Methods, communications devices, and infrastructure equipment

Abstract

Methods, communications devices, infrastructure equipment, core network nodes, and circuitry are provided for ensuring SSB and LP-WUS quasi-co-location (QCL). In particular, a method for a communications device comprises: identifying a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; and monitoring the first beam for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WUS intended for the communications device is detected, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

Description

[0001] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT The present application claims the Paris Convention priority of European patent application EP25165789.6, filed 24 March 2025, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Field of Disclosure

[0004] The present disclosure relates to communications devices, infrastructure equipment and methods for the more effective power saving of communications devices in wireless communications networks.

[0005] Description of Related Art

[0006] The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

[0007] Previous generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0008] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles I characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different consideration may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

[0009] In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems I new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as futureiterations I releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0010] One example of a new service is referred to as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services which, as its name suggests, requires that a data unit or packet be communicated with a high reliability and with a low communications delay. Another example of a new service is enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services, which are characterised by a high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. URLLC and eMBB type services therefore represent challenging examples for both LTE type communications systems and 5G / NR communications systems.

[0011] 5G NR has continuously evolved and the current work plan includes 5G-NR-advanced in which some further enhancements are expected, especially to support new use-cases / scenarios with higher requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0013] The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above. Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (NR) wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 is a graphical plot of user equipment (UE) processing activity against time illustrating an example of a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle;

[0020] Figure 5 is a graphical plot of UE processing activity against time illustrating an example of a paging occasion preceded by a wake-up signal according to that used for LTE;

[0021] Figure 6 is a graphical plot of UE processing activity against time illustrating an example of a DRX cycle according to that used for 5G / NR;Figure 7 illustrates the relationship between a main receiver (MR) and a lower power receiver (LP-WLIR) of a UE which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 8 shows an example of how a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WLIS) may be monitored for by an LP-WLIR of a UE prior to a paging occasion;

[0023] Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart for a method for a communications device according to the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart for a method for an infrastructure equipment according to the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 11 illustrates a flowchart for a method for a core network node according to the present disclosure.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0028] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network I system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0029] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network. Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices or mobile terminals (MT) 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink. Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink. The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. The communications or terminal devices 4 may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e. page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0030] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunicationssystems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0031] New Radio Access Technology (5G (NR))

[0032] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (Dlls) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, forms a cell of the wireless communications network as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the cells 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 25.

[0033] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0034] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

[0035] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units I TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment I access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interfacebetween the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node I central unit and I or the distributed units I TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 via one of the distributed units I TRPs 10 associated with the first communication cell 12.

[0036] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0037] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems I networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment I access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment I access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment I access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit I controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein. A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter circuit 49, a receiver circuit 48 and a controller circuit 44 which is configured to control the transmitter circuit 49 and the receiver circuit 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter circuit 30 and received by the receiver circuit 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0038] The transmitter circuits 30, 49 and the receiver circuits 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controller circuits 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using oneor more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) I circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment I TRP I base station as well as the UE I communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0040] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the F1 interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The F1 interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP10 to the DU 42 and the F1 interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

[0041] Power Saving and Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in NR

[0042] In a typical currently deployed network, communications devices can operate in a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode during which the communications devices wake-up (i.e. power-up their receivers) to receive signals during their DRX wake time. DRX operation can occur when the communications devices are in an idle mode or in a connected mode. In connected mode, the communications device is configured to periodically monitor physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) in groups of slots or subframes. If a PDCCH with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) addressed to the communications device is not detected during the group of slots or subframes, the communications device may sleep for the next cycle of the periodicity. Power saving is an important aspect of a user’s experience of such wireless radio access technologies such as NR, which will influence the adoption of 5G and future generation handsets and / or services. DRX is one method of power saving for NR communications devices.

[0043] The basic DRX cycle is shown in Figure 4, which consists of a DRX ON period of duration TDRX-ON and a period of inactivity, i.e. a DRX OFF period, of duration TDRX-OFF where the DRX ON period occurs periodically at a DRX period, PDRX. During the DRX ON period, the UE switches on its receiver to monitor the PDCCH and switches off its receiver during the DRX OFF period to save power consumption. The DRX parameters TDRX-ON & PDRX are configured by the network. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such a basic operation may not always be power efficient, particularly if a UE frequently does not receive any RNTI addressed to it during the ON period (or active operating mode) of the DRX operation.

[0044] Wake-up Signals to Save Power

[0045] There are a number of different ways in which the battery life of a UE may be improved. One such way is by enabling a DRX configuration to adapt to a UE’s expected data reception or transmission profile. For example, a Wake-Up Signal (WUS) may be used to indicate whether a UE should wake up during a DRX ON period. The WUS is a signal or a channel that is transmitted to a UE or a group of UEs prior to a DRX ON period or Paging Occasion (PO) to indicate whether the UE(s) needs to wake up during this ON period and monitor for possible traffic, e.g. monitor the PDCCH. Using a WUS signal in this way to wake-up a UE recognises that not every DRX ON period contains traffic for the UE, and for such a case, the PDCCH monitoring consumes unnecessary power from the UE, which can be avoided with this WUS signaling.Wake-up signals are supported in technologies such as eMTC, NB-loT and in 5G NR. The eMTC I NB-loT wake-up signal (WUS) is used in IDLE mode before a paging occasion. If the UE detects a WUS, it wakes up and monitors the following paging occasion for an MTC PDCCH (MPDCCH) or an NB-loT PDCCH (NPDCCH) that may further allocate a paging message. If the UE does not receive a WUS, it can go back to sleep. The WUS consists of a known sequence. The UE can monitor for the WUS by performing a correlation against this known sequence. As indicated above, the WUS either can be common to all the UEs associated with the paging occasion, or can be associated with a group of UEs that are associated with the paging occasion.

[0046] An example of a WUS is illustrated by a timing diagram showing a plot of transmission power and UE receiver activity with respect to time provided in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, a wake-up signal WUS 51 occurs at a known time offset T2 - TI 52 before a paging occasion 54. The time offset 52 allows the UE to “boot-up” its main receiver (MR) after WUS reception and before the paging occasion 54. The WUS itself can be monitored with a lower power receiver, since the lower power receiver does not need to be able to receive all the features of the signal that the MR is able to receive. The WUS is transmitted prior to the paging occasion 54 as shown in Figure 5 at time TI, only when there is an MPDCCH transmission in that paging occasion. When the WUS is UE-specific (i.e. each UE has its own WUS), the WUS for that UE is only sent when there is an MPDCCH transmission in that paging occasion that is targeted at that UE. When the WUS is group-specific (i.e. a group of UEs share a WUS), the WUS for that group is sent only when there is an MPDCCH in that paging occasion that is targeted to at least one of the UEs in that group. Upon detection of a WUS, the UE will proceed to fine-tune its frequency and timing tracking loops if required and blind detects for an MPDCCH between time T2 and T3 followed by decoding of the PDSCH carrying the paging message between time T3 and T4. If the UE fails to detect a WUS, it will go back to sleep and skip detecting for MPDDCH. Hence by using WUS, the UE will consume less energy by avoiding unnecessary monitoring of MPDCCH. It should be appreciated that WUS can also be used in connected mode when DRX is used. Paging functionality has been described above with respect to LTE-M I eMTC operation, where the paging PDSCH is allocated using an MPDCCH. Operation in 5G I NR is similar, as will be appreciated by a skilled artisan.

