Resource selection

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solution for resource selection In an aspect, a first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. The first apparatus may transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource. The first apparatus may receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

Description

RESOURCE SELECTIONFIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments relate to the field of communication, and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses and a computer readable storage medium for resource selection.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication network can be seen 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.

[0003] Such communication networks operate in accordance with standards, such as those promulgated by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) or ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Examples of such standards include the so-called 5G (5th Generation) standard or other standards promulgated by 3GPP.SUMMARY

[0004] In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for resource selection, for example, resource selection for Ambient loT (A-loT) devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; and receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions for a location management function that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource; determine frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and transmit, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0007] In a third aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include: receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; transmitting a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; and receiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include: transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource; determining frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; means for transmitting a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; and means for receiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; means for receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource; means for determining frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method in the third or fourth aspect.

[0012] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to perform at least the method in the third or fourth aspect.

[0013] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus may include: first receiving circuitry, configured to receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; transmitting circuitry, configured to transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; and second receiving circuitry, configured to receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0014] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus may include: first transmitting circuitry, configured to transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; receiving circuitry, configured to receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource; determining circuitry, configured to determine frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and second transmitting circuitry, configured to transmit, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0015] 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

[0016] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an A-loT system in which some example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Fig. 3 illustrates an example of multiple resources;

[0020] Fig. 4 illustrate an example offset to a set of frequency resources in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Fig. 5 illustrates an example a bitmap mapping to a set of frequency resources in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 6 illustrate a flowchart of a method for selecting a resource implemented at the first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of report information with respect to two first apparatuses in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Fig. 8 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.;

[0025] Fig. 9 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 10 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] Fig. 11 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] Fig. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] Fig. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus for an A-loT communication system

[0030] Fig. 14 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] Fig. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus for an A-loT communication system;

[0032] Fig. 16 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] Fig. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus for an A-loT communication system;

[0034] Fig. 18 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] Fig. 19 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus for an A-loT communication system;

[0036] Fig. 20 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing some example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0037] Fig. 21 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Principles 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. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. 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. For example, a first element could be termed a secondelement, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0043] 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. 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.

[0044] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (for example, firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0045] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0046] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as 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 inthe communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the future fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, the future 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.

[0047] As used herein, the term “network device” or “network node” 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 system simulator, a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology.

[0048] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehiclemounted 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 (for example, remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (for example, 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. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0049] Ambient loT (A-loT) provides a low power, cost effective device architecture allowing a reader to read a set of devices’ identities and / or payloads. A procedure may be initiated by a reader, being either a gNB (topology 1) or an intermediate UE (topology 2), by sending an A-loT paging message (or initial trigger message) to a device.

[0050] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an A-loT system 100 in which some example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1 , a first apparatus (e.g., an ambient loT device)110 communicates with a second apparatus (e.g., a network device) 120 bi-directionally. The communication between the second apparatus 120 and the first apparatus 110 includes ambient loT data and / or signalling. Transmission between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 includes a transmission from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 (referred to be as “R2D”) and a transmission from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 (referred to be as “D2R”) .

[0051] It should be understood that, the topology shown in Fig. 1 is only for the purposes of illustration. Different topologies such as topology 2 may also be utilized in accordance with the practical requirements.

[0052] It is to be understood that the particular number of various communication devices and the particular number of various communication links as shown in Fig. 1 is for illustration purpose only without suggesting any limitations. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of communication devices, any suitable number of communication links, and any suitable number of other elements adapted for implementing communications. In addition, it should be appreciated that there may be various wireless as well as wireline communications (if needed) among all of the communication devices.

[0053] Communications among devices in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any appropriate communication protocol(s), including, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G) and the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and on the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any appropriate 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.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 1, the second apparatus 120 (i.e., a reader) may transmit a paging message to the first apparatus 110. After receiving the paging message, the first apparatus 110 (i.e., a device) may reply to the second apparatus 120 based on either contention free access or based on contention based access. In a contention free access, the first apparatus 110 may be provided with a dedicated resource for reply and no contention occurs. In a contention based access, the first apparatus 110, which is paged by the second apparatus 120, may be provided with a set of resources. For example, a paging message transmitted by the second apparatus 120 may include a number of resources (e.g., msg1 resources) of which the first apparatus 110 may randomly select and transmits a random number for which the second apparatus may echo to indicate that the contention has been resolved.

[0055] Currently, a same frequency configuration is used, however, such preconfiguring or assigning statically frequency resources makes an A-loT deployment inflexible. Even if different first apparatuses aremade with different capacities, without implementing apparatus capabilities, the first apparatus 110 is not aware of how many resources are available.

[0056] In addition, when a first apparatus 110 performs a random access procedure, even if the frequency resource is selected at random, there has been no agreement on how the first apparatus 110 knows whether a certain frequency resource has had the contention resolved. Accordingly, it is desired for the first apparatus 110 to be aware of an allocated or allotted frequency resource within a given timeslot when selecting a resource.

[0057] Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for a resource selection for A-loT. In some embodiments, the first apparatus may receive indication information indicating at least one resource from a second apparatus. The first apparatus may transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource. The first apparatus may further receive a seco nd message from the second apparatus, and the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0058] Example embodiments of the present disclosure further provides a solution for resource indication for A-loT. In some embodiments, a first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources, and the indication information may include a first number and a second number. The first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources. The first apparatus may select, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message.

[0059] Example embodiments of the present disclosure further provides a solution for selecting a resource for A-loT. A first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources. The first apparatus may select a first random number for resource selection. The first apparatus may select, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message based on the first random number. The first apparatus may further transmit, to the second apparatus, the first message in the selected resource.

[0060] Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for an indication for frequency resource allocation for A-loT. A first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. The first apparatus may transmit, to a second apparatus, a first message in a resource from the at least one resource, and the first message includes a random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus. For example, in the A-loT system, each first apparatus 110 may select a corresponding second random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution. The first apparatus may receive a second message from the second apparatus, and the second message includes the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0061] In this way, the first apparatus may be aware of how may resources are available. Furthermore, the first apparatus may also be aware of an allocated or allotted frequency resource within a given timeslot when selecting a resource. Principles and some example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0062] Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process 200 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to Fig.1. The process 200 may involve a first device 110 (e.g., a device) and a second device 120 (e.g., a reader). It would be appreciated that although the process flow 200 has been described in the communication environment 100 of Fig. 1, this process flow may be likewise applied to other communication scenarios. Furthermore, in the signaling process 200, it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0063] In the process 200, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (202) indication information indicating one or more resources. In some embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may transmit the indication information indicating a resource dedicated to the first apparatus 110, e.g., in a contention free access scenario. In some alternative embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may transmit the indication information indicating multiple resources. The first apparatus 110 may select a resource from the multiple resources for transmission. In some embodiments, the indication information may include one or more of a paging message or a Query-Rep command. A detailed description about the indication information indicating multiple resources will be described with accompanying figures below.

