Delayed transmission

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to delayed transmission. A method comprises receiving, at a terminal apparatus and from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; and performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

Description

DELAYED TRANSMISSIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, US Provisional Application No.63 / 753785, filed February 4, 2025, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for delayed transmission.BACKGROUND

[0003] A communication network may serve as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network. The communication network may operate in accordance with standards such as those provided by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Examples of standards provided by 3GPP are the so-called 3GPP standards for cellular technology generations, such as 3GPP standards for 4G technology, 5G technology, 6G technology etc.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal apparatus to: receive, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; and perform an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a network apparatus. The network apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network apparatus to: determine a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus; and transmit, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a network apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile; receiving, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; and performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delayprofile.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: determine a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus; and transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus comprises means for receiving, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; and means for performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a network apparatus. The network apparatus comprises means for determining a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

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

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

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

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

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

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for delayed transmission in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for a two-step delay profile configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling flow of another example process for delayed transmission in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for a one-step delay profile configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

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

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

[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0027] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0028] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0029] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, andsimilarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0030] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0031] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0033] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in analog, digital and / or quantum circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuit(s) and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog, digital and / or quantum hardware ci rcuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any or all portions of hardware processor(s) (including digital and / or quantum processor(s)) with software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile device, computing device, or server, to perform various functions) and(c) any or all portions of hardware circuit(s), such as microprocessor(s), processor(s) and / or quantum processor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0034] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of ahardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0035] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0036] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (I AB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0037] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portablecomputers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0038] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0039] In the communication network, an uplink transmission over a poor link can be very expensive (in terms of energy) for a UE. This is because, under the poor link, the UE may require high transmission power and / or likely multiple retransmissions to allow for successful reception of the transmission at the network. Clearly, this is not desirable considering the energy constraint at the UE.

[0040] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, several solutions for delayed transmission are proposed. In one solution, a terminal apparatus receives, from a network apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile and receives, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a delay-tolerant indication. The terminal apparatus further determines, from the at least one delay profile, a delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication and performs an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0041] In another solution, a terminal apparatus receives, from a network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile, and performs an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0042] With these solutions, the uplink transmission can be delayed based on the delay profile configured by the network. For example, the uplink transmission can be delayed under the poor linkand then performed when link quality improves. As such, energy consumption can be reduced.

[0043] As an example, the solutions of the present disclosure may be applied at low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) devices to achieve power saving. LPWA loT devices may have low energy availability but are expected to last in the order of years. The typical expected lifetime of LPWA loT devices may be 10-15 years. Also, the LPWA data may be delay-tolerant and the LPWA loT devices may receive or transmit data sporadically and potentially with large inter-packet interval times. For example, LPWA loT devices including a soil moisture sensor may transmit sensing data once a day or receive a downlink command to decrease the interval between measurements. This type of communication is not expected to happen often and may be delay-tolerant. Thus, delaying an uplink transmission until a poor link improves in quality can be beneficial for the LPWA loT devices.

[0044] Several solutions of the present disclosure have been briefly described. Principle and implementations of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompany drawings. It will be appreciated that acts, steps, processes, and / or flowcharts illustrated in the drawings are only examples without suggesting any limitation. For example, the steps may be performed in any suitable manner. The steps as illustrated in one or more drawings may be selectively performed in an actual implementation. Moreover, example embodiments described with reference to the drawings may be implemented separately or combined in any suitable manner. For example, one or more example embodiments shown in a single drawing may be combined with one or more example embodiments shown in one or more other drawings.

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell 102.

[0046] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell 102, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a network device, the network device 120 may be another device than a network device. Although illustrated as a terminal device, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a terminal device.

[0047] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station.However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0048] In some example embodiments, a transmission direction from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a transmission direction from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0049] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 200 for delayed transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a terminal apparatus 201 and a network apparatus 202 are involved in the process 200. For the purpose of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1 and the network apparatus 202 may be or may be comprised in the network device 120 in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may comprise or be comprised in a LPWA loT device.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the network apparatus 202 transmits 204 a configuration of at least one delay profile to the terminal apparatus 201. The terminal apparatus 201 receives 206 the configuration of at least one delay profile. In this specification, a delay profile may refer to delay information regarding addition of an intentional delay before an uplink transmission. For example, a delay profile may comprise a delay (i.e., length of a delay period) that needs to be intentionally added before an uplink transmission. In some embodiments, a delay profile may comprise rules or conditions of introducing the intentional delay.

[0052] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may receive the configuration of at least one delay profile via a radio resource control (RRC) message (e.g. an RRC release message, an RRCconfiguration message, an RRC reconfiguration message), a broadcast message, and / or a downlink small data transmission (SDT). The broadcast message may include system information block (SIB) message. For example, the configuration may be sent via DL message when the terminal apparatus 201 initiates UL SDT.

[0053] The network apparatus 202 determines 210 a delay-tolerant indication for the terminal apparatus 201 and transmits 214 a paging message comprising the delay-tolerant indication to the terminal apparatus 201. At UE side, the terminal apparatus 201 receives 216 the paging message and determines 220 a delay profile from the at least one delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication. The terminal apparatus 201 further performs 224 an uplink transmission to the network apparatus 202 after a delay associated with the delay profile. In some embodiments, the uplink transmission may be a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure. In some embodiments, the uplink transmission may be an uplink data transmission, e.g., Msg3 in a small data transmission (SDT) scenario or an uplink transmission in a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode.

