Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signaling scheme that schedules physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission over multiple subframes with Hybrid Automatic Retransmission (HARQ). The PDCCH has a downlink control information (DCI) format that schedules PUSCH transmission over multiple subframes. The PUSCH transmission is associated with multiple HARQ processes with non-consecutive HARQ process IDs. Furthermore, the DCI format uses joint signaling to combine HARQ process indexes, new data indication (NDI), and redundancy version (RV) to reduce signaling overhead.

Certain abbreviations that may be found in the description and/or in the Figures are herewith defined as follows:.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, and/or packet data. Such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (<NUM>) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (<NUM>) systems which can be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. Such wireless multiple-access communications system can include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices such as user equipment (UE).

Example embodiments of the invention work to improve at least operations associated with such multiple-access systems as stated above.

There is provided the subject matter as set out in the appended set of claims.

The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs are used to designate like or equivalent elements. The drawings are illustrated for facilitating better understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale, in which:.

In example embodiments of this invention there is proposed at least a method and apparatus for scheduling retransmissions for a burst of configured grant transmissions using multi-TTI uplink grants.

In accordance with example embodiments of the invention as described herein there is proposed ways of improving the efficiency of NR-U configured grant operation by enhancing the scheduling of re-transmissions.

Certain example embodiments of the invention relate to <NUM> new radio (NR) operation in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) as well as possible further releases of LTE Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) The focus is especially for grant free operation, a. uplink configured grants.

For an NR Rel-<NUM> baseline operation it is noted that in the uplink, the gNB can always dynamically allocate resources to UEs via the C-RNTI on PDCCH(s). A UE always monitors the PDCCH(s) in order to find possible grants for uplink transmission when its downlink reception is enabled (activity governed by DRX when configured).

In addition, with Configured Grants, the R15 gNB can allocate uplink resources for the initial HARQ transmissions to UEs. Two types of configured uplink grants are defined:.

When a configured uplink grant is active, if the UE cannot find its C-RNTI/CS-RNTI on the PDCCH(s), an uplink transmission according to the configured uplink grant can be made. Otherwise, if the UE finds its C-RNTIICS-RNTI on the PDCCH(s), the PDCCH allocation overrides the configured uplink grant.

CS-RNTI corresponds to Configured Scheduling and retransmissions other than repetitions are explicitly allocated via PDCCH(s).

A somewhat similar mechanism is also supported in LTE, where Rel-<NUM> WI "Enhancements to LTE operation in unlicensed spectrum" introduced support for autonomous UL transmissions on unlicensed spectrum (SCells in Licensed Assisted Access) with following key characteristics:.

AUL also allows for configuring a set of starting positions for UEs with a very fine raster within the first SC-FDMA symbol of a subframe: <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> microseconds after the subframe boundary, or at the beginning of symbol #<NUM>. Since all UEs perform listen-before-talk operation prior to the AUL transmission to determine whether the channel is free, different starting points allow for e.g. prioritizing transmissions for certain UEs (by assigning an earlier starting point) and reducing the number of collisions. The transmission within the <NUM>st symbol is not PUSCH data but instead a very long CP extended from the next symbol #<NUM>. In essence, the CP extension is used for reserving the channel for the given UE by blocking other UEs.

Below are some agreements for NR-U Configured Grants (with some relevant parts underlined):.

In accordance with example embodiments of this invention there is a focus on improving the scheduling of retransmission for CG-PUSCH transmissions, such that the network can efficiently trigger a UE to transmit again the data that was sent on CG-PUSCH resources, but has not been correctly received.

Unlicensed spectrum is by its nature not as reliable as licensed spectrum for wireless communications. This is because transmissions are often originating from multiple different nodes using potentially different radio access technologies and therefore uncoordinated. This can cause burst like interference onto the operating channels, causing occasional errors in decoding of the data. One efficient way to cope with occasional errors is to repeat transmissions multiple times to increase the received energy per bit ratio, and to provide time domain diversity against interference.

In addition to reliability, another key performance indicator (KPI) for wireless services is latency. When considering uplink operation on unlicensed spectrum, latency is a special concern: since all nodes need to typically perform listen-before-talk (LBT) prior to transmitting on unlicensed spectrum to verify that the channel is actually unoccupied, it cannot be guaranteed that a transmission can always take place when intended. That is, each LBT procedure required prior to a transmission will extend that latency to some extent. This is an issue in particular with scheduled uplink transmissions, since a UE will first need to transmit a scheduling request (LBT#<NUM>), after which the gNB transmits to the UE an UL grant (LBT#<NUM>), and only after receiving the UL grant the UE may transmit the UL data (after performing yet another LBT, #<NUM>).