[0064] For a contention based access, the first apparatus 110 may select (204) a resource from multiple resources as indicated by the indication information for transmission of a first message. For a contention free access, the first apparatus 110 may use the resource as indicated by the indication information for transmission of the first message.

[0065] The first apparatus 110 may transmit (206) a first message in a resource from the one or more resources. In some embodiments, the first message may include msg1. For a contention free access scenario, the first apparatus 110 may transmit the first message to the second apparatus 120 in the resource that is indicated in the indication information, and the resource is dedicated to the first apparatus 110. For a contention based access, the first apparatus may select (204) a resource from multiple resources indicated by the indication information, and transmit (206) the first message in the selected resource to the second apparatus 120.

[0066] The second apparatus 120 may determine (208) a frequency resource allocation. In some embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may determine (208) a frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message. For a contention free access, the second apparatus 120 may determine the dedicated resource allocated to the first apparatus 110. For a contention based access, the second apparatus 120may determine a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus. For example, the second apparatus 120 may grant the frequency resource selected by the first apparatus 110 at least based on the first message. Alternatively, the second apparatus 120 may allocate a frequency resource to the first apparatus 110 at least based on the first message.

[0067] The second apparatus 120 may transmit (210) a second message to the first apparatus 110, and the second message may indicate a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus 110. In some embodiments, the second message may include a msg2. The second apparatus 120 may indicate the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus by using various ways, which will be described in detail below. The first apparatus 110 may transmit (212) a third message to the second apparatus 120 in the allocated frequency resource. In some embodiments, the third message may include a msg3. The third message may include one or more of an identity of or a payload of the first apparatus 110.

[0068] Now a detailed description about indication information indicating multiple resources from which the first apparatus 110 may select a resource to transmitthe first message, e.g., msg1, will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 illustrates an example of multiple resources. As shown in Fig. 3, the resources are provided in both the time and frequency domains. In the example of Fig. 3, there are 16 time slots, and three frequency resources per time slot.

[0069] In some embodiments, the indication information may include a number indicating the number of available resources. For example, as the example resources shown in Fig. 3, in a case that there are 9 available resources, including 3 time slots and 3 frequency resources per time slot, the indication information may include a number of 9.

[0070] In some embodiments, the indication information may include a first number and a second number. The first number may indicate the total number of the multiple resources and the second number may indicate the number of frequency resources. The first apparatus 110 may infer the n umber of time resources from the first number and the second number. Alternatively, the first number may indicate the number of frequency resources and the second number may indicate the number of time resources. The first apparatus 110 may infer the total number of the resources from the first number and the second number.

[0071] In some embodiments, the number of frequency resources as indicated in the indication information may include the number of frequency resources for a set of time slots. Alternatively, the number of frequency resources as indicated in the indication information may include the number of frequency resources for a single time slot. By indicating the number of frequency resources in such ways, flexibility of the communication system to reconfigure multiple resources may be achieved.

[0072] In some embodiments, a first field and a second field in a message corresponding to the indication information may indicate the first number and the second number, respectively. A format of the message with a first field indicating the total number Nmgsi of the resources and a second field indicating the number Nfdma resources of frequency resources (e.g., FDMA resources) is shown in Table 1.Table 1

[0073] The field named with “Nmgsi” in Table 1 is the first field indicating the total number Nmgsi of the resources, with bits in Octet n and a part of bits in Octet n+1. The field named with “Nfdma resources” in Table 1 is the second field indicating the number Nfd ma resources of frequency resources (e.g., FDMA resources), with remaining bits in Octet n+1.

[0074] Table 2 is an example of Table 1 with the first field and the second field being filled with bit values. In the example of Table 2, 10 bits in Octet n and n+1 are used to indicate the total number of resources, and 6 bits in Octet n+1 are used to indicate FDMA resources.Table 2

[0075] As shown in example of Table 2, the first 10 bits in the Octet n and n+1 indicates that there are 16 resources and the last 6 bits in Octet n+1 indicates there are 3 frequency resources.

[0076] As shown in Table 1 and Table 2, 10 bits are associated to the number of msg1 resources, and 6 bits are associate to the number of FDMA resources, however, those skilled in the art should understand that either number of bits may be assigned to the first field and the second field, depending on practical deployment or factors like expected number of apparatuses, number of frequency resources, etc.

[0077] The example Table 1 and Table 2 illustrate the first number indicating the total number of the multiple resources and the second number indicating the number of frequency resources. Similar configuration of tables in the message may be applied to the first number indicating the number of frequency resources and the second number indicating the number of time resources. Repetitive descriptions are omitted here for the purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0078] In some embodiments, the message may include a first length field and a second length field to indicate lengths ofthe first field and the second fields, respectively. Table 3 is an example with a first length field and a second length field, in which the first length field indicates a length of the first field indicating the number of time resources and the second length field indicates a length of the second field indicating the number of frequency resources.Table 3

[0079] In some embodiments, the bits in Octet n+1 are configured based on a sum of the length field indicating the first number (e.g., indicating the number of time resources) and a sum of the length field indicating the second number (e.g., indicating the number of frequency resources).

[0080] As shown in Table, 3, Ltime may indicate a length of a field indicating the number of the time resources and Lfrequency may indicate a length of afield indicating the number of the frequency resources. In some embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may select a random number for contention solution, which will be explained below. In some embodiments, the random number may be set to be 16 bits, so in order for the first apparatus 110 to generate a unique random number, the number of multiple first apparatuses (and thus the resources) will be at least less than what is indicated with 16 bits. Accordingly, the length for Ltime is no less than 4 bits.

[0081] Table 4 is an example of Table 3 with Ltime and Lfrequency being filled with bit values. In Table 4, the values for Ntimesiot indicating the number of time resources and Nfrequency indicating the number of frequency resources are also shown.Table 4

[0082] As shown in Table 4, the first four bits in Octet n is used for Ltime, subsequent two bits in Octet n is used for Lfrequency, and the last two bits in Octet n are reserved. From Table 4, Ltime indicates the length for Ntimesiot indicating the number of time resources may be 5 bits. Lfrequency indicates the length for Nfrequency indicating the number of frequency resources may be 3 bits. Accordingly, in Octet n+1, the first five bits indicate the Ntimesiot and the last three bits in Octet n+1 indicate Nfrequency. As shown in the example of Table 4, the Ntimesiot indicates 16 time resources and Nfrequency indicates 3 frequency resources.

