Carrier selection for data transmission

Abstract

A user device may receive from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure. The user device may select, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier. The user device may perform the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

Description

CARRIER SELECTION FOR DATA TRANSMISSIONTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This description relates to wireless communications.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication system may be a facility that enables communication between two or more nodes or devices, such as fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals can be carried on wired or wireless carriers.

[0003] An example of a cellular communication system is an architecture that is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A recent development in this field is often referred to as the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. EUTRA (evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of 3GPP's Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade path for mobile networks. In LTE, base stations or access points (APs), which are referred to as enhanced Node AP (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices, or mobile stations are referred to as user equipments (UE). LTE has included a number of improvements or developments. Aspects of LTE are also continuing to improve.

[0004] 5G New Radio (NR) development is part of a continued mobile broadband evolution process to meet the requirements of 5G, similar to earlier evolution of 3G and 4G wireless networks. In addition, 5G is also targeted at the new emerging use cases in addition to mobile broadband. A goal of 5G is to provide significant improvement in wireless performance, which may include new levels of data rate, latency, reliability, and security. 5G NR may also scale to efficiently connect the massive Internet of Things (loT) and may offer new types of mission- critical services. For example, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) devices may require high reliability and very low latency. 6G and other networks are also being developed.SUMMARY

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: means for receiving from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: means for transmitting to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: transmitting, from a network node to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: means for receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; means for selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: means for transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: transmitting, from a network node to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0017] Other example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: means for performing any of the example methods; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus including at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0018] The details of one or more examples of embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example random access (RA) procedure.

[0021] FIG. 3 A is a diagram illustrating example procedure for SDT with 4-step random access (RA) procedure.

[0022] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating example procedure for SDT with 2-step random access (RA) procedure.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a MT-SDT procedure.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., UE, user device, AP, BS, eNB, gNB, RAN node, network node, TRP, or other node) 1300 according to an example embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] 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 should 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 first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0031] 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.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130. In the wireless network 130 of FIG. 1, user devices 131, 132, 133 and 135, which may also be referred to as mobile stations (MSs) or user equipment (UEs), may be connected (and in communication) with a base station (BS) 134, which may also be referred to as an access point (AP), an enhanced Node B (eNB), a gNB or a network node. The terms user device and user equipment (UE) may be used interchangeably. A BS may also include or may be referred to as a RAN (radio access network) node, and may include a portion of a BS or a portion of a RAN node, such as e.g., such as a centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB. At least part of the functionalities of a BS (e.g., access point (AP), base station (BS) or (e)Node B (eNB), gNB, RAN node) may also be carried out by any node, server or host which may be operably coupled to a transceiver, such as a remote radio head. BS (or AP) 134 provides wireless coverage within a cell 136, including to user devices (or UEs) 131, 132, 133 and 135. Although only four user devices (or UEs) are shown as being connected or attached to BS 134, any number of user devices may be provided. BS 134 is also connected to a core network 150 via a SI interface 151. This is merely one simple example of a wireless network, and others may be used.

[0033] A base station (e.g., such as BS 134) is an example of a radio access network (RAN) node within a wireless network. A BS (or a RAN node) may be or may include (or may alternatively be referred to as), e.g., an access point (AP), a gNB, an eNB, or portion thereof (such as a centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB), or other network node.

[0034] Some functionalities of the communication network may be carried out, at least partly, in a central / centralized unit, CU, (e.g., server, host or node) operationally coupled to distributed unit, DU, (e.g., a radio head / node). Thus, 5G networks architecture may be based on a so-called CU-DU split. The gNB-CU (central node) may control a plurality of spatially separated gNB-DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some embodiments, however, the gNB-DUs (also called DU) may comprise e.g., a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also called a CU) may comprise the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layer. Other functional splits are possible too.

[0035] According to an illustrative example, a BS node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) or a radio access network (RAN) may be part of a mobile telecommunication system. A RAN (radio access network) may include one or more BSs or RAN nodes that implement a radio access technology, e.g., to allow one or more UEs to have access to a network or core network (CN). Thus, for example, the RAN (RAN nodes, such as BSs or gNBs) may reside between oneor more user devices or UEs and a core network. According to an example embodiment, each RAN node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) or BS may provide one or more wireless communication services for one or more UEs or user devices, e.g., to allow the UEs to have wireless access to a network, via the RAN node. Each RAN node or BS may perform or provide wireless communication services, e.g., such as allowing UEs or user devices to establish a wireless connection to the RAN node, and sending data to and / or receiving data from one or more of the UEs. For example, after establishing a connection to a UE, a RAN node or network node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) may forward data to the UE that is received from a network or the core network, and / or forward data received from the UE to the network or core network. RAN nodes or network nodes (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) may perform a wide variety of other wireless functions or services, e.g., such as broadcasting control information (e.g., such as system information or on-demand system information) to UEs, paging UEs when there is data to be delivered to the UE, assisting in handover of a UE between cells, scheduling of resources for uplink data transmission from the UE(s) and downlink data transmission to UE(s), sending control information to configure one or more UEs, and the like. These are a few examples of one or more functions that a RAN node or BS may perform.

[0036] A user device or user node (user terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile terminal, handheld wireless device, etc.) may refer to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating either with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (MS), a mobile phone, a cell phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handset, a device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), a laptop and / or touch screen computer, a tablet, a phablet, a game console, a notebook, a vehicle, a sensor, and a multimedia device, as examples, or any other wireless device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be (or may include) a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. Also, a user node may include a user equipment (UE), a user device, a user terminal, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, a mobile node, a subscriber device, a subscriber node, a subscriber terminal, or other user node. For example, a user node may be used for wireless communications with one or more network nodes (e.g., gNB, eNB, BS, AP, CU, DU, CU / DU) and / or with one or more other user nodes, regardless of the technology or radio access technology (RAT). In LTE (as an illustrative example), core network 150 may be referred to as Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which may include a mobility management entity (MME) which may handle or assist with mobility / handover of user devices between BSs, one or more gateways that may forward data and control signals between the BSs and packet data networks or the Internet, and other control functions or blocks. Other types ofwireless networks, such as 5G (which may be referred to as New Radio (NR)) may also include a core network.

