Conditional adaptation of downlink signal transmission for network energy saving

Abstract

Methods, communications device, infrastructure equipment, and circuitry are provided for signaling state information for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal to a communications device. A communications device identifies a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment, determines whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal, and monitors for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

Description

[0001] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT The present application claims the Paris Convention priority of European patent application EP25166688.9, filed 27 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 and infrastructure equipment of wireless communications networks and methods of operating such communications devices and infrastructure equipment.

[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).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 future iterations 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. 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.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] 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.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] 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:

[0013] 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;

[0014] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of an NR-type wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] 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;

[0016] Figure 4 schematically illustrates the components of an SSB;

[0017] Figure 5 schematically illustrates an SSB burst set transmitted on SSB beams;

[0018] Figure 6 schematically illustrates an example of an on-demand SSB;

[0019] Figure 7 illustrates an example process for dynamically indicating state information for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal;Figure 8 illustrates an example process for dynamically indicating state information for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal;

[0020] Figure 9 illustrates a method for a communications device according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 10 illustrates a method for an infrastructure equipment according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0024] 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.

[0025] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2, which may be for example an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). 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, interconnected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0026] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). 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. Communications devices 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.

[0027] A base station for 4G LTE, which is an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as a transceiver station, eNodeB, eNB, ng-eNB, EUTRAN node and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems 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.

[0028] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0029] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10-5 (99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2],

[0030] 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 (DUs) 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 (e.g. a UE) 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 be for example referred to as 5GC) 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 30. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, one or more TRP(s) 10, one or more DU(s) and one CU can be included in a base station.

[0031] The base station for 5G NR, which is an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as gNodeB, gNB, en-gNB, NG RAN node and so forth.

[0032] Additionally, if the base station is for 6G, the base station may also be referred as 6G Node B, 6G RAN node. Alternatively or additionally, the base station for5G (e.g., gNodeB, gNB, NG RAN node) can be also used as the base station for 6G.

[0033] In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a DU is a logical node hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the base station. The DU operation is partly controlled by a CU. One DU may support one or multiple cells. One cell may be supported by only one DU. The DU may terminate the intra-base station interface (e.g. F1 interface) connected with the CU. The CU is a logical node hosting RRC, SDAP and PDCP protocols of the base station. The CU may control theoperation of one or more Dlls. The CU may terminate the intra-base station interface (e.g. F1 interface) connected with the DU. Additionally or alternatively, TRP 10 may be also called as RU (Radio Unit) or RRU (Remote Radio Unit). In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, TRP 10 (e.g. RU or RRU) may host part of the PHY layer (lower PHY layer). In this case, the DU may host the remaining PHY layer (higher PHY layer). One TRP may support one or multiple cells. Alternatively, Two or more TRPs may form one or more cells.

[0034] 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.

[0035] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station (e.g., eNodeB of an LTE network, gNB of an NR network, or 6G Node B of 6G network). Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE, NR or 6G 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.

[0036] 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 42 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 interface between 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.

[0037] 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.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 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 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 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0038] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 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 controllers 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 one or 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 linkfor data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0040] In case of 5G, 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 3GPP technical specifications [3] and [4], 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 TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the F1 interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

[0041] As will be appreciated by those acquainted with 5G architecture, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocols, Service Data Adaptation Protocols (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocols (PDCP) of a gNB. Alternatively, the CU 40 may be a logical node which hosts RRC and PDCP protocols of an en-gNB (which is a gNB that is able to connect with both EPC and eNBs and can be understood as being, for example, a secondary node (SgNB) used in dual connectivity scenarios). The CU 40 partly controls the operation of one or more DUs 40 and terminates the F1 interface 46 for the DUs that it controls. The DU 42 may be a logical node which hosts Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers of a gNB or en-gNB. The operation of the DU 42 is partly controlled by the CU 40 for which the DU 42 terminates the F1 interface 46. In 5G, the CU 40 may be referred to as a “gNB-CU” and the DU 42 may be referred to as a “gNB-DU”.

[0042] Although not shown in Figures 2 or 3, it will be familiar to those acquainted with 5G architecture that the CU 40 may be further split into a CU-CP which performs the control plane functions of the CU 40 and a CU-UP which performs the user plane functions of the CU 40 (see for example, [5]). In more detail, the CU-CP may be a logical node hosting an RRC protocol and a control plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for the gNB or en-gNB. The CU-CP terminates an E1 interface connected with the CU-UP and an F1-C interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the F1-C interface carries control plane signalling of the F1 interface 46. The CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of a PDCP protocol of the CU 40 for an en-gNB. Alternatively, the CU-UP may be a logical node which hosts a user plane part of the PDCP protocol and an SDAP protocol of the CU 40 for a gNB. The CU-UP terminates an E1 interface connected with the CU-CP and an F1-U interface connected with the DU 42. As will be appreciated, the F1-U interface carries user plane signalling of the F1 interface 46.

[0043] Synchronisation Signal Block (SSB)

[0044] As will be known to one skilled in the art, the Synchronisation Signal Block (SSB) (also called as SS / PBCH block) is used for initial access and cell reselection. An example of an SSB is schematically illustrated in Figure 4.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, for at least 5G, the SSB comprises of a Primary Synchronisation Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronisation Signal (SSS) and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The SSB may be used for 6G as well. Alternatively, for 6G, PSS and SSS may be transmitted separately from PBCH (like as LTE). Alternatively, for 6G, other system information (e.g., Remaining Minimum SI (RMSI, i.e. System Information Block (SIB)-1) and other SI (SIBX (X=2,3,4...))) may be contained in the SSB. Alternatively, for 6G, other synchronisation signal (e.g. Tertiary Synchronisation Signal (TSS)), which may carry information of a part of cell and / or TRP and / or beam identification, may be transmitted and contained in the SSB. The SSB comprises information for a communications device, such as a UE, to detect, measure and access a cell. The SSB shown in Figure 4 comprises 4 OFDM symbols and 240 subcarriers. The PSS and SSS each occupy 127 subcarriers. The PBCH occupies two OFDM symbols of 240 subcarriers and also 2 blocks of 48 subcarriers at the top and bottom of the SSS. The SSB may be configured with a periodicity, PSSB, of between 5 ms and 160 ms. For initial cell selection, the UE assumes a periodicity of 20ms. For 6G, the same structure and the same periodicity as 5G SSB may be used. Alternatively, the structure and / or the periodicity of 6G SSB may be differently from 5G thereof. The SSB disclosed herein can be replaced to SSB for 6G or a combination of PSS and SSS for 6G.

[0046] An SSB burst set comprises a set of one or more time-multiplexed SSBs. Each SSB transmitted in a burst set uses a different downlink beam, thereby enabling beam sweeping to be implemented for SSB. An SSB burst set may be confined within 5 ms and may comprise up to 4, 8 and 64 SSBs for frequency bands below 3 GHz, between 3 GHz - 6 GHz and for FR2 respectively. Each SSB in a burst may be separated in time domain and occur every slot or after a certain number of slots. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, SSB burst sets may be transmitted periodically.

[0047] An example SSB burst set in the case of 3 GHz - 6 GHz frequency is shown in Figure 5. The SSB burst set shown in Figure 5 comprises 8 SSBs labelled as SSB#1, SSB#2, SSB#3, SSB#4, SSB#5, SSB#6, SSB#7 and SSB#8 respectively. Each of the SSBs in the burst set is transmitted using a different downlink beam. In this example, 2 SSBs are configured per slot within 4 slots. Furthermore, the burst set is transmitted with a periodicity, PSSB, of 20 ms. Although not shown in Figure 5, the SSB burst set is transmitted by infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network (such as a gNB) and received by a communications device (such as a UE).

[0048] The UE measures a signal quality of each SSB in the SSB burst set. The UE may then select one of the downlink beams based on the measured signal quality. For example, the UE may select the downlink beam with the highest measured signal quality provided that the measured signal quality is above a threshold (such as RSRP threshold). Then, the UE determines an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam to use for synchronisation with the infrastructure equipment. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, corresponding uplink and downlink beams form beam pairs which overlap. Therefore, the measurements of the signal quality of a downlink beam are an indication of the signal quality of the corresponding uplink beam in the beam pair.

