AIOT resource feedback in topology 2

Abstract

An apparatus configured to: receive, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information. An apparatus configured to: transmit, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

Description

AIOT RESOURCE FEEDBACK IN TOPOLOGY 2TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The example and non-limiting embodiments relate generally to resources used for communication with ambient Internet of Things devices and, more particularly, to feedback regarding those resources.BACKGROUND

[0002] It is known, in topology 2 for ambient Internet of Things devices, for the network to communicate with one or more ambient Internet of Things devices via one or more intermediate reader devices.SUMMARY

[0003] The following summary is merely intended to be illustrative. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0004] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the resource feedback information.

[0005] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node, the resource feedback information.

[0006] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: receiving, from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node, the resource feedback information.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing receiving, with a reader from a network node, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and causing transmitting, to the network node, of the resource feedback information.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: transmitting, to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information.

[0011] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing transmitting, to at least one reader, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and causing receiving, from the at least one reader, of the resource feedback information.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0013] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0014] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: receiving, from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0015] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing receiving, with a reader from a network node via higher layer signaling, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at leastone device; and causing transmitting, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, of the resource feedback information.

[0016] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0017] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0018] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: transmitting, to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information.

[0019] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing transmitting, to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and causing receiving, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, of the resource feedback information.

[0020] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0021] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0022] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: receiving, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associatedwith at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0023] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing receiving, with a reader from a network node via downlink control information, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and causing transmitting, to the network node via uplink control information, of the resource feedback information.

[0024] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0025] In accordance with one aspect, a method comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0026] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus comprising means for: transmitting, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

[0027] In accordance with one aspect, a computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: causing transmitting, to at least one reader via downlink control information, of a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and causing receiving, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, of the resource feedback information.

[0028] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects are defined in the dependent claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The foregoing aspects and other features are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example system in which the example embodiments may be practiced;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating features as described herein;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0033] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0036] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0037] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein;

[0038] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein; and

[0039] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating steps as described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The following abbreviations that may be found in the specification and / or the drawing figures are defined as follows:3GPP third generation partnership project5G fifth generation5GC 5G core networkAIOT ambient Internet of ThingsAMF access and mobility management functionBS base stationBSR buffer status reportCG-SDT configured grant small data transmissionON core networkCP cyclic prefixcRAN cloud radio access networkORC cyclic redundancy checkCSI channel state informationOU central unitD2R device to readerDCI downlink control informationDL downlinkDU distributed uniteNB (or eNodeB) evolved Node B (e.g., an LTE base station)EN-DC E-UTRA-NR dual connectivityen-gNB or En-gNB node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and acting as secondary node in EN- DCE-UTRA evolved universal terrestrial radio access, i.e., the LTE radio access technologyFDMA frequency division multiple accessgNB (or g Node B) base station for 5G / NR, i.e., a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GCHARQ hybrid automatic repeat requestl / F interfaceITM initial transmission messageL1 layer 1LTE long term evolutionMAC medium access controlMME mobility management entityng or NG new generationng-eNB or NG-eNB new generation eNBNR new radioN / W or NW network0-RAN open radio access networkPDCP packet data convergence protocolPDRCH physical device-to-reader channelPHY physical layerR2D reader to deviceRA random accessRAN radio access networkRedCap reduced capabilityRF radio frequencyRFID radio frequency identificationRLC radio link controlRRC radio resource controlRRH remote radio headRS reference signalRU radio unitRx receiverSDAP service data adaptation protocolSDT small data transmissionSGW serving gatewaySIB system information broadcastSINR signal to interference plus noiseSMF session management functionTDMA time division multiple accessTRP transmission and / or reception pointTx transmitterUCI uplink control informationUE user equipment (e.g., a wireless, typically mobile device) UL uplinkUPF user plane functionVNR virtualized network function

[0041] Turning to FIG. 1, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example in which the examples may be practiced. A user equipment (UE) 110, radio access network (RAN) node 170, and network element(s) 190 are illustrated. In the example of FIG. 1, the user equipment (UE) 110 is in wireless communication with a wireless network 100. A UE is a wireless device that can access the wireless network 100. The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected through one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver, Rx, 132 and a transmitter, Tx, 133. The one or more buses 127 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. A "circuit” may include dedicated hardware or hardware in association with software executable thereon. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer readable code 123. The UE 110 includes a module 140, comprising one of or both parts 140-1 and / or 140-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 140 may be implementedin hardware as module 140-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 120. The module 140-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 140 may be implemented as module 140-2, which is implemented as computer readable code 123 and is executed by the one or more processors 120. For instance, the one or more memories 125 and the computer readable code 123 may be configured to, with the one or more processors 120, cause the user equipment 110 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE 110 communicates with RAN node 170 via a wireless link 111.

[0042] The UE may also be able to communicate with other UE or devices via link 145. For example, the UE may communicate with other UE via sidelink signaling, Bluetooth™ signaling, and / or direct signaling.

