Patent Publication Number: US-2022232664-A1

Title: Discontinuous reception activation/deactivation based on communication layer 1 and layer 2 signaling

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Wireless communication and in particular, discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 and/or layer 2 signaling for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node and wireless device and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node and wireless device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Connected mode discontinuous reception (DRX) is one manner to reduce the power consumption at wireless devices that implement wireless communication protocols such as the 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project&#39;s (3GPP) New Radio (NR, also referred to as 5 t G). When the wireless device is configured with DRX, the wireless device may monitor DRX discontinuously by following a DRX cycle configured by the network and/or network node. 
     The DRX cycle repeats periodically and may contain two parts: 1) an “onDuration” which corresponds to a consecutive period in which the wireless device may monitor PDCCH, and 2) another period within the DRX cycle in which the wireless device may not monitor physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). 
     The configuration of DRX may be sent to the wireless device in a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message. The wireless device may apply the DRX configuration after receiving the RRC reconfiguration message. More specifically, the wireless device may enter the DRX cycle after processing of RRC reconfiguration message. While in the network side and/or at the network node, there are several possible timings to start DRX. One existing method for starting DRX is to start the DRX either after the network sends out the RRC reconfiguration message, or after network node receives a RRC reconfiguration complete message from the wireless device. This existing method may be applied to the reconfiguration-like scenario such as standalone (SA) reconfiguration with DRX configuration after initial setup, non-standalone (NSA) reconfiguration with DRX configuration after secondary cell group (SCG) setup and handover with DRX configuration. In other words, the reconfiguration procedure with configuration of DRX may takes place after the initial setup of SA RRC connection or NSA secondary cell group (SCG) setup. 
     It may be expected that the network/network node can start the DRX cycle at the same time as the wireless device or aligned with the wireless device&#39;s timing when the wireless device starts DRX. However, the timing with respect when to start the DRX cycle between the network/network node and wireless device are not always synchronized. For example, due to the signaling processing delay and/or the transmission delay, there could be a large interval between the wireless device entering DRX and network/network node starting DRX cycle. 
     In another example, if the network/network node starts DRX immediately after sending the RRC reconfiguration message, the network/network node may stop scheduling the wireless device while the wireless device is still awake (i.e., able to receive transmissions and/or monitoring for transmissions) which results in unnecessary battery consumption at the wireless device. Furthermore, if the RRC reconfiguration message was not received by the wireless device, the network/network node may need to handle this failure case as DRX configuration may not be applied by the wireless device. 
     On the other hand if the network/network node starts DRX after receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message, this signifies that most likely the network/network node considers the wireless device to be actively monitoring the dedicated control channel while wireless device may already be asleep since it can take a long time for the network to receive RRC reconfiguration complete message especially when the cell load is high. The downlink (DL) transmissions sent to the wireless device during a DRX unsynchronized state (i.e., send while the network node is in DRX active time and the wireless device is in DRX sleep), may cause radio link control (RLC) acknowledgment mode (AM) to start its supervision timers and, if all of these RLC re-transmissions fail, the result may be RLC delivery failure and the wireless device may be dropped. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments advantageously provide a method and system for discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 signaling and/or layer 2 signaling for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node and wireless device and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node and wireless device. 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to: cause transmission of a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration to a wireless device using communication layer 3 signaling, cause transmission of an indication to the wireless device to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration, and optionally determine whether the wireless device has activated the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the wireless device is performing a predetermined procedure, the DRX configuration being provided to the wireless device using communication layer 3 signaling before the predetermined procedure. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause transmission of another indication to the wireless device to trigger deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a wireless device is provided. The wireless device includes processing circuitry configured to: receive a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration using communication layer 3 signaling, receive an indication to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration, and activate the DRX configuration based at least in part on the indication. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to perform a predetermined procedure after configuration of the DRX configuration. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to receive another indication that triggers deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented in a network node is provided. Transmission of a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration to a wireless device using communication layer 3 signaling is caused. Transmission of an indication to the wireless device to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration is caused. A determination whether the wireless device has activated the DRX configuration is optionally performed. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a determination whether the wireless device is performing a predetermined procedure is performed where the DRX configuration is provided to the wireless device using communication layer 3 signaling before the predetermined procedure. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, transmission of another indication to the wireless device to trigger deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated is caused. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented in a wireless device is provided. A Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration is received using communication layer 3 signaling. An indication to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration is received. The DRX configuration is activated based at least in part on the indication. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a predetermined procedure is performed after configuration of the DRX configuration. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, another indication is received that triggers deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. 
     According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for executing a client application at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 and/or layer 2 signaling for helping avoid DRX misalignment. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. 
     As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication. 
     In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and/or wireless connections. 
     The term “network node” used herein can be any kind of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term “radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The WD may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) WD, machine type WD or WD capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with WD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a Narrowband IoT (NB-IOT) device, etc. 
