Patent Description:
The existing S1 Application Protocol (AP) interface in accordance with current Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards and existing S1 AP message procedures have high message overhead in addition to a large number of message procedures and information elements (IEs) elements that are not optimized to support Internet of Things (IoT) communications using a cellular network. The use cases for Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) include gas meters, smart home sensors, industrial sensors and/or other applications which all form a part of Internet of Things. The evolution of the Internet of Things includes an estimated prediction of billions of CIoT user equipment (CIoT UE) devices and a clean slate architecture with optimal message procedures to ensure low signaling overhead than is currently available using exiting 3GPP standards, wherein the document "<NPL>, is one of such standards.

The invention is directed to a Cellular Internet of Things evolved Node B, CIoT eNB per claim <NUM> and corresponding machine-readable storage including machine-readable instructions per claim <NUM>. Dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention. The claimed subject matter may be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Further, if considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding and/or analogous elements.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and/or circuits have not been described in detail.

In the following description and/or claims, the terms coupled and/or connected, along with their derivatives, may be used. In particular embodiments, connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electrical contact with each other. Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electrical contact. Coupled, however, may also mean that two or more elements may not be in direct contact with each other, but yet may still cooperate and/or interact with each other. For example, "coupled" may mean that two or more elements do not contact each other but are indirectly joined together via another element or intermediate elements. Finally, the terms "on," "overlying," and "over" may be used in the following description and claims. "On," "overlying," and "over" may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. "Over", however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other. For example, "over" may mean that one element is above another element but not contact each other and may have another element or elements in between the two elements. Furthermore, the term "and/or" may mean "and", it may mean "or", it may mean "exclusive-or", it may mean "one", it may mean "some, but not all", it may mean "neither", and/or it may mean "both", although the scope of claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. In the following description and/or claims, the terms "comprise" and "include," along with their derivatives, may be used and are intended as synonyms for each other.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of a cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) architecture in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. <FIG> show a cellular network <NUM> comprising an network operator's home network <NUM> to couple to a service provider network <NUM>. Service provider network <NUM> may include a cloud security gateway (GW) <NUM> to couple to home network <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>, and a cloud service network <NUM> to couple to home network <NUM> via a data center fabric <NUM>. Home network <NUM> may comprise a service capability exposure function (SCEF) <NUM>, an authentication center (AUC) <NUM>, a home subscriber server (HSS) <NUM>, and/or an access server (AS) <NUM>.

Network <NUM> may provide an S1-Lite Interface <NUM> to serve CIoT User Equipment (UE) devices such as CIoT-UE <NUM> and/or other devices or gateways. As shown in <FIG>, S1-Lite Interface <NUM> may be disposed between CIoT evolved Node B (CIoT eNB) and CIoT access gateway (CIoT GW or C-GW) <NUM>. CIoT gateway <NUM> may comprise a mobility management entity (MME) <NUM> and serving gateway (SGW) (not shown) in addition to a packet gateway (PGW) (not shown). In some embodiments, MME <NUM> may be integrated with CIoT GW <NUM>, and in other embodiments CIoT GW <NUM> may comprise a separate entity, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. An S1 Lite-C Interface <NUM> may connect MME <NUM> and CIoT eNB <NUM>, and an S1 Lite-U interface may be utilized for user plane communication between CIoT eNB <NUM> and the SGW of CIoT GW <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, S1 Lite Interface <NUM> may provide a clean slate solution for the architecture for a CIoT Access Network (CAN) in order to enable efficient utilization of the resource functions of a power-efficient CIoT-UE <NUM>. An example of such a CAN is shown in and described with respect to <FIG>, below.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of an S1-Lite interface in a CIoT Access Network (CAN) in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. As shown in <FIG>, CIoT access network <NUM> comprises CIoT eNB coupled with CIoT GW <NUM> via an S1-Lite interface <NUM>. In one or more embodiments, S1-Lite interface <NUM> comprises an S1-Lite C interface as defined in an architecture of CAN <NUM> as shown in and described with respect to <FIG>, below.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of a combined control plane-user plane control stack of a CAN in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. In the clean slate architecture of CAN <NUM>, there is no separate user plane as data is sent over a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer. In such an arrangement, the control plane comprises protocols for control and support of the user plane functions. Accordingly, the following control planes are used in a C1 interface/narrow band air interface Cellular IoT Terrestrial Radio Access Network (CITRAN) mode. In wherein Uu may be analogous to the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) per a Long Term Evolution (LTE) air interface.

