Low power wake-up signal test functionality

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) test functionality A method comprises receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

Description

LOW POWER WAKE-UP SIGNAL TEST FUNCTIONALITYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, US Provisional Application No. 63 / 706921 , filed October 14, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELDS

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) test functionality.BACKGROUND

[0003] The study of low power wake-up signal (WUS) and low power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR) in 5G new radio (NR) may enable more power efficient operation on user equipment (UE) and more optimal resource allocation for network. The LP-WUR may be a separate hardware (HW) instance of the UE and can be used for in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode, an RRC inactive mode and an RRC connected mode.SUMMARY

[0004] I n a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, provide the test information to the second apparatus.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP- WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and receive, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal received by the first apparatus has reached a value of the counter.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a lowpower wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and receiving, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal received by the first apparatus has reached a value of the counter.

[0008] I n a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP- WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal received by the first apparatus has reached a value of the counter.

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

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

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

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

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

[0015] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate examples of typical test setup according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling chart of communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate examples process for test according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate examples of solutions for the test mode implementation according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a device under test (DUT) in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

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

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

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

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

[0028] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements 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.

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

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

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

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

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

[0034] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE- A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

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

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

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

[0038] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication network 100 may comprise a first apparatus 110, which may be, for example, a device under test (DUT) for simulating corresponding behaviors of a terminal device. In some example embodiments, the terminal device may also be discussed as a UE.

[0040] The communication network 100 may further comprise a second apparatus 120, which may be, for example, a test equipment (TE) for simulating corresponding behaviors of a network device. Insome example embodiments, the network device may be discussed as a BS, a gNB, or an eNB. In some example embodiments, the TE may be discussed as a test system.

[0041] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as a device under test (DUT) and the second apparatus 120 operating as a test equipment (TE). However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0042] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a terminal device and second apparatus 120 is a network device, a link from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) apparatus (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) apparatus (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX apparatus (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX apparatus (or a receiver).

[0043] It is to be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices shown in FIG. 1 is given for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices.

[0044] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple- Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0045] It is agreed in work item RP-234056 section 4.2 that the radio frequency (RF) and demodulation performance of the LP-WUR should be tested and test cases should be specified. FIG. 2A shows a typical test setup 200A for frequency range 2 (FR2) radiated test setup. FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C show typical test setups 200B and 200C for frequency range 1 (FR1) conducted test setup. The DUT 210 may be an LP-WUR and includes a low power radio (LR) 211 and a main radio (MR) 212. The testsystem 220 may be a test system. The LP-WUR has separate antenna and / or separate antenna connector. For some devices, it might not be this case if reuse of the antenna and maybe part of the RF section is shared between the LR 211 and the MR 212.

[0046] With this test setup and focus on test and verification of the RF & demodulation performance an evaluation of the test and verification time can be made. To make a test of the reference sensitivity based on the missed detection rate (MDR) in the RRC idle or the RRC inactive in a real setup with paging detection and response to the network or test system will require correct decoding of the WUS, wakeup of the main radio, decoding of the paging signal and response to the network or test system. This procedure takes approximately 5-10 seconds until the devices can be expected to be in low power idle again with only the LP-WUR active and MR in “off” state. As an example, if the device should be tested with the required MDR of < 1 %, the amount of wakeup sequences should be around 1000. This will give a test time of 10sec x1000= 10,000 sec (app. 2.8 hour).

[0047] As described above, the LP-WUR may be a separate hardware (HW) instance of the UE and will be used for in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode, an RRC inactive mode and an RRC connected mode, performance validation may be a challenge especially for the RRC idle mode where no feedback to test system is specified.

[0048] In the present disclosure, the need for a relative fast test and verification of the RF reference sensitivity performance can be satisfied as this test can be reused as base for test of various other RF test cases, such as adjacent channel selectivity, adjacent sub-carrier selectivity and many more.

[0049] In accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) test functionality.

[0050] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a signaling chart 300 for communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the signaling chart 300 involves a first apparatus 110 and a second apparatus 120. For the purpose of discussion, reference is made to FIG. 1 to describe the signaling chart 300.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the first apparatus 110 may receive (302) a test mode activation indication from the second apparatus 120. The test mode activation indication may be associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test. As an option, the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of an RRC connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode. It is to be understood that the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in other mode and / or for other communication type such as sidelink, MBS, etc.

[0053] During the test, the first apparatus 110 may receive (304) a plurality of LP-WUS testing signalsfrom the second apparatus 120. The first apparatus 110 may and decode (306) the plurality of LP- WUS testing signals.