One way to reduce latency associated with UL transmissions on unlicensed spectrum is to use configured grants. With configured grants, the gNB can assign to a UE (or typically a group of UEs) certain time-frequency resources that are periodically available, and the UE is allowed to transmit on those without having to send a scheduling request first.

In NR-Unlicensed, the CG resources are assigned to UEs with RRC signaling, indicating the periodicity of a burst of CG resources, the duration of such burst, as well as the starting slot for the burst. Additionally, resources may be activated or deactivated with downlink control information transmitted via PDCCH (denoted in NR as SPS activation and SPS release). Moreover, there may be short gaps between the resources to allow for UEs to perform LBT prior to each transmission.

An example of this is shown in <FIG>, where the periodicity is set to <NUM> slots, and the duration of each burst of CG resources is <NUM> slots. As shown in <FIG> there is an example for configuration of CG-PUSCH resources. A burst of <NUM> resources, half-slot each, is repeated every <NUM> slots, with small gaps <NUM> and <NUM> in between the resources to facilitate LBT. Furthermore, as shown in <FIG> each slot is divided in half, such that there are two non-overlapping PUSCH resource allocations in each slot, each having a duration of <NUM> symbols (including the LBT gap).

While LBT gaps are useful in allowing for fair time domain multiplexing of UEs, on the other hand, in each gap, there is a chance that a particular UE loses the channel due to negative LBT outcome. This is shown in <FIG>. In a different example, the channel may be occupied at the beginning of the burst and becomes free during the burst.

As shown in <FIG> gaps <NUM> exist between every Tx <NUM>. As such, since a UE needs to perform LBT prior to each PUSCH transmission in a burst, there is a chance that it will not be able to transmit on all configured resources.

Typically, a UE may transmit during multiple PUSCH allocations within a burst of UL CG resources. Unlike in Rel-<NUM> CG operation, with Rel-<NUM> NR-U configured grants a UE may by itself choose the HARQ process it uses for each CG transmission amongst the HARQ processes for which CG operation is enabled. This means that for a burst of a few consecutive CG-PUSCH transmissions, the HARQ IDs may in principle be in any arbitrary order. This complicates the scheduling of retransmissions of such data packets, as the gNB would need to provide a separate UL grant to schedule each CG-PUSCH transmission, leading to significant DL control channel (PDCCH) overhead. Moreover, the PDCCH capacity, or UE's decoding capability may not allow for scheduling of multiple UL grants in a single DL slot.

In example embodiments of the invention there is provided a framework facilitating more flexible scheduling of retransmissions for configured grant PUSCH transmissions, making use of multi-TTI UL grants.

One prior art solution for scheduling of retransmissions of CG-PUSCH is as follows:.

As discussed herein, all three existing approaches have clear drawbacks, and example embodiments of the invention at least provide improved solutions for triggering of CG-PUSCH retransmissions.

Before describing the example embodiments of the invention in detail, reference is made to <FIG> for illustrating a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices that are suitable for use in practicing the example embodiments of this invention.

Turning to <FIG>, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which the exemplary embodiments may be practiced. In <FIG>, a user equipment (UE) <NUM> is in wireless communication with a wireless network <NUM>. A UE is a wireless, typically mobile device that can access a wireless network. The UE <NUM> includes one or more processors <NUM>, one or more memories <NUM>, and one or more transceivers <NUM> interconnected through one or more buses <NUM>. The one or more buses <NUM> may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. The UE <NUM> includes a determination module, comprising one of or both parts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM>, which may be implemented in a number of ways. This determination module is an optional module and can be customized with software and/or processors to perform example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. These determination modules parts can include processor configurations that can be implemented to perform example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. The determination module may be implemented in hardware as determination module <NUM>-<NUM>, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors <NUM>. The determination module <NUM>-<NUM> may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the determination module may be implemented as determination module <NUM>-<NUM>, which is implemented as computer program code <NUM> and is executed by the one or more processors <NUM>. In addition, the determination modules as shown in <FIG> are optional and their operations can be performed by other devices of the UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. For instance, the one or more memories <NUM> and the computer program code <NUM> may be configured, with the one or more processors <NUM>, to cause the user equipment <NUM> to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE <NUM> communicates with radio access network (RAN) node <NUM> via a wireless link <NUM>.

