Paging of a-iot devices

Abstract

Disclosed is low power wireless device, for an Ambient IoT (A-loT) paging, with a reader device, the method comprises receiving, from the reader device, a first A-IoT paging message associated with a service request. The method comprises communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-IoT paging response to the first A-IoT paging message associated with the service request.

Description

[0001] A METHOD FOR PAGING WITH A READER DEVICE

[0002] The present disclosure pertains to the field of wireless communications. The present disclosure relates to a method for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging and related devices.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Future wireless communication services will benefit from widespread connectivity between large networks of wireless devices. Changing or recharging batteries in these devices may not be feasible due to the inefficiency of such battery solutions and the physical inaccessibility of some of these devices. Low power wireless devices, such as Ambient Internet of Things (A-loT) devices, may be battery-less (e.g., they may operate without a battery) and / or may have very limited energy storage and instead harvest energy from ambient sources, such as e.g. radio waves, solar energy, thermal sources, etc.

[0005] However, integration of low power wireless devices into cellular networks may prove challenging, for example, due to the limited amount of energy available in the low power wireless device for performance of network operations.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for devices and methods for ambient which may mitigate, alleviate or address the shortcomings existing and may provide reduced energy consumption at a low power wireless device (such as an A-loT device) by reducing a number of unnecessary transmissions (such as duplicate transmissions) at the low power wireless device, e.g., by preventing transmission of duplicate paging responses e.g., associated with a given service request. In other words, there is a need for low power communication systems, e.g., ultra-lower power communications systems, with protocols and signaling that are adapted accordingly.

[0008] A method performed by a low power wireless device is disclosed, such as a method for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging with a reader device. The method comprises receiving, from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request. The method comprises communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0009] A low power wireless device comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface is disclosed. The low power wireless device is configured to perform any of the methods performed in the low power wireless device as disclosed herein.A method performed by a reader device is disclosed, such as a method for an A-loT paging with a low power wireless device. The method comprises transmitting, to the first low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request. The method comprises communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0010] A reader device comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface is disclosed. The reader device is configured to perform any of the methods performed in the reader device as disclosed herein.

[0011] A method performed by a network node is disclosed, such as a method for an A-loT paging of a low power wireless device via a reader device. The method comprises transmitting, to the reader device, a control signalling indicative of a configuration for an A-loT paging of the low power wireless device.

[0012] A network node comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface is disclosed. The network node is configured to perform any of the methods performed in the network node as disclosed herein.

[0013] It is an advantage of the present disclosure that the methods and devices disclosed herein allow improving the efficiency of the power consumption of the low power wireless device (e.g., by reducing and / or avoiding transmission of duplicate paging responses). Thus, the disclosed method and devices may advantageously benefit from a longer operating duration (e.g., before recharging is required) and increase an availability of the low power wireless device for communications in the wireless communication system, e.g., thereby reducing an overall latency of communications involving the low power wireless device. In other words, the disclosed method and devices allow for increased efficiency of communications between a network node and low power wireless devices, e.g., via a reader device.

[0014] Further, by reducing the transmission of duplicate paging responses, the spectrum (that may otherwise be occupied with the transmission of the duplicate paging response) may be used relevantly (e.g., may be used by devices without duplicating a paging response or transmitting a response unnecessarily) and may allow for spectrum resources to be used to support further communications in the wireless communication system. In other words, the disclosed method and devices may advantageously increase (such as effectively increase) the available spectrumin the wireless communication system, thereby improving the efficiency of the wireless communication system.

[0015] Furthermore, by reducing the transmission of duplicate paging responses, the disclosed method and device may enable a reduction in signal interference a wireless communication system, e.g., thereby enabling an improved accuracy, reliability, and / or robustness of communications in the wireless communication system.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art by the following detailed description of examples thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system comprising an example low power wireless device, an example reader device, and an example network node, according to this disclosure,

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between a low power wireless devices, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure, Fig. 3 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging (using an indicator) between a low power wireless devices, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure,

[0020] Fig. 4 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging (using a repetition number) between low power wireless devices, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure,

[0021] Fig. 5 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging (using identification information) between low power wireless devices, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure,

[0022] Fig. 6 shows a signalling diagram of example communications during a time window for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure,

[0023] Fig. 7 shows a diagram illustrating example communications with an example time window between a low power wireless device, a reader device, and a network node according to this disclosure,

[0024] Fig. 8 is a flow-chart illustrating an example method, performed in a low power wireless device, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging with a reader device according to this disclosure,

[0025] Fig. 9 is a flow-chart illustrating an example method, performed in a reader device, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging with a low power wireless device, according to this disclosure,Fig.10 is a flow-chart illustrating an example method, performed in a network node, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging, according to this disclosure,

[0026] Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example low power wireless device according to this disclosure,

[0027] Fig. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example reader device according to this disclosure, and

[0028] Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example network node according to this disclosure.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Various examples and details are described hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the examples. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the disclosure or as a limitation on the scope of the disclosure. In addition, an illustrated example needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular example is not necessarily limited to that example and can be practiced in any other examples even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

[0031] Some wireless communication systems and solutions, such as certain 3rdGeneration Partnership Project, 3GPP (3GPP) low-power, wide-area, LPWA, loT solutions, may be insufficient for certain loT applications. More efficient and / or energy-saving loT solutions, such as Ambient loT (AloT), may support broader use cases and allow for more expansive design targets, including those contemplated by 3GPP. The present disclosure relates to loT devices, which may be understood as ultra-low complexity devices in, for example, a 3GPP system (referred to herein as the low power wireless device) with ultra-low power consumption for very-low end loT applications. The terms “low complexity,” “ultra-low complexity,” “low power,” “low power consumption,” “low energy,” “ultra-low energy,” “extremely low energy” “ultra-low power consumption,” “low end,” “very-low end,” or other such terms of degree may be understood as indicators of, for example, complexity, energy use, power consumption, and / or implementation costs relative to other solutions (such as other loT solutions). The coverage design target for these A-loT networks may be in the range of 10-50 meters and may be well below any other legacy 3GPP specified access technologies.

[0032] To support the lower coverage range (e.g., compared to legacy systems), the aggressive requirements, such as on power consumption of the low power wireless device (e.g., less than afew hundred pW peak power consumption), and / or the backscattering communication type, a set of network scenarios based on topologies and / or deployments may be studied. A few nodes can be defined as part of an illustrative scenario. For example, a carrier wave emitter (CW) may be seen as the functional node transmitting the excitation signal used for backscattering. A reader (such as the reader device disclosed herein) may be seen as the receiver of AloT signals, communicating directly with the AloT Device and can be the base station (BS) or other wireless devices (such as a low power wireless device, WD, or a user equipment, UE) in the system. The Reader is referred to as a reader device in the present disclosure.

[0033] It may be appreciated that the CW may also be the BS or have a direct connection with the BS and that the Reader may be the same physical entity as the CW in some scenarios. In other words, the CW may for example be the same physical entity as the Reader. Since those new nodes are included, the traditional use of "uplink" and "downlink" channels may not be fully applicable. For example, the node names are used to define the physical channels such as R2D (Reader to Device) and D2R (Device to Reader) and CW2D (Carrier Wave Emitter to Device). For example, R2D as disclosed herein may be seen as low power WD to reader device communications. D2R as disclosed herein may be seen as reader device to low power WD communications. CW2D may be seen as network node to low power WD communications, such as from a network node to a low power WD via a reader device.

[0034] The present disclosure relates to a method for A-loT paging that may include indicating which low power wireless devices are to respond to paging from a reader device (e.g., triggering the low power wireless devices to respond). This may involve the reader device providing a paging message (referred to herein as an A-loT paging message) to more than one low power wireless device. In some cases, not all of the low power wireless devices are able to provide a paging response (referred to herein as an A-loT paging response), e.g., due to unavailability of the low power wireless device orfrequency / time resources. The reader device may then provide a subsequent paging message to reach the low power wireless devices that have not yet provided a paging response. In legacy systems, the low power wireless devices that have already provided a paging response may then provide an unnecessary repetition of the same paging response they had already provided. This leads to unnecessary power consumption at the low power WD. The present disclosure addresses this unnecessary repetition of the same paging response.

[0035] It may be appreciated that the present disclosure provides, inter alia, a method for configuring how the various nodes and WDs (such as the network node (such as a core network node), the reader device, and the low power wireless device) interact. For example, the present disclosureprovides a method for handling the paging (e.g., associated with a given service request) between the network node, the reader device, and the low power wireless device.

[0036] A low power wireless device disclosed herein refers to a low power wireless device capable of communication in a wireless communication network. The low power wireless device may for example be seen as and / or referred to as an ambient Internet-of-Things (A-loT) device. In some examples, the low power wireless device is a battery-less wireless device. Battery-less, as used herein, may refer to a device that is deployed without a battery and / or that operates (or is capable of operation) without a battery. For example, the low power wireless device may be a wireless device with a limited energy storage, such as a super capacitor. In some examples, the low power wireless device may be a wireless device having limited battery storage, such as limited rechargeable battery storage. For example, the low power wireless device may be a wireless device with a limited energy source, such as a limited external energy source. For example, the low power wireless device may be capable of harvesting energy, e.g., from a limited energy source. A limited external energy source may comprise one or more of: electromagnetic radiation, thermal radiation, thermal coupling, and kinetic energy. For example, the low power wireless device can be seen as a wireless device having a low energy source. The low power wireless device for example consumes an amount of energy that is low relative to other devices, e.g., having a peak power consumption less than 2000 pW, and / or less than 1000 pW, (e.g. less than 700 pW, such as less than 500 pW, such as less than 200 pW), and can therefore be seen as a low power wireless device. There may for example be two types of low power wireless devices. A first type having extremely low energy storage, capable of consuming less than 5 pW (e.g., less than 1 pW) in peak power consumption, and a second type having more energy storage and capable of consuming less than 200 pW in peak power consumption. Both, the first type and the second type, may be considered to have its uplink communication based on backscattering transmission. The second type may be considered to generate its own uplink transmission as other wireless devices do.

