Patent Description:
The present disclosure is related to method and a User Equipment (UE) for small data transmission.

With the tremendous growth in the number of connected devices and the rapid increase in user/network traffic volume, various efforts have been made to improve different aspects of wireless communication for the next-generation wireless communication system, such as the fifth-generation (<NUM>) New Radio (NR), by improving data rate, latency, reliability, and mobility.

The <NUM> NR system is designed to provide flexibility and configurability to optimize the network services and types, accommodating various use cases such as enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC), and Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communication (URLLC).

However, as the demand for radio access continues to increase, there is a need for further improvements in wireless communication for the next-generation wireless communication system. Document <CIT> represents an example of the prior art.

The present invention is directed to a method and a User Equipment (UE) for small data transmission, according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for small data transmission is provided. The method includes receiving, when operating in a Radio Resource Control (RRC)_CONNECTED state, an RRC release message from a Base Station (BS), the RRC release message indicating at least one downlink (DL) Reference Signal (RS), at least one Configured Grant (CG) resource and information indicating an association between the at least one DL RS and the at least one CG resource; transitioning to an RRC_INACTIVE state in response to receiving the RRC release message; initiating an attempt for the small data transmission; measuring the at least one DL RS to obtain a measurement result; selecting, from the at least one CG resource, a particular CG resource for the small data transmission according to the measurement result; determining whether a Timing Advance (TA) value for the particular CG resource is valid for the small data transmission according to (i) an amount of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) change of a DL RS associated with the particular CG resource, the DL RS being one of the at least one DL RS, and (ii) whether a TA-related timer is running; performing the small data transmission on the particular CG resource after determining that the TA value is valid, wherein: the TA-related timer defines a time interval during which the TA value is allowed to be determined as valid; the TA-related timer is configured by a TA-related timer configuration provided by the BS; the TA-related timer is started when the TA value is received; and the at least one CG resource is released when the TA-related timer expires.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a UE is provided. The UE includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores at least one computer-executable program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive, when operating in an RRC_CONNECTED state, an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating at least one DL RS, at least one CG resource and information indicating an association between the at least one DL RS and the at least one CG resource; transition to an RRC _INACTIVE state in response to receiving the RRC release message; initiate an attempt for the small data transmission; measure the at least one DL RS to obtain a measurement result; select, from the at least one CG resource, a particular CG resource for the small data transmission according to the measurement result; determine whether a Timing Advance (TA) value for the particular CG resource is valid for the small data transmission according to (i) an amount of RSRP change for the particular CG resource is valid for the small data transmission according to (i) an amount of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) change of a DL RS associated with the particular CG resource, the DL RS being one of the at least one DL RS, and (ii) whether a TA-related timer is running; perform the small data transmission on the particular CG resource after determining that the TA value is valid, wherein: the TA-related timer defines a time interval during which the TA value is allowed to be determined as valid; the TA-related timer is configured in a TA-related timer configuration provided by the BS; the TA-related timer is started when the TA value is received; and the at least one CG resource is released when the TA-related timer expires.

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed disclosure when read with the accompanying figures. Various features are not drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

The acronyms mentioned in the present disclosure are defined as follows. Unless otherwise specified, the terms in the present disclosure have the following meanings.

The following contains specific information pertaining to example implementations in the present disclosure. The drawings and their accompanying detailed disclosure are directed to merely example implementations of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to merely these example implementations. Other variations and implementations of the present disclosure will occur to those skilled in the art. Unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals.

For consistency and ease of understanding, like features are identified (although, in some examples, not illustrated) by numerals in the example figures. However, the features in different implementations may differ in other respects, and thus shall not be narrowly confined to what is illustrated in the figures.

References to "one implementation," "an implementation," "example implementation," "various implementations," "some implementations," "implementations of the present disclosure," etc., may indicate that the implementation(s) of the present disclosure may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible implementation of the present disclosure necessarily includes the specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one implementation," "in an example implementation," or "an implementation," do not necessarily refer to the same implementation, although they may. Moreover, any use of phrases like "implementations" in connection with "the present disclosure" are never meant to characterize that all implementations of the present disclosure must include the specific feature, structure, or characteristic, and should instead be understood to mean "at least some implementations of the present disclosure" includes the stated specific feature, structure, or characteristic. The term "coupled" is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The term "comprising," when utilized, means "including but not necessarily limited to"; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the disclosed combination, group, series, and the equivalent. The terms "system" and "network" in the present disclosure may be used interchangeably.

The term "and/or" herein is only an association relationship for describing associated objects and represents that three relationships may exist, for example, A and/or B may represent that: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. "A and/or B and/or C" may represent that at least one of A, B, and C exists. The character "/" used herein generally represents that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

Additionally, for a non-limiting explanation, specific details, such as functional entities, techniques, protocols, standards, and the like, are set forth for providing an understanding of the disclosed technology. In other examples, detailed disclosure of well-known methods, technologies, systems, architectures, and the like are omitted so as not to obscure the present disclosure with unnecessary details.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that any network function(s) or algorithm(s) may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware. Disclosed functions may correspond to modules that may be software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. The software implementation may comprise computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium such as memory or other types of storage devices. For example, one or more microprocessors or general-purpose computers with communication processing capability may be programmed with corresponding executable instructions and carry out the disclosed network function(s) or algorithm(s). The microprocessors or general-purpose computers may be formed of Applications Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC), programmable logic arrays, and/or using one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). Although some of the example implementations disclosed are oriented to software installed and executing on computer hardware, alternative example implementations implemented as firmware or as hardware or combination of hardware and software are well within the scope of the present disclosure.

The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory, Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or any other equivalent medium capable of storing computer-readable instructions.

A radio communication network architecture (e.g., a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, or an LTE-Advanced Pro system) may typically include at least one Base Station (BS), at least one UE, and one or more optional network elements that provide connection towards a network. The UE may communicate with the network (e.g., a Core Network (CN), an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network, an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), a Next-Generation Core (NGC), or an Internet), through a Radio Access Network (RAN) established by the BS.

A UE according to the present disclosure may include, but is not limited to, a mobile station, a mobile terminal or device, a user communication radio terminal. For example, a UE may be a portable radio equipment, which includes, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet, a wearable device, a sensor, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with wireless communication capability. The UE may be configured to receive and transmit signals over an air interface to one or more cells in an RAN.

A BS according to the present disclosure may include, but is not limited to, a Node B (NB) as in the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), an evolved Node B (eNB) as in the LTE-A, a Radio Network Controller (RNC) as in the UMTS, a Base Station Controller (BSC) as in the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)/GSM Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) as in an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) BS in connection with the 5GC, a next-generation Node B (gNB) as in the <NUM> Access Network (<NUM>-AN), and any other apparatus capable of controlling radio communication and managing radio resources within a cell. The BS may connect to serve the one or more UEs through a radio interface to the network.

The BS may be configured to provide communication services according to at least one of the following Radio Access Technologies (RATs): Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), GSM (often referred to as <NUM>), GERAN, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), UMTS (often referred to as <NUM>) based on basic Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), LTE, LTE-A, enhanced LTE (eLTE), NR (often referred to as <NUM>), and LTE-A Pro. However, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the protocols mentioned previously.

The BS may be operable to provide radio coverage to a specific geographical area using a plurality of cells included in the RAN. The BS may support the operations of the cells. Each cell may be operable to provide services to at least one UE within its radio coverage. Specifically, each cell (often referred to as a serving cell) may provide services to serve one or more UEs within its radio coverage (e.g., each cell schedules the Downlink (DL) and optionally Uplink (UL) resources to at least one UE within its radio coverage for DL and optionally UL packet transmission). The BS may communicate with one or more UEs in the radio communication system through the plurality of cells.

A cell may allocate Sidelink (SL) resources for supporting Proximity Service (ProSe), LTE SL services, and LTE/NR Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services. Each cell may have overlapped coverage areas with other cells. In Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) cases, the primary cell of a Master Cell Group (MCG) or a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) may be referred to as a Special Cell (SpCell). A Primary Cell (PCell) may refer to the SpCell of an MCG. A Primary SCG Cell (PSCell) may refer to the SpCell of an SCG. MCG may refer to a group of serving cells associated with the Master Node (MN), including the SpCell and optionally one or more Secondary Cells (SCells). An SCG may refer to a group of serving cells associated with the Secondary Node (SN), including the SpCell and optionally one or more SCells.