[0049] In one example, the measured signal quality of an SSB is an RSRP of the SSB. The UE may measure the RSRP of each SSB in the SSB burst set and select the downlink beam on which the SSB with the highest RSRP was transmitted provided this measured RSRP is above a threshold (such as rsrp-ThresholdSSB).

[0050] The measurement of the RSRP of an SSB may be referred to as “SS-RSRP”. The measurement of the RSRP of an SSB may comprise measuring the RSRP on resource elements where SSS is transmitted. Alternatively, or in addition, the measurement of the RSRP of an SSB may comprise measuring the RSRP on resource elements where PBCH DM RS is transmitted.In other examples, the measured signal quality of an SSB may be a Reference Signal Received Quality (SS-RSRQ) of the SSB. The SS-RSRQ is defined as the ratio of N x SS-RSRP I RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), where N is the number of resource blocks. For example, the RSSI in NR is measured in one or more OFDM symbols in a SS / PBCH Block Measurement Time Configuration (SMTC). The SMTC is a configuration to the UE to set time window for measurement by using SSB. The OFDM symbols used for RSSI measurement can be configured by higher layers.

[0051] In initial access, after determining the uplink beam, the UE initiates a random access channel (RACH) procedure by transmitting physical RACH (PRACH) on the determined uplink beam. For example, the UE may transmit message 51 or message 55 on the determined uplink beam. The PRACH may be transmitted on PRACH resources which have been configured for the UE to transmit the PRACH as part of initial access. For example, the PRACH may be transmitted in one of a plurality of RACH Occasions (ROs) configured for transmitting the PRACH.

[0052] Network Energy Saving (NES)

[0053] 3GPP is currently discussing network energy saving (NES). By reducing energy consumption in wireless communications networks, the impact of wireless communications on the environment can be reduced. For example, if less energy is consumed in wireless communications networks, fewer fossil fuels are burned, there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions and therefore environmental sustainability is improved. Furthermore, the reduction of energy consumption in wireless communications networks can reduce costs incurred by network operators.

[0054] 5G / NR can handle advanced services and applications requiring very high data rates (for example, XR). Additionally, 5G I NR networks are becoming denser, using more antennas, and utilising larger bandwidths and an increasing number of frequency bands. Therefore, in at least some cases, energy consumption in 5G I NR is increasing. Since 5G I NR is becoming increasingly pervasive across various industries and geographical areas, it is becoming increasingly important to reduce the environmental impact of 5G / NR networks. NES solutions are therefore required.

[0055] In addition, energy consumption has become a key part of the operating expenses (OPEX) for network operators. According to a report from the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) [6], the energy cost of mobile networks accounts for approximately 23% of total operator costs. Most of the energy consumption comes from the radio access network and in particular from the Active Antenna Unit (AAU) (which may be one of the TRP), with data centres and fibre transport accounting for a smaller share of the energy consumption. The energy consumption of a radio access network can be split into two parts: (1) a dynamic part which is only consumed when data transmission / reception is ongoing, and (2) a static part which is consumed all the time to maintain the necessary operation of the radio access network equipment, even when data transmission / reception is not on-going. Further details on NES can be found in [7],

[0056] In Release 19 of the 3GPP standards, an NES work item has been approved ([8]). The objectives of the work item are the following:

[0057] 1. Specify procedures and signaling method(s) to support on-demand SSB SCell operation for UEs in connected mode configured with CA, for both intra- / inter-band CA.2. Study procedures and signaling method(s) to support on-demand SIB1 for UEs in idle / inactive mode, including:

[0058] 3. Specify adaptation of common signal / channel transmissions.

[0059] Adapted SSB and SIB1 Transmissions

[0060] In Release-15 of the 3GPP standards, the time domain positions of transmitted SSBs within a half frame are semi-statically configured. Furthermore, UEs assume a single periodicity for the transmitted SSBs. In NES, it is being considered to adapt SSB and / or SIB1 transmissions by adapting a transmission pattern of SSB and / or SI B1 transmissions. For example, the transmission pattern of an SSB and / or SIB1 may be adapted to change periodicity and / or time resource locations of SSB and / or SIB1. In another example, the transmission pattern of an SSB and / or SIB1 may be adapted to omit specified elements from SSB and / or SIB1. The transmission pattern can be adapted semi-statically or dynamically [8],

[0061] On-demand SIB1

[0062] As one example of an adaptation, it has been suggested to introduce an on-demand SIB1. In other words, instead of infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network periodically broadcasting SIB1, it has been proposed for infrastructure equipment (i.e. NES infrastructure equipment) to broadcast SIB1 only in response to a request (or trigger such as a wake-up signal) from a UE. Since the SIB1 would thereby be transmitted less often, network energy savings would be increased. However, the details of such an on-demand SIB1 have not yet been confirmed. Furthermore, existing UEs which do not support NES (also referred to as “non-NES UEs”) are configured to expect the SIB1 to be periodic. Since non-NES UEs are already deployed in wireless communications networks, it is important that NES solutions do not significantly impact performance for non-NES UEs.

[0063] It has also been suggested, instead of on-demand SIB1, and as another example of adaptation, to increase the period between successive SIB1 transmissions so that SIB1s are transmitted less often, thereby reducing network energy consumption.

[0064] Furthermore, as another example of adaptation, it has been suggested to introduce an on-demand SSB to improve network energy savings as will be discussed in more detail below. On-demand SSB

[0065] Typically, a base station broadcasts SSBs periodically. SSB is an “always-on” signal. This means the base station must be awake to transmit SSB, even when no active UE is camped on the cell provided by the base station. Consequently, SSB transmissions lead to high network energy consumption. A solution to reduce the network energy consumption caused by the mandatory periodic, always-on SSB is to configure an “on-demand SSB”. In the case of on-demand SSB, the base station does not transmit SSB until it is triggered (e.g. receiving an activation command). The activation command may be received by the base station from other network infrastructure equipment, or from a UE, requesting the on-demand SSB transmission.

[0066] An example of on-demand SSB transmission will be described with reference to Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, a UE, or other network infrastructure equipment aside from the base station 72, transmits an on-demand SSB activation command 74 to a base station 72. Before the UE, or the other network infrastructure equipment, transmits the activation command 74 to the basestation 72, there is a period 78 during which SSB is not transmitted by the base station 72. In response to receiving the activation command 74, the base station 72 broadcasts a plurality of SSBs 84 during a transmission period 80. Within the transmission period 80, the SSBs 84 may be broadcasted periodically as shown in Figure 6. The base station 72 may broadcast one SSB burst set in response to the activation command 74. The base station 72 may receive a deactivation command 76 from the UE (or another UE in the cell provided by the base station 72, or other network infrastructure equipment) to stop transmitting SSB. In response to receiving the deactivation command 76, the base station 72 may stop transmitting SSB. Therefore, there is a period 82 after receiving the deactivation command during which SSB is not transmitted by the base station 72. In some examples, the base station 72 may start a timer after receiving the activation command 74 and, when the timer expires, the base station 72 may stop transmitting SSB.

[0067] In Release-19 of the 3GPP standards, on-demand SSB will be specified for secondary cells (SCells). However, it is envisaged that on-demand SSB may be applied to primary cell (Pcell) and primary SCG cell (PScell) in future releases.

[0068] It has also been suggested, instead of on-demand SSB, and as another example of adaptation, to increase the period between successive SSB transmissions so that SSBs are transmitted less often, thereby reducing network energy consumption.

