Patent Description:
Future wireless communications networks will be expected to support communications routinely and efficiently with a wider range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than current 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 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.

Another example of such a new service is referred to as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services which, as its name suggests, requires that a data unit or packet be communicated with a high reliability and with a low communications delay. URLLC type services therefore represent a challenging example for both LTE type communications systems and <NUM>/NR communications systems.

The increasing use of different types of communications devices associated with different traffic profiles gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless telecommunications systems that need to be addressed.

<CIT> describes scheduling of multiple types of uplink grants for a single user equipment to support different types of service with different traffic patterns and quality of service (QoS) requirements. In some aspects of the disclosure, the user equipment may be configured with uplink grants for different types of semi-persistent scheduling, along with a dynamic uplink grant. In some examples, the different types of semi-persistent scheduling may include dedicated semi-persistent scheduling and contention-based semi-persistent scheduling.

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will bereadily 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:.

The network <NUM> includes a plurality of base stations <NUM> connected to a core network part <NUM>. Each base station provides a coverage area <NUM> (e.g. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices <NUM>, and within which a communications device may obtain service. Data is transmitted from the base stations <NUM> to the communications devices <NUM> within their respective coverage areas <NUM> via a radio downlink. Data is transmitted from the communications devices <NUM> to the base stations <NUM> via a radio uplink. The core network part <NUM> routes data to and from the communications devices <NUM> via the respective base stations <NUM> 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 terminals, mobile radios, terminal devices, and so forth. Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment / network access nodes, may also be referred to as transceiver stations / nodeBs / e-nodeBs, g-nodeBs 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, example 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.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a network architecture for a new RAT wireless communications network / system <NUM> based on previously proposed approaches which may also be adapted to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure described herein. The new RAT network <NUM> represented in <FIG> comprises a first communication cell <NUM> and a second communication cell <NUM>. Each communication cell <NUM>, <NUM>, comprises a controlling node (centralised unit) <NUM>, <NUM> in communication with a core network component <NUM> over a respective wired or wireless link <NUM>, <NUM>. The respective controlling nodes <NUM>, <NUM> are also each in communication with a plurality of distributed units (radio access nodes / remote transmission and reception points (TRPs)) <NUM>, <NUM> in their respective cells. Again, these communications may be over respective wired or wireless links. The distributed units <NUM>, <NUM> are responsible for providing the radio access interface for communications devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit <NUM>, <NUM> has a coverage area (radio access footprint) <NUM>, <NUM> which together define the coverage of the respective communication cells <NUM>, <NUM>. Each distributed unit <NUM>, <NUM> includes transceiver circuitry for transmission and reception of wireless signals and processor circuitry configured to control the respective distributed units <NUM>, <NUM>.

A communications device <NUM> is represented in <FIG> within the coverage area of the first communication cell <NUM>. This communications device <NUM> may thus exchange signalling with the first controlling node <NUM> in the first communication cell via one of the distributed units <NUM> associated with the first communication cell <NUM>. In some cases communications for a given communications device are routed through only one of the distributed units, but it will be appreciated in some other implementations communications associated with a given communications device may be routed through more than one distributed unit, for example in a data duplication scenario and other scenarios.

The particular distributed unit(s) through which a communications device is currently connected through to the associated controlling node may be referred to as active distributed units for the communications device. Thus the active subset of distributed units for a communications device may comprise one or more than one distributed unit (TRP). The controlling node <NUM> is responsible for determining which of the distributed units <NUM> spanning the first communication cell <NUM> is responsible for radio communications with the communications device <NUM> at any given time (i.e. which of the distributed units are currently active distributed units for the communications device). Typically this will be based on measurements of radio channel conditions between the communications device <NUM> and respective ones of the distributed units <NUM>. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the subset of the distributed units in a cell which are currently active for a communications device will depend, at least in part, on the location of the communications device within the cell (since this contributes significantly to the radio channel conditions that exist between the communications device and respective ones of the distributed units).

In at least some implementations the involvement of the distributed units in routing communications from the communications device to a controlling node (controlling unit) is transparent to the communications device <NUM>. That is to say, in some cases the communications device may not be aware of which distributed unit is responsible for routing communications between the communications device <NUM> and the controlling node <NUM> of the communication cell <NUM> in which the communications device is currently operating, or even if any distributed units <NUM> are connected to the controlling node <NUM> and involved in the routing of communications at all. In such cases, as far as the communications device is concerned, it simply transmits uplink data to the controlling node <NUM> and receives downlink data from the controlling node <NUM> and the communications device has no awareness of the involvement of the distributed units <NUM>, though may be aware of radio configurations transmitted by distributed units <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, a communications device may be aware of which distributed unit(s) are involved in its communications. Switching and scheduling of the one or more distributed units may be done at the network controlling node based on measurements by the distributed units of the communications device uplink signal or measurements taken by the communications device and reported to the controlling node via one or more distributed units.

Thus example embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless communications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, example embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / 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 / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station <NUM> as shown in <FIG> which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a control unit / controlling node <NUM>, <NUM> and / or a TRP <NUM>, <NUM> of the kind shown in <FIG> which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

The embodiments of the present invention can find application with advanced wireless communications systems such as those referred to as <NUM> or New Radio (NR) Access Technology.

The elements of the wireless access network shown in <FIG> may be equally applied to a <NUM> new RAT configuration, except that a change in terminology may be applied as mentioned above.

<FIG> schematically shows a telecommunications system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The telecommunications system <NUM> in this example is based broadly around an LTE-type architecture. As such many aspects of the operation of the telecommunications system / network <NUM> are known and understood and are not described here in detail in the interest of brevity. Operational aspects of the telecommunications system <NUM> which are not specifically described herein may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the current LTE-standards.

The telecommunications system <NUM> comprises a core network part <NUM> coupled to a radio network part. The radio network part comprises the infrastructure equipment (which may be an evolved-nodeB) <NUM> coupled, via a wireless access interface illustrated generally by arrow <NUM>, to a communications device <NUM>, which may also be referred to as a terminal device. It will of course be appreciated that in practice the radio network part may comprise a plurality of base stations serving a larger number of communications devices across various communication cells. However, only a single infrastructure equipment and single communications device are shown in <FIG> in the interests of simplicity.

As noted above, the operation of the various elements of the communications system <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be broadly conventional apart from where modified to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure as discussed herein.

The infrastructure equipment <NUM> is connected to the core network <NUM> via an interface <NUM> to a controller <NUM>. The infrastructure equipment <NUM> includes a receiver <NUM> connected to an antenna <NUM> and a transmitter <NUM> connected to the antenna <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> and the transmitter <NUM> are both connected to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the infrastructure equipment <NUM> and may comprise processor circuitry which may in turn comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as explained further herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as appropriately configured functions of the processor circuitry. Thus the controller <NUM> may comprise circuitry which is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. The transmitter <NUM>, receiver <NUM> and controller <NUM> are schematically shown in <FIG> 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) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment <NUM> will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

Correspondingly, the communications device <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> connected to a receiver <NUM> which receives signals from an antenna <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is also connected to a transmitter <NUM> which is also connected to the antenna <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the communications device <NUM> and may comprise processor circuitry which may in turn comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as explained further herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as appropriately configured functions of the processor circuitry. Thus the controller <NUM> may comprise circuitry which is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. The transmitter <NUM>, receiver <NUM> and controller <NUM> are schematically shown in <FIG> 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) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the communications device <NUM> will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality, for example a power source, user interface, and so forth, but these are not shown in <FIG> in the interests of simplicity.

