Patent Description:
The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP"), Positive-Acknowledgment ("ACK"), Binary Phase Shift Keying ("BPSK"), Clear Channel Assessment ("CCA"), Cyclic Prefix ("CP"), Cyclical Redundancy Check ("CRC"), Channel State Information ("CSI"), Common Search Space ("CSS"), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread ("DFTS"), Downlink Control Information ("DCI"), Downlink ("DL"), Downlink Pilot Time Slot ("DwPTS"), Enhanced Clear Channel Assessment ("eCCA"), Enhanced Mobile Broadband ("eMBB"), Evolved Node B ("eNB"), European Telecommunications Standards Institute ("ETSI"), Frame Based Equipment ("FBE"), Frequency Division Duplex ("FDD"), Frequency Division Multiple Access ("FDMA"), Frequency Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("FD-OCC"), Guard Period ("GP"), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ"), Internet-of Things ("IoT"), Licensed Assisted Access ("LAA"), Load Based Equipment ("LBE"), Listen-Before-Talk ("LBT"), Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), Multiple Access ("MA"), Modulation Coding Scheme ("MCS"), Machine Type Communication ("MTC"), Multiple Input Multiple Output ("MIMO"), Multi User Shared Access ("MUSA"), Narrowband ("NB"), Negative-Acknowledgment ("NACK") or ("NAK"), Next Generation Node B ("gNB"), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access ("NOMA"), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ("OFDM"), Primary Cell ("PCell"), Physical Broadcast Channel ("PBCH"), Physical Downlink Control Channel ("PDCCH"), Physical Downlink Shared Channel ("PDSCH"), Pattern Division Multiple Access ("PDMA"), Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel ("PHICH"), Physical Random Access Channel ("PRACH"), Physical Resource Block ("PRB"), Physical Uplink Control Channel ("PUCCH"), Physical Uplink Shared Channel ("PUSCH"), Quality of Service ("QoS"), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying ("QPSK"), Radio Resource Control ("RRC"), Random Access Procedure ("RACH"), Random Access Response ("RAR"), Radio Network Temporary Identifier ("RNTI"), Reference Signal ("RS"), Remaining Minimum System Information ("RMSI"), Resource Spread Multiple Access ("RSMA"), Round Trip Time ("RTT"), Receive ("RX"), Sparse Code Multiple Access ("SCMA"), Scheduling Request ("SR"), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access ("SC-FDMA"), Secondary Cell ("SCell"), Shared Channel ("SCH"), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio ("SINR"), System Information Block ("SIB"), Synchronization Signal ("SS"), Transport Block ("TB"), Transport Block Size ("TBS"), Time-Division Duplex ("TDD"), Time Division Multiplex ("TDM"), Time Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("TD-OCC"), Transmission Time Interval ("TTI"), Transmit ("TX"), Uplink Control Information ("UCI"), User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ("UE"), Uplink ("UL"), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS"), Uplink Pilot Time Slot ("UpPTS"), Ultra-reliability and Low-latency Communications ("URLLC"), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ("WiMAX"). As used herein, "HARQ-ACK" may represent collectively the Positive Acknowledge ("ACK") and the Negative Acknowledge ("NACK"). ACK means that a TB is correctly received while NACK (or NAK) means a TB is erroneously received.

In certain wireless communications networks, resource allocation may be different for different configurations. In such networks, resource allocation may not be performed in the best manner.

<NPL>, describes calibration results for uplink grant free transmission. <NPL>, describes procedures for uplink transmission with and without grant. <NPL>, describes methods related to enhanced SR carried in UL control channel.

<NPL>, provides a number of proposals concerning SPS enhancement and UE Assistance Information (UAI) for V2X.

Apparatuses for grant-free resource allocation are disclosed. Methods also perform the functions of the apparatus. The invention is defined by the appended.

The embodiments related to <FIG> and <FIG> are within the scope of the claims.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment of a wireless communication system <NUM> for grant-free resource allocation. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system <NUM> includes remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM>. Even though a specific number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> may be included in the wireless communication system <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the remote units <NUM> may include computing devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), tablet computers, smart phones, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet), set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras), vehicle on-board computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, modems), aerial vehicles, drones, or the like.

The base units <NUM> may be distributed over a geographic region. In certain embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may also be referred to as an access point, an access terminal, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a relay node, a device, a core network, an aerial server, or by any other terminology used in the art. The base units <NUM> are generally part of a radio access network that includes one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding base units <NUM>.

