Deactivating uplink transmissions by an ambient IoT device in response to uplink transmissions triggering signals

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for reducing collision probability by selectively deactivating uplink transmission triggering by a radio access network, RAN, at wireless devices such as ambient-IoT devices.

Description

DEACTIVATING UPLINK TRANSMISSIONS BY AN AMBIENT IOT DEVICE IN RESPONSE TO UPLINK TRANSMISSIONS TRIGGERING SIGNALSTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems and relates more specifically to methods and devices for enhancing the usage of uplink resources by wireless devices, for example wireless devices harvesting ambient energy, in particular for uplink transmissions triggered by a radio access network, RAN.Background

[0002] The internet of things (loT) allows various devices to connect to the internet to send data, receive instructions, or both. Tens of billions of loT devices are already deployed and the global number of loT devices is expected to increase rapidly. Thus, massive connectivity is needed. However, powering these billions of loT devices is a critical challenge, and deploying power cables or regularly replacing / recharging batteries is not a viable solution.

[0003] 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is investigating new loT technologies to open new markets within 3GPP systems, whose number of connections and / or device density can be orders of magnitude higher than existing 3GPP loT technologies, and which can provide complexity and power consumption orders-of-magnitude lower than existing 3GPP technologies such as narrow-band-loT (NB-loT) and long-term evolution-machine- type communications (LTE-MTC). More specifically, 3GPP is currently defining Ambient- loT (A-loT) technologies (see e.g., the technical report TR 38.848 V18.0.0) aiming at enabling ultra-low power consumption loT devices, which could be either batteryless devices with no energy storage capability (performing backscattering transmission) or devices with energy storage that do not need to be replaced or recharged manually (performing wire-free energy harvesting (EH) from one or more energy sources).

[0004] By “ultra-low power consumption” devices, or “A-loT” devices, we mean devices having a peak power consumption lower than 1 mW, or even lower than 100 pW or lower than 10 pW. For instance, Ambient-loT currently aims at enabling A-loT devices having the following characteristics: around 1 pW peak power consumption with energy storage, with neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification in the device (the device’s UL transmission is backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally), below a few hundred pW peak power consumption with energy storage, with DL and / or UL amplification in the device (the device’s UL transmission may be generated internally by the device or be backscattered on a carrier wave providedexternally).

[0005] In some cases, such A-loT devices may only initiate an uplink transmission when triggered so by the RAN. Also, there is a possibility that the RAN may trigger an uplink transmission by all A-loT devices within range by broadcasting a single message, which will result in many A-loT devices attempting to access the uplink resources (e.g., contentionbased uplink resources) simultaneously. This might lead to many collisions, such that the number of retransmissions per A-loT device will increase (impacting the power consumption of the A-loT devices) together with signaling overhead.Summary

[0006] The present disclosure aims at improving the situation. In particular, the present disclosure aims at addressing at least some of the limitations of the prior art discussed above. In particular, the present disclosure aims at proposing a solution for reducing the risk of collisions between uplink transmissions from wireless devices, such as A-loT devices, in particular when said uplink transmissions are triggered by the RAN.

[0007] For that purpose, it is proposed to selectively deactivate, at some wireless devices, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN. Hence, deactivated wireless devices will not initiate uplink transmissions in response to uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the RAN, thereby reducing collision probability by selectively reducing the number of wireless devices required to respond, without having to explicitly identify in the uplink transmission triggering signals the wireless devices required to respond.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein, the wireless device being configured to perform an uplink transmission in response to receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the wireless device to initiate an uplink transmission, the method comprises: receiving from the RAN a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to the wireless device or to a group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device, deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN until a reactivation criterion is verified.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect can further comprise one or more of the following optional features, considered either alone or in any technicallypossible combination.

[0010] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the reactivation criterion is verified in response to receiving activation information from the RAN.

[0011] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the reactivation criterion is verified in response to receiving an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device.

[0012] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the deactivation information includes a deactivation duration, and the reactivation criterion is verified in response to uplink transmission triggering by the RAN being deactivated for the deactivation duration.

[0013] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN includes transitioning to a sleep mode in which the wireless device does not monitor uplink transmission triggering signals from the RAN.

[0014] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, in response to the signaling message including deactivation information addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is deactivated only for global uplink transmission triggering signals from the RAN.

[0015] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the signaling message is an uplink transmission triggering signal and, in response to receiving deactivation information addressed to the wireless device, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is deactivated before any further uplink transmission or is deactivated immediately after performing a further uplink transmission to the RAN.