[0054] In some example embodiments, if the number of accumulated test information, obtained at least by decoding the plurality of LP-WUS testing signal, reaches a value of the counter, the first apparatus 110 may provide (308) the test information to the second apparatus 120. There are different types of accumulated test information in this solution. As an option, the test information may comprise at least one decoded LP-WUS data. As another option, the test information may comprise results of the decoded LP-WUS data. The corresponding test process may be described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4B in detail as below.

[0055] The base for the test mode functionality is the RF performance test parameters where the performance can be evaluated by monitoring the missed detection rate (MSD) combined with the false alarm rate (FAR) or by evaluating Block Error Rate (BLER) where the BLER can be the decoding of the WUS internal and evaluate the result by using the checksum in the first apparatus 110 or a complete loop back of all decode data and a compare is then evaluated or done in the second apparatus 120.

[0056] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate examples process for test according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 400A in FIG. 4A shows that the second apparatus 120 (e.g., a test system) may send (411) LP-WUS data to the first apparatus 110 (e.g., a DUT). The first apparatus 110 may include the LR 111 and the MR 112.

[0057] During process 400B, the LR 111 may decode (412) the LP-WUS data and collect the number of decoded data. When the number of the decoded data reaches a value of a counter that has been configured for the first apparatus 110, The MR 112 may be woken up by the LR 111 and the decoded data is transferred (413) from the LR 111 to the MR 112.

[0058] In some example embodiments, value of the counter may represent a sleep duration for the MR 112. This may give the benefit for real sleep behavior in the DUT. The value of counter may also indicate a woken-up times of the first apparatus during a loop of the test. It is to be understood that there may be a plurality of loops during a test, which depends on a total number of measurements to be performed in the test.

[0059] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may obtain a total number of measurements to be performed in the test from the test mode activation indication. If the total number of measurements are performed by the first apparatus 100 during a plurality of loops in the test, stop the test. For example, the measurement number in each loop depends on the value of the counter. In some example embodiments, the total number of measurements may be associated with one or more DRX period of the first apparatus 110.

[0060] After the MR 112 has been woken up, the MR 112 may send (414) at least one of the decodeddata to the second apparatus 120. Then the second apparatus 120 may perform (415) a comparison with the sent LP-WUS data and the decoded data and calculate a result.

[0061] Alternatively, as shown in process 400B in FIG. 4B, the second apparatus 120 (e.g., test system) may send (421) LP-WUS data to the first apparatus 110 (e.g., a DUT). The first apparatus 110 may include the LR 111 and the MR 112.

[0062] In some example embodiments, the LR 111 may decode (422) and evaluate the LP-WUS data based on cyclic redundant check (CRC). The number of results based on CRC may be stored in the LR 111. When the number of the evaluated results reaches a value of a counter that has been configured for the first apparatus 110, the MR 112 may be woken up and the results may be transferred (423) from the LR 111 to the MR 112. Then the MR 112 may send (424) the result to the test system. In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may present (425) the result.

[0063] As described above, by having an internal buffer for the number of data or measurements in the first apparatus 110, less wake-up triggers of the MR 112 to transfer the data or measurements can be ensured and thereby a more realistic measurement for the LP-WUR will be present. At the same time, the test time will be reduced significantly as the LP-WUR can do an evaluation or decode the LP-WUS data for each Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle.

[0064] As an example, it will reduce the test time for 1000 measurements to DRX x 1000 = 1280sec (21 minutes) for normal DRX. If DRX is reduced to minimum, the test time will be 320 sec (5 minutes). This is significant improvement compared to a performance test without Test mode (2.8 hour test time).

[0065] Alternatively or optionally, the MR 112 may be send the most recent data or measurement for every I (e.g., the value of counter) number of data or measurements in the first apparatus 110, i.e., no need to have an internal buffer, such that every time the data or measurement is sent by the first apparatus 110, the second apparatus 120 records the first apparatus 110 has woken up for T times.

[0066] Randomized wake-up signal patterns (including few non applicable wake-up patterns for LR 111 ) could be used to ensure that the second apparatus 120 cannot predict when the first apparatus 110 needs to be woken up and therefore test can verify proper functionality of LR 111. Improper operation can be checked if LR 111 acts for false signal as tested signal would have been right wakeup sequence for LR 111. Another improper operation would be that LR 111 does not respond on correct wake-up sequence with response which indicates LR 111 has changed its operation mode as expected.

[0067] Additionally, maximum amount of improper test results can be defined in specific test mode to give some freedom for different LR device implementations.

[0068] As above mentioned, this RF test procedure can be supported in different modes, which may be indicated by the second apparatus 110 via a test activation indication. Some test structures will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0069] FIGS. 5A and 5B show two solutions for the test mode implementation. The first solution 500A in FIG. 5A is an extension of test mode A to cover RRC idle mode and test capabilities for the LP- WUS. The second solution 500B in FIG. 5B is to introduce a new test mode D there is by default prepared for RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected.