     Also, in some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is used. It can be any kind of a radio network node which may comprise any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH). 
     An indication generally may explicitly and/or implicitly indicate the information it represents and/or indicates. Implicit indication may for example be based on position and/or resource used for transmission. Explicit indication may for example be based on a parametrization with one or more parameters, and/or one or more index or indices, and/or one or more bit patterns representing the information. 
     A channel may generally be a logical or physical channel. A channel may comprise and/or be arranged on one or more carriers, in particular a plurality of subcarriers. A wireless communication network may comprise at least one network node, in particular a network node as described herein. A terminal connected or communicating with a network may be considered to be connected or communicating with at least one network node, in particular any one of the network nodes described herein. 
     Transmitting in downlink may pertain to transmission from the network or network node to the terminal. Transmitting in uplink may pertain to transmission from the terminal to the network or network node. Transmitting in sidelink may pertain to (direct) transmission from one terminal to another. Uplink, downlink and sidelink (e.g., sidelink transmission and reception) may be considered communication directions. In some variants, uplink and downlink may also be used to describe wireless communication between network nodes, e.g. for wireless backhaul and/or relay communication and/or (wireless) network communication for example between base stations or similar network nodes, in particular communication terminating at such. It may be considered that backhaul and/or relay communication and/or network communication is implemented as a form of sidelink or uplink communication or similar thereto. 
     Configuring a terminal or wireless device or node may involve instructing and/or causing the wireless device or node to change its configuration, e.g., at least one setting and/or register entry and/or operational mode. A terminal or wireless device or node may be adapted to configure itself, e.g., according to information or data in a memory of the terminal or wireless device. Configuring a node or terminal or wireless device by another device or node or a network may refer to and/or comprise transmitting information and/or data and/or instructions to the wireless device or node by the other device or node or the network, e.g., allocation data (which may also be and/or comprise configuration data) and/or scheduling data and/or scheduling grants. Configuring a terminal may include sending allocation/configuration data to the terminal indicating which modulation and/or encoding to use. A terminal may be configured with and/or for scheduling data and/or to use, e.g., for transmission, scheduled and/or allocated uplink resources, and/or, e.g., for reception, scheduled and/or allocated downlink resources. Uplink resources and/or downlink resources may be scheduled and/or provided with allocation or configuration data. 
     Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure. 
     Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and/or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Embodiments provide discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 and/or layer 2 signaling for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node and wireless device and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node and wireless device. 
     Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a schematic diagram of a communication system  10 , according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (5G), which comprises an access network  12 , such as a radio access network, and a core network  14 . The access network  12  comprises a plurality of network nodes  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  (referred to collectively as network nodes  16 ), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c  (referred to collectively as coverage areas  18 ). Each network node  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  is connectable to the core network  14  over a wired or wireless connection  20 . A first wireless device (WD)  22   a  located in coverage area  18   a  is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node  16   c . A second WD  22   b  in coverage area  18   b  is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node  16   a . While a plurality of WDs  22   a ,  22   b  (collectively referred to as wireless devices  22 ) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole WD is in the coverage area or where a sole WD is connecting to the corresponding network node  16 . Note that although only two WDs  22  and three network nodes  16  are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs  22  and network nodes  16 . 
     Also, it is contemplated that a WD  22  can be in simultaneous communication and/or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node  16  and more than one type of network node  16 . For example, a WD  22  can have dual connectivity with a network node  16  that supports LTE and the same or a different network node  16  that supports NR. As an example, WD  22  can be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR/NG-RAN. 
     The communication system  10  may itself be connected to a host computer  24 , which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer  24  may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections  26 ,  28  between the communication system  10  and the host computer  24  may extend directly from the core network  14  to the host computer  24  or may extend via an optional intermediate network  30 . The intermediate network  30  may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network  30 , if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network  30  may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown). 
     The communication system of  FIG. 1  as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs  22   a ,  22   b  and the host computer  24 . The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer  24  and the connected WDs  22   a ,  22   b  are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network  12 , the core network  14 , any intermediate network  30  and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node  16  may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer  24  to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected WD  22   a . Similarly, the network node  16  need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the WD  22   a  towards the host computer  24 . 
     A network node  16  is configured to include a signaling unit  32 . A wireless device  22  is configured to include a DRX unit  34 . 
     Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the WD  22 , network node  16  and host computer  24  discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . In a communication system  10 , a host computer  24  comprises hardware (HW)  38  including a communication interface  40  configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system  10 . The host computer  24  further comprises processing circuitry  42 , which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry  42  may include a processor  44  and memory  46 . In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry  42  may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor  44  may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory  46 , which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). 
     Processing circuitry  42  may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer  24 . Processor  44  corresponds to one or more processors  44  for performing host computer  24  functions described herein. The host computer  24  includes memory  46  that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software  48  and/or the host application  50  may include instructions that, when executed by the processor  44  and/or processing circuitry  42 , causes the processor  44  and/or processing circuitry  42  to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer  24 . The instructions may be software associated with the host computer  24 . 