[0043] The RAN node 170 in this example is a base station that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE 110 to the wireless network 100. The RAN node 170 may be, for example, a base station for 5G, also called New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node 170 may be a NG-RAN node, which is defined as either a gNB or a ng-eNB. A gNB is a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to a 5GC (such as, for example, the network element(s) 190). The ng-eNB is a node providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC. The NG-RAN node may include multiple gNBs, which may also include a central unit (CU) (gNB-CU) 196 and distributed unit(s) (DUs) (gNB-DUs), of which DU 195 is shown. Note that the DU may include or be coupled to and control a radio unit (RU). The gNB-CU is a logical node hosting RRC, SDAP and PDCP protocols of the gNB or RRC and PDCP protocols of the en-gNB that controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the F1 interface connected with the gNB-DU. The F1 interface is illustrated as reference 198, although reference 198 also illustrates a link between remote elements of the RAN node 170 and centralized elements of the RAN node 170, such as between the gNB-CU 196 and the gNB-DU 195. The gNB-DU is a logical node hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partly controlled by gNB-CU. One gNB-CU supports one or multiple cells. One cell is supported by only one gNB-DU. The gNB-DU terminates the F1 interface 198 connected with the gNB-CU. Note that the DU 195 is considered to include the transceiver 160, e.g., as part of a RU, but some examples of this may have the transceiver 160 as part of a separate RU, e.g., under control of and connected to the DU 195. The RAN node 170 may also be an eNB (evolved NodeB) base station, for LTE (long term evolution), or any other suitable base station, access point, access node, or node.

[0044] The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / W l / F(s)) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected through one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver, Rx, 162 and a transmitter,Tx, 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer readable code 153. The CU 196 may include the processor(s) 152, memories 155, and network interfaces 161. Note that the DU 195 may also contain its own memory / memories and processor(s), and / or other hardware, but these are not shown.

[0045] The RAN node 170 includes a module 150, comprising one of or both parts 150-1 and / or 150-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 150 may be implemented in hardware as module 150-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 152. The module 150-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 150 may be implemented as module 150-2, which is implemented as computer readable code 153 and is executed by the one or more processors 152. For instance, the one or more memories 155 and the computer readable code 153 are configured to, with the one or more processors 152, cause the RAN node 170 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Note that the functionality of the module 150 may be distributed, such as being distributed between the DU 195 and the CU 196, or be implemented solely in the DU 195.

[0046] The one or more network interfaces 161 communicate over a network such as via the links 176 and 131. Two or more gNBs 170 may communicate using, e.g., link 176. The link 176 may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, for example, an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

[0047] The one or more buses 157 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195 for LTE or a distributed unit (DU) 195 for gNB implementation for 5G, with the other elements of the RAN node 170 possibly being physically in a different location from the RRH / DU, and the one or more buses 157 could be implemented in part as, for example, fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect the other elements (e.g., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU) of the RAN node 170 to the RRH / DU 195. Reference 198 also indicates those suitable network link(s).

[0048] It is noted that description herein indicates that "cells” perform functions, but it should be clear that equipment which forms the cell will perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a base station. That is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For example, there could be three cells for a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each cell covering one-third of a 360 degree area so that the single base station's coverage area covers an approximate oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can correspondto a single carrier and a base station may use multiple carriers. So if there are three 120 degree cells per carrier and two carriers, then the base station has a total of 6 cells.

[0049] The wireless network 100 may include a network element or elements 190 that may include core network functionality, and which provides connectivity via a link or links 181 with a further network, such as a telephone network and / or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). Such core network functionality for 5G may include access and mobility management function(s) (AMF(s)) and / or user plane functions (UPF(s)) and / or session management function(s) (SMF(s)). Such core network functionality for LTE may include MME (Mobility Management Entity) / SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality. These are merely illustrative functions that may be supported by the network element(s) 190, and note that both 5G and LTE functions might be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled via a link 131 to a network element 190. The link 131 may be implemented as, e.g., an NG interface for 5G, or an S1 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards. The network element 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / W l / F(s)) 180, interconnected through one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer readable code 173. The one or more memories 171 and the computer readable code 173 are configured to, with the one or more processors 175, cause the network element 190 to perform one or more operations.

[0050] The wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks, into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system. For example, a network may be deployed in a tele cloud, with virtualized network functions (VNF) running on, for example, data center servers. For example, network core functions and / or radio access network(s) (e.g. CloudRAN, O-RAN, edge cloud) may be virtualized. Note that the virtualized entities that result from the network virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware such as processors 152 or 175 and memories 155 and 171 , and also such virtualized entities create technical effects.

[0051] It may also be noted that operations of example embodiments of the present disclosure may be carried out by a plurality of cooperating devices (e.g. cRAN).

[0052] The computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 125,155, and 171 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE 110, RAN node 170, and other functions as described herein.

[0053] In general, the various example embodiments of the user equipment 110 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, tablets with wireless communication capabilities, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.

[0054] Having thus introduced one suitable but non-limiting technical context for the practice of the example embodiments of the present disclosure, example embodiments will now be described with greater specificity.

[0055] Features as described herein may generally relate to ambient Internet of Things (AloT) devices. An AloT device may be an loT device powered by energy harvesting, for example a device that is battery-less or equipped with limited energy storage capabilities (e.g. using a capacitor). Ambient loT devices may be described as low power devices, low cost devices, and / or as devices with limited functionality / processing capability. The capabilities of an AIOT device may be reduced even compared to a reduced capability (RedCap) device. An AIOT device may have reduced or no capability to generate a signal for transmission to another UE or to a network element.

[0056] In the present disclosure, an AloT device may also be referred to as a device, an AloT UE, a tag, a UE, a passive radio, etc. Example embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in the context of any type of AloT device.

[0057] An example of an AloT device is a passive radio, which may harness energy from wireless signals sent on specific carriers and / or bandwidths and charge a simple circuitry that, once activated, may emit / reflect a signal, which may encode at least the ID of the passive radio. The typical system architecture around a passive radio consists of an activator, a passive radio, and a reader. The activator is a device that sends an activation signal targeted at waking up the passive radio. The passive radio harnesses energy overa range of frequencies and listens for activation signals. Once such a signal is detected, the passive radio emits / reflects a signal which is specific to that radio ID. The reader is a device that listens and detects the passive radio signals. The reader may or may not be collocated with the activator.

