Patent Description:
Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) is a technology to leverage unlicensed spectrum in combination with licensed spectrum through carrier aggregation (CA) to enhance system performance in Long Term Evolution (LTE). In LAA, at least one Secondary Cell (SCell) operating in the unlicensed spectrum is allocated to user equipment (UE). Due to the sharing feature of the unlicensed spectrum, evolved NodeB (eNB) and UE may apply Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) before performing a transmission on LAA SCell. During LBT, a transmitter listens to or senses a channel in the unlicensed spectrum to determine whether the channel is free or busy. If the channel is determined to be free, the transmitter may initiate the transmission.

If no channel is free, the transmitter will wait for a contention window to perform LBT again. A size of the condition window may be adapted based on a Channel Access Priority Class (CAPC). Typically, a transmission with a higher CAPC priority (that is, a lower CAPC number) may use a shorter condition window to have more chances to acquire the channel. Four CAPCs are defined in the third generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TS <NUM>/<NUM> for use in uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmissions on LAA carriers. The CAPC is associated with a Quality of Service Class Identifier (QCI) identifying which Quality of Service (QoS) class that traffic to be transmitted belongs to.

Before LBT, upon reception of an UL grant from the eNB, the UE may multiplex several Medium Access Control (MAC) Service Data Units (SDUs) or MAC Control Elements (CEs) into a MAC Protocol Data Unit (PDU) and then select a CAPC for this UL grant. In LTE Autonomous Uplink (AUL) transmission, the UE will select the lowest CAPC priority based on the MAC SDUs multiplexed into the MAC PDU. This will result in use of a lower CAPC priority for data with a higher CAPC priority, thereby degrading the QoS of the data. <CIT> describes multiplexing data from a subset of logical channels into a MAC PDU, wherein the subset may comprise data with the same QoS. <CIT> describes configuring logical channel priorities for logical channels and a UE using the logical channel priorities to determine an uplink listen-before-talk (LBT) priority class. <CIT> describes using priority level of data when deciding whether to transmit the data on a device-to-device (D2D) interface or on a network entity interface. <CIT> describes comparing resource availability with a threshold and scaling a transport block size (TBS) based on the comparison.

It is to be understood that these example embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term "terminal device" or "user equipment" (UE) refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communications with each other or with the base station. The communications may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic signals, radio waves, infrared signals, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information over air. In some example embodiments, the UE may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For example, the UE may transmit information to the network device on predetermined schedules, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network side.

Examples of the UE include, but are not limited to, user equipment (UE) such as smart phones, wireless-enabled tablet computers, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), sensors, metering devices, personal wearables such as watches etc., and/or vehicles that are capable of communication. For the purpose of discussion, some example embodiments will be described with reference to UEs as examples of the terminal devices, and the terms "terminal device" and "user equipment" (UE) may be used interchangeably in the context of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term "network device" refers to a device via which services can be provided to a terminal device in a communication network. Examples of the network device may include a relay, an access point (AP), a transmission point (TRP), a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a New Radio (NR) NodeB (gNB), a Remote Radio Module (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and the like.

As used herein, the term "data" refers to any useful information to be transmitted. The data may include control signaling, voice, useful data, and the like. As used herein, the term "data unit" refers to a basic unit for data transmission. The data unit may be implemented in any suitable form and may comply with any suitable protocol in any suitable layer. In some example embodiments, the data unit may include a Medium Access Control (MAC) Service Data Unit (SDU) or a MAC Control Element (CE) and the like. In various example embodiments of the present disclosure, the data unit or data can be multiplexed or packaged into a data packet.

As used herein, the term "data packet" refers to a data block carrying, containing or including one or more data units. The data packet may comply with any suitable protocol such as Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and the like. The protocols in any suitable layer may be applicable. For example, the layer may include an IP layer, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, a Physical (PHY) Layer and the like.

As used herein, the terms "first", "second" and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. For example, a first element could be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments.

For LAA and CAPC, the following has been defined in 3GPP TS <NUM>:
<IMG>.