As discussed previously, the frame structure for NR is to support flexible configurations for accommodating various next-generation (e.g., <NUM>) communication requirements, such as eMBB, mMTC, and URLLC, while fulfilling high reliability, high data rate, and low latency requirements. The orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) technology, as agreed in the <NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), may serve as a baseline for an NR waveform. The scalable OFDM numerology, such as the adaptive sub-carrier spacing, the channel bandwidth, and the cyclic prefix (CP), may also be used. Additionally, two coding schemes are considered for NR: (<NUM>) low-density parity-check (LDPC) code and (<NUM>) polar code. The coding scheme adaption may be configured based on the channel conditions and/or the service applications.

Moreover, it is also considered that in a transmission time interval of a single NR frame, at least DL transmission data, a guard period, and UL transmission data should be included, where the respective portions of the DL transmission data, the guard period, the UL transmission data should also be configurable, for example, based on the network dynamics of NR. Besides, an SL resource may also be provided in an NR frame to support ProSe services.

In addition to <NUM>-step RA procedures, <NUM>-step RA procedures are also supported in the next generation cellular wireless communication system (e.g., 3GPP NR wireless communication system). The following three types of RA procedures may be supported in the next generation cellular wireless communication system: <NUM>-step CBRA, <NUM>-step CBRA, and CFRA. Details on the three types of RA procedures are described with reference with <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates <NUM>-step CBRA according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, a UE <NUM> may transmit an MSG1 including an RA preamble to a BS <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the BS <NUM> may transmit an MSG2 (e.g., an RAR) to the UE <NUM> in response to receiving the MSG1. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transmit an MSG3 to the BS <NUM> in a scheduled transmission (e.g., scheduled by the RAR). In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive an MSG4 (e.g., including a contention resolution message) from the BS <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates <NUM>-step CBRA according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, an RA preamble may be transmitted by the UE <NUM>. In action <NUM>, a PUSCH payload may be transmitted by the UE <NUM>. It is noted that action <NUM> together with action <NUM> may be considered an MSGA transmission. That is, the MSGA transmission of the <NUM>-step CBRA may include a preamble transmission on a PRACH and a payload transmission on a PUSCH. After the MSGA transmission, the UE <NUM> may monitor, within a configured window, an MSGB that includes a contention resolution message from the BS <NUM>. If the contention resolution is successful upon the UE <NUM> receiving the MSGB in action <NUM>, the UE may end the <NUM>-step CBRA procedure.

<FIG> illustrates CFRA according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> may receive an RA preamble assignment (e.g., via an MSG0) from a BS <NUM> in action <NUM>. The RA preamble assignment may indicate a resource allocation of an RA preamble transmission. The UE <NUM> may transmit an MSG1 (e.g., including an RA preamble) according to the indicated resource allocation in action <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive an MSG2 (e.g., an RAR) as a response to the MSG1.

<FIG> illustrates a process of fallback from a <NUM>-step RA procedure to a <NUM>-step RA procedure according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The process may be achieved by including a fallback indication in an MSGB. As illustrated in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> may transmit an RA preamble and a PUSCH payload to a BS <NUM> in actions <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. If the UE <NUM> receives a fallback indication in the MSGB in action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform an MSG3 transmission in action <NUM> and monitor an MSG4 (a contention resolution message) in action <NUM>. After performing the MSG3 (re)transmission for a certain number of times, the UE <NUM> may go back to performing MSGA transmission if the contention resolution is not successful. If the <NUM>-step RA procedure is not successfully completed after a configured number of MSGA transmissions, the UE <NUM> may switch to performing a <NUM>-step CBRA procedure.

For an RA procedure performed with a serving cell configured with an SUL carrier, the BS may explicitly indicate to the UE which carrier to use (e.g., an UL carrier or an SUL carrier). Otherwise, the UE may select the SUL carrier to use if the measured quality of the DL is lower than a threshold broadcast by the BS. The UE may perform the carrier selection before the selection of <NUM>-step RA and <NUM>-step RA. Once started, all UL transmissions of the RA procedure may remain on the selected carrier.

In a 3GPP NA wireless communication system, a gNB may dynamically allocate UL resources to a UE via a UE-specific RNTI (e.g., C-RNTI) on a PDCCH. The UE may periodically monitor the PDCCH(s) in order to find possible grants for UL transmission.

Different from the DG mechanism described previously, a gNB may preconfigure a UE with periodic UL resources on PUSCHs via CGs. Two types of CGs, i.e., CG Type1 and CG Type <NUM>, are provided as follows:.

CG Type <NUM>: a gNB may provide the CG (including the periodicity of CG resources) via DL RRC signaling and the CG is considered valid for transmission when the UE receives the CG and the corresponding reconfiguration is finished. A valid CG may mean that this CG can be applied by the UE for UL transmission. As used herein, a CG resource may refer to a PUSCH resource, and a CG may be referred to as a CG configuration. The term "CG" and the term "CG configuration" may be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure.

CG Type <NUM>: a gNB may provide the CG (including the periodicity of CG resources) via DL RRC signaling. The CG may be considered valid upon the UE receiving activation signaling from the gNB until the UE receives deactivation signaling from the gNB. The activation signaling and the deactivation signaling may be PHY signaling. For example, the activation signaling and the deactivation signaling may be transmitted on a PDCCH addressed to a CS-RNTI.

In NR, three RRC states are supported: RRC _CONNECTED state, RRC_IDLE state and RRC _INACTIVE state. A UE (or the RRC layer of the UE) may operate in one of the three RRC states. Except for an UL data transmission performed during an RA procedure, an UL data transmission is generally only allowed to be performed by the UE in the RRC_ CONNECTED state. As described herein, a UL data transmission may refer to a process in which a UE transmits data to a BS (e.g., gNB) on a PUSCH or other physical UL channel(s). In a legacy RA procedure introduced in LTE, the MSGA or MSG3 can only carry small and limited amount of data, since the PUSCH resource allocated by the gNB for the MSGA/MSG3 transmission is primarily for transmitting data from a Common Control Channel (CCCH) (e.g., data from the RRC layer). If a UE needs to transmit UL data (which is not from a CCCH) to the gNB and the UE is not in the RRC_ CONNECTED state (i.e., operates in the RRC_ IDLE state or the RRC_ INACTIVE state), even if the amount of data is small, the UE still needs to trigger and perform an RRC connection establishment procedure or an RRC connection resume procedure to transition to the RRC_ CONNECTED state to transmit the data. Therefore, infrequent small UL data transmission by the UE may result in considerable power consumption due to the signaling overhead applied for the RRC state transition. For saving the power consumption of a UE, it may be beneficial to allow a UE to perform, without transitioning to the RRC_CONNECTED state, UL transmission (for transmitting (small) data received from an LCH associated with an SRB or a DRB) in the RRC_ INACTIVE state or the RRC_ IDLE state. Such UL transmission may refer to a small data transmission, which may be performed through an RA procedure and/or a CG(s) provided by the BS. As described herein, data received from an LCH associated with an SRB or a DRB may refer to small data. In this sense, small data may include control signaling and/or user data. The term "small data" and the term "data" may be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure if the data is transmitted by the UE in the RRC_ INACTIVE state or the RRC_ IDLE state.

In order to allow a UE to transmit data via a CG while the UE is not in the RRC _CONNECTED state (e.g., in the RRC _INACTIVE or RRC_ IDLE), several UE behaviors are proposed. Based on the UE behaviors, (small) data may be carried by one or multiple TBs to be transmitted on a PUSCH resource(s) derived from a CG configuration provided (configured) by the gNB. It is noted that although the data transmission performed in the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state may refer to a small data transmission, the various UE behaviors in the present disclosure can also be applied to UL transmissions for any size of data. For example, the size of data to be transmitted in the RRC _INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state may depend on the size of a PUSCH resource derived from a CG. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the UE behaviors applicable to the RRC _INACTIVE state may also be applicable to the RRC_IDLE state.

<FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> for a UE that performs small data transmission in an RRC _INACTIVE state or an RRC_IDLE state according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, a UE operates in an RRC_CONNECTED state. A BS (e.g., gNB) located in an RAN of NR may indicate to the UE to transition from the RRC _CONNECTED state to an RRC _INACTIVE state or an RRC_IDLE state by transmitting an RRC release message (or "RRCRelease," which can be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure). For example, if the UE receives the RRC release message when operating in the RRC _CONNECTED state, the UE may perform an RRC connection release procedure to transition from the RRC_CONNECTED state to the RRC _INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state. As used herein, an RRC _CONNECTED UE may refer to a UE that operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state; an RRC _INACTIVE UE may refer to a UE that operates in the RRC _INACTIVE state; an RRC_IDLE UE may refer to a UE that operates in an RRC_IDLE state.

In action <NUM>, the UE may receive an RRC release message including an RRC indicator and a configuration for small data transmission from the BS. The RRC indicator may be, or correspond to, an IE denoted as State_Indicator. The RRC indicator may indicate which of the RRC_INACTIVE state and the RRC_IDLE state to which the UE should transition/switch. The RRC indicator may also be implemented as an implicit indication. For example, the BS may indicate to the UE to transition to the RRC _INACTIVE state by including a specific configuration in the RRC release message, and indicate to the UE to transition to the RRC_IDLE state by not including the specific configuration in the RRC release message. In this way, the UE may know which RRC state (e.g., the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state) to which it should switch/transition according to the presence of the specific configuration in the RRC release message. The specific configuration may be a suspend configuration (or "SuspendConfig," which can be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure) that contains the information needed by the UE to maintain its AS context during the RRC _INACTIVE state. The configuration for small data transmission (or "SD Config," which can be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure) may contain the information needed by the UE to perform (small) data transmission in the RRC INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state.

In action <NUM>, the UE may apply the configuration for small data transmission, and reconfigure its AS layer (e.g., the MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or SDAP layer(s)) according to the configuration for small data transmission. In action <NUM>, the UE may transition to the RRC _INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state according to the RRC state indicator. In action <NUM>, the UE may perform data transmission (e.g., small data transmission), according to the configuration for small data transmission via a CG provided by the BS while operating in the RRC INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state.

Based on whether the configuration for small data transmission (SD_Config) is included in the suspend configuration (SuspendConfig), the UE may determine to which RRC state it should transition and perform the data transmission. For example, the UE may enter the RRC _INACTIVE state and perform data transmission via a CG or an RA procedure while operating in the RRC _INACTIVE state if the UE determines that the SD_Config is included in the SuspendConfig. Otherwise, the UE may enter the RRC_IDLE state and perform data transmission via a CG or an RA procedure while operating in the RRC_IDLE state if the UE determines that the SD_Config is not included in the SuspendConfig but is included in the RRCRelease.

As described previously, the SD_Config may contain the information needed by the UE to perform (small) data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state. For example, the SD_Config may include one or more of the indicators (e.g., the first to tenth indicators)/configurations described in the following sections (A) to (L).

Examples related to the second indicator and the BWPs with respective priorities are provided in the following items <NUM>) to <NUM>). Each item may be implemented independent of, or in combination with, other items listed in the section.

(C) The SD_Config may include a third indicator indicating the number of PUSCH repetitions that the UE should perform for small data transmission via a CG. For example, when performing small data transmission, the UE may repeat the transmission of a TB corresponding to small data on a PUSCH (e.g., a CG resource) for a specific number of times indicated by the third indicator.

(D) The SD_Config may include a fourth indicator that indicates a PUSCH configuration for small data transmission. The PUSCH configuration may include at least one of the following parameters:.

(E) The SD_Config may include a fifth indicator indicating a CG configuration included in a list of pre-configured CG configurations. When the UE operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state, the UE may be preconfigured with multiple CG configurations. The fifth indicator may indicate one or more of the preconfigured CG configurations.

The CG configuration indicated by the fifth indicator may be applied by the UE for small data transmission.

For example, the CG configuration may indicate/determine a physical resource(s) which may be applied by the UE for small data transmission.

The list of preconfigured CG configurations may be transmitted by the BS via a DL RRC message while the UE is operating in the RRC_CONNECTED state. For example, the BS may provide three CG configurations (e.g., CG configuration #<NUM>, CG configuration #<NUM> and CG configuration #<NUM>), and the fifth indicator may indicate one of the three CG configurations.

Each CG configuration in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH resources (e.g., or "CG resources") on a respective UL BWP configured by the BS. For example, assuming that the UE is configured with UL BWP #<NUM> and UL BWP #<NUM>, CG configuration #<NUM> in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH resources on UL BWP #<NUM>, and CG configuration #<NUM> in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH resources on UL BWP #<NUM>.

Each CG configuration in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH/CG resources on a respective (serving) cell configured by the BS. For example, assuming that the UE is configured with cell #<NUM> and cell #<NUM>, CG configuration #<NUM> in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH resources on UL cell #<NUM>, and CG configuration #<NUM> in the list of preconfigured CG configurations may be associated with a set of PUSCH resources on cell #<NUM>.

(F) The SD_Config may include a sixth indicator indicating a maximum size of a TB/data can be transmission on a BWP and/or cell via a CG;
(G) The SD_Config may include a seventh indicator/configuration indicating one or more radio bearers (e.g., SRB(s) and/or DRB(s)) that the UE should maintain (or not release) when the UE performs the RRC (connection) release procedure. According to the seventh indicator, the indicated radio bearers may be maintained by the UE even if the UE transitions to the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state. The LCH associated with the indicated radio bearer may be selected by the MAC entity of the UE for a multiplexing and assembly procedure for small data transmission.

(H) The SD_Config may include a configuration of an LCP restriction (e.g., smalldata_allowance) for at least one LCH configured for the RRC_CONNECTED state. The LCP restriction may be configured by the BS per an LCH basis via the SD_Config. For example, when the UE operates in the RRC _INACTIVE state and is performing an M&A procedure for preparing/generating a MAC PDU for small data transmission via a CG, the MAC entity of the UE may only select the LCH that is configured with the smalldata_allowance to join the M&A and LCP procedure.

(I) The SD_Config may include a set of configurations providing information needed by the UE to perform a MAC procedure/process for completing small data transmission via a CG. The MAC procedure/process may include at least one of the following:.

(<NUM>) The SD_Config may include an eighth indicator indicating an access category (e.g., service type of data) and/or an access identity permitted for small data transmission via a CG. The eighth indicator may also indicate a set of permitted access categories or a specific value. If the ID of an access category is smaller than the specific value, the access category is considered permitted.

The SD_Config may include one or multiple CG configurations. After receiving the CG configuration(s), the UE may send an UL indicator to the BS, where the UL indicator may be a UE ID that may refer to an RNTI (e.g., I-RNTI, fullI-RNTI, shortI-RNTI, or other specific RNTI), a UE AS context ID, and/or UE inactive AS context. The UE ID may be transmitted together with the small data transmission. For example, the UE ID may be transmitted via an MSG1, MSG3, MSGA, and/or an UL resource derived from a CG. The UE ID may be used by the UE for requesting the BS (e.g., gNB) to allow the UE to perform small data transmission (e.g., via the CG). For example, the UE ID may be used to scramble with CRC bits of the DCI, where the DCI is used as an acknowledgement in response to a small data transmission. In a case of multiple UEs sharing the same resource(s) for small data transmission, the BS may identify small data transmissions from different UEs according to the corresponding UE IDs of the UEs.

As described previously, the BS may provide the SD_Config to the UE via an RRC release message. The UE may perform a small-data-specific RRC connection release procedure in response to the RRC release message, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a small-data-specific RRC connection release procedure according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> receives an RRC release message from the BS <NUM> while operating in the RRC_CONNECTED state. The RRC release message may include an RRC configuration (e.g., SD_Config) that provides information needed by the UE to perform small data transmission via a CG in the RRC _INACTIVE state. Once the RRC layer of the UE <NUM> successfully receives the RRC release message, in action <NUM>, the RRC layer may provide corresponding configuration(s) to the lower layer(s) (e.g., the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or SDAP layer(s)), and instruct the lower layer(s) to perform a reconfiguration process by applying the RRC configuration (e.g., SD_Config). After that, the UE <NUM> leaves the RRC_CONNECTED state and enters the RRC _INACTIVE state in action <NUM>.

(K) The SD_Config in the RRC release message may include at least one of the following indicators/configurations <NUM>) to <NUM>):.