[0069] Adaptable SSB / SIB1

[0070] In Release-15, the time-domain positions of transmitted SSBs within a half frame are semi-statically configured. Furthermore, UEs assume a single periodicity for the transmitted SSBs. Adaptation of the transmission of common signals / channels has been included in the Rel-19 NES. The adaptation of the transmission pattern includes changes to periodicity, time resource locations and omitting of specific signals / channels. The transmission pattern can be adapted semi-statically or dynamically [8],

[0071] SSB transmission in 6G NES

[0072] In Relase-19, it was agreed to support on-demand SSB for Scell connected UEs and it was agreed that there will be no UL UE signal to trigger the transmission of on-demand SSB. The base station may decide to trigger on-demand SSB. In one example, the base station may transmit an on-demand SSB for one Scell to be activated. Then, based on feedback (e.g. a measurement report from the UE), the base station decides whether to activate the Scell or not. In another example, the base station may transmit an Scell on-demand SSB and send the Scell activation command (without waiting for feedback) to allow the UE access to that Scell.

[0073] In 6G, it is envisaged that the PCell SSB will be transmitted with longer periodicity e.g., 160ms, 320ms etc. Furthermore, support of a combination of on-demand SSB and on-demand SIB1 in cell may be supported in 6G.

[0074] NES cell identification

[0075] Cell identification is useful for a UE to be aware of NES cells (i.e. whether a particular cell is being operated as a NES cell or not, whether a particular cell supports NES functionality or not, or whether a particular cell has at least one of NES functions or not). In particular, if the UE is aware of NES cells, the UE can send a request for a NES function, e.g., on-demand SSB, SIB1 , and / or adaptation of common signal and channels (i.e., SSB / SIB1 / RACH occasion / paging) to the NEScell. Without the NES cell identification, UE may have to blindly detect whether the cell supports NES functionality or not, which leads more UE power consumption.

[0076] NES cell identification can be explicitly included in various signalling from the NES cell. These include: Master Information Block (MIB), SIB1, On-demand SIB, PBCH payload, paging downlink control information (DCI) or UE-group common DCI. Additionally or alternatively, the NES cell identification could be implicitly indicated by a cell. For instance, the cell ID may be indicative whether the cell is a NES cell. As an example, cell IDs may be divided into multiple (e.g. two) groups, where cell IDs included within particular groups implicitly identify whether the cell is a NES cell or not. Accordingly, UE may identify whether the cell is a NES cell or not based on the cell’s cell ID. Similarly, the SSB indexes of SSBs transmitted by the cell may indicate whether the cell is a NES cell. Accordingly, a UE may identify whether the cell is a NES cell or not based on the SSB indexes of SSBs transmitted by the cell.

[0077] Furthermore, NES cell identification may be implicitly indicated via PBCH scrambling. In particular, at least two PBCH scrambling sequences can be defined, where one or more PBCH scrambling sequences are associated with NES cells, whilst one or more other PBCH scrambling sequences may be associated with non-NES cells. Accordingly, based on the PBCH sequence, a UE may identify whether the cell is a NES cell or not. Furthermore, NES cell identification may be indicated to a UE via assistant information from other cells, e.g. Peel I, Scell, or neighbour cells, for examples in form of Wake-Up Signal (WUS) configuration or NES cell assistance information.

[0078] CSI-RS based LTM

[0079] L1 / L2-triggered mobility has been introduced since Rel-18, where only SSB is supported. In Rel-19, Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) based LTM is being specified. CSI-RS has 3 types of transmission: periodic, semi-persistent, and aperiodic transmission. As of now, periodic and semi-persistent CSI-RS has been agreed to support for LTM, while aperiodic CSI-RS has not been agreed to be supported for LTM yet.

[0080] Dynamic signalling of downlink transmission state information

[0081] In general, it may be advantageous for a UE to know a state of an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal which the UE intends to receive. In particular, in cases where downlink signals are on-demand or adaptable downlink signals, as discussed above, it is desirable to prevent unnecessary requests from UEs requesting changes to the on-demand or adaptable downlink signals, if the on-demand or adaptable downlink signal is already being transmitted in a state desired by the UE. For example, if a gNB is already transmitting a periodic on-demand downlink signal, it is redundant for a UE to request transmission of the on-demand downlink signal. Similarly, if a gNB is already transmitting an adaptable downlink signal according to parameters desired by a UE, it is redundant for a UE to request transmission of the adaptable downlink signal according to the desired parameters. Such redundant signalling wastes UE power.

[0082] Furthermore, if a UE were to blindly monitor for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal without knowing the state of the downlink signal, this would also increase UE power consumption. For example, a UE may monitor for the on-demand downlink signal, however if the on-demand downlink signal is not currently being transmitted, the UE will not detect the signal, and will have wasted power in monitoring for a signal that was never transmitted. Similarly, a UE may monitor for an adaptable downlink signal assuming certain state information (e.g. timing, periodicity, frequency) which differs from the actual state information for the adaptable downlink transmission. This may lead to excess UE power consumption for the detection, or in some cases failure todetect the downlink transmission. In the event the UE fails to detect the adaptable downlink signal, the UE may send a request message to a gNB for the adaptable downlink signal.

[0083] Semi-static signalling may be used to indicate a transmission state of an on-demand SIB1 (i.e. whether the on-demand SIB1 is currently transmitted or not). However, due to the delay between UEs identifying a demand for an SIB1 and receiving semi-static signalling indicating the transmission state of the on-demand SIB1, UEs may still face the above-discusses increased power consumption.

[0084] According to the present disclosure, a UE may identify a demand for a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment; based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determine state information for the particular downlink signal; and monitor for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the identified state information. For example, the state of a particular downlink signal (i.e. an on-demand downlink signal or an adaptable downlink signal) may be indicated to a UE using dynamic signalling. The use of dynamic signalling reduces the need for a UE to blindly request transmission of the downlink signal or a change to the downlink signal, and the need fora UE to blindly decode for the downlink signal, thereby reducing UE power consumption. While the present disclosure generally refers to a downlink signal, it should be appreciated that all of the techniques herein are applicable to downlink channels. As such, the term ‘downlink signal’ herein may be construed as ‘downlink signal or downlink channel’.

[0085] The techniques according to the present disclosure may be applied to a variety of types of downlink signals. For example, a UE may receive state information for on-demand downlink transmissions, such as an on-demand SSB or an on-demand SIB1 (SIB of type 1). A UE may additionally or alternatively receive state information for an on-demand SIB other than SIB1. In the event that the on-demand downlink signal is not currently transmitted by the UE (as indicated by the state information), the UE may request a change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal (i.e. the UE may request transmission of the on-demand downlink transmission).

[0086] Furthermore, a UE may receive state information for other on-demand downlink transmissions, such as an on-demand CSI-RS. For example, an on-demand CSI-RS may be received by UEs in connected mode (i.e. RRC-connected mode) in order to perform measurements for a particular cell. In the event that the on-demand CSI-RS is not currently transmitted by the UE (as indicated by the state information), the UE may request a change to the state of the on-demand CSI-RS (i.e. the UE may request transmission of the on-demand CSI-RS). As such, a gNB may transmit a CSI-RS based on such a request from a UE for a change to the state of the on-demand CSI-RS (i.e. a request for transmission of the CSI-RS by the gNB). According to some implementations, a UE may request transmission of a semi-persistent or aperiodic CSI-RS from a new cell (provided by a gNB) in order to enable mobility from a neighbour cell when the UE is moving to cell edge of the new cell. Furthermore, in some implementations, a UE may request transmission of an aperiodic CSI-RS for CSI acquisition to a target cell when a UE is about to switch to the target cell.

[0087] It should furthermore be appreciated that the techniques according to the present disclosure may be applied to substantially any signals that may be transmitted on-demand and / or that may be adaptable based on a UE request. This includes as-yet undefined signals for future (e.g. 6G RAT) communications networks.

[0088] As indicated above, state information for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal may be indicated to UEs (e.g. in dynamic signalling). This state information may include variousinformation regarding the downlink signal. For example, the state information may indicate whether the downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the gNB (i.e. whether the gNB is currently transmitting, or currently periodically transmitting the downlink signal, or currently activated). If the state information indicates that the on-demand downlink signal / channel is set to be transmitted by the gNB, the UE does not need to send any request signal for the downlink signal, and may attempt to receive the on-demand signal. Conversely, if the state information indicates that the on-demand downlink signal is not set to be transmitted by the gNB, the UE can send a request signal for transmission of the on-demand signal transmission to the gNB. Whether the downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the gNB may be indicated in a number of different ways within the state information, such as via an explicit indication comprising 1 bit, or implicitly indicated, e.g. by whether a particular field (i.e. an indication) is present in the state information. It should be appreciated that this may be applied to any of the downlink signals as discussed herein.