[0047] In some examples, the WUS may be a physical channel containing very little information (e.g. UE ID or a single bit indicating that UEs monitoring that WUS should wake up) and so the UE can decode the WUS very quickly compared with blind decoding for MPDCCH. The WUS can also be encoded with a format that enables low power decoding; for example, the WUS may be a narrow bandwidth signal that can be decoded with low power using a low sampling rate receiver. For the example of 5G NR, a wake-up signal WUS is used in CONNECTED mode DRX operation [3], The 5G NR WUS is based on a PDCCH that carries Downlink Control Information (DCI). The PDCCH may be referred to as Power saving-PDCCH (PS-PDCCH), while the monitoring period for this PDCCH is referred to as a PS-PDCCH monitoring period. Here, the term PS-PDCCH is synonymous with “PDCCH that is scrambled with a PS-RNTI”. This monitoring period may also be referred to as a “power saving monitoring period”. The NR WUS is described in more detail in [4].

[0048] An example timing diagram illustrating a transmission of signals with respect to time for a 5G NR operation in a CONNECTED mode is shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, a PS-PDCCH 61 occurs in a search space before a DRX_ON phase 62 of a DRX cycle represented by a double headed arrow 64. This example represents one full CONNECTED mode DRX cycle. A temporal location of the PS-PDCCH 61 is in advance of the DRX_ON phase 62 by an amount PS_offset 66. A UE decodes the DCI within the PS-PDCCH. Since the UE only has to decode the PS-PDCCH, it does not have to operate its full receiver circuitry, and therefore PS-PDCCH can be decoded with a lower receive power. If the DCI indicates that the UE should wake up, the UE wakes up its full receiver circuitry for the next DRX_ON duration 62. Otherwise the UE can go tosleep following the PS-PDCCH and does not have to decode other PDCCH during the DRX_ON duration 62. The UE needs to monitor for PS-PDCCH during a monitoring window, where the monitoring window starts at a known time before the start of the DRX_ON period and ends at a time PS_offset before the start of the DRX_ON period.

[0049] At the time of filing of the present disclosure, 3GPP has completed a study item [5] on low power receivers and low power wake-up signals for NR-5G. The justification of this study, as described in section 3 of [5], is reproduced below.

[0050] 5G systems are designed and developed targeting for both mobile telephony and vertical use cases. Besides latency, reliability, and availability, UE energy efficiency is also critical to 5G. Currently, 5G devices may have to be recharged per week or day, depending on an individual’s usage time. In general, 5G devices consume tens of milliwatts in Radio Resource Control (RRC) idle / inactive state and hundreds of milliwatts in RRC connected state. Designs to prolong battery life therefore are a necessity for improving energy efficiency as well as for providing a better user experience.

[0051] Energy efficiency is even more critical for UEs without a continuous energy source, e.g., UEs using small rechargeable and single coin cell batteries. Among vertical use cases, sensors and actuators are deployed extensively for monitoring, measuring, charging, etc. Generally, their batteries are not rechargeable and are expected to last for at least a few years. Such UEs may be wearable devices which may include smart watches, rings, eHealth related devices, and medical monitoring devices. With typical battery capacities, it is challenging to sustain power for up to one or two weeks as required.

[0052] The power consumption depends on the configured length of wake-up periods, e.g., on the paging cycle. To meet the battery life requirements noted above, eDRX cycles of long durations are expected to be used, resulting in high latency, which is not suitable for services with requirements of both long battery life and low latency. For example, in fire detection and extinguishment use cases, fire shutters should be closed and fire sprinklers should be turned on by the actuators within one or two seconds from the time the fire is detected by sensors; a long eDRX cycle therefore cannot meet the delay requirements. eDRX thus appears not to be suitable for latency-critical use cases. Therefore, the intention is to study ultra-low power mechanisms that can support low latency in Rel-18, e.g. lower than eDRX latency.

[0053] Currently, UEs need to periodically wake up once per DRX cycle, which dominates the power consumption in periods with no signalling or data traffic. If UEs are able to wake up only when they are triggered, e.g. via paging, power consumption could be dramatically reduced. This can be achieved by using a wake-up signal (WUS) - as described above - to trigger the main radio, and a separate receiver at the UE which has the ability to monitor for wake-up signals with ultra-low power consumption without needing to power- up the main radio (MR). The MR works for data transmission and reception, and can be turned off or set to deep sleep unless it is turned on.

[0054] The power consumption for monitoring wake-up signal depends on the wake-up signal design and the hardware module of the wake-up receiver used for wake-up signal detection and processing.

[0055] The study in [5] is to primarily target low-power WUS and wake-up receiver (WUR) for powersensitive, small form-factor devices including loT use cases (such as industrial sensors, controllers) and wearable devices. Other use cases are not precluded, e.g. extended Reality (XR) / smart glasses, smart phones, etc. The goal is hence to support a low power wake up signal (LP-WUS) that is received by a low power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR). If the LP-WUR detectsan LP-WLIS, the main receiver (MR) of the UE is woken up and the MR can then decode the data that is transmitted by the network. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the MR 71 and LP-WUR 72 of a UE.

[0056] The LP-WUR 72 receives a signal, RX_sig2, and monitors for LP-WUS within RX_sig2. If the LP-WUR 72 detects an LP-WUS, it wakes up the MR 71 via, for example an “ON I OFF” indication 73 (i.e. using a wake-up command). The MR 71 then decodes its input signal, RX_sig1, and receives data 74 which can then be forwarded to the UE’s buffers or processors or the like. In some cases, RX_sig2 is the same as RX_sig1. For example, RX_sig1 and RX_sig2 can refer to the system bandwidth of an NR waveform. In other cases, RX_sig1 and RX_sig2 are different. For example, RX_sig1 could be the system bandwidth of an NR waveform and RX_sig2 could be a narrower bandwidth that is an in or out of band signal.

[0057] In IDLE mode, the LP-WUS could be used to wake up the MR so that the UE can monitor a paging occasion (PO). That is:

[0058] • If an LP-WUS is detected, the UE wakes up MR and the UE decodes the PO; or

[0059] • If an LP-WUS is not detected, the MR is not woken up.

[0060] Figure 8 shows the case where an LP-WUS 81 is used to wake an IDLE mode UE up to monitor for a paging message during a paging occasion (PO). The LP-WUR of the UE monitors for an LP-WUS 81 during an LP-WUS monitoring window. The LP-WUR of the UE knows that if the network were to transmit an LP-WUS 81, it would be transmitted during the LP-WUS monitoring window. Hence, the LP-WUR only needs to actively monitor for LP-WUS 81 during this LP-WUS monitoring window. If LP-WUS 81 is detected, the LP-WUR wakes the MR up (those skilled in the art would appreciate that this process may take some time, for example 100ms). The MR then synchronises to the downlink and monitors for PDCCH 82 during the paging occasion. If present, such a PDCCH would schedule a PDSCH 83 within the paging occasion containing paging information. If the UE receives a PDSCH 83 containing its identifier during the PO, the UE performs an initial access procedure with the network. During the time that the MR wakes up, the MR needs to synchronise with the network and potentially read system information. It should be appreciated here that if an LP-WUS is not detected, the LP-WUR does not need to wake up the MR.