     The software  48  may be executable by the processing circuitry  42 . The software  48  includes a host application  50 . The host application  50  may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD  22  connecting via an OTT connection  52  terminating at the WD  22  and the host computer  24 . In providing the service to the remote user, the host application  50  may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection  52 . The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer  24  may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry  42  of the host computer  24  may enable the host computer  24  to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node  16  and or the wireless device  22 . The processing circuitry  42  of the host computer  24  may include an information unit  54  configured to enable the service provider to process, determine, communicate, receive, transmit, forward, relay, store, etc., information related to DRX control using at least in part communication layer 1 signaling and/or communication layer 2 signaling for helping avoid DRX misalignment. 
     The communication system  10  further includes a network node  16  provided in a communication system  10  and including hardware  58  enabling it to communicate with the host computer  24  and with the WD  22 . The hardware  58  may include a communication interface  60  for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system  10 , as well as a radio interface  62  for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection  64  with a WD  22  located in a coverage area  18  served by the network node  16 . The radio interface  62  may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface  60  may be configured to facilitate a connection  66  to the host computer  24 . The connection  66  may be direct or it may pass through a core network  14  of the communication system  10  and/or through one or more intermediate networks  30  outside the communication system  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the hardware  58  of the network node  16  further includes processing circuitry  68 . The processing circuitry  68  may include a processor  70  and a memory  72 . In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry  68  may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor  70  may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory  72 , which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). 
     Thus, the network node  16  further has software  74  stored internally in, for example, memory  72 , or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node  16  via an external connection. The software  74  may be executable by the processing circuitry  68 . The processing circuitry  68  may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node  16 . Processor  70  corresponds to one or more processors  70  for performing network node  16  functions described herein. The memory  72  is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software  74  may include instructions that, when executed by the processor  70  and/or processing circuitry  68 , causes the processor  70  and/or processing circuitry  68  to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node  16 . For example, processing circuitry  68  of the network node  16  may include signaling unit  32  configured to perform one or more network node  16  functions described herein such as with respect to discontinuous reception DRX control using at least in part communication layer 1 signaling and/or communication layer 2 signaling for helping avoid DRX misalignment. 
     The communication system  10  further includes the WD  22  already referred to. The WD  22  may have hardware  80  that may include a radio interface  82  configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection  64  with a network node  16  serving a coverage area  18  in which the WD  22  is currently located. The radio interface  82  may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. 
     The hardware  80  of the WD  22  further includes processing circuitry  84 . The processing circuitry  84  may include a processor  86  and memory  88 . In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry  84  may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor  86  may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory  88 , which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). 
     Thus, the WD  22  may further comprise software  90 , which is stored in, for example, memory  88  at the WD  22 , or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the WD  22 . The software  90  may be executable by the processing circuitry  84 . The software  90  may include a client application  92 . The client application  92  may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD  22 , with the support of the host computer  24 . In the host computer  24 , an executing host application  50  may communicate with the executing client application  92  via the OTT connection  52  terminating at the WD  22  and the host computer  24 . In providing the service to the user, the client application  92  may receive request data from the host application  50  and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection  52  may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application  92  may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides. 
     The processing circuitry  84  may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by WD  22 . The processor  86  corresponds to one or more processors  86  for performing WD  22  functions described herein. The WD  22  includes memory  88  that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software  90  and/or the client application  92  may include instructions that, when executed by the processor  86  and/or processing circuitry  84 , causes the processor  86  and/or processing circuitry  84  to perform the processes described herein with respect to WD  22 . For example, the processing circuitry  84  of the wireless device  22  may include a DRX unit  34  configured to perform one or more wireless device  22  functions described herein such as with respect to discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 signaling and/or communication layer 2 signaling for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node and wireless device and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node and wireless device. 
     In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node  16 , WD  22 , and host computer  24  may be as shown in  FIG. 2  and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the OTT connection  52  has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer  24  and the wireless device  22  via the network node  16 , without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the WD  22  or from the service provider operating the host computer  24 , or both. While the OTT connection  52  is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). 
     The wireless connection  64  between the WD  22  and the network node  16  is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the WD  22  using the OTT connection  52 , in which the wireless connection  64  may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc. 
     In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection  52  between the host computer  24  and WD  22 , in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection  52  may be implemented in the software  48  of the host computer  24  or in the software  90  of the WD  22 , or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection  52  passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software  48 ,  90  may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection  52  may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node  16 , and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node  16 . Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling facilitating the host computer&#39;s  24  measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software  48 ,  90  causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection  52  while it monitors propagation times, errors etc. 
     Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer  24  includes processing circuitry  42  configured to provide user data and a communication interface  40  that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD  22 . In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node  16  with a radio interface  62 . In some embodiments, the network node  16  is configured to, and/or the network node&#39;s  16  processing circuitry  68  is configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the WD  22 , and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the WD  22 . 