An LCH may be configured by different LCH configurations for different RRC states. For example, an LCH may be configured by a first LCH configuration for the RRC_CONNECTED state and configured by a second LCH configuration for the RRC_INACITVE state. The MAC entity may release at least a portion of the first LCH configuration and apply the second LCH configuration when performing small data transmission via a CG in the RRC INACTIVE state.

An LCH may be associated with a first radio bearer indicated by the BS. The first radio bearer may be applied by the UE for performing small data transmission via a CG. Before receiving an RRC release message including the SD_Config, the MAC entity of the UE may apply a first set of LCP-related parameters (e.g., priority, prioritisedBitRate and/or bucketSizeDuration) and/or LCP-restriction-related parameters (e.g., allowedSCS-List, allowedServingCell, allowedCG-List, allowedPHY-PriorityIndex and/or maxPUSCH-Duration) when the UE operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state. The allowedCG-List may be used to set the allowed CG(s) for transmission for the configured LCH. The allowedPHY-PriorityIndex may be used to set the allowed PHY priority index(es) of a CG for transmission. The MAC entity of the UE may apply a second set of LCP-related parameters and/or LCP-restriction-related parameters when performing small data transmission via a CG in the RRC_INACTIVE state. The second set of LCP-related parameters and/or LCP-restriction-related parameters may, but not limited to, be included in the SD_Config.

<NUM>) A specific MAC cell group configuration including one or more parameters (as provided in the 3GPP TS <NUM>). Example values for each parameter are illustrated in Table <NUM>. The values illustrated in Table <NUM> are for illustrative purposes only.

The MAC entity of the UE may be allowed/indicated/configured by the BS to perform small data transmission via a CG. Before receiving the RRC release message including the SD_Config, the MAC entity of the UE may apply a first MAC cell group configuration for BSR-related parameters (e.g., periodicBSR-Timer and/or retxBSR-Timer) and/or PHR-related parameters (e.g., phr-PeriodicTimer, phr-ProhibitTimer and/or phr-Tx-PowerFactorChange) when the UE operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state. The MAC entity of the UE may apply a second MAC cell group configuration for B SR-related parameters and/or PHR-related parameters when the UE operates in the RRC_CONNECTED state when performing small data transmission via a CG in the RRC_INACTIVE state. The second MAC cell group configuration for BSR-related parameters and/or PHR-related parameters may, but not limited to, be included in the SD_Config.

The BS may configure the UE with multiple sets of parameters illustrated in Table <NUM> and the corresponding values. One of the multiple sets of parameters may be applied by the UE for performing small data transmission via a CG while the UE is operating in the RRC_INACTIVE state.

Configurations of one or more parameters corresponding to a BSR/PHR/LCP procedure and/or LCP-restriction-related parameters which are configured for the RRC_CONNECTED state may be maintained by the UE after transitioning to the RRC_INACTIVE state.

The configurations and/or indicators (e.g., the first to tenth indicators) described previously may be preconfigured by the BS via an RRC reconfiguration message or before the BS initiates the RRC release procedure.

The configuration and/or the indicator mentioned above may also be preconfigured by the gNB, via a suspendConfig IE (as introduced and defined in the 3GPP TS <NUM>) which included in the RRCRelease message.

(L) As described previously, the RRC layer of the UE may reconfigure the lower layer(s) after the BS initiates an RRC (connection) release procedure and transmits an RRC release message to the UE. If the RRC release message includes SD_Config, the RRC layer of the UE may reconfigure the lower layer(s) according to the SD_Config.

<FIG> illustrates an RRC (connection) release procedure <NUM> according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, the UE may operate in the RRC _CONNECTED state. In action <NUM>, while operating in the RRC _CONNECTED state, the UE may receive an RRC release message from the BS. In action <NUM>, the UE may determine whether the RRC release message includes the SD_Config. If the RRC release message includes the SD_Config, the RRC layer of the UE may reconfigure lower layer(s) according to the SD_Config in action <NUM>. If the RRC release message does not include the SD_Config, the UE may reconfigure the lower layer(s) according to a legacy RRC release procedure defined in NR Release Rel. <NUM> in action <NUM>. For example, if the UE transitions from the RRC_CONNECTED state to the RRC_INACTIVE state by performing the legacy RRC release procedure, the UE in the RRC _INACTIVE state may be only granted to perform RRC signaling transmission via random access and is not allowed to perform small data transmission. Compared to the RRC signaling transmission via random access, the small data transmission may be an UL transmission for data received from an LCH associated with an SRB or a DRB. Therefore, the small data transmission may include transmission of user data (or data from the user plane) if the small data received from an LCH associated with a DRB.

The reconfiguration to the lower layer(s) in action <NUM> may include at least one of the following UE behaviors <NUM>) to <NUM>):.

Action <NUM> may be replaced by one or more of the following actions (i) to (iii):.

A proposal for the RRC (connection) release procedure <NUM> is illustrated in Table <NUM>.

In NR, if a UE does not have a valid TA value for a serving cell (e.g., the time alignment timer (timeAlignmentTimer) associated with the serving cell is not running), the UE may not perform any UL transmission on the serving cell except the transmission that corresponds to an RA procedure. In the RRC_CONNECTED state, the BS may maintain the TA value(s). The serving cell(s) with the same UL TA value and same timing reference cell may be grouped as a TAG. Each TAG may include at least one serving cell with a configured UL. The mapping relationship between a serving cell and a TAG may be configured by RRC.

An RRC_CONNECTED UE may be configured, by the BS via a DL RRC message, with a timeAlignmentTimer for each TAG. The timeAlignmentTimer may (re)start when the UE receives a TA value from the BS. The TA value may be an absolute timing value that the UE should take into consideration when determining the time-domain position of an UL transmission. The TA value may be an offset in time domain that the UE should take into consideration when adjusting the current TA value for UL transmission. For example, an adjusted TA value may be determined by [the current TA value ± K × offset], where K is an integer.

A TA value may be considered valid if the timeAlignmentTimer corresponding to the TA value is running. The TA value may be indicated by a TA command included in an RAR message or a DL MAC CE. The DL MAC CE may be carried by a DL MAC subPDU. In the RRC_CONNECTED state, the UE may dynamically or aperiodically receive a TA command for TA maintenance. However, in a legacy system such as LTE, an RRC_INACTIVE UE may not have a valid TA value since all timeAlignmentTimer should be considered expired when an RRC release procedure is preformed (leading to reset of the MAC entity/layer). In order to support small data transmission via a CG in the RRC_INACTIVE state, the method(s) for small data transmission via a CG that take TA maintenance into consideration are provided.

<FIG> illustrates a procedure of small data transmission via a CG according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> (as an RRC_CONNECTED UE) may receive an RS configuration(s) and a CG configuration(s) from the BS <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transition from the RRC _CONNECTED state to the RRC _INACTIVE state. The RS configuration may include at least one RS ID. The RS ID may refer to a specific type of DL RS transmitted by the BS. The DL RS may be an SSB, a CSI-RS or any other types of RS(s). The RS ID may be an SSI index (SSB-Index) associated with an SSB within an SS burst to be measured and used for reporting. The RS ID may be a CSI-RS resource index (CSI-RS-Index) associated with a CSI-RS resource to be measured (and used for reporting). The SSB-Index and CSI-RS-Index may be specified in TS <NUM>, TS <NUM> and TS <NUM>. The CG configuration(s) may be dedicated to the UE (or common/shared by a group of UEs) for performing small data transmission via a CG in the RRC_INACTIVE state. The CG configuration may be included in the SD_Config described previously.

In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> (as an RRC_INACTIVE UE) may generate an attempt for small data transmission (e.g., when the AS layer of the UE <NUM> has data ready for transmission). In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive RS(s) from the BS <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform TA validation check to determine whether there is any valid TA value applicable for small data transmission. The UE <NUM> may perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state only when the UE <NUM> has a valid TA value. As illustrated in <FIG>, after that the UE <NUM> determines that the TA value is valid in action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform small data transmission via a CG in action <NUM>.