For each UL grant, the UE may perform a Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) procedure. The LCP procedure requires the UE to multiplex data from different Logical Channels (LCHs) for the UL grant based on LCH priorities, prioritized bit rates (PBR), bucket sizes and the like. The LCP procedure in the fifth generation (<NUM>) New Radio (NR) has been defined in 3GPP TS <NUM>. For CAPC selection for NR-based access to Unlicensed Spectrum (NR-U) in <NUM> NR, the following has been agreed:.

As described above, the CAPC selection was left FFS for the configured grants (CG) in NR-U. In LTE AUL transmission, the UE will select the lowest CAPC priority based on MAC SDUs or MAC CEs multiplexed into a MAC PDU. This will result in the use of a lower CAPC priority for data with a higher CAPC priority and thus undesirable degradation of the transmission efficiency of the data. For example, large latency may be induced in transmitting the data with the higher CAPC priority. A straightforward solution is to restrict data of only certain LCHs to be mapped to a CG. However, this may lead to unnecessary underutilization of the grant in case such LCHs have less data or even no data available.

In one aspect, some example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mapping mechanism for mapping data with different channel access priorities to a configured grant. The mapping mechanism requires that when selecting a subset of data units from a set of data unit for multiplexing into a data packet, the subset of data units is selected at least in part based on a channel access priority of each data unit in the subset of data units. The selection may be based on a threshold priority. For example, a data unit with a channel access priority higher than, equal to or lower than the threshold priority may be selected from the set of data units.

For example, in the case where a data unit with a channel access priority higher than and equal the threshold priority are selected for multiplexing into a data packet, if a channel access priority for the data packet is determined as the lowest channel access priority associated with the multiplexed data units, the higher channel access priorities associated with the multiplexed data units may not be downgraded severely. Accordingly, chances of accessing a channel may be increased, utilization of the configured grant may be increased, and transmission latency and efficiency of the whole data packet may be improved.

In another aspect, some example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a selection mechanism of a channel access priority for the configured grant. According to the selection mechanism, a channel access priority for a data packet to be transmitted is selected, based on a threshold priority, from a plurality of channel access priorities associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into the data packet. Such selection mechanism is more flexible.

The threshold priority may be associated with a channel access priority or a logical channel (LCH) priority in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. As an example, the channel access priority may be selected based on comparison of the plurality of channel access priorities and the threshold priority or based on comparison of a plurality of LCH priorities of the multiplexed data units and the threshold priority. If at least one of the channel access priorities is higher than or equal to a threshold priority, or at least one of the LCH priorities is higher than or equal to a threshold priority, a higher channel access priority may be selected. Otherwise, a lower channel access priority may be selected. As such, the higher channel access priority can be selected depending on the channel access priorities or LCH priorities of the data units multiplexed into the data packet or transport block (TB).

In this way, if a data unit multiplexed into a data packet has a higher channel access priority or a higher LCH priority than a threshold priority, a higher channel access priority may be selected as the channel access priority of the data packet. Thus, a data unit with the higher channel access priority may not be degraded severely due to multiplexing with a data unit with a very low channel access priority.

It is to be understood that the mapping mechanism and the selection mechanism according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure may be used by any suitable device, entity, functionality or unit, such as a terminal device or a network device, in a communication network. The scope of the present disclosure will not be limited in this regard.

<FIG> shows an example environment <NUM> in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The environment <NUM>, which may be a part of a communication network, comprises a terminal device <NUM> and a network device <NUM>. Both the terminal device <NUM> and the network device <NUM> can operate in the unlicensed and/or licensed spectrum.

It is to be understood that one terminal device and one network devices are shown in the environment <NUM> only for the purpose of illustration, without suggesting any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. Any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices may be included in the environment <NUM>.

The terminal device <NUM> can communicate with the network device <NUM> or with another terminal device (not shown) directly or via the network device <NUM>. The communication may follow any suitable communication standards or protocols such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), the fifth generation (<NUM>) NR, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standards, and employs any suitable communication technologies, including, for example, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), Bluetooth, ZigBee, and machine type communication (MTC), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), Carrier Aggregation (CA), Dual Connectivity (DC), and New Radio Unlicensed (NR-U) technologies.

Before performing the transmission, the terminal device <NUM> or the network device <NUM> can multiplex a plurality of data units with different channel access priorities into a data packet to be transmitted. In some example embodiments, a subset of data units from a set of data units may be selected for the multiplexing, at least in part based on a channel access priority associated with each of the selected data units.