[0089] In some cases, the state information may include an indication that transmission of the downlink signal by the gNB is scheduled (i.e. scheduled for the future). This may e.g. allow a UE to select a particular transmission period / window in which to monitor for the downlink signal, e.g. based on demand for the particular downlink signal. That is, a UE may delay monitoring for the downlink signal to a later transmission period / window for the downlink signal.

[0090] In addition or alternatively to whether the downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the gNB, the state information for the downlink signal may include various other information. For example, the state information may indicate one or more transmission parameters for the downlink transmission. The transmission parameters may include: a periodicity of the downlink signal, resources for the downlink signal (e.g. one or more resource elements or resource blocks), a transmission period / window for the downlink transmission (e.g. a start time, end time, and / or duration of the activation window of the downlink transmission), frequency position of the downlink signal (e.g. center, the lowest, or the highest frequency of the downlink signal), SSB index or transmission configuration index (TCI) state of the downlink signal (i.e. beam information of the downlink transmission), and / or a time window (i.e. duration) for which the one or more transmission parameters for the downlink transmission are valid. The transmission parameters may be indicated in the state information in a variety of different ways. For example, the state information may include values for the particular parameters. Alternatively, the state information may include an index for a particular predefined configuration of a plurality of predefined configurations, where each configuration has different predefined values for the particular parameters.

[0091] Moreover, it should be appreciated that while the state information may indicate current values for one or more transmission parameters for the downlink signal, the state information may additionally or alternatively indicate future (i.e. next) values for the transmission parameters. For example, if the UE is aware of a remaining time at which the current state information (e.g. transmission parameters) are valid, the UE may be aware of the time at which the next state information becomes valid. In some implementations, a duration for which the state information is valid may be fixed. As such, the values of the transmission parameters may be periodically updated.

[0092] In some cases, the state information may include an indication of whether the state information is currently being updated, or will be updated within a particular time period. In such cases, if the state information indicates that the state information is currently being updated, or will be updated within a particular time period, the UE may delay transmission of a request for a change to thestate of the downlink transmission until after the state information has been updated. This may apply regardless of whether the state information is updated periodically or not, as discussed above.

[0093] Furthermore, in some cases the state information may indicate whether the gNB that transmits the downlink signal is currently accepting requests from UEs for changes to the state of the downlink signal. As such, the UE may dynamically control whether UEs may request transmission of or changes to downlink signals. This may be indicated on a per-signal basis (i.e. the state information may indicate whether requests are currently being accepted by the gNB for each downlink signal individually), or the state information may indicate whether requests are currently being accepted by the gNB generally (i.e. whether the gNB is accepting requests for all downlink signals, or whether the gNB is not accepting requests for any downlink signals).

[0094] As discussed above, the state information provided to the UE may include various information regarding the downlink signal. Furthermore, the state information may be indicated to the UE in a variety of different ways. For example, the gNB transmitting the particular on-demand or adaptable downlink signal may transmit the state information to the UE. The signalling information may be sent via various forms of signalling. For example, the state information may be included within DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signalling. Moreover, the state information may be included within dedicated UE signalling, common signalling for a group of UEs (i.e. groupcast / multicast signalling), or included within broadcast signalling.

[0095] As an example, the state information may be included in a DCI signal. In some cases this DC may be a common DCI (i.e. UE group common DCI). The DCI may, for example, be a DCI format 0_0 (a.k.a. UL fallback DCI) for all UEs (idle, inactive, and connected mode), a DCI format 1_0 (a.k.a. DL fallback DCI) for all UEs (idle, inactive, and connected mode), or a DCI format 2 for connected mode UEs. In order for idle mode (i.e. RRC idle mode) UEs to receive a common DCI including the state information, the common DCI may be decodable by an idle mode UE having a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that is common to all UEs within the group of UEs to which the common DCI is intended. Furthermore, examples of candidate RNTIs by which the may be scrambled DCI (using cyclic redundancy check (CRC)) are: system information RNTI (Sl-RNTI), paging RNTI (P-RNTI), multicast control channel RNTI (MCCH-RNTI), paging early indication RNTI (PEI-RNTI), cellDTRX-RNTI, and / or any RNTI having a value which is commonly configured to all UEs, or a group of UEs or is fixed in specifications. If the state information is sent with other information (e.g. scheduling PDSCH), reserved / unused bits other than bits for said other information can be used for the state information.

[0096] As another example, the state information may be included in a MAC CE signal. In some cases this MAC CE may be a common MAC CE for a group of UEs. In order to receive a PDSCH containing a common MAC CE for multiple UEs, at least the following UE-specific parameters for the PDSCH may be shared among (i.e. indicated to) the multiple UEs: control resources set (CORESET) and search space set where a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) scheduling the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is located; the RNTI used for scrambling the CRC attached to the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH and scrambling the PDSCH; the demodulation reference signal (DM RS) for the PDSCH; and the phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) for the PDSCH. In response to the PDSCH containing the common MAC CE, UE may send a acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgement (NACK) (i.e. Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ)-ACK). Despite the common MAC CE being group common signalling, by the UE sending a NACK (in cases where the UE does not decode the MAC CE), the ACK / NACK resource can be shared among the multiple UEs in the receiving group. As such,ACK / NACK feedback of the common MAC CE is supported, thereby increasing signalling reliability.

[0097] As another example, the state information may be included in a random access response (RAR). In some cases this RAR may be a common RAR for a group of UEs. In particular, in cases where a UE transmits a request for a change to the state of the downlink signal in a PRACH. In some cases, this may be performed in combination with cases where the state information is a common DCI or common MAC CE. In particular, the state information can be carried by either common DCI scheduling the common RAR or a common RAR MAC CE. Generally, a RAR may be identified for a UE using a random access RNTI (RA-RNTI) which is calculated based on the PRACH transmitted by the UE. More specifically, the RA-RNTI is calculated based on an index of the RACH occasion in both time and frequency domains and a type of UL carrier (i.e. normal UL carrier or supplemental UL carrier). Conversely, at least the RA-RNTI may be common for multiple UEs regardless of the transmitted PRACH, and as such may be referred to as a common RA-RNTI. The common RA-RNTI may be configured by RRC signalling or fixed by specification, instead of being calculated based on the transmitted PRACH, as discussed above.

[0098] While some approaches for using dynamic signalling to indicate state information to a UE have been described, it should be appreciated that in other cases signalling other than dynamic signalling may be uses. For example, the state information may be included in RRC signalling. In some cases the RRC signalling may be common RRC signalling for a group of UEs. Furthermore, in some implementations, ACK / NACK feedback in response to the PDSCH carrying the common RRC signalling can be supported in a similar manner as described within the context of common MAC CE above. As such, a UE may transmit an ACK / NACK based on whether it has successfully decoded the common RRC signalling indicating the state information. It should be appreciated that RRC signalling may not be considered dynamic signalling.

[0099] As another example, the state information may be included in a PBCH. That is, the state information may be explicitly included in an MIB or PBCH payload, or the state information may be implicitly indicated by parameters of the PBCH (such as the scrambling sequence of the MIB). As another example, the state information may be included in an SIB. That is, the state information may be included in an SIB transmitted by the NES cell which transmits the downlink signal, or by one or more other cells.

[0100] Furthermore, while approaches for a gNB transmitting the state information to a UE have been described above, it should be appreciated that in some cases a first UE may receive the state information from a second UE. For example, the second UE may transmit an uplink request to a gNB for a change to the state of a downlink signal. The first UE may detect the uplink request from the second UE and determine the state information based on the uplink request. For example, the first UE may determine that the second UE has requested a change to the state of the downlink signal and the first UE may therefore determine the state of the downlink signal to be the state requested by the second UE. In some cases, the first UE may monitor for UL signals from other UEs (such as the second UE). Furthermore, the UL request from the second UE may be transmitted (and monitored for) in a time-division duplex (TDD) band, as the frequency of the DL and UL signals may be the same.