For TA validation check, the UE <NUM> may measure the RS(s) received in action <NUM>, and determine the validity the corresponding TA value according to the measurement result. The RS(s) to be measured may be preconfigured (or indicated) by the BS <NUM>. The measurement result of the RS(s) may be an RSRP value of the RS(s). The UE <NUM> may compare the RSRP value of the RS(s) with a preconfigured value (e.g., an offset), a threshold, or the RSRP value of another RS to determine whether a TA value is valid, where the preconfigured value, the threshold, and the RSRP value of another RS may be configured by the BS <NUM> (or derived by UE the <NUM> based on a measurement process indicated/triggered by the BS <NUM>) before TA validation check is performed.

<FIG> illustrates a procedure of configuring TA validation check according to an implementation of the present disclosure. Before the UE <NUM> enters the RRC_INACTIVE state (e.g., the UE <NUM> is in the RRC_CONNECTED state), the BS <NUM> may configure the UE <NUM> with a configuration for TA validation check. The configuration for TA validation check may be transmitted by the BS <NUM> via broadcast MIB, broadcast SIB(s) and/or unicast (RRC) message(s).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> may receive an RSRP offset from the BS <NUM> in action <NUM> and receive a TA value and an RS ID from the BS <NUM> in action <NUM>. The RSRP offset, the TA value, and/or the RS ID may be considered as a portion of a configuration for TA validation check.

The configuration for TA validation check may be carried by a DL RRC message, a DL MAC PDU, a DL MAC subPDU, a subheader of a MAC subPDU, a DL MAC CE or a field in a DCI format. For example, the UE <NUM> may receive the RSRP offset via a broadcast MIB and/or a broadcast SIB(s). The RSRP offset may be shared by a group of UEs. For example, the RSRP offset may be shared by all UEs located within a cell/RAN notification area (RNA).

In action <NUM>, after receiving the configuration for TA validation check (and the corresponding reconfiguration is performed), the UE <NUM> may receive an RS indicated by the RS ID received in action <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform RS measurement to measure the RS received in action <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may store/maintain the measurement result of the RS. For example, the UE <NUM> may consider the RSRP value of the RS as the measurement result, and the UE may store/maintain the RSRP value. The RSRP value may be stored/maintained by the UE <NUM> in the RRC, MAC or PHY layer.

Actions <NUM> and <NUM> may be dynamically triggered by the BS <NUM>. For example, when the UE <NUM> is in the RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE <NUM> may re-measure the RS indicated by the RS ID received in action <NUM> (or other RSs indicated by the BS <NUM>) if a specific condition is satisfied. The specific condition may be that a TA value, a TA command, and/or an indicator that instructs the UE <NUM> to perform RS re-measurement is newly-received. Once the RS re-measurement is performed, the UE <NUM> may update the previously-stored measurement result with the newly-obtained measurement result, and perform TA validation check according to the newly-obtained measurement result.

<FIG> illustrates a detailed process of TA validation check according to an implementation of the present disclosure. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive an RS from the BS <NUM>. In action <NUM>, TA validation check is performed. As illustrated in <FIG>, actions <NUM> and <NUM> are performed during the TA validation check.

In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform RS measurement (e.g., by measuring the RS received in action <NUM>) and obtain the corresponding measurement result. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may compare the measurement result of the RS with an RSRP offset to determine whether a TA value corresponding to the RS is valid.

A UE may (re)start a timer from an initial value each time the RS measurement is performed. The stored RS measurement result may be released/cleared/flushed by the UE if the timer expires. The timer may be configured by the BS per a serving cell/BWP basis. The unit of the timer may be (a fraction of) symbol, slot subframe, system frame, SFN, milliseconds (ms), or the time period of a PUSCH resource derived from a CG configuration. The UE may release the store measurement result is at least one of the following events (i) to (vi) occurs.

As described previously, once TA validation check is triggered and/or needed to be performed by the UE, the UE may perform RS measurement. During the RS measurement, the UE may measure (the RSRP value of) a specific RS. The specific RS may be a DL RS indicated by the BS and/or associated with a CG configuration. The UE may compare the RSRP value of the specific RS with the an RSRP offset. Alternatively or additionally, the UE may calculate a difference between a first RSRP value of the specific RS and a second RSRP value of the specific RS. The first RSRP value and the second RSRP value may be obtained by measuring the specific RS at different time points. In other words, the second RSRP value may be considered as a previously-stored measurement result of the specific RS (e.g., the stored measurement result described in action <NUM> of <FIG>), and the first RSRP value may be considered as a current measurement result obtained later than the second RSRP value. Therefore, the difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value may be considered as the amount of RSRP change of the specific RS within a time period. The UE may compare the difference with an RSRP offset to determine the validity of a corresponding TA value.

The RSRP offset may be configured by the BS. The RSRP offset may be a CG-configuration-specific offset. For a UE configured with multiple RSRP offsets, the UE may compare the RSRP of the specific RS with the one of the multiple RSRP offsets. The BS may configure the UE with different RSRP offsets for different BWPs. The RSRP offset may be a positive offset or a negative offset. If the difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value is a positive value, the UE may compare the difference with the positive offset. If the difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value is a negative value, the UE may compare the difference with the negative offset.

The UE may determine whether TA validation check is passed according to the following condition A-<NUM>:
<MAT>.

The UE may determine that TA validation check is passed (or the corresponding TA value is valid) if the condition A-<NUM> is met and/or at least one of the following restrictions (i) to (iii) is also met:.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative time positions of the time interval for TA validation (TValidation) and a PUSCH resource according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, the time position of the TValidation <NUM> is before time position of the PUSCH resource <NUM>. The PUSCH resource <NUM> may be a CG resource. Between the TValidation <NUM> and the PUSCH resource <NUM>, there may be a time interval for M&A (TM&A) <NUM>. The TM&A <NUM> may be considered as a time period reserved for the UE to perform a layer-<NUM> MAC PDU M&A process for small data transmission. The TM&A <NUM> may be preconfigured by the BS via a DL RRC message or other signaling transmitted to the UE in the RRC _CONNECTED state. The UE may determine that TA validation check is passed (or the corresponding TA value is valid) if the condition A-<NUM> described previously is determined met at the beginning of the TM&A <NUM>.

The length of the TM&A <NUM> may be different for different UEs, depending on each UE's capability. Therefore, allowing a UE to report its capability related to the supported length/value of TM&A (or "TM&A-related capability") may be beneficial. The reporting of the TM&A-related capability may be performed by the UE via an UL RRC message while the UE is in the RRC_CONNECTED state. For example, the UE may report multiple supported values of TM&A to the BS, where one of the supported values of TM&A is for the case of single CG configuration and another of the supported values of TM&A is for the case of multiple CG configurations.

In the case of multiple CG configurations (e.g., the UE is configured with multiple CG configurations), the UE may be allowed to perform small data transmission by using one or more of the configured CG configurations. Therefore, the UE may report a specific value of TM&A to the BS for reference in this case. The unit of the value of TM&A may be a numerology-dependent unit (e.g., a symbol or a slot) or an absolute time unit (e.g., ms).

A TA-related timer (e.g., TA-valid timer (TVT_Timer)) may be applied in TA validation check. The TA-related timer may define a timer interval during which a TA value is allowed to be considered as valid. The TA-related timer may be maintained by the RRC layer or the MAC layer of the UE. The TA-related timer may be maintained by the UE per an RS basis.

<FIG> illustrates an operation of the TA-related timer according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, the TA-related timer starts at the time point <NUM> and expires/stops at the time point <NUM>. During the time interval between the time points <NUM> and <NUM>, the TA-related timer is considered running.

A TA value may be (or allowed to be) considered valid when the TA-related timer is running. If a currently-stored/received TA value (e.g., the TA value received at (or right before) the time point <NUM>) is considered valid, the UE may not perform the corresponding RS measurement and RSRP comparison before performing small data transmission on the PUSCH resources derived from the CG. In other words, TA validation check may not be performed when the TA-related timer is running, and may be performed when the TA-related timer is not running. Alternatively, TA validation check may still be performed when the TA-related timer is running. In such a case, a TA value may be considered valid when the condition A-<NUM> (and/or at least one of the restrictions (i) to (iii)) described previously is met and at the same time the TA-related timer is running. The TA value may not be considered valid when the TA-related timer is not running.