[0083] The example Table 3 and Table 4 illustrate for the first number indicating the number of frequency resources and the second number indicating the number of times resources. Similar configuration of tables in the message may be applied to the first number indicating the total number of resources and the secondnumber indicating the number of frequency resources. Repetitive descriptions are omitted here for the purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0084] In some embodiments, values in the first length field may correspond to a first list of lengths respectively, and values in the second length field may correspond to a second list of lengths. For example, the first list of lengths may include a list of [3, 5, 8, 10]. The first length field may be configured to correspond to the elements in the list with four different values. For example, “0001” of the Ltime may correspond to the element of 3, indicating a length of three bits. Similarly, the second list of lengths may include a list of [0, 1, 2, 3]. The second length field may be configured to correspond to the elements in the second list with four different values. For example, “00” of the Lfrequency may indicate a length of three bits.

[0085] In some embodiments, the indication information may further include an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource. In some embodiments, an offset may include one or more of a starting resource Fstart with respect to a reference frequency resource, or the number of resources (e.g., indicated as Nresources ) from the starting resource.

[0086] Fig. 4 illustrate an example offset to a set of frequency resources in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, Fstart indicates a starting resource with respect to a reference frequency resource among a set of resources in a (pre)configured frequency band. For example, resource R1.3 is the starting resource. Nresources indicates the number of resources from the starting resource, for example, 2, as shown in Fig. 4. Table 5 is an example of a format for a message corresponding to the indication information, which includes the offset information such as Fstart and Nresources.Table 50087] Table 5 is similar to Table 1, including the total number of resources Nmgsi and the number of frequency resources Ntd ma resources. Table 5 included a field Fstart and a field N resource to indicate a starting resource with respect to a reference frequency and the number of resources from the starting resource, respectively.

[0088] In some embodiments, the offset may include an upper bound index and a lower bound index in the configured set of frequency resources in a (pre)configured frequency band. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the offset may include an upper bound index of 4 and a lower bound index of 3 in the configured set of frequency resources. A field to indicate the upper bound index and a field to indicate the lower bound index may be similarly configured in the message corresponding to the indication information.

[0089] In some embodiments, the offset may include a start index and at least a partial number of frequency resources in the configured set of frequency resources. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the offset may include a start index of 3 and a number of 2 to indicate frequency resources among the config u red set of frequency resources.

[0090] In some embodiments, the indication information may include a bitmap indicating available resources among a configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus. Fig. 5 illustrates an example a bitmap mapping to a set of frequency resources in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 5, for a set of frequency resources R1.1 ~R1.6 in a (pre)configured frequency band, a bitmap of “010010” may indicate the second resource R1.2 and the fifth resource R1.5 in the set of frequency resources are available.

[0091] For the example shown in Fig. 5, the bitmap may be included in the message in accordance with a format as shown in Table 6Table 6Table 7

[0093] In some embodiments, a length field may also be included in the message to indicate a length of a field indicating the offset or the bitmap.

[0094] In some embodiments, the indication information may include a paging message that is transmitted by the second apparatus 120. In some embodiments, the indication information may include a Query-Rep command. In some embodiments, the message corresponding to the indication information may include a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE). In some embodiments, the MAC CE may include anAmbient IOT (A-loT) MAC CE. Those skilled in the art should understand that, any type of header, tail and / or other information may be added before / after the illustrated element-parts.

[0095] In some embodiments, since the A-loT devices are very simple, it might be difficult for an A-loT device (e.g., the first apparatus) to maintain a reasonable time synchronization for a large number of timeslots allocated to msg1. Thus, a “query-rep” like signal (for example, a Query-Rep command) may be provided per timeslot, and the “query-rep” like signal (for example, a Query-Rep command) may carry the resource indication, for example, instead of the paging information.

[0096] Fig. 6 illustrate a flowchart of a method for selecting a resource implemented at the first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0097] At 610, the first apparatus 110 may select a first random number for resource selection. In some embodiments, the first random number may be less than or equal to the total number of the resources as indicated by the indication information. For example, if the total number of the resources is 9, the first random number selected by the first apparatus for resource selection may be no greater than 9.

[0098] At 620, the first apparatus 110 may determine a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of the first number or the second number.

[0099] In some embodiments, when the first number indicates the total number of the multiple resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, the first apparatus 110 may obtain a third number indicative of a number of frequency resources per time slot from the second number, and may perform a division operation between the first random number and the third number.

[0100] For example, when the first number in the indication information indicates the total number of the multiple resources is 9, and the second number indicates that the number of frequency resources per time slot is 3, the first apparatus 110 may perform a division operation between the selected first random number (taking the selected first random number as 5 for example) and the third number (e.g., 3).

[0101] The first apparatus 110 may determine the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation. In some embodiments, the quotient of the division operation indicates an offset from a start time slot. For example, the quotient of the division operation between the first random number (e.g., 5) and the third number (e.g., 3) is 1 , indicating the offset from the starting time slot is 1. In a situation that the time slot is counted from 0, the time slot index is 1; or in a situation that the time slot is counted from 1, the time slot index may be 2.

[0102] The first apparatus 110 may determine a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index. For example, the remainder of the division operation between the first random number (e.g., 5) and the third number (e.g., 3) is 2, indicating the frequency index is 2 in the determined time slot.

[0103] In some embodiments, when the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, the first apparatus 110 may obtain a fourth number indicative of a number of frequency resources per time slot from the first number. The first apparatus 110may perform a division operation between the first random number and the fourth number. The first apparatus 110 may determine the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation, and determine a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index. Similar operations may be referred to the description as stated above, for the purposes of clarity and brevity, repetitive descriptions are omitted here.