<FIG> shows the protocol stack for the control-plane comprising a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Lite protocol layer <NUM> to couple CIoT UE <NUM> with CIoT GW <NUM> via CIoT eNB <NUM>. Furthermore, CIoT UE <NUM> couples to CIoT eNB using the flowing layers. Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer <NUM>, (PDCP) layer <NUM>, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer <NUM>, Media Access Control (MAC) layer <NUM>, and physical (PHY) layer <NUM>. The PDCP layer <NUM> is terminated in CIoT eNB <NUM> on the network side and performs the functions listed for the control plane in security architecture, for example ciphering and integrity protection. RLC layer <NUM> and MAC layer are terminated in CIoT eNB <NUM> on the network side and perform the same functions as for the user plane. RRC layer <NUM> is terminated in CIoT eNB <NUM> on the network side and performs the following functions: Cellular Internet of Things Application Protocol (CIAP) Paging, RRC connection management, resource block (RB) control, and/or user equipment (UE) measurement reporting and control. The Non-Access Stratum (NAS)- Lite protocol layer is terminated in the CIoT GW <NUM> on the network side and performs reduced Non-Access Stratum (NAS) functions including: Last Seen timer updating, CIAP data message (CIAP_Data_Msg) handling, authentication, buffer handling, and security control.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of an S1-Lite interface in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. As shown in FIG, S1 Lite interface <NUM> is the interface within the CIoT Access Gateway between CIoT GW <NUM> and CIoT UE <NUM>. On S1 Lite interface <NUM>, the application layer signaling protocol may be referred to as CIoT Application Protocol (CIoT AP) <NUM>. Since potentially there may be billions of CIoT UE <NUM> devices sending messages, in the clean slate architecture an efficient way to provide congestion control may be to utilize a Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) <NUM> for signaling transport. In one example, SCTP <NUM> may be provided on top of internet protocol (IP) <NUM>. In addition, a Layer <NUM> protocol <NUM> and a Layer <NUM> protocol <NUM> may be provided. In one or more embodiments, the procedures for CIoT AP410 procedures are outlined in Table <NUM>, below.

Referring now to <FIG>, a message flow diagram of a Cellular Internet of Things Application Protocol (CIAP) setup request in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. A CIAP setup request may be a message to configure a reduced signaling overhead between CIoT eNB <NUM> and CIoT GW <NUM> and/or between CIoT eNB <NUM> and CIoT UE <NUM>. A reduced signaling overhead may refer to, for example, a low throughput or a very low throughput such as transmission of around one packet or very few packets at a frequency of around once per day or even less frequently, wherein the packet size may around <NUM> bytes or less as an example. Typically, with a reduced signaling overhead arrangement, the transmitting devices may have little or no mobility and therefore do not perform a handover, or very infrequently perform a handover. Such packets may be transmitted very infrequently or sometimes only in an emergency situation, and also may be transmitted with a low or very low transmission rate, for example around <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) or so. It should be noted that these are merely example characteristics of a reduced signaling overhead, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. The following CIoT-AP <NUM> procedures may be utilized in a CIoT Clean Slate Architecture. As shown in <FIG>, the CIAP SETUP REQUEST message <NUM> is an initial setup request message from CIoT GW <NUM> to CIoT eNB <NUM>. The CIAP SETUP REQUEST message may contain a last seen timer information element (IE), the CIAP_Data_Msg Protocol Data Unit (PDU) IE, the Trace Activation IE, the Local Area Identity (LAI) IE, the CIoT UE Radio Capability IE, and/or the Subscriber Profile Identity (ID) for Radio Access Technology (RAT)/Frequency priority IE. The CIoT eNB <NUM> then provides a CIAP SETUP RESPONSE <NUM> to the CIoT GW <NUM>.