     In some embodiments, the host computer  24  includes processing circuitry  42  and a communication interface  40  that is configured to a communication interface  40  configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a WD  22  to a network node  16 . In some embodiments, the WD  22  is configured to, and/or comprises a radio interface  82  and/or processing circuitry  84  configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the network node  16 , and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node  16 . 
     Although  FIGS. 1 and 2  show various “units” such as DRX unit  34 , and signaling unit  32  as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer  24 , a network node  16  and a WD  22 , which may be those described with reference to  FIG. 2 . In a first step of the method, the host computer  24  provides user data (Block S 100 ). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer  24  provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application  50  (Block S 102 ). In a second step, the host computer  24  initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD  22  (Block S 104 ). In an optional third step, the network node  16  transmits to the WD  22  the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer  24  initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S 106 ). In an optional fourth step, the WD  22  executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application  92 , associated with the host application  50  executed by the host computer  24  (Block S 108 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer  24 , a network node  16  and a WD  22 , which may be those described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In a first step of the method, the host computer  24  provides user data (Block S 110 ). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer  24  provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application  50 . In a second step, the host computer  24  initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD  22  (Block S 112 ). The transmission may pass via the network node  16 , in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD  22  receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block S 114 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer  24 , a network node  16  and a WD  22 , which may be those described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In an optional first step of the method, the WD  22  receives input data provided by the host computer  24  (Block S 116 ). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD  22  executes the client application  92 , which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer  24  (Block S 118 ). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD  22  provides user data (Block S 120 ). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application  92  (Block S 122 ). In providing the user data, the executed client application  92  may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD  22  may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer  24  (Block S 124 ). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer  24  receives the user data transmitted from the WD  22 , in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S 126 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer  24 , a network node  16  and a WD  22 , which may be those described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node  16  receives user data from the WD  22  (Block S 128 ). In an optional second step, the network node  16  initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer  24  (Block S 130 ). In a third step, the host computer  24  receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node  16  (Block S 132 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node  16  according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by network node  16  may be performed by one or more elements of network node  16  such as by signaling unit  32  in processing circuitry  68 , processor  70 , radio interface  62 , etc. In one or more embodiments, network node  16  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  68 , processor  70 , communication interface  60  and radio interface  62  is configured to cause (Block S 134 ) transmission of a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration to a wireless device  22  using communication layer 3 signaling, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, network node  16  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  68 , processor  70 , communication interface  60  and radio interface  62  is configured to cause (Block S 136 ) transmission of an indication to the wireless device  22  to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, network node  16  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  68 , processor  70 , communication interface  60  and radio interface  62  is configured to optionally determining (Block S 138 ) whether the wireless device  22  has activated the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry  68  is further configured to determine whether the wireless device  22  is performing a predetermined procedure, the DRX configuration being provided to the wireless device  22  using communication layer 3 signaling before the predetermined procedure. According to one or more embodiments, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry  68  is further configured to cause transmission of another indication to the wireless device  22  to trigger deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated. In one or more embodiments, the MAC CE is transmitted in the same DL transmission that carriers the RRC reconfiguration that contains the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device  22  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by wireless device  22  may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device  22  such as by DRX unit  34  in processing circuitry  84 , processor  86 , radio interface  82 , etc. In one or more embodiments, wireless device  22  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  84 , processor  86  and radio interface  82  is configured to receive (Block S 140 ) a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, configuration using communication layer 3 signaling, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, wireless device  22  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  84 , processor  86  and radio interface  82  is configured to receive (Block S 142 ) an indication to trigger activation at one of communication layer 1 and communication layer 2 of the DRX configuration, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, wireless device  22  such as via one or more of processing circuitry  84 , processor  86  and radio interface  82  is configured to activate (Block S 144 ) the DRX configuration based at least in part on the indication. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry  84  is further configured to perform a predetermined procedure after configuration of the DRX configuration. According to one or more embodiments, the predetermined procedure is a contention resolution procedure for random access. According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Contention Resolution Identity Medium Access Control Element, CRI MAC CE, that triggers an action associated with the DRX configuration. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry  84  is further configured to receive another indication that triggers deactivation of the DRX configuration at communication layer 2 using a first Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE that indicates the DRX configuration is to be deactivated. In one or more embodiments, the MAC CE is transmitted in the same DL transmission that carriers the RRC reconfiguration that contains the DRX configuration. According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 2 using a second MAC CE that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. 
     According to one or more embodiments, the indication triggers activation at communication layer 1 using Downlink Control Information, DCI, that indicates that the DRX configuration is to be activated. According to one or more embodiments, the DCI includes a bit dedicated to indicate whether to activate a DRX configuration. 
     Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node and wireless device and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node and wireless device. 
     Embodiments provide discontinuous reception (DRX) control using at least in part communication layer 1 and/or layer 2 signaling for helping reduce misalignment of a DRX state between the network node  16  and wireless device  22  and/or helping align a DRX status between the network node  16  and wireless device  22 . 