[0037] Therefore, a low power wireless device as disclosed herein may have a peak power consumption in the range of 0.1 pW to 200 pW. In some examples, the low power wireless device may have no energy storage capability. The low power wireless device is for example a backscatter device, BSD, e.g., configured to perform D2R transmissions using a backscattering technique. The backscatter device may for example be referred to as a backscattering device. The low power wireless device is for example designed to perform low-power reception receiving low-complexity signals. For example, the low power wireless device may be seen as a device having low complexity modulation and / or low complexity in communication protocol. The low power wireless device may be seen as different from normal UEs or machine-type communication devices, in that the low power wireless device runs a different protocol with lesscomplex decoding. For example, the low power wireless device may have a simple protocol stack e.g., limited to physical and / or multiple access scheme layers. The low power wireless device may for example be seen as an A-loT device.

[0038] A reader device as disclosed herein may for example be seen as a node (e.g., a reader node) configured to communicate with one or more low power wireless devices, such as a first low power wireless device, a second low power wireless device, third low power wireless device, fourth low power wireless device, etc. The reader device may for example be seen as an intermediate node, such as e.g., intermediate device (such as an intermediary device) between the low power wireless device and the network node. In other words, the low power wireless device and the network node (e.g., the core network node) may communicate via the reader device. The reader device may for example act as both a receiving node and a transmitting node. In some examples, the reader device can be seen as a receiver or a receiving node, such as a receiving node configured to receive information transmitted from the low power wireless device and / or data transmitted from the network node. In some examples, the reader device can be seen as a transmitter or a transmitting node, such as a transmitting node configured to transmit information to the low power wireless device and / or to the network node. The reader device may be seen as a reader of AloT signals, e.g., communicating directly with the low power wireless device, such as AloT device. The reader device may for example be located in a fixed position, or able to move position, e.g., capable of being moved. For example, the reader device may be capable of operating, such as communicating with the low power wireless device and / or the network node, while moving. In one or more example embodiments, a network node (such as base station) and / or a low power wireless device may act as a reader device, e.g., an intermediate device for communication between a low power wireless device and another network node, such as the core network node. For example, when a base station is acting as the reader device, the base station can be seen as hosting the reader functionality. In some examples, the reader device may be a mobile device and / or a user equipment, UE which may for example be moved. In some examples, the reader device may be a base station, an evolved Node B, eNB, or a next generation Node B, gNB in NR which may for example be located in a fixed position. In some examples, the reader device may be a type of low power wireless device, e.g., capable of being moved. When the reader device is a mobile device, UE, and / or a low power wireless device, it may be connected to a base station in the wireless communication system. The reader device may for example be seen as an assistant in the communication system, such as a communication assistant for communications between one or more low power wireless devices and the network node.A network node disclosed herein for example refers to a core network node. A core network, CN, node disclosed herein refers to a network node operating in the core network, such as in an Evolved Packet Core, EPC, network, a 4G Core, 4GC, network, a 5G Core, 5GC, network, and / or a 6G Core, 6GC, network. Examples of CN nodes in the EPC network include a Mobility Management Entity, MME. In some examples, the network node may be seen as a radio access network node operating in the radio access network. In some examples, the network node may be seen as a radio access node which is a functional unit which may for example be distributed in several physical units. In some examples, the network node may be a base station, an evolved Node B, eNB, or a next generation Node B, gNB in NR.

[0039] The term “communicate” used herein can be seen as provide, such as transmit, and / or obtain, such as receive. For example, when a device and / or node, such as a reader device, low power wireless device, and / or network node, communicates information, the device and / or node may for example transmit and / or receive said information (such as any message, data, signal, etc.).

[0040] As discussed in detail herein, the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system, such as shown in Fig. 1 comprising a cellular system, for example, 3GPP wireless communication system.

[0041] The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they merely show details which aid understanding the disclosure, while other details have been left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.

[0042] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system 1 comprising an example reader device 400, an example low power wireless device 300, and an example network according to this disclosure.

[0043] The wireless communication system 1 described herein may comprise one or more low power wireless devices 300, 300A, and / or one or more reader devices 400.

[0044] The reader device 400 may be seen as an intermediate device, such as an intermediate device configured to communicate with both the network node 600 and the low power wireless device 300.

[0045] The low power wireless device 300, 300A may be configured to communicate with the reader device 400 via a wireless link (or radio access link) 10, 10A. The reader device 400 may beconfigured to communicate with the network node 600 via a wireless link (or radio access link) 12.

[0046] The low power wireless device 300 for example receives (e.g., via wireless link 10) from the reader device 400, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request.

[0047] The low power wireless device 300 and the reader device 400 may communicate (e.g., via wireless link 10) information indicating that the low power wireless device 300 has transmitted, such as successfully transmitted, an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0048] A service request may be seen as a request for a service, such as a request for the low power wireless device to provide a service. The service request may for example comprise a request for the low power wireless device to perform one or more communication operations in the wireless communication system. For example, a service request may be a request for a wireless device, such as a low power wireless device, to transmit data (e.g., via backscattering). The service request may be a request for a wireless device (such as a low power wireless device) to provide a sensory data and / or location data (e.g., indicative of a location (e.g., presence) of the low power wireless device), such as in relation to nearest readers. The sensory data may for example comprise data obtained (such as measured) by one or more sensors of the low power wireless device. For example, the low power wireless device may comprise one or more sensors, such as temperature sensor, humidity sensor, light sensor, movement sensor (e.g., accelerometer), biosensor, strain gauge, etc. Each service request may for example be directed to transmission of a given data packet, and / or transmission of data to a given device, such as a wireless device 300, 300A. For example, a service request may request the low power wireless device 300, 300A to transmit data, received from the reader device 400, to a wireless device such as a UE (e.g., via backscattering). In some examples, a service request is characterised by a given time period, such as the time window shown in Fig. 6. A duplicate A-loT paging response may for example be seen as a second identical A-loT paging response identical to a first A-loT paging response transmitted from the same low power WD and during the same service request.

[0049] The wireless communication system 1 described herein may comprise one or more low power WDs 300, 300A, (and 300C-300D as shown in Figs. 2-5) and / or one or more network nodes 400, such as one or more of: a base station, an eNB, a gNB and / or an access point.A wireless device may refer to a mobile device and / or a user equipment, UE. The low power wireless device 300, 300A may be configured to communicate with the network node 600 via a wireless link (or radio access link) 10, 10A. In one or more examples, low power wireless devices 300, 300A may each be a UE configured to operate as low power wireless devices. In some examples, low power wireless devices 300, 300A may be components of (such as connected with) another device, which may have other functionality (such as sensor device, meter device, and / or a machine.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices 300A-D, a reader device 400, and a network node 600 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless devices 300A-D are for example the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as the low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11. The reader device 400 is for example the reader device disclosed herein, such as the reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The network node 600 is for example the network node disclosed herein, such as the network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0051] The network node 600 (such as a core network node) transmits to the reader device 400 a paging request 501. A paging request as disclosed herein may be seen as an A-loT paging request, such as an A-loT paging request for A-loT paging.

[0052] The reader device 400 transmits, to the low power wireless devices 300A-D, a first A-loT paging message (PM) 502. An A-loT PM (such as the first A-loT paging message and / or the second A-loT paging message) may be seen as a message configured to indicate (such as trigger) to one or more low power WDs a need to respond, e.g., to transmit a A-loT paging response to the reader device 400. In other words, the low power WDs 300A-D may be configured to transmit, to the reader device 400, an A-loT paging response in response to receiving the A-loT paging message. For example, the low power WDs 300A-D may be configured, prior to receiving the first A-loT PM 502, to transmit a paging response in response to receiving the first A-loT PM 502. In some examples, A-loT paging message and paging message can be used interchangeably.

[0053] Low power wireless devices 300A-C (not 300D) successfully transmit to the reader device 400 a first A-loT paging response (PR) 503. The successfully transmitted first A-loT PR 503 comprises at least one paging response from low power wireless devices 300A, 300B, and 300C (also referred to as 300A-C). Successful transmission of a communication may for example herein be seen as successful receipt of a transmission at the reader device 400. For example, successful transmission of a communication may include successful receipt of the communication and / orsuccessful decoding of the communication at the reader device 400. In some examples, A-loT paging response and paging response can be used interchangeably.

[0054] The low power WDs 300A-C communicate with the reader device 400, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0055] In some examples, the first A-loT PR 503 from each of 300A-C may comprise the information indicating that each low power wireless device 300A-C has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request. The first A-loT PR 503 for example comprises a repetition number (such as repetition number 803 shown in Fig. 4) and / or an identifier (such as identifier 903 shown in Fig. 5). In some examples, the first A-loT 503 comprises a data payload.

[0056] Low power wireless device 300D fails 504 to successfully transmit a paging response, such as fails to successfully transmit the first A-loT PR 503. For example, the reader device 400 may fail 504 to receive a paging response from the low power wireless device 300D. For example, the paging response from the low power wireless device 300D is not received successfully or decoded successfully.

[0057] Successful transmission of a paging response may fail 504 due to unavailability of a low power WD, such as low power WD 300D. In some examples, a low power WD may not receive a paging message transmitted by the reader device 400. For example, the low power WD may fail 504 to transmit the first A-loT paging response 503 due to the low power WD 300C not receiving the first A-loT paging message 502. In some examples, the low power WD may fail 504 to transmit the first A-loT paging response 503 due to the low power WD 300C having collision when accessing the channel. The low power WDs 300A-D may operate based on energy harvesting and they may need to be in harvesting / OFF state (e.g., a state in which energy harvesting is occurring) before they have enough energy to monitor for potential paging message. It is expected that the low power WDs have different ON and OFF states due to their energy storage capacity, their distance from the energy source emitter, etc. Therefore, not all devices may be available at the same time to respond to the paging message, such as the first A-loT PM 502 due to one or more of the following:

[0058] Low power WD D2R collision (e.g., in step B of Fig. 7). There may be many low power WDs to access a communication channel. When the low power WDs 300A-D are configured to access the channel and respond through contention-based mechanisms, some devices may fail to transmit their response successfully due to collision.Low power WD 300D not being accessible temporarily. This may occur for instance if the low power WD 300D becomes out of coverage due to a temporary blockage, e.g., physical obstacle and / or system blockage.