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 <NUM> Gb/s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable & Low Latency Communications (URLLC) [<NUM>] services are for a reliability of <NUM> - <NUM>-<NUM> (<NUM> %) or higher for one transmission of a <NUM> byte packet with a user plane latency of <NUM> [<NUM>]. In some scenarios, there may be a requirement for a reliability of <NUM> - <NUM>-<NUM> (<NUM> %) or higher. Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) is another example of a service which may be supported by NR-based communications networks.

In addition, systems may be expected to support further enhancements related to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in order to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-accuracy positioning.

Industrial automation, energy power distribution and intelligent transport systems are examples of new use cases for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In an example of industrial automation, the system may involve different distributed components working together. These components may include sensors, virtualized hardware controllers and autonomous robots, which may be capable of initiating actions or reacting to critical events occurring within a factory and communicating over a local area network. The local area network may handle messages which are time sensitive and have strict time deadlines, and may thus be referred to as a time sensitive network (TSN). Some parts of this TSN network can be interconnected by <NUM> wireless system (5GS). The UEs/equipment in a TSN network may be expected to handle a mixture of the following different traffic [<NUM>]:.

Details of possible use cases and scenarios may be found in [<NUM>].

The UEs/equipment in the network may therefore be expected to handle a mixture of different traffic, for example, associated with different applications and potentially different quality of service requirements (such as maximum latency, reliability, packet sizes, throughput).

In order to permit a communications device to transmit data associated with multiple traffic classes in a timely manner, multiple configured grants/semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants may be required in order to provide more flexibility while avoiding excessive dynamic downlink control signalling.

It has been suggested [<NUM>] that multiple active configured grants allocating resources in a given bandwidth part (BWP) of a serving cell can be supported simultaneously at least for different services/traffic types and/or for enhancing reliability and reducing latency.

The inventors have appreciated that such allocations may result in difficulties for communications devices in preparing and transmitting transport blocks for transmission using resources thus allocated, taking into account different traffic priorities, latency and reliability requirements.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for transmitting data by a communications device, the method comprising determining that a plurality of communications resources overlap, the communications resources being configured for the transmission of data by the communications device, in response to determining that the plurality of communications resources overlap, selecting communications resources comprising at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of communications resources, selecting data to be transmitted using the selected communications resources, and transmitting the selected data using the selected communications resources.

As a result, the communications device may efficiently transmit high priority data making using of communications resources allocated by the wireless communications network.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an arrangement of protocol layer entities within the communications device <NUM> and the infrastructure equipment <NUM> which may be configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technique.

In the example of <FIG>, protocol entities <NUM> and <NUM> are corresponding protocol entities at the same protocol layer, in the communications device <NUM> and the infrastructure equipment <NUM> respectively. With respect to the protocol entity <NUM>, the data <NUM> which is received from a higher layer protocol entity (not shown) at the protocol entity <NUM> in the communications device <NUM> for transmission may be considered as user plane data. The protocol entity <NUM> may process the user plane data <NUM> in some manner (e.g. by segmentation, encoding, forming into protocol data units, associating with sequence numbers, etc.) before passing it to lower layers for transmission.

In contrast, control plane data <NUM> is generated by the protocol entity <NUM> in the communications device <NUM> for transmission to the peer protocol entity <NUM> of the infrastructure equipment. The protocol entity <NUM> may process the control plane data in a manner similar to that used for user plane data, before either passing it to lower layers for any further processing and transmission.

<FIG> shows physical layer (PHY) protocol entities <NUM>, <NUM> in the communications device <NUM> and infrastructure equipment <NUM> respectively. The PHY protocol entities <NUM>, <NUM> may be at the lowest level of the protocol hierarchy and may generate signals representing the data for transmission on the wireless access interface <NUM> and may decode signals representing the data received on the wireless access interface <NUM>. The signals representing the data may be transmitted and received via one or more antennae <NUM>, <NUM>.

At the communications device <NUM>, both the control plane data <NUM> and the user plane data <NUM> are passed to the lower layers, and ultimately to physical layer (PHY) protocol entities <NUM>, <NUM>. The control plane data <NUM> and the user plane data <NUM> are passed to the lower layers by the protocol entity <NUM> as indicated by the single arrow <NUM>.

At the infrastructure equipment <NUM>, the protocol entity <NUM> which is the peer entity of the protocol entity <NUM> receives the control plane data <NUM> and the user plane data <NUM> from a protocol entity at a lower layer. Both may be passed by the PHY protocol entity <NUM> to higher layers and ultimately to the peer protocol entity <NUM>.

At the peer protocol entity <NUM>, it is determined that the control plane data <NUM> is destined for the protocol entity <NUM>, and is therefore processed in accordance with the protocol rules by which the protocol entities <NUM> and <NUM> operate, without being passed to higher layer protocol entities, as indicated by the arrow <NUM>. The user plane data <NUM> is determined to be destined for a higher layer protocol entity, and is therefore processed in accordance with the protocol rules by which the protocol entities <NUM> and <NUM> operate in respect of user plane data; for example, this may involve performing decoding, reassembly, and/or generating acknowledgement information, before being passed to higher layer protocol entities, as indicated by the arrow <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the protocol entity <NUM> which is the peer of the protocol entity <NUM> of the communications device <NUM> is shown as being within the infrastructure equipment <NUM>. However, as described above, some protocol layers may be terminated (that is, have the peer entity corresponding to the protocol entity of the communications device <NUM>) at other equipment within, or outside of, the wireless communications network.

Data may be transmitted by the communications device <NUM> using uplink communications resources using a medium access control (MAC) transport block (TB). Each MAC TB is constructed at a MAC protocol layer (which may be the protocol entity <NUM> of <FIG>) in response to determining that uplink communications resources are, or will be, scheduled for the communications device and that data is available for uplink transmission.

Once the MAC TB is constructed, it may be passed from the MAC protocol layer to the PHY protocol entity (such as the PHY protocol entity <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>) for transmission on the wireless access interface to the infrastructure equipment <NUM>.

In order to satisfy latency requirements for certain data, there may be corresponding requirements on the communications device <NUM> to be able to form, ready for transmission, a MAC TB containing the data within a certain duration (e.g. TB_Form_DelayMAX) starting from when the data is made available. In other words, there may be a requirement that the communications device <NUM> shall be ready to start transmitting the transport block comprising the data, provided that data was available at the MAC protocol layer for encoding no later than TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the start of the transmission time.

TB_Form_DelayMAX may be referred to as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) preparation time N<NUM> and may be expressed in terms of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. For example, values of TB_Form_DelayMAX (N<NUM>) are specified for NR in 3GPP TS <NUM> [<NUM>], section <NUM>.