[0058] In the present disclosure, a reader may also be referred to as a reader UE, a reader device, a transmission and / or reception point (TRP), a base station, a g NB, etc. Example embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in the context of any type of UE that can perform AloT communication with AloT devices.

[0059] Other examples of AloT devices include semi-passive devices and battery-less devices. For example, AloT device may include battery-less passive radio frequency identification (RFID) devices that are capable of performing backscattering transmission. Backscatter communication, or reflection, is a signal transmission method for loT devices that are battery-less or energy-limited, where a received signal may be modified and / or reflected. When an AloT device backscatters a reference signal, it reflects or forwards the reference signal, with or without changes, using energy derived from (other) received signals. For example, the AloT device may modulate a radio ID, or other information, onto the received signal. This is in contrast to (direct) transmission of a reference signal, where the reference signal is transmitted using a battery or energy stored at the AloT device.

[0060] There are monostatic AloT devices and bistatic AloT devices. In the case of a bistatic AloT device, a transmitter sending a signal to the AloT device is different than a receiver receiving the signal from the AloT device, for example via backscattering. In the case of a monostatic AloT device, the transmitter sending a signal to the AloT device and the receiver receiving the signal from the AloT device may be the same node.

[0061] Components of the system architecture for Ambient loT may include:

[0062] - Activator (or Illuminator): this apparatus, node or function may send an activation signal to wake up passive radios (e.g. AloT devices) by providing energy that allows the Ambient loT devices to transmit their messages.

[0063] - Ambient loT devices (radios): loT devices powered by energy harvesting.

[0064] - Reader (or Receiver): this apparatus, node or function may listen and detect the passive radio signals. The reader may or may not be collocated with the activator.

[0065] In topology 2, the Ambient loT device (230) may communicate bidirectionally with at least one intermediate node (220) between the device (230) and the base station (BS) (210), as shown in FIG. 2. Inthis topology, the intermediate node may be a relay, IAB node, UE, repeater, a 3GPP device, any device which is capable of Ambient loT, etc. Multiple intermediate (assisting) nodes may be included in topology 2. In the example of FIG. 2, the intermediate node (220) may transfer Ambient loT data and / or signaling (260) between the BS (210) and the Ambient loT device (230). The link between the intermediate node and the AloT device in downlink is referred to as reader-to-device, or R2D (250). The link between the AloT device and the intermediate node is referred to as device-to-reader, or D2R (270).

[0066] The topology 2 discussions in 3GPP have agreed that the resource allocations shall be performed in a dedicated manner for each reader UE, and the validity of those resources are applicable for single cell only.

[0067] The AloT resources allocated by the gNB should, ideally, enable the reader UEs to perform the requested AloT activities efficiently and effectively. However, as the mode of connection between the reader UEs and the devices is via a wireless medium, the classical problems of access issues in wireless medium would surface in this interface as well. This includes, but is not limited to, interference, contention based access, etc.

[0068] In order to efficiently manage the available AloT resources and enable the reader UEs to perform AloT communication effectively, the gNB needs to know the efficiency of the communication over the allocated resources between the reader UEs and the AloT devices. In other words, the network needs to get some feedback about the allocated AloT resource usage from the reader UEs. The feedback may have the technical effect of helping to improve network efficiency by making suitable changes to allocated AloT resources (if required) to various reader UEs in its service area.

[0069] Currently, there is no means for the reader UEs to share feedback about the resource usage, with respect to AloT devices, with the gNB, and the content of such feedback information is not defined.

[0070] In an example embodiment, feedback information for the AloT resource allocation, and a process for providing such feedback information, may be defined.

[0071] In an example embodiment, the content of the feedback information about the allocated AloT resource usage may be defined.

[0072] In an example embodiment, the AloT feedback indication capability at the reader UE may be defined, as not all UEs will share the same capabilities. The network may indicate a list of certain feedback information that is expected to be sent by the UE. Considering this information, the UE may indicate the list of feedback information that can be shared to the network. This may be, for example, a bitmap where each bit may indicate capability to provide certain feedback information. Alternatively, the network may send aplain request, or a request for information as to the capability of the reader UE to provide feedback about allocated AloT resource usage.

[0073] In an example embodiment, the AloT resource feedback may be shared from the UE to the network. In an example embodiment, the feedback information may be requested and / or transmitted via (dedicated) radio resource control (RRC) messages. For example, dedicated RRC messages may be defined for AloT resource feedback request(s) from the gNB to the reader UE, and for AloT resource feedback response(s) from the reader UE to the gNB. In an alternative example embodiment, the feedback information may be requested and / or transmitted via downlink control information (DCI) and / or uplink control information (UCI).

[0074] In an example embodiment, DCI may (also) be used to indicate modifications in the allocated AloT resources, which may have the technical effect of avoiding the need for dedicated RRC message(s) for the reader UE in RRC_CONNECTED state.

[0075] It may be noted that a network node or gNB may request feedback information with respect to the AloT resource allocation from one or more reader UEs with respect to one or more AloT devices.

[0076] In an example embodiment, the feedback information, with respect to the AloT resource allocation, indicated from an intermediate reader to the gNB may comprise one or more parameters and / or metrics. Feedback information may comprise direct feedback on an allocated resource, and / or indirect feedback generated by processing information regarding the allocated resource. Feedback information may comprise any information that the NW may use when modifying or providing a resource allocation.