[0104] In some embodiments, when the first number indicates the total number of the multiple resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, the first apparatus 110 may perform a floor operation between the first random number and the first number. The first apparatus 110 may perform a mod operation between the first random number and the first number. The first apparatus 110 may determine the time slot index based on a result of the floor operation, and determine the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0105] Alternatively, when the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, the first apparatus 110 may obtain the total number of the multiple resources based on the first number and the second number, e.g., a product of the first number and the second number. The first apparatus 110 may perform a floor operation between the first random number and the total number. The first apparatus 110 may perform a mod operation between the first random number and the total number. The first apparatus 110 may determine the time slot index based on a result of the floor operation, and determine the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0106] At 630, the first apparatus 110 may select the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may select a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution. In some embodiments, the second random number is 16 bits, and is different from the first random number for resource selection. The first apparatus 110 may include the second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution in the first message msg1 and transmit the first message msg1 to the second apparatus 120 in the selected resource.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may transmit an indication of a frequency resource preference ofthe first apparatus 110 in the first message. For example, the first apparatus 110 may further indicate, to the second apparatus 120, via the first message, one or more of: the selected resource is preferred by the first apparatus 110; a set of resources related to the selected resource is supported by the first apparatus 110; or a resource of a set of resources that is broader than a set ofthe multiple resources is preferred by the first apparatus 110. The second apparatus 120 may determine the frequency resource allocation based on the frequency resource preference.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may transmit the indication ofthe frequency resource preference by reporting a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave in an associated firstmessage for deployment of carrier waves. Similarly, another first apparatus in the A-loT system may also report to the second apparatus a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave in in an associated first message for deployment of carrier waves. Fig. 7 illustrates an example of report information with respect to two first apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Two first apparatuses 110-1 and 110-2 are shown in Fig. 7. The first apparatuses 110-1 may report to the second apparatus 120 a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave CW1 , and the first apparatuses 110-2 may report to the second apparatus 120 a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave CW2. In some embodiments, a first carrier wave has a first center frequency resource, a second carrier wave has a second center frequency resource, and the first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0110] For example, the first apparatus 110-1 may report information such as 111000, with the second bit indicating the CW1 center, and the first apparatus 110-2 may report information such as 000111, with the fifth bit indicating the CW2 center. The first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0111] Refer back to Fig. 2, the second apparatus 120 may determine, e.g., at 208 in Fig. 2, a frequency resource allocation. In some embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may determine the frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message. For example, the second apparatus 120 may determine the frequency resource allocation based on one or more of: the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus 110 in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0112] In some embodiments, in case that the Query-Rep command is only allocating a small amount of resources ahead, the second apparatus 120 may change a frequency resource for the first apparatus 110 based on one or more of frequency hopping or an indication of multi-reader operation. For a multi-reader operation, a network device may indicate to the second apparatus 120 (e.g., a reader) that there is one starting A-loT operation, and that the second apparatus 120 may has fewer resources. The network device may indicate to the second apparatus 120 (e.g., a reader) that there is one stopping A-loT operation, and that the second apparatus 120 may has more resources.

[0113] Advantageously, by determining frequency resource allocation based on frequency hopping, conditions such as jamming, signal quality degradation, or inference mitigation may be relieved.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may transmit msg1 to the second apparatus 120 to content for resources. The first apparatus 110 may transmit the second random number in a certain time slot. In order to indicate the frequency resource, the first apparatus 110 may follow the reader’s indication for the frequency resource to use for transmitting subsequent messages. In some embodiments, the indication may be a one-time indication e.g. in msg2, or a per message indication, i.e. for subsequent messages, each R2D message carries a (new) frequency allocation. In some embodiments, the resource used by the first apparatus 110 to transmit msg1 may also be used to transmit subsequent messages.

[0115] The second apparatus 120 may receive the first message including the second random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus 110. The second apparatus 120 may transmit a second message, msg2, to the first apparatus 110. The second message may include multiple second random numbers associated with multiple first apparatuses, respectively. In some embodiments, the second message may include the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus 110 is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second message may include a first list having the random number to indicate that the first apparatus 110 is granted to access the resource selected by the first apparatus 110. Table 8 shows an example of the first list.Table 8

[0117] As shown in Table 8, multiple second random numbers of the temporary identifiers for contention resolution associated with multiple first apparatuses may be included in the list. For example, RN16 device x is a second random number associated with device x, and RN16 device y is a second random number associated with device y, and so on. The second apparatus 120 may include the second random number associated with the first apparatus 110 to indicate that the first apparatus 110 is granted to access the resource selected by the first apparatus 110. In other words, if the second random number associated with the first apparatus 110 is absent from the list, that is, a second list without the second random number associated with the first apparatus 110, the second list may indicate that the first apparatus 110 is not granted to access the selected resource.

[0118] Alternatively, the second message may include an ordered list of multiple second random numbers. The second random numbers are temporary identifiers for contention resolution associated with multiple first apparatuses. In other words, the listed second random numbers are for contention resolution and are associated with multiple apparatuses, respectively. An entry for a listed random number indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the entry is allocated to an apparatus associated with the listed random number. In some embodiments, the random numbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order or a descending order of multiple frequency resource indexes.

[0119] Table 8 may also be used as an example of the ordered list. According to Table 8, multiple random numbers associated with multiple first apparatuses are listed in Table 8. Assuming that the randomnumbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order. That is, a first entry in the list corresponds to a first frequency resource, a second entry in the list corresponds to a second frequency resource, and so on. When the entry in Octet n and n+1 corresponds to a kthfrequency resource, the second message indicates that the kthfrequency resource is allocated to the device x associated with the entry.

[0120] In some embodiments, for a situation that a frequency resource among multiple resources has not been allocated or granted by the second apparatus 120, the second apparatus 120 may pad the unallocated frequency resource with a value of 0 in the ordered list. Table 9 is an example of the ordered list with paddings.Table 9>00121] As shown in Table 9, the first frequency resource is related to the first entry RN16=20, the second frequency resource is related to the first entry RN16=10, the third frequency resource is not granted, padding with 0, and the fourth frequency resource is related to the fourth entry RN16=30. The second message indicates, by using the ordered list, that a first apparatus associated with RN16=10 is allocated to the first frequency resource, a first apparatus associated with RN16=20 is allocated to the second frequency resource, and a first apparatus associated with RN16=30 is allocated to the fourth frequency resource, while the third frequency resource is not allocated.

[0122] In some embodiments, the second message may include a bitmap subsequent to a second random number, and the bitmap indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus. For example, a bit value of “1” may indicate a corresponding frequency resource is allocated to the first apparatus arranged before the bitmap in the second message. In some embodiments, the second message may include offset information subsequent to the random number, and the offset information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the associated first apparatus. For example, an offset value indicates a resource shifted from a reference same value is allocated to the associated first apparatus arranged before the offset information in the second message. In some embodiments, the second message may include count information subsequent to the random number, the count information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the firstapparatus arranged before the offset information in the second message. For example, the count value indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the count value is allocated to the first apparatus arranged before the offset information in the second message.