Data for inclusion within a MAC TB may be associated with one or more logical channels, each of which may be associated with quality of service requirements. Each of the one or more logical channels may be associated with a logical channel priority.

In some embodiments, where a MAC TB is formed and data from multiple logical channels is available for transmission, data associated with a logical channel having a higher associated logical channel priority may be included in precedence to data associated with a logical channel having a lower associated logical channel priority.

In a conventional uplink transmission, when data arrives from upper protocol layers at a buffer at the medium access control (MAC) protocol layer of the communications device, the communications device may transmit, in response, a Scheduling Request (SR) to the network if the communications device has no uplink transmission/resources scheduled. The communications device may transmit a buffer status report (BSR), indicating an amount of data in the MAC layer buffer(s). In response to receiving the SR or BSR, the network (for example, the infrastructure equipment <NUM>) may send an Uplink Grant carried by downlink control information (DCI) to the communications device <NUM>. The DCI may be transmitted on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

The Uplink Grant may comprise an indication of uplink communications resources which are allocated (or, in other words, scheduled) for the communications device to transmit its uplink data. The uplink communications resources may be on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). A resource allocation of this type, where resources are allocated on an ad-hoc, one-off basis, may be known as a grant based resource or 'dynamic grant' (DG). Grant based resources are suitable for services where the data arrives in variable amounts, and/or is aperiodic, even if the data traffic arrival follows a somewhat predictable traffic pattern. DGs may be signalled at the MAC layer.

On the other hand, grant free resources are a set of periodically repeating uplink communications resources which are semi-statically configured by the network for the use of the communications device for uplink transmission. Such resources may also be referred to as a 'configured grant' (CG). Grant free resource allocation (which may also be referred to as 'semi-persistent scheduling' (SPS)) is particularly suitable for services that generate periodic data traffic, where the amount generated is broadly constant over time. CGs may be signalled at a radio resource control (RRC) layer.

Grant free resources can improve the efficiency with which communications resources are used, since there is no need for either a SR or uplink grant to be transmitted in respect of each uplink data transmission.

Communications resources may thus be configured for a communications device in accordance with quality of service requirements associated with particular services. Where a single communications device generates data for transmission which comprises data associated with different quality of service requirements, for example because it is associated with different services, the communications device may be configured with multiple resource grants. These multiple resource grants may comprise zero, one or more dynamic grants, and zero, one or more configured grants.

Allocated communications resources may be those which are selected for the transmission of data by the communications device. In the case of a dynamic grant, the communications resources indicated by the dynamic grant are allocated for the communications device, either implicitly or explicitly. In the case of configured grants, the communications device may select (i.e. allocate) one or more instances of the communications resources corresponding to the configured grant for a transmission by the communications device.

A communications device may thus have multiple active grants. Communications resources configured by these grants may in some instances coincide, for example in the time domain, the frequency domain, or both.

A resource allocation (whether by means of a dynamic grant or a configured grant) may be associated with modulation and coding scheme (MCS) parameters. The MCS parameters may be selected by the infrastructure equipment <NUM> in order to satisfy one or more of reliability, data throughput and latency requirements associated with the data to be transmitted using the resource allocation.

As will be appreciated, in general, the selection of MCS parameters represents a trade-off between, on the one hand, higher throughput and lower latency, and on the other, greater reliability (i.e. higher probability of the receiver of the data decoding the received data without errors).

An example of how communications resources associated with multiple configured grants can be configured for the same communications device is shown in <FIG>.

In the example of <FIG>, the communications device <NUM> is configured with communications resources on an uplink portion <NUM> of a wireless access interface by means of four separate configured grants, labelled CG1-CG4. As shown in <FIG>, the uplink resources of the wireless access interface are divided in time into a series of timeslots 604a, 604b, etc. Each timeslot comprises <NUM> OFDM symbol periods <NUM>.

In the frequency domain, uplink resources of the wireless access interface are divided into physical resource blocks (PRBs) 606a, 606b, etc., and are numbered in this example from <NUM> to <NUM>.

CG1 comprises a grant of resources using PRBs <NUM> and <NUM> during the first <NUM> OFDM symbols in each <NUM> timeslot. CG2 comprises a grant of resources during all of the OFDM symbols on PRBs <NUM> and <NUM> in alternate timeslots. During the timeslots in which CG2 allocates no resources, CG3 and CG4 comprise resources on PRBs <NUM> and <NUM>, and <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, on all OFDM symbols.

The resources allocated by CG1-CG4 have periodicities of, respectively, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

As shown in the expanded view of the timeslot 604c in <FIG>, conflicts between resources associated with different CGs may arise. That is, communications resources associated with one CG may overlap in time, frequency or both with resources associated with a different CG.

In the timeslot 604c illustrated in <FIG>, first communications resources <NUM> associated with CG1 conflict with second communications resources <NUM> associated with CG3 and third communications resources <NUM> associated with CG4.

In the example of <FIG>, the conflicting communications resources are all configured by CGs. However, in some embodiments, conflicts may arise between resources configured by a CG and a DG, or between resources configured (and thus allocated) by two DGs. In some embodiments of the present technique, the communications resources may be configured and allocated by any suitable means.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, conflicts may be identified and/or resolved with respect to configured communications resources, irrespective of whether those communications resources are allocated for transmission by the communications device. In some such embodiments, once the conflict has been resolved in accordance with the processes disclosed herein, the selected communications resources may be subsequently allocated (if not already allocated, for example by means of a dynamic grant) for data transmission by the communications device.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, conflicts are identified and resolved with respect to communications resources allocated for transmission by the communications device. As described above, communications resources may be allocated by the infrastructure equipment <NUM> by means of a dynamic grant, or may be allocated by the communications device <NUM> from communications resources configured by a configured grant.

The following description refers generally to allocated communications resources, however as indicated above, in some embodiments the same processes and principles may be applied to configured resources, irrespective of whether they have been allocated. In some embodiments, for example where some of the relevant communications resources may be configured by means of configured grants and others by dynamic grants (which are therefore implicitly allocated), some communications resources may be configured but not allocated and some may be both configured and allocated.

Where allocated communications resources overlap in at least the time domain, the communications device <NUM> may be required to have ready for transmission a transport block for each of the corresponding communications resources. For example, at the beginning of the timeslot 604c shown in an expanded view in <FIG>, it may be required that the communications device <NUM> has formed (or is capable of forming) three transport blocks ready for transmission on, respectively, first communications resources <NUM>, second communications resources <NUM>, and third communications resources <NUM>.

In addition or alternatively, the communications device <NUM> may be required, as a result of the conflicting allocated communications resources, to be able to transmit on multiple frequency resources simultaneously, where those frequency resources may or may not be contiguous. In the example of the timeslot 604c shown in <FIG>, during the first <NUM> OFDM symbols of the timeslot, the communications device <NUM> is required to transmit on PRBs <NUM> to <NUM> and PRBs <NUM> and <NUM> simultaneously.