[0054] In the process 200, the configuration of at least one delay profile may configure the terminal apparatus 201 with a list of delay profiles (e.g., the configuration may comprise the list of delay profiles or comprise a configuration of predefined / standardized delay profiles) and the delay-tolerant indication may indicate a specific delay profile of the list of delay profiles. Alternatively, the configuration of the at least one delay profile may configure a single delay profile for the terminal apparatus 201 and the delay-tolerant indication may indicate that introducing an intentional delay before an uplink transmission based on the single delay profile. This process 200 may be also referred to as a two-step delay profile configuration in the following.

[0055] In some embodiments, the configuration of the at least one delay profile may comprise, for each delay profile, at least a portion of the delay profile and / or an identifier of the delay profile.

[0056] In some embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication in the paging message may be associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus 201 or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus 201 (i.e. uplink data to be transmitted from the terminal apparatus 201). As an example, the network apparatus 202 may have downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus 201. In response to the paging message, the terminal apparatus 201 may need to set up RRC connection to get connected and obtain the downlink data from the network. Alternatively, the terminal apparatus 201 may use a small data transmission (SDT) procedure to get connected and obtain the downlink data from the network. Another example scenario may involve UL transmissions initiated by the DL paging message. For example, a sensor UE that collects environmental data may send the collected data to the network or an application server upon receiving a trigger or request via the paging message.

[0057] In some embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication may indicate that the downlink data tobe transmitted to the terminal apparatus 201 and / or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus 201 is delay-tolerant, such that the terminal apparatus 201 may decide to delay the uplink transmission based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication. As an example, in the paging message, the network may indicate to the terminal apparatus 201 the availability of DL data in a delay-tolerant manner by providing the respective delay profile information. Similarly, in the paging message, the network may request the terminal apparatus 201 to provide UL data, e.g., collected environmental data, in a delay-tolerant manner and provides the terminal apparatus 201 with the corresponding delay profile information. Here, the network may not expect immediate random-access attempt from the terminal apparatus 201 and wait for a certain fixed (long) time duration (anticipating a delayed response from the terminal apparatus 201) before it attempts to repeat paging, e.g., in the other gNBs.

[0058] In some embodiments, the network apparatus 202 may extend a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay-tolerant indication. As an example, when the DL data is available for the terminal apparatus 201 in a delay tolerant manner corresponding to a certain delay profile, the network may indicate to the terminal apparatus 201 in the paging message the delay profile associated with the DL data. Also, the network may extend the paging retransmission timer, such that the network may allow the UE to respond to paging in a longer time duration.

[0059] In some embodiments, the paging message may include a bit indicating whether the paging message is for the downlink data or uplink data. If the bit indicates that the paging message is for the downlink data, the terminal apparatus 201 may consider that the downlink data is delay-tolerant and decide to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay-tolerant indication without any further determination. As another example, if the bit indicates that the paging message is for the uplink data, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine whether the uplink data is delay-tolerant based on one or more other factors as per UE implementation.

[0060] Alternatively or in addition, the delay-tolerant indication may indicate an identifier of a delay profile, e.g., an index of a delay profile, such that the terminal apparatus 201 may determine the delay profile to apply based on the identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication. For example, the network apparatus 202 may determine a delay profile that matches the downlink data or uplink data associated with the paging message, and determine the delay-tolerant indication based on the identifier.

[0061] For example, in case of UL, the network may request the UE to report certain data. The network may be aware of the characteristics of the data, i.e., whether it is delay-tolerant or not. Accordingly, the NW may assign a delay profile for the data and indicates the delay profile to the UE via the delay-tolerant indication. As another example, the network apparatus 202 may configure only one delay profile for the terminal apparatus at first and then the delay-tolerant indication indicates that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant according to the configured delay profile,such that the terminal apparatus 201 may delay the uplink transmission based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

[0062] As an example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be provided with a delay profile configuration (e.g., the configuration of a plurality of delay profiles) from the network which allows the terminal apparatus 201 to introduce an intentional delay before an UL transmission (e.g., random access transmission). The configuration may include one or more delay profile configurations. When the terminal apparatus 201 is paged, in the paging message, the network may indicate to the terminal apparatus 201 a delay profile, among the delay profiles defined in the delay-profile configuration, to which the available DL data belongs (via a new information element (IE)).

[0063] As described above, delaying a response to paging may be preferable when the terminal apparatus 201 and / or the network apparatus 202 estimate(s) that the current link quality will get better soon. In some embodiments, the intentional delay that may be applied may depend on how long the network is willing to wait for the terminal apparatus 201 to respond to the paging message.

[0064] In some embodiments, the network apparatus 202 may determine a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus 201 is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; and determine the delay-tolerant indication based on the waiting time period. In addition, the network apparatus 202 may determine the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus 201 or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus 201.

[0065] For example, considering the different quality of service (QoS) of different LPWA data, one or more delay profiles may be defined and indicated to the terminal apparatus 201. As such, the terminal apparatus 201 may be aware of the intentional delay to be applied when initiating the random access procedure in response to being paged for pending DL data corresponding to any of the delay profiles. Here, by providing the delay profile configuration, the network may control how much intentional delay the terminal apparatus 201 may apply before it attempts to set up RRC connection or initiate a SDT procedure to get the DL data or to transmit UL data, e.g., collected environmental data.

[0066] In some embodiments, the delay profile may indicate a maximum delay value. The maximum delay value may refer to the maximum amount of delay that the terminal apparatus 201 may apply before performing the UL transmission (e.g., random access Msg1 transmission). This may depend on how long the network is willing to wait for the terminal apparatus 201 to respond to the paging message. This may also depend on the QoS requirement of the DL data, which is known to the network.