[0123] Table 10 shows an example of the bitmap information, count information or offset information subsequent to a random number.Table 10

[0124] Table 11 is an example with bit values for a bitmap. Bitmap may be arranged in the second message in a sequential order according to a selection made for multiple (e.g., eight) frequency resources.Table 1100125] Table 12 is an example with bit values for either count information or offset information. For either the offset value or the count value, the number may be started with respect to a frequency reference, e.g. a start of the resources.Table 12

[0126] Fig. 8 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 8, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (802) indication information indicating multiple resources to the first apparatus 110. In some embodiments, the indication information may include a first number and a second number. The first number may indicate the total number of the multiple resources and the second number may indicate the number of frequency resources. Alternatively, the first number may indicate the number of frequency resources and the second number may indicate the number of time resources. The first apparatus 110 may select (804) a resource for transmission of a first message from the multiple resources. The first apparatus 110 may transmit (806) the first message to the second apparatus. The operations performed at 802, 804, and 806 may be understood with reference to the above descriptions, and repetitive descriptions are omitted here for the purposes of clarity and brevity.

[0127] Fig. 9 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 9, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (902) indication information indicating multiple resources to the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 may select (904) a first random number for resource selection. The first apparatus 110 may select (906), from the multiple resources, a resource for transmission of a first message based on the first random number. The first apparatus 110 may transmit (906) the first message to the second apparatus 120 in the selected resource. The operations performed at 902, 904, 906, and 908 may be understood with reference to the above descriptions, and repetitive descriptions are omitted here for the purposes of clarity and brevity.

[0128] Fig. 10 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 10, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (1002) indication information indicating at least one resource to the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 may transmit (1004), to the second apparatus 120, a first message in a resource from the at least one resource. In some embodiments, the first message may include a random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus. The second apparatus 120 may determine (1006) a frequency allocation, for example, based on the first message. The second apparatus 120 may transmit (1008) a second message. In some embodiments, the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource. The operations performed at 902, 904, 906, and 908 may be understood with reference to the above descriptions, and repetitive descriptions are omitted here for the purposes of clarity and brevity.

[0129] Fig. 11 illustrates an example signaling process 1100 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In Fig. 11, at 1101, the second apparatus 120 may transmit a paging message including time and / or frequency resource(s) to the first apparatus 110. In some embodiments, at 1103, the second apparatus 120 may transmit a Query-like signal including time and / or frequency resource(s) to the first apparatus 110.

[0130] The first apparatus 110 may calculate the total number of resources at 1105, for example, based on the paging message or the Query-like signal (if any). At 1107, the first apparatus 110 may select a random number for resource selection. At 1109, the first apparatus 110 may select RN, which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus 110. At 1111 , the first apparatus 110 may calculate a time and frequency resource. In some embodiments, at 1113, the second apparatus 120 may transmit a Query-like signal including time and / or frequency resource(s) to the first apparatus 110.

[0131] The first apparatus 110, at 1115, may transmit a first message msg1 in the selected time / frequency resource. The first message may include the RN16, which is selected by the first apparatus 110 at 1109. At 1117, the second apparatus 120 may determine optimal frequency allotting, for example, based on the first message received from the first apparatus 110. The second apparatus 120 may transmit a second message including frequency indication based on RN 16 to the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 may transmit a third message, at 1121, including a full identifier (ID) of the first apparatus 110.

[0132] Fig. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1200 implemented at a first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1200 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0133] At 1210, the first apparatus 110 may receive, from a second apparatus 120, indication information indicating at least one resource. At 1220, the first apparatus 110 may transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource. At 1230, the first apparatus 110 may receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0134] In some embodiments, the indication information may indicate a plurality of resources and may include a first number and a second number. In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources. Alternatively, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0135] In some embodiments, the indication information further may include one or more of the following: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; or a bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0136] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may select the resource from the plurality of resources for transmission of the first message.

[0138] In some embodiments, first apparatus may select the resource by: selecting a first random number for resource selection; determining a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of the first number or the second number; and selecting the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0140] In some embodiments, the first message may include a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, wherein the second random number is associated with the first apparatus.

[0141] In some embodiments, the second message may include the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0142] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, a third massage comprising at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus in the allocated frequency resource.

[0143] Fig. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1300 implemented at a second apparatus 120 for an A-loT communication system. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1300 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120.

[0144] At 1310, the second apparatus may transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. At 1320, the second apparatus may receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource. At 1330, the second apparatus may determine frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message. At 1340, the second apparatus may transmit, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0145] In some embodiments, the indication information indicates a plurality of resources and may include a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0146] In some embodiments, the indication information further includes at least one of the following: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; or a bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0147] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first message may include an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0149] In some embodiments, the second apparatus determines the frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message by: determining the frequency allocation based on at least one of following: the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0150] In some embodiments, the first message may include a random number that is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the random number is associated with the first apparatus.

[0151] In some embodiments, the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0152] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message may include at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0153] Fig. 14 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1400 implemented at a first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1400 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0154] In some embodiments, at 1410, the first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources, and the indication information may include a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources. At 1420, the first apparatus may select, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message.

[0155] In some embodiments, a first field and a second field in a message corresponding to the indication information indicate the first number and the second number, respectively.

[0156] In some embodiments, a first length field and a second length field in the message indicate lengths of the first field and the second field, respectively.

[0157] In some embodiments, values in the first length field are configured to correspond to a first list of lengths respectively, and values in the second length field are configured to correspond to a second list of lengths respectively.

[0158] In some embodiments, the message may include a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0159] In some embodiments, indication information further includes: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource.

[0160] In some embodiments, the offset to the configured set of frequency resources in the frequency band may include at least one of the following: an upper bound index and a lower bound index in the configured set of frequency resources; or a start index and at least a partial number of frequency resources in the configured set of frequency resources.

[0161] In some embodiments, the indication information may further include a bitmap indicating available resources among a configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, the first message in the selected resource, wherein the first message may include a random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the random number is associated with the first apparatus; and may receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0163] In some embodiments, first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, a third massage including at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus in the allocated frequency resource.

[0164] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0165] Fig. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1500 implemented at a second apparatus 120 for an A-loT communication system. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1500 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120.

[0166] In some embodiments, at 1510, the second apparatus may transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources, wherein the indication information may include a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources. At 1520, the second apparatus may receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource that is selected from the plurality of resources.

[0167] In some embodiments, a first field and a second field in a message corresponding to the indication information indicate the first number and the second number, respectively.

[0168] In some embodiments, a first length field and a second length field in the message indicate lengths of the first field and the second field, respectively.

[0169] In some embodiments, values in the first length field are configured to correspond to a first list of lengths respectively, and values in the second length field are configured to correspond to a second list of lengths respectively.