Such requirements may be challenging, if not impossible, for the communications device <NUM>. for example, the communication device <NUM> may not be capable of transmitting at an appropriate power for all three MAC TBs simultaneously. This may be because the communications device <NUM> lacks sufficient power headroom for the required transmissions. In addition or alternatively, it may not be possible to meet timing requirements described above associated with the formation of transport blocks, if these requirements are to be satisfied in respect of each of multiple transport blocks having a same (or even closely separated) transmission start time. For example, where the time periods having duration TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the respective start of two or more transmissions overlap, a communications device may not be able to form all of the transport blocks while satisfying the TB_Form_DelayMAX constraint in respect of all of the blocks.

Embodiments of the present technique may provide solutions to address the above problem.

In general in the following description a conflict may be characterised as being in respect of two resource allocations or grants, each allocating communications resources which are conflicting. However, it will be apparent that the scope of the present disclosure is not so limited, and may apply to conflicts arising from three or more resource allocations, as in the example of <FIG>.

In some embodiments, such conflicts may be resolved jointly; that is, consideration of each of the conflicting communications resources, corresponding data and/or MCS parameters may be made substantially in parallel, and references in the following description to "two conflicting communications resources' (or similar) may be understood as referring to "all conflicting communications resources'.

In some embodiments, conflicts may be resolved by resolving a pairs of conflicting communications resources and by repeatedly carrying out the following processes in respect of each pair of conflicting communications resources. The result of such a resolution may form an input as a single communications resource to a subsequent iteration of the process.

References to "data corresponding to communications resources' and the like may refer to data which would have been selected for transmission using those communications resources in the absence of any conflict. In particular, the data may be associated with quality of service requirements which may be satisfied by transmitting using those communications resources. In particular, where the communications resources are allocated by means of a configured grant, the grant may provide resources which are intended to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the 'corresponding data'. As such, the grant (and the resulting communications resources) and the corresponding data may all be associated with a particular service or application.

<FIG> illustrates a flow chart for a process for transmitting data by the communications device <NUM> according to embodiments of the present technique.

The process starts at step <NUM> in which the communications device identifies two or more resource allocations, each comprising communications resources allocated on the wireless access interface for the transmission of data by the communications device <NUM>. Each of these resource allocations may be allocated by means of a dynamic grant or a configured grant.

The identified resource allocations may be identified based on one or more particular time slot(s) during which the corresponding communications resources are allocated. The one or more particular time slot(s) may begin approximately TB_Form_DelayMAX or more from when the process is carried out.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines whether it has data for transmission via two or more of the plurality of resource allocations identified in step <NUM>. The data for transmission may be received from one or more applications, or from one or more protocol entities.

The process continues with step <NUM>, in which the communications device <NUM> determines whether a conflict exists in respect of the plurality of resource allocations. Examples of the evaluation which may be carried out at this step are described below.

If no conflict is determined to exist in respect of the plurality of resource allocations, control passes to step <NUM>, and the communications device <NUM> transmits some or all of the available data for transmission using one or more of the corresponding resource allocations.

For example, the communications device may transmit data associated with a particular quality of service requirement using one or more resource allocations provided for the purpose of satisfying that quality of service requirement.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, a MAC transport block may be formed for each resource allocation in which data is to be transmitted.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, data is transmitted using a resource allocation in accordance with modulation and coding scheme (MCS) parameters associated with the resource allocation.

If, at step <NUM>, a conflict is determined to have exist in respect of two or more identified resource allocations, then control passes to step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> selects communications resources to be used to transmit data and, optionally, selects the data to transmitted. In some embodiments, the selected communications resources are all or a subset of those resource allocations identified at step <NUM>. In some embodiments, the selected communications resources may comprise communications resources which are not associated with (i.e. allocated by) the resource allocations identified at step <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> may further select MCS parameters for each MAC transport block to be transmitted using the selected resources. Further details of steps which may be carried out by the communications device <NUM> during step <NUM> and/or step <NUM> are described below in respect of <FIG>.

At step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> may form one or more MAC transport blocks based on the selected data, for transmission using the selected communications resources. The MAC transport block(s) may be formed in accordance with the selected MCS parameters.

At step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> transmits the data selected at step <NUM> using the communications resources selected at step <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> may additionally transmit control information to the infrastructure equipment <NUM> to indicate one or more of the selected data, the selected communications resources and the selected MCS parameters. Some or all of the control information may be encoded within a MAC transport block.

The process illustrated in <FIG> may repeat periodically (for example, every timeslot).

In some embodiments, one or more of the steps shown in <FIG> may be omitted and/or the steps may be performed in a different order. For example, in some embodiments, step <NUM> may be carried out irrespective of any identification of available data; as such, step <NUM> may be omitted or carried out in parallel with, or after, step <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one or more of the steps may be performed separated in time. For example, where a conflict is identified based on configured grants, the identification of the conflict at step <NUM> and the determination as to whether configured resources conflict at step <NUM> may be performed prior to the determination of available data at step <NUM>. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the selection of communications resources in step <NUM> may be carried out prior to the selection of data for transmission in step <NUM>. In particular, in some embodiments, steps <NUM>, <NUM> and part ii) (selection of communications resources) of step <NUM> may be carried out prior to data being available for transmission.

As described above, in step <NUM> the communications device <NUM> determines whether a conflict exists in respect of two or more identified resource allocations, as will now be described in further detail.

According to some embodiments of the present technique, the communications device <NUM> determines that two or more resource allocations may result in a conflict if it is not possible for the communications device <NUM> to form and/or to transmit respective transport blocks for transmission using all of the two or more resource allocations.

In some embodiments, a conflict is found to exist if the communications resources associated with the resource allocations overlap in time, for example because the communications device <NUM> can only transmit one transport block at a time, due to the capabilities of the communications device <NUM> and/or constraints imposed by specifications or other requirements and/or for any other reasons. For example, in the timeslot 604c shown in expanded form in <FIG>, the resources <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> allocated by CG1, CG3 and CG4 within the timeslot 604c result in a conflict. As such, the communications device <NUM> determines there to be a conflict in respect of the corresponding resource allocations.

In some embodiments, a conflict may be determined to exist based on processing time requirements for forming transport blocks, such that a maximum permitted time requirement between receiving data and being ready to begin transmission of a corresponding transport block using a respective allocation cannot be satisfied in respect of one or more of the allocations.

<FIG> shows an example timeslot <NUM> in which communications resources <NUM> and <NUM> are allocated for the transmission of data by the communications device <NUM>. The communications resources <NUM>, <NUM> do not overlap in time. Periods corresponding to the respective durations of TB_Form_DelayMAX immediately preceding the communications resources <NUM>, <NUM> are shown by arrows <NUM>, <NUM> respectively.

In a worst case scenario the data is made available at the last possible instant. In such a scenario, the time periods <NUM>, <NUM> within which the communications device <NUM> may be required to form two transport blocks for transmission using the communications resources <NUM>, <NUM> do overlap.