[0037] In addition, the techniques described herein may be applied to various types of user devices or data service types, or may apply to user devices that may have multiple applications running thereon that may be of different data service types. New Radio (5G) development may support a number of different applications or a number of different data service types, such as for example: machine type communications (MTC), enhanced machine type communication (eMTC), Internet of Things (loT), and / or narrowband loT user devices, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). Many of these new 5G (NR) - related applications may require generally higher performance than previous wireless networks.

[0038] loT may refer to an ever-growing group of objects that may have Internet or network connectivity, so that these objects may send information to and receive information from other network devices. For example, many sensor type applications or devices may monitor a physical condition or a status and may send a report to a server or other network device, e.g., when an event occurs. Machine Type Communications (MTC, or Machine to Machine communications) may, for example, be characterized by fully automatic data generation, exchange, processing and actuation among intelligent machines, with or without intervention of humans. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) may support much higher data rates than currently available in LTE.

[0039] Ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) is a new data service type, or new usage scenario, which may be supported for New Radio (5G) systems. This enables emerging new applications and services, such as industrial automations, autonomous driving, vehicular safety, e-health services, and so on. 3 GPP targets in providing connectivity with reliability corresponding to block error rate (BLER) of 10-5 and up to 1 ms U-Plane (user / data plane) latency, by way of illustrative example. Thus, for example, URLLC user devices / UEs may require a significantly lower block error rate than other types of user devices / UEs as well as low latency (with or without requirement for simultaneous high reliability). Thus, for example, a URLLC UE (or URLLC application on a UE) may require much shorter latency, as compared to an eMBB UE (or an eMBB application running on a UE).

[0040] The techniques described herein may be applied to a wide variety of wireless technologies or wireless networks, such as 5G (New Radio (NR)), cmWave, and / or mmWave band networks, loT, MTC, eMTC, eMBB, URLLC, 6G, etc., or any other wireless network or wireless technology. These example networks, technologies or data service types are provided only as illustrative examples.

[0041] A user device (or UE) may measure various signals and may transmit one or more measurement reports to the network. For example, a UE may measure reference signals received from one or more network nodes (e.g., gNBs or DUs), including channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RSs) and / or synchronization signal block (SSB) reference signals, demodulation references signals, and / or other reference signals. Based on received reference signals, the UE may measure various signal parameters, e.g., such as reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or other signal parameter.

[0042] The PHY (physical) layer may refer to layer 1 (LI) and MAC (media access control) may refer to layer 2 (L2). RSRP, RSRQ, SINR and RSSI are signal quantities measured at layer 1 (LI). The UE may send LI measurement reports (e.g., CSLRS reports, which include measurements of one or more signal parameters for one or more cells) to a gNB, source DU or serving cell. These LI measurement reports may be sent periodically, for example, or aperiodically. L1 / L2 measurement reports may include no averaging or filtering of measurement values or may include less averaging or filtering than what is performed for L3 measurement reports. LI (or L1 / L2) measurement reports may be transmitted by a UE to a serving network node or source DU and may cause the network node to trigger or initiate a L1 / L2 triggered mobility (LTM) handover of the UE to another cell. LI measurements (e.g., RSRP RSRQ, RSSI) may be provided or reported periodically to the DU (MAC / PHY).

[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example random access (RA) procedure.In an example, a four-step random access procedure may include the following. At step 1 of FIG. 2, the UE 210 may transmit to a gNB 220 a preamble, e.g., in a physical random-access channel (PRACH) (e.g., message 1 or msg 1). In case of non-successful RA procedure, as this is determined at a later phase (step 4) of the RA procedure, the preamble transmission may be carried out repeatedly with stepwise increased transmit power. At step 2, the gNB 220 may transmit to the UE 210, a random-access response (RAR) (e.g., message 2 or msg 2) indicating resource parameters needed for the device transmitting an UL message to the network. In an example, the gNB 220 (in the RAR or msg 2) may provide a time-alignment command to the UE 210 to adjust the transmission timing of the UE 210 based on the timing of the received preamble. In an example, the gNB 220 (in the RAR or msg 2) may provide an UL grant for the UL message. At step 3 and step 4, the UE 210 and the gNB 220 may exchange messages (uplink message 3 or msg 3 and subsequent downlink message 4 or msg 4) with the aim of resolving potential collisions, also referred to as contention resolution. In an example, the contention or collision may occur due to simultaneous transmission from multiple UEs 210.

[0044] In an example embodiment, the small data transmission (SDT) procedure may be aprocedure that may allow data and / or signaling transmission while remaining in RRC INACTIVE state (e.g., without transitioning to RRC CONNECTED state). In an example, the SDT may be enabled on a radio bearer basis and may be initiated either by the UE in case of MO-SDT (mobile originated SDT) or by the network in case of MT-SDT (mobile terminated SDT). In an example, the MO-SDT may be initiated by the UE if less than or equal to a configured amount of UL data awaits transmission across all radio bearers for which SDT is enabled, the downlink RSRP is above a configured threshold, and a valid SDT resource is available. In an example, MT-SDT may be initiated by the network with an indication to the UE in a paging message when DL data awaits transmission for radio bearers configured for SDT; based on the indication, the UE may initiate the MT-SDT if the downlink RSRP is above a configured threshold. In an example, when MT-SDT is initiated by the UE, a resume cause indicating MT-SDT may be included in the RRC resume request (e.g., RRCResumeRequest / RRCResumeRequestl). In an example, maximum duration the SDT procedure can last nay be determined by a SDT failure detection timer that is configured by the network. In an example, the network may enable MO-SDT, MT-SDT, or both in a cell.

[0045] In an example, the SDT procedure may be initiated with either a transmission over RACH (configured via system information) or over Type 1 configured grant (CG) resources (configured via dedicated signaling in RRC release). The SDT resources may be configured on initial BWP for both RACH and CG. In an example, RACH and CG resources for SDT may be configured on either or both of normal uplink (NUL) and supplementary uplink (SUL) carriers. The CG resources for SDT may be valid only within the PCell of the UE when the RRCRelease with suspend indication is received. In an example, CG resources may be associated with one or multiple SSB(s). For RACH, the network may configure 2-step and / or 4-step RA resources for MO-SDT. When both 2-step and 4-step RA resources for MO-SDT are configured, the UE may select the RA type.