The selection of the data units may be determined based on a threshold priority. The threshold priority may be defined or configured by the network device <NUM> and indicated to the terminal device <NUM>. For example, the network device <NUM> may transmit a multiplexing configuration indicating the threshold priority to the terminal device <NUM> via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. Accordingly, the terminal device <NUM> may receive the multiplexing configuration indicating the threshold priority. The multiplexing configuration may also indicate t selection rule related to the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the selection behavior of a channel access priority for the data packet may be dynamic or adaptive. The channel access priority of the data packet can be selected based on a threshold priority. A lower channel access priority (for example, the lowest channel access priority) or a higher channel access priority (for example, the highest channel access priority) may be selected based on the threshold priority according to practical requirements to improve the transmission efficiency of the whole data packet. For example, the selection of the lower or higher channel access priority may depend on the determination of whether a data unit with a certain channel access priority (for example, represented by CAPC P in a MAC layer) or with a channel access priority higher than a threshold priority (for example, represented by CAPC X) is multiplexed in the data packet. Alternatively, in the MAC layer, the selection may depend on the determination of whether a data unit with a certain LCH priority or with a LCH priority higher than a threshold priority is multiplexed in the data packet.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of an example method <NUM> of transmitting a data packet according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> can be implemented by the terminal device <NUM> or the network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> in any suitable layer. As an example, the method <NUM> may be implemented by a MAC entity of the terminal device <NUM> in the MAC layer. For the purpose of discussion, the method <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, a subset of data units from a set of data units is selected for multiplexing into a data packet at least in part based on the a channel access priority associated with each of a data unit in the subset of data units. The set of data units may comprise all of available data units or a part of the available data units that may be determined after a logical channel prioritization (LCP) procedure.

Any suitable form of data unit and data packet may be applicable herein. In the example embodiments where the multiplexing is implemented in the MAC layer, the data packet may comprise a MAC PDU, and the data unit may comprise a MAC SDU or a MAC CE. The MAC SDUs may belong to different LCHs. For example, for a configured grant, data from MAC SDUs of different LCHs and/or data from different MAC CEs may be multiplexed into a MAC PDU. The LCHs may be associated with different radio bears, such as a signaling radio bearer (SRB) and a data radio bearer (DRB). The MAC CEs may be used for Power Headroom Report (PHR) or Buffer Status Report (BSR), for example.

In this case, the channel access priority is represented by a CAPC priority. A CAPC priority associated with a data unit is determined to be the CAPC configured for a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) or a Logical Channel (LCH) to which the data unit belongs, or determined to be a CAPC priority configured for a MAC CE. In some example embodiments, the channel access priority may comply with the 3GPP specifications such as 3GPP TS <NUM> or other future specifications. Other forms of the channel access priority may also possible.

In some example embodiments, the subset of data units may be selected based on a threshold priority according to a related selection rule. In some embodiments, the threshold priority and/or the related determination rule may be defined or configured by the network device <NUM> and indicated to the terminal device <NUM> in a multiplexing configuration via RRC signaling. In some example embodiments, the threshold priority and/or the selection rule may be defined or be configured per configured grant, per CAPC class, per LCH priority, per LCH, or per MAC CE. For example, each LCH or MAC CE may be configured with a threshold priority to indicate the lowest priority level of other LCHs or MAC CEs that can be multiplexed into the same packet with the LCH or MAC CE.

Any suitable selection rule based on the threshold priority may be configured. In some example embodiments, it may be configured that if a channel access priority associated with a data unit is higher than or equal to the threshold priority, the data unit is allowed to be multiplexed into the data packet. Accordingly, a data unit higher than or equal to the threshold priority may be selected from the set of data units. For example, in the MAC layer, a LCH with a higher CAPC priority compared with the threshold priority may be selected for multiplexing into a MAC PDU. In this example, if a CAPC for the MAC PDU is determined as the lowest CAPC priority associated with the selected LCHs, the higher CAPC priorities associated with the LCHs may not be downgraded severely, and therefore the transmission efficiency of the whole data packet may be improved.