In such a scenario, the communications device <NUM> may therefore determine that a conflict exists in respect of the communications resources <NUM> and <NUM>, even though the communications resources themselves do not overlap in time. This may be because, for example, the processing capabilities of the communications device <NUM> are insufficient for it to be able to form a MAC TB in less time than TB_Form_DelayMAX, and/or to form multiple MAC TBs in parallel, as would be required in the scenario illustrated in <FIG>.

TB_Form_DelayMAX may be the same for all resources (and therefore for all MAC TBs); however, in some embodiments (and as illustrated in <FIG>), TB_Form_DelayMAX may differ. In such embodiments, the determination as to whether an overlap of processing time will occur may first require a determination of the TB_Form_DelayMAX delay applicable to each MAC TB to be transmitted using the potentially conflicting communications resources.

Additionally or alternatively, a conflict may be determined to exist if transmitting using all of the resources of the two or more resource allocations is not possible. For example, where two resource allocations overlap in time and use discontinuous frequency domain resources, it may not be possible for the communications device <NUM> to transmit using both resource allocations, because of a constraint associated with a maximum peak to average power ratio (PAPR) for the communications device <NUM> or there is not sufficient power to transmit more than one TB at the required power level.

For example, in the timeslot 604c illustrated in expanded form in <FIG>, resources on PRBs <NUM> and <NUM> separate, in the frequency domain, the PRBs used for the resources allocated by CG1 and by CG3/CG4 during the overlap in the time domain. The communications device <NUM> is thus not permitted to transmit using the PRBs <NUM> and <NUM>. The communications device <NUM> may therefore not be able to transmit using both the resources allocated by CG1 and the resources allocated by either (or both) of CG3 and CG4.

In some embodiments, the determination as to whether a conflict exists may take into account the outcome at step <NUM> of the process illustrated in <FIG>. For example, where, at the time TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the start of allocated communications resources, no data is available which is suitable for transmission using those resources, those resources may be disregarded in the evaluation of step <NUM>. In other words, the evaluation at step <NUM> may consider only a resource allocation if data is available for transmission and, assuming the absence of any other resource allocations, would be transmitted using that resource allocation.

According to some embodiments of the present technique, in response to determining in step <NUM> that a conflict exists in respect of communications resources, the communications device <NUM> selects in step <NUM> communications resources to be used for transmission from at least a portion of the communications resources in respect of which the conflict is detected.

The communications device <NUM> may select in step <NUM> data to be transmitted using the selected communications resources, and/or may select MCS parameters to be used for the transmission of the selected data using the selected communications resources.

Details of the selection of communications resources, data to be transmitted, and MCS parameters in accordance with some embodiments of the present technique will now be described in more detail.

In some embodiments, the actions of the communications device <NUM> in step <NUM> may depend on the nature of the conflict(s) identified.

In some embodiments, as part of step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines one or more of the periodicity of the communications resources allocated by the respective resource allocations and/or the duration of a single instance of the communications resources allocated by the respective resource allocations.

<FIG> shows a flow chart for a process in accordance with embodiments of the present technique, which may correspond to some or all of the steps carried out at step <NUM> and/or step <NUM> of the process illustrated in <FIG>.

The process starts at step <NUM>, in which the communications device <NUM> determines whether, in spite of the identified conflict, it is possible to transmit separate MAC TBs using the conflicting communications resources.

This determination may be made based on one or more of the possibility to create the respective MAC TBs and the possibility to transmit using the physical resources allocated.

For example, if the data to be transmitted in one or both of the MAC TBs has been available sufficiently early (for example prior to <NUM> x TB_Form_DelayMAX ) prior to the start of the respective allocated communications resources, and the conflicting communications resources are contiguous in frequency, then the communications device <NUM> may determine that it is possible to transmit separate MAC TBs using each of the conflicting communications resources.

In some embodiments, it may not be possible to transmit using the conflicting communications resources while satisfying relevant PAPR requirements. As described above, this may be, for example, because the communications resources overlap in time and are not contiguous in frequency.

In some embodiments, a portion or all of one of the conflicting communications resources may overlap entirely with a portion or all of another of the conflicting communications resources. For example, a portion of one of the conflicting communications resources may be a subset of the other of the conflicting communications resources. Such an overlap may exist for example where one of the communications resources is allocated by means of a grant free allocation, and the other by means of a grant based allocation. In such a scenario, the communications device <NUM> may determine that it is not possible to transmit using both of the conflicting communications resources.

In some embodiments, it may be possible to transmit the two MAC TBs using different multiple input multiple output (MIMO) layers, in which case the communications device <NUM> may determine that it is possible to transmit separate MAC TBs using each of the conflicting communications resources.

If the result of the determination at step <NUM> is positive, then control passes to step <NUM>, in which each of the conflicting communications resources are selected to be used for transmission of respective MAC TBs, independently of each other. In some embodiments, the communications resources may comprise different spatial MIMO layers to be used for the transmission of the respective MAC TBs.

The MAC TBs may be formed from data corresponding to the respective grant, e.g. based on a quality of service provided by the respective grant, and the quality of service associated with the data.

In step <NUM>, the MCS parameters selected for each of the MAC TBs may be that applicable (e.g. as configured by the wireless communications network) to each corresponding grant.

If the result of the determination at step <NUM> is negative, then control passes to step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines the periodicity of the communications resources allocated by the respective resource allocations. The periodicity may be defined as the duration from the start time of an instance of communications resources allocated by a resource allocation to the start time of the next instance of communications resources allocated by the same resource allocation.

The communications device <NUM> may determine if the periodicity of both of the conflicted communications resources exceeds or is equal to a predetermined duration. In some embodiments, the predetermined duration is one timeslot (e.g. <NUM> millisecond). In some embodiments the predetermined duration corresponds to a maximum scheduling time unit in accordance with the operation of the wireless access interface.

If the communications device <NUM> determines that the periodicity of both of the conflicted communications resources is equal to or exceeds the predetermined duration, then control passes to step <NUM>.

One or more of the conflicting communications resources may be non-periodic, for example because they are the result of one or more corresponding grant-based allocations. Control may pass to step <NUM> if all (if any) of the conflicting communications resources which are periodic are determined to have a periodicity which is greater than or equal to the predetermined duration, and control may pass to step <NUM> if the periodicity of any of the conflicted communications resources which are periodic does not exceed the predetermined duration.

If the communications device <NUM> determines in step <NUM> that the periodicity of one or both of the conflicted communications resources does not exceed the predetermined duration, then control passes to step <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines whether the starting times of the respective communications resources are aligned.

As described above, TB_Form_DelayMAX may be different for the communications resources. This may be because, for example, one is associated with a grant free resource allocation and another is associated with a grant based allocation. In such embodiments, at step <NUM> the communications device <NUM> additionally or alternatively determines whether the start of the respective time periods starting TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the start of the respective communications resources are aligned.

If the communications device <NUM> determines that the applicable starting times are aligned, then control passes to step <NUM>; otherwise, control passes to step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines whether the end times of the respective communications resources are aligned.

