Patent Description:
As with the <NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) (also referred to as <NUM>th Generation (<NUM>)) standards, a wireless device in NR-Unlicensed (NR-U) can be semi-statically scheduled for uplink transmission based on Type <NUM> or Type <NUM> configured grant. There have been specific enhancements in the configured grant related to time-domain resource allocation, configured grant-uplink control information (CG-UCI), and autonomous uplink (AUL) transmission.

In NR-U, a timer has been introduced named CG re-transmission timer (CGRT). The CGRT timer can be used for autonomous uplink transmission (AUL). There is also another timer configuredGrantTimer (CGT). CGT limits maximum AUL retransmission attempts for a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process. When the CGT expires, the wireless device may flush the HARQ buffer for this HARQ process and transmit new data associated to it. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating example CGRT and CGT intervals.

As described in Third Generational Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification (TS) <NUM>, Section <NUM>. <NUM>, there are three types of transmission without dynamic grants:.

In 3GPP TS <NUM>, V16. <NUM>: for configured uplink grants neither configured with harq-ProcID-Offset2 nor with cg-RetransmissionTimer, the HARQ Process ID associated with the first symbol of a UL transmission is derived from the following equation: <MAT>.

For configured uplink grants with harq-ProcID-Offset2, the HARQ Process ID associated with the first symbol of a UL transmission is derived from the following equation: <MAT> where CURRENT_symbol = (SFN × numberOfSlotsPerFrame × numberOfSymbolsPerSlot + slot number in the frame × numberOfSymbolsPerSlot + symbol number in the slot), and numberOfSlotsPerFrame and numberOfSymbolsPerSlot refer to the number of consecutive slots per frame and the number of consecutive symbols per slot, respectively as specified in 3GPP TS <NUM>.

For configured uplink grants configured with cg-RetransmissionTimer, the wireless device implementation determines a HARQ Process ID among the HARQ process IDs available for the configured grant configuration. The wireless device may prioritize retransmissions before initial transmissions. The wireless device may toggle the new data indicator (NDI) in the CG-UCI for new transmissions and not toggle the NDI in the CG-UCI in retransmissions.

In Section <NUM>. <NUM> in 3GPP TS <NUM> V16. <NUM>: for configured uplink grants configured with cg-RetransmissionTimer, the redundancy version zero is used for initial transmissions and wireless device implementation dictates the redundancy version for retransmissions.

CG-UCI is typically included in every CG-physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission and includes the information listed in Table <NUM>.

CG-UCI is mapped as described in 3GPP Release <NUM> (Rel-<NUM>) rules with CG-UCI having the highest priority. It is mapped on the symbols starting after first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol. To determine the number of resource elements (REs) used for CG-UCI, the mechanism of beta-offset in 3GPP Rel-<NUM> NR for HARQ-ACK on CG-PUSCH is reused. Nonetheless, a new RRC configured beta-offset for CG-UCI is defined.

If CG-PUSCH resources overlap with PUCCH carrying CSI-part1 and/or CSI-part <NUM>, the later can be sent on CG-PUSCH. Radio resource control (RRC) configuration can be provided to the wireless device indicating whether to multiplex CG-UCI and HARQ-ACK. If configured, in the case of PUCCH overlapping with CG-PUSCH(s) within a PUCCH group, the CG-UCI and HARQ-ACK are jointly encoded as one UCI type. Otherwise, configured grant PUSCH is skipped if CG-PUSCH overlaps with PUCCH that carries HARQ ACK feedback.

Downlink feedback information (DFI) - To reduce the signaling overhead corresponding to explicit feedback transmission, NR-U supports a new DCI format, downlink feedback information ("CG-DFI"), that carry HARQ-ACK bitmap for all UL HARQ processes from the same wireless device. Additionally, the network node may trigger an adaptive retransmission using a dynamic grant.