[0016] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the uplink transmission triggering signal is a paging message.

[0017] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the signaling message comprises an activation / deactivation field addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device, and the method comprises evaluating whether the activation / deactivation field includes deactivation information or activation information.

[0018] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the activation / deactivation field corresponds to a single bit, wherein a value 0 corresponds to activation information and a value 1 corresponds to deactivation information.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a wireless devicecomprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a user equipment, UE, comprising a wireless device according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a base station, BS, of a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein the BS is configured to trigger uplink transmissions by wireless devices by transmitting uplink transmission triggering signals to said wireless devices, wherein the method comprises transmitting a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to a specific wireless device or to a specific group of wireless devices, wherein said deactivation information is for deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at said specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices.

[0022] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect can further comprise one or more of the following optional features, considered either alone or in any technically possible combination.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises reactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at the specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices by transmitting activation information addressed to said specific wireless device or to said specific group of wireless devices.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises reactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at the specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices by transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to said specific wireless device or to said specific group of wireless devices.

[0025] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the deactivation information includes a deactivation duration during which uplink transmission triggering by the BS is to be deactivated at said specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices.

[0026] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, transmitting the signaling message including deactivation information addressed specifically to the specific wireless device or to the specific group of wireless devices deactivates uplink transmission only for global uplink transmission triggering signals from the BS.

[0027] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the uplink transmission triggering signal is a paging message.

[0028] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the signaling message comprises an activation / deactivation field addressed specifically to the specific wireless device or to the specific group of wireless devices.

[0029] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the activation / deactivation field corresponds to a single bit, wherein a value 0 corresponds to activation information and a value 1 corresponds to deactivation information.

[0030] According to a fifth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a base station, BS, comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method according to any one of the embodiments of the fourth aspect.

[0031] According to a sixth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system comprising at least one base station according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure and at least one user equipment according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] According to a seventh aspect, the present disclosure relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method for exchanging data according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer program product can use any programming language, and can be in the form of source code, object code, or in any intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0033] According to an eighth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a (non-transitory) computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method for exchanging data according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.Brief description of figures

[0034] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given as an example that is in no way limiting, and made in reference to the figures which show:Figure 1 : schematic representations of different possible topologies of a wireless communication system,Figure 2: a schematic representation of an example of a wireless device, Figure 3: a schematic representation of an example of a BS,Figures 4 and 5: flow charts illustrating examples of methods for exchanging data implemented by a wireless device of a UE and a BS, respectively.

[0035] In these figures, references identical from one figure to another designate identical or analogous elements. For reasons of clarity, the elements shown are not to scale, unless explicitly stated otherwise.Detailed description

[0036] The detailed description set forth below, with reference to the figures, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. For instance, although 3GPP terminology, from e.g., 5G NR, may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0037] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, the order of steps of any methods disclosed herein, in particular in the figures, is provided only for illustration purposes and is not meant to limit the present disclosure which may be applied with the same steps executed in a different order and / or with all or part of the steps executed in parallel or jointly, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Also, in a figure, steps represented surrounded by a dashed line are to be considered as optional for the embodiment represented in this figure. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0038] Figure 1 represents schematically an example of wireless communication system, which may be for example a 5G NR wireless communication system. More specifically, figure 1 represents a RAN of the wireless communication system, which is used exchange data with UEs 20 via radio signals. For example, the RAN may send data to the UEs 20 (downlink, DL), for instance data received from a core network (CN, not represented in the figures). The RAN may also receive data from the UEs 20 (uplink, UL), which data may be forwarded to the CN.

[0039] In the example illustrated by figure 1 , the RAN comprises one base station, BS, 30. Of course, the RAN may comprise more than one BS 30 to increase the coverage of the wireless communication system. Each of these BSs may be referred to as NB, eNodeB (or eNB), gNodeB (or gNB, in the case of a 5G NR wireless communication system), an access point or the like, depending on the wireless communication standard(s) implemented.