In one or more embodiments, the CIAP setup request may be referred to as a Connection Establishment Procedure wherein the CIAP SETUP REQUEST message <NUM> may be referred to as an S1-AP connection establishment indication procedure. In such embodiments, the Connection Establishment Indication procedure may enable the CIoT GW <NUM> and/or MME <NUM> to provide information to eNB <NUM> to complete the establishment of the UE-associated logical S1-connection after receiving an INITIAL UE MESSAGE message, for example if CIoT GW <NUM> and/or MME <NUM> has no non-access stratum (NAS) protocol data unit (PDU) to send in the downlink (DL) for Control Plane CIoT evolved packet system (EPS) Optimization. The capability of the UE <NUM> (UE Radio Capability) may be provided from the CIoT GW <NUM> and/or MME <NUM> to eNB <NUM> in this procedure, and may be included in a response or message analogous to CIAP SETUP RESPONSE <NUM>. If the radio capability of UE <NUM> is not included, eNB <NUM> may be triggered to request the UE Radio Capability from UE <NUM> and to provide the UE Radio Capability to the CIoT GW <NUM> and/or MME <NUM> in a UE CAPABILITY INFO INDICATION message. Such a procedure may be initiated by the CIoT GW <NUM> and/or MME <NUM>. It should be noted that the terminology and/or procedures are merely example implementations of a CIAP setup request or a Connection Establishment Procedure, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of an end-to-end message flow diagram for a CIoT UE Service Request in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. The Service Request could either be a CIoT UE <NUM> originating request or a network originating request reporting related information element (IE). The flow in <FIG> includes CIoT UE <NUM>, CIoT eNB <NUM>, CIoT GW <NUM>, Service Capability Server (SCS) <NUM>, access server (AS) <NUM>, and/or home subscriber server (HSS) <NUM>. In the diagram, Last Seen Time (LST) may refer to a last timer update sent by CIoT UE <NUM> before going to sleep. For a CIoT UE <NUM> triggered Service Request as shown in <FIG>, the CIoT UE <NUM> sends a CIoT Non-Access Stratum (C-NAS) message Service Request towards CIoT GW <NUM> encapsulated in a radio resource control (RRC) message to CIoT eNB <NUM>. The one or more RRC messages may be utilized to carry the CIoT temporary mobile subscriber identity (C-TMSI). The C-TMSI may comprise an encryption derived from the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of CIoT UE <NUM> and may be referred to as a CIoT IMSI. CIoT eNB <NUM> then forwards the C-NAS message to CIoT GW <NUM>. The NAS message may be encapsulated in a CIoT AP <NUM> comprising an Initial UE Message such as NAS message, E-UTRAN cell global identifier (ECGI) of the serving cell, a C-TMSI, a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID), and/or a CSG access Mode. If CIoT GW <NUM> is unable to handle the Service Request, then CIoT GW <NUM> will reject the Service Request.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of an end-to-end message flow diagram of a CIoT access network triggered service request in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. With a CIoT Access Network Triggered Service Request as shown in <FIG>, the downlink data mat be initiated by the application server (AS) <NUM> over an application programming (API) interface. Once the downlink data is received by CIoT GW <NUM>, then CIoT GW <NUM> conducts a last seen time check for the destination CIoT UE <NUM> subscriber identity carried in the message. Based on this information, an estimated next wake time may be determined. The message then may be discarded or stored in a buffer of CIoT GW <NUM> based on this information element (IE). If the incoming message is not discarded, a downlink data acknowledgement may be sent to SCS <NUM> by CIoT GW <NUM>. If SCS <NUM> does not receive a downlink data acknowledgement, then SCS <NUM> sends the downlink data message again after an expiry timer. Once CIoT GW <NUM> sends a downlink data acknowledgement to SCS <NUM>, CIoT GW simultaneously pages CIoT eNB <NUM> which in turn pages CIoT UE <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a message flow diagram of CIAP paging in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. As shown in <FIG>, CIoT Gateway (CIoT GW) <NUM> may initiate the paging procedure by sending a CIAP-PAGING message <NUM> to CIoT eNB <NUM>. In some embodiments, paging may occur only during a network triggered service request, for example as shown in and described with respect to <FIG>, above. Paging may be implemented in accordance to an idle mode power saving mode (PSM). In some embodiments, a tracking area update (TAU) accept and/or a routing area update (RAU) accept in CIoT related signaling may not be needed. As a result, a TAU request or a RAU request will not be involved with the signaling procedures. The following information elements (IEs) may be involved with CIAP Paging as shown in Table <NUM>, below.

For CIoT UE Paging Identity, a CIoT UE <NUM> could be a gateway that supports up to <NUM>,<NUM> CIoT UE <NUM> devices. A CIoT international mobile subscriber identity (C-IMSI) may be utilized for subscriber identification and may be stored in the subscriber identity module (SIM) card of CIoT UE <NUM>. The C-IMSI may comprise a mobile country code (MCC) comprising <NUM> digits, a mobile network code (MNC) comprising <NUM> or <NUM> digits, and a CIoT subscription identification number (CSIN) comprising <NUM> or <NUM> digits. Furthermore, a gateway subscriber identification number (GSIN) may identify CIoT GW <NUM>. Thus, a CSIN may comprise a GSIN comprising <NUM> digits and a mobile subscriber identification number comprising <NUM> digits. The C- TMSI may have the size of <NUM> octets and may be allocated by CIoT GW <NUM>. The C-TMSI information element (IE) may represent the identity with which CIoT UE <NUM> is paged according to Table <NUM>, below.