Section <NUM>, in 3GPP TS <NUM> V <NUM>. <NUM>, describes that: if a wireless device receives an ACK for a given HARQ process in CG-DFI in a PDCCH ending in symbol i to terminate a transport block repetition in a PUSCH transmission on a given serving cell with the same HARQ process after symbol i, the wireless device is expected to terminate the repetition of the transport block in a PUSCH transmission starting from a symbol j if the gap between the end of PDCCH of symbol i and the start of the PUSCH transmission in symbol j is equal to or more than N2 symbols. The value N2 in symbols is determined according to the wireless device processing capability defined in, for example, 3GPP TS <NUM> V <NUM>. <NUM> Clause <NUM>, and N2 and the symbol duration are based on the minimum of the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PUSCH and the subcarrier spacing of the PDCCH indicating CG-DFI.

Further, in 3GPP TS <NUM> V <NUM>. <NUM>, it is described that: for any RV sequence, the repetitions may be terminated after transmitting K repetitions, or at the last transmission occasion among the K repetitions within the period P, or from the starting symbol of the repetition that overlaps with a PUSCH with the same HARQ process scheduled by DCI format 0_0, 0_1 or 0_2, whichever is reached first. In addition, the wireless device may terminate the repetition of a transport block in a PUSCH transmission if the wireless device receives a DCI format 0_1 with DFI flag provided and set to '<NUM>', and if in this DCI the wireless device detects ACK for the HARQ process corresponding to that transport block.

The document <CIT> discloses a method for a user equipment (UE) for grant free transmissions. The method involves receiving, from a network equipment, a radio resource control (RRC) signaling indicating an uplink grant free transmission resource configuration for the transmission and re-transmission of uplink data, the uplink grant free transmission resource configuration including a time resource, a frequency resource, reference signal (RS) resource information, and an interval between two grant free transmission opportunities. The method further involves obtaining uplink grant free transmission resources based on the RRC signaling, without receiving downlink control information (DCI) for an initial transmission of the uplink data. The method further involves transmitting, to the network equipment, the uplink data using the uplink grant free transmission resources.

The 3GPP document R1-<NUM> discusses in Sect. <NUM> enhancements to configured grant for New Radio (NR) in unlicensed spectrum. It is proposed that the following information fields should be included in configured grant uplink control information (CG-UCI): UE ID, HARQ ID, NDI, RV, and COT sharing information.

Many of the features introduced for configured grant in the unlicensed spectrum where in part motivated by the possibility of listen before talk (LBT) failure and the negative impact on the performance if 3GPP Rel-<NUM> configured UL behavior is to be used in the unlicensed spectrum. For at least this reason, the autonomous retransmission was introduced for NR-U CG. Using this feature, the wireless device can attempt to (re)transmit a PUSCH on any CG resource to cope with LBT failures, or failed reception due to interference. However, enabling autonomous retransmission has introduced fundamental changes to the 3GPP Rel-<NUM> behavior and the introduction of new components, i.e., support of new UCI type, and monitoring of a new DCI (CG-DFI). The changes were not limited to radio access network <NUM> (RAN1, also referred to as radio layer <NUM>), but also RAN2, e.g., support of implicit NACK if no feedback is received.

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for a configurable configured grant (CG) such as a configurable CG-uplink control information (UCI) and/or configurable CG-downlink feedback information (DFI).

In one or more embodiments of the instant disclosure, there is provided some flexibility in configuration of configured grant such that the wireless device can be configured with different features based on collision/interference environments.