The RAN node <NUM> may be a base station that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE <NUM> to the wireless network <NUM>. For example, the RAN node <NUM> may be a node (e.g. a base station) in a NR/<NUM> network such as a gNB (a node that provides NR user plane and control protocol terminations towards the UE <NUM>) or an ng-eNB (a node providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE <NUM>, and connected via an NG interface to the core network (i.e. <NUM> Core (5GC)). The RAN node <NUM> includes a scheduling module, comprising one of or both parts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM>. These scheduling module parts can include processor configurations that can be implemented to perform example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The scheduling module may be implemented in hardware as scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM>, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors <NUM>. The scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the scheduling module may be implemented as scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM>, which is implemented as computer program code <NUM> and is executed by the one or more processors <NUM>. In addition, the scheduling modules as shown in <FIG> are optional and their operations can be performed by other devices of the RAN node <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. For instance, the one or more memories <NUM> and the computer program code <NUM> are configured to, with the one or more processors <NUM>, to cause the RAN node <NUM> to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Two or more RAN nodes <NUM> communicate using, e.g., link <NUM>. The link <NUM> may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, e.g., an Xn interface for <NUM>, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

The one or more buses <NUM> may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers <NUM> may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) <NUM>, with the other elements of the RAN node <NUM> being physically in a different location from the RRH, and the one or more buses <NUM> could be implemented in part as fiber optic cable to connect the other elements of the RAN node <NUM> to the RRH <NUM>.

In other operations there have been considered the problem of failed detection of a configured grant transmission by a UE. However, the proposed solution did not consider use of multi-TTI UL grants as is considered herein.

In one example embodiments in accordance with the invention there is a new method defined for scheduling retransmissions for a burst of CG-PUSCH transmissions using multi-TTI UL grants. More specifically, there is proposed at least a method and apparatus for:.

In addition, the method comprises two variants (Case <NUM> and Case <NUM> below) for indicating the HARQ process ID for the HARQ processes that the UE shall re-transmit.

Case <NUM>: the gNB leaves full freedom for a UE to choose the HARQ-ID within the CG-PUSCH burst. For retransmissions, when the UE receives a multi-TTI UL grant for CG-PUSCH, it shall re-interpret the HARQ-IDs for the (re)transmitted CG-PUSCHs:.

Case <NUM>: the gNB instructs (configures) a UE to choose the HARQ-IDs for a CG transmission within a burst consecutively:.

The detailed UE operation according to the invention is as follows:.

It is noted that in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention a process identification value, such as the HARQ ID or a HARQ process identification can be based on at least one bit field indicated to a network device with signaling such as but not limited to an uplink grant. Further, the process identification value may indicate explicitly the HARQ process identity of certain data transmission, or it may indicate e.g. a reference in time to a previous data transmission. In addition, in accordance with example embodiments of the invention a process identity value may be e.g., a HARQ process identity that the UE derives based on one or more process identification values.

Some examples in accordance with example embodiments of the invention for how to determine the transmitted HARQ processes can be seen with <FIG>.

<FIG> shows examples of how to determine the transmitted HARQ process IDs. <FIG> shows UE PUSCH Transmission <NUM>, gNB scheduling <NUM>, and Scheduled UE transmission <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> the UE PUSCH Transmission <NUM> and the gNB scheduling <NUM> are using the four examples (A to D) of how to use and/or determine the transmitted HARQ process IDs according to example embodiments of the invention. In all cases (A to D) it is assumed as a starting point that a UE has transmitted four TBs on consecutive CG-PUSCH resources, corresponding to HARQ IDs h1=<NUM>, h2=<NUM>, h3=<NUM> and h4=<NUM>. These examples of how to use and/or determine the transmitted HARQ process IDs in accordance with example embodiments of the invention include at least as follows:.

<FIG> shows two examples E and F where the UE cannot transmit one of the CG-PUSCH in the burst of CG-PUSCH transmissions, e.g. due to failed LBT. Further, <FIG> shows UE CG PUSCH Transmission <NUM>, gNB scheduling <NUM>, and Scheduled UE transmission <NUM>. These two examples include where the UE cannot transmit one of the CG-PUSCH (h3) in the burst of CG-PUSCH transmissions, leaving an empty gap between h2 and h4.

<FIG> shows an example G and H in accordance with example embodiments of the invention. <FIG> shows UE CG PUSCH Transmission <NUM>, gNB scheduling <NUM>, and Scheduled UE transmission <NUM>. <FIG> shows an embodiment of Alt2 of Step 5a as discussed above. As shown in <FIG> example G, gNB indicates M=<NUM>, but UE transmitted three TBs h1, h2, and h3 in the UE CG PUSCH Transmission <NUM> burst.