[0046] In an example embodiment, performing the SDT procedure may be via random access (e.g., RA-SDT) or via preconfigured radio resources (CG-SDT).

[0047] FIG. 3 A is a diagram illustrating example procedure for SDT with 4-step random access (RA) procedure. In an example embodiment, the SDT may be performed within a RA procedure, e.g., a SDT transmission performed within a random access based physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission. For the random-access-based PUSCH transmission, user data may be transmitted as part of message 3 (msg3) for the 4-step random access. In the case of SDT with the 4-step random access, at step 1, upon the UE transmitting the selected random access (or RACH) preamble as part of message 1 (or msgl), the network or the gNB at step 2, may respond with msg2 (also known as random-access response, RAR). Compared to regularrandom access (e.g., where SDT is not performed), the size of the uplink resources allocated by msg2 and the associated transport-block size may be larger for SDT to accommodate (some of) the user data as part of msg3. At step 3, once msg3, including the user data, has been transmitted by the UE to the gNB, the UE does not know whether there was an uplink collision. Therefore, similar to regular random access, the UE may need to receive msg4 from the gNB for contention resolution as shown in step 4. At step 4, msg4 may include an acknowledgment message to the UE, indicating successful decoding of the UL message at msg3. As a result, the UE may determine that the contention resolution was successful. If the contention resolution is successful, the UE may determine / know whether the (first part of) the user data is properly received by the network or the gNB. At step 5, the UE and the gNB may exchange UL and DL data with dynamic scheduling. At step 6, the gNB may transmit a RRC release with suspend indication. The RRC release message may include DL data.

[0048] As depicted in FIG. 3 A, the SDT procedure may be based on a four-step random access procedure. In the four-step procedure the UE may first perform contention resolution with the random access request - random access response message pair, and then the UE may send the UL payload with RRC resume request. The procedure may continue with further uplink and / or downlink small data transmissions, and then it is terminated with an RRC release from the network.

[0049] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating example procedure for SDT with 2-step random access (RA) procedure. In an example embodiment, the SDT may be performed within the RA procedure, e.g., a SDT transmission performed within a random access based physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission. For the random-access-based PUSCH transmission, user data may be transmitted as part of message A or msgA for the 2-step random access. In the 2- step random access for SDT, at step 1, msgA may include RRC resume request and optionally may include uplink (UL) data. In an example, at step 2, msgB may indicate a successful RAR and may optionally include downlink (DL) data. At step 3, during the SDT procedure with the 2- step random access, the UL and DL data may be exchanged between the network and the UE with dynamic scheduling. At step 4, and at the end of the SDT procedure, the gNB may transmit a RRC release with suspend indication. The RRC release message may include DL data.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 3B, the SDT procedure may be based on a two-step random access procedure. In two-step procedure the payload data may be sent with the initial random access message, whereas in the four-step procedure as in FIG. 3 A, the UE may first perform contention resolution with the random access request - random access response message pair, and then the UE may send the UL payload with RRC resume request. The procedure may continue with further uplink and / or downlink small data transmissions, and then it is terminatedwith an RRC release from the network.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a MT-SDT procedure. At step 0 (initial condition), the UE may receive configuration information for the MT-SDT (e.g. as part of the RRC release message or a SDT configuration message). At step 1, the gNB may receive an indication of downlink data arrival that may be mapped to MT-SDT dedicated radio bearers (RBs). At step 2, the gNB may determine to trigger a MT-SDT towards the UE. At step 3, the gNB may transmit a paging message to the UE. The paging message may include a MT-SDT indication. At step 4, the UE may retrieve configuration associated with the MT-SDT or the SDT and select resources to respond to the paging. At step 5, the UE may resume a RRC connection. The UE may send a RRC resume request that may include a cause value (e.g., resume cause). The resume cause may be MT-SDT. In an example, the UE or the network (gNB) may transmit or receive uplink or downlink data during the SDT procedure. At step 6, the gNB may detect an end of the SDT procedure. The gNB may transmit to the UE a RRC release message that may include a suspend configuration information element. In an example, the RRC release message may include downlink data. In an example, the downlink data may be sent with the RRC release message.

[0052] In an example embodiment, the UE may autonomously trigger UL data transmissions (e.g., in a periodic manner or aperiodic manner). In an example, the UE may be triggered by the network to transmit UL data or UL information. For example, the UE may be an loT sensor that may be triggered by the network to provide collected measurements, measurement information, measurement data, and / or the like, to the gNB. In another example, the UE or the loT device may be configured to periodically report some collected data to the network. In an example, the UE may be a low power loT device, low power wide area (LPWA) device, a tracking device, a factory loT device, and / or the like.

[0053] In existing technologies, the SDT procedure may provide advantages due to reduced signaling. However, the SDT procedure is performed with the same carrier as the one used for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). The eMBB carrier (e.g., a broadband carrier) may use different frequencies with a wide bandwidth and may be primarily used for high throughput data transmissions. Therefore, transmission of small data using the broadband carrier may not be efficient as it may lead to underutilization of radio resources. In other words, a wider band carrier with initial bandwidth part (BWP) (and potentially first active BWP) intended for all- purpose UEs may be used each time a small data needs to be transmitted by the UE or the gNB. The broadband carrier that is used for the eMBB may be a carrier designed to convey high throughput traffic, that can reach up to, e.g., 100MHz in FR1. Thus, performing the SDT procedure using the broadband carrier may result in waste of resources and degradation of performance for other UEs that use the eMBB carrier (the broadband carrier). In particular, whena large number of UEs running loT applications and compete for resources, the impact and degradation of performance will be more significant.

[0054] Example embodiments are directed at improvement of UE behaviour, network behaviour and signaling between the UE and the network to enable performing the SDT procedure with less radio resources. In other words, it may be beneficial to perform the SDT procedure for transmission and / or reception of small data on a narrowband carrier instead of occupying higher throughput radio resources that may be underutilized by the SDT procedure.