[0061] Some LP-WUR architectures have sufficiently low power consumption that they can be “ON” all the time. Other LP-WURs have a higher power consumption, or are implemented in UEs which require lower power consumption, and it is therefore advantageous for those LP-WUR to only monitor for LP-WUS in an LP-WUS monitoring window (i.e. in a DRX-like fashion). In order for an LP-WUR to do so, the properties of the LP-WUS may be known in advance. That is, for an LP-WUS that is transmitted either in-band (using frequencies within the bandwidth of the component carrier being currently used for downlink transmissions to the UE) or out-of-band (not using frequencies within the bandwidth of the component carrier being currently used for downlink transmissions to the UE), the receiving UE may need to know configuration information for the LP-WUS, which may include: the waveform structure and characteristics (e.g. bandwidth, and contents) of the LP-WUS, the start and end times (or the start time and duration) of the LP-WUS, a number of repetitions of the LP-WUS, and the frequency resources used for transmitting the LP-WUS or its start frequency and bandwidth. Furthermore, this configuration information should be available for the UE during RRC idle mode.

[0062] As such, a UE may identify configuration information associated with a LP-WUS, and based on the identified configuration information, monitoring for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiverwhile the low-power receiver is in an on state and the main receiver is in an off state. The configuration information may include one or more parameters. Such parameters may include, for example, a frequency range for the LP-WLIS, a start time of the LP-WLIS, a duration of the LP-WLIS, a waveform structure of the LP-WLIS, a cell identifier of a cell on which the LP-WLIS is transmitted, a number of repetitions of the LP-WLIS, and / or a periodicity of occurrence of the LP-WUS.

[0063] Accordingly, for an LP-WLIS that is transmitted either in-band or out of band of the component carrier, the UE may know a priori the following about the LP-WLIS for its LP-WLIR to receive the LP-WUS:

[0064] • The waveform structure and characteristics (e.g. bandwidth, contents etc.) of the LP- WUS;

[0065] • The start and end times (or the start time and duration) of the LP-WUS, number of repetitions of the LP-WUS;

[0066] • The frequency resources used for transmitting the LP-WUS or its start frequency and bandwidth.

[0067] Frequency, time and bandwidth part (BWP) configuration for LP-WUS may be delivered to the UE via system information (SI) and / or RRC / MAC CE (Medium Access Control Control Element), as discussed in European Patent Application EP23185615.4, filed on 14 July 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0068] After a UE in RRC-CONNECTED mode goes into RRC-IDLE mode, the UE is supposed to monitor for an LP-WUS with its LP-WUR to detect any pages from a gNB or the network in general. LP-WUS is typically targeted at groups of UEs in a paging group. Furthermore, the gNB can transmit in multiple spatial beams at the same time, however UEs are generally only capable of monitoring one particular spatial beam at a given time.

[0069] According to the present disclosure, techniques are presented for providing paging to UEs in a reliable manner but which minimises UE power consumption and network power and system resources (such as time I frequency resources).

[0070] In particular, a UE may identify a first beam to monitor for a LP-WUS intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block (SSB). The UE may then monitor the first beam for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiver and, if the LP-WUS intended for the communications device is detected, wake up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0071] Depending on the implementation or the particular cell, the gNB may transmit an LP-WUS for a UE on all spatial beams (each corresponding to a particular SSB), referred to as SSB beams hereinafter. In such examples, a UE’s MR receiver may wake up based on its DRX timer (e.g. as discussed in relation to Figures 4-6 above) and then identify a preferred SSB beam using known DL synchronization procedures as outlined in section 4 of TS38.213 [9] for example. The UE’s LP-WUR will thereafter monitor (i.e. search) for LP-WUSs on that preferred SSB beam. In other words, in an initial phase a UE’s MR may initially identify a preferred SSB beam for the UE, and then in a subsequent operational phase the LP-WUR of the UE may monitor for an LP-WUS on that preferred SSB beam. Accordingly, as the LP-WUS is transmitted by the gNB on all SSBbeams, the UE may monitor for the LP-WLIS on its preferred SSB beam on which the UE is most likely to receive the LP-WLIS.

[0072] Alternatively, the gNB may transmit an LP-WLIS on only some (i.e. one or more) of the SSB beams, and the UE may monitor for the LP-WUS on one of those SSB beams. In other words, an LP-WUS may be quasi-co-located (QCL) with the SSB beam in which it is transmitted. As such, the number of beams in which the LP-WUS is transmitted is reduced, thereby reducing gNB power consumption and network congestion. When a gNB transmits the LP-WUS on only some SSB beams, the SSB beams carrying the LP-WUS may be known to the UE in a number of ways. As an example, the SSB beams carrying the LP-WUS may be defined in specifications, for example via predetermined rules. Additionally or alternatively, the SSB beams carrying the LP-WUS may be indicated to the UE by the network. For example, the SSB beams carrying the LP-WUS may be indicated in System Information (SI), e.g. broadcast in a System Information Block (SIB), and / or may be indicated to the UE using RRC signaling (when the UE is in RRC-CONNECTED mode), such as in a LP-WUS configuration information element.

[0073] The paging message following an LP-WUS may in some cases be transmitted using the same SSB beam(s) as the LP-WUS. As such, additional signaling may not be required in order for the UE to know which SSB beams to monitor for the paging message. However in some cases, regardless of the number of SSB beams on which the LP-WUS is transmitted by the gNB, the LP-WUS may indicate an SSB index of one or more SSB beams carrying the (subsequent) paging message which the MR is to wake up for. For example, the LP-WUS may indicate in its data section which other SSB beam(s) the paging message (i.e. paging PDSCH) is transmitted on, allowing the UE MR to receive paging PDSCH on the preferred beam for paging PDSCH reception. Moreover, the paging message may be sent to a UE (or paging group) only once (i.e. using one SSB beam), thereby preserving network resources. This can also be advantageous for the case where the LP-WUS beam and the best paging beam are different, either from the UE perspective or the gNB perspective. Accordingly, the LP-WUS SSB beam and the paging SSB beam may be different. For example, the sensitivity of LP-WUS decoding by the LP-WUR may be degraded compared to the sensitivity of the MR. In this case, it would be advantageous to send the LP-WUS with a narrower beam (with more power concentration) than the beam used to transmit the paging SSB beam.

[0074] As discussed above, based on receiving the LP-WUS at the LP-WUR, the MR is woken up to monitor for the paging message on a PDSCH. This may be done by the LP-WUR transmitting, to the MR, a wake-up command. In some cases, the wake-up command transmitted from the LP-WUR to the MR may include beam information to be used for receiving the paging message. For example, the wake-up command may include an index of one or more SSBs corresponding to beams on which the paging message will be transmitted, or may include physical beam information for SSB beams on which the paging message will be transmitted. In some cases, the wake-up command may indicate a plurality of beams and the MR may select only one of the indicated SSB beams in which to monitor for the paging message, for example the MR may monitor the indicated beam that has the highest received signal strength. Alternatively, the wakeup command may indicate only one SSB beam, which the MR then monitors for the paging message. These examples may be carried out, for example, when the LP-WUS received by the LP-WUR indicates an SSB index of one or more SSB beams carrying the (subsequent) paging message which the MR is to wake up for, as discussed above. However, these examples may also be carried out in other examples, such as when the SSB beam(s) for the paging message are known through other means. For instance, it should be appreciated that the SSB beams for the LP-WUS and / or paging message may be indicated to the UE in one or more other ways. Forexample, the gNB broadcast its LP-WLIS and SSB beam configuration (i.e. the SSB beams on which the LP-WLIS is transmitted) in system information, or provide this in RRC signaling, such as an RRC release message to the UE.