[0059] Responses from low power WD 300D may not be successfully received by the reader device 400, e.g., due to temporary incompatibility of the reader device 400. In some examples, the response from low power WD 300D may not be received by the reader device 400 due to the reader device 400 being out of range of the low power WD 300D.

[0060] In some examples, the reader device 400 transmits the information indicating that the low power wireless device (e.g. each of 300A-C) has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. For example, the information 505A transmitted from the reader device 400 comprises an indicator confirming that the first A-loT paging response 503 has been received (e.g., successfully received, such as successfully decoded) by the reader device 400. The information 505Afor example comprises an indicator (e.g., the indicator 705A also shown in Fig. 3) confirming the first A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device. In other words, information 505Afor example comprises the indicator 705A shown in Fig. 3. The information 505A may be transmitted without payload, and / or without user data being communicated between the low power WDs and the reader device.

[0061] For example, the reader device 400 may retransmit 506 the A-loT paging message, e.g. when the reader device 400 has not received a successfully transmitted paging response from one or more low power wireless devices 300A-D, e.g., low power wireless device 300D. Retransmitting 506 the paging message comprises transmitting, from the reader device 400, a second A-loT paging message (PM) 507. The second A-loT PM 507 is for example transmitted to and / or received by low power wireless devices 300A-D. Retransmitting an A-loT paging message may for example be seen as re-paging, e.g., the reader device 400 may re-page the low power WDs 300A-D.

[0062] In some examples, each of the low power WDs 300A-C transmit, to the reader device 400, information 508 indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. The information 508 is transmitted by the low power wireless device after receiving the second A-loT paging message. The information 508 for example comprises an indicator (such as indicator 708 also shown in Fig. 3) confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message. In other words, information 508 for example comprises the indicator 708 shown in Fig. 3. The information 505A and / or information 508 may be transmitted without payload, and / or without user data being communicated between the low power WDs and the reader device.In some examples, the first A-loT paging message 502 comprises a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request. For example, the low power WDs 300A-C may indicate the successful transmission by transmitting, to the reader device 400, the repetition number in the first A-loT PR 503 to the first A-loT paging message 502. In other words, the repetition number can indicate that the low power WDs 300A-C will not respond to a subsequent A-loT paging message having a corresponding (e.g. incremented) repetition number.

[0063] In some examples, the second A-loT PM 507 comprises an updated repetition number associated with the same service request. The updated repetition number may for example be an incremented repetition number. Low power WDs 300A-C which have already indicated the successful transmission by transmitting, to the reader device 400, the repetition number in a first A-loT PR 503 to the first A-loT paging message may not respond to the second A-loT PM 507. For example, when the low power WD 300D has not yet successfully transmitted a paging response, the low power WD 300D may indicate the successful transmission by transmitting, to the reader device 400, the information 508 to the first A-loT paging message. The low power WD 300D transmitting information 508 for example comprises transmitting, to the reader device 400 the updated repetition number.

[0064] In some examples, the low power WDs 300A-D receiving, from the reader device 400, the first A-loT PM 502 comprises receiving, from the reader device 400, the first A-loT PM 502 comprising identification information associated with one or more low power WDs 300A-D. Identification information may be seen as information indicative of an identity of a low power WD. For example, the identification information may be a string comprising one or more digits, characters, and / or symbols. The identification information may indicate to the low power WDs 300A-D whether they should provide a paging response. For example, the identification information in the first A-loT PM 502 may indicate that low power WDs 300A-D should provide a paging response. In some examples, the identification information comprises a group identifier, e.g., indicating to low power WDs 300A-D to respond to the first A-loT PM 502. A group identifier may for example be seen as an identifier indicative of an identity of two or more low power WDs, such as a group of low power WDs. For example, the identification information may comprise a single group identifier indicating to the four low power WDs to respond to the first A-loT PM 502.

[0065] In some examples, the low power WDs 300A-D associated with the identification information may transmit, to the reader device 400, information in the first A-loT paging response 503 to the first A-loT paging message 502. The information in the first A-loT paging response 503 to thefirst A-loT paging message 502 for example comprises an identifier associated with one or more low power WDs 300A-D and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power WD 300A-D. For example, low power WD 300A-C (that are successfully transmitting the first paging response 503) may indicate the successful transmission by transmitting, to the reader device 400, an identifier in a first A-loT paging response 503 to the first A-loT PM 502. For example, an identifier is associated with a given low power WD 300A, 300B, 300C or 300D. In other words, the identifier and / or group identifier transmitted in the first A-loT paging response 503 may indicate that the low power WDs 300A-C (which have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 503) which low power WDs have yet to successfully transmit a paging response. An identifier is for example indicative of an identity of a low power wireless device, such as the low power wireless devices 300A-D shown in Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 11. For example, the identifier may comprise one or more digits, characters, and / or symbols, e.g., indicative of an identity of a low power WD. An identifier is for example indicative of an identity of a single low power WD. In other words, each low power WD may be associated with a unique identifier. In some examples, the identification information transmitted to the low power WDs 300A-D in the first A-loT PM 502 comprises a group identifier indicative of an identity of two or more low power WDs and the information in a paging response, such as the first A-loT paging response 503, comprises one or more identifiers, e.g., unique identifiers each associated with one of the low power WDs 300A-D.

[0066] The second A-loT PM 507 for example comprises identification information associated with one or more low power WDs which have already successfully transmitted a paging response, such as low power WDs 300A-C. For example, reader device 400 transmits a second A-loT PM 507 comprising identification information associated with low power WDs 300A-C. The low power WD 300D may transmit, to the reader device, the information 508 in a second A-loT paging response to the second A-loT paging message 507.

[0067] The low power wireless device, reader device, and the network node may for example communicate in accordance with a paging scheme. A paging scheme may for example be seen as a scheme for initiating the communications between the low power wireless device, reader device, and / or the network node. For example, a paging scheme may be seen as a scheme according to which the A-loT paging of the low power WD is performed. In other words, the paging scheme may indicate one or more operations, such as inventory, communications, to be performed by the low power WD, the reader device, and / or the network node. Fig. 3 for example corresponds with a first paging scheme, Fig. 4 for example corresponds with a second paging scheme, Fig. 5 for example corresponds with a third paging scheme, and Fig. 6 for examplecorresponds with a fourth paging scheme. Fig. 2 for example corresponds with the first, second, third, and fourth paging schemes.

[0068] Fig. 3 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices 300A-D, a reader device 400, and a network node 600 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless devices 300A-D are for example the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as the low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11. The reader device 400 is for example the reader device disclosed herein, such as the reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The network node 600 is for example the network node disclosed herein, such as the network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0069] The network node 600 (such as a core network node) transmits to the reader device 400 a paging request 701.

[0070] The reader device 400 transmits, to the low power wireless devices 300A-D, a first A-loT paging message 702.

[0071] Low power wireless devices 300A-C (not 300D) successfully transmit to the reader device 400 a first A-loT paging response (PR) 703. The successfully transmitted first A-loT PR 703 comprises at least one paging response from low power wireless devices 300A, 300B, and 300C (also referred to as 300A-C). Successful transmission of a communication may for example herein be seen as successful receipt of a transmission, e.g., at the reader device 400. For example, successful transmission of a communication may include successful receipt of the communication and / or successful decoding of the communication, e.g., at the reader device 400. The first A-loT PR 703 for example comprises a data payload and / or an identifier.

[0072] Low power wireless device 300D fails 704 to successfully transmit a paging response. For example, the reader device 400 may fail 704 to receive a paging response from the low power wireless device 300D. For example, the paging response, e.g., an attempted first A-loT PR, from the low power wireless device 300D is not received successfully or decoded successfully.

[0073] The reader device 400 may transmit, to the network node 600, a response 705. The response 705 for example comprises a paging response, e.g., based on the first A-loT PR 703. A response (such as response 705) may for example be seen as a report, such as a paging report. The reader device 400 may for example inform the network node 600 about the paging result via response 705 or may provide the response 705 later, such as after receiving a second A-loT paging response 709. In some examples, a response (such as response 705) transmitted from the reader device 400 to the network node 600 may comprise a combined pagingresponse, such as combined paging response associated with the successfully transmitted first A-loT PR 703 from one or more of low power WDs 300A-C. For example, the reader device 400 may report one or more, such as all, of the successfully transmitted paging responses received from the low power WDs in a combined response, such as combined report. In other words, the reader device 400 may transmit a combined response for one or more paging cycles associated with a service request. In some examples, the reader device 400 may report after a given paging cycle, e.g., after each repetition, the paging responses it received from the low power WDs 300A-D. A response (such as response 705) may indicate one or more, such as all, of the low power wireless devices 300A-C that have successfully transmitted the first A-loT PR 703. In some examples, the reader device 400 transmitting the response 705 may comprise forwarding, to the network node 600, the first A-loT PR 703 successfully transmitted by the low power wireless devices 300A-C.

[0074] As no paging response was successfully transmitted, e.g., received and / or decoded, from low power wireless device 300D, the reader device 400 may retransmit 706 the paging message, such as the first A-loT paging message 702. Retransmitting 706 the paging message comprises transmitting, from the reader device 400, a second A-loT paging message 707. The second paging message 707 is for example transmitted to and / or received by low power wireless devices 300A-D.