     Method 1: 
     DRX Activation MAC CE 
       FIG. 9  is a signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure such as in accordance with method 1. The network node  16  provides such as via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32  the DRX configuration to wireless device  22  via RRC reconfiguration message. For example, the network node  16  communicates (Block S 146 ) such as via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32  a RRC (re)configuration message with the DRX (re)configuration from communication layer 3 (also referred to as “layer 3”) to communication layer 1 (also referred to as “layer 1”) at network node  16 . As used herein, “(re)configuration” corresponds to reconfiguration or configuration. Network node  16  transmits (Block S 148 ) such as via radio interface  62  and/or signaling unit  32  a dedicated DL transmission containing/including the RRC message with the DRX (re)configuration to the wireless device  22 . Wireless device  22  receives the DL transmission and communicates (Block S 150 ) such as via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34  RRC (re)configuration with the DRX (re)configuration from layer 1 to layer 3. 
     Wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 152 ) such as via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34  the received DRX (re)configuration received from the network node  16  to the MAC layer (i.e., communication layer 2) at wireless device  22 . Wireless device  22  ( re )configures (Block S 154 ) such a via the processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34  the DRX configuration received from the upper layer (e.g., layer 3) and also suspends applying the DRX configuration until triggered to do so. Wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 156 ) such as via the processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34  a RRC (re)configuration complete message (i.e., type of RRC message) from layer 3 to layer 1 at the wireless device  22 . Wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 158 ) such as via DRX unit  34  and/or radio interface  82  the RRC (re)configuration complete message using dedicated UL transmission, i.e., the dedicated UL transmission contains/includes the RRC (re)configuration complete message. For example, If the RRC reconfiguration message is received by the wireless device  22  successfully, the wireless device  22  may then transmits a corresponding RRC reconfiguration complete message to the network node  16  where at the same time the DRX configuration is pushed to lower layer but suspended from applying the DRX configuration. 
     Network node  16  receives (Block S 160 ) such as via radio interface  62  the dedicated UL transmission containing/including the RRC (re)configuration complete message. Network node communicates (Block S 162 ) such as via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32  the RRC (re)configuration complete message to MAC at the network node  16 . Network node  16  communicates (Block S 164 ) a DRX MAC control element (CE) (e.g., indication) from the MAC layer (i.e., communication layer 2/layer 2) to layer 1 at the network node  16  such as to active the DRX configuration at the wireless device. Network node  16  transmits (Block S 166 ) such as via radio interface  62  and/or signaling unit  32  the DRX MAC CE in a dedicated DL transmission. For example, after the RRC reconfiguration complete message has been received by the network node  16 , the network node  16  may send out a MAC CE to activate DRX where the wireless device  22  may only apply the DRX configuration when the MAC CE is received which explicitly indicates the activation of DRX. 
     If the layer 1 (L1) transmission with the DRX MAC CE was successfully decoded by the wireless device, the wireless device transmits (Block S 168 ) such as via radio interface  82  and/or DRX unit  34  a L1 DL transmission acknowledgement (ACK) indicating the successful decoding. Network node  16  receives the L1 DL transmission ACK on layer 1 and communicates such as via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32  the L1 DL transmission ACK (i.e., HARQ ACK) to the MAC layer at the network node  16 . The network node  16  may consider/assume/determine (Block S 172 ) that the wireless device  22  started applying the DRX configuration at the time of receiving the HARQ ACK corresponding to the transmission. 
     Wireless device  22  starts (Block S 174 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , applying the DRX configuration upon receiving of the DRX MAC CE for activation. In other words, in one or more embodiments, layer 1 and/or layer 2 is used to trigger activation of the DRX configuration in Block S 174 . Wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 176 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX MAC CE for activation to the MAC layer at the wireless device  22 . In one or more embodiments, the DRX MAC CE corresponds to an indication to trigger activation at the MAC layer (i.e., communication layer 2) of the DRX/DRX configuration. The network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on the DRX state: DRX active. 
     If the layer 1 (L1) transmission containing the DRX MAC CE activation was not successfully decoded by the wireless device  22 , the wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 178 ), via the processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , an L1 DL transmission negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the network node  16 . The network node  16  receives (Block S 180 ) the L1 DL transmission NACK on layer 1 and determines, based at least in part on the received NACK, that the wireless device  22  failed to receive the L1 transmission containing the DRX activation MAC CE and remained in the DRX inactive state. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 182 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the HARQ NACK from layer 1 to the MAC layer at the network node  16 . There network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX inactive. 
     In other words, method 1 advantageously shifts and/or moves the DRX activation procedure from L3 signaling (RRC reconfiguration) to MAC layer signaling, which has lower processing delay than L3 and has faster feedback than L3 (L1 HARQ vs L3 signaling). Therefore, leading to significantly reduced probability of DRX state misalignment and potentially the duration of DRX state misalignment between the network node  16  and wireless device  22 . 