[0075] In some implementations, it may be advantageous for the network to know which SSB beams cover a UE, i.e. which SSB beam a UE will monitor for LP-WUSs on, or which SSB beam(s) a UE is capable of receiving an LP-WUS on. In this way, the gNB may transmit the LP-WUS on fewer SSB beams, thus reducing network power consumption. There are a number of ways in which this may be implemented. For example, the network (e.g. in the core network part) may remember which SSB beam was a preferred SSB beam for the UE (i.e. which SSB beam the UE was last monitoring) when the UE last received a particular downlink transmission from the network, such as an RRC release command. The network may then transmit an initial LP-WUS (after the last particular downlink transmission) and in some cases the following paging PDSCH, using this last preferred SSB beam for the UE.

[0076] When transmitting a paging message to a UE, a gNB expects a response from the UE to indicate that the UE has received the paging message. Accordingly, in some cases a gNB may determine that a UE has not received a particular paging message. For example, if the gNB does not receive a response to a paging message within a predetermined time period after beginning transmission of a paging message, or does not receive a response to a paging message after transmitting the paging message a threshold number of times (in different paging occasions), the gNB may determine that the UE has not received the paging message.

[0077] As such, in cases where the gNB transmits an LP-WUS for a UE on a particular SSB beam (e.g. a last preferred SSB beam) but determines that the UE has not received the subsequent paging message following the LP-WUS, the gNB may initiate a fallback paging procedure. This fallback paging procedure may, for example, include transmitting an LP-WUS for the UE on a set of one or more next closest beams to the last preferred SSB beam. The gNB may transmit the LP-WUS on the set of next closest beams in addition to or as an alternative to transmitting the LP-WUS on the last preferred SSB beam. If the gNB still does not receive a response to the paging message (e.g. after a threshold period of time or paging message count), the number of SSB beams included in the set of next closest beams may be increased and the process repeated. This fallback procedure may be performed iteratively until the UE is successfully paged (i.e. a response to the paging message is received by the gNB), or until a stop condition is reached, such as a threshold number of paging messages being transmitted without receiving a response, or a total amount of time passing since paging of the UE was initiated.

[0078] In some cases, when the UE does not detect an LP-WUS using its LP-WUR within a threshold amount of time or configured number of DRXON cycles (i.e. paging occasions), the UE may wake up its MR, despite having not detected a LP-WUS, and monitors for a paging message in a configured number of paging occasions. This prevents scenarios where a UE indefinitely monitors for an LP-WUS on a particular SSB beam, but is unable to detect the LP-WUS (e.g. due to poor signal quality). The threshold amount of time I configured number of DRX_ON cycles can be signaled by the gNB to the UE (e.g. via system information). At times of low traffic, when LP-WUS is transmitted infrequently, the gNB can ensure that UEs do not turn their MRs on inadvertently by sending an LP-WUS to UEs in order to ensure that the threshold is not exceeded.

[0079] It should also be appreciated that the UE may, at substantially any time, transmit an indication of its preferred SSB beam to a gNB of the network. That is, the UE’s MR may regularly wake e.g. to carry out cell search. When the UE’s MR has been woken up, the UE using the MR may determine a preferred SSB beam for the UE. The UE may store an indication of the preferred SSB beamand, by default, monitor for LP-WUSs on this preferred SSB using the LP-WLIR. The UE may also transmit an indication of the preferred SSB beam for the UE to the gNB. Accordingly, the network may store an indication of the preferred SSB beam for the UE.

[0080] For example, when the UE MR wakes up, the UE detects a best SSB beam for DL reception and LP-WUS detection. If the UE determines that the best (i.e. preferred) SSB beam for the UE has changed (or the set of SSB beams that the UE can monitor for LP-WUS on has changed) when compared with the previously stored preferred SSB beam or beams, the UE informs the network that its “LP-WUS monitoring beam” (i.e. preferred SSB beam) has changed. In this case, transmission of a single UL message indicating that the preferred SSB beam has changed can be less costly in power terms than the UE switching to monitoring via its MR instead of via LP-WUR (as discussed above). In some cases, if the network determines that the UE frequently sends messages informing the network that its preferred SSB beam has changed, the network may disable the LP-WUS monitoring functionality for that UE in order to save on signaling resources (e.g. by sending an instruction to the UE to disable monitoring for an LP-WUS using the UE’s LP-WUR). For example, if the network receives a threshold number of indications within a particular time period that a preferred beam for the communications device has changed, the network may transmit an instruction to the UE to disable monitoring for LP-WUSs using the LP-WUR. In this way, the network may also refrain from transmitting LP-WUSs intended for the UE when paging the UE.

[0081] In some cases, the UE may itself determine that its preferred SSB beam changes frequently and thus disables its monitoring of the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR, and instead monitors for paging messages in paging occasions using its MR. For example, the UE may disable the monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period. The UE may, when disabling its monitoring for LP-WUS using the LP-WUR, transmit an indication to the gNB that the UE has done so. Accordingly, the network may in some cases disable transmission of LP-WUSs intended for the UE. In particular, if a first UE disables its LP-WUR and informs the network, the gNB may in some cases refrain from transmitting LP-WUSs specifically to the first UE and instead transmit paging messages to the first UE in a paging occasion without requiring that an LP-WUS be transmitted ahead of the paging message. However, it should be appreciated the gNB will in some examples page a group of UEs, such that an LP-WUS is sent that can be received by a group of UEs including the first UE. Therefore, in cases where the network is informed that the first UE has disabled its LP-WUR, the gNB may continue to transmit LP-WUSs which may be received by the group of UEs (including the first UE). However, in this example the first UE would not receive the LP-WUS as its LP-WUR is turned off. Moreover, if the UE is not part of a paging group and is paged individually, then the gNB may refrain from transmitting an LP-WUS, as discussed above.

[0082] The UE may subsequently recognise that its preferred SSB beam has stabilised and thus that it is capable of monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR. For example, the UE may determine that it is capable of monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has not changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period. The UE may therefore transmit an indication to the gNB that the UE is capable of monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR. Accordingly, the network may re-enable transmission of LP-WUSs intended for the UE when paging the UE. The UE may in some cases automatically begin monitoring for the LP-WUS using its LP-WUR based on transmitting the indication that the UE is capable of monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR. However, in some cases the gNB may then transmit an instruction to the UE to re-enablemonitoring for the LP-WLIS using the UE’s LP-WLIR. As such, in some examples the UE may only start monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the LP-WLIR after receiving the instruction from the gNB UE to re-enable monitoring for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR.