[0070] In FIG. 5A, test mode A is illustrated with enhancement for LP-WUS and support for RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected. The test loop functionality needs to be enabled in the LP-WUR section to ensure sleep mode correctly enabled in the MR 112. This means a trigger signal between the LR 111 and MR 112 is needed to indicate when “I” measurements has been performed and the results / data should be transferred to the test system. This could be signaled to the loop back entity and the MR 112 will be woken up and the data is transferred to the test system via the MR 112. When the MR 112 has finished the transfer, a trigger signal may be sent to the LR 111 for continuing measurements and the MR 112 will re-enter LP-WUS monitoring mode or the LP-WUS could continue monitoring mode while the data is transferred, so that no signaling is needed.

[0071] In FIG. 5B, a new test mode D is illustrated with enhancement for LP-WUS and support for RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected. The test loop functionality needs to be enabled in the LP- WUR section to ensure sleep mode correctly enabled in the MR 112. This means a trigger signal between the LR 111 and MR 112 is needed to indicate when “I” measurements has been performed and the results / data should be transferred to the test system. As an alternative interface may the trigger go direct to the loop back entity and the loop back entity will handle the wakeup scenario of the MR 112. Then the MR 112 will be woken up and the data is transferred to the test system via the MR 112. When the MR 112 has finished the transfer - a trigger signal may be sent to the LR 111 from the loop back entity for continuing measurements and the MR 112 will re-enter sleep mode.

[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at an apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, at block 601 , precondition for the RF performance test is that the first apparatus 110 (e.g., DUT) is to connect to the second apparatus 120 (e.g., test system).

[0073] For the test mode activation at block 602, the input parameter 612 may be “I” counter, number of measurements and the mode of operation specified. At block 603, when the Test mode is activated, the RF performance test is started.

[0074] At block 604, a loop counter in the test system will keep track of the number of measurements and when the test is done. If the loop counter does not mean “I”, the test is ended at block 614. On the other hand, if the loop counter means “I”, the LP-WUS can be decoded at block 605.

[0075] As an option, at block 606, verdict of the decoding based on the CRC check or store the data for processing in the test system. Then, at block 607, transfer “I” results or the decoded data to the MR.

[0076] In some examples, at block 608, transfer “I” data from MR to the test system. Depending on the mode of operation, the test may be based on BLER with loop back of decoded data or internal evaluated results and only pass / fail criteria are counted for each test.

[0077] Additionally, the result / data is transferred from the device to the test system every time the specified number of data “I” is reached.

[0078] Through the above method, test Mode A is enhanced to support LP-WUS. The enhancement may include RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected to cover all current test cases and to extend for the idle use-cases.

[0079] In addition, a new test mode D for LP-WUS test cases in all modes: RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected. The test mode D will minimize integration time for the test systems and can be verified as standalone feature.

[0080] Test flow of the present disclosure is optimized for test-time and performance. The test flow can be reused for all RF related test cases like Refsens, ACS performance, ASCS performance and many more.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0082] At block 710, the first apparatus 110 receives, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test.

[0083] At block 720, in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, at block 730, the first apparatus 110 provides the test information to the second apparatus.

[0084] In some example embodiments, the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

[0085] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: decoding the plurality of LP- WUS testing signals; and in accordance with a determination that the number of decoded LP-WUS data reaches the value, providing to the second apparatus, at least one of the decoded LP-WUS data as the test information.

[0086] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: decoding the plurality of LP- WUS testing signals; performing a cyclic redundant check, CRC, on decoded LP-WUS data; and in accordance with a determination that the number of results associated with the CRC reaches the value, providing to the second apparatus, the results associated with the CRC as the test information.

[0087] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: obtaining, from the testmode activation indication, a total number of measurements to be performed in the test; and in accordance with a determination that the total number of measurements are performed by the first apparatus during a plurality of loops in the test, stopping the test.

[0088] In some example embodiments, the measurement number in each loop depends on the value of the counter.

[0089] In some example embodiments, the total number of measurements is associated with one or more discontinuous reception, DRX, period of the first apparatus.

[0090] In some example embodiments, the value of the counter represents a woken-up times of the first apparatus during a loop of the test.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, or a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment or a network device.

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0093] At block 810, the second apparatus 120 transmits to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test.

[0094] At block 820, the second apparatus 120 receives, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal received by the first apparatus has reached a value of the counter.

[0095] In some example embodiments, the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: in accordance with a determination that the test information indicating the plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached the value, determining that the first apparatus has woken up for times of the value.