In particular, the teachings of the instant disclosure advantageously allow for the wireless device to be configured for CG in a simpler and more efficient way, i.e., adapted to different collision/interference environments. For example, in a controlled environment that has very low LBT failure rate, some features designed to combat or reduce LBT failure can be deactivated, thereby, for example, reducing complexity.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a network node according to claim <NUM> is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to: determine adapted configured grant, CG, control information based at least on CG control information, and signal the adapted CG control information for configuring transmission on at least one CG resource.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information includes at least one field that has a configurable quantity of bits. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one field includes a hybrid automatic repeat request-identifier, HARQ-ID, field, redundancy version, RV, field, new data indicator, NDI, field, channel occupancy time, COT, sharing information field and CRC field. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of: the HARQ-ID field is configurable from <NUM> to a first predefined number of bits, the RV field is configurable from <NUM> to a second predefined number of bits, the NDI field is configurable from <NUM> to a third predefined number of bits, the COT sharing information field is configurable from <NUM> to a fourth predefined number of bits, and the CRC field is configurable from <NUM> to a fifth predefined number of bits.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag where the configurable field being configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the configurable field being absent indicates the network node does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure autonomous retransmission at a wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to omit a configuration of the CG control information where the CG control information corresponds to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to configuring transmission on at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to: interpret an expired CG timer as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK, and schedule a dynamic allocation for another transmission on another CG resource based at least on the expired timer. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a wireless device according to claim <NUM> is provided. The wireless device includes processing circuitry configured to receive signaling of adapted configured grant, CG, control information that is based at least on CG control information where the adapted CG control information configures transmission on at least one CG resource, and determine whether to cause transmission on the at least on CG resource based at least in part on the adapted CG control information.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag where the configurable field is configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the configurable field being absent indicates a network node does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information configures autonomous retransmission at the wireless device.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuity is further configured to omit a configuration of the CG control information based at least on the adapted CG control information, the CG control information corresponding to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to segment the transmission on at least one CG resource based at least on the adapted CG control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to causing transmission on the at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to receive a dynamic allocation for scheduling another transmission on another CG resource where the dynamic allocation is based at least on an expired timer that is interpreted as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented in a network node according to claim <NUM> is provided. Adapted configured grant, CG, control information is determined based at least on CG control information. The adapted CG control information for configuring transmission on at least one CG resource is signaled. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information includes at least one field that has a configurable quantity of bits.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one field includes a hybrid automatic repeat request-identifier, HARQ-ID, field, redundancy version, RV, field, new data indicator, NDI, field, channel occupancy time, COT, sharing information field and CRC field. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of: the HARQ-ID field is configurable from <NUM> to a first predefined number of bits, the RV field is configurable from <NUM> to a second predefined number of bits, the NDI field is configurable from <NUM> to a third predefined number of bits, the COT sharing information field is configurable from <NUM> to a fourth predefined number of bits, and the CRC field is configurable from <NUM> to a fifth predefined number of bits. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag where the configurable field is configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the configurable field being absent indicates the network node does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure autonomous retransmission at a wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to omit a configuration of the CG control information where the CG control information corresponds to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG resource.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to configuring transmission on at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, an expired CG timer is interpreted as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK. A dynamic allocation is scheduled for another transmission on another CG resource based at least on the expired timer. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented by a wireless device according to claim <NUM> is provided. Signaling of an adapted configured grant, CG, control information that is based at least on CG control information is received where the adapted CG control information configuring transmission on at least one CG resource. A determination is made whether to cause transmission on the at least on CG resource based at least in part on the adapted CG control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information includes at least one field that has a configurable quantity of bits. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the at least one field includes a hybrid automatic repeat request-identifier, HARQ-ID, field, redundancy version, RV, field, new data indicator, NDI, field, channel occupancy time, COT, sharing information field and CRC field.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of: the HARQ-ID field is configurable from <NUM> to a first predefined number of bits, the RV field is configurable from <NUM> to a second predefined number of bits, the NDI field is configurable from <NUM> to a third predefined number of bits, the COT sharing information field is configurable from <NUM> to a fourth predefined number of bits, and the CRC field is configurable from <NUM> to a fifth predefined number of bits. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag where the configurable field is configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the configurable field being absent indicates a network node does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information configures autonomous retransmission at the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a configuration of the CG control information is omitted based at least on the adapted CG control information where the CG control information corresponds to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the transmission on at least one CG resource is segmented based at least on the adapted CG control information.