[0083] In some cases, a UE may indicate to the network that it is stationary, e.g. when it is being considered for LP-WUS operation. The UE may determine that it is stationary in a variety of different ways. For example, the UE may be predefined as being a stationary UE. Alternatively, the UE may perform one or more measurements and determine that it is stationary based on the measurements. For instance, the UE may determine that its preferred SSB beam is stable (i.e. the preferred SSB beam does not change for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive paging occasions). Additionally or alternatively, the UE may determine that its signal strength / quality (e.g. Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or some other measurement of signal strength / quality) is stable (i.e. signal strength or signal quality measurements for the UE are above a predetermined level for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive measurements). Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use location measurements to determine that it is stationary (e.g. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements). For example, the UE may determine that it is stationary based on differences in consecutive location measurements performed by the UE falling below a threshold for at least a predefined number of consecutive location measurements.

[0084] According to some examples, the network may detect that the UE is stationary when the UE is in RRC-Connected mode. The network may do so based on measurements reported to the network by the UE (such as the measurements discussed above). The network may additionally or alternatively determine that the UE is stationary itself, for example, based on determining that the UE’s preferred SSB beam has been stable for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive paging occasions.

[0085] For such stationary UEs, the network may store an association between the UE and a preferred SSB beam for the UE. In particular, the network may store this association in the operations, administration and maintenance (GAM) function, as this data can then be stored in the Radio Access Network (RAN), as gNBs do not store any information related to RRC idle / inactive mode UEs. The SSB beams indicated in these associations may then be used when paging the respective UEs. It should be noted that the 0AM may store separate associations between a UE and a preferred SSB beam for an LP-WUS, and between the UE and a preferred SSB beam for a paging message. In other cases, the preferred beam may be the same for the UE for both an LP-WUS and a paging message, and as such the 0AM may store only a single association. Moreover, the 0AM may also store as association between an SSB beam for transmitting LP-WUSs and an SSB beam for transmitting paging messages.

[0086] In general, paging messages are received at the gNB from the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in the core network. The core network is not aware of the architecture / deployment configuration of the RAN. This separation between ON and RAN is to ensure independent evolution / upgrade of core network and RAN entities.

[0087] However, paging is a massive overhead for networks. Defining a large paging area contributes to consumption of radio resources across many base stations (e.g. gNBs). While this helps in reaching high mobility UEs quickly, it may result in waste of resources for low mobility UEs. Similarly, while a smaller paging area helps reaching low mobility UEs quickly and efficiently, it adversely affects the system for example, increases latency for paging high mobility UEs. Accordingly, in some cases, a particular RAN node can suggest a recommended paging area for RAN nodes (via core network) when a UE context is released and UE is moved to RRCIdle / inactive state. The RAN node (i.e. gNB) forwards recommended paging area information to the AMF e.g. in a NG Application Protocol (NGAP): UE CONTEXT RELEASE COMPLETE message or a UE CONTEXT SUSPEND COMPLETE message [7,8], The AMF stores this information and then, when there is a paging message for this UE, the AMF sends this stored information back to the RAN node (i.e. gNB) as the preferred paging area in which to page for the UE.

[0088] In a similar manner, beam information (such as a recommended SSB beam for a particular UE) may also be included in the paging area recommendation and stored at the AMF. In particular, a gNB (i.e. a RAN node) may transmit an indication of said beam information to the AMF (e.g. in a UE context release complete message, or a UE context suspend complete message). The beam information may include, for example, an identifier for a UE’s preferred SSB beam (e.g. an SSB index). In some cases, the beam information may include information about past beams, and / or where this UE was present in the same cell or neighboring cells. As such, a gNB may provide beam information to the AMF (via the NG interface), for example at the time of UE context release, and the beam information is then stored by the AMF. Then, the AMF provides the beam information to one or more gNBs (i.e. RAN nodes), when there is core network (CN) paging for the UE. For RAN paging, since this paging is performed for UEs in RRC-lnactive state, there is already a UE context in the RAN node. As such, the RAN node can store beam information in the UE context and use it for identifying RAN paging area and beams, without the beam information needing to be stored in the AMF. It should be noted that the AMF may receive (i.e. store) separate associations between a UE and a preferred SSB beam for an LP-WUS, and between the UE and a preferred SSB beam for a paging message. In other cases, the preferred beam may be the same for the UE for both an LP-WUS and a paging message, and as such the AMF may receive (i.e. store) only a single association. Moreover, the AMF may also receive and / or store an association between an SSB beam for transmitting LP-WUSs and an SSB beam for transmitting paging messages.

[0089] In 4G, Information on Recommended Cells and RAN Nodes for Paging is transferred using an RRC container i.e. an S1 message contains an RRC container which carries this information to the core network. The core network then forwards this RRC container back to the RAN. In contrast, in 5G this information is transferred in an NGAP message itself. Either of these approaches may be used in future wireless communications networks within the context of beam information. Furthermore, in both of these examples, the UE may also store similar information so that when its LP-WUR scans for a LP-WUS, it prioritizes such pre-stored beams.

[0090] Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart for a method for a communications device (i.e. a UE), according to the present disclosure. Step 910 comprises identifying a first beam to monitor for a LP-WUS, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective SSB. Step 920 comprises monitoring the first beam for the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR. Step 930 comprises: if the LP-WUS is detected, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0091] Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart for a method for an infrastructure equipment (i.e. a gNB) according to the present disclosure. Step 1010 comprises transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective SSB, a LP-WUS. Step 1020 comprises transmitting, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0092] Figure 11 illustrates a flowchart for a method for a core network node according to the present disclosure. Step 1110 comprises receiving, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of arecommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network, wherein the plurality of beams each correspond to a respective SSB. Step 1120 comprises storing an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an AMF. Step 1130 comprises transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

[0093] The methods described herein may also be embodied or encoded in a computer-readable medium, such as a computer-readable storage medium, containing instructions. Instructions embedded or encoded in a computer-readable medium may cause a programmable processor, or other processor, to perform the method, e.g., when the instructions are executed. Computer-readable media may include non-transitory computer-readable storage media and transient communication media. Computer readable storage media, which is tangible and non-transitory, may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a cassette, magnetic media, optical media, or other computer-readable storage media. The term “computer-readable storage media” refers to physical storage media, and not signals, carrier waves, or other transient media. As noted above, computer readable media may include transient communication media. Such communication media may occur within a single computer system or between multiple computer systems, and may take the form of transient signal-conveying media such as carrier waves and transmission signals.

[0094] Accordingly, from one perspective there has been provided methods, communications devices, infrastructure equipment, core network nodes, and circuitry for ensuring SSB and LP-WLIS quasi-co-location (QCL). In particular, a method for a communications device comprises: identifying a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; and monitoring the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0095] Further examples of the disclosure are set out in the following numbered clauses:

[0096] 1. A method of operating a communications device comprising a low-power receiver and a main receiver, wherein the communications device is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

[0097] identifying a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; and

[0098] monitoring the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and

[0099] if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0100] 2. The method according to clause 1 , wherein identifying the first beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS comprises:identifying an SSB beam to be monitored for the LP-WLIS, and

[0101] identifying the first beam corresponding to the SSB beam to be monitored.

[0102] 3. The method according to clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the LP-WLIS includes an indication of one or more SSBs corresponding to one or more beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment, and wherein monitoring for the paging message comprises monitoring for the paging message on a second beam corresponding to a particular SSB of the one or more SSBs indicated in the LP-WLIS.

[0103] 4. The method according to clause 3, wherein the LP-WLIS includes an indication of a plurality of SSBs corresponding to one or more beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment, and wherein the method further comprises determining the second beam to monitor for the paging message based on a downlink synchronisation process.