[0101] As discussed above, the state information may be provided to the UE by the gNB which transmits the on-demand or adaptable downlink signal, by another gNB (e.g. providing a neighbouring cell), or by a UE. According to a specific example, if the downlink signal is an on-demand SSB transmitted by a Pcell for the UE, the state information may be transmitted to the UE from aneighbouring cell. As another example, if the downlink signal is an on-demand SSB transmitted by a first Scell for the UE, the state information may be transmitted to the UE from a serving cell of the UE, such as a Pcell, the first Scell, or a different Scell. In particular, if the UE has synchronised with the first Scell, the state information may transmitted via the first Scell, otherwise the state information may be transmitted via another serving cell.

[0102] As another example, if the downlink signal is an on-demand SIB1 for idle mode UEs, the state information may be sent from the cell transmitting the on-demand SIB1, or a neighbouring cell. In particular, if the state information is transmitted via a PBCH, DCI or MAC CE (as discussed above) where these may be received by the UE prior to receiving the SIB1, the state information may be sent from a serving cell. Otherwise, the state information may be sent from a neighbouring cell, for example via an SIB or RRC signalling.

[0103] As another example, if the downlink signal is an on-demand SIB1 for connected mode UEs, the state information may be sent via a serving cell. As another example, if the downlink signal is a CSI-RS (for UE mobility), the state information may be sent from any of the source cell, candidate cell(s), and / or a target cell.

[0104] In some cases, the state information for the downlink signal may be periodically broadcasted. The network may determine when the gNB starts / ends transmission of the state information. In other cases, the state information for the downlink signal may be transmitted in response to the network (e.g. the gNB) receiving a request to change the state of the downlink signal from one or more UEs. That is, the gNB may begin transmitting the state information for the downlink signal after receiving an uplink request from a UE.

[0105] As discussed above, the state information may, in some cases, have a particular validity time, after which the state information may no longer be deemed valid. Furthermore, in some cases a UE may fail to receive any indication of the state information. In such cases, the UE may assume default state information for the downlink signal. For example, in case of an on-demand downlink signal, the UE may assume that transmission of the on-demand downlink signal is not currently active. As another example, for adaptable downlink transmissions, the UE may assume default transmission parameter values (or a default configuration of a plurality of predefined configurations) for the downlink transmission. These default transmission parameter values may, for example, be configured by signalling from one or more gNBs, such as by RRC or SIB signalling, or may be predefined.

[0106] UEs may monitor for the state information based on a variety of triggers. That is, UEs may identify a demand for a particular on-demand downlink signal or a demand for adaptation to an adaptable downlink signal. A monitoring window (in which the UE may monitor for the state information for the downlink signal) may therefore be defined based on when the demand is identified. For example, once the demand is identified, a monitoring window may be defined by a predefined time window. Alternatively, the monitoring window may be defined by a predefined number of slots or monitoring window. A UE may then monitor for the state information for the downlink signal within the monitoring window. As mentioned above, the monitoring window may begin from the time at which the demand for transmission or adaptation of the downlink signal is identified. Alternatively, the monitoring window may begin from a next monitoring occasion or slot after the demand for transmission or adaptation of the downlink signal is identified. If the UE does not successfully receive the signaling indicating the state information within the monitoring window, the UE may determine that it has failed to receive the state information for the downlink signal and may therefore assume default state information for the downlink signal, as discussed above. The UE may determine whether the state information for the downlink signal (i.e. the default stateinformation or the state information indicated to the UE as discussed above) indicates that the current state of the downlink signal (defined by the state information) matches a desired state of the downlink signal. If the UE determines that the state information indicates that the current state of the downlink signal does not match a desired state of the downlink signal, the UE may transmit a request to the network (e.g. to the gNB) to change (i.e. modify, switch) the state of the downlink signal.

[0107] In some cases, the UE may identify conflicting state information for a downlink signal. In such cases, particular state information may be assumed to be the correct state information based on predefined priority rules. For example, the UE may receive signalling indicating the state information at multiple different times. In such a situation, the UE may prioritise state information which is received later, such that the correct state information is assumed to be the state information received at the latest time. In some cases, state information may be received through multiple different signalling methods, for example via dynamic or semi-static signalling. In such cases, the state information received via dynamic signalling is prioritised, such that the correct state information is assumed to be the state information received via dynamic signalling. In some cases, different state information may be indicated by different cells, such as by a serving cell and by a neighbour cell. In such cases, the state information provided by the serving cell may be prioritised, such that the correct state information is assumed to be the state information received via the serving cell. In a similar manner, state information received via a Pcell may e.g. be prioritised over state information received via an Scell. In some cases, state information which is configured via RRC signalling may be given the highest priority and assumed to be the correct signalling over all other received state information. When a UE prioritises particular state information, a UE may overwrite any other received state information with the prioritised state information, or in other words may discard non-prioritised state information.

[0108] It should be appreciated that a gNB may be capable of transmitting multiple on-demand or adaptable downlink transmissions. The state information for these multiple downlink signals may in some cases be indicated within a single transmission (e.g. either by a serving cell, neighbouring cell or other UE, as discussed above). Alternatively, state information for multiple downlink signals may be indicated in separate transmissions.

[0109] As discussed above, a UE may determine that the state (as defined by the state information) of a particular on-demand downlink signal or an adaptable downlink signal may not match a desired state of the downlink signal. In such cases, the UE may transmit an uplink request to the gNB for a change to the state of the downlink signal. This may be done in a number of different ways. For example, the uplink request may be transmitted as part of a RACH procedure. For instance, the uplink request signal may be a PRACH. In such cases, the PRACH may include a particular bit which indicates the request (e.g. a request for transmission of an on-demand uplink signal). In some implementations, if the downlink signal is an on-demand CSI-RS, the request signal may be sent as a PRACH to a candidate cell or a target cell. This avoids backhaul signalling between the source cell and the candidate / target cell. In other cases, the uplink request signal from the UE may be Msg3 of a 4-step RACH procedure, or a PUSCH of a 2-step RACH procedure (MsgA-PUSCH).

[0110] In some cases, the uplink request signal may be a UCI transmitted on a PUCCH. For example, the UCI may include a particular bit of information which indicates the request (e.g. a request for transmission of an on-demand uplink signal). Such a UCI may be sent in the same manner as a scheduling request (SR) or link recovery request (LRR). In other cases, the uplink request signal may be an UL MAC CE. In other cases, the uplink request signal may be a low power wake upsignal (LP WUS). That is, in Rel-19, DL LP-WLIS have been supported to wake up a UE for UE power saving, however for NES applications, the signal design of the DL LP-WLIS may be utilised for an UL LP-WLIS transmitted from the UE to the gNB. In other words, the UL LP-WUS may be a signal having the same signal format as the known DL LP-WUS, and which indicates the uplink request. Moreover, while specific examples for the uplink request signal have been discussed herein, it should be appreciated that the uplink request signal may be substantially any UL control signal capable of carrying an indication of a request by a UE for a change to the state of a particular downlink signal.