In some example embodiments, if it is configured that a data unit with a channel access priority equal to the threshold priority is allowed to be multiplexed, a data unit with a channel access priority equal to the threshold priority may be selected. It is also possible to configure that a data unit with a channel access priority below the threshold priority is allowed to be multiplexed. Accordingly, a data unit with a channel access priority below the threshold priority may be selected.

The threshold priority may be set as any suitable value. In some embodiments, the threshold priority may be set as a predefined value. For example, in the example embodiments where the threshold priority is represented by a CAPC of a LCH, the threshold priority may be set as CAPC = Y. In this example, LCHs with CAPC = Y and/or higher than Y and/or smaller than Y may be selected for a configured grant.

In some example embodiments, the predefined value may be associated with a channel access priority of one of the selected subset of data units. For example, in the example embodiments where the plurality of data units belongs or corresponds to different LCHs, the threshold priority may be set as CAPC X, where X > P and P is a CAPC of a data unit of the plurality of data units. In some example embodiments, LCHs with channel access priorities higher than or equal to the threshold priority (represented by the CAPC X) may be selected. In some example embodiments, the threshold priority may be set as a channel access priority of one of the selected data units. For example, the threshold priority may be set as a CAPC P of a selected LCH. LCHs with CAPC < P, that is, LCHs with higher channel access priorities than the LCH with CAPC P, may be selected. Accordingly, the degradation of the higher channel access priority associated with the selected LCHs may be mitigated by avoiding the multiplexing with a LCH with a too low channel access priority.

In addition to the threshold priority, the data unit selection may depend on other rules or configurations. In some example embodiments, a predetermined number of data units with highest channel access priorities may be selected from the set of data units for multiplexing into the data packet. The specific number may be configured by the network device <NUM> and indicated to the terminal device <NUM>.

For example, the network device <NUM> configures a relative channel access priority compared to the highest channel access priority multiplexed for the configured grant. As an example, the network device <NUM> may allow the terminal device <NUM> to multiplex, for example, data units with <NUM>-step lower CAPC priorities compared to the data unit having the highest CAPC priority. In this case, if the first LCH has CAPC <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> could multiplex data from LCHs having CAPC values <NUM> and <NUM>. If the first LCH has CAPC <NUM>, then only LCHs with CAPC <NUM> and <NUM> would be allowed. This could be a simple configuration.

In some example embodiments, a plurality of data units may be selected from the set of data units according to a descending order of a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the plurality of data units. Accordingly, a data unit associated with a lower channel access priority is selected after a data unit with a higher channel access priority. The prioritization of selecting a data unit with a higher priority may further improve the transmission efficiency of the data unit having a higher channel access priority.

In some example embodiment, the selection of the data units may be performed in the MAC layer according to a descending order of the associated LCH priorities one by one. For example, the MAC entity of the terminal device <NUM> may first select a data unit with the highest LCH priority and checks whether any selection configuration related to the channel access priority is configured for the LCH priority or the given LCH of the data unit. If no, the MAC entity may continue to select and check a LCH with the second highest LCH priority represented by CAPC P. If there is a restriction for this LCH that a LCH with a CAPC higher than, for example, CAPC P + <NUM> shall not be multiplexed, the MAC entity selects a data unit corresponding to the LCH with CAPC P and checks whether there is a LCH with CAPC P + <NUM>. If yes, the MAC entity can select a data unit from the LCH with CAPC P + <NUM>. If there is a LCH with CAPC + <NUM> or above, such a LCH cannot be mapped to this grant so as to not lower down CAPC of the MAC PDU too much. Alternatively, the above selection process may be performed based on the channel access priorities instead of the LCH priorities or the LCH.