According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to causing transmission on the at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, receiving a dynamic allocation for scheduling another transmission on another CG resource is received where the dynamic allocation is based at least on an expired timer that is interpreted as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

The widely spread term "embodiment"does not fully correspond to the claimed subject matter. All those cases, unless specifically stated, can serve only to help to a reader to understand the invention. The invention is however defined only by the appended claims.

Before describing in detail example embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to a configurable configured grant (CG) such as a configurable CG-uplink control information (UCI) and/or configurable CG-downlink feedback information (DFI). As used herein, in one or more embodiments, CG may be used interchangeably with CG-UCI or CG-DFI. 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.

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.

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..

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.

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 described 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.

Some embodiments provide a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI. Referring again to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in <FIG> a schematic diagram of a communication system <NUM>, according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (<NUM>), which comprises an access network <NUM>, such as a radio access network, and a core network <NUM>. The access network <NUM> comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (referred to collectively as network nodes <NUM>), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (referred to collectively as coverage areas <NUM>). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network <NUM> over a wired or wireless connection <NUM>. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices <NUM>) 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 <NUM>. Note that although only two WDs <NUM> and three network nodes <NUM> are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs <NUM> and network nodes <NUM>.

A network node <NUM> is configured to include a configuration unit <NUM> which is configured to perform one or more network node <NUM> function as described herein such as with respect to a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI. A wireless device <NUM> is configured to include a CG unit <NUM> which is configured to perform one or more wireless device <NUM> functions as described herein such as with respect to a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI.

The host application <NUM> may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD <NUM> connecting via an OTT connection <NUM> terminating at the WD <NUM> and the host computer <NUM>. The "user data" may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer <NUM> 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 <NUM> of the host computer <NUM> may enable the host computer <NUM> to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node <NUM> and or the wireless device <NUM>. The processing circuitry <NUM> of the host computer <NUM> may include an information unit <NUM> configured to enable the service provider to process, determine, store, transmit, receive, relay, forward, monitor, indicator, etc., information related to a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI.

Thus, the network node <NUM> further has software <NUM> stored internally in, for example, memory <NUM>, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node <NUM> via an external connection. The processing circuitry <NUM> 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 <NUM>. Processor <NUM> corresponds to one or more processors <NUM> for performing network node <NUM> functions described herein. The memory <NUM> is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM> and/or processing circuitry <NUM>, causes the processor <NUM> and/or processing circuitry <NUM> to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node <NUM>. For example, processing circuitry <NUM> of the network node <NUM> may include configuration unit <NUM> configured to perform one or more network node <NUM> function described herein such as with respect to adapted CG control information that is based on CG information, and/or a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI. For example, adapted CG control information may include aspect of 3GPP CG control information and also includes new aspects described herein such as configurable fields, autonomous re-transmission configuration with or without CG-UCI or CG-DFI (where existing system configure autonomous re-transmission only via a retransmission timer), etc. In one or more embodiments, the one or more new aspects of adapted CG control information may replace one or more aspects of existing 3GPP CG control information.

The processing circuitry <NUM> 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 <NUM>. The processor <NUM> corresponds to one or more processors <NUM> for performing WD <NUM> functions described herein. The WD <NUM> includes memory <NUM> that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software <NUM> and/or the client application <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM> and/or processing circuitry <NUM>, causes the processor <NUM> and/or processing circuitry <NUM> to perform the processes described herein with respect to WD <NUM>. For example, the processing circuitry <NUM> of the wireless device <NUM> may include a CG unit <NUM> configured to perform one or more wireless device <NUM> function as described herein such as with respect to a configurable CG such as adapted CG control information that is based on CG information, and/or a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI.