Referring now to <FIG>, a message flow diagram of a CIAP data message (CIAP_DATA MSG) in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. The flow of a CIAP data message may be as follows: from CIoT GW <NUM> to CIoT eNB <NUM> at operation <NUM>, and from CIoT eNB <NUM> to CIoT GW <NUM> at operation <NUM>. The information elements for the CIAP data message are listed in Table <NUM>, below.

The Message Type Information Element (IE) uniquely identifies the message being sent, and may be mandatory for all messages in one or more embodiments. The IE type and reference is shown in Table <NUM>, below.

The Mobility Management Entity (MME) User Equipment (UE) Cellular Internet of Things Application Protocol (CIAP) Identity (ID) (MME UE CIAP ID) uniquely identifies the UE association over the S1- Lite interface <NUM> within MME <NUM> as shown in Table <NUM>, below:.

The CIoT evolved Node B (CIoT eNB) CIoT User Equipment (CIoT UE) Cellular Internet of Things Application Protocol (CIAP) Identity (ID) (CIoT eNB CIoT UE CIAP ID) uniquely identifies the UE association over the S1 interface <NUM> within the CIoT eNB <NUM> as shown in Table <NUM>, below:.

In one or more embodiments, the Subscriber Profile Identity (ID) or (SPID) for Radio Access Technology (RAT)/Frequency Priority parameter received by the CIoT eNB <NUM> via the S1 Lite interface <NUM> may refer to user information, for example a service usage profile. Such information may be specific to a CIoT UE <NUM> and may apply to all the Radio Bearers of the CIoT UE <NUM>. This index may be mapped by CIoT eNB <NUM> to a locally defined configuration in order to apply specific radio resource management (RRM) strategies, for example to define priorities of a radio resource control (RRC) idle (RRC_IDLE) mode. The Subscriber Profile ID information element (IE) for RAT/Frequency Selection Priority may utilized to define camp priorities in an Idle mode and to control inter-RAT/inter-frequency handovers in Active mode. The SPID IE is shown in Table <NUM>, below.

This message is sent by CIoT eNB <NUM> and may be utilized for carrying Non-Access Stratum (NAS) information over S1 Lite interface <NUM>. The direction of flow for this message may be as follows: CIoT eNB <NUM> to MME <NUM> and/or CIoT GW <NUM>. The information elements for this message are shown in Table <NUM>, below:.

Referring now to <FIG>, example components of a wireless device such as a CIoT evolved NodeB (CIoT eNB) device, a CIoT gateway (CIoT GW) device, or a CIoT User Equipment (CIoT UE) device in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. In some embodiments, device <NUM> may include application circuitry <NUM>, baseband circuitry <NUM>, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry <NUM>, front-end module (FEM) circuitry <NUM> and one or more antennas <NUM>, coupled together at least as shown. In other embodiments, the above described circuitries may be included in various devices, in whole or in part, for example an eNB or a GW according to a cloud-RAN (C-RAN) implementation, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

Embodiments described herein may be implemented into a system using any suitably configured hardware and/or software.

Application circuitry <NUM> may include one or more application processors. For example, application circuitry <NUM> may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The one or more processors may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors, for example graphics processors, application processors, and so on. The processors may be coupled with and/or may include memory and/or storage and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory and/or storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system.

Baseband circuitry <NUM> may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. Baseband circuitry <NUM> may include one or more baseband processors and/or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of RF circuitry <NUM> and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry <NUM>. Baseband processing circuity <NUM> may interface with the application circuitry <NUM> for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the RF circuitry <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry <NUM> may include a second generation (<NUM>) baseband processor 1004a, third generation (<NUM>) baseband processor 1004b, fourth generation (<NUM>) baseband processor 1004c, and/or one or more other baseband processors 1004d for other existing generations, generations in development or to be developed in the future, for example fifth generation (<NUM>), sixth generation (<NUM>), and so on. Baseband circuitry <NUM>, for example one or more of baseband processors 1004a through 1004d, may handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks via RF circuitry <NUM>. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation and/or demodulation, encoding and/or decoding, radio frequency shifting, and so on. In some embodiments, modulation and/or demodulation circuitry of baseband circuitry <NUM> may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, and/or constellation mapping and/or demapping functionality. In some embodiments, encoding and/or decoding circuitry of baseband circuitry <NUM> may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, and/or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder and/or decoder functionality. Embodiments of modulation and/or demodulation and encoder and/or decoder functionality are not limited to these examples and may include other suitable functionality in other embodiments.