[0075] The low power wireless devices 300A-C that have already successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703 may transmit information indicating that the low power wireless devices 300A-C have transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703 in response to the first A-loT paging message 702. The information indicating that the low power wireless devices 300A-C have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703 may comprise an indicator 708 confirming that the first paging response 703 has been received by the reader device 400 (such as successfully transmitted by the low power wireless devices 300A-C). For example, the indicator 708 (such as the indicator comprised in information 508 of Fig. 2) may comprise a paging acknowledgement (ACK) confirming that the first A-loT paging response 703 has been successfully transmitted by reader devices 300A-C. For example, each of the low power wireless devices 300A-C may transmit, to the reader device 400, an indicator 708. After transmitting the indicator 708, the low power wireless devices 300A-C may ignore, such as refrain from responding to, subsequent A-loT paging messages. In other words, the indicator 708 may indicate to the reader device 400 that the paging of low power wireless devices 300A-C is complete, such as for a given service request.In other words, a low power wireless device (e.g., low power wireless devices 300A-C) which have already responded to the first A-loT paging message 703 may for example avoid transmitting a duplicate A-loT paging response by transmitting the indicator 708 is response to the first sub-sequent A-loT paging message (e.g., the second A-loT paging message 707), indicating that it has already responded to the first A-loT paging message 702. In other words, the indicator 708 may be seen as a confirmation that the low power WDs 300A-C have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703, e.g., a confirmation that the reader device has received the first A-loT paging response 703 from low power WDs 300A-C. After the indicator 708 has been transmitted to the reader device 400, the low power wireless device expects to ignore the any subsequent A-loT paging messages (e.g., from the same service request and / or identifier). The indicator 708, such as the paging ACK, is for example not a full paging response. The indicator 708 may for example not comprise a data payload. The indicator 708 (e.g., the paging ACK) may for example be a small message size flag compared to the first paging response 703 that may be a full paging response, e.g., including data payload and an identifier. In other words, the indicator 708 may indicate to the reader device 400 that the first A-loT paging response 703 itself has already been successfully transmitted and / or that there will be no more further responses to a paging request for same service. For example, by transmitting the indicator 708 (instead of a full paging response) the size of the communication transmitted by the low power WD may be advantageously reduced, thereby enabling a reduction in power consumption at the low power WD.

[0076] In some examples, the reader device 400 may transmit, to the low power wireless devices 300A-C (from which the reader device 400 has already received the first A-loT paging response 703), information indicating that the low power wireless devices 300A-C have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703 in response to the first A-loT paging message 702. The information indicating that the low power wireless devices 300A-C have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 703 may comprise an indicator 705A confirming that the first A-loT paging response 703 has been received by the reader device 400 (such as successfully transmitted by the low power wireless devices 300A-C). For example, the indicator 705A (such as the indicator comprised in the information 505A of Fig. 2) may comprise a paging acknowledgement (ACK) confirming that the first A-loT paging response 703 has been received by reader devices 300A-C. For example, when the reader device 400 transmits the indicator 705A to the low power WDs 300A-C, the low power WDs 300A-C may refrain from responding to the second A-loT paging message (e.g., refrain from transmitting the indicator 708) and / or to any subsequent A-loT paging messages. In other words, the indicator 705A may indicate to the low power WDs 300A-C that the paging of low power wireless devices 300A-C is complete, such as for a given service request.The low power wireless device 300D may transmit, e.g., in response to receiving the second A-loT paging message 707, a second A-loT paging response 709. The second A-loT paging response 709 that failed 704 in the first paging attempt, may be successfully transmitted in a second paging attempt. For example, the second A-loT paging response 709 which failed 704 in the first paging attempt, may be successfully received and / or decoded by the reader device 400 in the second paging attempt.

[0077] The reader device 400 may transmit a response 710 to the network node 600. In other words, the reader device 400 may inform the network node 600 of the paging result e.g., the combination of the first and second attempt or only from second attempt. The response 710 may in some examples seen as a paging response, such as a trigger response.

[0078] If there are further devices not yet responding to the paging, a third paging attempt 711 similar to as the second paging attempt 707 may be transmitted by the reader device 400. The low power wireless device 300D that has already transmitted the second A-loT paging response 709 may transmit information, e.g., comprising indicator 712, indicating that the low power wireless devices 300D has transmitted the second A-loT paging response 709 in response to the second A-loT paging message. In other words, the indicator 712 may confirm (e.g., to the reader device 400) that the low power wireless device 300D had earlier responded to the second A-loT paging message 707. For example, the indicator 712 may comprise a paging ACK confirming that the second A-loT paging response 709 has been successfully transmitted by reader device 300D.

[0079] The reader device may for example transmit, to the low power wireless device 300D, information indicating that the low power wireless device 300D has transmitted the second A-loT PR 709 to the second A-loT paging message 707. The information indicating that the low power wireless device 300D has transmitted the second A-loT PR 709 to the second A-loT paging message 707 for example comprises an indicator, e.g., a paging ACK, confirming that the second A-loT PR 709 has been received (such as successfully received, e.g., successfully decoded) by the reader device 400. The indicating that the low power wireless device 300D has transmitted the second A-loT PR 709 to the second A-loT paging message 707 may be transmitted without payload, and / or without user data being communicated between the low power WD 300D and the reader device 400.

[0080] In some examples, the A-loT paging procedure may be repeated until all low power wireless devices expected to respond to the paging have responded. The A-loT paging procedure maybe repeated for a certain number of times before the procedure may time out, e.g., until a time window expires.

[0081] The example communications shown in Fig. 3 may be seen as communications of a first paging scheme, such as communications in accordance with a first paging scheme. Fig. 3 shows four low power wireless devices, 300A, 300B, 300C, and 300D.

[0082] Fig. 4 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices 300A-D, a reader device 400, and a network node 600 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless devices 300A-D are for example the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as the low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11. The reader device 400 is for example the reader device disclosed herein, such as the reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The network node 600 is for example the network node disclosed herein, such as the network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0083] The network node 600 (such as a core network node) transmits to the reader device 400 a paging request 801.

[0084] The reader device 400 transmits, to the low power wireless devices 300A-D, a first A-loT paging message (PM) 802. The first A-loT PM comprises a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request. Paging cycle can be seen as a sequence including a paging message and paging responses to the paging message. In some examples, a paging cycle may start when a first A-loT paging message is transmitted to the low power WDs 300A-D and end (such as restart) when the repetition number is incremented or changed, a. For example, the first A-loT PM may be associated with a first paging cycle or a first paging sequence and the second A-loT PM 807 may be associated with a second paging cycle or a second paging sequence. For example, a paging cycle or paging sequence may in some examples be seen as a paging attempt. Each paging message within a paging cycle may for example be associated with a repetition number, which indicates which paging cycle the paging message / responses belong to. As shown in Fig. 4, each time an A-loT paging message is transmitted (e.g., retransmitted) by the reader device for a given service request, the repetition number may increase (e.g., increment) thereby indicating the start of a new paging cycle with a new paging message. Fig. 4 for example shows two A-loT paging messages 802 and 807 wherein A-loT paging message 802 carries repetition number r while A-loT paging message 807 carries repetition number r+1. The repetition number can for example be seen as being associated with a given paging cycle associated with the service request. In some examples, the repetition number may be seen as a sequence number. The repetition number, e.g.sequence number, may allow identification of paging messages and / or paging responses associated to the same sequence. For example, the repetition number may be indicative of which paging messages and / or paging responses are associated with a given paging cycle. The repetition number may for example be indicative of a number of times a paging message for the same service request is transmitted, e.g., retransmitted. For example, each time a paging message for a given service request is transmitted the repetition number may be incremented or decremented such as to indicate the repetition of the paging message. In other words, the repetition number and subsequent updated repetition number(s) may be associated with the same paging cycle. The “(r)” shown in Fig. 4 indicates the repetition number.

[0085] Low power wireless devices 300A-C (not 300D) successfully transmit to the reader device 400 a first A-loT paging response 803. Transmitting the first A-loT paging response 803 to the reader device 400 comprises transmitting, to the reader device 400, the repetition number received in the first A-loT PM 802. In other words, the low power WDs 300A-C may, in response to receiving the repetition number in the first A-loT PM 802, transmit a first A-loT PR 803 comprising the received repetition number. The low power WDs 300A-C which have transmitted the repetition number in the first A-loT PR 803 are not expected to respond to subsequent paging messages from the reader device 400, such as subsequent paging messages associated with the same service request. In other words, low power WDs 300A-C which have already transmitted a first A-loT PR 803 comprising the repetition number in response to the first A-loT PM 802 may be exempt from transmitting a A-loT paging response to a subsequent A-loT paging message, e.g., in the same service request.

[0086] Low power wireless device 300D fails 804 to successfully transmit an A-loT paging response. In other words, a paging response comprising a repetition number was not successfully transmitted by the low power WD 300D.

[0087] The reader device 400 may transmit, to the network node 600, a response 805. The response 805 for example comprises a paging response, e.g., based on the first A-loT paging response 803. For example, the response 805 may indicate to the network node 600 that low power WD 300A-C transmitted a first A-loT PR 803 comprising the repetition number.

[0088] As no paging response was successfully transmitted, e.g., received and / or decoded, from low power wireless device 300D, the reader device 400 may retransmit 806 the paging message. Retransmitting 806 the A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, from the reader device 400, a second A-loT PM 807. The second A-loT PM 807 is for example transmitted to and / or received by low power wireless devices 300A-D. The second A-loT PM 807 comprises anupdated repetition number associated with the same service request. The updated repetition number may for example be an incremented repetition number. For example, the updated repetition number may be the repetition number + 1, also referred to as “r+1”. In some examples, the reader device 400 may increment (such as +1) to the repetition number until all low power WD have been accounted for, e.g., until each of the low power WDs 300A-D have successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response. In other words, the repetition number is for example indicative of a number of retransmission of the A-loT paging message. For example, when the A-loT paging message has been transmitted once (e.g., only the first A-loT PM 802 has so far been transmitted) the repetition number is “r”. When for example, the A-loT paging message has been transmitted twice (e.g., the first A-loT PM 802 and the second A-loT PM 807 have been transmitted), the repetition number may be incremented (e.g., ”r+1”) indicating that there has been one repetition of the A-loT paging message transmission.

[0089] When the reader device 400 transmits the second A-loT PM 807, e.g., re-transmits the paging message, the low power WDs 300A-C which have already responded to the first A-loT PM 802 may not transmit a paging response. In other words, at the following paging attempt (e.g., the second A-loT PM 807) for the same service request, the low power WDs 300A-C are not required to respond. In other words, the low power WDs 300A-C which have already responded to the first A-loT PM 802 may not monitor for the second A-loT PM 807. In some examples, when the reader device 400 has already received a response from the low power WD 300A-C, the reader device 400 may discard a subsequent A-loT paging response transmitted by a low power WD that has already transmitted a paging response, e.g., for the same service request.