Although <FIG> and <FIG> show various "units" such as configuration unit <NUM>, and CG unit <NUM> 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> is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of <FIG> and <FIG>, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer <NUM>, a network node <NUM> and a WD <NUM>, which may be those described with reference to <FIG>. In a first step of the method, the host computer <NUM> provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer <NUM> provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application <NUM> (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer <NUM> initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD <NUM> (Block S104). In an optional third step, the network node <NUM> transmits to the WD <NUM> the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer <NUM> initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD <NUM> executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application <NUM>, associated with the host application <NUM> executed by the host computer <NUM> (Block S108).

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of <FIG>, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer <NUM>, a network node <NUM> and a WD <NUM>, which may be those described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In a first step of the method, the host computer <NUM> provides user data (Block S110). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer <NUM> provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application <NUM>. In a second step, the host computer <NUM> initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD <NUM> (Block S112). In an optional third step, the WD <NUM> receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block S114).

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of <FIG>, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer <NUM>, a network node <NUM> and a WD <NUM>, which may be those described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In an optional first step of the method, the WD <NUM> receives input data provided by the host computer <NUM> (Block S116). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD <NUM> executes the client application <NUM>, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer <NUM> (Block S118). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD <NUM> provides user data (Block S120). 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 <NUM> (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application <NUM> may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD <NUM> may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer <NUM> (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer <NUM> receives the user data transmitted from the WD <NUM>, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126).

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of <FIG>, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer <NUM>, a network node <NUM> and a WD <NUM>, which may be those described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node <NUM> receives user data from the WD <NUM> (Block S128). In an optional second step, the network node <NUM> initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer <NUM> (Block S130). In a third step, the host computer <NUM> receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node <NUM> (Block S132).

<FIG> is a flowchart of an example process in a network node <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by network node <NUM> may be performed by one or more elements of network node <NUM> such as by configuration unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc. In one or more embodiments, network node <NUM> is configured to adapt (Block S134) a configured grant, CG, for a wireless device <NUM> where the CG (e.g., CG-UCI) has at least one field that is configurable, and a presence of the at least one field is configurable, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, network node <NUM> is configured to signal (Block S136) the CGto the wireless device <NUM>, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the CG is adapted based at least in part on one of collision and interference associated with an environment of the wireless device. According to one or more embodiments, the CG is a CG-uplink control information, CG-UCI, where the at least one field corresponds to at least one of: hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-identifier (ID), redundancy version (RV), new data indicator (NDI), channel occupancy time (COT) sharing information and cyclic redundancy check (CRC). According to one or more embodiments, the CG is a CG-downlink feedback information, DFI, the at least one field corresponding to a DFI flag.

<FIG> is a flowchart of another example process in a network node <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by network node <NUM> may be performed by one or more elements of network node <NUM> such as by configuration unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc. In one or more embodiments, network node <NUM> is configured to determine (Block S138) adapted configured grant, CG, control information based at least on CG control information, as described herein. The network node <NUM> is further configured to signal (Block S140) the adapted CG control information for configuring transmission on at least one CG resource, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information includes at least one field that has a configurable quantity of bits. According to one or more embodiments, the at least one field includes a hybrid automatic repeat request-identifier, HARQ-ID, field, redundancy version, RV, field, new data indicator, NDI, field, channel occupancy time, COT, sharing information field and CRC field. According to one or more embodiments, at least one of: the HARQ-ID field is configurable from <NUM> to a first predefined number of bits, the RV field is configurable from <NUM> to a second predefined number of bits, the NDI field is configurable from <NUM> to a third predefined number of bits, the COT sharing information field is configurable from <NUM> to a fourth predefined number of bits, and the CRC field is configurable from <NUM> to a fifth predefined number of bits.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag, the configurable field being configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information. According to one or more embodiments, the configurable field being absent indicates the network node <NUM> does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure autonomous retransmission at a wireless device <NUM>.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information is determined to omit a configuration of the CG control information, the CG control information corresponding to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information is determined to configure segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to configuring transmission on at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments.