[0077] In an example embodiment, for time division multiple access (TDMA) (e.g. for both R2D and D2R links), the feedback information may comprise a number of time slots (i.e., resources) allocated by the reader UE for the AloT device to perform transmission with no receptions from AloT devices (i.e., R2D failures). Additionally or alternatively, the feedback information may comprise a number of time slots (i.e., resources) with failed D2R transmissions (i.e., when the reader receives a D2R transmission but fails to decode it).

[0078] In an example embodiment, for frequency division multiple access (FDMA) (e.g. for D2R links), the feedback information may comprise carrier frequencies for failures.

[0079] In an example embodiment, for either TDMA or FDMA, the feedback information may comprise at least one of: a number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) decoding failures at the reader; an average cyclic prefix (CP) length the reader applies to the R2D transmissions for a given time duration; a number of random access (RA) failures over a period of time (e.g. RA message decoding failures); an average signalto interference plus noise ratio (SI NR) over a period of time for a given reader UE; a number of physical device-to-reader channel (PDRCH) decoding failures; interference measurements performed by the intermediate UE, for example a number of positive acknowledgements or a number of negative acknowledgements; a number of successful Msg1 receptions in case of targeted initial transmission messages (ITM); energy status for targeted AloT devices; a frequency shifting capability / success rate of AloT devices; or an estimated D2R message size (e.g. collected from the devices and reported to the gNB).

[0080] In an example embodiment, the gNB may use energy status for targeted AloT devices to adjust AloT resource allocation for subsequent R2D / D2R transmissions in response to a certain service request from the core network (CN).

[0081] In an example embodiment, the gNB may adjust the frequency resource allocation for AloT traffic based on the frequency shifting capability / success rate of AloT devices to perform small / large frequency shift to backscattered D2R transmissions.

[0082] In an example embodiment, the estimated D2R message size may be used to help to the gNB have better estimation about D2R traffic and adjust the resource allocation on AloT link accordingly. The initial resource allocation may be done by the gNB based on inputs from core network. Subsequently, based on this estimated size, the gNB may allocate AloT resources for subsequent AloT communications.

[0083] The foregoing examples of feedback information with respect to the AloT resource allocation are not limiting; any information that may be used to understand the status, efficiency, or activity of the AloT resources allocated for communication between a reader UE and an AloT device may be included in feedback information.

[0084] In an example embodiment, RRC signaling may be used by the gNB to request for the AloT feedback, and by the reader UE send the AloT feedback to the gNB.

[0085] In an example embodiment, the reader UE may be requested, by the gNB, to leave time gap(s) between certain AloT rounds (i.e. communication sessions between the reader UE and the AloT device) and share a feedback report about AloT resources within these gaps. These gaps may be used by the reader UE to share the feedback with the gNB, and adjust the AloT resources based on a new updated configuration before starting new AloT round(s). A technical effect of this example embodiment may be to ensure that AloT resources are not adjusted, and the AloT communication is not terminated / suspended, in the middle of a round (e.g., to avoid asking the reader device to terminate their D2R within an ongoing round). The reader UE may configure AloT devices to start monitoring the PRDCH for new D2R configuration only outside these time gaps (e.g. during communication sessions with the AloT device, or during AloT rounds.

[0086] In another example embodiment, the reader UE may be configured with the AloT resource feedback time gaps in RRC_CONNECTED via dedicated RRC signaling, and in RRCJNACTIVE via periodic / aperiodic configured grant small data transmission(CG-SDT).

[0087] In another example embodiment, in case of cell change, the reader UE feedback capability information, and / or configurations of feedback reporting gaps, may be transferred as part of UE context from the last serving cell to the new serving cell. Upon completing the RRC setup with the new cell, the reader UE may transmit / resume transmitting the feedback report to the new serving gNB.

[0088] In another example embodiment, the feedback configuration may be cell-specific (i.e., indicated via system information blocks (SIB)) during certain time windows, and reader UEs may initiate the reporting mechanism based on the UE feedback capability and the state the UE is in (e.g., via buffer status report (BSR) for RRC_CONNECTED reader UEs, and random access small data transmission(RA-SDT) for RRCJNACTIVE state).

[0089] In an example embodiment, the gNB may inquire as to whether a reader UE has the capability to report one or more parameters and / or metrics as part of feedback information, and the reader UE may report that it has the capability to report one or more parameters and / or metrics as part of feedback information.

[0090] Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is an example of requesting and providing of AloT resource feedback according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0091] At 305, reader selection may be performed, involving CN and RAN. At 310, an AloT request and AloT resource allocation may be provided from the CN / RAN to the reader UEs.

[0092] At 315, the gNB may, optionally, send the AloT feedback capability request to the reader UE. The AloT feedback capability request may either list all the required feedback information, or it may be a simple request indicating that the gNB needs the feedback information for AloT resources. At 320, the reader UE may indicate to the gNB the feedback information it can send to the gNB (i.e. its reporting capability). If at 315, the gNB lists all the feedback information that it needs, the list of feedback information at 320 may be the same list as indicated by the gNB in the capability request, or it may be a subset of the indicated by the gNB in the capability request.

[0093] A "simple” request for AloT feedback capability of a reader UE may be an indication that the NW needs feedback information, without listing types of feedback information that the NW would prefer to receive. In other words, a simple request may request the capability of the reader UE, without asking whether the reader UE has specific capabilities. Whether the NW sends an AloT feedback capability request listingrequired feedback information, or a simple request, may depend on NW implementation, UE implementation, a current congestion status or other status of communication, etc. In response to a simple request, the reader UE may indicate types of feedback information that the reader UE is capable of providing.