[0055] In other words, example embodiments are directed to improving the performance of a system by enabling the UE and / or the network to determine a carrier (or a bandwidth part) to be used for performing the SDT procedure, e.g., based on a size of data, a type of data, and / or the like. In an example, a UE may receive from a network node (e.g., a gNB, an eNB, a base station, and / or the like), an indication of a selected carrier for a SDT procedure. For example, the carrier may be selected among (or between) at least: a broadband carrier (e.g., a first carrier), and / or a narrowband carrier (e.g., a second carrier). In an example, based on the indication, the UE may perform the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier. Therefore, when example embodiments are implemented, radio resources may be utilized in a more resource-efficient manner for transmission of notification messages and small data to the UE. In other words, the example embodiments enable the UE to use or select the narrowband carrier for small data, when such small data fit into the given bandwidth / capacity or the narrowband carrier. Thus, example embodiments improve the performance of the system by avoiding utilization of higher throughput radio resources for the SDT.

[0056] In an example, the indication of the selected carrier may be an explicit indication by the network node on which carrier to be used by the UE for the SDT procedure. In other words, the network may select the carrier and provide the selected carrier as part of the indication to the UE. For example, the indication of the selected carrier may include a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier may be the broadband carrier, or the narrowband carrier. As another example, the indication of the selected carrier may be a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which a connection associated with the SDT procedure is to be continued (or resumed). In an example, the indication of the selected carrier may include an identifier of the UE, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the connection associated with the SDT procedure is to be continued. In another example, the indication of the selected carrier may include an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0057] In an example embodiment, the gNB may transmit the indication of the selected carrier to the UE on the broadband carrier and the (indicated) selected carrier (included in the indication) may be the narrowband carrier. In another example, the gNB may transmit theindication of the selected carrier to the UE on the narrowband carrier and the (indicated) selected carrier may be the broadband carrier.

[0058] In an example embodiment, the indication of the selected carrier may be received as part of a paging message transmitted from the gNB to the UE. For example, the paging message may include an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT), the indication (including the selected carrier), and / or the like.

[0059] In an example embodiment, the indication of the selected carrier may be received as part of a random access response (RAR). For example, during the RA, the UE may transmit the random access request (msgl) on a broadband carrier. Then the gNB may transmit the RAR, wherein the RAR may include the indication of the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier may be a different carrier on which msgl was transmitted by the UE. As a result, subsequent transmission of data and / or signaling by the UE may be on the selected carrier indicated by the RAR.

[0060] In an example embodiment, the indication of the selected carrier may be received as part of a wake-up signal (WUS). In an example, the gNB may employ a WUS to indicate the selected carrier. In an example, the WUS may trigger a main radio (or a main receiver) of the UE to turn on and listen / monitor for paging, or transmission / reception of signaling / data. In an example, the WUS may convey the indication of the selected carrier by a sequence of binary signals. As a result, when the main radio is turned on, the main radio may be configured for the selected carrier conveyed by the binary signal via the WUS.

[0061] In an example embodiment, the indication of the selected carrier may be received as part of a radio resource control (RRC) release message. For example, the RRC release message may include a suspend configuration information element that may include the (indicated) selected carrier. For example, the selected carrier indicated by the RRC release message may be used for subsequent SDT procedures and reception of paging messages for the SDT.

[0062] In an example, the carrier may be selected among a list of carriers (e.g., the first carrier, the second carrier, and / or the like) such as one or more broadband carriers with different frequency bands, one or more narrowband carriers with different frequency bands, and / or the like. For example, the one or more broadband carriers or the one or more narrowband carriers may be dedicated to different services or purposes, e.g., URLLC in 5G NR. In an example, the carrier may be selected among other carriers, e.g., new (other) carriers in 6G such as sensing carrier, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI / ML) carrier, and / or the like.

[0063] In an example, embodiment, the UE may receive from the gNB at least one system information block (SIB) that may include configuration information associated with access onthe broadband carrier, and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0064] In an example embodiment, the performing the SDT procedure may include receiving downlink data on the selected carrier, and / or transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0065] In an example embodiment, the narrowband carrier may be a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier. In an example, the broadband carrier may be an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0066] In an example embodiment, when the UE receives the indication from the gNB, the UE may configure the main radio (e.g., a transmitter, a receiver, a power amplifier, a transceiver chain, and / or the like) for performing the SDT procedure on the (indicated) selected carrier. In other words, the UE may determine, based on the indication, to perform the SDT procedure on the selected carrier.

[0067] In an example, the SDT procedure may be a MT-SDT procedure. In an example, the SDT procedure may be a MO-SDT procedure.

[0068] In addition, example embodiments may improve the performance of the system by enabling the network to provide configuration information for selecting a carrier for SDT procedure. As a result, the UE may select a proper carrier, thereby avoiding waste of radio resources. In an example embodiment, a gNB may transmit to a UE, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a SDT procedure. In an example, the UE may select, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure. In an example, the UE may select the carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier. In an example, the UE may perform the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier. Therefore, when example embodiments are implemented, radio resources may be utilized in a more resource-efficient manner for transmission of notification messages and small data to the UE. In other words, the example embodiments enable the UE to use or select the narrowband carrier for small data, when such small data fit into the given bandwidth / capacity or the narrowband carrier. Thus, example embodiments improve the performance of the system by avoiding utilization of higher throughput radio resources for the SDT.

[0069] In an example embodiment, the UE may receive a message from the gNB. In an example, the message may be a paging message. In an example, the message (or the paging message) may include at least one of a notification of downlink data, information of the downlink data (or information on the downlink data), and / or the like. In an example, the information of the downlink data may include at least one of a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data, a size of the downlink data,and / or the like. In an example, the UE may select the carrier based on an element of the message (e.g., the paging message) and the configuration information.

[0070] In an example, the configuration information may include one or more criteria such that the UE may select the carrier based on the one or more criteria. For example, the configuration information may include one or more criteria for selecting the carrier. For example, the one or more criteria may include at least one of a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold, a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied, a signal quality threshold (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold) of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier, a threshold value of a size of downlink data (or size of data), and / or the like. For example, if the size of the downlink data is less than the threshold value, the UE may select the narrowband carrier.