[0104] 5. The method according to clause 4, wherein the downlink synchronisation process is performed using the main receiver.

[0105] 6. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the beam of the plurality of beams to be monitored for the paging message is the same as the first beam monitored for the LP-WLIS.

[0106] 7. The method according to any of clauses 1-5, wherein the beam of the plurality of beams to be monitored for the paging message is different to the first beam monitored for the LP-WLIS.

[0107] 8. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein waking up the main receiver comprises the low-power receiver transmitting a wake up command to the main receiver.

[0108] 9. The method according to clause 8, wherein the wake up command comprises information indicative of a second beam to be monitored when monitoring for the paging message in the paging occasion.

[0109] 10. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the LP-WLIS is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

[0110] 11. The method according to clause 10, wherein infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WUS using only the first beam.

[0111] 12. The method according to any of clauses 1-9, wherein the LP-WLIS is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using each of the plurality of beams.

[0112] 13. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the paging message is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

[0113] 14. The method according to any of clauses 1-12, wherein the paging message is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using each of the plurality of beams.

[0114] 15. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS comprises:

[0115] identifying a preferred beam for the communications device as part of a downlink synchronisation process using the main receiver; and

[0116] setting the preferred beam as the identified beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS.16. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS is based on predefined rules.

[0117] 17. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS comprises receiving one or more transmissions from the infrastructure equipment including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0118] 18. The method according to clause 17, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB include a system information block (SIB) including system information indicative of the SSB corresponding to the beam for the communications device to monitor for the LP-WUS.

[0119] 19. The method according to clause 17, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the identified SSB comprise radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

[0120] 20. The method according to clause 19, wherein the RRC signalling comprises an RRC release message.

[0121] 21. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the LP-WUS is intended for a paging group comprising the communications device.

[0122] 22. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WUS comprises identifying, as the first beam, a beam of the plurality of beams on which the communications device last received a particular downlink transmission.

[0123] 23. The method according to clause 22, wherein the particular downlink transmission is an RRC release command.

[0124] 24. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising: transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the first beam is a preferred beam for the communications device.

[0125] 25. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0126] based on failing to detect the LP-WUS on the first beam using the low-power receiver for at least a threshold number of discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles or a threshold amount of time, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0127] 26. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0128] based on failing to detect the LP-WUS on the first beam using the low-power receiver for at least a threshold number of DRX cycles or a threshold amount of time:

[0129] identifying a third beam of the plurality of beams as a new preferred beam for the communications device as part of a downlink synchronisation process using the main receiver; and

[0130] monitoring the third beam for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiver.

[0131] 27. The method according to clause 26, further comprising:

[0132] transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the preferred beam for the communications device has changed to the third beam.

[0133] 28. The method according to clause 26 or clause 27, further comprising:based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period:

[0134] disabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and monitoring for paging messages in paging occasions using the main receiver. 29. The method according to clause 28, further comprising:

[0135] transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device has disabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

[0136] 30. The method according to clause 28 or 29, further comprising:

[0137] based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has not changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period:

[0138] re-enabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

[0139] 31. The method according to clause 30, further comprising:

[0140] transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device has re-enabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

[0141] 32. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0142] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to disable the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver;

[0143] in response to the received instruction, disabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and

[0144] monitoring for a paging message in a paging occasion using the main receiver.

[0145] 33. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0146] based on determining that the communications device is stationary, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device is stationary.

[0147] 34. The method according to clause 33, further comprising:

[0148] determining that the communications device is stationary based on one or more of: the communications device being predefined as a stationary communications device; and

[0149] measurement data comprising one or more of:

[0150] a preferred beam for the communications being stable for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive paging occasions;

[0151] signal strength or signal quality measurements for the communications device being above a predetermined level for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive measurements;

[0152] location measurements performed by the communications device.

[0153] 35. The method according to clause 34, wherein the indication that the communications device is stationary comprises the measurement data.36. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0154] based on detecting the paging message, transmitting a response to the infrastructure equipment.

[0155] 37. A communications device, configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the communications device comprising: a low-power receiver;

[0156] a main receiver; and

[0157] a controller, wherein the low-power receiver, main receiver, and controller are together configured to:

[0158] identify a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; and

[0159] monitor the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, wake up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0160] 38. Circuitry for a communications device, configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:

[0161] low-power receiver circuitry;

[0162] main receiver circuitry; and

[0163] controller circuitry, wherein the low-power receiver circuitry, main receiver circuitry, and controller circuitry are together configured to:

[0164] identify a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; and

[0165] monitor the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, wake up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0166] 39. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

[0167] transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; and

[0168] transmitting, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.40. The method according to clause 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WLIS using each of the plurality of beams.

[0169] 41. The method according to clause 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WLIS using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

[0170] 42. The method according to clause 41, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WLIS using only the first beam.

[0171] 43. The method according to any of clauses 39-42, wherein the paging message is transmitted using a second beam of the plurality of beams, wherein the second beam is different to the first beam.

[0172] 44. The method according to any of clauses 39-42, wherein the paging message is transmitted using the first beam.

[0173] 45. The method according to any of clauses 39-44, further comprising:

[0174] receiving, from the communications device, a response to the paging message.

[0175] 46. The method according to any of clauses 39-45, wherein the LP-WLIS includes an indication of one or more SSB beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0176] 47. The method according to any of clauses 39-46, further comprising transmitting, to the communications device, one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0177] 48. The method according to clause 47, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB include a system information block (SIB) including system information indicative of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0178] 49. The method according to clause 47, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam comprise radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

[0179] 50. The method according to clause 49, wherein the RRC signalling comprises an RRC release message.

[0180] 51. The method according to any of clauses 39-50, wherein the LP-WLIS is intended for a paging group comprising the communications device.

[0181] 52. The method according to any of clauses 39-50, wherein the first beam on which the LP-WUS is transmitted is a beam of the plurality of beams on which the communications device last received a particular downlink transmission.

[0182] 53. The method according to clause 52, wherein the particular downlink transmission is an RRC release command.

[0183] 54. The method according to clause 52 or 53, further comprising:

[0184] based on not receiving a response to the paging message, transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using one or more beams of the plurality of beams other than the first beam, another LP-WLIS intended for the communications device, wherein the one or morebeams other than the first beam comprise one or more beams of the plurality of beams which are most similar to the first beam.

[0185] 55. The method according to any of clauses 39-54, further comprising: receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the first beam is a preferred beam for the communications device.

[0186] 56. The method according to any of clauses 39-55, further comprising:

[0187] receiving, from the communications device, an indication that a preferred beam for the communications device has changed to a third beam of the plurality of beams, and transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using the third beam, another LP-WLIS intended for the communications device.

[0188] 57. The method according to any of clauses 39-56, further comprising:

[0189] receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device has disabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

[0190] 58. The method according to clause 57, further comprising:

[0191] refraining from transmitting LP-WUSs intended for the communications device.

[0192] 59. The method according to clause 57 or 58, further comprising:

[0193] receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device is capable of monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

[0194] 60. The method according to clause 59, further comprising:

[0195] re-enabling transmission of an LP-WLIS intended for the communications device.

[0196] 61. The method according to clause 60, further comprising:

[0197] transmitting, to the communications device, an instruction to re-enable monitoring for the LP-WUS.