According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry <NUM> is further configured to: interpret an expired CG timer as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK, and schedule a dynamic allocation for another transmission on another CG resource based at least on the expired timer. According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

<FIG> is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by wireless device <NUM> may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device <NUM> such as by CG unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc. In one or more embodiments, wireless device is configured to receive (Block S <NUM>) a configured grant, CG, for a wireless device <NUM> where the CG has at least one field that is configurable and a presence of the at least one field is configurable, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, wireless device <NUM> is configured to implement (Block S <NUM>) the CG, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the CG is adapted based at least in part on one of collision and interference associated with an environment of the wireless device <NUM>. According to one or more embodiments, the CG is a CG-uplink control information, CG-UCI, where the at least one field corresponds to at least one of: hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-identifier (ID), redundancy version (RV), new data indicator (NDI), channel occupancy time (COT) sharing information and cyclic redundancy check (CRC). According to one or more embodiments, the CG is a CG-downlink feedback information, DFI, the at least one field corresponding to a DFI flag.

<FIG> is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more Blocks and/or functions performed by wireless device <NUM> may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device <NUM> such as by CG unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc. In one or more embodiments, wireless device <NUM> is configured to receive (Block S <NUM>) signaling of adapted configured grant, CG, control information that is based at least on CG control information where the adapted CG control information configures transmission on at least one CG resource, as described herein. The wireless device <NUM> is configured to determine (Block S <NUM>) whether to cause transmission on the at least on CG resource based at least in part on the adapted CG control information, as described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information is associated with a configurable field that is associated with a downlink feedback information, DFI, flag, where the configurable field is configurable to be present or absent in the adapted CG control information based on a configuration of the CG control information. According to one or more embodiments, the configurable field being absent indicates a network node <NUM> does not provide explicit hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement, HARQ-ACK, feedback for the transmission on the at least one CG resource. According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information configures autonomous retransmission at the wireless device <NUM>.

According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry <NUM> is further configured to omit a configuration of the CG control information based at least on the adapted CG control information where the CG control information corresponds to one of CG-uplink control information, UCI, and CG-downlink feedback information, DFI. According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry <NUM> is further configured to segment the transmission on at least one CG resource based at least on the adapted CG control information. According to one or more embodiments, the segmentation of the transmission on at least one CG corresponds to causing transmission on the at least one CG resource in one of: a first segment, a subset of a segment, and in a plurality of segments.

According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry <NUM> is further configured to receive a dynamic allocation for scheduling another transmission on another CG resource where the dynamic allocation is based at least on an expired timer that is interpreted as a hybrid automatic repeat request-negative acknowledgement, HARQ-NACK. According to one or more embodiments, the adapted CG control information corresponds to one of adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, and adapted CG-downlink feedback information, DFI.

Having generally described arrangements for a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI, details for these arrangements, functions and processes are provided as follows, and which may be implemented by the network node <NUM>, wireless device <NUM> and/or host computer <NUM>. Some embodiments provide a configurable CG such as a configurable CG-UCI and/or configurable CG-DFI. One or more network node <NUM> functions described below may be performed by one or more of configuration unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc. One or more wireless device <NUM> functions described below may be performed by one or more of CG unit <NUM> in processing circuitry <NUM>, processor <NUM>, radio interface <NUM>, etc..

In the embodiment of the invention, the one or more of the fields in CG-UCI is configurable such as by network node <NUM>. As one aspect of this embodiment, the presence or absence of the field is configurable. As another aspect, the number of bits for the field is configurable. That means the number of bits for each field or absence of HARQ, RV, NDI, COT sharing information, and CRC can be configured by higher layer parameters. As an example, the following Table <NUM> indicates the field and number of bits for each field (i.e., configurable quantity of bits).