     Furthermore, in case the DRX activation MAC CE was not received by the wireless device  22  such as due to poor channel condition, the HARQ feedback (NACK) received by the network node  16  for the DL transmission contains MAC CE that can be used as a criterion to further prevent activation of DRX from the network node  16  side. In this way, the configured DRX setting are initially deactivated at the wireless device  22  side upon configuration until the wireless device  22  receives the DRX Activation MAC CE. The network node  16  may activate the configured DRX setting upon receiving the ACK feedback for DRX Activation MAC CE. Typically, the network node  16  can take into account the HARQ feedback delay when activating the DRX, thereby providing an even accurate DRX state alignment. 
     Further, when the MAC entity, i.e., wireless device  22 , receives a DRX Activation MAC CE on a serving cell, the MAC entity may indicate to the lower layers the information regarding the DRX Activation MAC CE. 
     Method 2 
     MAC CE Instructs the Wireless Device to Apply or not Apply DRX Based on its Content 
     In method 2, a MAC CE is sent to the wireless device  22  together with L3 DRX configuration message during RRC configuration or reconfiguration in order to instruct the wireless device  22  to not apply DRX yet, i.e., to at least temporarily suspend applying the DRX configuration. When the wireless device  22  receives the MAC CE with the L3 DRX configuration, the wireless device  22  may at least temporarily suspend applying the DRX configuration until the wireless device  22  receives another MAC CE with the instruction to start applying the DRX configuration. Comparing to method 2 to method 1, method 2 may be considered more wireless communication protocol friendly, as method 2 follows existing wireless communication protocols such as 3GPP standards that when a wireless device  22  receives RRC configuration, the wireless device  22  applies the configuration from the L3 perspective, except that another procedure is introduced at the MAC layer to further control the DRX state. 
       FIG. 10  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure such as in accordance with method 2. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 184 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , a RRC (re)configuration with DRX (re)configuration message from layer 3 to layer 1 at the network node  16 . Network node  16  communicates (Block S 186 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , a DRX deactivation MAC CE (e.g., indication) from the MAC layer to layer 1. Network node  16  transmits (Block S 188 ), via radio interface  62  and/or signaling unit  32 , dedicated DL transmission containing/including the RRC message including the DRX deactivation MAC CE. Wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 190 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the RRC (re)configuration with DRX (re)configuration from layer 1 to layer 3. Wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 192 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX deactivation MAC CE. In one or more embodiments, the DRX deactivation MAC CE corresponds to an indication to trigger at least temporary deactivation at the MAC layer (i.e., communication layer 2) of the DRX/DRX configuration. The wireless device  22 , at the MAC layer, (re)configures (Block S 194 ) DRX configuration based at least in part on the received DRX configuration from the upper layer where the wireless device  22  at least temporarily suspends applying the configuration. Therefore, the RRC (re)configuration for DRX and DRX deactivation MAC CE are received and/or dropped together, i.e., the wireless device  22  and network node  16  are in sync. 
     The wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 196 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , a RRC (re)configuration complete message from layer 3 to layer 1 at the wireless device  22 . The wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 198 ), via radio interface  82 , dedicated UL transmission containing the RRC (re)configuration complete message. The network node  16  receives, via radio interface  62 , the dedicated UL transmission and communicates (Block S 200 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the RRC (re)configuration complete message from layer 1 to layer 3 at network node  16 . The network node  16  communicates (Block S 202 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , RRC (re)configuration complement from the wireless device  22  from layer 3 to the MAC layer of the network node  16 . The network node  16  communicates (Block S 204 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the DRX activation MAC CE (e.g., indication) from the MAC layer to layer 1. Network node  16  transmits (Block S 206 ), via radio interface  62 , the DRX activation MAC CE to the wireless device  22  to trigger activation of the DRX configuration. 
     If the L1 DL transmission successfully decodes the dedicated DL transmission containing the DRX MAC CE, the wireless device  22  transmits (S 208 ), via radio interface  82 , the L1 DL transmission ACK to the network node  16  to acknowledge the successfully decoding. The network node  16  considers/determines/assumes (Block S 210 ) the wireless device  22  has started applying the DRX configuration at the time of receiving the HARQ ACK corresponding to the transmission. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 212 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the HARQ ACK from layer 1 to the MAC layer. The wireless device  22  may start applying (Block S 214 ), via processing circuitry  84  and DRX unit  34 , the DRX configuration upon receiving of the DRX activation MAC CE. Wireless device  22  communicates (S 215 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX activation MAC CE (e.g., indication) from layer 1 to the MAC layer at the wireless device  22 . In one or more embodiments, the DRX activation MAC CE corresponds to an indication to trigger activation at the MAC layer (i.e., communication layer 2) of the DRX/DRX configuration. The network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX active. 