[0094] At 325, the reader UE may communicate with AloT devices. During or after the communication, the reader UE may determine one or more parameters and / or metrics describing the use of the resources allocated for AloT.

[0095] In an example embodiment, dedicated RRC messages may be used to request and receive feedback. At 330, the gNB may request the AloT resource feedback from the UE. At 335, the reader UE may respond with AloT resource feedback information as requested by the gNB. Alternatively, at 340, the AloT resource feedback may be indicated together with an AloT report from the reader UE to the gNB (e.g. embedded in the AloT report).

[0096] In an example embodiment, the gNB may provide, in the feedback request, an indication of a periodicity for reporting / providing AloT resource feedback. For example, the gNB may request that the AloT resource feedback be provided one or multiple times. If multiple instances of AloT resource feedback are to be provided, the reader UE may determine the AloT resource feedback multiple times, for example based on new or additional communication sessions with the AloT device. In another example, the gNB may request that the AloT resource feedback be provided periodically over a certain time period.

[0097] In an example embodiment, SIB and measurement gaps may be used to indicate the AloT resource feedback. In case of the UE specific measurement gap configuration scenario, at 345, the gNB may send an RRC reconfiguration with a measurement gap configuration scenario indicating the time in which the AloT resource feedback can be provided to the network. Alternatively, at 350, the measurement gaps (i.e., cell-specific configurations) may be indicated via SIB, and the reader UEs may use this information to indicate the AloT resource feedback to the gNB. At 355, the reader UE may use the gap information and provide the AloT feedback during the configured gaps.

[0098] In an alternative example embodiment, the AloT resource feedback may be requested and indicated using DCI / UCI. The feedback about the resource allocation may be indicated via a new UCI format in the UL, and an updated AloT resource allocation in DL may be indicated via a new DCI format by the gNB to the intermediate UE.

[0099] Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated is an example of requesting and providing of AloT resource feedback according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. At 405, reader selection may be performed, involving CN and RAN. At 410, the AloT request and AloT resource allocation may be provided from CN / RAN to the reader UEs. At 415, the gNB may, optionally, send the AloT feedback capability request,which may either list all the required feedback information from the gNB to the UE, or it may be a simple request indicating that the NW needs / requests feedback information for AloT resources. At 420, the UE may indicate to the gNB the feedback information it can send to gNB (e.g. its capability). If at 415 the gNB lists all the feedback information that it needs, the list of feedback information at 420 may be the same list as indicated at 415, or it may be a subset of the list indicated in at 415.

[0100] At 425, the reader UE may communicate with AloT devices.

[0101] At 430, gNB may indicate / transmit the AloT resource request feedback using DCI. This may be implemented using, for example, a bitmap indicating which of a set of parameters / metrics are requested. The PDCCH may be used to request AloT resource feedback, for example with a new DCI format designed for requesting AloT resource feedback. Alternatively, existing DCI formats for 1_0 or 1_1 may be enhanced for AloT resource feedback request.

[0102] At 435, the reader UE may indicate the AloT resource feedback using UCI. The PUCCH may be used to indicate AloT resource feedback. For example, existing UCI formats 2, 3, and 4 may be enhanced to also contain the AloT resource feedback information. Alternatively, new combinations of UCI formats including some or all of the existing possible UCI contents (hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), SR, channel state information (CSI)) and AloT resource feedback may be used.

[0103] At 440, based on the AloT resource feedback, the gNB may propose / determine to modify the resource allocation, and indicate it via DCI. It may be possible for the gNB to provide a new allocation of AloT resources based on the feedback, rather than providing a modification or update to a previously provided allocation. A new DCI format may be used for resource modification. Alternatively, existing DCI formats for 1_0 or 1_1 may be enhanced for resource modification.

[0104] It may be noted that, while FIGs. 3-4 illustrate one reader between the AloT device and the network in topology 2, these examples are not limiting; any number of reader UEs may be implemented intermediate between the AloT device and the network.

[0105] It may also be noted that the NW may send requests to multiple different reader UEs, and each reader UE may be requested to provide feedback with respect to multiple different AloT devices. The type of feedback requested, and the feedback provided, may be different for each AloT device for which the reader UE is requested to provide feedback.

[0106] FIG. 5 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 500. The example method 500 may include: receiving, from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 510; and transmitting, to the network node, the resource feedbackinformation, 520. The example method 500 may be performed, for example, with a reader UE, a reader device, a transmission and / or reception point (TRP), a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0107] FIG. 6 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 600. The example method 600 may include: transmitting, to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 610; and receiving, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information, 620. The example method 600 may be performed, for example, with a network node, a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0108] FIG. 7 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 700. The example method 700 may include: receiving, from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 710; and transmitting, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information, 720. The example method 700 may be performed, for example, with a reader UE, a reader device, a transmission and / or reception point (TRP), a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0109] FIG. 8 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 800. The example method 800 may include: transmitting, to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 810; and receiving, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information, 820. The example method 800 may be performed, for example, with a network node, a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0110] FIG. 9 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 900. The example method 900 may include: receiving, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 910; and transmitting, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information, 920. The example method 900 may be performed, for example, with a reader UE, a reader device, a transmission and / or reception point (TRP), a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0111] FIG. 10 illustrates the potential steps of an example method 1000. The example method 1000 may include: transmitting, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device, 1010; and receiving, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information, 1020. The example method 1000 may be performed, for example, with a network node, a base station, a gNB, etc.