[0067] Alternatively or in addition, the delay profile may indicate a minimum delay value. The minimum delay value may refer to the minimum amount of delay that the terminal apparatus 201 may apply before performing the UL transmission (e.g., random access Msg1 transmission). This isparticularly relevant in a scenario where the network apparatus 202 is communicating with the terminal apparatus 201, but it notices or expects a drop in link quality. In this case, if the network apparatus 202 is aware on how long the interruption may last (e.g., it expects the link quality to be poor for at least until certain point in time), then, before the RRC release due to a poor link, the network apparatus 202 can indicate to the terminal apparatus 201 the minimum delay value the terminal apparatus 201 must wait before it attempts for the RRC connection.

[0068] Alternatively or in addition, the delay profile may indicate a link quality condition. In some embodiments, the link quality condition may comprise a link quality threshold. An example of the link quality threshold may be a DL reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value. In some examples, in response to a DL RSRP value observed at the terminal apparatus 201 being greater than the minimum DL RSRP threshold in order to perform the UL transmission, the terminal apparatus 201 meets the DL RSRP threshold and the terminal apparatus 201 may delay the UL transmission.

[0069] Alternatively or in addition, the link quality condition may comprise a link quality enhancement condition. For example, the link quality enhancement condition may include an expected RSRP enhancement value compared to a current value or a baseline value to delay the transmission. Alternatively or in addition, the link quality condition may comprise a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, for example, an expected CE level or an expected CE level change. Alternatively or in addition, the link quality condition may comprise a threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission. The number of channel repetitions may refer to the number of needed UL retransmissions. The number is linked to the link quality. If the link quality is high, the number of retransmissions needed is low. As an example, the UE may evaluate whether the currently needed number of UL retransmissions is greater than the threshold number. If so, the UE may decide to delay the UL transmission. As another example, the UE may evaluate whether the number of retransmissions that is needed would reduce if the UE delays the UL transmission (i.e., whether channel quality improves or not if it delays). That is, the UE may evaluate whether the UE can transmit a smaller number of retransmissions by delaying the UL transmission.

[0070] In some embodiments, in order to decide whether to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine whether the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant. The data may comprise downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus 201 and / or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus 201. As an example, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication. As another example, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine whether the requested UL data is delay-tolerant based on characteristics of the requested UL data.

[0071] Alternatively or in addition, the terminal apparatus 201 may decide to delay the uplinktransmission based on the delay profile if the terminal apparatus 201 detects a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may measure the link quality within a specified time interval and determine to delay the UL transmission if finding that the link quality is improving in the specified time interval.

[0072] Alternatively or in addition, the terminal apparatus 201 may receive, from the network apparatus 202, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval, and delay the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement. In other words, the network may indicate a link quality improvement probability to the UE. As an example, the delay information may include assistance information such as the link quality improvement probability for optional delay determination by UE implementation.

[0073] If the terminal apparatus 201 is configured to delay the UL transmission or decides to delay the UL transmission, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine a delay profile and delay the UL transmission based on the delay profile. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may intentionally delay the UL transmission (e.g., random access transmission) as per the corresponding delay profile configuration (Max and Min delay, RSRP (e.g., synchronization signal (SS)-RSRP) values, etc.).

[0074] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may select, from the configured at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication. Alternatively, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine an initial delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication and the at least one delay profile, and then determine the delay profile based on the initial delay profile. That is, the terminal apparatus 201 may update the configured delay profile as per UE implementation.

[0075] In some examples, the terminal apparatus 201 may be provided with multiple delay profiles. This allows for more flexibility at the UE side to apply a delay profile that fits best the UE operation. For example, taking the paradigm of delay profiles with absolute or relative delay values, the network apparatus 202 may indicate to the terminal apparatus 201 multiple tolerable delay profiles, leaving it for UE implementation to select the delay profile (out of the indicated ones) that the terminal apparatus 201 applies. For instance, the terminal apparatus 201 may opt for an absolute max delay value if it has low measurement confidence on the DL RSRP, or if it anyhow skips DL RSRP measurements for energy saving purposes.

[0076] In some embodiments, if the delay profile indicates the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value, the terminal apparatus 201 may perform an uplink transmission to the network apparatus 202 after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value. As an example, after observing the maximum delay value, the terminal apparatus 201 may be configured to always perform the UL transmission or follow the legacy random-access procedure (including a backoff mechanism). Alternatively, it may be left to the terminal apparatus 201 todetermine whether or not to perform the UL transmission. Alternatively, after observing the minimum delay value, the terminal apparatus 201 may be configured to perform the legacy random-access procedure (including the backoff mechanism).

[0077] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may receive, from the network apparatus 202, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus 201. That is, the network may indicate the UE that the maximum delay value and / or the minimum delay value may change depending on the radio condition at the UE.

[0078] In some embodiments, the maximum delay value and / or the minimum delay value may be represented as a function of a link quality value, and the terminal apparatus 201 may determine the maximum delay value and / or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value. For example, the maximum and minimum delay values may be relative to the observed DL RSRP values at the terminal apparatus 201. The maximum delay value may be defined as a function of the RSRP threshold, e.g., Y slots or Y0 msecs if the observed RSRP is above Z dBm. The definition of the maximum and / or minimum delay values and their dependency on the observed RSRP at the terminal apparatus 201 may be part of the delay profile. For example, there may be delay profiles with absolute max / min delay values, whereas other delay profiles may define the max / min delay values relative to (or as function of) the observed RSRP at the terminal apparatus 201.