It is noted that in <FIG> it can be assumed that the gNB misses UCI of the h2 (or h4):.

An advantage of the Alt2 of Step 5a is that the linkage between NDI bits indicated in the multi-TTI scheduling DCI and corresponding HARQ-process cannot become ambiguous. The disadvantage is that some processes may be re-transmitted, even though gNB already received those correctly, but this happens only if gNB misses UCI of CG-PUSCH transmitted by the UE. It is assumed that UCI would be much more reliable than PUSCH.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of Linkage method #<NUM> in accordance with example embodiments of the invention. <FIG> shows UE CG PUSCH Transmission <NUM>, gNB scheduling <NUM>, and Scheduled UE transmission <NUM>.

In <FIG> there is shown in the multi-TTI UL grant signalled by the gNB that a timing offset is used (instead of the HARQ process ID) to identify the first PUSCH transmission in the (preceding) CG-PUSCH burst that the UE should be retransmitted. The time offset may be indicated by reusing HARQ-ID field or by adding an additional DCI field in the multi-TTI UL grant. In this example, offset is indicated relative to the first configured transmission of the latest CG burst. In other embodiments, offset may be relative to slot/symbol/half-slot where the multi-TTI grant has been received. The advantage of linkage method <NUM> is that it allows the gNB to schedule a retransmission for the XthHARQ process transmitted in the CG-PUSCH burst in cases where the gNB may be able detect a transmission from the UE (e.g. based on the detection of UE-specific DMRS) but cannot decode the UCI - including information on the UE-selected HARQ process ID.

<FIG> each show a method in accordance with example embodiments of the invention which may be performed by an apparatus.

<FIG> illustrates operations which may be performed by a network device such as, but not limited to, a network device, such as the UE <NUM> as in <FIG>. As shown in step <NUM> of <FIG> there is receiving, by a network device of a communication network, information comprising a multiple transmission time interval uplink grant with cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier. As shown is step <NUM> of <FIG> there is, based on the information, determining, by the network device, a subset of data transmissions of a previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted by the network device. Then as shown in step <NUM> of <FIG> there is, based on the determining, performing by the network device retransmission of the subset of data transmissions using scheduled resources of the uplink grant.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraph above, wherein the subset of data transmissions is of at least one physical uplink shared channel transmission of the previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein information comprising the uplink grant comprises at least one process identification value associated with the previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted and a number of transmission time intervals scheduled by the uplink grant.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein based on the uplink grant having cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled with a configured scheduled radio network temporary identifier, the network device is including configured grant-uplink control information for each data transmission of the subset and the retransmission is using a scheduled resource of the uplink grant associated with a process identification value for each data transmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein based on the uplink grant having cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled with a cell radio network temporary identifier, the retransmission is using scheduled resources of the uplink grant associated with consecutive process identity values starting with an initial process identity value indicated by the at least one process identification value.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one process identification value of the uplink grant is identifying for the retransmission one of subframe, slot, or symbol of different transmission time intervals of a previously configured grant burst.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one process identification value is a first process identification value indicative for a first transmission of the retransmissions.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one process identification value is indicative of a time offset relative to a first slot of the uplink grant, wherein the time offset is identifying a first subframe, slot, or symbol for a first transmission of the retransmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the process identity of at least one further retransmission other than the first transmission of the subset of data transmissions is determined implicitly based on a first process identity of the at least one process identification value and a duration in the uplink grant.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein each process identification scheduled by the grant is determined consecutively starting with at least one process identification value, based on the uplink grant being scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier uplink (dynamic grant RNTI).

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, a process identification value can be based on at least one bit field indicated to a network device with signaling such as but not limited to an uplink grant.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the process identification value may indicate explicitly the HARQ process identity of certain data transmission, or it may indicate e.g. a reference in time to a previous data transmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, process identity value may be e.g. a HARQ process identity, that the UE derives based on one or more process identification values.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein based on the information indicating a number of transmissions associated with the uplink grant is exceeding the number of retransmissions of the previous burst of data transmissions, the network device is using at least one transmission associated with the uplink grant for transmitting a data with a process identity value other than the process identity values corresponding to processes used for the retransmissions.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein based on the information indicating a number of transmissions associated with the grant is different than a number of transmissions transmitted in the previous burst of data transmissions by the network device, the network device ignores a new data indicator of the uplink grant and retransmits the previous burst of data transmissions.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one process identification value comprises at least one hybrid automatic repeat request process identity.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the information is received from a network node associated with the communication network.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (memory(ies) <NUM> as in <FIG>) storing program code (computer program code <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), the program code executed by at least one processor (processor(s) <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM>) as in <FIG>) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for receiving (e.g., one or more transceivers <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, computer program code <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM>, and processor(s) <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), by a network device (e.g., UE <NUM> as in <FIG>), information comprising a multiple transmission time interval uplink grant with cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier; means, based on the information, for determining (e.g., one or more transceivers <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, computer program code <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM>, and processor(s) <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), by the network device of a communication network (e.g., network <NUM> as in <FIG>), a subset of data transmissions of a previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted by the network device; and means, based on the determining, for performing (e.g., one or more transceivers <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, computer program code <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM>, and processor(s) <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>) by the network device retransmission of the subset of data transmissions using scheduled resources of the uplink grant.