If the end times are not aligned, then merging the communications resources for the transmission of a single MAC TB comprising the data which would otherwise have been sent on both of the communications resources may result in an unacceptable transmission delay for some of the data (specifically, that data which would otherwise have been transmitted using the communication resources which end first). Therefore it may be preferable not to merge communications resources (as is described below in the context of step <NUM>) in such scenarios.

If, in step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines that the end times of the respective communications resources are aligned, then control passes to step <NUM>. Otherwise, control passes to step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> determines whether it is possible to transmit a single MAC TB using both conflicting communications resources. This is different from the assessment in step <NUM>, in which the assessment relates to the possibility of transmitting using separate MAC TBs, however, some of the same factors may be relevant.

In particular, for example, where two resource allocations overlap in time and use discontinuous frequency domain resources, it may not be possible for the communications device <NUM> to transmit using both resource allocations, because of a constraint associated with a maximum peak to average power ratio (PAPR) for the communications device <NUM>.

Similarly, if a portion or all of one of the conflicting communications resources overlaps entirely with a portion or all of another of the conflicting communications resources, then the communications device <NUM> may determine that it is not possible to transmit using both resource allocations.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, if a portion or all of one of the conflicting communications resources overlaps entirely with a portion or all of another of the conflicting communications resources, then the communications device may nevertheless determine that the combined resources may be used for transmission.

Broadly, the determination in step <NUM> may in some embodiments depend on the capabilities of the physical layer of the communications device <NUM>, and in particular its transmit functionality (including antennas, amplifiers and so on).

If it determined that it is possible for the communications device <NUM> to transmit a single MAC TB using both conflicting communications resources then control passes to step <NUM>. Otherwise, control passes to step 918a or, in some embodiments, step 918b.

In step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> sets, as the selected communications resources, the union of communications resources associated with the two or more conflicting resource allocations and a single MAC TB may be formed for the transmission of data using the combined resources. For example, in the scenario illustrated in <FIG>, communications resources allocated by CG3 and CG4 may be merged to form consolidated communications resources for the transmission of a single MAC TB.

In some embodiments, the communications device <NUM> may set, as the selected communications resources, the communications resources associated with the larger of the two or more conflicting resource allocations and a single MAC TB may be formed for the transmission of data using the selected resources. In some embodiments, this may be done if the conflicting communications resources comprise at least one allocated by means of a dynamic grant.

In some embodiments, the data selected to be transmitted using the combined resources may be all of the data which would have been sent using each of the conflicting communications resources, were there no conflict. In order to accommodate all of this data, the MCS parameters may be set accordingly. For example, the selected MCS parameters may be the MCS parameters selected from a predetermined set (e.g. according to a standard) providing the greatest transmission and reception reliability while permitting all of the selected data to be encoding within, and transmitted using, the single MAC TB, using the selected communications resources.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, the selected MCS parameters may be set based on the MCS parameters applicable to the respective resource allocations. For example, the selected MCS parameters may be those of the MCS parameters associated with the conflicting communications resources which provide the greatest reliability. In some embodiments, a set of MCS parameters may be associated with an index to a table of MCS parameters, where MCS parameters associated with a higher MCS index permit more uncoded data to be transmitted within a given amount of communications resources, but at a relatively low reliability, and vice versa. In some embodiments, each of the conflicting communications resources are associated with an MCS index, and the selected MCS parameters are those associated with the lowest of these MCS indices.

In some embodiments, the selected data is selected from all of the data available for transmission at the start of the period beginning TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the start of the merged communications resources. In such embodiments, the data may be selected according to a highest priority first (HPF) scheduling algorithm. In some embodiments, data having a particularly high priority (e.g. having the most stringent latency and reliability requirements, such as may be applicable for the transmission of a system critical alarm indication) may be selected, and no other data may be selected, in order to ensure that the selected data can be transmitted in accordance with its latency and reliability requirements. In some embodiments, the data may be selected in accordance with a highest priority first algorithm with reference to the logical channel priority associated with the logical channel(s) of the available data. Thus, in some embodiments, where the data selected to be transmitted using the combined resources is less than the data which would have been sent using each of the conflicting communications resources in the absence of a conflict, data may be selected for inclusion in the MAC TB by selecting data from, in order, the logical channel(s) having the highest logical channel priority, until the amount of data that can be included in the MAC TB has been selected.

In some embodiments, only data associated with a highest logical channel priority (of the logical channel priorities associated with all available data) is selected for inclusion in the MAC TB.

An example of the result of step <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. In <FIG>, within a timeslot <NUM>, first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM> are determined to be conflicting, because they overlap in time.

As a result of performing step <NUM>, the communications device <NUM> selects as the communications resources the combined communications resources <NUM>, which comprises both the first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM>.

The communications device <NUM> may further select, in step <NUM>, the data to be transmitted using the selected communications resources <NUM> as the data corresponding to both the first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM>.

The communications device may <NUM> further select, in step <NUM>, the MCS parameters for the transmission of the selected data using the selected communications resources <NUM> as being the MCS parameters, selected from a predetermined list, which permit the transmission of all of the selected data using the selected communications resources <NUM> with the greatest reliability.

In some embodiments, the communications device <NUM> may select first the MCS parameters (for example, as the MCS parameters associated with one of the first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM>) and may then select an amount of data from that corresponding to both the first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM>, which can be transmitted using the selected communications resources <NUM> in accordance with the selected MCS parameters.

The process may reach step <NUM> if it has been determined at step <NUM> that starting times associated with the conflicting communications resources are not aligned and/or (if the periodicity of one or both of the grants is less than the predetermined threshold) the end times associated with the conflicting communications resources are not aligned. This may imply that it is not possible to form a single MAC TB comprising the data that would otherwise (i.e. in the absence of a conflict) be transmitted using each of the conflicting communications resources, because the data to be transmitted may arrive at different times, and at least a portion of the data may not be available at the MAC protocol entity TB_Form_DelayMAX prior to the start of the communications resources which start first in time.

In step <NUM>, the selected communications resources may be the communications resources associated with only one of the conflicting grants, or a portion thereof.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, the selected communications resources may be selected according to the latency requirement(s) associated with each of the conflicting resource grant(s). For example, the selected communications resources may be those provided for the purpose of meeting the most stringent latency requirement.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, the selected data may be similarly selected according to the latency requirements associated with each of the conflicting resource grants. For example, the selected data may be that which would, absent the conflict, be transmitted using the selected communications resources.

In some embodiments, in step <NUM>, the selected communications resources are those of the conflicting communications resources which permit the transmission of the greatest quantity of data. The selected data may be selected in accordance with an HPF scheduling algorithm.

In some embodiments, a conflict may be determined to exist prior to it being determined whether there is data associated with each of the services associated with the conflicting resource grants. In some such scenarios, it may be determined (for example, in accordance with step <NUM> of the present process) to transmit low priority data using a first of the conflicting communications resources, prior to determining that higher priority data is also available for transmission using the conflicting communications resources. In some embodiments therefore, pre-emption may be used to pause or stop the transmission of the lower priority data in order to permit the higher priority data to be transmitted in accordance with the quality of service (and particularly, latency) requirements associated with the higher priority data.