[0079] In some embodiments, if the delay profile indicates the link quality condition, the terminal apparatus 201 may delay the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied. Additionally, the terminal apparatus 201 may determine that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition. For example, the NW may configure a single DL RSRP value or a range of DL RSRP values (e.g., certain threshold together with a minus / plus margin) with a minimum time duration (i.e. , the evaluation time period) during which the condition needs to be satisfied in order to have a stable link quality before the UL transmission.

[0080] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may further start a timer associated with the evaluation time period when the link quality condition becomes satisfied. If the link quality condition becomes unsatisfied before expiry of the timer, the terminal apparatus 201 may restart the timer when the link quality condition becomes satisfied again. That is, if the threshold condition gets unmet before the timer expiry, the terminal apparatus 201 may restart the timer to evaluate whether threshold condition would be met again.

[0081] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may further update the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminal apparatus 201 that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied. And the terminal apparatus 201 may determine whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied. In other words, the link quality condition may change depending on the incurreddelay at the terminal apparatus 201. For example, multiple DL RSRP thresholds corresponding to the incurred delay may be provided to the terminal apparatus 201. The lower DL RSRP threshold(s) may be selected or determined to match the increasing delay that has been incurred at the terminal apparatus 201 when it is intentionally delaying the UL transmission. In this case, the delay associated with each DL RSRP threshold may be configured.

[0082] In some embodiments, the link quality condition may be combined with the maximum and / or minimum delay values. The terminal apparatus 201 may perform the uplink transmission after delaying for the maximum delay value, and may refrain from continuing to evaluate the link quality condition. For example, after the maximum delay value, the minimum DL RSRP condition may be no longer applicable.

[0083] In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, the terminal apparatus 201 may perform the uplink transmission and refrain from continuing to delay the uplink transmission. For example, before the minimum delay value has passed, if the terminal apparatus 201 meets the minimum DL RSRP condition, the minimum delay constraint may be no longer applicable.

[0084] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may delay the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time. That is, the intentional delay may be computed from the reference starting time. As an example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be provided with the reference starting time for delay calculation. As another example, the reference starting time may be defined in 3GPP specifications.

[0085] In some embodiments, the reference starting time may be associated with reception of the paging message. For example, the reference starting time may be X slots or X0 msec after reception of the paging message comprising the delay-tolerant indication, i.e., the end of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carrying the paging message.

[0086] Alternatively or in addition, the reference starting time may be associated with an upcoming random access occasion. Alternatively or in addition, the reference starting time may be associated with a transmission of a reference signal for a measurement. For example, the delay period may be computed after the transmission of certain number of reference signals used for measurement.

[0087] In some embodiments, the network / standards may also provide the terminal apparatus 201 with a behavior configuration during the time that the terminal apparatus 201 delays the UL transmission. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may skip monitoring a paging channel during the delay period. That is, the terminal apparatus 201 may be configured to skip monitoring the paging channel during this delay period.

[0088] In some other embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may monitor the paging channel. The terminal apparatus 201 may receive a further paging message with a higher priority than thepaging message during the delay period. Then the terminal apparatus 201 may perform a further uplink transmission during the delay period. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be configured to monitor the paging channel and initiate the RRC-connection establishment or UL transmission if it receives a paging message with a higher priority.

[0089] The terminal apparatus 201 may also determine to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus 202 during the delay period. Then the terminal apparatus 201 may perform a further uplink transmission to transmit the uplink data during the delay period. For example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be allowed to preempt the configured minimum delay, i.e., start the random access procedure during or before the minimum delay, if there is high priority UL data to be transmitted at the terminal apparatus 201.

[0090] In some embodiments, the terminal apparatus 201 may perform a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period. For example, in order to monitor link conditions, the terminal apparatus 201 may be also provided with a new measurement behavior. As an example, the terminal apparatus 201 may be configured to perform measurements more frequently compared to currently configured measurements in the idle / inactive mode. This helps the terminal apparatus 201 to better evaluate the channel condition and to delay the UL transmission more efficiently.

[0091] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 300 for a two-step delay profile configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 300 may be considered as an example of the process 200. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the process 300 involves a UE 301 and a network device 302. The UE 301 may be an example of the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 2, and the network device 302 may be an example of the network apparatus 202 in FIG.2.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in step 312, a delay profile configuration from the network device 302 is provided to the UE 301. The delay profile configuration may be transmitted via a SIB message, or as part of RRC (re)config uration / release message when the UE 301 is in RRC-connected mode.

[0093] In the example of FIG. 3, the network device 302 may define a number N of delay profiles, and a delay profile j e {1,includes the maximum delay value, Dmaxj. For example, the delay profile configuration may be configured in the form of a table as follows.

[0094] The delay values may define the minimum delay and maximum delay for transmitting the Msg1 of the random access procedure after receiving a paging message. In some examples, one ormore of the minimum delay values may be zero. In other examples, the network device 302 may configure different non-zero values for the minimum delay.

[0095] In step 314, when the DL data is available for the UE 301 in a delay-tolerant manner corresponding to a certain delay profile, the network device 302 may indicate to the UE 301 in a paging message the delay profile associated with the DL data. In this example, among the number N of delay profiles, the network device 302 may indicate the delay profile j e {1, ... , N] in the paging message. The network device 302 may assign one of the delay profiles based on the delay QoS requirement of the DL data.