[0112] According to a first aspect, there is provided 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: receive, from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback informationassociated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the first aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features of the following. The request may be received via one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, downlink control information, a dedicated downlink control information format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be transmitted via one of: uplink control information, a dedicated uplink control information format, an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive an indication of at least one of: a timing, a periodicity, or a frequency for transmitting the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive an update to a configured resource allocation between the apparatus and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: perform handover from the network node to a further network node; and transmit, to the further network node, the resource feedback information. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the apparatus and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the apparatus fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the apparatus and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the apparatus and the at least one device via the allocated resources, anenergy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the apparatus from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive at least one of: an allocation of resources between the apparatus and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the apparatus and the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the capability of the apparatus. The received request for transmitting the capability of the apparatus may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the apparatus may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the apparatus is capable of providing. The example apparatus may be further configured to: determine transmission of the resource feedback information based, at least partially, on a radio resource control state of the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a reader. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0113] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node, the resource feedback information. The method of the second aspect may include any signal feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be received via one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, downlink control information, a dedicated downlink control information format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be transmitted via one of: uplink control information, a dedicated uplink control information format, an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: receiving an indication of at least one of: a timing, a periodicity, or a frequency for transmitting the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: receiving an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example method mayfurther comprise: receiving an update to a configured resource allocation between the reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: performing handover from the network node to a further network node; and transmitting, to the further network node, the resource feedback information. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving at least one of: an allocation of resources between the reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the reader and the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node, the capability of the reader. The received request for transmitting the capability of the reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the reader is capable of providing. The example method may further comprise: determining transmission of the resource feedback information based, at least partially, on a radio resource control state of the reader. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0114] According to a third aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0115] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and the computer readable codeconfigured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carry out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0116] As used in this application, the term "circuitry” or "means” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in analog, digital and / or quantum circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuit(s) and software, such as (as applicable): (I) a combination of analog, digital and / or quantum hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any or all portions of hardware processor(s) (including digital and / or quantum processor(s)) with software, and memory (les) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile device, computing device, or server, to perform various functions) and (c) any or all portions of hardware circuit(s), such as a microprocessor(s), processor(s) and / or quantum processor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. 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.

[0117] In accordance with a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: means for: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0118] A processor, memory, and / or example algorithms (which may be encoded as instructions, program, or code) may be provided as example means for providing or causing performance of operation.

[0119] In accordance with a sixth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carry out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0120] In accordance with a seventh aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0121] In accordance with an eighth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machinefor performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0122] In accordance with a ninth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0123] In accordance with a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0124] In accordance with an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the second aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the second aspect.

[0125] In accordance with a twelfth aspect, there is provided 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: transmit, to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the twelfth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be transmitted via one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, downlink control information, a dedicated downlink control information format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information is received via one of: uplink control information, a dedicated uplink control information format, an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, an indication of at least one of: a timing, a periodicity, or afrequency for transmitting the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to a network node, context information for the at least one reader, wherein the context information may comprise, at least, a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and perform handover of the at least one reader to the network node. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receive the capability of the at least one reader. The request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at leastone reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The apparatus may comprise a network node. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0126] In accordance with a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader, the resource feedback information. The method according to the thirteenth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be transmitted via one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, downlink control information, a dedicated downlink control information format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be received via one of: uplink control information, a dedicated uplink control information format, an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information, radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, an indication of at least one of: a timing, a periodicity, or a frequency for transmitting the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to a network node, context information for the at least one reader, wherein the context information may comprise, at least, a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and performing handover of the at least one reader to the network node. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmissionfrom the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receiving the capability of the at least one reader. The request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0127] In accordance with a fourteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0128] In accordance with a fifteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and the computer readable code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carry out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0129] In accordance with a sixteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0130] In accordance with a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium, comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carry out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0131] In accordance with an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium, comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0132] In accordance with a nineteenth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0133] In accordance with a twentieth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0134] In accordance with a twenty-first aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0135] In accordance with a twenty-second aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the thirteenth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirteenth aspect.

[0136] In accordance with a twenty-third aspect, there is provided 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: receive, from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to thenetwork node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the twenty-third aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be received via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be transmitted via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive an update to a configured resource allocation between the apparatus and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: perform handover from the network node to a further network node; and transmit, to the further network node, the resource feedback information. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the apparatus and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the apparatus fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the apparatus and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the apparatus and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the apparatus from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive at least one of: an allocation of resources between the apparatus and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the apparatus and the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: configure the at least one device to monitor the physical reader-to-devicechannel for a new device-to-reader configuration outside of one or more time gaps between communication sessions between the apparatus and the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the capability of the apparatus. The received request for transmitting the capability of the apparatus may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the apparatus may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the apparatus is capable of providing. The transmitted capability of the apparatus may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may be transmitted based, at least partially, on a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: determine transmission of the resource feedback information based, at least partially, on a radio resource control state of the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a reader. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0137] In accordance with a twenty-fourth aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information. The method of the twenty-fourth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be received via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be transmitted via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: receiving an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: receiving an update to a configured resource allocation between the reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: performing handover from the network node to a further network node; and transmitting, to the further network node, the resource feedback information. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the readerand the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving at least one of: an allocation of resources between the reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the reader and the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: configuring the at least one device to monitor the physical reader-to-device channel for a new device-to-reader configuration outside of one or more time gaps between communication sessions between the reader and the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the capability of the reader. The received request for transmitting the capability of the reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the reader is capable of providing. The transmitted capability of the reader may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may be transmitted based, at least partially, on a capability of the reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: determining transmission of the resource feedback information based, at least partially, on a radio resource control state of the reader. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0138] In accordance with a twenty-fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0139] In accordance with a twenty-sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and thecomputer readable code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0140] In accordance with a twenty-seventh aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0141] In accordance with a twenty-eighth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0142] In accordance with a twenty-ninth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0143] In accordance with a thirtieth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0144] In accordance with a thirty-first aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0145] In accordance with a thirty-second aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0146] In accordance with a thirty-third aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the twenty-fourth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the twenty-fourth aspect.