[0040] In the example illustrated by figure 1 , only one UE 20 is represented, which includes a wireless device 25 that provides the UE 20 with wireless connectivity to the RAN of the wireless communication system. Part a) of figure 1 represents schematically an example in which the UE 20 exchanges data (useful data and control data) directly with a BS 30 of the RAN (referred to as Topology 1 in TR 38.848 V18.0.0). Part b) of figure 1 represents schematically an example in which the UE 20 exchanges data (useful data and control data) indirectly with a BS 30 of the RAN, via one or more intermediate nodes 31 (referred to as Topology 2 in TR 38.848 V18.0.0). Each intermediate node 31 may be e.g., a relay, an integrated access and backhaul (I AB) node, another UE 20, a repeater, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), etc.

[0041] Figure 2 represents schematically an example of a wireless device 25 suitable for implementing any method, discussed in the present disclosure, performed at a UE 20. Basically, the wireless device 25 corresponds to an apparatus that provides wireless connectivity with the RAN of the wireless communication system, and that can be used to exchange data with said RAN. The wireless device 25 is for example an A-loT device, i.e. , a wireless device having a peak power consumption lower than 1 mW, or even lower than 100 pW, or even lower than 10 pW.

[0042] Such a wireless device 25 may be included in a UE 20, as illustrated by figure 2. The UE 20 may for instance be a cellular phone, a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, or the like. In preferred examples, the UE 20 may also be an Internet of Things (loT) equipment, like a wireless camera, a smart sensor, a smart meter, smart glasses, a vehicle (manned or unmanned), a global positioning system device, etc., or any other equipment that may run applications that need to exchange data with remote recipients, via the wireless device 25.

[0043] As illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises one or more processors 250 and one or more memories 251. The one or more processors 250 may include for instance a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field- programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The one or more memories 251 may include any type of computer readable volatile and nonvolatile memories (magnetic hard disk, solid-state disk, optical disk, electronic memory, etc.).The one or more memories 251 may store a computer program product 252, in the form of a set of program-code instructions to be executed by the one or more processors 250 to implement all or part of the steps of a method for exchanging data, performed at a UE’s side, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0044] As illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises also a (wireless) communication unit 253 configured to exchange data (directly or indirectly) with BSs 30 of the RAN using radio signals. The communication unit 253 may implement one or more wireless communication protocols, and may for instance be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax, etc. transceiver or the like. In preferred embodiments, the (wireless) communication unit 253 comprises a 5G NR wireless communication unit.

[0045] As discussed above, the communication unit 253 may comprise in some examples neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification capabilities (the UL transmission is backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally). In other examples, the communication unit 253 may comprise DL and / or UL amplification (the UL transmission may be generated internally by the wireless device or be backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally).

[0046] In the non-limitative example illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises also an energy harvesting unit 254 and an energy storage unit 255 of the wireless device.

[0047] The energy storage unit 255 may be any type of electrical energy accumulator, and may comprise e.g., one or more capacitors, one or more batteries, etc. The energy storage unit 255 is used to provide electrical energy to the other equipment of the wireless device 25 which require electrical energy, such as the one or more processors 250, the one or more memories 251 and, in some examples, the (wireless) communication unit 253.

[0048] The energy harvesting unit 254 is configured to convert ambient energy into electrical energy that is stored in the energy storage unit 255. By “ambient energy” we mean energy from energy sources that are external to the wireless device 25, which is received at the wireless device 25 without any wires between the energy sources and the wireless device 25. Hence, the energy harvesting unit 254 is such that the wireless device 25 may operate in an autonomous manner, without having to replace or recharge manually the energy storage unit 255. The energy harvesting unit 254 may for example collect energy from various energy sources including solar, thermal, motion or vibration, radiofrequency (RF), etc.

[0049] In preferred embodiments, the energy harvesting unit 254 comprises at least a radio unit configured to convert RF signals into electrical energy that is stored in the energy storage unit 255. These RF signals may for instance be external RF signals, i.e., RF signals which do not originate from within the wireless communication system itself but from RFsources which are external to the wireless communication system. For example, external RF signals may originate from external 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth, DAB, etc., devices located in the vicinity of the wireless device 25. Alternatively, or in combination thereof, the RF signals may originate from within the wireless communication system, for example from BSs 30 of the RAN which may transmit an energy harvesting (RF) signal to (A-loT) wireless devices 25 in their coverage, and / or from equipment separate from the BSs 30 but deployed to enable energy harvesting at the (A-loT) wireless devices 25 of the wireless communication system. In some examples, when RF signals are used to collect electrical energy into the energy storage unit 255, the energy harvesting unit 254 may be included in the (wireless) communication unit 253.