[0111] While UEs may transmit UL request signals to a gNB as discussed above, in some cases these requests may be rejected (i.e. refused) by the gNB. In particular, the decision regarding whether or not to transmit an on-demand downlink signal, or the transmission parameters of an adaptable downlink signal are decided by the network. As such, the network may determine that a request by a UE should be rejected. In such a situation, the gNB would not modify the state of the downlink signal in response to the UE request, meaning the state of the downlink signal would be unchanged after the gNB receives the UL request signal. In some cases, the gNB may transmit an indication that the UE’s UL request has been rejected. Based on receiving this indication that the request has been rejected, the UE may assume that the gNB is generally not accepting requests for changes to the state of the downlink signal (or not accepting requests for changes to the state of all downlink signals transmitted by the gNB), or even barred to access. Alternatively, the gNB may send the current state information which contains the same parameter as previous (i.e. state information indicative of the current state) when the gNB decides the request is rejected. Based on receiving the current state information, although the UE has requested to change the state of the downlink signal, the UE may assume that the gNB is generally not accepting requests for changes to the state of the downlink signal. In some cases, a UE (e.g. an idle mode UE) may then begin a cell re-selection procedure. The indication that the gNB has rejected the UE’s UL request may be transmitted using a variety of signalling, such as in the same manner as the state information was indicated to the UE, or as a response to the request signal (e.g. in a RAR). It should be appreciated, however, that the gNB may not necessarily transmit an indication that the UE’s UL request is rejected. As such, the UE may, after transmitting the UL request, monitor for the downlink signal according to the desired state, (e.g. assuming that an on-demand downlink signal is transmitted or that an adaptable downlink signal is being transmitted with the requested transmission parameters), i.e. assuming that the UL request was accepted. However, upon failing to successfully detect / decode the downlink signal, the UE may determine that the UL request was rejected. The UE may additionally assume that the gNB is generally not accepting requests for changes to the state of the downlink signal (or not accepting requests for changes to the state of all downlink signals transmitted by the gNB), or even barred to access. In some cases, a UE (e.g. an idle mode UE) may then begin a cell re-selection procedure.

[0112] Figure 7 illustrates one example process according to the present disclosure, however it should be appreciated that Figure 7 illustrates only one example combination of features, and that the various features discussed within the present disclosure may be combined in substantially any manner. According to the example of Figure 7, a gNB 701 transmits state information 710 for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal to a UE 702. As discussed herein, the state information 710 may in some cases be transmitted to the UE 702 by a different gNB (e.g. on a different serving cell or a neighbouring cell) or by another UE. In the example of Figure 7, the UE 702 identifies 720 a demand for a particular downlink signal. In other words, the UE 702 identifies a demand for transmission of an on-demand downlink signal, or identifies a demand for particular transmission parameters for an adaptable downlink signal. It should be appreciated that steps 710 and 720may be performed in any order, or in some cases at the same time. According to the example of Figure 7, the UE 702 determines 730 the state of the downlink signal. In particular, the UE 702 may determine whether state information for the downlink signal indicates that a state of the downlink signal matches a desired state of the downlink signal. As discussed herein, this may be done in a variety of ways, e.g. based on received state information, or based on assumed default state information. Furthermore, the UE 702 may in some cases determine the state of the DL signal without (e.g. prior to) receiving the state information from the gNB 710 (e.g. based on default state information).

[0113] According to the example of Figure 7, the UE 702 may determine that the state of the DL signal indicated by the state information does not match the desired state of the DL signal. As such, the UE 702 transmits 740 an UL request signal to the gNB 701 requesting a change to the state of the DL signal. In the example of Figure 7, the gNB 701 determines 750 whether to accept or reject the request from the UE 702 . The gNB 710 may then transmit 760 the DL signal based on whether the UE’s 702 UL request is accepted. For example, if the UE 702 has requested transmission of an on-demand DL signal, the UE 702 may begin transmitting the on-demand DL signal if the UE’s 702 request is accepted. Alternatively, if the UE’s 702 request is rejected, the gNB 701 may not transmit the DL signal. Similarly, if the UE 702 has requested a change to the transmission parameters of an adaptable downlink signal, the gNB 701 may begin transmitting the DL signal according to the transmission parameters requested by the UE. Alternatively, if the UE’s 702 request is rejected, the gNB 701 may continue to transmit the DL signal according to the current (or pre-scheduled) transmission parameters.

[0114] As mentioned above, Figure 7 illustrates just one example combination of features, however substantially any combination of features is contemplated herein. Figure 8 illustrates another example combination of features, where Figure 8 is identical to Figure 7, except that steps 740 and 750 are removed. In particular, at step 730, the UE 702 may determine that the current state of the DL signal does match the desired state of the DL signal. As such, the UE 702 does not transmit the UL request 740 shown in Figure 7. Instead, the gNB 701 transmits 760 the DL signal according to the current state, and the UE 702 monitors for the DL signal according to the desired state. If the desired state does match the current state of the DL signal, the UE 702 should successfully receive the DL signal. However, if the desired state does not match the current state of the DL signal, the UE 702 may not be able to successfully receive / decode the DL signal. Figure 9 illustrates a method for a communications device according to an example of the present disclosure. In step 910, the communications device identifies a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment. Step 920 comprises determining whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal. Step 930 comprises monitoring for the particular downlink signal from the gNB according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0115] Figure 10 illustrates a method for an infrastructure equipment according to an example of the present disclosure. Step 1010 comprises transmitting state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment. Step 1020 comprises receiving, from a communications device, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state. Step 1030 comprises transmitting the particular downlink signal, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

[0116] 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.

[0117] Therefore, from one perspective, there has been described methods, communications device, infrastructure equipment, and circuitry are provided for signaling state information for an on-demand or adaptable downlink signal to a communications device. A communications device identifies a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment, determines whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal, and monitors for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0118] 1. A method 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 method comprising:

[0119] identifying a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment;

[0120] based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determining whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; and

[0121] monitoring for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0122] 2. The method according to clause 1 , wherein determining whether the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal is based on receiving an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal.

[0123] 3. The method according to clause 2, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in dynamic signaling.

[0124] 4. The method according to clause 3, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a downlink control information (DCI) transmission.5. The method according to clause 3 or clause 4, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0125] 6. The method according to any of clauses 3-5, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is received in a random access response (RAR).

[0126] 7. The method according to any of clauses 1-2, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0127] 8. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in common signaling for a group of communications devices.

[0128] 9. The method according to any of clauses 1-2, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is received in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of a synchronisation signal block (SSB).

[0129] 10. The method according to any of clauses 1-2, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a system information block (SIB).

[0130] 11. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a transmission broadcast by the infrastructure equipment.

[0131] 12. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is received on a serving cell of one or more serving cells.

[0132] 13. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received on a primary cell (Pcell) of the one or more serving cells, or a secondary cell (Scell) of the one or more serving cells.

[0133] 14. The method according to any of clauses 1-11, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received on a neighboring cell.

[0134] 15. The method according to any of clauses 1-3, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received from another communications device.16. The method according to clause 15, wherein the state information for particular downlink signal is received in a request from the other communications device for the infrastructure equipment to change a state of the particular downlink transmission.

[0135] 17. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal.

[0136] 18. The method according to clause 17, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand synchronisation signal block (SSB).

[0137] 19. The method according to clause 17 or clause 18, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is a system information block (SIB) type 1 (SIB1), or an SIB other than SIB1.

[0138] 20. The method according to any of clauses 17-19, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0139] 21. The method according to any of clauses 17-20, wherein the state information for the on-demand downlink signal includes whether the on-demand downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0140] 22. The method according to any of clauses 1-16, wherein the downlink signal is an always-on periodically-transmitted downlink signal.

[0141] 23. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more current transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0142] 24. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more next transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0143] 25. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes values for the one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.26. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal indicates an index for a particular configuration of a plurality of configurations, each corresponding to a particular set of values for the one or more parameters.

[0144] 27. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether one or more transmission parameters of the on-demand downlink signal are being updated.

[0145] 28. The method according to any of clauses 23-27, wherein the transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal include one or more of:

[0146] a periodicity of the particular downlink signal;

[0147] one or more resources on which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;

[0148] a time window in which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;

[0149] a frequency position of the particular downlink signal;

[0150] an SSB index of the particular downlink signal;

[0151] a transmission configuration index (TCI) state of the particular downlink signal; and

[0152] a validity duration for one or more other transmission parameters for the particular downlink signal.

[0153] 29. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether uplink requests for changes to a state of the particular downlink signal are permitted.

[0154] 30. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0155] based on determining that the state information for the particular downlink signal does not match the state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for a change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state.