[0147] In accordance with a thirty-fourth aspect, there is provided 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: transmit, to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the thirtyfourth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be transmitted via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be received via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information comprises, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to a network node, context information for the at least one reader, wherein the context information may comprise, at least, a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and perform handover of the at least one reader to the network node. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respectto the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receive the capability of the at least one reader. The request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The received capability of the at least one reader may comprise a bitmap. The apparatus may comprise a network node. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0148] In accordance with a thirty-fifth aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader via higher layer signaling, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via the higher layer signaling, the resource feedback information. The method of the thirty-fifth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The request may be transmitted via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration message, or one or more system information blocks. The resource feedback information may be received via one of: radio resource control signaling, radio resource control signaling dedicated to the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message, an ambient Internet of Things resource feedback response, an ambient Internet of Things report, a buffer status report, or a random access small data transmission. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, an indication to transmit the resource feedback information during one or more time gaps between communication sessions with the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving the resource feedback information during the one or more time gaps. The example method may furthercomprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device during the one or more time gaps. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to a network node, context information for the at least one reader, wherein the context information may comprise, at least, a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and performing handover of the at least one reader to the network node. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receiving the capability of the at least one reader. The request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The received capability of the at least one reader may comprise a bitmap. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0149] In accordance with a thirty-sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0150] In accordance with a thirty-seventh aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and the computer readable code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0151] In accordance with a thirty-eighth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0152] In accordance with a thirty-ninth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0153] In accordance with a fortieth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0154] In accordance with a forty-first aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0155] In accordance with a forty-second aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0156] In accordance with a forty-third aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the methodaccording to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0157] In accordance with a forty-fourth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the thirty-fifth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the thirty-fifth aspect.

[0158] In accordance with a forty-fifth aspect, there is provided 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: receive, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the forty-fifth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The downlink control information may comprise at least one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, a dedicated downlink control information format, or a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information. The uplink control information may comprise at least one of: a dedicated uplink control information format, or an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the apparatus and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the apparatus fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the apparatus and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the apparatus and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the apparatus from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive at least one of: an allocation of resources between the apparatus and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between theapparatus and the at least one device. The at least one of the allocation or the update may be received via further downlink control information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: receive, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmit, to the network node, the capability of the apparatus. The received request for transmitting the capability of the apparatus may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the apparatus may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the apparatus is capable of providing. The transmitted capability of the apparatus may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may be transmitted based, at least partially, on a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device. The apparatus may comprise a reader. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0159] In accordance with a forty-sixth aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, with a reader from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information. The method of the forty-sixth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The downlink control information may comprise at least one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, a dedicated downlink control information format, or a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information. The uplink control information may comprise at least one of: a dedicated uplink control information format, or an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least onedevice, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: receiving at least one of: an allocation of resources between the reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the reader and the at least one device. The at least one of the allocation or the update may be received via further downlink control information. The example method may further comprise: receiving, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and transmitting, to the network node, the capability of the reader. The received request for transmitting the capability of the reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the reader is capable of providing. The transmitted capability of the reader may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may be transmitted based, at least partially, on a capability of the reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0160] In accordance with a forty-seventh aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0161] In accordance with a forty-eighth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and the computer readable code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carry out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0162] In accordance with a forty-ninth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0163] In accordance with a fiftieth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0164] In accordance with a fifty-first aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out themethod according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0165] In accordance with a fifty-second aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0166] In accordance with a fifty-third aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0167] In accordance witha fifty-fourth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0168] In accordance with a fifty-fifth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the forty-sixth aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the forty-sixth aspect.

[0169] In accordance with a fifty-sixth aspect, there is provided 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: transmit, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information. The apparatus of the fiftysixth aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The downlink control information may comprise at least one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, a dedicated downlink control information format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information. The uplink control information may comprise at least one of: a dedicated uplink control information format, or an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communicationbetween the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information via downlink control information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The at least one of the allocation or the update may be transmitted via further downlink control information. The example apparatus may be further configured to: transmit, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receive the capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The capability of the at least one reader may comprise a bitmap. The apparatus may comprise a network node. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0170] In accordance with a fifty-seventh aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: transmitting, with a network node to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receiving, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information. The method of the fifty-seventh aspect may include any single feature or any combination of features from the following. The downlink control information may comprise at least one of: physical downlink control channel signaling, a dedicated downlink controlinformation format, a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information. The uplink control information may comprise at least one of: a dedicated uplink control information format, or an uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information. The request for transmitting resource feedback information may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information. The indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information may comprise a bitmap. The resource feedback information may comprise at least one of: an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources, an indication of usage of the allocated resources, a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device, a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode, a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device, a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader, an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period, a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period, an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period, one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device, a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources, an energy status of the at least one device, a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device, a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, or an estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information via downlink control information, at least one of: an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, or an update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device. The at least one of the allocation or the update may be transmitted via further downlink control information. The example method may further comprise: transmitting, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; and receiving the capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device may be based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader. The transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader may comprise, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader may comprise an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing. The capability of the atleast one reader may comprise a bitmap. The at least one device may comprise at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

[0171] In accordance with a fifty-eighth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to perform: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0172] In accordance with a fifty-ninth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry; memory circuitry including computer readable code, the memory circuitry and the computer readable code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: carry out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fiftyseventh aspect.