[0071] In an example embodiment, the UE may receive from the gNB, the configuration information as part of a system information block (SIB), a radio resources control (RRC) release message, a RRC message, and / or the like. In an example, the configuration information may be received on the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier.

[0072] In an example embodiment, the message (or the paging message) may be received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier (by the UE) may be the narrowband carrier. In another example, the message (or the paging message) may be received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier (by the UE) may be the broadband carrier.

[0073] In an example, the performing the SDT procedure may include receiving downlink data on the selected carrier, and / or transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0074] In another example, the UE may select the narrowband carrier based on the UE being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode. In an example, CE modes (and associated CE levels) may be employed to support operation of loT devices in various coverage conditions. The CE modes and levels may determine / indicate how the network and devices behave in terms of power usage, repetition of signals, and the level of enhancement required for the device to maintain a reliable connection.

[0075] In an example, the broadband carrier may be an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier, and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0076] In an example embodiment, the UE may receive at least one system information block (SIB) that may include least one of: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier, and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0077] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment. At initial condition, the UE may provide a capability indication of switching and receiving data through the broadband carrier (or eMBB carrier) and the narrowband carrier (or LPWA carrier). In an example, the UE may provide information on data type, size, QoS, or UE conditions under which the UE is capable / able to receive data through either the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier. In an example, as part of a broadcast message or dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC release), the network may provide the UE with initial configuration / settings on the narrowband carrier and transmission / reception requirements.

[0078] At step 510 of FIG. 5 a user plane function (UPF) may transmit to a control plane network node, e.g., an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message that may include a type of downlink data being a notification of downlink data, the size of the downlink data, and the downlink data. The UPF may send the notification to the AMF (e.g., via a session management function (SMF)). Upon providing the first message to the AMF for delivery of the downlink data to the UE, where the UPF provides the size of the data or the type of the downlink data (e.g., by flagging them as DL notification message) to the AMF, the AMF at step 520 may transmit to a gNB, a NG-AP message (or N2 message) that may include the downlink data size received from the UPF, and / or the data type (e.g., the DL notification). At step 530, the gNB may transmit or broadcast a SIB message that may include paging information or paging configuration for the broadband carrier and / or for the narrowband carrier. At step 540, the gNB may determine a content of a paging message to be transmitted to the UE. For example, the content of the paging message may include a MT-SDT indication, the size of the downlink data, and / or the indication of the data type (e.g., the DL notification). At step 545, the gNB may generate the paging message and transmit the paging message to the UE. The paging message may include an indication of a selected carrier between the broadband carrier and the narrowband carrier. In an example, the paging message may include a flag, indicating whether the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier is selected and should be used by the UE for the SDT procedure. In an example, the indication on which carrier to use for SDT procedure may be provided using an identifier of the UE (UE ID) indicated in the paging message. For example, the UE may be configured with two identifiers (IDs), e.g., two I-RNTIs (e.g., I-RNTIs may indicate both UE and based station ID). The IDs may or may not map to the same paging occasions. Based on the indicated UE ID, the UE may determine which carrier the UE should use for the SDT procedure.

[0079] At step 550 of FIG. 5, the UE may be provided (or acquainted) with the information on broadband carrier and the narrowband carrier (eMBB and LPWA carrier) and BWP SDT process by monitoring the broadband carrier (eMBB) SIB. for example, the UE may monitor theSIB on the broadband carrier. In an example, the broadband carrier SIB may be enhanced to include SDT information pertaining to both the broadband carrier and the narrowband carrier. In an example embodiment, the UE may connect to the network on both the broadband carrier and the narrowband carrier and therefore, the UE may read both SIBs that correspond to the broadband carrier and the narrowband carrier. As a result, the paging message at step 545 may be received on the corresponding carrier. In an example, the UE may monitor for paging on the initial downlink BWP on the broadband carrier if it is in normal coverage. In an example, if the UE is in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode, the UE may monitor the narrowband carrier. In an example, when a UE is in CE mode, the NG-RAN or the gNB may issue (transmit, or broadcast) the paging message on the narrowband carrier.

[0080] In an alternative example according to FIG. 5, the SIB may include configuration information on the conditions or criteria that the UE may check to select the carrier. In an example, the configuration information may include one or more criteria such that the UE may select the carrier based on the one or more criteria. For example, the configuration information may include one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria may include at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold, a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier, a threshold value of a size of downlink data (or size of data), and / or the like. At step 555, the paging message may include the size of downlink data, the DL notification, and / or the like. In an example, the paging message may include at least one of: a notification of downlink data, information of the downlink data, and / or the like. In an example, the information of the downlink data may include at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data, a size of the downlink data, and / or the like. In an example, the UE may select (at step 560) the carrier based on an element of the message (e.g., the paging message) and the configuration information. At step 560, the UE may select a carrier based on an element of the paging message and the configuration information. For example, if the battery level of the UE is less than 20% of its full capacity, or if the battery level of the UE is less than an absolute level, e.g., a level of lOOOmAh, then the UE may select the narrowband carrier. In another example, if the battery level of the UE is greater than or equal to 20% of its full capacity or greater than or equal to an absolute level of, e.g., lOOOmAh, the UE may select the broadband carrier.

[0081] At step 565 of FIG. 5, the UE may transmit msgl on the selected carrier. In an example, a same carrier may be used by the UE for both the LPWA carrier and the eMBB, carrier and the UE may be configured to transmit different preamble indices to inform thenetwork about UE preference. In an example, the network (the NG-RAN or the gNB) may assess whether the carrier used by the UE in the SDT procedure is suitable for delivering the DL (notification) message. In an example, at step 570, the NG-RAN may provide a RAR to the UE, as part of msg2 during random access procedure, that may include the UL grant for the UE to be used in the subsequent msg3. In an example, the UE may receive msg2 through the initial shared resources (for both LPWA and eMBB) and the UE may be then configured to receive the rest of messages through either narrowband (LPWA) or broadband (eMBB) carrier. In an example, PDCCH of msg2 may be transmitted over shared resources which may indicate to the UE where to decode (LPWA carrier or eMBB carrier) for PDSCH transmissions. In another example, for a scenario in which the RA occasion is shared between the narrowband carrier and the broadband carrier (the eMBB carrier and the LPWA carrier) and the UE uses a different preamble index to inform the network about its preference, the UE may initially assume its request is accepted by the network and switch to its desired (indicated through msgl) carrier and search for msg2. In an example, the NG-RAN may provide an UL grant in a carrier different than the carrier requested by the UE. For example, the reasons may include: 1) The NG-RAN may have a previous record of high number of contention attempts in the LPWA carrier, hence the eMBB carrier may be selected instead. 2) The NG-RAN may assess that the intended DL notification message fits into the LPWA capacity and may determine to select the LPWA carrier (narrowband carrier) accordingly.