In some example embodiment, the selection of the data units may be performed in the MAC layer according to a descending order of the associated LCH priorities one by one considering only the LCHs with data available for transmission. For example, the MAC entity of the terminal device <NUM> may first select a data unit with the highest LCH priority with data available for transmission and checks whether any selection configuration related to the channel access priority is configured for the LCH priority or the given LCH of the data unit. If no, the MAC entity may continue to select and check a LCH with the second highest LCH priority with data available for transmission represented by CAPC P. If there is a restriction for this LCH that a LCH with a CAPC higher than, for example, CAPC P + <NUM> shall not be multiplexed, the MAC entity selects a data unit corresponding to the LCH with CAPC P and checks whether there is a LCH with CAPC P + <NUM> with data available for transmission. If yes, the MAC entity can select a data unit from the LCH with CAPC P + <NUM>. If there is a LCH with CAPC + <NUM> or above, such a LCH cannot be mapped to this grant so as to not lower down CAPC of the MAC PDU too much. Hence, for example, the threshold priority (determined herein by the CAPC P + <NUM>) for a given UL grant is determined based on the threshold priority configured for the logical channel with the highest LCH priority with data available for transmission and configured with the threshold priority value. Alternatively, the above selection process may be performed based on the channel access priorities instead of the LCH priorities or the LCH.

In addition to the channel access priority, other parameters or factors may be considered when selecting a subset of data units from the set of data units. In some example embodiments, the subset of data units may be selected such that a utilization of a transport block (TB) for the data packet is equal to or higher than a threshold utilization. For example, after a data unit is selected, it may be determined whether the utilization of the TB for the data packet is below the threshold utilization. If yes, the terminal device <NUM> may continue to select a further data unit to ensure the utilization of the TB.

In some example embodiments, the data units may be selected such that amount of padding in the data packet is below threshold amount. For example, after a data unit is selected, it is determined whether the amount of padding in the data packet is higher than threshold amount. If yes, terminal device <NUM> may continue to select a further data unit to further improve the transmission efficiency.

When the utilization of the TB exceeds the threshold utilization or the amount of padding decreases down to the threshold amount, no more data units may be selected. The TB may be filled with padding. Accordingly, in the case that the selection of a data unit with a higher channel access priority is prioritized over a data unit with a lower channel access priority, padding may achieve more transmission efficiency than multiplexing the data with a too low priority, and therefore the transmission efficiency of the whole data packet may be improved.

In some example embodiments, the selection of the data units is performed during a LCP procedure. In this case, various related criteria or parameters may be considered including the rules related to the channel access priorities and LCP rules related to the associated LCH priorities, PBRs, bucket sizes and the like. In some example embodiments, a threshold priority or other selection rules related to the channel access priority may be configured or determined for each UL grant based on a threshold priority or selection rules configured for a data unit (or a LCH) having data available for transmission and with the highest channel access priority. With the consideration of the channel access priorities, certain LCHs or MAC CEs cannot be multiplexed into the MAC PDU even if the LCHs have data available.

In some example embodiments, in the selection of the data units, the channel access priority may be considered after the LCP procedure. An example process of using the channel access priority after the LCP procedure will be discussed below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of an example process <NUM> of selecting a subset of data units from a set of data units for multiplexing into a data packet according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process <NUM> can be implemented by the terminal device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As shown, after the method <NUM> begins at block <NUM>, at block <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> receives a multiplexing configuration indicating that a data unit (including SDUs and MAC CEs) with CAPC P shall not be multiplexed with data units having CAPC >= X where P < X. At block <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> determines data units to for multiplexing into the MAC PDU according to the configured LCP rules in the LCP procedure. At block <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> determines a CAPC associated with each of the determined data units. Based on the multiplexing configuration, at block <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> select one or more data units to be multiplexed by restricting the mapping of the data units with CAPC >= X into the MAC PDU if the MAC PDU includes a data unit with CAPC P. The process <NUM> ends at block <NUM>.

The selected subset of data unit may comprise any suitable number of data units. In some cases, there may be only one data unit (such as a MAC SDU) which is finally selected and multiplexed into the data packet (such as a MAC PDU) by considering the multiplexing configuration or restriction, a configured TB size and other rules or restrictions.

In some example embodiments, the selection restriction related to the channel access priority may be not configured (for example, by default). In this case, the multiplexing of the data packet will not consider a channel access priority of the data unit. For example, any LCH allowed to use the configured grant may be multiplexed into the MAC PDU.

It is to be understood that in the case where one or more MAC CEs are multiplexed into the MAC PDU, the selection configurations or rules for the LCHs (or MAC SDUs) as discussed above may be applicable to the MAC CEs. The details will be omitted for the purpose of simplification.