[0096] As an example, the paging message to the UE 301 may indicate the Profile ID corresponding to the pending data. A 2-bit indication of the Profile ID may be included in the paging message. Then the UE 301 retrieves the minimum delay and maximum delay values corresponding to the indicated Profile ID from the table.

[0097] In step 315, the network device 302 may extend the paging retransmission timer. For example, the network device 302 may start the extended paging retransmission timer after transmitting the paging message, such that the network device 302 can wait for a response to paging in an extended time duration.

[0098] The paging message may be sent by the gNB. Note that, at the network device 302, there may be interaction between the gNB and core network entities, e.g., AMF, for assigning the delay profile as well as to extend the paging retransmission timer which are not shown in the FIG. 3.

[0099] In step 316, the UE 301 intentionally delays the UL transmission (e.g., Msg1) based on the corresponding delay profile configuration indicated in step 312 and the delay profile indicated in step 314. The delay information in the delay profile is considered for intentionally delaying the UL transmission at the UE 301. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the intentional delay D is not greater than the maximum delay value, Dmax j. For the delay profile indicated in the paging message, the UE 301 determines a delay value based on the corresponding profile configuration. The exact delay value applied at the UE 301 may be left to implementation of the UE 301 and hence is not discussed here.

[0100] In step 318, the UE 301 may perform UL transmission (Msg1) after observing the delay determined at step 316. After step 318, the RRC connection setup may take place so that the UE 301 may get RRC connected to receive the DL data. Alternatively, after step 318, the DL SDT like procedure may be followed to get the DL data.

[0101] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling flow of another example process 400 for delayed transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 400 will be described with reference to the terminal apparatus 201 and network apparatus 202 in FIG. 2. The process 400 is similar to the process 200 and details of similar steps are omitted in the following.

[0102] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the network apparatus 202 determines 405 a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus 201. The network apparatus 202 further transmits 408 a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile to the terminal apparatus 201. At terminal side, the terminal apparatus 201 receives 410, from the network apparatus 202, the paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile. The terminal apparatus 201 further performs 415 an uplink transmission to the network apparatus 202 after a delay associated with the delay profile. This process 400 may be also referred to as a one-step delay profile configuration.

[0103] In the process 400, as an example, when the DL data is available for the terminal apparatus 201 in a delay tolerant manner corresponding to a certain delay profile, the terminal apparatus 201 may be indicated, in the paging message directly, the delay profile configuration of the delay profile associated with the DL data or the requested UL data. That is, the indication of the delay profile of the DL data or the requested UL data may not be explicitly provided in the paging message, instead the delay profile configuration to be applied is directly indicated in the paging message. Thus no delay profile look-up procedure may exist as needed in the two-step delay profile configuration, though the one-step delay profile configuration may increase the signaling overhead in paging message.

[0104] In some embodiments, the configuration of the delay profile may comprise at least a portion of the delay profile. For example, some other portion of the delay profile may be determined by the terminal apparatus 201 or standardized. As an example, a single minimum delay value (e.g., zero) and a single maximum delay value may be predefined in the standards.

[0105] Alternatively or in addition, the configuration of the delay profile may comprise an identifier of the delay profile. For example, a list of delay profiles may be standardized, such that the UE can determine the delay profile based on the paging message.

[0106] Alternatively or in addition, the configuration of the delay profile may comprise an indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant. For example, if only one delay profile is standardized, the paging message may include a 1 -bit flag to indicate whether the pending DL data is delay-tolerant. Then the UE can determine whether to apply the delay profile based on the flag in the paging message. For example, ‘0’ may indicate that the data is not delay-tolerant and therefore, the terminal apparatus 201 is expected to respond to paging normally (i.e., without any additional delay). ‘1 ’ may indicate that the data is delay-tolerant and hence the terminal apparatus 201 is expected to respond to paging based on the predefined minimum delay and maximum delay values.

[0107] FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 500 for a one-step delay profile configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 500 may be considered as an example of the process 400. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the process 500 involves a UE 501 and a network device 502. The UE 501 may be an example of the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 4, and the network device 502 may be an example of the network apparatus 202 in FIG.4.

[0108] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step 512, when the DL data is available for the UE 501 in a delay tolerant manner corresponding to a certain delay profile, while paging, the network apparatus 502 may provide to the UE 501 directly in the paging message the delay profile configuration of the associated delay profile. For example, a maximum delay value Dmax, may be directly indicated in the paging message.

[0109] The steps 513, 514 and 516 in FIG. 5 are similar to the steps 315, 316 and 318 in FIG. 3 with an exception that, unlike the step 316 in FIG. 3, the UE 501 may compute a delay value based on the delay configuration directly provided in the paging message. For example, an intentional delay value D, which is less than or equal to Dmax, may be determined.

[0110] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method 600 implemented at a terminal apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 600 will be described from the perspective of the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 2.

[0111] At block 610, the terminal apparatus 201 receives, from a network apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile.

[0112] At block 620, the terminal apparatus 201 receives, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a delay-tolerant indication.

[0113] At block 630, the terminal apparatus 201 determines, from the at least one delay profile, a delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication.

[0114] At block 640, the terminal apparatus 201 performs an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0118] In some example embodiments, receiving, from the network apparatus, the configuration of at least one delay profile comprises: receiving the configuration of at least one delay profile via at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) release message, an RRC configuration message, an RRC reconfiguration message, a broadcast message, or a downlink small data transmission (SDT).