In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for receiving, determining, and performing comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium [memory(ies) <NUM> as in <FIG>] encoded with a computer program [computer program code <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>] executable by at least one processor [processor(s) <NUM> and/or determination module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>].

<FIG> illustrates operations which may be performed by a network device such as, but not limited to, a network node RAN NODE <NUM> as in <FIG> or an access node such as an eNB or gNB. As shown in step <NUM> of <FIG> there is determining, by a network node of a communication network, information comprising a multiple transmission time interval uplink grant with cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier to identify a subset of data transmissions of a previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted by a network device. Then as shown in step <NUM> of <FIG> there is, based on the determining, sending the information towards the network device for use in retransmission of the subset of data transmissions using scheduled resources of the uplink grant.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the subset of data transmissions is of at least one physical uplink shared channel transmission of the previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the uplink grant having the cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled with a configured scheduled radio network temporary identifier to cause the network device to include configured grant-uplink control information for each data transmission of the subset and to use a scheduled resource of the uplink grant associated with a process identification value for each data transmission of the retransmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the uplink grant is having the cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled with a cell radio network temporary identifier to cause the network device to use for the retransmission scheduled resources of the uplink grant associated with consecutive process identity values starting with an initial process identity value indicated by the at least one process identification value.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one process identification value is identifying for the retransmission one of subframe, slot, or symbol of different transmission time intervals of a previously configured grant burst.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, wherein each process identification scheduled by the grant can be determined consecutively starting with at least one process identification value, based on the uplink grant being scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier uplink (dynamic grant RNTI).

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (memory(ies) <NUM> as in <FIG>) storing program code (computer program code <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), the program code executed by at least one processor (processor(s) <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for determining, (e.g., remote radio head (RRH) <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, computer program code <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM>, and processor(s) <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), by a network node (e.g., ran node <NUM> as in <FIG>) of a communication network (network <NUM> as in <FIG>), information comprising a multiple transmission time interval uplink grant with cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier to identify a subset of data transmissions of a previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted by a network device; and means, based on the determining, for sending (e.g., remote radio head (RRH) <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, computer program code <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM>, and processor(s) <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>), by a network node (e.g., ran node <NUM> as in <FIG>) the information towards the network device for use in retransmission of the subset of data transmissions using scheduled resources of the uplink grant.

In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for determining and sending comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium [memory(ies) <NUM> as in <FIG>] encoded with a computer program [computer program code <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>] executable by at least one processor [processor(s) <NUM> and/or scheduling module <NUM>-<NUM> as in <FIG>].

It is submitted that advantages of the operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein include that a network node, such as a gNB, is allowed to trigger retransmission or new transmission for CG-enabled HARQ processes with multi-TTI UL grants without limitations with respect to the ordering of the HARQ processes. This can result in benefits including at least:.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof.

The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the best method and apparatus presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

It should be noted that the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof, mean any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" together. The coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As employed herein two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" together by the use of one or more wires, cables and/or printed electrical connections, as well as by the use of electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region, the microwave region and the optical (both visible and invisible) region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), by a user equipment (<NUM>) of a communication network, information comprising a multiple transmission time interval uplink grant with cyclic redundancy check bits scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier;
based on the information, determining (<NUM>), by the user equipment, a subset of data transmissions of a previous burst of data transmissions to be retransmitted by the user equipment; and
based on the determining, performing (<NUM>) by the user equipment retransmission of the subset of data transmissions using scheduled resources of the multiple transmission time interval uplink grant,
wherein based on the information indicating a number of transmissions associated with the multiple transmission time interval uplink grant is exceeding the number of retransmissions of the previous burst of data transmissions, the user equipment decides to use at least one transmission associated with the multiple transmission time interval uplink grant for transmitting a data with a process identity value other than process identity values corresponding to processes used for the retransmissions.