[0097] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting a plurality of LP-WUS testing signals to the first apparatus; and wherein the test information of the value comprises one of: decoding LP-WUS data obtained from the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals, or CRC results obtained based on measurements on the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the test mode activation indication further includes a total number of measurements to be performed in the test.

[0099] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, or a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment or a network device.

[0100] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700(for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for decoding the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals; and means for in accordance with a determination that the number of decoded LP-WUS data reaches the value, providing to the second apparatus, at least one of the decoded LP-WUS data as the test information.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for decoding the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals; means for performing a cyclic redundant check, CRC, on decoded LP-WUS data; and means for in accordance with a determination that the number of results associated with the CRC reaches the value, providing to the second apparatus, the results associated with the CRC as the test information.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for obtaining, from the test mode activation indication, a total number of measurements to be performed in the test; and means for in accordance with a determination that the total number of measurements are performed by the first apparatus during a plurality of loops in the test, stopping the test.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the measurement number in each loop depends on the value of the counter.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the total number of measurements is associated with one or more discontinuous reception, DRX, period of the first apparatus.

[0108] In some example embodiments, the value of the counter represents a woken-up times of the first apparatus during a loop of the test.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, or a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment or a network device.

[0110] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method800 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0111] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal received by the first apparatus has reached a value of the counter.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for in accordance with a determination that the test information indicating the plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached the value, determining that the first apparatus has woken up for times of the value.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting a plurality of LP-WUS testing signals to the first apparatus; and wherein the test information of the value comprises one of: means for decoding LP-WUS data obtained from the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals, or CRC results obtained based on measurements on the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the test mode activation indication further includes a total number of measurements to be performed in the test.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, or a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment or a network device.

[0117] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processor 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processor 910.

[0118] The communication module 940 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, thecommunication module 940 may include at least one antenna.

[0119] The processor 910 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0120] The memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 924, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0121] A computer program 930 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 910. The instructions of the program 930 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 930 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 924. The processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 930 into the RAM 922.

[0122] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 so that the device 900 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 8. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the program 930 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 900 (such as in the memory 920) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 900. The device 900 may load the program 930 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 922 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. , tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0124] FIG. 10 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1000 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1000 has the program 930 stored thereon.

[0125] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware orspecial purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0126] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machineexecutable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0127] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0128] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0129] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette,a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0130] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0131] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, provide the test information to the second apparatus.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: decode the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals; and in accordance with a determination that the number of decoded LP-WUS data reaches the value, provide, to the second apparatus, at least one of the decoded LP-WUS data as the test information.

4. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: decode the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals; perform a cyclic redundant check, CRC, on decoded LP-WUS data; and in accordance with a determination that the number of results associated with the CRC reaches the value, provide, to the second apparatus, the results associated with the CRC as the test information.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: obtain, from the test mode activation indication, a total number of measurements to be performed in the test; and in accordance with a determination that the total number of measurements are performed by the first apparatus during a plurality of loops in the test, stop the test.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the measurement number in each loop depends on the value of the counter.

7. The first apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein the total number of measurements is associated with one or more discontinuous reception, DRX, period of the first apparatus.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the value of the counter represents a woken-up times of the first apparatus during a loop of the test.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment.

10. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and receive, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached a value of the counter.

11. The second apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mode of the LP-WUS operation indicates the test is to be supported in at least one of the following: a radio resource control, RRC, connected mode, an RRC idle mode, or an RRC inactive mode.

12. The second apparatus of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the second apparatus is caused to: in accordance with a determination that the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached the value, determine that the first apparatus has woken up for times of the value.

13. The second apparatus of any of claims 10-12, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: transmit a plurality of LP-WUS testing signals to the first apparatus; and wherein the test informationof the value comprises one of: decoded LP-WUS data obtained from the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals, orCRC results obtained based on measurements on the plurality of LP-WUS testing signals.

14. The second apparatus of any of claims 10-13, wherein the test mode activation indication further includes a total number of measurements to be performed in the test.

15. The second apparatus of any of claims 10-14, wherein the first apparatus comprises a device under test, DUT, and the second apparatus comprises test equipment.

16. A method comprising: receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

17. A method comprising: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and receiving, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached a value of the counter.

18. A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated with a test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for in accordance with a determination that the number of accumulated test information associated with a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal reaches a value of the counter, providing the test information to the second apparatus.

19. A second apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a test mode activation indication associated witha test of a low power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, operation at least including a counter and an indication of a mode of the LP-WUS operation supported by the test; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, the test information indicating that a plurality of LP-WUS testing signal has reached a value of the counter.

20. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 16 or the method of claim 17.

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