[0119] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission comprises a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: deciding to delay theuplink transmission based on the delay profile.

[0121] In some example embodiments, deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile is based on at least one of: determining that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant, the data comprising at least one of downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus, or detecting a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement.

[0122] In some example embodiments, determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant comprises: determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving, from the network apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval; and delaying the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement.

[0124] In some embodiments, determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: selecting, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication.

[0125] In some example embodiments, determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: determining an initial delay profile based on the delay profile indication and the at least one delay profile; and determining the delay profile based on the initial delay profile.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value, performing the uplink transmission.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving, from the network apparatus, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value is represented as a function of a link quality value, and the method 600 further comprises: determining the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: delaying the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: determining that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the method 600 further comprises: updating the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminal apparatus that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied; and determine whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the maximum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: after delaying for the maximum delay value, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to evaluate the link quality condition.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to delay the uplink transmission.

[0134] In some example embodiments, performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: delaying the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the reference starting time is associated with at least one of: reception of the paging message, an upcoming random access occasion, or transmission of a reference signal for a measurement.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: skipping monitoring a paging channel during the delay period.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving a further paging message with a higher priority than the paging message during the delay period or determining to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus during the delay period; and performing a further uplink transmission during the delay period.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: performing a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises or is comprised in a low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) device.

[0140] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a network apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 2.

[0141] At block 710, the network apparatus 202 transmits, to a terminal apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile.

[0142] At block 720, the network apparatus 202 determines a delay-tolerant indication for theterminal apparatus.

[0143] At block 730, the network apparatus 202 transmits, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the delay-tolerant indication.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0145] In some example embodiments, a delay profile of the at least one delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0147] In some example embodiments, transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, the configuration of at least one delay profile comprises: transmitting the configuration of at least one delay profile via at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) release message, an RRC configuration message, an RRC reconfiguration message, a broadcast message, or a downlink small data transmission (SDT).

[0148] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval.

[0149] In some example embodiments, determining the delay-tolerant indication comprises: determining a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; and determining the delay-tolerant indication based on the waiting time period.

[0150] In some example embodiments, determining the waiting time period comprises: determining the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: extending a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay profile indication.

[0152] In some example embodiments, a terminal apparatus capable of performing any of the method 600 (for example, the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 2) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The terminal apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 2.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a network apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile; means for receiving, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a delay-tolerant indication; means for determining, from the at least one delay profile, a delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication; and means for performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the means for receiving, from the network apparatus, the configuration of at least one delay profile comprises means for receiving the configuration of at least one delay profile via at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) release message, an RRC configuration message, an RRC reconfiguration message, a broadcast message, or a downlink small data transmission (SDT).

[0158] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission comprises a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the means for deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile is based on at least one of: means for determining that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant, the data comprising at least one of downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus, or means for detecting a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement.

[0161] In some example embodiments, the means for determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant comprises means for determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the network apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval; and means for delaying the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the means for determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: selecting, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the means for determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: means for determining an initial delay profile based on the delay profile indication and the at least one delay profile; and means for determining the delay profile based on the initial delay profile.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value, performing the uplink transmission.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the network apparatus, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value is represented as a function of a link quality value, and the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for determining the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for delaying the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for determining that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for updating the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminal apparatus that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied; and means for determining whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the maximum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for after delaying for the maximum delay value, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to evaluate the link quality condition.

[0172] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the minimum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to delay the uplink transmission.

[0173] In some example embodiments, the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for delaying the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the reference starting time is associated with at least one of: reception of the paging message, an upcoming random access occasion, or transmission of a reference signal for a measurement.

[0175] I n some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for skipping monitoring a paging channel during the delay period.

[0176] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a further paging message with a higher priority than the paging message during the delay period or determine to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus during the delay period; and means for performing a further uplink transmission during the delay period.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for performing a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises or is comprised in a low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) device.

[0179] In some example embodiments, a network apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 2) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The network apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 2.

[0180] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a terminal apparatus, a configuration of at least one delay profile; means for determining a delay-tolerant indication for the terminal apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the delay-tolerant indication.

[0181] In some example embodiments, the delay-tolerant indication is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0182] In some example embodiments, a delay profile of the at least one delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0183] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0184] In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, the configuration of at least one delay profile comprises: means for transmitting the configuration of at least one delay profile via at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) release message, an RRC configuration message, an RRC reconfiguration message, a broadcast message, or a downlink small data transmission (SDT).

[0185] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the means for determining the delay-tolerant indication comprises: means for determining a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; and means for determining the delay-tolerant indication based on the waiting time period.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the means for determining the waiting time period comprises: means for determining the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus further comprises: means for extending a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay profile indication.

[0189] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a terminal apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 4.

[0190] At block 810, the terminal apparatus 201 receives, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile.

[0191] At block 820, the terminal apparatus 201 performs an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the delay profile is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of: at least a portion of the delay profile, an identifier of the delay profile, or an indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

[0196] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission comprises a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile.

[0198] In some example embodiments, deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delayprofile is based on at least one of: determining that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant, the data comprising at least one of downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus, or detecting a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement.

[0199] In some example embodiments, determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant comprises: determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: receiving, from the network apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval; and delaying the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement.

[0201] In some embodiments, determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: selecting, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication.

[0202] In some example embodiments, determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: determining an initial delay profile based on the delay profile indication and the at least one delay profile; and determining the delay profile based on the initial delay profile.