Still with reference to <FIG>, at block <NUM>, a selected one or more data units are multiplexed into a data packet, and then, at block <NUM>, the data packet is transmitted.

In some example embodiments, before the transmission of the data packet, a channel access priority may be selected for the data packet from a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the multiplexed data units. Some example embodiments of the present invention provide two selection modes of the channel access priority for the data packet, including the selection of a lower channel access priority (for example, the lowest channel access priority) and the selection of a higher channel access priority (for example, the highest channel access priority). Some example embodiments in this regard will be discussed below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of an example method <NUM> of transmitting a data packet according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> can be implemented in the case that the data packet is generated according to a legacy LCP procedure based on LCH priorities without taking CAPC of the LCH into account. The method <NUM> can be implemented by the terminal device <NUM> or the network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> in any suitable layer.

As shown, at block <NUM>, a plurality of channel access priorities are determined to be associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into a data packet to be transmitted. At block <NUM>, a channel access priority is selected based on a threshold priority from the plurality of channel access priorities as the channel access priority for the data packet.

In some example embodiments, the threshold priority may be associated with a channel access priority. In this example, the threshold priority is compared with the plurality of channel access priorities. For example, if at least one of the plurality of channel access priorities is higher than or equal to the threshold priority, a higher channel access priority may be selected from the plurality of channel access priorities. In some example embodiments, the highest channel access priority may be selected. If all of the plurality of channel access priorities are lower than the threshold priority, a lower channel access priority (for example, the lowest channel access priority) may be selected. The threshold priority may be predefined or determined based on the plurality of channel access priorities.

By way of example, in the example embodiments where the method <NUM> is implemented by a MAC entity of the terminal device <NUM> for the CAPC selection, two modes, Mode <NUM> and Mode <NUM>, of the CAPC selection may be defined:.

By default, the terminal device <NUM> may apply Mode <NUM> to select CAPC which is compatible with the legacy selection behavior or rule as defined in the 3GPP specifications. If (or only if) the MAC PDU contains MAC SDU(s) from LCH(s) with CAPC =< P, then the terminal device <NUM> may switch to Mode <NUM> to select CAPC. Alternatively, if the MAC PDU contains MAC SDUs from both LCHs with CAPC <=P and LCHs with CAPC > P, the terminal device <NUM> should use Mode <NUM> to select CAPC. The value of P as the third threshold priority can be configurable.

In this way, two selection modes, including the selection of a higher channel access priority and the selection of a lower channel access priority, may be provided. One of the two selection modes may be chosen depending on the channel access priorities or the LCH priorities of the data units multiplexed into the data packet or transport block (TB), which is more flexible. In addition, the transmission efficiency of the data unit with the higher channel access priority or a LCH priority may be improved.

In some other example embodiments, the threshold priority may be used to be compared with a plurality of LCH priorities associated with the multiplexed data units. In this case, after the plurality of LCH priorities are determined, it is be determined whether at least one of the LCH priorities is higher than or equal to the threshold priority. If there is at least one LCH priority higher than or equal to the threshold priority, a higher channel access priority (for example, the highest channel access priority) may be selected. In all of the LCH priorities are lower than the threshold priority, a lower channel access priority (for example, the lowest channel access priority) may be selected.

Other rules or configures for selecting a channel access priority based on the threshold priority may be also possible to determine whether the lower or higher channel access priority is selected. The scope of the present disclosure will not be limited in this regard.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of an example method <NUM> of selecting a channel access priority for the data packet to be transmitted according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the third channel access priority is the lowest channel access priority, and the fourth channel access priority is the highest channel access priority. The selection modes are chosen based on the channel access priorities of the multiplexed data units.

As shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, a data packet to be transmitted is generated. The generation of the data packet may be implemented according to a legacy LCP procedure based on LCH priorities without considering CAPCs of the LCHs. As an alternative example, the mapping mechanism as described above with reference to <FIG> may also be used for generating the data packet.

At block <NUM>, a plurality of channel access priorities are determined to be associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into the data packet to be transmitted. At block <NUM>, it is determined whether at least one channel access priority of the plurality of channel access priorities is higher than a threshold priority. If yes, at block <NUM>, the highest channel access priority is selected from the plurality of channel access priories as the channel access priority for the data packet. If it is determined that no channel access priority is higher than the threshold priority at block <NUM>, the method <NUM> proceeds to block <NUM> where the lowest channel access priority is selected from the plurality of channel access priories as the channel access priority for the data packet.