In one implementation, the wireless communication system <NUM> is compliant with the 3GPP protocol, wherein the base unit <NUM> transmits using an OFDM modulation scheme on the DL and the remote units <NUM> transmit on the UL using a SC-FDMA scheme or an OFDM scheme. More generally, however, the wireless communication system <NUM> may implement some other open or proprietary communication protocol, for example, WiMAX, among other protocols.

In one embodiment, a remote unit <NUM> may transmit assistant information to a base unit to assist in grant-free resource allocation. Accordingly, a remote unit <NUM> may be used for grant-free resource allocation.

In one embodiment, a base unit <NUM> may receive assistant information from a remote unit to assist in grant-free resource allocation. Accordingly, a base unit <NUM> may be used for grant-free resource allocation.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for grant-free resource allocation. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the remote unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the remote unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. In some embodiments, the input device <NUM> and the display <NUM> are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In certain embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may not include any input device <NUM> and/or display <NUM>. In various embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may include one or more of the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM>, and may not include the input device <NUM> and/or the display <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> is used to provide UL communication signals to the base unit <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> is used to receive DL communication signals from the base unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the transmitter <NUM> may be used to transmit assistant information to a base unit <NUM> to assist in grant-free resource allocation.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for grant-free resource allocation. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the base unit <NUM> and/or an aerial server. Furthermore, the base unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. As may be appreciated, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> may be substantially similar to the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> of the remote unit <NUM>, respectively.

In some embodiments, the receiver <NUM> may receive assistant information from a remote unit <NUM> to assist in grant-free resource allocation. Although only one transmitter <NUM> and one receiver <NUM> are illustrated, the base unit <NUM> may have any suitable number of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of communications <NUM> to facilitate grant-free resource allocation. The communications <NUM> include communication between a UE <NUM> and a gNB <NUM>.

Specifically, a first communication <NUM> may include a message transmitted from the gNB <NUM> to the UE <NUM>. In one embodiment, in the first communication <NUM>, the gNB <NUM> may inform the UE <NUM> about whether a grant-free feature is supported by the gNB <NUM>. In such an embodiment, the gNB <NUM> may use broadcast signaling and/or dedicated signaling. For example, in one embodiment, the gNB <NUM> may use a one-bit indicator to indicate all grant-free types (or features). In such an embodiment, a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the gNB <NUM> supports all grant-free types (or features) and a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the gNB <NUM> does not support all grant-free types (or features). As another example, in one embodiment, the gNB <NUM> may use a one-bit indicator for each grant-free type (or feature). In such an embodiment, a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the gNB <NUM> supports a corresponding grant-free type (or feature) and a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the gNB <NUM> does not support the corresponding grant-free type (or feature).

A second communication <NUM> may include a message transmitted from the gNB <NUM> to the UE <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the second communication <NUM> may include a request from the gNB <NUM> requesting that the UE <NUM> report the UE's capability.

A third communication <NUM> may include a message transmitted from the UE <NUM> to the gNB <NUM>. In various embodiments, in the third communication <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transmit an indicator to the gNB <NUM> that provides an indication related to grant-free types (or features) supported by the UE <NUM>. For example, in one embodiment, the UE <NUM> may use a one-bit indicator to indicate all grant-free types (or features). In such an embodiment, a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the UE <NUM> supports all grant-free types (or features) and a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the UE <NUM> does not support all grant-free types (or features). As another example, in one embodiment, the UE <NUM> may use a one-bit indicator for each grant-free type (or feature). In such an embodiment, a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the UE <NUM> supports a corresponding grant-free type (or feature) and a "<NUM>" for the one-bit indicator may indicate that the UE <NUM> does not support the corresponding grant-free type (or feature).

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of communications <NUM> to facilitate grant-free resource allocation. The communications <NUM> include communications between a UE <NUM> and a gNB <NUM>.