[0203] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value, performing the uplink transmission.

[0204] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: receiving, from the network apparatus, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus.

[0205] In some example embodiments, the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value is represented as a function of a link quality value, and the method 800 further comprises: determining the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value.

[0206] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: delaying the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied.

[0207] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: determining that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition.

[0208] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the method 800 further comprises: updating the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminalapparatus that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied; and determine whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied.

[0209] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the maximum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: after delaying for the maximum delay value, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to evaluate the link quality condition.

[0210] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to delay the uplink transmission.

[0211] In some example embodiments, performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: delaying the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time.

[0212] In some example embodiments, the reference starting time is associated with at least one of: reception of the paging message, an upcoming random access occasion, or transmission of a reference signal for a measurement.

[0213] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: skipping monitoring a paging channel during the delay period.

[0214] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: receiving a further paging message with a higher priority than the paging message during the delay period or determining to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus during the delay period; and performing a further uplink transmission during the delay period.

[0215] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: performing a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period.

[0216] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises or is comprised in a low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) device.

[0217] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a network apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 4.

[0218] At block 910, the network apparatus 202 determines a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus.

[0219] At block 920, the network apparatus 202 transmits, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

[0220] In some example embodiments, the delay profile is associated with downlink data to betransmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0221] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0222] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0223] In some example embodiments, the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of: at least a portion of the delay profile, an identifier of the delay profile, or an indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

[0224] In some example embodiments, the method 900 further comprises: transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval.

[0225] In some example embodiments, determining the configuration of the delay profile comprises: determining a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; and determining the configuration of the delay profile based on the waiting time period.

[0226] In some example embodiments, determining the waiting time period comprises: determining the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0227] In some example embodiments, the method 900 further comprises: extending a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay profile indication.

[0228] In some example embodiments, a terminal apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 4) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The terminal apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal apparatus 201 in FIG. 4.

[0229] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises means for receiving, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; and means for performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

[0230] In some example embodiments, the delay profile is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0231] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0232] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or athreshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0233] In some example embodiments, the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of: at least a portion of the delay profile, an identifier of the delay profile, or an indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

[0234] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission comprises a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure.

[0235] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile.

[0236] In some example embodiments, the means for deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile is based on at least one of: means for determining that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant, the data comprising at least one of downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus, or means for detecting a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement.

[0237] In some example embodiments, the means for determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant comprises means for determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

[0238] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the network apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval; and means for delaying the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement.

[0239] In some example embodiments, the means for determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: selecting, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication.

[0240] In some example embodiments, the means for determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises: means for determining an initial delay profile based on the delay profile indication and the at least one delay profile; and means for determining the delay profile based on the initial delay profile.

[0241] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value, performing the uplink transmission.

[0242] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the network apparatus, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus.

[0243] In some example embodiments, the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimumdelay value is represented as a function of a link quality value, and the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for determining the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value.

[0244] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for delaying the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied.

[0245] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for determining that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition.

[0246] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for updating the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminal apparatus that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied; and means for determining whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied.

[0247] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the maximum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for after delaying for the maximum delay value, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to evaluate the link quality condition.

[0248] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the minimum delay value, and the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to delay the uplink transmission.

[0249] In some example embodiments, the means for performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises: means for delaying the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time.

[0250] In some example embodiments, the reference starting time is associated with at least one of: reception of the paging message, an upcoming random access occasion, or transmission of a reference signal for a measurement.

[0251] I n some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for skipping monitoring a paging channel during the delay period.

[0252] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a further paging message with a higher priority than the paging message during the delay period or determine to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus during the delay period; andmeans for performing a further uplink transmission during the delay period.

[0253] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus further comprises: means for performing a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period.

[0254] In some example embodiments, the terminal apparatus comprises or is comprised in a low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) device.

[0255] In some example embodiments, a network apparatus capable of performing any of the method 900 (for example, the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 4) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 900. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The network apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network apparatus 202 in FIG. 4.

[0256] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus comprises means for determining a configuration of a delay profile for the terminal apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

[0257] In some example embodiments, the delay profile is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0258] In some example embodiments, the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value, a minimum delay value, or a link quality condition.

[0259] In some example embodiments, the link quality condition comprises at least one of: a link quality threshold, a link quality enhancement condition, a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, or a threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

[0260] In some example embodiments, the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of: at least a portion of the delay profile, an identifier of the delay profile, or an indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

[0261] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the terminal apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval.

[0262] In some example embodiments, the means for determining the configuration of the delay profile comprises: means for determining a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; and means for determining the configuration of the delay profile based on the waiting time period.

[0263] In some example embodiments, the means for determining the waiting time period comprises: means for determining the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

[0264] In some example embodiments, the network apparatus further comprises: means for extending a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay profile indication.

[0265] FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1000 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 1000 includes one or more processors 1010, one or more memories 1020 coupled to the processor 1010, and one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processor 1010.

[0266] The communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1040 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1040 may include at least one antenna.

[0267] The processor 1010 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1000 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0268] The memory 1020 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1024, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1022 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0269] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The instructions of the program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1030 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024. The processor 1010 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1030 into the RAM 1022.

[0270] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1030 so that the device 1000 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 9. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0271] In some example embodiments, the program 1030 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1000 (such as in the memory 1020) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1000. The device 1000 may load the program 1030 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1022 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. , tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0272] FIG. 11 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1100 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1100 has the program 1030 stored thereon.