[0082] At step 580 of FIG. 5, the UE may receive from the gNB, the msg4 that may indicate a contention resolution. In an example, the msg4 may include downlink data. At step 585, the UE may receive subsequent downlink data from the gNB.

[0083] In an example, the UE may use the indicated carrier to trigger the SDT procedure. In other words, based on the received indication (explicit or implicit), the UE may trigger RA procedure to receive data through either a (eMBB) SDT or a LPWA SDT. For example, in the case of SDT carried out by means of a 4-step RACH, msgl may be triggered at the LPWA carrier if the LPWA carrier is indicated in the paging message. The SDT procedure may continue until a complete DL (notification) message is delivered to the UE. This may take multiple (subsequent) downlink transmissions with dynamic scheduling following msg4.

[0084] At step 590 of FIG. 5, the procedure may be completed with the network sending an RRC release message with suspend indication to the UE. In the RRC release message, the network may indicate to the UE the carrier on which the UE should monitor paging messages in case of SDT.

[0085] In an example, a carrier and a bandwidth part may be interchangeable. For example, LPWA carrier may be deployed as a bandwidth part in a carrier.

[0086] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 610 may include receiving, by a user device from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier. Operation 620 may include performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0087] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein the indication is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0088] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0089] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein the indication of the selected carrier is received as part of: a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0090] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0091] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0092] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0093] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include determining, based on the indication, to perform the SDT procedure on the selected carrier.

[0094] With respect to the method of FIG. 6, the method may further include wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0095] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a network node, a gNB, an eNB, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 710 may include transmitting, from a network node to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier. Operation 720 may include performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0096] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the selected carrier is based on a message transmitted to the user device, wherein the message includes: an indication of downlink data; and a size of the downlink data.

[0097] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the indication is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0098] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0099] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the indication of the selected carrier is transmitted as part of: a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0100] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0101] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0102] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0103] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0104] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 810 may include receiving, by a user device from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure. Operation 820 may include selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier. Operation 830 may include performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0105] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include receiving a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0106] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0107] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0108] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0109] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0110] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.[OHl] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the user device being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

[0112] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0113] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0114] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the method may further include wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0115] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a network node, a gNB, an eNB, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 910 may include transmitting, from a network node to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure. Operation 920 may include performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0116] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include: transmitting to the user device a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0117] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0118] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; areference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0119] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0120] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0121] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0122] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0123] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0124] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0125] Some examples will now be described, based on the description and figures provided herein.

[0126] Example 1. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0127] Example 2. The apparatus of Example 1, wherein the indication is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0128] Example 3. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 or 2, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of theapparatus, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0129] Example 4. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is received as part of a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0130] Example 5. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0131] Example 6. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0132] Example 7. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 6, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0133] Example 8. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 7, further including determining, based on the indication, to perform the SDT procedure on the selected carrier.

[0134] Example 9. The apparatus of any of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0135] Example 10. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0136] Example 11. The apparatus of Example 10, wherein the selected carrier is based on a message transmitted to the user device, wherein the message includes: an indication of downlink data; and a size of the downlink data.

[0137] Example 12. The apparatus of Examples 10 or 11, wherein the indication is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0138] Example 13. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 12, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0139] Example 14. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 13, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is transmitted as part of: a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0140] Example 15. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0141] Example 16. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 15, wherein the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0142] Example 17. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 16, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0143] Example 18. The apparatus of any of Examples 10 to 17, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0144] Example 19. An apparatus including: means for receiving from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0145] Example 20. The apparatus of Example 19, wherein the indication is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0146] Example 21. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 or 20, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; anidentifier of the apparatus, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0147] Example 22. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 21, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is received as part of a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0148] Example 23. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 22, further including means for receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0149] Example 24. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 23, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure includes: means for receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0150] Example 25. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 24, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0151] Example 26. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 25, further including means for determining, based on the indication, to perform the SDT procedure on the selected carrier.

[0152] Example 27. The apparatus of any of Examples 19 to 26, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0153] Example 28. An apparatus including: means for transmitting to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0154] Example 29. The apparatus of Example 28, wherein the selected carrier is based on a message transmitted to the user device, wherein the message includes: an indication of downlink data; and a size of the downlink data.

[0155] Example 30. The apparatus of Examples 28 or 29, wherein the indication is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0156] Example 31. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 30, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selectedcarrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0157] Example 32. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 31, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is transmitted as part of a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0158] Example 33. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 32, wherein the apparatus further includes means for transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0159] Example 34. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 33, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure includes: means for transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0160] Example 35. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 34, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0161] Example 36. The apparatus of any of Examples 28 to 35, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0162] Example 37. A method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0163] Example 38. The method of Example 37, wherein the indication is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0164] Example 39. The method of any of Examples 37 or 38, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0165] Example 40. The method of any of Examples 37 to 39, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is received as part of: a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wake-up signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0166] Example 41. The method of any of Examples 37 to 40, further including receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0167] Example 42. The method of any of Examples 37 to 41, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0168] Example 43. The method of any of Examples 37 to 42, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0169] Example 44. The method of any of Examples 37 to 43, further including determining, based on the indication, to perform the SDT procedure on the selected carrier.

[0170] Example 45. The method of any of Examples 37 to 44, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0171] Example 46. A method including: transmitting, from a network node to a user device, an indication of a selected carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, wherein the carrier is selected among at least: a broadband carrier; and a narrowband carrier; and performing, based on the indication, the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0172] Example 47. The method of Example 46, wherein the selected carrier is based on a message transmitted to the user device, wherein the message includes: an indication of downlink data; and a size of the downlink data.