A PUSCH resource of CG can be used to transmit small data if the associated TA value is valid. As illustrated in <FIG>, PUSCH #<NUM><NUM>, PUSCH #<NUM><NUM>, PUSCH #<NUM><NUM> and PUSCH #<NUM><NUM> are PUSCH resources derived from a CG (i.e., PUSCH resources of CG). The UE may perform small data transmission on PUSCH #<NUM><NUM>, PUSCH #<NUM><NUM> and PUSCH #<NUM><NUM> since the TA-related timer is running and the associated TA value is considered valid. The UE may not perform data transmission on PUSCH #<NUM><NUM> since the TA-related timer is not running and the associated TA value becomes invalid.

The initial value of the TA-related timer may be preconfigured by the BS or predefined in the 3GPP TS. The unit of the TA-related timer may be (a fraction of) a symbol, (a fraction of) a slot, (a fraction of) ms, (a fraction of) a sub-frame, (a fraction of) a system frame, etc..

The TA-related timer may be started or restarted when a TA value is received from the BS. The TA value may indicate how much time in advance the UE should perform an UL transmission to alleviate the impact of propagation delay. As described previously, the TA value may be an absolute timing value that the UE should take into consideration when determining the time-domain position of an UL transmission. The TA value may be an offset in time domain that the UE should take into consideration when adjusting the current TA value for UL transmission.

The TA value may be indicated by a TA command included in an RAR message or a DL MAC CE. The DL MAC CE may be carried by a DL MAC subPDU.

The TA-related timer may be started or restarted when TA validation check procedure is performed and the TA value is considered valid. A PUSCH resource derived from a CG may be considered invalid by the UE if the TA-related timer corresponding to the CG is (re)started/expired within the PUSCH duration.

The TA-related timer may be stopped by the UE when at least one of the following events <NUM>) to <NUM>) occurs:.

The CG configuration release indicator may be included in at least one of the following data formats <NUM>) to <NUM>):.

Whether the UE could skip a PUSCH of CG may be configured by the network. For example, the UE may be configured a parameter which indicates that the UE whether is allowed to skip the CG resource (e.g., when the MAC PDU includes zero MAC SDUs), wherein the parameter may be included in SD_Config and/or the CG configuration.

A CG configuration may be released (and/or be considered invalid) by the UE if certain condition(s) is satisfied. For example, a CG configuration may be released by the UE if several (consecutive) PUSCH resources of CG are skipped by the UE, where the UE may not transmit any data on the skipped PUSCH resources of CG. Other conditions <NUM>) to <NUM>) to release a CG configuration are described as follows:.

In multi-beam operations, the BS and the UE may have multiple transmitting beams and receiving beams. The BS and the UE may select a beam having the best quality for communication. For example, when beam failure is detected on the serving SSB(s)/CSI-RS(s), the UE may inform the serving BS of a new serving beam (e.g., corresponding to a new SSB or CSI-RS) by initiating a BFR procedure.

The BFR procedure may be triggered by a BFD procedure during which a beam failure indication transmitted to the MAC entity from the lower layer may be counted. Small data transmission may be performed based on the multi-beam operations, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a procedure of small data transmission for a UE <NUM> configured with multi-GG configurations for multi-beam operations according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The multiple CG configurations (Multi-CG config) may be configured by the BS <NUM> during or before an RRC release procedure is initiated. Each CG configuration may correspond to a specific beam to be used in the multi-beam operations.

In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive an RRC release message from the BS <NUM>. The RRC release message may include multiple CG configurations (Multi-CG Config) for the UE to perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state. The RRC release message may also include an RS configuration and association information indicating the association between the DL RS(s) indicated in the RS configuration and the CG configurations (or the CG resource(s) derived from the CG configurations). Each CG configuration may be associated with at least one DL RS. In other words, the association between the CG configurations and the DL RS(s) may have a one-to-one mapping relationship, a one-to-many mapping relationship, a many-to-one mapping relationship, or a many-to-many mapping relationship. For example, in a case of many-to-one mapping, multiple CG configurations may be associated with one DL RS, in a case of one-to-one mapping, each CG configuration may be associated with a different DL RS.

In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transition from the RRC _CONNECTED state to the RRC_INACTIVE state in response to the RRC release message. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> (as an RRC_INACTIVE UE) may generate an attempt for small data transmission (e.g., when the AS layer of the UE <NUM> has data ready for transmission). In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform TA validation check for an indicated CG. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive a (DL) RS(s) from the BS <NUM>. If the UE <NUM> determines that the associated TA value is valid in action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform small data transmission via the indicated CG in action <NUM>.

As described previously, when the UE <NUM> is in the RRC _INACTIVE state, the UE <NUM> may perform TA validation check before applying the PUSCH resource(s) of CG to perform small data transmission. The UE <NUM> may apply the PUSCH resource(s) of only one CG configuration at-a-time. For example, the UE <NUM> may be configured with two CGs (e.g., CG configuration #<NUM> and CG configuration #<NUM>), and there may be only one active CG at-a-time.

Only the PUSCH resource(s) derived from the active CG may be applied for small data transmission. An initial active CG may be indicated by the BS <NUM> during the RRC release procedure (e.g., via the RRC release message in action <NUM>). Once the UE <NUM> is provided with a specific CG as the initial active CG for small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state, if an attempt for small data transmission is generated (in action <NUM>), the UE <NUM> may perform TA validation check for the indicated initial active CG (in action <NUM>) before performing small data transmission. The TA validation check for the indicated initial active CG may be performed based on the measurement result for the RS (received in action <NUM>) associated with the initial active CG. As described previously, the relationship between the RS and the initial active CG may be indicated by the BS during the RRC release procedure in action <NUM>. The RS received in action <NUM> may be an SSB, a CSI-RS or other types of DL RS(s). In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform small data transmission via the PUSCH resource(s) derived from the indicated CG (only) when the TA value for the indicated CG is determined valid in action <NUM>.

An active CG may be indicated by the BS for CG switching. For example, the BS may indicate to the UE to switch the current active CG by transmitting an indicator for CG switching in a DCI field (e.g., Short Messages field/Short Messages Indicator included in the a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a specific RNTI (e.g., P-RNTI)), a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format decoded by the UE in its paging occasion/window (e.g., a DL RRC message or a paging message, which is scheduled by the BS via a specific type of DCI with CRC bits scrambled by a specific RNTI (e.g., P-RNTI)), a DCI format with CRC bits scrambled by a (preconfigured/predefined) RNTI (e.g., CS-RNTI) and/or by the specific UE ID described previously, a DL MAC PDU, a MAC subPDU, a (sub)header of a MAC subPDU, a DL MAC CE, and/or a SIB. For example, a DL MAC CE may include a bitmap (as an indicator for CG switching) for indicating to the UE to switch the active CG. Each bit of the bitmap may be associated with one of the multiple configured CG configurations. For example, the bit may be set to "<NUM>" to indicate that the UE should activate the associated CG configuration, and may be set "<NUM>" to indicate that the UE should deactivate the associated CG configuration. The UE may monitor a PDCCH/CORESET/CSS/USS on a BWP and/or a serving cell to receive the indicator for CG switching. CG switching may refer to a process of switching an active CG from one to another among the CGs within the same UL BWP, or a process of switching an active CG from one to another among the CGs in different UL BWPs.

The UE may switch the active CG by itself instead of being indicated by the BS. For example, when a specific timer expires (e.g., the TA-related timer), the UE may switch the active CG from one to another (i.e., from a current active CG to a target CG). To determine the target CG in the CG switching process, the UE may perform a CG selection procedure during which the UE may perform an overall RS measurement on a set of RSs and select one of the CGs as the target CG according to the measurement result (e.g., the RSRP of each RS in the set of RSs). A signal-quality-related threshold (e.g., an RSRP threshold) may be configured by the BS. A CG may be selected as the target CG if the RSRP of the associated RS is larger than, or equal to, the signal-quality-related threshold. The current active CG and/or all CGs which have been used in or selected for small data transmission may be excluded from the CG selection procedure. For example, if the current active CG is excluded from the CG selection procedure, the current active CG is not selected as the target CG no matter whether the RSRP of the current active CG is larger than, or equal to, the signal-quality-related threshold.

If the TA validation check for an indicated CG has failed (i.e., the TA value corresponding to the indicated CG is invalid), the UE may use TA acquisition mechanism to acquire a valid TA value from the BS, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a procedure of small data transmission with a TA acquisition mechanism according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform TA validation check for an indicated CG. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive a (DL) RS from the BS <NUM>. If the TA value for the indicated CG associated with the RS is determined invalid in action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform a TA accusation procedure to acquire a valid TA value that supports small data transmission via the indicated CG in action <NUM>. In action <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may perform small data transmission via the indicated CG by using the newly-acquired valid TA value.