[0090] The low power WD 300D which has not yet transmitted a paging response may however continuing to monitor for paging messages until it has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response, e.g., until the low power WD 300D has successfully decoded a paging message, such as the second A-loT PM 807 and / or until the reader device 400 has successfully decoded the paging response transmitted by the low power WD 300D.

[0091] Transmitting the second A-loT PR 808 to the reader device 400 comprises transmitting, to the reader device 400, the updated repetition number received in the second A-loT PR 807. In other words, the low power WD 300D may, in response to receiving the updated repetition number in the second A-loT PM 807, transmit a second A-loT PR 807 comprising the received updated repetition number. The low power WD 300D which has transmitted the updated repetition number in the second A-loT PR 807 is not expected to respond to subsequent paging messages from the reader device 400, such as subsequent paging messages associated with the same service request.The reader device 400 may transmit a response 809 to the network node 600. In other words, the reader device 400 may inform the network node 600 of the paging result e.g., the combination of the first and second A-loT PMs 802, 807 or only the second A-loT PM 807. The response 809 may in some examples seen as a paging response, such as a trigger response.

[0092] The example communications shown in Fig. 4 may be seen as communications of a second paging scheme, such as communications in accordance with a second paging scheme.

[0093] Fig. 5 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices 300A-D, a reader device 400, and a network node 600 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless devices 300A-D are for example the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as the low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11. The reader device 400 is for example the reader device disclosed herein, such as the reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The network node 600 is for example the network node disclosed herein, such as the network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0094] To avoid duplicating the A-loT paging responses, the A-loT paging message may include in one or more subsequent A-loT paging messages an identifier and / or a group identifier indicative devices that have already responded to the paging inventory messages.

[0095] The network node 600 (such as a core network node) transmits to the reader device 400 a paging request 901.

[0096] The reader device 400 transmits, to the low power wireless devices 300A-D, a first A-loT PM 902. The first A-loT PM 902 comprises identification information associated with the low power WDs 300A-D. in other words, the first A-loT PM 902 comprises identification information indicating that all low power WD 300A-D are expected to transmit an A-loT paging response.

[0097] Low power wireless devices 300A-C (not 300D) successfully transmit to the reader device 400 a first A-loT paging response 903. Transmitting the first A-loT paging response 903 to the reader device 400 comprises transmitting, to the reader device 400, an identifier and / or a group identifier associated with each low power WDs 300A-C that have successfully transmitted the first A-loT paging response 903. In other words, the reader device 400 may receive, from the low power WDs 300A-C, the first A-loT PR 903 comprising an identifier associated with each of the low power WDs 300A-C. In some examples, the reader device 400 may receive, from the low power WDs 300A-C, the first A-loT PR 903 comprising a group identifier associated with agroup of low power WDs 300A-C, such as a single group identifier indicative of low power WDs 300A-C.

[0098] Low power wireless device 300D fails 904 to successfully transmit an A-loT paging response. In other words, an A-loT paging response comprising an identifier and / or a group identifier was not successfully transmitted by the low power WD 300D.

[0099] The reader device 400 may transmit, to the network node 600, a response 905. The response 905 for example comprises a paging response, e.g., based on the first A-loT paging response 903. For example, the response 905 may indicate to the network node 600 that low power WD 300A-C transmitted a first A-loT PR 903 comprising the identifier and / or the group identifier.

[0100] As no paging response was successfully transmitted, e.g., received and / or decoded, from the low power WD 300D, the reader device 400 may retransmit 906 the A-loT paging response. Retransmitting 906 the A-loT paging response comprises transmitting, from the reader device 400, a second A-loT PM 907. The second A-loT PM 907 comprises identification information associated with the low power WDs 300A-C which have already transmitted the first A-loT PR 903. For example, the second A-loT PM 907 comprises identification information indicating to low power WDs 300A-C that they are not expected to transmit an A-loT paging response to the second A-loT PM 907.

[0101] In some examples, the second A-loT PM 907 comprises identification information indicative of a re-access indication. For example, the identification information may comprise a re-access indication and / or an identifier of the low power WD 300D that has not yet transmitted a A-loT paging response. In some examples, the re-access indication may comprise a A-loT paging NACK, e.g., indicative of an A-loT paging response not having been successfully transmitted by the low power WD 300D.

[0102] In some examples, the identification information includes a message to update a group ID membership, e.g., where members of the group will ignore subsequent A-loT paging messages. In some examples, the reader device 400 could add a re-access indication (such as a one bit re-access indication) associated with the low power WD identifiers that the reader device is trying to re-page.

[0103] In other words, the low power WDs 300A-C that have already responded to the first A-loT PM 902 may, based on the identification information, ignore responding to subsequent A-loT pagingmessages, e.g., second A-loT PM 907, such as subsequent A-loT paging messages of the same service request.

[0104] Low power wireless devices 300D successfully transmits to the reader device 400 a second A-loT paging response 908. Transmitting the second A-loT paging response 908 to the reader device 400 comprises transmitting, to the reader device 400, an identifier and / or a group identifier associated with low power WD 300D that has successfully transmitted the second A-loT paging response 903. In other words, the reader device 400 may receive, from the low power WD 300D, the second A-loT PR 908 comprising an identifier associated with low power WD 300D. In some examples, the reader device 400 may receive, from the low power WD 300D, the second A-loT PR 908 comprising a group identifier associated with a group of two or more low power WDs 300A-D, such as a single group identifier indicative of low power WDs 300A-D.

[0105] The reader device 400 may transmit, to the network node 600, a response 909. The response 909 for example comprises a paging response, e.g., based on the first A-loT paging response 903 and / or the second A-loT paging response 908. For example, the response 909 may indicate to the network node 600 that low power WDs 300A-D have transmitted an A-loT paging response comprising an identifier and / or a group identifier. In other words, the network node 600 receives the response 909 indicating that low power WDs 300A-D have successfully transmitted a paging response.

[0106] The example communications shown in Fig. 5 may be seen as communications of a third paging scheme, such as communications in accordance with a third paging scheme.

[0107] Fig. 6 shows a signalling diagram of example communications for an A-loT paging between low power wireless devices 300A-D, a reader device 400, and a network node 600 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless devices 300A-D are for example the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as the low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11. The reader device 400 is for example the reader device disclosed herein, such as the reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The network node 600 is for example the network node disclosed herein, such as the network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0108] The network node 600 transmits to the reader device 400 a paging request 1001.

[0109] The reader device 400 transmits, to the low power wireless devices 300A-D, a first A-loT paging message (PM) 1002.After transmission of the first A-loT PM 1002, a time window starts 1003. A time window as disclosed herein may for example be seen as a time duration, such as a time period. In other words, the time window may be seen as a duration of time between the time window starting and the time window stopping. A time window may be defined or understood as a difference between two values (e.g., a first time and a second time) and / or as a specific duration (e.g., a quantity of seconds, or fraction thereof). A service request may for example be associated with a given time period. A paging cycle may for example be associated with a given time period. The time window is for example started at the reader device 400 and / or the network node 600. A time window as disclosed herein may be seen as a time period during which a low power WD is obliged successfully transmit one A-loT paging response to the A-loT paging message. For example, during the time window, a low power WD may only transmit a single A-loT paging response to the reader device 400. In other words, during the time window, the low power WD may be configured to refrain from transmitting duplicate A-loT paging responses to the reader device 400.

[0110] The time window may for example be based on the repetition number. In some examples, the time window may start at different times at the reader device 400 and at the low power WDs 300A-D. The time window may be started at the reader device 400 when the reader device 400 sends the first A-loT PM 1002. The time window at the low power WD 300A-D device may start when the low power WD receive the first A-loT PM 1002. In some examples, when the low power WD does not receive the first A-loT PM 1002, the time window may start later, e.g., when the low power WD 300A-D receive the second A-loT PM 1008. In other words, the time window may differ between different low power WDs 300A-D and the reader device 400. The low power WD may use the repetition number to initialize the time window, e.g., to reduce the difference between the timer at the low power WD 300A-D and at the reader device 400. For example, when the low power WD 300D did not receive the first A-loT PM 1002, the time window may start at the reader device 400, but not at the low power WD 300D. The low power WD 300D for example then receives the second A-loT PM 1008 comprising an updated repetition number (e.g., r+1 or r-1) for example indicative of a repetition of the A-loT paging message transmission. In other words, the incrementation or decrementation of the repetition number may indicate a difference in the time window between the reader device 400 and low power WD 300D which the low power WD 300D may then adjust to account for. In other words, the repetition number may be used to estimate a start value of the timer to know the time remaining for monitoring the A-loT paging message.

[0111] Low power wireless devices 300A-C (not 300D) successfully transmit to the reader device 400 a first A-loT paging response 1004. In some examples, when the time window is not based on therepetition number, the time window start 1003 may be based on the A-loT paging response transmitted by the low power WD. For example, the time window start 1003 may occur, at the low power WDs 300A-C, after (e.g., based on) the transmission of the first A-loT PR 1004.

[0112] Low power wireless device 300D fails 1005 to successfully transmit an A-loT paging response (PR).

[0113] As no paging response was successfully transmitted, e.g., received and / or decoded, from low power WD 300D, the reader device 400 may retransmit 1007 the A-loT paging message.

[0114] Retransmitting 1007 the A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, from the reader device 400, a second A-loT PM 1008.

[0115] The low power WD 300A-D receive the second A-loT PM 1008 during the time window (e.g., after the time window starts 1003, and before the time window stops 1011). The low power WDs 300A-C which have already successfully transmitted the first A-loT PR 1004 do not transmit a duplicate A-loT paging response as the time window has not yet stopped. In other words, since a timer of the low power WDs 300A-C has not yet expired (e.g., indicating to the low power WDs 300A-C that the second A-loT PM 1008 was received during the time window), the low power WD 300A-C do not transmit a duplicate paging response, the low power WD 300A-C may not monitor during this time window for any paging message. The low power WD 300D which has not yet successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response transmits, to the reader device 400, a second A-loT paging response 1009.