[0173] Example 48. The method of Examples 46 or 47, wherein the indication is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the indication is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0174] Example 49. The method of any of Examples 46 to 48, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a Boolean value indicating the selected carrier, wherein the selected carrier is: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier; a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) indicating the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; an identifier of the user device, wherein the identifier indicates the selected carrier on which the SDT procedure is to be continued; or an identifier of the selected carrier.

[0175] Example 50. The method of any of Examples 46 to 49, wherein the indication of the selected carrier is transmitted as part of: a paging message, wherein the paging message includes an indication of a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT); a random access response (RAR); a wakeup signal (WUS); or a radio resource control (RRC) release message, wherein the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration information element indicating the selected carrier.

[0176] Example 51. The method of any of Examples 46 to 50, further including transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0177] Example 52. The method of any of Examples 46 to 51, wherein the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0178] Example 53. The method of any of Examples 46 to 52, wherein: the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier; and the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier.

[0179] Example 54. The method of any of Examples 46 to 53, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0180] Example 55. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0181] Example 56. The apparatus of Example 55, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0182] Example 57. The apparatus of Example 56, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0183] Example 58. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 57, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the apparatus being above or below a threshold;a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0184] Example 59. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 58, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0185] Example 60. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 59, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0186] Example 61. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 60, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0187] Example 62. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 61, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the apparatus being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

[0188] Example 63. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 62, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0189] Example 64. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 63, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0190] Example 65. The apparatus of any of Examples 55 to 64, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0191] Example 66. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0192] Example 67. The apparatus of Example 66, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: transmitting to the user device a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and performing the SDTprocedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0193] Example 68. The apparatus of Example 67, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0194] Example 69. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 68, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0195] Example 70. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 69, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0196] Example 71. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 70, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0197] Example 72. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 71, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0198] Example 73. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 72, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0199] Example 74. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 73, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0200] Example 75. The apparatus of any of Examples 66 to 74, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0201] Example 76. An apparatus including: means for receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; means for selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0202] Example 77. The apparatus of Example 76, wherein the apparatus further includes means for receiving a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0203] Example 78. The apparatus of Example 77, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0204] Example 79. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 78, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the apparatus being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0205] Example 80. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 79, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0206] Example 81. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 80, wherein the apparatus further includes means for receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0207] Example 82. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 81, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure includes: means for receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0208] Example 83. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 82, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the apparatus being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

[0209] Example 84. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 83, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0210] Example 85. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 84, wherein the apparatus further includes means for receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0211] Example 86. The apparatus of any of Examples 76 to 85, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0212] Example 87. An apparatus including: means for transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0213] Example 88. The apparatus of Example 87, wherein the apparatus further includes: means for transmitting to the user device a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and means for performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0214] Example 89. The apparatus of Example 88, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0215] Example 90. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 89, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0216] Example 91. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 90, wherein the apparatus further includes means for transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0217] Example 92. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 91, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0218] Example 93. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 92, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure includes: means for transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0219] Example 94. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 93, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0220] Example 95. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 94, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0221] Example 96. The apparatus of any of Examples 87 to 95, wherein the apparatus further includes means for transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0222] Example 97. A method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0223] Example 98. The method of Example 97, further including receiving a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0224] Example 99. The method of Example 98, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0225] Example 100. The method of any of Examples 97 to 99, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0226] Example 101. The method of any of Examples 97 to 100, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0227] Example 102. The method of any of Examples 97 to 101, further including receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0228] Example 103. The method of any of Examples 97 to 102, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0229] Example 104. The method of any of Examples 97 to 103, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the user device being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

[0230] Example 105. The method of any of Examples 97 to 104, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0231] Example 106. The method of any of Examples 97 to 105, further including receiving at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0232] Example 107. The method of any of Examples 97 to 106, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0233] Example 108. A method including: transmitting, from a network node to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

[0234] Example 109. The method of Example 108, further including: transmitting to the user device a message including at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data includes at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

[0235] Example 110. The method of Example 109, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

[0236] Example 111. The method of any of Examples 108 to 110, wherein the configuration information includes one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria includes at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

[0237] Example 112. The method of any of Examples 108 to 111, further including transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

[0238] Example 113. The method of any of Examples 108 to 112, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

[0239] Example 114. The method of any of Examples 108 to 113, wherein the performing the SDT procedure includes: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

[0240] Example 115. The method of any of Examples 108 to 114, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low- power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

[0241] Example 116. The method of any of Examples 108 to 115, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

[0242] Example 117. The method of any of Examples 108 to 116, further including transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) including: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

[0243] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., UE, user device, AP, BS, eNB, gNB, RAN node, network node, TRP, or other node) 1300 according to an example embodiment. The wireless station 1300 may include, for example, one or more (e.g., two as shown in FIG. 10) RF (radio frequency) or wireless transceivers 1302 A, 1302B, where each wireless transceiver includes a transmitter to transmit signals and a receiver to receive signals. The wireless station also includes a processor or control unit / entity (controller) 1304 to execute instructions or software and control transmission and receptions of signals, and a memory 1306 to store data and / or instructions.

[0244] Processor 1304 may also make decisions or determinations, generate frames, packets or messages for transmission, decode received frames or messages for further processing, and other tasks or functions described herein. Processor 1304, which may be a baseband processor, for example, may generate messages, packets, frames or other signals for transmission via wireless transceiver 1302 (1302A or 1302B). Processor 1304 may control transmission of signals or messages over a wireless network, and may control the reception of signals or messages, etc., via a wireless network (e.g., after being down-converted by wireless transceiver 1302, for example). Processor 1304 may be programmable and capable of executing software or other instructions stored in memory or on other computer media to perform the various tasks and functions described above, such as one or more of the tasks or methods described above. Processor 1304 may be (or may include), for example, hardware, programmable logic, a programmable processor that executes software or firmware, and / or any combination of these. Using other terminology, processor 1304 and transceiver 1302 together may be considered as a wireless transmitter / receiver system, for example.