[0050] In some examples, the electrical energy collected by the energy harvesting unit 254 may be provided directly to the other equipment of the wireless device 25, in which case the energy storage unit 255 is optional and needs not to be included in the wireless device.

[0051] Figure 3 represents schematically an example of a BS 30 suitable to implement any method, discussed in the present disclosure, performed by the RAN.

[0052] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 comprises one or more processors 300 and one or more memories 301. The one or more processors 300 may include for instance a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The one or more memories 301 may include any type of computer readable volatile and non-volatile memories (magnetic hard disk, solid-state disk, optical disk, electronic memory, etc.). The one or more memories 301 may store a computer program product 302, in the form of a set of programcode instructions to be executed by the one or more processors 300 to implement all or part of the steps of a method for exchanging data, performed at the RAN’s side, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0053] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 comprises also a wireless communication unit 303, configured to exchange data with UEs 20 using radio signals, and more specifically with (wireless) communication units 253 of wireless devices 25 included in these UEs 20. The wireless communication unit 303 may for instance be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax, etc. transceiver or the like. In preferred embodiments, the wireless communication unit 303 of the BS 30 comprises a 5G NR transceiver. In some examples, the wireless communication unit 303 may also transmit carrier waves to the wireless devices 25 which perform uplink backscattering transmissions.

[0054] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 may comprise also, in some examples, a network communication unit 304, configured to exchange data with other base stations of the RANand / or with the CN. The network communication unit 305 may support one or more suitable communication protocols, which may be wired (including optical) and / or wireless.

[0055] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 may comprise also, in some examples, an energy harvesting signal generator 305, which generates energy harvesting (RF) signals which enable wireless devices 25 in its coverage to collect electrical energy in their energy storage units 255, via their energy harvesting units 254. The energy harvesting (RF) signals may take any suitable form enabling the energy harvesting units 254 to store electrical energy in the energy storage units 255 of the wireless devices 25. The choice of a specific energy harvesting (RF) signal format consists in a specific and non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned above, when present, such energy harvesting (RF) signals may alternatively, or in combination thereof, be generated by other equipment separate from BSs 30 of the RAN.

[0056] As discussed above, the present disclosure aims at proposing a solution for reducing the risk of collisions between uplink transmissions from wireless devices, such as A-loT devices, in particular when said uplink transmissions are triggered by the RAN.

[0057] For that purpose, it is proposed to selectively deactivate, at some wireless devices, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN. Hence, deactivated wireless devices will not initiate uplink transmissions in response to uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the RAN, thereby reducing collision probability by selectively reducing the number of wireless devices required to respond, without having to explicitly identify in the uplink transmission triggering signals the wireless devices required to respond.

[0058] We now present non-limitative examples of methods for exchanging data in a wireless communication system. In these examples, it is assumed that a BS 30 of the RAN transmits uplink transmission triggering signals to the wireless devices 25 in its coverage.

[0059] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the uplink transmission triggering signal, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non- limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the uplink transmission triggering signal may correspond to a paging signal.

[0060] In some cases, the RAN may transmit a wake-up signal that transitions the wireless device 25 (or group of wireless devices) from a sleep mode to an active mode. Indeed, to reduce its electrical power consumption, the wireless device 25 may be placed in a sleep mode. In such a case, the wireless device 25 needs to transition to an active mode to be able to exchange data with the RAN. Such a transition may be triggered by the RAN, by sending a wake-up signal to the wireless device 25. In such a case, the uplink transmission triggering signal may correspond to the wake-up signal which transitions the wireless device25 from a sleep mode to an active mode, or it may be transmitted by the RAN after it has transmitted a wake-up signal to the wireless device 25. Using a same signal for the wakeup signal and the uplink transmission triggering signal reduces the signaling overhead for the RAN, compared to using separate signals.

[0061] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a unicast signal which is addressed specifically to a specific wireless device 25, in which case the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a specific device identifier of the specific wireless device 25. In some cases, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a plurality of specific device identifiers associated respectively to different specific wireless devices 25, to trigger uplink transmissions by a plurality of specific wireless devices 25.

[0062] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a multicast signal which is addressed specifically to a specific group of wireless devices 25, in which case the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a specific group identifier of the specific group of wireless devices 25. In some cases, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a plurality of specific group identifiers associated respectively to different specific groups of wireless devices 25, to trigger uplink transmissions by a plurality of specific groups of wireless devices 25.

[0063] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be both unicast and multicast, i.e., it may include one or more specific device identifiers and one or more specific group identifiers.