[0173] In accordance with a sixtieth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0174] In accordance with a sixty-first aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed with at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: carry out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0175] In accordance with a sixty-second aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0176] In accordance with a sixty-third aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) program storage device readable by a machine may be provided, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0177] In accordance with a sixty-forth aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0178] In accordance with a sixty-fifth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: at least one processor and at least one (non-transitory) memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to perform: carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0179] In accordance with a sixty-sixth aspect, there is provided a computer implemented system comprising: means for carrying out the method according to the fifty-seventh aspect or to perform any of the features or any combination of the features of the fifty-seventh aspect.

[0180] 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).

[0181] As used herein, the terms "the at least one” and "the one or more” mean "any one of the at least one” and "any one of the one or more”, respectively.

[0182] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, features recited in the various dependent claims could be combined with each other in any suitable combination(s). In addition, features from different embodiments described above could be selectively combined into a new embodiment. Accordingly, the description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modification and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:receive, from a network node via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and transmit, to the network node via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downlink control information comprises at least one of:physical downlink control channel signaling,a dedicated downlink control information format, ora downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the uplink control information comprises at least one of:a dedicated uplink control information format, oran uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 3, wherein the request for transmitting resource feedback information comprises, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information comprises a bitmap.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 5, wherein the resource feedback information comprises at least one of:an indication of an efficiency of communication between the apparatus and the at least one device via allocated resources,an indication of usage of the allocated resources,a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception from the at least one device,a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the apparatus fails to decode,a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the apparatus and the at least one device,a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures,an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period,a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period,an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received from the at least one device during the predetermined time period,one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device,a number of successful receptions between the apparatus and the at least one device via the allocated resources,an energy status of the at least one device,a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device,a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, oran estimated size of one or more messages received by the apparatus from the at least one device.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 6, wherein the instructions, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:receive at least one of:an allocation of resources between the apparatus and the at least one device, oran update to a configured resource allocation between the apparatus and the at least one device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the allocation or the update is received via further downlink control information.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 8, wherein the instructions, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:receive, from the network node, a request for transmitting a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; andtransmit, to the network node, the capability of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received request for transmitting the capability of the apparatus comprises, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the transmitted capability of the apparatus comprises an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the apparatus is capable of providing.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 or 10, wherein the transmitted capability of the apparatus comprises a bitmap.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 11, wherein the resource feedback information is transmitted based, at least partially, on a capability of the apparatus to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a reader.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 13, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

15. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:transmit, to at least one reader via downlink control information, a request for transmitting resource feedback information associated with at least one device; and receive, from the at least one reader via uplink control information, the resource feedback information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the downlink control information comprises at least one of:physical downlink control channel signaling,a dedicated downlink control information format,a downlink control information format enhanced with the request for transmitting the resource feedback information.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 or 16, wherein the uplink control information comprises at least one of:a dedicated uplink control information format, oran uplink control information format enhanced with the resource feedback information.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 17, wherein the request for transmitting resource feedback information comprises, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the indication of the one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information comprises a bitmap.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 19, wherein the resource feedback information comprises at least one of:an indication of an efficiency of communication between the at least one reader and the at least one device via allocated resources,an indication of usage of the allocated resources,a number of time slots allocated for transmission from the at least one device that comprise no reception with the at least one reader from the at least one device,a number of time slots, of the allocated resources, comprising a transmission from the at least one device that the at least one reader fails to decode,a carrier frequency of the allocated resources associated with at least one communication failure between the at least one reader and the at least one device,a number of cyclic redundancy check decoding failures detected with the at least one reader,an average cyclic prefix length during a predetermined time period,a number of random access failures detected during the predetermined time period,an average signal to interference plus noise ratio associated with transmissions received with the at least one reader from the at least one device during the predetermined time period,one or more interference measurements with respect to the at least one device,a number of successful receptions between the at least one reader and the at least one device via the allocated resources,an energy status of the at least one device,a frequency shifting capability of the at least one device,a frequency shifting success rate of the at least one device, oran estimated size of one or more messages received by the at least one reader from the at least one device.

21. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 20, wherein the instructions, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:transmit, to the at least one reader in response to the resource feedback information via downlink control information, at least one of:an allocation of resources between the at least one reader and the at least one device, oran update to a configured resource allocation between the at least one reader and the at least one device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the allocation or the update is transmitted via further downlink control information.

23. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 22, wherein the instructions, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:transmit, to the at least one reader, a request for transmitting a capability of the at least one reader to provide the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device; andreceive the capability of the at least one reader.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transmitted request for transmitting the resource feedback information associated with the at least one device is based, at least partially, on the received capability of the at least one reader.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24, wherein the transmitted request for transmitting the capability of the at least one reader comprises, at least, an indication of one or more parameters to include in the resource feedback information, wherein the received capability of the at least one reader comprises an indication of a subset, of the one or more parameters, that the at least one reader is capable of providing.

26. The apparatus of any of claims 23 through 25, wherein the capability of the at least one reader comprises a bitmap.

27. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 26, wherein the apparatus comprises a network node.

28. The apparatus of any of claims 15 through 27, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one ambient Internet of Things device.

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