In some embodiments, it may thus be necessary to perform one or more of the steps of the process illustrated in <FIG> more than once in respect of the same set of conflicting resources. For example, it may be necessary to repeat step <NUM> if new data arrives after an earlier selection of data and/or selection of communications resources has been made.

The process may reach step 918a or step 918b if it has been determined that it is not possible to transmit using both of the conflicting communications resources.

In step 918a, one of the conflicting communications resources is, in effect, delayed in time. As such, the selected communications resources comprise one of the conflicting communications resources (unmodified) and a delayed instance of the other conflicting communications resources.

The delay applied to the one of the conflicting communications resources is sufficient for it to be possible for the communications device to transmit a MAC TB using each of the communications resources.

In some embodiments, the applied delay is the minimum sufficient to avoid any overlap in time of the communications resources. In some embodiments, the applied delay is an integer number of timeslots, such as one timeslot.

The selected data may be the data which would have been transmitted using the conflicting resource grants if there were no conflict, and the data may be formed into two MAC TBs, one for transmission using each of the conflicting communications resources.

The selected MCS parameters for the transmission of data on each of the conflicting communications resources may be the MCS parameters would have been used for the respective communications resource if there were no conflict.

In some embodiments, the process includes step 918a only if the periodicity of the grant corresponding to the delayed communications resources is greater than the length of the required delay. In other words, step 918a may be used only if the delayed communications resources would not then overlap in time with a later instance of the resource grant.

In some embodiments, the process may continue with step 918b instead of step 918a. As such, in some embodiments, the communications device <NUM> may determine whether it is possible to delay one of the conflicting communications resources sufficient to avoid an overlap in time with the other conflicting communications resources, without the delayed communications resources encroaching on a later instance of the communications resources allocated by the same resource grant.

In some embodiments of the present technique, the process follows step 918b instead of step 918a.

In step 918b, the selected data is set as all of the data which would have been transmitted using both of the conflicting communications resources had there been no conflict (i.e. if it were possible for the communications device <NUM> to transmit one MAC TB using each of the conflicting communications resources).

However it may have been previously determined that such transmission (i.e. using each of the conflicting communications resources ) is not possible.

In step 918b, the determined communications resources comprise one of the conflicting communications resources. Preferably, the larger of the conflicting communications resources is selected. In some embodiments, such a selection may be restricted to the case where one of the conflicting communications resources was allocated by means of a grant based resource allocation.

In some embodiments, in step 918b, the determined communications resources additionally comprise communications resources which are contiguous with the already-selected communications resources, and extend those communications resources in either the time domain, frequency domain, or both. The selected communications resources are preferably sufficient to provide communications resources for the transmission of a MAC TB formed from the selected data, in accordance with the QoS requirements associated with at least a portion of the selected data.

In some embodiments, therefore, the selected communications resources may comprise communications resources which were not within the conflicting communications resources.

In order to indicate to the infrastructure equipment <NUM> that additional communications resources have been used, the communications device <NUM> may in some embodiments transmit, in advance, or substantially simultaneously with, the selected data, an selected communications resource indication which indicates the (extended) selected communications resources. In some embodiments, the selected communications resource indication may indicate those selected communications resources which do not fall within the conflicting communications resources. The selected communications resource indication may comprise an uplink control information (UCI) which may be multiplexed with the PUSCH.

In some other embodiments, no such indication is transmitted by the communications device <NUM>; the infrastructure equipment <NUM> may thus determine the extent of the selected communications resources without any explicit indication by the communications device <NUM>. For example, the infrastructure equipment <NUM> may perform blind decoding of candidate communications resources, which may form part of the selected communications resources.

In some embodiments, the conflict of resources may be known in advance (e.g. prior to the availability of data for transmission using the conflicting resources) to both the communications device <NUM> and the network infrastructure equipment <NUM>. For example, this may be because the periodicities of communications resource instances configured by configured grants are set by the network (e.g. by the infrastructure equipment <NUM>) in advance. In such embodiments, as described above, the identification of the conflict and the selection of communications resources may be carried out prior to the availability of data (and thus prior to the selection of data).

In some embodiments where the conflict of resources may be carried out in advance, then data may be selected shortly before the start of the conflicting resources or resource instances (such as, at a latest time when the data selection step of <NUM> must be carried out in order to satisfy a constraint on the time required for generating a MAC TB). If only a single MAC TB may be transmitted, then the selected data may be associated with a logical channel having a higher priority.

In some embodiments, remaining data (that is, data which was available for selection when the data selection step was carried out but which was not selected), may be transmitted by the communications device <NUM> using a next available opportunity. The remaining data may, in some embodiments, be associated with one or more logical channels having a lower logical channel priority than that corresponding to the selected data. The remaining data may, in some embodiments, be associated with the URLLC service.

The next available opportunity could be, for example, a next instance of communications resources configured by a configured grant.

In some embodiments, the next available opportunity may be using communications resources which are dynamically selected, for example in response to determining that remaining URLLC data is available. The dynamically selected communications resources may be selected by the communications device <NUM>, without either configuration or allocation by the infrastructure equipment <NUM>.

In some embodiments, where there is remaining data, the communications device <NUM> may transmit, using the selected communications resources, an additional data indication which indicates to the infrastructure equipment <NUM> that the communications device <NUM> has selected the next available communications resources for a transmission of additional data by the communications device <NUM>. The infrastructure equipment <NUM> then receives the additional data which is transmitted on the next available communications resources.

In some embodiments, the additional data indication comprises an indication permitting the infrastructure equipment <NUM> to identify the next available communications resources based on the additional data indication and the predetermined rules.

In some embodiments, the additional data indication does not comprise an indication of the next available communications resources, and the selection of the next available resources is performed in accordance with predetermined rules such that the infrastructure equipment <NUM> is able to identify the next available communications resources based on the additional data indication and the predetermined rules.

It will be appreciated that the processes illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and described above may be modified or adapted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In particular, steps may be added, removed or performed in a different order than shown and described. For example, some steps may be removed because constraints on either the operation of the infrastructure equipment <NUM> or the operation of the communications device <NUM> preclude certain scenarios. These constraints may exist from the design or capabilities of the respective equipment /device, by regulatory or standards requirements, or for any other reason.

For example, step <NUM> may be modified so that if one of the conflicting communications resources is allocated by a dynamic grant and another results from a configured grant having a periodicity greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the communications device <NUM> may determine whether data which would be transmitted on both conflicting communications resources is available sufficiently early for a single MAC TB to be formed from such data (combined) and transmitted using one or both of the conflicting communications resources.

If the communications device <NUM> determines that the data is available sufficiently early for a single MAC TB to be formed and transmitted using one or both of the conflicting communications resources, then it may do so, instead of selecting as the data only data corresponding to one of the conflicting communications resources.

In some embodiments, where one of the conflicting communications resources is allocated by a dynamic grant and another results from a configured grant, in any determination of communications resources and/or data, the communications device <NUM> may select the communications resources associated with the configured grant and/or may select the data associated with the configured grant.