The UE may be configured with a CG-specific RA resource. The BS may provide the UE with association information indicating the association between the CG configurations and the CG-specific RA resources during the RRC release procedure (e.g., via the RRC release message). If the TA value is invalid, the UE may initiate an RA procedure by applying the RA resource associated with the CG. The TA value may be received in an MSGB, an MSG2 or an MSG4 during the initiated RA procedure. The UE may perform small data transmission on the CG by applying the TA value received in the initiated RA procedure.

The TA-related timer may be (re)started upon the UE receives a valid TA value. The UE may initiate an RA procedure by applying the RA resource associated with the indicated CG or the current active CG. The BS may instruct the UE to switch the active CG via an MSGB/MSG2/MSG4 during an RA procedure. The BS may implicitly instruct the UE to switch the active CG by providing a TA value for another CG configuration. The BS may provide the UE with association information indicating the association between the RA resources (or RA resource sets) and the CORESETs during an RRC release procedure via the RRC release message. The BS may instruct the UE to perform CG switching from the current active CG to a CG associated with an RA resource by transmitting an acknowledgment on a CORESET associated with the RA resource, where the acknowledgement may be transmitted in response to a PRACH preamble on the RA resource. The acknowledgment may include a reconfiguration of a DL RS or an UL CG resource. The acknowledgment may include a TA adjustment value.

Before the UE initiates an RA procedure for acquiring a TA value, the UE may perform a CG selection procedure described previously. During the CG selection procedure, the UE may select a target CG based on certain RS measurement results. A suitable CG may be selected as the target CG. For example, a CG corresponding to an RA resource may be applied by the UE to initiate an RA procedure for acquiring a valid TA value.

The UE may acquire a TA value by initiating an RRC resume procedure. Once an RA procedure is initiated by the UE, the UE may transmit a TA accusation request to the BS by including the TA accusation request in an MSG1/MSGA/MSG3 during the RA procedure. The BS may transmit a TA value, as a response to the TA accusation request, to the UE.

The TA accusation request may be transmitted by the UE via a PUSCH resource on a specific CG. The UE may release the specific CG if the corresponding TA accusation procedure has been triggered but failed.

The validity of a TA value may be different for different CGs. For example, even if a TA value is determined invalid for an indicated CG, the TA value may be still valid for other CG configuration(s). For example, after determining that a TA value is invalid (for an indicated CG), the UE may measure the RSRP of other DL RSs associated with other configured CG configurations and compare the measurement result with an RSRP offset preconfigured by the BS. According to the comparison result, the UE determine whether the TA value is applicable for data transmission via a new selected CG.

The UE may transmit an indicator to the BS on a PUSCH/PUCCH/PRACH to notify that the UE has switched the active CG. The indicator may be included in an UL MAC CE, an RRC message, or an RRC IE.

The UE may apply a newly-selected CG for data transmission (only) when the UE receives an acknowledgement (e.g., HARQ feedback/DCI field/DL MAC CE) from the BS.

The UE may consider a specific resource (e.g., a PUSCH of CG) is invalid when the corresponding TA value is invalid. For example, the specific resource may be considered invalid when the following condition A-<NUM> is satisfied:
<MAT> where RSRP_meas_0 is a measured RSRP level obtained at the time of CG resource validation (e.g., during the time interval <NUM> in <FIG>) based on an RS associated with the CG resource of the CG configuration, and RSRP_ref_0 is a reference RSRP level which may be a previously-stored measurement result of the UE. For example, before the time the UE measures RSRP_meas_0, the UE may measure the RS associated with the CG resource of the CG configuration and store the corresponding measurement result as the previously-stored measurement result.

If the UE receives a TA command in an RAR/MAC CE, or if the UE activates a CG resource, the UE may set the RSRP_ref_0 as the measured RSRP level according to the measurement result of the RS associated with the activated CG resource.

For example, the specific resource may be considered invalid when the following condition A-<NUM> is satisfied:
<MAT> where RSRP_ref_1 is the reference RSRP level, and RSRP_meas_1 may be one of the followings:.

If the UE receives a TA command in an RAR message or a TA command MAC CE, or if the UE activates a CG resource, the UE may set the RSRP_ref_1 to the measured RSRP level of the RS associated with the activated CG resource.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart for a method <NUM> performed by a UE for small data transmission according to an implementation of the present disclosure. Although actions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are illustrated as separate actions represented as independent blocks in <FIG>, these separately illustrated actions should not be construed as necessarily order-dependent. The order in which the actions are performed in <FIG> is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the disclosed blocks may be combined in any order to implement the method, or an alternate method. Moreover, each of actions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be performed independent of other actions, and can be omitted in some implementations of the present disclosure.

In action <NUM>, the UE may receive, when operating in an RRC _CONNECTED state, an RRC release message from a BS. The RRC release message may indicate at least one DL RS, at least one CG resource and information indicating an association between the at least one DL RS and the at least one CG resource. The RRC configurations (e.g., SD_Config) described previously may also be included in the RRC release message.

The information may include at least one RS ID and at least one CG configuration ID. The at least one RS ID may indicate the at least one DL RS. The at least one CG configuration ID may indicate at least one CG configuration that configures the at least one CG resource. The at least one RS ID and the at least one CG configuration indicated by the RRC release message may have a one-to-one mapping relationship, a one-to-many mapping relationship, a many-to-one mapping relationship, or a many-to-many mapping relationship. For example, in a case of many-to-one mapping, the at least one RS ID may include a first RS ID and a second RS ID, and the first RS ID and the second RS ID may be associated with the same CG configuration indicated by the at least one CG configuration ID. In a case of many-to-many or one-to-one mapping, the at least one RS ID may include a first RS ID and a second RS ID, and the first RS ID and the second RS ID may be associated with different CG configurations indicated by the at least one CG configuration ID.

In action <NUM>, the UE may transition/switch (from the RRC_CONNECTED state) to an RRC _INACTIVE state in response to receiving the RRC release message.

In action <NUM>, the UE may initiate an attempt for the small data transmission. As described previously, the attempt for the small data transmission may be generated when the AS layer of the UE has data ready for transmission.

In action <NUM>, the UE may measure the at least one DL RS (indicated in the RRC release message) to obtain a measurement result.

In action <NUM>, the UE may select, from the at least one CG resource (indicated in the RRC release message), a particular CG resource for the small data transmission according to the measurement result.

In action <NUM>, the UE may determine whether a TA value for the particular CG resource is valid for the small data transmission according to the following two factors (i) and (ii):.

In action <NUM>, the UE may perform the small data transmission on the particular CG resource after determining that the TA value is valid. In one example, only after determining that the TA value is valid, the UE may perform the small data transmission on the particular CG resource.

The TA-related timer may define a time interval during which the TA value is allowed to be determined as valid. The TA-related timer may be configured in a TA-related timer configuration provided by the BS (e.g., via an RRC message). The TA-related timer may be started or restarted when the TA value is received. The at least one CG resource may be released when the TA-related timer expires.

<FIG> illustrates a process <NUM> of CG resource selection according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The particular CG resource described in action <NUM> of <FIG> may be determined based on the process <NUM>. In other words, according to the process <NUM>, one of the CG resource(s) indicated by the RRC release message may be selected as the particular CG resource if the RSRP value of the DL RS associated with the particular CG resource is larger than an RSRP threshold.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in action <NUM>, the UE may obtain an RSRP threshold from the RRC release message. In action <NUM>, the UE may obtain an RSRP value of the DL RS associated with the particular CG resource from the measurement result. In action <NUM>, the UE may select the particular CG resource from the at least one CG resource after determining that the RSRP value of the DL RS associated with the particular CG resource is larger than the RSRP threshold.

<FIG> illustrates a process <NUM> of determining the validity of a TA value according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The process <NUM> may be included in action <NUM> of <FIG> for determining the amount of RSRP change of the DL RS associated with the particular resource.