[0170] In some embodiments, the message may include a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0171] In some embodiments, the indication information further may include an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource.

[0172] In some embodiments, the offset to the configured set of frequency resources in the frequency band may include at least one of the following: an upper bound index and a lower bound index in the configured set of frequency resources; or a start index and at least a partial number of frequency resources in the configured set of frequency resources.

[0173] In some embodiments, the indication information may further include a bitmap indicating available resources among a configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first message may include a random number that is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the second apparatus may transmit a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0175] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message may include at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0176] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0177] Fig. 16 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1600 implemented at a first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1600 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0178] In some embodiments, at 1610, the first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources. At 1620, the first apparatus may select a first random number for resource selection. At 1630, the first apparatus may select, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message based on the first random number. At 1640, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, the first message in the selected resource.

[0179] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may select the resource for transmission of the first message by: determining a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of a first number or a second number included in the indication information; and selecting the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, and wherein the first apparatus may select the time slot index and a frequency resource index by: obtaining a third number indicative of a number offrequency resources per time slot from the second number; performing a division operation between the first random number and the third number; determining the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation; and determining a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, and wherein the first apparatus may select the time slot index and a frequency resource index by: obtaining a fourth number indicative of a number of frequency resources per time slot from the first number; performing a division operation between the first random number and the fourth number; determining the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation; and determining a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, and wherein the first apparatus may select the time slot index and a frequency resource index by: performing a floor operation between the first random number and the first number; performing a mod operation between the first random number and the first number; determining the time slot index based on a result of the floor operation; and determining the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, and wherein the first apparatus may select the time slot index and a frequency resource index by: obtaining the total number of the plurality of resources based on the first number and the second number; performing a floor operation between the first random number and the total number; performing a mod operation between the first random number and the total number; determining the time slot index based on a result of the floor operation; and determining the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0184] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0185] In some embodiments, the frequency resource preference indicates at least one of the following: the selected resource is preferred by the first apparatus; a set of resources related to the selected resource is supported by the first apparatus; or a resource of a set of resources that is broader than a set of the plurality of resources is preferred by the first apparatus.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first apparatus transmits the indication of the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message by: reporting a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave in the first message for deployment of carrier waves.

[0187] In some embodiments, in the deployment of carrier waves, a first carrier wave has a first center frequency resource, a second carrier wave has a second center frequency resource, wherein the first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first message may include a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, the second random number is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message may include the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource, and the second random number is different from the first random number.

[0189] Fig. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1700 implemented at a second apparatus 120 for an A-loT communication system. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1700 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120.

[0190] In some embodiments, at 1710, the second apparatus may transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources. At 1720, the second apparatus may receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a selected resource that is selected based on a first random number.

[0191] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources.

[0192] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first message may include a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0194] In some embodiments, the frequency resource preference indicates at least one of the following: the selected resource is preferred by the first apparatus; a set of resources related to the selected resource is supported by the first apparatus; or a resource of a set of resources that is broader than a set of the plurality of resources is preferred by the first apparatus.

[0195] In some embodiments, the first message may include a report of a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave for deployment of carrier waves.

[0196] In some embodiments, in the deployment of carrier wave, a first carrier wave has a first center frequency resource, a second carrier wave has a second center frequency resource, wherein the first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0197] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may determine a frequency resource allocation based on at least one of the following: the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0198] In some embodiments, the first message may include a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and the second random number is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message may include the second random number to indicate that the firstapparatus is allocated with the frequency resource, and wherein the second random number is different from the first random number.

[0199] Fig. 18 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1800 implemented at a first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1800 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0200] In some embodiments, at 1810, the first apparatus may receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. At 1820, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, a first message in a resource from the at least one resource, wherein the first message may include a random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus. At 1830, the first apparatus may receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0201] In some embodiments, the second message may include at least one of the following: a first list including the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is granted to access the resource from the at least one resource; or a second list without the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is not granted to access the selected resource.

[0202] In some embodiments, the second message may include: an ordered list of plurality of random numbers, wherein the plurality of listed random numbers are for contention resolution and are associated with a plurality of apparatuses, respectively, and wherein an entry for a listed random number indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the entry is allocated to an apparatus associated with the listed random number.

[0203] In some embodiments, the plurality of random numbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order or a descending order of a plurality of frequency resource indexes.

[0204] In some embodiments, the second message may include: a bitmap subsequent to the random number, wherein the bitmap indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0205] In some embodiments, the second message may include: offset information subsequent to the random number, wherein the offset information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0206] In some embodiments, the second message may include: count information subsequent to the random number, wherein the count information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0208] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, a third massage including at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0209] Fig. 19 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1900 implemented at a second apparatus 120 for an A-loT communication system. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1900 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120.

[0210] In some embodiments, at 1910, the second apparatus may transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. At 1920, the second apparatus may receive a first message from a first apparatus, wherein the first message may include a random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource. At 1930, the second apparatus may transmit a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0211] In some embodiments, the second message may include at least one of the following: a first list including the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is granted to access the selected resource; or a second list without the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is not granted to access the selected resource.

[0212] In some embodiments, the second message may include: an ordered list of plurality of random numbers, wherein the plurality of listed random numbers are for contention resolution and are associated with a plurality of apparatuses, respectively, and wherein an entry for a listed random number indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the entry is allocated to an apparatus associated with the listed random number.

[0213] In some embodiments, the plurality of random numbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order or a descending order of a plurality of frequency resource indexes.

[0214] In some embodiments, the second message may include: a bitmap subsequent to the random number, wherein the bitmap indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0215] In some embodiments, the second message may include offset information subsequent to the random number, wherein the offset information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0216] In some embodiments, the second message may include count information subsequent to the random number, wherein the count information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first message may include a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0218] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may determine frequency resource allocation based on at least one of the following: the frequency resource preference or semi -capability of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0219] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message may include at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0220] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing the method 1200 (for example, the apparatus) may include means for performing the respective steps of the method 1200. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0221] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for receiving, from a second apparatus 120, indication information indicating at least one resource. The first apparatus may include means for transmitting a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource. The first apparatus may include means for receiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0222] In some embodiments, the indication information may indicate a plurality of resources and may include a first number and a second number. In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources. Alternatively, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0223] In some embodiments, the indication information further includes one or more of the following: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; or a bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0224] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for selecting the resource from the plurality of resources for transmission of the first message.

[0226] In some embodiments, means for selecting the resource may include: means for selecting a first random number for resource selection; determine a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of the first number or the second number; and means for selecting the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

[0227] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0228] In some embodiments, the first message may include a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, wherein the second random number is associated with the first apparatus.