If configured HARQ-ID field is <NUM> bit, it indicates that only one HARQ-ID is used for the UL-CG PUSCH transmission. The used HARQ-ID can be predefined or derived from an equation (e.g., derived as a function of the configuration index of the UL CG). In some embodiments, the specific equation may be from 3GPP wireless communication standards.

If configured RV field is <NUM> bit, it indicates that only one RV value (or one RV sequence) is used for aggregated transmission of the UL CG PUSCH. The RV value (or RV sequence) is preferably predefined. One example of the predefined RV value is RV <NUM> (correspondingly, the predefined RV sequence is (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>)).

If NDI field is <NUM> bit, the wireless device <NUM> is not expected to perform retransmissions on CG resources, or only on initial transmissions on a CG-resource as another variant, if new data indicator (NDI) in not included, RV is also not included in the UCI.

If COT sharing information field is <NUM> bit that indicates to the wireless device <NUM> that the network node <NUM> does not expect the wireless device <NUM> to share its COT with the network node <NUM>. For example, one case where the COT is not expected to be shared is for FBE (i.e., semi-static channel occupancy). FBE may correspond to frame based equipment.

If all fields in Table <NUM> are disabled, then CG-UCI is not present and there is no CRC.

As another aspect, a field can be disabled implicitly. For instance, if network node <NUM> indicated that autonomous retransmissions are not expected from the wireless device <NUM>, using higher layer signalling, or L1 signalling, the wireless device <NUM> is not expected to include at least one of the fields (e.g., HARQ-ID, RV, and NDI). As a non-limiting example, disabling autonomous retransmissions can be performed by disabling cg-retransmissionTimer, or disabling monitoring of DFI. A disabled and/or absent field may correspond to: a field of size: <NUM> bits, to a field that has been remove, to a field whose flag and indication is set to indicate for the wireless device to ignore the field.

Alternatively, for each CG-UCI field of configurable size, a RRC parameter is defined to signal the field size from the network node. Some examples of RRC parameters to configure the CG-UCI field sizes are shown in Table <NUM>, and the RRC parameters are illustrated below, in bold, as components of the ConfiguredGrantConfig information element.

In one embodiment, the presence or absence of the direct forwarding indication (DFI) flag in DCI 1_1 depends on the CG-configuration. DCI 1_1 may refer to a specific DCI format that is known in the art. For example, if autonomous retransmissions are expected, the field is present, otherwise the field may not be present in DCI 1_1.

Alternatively, the presence of the field in DCI 1_1 is configurable (e.g., via an RRC parameter). If the field is not present, the wireless device <NUM> does not expect explicit HARQ-ACK feedback from the network node <NUM>.

As another aspect of this embodiment, if explicit HARQ-ACK feedback is disabled (i.e., no DFI flag or DFI flag is configured to be absent), the wireless device <NUM> does not perform a retransmission of the transmitted CG-PUSCH unless the wireless device <NUM> receives an UL grant rescheduling the same HARQ process.

As another aspect of this embodiment, if explicit HARQ-ACK feedback is disabled (i.e., no DFI flag or DFI flag is configured to be absent), the wireless device <NUM> assumes ACK after configured grant timer (CGT) expiry.

In another embodiment, CG-DFI, if configured, indicates NACK for all HARQ processes in a wireless device <NUM>. Then expiring configured grant timer (CGT) represents ACK. The wireless device <NUM>, if NACK is received in a HARQ process, retransmit the failed packets for that HARQ process on the next configured resources.

In one embodiment, the autonomous transmission can be configured with or without using CG-UCI or CG-DFI. In one example, the use of autonomous transmission feature may use CG-UCI and CG-DFI. So, the following combination may exist:.

In one embodiment, when there is segmentation in uplink CG transmission, the wireless device <NUM> may only send CG-UCI, e.g., with one or more of the following options:.

In one embodiment, if the transmission encounters invalid symbols/slots, then instead of segmentation, the wireless device <NUM> drops the entire transmission. Invalid symbols/slots may refer to improperly decoded symbols/slots.