[0116] The reader device 400 may transmit, to the network node 600, a response 1010. The response 1010 for example comprises a paging response, e.g., based on the first A-loT paging response 1004 and / or the second A-loT paging response 1009. For example, the response 1010 may indicate to the network node 600 that low power WDs 300A-D have each successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response.

[0117] The time window stops 1011 after the response 1010 is transmitted by the reader device 400 to the network node 600. After the time window stops 1011, such as expires, the low power WD 300A-D may be expected to monitor for and respond to the A-loT paging messages again. The time window stop 1011 may for example occur after more than two A-loT paging messages have been transmitted by the reader device. The reader device 400 may for example configure the time window, such as the moment that the time window starts 1003, and / or the moment that the time window stops 1011.The example communications shown in Fig. 6 may be seen as communications of a fourth paging scheme, such as communications in accordance with a fourth paging scheme. The communications of the fourth paging scheme may for example be performed in accordance with one or more of the first, second, and / or third paging schemes. For example, one or more of the first, second, and third paging schemes may include the time window indicated in Fig. 6 (e.g., the time window start 1003, and the time window stop 1011).

[0118] Fig. 7 shows a diagram illustrating example communications with an example time window between a low power wireless device, a reader device, and a network node.

[0119] The overall procedure between the low power WD and the reader device may include the following steps. For example, Step A: A-loT paging where based on the service request, the reader sends the A-loT paging message indicating device(s) that need to respond. For example, Step B: D2R data (e.g., device ID) transmission such as a paging response to the A-loT paging message. In some examples, triggered A-loT device(s) may perform the device ID transmission, e.g., via the A-loT random access procedure or without using the A-loT random access procedure. For example, Step C: Possible R2D data transmission (e.g., for sending the command) and / or D2R data transmission (e.g., the corresponding response to command). In some examples, the diagram shown in Fig. 7 may be seen as a timing diagram, such as indicating a duration of time windows.

[0120] Fig. 8 shows a flow diagram of an example method 100, performed by a low power wireless device according to the disclosure, for an A-loT paging with a reader device. The low power wireless device is the low power wireless device disclosed herein, such as low power wireless device 300 of Figs.1-6 and Fig. 11.

[0121] The method 100 comprises receiving S102, from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request. The first A-loT paging message received S102, from the reader device, corresponds with the first A-loT paging message 502, 702, 802, 902, and 1002 shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively.

[0122] In one or more example methods, receiving S102, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving S102A, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request. The first A-loT paging message received S102A, from the reader device, comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the sameservice request corresponds with the first A-loT PM 502 and 802 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 respectively.

[0123] In one or more example methods, receiving S102, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving S102B, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices. The first A-loT paging message received S102B, from the reader device, comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices corresponds with the first A-loT PM 502 and 902 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 respectively.

[0124] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises transmitting S104, to the reader device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. The first A-loT paging response transmitted S104, to the reader device, corresponds with the first A-loT paging response 503, 703, 803, 903, and 1004 shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. In some examples, one or more low power WDs may fail to successfully transmit the first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. A failure to successfully transmit the first A-loT paging response is indicated respectively in Figs. 2-6 as failed paging response 504, 704, 804, 904, and 1005.

[0125] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises receiving S105, from the reader device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request. The second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request (e.g., the same service request as the first A-loT paging message) received S105, from the reader device, corresponds with the second A-loT paging message 507, 707, 807, 907, and 1008 shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively.

[0126] The method 100 comprises communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request. In other words, the information may indicate that the A-loT paging response has been accurately received by the reader device, e.g., according to any of the first, second, third, and / or fourth paging schemes (where the information for example comprises an indicator, a repetition number, and / or an identifier).In one or more example methods, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving S106A, from the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted (such as successfully transmitted) an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. For example, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving S106A, from the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully received, such as successfully decoded, an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. In one or more example methods, the information received from the reader device comprises an indicator confirming that the first A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device.

[0127] In one or more example methods, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting S106B, to the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. In one or more example methods, the information is transmitted by the low power wireless device after receiving the second A-loT paging message and the information comprises an indicator (such as a paging ACK) confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message. The information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message transmitted S106, to the reader device, corresponds with indicator 508 and indicator 708 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively.

[0128] In one or more example methods, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting S106C, to the reader device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. The repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message transmitted S106C, to the reader device, corresponds with the first A-loT paging message 503 and 803 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 respectively.

[0129] In one or more example methods, communicating S106, with the reader device, the information comprises receiving S106D, from the reader device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request. The updated repetition number associated with the same service request received S106D, from the reader device, corresponds with the second A-loT paging message 507 and 807 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 respectively. In other words, the information received S106D, from the reader device, may comprise a repetition number (e.g., “r+1” as shown in Fig. 4) associated with the same service request.In one or more example methods, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting S106E, to the reader device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. In one or more example methods, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices. The information (e.g., comprising an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices) in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message transmitted S106E, to the reader device, corresponds with first A-loT paging response 503 and first A-loT paging response 903 shown in Fig. 2 and 5 respectively.

[0130] In one or more example methods, communicating S106, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises communicating S106F, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, during a time window, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. For example, each time window is for example associated with a given service request. For example, time window x and time window x+1 shown in Fig. 7 may both be associated with different service requests. Communicating S106F, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, during a time window, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message for example comprises performing any of communications S106A-S106E during the time window. For example, communicating S106F, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, during a time window, the information may comprise communicating, during the time window, one or more: of an indicator, a repetition number, and an identifier. For example, transmitting the first A-loT PR 1004 and / or the second A-loT PR 1009 during the time window (as shown in Fig. 6) comprises communicating information (e.g., an indicator, a repetition number, and / or an identifier) information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request. Communicating S106F, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, during a time window, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message corresponds with the first A-loT PR 1004 and / or the second A-loT PR 1009 shown in Fig. 6.In one or more example methods, the time window is configured by the reader device. For example, the duration of the time window is configured by the reader device. In one or more example methods, the time window is based on the repetition number. The reader device may for example configure the time window based on the repetition number. In some examples, the reader device may determine the time window, e.g., based on the repetition number. In some examples, the reader device may receive information indicative of a time window from the network node, e.g., based upon which the reader device may then configure the time window.

[0131] In one or more example methods, the information indicates that the low power wireless device is not to transmit more than one A-loT paging response during the time window. In other words, a low power WD which has already successfully transmitted a first A-loT paging response during the time window, is for example not to monitor for a second A-loT paging message or not transmit a second A-loT paging response during the same time window.

[0132] In one or more example methods, the information indicates that the low power wireless device no longer responds to an A-loT paging message that is associated with the same service request and received after the first A-loT paging response has been successfully transmitted by the low power wireless device.

[0133] It may be appreciated that any of the definitions and terms used in the description of Fig. 1 , Fig.

[0134] 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 may also apply to the description of Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, Fig. 11 , Fig. 12, and Fig. 13 and vice versa. For example, any definitions and terms associated with the signalling diagrams disclosed herein may also apply and / or be used as definitions and terms relating to the methods performed by the low power WD, reader device, and network node and to the low power WD, reader device, and network node themselves as disclosed herein and vice versa.

[0135] Fig. 9 shows a flow diagram of an example method 200, performed by a reader device according to the disclosure, for an A-loT paging with a low power wireless device. The reader device is the reader device disclosed herein, such as reader device 400 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 12. The reader device can be seen as configured to handle communication of data between a network node and a first low power wireless device. It may be appreciated that the methods referred to in the method 200 (shown in Fig. 9) performed by the reader device correspond withthe methods referred to in method 100 (shown in Fig. 8) performed by the low power WD. For example, (in method 100) the low power WD receiving S102, from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message can be seen as the same operation as (in method 200) the reader device transmitting S202, to the first low power WD the first A-loT paging message. In other words, method 200 performed by the reader device can be seen as a part of the same operation in a wireless communication network as method 100 performed by the low power WD. Therefore, where the description of Fig. 8 applies to the method 100 performed by the low power WD, the description of Fig. 8 may also apply to the method 200 performed by the reader device (shown in Fig. 9).

[0136] The reader device is for example configured to handle communication of data between a network node and one or more low power WDs, such as the four low power WDs 300A-D shown in Figs. 2-6.

[0137] The method 200 comprises transmitting S202, to the first low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request. The method 200 for example comprises transmitting, to a second, a third, a fourth (etc.) low power WD, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request.

[0138] The method 200 comprises communicating S206, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0139] In one or more example methods, the method 200 comprises receiving S204, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. In one or more example methods, communicating S206, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting S206A, to the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0140] In one or more example methods, receiving S204, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0141] In one or more example methods, the method 200 comprises transmitting S205, to the low power wireless device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request.In one or more example methods, communicating S206 the information comprises receiving S206B, from the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0142] In one or more example methods, the information is received by the reader device after transmitting the second A-loT paging message and the information comprises an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message.

[0143] In one or more example methods, transmitting S202, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting S202A, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request.

[0144] In one or more example methods, communicating S206, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving S206C, from the low power wireless device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0145] In one or more example methods, communicating S206, with the low power wireless device, the information comprises transmitting S206D, to the low power wireless device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request.

[0146] In one or more example methods, transmitting S202, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting S202B, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices.

[0147] In one or more example methods, communicating S206, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving S206E, from the low power wireless device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message. For example, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.Fig. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example method 250, performed by a network node according to the disclosure, for an A-loT paging of a low power wireless device via a reader device. The network node is the network node disclosed herein, such as network node 600 of Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 13.