In some embodiments, baseband circuitry <NUM> may include elements of a protocol stack such as, for example, elements of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) protocol including, for example, physical (PHY), media access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and/or radio resource control (RRC) elements. Processor 1004e of the baseband circuitry <NUM> may be configured to run elements of the protocol stack for signaling of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or RRC layers. In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may include one or more audio digital signal processors (DSP) 1004f. The one or more audio DSPs 1004f may include elements for compression and/or decompression and/or echo cancellation and may include other suitable processing elements in other embodiments. Components of the baseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments. In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of baseband circuitry <NUM> and application circuitry <NUM> may be implemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, baseband circuitry <NUM> may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, baseband circuitry <NUM> may support communication with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) and/or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Embodiments in which baseband circuitry <NUM> is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

In various embodiments, RF circuitry <NUM> may include switches, filters, amplifiers, and so on, to facilitate the communication with the wireless network. RF circuitry <NUM> may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from FEM circuitry <NUM> and provide baseband signals to baseband circuitry <NUM>. RF circuitry <NUM> may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry <NUM> and provide RF output signals to FEM circuitry <NUM> for transmission.

In some embodiments, RF circuitry <NUM> may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of RF circuitry <NUM> may include mixer circuitry 1006a, amplifier circuitry 1006b and filter circuitry 1006c. The transmit signal path of RF circuitry <NUM> may include filter circuitry 1006c and mixer circuitry 1006a. RF circuitry <NUM> may also include synthesizer circuitry 1006d for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path may be configured to down-convert RF signals received from FEM circuitry <NUM> based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1006d. Amplifier circuitry 1006b may be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and the filter circuitry 1006c may be a low-pass filter (LPF) or band-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Output baseband signals may be provided to baseband circuitry <NUM> for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this may be optional. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1006d to generate RF output signals for FEM circuitry <NUM>. The baseband signals may be provided by the baseband circuitry <NUM> and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1006c. Filter circuitry 1006c may include a low-pass filter (LPF), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature down conversion and/or up conversion respectively. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection, for example Hartley image rejection. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a may be arranged for direct down conversion and/or direct up conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyne operation.

In these alternate embodiments, RF circuitry <NUM> may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry, and baseband circuitry <NUM> may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with RF circuitry <NUM>. In some dual-mode embodiments, separate radio integrated circuit (IC) circuitry may be provided for processing signals for one or more spectra, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a fractional-N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+<NUM> synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.

Synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by mixer circuitry 1006a of RF circuitry <NUM> based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a fractional N/N+<NUM> synthesizer.

In some embodiments, frequency input may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although this may be optional. Divider control input may be provided by either baseband circuitry <NUM> or applications processor <NUM> depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by applications processor <NUM>.

Synthesizer circuitry 1006d of RF circuitry <NUM> may include a divider, a delay-locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phase accumulator. In some embodiments, the divider may be a dual modulus divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phase accumulator (DPA). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+<NUM>, for example based on a carry out, to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, the DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop. In these embodiments, the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency, for example twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency, and so on, and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the output frequency may be a local oscillator (LO) frequency (fLO). In some embodiments, RF circuitry <NUM> may include an in-phase and quadrature (IQ) and/or polar converter.

FEM circuitry <NUM> may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by RF circuitry <NUM> for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A Cellular Internet of Things evolved Node B, CIoT eNB (<NUM>) comprising baseband processing circuity including one or more processors to:
process a Cellular Internet of Things Application Protocol, CIAP, setup request message received from a CIoT gateway, CIoT GW (<NUM>), the CIoT GW (<NUM>) comprising a mobility management entity, MME, a serving gateway node, SGW, and a packet gateway node, PGW, wherein the CIAP setup request message is to configure a reduced signaling overhead between the CIoT eNB (<NUM>) and the CIoT GW (<NUM>), or between the CIoT eNB (<NUM>) and a CIoT user equipment, UE (<NUM>), or a combination thereof;
generate a CIAP setup response message to be transmitted to the CIoT GW (<NUM>) in response to the CIAP setup request message,
wherein the CIAP setup request message and the CIAP response message are transmitted between the CIoT eNB (<NUM>) and the CIoT GW (<NUM>), wherein the CIAP setup request message and the CIAP response message are transmitted via an S1 Lite (<NUM>) interface between the CIoT eNB (<NUM>) and the CIoT GW (<NUM>),
wherein the S1 Lite (<NUM>) interface comprises a control plane that includes user plane functions, and
wherein when the CIAP setup response message does not include user equipment, UE, radio capability information for a UE, the one or more processors are further configured to:
generate a UE radio capability
information request message to be transmitted to the UE;
provide the UE Radio Capability to the CloT GW (<NUM>).