     If the L1 DL transmission fails to successfully decode the dedicated DL transmission containing the DRX MAC CE, the wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 216 ), via radio interface  82 , a L1 DL transmission NACK message to the network node indicates the unsuccessful decoding or non-receipt of the transmission. The network node  16  determines (S 218 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , wireless device  22  failed to receive the L1 transmission containing DRX activation MAC CE and remained in the DRX inactive state. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 220 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , a HARQ NACK from layer 1 to layer 3. The network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX inactive. 
     Method 3 
     An Addition Bit in DCI Indicates DRX Activation 
     In method 3, when DRX configurations are sent to the wireless device  22  in the RRC reconfiguration message, an additional bit in DCI is set to “DRX deactivated” and sent to wireless device  22 . Both the network node  16  and wireless device  22  may stay in DRX inactive state at this time. In one or more embodiments, the extra bit may be a dedicated extra bit in the DCI to carry DRX activation/deactivation information where the dedicated extra bit may be statically added to the DCI message. After the RRC reconfiguration complete message is received by the network node  16  indicating that DRX configuration has been successfully received (i.e., successfully decoded) by the wireless device  22 , a DCI is sent to the wireless device  22  with an additional bit set to “DRX activated” to explicitly signal DRX activation. Then both the network node  16  and the wireless device  22  may be synchronized on DRX state. 
     From the wireless device  22  side, if its DRX is already activated and the wireless device  22  receives a DCI with the DRX activated bit, then the wireless device  22  may continue being in the DRX state. In this case, the wireless device  22  may (re)start its inactivity timer after receiving the DCI. If the wireless device  22  is not in DRX and receives the DCI with the DRX activated bit, then the wireless device  22  may activate its DRX cycle and start its inactivity timer since the wireless device  22  has successfully received the DCI. If the wireless device  22  is in its DRX state and receives a DCI with DRX deactivated bit, then the wireless device  22  may deactivate its DRX and remain awake until it receives a DCI with an activation DRX bit. If the wireless device  22  is not in DRX and receives the DCI with the DRX deactivated bit, then the wireless device  22  ignores the bit and remains in the awake state until the wireless device  22  receives a DCI with an activation DRX bit. 
     Therefore, even if the wireless device  22  failed to receive the DCI, the wireless device  22  may remain in its previous DRX state. The network node  16  may have to rely on the wireless device  22  HARQ feedback in order to determine if the wireless device  22  has successfully received the DCI. If the network node  16  receives a DTX in the HARQ feedback, then the network node  16  may assume that the wireless device  22  did not receive the DCI and may resend the DCI again with the same DCI DRX bit. In one or more embodiments, even if the wireless device  22  receives duplicate DCI, the duplicate DCI may have little to no impact at the wireless device  22 . For example, any consecutive DCIs received by the wireless device  22  with the same DRX state bit value may imply no change in the DRX state, thereby may have little to no impact at the wireless device  22 . 
     A possible failure issue can be foreseen where the wireless device  22  did not receive the DCI but the network node  16  assumes that the wireless device  22  did receive the DCI (i.e., successfully decode the DCI). This situation may occur if the network node  16  detects a HARQ ACK or NACK even though the wireless device  22  did not send any HARQ feedback. However, the probability of this situation occurring is small. Either way, this case may lead to a DRX mis-match that can be recovered by transmitting to the wireless device  22  in the next on-duration. 
       FIG. 11  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure such as in accordance with method 3. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 220 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , RRC (re)configuration with DRX (re)configuration from layer 3 to layer 1 at network node  16 . The network node  16  transmits (Block S 224 ), via radio interface  62 , a dedicated DL transmission containing an RRC message with at least one dedicated bit (e.g., indication) in the DCI set to DRX deactivation. In one or more embodiments, the dedicated bit corresponds to an indication to trigger deactivation at communication layer 1 of the DRX/DRX configuration. The wireless device  22  receives the DL transmission via radio interface  82 , and communicates (Block S 226 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the RRC message with RRC (re)configuration and DRX (re)configuration from layer 1 to layer 3 at wireless device  22 . The wireless device  22  communicates from layer 1 to the MAC layer (Block S 228 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX deactivation (e.g., indication) signaled by the network node  16 . The wireless device  22 , in the MAC layer (re)configures (Block S 230 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX configuration based at least in part on the DRX configuration received from the upper layer(s) and at least temporarily suspends applying the configuration such as until the DRX is triggered and/or activated as described herein. For example, in one or more embodiments, WD  22  MAC (re)configures DRX configuration based at least in part on DRX (re)configuration received from upper layer (WD L3), however, WD  22  suspends applying the configuration until further notice. 