[0148] The method 250 comprises transmitting S252, to the reader device, a control signalling indicative of a configuration for an A-loT paging of the low power wireless device. The control signalling may for example be seen as controlling an A-loT paging of the low power WD. In other words, the reader device may for example control, using control signalling, the A-loT paging of the low power WD. In one or more example methods, the configuration is indicative of an A-loT paging scheme to be used in paging between the low power wireless device and the reader device. For example, the network node may select a paging scheme to be used in paging between the low power WD and the reader device. The configuration may for example be indicative of one or more A-loT paging schemes, such as a first paging scheme (shown in Fig. 3), a second paging scheme (shown in Fig. 4), a third paging scheme (shown in Fig. 5), and / or a fourth paging scheme (Fig. 6). In some examples, a part of a communication scheme may be applied to different communication scheme. For example, the time window of the fourth paging scheme may be applied to any of the first, second, and third paging schemes. In some examples, different paging schemes (e.g., any of the paging schemes disclosed herein) may be used in paging, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, in succession (such as subsequently to one another). For example, when no paging response is received (such as failed PR 504, 704, 804, 904, 1005 shown in Figs. 2-6) from a low power WD, the network node may select a different paging scheme to be used in paging between the low power WD and the reader device. A third paging scheme may for example be used for paging after a first paging scheme has been used for paging. In some examples, any combination of the paging schemes disclosed herein may for example be used for paging.

[0149] The paging scheme may indicate (e.g., to the low power WD and / or the reader device) one or more operations, such as communications, to be performed by the low power WD, the reader device, and / or the network node. In one or more example methods, the A-loT paging scheme indicates providing that the reader device is to confirm that an A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device.

[0150] In one or more examples, the A-loT paging scheme indicates providing that the low power wireless device is to transmit, after receiving a second A-loT paging message, an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to a first A-loT paging message.In one or more examples, the A-loT paging scheme indicates an A-loT paging message from the reader device which comprises a repetition number that is included by the low power wireless device in the transmission of the A-loT paging response to the A-loT paging message.

[0151] In one or more examples, the A-loT paging scheme indicates an A-loT paging message from the reader device which comprises identification information.

[0152] In one or more examples, the A-loT paging scheme indicates providing that the low power wireless device transmits information comprising an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.

[0153] In one or more examples, the A-loT paging scheme indicates a time window during which the low power wireless device is expected to transmit successfully at most one paging response.

[0154] In one or more example methods, the network node is configured to determine a duration of the time window during which the low power wireless device is expected to transmit successfully at most one paging response.

[0155] For example, the network node may determine a duration of the time window, e.g., based on the repetition number. In one or more example methods, the network node is configured to determine, e.g., based on an updated repetition number, the duration of the time window. In some examples, the network node is configured to determine, based on an incrementation of the repetition number, the duration of the time window. In other words, the duration of the time window may be seen as time period between the start time of the time window and the stop time of the time window. For example, the duration of the time window may be seen as a time period between a start time of a timer and expiry time of a timer, such as a timer at the reader device and / or low power WD.

[0156] In one or more example methods, the method 250 comprises the network node transmitting a paging request, such as an A-loT paging request, to the reader device 400. The method 250 comprising the network node transmitting a paging request, such as an A-loT paging request, for example corresponds with paging request 501 , 701, 801, 901, 1001 , of Figs. 2-6 respectively.

[0157] In one or more example methods, the method 250 comprises the network node receiving one or more responses, such as one or more A-loT responses, from the reader device, such as from the low power WD via the reader device. The method 250 comprising the network nodereceiving one or more responses, such as A-loT responses, from the reader device for example corresponds with paging responses 505 of Fig. 2, 705 and 710 of Fig. 3, 805 and 809 of Fig. 4, 905 and 909 of Fig. 5 and / or 1006 and 1010 of Fig. 6.

[0158] Fig. 11 shows a block diagram illustrating an example low power wireless device 300 according to this disclosure. The low power wireless device comprises memory circuitry 301 , processor circuitry 302, and a wireless interface 303. The low power wireless device 300 may be configured to perform any of the methods disclosed in Fig. 8. In other words, the low power wireless device 300 may be configured for an A-loT paging with a reader device.

[0159] The wireless interface 303 is configured for wireless communications via a wireless communication system, such as a 3GPP system, such as a 3GPP system supporting one or more of: New Radio, NR, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Narrow-band loT, NB-loT, A-loT, and Long Term Evolution - enhanced Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, and 3GPP system operated in licensed bands or unlicensed bands. The low power wireless device 300 is configured to communicate with a reader device, such as the reader device disclosed herein, using a wireless communication system.

[0160] The low power wireless device 300 is configured to receive (e.g., via the wireless interface 303), from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request.

[0161] The low power wireless device 300 is configured to communicate (e.g., via processor circuitry 302 and / or the wireless interface 303), between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0162] The wireless interface 303 is optionally configured to perform any of the operations disclosed in Fig. 8 (such as any one or more of S102, S102A, S102B, S104, S105, S106, S106A, S106B, S106C, S106D, S106E, S106F). The operations of the low power wireless device 300 may be embodied in the form of executable logic routines (for example, lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (for example, memory circuitry 301) and are executed by processor circuitry 302).

[0163] Furthermore, the operations of the low power wireless device 300 may be considered a method that the low power wireless device 300 is configured to carry out. Also, while the described functions and operations may be implemented in software, such functionality may also becarried out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination of hardware, firmware and / or software.

[0164] Memory circuitry 301 may be one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other suitable device. In a typical arrangement, memory circuitry 301 may include a nonvolatile memory for long term data storage and a volatile memory that functions as system memory for processor circuitry 302. Memory circuitry 301 may exchange data with processor circuitry 302 over a data bus. Control lines and an address bus between memory circuitry 301 and processor circuitry 302 also may be present (not shown in Fig. 11). Memory circuitry 301 is considered a non-transitory computer readable medium.

[0165] Memory circuitry 301 may be configured to store information (such as information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request) in a part of the memory.

[0166] Fig. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating an example reader device 400 according to this disclosure. The reader device comprises memory circuitry 401 , processor circuitry 402, and a wireless interface 403. The reader device 400 may be configured to perform any of the methods disclosed in Fig. 9. In other words, the reader device 400 may be configured an A-loT paging with a low power wireless device.

[0167] The wireless interface 403 is configured for wireless communications via a wireless communication system, such as a 3GPP system, such as a 3GPP system supporting one or more of: New Radio, NR, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Narrow-band loT, NB-loT, A-loT, and Long Term Evolution - enhanced Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, and 3GPP system operated in licensed bands or unlicensed bands. The reader device 400 is configured to communicate with a low power wireless device (such as the low power wireless device disclosed herein), and / or a network node (such as the network node disclosed herein) using a wireless communication system.

[0168] The reader device 400 is for example configured to receive (e.g., via the wireless interface 403), a paging request from a network node. The paging request may be associated with a service request.

[0169] The reader device 400 is configured to transmit, to the first low power WD (e.g., via the wireless interface 403), a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request.The reader device 400 is configured to communicate (e.g., via the processor circuitry 402 and / or wireless interface 403), between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0170] The wireless interface 403 is optionally configured to perform any of the operations disclosed in Fig. 9 (such as any one or more of S202, S202A, S202A, S204, S205, S206, S206A, S206B, S206C, S206D, S206E). The operations of the reader device 400 may be embodied in the form of executable logic routines (for example, lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (for example, memory circuitry 401) and are executed by processor circuitry 402).

[0171] Furthermore, the operations of the reader device 400 may be considered a method that the reader device 400 is configured to carry out. Also, while the described functions and operations may be implemented in software, such functionality may also be carried out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination of hardware, firmware and / or software.

[0172] Memory circuitry 401 may be one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other suitable device. In a typical arrangement, memory circuitry 401 may include a nonvolatile memory for long term data storage and a volatile memory that functions as system memory for processor circuitry 402. Memory circuitry 401 may exchange data with processor circuitry 402 over a data bus. Control lines and an address bus between memory circuitry 401 and processor circuitry 402 also may be present (not shown in Fig. 12). Memory circuitry 401 is considered a non-transitory computer readable medium.

[0173] Memory circuitry 401 may be configured to store information (such as information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request) and / or a configuration in a part of the memory.

[0174] Fig. 13 shows a block diagram illustrating an example network node 600 according to this disclosure. The network node comprises memory circuitry 601, processor circuitry 602, and a wireless interface 603. The network node 600 may be configured to perform any of the methods disclosed in Fig. 10. In other words, the reader device 600 may be configured for an A-loT paging of a low power wireless device via a reader device.The wireless interface 603 is configured for wireless communications via a wireless communication system, such as a 3GPP system, such as a 3GPP system supporting one or more of: New Radio, NR, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Narrow-band loT, NB-loT, A-loT, and Long Term Evolution - enhanced Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, and 3GPP system operated in licensed bands or unlicensed bands. The network node 600 is configured to communicate with a reader device, such as the reader device disclosed herein, using a wireless communication system.

[0175] The network node 600 is configured to transmit (e.g., via processor circuitry 602 and / or wireless interface 603), to the reader device, a control signalling indicative of a configuration for an A-loT paging of the low power wireless device.

[0176] The network node 600 is for example configured to transmit (e.g., via processor circuitry 602 and / or the wireless interface 603), a paging request to a reader device. The paging request may be associated with a service request. The network node 600 is for example configured to receive (e.g., via the wireless interface 603), a response from a reader device. The network node 600 is for example configured to determine (e.g., via the memory circuitry 601 and / or the processor circuitry 602), a duration of a time window which a low power wireless device is expected to transmit successfully at most one paging response.

[0177] The wireless interface 603 is optionally configured to perform any of the operations disclosed in Fig. 10 (such as S252). The operations of the network node 600 may be embodied in the form of executable logic routines (for example, lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (for example, memory circuitry 601) and are executed by processor circuitry 602).

[0178] Furthermore, the operations of the network node 600 may be considered a method that the network node 600 is configured to carry out. Also, while the described functions and operations may be implemented in software, such functionality may also be carried out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination of hardware, firmware and / or software.

[0179] Memory circuitry 601 may be one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other suitable device. In a typical arrangement, memory circuitry 601 may include a nonvolatile memory for long term data storage and a volatile memory that functions as system memory for processor circuitry 602. Memory circuitry 601 may exchange data with processor circuitry 602 over a data bus. Control lines and an address bus between memory circuitry 601and processor circuitry 602 also may be present (not shown in Fig. 13). Memory circuitry 601 is considered a non-transitory computer readable medium.