In some embodiments, if one of the conflicting communications resources is allocated by a dynamic grant and another results from a configured grant, and some or a portion the communications resources arising from the configured grant is a subset of the communications resources associated with the dynamic grant, then the communications device <NUM> may transmit data using the communications resources associated with the configured grant. The communications device may further transmit data using the portion of the communications resources associated with the dynamic grant such that no communications resources are used for both of the two transmissions.

An example is shown in <FIG>, which shows first communications resources <NUM> (which may have been allocated by means of a DG) and second communications resources <NUM> (which may have been allocated by means of a CG). The second communications resources <NUM> are, in this example, a subset of the first communications resources <NUM>.

As shown in the lower portion of <FIG>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technique, the second communications resources <NUM> may be modified to form modified second communications resources <NUM>, by excluding that portion of the second communications resources <NUM> which overlaps the first communications resources <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, one MAC TB may be formed for transmission using each of the first communications resources <NUM> (comprising data associated with the first communications resource <NUM>) and the modified second communications resources <NUM> (comprising data associated with the second communications resource <NUM>).

The MCS parameters selected for the transmission of data using the modified second communications resources <NUM> may be adapted in order to permit the same amount of data to be transmitted using the modified second communications resources <NUM> as would have otherwise (i.e., in the absence of the first communications resources <NUM>) transmitted using the second communications resources <NUM>. For example, the rate of puncturing carried out on encoded data may be increased, compared to the rate corresponding to the MCS parameters associated with the (unmodified) second communications resources <NUM>.

In some embodiments, communications resources may be characterised by MIMO spatial layers, and the data associated with the configured grant may be sent using a first one or more MIMO spatial layers, and the data associated with the dynamic grant may be sent using a second, different, one or more MIMO spatial layers. In such embodiments, it may not be necessary to modify the time and/or frequency ranges of the communications resources.

In some embodiments, the processes for identifying conflicting communications resources, selecting communications resources for the transmission of data, selecting the data (in some embodiments) and selecting MCS parameters (in some embodiments) may be the same, regardless of whether the communications resources were allocated by a DG or a CG. In some embodiments, different processes (e.g. comprising different criteria, or performing different selections) may apply where a conflict exists between communications resources allocated by different CGs that apply where the conflict exists between communications resources allocated by one or more CGs and one or more DGs.

In some scenarios, one or more of the conflicting communications resources may be allocated for the purpose of repeatedly transmitting data. In some embodiments, the repeated transmissions may encode the same data in a different manner (e.g. using different puncturing patterns), to improve the probability that, having received two or more of the repetitions, the receiver will be able to successfully decode the original data.

Thus, in some embodiments of the present technique, the communications device <NUM> may determine that the conflict may be avoided if one or more of the repetitions are not, in fact, transmitted. In other words, in some embodiments, the selected communications resources may correspond to the conflicting communications resources, excluding one or more portions of one or both of the conflicting communications resources which are used only for repeatedly transmitting data which will be transmitted earlier.

An example of such a selection is shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows two timeslots, <NUM>, <NUM> in which first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM> are allocated by means of respective configured grants.

The first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM> permit the transmission of repetitions of the same data. For example, using the first communications resources <NUM>, an initial transmission may begin at time t1, and four instances of the data may be transmitted between times t1 and t3. Similarly, using the second communications resources <NUM>, four instances of (different) data may be transmitted between times t2 and t4.

The communications device <NUM> may determine that it has data to start transmitting at t1, and further data to transmit starting at t3 (which may not be delayed due to, for example, latency constraints associated with the further data), and that the first communications resources <NUM> (from t1 to t3) and second communications resources <NUM> (from t2 to t4) conflict.

In order to resolve the conflict, then in some embodiments, the communications device <NUM> may select a subset of the first communications resources <NUM> and second communications resources <NUM> such that at least one instance of the respective data transmissions may occur. Preferably, the selected subset(s) permit at least the first instance of the repeated transmissions to occur, in order to minimise the latency associated with the data.

As illustrated in the lower portion of <FIG>, in one example embodiments, the communications device <NUM> selects as the selected communications resources a portion <NUM> comprising all of the second communications resources <NUM> (from t2 to t4) because its start time (t2) occurs after the start time of the first communications resources <NUM> (t1). Accordingly, to resolve the conflict, the communications device <NUM> additionally selects a portion <NUM> of the first communications resources <NUM> from t1 to t2.

In such embodiments, preferably the quantity of data being transmitted is thus unaltered compared to the case where the communications device <NUM> is able to use both of the conflicting communications resources in their entirety. However, one or more repetitions of the data may not occur, in order to resolve the conflict. In the example of <FIG>, only two transmissions of the data (one initial transmission plus one subsequent repetition) are possible using the portion <NUM> of the first communications resources <NUM>.

Thus there has been described a method for transmitting data by a communications device, the method comprising determining that a plurality of communications resources overlap, the communications resources being configured for the transmission of data by the communications device, in response to determining that the plurality of communications resources overlap, selecting communications resources comprising at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of communications resources, selecting data to be transmitted using the selected communications resources, and transmitting the selected data using the selected communications resources.

It may be noted various example approaches discussed herein may rely on information which is predetermined / predefined in the sense of being known by both the base station and the communications device. It will be appreciated such predetermined / predefined information may in general be established, for example, by definition in an operating standard for the wireless telecommunication system, or in previously exchanged signalling between the base station and communications devices, for example in system information signalling, or in association with radio resource control setup signalling, or in information stored in a SIM application. That is to say, the specific manner in which the relevant predefined information is established and shared between the various elements of the wireless telecommunications system is not of primary significance to the principles of operation described herein. It may further be noted various example approaches discussed herein rely on information which is exchanged / communicated between various elements of the wireless telecommunications system and it will be appreciated such communications may in general be made in accordance with conventional techniques, for example in terms of specific signalling protocols and the type of communication channel used, unless the context demands otherwise. That is to say, the specific manner in which the relevant information is exchanged between the various elements of the wireless telecommunications system is not of primary significance to the principles of operation described herein.

It will be appreciated that the principles described herein are not applicable only to certain types of communications device, but can be applied more generally in respect of any types of communications device, for example the approaches are not limited to machine type communication devices / IoT devices or other narrowband communications devices, but can be applied more generally, for example in respect of any type communications device operating with a wireless link to the communication network.

It will further be appreciated that the principles described herein are not applicable only to LTE-based wireless telecommunications systems, but are applicable for any type of wireless telecommunications system that supports a random access procedure comprising an exchange of random access procedure messages between a communications device and a base station.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Claim 1:
A method for transmitting data performed by a communications device (<NUM>), the method comprising
determining that a plurality of communications resources overlap in time and / or frequency, the communications resources being configured for the transmission of data on a wireless access interface by the communications device,
in response to determining that the plurality of communications resources overlap, selecting communications resources comprising at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of communications resources,
selecting data to be transmitted using the selected communications resources, and
transmitting the selected data using the selected communications resources
wherein the selecting the data for transmission using the selected communications resources is in response to determining that the plurality of communications resources overlap;
wherein each of the plurality of communications resources is allocated by means of a dynamic grant or a configured grant.