In one embodiment, if the transmission encounters invalid symbols/slots, then instead of segmentation, the wireless device <NUM> shifts the transmission (e.g., in time-domain) in such a manner that no segmentation is needed, and the transmission is performed in one transmission, i.e., without segmentation.

In one embodiment, in NR-U, the CG-UCI may not be mandatory, which means the wireless device <NUM> can utilize for HARQ-ID derivation based on some equation (e.g., as in NR), which the network node <NUM> can also derive based on the same equation (e.g., same equation used in 3GPP Rel-<NUM>). CG-UCI may be disabled for this case. Alternatively, the equation is used for both initial and retransmissions of a HARQ process. In this case, the wireless device <NUM> does not signal HARQ ID, but still signals at least one of NDI and RV.

In one embodiment, autonomous retransmission can also be enabled when operating in licensed spectrum where, for example, the UCI is carried in CG-PUSCH where this UCI carries at least one of HARQ ID, NDI, and RV fields.

In one embodiment, the HARQ-feedback for NR CG transmission can be allowed similar NR-U DFI usage. Hence, if the CG timer expires in NR, then it is considered a NACK, and action can be taken accordingly, e.g., schedule dynamic allocation for the transmission; otherwise the network node <NUM> sends ACK for transmission success before the expiration of timer.

In this embodiment, an uplink transmission is provided with a physical layer priority. The physical layer priority is provided via a fixed, predefined value; or via DCI; or via RRC configuration. In one or more examples, two levels of physical layer priorities are provided (e.g., <NUM> for low physical layer priority, <NUM> for high physical layer), although more than two levels of priority levels can be defined if necessary. In terms of traffic type, higher physical layer priority is associated with traffic with more stringent performance requirement (e.g., shorter latency target, and/or higher reliability target), whereas low physical layer priority is associated with traffic with more relaxed performance requirement (e.g., longer latency target, and/or lower reliability target). In some embodiments, the uplink transmission may be composed of payload data only, or may be composed of UCI only, or may be composed of both UCI and payload data.

In one example, transmission of different physical layer priority is mapped to different channel access categories. For instance, uplink transmission associated with high physical layer priority is assigned to LBT Category <NUM> (i.e., LBT without random back-off), whereas uplink transmission associated with low physical layer priority is assigned to LBT Category <NUM> (i.e., LBT with random back-off).

In another example, transmission of different physical layer priority is mapped to different channel access priority classes. For instance, transmission associated with high physical layer priority is assigned with the highest channel access priority class p=<NUM>, always. In some embodiments, "high" may refer to a level greater than a first predefined threshold while "low" may refer to a level less than the first predefined threshold and/or a second predefined threshold. In contrast, transmission associated with low physical layer priority can be assigned to lower channel access priority class (e.g., p=<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>). In another example, which p value(s) are assigned to high (or low) physical layer priority is RRC configured.

Therefore, the teachings described herein provide at least some advantages over other solutions. One such advantage is that the wireless device <NUM> can be configured for CG in a less complex and more efficient manner, i.e., adapted to different collision/interference environments. For example, in a controlled environment that has very low LBT failure rate, some feature designed to combat LBT failure can be deactivated as these features may not be needed or required. Further, a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) PDSCH can be released for DL-SPS configured by one-slot periodicity.

Claim 1:
A network node (<NUM>), comprising:
processing circuitry (<NUM>) configured to:
determine adapted configured grant, CG, control information based at least on CG control information; and
signal the adapted CG control information for configuring transmission on at least one CG resource, the adapted CG control information corresponding to adapted CG-uplink control information, UCI, wherein the adapted CG control information includes at least one field that has a configurable quantity of bits, wherein the at least one field includes at least one of a hybrid automatic repeat request-identifier, HARQ-ID, field, a redundancy version, RV, field, a new data indicator, NDI, field.