[0245] In addition, referring to FIG. 10, a controller (or processor) 1308 may execute software and instructions, and may provide overall control for the station 1300, and may provide control for other systems not shown in FIG. 10, such as controlling input / output devices (e.g., display, keypad), and / or may execute software for one or more applications that may be provided on wireless station 1300, such as, for example, an email program, audio / video applications, a word processor, a Voice over IP application, or other application or software.

[0246] In addition, a storage medium may be provided that includes stored instructions, which when executed by a controller or processor may result in the processor 1304, or other controller or processor, performing one or more of the functions or tasks described above.

[0247] According to another example embodiment, RF or wireless transceiver(s) 1302A / 1302B may receive signals or data and / or transmit or send signals or data. Processor 1304 (and possibly transceivers 1302A / 1302B) may control the RF or wireless transceiver 1302A or 1302B to receive, send, broadcast or transmit signals or data.

[0248] Example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: An apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) including means (e.g., processor 1304, RF transceivers 1302 A and / or 1302B, and / or memory 1306, in FIG. 10) for carrying out any of the methods; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 10) comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor (processor 1304, FIG. 10), are configured to cause a computing system (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) including at least one processor (e.g., processor 1304, FIG. 10), and at least one memory (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 10) including computer program code, the at least one memory (1306) and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor (1304), cause the apparatus (e.g., 1300) at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0249] Embodiments of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Embodiments may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, a data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. Embodiments may also be provided on a computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium, which may be a non-transitory medium. Embodiments of the various techniques may also include embodiments provided via transitory signals or media, and / or programs and / or software embodiments that are downloadable via the Internet or other network(s), either wired networksand / or wireless networks. In addition, embodiments may be provided via machine type communications (MTC), and also via an Internet of Things (IOT).

[0250] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ or “circuit” refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and soft- ware (and / or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s) / software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor s) or a portion of a microprocessor s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term ‘circuitry’ would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

[0251] The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photoelectrical and / or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer, or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers.

[0252] Furthermore, embodiments of the various techniques described herein may use a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the embodiment and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, ...) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals. The rise in popularity of smartphones has increased interest in the area of mobile cyberphysical systems. Therefore, various embodiments of techniques described herein may be provided via one or more of these technologies.

[0253] A computer program, such as the computer program(s) described above, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit or part of it suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0254] Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program or computer program portions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[0255] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer, chip or chipset. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magnetooptical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0256] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a user interface, such as a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0257] Embodiments may be implemented in a computing system that includes a backend component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a frontend component, e.g., a client computer havinga graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an embodiment, or any combination of such backend, middleware, or frontend components. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet.

[0258] While certain features of the described embodiments have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the various embodiments.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of: a battery level of the apparatus being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied;a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the performing the SDT procedure comprises: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the apparatus being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

12. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: transmitting to the user device a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

16. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the performing the SDT procedure comprises: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 18, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 19, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

21. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 20, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

22. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; means for selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for receiving a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

25. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of: a battery level of the apparatus being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

26. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

27. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 26, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

28. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 27, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure comprises: means for receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

29. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 28, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the apparatus being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

30. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 29, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

31. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 30, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for receiving at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

32. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 31, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

33. An apparatus comprising: means for transmitting to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and means for performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting to the user device a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; andmeans for performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

36. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 35, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

37. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 36, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

38. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 37, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

39. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 38, wherein the means for performing the SDT procedure comprises: means for transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and means for receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

40. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 39, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

41. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 40, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

42. The apparatus of any of claims 33 to 41, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

43. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from a network node, configuration information for selecting a carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; selecting, based on the configuration information, a carrier for performing the SDT procedure among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising receiving a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and wherein the carrier is selected based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein: the message is received on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is received on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

46. The method of any of claims 43 to 45, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of:a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

47. The method of any of claims 43 to 46, wherein the configuration information is received as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

48. The method of any of claims 43 to 47, further comprising receiving the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or the narrowband carrier.

49. The method of any of claims 43 to 48, wherein the performing the SDT procedure comprises: receiving downlink data on the selected carrier; and transmitting uplink data on the selected carrier.

50. The method of any of claims 43 to 49, wherein the selecting the narrowband carrier is based on the user device being in a coverage enhancement (CE) mode.

51. The method of any of claims 43 to 50, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

52. The method of any of claims 43 to 51, further comprising receiving at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

53. The method of any of claims 43 to 52, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminatedSDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

54. A method comprising: transmitting, from a network node to a user device, configuration information for selection by the user device of a carrier among at least a broadband carrier and a narrowband carrier for a small data transmission (SDT) procedure; and performing the SDT procedure at least in part on the selected carrier.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising: transmitting to the user device a message comprising at least one of: a notification of downlink data; or information on the downlink data, wherein the information on the downlink data comprises at least one of: a quality of service (QoS) level requirement associated with transmission of the downlink data; or a size of the downlink data; and performing the SDT procedure on the selected carrier based on an element of the message and the configuration information.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein: the message is transmitted on the broadband carrier and the selected carrier is the narrowband carrier; or the message is transmitted on the narrowband carrier and the selected carrier is the broadband carrier.

57. The method of any of claims 54 to 56, wherein the configuration information comprises one or more criteria for selecting the carrier, wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one of: a battery level of the user device being above or below a threshold; a QoS level requirement associated with transmission of data being satisfied; a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold of a reference signal associated with at least one of the broadband carrier or the narrowband carrier; or a threshold value of a size of downlink data.

58. The method of any of claims 54 to 57, further comprising transmitting the configuration information on: the broadband carrier; or50the narrowband carrier.

59. The method of any of claims 54 to 58, wherein the configuration information is transmitted as part of: at least one system information block (SIB); or a radio resources control (RRC) release message.

60. The method of any of claims 54 to 59, wherein the performing the SDT procedure comprises: transmitting downlink data on the selected carrier; and receiving uplink data on the selected carrier.

61. The method of any of claims 54 to 60, wherein: the broadband carrier is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) carrier; and the narrowband carrier is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) carrier.

62. The method of any of claims 54 to 61, wherein the SDT procedure is a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT) procedure.

63. The method of any of claims 54 to 62, further comprising transmitting at least one system information block (SIB) comprising: configuration information associated with access on the broadband carrier; and configuration information associated with access on the narrowband carrier.

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