Specifically, a first communication <NUM> may include a message transmitted from the UE <NUM> to the gNB <NUM>. In one embodiment, in the first communication <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transmit a request of a grant-free resource configuration from the gNB <NUM>. In certain embodiments, various assistant information may be included in the request. For example, the assistant information may include an expected type of resource (e.g., type <NUM>, type <NUM>, type <NUM>), a bit rate requirement, and/or reliability information (e.g., reliability based on traffic). As another example, the assistant information may include a delay (e.g., an allowed delay), an expected bit rate, a bit rate requirement, and/or reliability information. As used herein, a first resource type may be a resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and without physical layer signaling. Moreover, as used herein, a second resource type may be a resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for activation, deactivation, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, as used herein, a third resource type may be a resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for modifying at least one parameter. In addition, as used herein, an expected type of resource may be a resource that a remote unit <NUM> would like to use (e.g., desired type of resource) and/or that the remote unit <NUM> anticipates using, but is dependent on corresponding transmissions being transmitted from a base unit <NUM>.

A second communication <NUM> may include a message transmitted from the gNB <NUM> to the UE <NUM>. In one embodiment, in the second communication <NUM>, the gNB <NUM> may configure grant-free resource based on assistant information received from the UE <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> for grant-free resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> includes transmitting <NUM> assistant information to a base unit <NUM> to assist in grant-free resource allocation.

The assistant information includes an expected type of resource, and may include a bit rate requirement, reliability information, or some combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the expected type of resource, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on an amount of traffic in a cellular network. In certain embodiments, the expected type of resource, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on a remote unit <NUM>.

The expected type of resource is selected from the group including: a first resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and without physical layer signaling; a second resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for activation, deactivation, or a combination thereof; and a third resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for modifying at least one parameter. In some embodiments, the assistant information includes a delay, a bit rate requirement, reliability information, or some combination thereof. In one embodiment, the delay, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on an amount of traffic in a cellular network. In a further embodiment, the delay, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on a remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the assistant information is based on an indicator transmitted from the base unit <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the indicator indicates one or more types of grant-free transmissions supported by the base unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the indicator corresponds to all resource types. In one embodiment, the indicator corresponds to one resource type. In a further embodiment, the indicator is transmitted by radio resource control signaling.

In certain embodiments, the base unit <NUM> configures the grant-free resource allocation based on features of a remote unit <NUM>. The method <NUM> includes transmitting an indicator that indicates one or more types of grant-free transmissions supported by a remote unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the indicator corresponds to all resource types. In one embodiment, the indicator corresponds to one resource type. In certain embodiments, the indicator includes one bit and the one bit indicates whether the remote unit <NUM> supports one or more types of grant-free transmissions.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method <NUM> for grant-free resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the base unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> includes receiving <NUM> assistant information from a remote unit to assist in grant-free resource allocation.

The assistant information includes an expected type of resource, and may include a bit rate requirement, reliability information, or some combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the expected type of resource, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on an amount of traffic in a cellular network. In certain embodiments, the expected type of resource, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on a remote unit <NUM>. The expected type of resource is selected from the group including: a first resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and without physical layer signaling; a second resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for activation, deactivation, or a combination thereof; and a third resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for modifying at least one parameter. In some embodiments, the assistant information includes a delay, a bit rate requirement, reliability information, or some combination thereof. In one embodiment, the delay, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on an amount of traffic in a cellular network.

In a further embodiment, the delay, the bit rate requirement, the reliability information, or some combination thereof is based on a remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the assistant information is based on an indicator transmitted from a base unit <NUM>. In various embodiments, the indicator indicates one or more types of grant-free transmissions supported by the base unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the indicator corresponds to all resource types. In some embodiments, the indicator corresponds to one resource type.

In certain embodiments, the indicator is transmitted by radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, a base unit <NUM> configures the grant-free resource allocation based on features of the remote unit <NUM>. The method <NUM> includes receiving an indicator that indicates one or more types of grant-free transmissions supported by the remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the indicator corresponds to all resource types. In some embodiments, the indicator corresponds to one resource type. In various embodiments, the indicator includes one bit and the one bit indicates whether the remote unit <NUM> supports one or more types of grant-free transmissions.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) performed by a user equipment (<NUM>, <NUM>), the method comprising:
transmitting, to a base station (<NUM>, <NUM>), an indicator that indicates one or more resource types for grant-free transmissions supported by the user equipment (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
transmitting (<NUM>, <NUM>) assistant information to the base station (<NUM>, <NUM>) to assist in grant-free resource allocation;
wherein the assistant information comprises an expected type of resource;
characterized in that
the expected type of resource is selected from the group comprising:
a first resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and without physical layer signaling;
a second resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for at least one of activation and/or deactivation; and
a third resource type in which uplink data transmissions are made based on radio resource control signaling, without grant, and with physical layer signaling for modifying at least one parameter.