[0156] 31. The method according to clause 30, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, and wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request for transmission of the on-demand downlink signal.

[0157] 32. The method according to any of clauses 30-31 , wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request to modify one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.33. The method according to any of clauses 30-32, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is indicated by a physical random access channel (PRACH) message.

[0158] 34. The method according to any of clauses 30-33, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in Message 3 (Msg3) of a 4-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, or a physical uplink shared channel (PLISCH) of a 2-step RACH procedure.

[0159] 35. The method according to any of clauses 30-34, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink control information (UCI) transmission on a physical uplink control channel (PLICCH).

[0160] 36. The method according to any of clauses 30-35, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink MAC CE.

[0161] 37. The method according to any of clauses 30-36, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink wake up signal (WUS).

[0162] 38. The method according to any of clauses 30-37, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in uplink control signaling.

[0163] 39. The method according to any of clauses, 30-38, further comprising:

[0164] after transmitting the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state, monitoring for the particular downlink signal according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0165] 40. The method according to clause 39, further comprising:

[0166] failing to detect the particular downlink signal according to the state information for the demanded state .

[0167] 41. The method according to clause 40, further comprising:

[0168] performing a cell reselection procedure.

[0169] 42. The method according to clause 40 or clause 41 , further comprising:receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state has been rejected.

[0170] 43. The method according to any of clauses 1-29, wherein the communications device monitors for the particular downlink signal based on determining that the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal matches the state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal.

[0171] 44. The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be default state information predefined for the particular downlink signal.

[0172] 45. The method according to clause 44, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be the default state information based on determining that previously determined state information is no longer valid.

[0173] 46. The method according to clause 44 or clause 45, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be the default state information based on determining that no indication of state information for the particular downlink signal has been received by the communications device.

[0174] 47. The method according to any of clauses 44-46, wherein the default state information comprises one or more of:

[0175] if the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, the on-demand downlink signal is not transmitted by the infrastructure equipment;

[0176] one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal are set to predefined values.

[0177] 48. The method according to any of clauses 44-47, further comprising:

[0178] receiving an indication of the default state information.

[0179] 49. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising monitoring for one or more transmissions including an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal.

[0180] 50. The method according to clause 49, wherein monitoring for the one or more transmissions including an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal is based on one or more of:a monitoring timer; and

[0181] a count of a number of slots or monitoring occasions in which the communications device is to monitor for the one or more transmissions.

[0182] 51. The method according to any preceding clause, further comprising:

[0183] based on identifying multiple state information for the particular downlink signal, selecting particular state information as the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal based on one or more priority rules.

[0184] 52. The method according to clause 51, wherein the priority rules define one or more of: later indicated state information should be preferred over earlier indicated state information;

[0185] state information indicated via dynamic signaling should be preferred over state information indicated via other signaling;

[0186] state information indicated by a serving cell should be prioritised over state information indicated by a neighboring cell; and

[0187] state information indicated via RRC signalling should be prioritised according to an indicated priority level.

[0188] 53. 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: one or more transceivers; and

[0189] a controller, wherein the one or more transceivers and controller are together configured to:

[0190] identify a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment; based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determine whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; and

[0191] monitor for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0192] 54. 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:

[0193] transceiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and controller circuitry are together configured to:

[0194] identify a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment; based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determine whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; and

[0195] monitor for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

[0196] 55. A method for an infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

[0197] transmitting, for receipt by one or more communications devices, state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;

[0198] receiving, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; and

[0199] transmitting the particular downlink signal for receipt by the one or more communications devices, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

[0200] 56. The method according to clause 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in dynamic signalling.

[0201] 57. The method according to clause 56, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a downlink control information (DCI) transmission.

[0202] 58. The method according to clause 56 or clause 57, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0203] 59. The method according to any of clauses 56-59, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a random access response (RAR).

[0204] 60. The method according to any of clauses 55-56, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a radio resource control (RRC) signalling.61. The method according to any of clauses 55-60, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in common signalling for a group of communications devices.

[0205] 62. The method according to any of clauses 55-56, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of a synchronisation signal block (SSB).

[0206] 63. The method according to any of clauses 55-56, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a system information block (SIB).

[0207] 64. The method according to any of clause 55-63, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is broadcast by the infrastructure equipment.

[0208] 65. The method according to any of clauses 55-64, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a serving cell.

[0209] 66. The method according to clause 65, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a primary cell (Pcell), or a secondary cell (Scell).

[0210] 67. The method according to any of clauses 55-64, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a neighbouring cell.

[0211] 68. The method according to any of clauses 55-67, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal.

[0212] 69. The method according to clause 68, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand synchronisation signal block (SSB).

[0213] 70. The method according to clause 68 or clause 69, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is a system information block (SIB) type 1 (SIB1), or an SIB other than SIB1.

[0214] 71. The method according to any of clauses 68-70, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).72. The method according to any of clauses 68-71, wherein the state information for the on-demand downlink signal includes whether the on-demand downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

[0215] 73. The method according to any of clauses 55-67, wherein the downlink signal is an always-on periodically-transmitted downlink signal.

[0216] 74. The method according to any of clauses 55-73, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more current transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0217] 75. The method according to any of clauses 55-74, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more next transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0218] 76. The method according to any of clauses 55-75, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes values for the one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0219] 77. The method according to any of clauses 55-76, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal indicates an index for a particular configuration of a plurality of configurations, each corresponding to a particular set of values for the one or more parameters.

[0220] 78. The method according to any of clauses 55-77, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether one or more transmission parameters of the on-demand downlink signal are being updated.

[0221] 79. The method according to any of clauses 74-78, wherein the transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal include one or more of:

[0222] a periodicity of the particular downlink signal;

[0223] one or more resources on which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;

[0224] a time window in which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;

[0225] a frequency position of the particular downlink signal;

[0226] an SSB index of the particular downlink signal;

[0227] a transmission configuration index (TCI) state of the particular downlink signal; and

[0228] a validity duration for one or more other transmission parameters for the particular downlink signal.80. The method according to any of clauses 55-79, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether uplink requests for changes to a state of the particular downlink signal are permitted.

[0229] 81. The method according to any of clauses 55-80, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, and wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request for transmission of the on-demand downlink signal.

[0230] 82. The method according to any of clauses 55-81 , wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request to modify one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

[0231] 83. The method according to any of clauses 55-82, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received on a physical random access channel (PRACH) message.

[0232] 84. The method according to any of clauses 55-83, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in Message 3 (Msg3) of a 4-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, or a physical uplink shared channel (PLISCH) of a 2-step RACH procedure.

[0233] 85. The method according to any of clauses 55-84, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink control information (UCI) transmission on a physical uplink control channel (PLICCH).

[0234] 86. The method according to any of clauses 55-85, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink MAC CE.

[0235] 87. The method according to any of clauses 55-86, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink wake up signal (WUS).

[0236] 88. The method according to any of clauses 55-87, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in uplink control signalling.

[0237] 89. The method according to any of clauses 55-88, further comprising:transmitting, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state has been accepted.

[0238] 90. The method according to any of clauses 55-89, further comprising:

[0239] transmitting, to the communications device, an indication of default state information for the particular downlink signal.

[0240] 91. An infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of the wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising: one or more transceivers; and

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

[0242] transmit state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;

[0243] receive, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; and

[0244] transmit the particular downlink signal, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

[0245] 92. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of the wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:

[0246] transceiver circuitry; and

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

[0248] transmit state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;

[0249] receive, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; and

[0250] transmit the particular downlink signal, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

[0251] References[1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0252] [2] TR 38.913, “Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, v14.3.0, August 2017.

[0253] [3] TS 38.470, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; F1 general aspects and principles (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March 2023.

[0254] [4] TS 38.473, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; F1 application protocol (F1AP) (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.1, April 2023.

[0255] [5] TS 38.401, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Architecture description (Release 17)”, 3GPP, V17.4.0, March 2023.