All operations and features as described above with reference to the method <NUM> as shown in <FIG> are likewise applicable to the method <NUM> and have similar effects. For the purpose of simplification, the details will be omitted.

Still with reference to <FIG>, after the channel access priority is selected for the data packet, at block <NUM>, the data packet is transmitted according to the selected channel access priority. For example, in the embodiments where the channel access priority is implemented by a CAPC, when Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) is performed for the transmission the data packet, the size of a contention window may be determined based on the selected CAPC. If the CAPC is higher, there may be more chances to acquire a channel, and, therefore, the transmission efficiency of the data packet may be improved.

<FIG> is a simplified block diagram of a device <NUM> that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> can be implemented at or as a part of the terminal device <NUM> or the terminal device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As shown, the device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM> coupled to the processor <NUM>, a communication module <NUM> coupled to the processor <NUM>, and a communication interface (not shown) coupled to the communication module <NUM>. The memory <NUM> stores at least a program <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> is for bidirectional communications, for example, via multiple antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication.

The program <NUM> is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor <NUM>, enable the device <NUM> to operate in accordance with the example embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to <FIG>. The example embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor <NUM> of the device <NUM>, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor <NUM> may be configured to implement various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

The memory <NUM> may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. While only one memory <NUM> is shown in the device <NUM>, there may be several physically distinct memory modules in the device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be of any type suitable to the local technical network, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

When the device <NUM> acts as the terminal device <NUM> or a part of the terminal device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> and the communication module <NUM> may cooperate to implement the methods <NUM>-<NUM> as described above with reference to <FIG>.

All operations and features as described above with reference to <FIG> are likewise applicable to the device <NUM> and have similar effects. For the purpose of simplification, the details will be omitted.

Generally, various example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. While various aspects of example embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the methods <NUM>-<NUM> as described above with reference to <FIG>. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various example embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage medium.

Examples of the carrier include a signal, a computer readable medium and the like.

More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular example embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate example embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple example embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.

Various example embodiments of the techniques have been described. In addition to or as an alternative to the above, the following examples are described. The features described in any of the following examples may be utilized with any of the other examples described herein.

In some aspects, a device comprises: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device to: select a subset of data units from a set of data units for multiplexing into a data packet, where the selecting is at least in part based on a channel access priority associated with each of the subset of data unit; multiplex the subset of data units into the data packet; and transmit the data packet.

In some example embodiments, the subset of data units is selected further based on a threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the device is a terminal device, and the device is further caused to: receive, from a network device via radio resource control signaling, a multiplexing configuration indicating the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the threshold priority is defined for at least one of a configured grant, a channel access priority, a logical channel priority and a logical channel.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the subset of data units by: selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority higher than or equal to the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the threshold priority is predefined.

In some example embodiments, the threshold priority is associated with a channel access priority of a data unit of the subset of data units.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the subset of data units by: selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority below the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select, from the set of data units, a plurality of data units according to a descending order of a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the plurality of data units, as the subset of data units.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the subset of data units such that a utilization of a transport block (TB) for the data packet is equal to or higher than a threshold utilization.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the subset of data units such that amount of padding in the data packet is below threshold amount.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select, from the set of data units, a predetermined number of data units with highest channel access priorities, as the subset of data units.

In some example embodiments, the data packet comprises a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU), and the set of data units comprises a MAC service data unit (SDU) or a MAC control element (CE).

In some aspects, a device comprises: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device to: determine a plurality of channel access priorities associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into a data packet to be transmitted; select a channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities based on a threshold priority; and transmit the data packet according to the selected channel access priority.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities by: comparing the plurality of channel access priorities with the threshold priority; and in response to at least one of the plurality of channel access priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from among the plurality of channel access priorities.

In some example embodiments, the device is caused to select the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities by: determining a plurality of logical channel priorities associated with the plurality of data units; comparing the plurality of logical channel priorities with the threshold priority; and in response to at least one of the plurality of logical channel priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities.