[0198] 62. The method according to any of clauses 39-61 , further comprising:

[0199] transmitting, to the communications device, an instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WUS; and

[0200] refraining from transmitting LP-WUSs intended for the communications device.

[0201] 63. The method according to clause 62, wherein transmitting the instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WUS is based on not receiving a response to at least a threshold number of paging messages intended for the communications device.

[0202] 64. The method according to clause 62 or 63, wherein transmitting the instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WUS is based on receiving, from the communications device, a threshold number of indications within a particular time period that a preferred beam for the communications device has changed.

[0203] 65. The method according to any of clauses 39-64, further comprising:storing, in an operations, administration and maintenance function (OAM), an association between the communications device and a particular beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting paging messages to the communications device.

[0204] 66. The method according to any of clauses 39-65, further comprising:

[0205] storing, in an (OAM), an association between the communications device and a particular beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting LP-WUSs to the communications device.

[0206] 67. The method according to any of clauses 39-66, further comprising:

[0207] storing, in an OAM, an association between the first beam for transmitting LP-WLIS and a second beam for transmitting the paging message.

[0208] 68. The method according to any of clauses 39-67, further comprising:

[0209] receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device is stationary.

[0210] 69. The method according to clause 68, wherein the indication that that the communications device is stationary comprises measurement data obtained by the communications device. 70. The method according to any of clauses 65-69, further comprising:

[0211] performing one or more measurements to determine whether the communications device is stationary.

[0212] 71. The method according to any of clauses 39-70, further comprising:

[0213] receiving from a core network node, an instruction to page a paging group of one or more devices including the communications device.

[0214] 72. The method according to clause 71, wherein the instruction to page the paging group including the communications device comprises an indication of one or more beams of the plurality of beams to be used for paging the communications device.

[0215] 73. The method according to any of clauses 39-72, further comprising:

[0216] transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of a recommended beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting paging messages to the communications device.

[0217] 74. The method according to clause 73, wherein the indication of the recommended beam is included within a communications device context release complete message and / or a communications device context suspend complete message.

[0218] 75. The method according to any of clauses 39-74, further comprising:

[0219] transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of a recommended beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting LP-WUSs to the communications device.

[0220] 76. The method according to any of clauses 73-75, further comprising:

[0221] transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of an association between the first beam for transmitting LP-WUS and a second beam for transmitting the paging message.77. An infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising:

[0222] one or more transceivers; and

[0223] one or more controllers, wherein the one or more transceivers and / or the one or more controllers are together configured to:

[0224] transmit, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; and

[0225] transmit, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0226] 78. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:

[0227] transceiver circuitry; and

[0228] controller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and / or the controller circuitry are together configured to:

[0229] transmit, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; and

[0230] transmit, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

[0231] 79. A method for a core network node of a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

[0232] receiving, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network, wherein the plurality of beams each correspond to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB;

[0233] storing an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF;

[0234] based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

[0235] 80. The method according to clause 79, wherein the indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device is within a communications device context release complete message and / or a communications device context suspend complete message.81. The method according to clause 79 or clause 80, wherein the one or more signals comprise a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS.

[0236] 82. The method according to any of clauses 70-81 , wherein the one or more signals comprise a paging message.

[0237] 83. The method according to clause 78 or 79, further comprising:

[0238] storing an association between a first beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmission of a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, and a second beam to be used for transmission of a paging message.

[0239] 84. A core network node for a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the core network node comprising:

[0240] one or more transceivers; and

[0241] one or more controllers, wherein the one or more transceivers and / or the one or more controllers are together configured to:

[0242] receive, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network;

[0243] store an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF;

[0244] based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

[0245] 85. Circuitry for a core network node for a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:

[0246] transceiver circuitry; and

[0247] controller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and / or the controller circuitry are together configured to:

[0248] receive, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network;

[0249] store an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF; based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

[0250] REFERENCES[1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0251] [2] TR 38.913, “3rdGeneration Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3GPP, v14.3.0, August 2017.

[0252] [3] R1-1708311 , “Idle Mode Power Efficiency Reduction,” Sierra Wireless, RAN1#89.

[0253] [4] TR 38.840, “NR: Study on UE Power Saving (Release 16, vO.1.0)”, 3GPP, November 2018.

[0254] [5] RP-222644, “Revised SID: Study on low-power Wake-up Signal and Receiver for NR”, RAN P#97e, September 2022.

[0255] [6] 3GPP TS 38.101; NR; User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception; Part 1: Range 1 Standalone.

[0256] [7] TS 38.300, v18.4.0, “NR and NG-RAN Overall Description; Stage 2”, 3GPP, December 2024

[0257] [8] TS 38.413, v18.4.0, “NG Application Protocol (NGAP)”, 3GPP, December 2024

[0258] [9] TS 38.213 V18.5.0 (2024-12): “NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 18)”, 3GPP, December 2024

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of operating a communications device comprising a low-power receiver and a main receiver, wherein the communications device is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:identifying a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WUS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; andmonitoring the first beam for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiver; andif the LP-WUS intended for the communications device is detected, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying the first beam to monitor for the LP-WUS comprises:identifying an SSB beam to be monitored for the LP-WUS, andidentifying the first beam corresponding to the SSB beam to be monitored.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the LP-WUS includes an indication of one or more SSBs corresponding to one or more beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment, and wherein monitoring for the paging message comprises monitoring for the paging message on a second beam corresponding to a particular SSB of the one or more SSBs indicated in the LP-WUS.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the LP-WUS includes an indication of a plurality of SSBs corresponding to one or more beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment, and wherein the method further comprises determining the second beam to monitor for the paging message based on a downlink synchronisation process.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the downlink synchronisation process is performed using the main receiver.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beam of the plurality of beams to be monitored for the paging message is the same as the first beam monitored for the LP-WUS.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beam of the plurality of beams to be monitored for the paging message is different to the first beam monitored for the LP-WUS.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein waking up the main receiver comprises the low-power receiver transmitting a wake up command to the main receiver.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the wake up command comprises information indicative of a second beam to be monitored when monitoring for the paging message in the paging occasion.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the LP-WLIS is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WUS using only the first beam.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the LP-WLIS is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using each of the plurality of beams.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the paging message is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the paging message is transmitted by the infrastructure equipment using each of the plurality of beams.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS comprises:identifying a preferred beam for the communications device as part of a downlink synchronisation process using the main receiver; andsetting the preferred beam as the identified beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS is based on predefined rules.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WLIS comprises receiving one or more transmissions from the infrastructure equipment including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB include a system information block (SIB) including system information indicative of the SSB corresponding to the beam for the communications device to monitor for the LP-WUS.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the identified SSB comprise radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the RRC signalling comprises an RRC release message.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the LP-WUS is intended for a paging group comprising the communications device.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying the beam to monitor for the LP-WUS comprises identifying, as the first beam, a beam of the plurality of beams on which the communications device last received a particular downlink transmission.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the particular downlink transmission is an RRC release command.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the first beam is a preferred beam for the communications device.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on failing to detect the LP-WUS on the first beam using the low-power receiver for at least a threshold number of discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles or a threshold amount of time, waking up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on failing to detect the LP-WUS on the first beam using the low-power receiver for at least a threshold number of DRX cycles or a threshold amount of time:identifying a third beam of the plurality of beams as a new preferred beam for the communications device as part of a downlink synchronisation process using the main receiver; andmonitoring the third beam for the LP-WUS using the low-power receiver.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the preferred beam for the communications device has changed to the third beam.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period:disabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and monitoring for paging messages in paging occasions using the main receiver.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device has disabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:based on determining that the preferred beam for the communications device has not changed at least a threshold number of times within a particular time period:re-enabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device has re-enabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to disable the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver;in response to the received instruction, disabling the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; andmonitoring for a paging message in a paging occasion using the main receiver.

33. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on determining that the communications device is stationary, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the communications device is stationary.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising:determining that the communications device is stationary based on one or more of: the communications device being predefined as a stationary communications device; andmeasurement data comprising one or more of:a preferred beam for the communications being stable for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive paging occasions;signal strength or signal quality measurements for the communications device being above a predetermined level for a threshold period of time or a threshold number of consecutive measurements;location measurements performed by the communications device.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the indication that the communications device is stationary comprises the measurement data.

36. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on detecting the paging message, transmitting a response to the infrastructure equipment.

37. A communications device, configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the communications device comprising: a low-power receiver;a main receiver; anda controller, wherein the low-power receiver, main receiver, and controller are together configured to:identify a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; andmonitor the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, wake up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

38. Circuitry for a communications device, configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:low-power receiver circuitry;main receiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the low-power receiver circuitry, main receiver circuitry, and controller circuitry are together configured to:identify a first beam to monitor for a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, intended for the communications device, wherein the first beam is one of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB; andmonitor the first beam for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver; and if the LP-WLIS intended for the communications device is detected, wake up the main receiver to monitor for a paging message in a paging occasion.

39. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; andtransmitting, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WUS using each of the plurality of beams.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WUS using only a subset of one or more of the plurality of beams.

42. The method according to claim 41 , wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the LP-WUS using only the first beam.

43. The method according to claim 39, wherein the paging message is transmitted using a second beam of the plurality of beams, wherein the second beam is different to the first beam.

44. The method according to claim 39, wherein the paging message is transmitted using the first beam.

45. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:receiving, from the communications device, a response to the paging message.

46. The method according to claim 39, wherein the LP-WLIS includes an indication of one or more SSB beams in which the paging message will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

47. The method according to claim 39, further comprising transmitting, to the communications device, one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB include a system information block (SIB) including system information indicative of the SSB corresponding to the first beam in which the LP-WLIS will be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the one or more transmissions including an indication of the SSB corresponding to the first beam comprise radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the RRC signalling comprises an RRC release message.

51. The method according to claim 39, wherein the LP-WLIS is intended for a paging group comprising the communications device.

52. The method according to claim 39, wherein the first beam on which the LP-WLIS is transmitted is a beam of the plurality of beams on which the communications device last received a particular downlink transmission.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the particular downlink transmission is an RRC release command.

54. The method according to claim 52, further comprising:based on not receiving a response to the paging message, transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using one or more beams of the plurality of beams other than the first beam, another LP-WLIS intended for the communications device, wherein the one or more beams other than the first beam comprise one or more beams of the plurality of beams which are most similar to the first beam.

55. The method according to claim 39, further comprising: receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the first beam is a preferred beam for the communications device.

56. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:receiving, from the communications device, an indication that a preferred beam for the communications device has changed to a third beam of the plurality of beams, and transmitting, for reception by the communications device and using the third beam, another LP-WLIS intended for the communications device.

57. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device has disabled the monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

58. The method according to claim 57, further comprising:refraining from transmitting LP-WUSs intended for the communications device.

59. The method according to claim 57, further comprising:receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device is capable of monitoring for the LP-WLIS using the low-power receiver.

60. The method according to claim 59, further comprising:re-enabling transmission of an LP-WLIS intended for the communications device.

61. The method according to claim 60, further comprising:transmitting, to the communications device, an instruction to re-enable monitoring for the LP-WUS.

62. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:transmitting, to the communications device, an instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WUS; andrefraining from transmitting LP-WUSs intended for the communications device.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein transmitting the instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WLIS is based on not receiving a response to at least a threshold number of paging messages intended for the communications device.

64. The method according to claim 62, wherein transmitting the instruction to disable monitoring for the LP-WLIS is based on receiving, from the communications device, a threshold number of indications within a particular time period that a preferred beam for the communications device has changed.

65. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:storing, in an operations, administration and maintenance function (OAM), an association between the communications device and a particular beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting paging messages to the communications device.

66. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:storing, in an (OAM), an association between the communications device and a particular beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting LP-WUSs to the communications device.

67. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:storing, in an OAM, an association between the first beam for transmitting LP-WUS and a second beam for transmitting the paging message.

68. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:receiving, from the communications device, an indication that the communications device is stationary.

69. The method according to claim 68, wherein the indication that that the communications device is stationary comprises measurement data obtained by the communications device.

70. The method according to claim 65, further comprising:performing one or more measurements to determine whether the communications device is stationary.

71. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:receiving from a core network node, an instruction to page a paging group of one or more devices including the communications device.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein the instruction to page the paging group including the communications device comprises an indication of one or more beams of the plurality of beams to be used for paging the communications device.

73. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of a recommended beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting paging messages to the communications device.

74. The method according to claim 73, wherein the indication of the recommended beam is included within a communications device context release complete message and / or a communications device context suspend complete message.

75. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of a recommended beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmitting LP-WUSs to the communications device.

76. The method according to claim 73, further comprising:transmitting, to the core network node, an indication of an association between the first beam for transmitting LP-WLIS and a second beam for transmitting the paging message.

77. An infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising:one or more transceivers; andone or more controllers, wherein the one or more transceivers and / or the one or more controllers are together configured to:transmit, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; andtransmit, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

78. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:transceiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and / or the controller circuitry are together configured to:transmit, for reception by the communications device and using a first beam of a plurality of beams each corresponding to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB, a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS; andtransmit, for reception by the communications device, a paging message in a paging occasion.

79. A method for a core network node of a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the method comprising:receiving, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network, wherein the plurality of beams each correspond to a respective synchronisation signal block, SSB;storing an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF;based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

80. The method according to claim 79, wherein the indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device is within a communications device context release complete message and / or a communications device context suspend complete message.

81. The method according to claim 79, wherein the one or more signals comprise a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS.

82. The method according to claim 79, wherein the one or more signals comprise a paging message.

83. The method according to claim 78, further comprising:storing an association between a first beam of the plurality of beams to be used for transmission of a low-power wake-up signal, LP-WLIS, and a second beam to be used for transmission of a paging message.

84. A core network node for a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the core network node comprising:one or more transceivers; andone or more controllers, wherein the one or more transceivers and / or the one or more controllers are together configured to:receive, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network;store an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF;based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

85. Circuitry for a core network node for a wireless communications network, the core network node configured to communicate with one or more infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:transceiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and / or the controller circuitry are together configured to:receive, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of a recommended beam of a plurality of beams to be used for transmitting one or more signals to a particular communications device in the wireless communications network;store an association between the recommended beam and the particular communications device in an access and mobility management function, AMF;based on determining that the particular communications device should be paged, transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an instruction to page the particular communications device, and an indication of the recommended beam to be used for transmitting the one or more signals to the particular communications device.

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