[0256] [6] RP-234065, “New WID: Enhancements of network energy savings for NR,” 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting#102, Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11 th-15th, 2023

[0257] [7] GSMA, 5G energy efficiencies: Green is the new black, https: / / data.gsmaintelligence.com / api-web / v2 / research-file-download?id=54165956&file=241120-5G-energy . pdf

[0258] [8] TR 38.864, “Study on network energy savings for NR”, 3GPP, V18.1.0, March 2023.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method 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 method comprising:identifying a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment;based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determining whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; andmonitoring for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal is based on receiving an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in dynamic signaling.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a downlink control information (DCI) transmission.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is received in a random access response (RAR).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in common signaling for a group of communications devices.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is received in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of a synchronisation signal block (SSB).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a system information block (SIB).

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received in a transmission broadcast by the infrastructure equipment.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is received on a serving cell of one or more serving cells.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received on a primary cell (Pcell) of the one or more serving cells, or a secondary cell (Scell) of the one or more serving cells.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received on a neighboring cell.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is received from another communications device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the state information for particular downlink signal is received in a request from the other communications device for the infrastructure equipment to change a state of the particular downlink transmission.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand synchronisation signal block (SSB).

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is a system information block (SIB) type 1 (SIB1), or an SIB other than SIB1.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the state information for the on-demand downlink signal includes whether the on-demand downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the downlink signal is an always-on periodically-transmitted downlink signal.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more current transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

24. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more next transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

25. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes values for the one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

26. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal indicates an index for a particular configuration of a plurality of configurations, each corresponding to a particular set of values for the one or more parameters.

27. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether one or more transmission parameters of the on-demand downlink signal are being updated.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal include one or more of:a periodicity of the particular downlink signal;one or more resources on which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;a time window in which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;a frequency position of the particular downlink signal;an SSB index of the particular downlink signal;a transmission configuration index (TCI) state of the particular downlink signal; and a validity duration for one or more other transmission parameters for the particular downlink signal.

29. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether uplink requests for changes to a state of the particular downlink signal are permitted.

30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on determining that the state information for the particular downlink signal does not match the state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for a change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, and wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request for transmission of the on-demand downlink signal.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request to modify one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is indicated by a physical random access channel (PRACH) message.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in Message 3 (Msg3) of a 4-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, or a physical uplink shared channel (PLISCH) of a 2-step RACH procedure.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink control information (UCI) transmission on a physical uplink control channel (PLICCH).

36. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink MAC CE.

37. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in an uplink wake up signal (WUS).

38. The method according to claim 30, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is included in uplink control signaling.

39. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:after transmitting the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state, monitoring for the particular downlink signal according to the state information for the demanded state.

40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:failing to detect the particular downlink signal according to the state information for the demanded state .

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:performing a cell reselection procedure.

42. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state has been rejected.

43. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communications device monitors for the particular downlink signal based on determining that the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal matches the state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal.

44. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be default state information predefined for the particular downlink signal.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be the default state information based on determining that previously determined state information is no longer valid.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is determined to be the default state information based on determining that no indication of state information for the particular downlink signal has been received by the communications device.

47. The method according to claim 44, wherein the default state information comprises one or more of:if the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, the on-demand downlink signal is not transmitted by the infrastructure equipment;one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal are set to predefined values.

48. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:receiving an indication of the default state information.

49. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring for one or more transmissions including an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein monitoring for the one or more transmissions including an indication of the state information for the particular downlink signal is based on one or more of:a monitoring timer; anda count of a number of slots or monitoring occasions in which the communications device is to monitor for the one or more transmissions.

51. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:based on identifying multiple state information for the particular downlink signal, selecting particular state information as the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal based on one or more priority rules.

52. The method according to claim 51 , wherein the priority rules define one or more of: later indicated state information should be preferred over earlier indicated state information;state information indicated via dynamic signaling should be preferred over state information indicated via other signaling;state information indicated by a serving cell should be prioritised over state information indicated by a neighboring cell; andstate information indicated via RRC signaling should be prioritised according to an indicated priority level.

53. 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: one or more transceivers; anda controller, wherein the one or more transceivers and controller are together configured to:identify a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment;based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determine whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; andmonitor for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

54. 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:transceiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and controller circuitry are together configured to:identify a demanded state of a particular downlink signal from an infrastructure equipment;based on identifying the demand for the particular downlink signal, determine whether state information for a current state of the particular downlink signal matches state information for the demanded state of the particular downlink signal; andmonitor for the particular downlink signal from the infrastructure equipment according to the state information for the demanded state.

55. A method for an infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising:transmitting, for receipt by one or more communications devices, state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;receiving, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; andtransmitting the particular downlink signal for receipt by the one or more communications devices, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in dynamic signaling.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a downlink control information (DCI) transmission.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

59. The method according to claim 56, wherein the state information for the current state of the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a random access response (RAR).

60. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

61. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in common signaling for a group of communications devices.

62. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of a synchronisation signal block (SSB).

63. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is transmitted in a system information block (SIB).

64. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal is broadcast by the infrastructure equipment.

65. The method according to claim 55, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a serving cell.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a primary cell (Pcell), or a secondary cell (Scell).

67. The method according to claim 55, wherein the infrastructure equipment provides a neighboring cell.

68. The method according to claim 55, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal.

69. The method according to claim 68, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand synchronisation signal block (SSB).

70. The method according to claim 68, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is a system information block (SIB) type 1 (SIB1), or an SIB other than SIB1.

71. The method according to claim 68, wherein the on-demand downlink signal is an on-demand channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

72. The method according to claim 68, wherein the state information for the on-demand downlink signal includes whether the on-demand downlink signal is currently set to be transmitted by the infrastructure equipment.

73. The method according to claim 55, wherein the downlink signal is an always-on periodically-transmitted downlink signal.

74. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more current transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

75. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of one or more next transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

76. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes values for the one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

77. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal indicates an index for a particular configuration of a plurality of configurations, each corresponding to a particular set of values for the one or more parameters.

78. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether one or more transmission parameters of the on-demand downlink signal are being updated.

79. The method according to claim 74, wherein the transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal include one or more of:a periodicity of the particular downlink signal;one or more resources on which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;a time window in which the particular downlink signal is transmitted;a frequency position of the particular downlink signal;an SSB index of the particular downlink signal;a transmission configuration index (TCI) state of the particular downlink signal; and a validity duration for one or more other transmission parameters for the particular downlink signal.

80. The method according to claim 55, wherein the state information for the particular downlink signal includes an indication of whether uplink requests for changes to a state of the particular downlink signal are permitted.

81. The method according to claim 55, wherein the particular downlink signal is an on-demand downlink signal, and wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request for transmission of the on-demand downlink signal.

82. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is a request to modify one or more transmission parameters of the particular downlink signal.

83. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received on a physical random access channel (PRACH) message.

84. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in Message 3 (Msg3) of a 4-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, or a physical uplink shared channel (PLISCH) of a 2-step RACH procedure.

85. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink control information (UCI) transmission on a physical uplink control channel (PLICCH).

86. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink MAC CE.

87. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in an uplink wake up signal (WUS).

88. The method according to claim 55, wherein the request for the change to the state of the on-demand downlink signal is received in uplink control signaling.

89. The method according to claim 55, further comprising:transmitting, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication that the request for the change to the state of the particular downlink signal to the demanded state has been accepted.

90. The method according to claim 55, further comprising:transmitting, to the communications device, an indication of default state information for the particular downlink signal.

91. An infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of the wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising: one or more transceivers; anda controller, wherein the one or more transceivers and controller are together configured to:transmit state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;receive, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; andtransmit the particular downlink signal, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

92. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices of the wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising:transceiver circuitry; andcontroller circuitry, wherein the transceiver circuitry and controller circuitry are together configured to:transmit state information for a particular downlink signal transmittable by the infrastructure equipment;receive, from a communications device of the one or more communications devices, a request to modify a state of the particular downlink signal from a current state to a demanded state; andtransmit the particular downlink signal, the particular downlink signal having the demanded state.

Images