In some example embodiments, the data packet comprises a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU), and the plurality of data units comprise a MAC service data unit (SDU) or a MAC control element (CE).

In some aspects, a method comprises: selecting a subset of data units from a set of data units for multiplexing into a data packet, where the selecting is at least in part based on a channel access priority associated with each of the subset of data unit; multiplexing the subset of data units into the data packet; and transmitting the data packet.

In some example embodiments, the method is implemented at a terminal device, and the method further comprises: receiving, from a network device via radio resource control signaling, a multiplexing configuration indication the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority higher than or equal to the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority below the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting, from the set of data units, a plurality of data units according to a descending order of a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the plurality of data units, as the subset of data units.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting the subset of data units such that a utilization of a transport block (TB) for the data packet is equal to or higher than a threshold utilization.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting the subset of data units such that amount of padding in the data packet is below threshold amount.

In some example embodiments, selecting the subset of data units comprises: selecting, from the set of data units, a predetermined number of data units with highest channel access priorities, as the subset of data units.

In some aspects, a method comprises: determining a plurality of channel access priorities associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into a data packet to be transmitted; selecting a channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities based on a threshold priority; and transmitting the data packet according to the selected channel access priority.

In some example embodiments, selecting the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities comprises: comparing the plurality of channel access priorities with the threshold priority; and in response to at least one of the plurality of channel access priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from among the plurality of channel access priorities.

In some example embodiments, selecting the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities comprises: determining a plurality of logical channel priorities associated with the plurality of data units; comparing the plurality of logical channel priorities with the threshold priority; and in response to at least one of the plurality of logical channel priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities.

In some aspects, an apparatus comprises: means for selecting a subset of data units from a set of data units for multiplexing into a data packet, where the selecting is at least in part based on a channel access priority associated with each of the subset of data unit; multiplexing the subset of data units into the data packet; and means for transmitting the data packet.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus is implemented at a terminal device, and the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from a network device via radio resource control signaling, a multiplexing configuration indication the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the means of selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority higher than or equal to the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting, from the set of data units, the subset of data units with a channel access priority below the threshold priority.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting, from the set of data units, a plurality of data units according to a descending order of a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the plurality of data units, as the subset of data units.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting the subset of data units such that a utilization of a transport block (TB) for the data packet is equal to or higher than a threshold utilization.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting the subset of data units such that amount of padding in the data packet is below threshold amount.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the subset of data units comprises: means for selecting, from the set of data units, a predetermined number of data units with highest channel access priorities, as the subset of data units.

In some aspects, an apparatus comprises: means for determining a plurality of channel access priorities associated with a plurality of data units multiplexed into a data packet to be transmitted; means for selecting a channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities based on a threshold priority; and means for transmitting the data packet according to the selected channel access priority.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities comprises: means for comparing the plurality of channel access priorities with the threshold priority; and means for in response to at least one of the plurality of channel access priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from among the plurality of channel access priorities.

In some example embodiments, the means for selecting the channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities comprises: means for determining a plurality of logical channel priorities associated with the plurality of data units; means for comparing the plurality of logical channel priorities with the threshold priority; and means for in response to at least one of the plurality of logical channel priorities being higher than or equal to the threshold priority, selecting the highest channel access priority from the plurality of channel access priorities.

Claim 1:
A device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code;
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device to:
receive, from a network device, signalling indicating a threshold priority for each logical channel and/or for each control element of a set of logical channels or control elements;
select a subset of data units with a channel access priority higher than or equal to the threshold priority according to a descending order of a plurality of channel access priorities associated with the plurality of data units and with a predetermined number of data units with highest channel access priorities from a set of data units for multiplexing into a data packet such that a utilization of a transport block (TB) for the data packet is equal to or higher than a threshold utilization and such that amount of padding in the data packet is below a threshold amount, wherein the threshold priority for a logical channel or for a control element in the subset of data units indicates the lowest priority level of other logical channels or control elements in the subset of data units (<NUM>);
multiplex the subset of data units into the data packet (<NUM>); and
transmit the data packet (<NUM>).