[0064] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a broadcast signal, aiming at triggering uplink transmissions by all wireless devices 25 in the coverage of the BS 30. In such a case, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a broadcast identifier (i.e., a recipient identifier interpreted by the wireless devices 25 as indicating that the uplink transmission triggering signal is a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal) or it may include no recipient identifier at all (wherein the absence of recipient identifier is interpreted by the wireless devices 25 as indicating that the uplink transmission triggering signal is a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal). In the following, a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal is also referred to as “global uplink transmission triggering signal”.

[0065] In the present case, we consider a wireless device 25 which is configured to perform an uplink transmission in response to receiving from the BS 30 an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the wireless device 25 to initiate an uplink transmission. Hence, an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the wireless device 25 corresponds to anuplink transmission triggering signal having: a broadcast identifier or no recipient identifier at all (i.e., a global uplink transmission triggering signal), or a specific device identifier which designates specifically said wireless device 25, or a specific group identifier which designates specifically a group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25.

[0066] It is proposed in the present disclosure to enable a BS 30 to deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the RAN at the wireless device 25, such that the wireless device 25 is no longer required to respond to at least some of the uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the BS 30. Hence, the BS 30 may selectively deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the RAN at one or more wireless devices 25, such that these (deactivated) wireless devices 25 will not respond to e.g. a global uplink transmission triggering signal. Accordingly, only the non-deactivated wireless devices 25 will respond to a global uplink transmission triggering signal, thereby reducing collision probability compared to the case where all the wireless devices 25 in the coverage of the BS 30 respond to a global uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0067] Figure 4 represents a diagram showing steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method 40 for exchanging data, which is implemented by a wireless device 25 of a UE 20. Figure 5 represents a diagram showing corresponding steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method 50 for exchanging data, which is implemented by a BS 30 of the RAN.

[0068] As illustrated by figure 4, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S40 of receiving from the RAN a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to the wireless device 25 or to a group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25.

[0069] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the signaling message carrying deactivation information, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] For example, the signaling message may correspond to a type of signaling message specifically used for conveying deactivation information. In such a case, it is sufficient to indicate a specific device identifier of the specific wireless device 25 to be deactivated, or a specific group identifier of the specific group of wireless devices 25 to be deactivated.

[0071] In other examples, the signaling message may also be used to convey other information, in which case it may comprise an activation / deactivation field, used to convey activation information or deactivation information, associated to one or more specific recipient identifiers of the recipient wireless devices 25 which shall apply the informationincluded in the activation / deactivation field. For example, the activation / deactivation field may correspond to a single bit. For example, a value ‘0’ corresponds to activation information and a value ‘1’ corresponds to deactivation information.

[0072] In some examples, the signaling message may correspond to an uplink transmission triggering signal, i.e., the deactivation information may be included in an uplink transmission triggering signal. As indicated above, the deactivation information is addressed specifically to one or more specific wireless devices 25 and / or to one or more specific groups of wireless devices 25. In such a case, the uplink transmission triggering signal may for example be used to trigger an uplink transmission by the wireless devices 25 to be deactivated before they deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the RAN (i.e., the recipient wireless devices 25 first respond with an uplink transmission and subsequently deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the RAN). According to another example, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be used to immediately deactivate the wireless devices 25 specifically designated (by a specific device identifier or by a specific group identifier) and to trigger an uplink transmission by the wireless devices 25 which are not explicitly designated in the uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0073] Hence, during step S40, the wireless device 25 receives a signaling message that said wireless device 25 recognizes as carrying deactivation information, which includes a recipient identifier that explicitly designates said wireless device 25 (i.e., a specific device identifier of the wireless device 25 or a specific group identifier of a specific group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25).

[0074] As illustrated by figure 4, when the considered wireless device 25 is a designated recipient of the deactivation information included in the signaling message, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S41 of deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN, such that the wireless device 25 stops responding to (at least some) uplink transmission triggering signals. As indicated above, if the signaling message is an uplink transmission triggering signal, the wireless device 25 may in some examples initiate an uplink transmission to the BS 30 before it effectively applies the deactivation information.

[0075] As indicated above, “deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN” means that the wireless device 25 stops responding to at least some of the uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the BS 30, to which the wireless device 25 would have to respond if it had not received deactivation information.

