data block, transmitting (536), to the first apparatus (510), a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

[0201] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus (120) further includes: means for receiving (730) a further second data block (718) from the first apparatus (710), where one or more partitions (716-2, 716-3) of the further second data block (718) carry retransmitted data, one or more remaining partitions (716-1 to 716-M) of the further second data block (718) carry initially transmitted data, and the retransmitted data includes data carried in the one or more first partitions (706-2, 706-3) of the second data block (708).

[0202] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus (120) further includes: means for transmitting (626, 728), to the first apparatus (610, 710), a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, where one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block carry initially transmitted data.

[0203] In an aspect, a method (500) includes: receiving (220; 810; 422, 424; 522, 524) at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306- M) of a data block (308); and communicating (230, 820, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with a second apparatus (120) based on the mapping rule.

[0204] In an aspect, a method (600) includes: transmitting (210; 910; 422, 424; 522, 524), to a first apparatus (110), at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, where the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains (302; 304-1 to 304-N) is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions (306-1 to 306-M) of a data block (308); and communicating (240, 920, 428, 532) one or more data blocks with the first apparatus (110) based on the mapping rule.

[0205] In an aspect, a computer readable medium includes instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the steps or operations as described above.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, wherein the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicate one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first indication comprises at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein each different partition of the plurality of partitions of the data block comprises one or more code block groups.

4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more data blocks comprise one or more of: a first data block from the second apparatus to the first apparatus; or a second data block from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

5. The first apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to perform one or more of: receive a configuration of the mapping rule; or in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the first data block, transmit, to the second apparatus, a request for a retransmission of the one or more firstpartitions of the first data block.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: determine, based on the mapping rule, one or more first processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more first processing chain being associated with the one or more first partitions of the first data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more first processing chains.

7. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: receive a further first data block from the second apparatus, wherein one or more partitions of the further first data block carry retransmitted data that includes data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block, and wherein one or more remaining partitions of the further first data block carry initially transmitted data.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: in response to successful decoding of a second partition of the first data block, perform further processing of the second partition of the first data block.

9. The first apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: determine, based on the mapping rule, a second processing chain from the plurality of processing chains, the second processing chain being associated with the second partition of the first data block, wherein the further processing of the second partition of the first data block isperformed using the second processing chain.

10. The first apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: receive, from the second apparatus, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the second data block; and retransmit, to the second apparatus, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

11. The first apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: determine, based on the mapping rule, one or more third processing chains from the plurality of processing chains, the one or more third processing chains being associated with the one or more first partitions of the second data block; and deactivate one or more idle processing chains of the plurality of processing chains, the one or more idle processing chains excluding the one or more third processing chains.

12. The first apparatus of claim 10, wherein a further second data block is transmitted from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, one or more partitions of the further second data block carrying the retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the further second data block carrying initially transmitted data.

13. The first apparatus of claim 7 or 12, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: receive, from the second apparatus, a second indication that a type of data blocks is enabled, wherein one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data.

14. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: in accordance with a determination that a second partition of the second data block is successfully decoded, flush a buffer for the second partition of the second data block.

15. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, wherein the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and communicate one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

16. The second apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one first indication comprises at least one of a semi-static indication or a dynamic indication.

17. The second apparatus of claim 15 or 16, wherein each different partition of the plurality of partitions of the data block comprises one or more code block groups.

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the one or more data blocks comprise one or more of: a first data block from the second apparatus to the first apparatus; or a second data block from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

19. The second apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one memory and the atleast one processor further cause the second apparatus to: receive, from the first apparatus, a request for a retransmission of one or more first partitions of the first data block; and retransmit, to the first apparatus, data carried in the one or more first partitions of the first data block.

20. The second apparatus of claim 19, wherein a further first data block is transmitted from the second apparatus to the first apparatus, wherein one or more partitions of the further first data block carry the retransmitted data, and wherein one or more remaining partitions of the further first data block carry initially transmitted data.

21. The second apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus to perform one or more of transmit, to the first apparatus, a configuration of the mapping rule; or in response to failed decoding of one or more first partitions of the second data block, transmit, to the first apparatus, a request for a retransmission of the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

22. The second apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus to: receive a further second data block from the first apparatus, wherein one or more partitions of the further second data block carry retransmitted data, one or more remaining partitions of the further second data block carry initially transmitted data, and the retransmitted data includes data carried in the one or more first partitions of the second data block.

23. The second apparatus of claim 20 or 22, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus to: transmit, to the first apparatus, a second indication that a type of data blocks isenabled, wherein one or more partitions of a data block of the type carry retransmitted data and one or more remaining partitions of the data block of the type carry initially transmitted data.

24. A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, wherein the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and means for communicating one or more data blocks with a second apparatus based on the mapping rule.

25. A second apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, at least one first indication of activation of a mapping rule, wherein the mapping rule indicates that data associated with each of a plurality of processing chains is mapped into each different partition of a plurality of partitions of a data block; and means for communicating one or more data blocks with the first apparatus based on the mapping rule.

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