[0229] In some embodiments, the second message may include the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0230] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a third massage including at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus in the allocated frequency resource.

[0231] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1200. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0232] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing the method 1300 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1300. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0233] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. The second apparatus may include means for receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource. The second apparatus may include means for determining frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message. The second apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0234] In some embodiments, the indication information may indicate a plurality of resources and comprises a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0235] In some embodiments, the indication information further may include at least one of the following: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; or a bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0236] In some embodiments, the indication information may include at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0237] In some embodiments, the first message may include an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0238] In some embodiments, means for determining the frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message may include: means for determining the frequency allocation based on at least one of following: the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0239] In some embodiments, the first message may include a random number that is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the random number is associated with the first apparatus.

[0240] In some embodiments, the second message may include the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0241] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message comprises at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0242] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1300. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0243] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing the method 1400 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0244] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources, and the indication information may include a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources. The first apparatus may include means for selecting, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message.

[0245] In some embodiments, a first field and a second field in a message corresponding to the indication information indicate the first number and the second number, respectively.

[0246] In some embodiments, a first length field and a second length field in the message indicate lengths of the first field and the second field, respectively.

[0247] In some embodiments, values in the first length field are configured to correspond to a first list of lengths respectively, and wherein values in the second length field are configured to correspond to a second list of lengths respectively.

[0248] In some embodiments, the message may include a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0249] In some embodiments, the indication information further includes: an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource.

[0250] In some embodiments, the offset to the configured set of frequency resources in the frequency band comprises at least one of the following: an upper bound index and a lower bound index in the configured set of frequency resources; or a start index and at least a partial number of frequency resources in the configured set of frequency resources.

[0251] In some embodiments, the indication information further comprises a bitmap indicating available resources among a configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0252] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, the first message in the selected resource, wherein the first message comprises a random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the random number is associated with the first apparatus; and may receive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0253] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a third massage comprising at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus in the allocated frequency resource.

[0254] In some embodiments, the indication information comprises at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0255] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1400. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0256] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing the method 1500 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0257] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources, wherein the indication information comprises a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following: the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; or the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources. The second apparatus may include means for receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource that is selected from the plurality of resources.

[0258] In some embodiments, a first field and a second field in a message corresponding to the indication information indicate the first number and the second number, respectively.

[0259] In some embodiments, a first length field and a second length field in the message indicate lengths of the first field and the second field, respectively.

[0260] In some embodiments, values in the first length field are configured to correspond to a first list of lengths respectively, and wherein values in the second length field are configured to correspond to a second list of lengths respectively.

[0261] In some embodiments, the message comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0262] In some embodiments, the indication information further may include an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource.

[0263] In some embodiments, the offset to the configured set of frequency resources in the frequency band comprises at least one of the following: an upper bound index and a lower bound index in the configured set of frequency resources; or a start index and at least a partial number of frequency resources in the configured set of frequency resources.

[0264] In some embodiments, the indication information further may include a bitmap indicating available resources among a configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

[0265] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a random number that is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the second apparatus may include means for transmitting a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

[0266] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message comprises at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0267] In some embodiments, the indication information comprises at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

[0268] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1500. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0269] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing the method 1600 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources. The first apparatus may include meansfor selecting a first random number for resource selection. The first apparatus may include means for selecting, from the plurality of resources, a resource for transmission of a first message based on the first random number. The first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, the first message in the selected resource.

[0271] In some embodiments, the means for selecting the resource for transmission of the first message may include: means for determining a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of a first number or a second number comprised in the indication information; and means for selecting the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

[0272] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, and wherein means for selecting the time slot index and a frequency resource index may include: means for obtaining a third number indicative of a number of frequency resources per time slot from the second number; means for performing a division operation between the first random number and the third number; means for determining the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation; and means for determining a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index.

[0273] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, and means for selecting the time slot index and a frequency resource index by: means for obtaining a fourth number indicative of a number of frequency resources per time slot from the first number; means for performing a division operation between the first random number and the fourth number; means for determining the time slot index based on a quotient of the division operation; and means for determining a remainder of the division operation as the frequency resource index.

[0274] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources, and wherein means for selecting the time slot index and a frequency resource index may include: means for performing a floor operation between the first random number and the first number; means for performing a mod operation between the first random number and the first number; means for determining the time slot index based on a result of the floor operation; and means for determining the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0275] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources, and wherein means for selecting the time slot index and a frequency resource index may include: means for obtaining the total number of the plurality of resources based on the first number and the second number; means for performing a floor operation between the first random number and the total number; means for performing a mod operation between the first random number and the total number; means for determining the time slot index based on a result of thefloor operation; and means for determining the frequency resource index based on a result of the mod operation.

[0276] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0277] In some embodiments, the frequency resource preference indicates at least one of the following: the selected resource is preferred by the first apparatus; a set of resources related to the selected resource is supported by the first apparatus; or a resource of a set of resources that is broader than a set of the plurality of resources is preferred by the first apparatus.

[0278] In some embodiments, means for transmitting the indication of the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message may include: means for reporting a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave in the first message for deployment of carrier waves.

[0279] In some embodiments, in the deployment of carrier waves, a first carrier wave has a first center frequency resource, a second carrier wave has a second center frequency resource, wherein the first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, the second random number is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the first apparatus may include means for receiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource, and the second random number is different from the first random number.

[0281] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1600. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0282] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing the method 1700 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0283] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating a plurality of resources. The second apparatus may include means for receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a selected resource that is selected based on a first random number.

[0284] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources.

[0285] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

[0286] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0287] In some embodiments, the frequency resource preference indicates at least one of the following: the selected resource is preferred by the first apparatus; a set of resources related to the selected resource is supported by the first apparatus; or a resource of a set of resources that is broader than a set of the plurality of resources is preferred by the first apparatus.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a report of a frequency resource related to a corresponding carrier wave for deployment of carrier waves.

[0289] In some embodiments, in the deployment of carrier wave, a first carrier wave has a first center frequency resource, a second carrier wave has a second center frequency resource, wherein the first center frequency resource is different from the second center frequency resource.

[0290] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for determining a frequency resource allocation based on at least one of the following: the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0291] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and the second random number is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the second apparatus may include means for transmitting a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource, and wherein the second random number is different from the first random number.