[0076] For example, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN may be deactivated only for global uplink transmission triggering signals from the BS 30. Hence, when deactivated, the wireless device 25 will not respond to global uplink transmission triggering signals, but itmay still respond to an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to said wireless device 25 (via the specific device identifier of the wireless device 25 or the specific group identifier of the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25).

[0077] In other examples, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN may be deactivated for all uplink transmission triggering signals (unicast, multicast, broadcast) transmitted by the BS 30. In such a case, the wireless device 25 may stop monitoring uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the BS 30. In some cases, the wireless device 25 may further transition to a sleep mode, to reduce power consumption.

[0078] For example, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN may remain deactivated at the wireless device 25 until a predetermined reactivation criterion is verified. As illustrated by figure 4, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises in this example a step S42 of evaluating whether the reactivation criterion is verified. If the reactivation criterion is not verified (reference S42a in figure 4), uplink transmission triggering by the RAN remains deactivated at the wireless device 25. In turn, if the reactivation criterion is verified (reference S42b in figure 4), the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S43 of reactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN, such that the wireless device 25 restarts responding to the uplink transmission triggering signals which designate said wireless device 25 explicitly (via the specific device identifier of the wireless device 25 or the specific group identifier of the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25) or implicitly (i.e. , global uplink transmission triggering signal).

[0079] It should be noted that any suitable reactivation criterion may be used, and that the choice of a specific reactivation criterion corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] In some examples, the reactivation criterion may be verified in response to receiving activation information from the BS 30, in a signaling message. As indicated above, the activation information may be, in some examples, included in an activation / deactivation field associated to one or more specific recipient identifiers of the recipient wireless devices 25 which shall apply the information included in the activation / deactivation field. In other examples, the signaling message carrying the activation information may correspond to a type of signaling message specifically used for conveying activation information. The activation information may be addressed specifically to the wireless device 25 or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25, or it may be addressed globally to all wireless devices in the coverage of the BS 30.

[0081] Alternatively, or in combination thereof, the reactivation criterion may be verified in response to receiving an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to thewireless device 25 or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device 25. This can be used if e.g. deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is restricted to global uplink transmission triggering signals. In such a case, the wireless device 25 continues to monitor the uplink transmission triggering signals and ignores the global uplink transmission triggering signals (and the unicast or multicast uplink transmission triggering signals which do not include the specific device identifier or the specific group identifier of said wireless device 25). However, the wireless device 25 may detect an uplink transmission triggering signal which includes its specific device identifier or a specific group identifier of a group of wireless devices to which it belongs. In such case, the reactivation criterion is verified, step S43 is executed, and the wireless device 25 initiates an uplink transmission in response to this uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0082] Alternatively, or in combination thereof, the wireless device 25 may be configured to remain deactivated for a predetermined duration, referred as “deactivation duration” in the present disclosure. Hence, when uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is deactivated at the wireless device 25, it may start a timer that is set to the deactivation duration, and the reactivation criterion is verified once said timer expires. Since the deactivation duration is predetermined, the wireless device 25 may stop monitoring the uplink transmission triggering signals for the deactivation duration, and it may even go to a sleep mode for the deactivation duration to reduce power consumption (and it may return to an active mode once the timer set to the deactivation duration has expired).

[0083] For example, the deactivation duration may be predefined (e.g., specified by a standard) or received beforehand from the BS 30, e.g., in system information broadcasted by the BS 30, in the signaling message which includes the deactivation information, etc.

[0084] For example, the deactivation duration may be greater than or equal to 10 minutes, or greater than or equal to 1 hour, or greater than or equal to 1 day, etc.

[0085] As discussed above, figure 5 represents a diagram showing corresponding steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method 50 for exchanging data, which may be implemented by a BS 30 when the wireless device 25 implements the method 40 for exchanging data illustrated by figure 4.

[0086] As illustrated by figure 5, the method 50 for exchanging data comprises a step S50 of transmitting a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to a specific wireless device 25 or to a specific group of wireless devices. All that has been said before, in relation to figure 4, for the signaling message and the deactivation information, applies similarly for figure 5 at the BS 30.

[0087] As discussed before, in some examples, the signaling message may also include adeactivation duration to be applied by the recipient specific wireless device 25 or specific group of wireless devices 25. All that has been said before, in relation to figure 4, for the deactivation duration, applies similarly for figure 5 at the BS 30.