In action <NUM>, the UE may obtain an RSRP offset threshold from the RRC release message. In action <NUM>, the UE may measure the DL RS associated with the particular CG resource at a first time point to obtain a first RSRP value of the DL RS. In action <NUM>, the UE may measure the DL RS associated with the particular CG resource at a second time point to obtain a second RSRP value of the DL RS. In action <NUM>, the UE may determine the amount of RSRP change of the DL RS by calculating a difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value.

As described previously, the difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value may be considered as the amount of RSRP change of the DL RS within a time period (from the first time point to the second time point). If the second time point is earlier than the first time point in time domain, the second RSRP value may be considered as a previously-stored measurement result compared to the first RSRP value. In such a case, condition A-<NUM> may be applied to check the validity of the TA value for the particular CG resource.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in action <NUM>, the UE may determine that the TA value for the particular CG resource is valid in a case that the amount of RSRP change is less than, or equal to, the RSRP offset threshold. In action <NUM>, the UE may determine that the TA value for the particular CG resource is invalid in a case that the amount of RSRP change is larger than the RSRP offset threshold.

The UE behavior(s) described in the present disclosure is more flexible and applicable for advanced scenarios, e.g., small data transmission in an RRC_INACTIVE state, compared with LTE scenarios. At least a portion of the UE behavior(s) disclosed herein supports small data transmission via a CG in an RRC _INACTIVE state, and improves the performance of small data transmission and the utilization efficiency of CG resources by taking the TA validity into consideration.

The UE behaviors in the RRC _INACTIVE state in the present disclosure may also be applicable to the RRC_IDLE state or other RRC sub-state(s) (e.g., the RRC sub-state belonging to the RRC_CONNECTED state).

The RS ID described previously may be replaced by an ID that explicitly or implicitly indicates a new beam.

The DL RRC message described previously may be an RRC reconfiguration message (RRCReconfiguration), an RRC release message (RRCResume), an RRC reestablishment message (RRCReestablishment), an RRC setup message (RRCSetup) or any other unicast DL RRC message.

It is noted that the "beam" in the present disclosure is equivalent to a spatial (domain) filtering. In one example, the spatial filtering is applied in analog domain by adjusting phase and/or amplitude of the signal before transmitted by a corresponding antenna element. In another example, the spatial filtering is applied in digital domain by Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) technique in wireless communication system. For example, a UE made a PUSCH transmission by using a specific beam means the UE made the PUSCH transmission by using the specific spatial/digital domain filter. The "beam" may also be but not limited to be represented as an antenna, an antenna port, an antenna element, a group of antennas, a group of antenna ports, or a group of antenna elements. The beam may also be formed by a certain RS resource. In brief, the beam can be equivalent to a spatial domain filter which radiated the EM wave through.

It is noted that "transmitted" in the present disclosure can be defined as corresponding MAC CE/MAC PDU/layer <NUM> signaling/higher layer signaling, is started to be transmitted or completely transmitted or is already delivered to corresponding HARQ process/buffer for transmission. Further, "transmitted" in the present disclosure can also be defined as the HARQ_ACK feedback (response from BS) of the MAC PDU carrying the MAC CE/MAC PDU/layer <NUM> signaling/higher layer signaling is received. Moreover, "transmitted" in the present disclosure can also be defined as corresponding constructing a MAC CE/MAC PDU. It is noted that "HARQ_ACK feedback" can be implemented as a DCI format 0_0, 0_1 or as some other format of DCI received by the UE from the BS via a PDCCH. The received DCI contains a new data indicator (NDI) which is set to a specific value (e.g., set to <NUM>) and the DCI also indicates a HARQ process ID which is the same as a HARQ process ID applied by/indicated to be used for the HARQ process of the MAC PDU (carrying the BFRQ MAC CE) transmission.

The PDCCH in the present disclosure is transmitted by the BS to the UE. Or we can say the PDCCH is received by the UE from the BS. The PDSCH in the present disclosure is transmitted by the BS to the UE. Or we can say the PDSCH is received by the UE from the BS. The PUSCH in the present disclosure is transmitted by the UE to the BS. Or we can say the PUCCH is received by the BS from the UE.

A PDSCH/PDSCH/PUSCH transmission may span multiple symbols in a time domain. A time duration of a PDSCH/PDSCH/PUSCH (transmission) implies a time interval starting from the beginning of the first symbol of the PDSCH/PDSCH/PUSCH (transmission) and ending at the end of the last symbol of the PDSCH/PDSCH/PUSCH (transmission).

The term "acknowledgement" may have the same meaning as "HARQ-ACK" or "HARQ-ACK feedback" in the present disclosure.

The following further discloses terms, examples, embodiments, actions, and/or behaviors in the present disclosure:.

The terms, definitions and abbreviations in the present disclosure are either imported from existing documentation (ETSI, ITU or elsewhere) or newly created by 3GPP experts whenever the need for precise vocabulary was identified.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a node <NUM> for wireless communication according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, the node <NUM> may include a transceiver <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, one or more presentation components <NUM>, and at least one antenna <NUM>. The node <NUM> may also include an RF spectrum band module, a BS communications module, a network communications module, and a system communications management module, Input/Output (I/O) ports, I/O components, and a power supply (not explicitly illustrated in <FIG>).

Each of these components may be in communication with each other, directly or indirectly, over one or more buses <NUM>. The node <NUM> may be a UE or a BS that performs various functions in the present disclosure, for example, with reference to <FIG>.

The transceiver <NUM> having a transmitter <NUM> (e.g., transmitting/transmission circuitry) and a receiver <NUM> (e.g., receiving/reception circuitry) may be configured to transmit and/or receive time and/or frequency resource partitioning information. The transceiver <NUM> may be configured to transmit in different types of subframes and slots, including, but not limited to, usable, non-usable and flexibly usable subframes and slot formats.

The node <NUM> may include a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the node <NUM> and include both volatile (and non-volatile) media and removable (and non-removable) media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media may include both volatile (and/or non-volatile) and removable (and/or non-removable) media implemented according to any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or data.

Computer storage media may include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory (or other memory technology), CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) (or other optical disk storage), magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage (or other magnetic storage devices), etc. Computer storage media do not include a propagated data signal.

Communication media may typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanisms and include any information delivery media. The term "modulated data signal" may mean a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the previously disclosed communication media should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The memory <NUM> may include computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or non-volatile memory. The memory <NUM> may be removable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. For example, the memory <NUM> may include solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. As illustrated in <FIG>, the memory <NUM> may store computer-readable and/or computer-executable instructions <NUM> (e.g., software code(s) or computer-executable program(s)) that are configured to, when executed, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various functions in the present disclosure, for example, with reference to <FIG>. Alternatively, the instructions <NUM> may not be directly executable by the processor <NUM> but may be configured to cause the node <NUM> (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform various functions in the present disclosure.

The processor <NUM> (e.g., having processing circuitry) may include an intelligent hardware device, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, etc. The processor <NUM> may include memory. The processor <NUM> may process the data <NUM> and the instructions <NUM> received from the memory <NUM>, and information through the transceiver <NUM>, the baseband communications module, and/or the network communications module. The processor <NUM> may also process information to be sent to the transceiver <NUM> for transmission through the antenna <NUM>, to the network communications module for transmission to a CN.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for small data transmission, the method comprising:
receiving, when operating in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, CONNECTED state, an RRC release message from a Base Station, BS, the RRC release message indicating at least one downlink, DL, Reference Signal, RS, at least one Configured Grant, CG, resource and information indicating an association between the at least one DL RS and the at least one CG resource;
transitioning to an RRC _INACTIVE state in response to receiving the RRC release message;
initiating an attempt for the small data transmission;
measuring the at least one DL RS to obtain a measurement result;
selecting, from the at least one CG resource, a particular CG resource for the small data transmission according to the measurement result;
determining whether a Timing Advance, TA, value for the particular CG resource is valid for the small data transmission according to i) an amount of Reference Signal Received Power, RSRP,
change of a DL RS associated with the particular CG resource, the DL RS being one of the at least one DL RS, and ii) whether a TA-related timer is running; and
performing the small data transmission on the particular CG resource after determining that the TA value is valid, wherein:
the TA-related timer defines a time interval during which the TA value is allowed to be determined as valid;
the TA-related timer is configured by a TA-related timer configuration provided by the BS;
the TA-related timer is started when the TA value is received; and
the at least one CG resource is released when the TA-related timer expires.