     Wireless device communicates from layer 3 to the MAC layer at wireless device  22  (Block S 232 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , DRX (re)configuration received from the network node  16 . In one or more embodiments, network node  16  may not attempt (Block S 234 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , to activate DRX configuration before wireless device  22  notifies the network node  16  of successful reception of DRX configuration. Wireless device  22   16  communicates from layer 3 to layer 1 at wireless device  22  (Block S 236 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , an RRC (re)configuration complete message indicates that DRX configuration is complete. Wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 238 ), via radio interface  82  and/or DRX unit  34 , dedicate UL transmission containing an RRC message. Network node  16  receives, via radio interface  62 , the dedicated UL transmission, and communicates (Block S 240 ) the RRC (re)configuration complete message from layer 1 to layer 3. Network node  16  communicates (Block S 242 ), via processing circuitry  68  and or signaling unit  32 , the RRC (re)configuration complete from layer 3 to the MAC layer. Network node  16  transmits (Block S 244 ), via radio interface  62  and/or signaling unit  32 , DL transmission with a dedicated bit in DCI set to DRX activated to activate/trigger DRX at the wireless device  22 . In one or more embodiments, the dedicated bit corresponds to an indication to trigger activation at communication layer 1 of the DRX/DRX configuration. 
     If L1 DL transmission is successfully decoded at the wireless device  22 , via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 246 ), via radio interface and/or DRX unit  34 , a L1 DL transmission ACK to the network node  16 . Network node  16  considers wireless device  22  to be entering DRX activate state at the time of receiving a DRX activated notification from L1 minus the HARQ feedback delay. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 248 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the new DRX state signaled to the wireless device  22  from layer 1 to the MAC layer at the network node  16 . 
     The wireless device  22 , at the MAC layer, is configured to enter (Block S 250 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the DRX activated state based at least in part on a received notification from L1 regarding the state change. The wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 252 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the new DRX state signaled by network node  16  (DRX activated) from layer 1 to layer 3 at the wireless device  22 . The network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX active. 
     If the DL DCI fails to be decoded by wireless device  22 , no HARQ feedback may be received by the network node  16 . Therefore, no new DRX state may be reported to the MAC layer at network node  16  where both the network node  16  and/or wireless device  22  remain in sync on DRX state (inactive). 
     Method 4 
     A Predetermined Timing Point is Provided in the L3 Procedure Between Wireless Device  22  and Network Node  16  for Applying DRX Configuration 
     In the case of Non-Standalone (NSA) or Handover scenario where the L3 DRX configuration is sent to the wireless device  22  prior to the random-access procedure in the SCG or target cell, the wireless device  22  may activate the DRX configuration after the wireless device  22  has successfully received the contention resolution grant. At that time point, both the wireless device  22  and network node  16  (or target network node  16  in the case of handover) may start its inactivity timer. From the network node  16  side, the network node  16  may know when the wireless device  22  has successfully received the contention resolution grant based on the wireless device  22  HARQ ACK/NACK feedbacks. There may be in a slight timing difference between wireless device  22  and network node  16  starting their inactivity timer due to the HARQ ACK/NACK feedback delay, but this slight timing difference may be compensated at the network node  16  since this slight timing difference value (also known as k2 in one or more wireless communication protocols such as 3GPP based protocols) is pre-determined. 
       FIG. 12  is another signaling diagram for DRX activation/deactivation control in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure such as in accordance with method 4. The DRX configuration that is transmitted to the wireless device  22  is followed by wireless device  22  that is performing random access, e.g., handover (Block S 254 ). The wireless device  22  may stay in DRX inactive, i.e., keeps monitoring PDCCH before contention resolution is successfully complete, thereby helping prevent misaligned DRX state (Block S 256 ). The network node  16  communicates (Block S 258 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , a wireless device  22  CRI MAC CE (e.g., indication) from the MAC layer to layer 1 at the network node  16 . The network node  16  transmits (Block S 260 ), via radio interface  62  and/or signaling unit  32 , a DL dedicated transmission containing/including WD  22  CRI MAC CE. In one or more embodiments, the WD  22  CRI MAC CE corresponds to an indication to trigger activation at communication layer 1 of a previous DRX/DRX configuration. 
     If the L1 DL transmission from the network node  16  to the wireless device  22  is successfully decoded, the wireless device  22  transmits (Block S 262 ), via radio interface  82  and/or DRX unit  34 , a L1 DL transmission ACK. Network node  16  considers/determines (Block S 264 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , that the wireless device  22  a contention resolution timer and started to follow DRX configuration previously configured. The network node  16  communicates (Block S 266 ), via processing circuitry  68  and/or signaling unit  32 , the HARQ ACK. 
     The wireless device  22 , upon receiving wireless device  22  CRI MAC CE, the wireless device  22  MAC stops contention resolution timer and starts to follow the previously configured DRX configurations (Block S 268 ). The wireless device  22  communicates (Block S 270 ), via processing circuitry  84  and/or DRX unit  34 , the wireless device  22  CRI MAC CE from layer 1 to layer 3 at the wireless device  22 . Network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX active. 
     If L1 DL transmission contains/includes wireless device  22  CRI MAC CE that is not successfully decoded, network node  16  and wireless device  22  are synced on DRX state: DRX inactive since the contention resolution timer is still running. 
     Therefore, the one or more methods described herein advantageously provide accurate alignment of DRX states/statuses between the network node  16  and wireless device  22 . 
     As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, and/or computer program product. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices. 
     Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.