[0180] Memory circuitry 301 may be configured to store information (such as information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request) and / or a configuration in a part of the memory.

[0181] Examples of methods and products (low power WD, reader device, and network node) according to the disclosure are set out in the following items:

[0182] Item 1 : A method, performed by a low power wireless device, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging with a reader device, the method comprising:

[0183] receiving, from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request; and

[0184] communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0185] Item 2: The method according to item 1, the method comprising:

[0186] transmitting, to the reader device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message; and

[0187] wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises

[0188] receiving, from the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0189] Item 3: The method according to item 2, wherein the information received from the reader device comprises an indicator confirming that the first A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device.

[0190] Item 4: The method according to any of the previous items, the method comprising:transmitting, to the reader device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message;

[0191] receiving, from the reader device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request; and

[0192] communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises

[0193] transmitting, to the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0194] Item 5: The method according to item 4, wherein the information is transmitted by the low power wireless device after receiving the second A-loT paging message and the information comprises an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message.

[0195] Item 6: The method according to any of the previous items, wherein receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request.

[0196] Item 7: The method according to item 6, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting, to the reader device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0197] Item 8: The method according to item 6-7, wherein communicating, with the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the reader device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request.

[0198] Item 9: The method according to any of the previous items, wherein receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices.

[0199] Item 10: The method according to any of the previous items, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting, tothe reader device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message, wherein the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.

[0200] Item 11 : The method according to any of the previous items, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, during a time window, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0201] Item 12: The method according to item 11, wherein the time window is configured by the reader device.

[0202] Item 13: The method according to any of items 11-12 as dependent on item 6, wherein the time window is based on the repetition number.

[0203] Item 14: The method according to any of items 11-13, wherein the information indicates that the low power wireless device is not to transmit more than one A-loT paging response during the time window.

[0204] Item 15: The method according to any of the previous items, wherein the information indicates that the low power wireless device no longer responds to an A-loT paging message that is associated with the same service request and received after the first A-loT paging response has been successfully transmitted by the low power wireless device.

[0205] Item 16: A method, performed by a reader device, for an A-loT paging with a low power wireless device, the method comprising:

[0206] transmitting, to the first low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request; and

[0207] communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loTpaging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

[0208] Item 17: The method according to item 16, the method comprising:

[0209] receiving, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message; and

[0210] wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises

[0211] transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0212] Item 18: The method according to any of items 16-17, the method comprising:

[0213] receiving, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message;

[0214] transmitting, to the low power wireless device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request; and

[0215] wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises

[0216] receiving, from the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0217] Item 19: The method according to item 18, wherein the information is received by the reader device after transmitting the second A-loT paging message and the information comprises an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message.

[0218] Item 20: The method according to any of items 16-19, wherein transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request.

[0219] Item 21: The method according to item 20, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the low powerwireless device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

[0220] Item 22: The method according to any of items 20-21, wherein communicating, with the low power wireless device, the information comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request.

[0221] Item 23: The method according to any of items 16-22, wherein transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices.

[0222] Item 24: The method according to any of items 16-23, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the low power wireless device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message, wherein the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.

[0223] Item 25: A method, performed by a network node, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging of a low power wireless device via a reader device, the method comprising:

[0224] transmitting, to the reader device, a control signalling indicative of a configuration for an A-loT paging of the low power wireless device.

[0225] Item 26: The method according to item 25, wherein the configuration is indicative of an A-loT paging scheme to be used in paging between the low power wireless device and the reader device.

[0226] Item 27: The method according to item 26, wherein the A-loT paging scheme indicates one or more of:

[0227] - providing that the reader device is to confirm that an A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device;

[0228] - providing that the low power wireless device is to transmit, after receiving a second A-loT paging message, an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to a first A-loT paging message;- an A-loT paging message from the reader device which comprises a repetition number that is included by the low power wireless device in the transmission of the A- loT paging response to the A-loT paging message;

[0229] - an A-loT paging message from the reader device which comprises identification information;

[0230] - providing that the low power wireless device transmits information comprising an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices; and

[0231] - a time window during which the low power wireless device is expected to transmit successfully at most one paging response.

[0232] Item 28: The method according to item 27, wherein the network node is configured to determine a duration of the time window during which the low power wireless device is expected to transmit successfully at most one paging response.

[0233] Item 29: A low power wireless device comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface, wherein the low power wireless device is configured to perform any of the methods according to any of items 1-15.

[0234] Item 30: A reader device comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface, wherein the reader device is configured to perform any of the methods according to any of items 16-24.

[0235] Item 31: A network node comprising memory circuitry, processor circuitry, and a wireless interface, wherein the network node is configured to perform any of the methods according to any of items 25 to 28.The use of the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that the words “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. are used here and elsewhere for labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific spatial or temporal ordering. Furthermore, the labelling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

[0236] It may be appreciated that the Figures comprise some circuitries or operations which are illustrated with a solid line and some circuitries, components, features, or operations which are illustrated with a dashed line. Circuitries or operations which are comprised in a solid line are circuitries, components, features or operations which are comprised in the broadest example. Circuitries, components, features, or operations which are comprised in a dashed line are examples which may be comprised in, or a part of, or are further circuitries, components, features, or operations which may be taken in addition to circuitries, components, features, or operations of the solid line examples. It should be appreciated that these operations need not be performed in order presented. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that not all of the operations need to be performed. The example operations may be performed in any order and in any combination. It should be appreciated that these operations need not be performed in order presented. Circuitries, components, features, or operations which are comprised in a dashed line may be considered optional.

[0237] Other operations that are not described herein can be incorporated in the example operations. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations.

[0238] Certain features discussed above as separate implementations can also be implemented in combination as a single implementation. Conversely, features described as a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, beexcised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as any sub-combination or variation of any sub-combination

[0239] It is to be noted that the word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

[0240] It is to be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0241] It is to be noted that the term "indicative of may be seen as “associated with”, “related to”, “descriptive of’, “characterizing”, and / or “defining”. The terms “indicative of”, “associated with”, “related to”, “descriptive of’, “characterizing”, and “defining” can be used interchangeably. The term “indicative of” can be seen as indicating a relation. For example, weight data indicative of weight may comprise one or more weight parameters.

[0242] It is to be noted that the word "based on" may be seen as “as a function of” and / or “derived from”. The terms “based on” and “as a function of’ can be used interchangeably. For example, a parameter determined “based on” a data set can be seen as a parameter determined “as a function of” the data set. In other words, the parameter may be an output of one or more functions with the data set as an input.

[0243] A function may be characterizing a relation between an input and an output, such as mathematical relation, a database relation, a hardware relation, logical relation, and / or other suitable relations.

[0244] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the examples may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be represented by the same item of hardware. Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than or equal to 10% of, within less than or equal to 5% of, within less than or equal to 1% of, within less than or equal to 0.1% of, and within less than or equal to 0.01% of the stated amount. If the stated amount is 0 (e.g., none, having no), the above recited ranges can be specific ranges, and not within a particular % of the value. For example, within less than or equal to 10 wt. / vol. % of, within less than or equal to 5 wt. / vol. % of,within less than or equal to 1 wt. / vol. % of, within less than or equal to 0.1 wt. / vol. % of, and within less than or equal to 0.01 wt. / vol. % of the stated amount.

[0245] The various example methods, devices, nodes and systems described herein are described in the general context of method steps or processes, which may be implemented in one aspect by a computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, including computerexecutable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. A computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storage devices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVD), etc. Generally, program circuitries may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specified tasks or implement specific abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program circuitries represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps or processes.

[0246] Although features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed disclosure, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed disclosure. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed disclosure is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

Claims

49CLAIMS1. A method, performed by a low power wireless device, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging with a reader device, the method comprising:receiving, from the reader device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request; andcommunicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising:transmitting, to the reader device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message; andwherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprisesreceiving, from the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the information received from the reader device comprises an indicator confirming that the first A-loT paging response has been received by the reader device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , the method comprising:transmitting, to the reader device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message;receiving, from the reader device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request; andcommunicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprisestransmitting, to the reader device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information is transmitted by the low power wireless device after receiving the second A-loT paging message and the information50comprises an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting, to the reader device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein communicating, with the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the reader device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprises receiving, from the reader device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises transmitting, to the reader device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message, wherein the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.

11. A method, performed by a reader device, for an A-loT paging with a low power wireless device, the method comprising:transmitting, to the first low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging message associated with a service request; and51communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message associated with the service request.

12. The method according to claim 11 , the method comprising:receiving, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message; andwherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprisestransmitting, to the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

13. The method according to claim 11 , the method comprising:receiving, from the low power wireless device, a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message;transmitting, to the low power wireless device, a second A-loT paging message associated with the same service request; andwherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprisesreceiving, from the low power wireless device, the information indicating that the low power wireless device has successfully transmitted an A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information is received by the reader device after transmitting the second A-loT paging message and the information comprises an indicator confirming that the low power wireless device had earlier responded to the first A-loT paging message.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising a repetition number indicative of an A-loT paging cycle associated with the same service request.5216. The method according to claim 15, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the low power wireless device, the repetition number in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein communicating, with the low power wireless device, the information comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, an updated repetition number associated with the same service request.

18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprises transmitting, to the low power wireless device, the first A-loT paging message comprising identification information associated with one or more low power wireless devices.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein communicating, between the low power wireless device and the reader device, the information comprises receiving, from the low power wireless device, the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message, wherein the information in a first A-loT paging response to the first A-loT paging message comprises an identifier associated with the low power wireless device and / or a group identifier associated with a group of low power wireless devices.

20. A method, performed by a network node, for an Ambient loT (A-loT) paging of a low power wireless device via a reader device, the method comprising:transmitting, to the reader device, a control signalling indicative of a configuration for an A-loT paging of the low power wireless device.

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