[0273] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0274] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machineexecutable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0275] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or blockdiagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0276] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0277] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0278] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0279] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A terminal apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal apparatus to:receive, from the network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile; andperform an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

2. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delay profile is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

3. The terminal apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the delay profile indicates at least one of: a maximum delay value,a minimum delay value, ora link quality condition.

4. The terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the link quality condition comprises at least one of:a link quality threshold,a link quality enhancement condition,a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, ora threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

5. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of:at least a portion of the delay profile,an identifier of the delay profile, oran indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

6. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the uplink transmission comprises a Msg1 or MsgA in a random access procedure.

7. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to:decide to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile.

8. The terminal apparatus of claim 7, wherein deciding to delay the uplink transmission based on the delay profile is based on at least one of:determining that data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant, the data comprising at least one of downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus, ordetecting a link quality improvement based on a link quality measurement.

9. The terminal apparatus of claim 8, wherein determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant comprises:determining that the data associated with the paging message is delay-tolerant based on receiving the delay-tolerant indication.

10. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to:receive, from the network apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval; anddelay the uplink transmission based on the expected level of improvement.

11. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises:selecting, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on an identifier indicated by the delay-tolerant indication.

12. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein determining, from the at least one delay profile, the delay profile based on the delay-tolerant indication comprises:determining an initial delay profile based on the delay profile indication and the at least one delay profile; anddetermining the delay profile based on the initial delay profile.

13. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 3 to 12, wherein the delay profile indicates themaximum delay value or the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises:after delaying for no more than the maximum delay value or no less than the minimum delay value, performing the uplink transmission.

14. The terminal apparatus of claim 13, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the network apparatus, a configuration that associates at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value with a radio condition observed at the terminal apparatus.

15. The terminal apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value is represented as a function of a link quality value, and the terminal apparatus is further caused to:determine the at least one of the maximum delay value or the minimum delay value based on a measured link quality value.

16. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 3 to 15, wherein the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises:delaying the uplink transmission until the link quality condition is satisfied.

17. The terminal apparatus of claim 16, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to: determine that the link quality condition is satisfied for an evaluation time period associated with the link quality condition.

18. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 3 to 17, wherein the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the terminal apparatus is further caused to:update the link quality condition based on a delay at the terminal apparatus that has been incurred before the link quality condition is satisfied; anddetermine whether the updated link quality condition is satisfied.

19. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 3 to 12, wherein the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the maximum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises:after delaying for the maximum delay value, performing the uplink transmission and refrainingfrom continuing to evaluate the link quality condition.

20. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 3 to 12, wherein the delay profile indicates the link quality condition and the minimum delay value, and performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises:in accordance with a determination that the link quality condition is satisfied, performing the uplink transmission and refraining from continuing to delay the uplink transmission.

21. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein performing the uplink transmission to the network apparatus after the delay associated with the delay profile comprises:delaying the uplink transmission for a delay period starting from a reference starting time.

22. The terminal apparatus of claim 21, wherein the reference starting time is associated with at least one of:reception of the paging message,an upcoming random access occasion, ortransmission of a reference signal for a measurement.

23. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to:skip monitoring a paging channel during the delay period.

24. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to:receive a further paging message with a higher priority than the paging message during the delay period or determine to transmit uplink data to the network apparatus during the delay period; andperform a further uplink transmission during the delay period.

25. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the terminal apparatus is further caused to:perform a link measurement based on a measurement configuration associated with the delay period.

26. The terminal apparatus of any of claims 1 to 25, wherein the terminal apparatus comprisesor is comprised in a low-power wide-area internet-of-things (LPWA loT) device.

27. A network apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network apparatus to:determine a configuration of a delay profile for a terminal apparatus; and transmit, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

28. The network apparatus of claim 27, wherein the delay profile is associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

29. The network apparatus of claim 27 or 28,wherein the delay profile indicates at least one of:a maximum delay value,a minimum delay value, ora link quality condition; and / or.wherein the link quality condition comprises at least one of:a link quality threshold,a link quality enhancement condition,a coverage enhancement (CE) condition, ora threshold number of channel repetitions in the uplink transmission.

30. The network apparatus of any of claims 27 to 29, wherein the configuration of the delay profile comprises at least one of:at least a portion of the delay profile,an identifier of the delay profile, oran indication that the downlink data or the requested uplink data is delay-tolerant.

31. The network apparatus of any of claims 27 to 30, wherein the network apparatus is further caused to:transmit, to the terminal apparatus, an expected level of improvement on link quality in a future time interval.

32. The network apparatus of any of claims 27 to 31, wherein determining the configuration of the delay profile comprises:determining a waiting time period for which the terminal apparatus is allowed to delay a response to the paging message; anddetermining the configuration of the delay profile based on the waiting time period.

33. The network apparatus of claim 32, wherein determining the waiting time period comprises: determining the waiting time period based on a quality of service (QoS) requirement associated with downlink data to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus or requested uplink data from the terminal apparatus.

34. The network apparatus of any of claims 27 to 33, wherein the network apparatus is further caused to:extend a paging retransmission timer based on determined delay profile indication.

34. A method comprising:receiving, at a terminal apparatus and from a network apparatus, a paging message comprising a configuration of a delay profile;performing an uplink transmission to the network apparatus after a delay associated with the delay profile.

35. A method comprising:determining, at a network apparatus, a configuration of a delay profile for a terminal apparatus; andtransmitting, to the terminal apparatus, a paging message comprising the configuration of the delay profile.

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