[0292] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1700. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0293] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing the method 1800 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0294] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. The first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a first message in a resource from the at least one resource, wherein the first message comprises a random number which is temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus. The first apparatus may include means for receiving a secon dmessage from the second apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0295] In some embodiments, the second message comprises at least one of the following: a first list comprising the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is granted to access the resource from the at least one resource; or a second list without the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is not granted to access the selected resource.

[0296] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: an ordered list of plurality of random numbers, wherein the plurality of listed random numbers are for contention resolution and are associated with a plurality of apparatuses, respectively, and wherein an entry for a listed random number indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the entry is allocated to an apparatus associated with the listed random number.

[0297] In some embodiments, the plurality of random numbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order or a descending order of a plurality of frequency resource indexes.

[0298] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: a bitmap subsequent to the random number, wherein the bitmap indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0299] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: offset information subsequent to the random number, wherein the offset information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0300] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: count information subsequent to the random number, wherein the count information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0301] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

[0302] In some embodiments, the first apparatus may include means for transmitting, in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, a third massage comprising at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0303] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1800. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0304] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing the method 1900 (for example, the apparatus) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1900. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0305] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource. The second apparatus may include means for receiving a first message from a first apparatus, wherein the first message comprises a randomnumber which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution and is associated with the first apparatus, and wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource. The second apparatus may include means for transmitting a second message to the first apparatus, wherein the second message comprises the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with a frequency resource.

[0306] In some embodiments, the second message comprises at least one of the following: a first list comprising the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is granted to access the selected resource; or a second list without the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is not granted to access the selected resource.

[0307] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: an ordered list of plurality of random numbers, wherein the plurality of listed random numbers are for contention resolution and are associated with a plurality of apparatuses, respectively, and wherein an entry for a listed random number indicates a frequency resource corresponding to the entry is allocated to an apparatus associated with the listed random number.

[0308] In some embodiments, the plurality of random numbers are arranged in the ordered list based on an ascending order or a descending order of a plurality of frequency resource indexes.

[0309] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: a bitmap subsequent to the random number, wherein the bitmap indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0310] In some embodiments, the second message comprises offset information subsequent to the random number, wherein the offset information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0311] In some embodiments, the second message comprises: count information subsequent to the random number, wherein the count information indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

[0312] In some embodiments, the first message comprises a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

[0313] In some embodiments, means for determining frequency resource allocation based on at least one of the following: the frequency resource preference or semi -capability of the first apparatus in the first message; frequency hopping; or an indication of multi-reader operation.

[0314] In some embodiments, the second apparatus may include means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message comprises at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

[0315] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 1900. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0316] Fig. 20 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device 2000 that is suitable for implementing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 2000 may be provided to implement a device, for example, the terminal device or the network device as shown in Fig. 1. As shown, the device 2000 includes one or more processors 2010, one or more memories 2020 coupled to the processor 2010, and one or more communication modules 2040 coupled to the processor 2010.

[0317] The communication module 2040 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 2040 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements.

[0318] The processor 2010 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 1200 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.

[0319] The memory 2020 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) 2024, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 2022 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0320] A computer program 2030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 2010. The program 730 may be stored in the ROM 2024. The processor 2010 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 2030 into the RAM 2022.

[0321] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 2030 so that the device 2000 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to Figs. 1 to 19. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0322] In some example embodiments, the program 2030 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 2000 (such as in the memory 2020) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 700. The device 2000 may load the program 2030 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 2022 for execution. The computer readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like.

[0323] Fig. 21 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a computer readable medium 2100 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer readable medium 2100 has the program 2130 stored thereon. It is noted that although the computer readable medium 2100is depicted in form of CD or DVD in FIG. 21 , the computer readable medium 2100 may be in any other form suitable for carry or hold the program 2130.

[0324] 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.

[0325] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the method 600, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, or 1900 as described above with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 12~Fig. 13, respectively. 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. Machine-executable 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.

[0326] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes 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 codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0327] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes 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.

[0328] 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 suitablecombination 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. 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).

[0329] 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. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0330] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:receive, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; transmit a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; andreceive a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indication information indicates a plurality of resources and comprises a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following:the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; orthe first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.

3. The first apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication information further comprises at least one of the following:an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; ora bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 -3, wherein the indication information comprises at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 2-4, where the first apparatus is caused to:select the resource from the plurality of resources for transmission of the first message.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first apparatus is caused to select the resource by: selecting a first random number for resource selection;determining a time slot index and a frequency resource index based on the first random number and at least one of the first number or the second number; and44selecting the resource for transmission of the first message based on the time slot index and the frequency resource index.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 -6, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the first message comprises a second random number which is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, wherein the second random number is associated with the first apparatus.

9. The first apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second message comprises the second random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 -9, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, a third massage comprising at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus in the allocated frequency resource.

11. A second apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to:transmit, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; receive a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource;determine frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and transmit, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indication information indicates a plurality of resources and comprises a first number and a second number, wherein one of the following:the first number indicates the total number of the plurality of resources and the second number indicates the number of frequency resources; orthe first number indicates the number of frequency resources and the second number indicates the number of time resources.4513. The second apparatus of claim 12, wherein the indication information further comprises at least one of the following:an offset to a configured set of frequency resources with respect to a reference frequency resource; ora bitmap indicating available resources among the configured set of frequency resources for the first apparatus.

14. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 -13, wherein the indication information comprises at least one of a paging message or a Query-Rep command.

15. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-14, wherein the first message comprises an indication of a frequency resource preference of the first apparatus.

16. The second apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second apparatus determines the frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message by:determining the frequency allocation based on at least one of following:the frequency resource preference of the first apparatus in the first message;frequency hopping; oran indication of multi-reader operation.

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-16, wherein the first message comprises a random number that is a temporary identifier for contention resolution, and wherein the random number is associated with the first apparatus.

18. The second apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second message comprises the random number to indicate that the first apparatus is allocated with the frequency resource.

19. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-18, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to:receive, from the first apparatus, a third massage that is transmitted in the frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus, wherein the third message comprises at least one of an identity of the first apparatus or a payload of the first apparatus.

20. A method, comprising:46receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; transmitting a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; andreceiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

21. A method, comprising:transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource;determining frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

22. A first apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a second apparatus, indication information indicating atleastone resource; means for transmitting a first message to the second apparatus in a resource from the at least one resource; andmeans for receiving a second message from the second apparatus, wherein the second message indicates a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

23. A second apparatus comprising:means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one resource; means for receiving a first message from the first apparatus, wherein the first message is transmitted in a resource from the at least one resource;means for determining frequency resource allocation at least based on the first message; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second message indicating a frequency resource allocated to the first apparatus.

24. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 20 or 21.

Images