[0088] In figure 5, it is assumed in a non-limitative manner that the BS 30 can reactivate uplink transmission triggering by the RAN at a deactivated wireless device 25, and the method 50 for exchanging data comprises in this example a step S51 of transmitting a signaling message to reactivate the deactivated specific wireless device 25 or the deactivated specific group of wireless devices 25. For example, the BS 30 may transmit activation information addressed to said specific wireless device 25 or to said specific group of wireless devices 25. All that has been said before, in relation to figure 4, for the activation information, applies similarly for figure 5 at the BS 30. For example, the activation information may be included in an activation / deactivation field as discussed before. In other examples, the BS 30 may transmit during step S51 an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to said specific wireless device 25 or to said specific group of wireless devices 25, as discussed before in relation with the reactivation criterion.

[0089] It is emphasized that the present disclosure is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments. Variants of the above exemplary embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0090] For example, the present disclosure has been made by considering mainly the case of A-loT devices. However, the present disclosure can also be used for non-A-loT devices.

[0091] It should also be noted that there can be a coexistence in the wireless communication system between wireless devices 25 which apply the present disclosure and wireless devices which do not apply the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure may apply e.g. only to A-loT devices and not to non-A-loT devices.

Claims

Claims1. A method (40) for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device (25) of the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein, the wireless device being configured to perform an uplink transmission in response to receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the wireless device to initiate an uplink transmission, the method comprises:(540) receiving from the RAN a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to the wireless device or to a group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device,(541) deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN until a reactivation criterion is verified.

2. The method (40) according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivation criterion is verified in response to receiving activation information from the RAN.

3. The method (40) according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivation criterion is verified in response to receiving an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device.

4. The method (40) according to claim 1 , wherein the deactivation information includes a deactivation duration, and the reactivation criterion is verified in response to uplink transmission triggering by the RAN being deactivated for the deactivation duration.

5. The method (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the RAN includes transitioning to a sleep mode in which the wireless device does not monitor uplink transmission triggering signals from the RAN.

6. The method (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in response to the signaling message including deactivation information addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is deactivated only for global uplink transmission triggering signals from the RAN.

7. The method (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signaling message is an uplink transmission triggering signal and, in response to receiving deactivation information addressed to the wireless device, uplink transmission triggering by the RAN is deactivated before any further uplink transmission or is deactivated immediately after performing a further uplink transmission to the RAN.

8. The method (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signaling message comprises an activation / deactivation field addressed specifically to the wireless device or to the group of wireless devices which includes said wireless device, and the method comprises evaluating whether the activation / deactivation field includes deactivation information or activation information.

9. The method (40) according to claim 8, wherein the activation / deactivation field corresponds to a single bit, wherein a value 0 corresponds to activation information and a value 1 corresponds to deactivation information.

10. A wireless device (25) comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method (40) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A user equipment, UE (20), comprising a wireless device according to claim 10.

12. A method (50) for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a base station, BS (30), of a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein the BS is configured to trigger uplink transmissions by wireless devices (25) by transmitting uplink transmission triggering signals to said wireless devices, wherein the method comprises transmitting a signaling message which includes deactivation information addressed specifically to a specific wireless device or to a specific group of wireless devices, wherein said deactivation information is for deactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at said specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices.

13. The method (50) according to claim 12, comprising reactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at the specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices by transmitting activation information addressed to said specific wireless device or to said specific group of wireless devices.

14. The method (50) according to claim 12, comprising reactivating uplink transmission triggering by the BS at the specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices by transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to said specific wireless device or to said specific group of wireless devices.

15. The method (50) according to claim 12, wherein the deactivation information includes a deactivation duration during which uplink transmission triggering by the BS is to be deactivated at said specific wireless device or at said specific group of wireless devices.

16. The method (50) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein transmitting the signaling message including deactivation information addressed specifically to the specific wireless device or to the specific group of wireless devices deactivates uplink transmission only for global uplink transmission triggering signals from the BS.

17. The method (50) according to any one of the claims 12 to 16, wherein the signaling message comprises an activation / deactivation field addressed specifically to the specific wireless device or to the specific group of wireless devices.

18. The method (50) according to claim 17, wherein the activation / deactivation field corresponds to a single bit, wherein a value 0 corresponds to activation information and a value 1 corresponds to deactivation information.

19. A base station, BS (30), comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method (50) according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

20. A wireless communication system comprising at least one base station (30) according to claim 19 and at least one user equipment (20) according to claim 11 .

21. A computer program product (252, 302) comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a method (50) according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

22. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a method (50) according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

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