Patent ID: 12256345

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

During wireless communications, network entities (e.g., base stations) may consume significant amounts of power. As such, network energy saving features may aid in reducing such power consumption. For example, a network entity may communicate using different modes that may be associated with different levels of power consumption due to different operation configurations (e.g., turning off a radio frequency (RF) transmission chain, reducing a quantity of antennas for communications, or other operation modes). Such modes of operation for power conservation may be referred to as network energy saving network energy saving modes. Network entities may be capable of utilizing network energy saving modes with varying characteristics and power savings. However, the use of such network energy saving modes may reduce coverage areas, and a user equipment (UE) may fall outside of such a reduced coverage area. As used herein, a coverage area of a device (e.g., a network entity) may refer to a geographical area in which one or more other wireless devices (e.g., UEs) may be served by or communicate with the device.

A wireless device (e.g., another network entity, a UE, or other device) may operate as a relay device for a UE that falls outside of a reduced coverage area that results from the use of an network energy saving mode. The relay device may begin operation as such as a function of the network energy saving mode of the network. In some examples, the relay device may autonomously determine or detect a change in energy saving modes and begin operation as a relay device. In other examples, a network entity may instruct the relay device to begin such operation. In some examples, the relay device may broadcast the energy saving mode, a capability or availability indication for operating as a relay, or both, to the network entity, the UE, or both to facilitate relayed communications. Operation of a device as a relay may be selected or activated based on one or more factors, including a distance of the relay from the network entity. A relay device may further receive one or more parameters for relay operation (e.g., power levels, beam selections, or other parameters) that the network may select to coordinate relay operations and reduce interference. In these ways, energy savings at network entities may be increased through the use of energy saving modes while maintaining communications with devices falling outside of a resulting reduced coverage area.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are then described with reference to a wireless communications system and a process flow. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to relay operation with energy state modes.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system100may include one or more network entities105, one or more UEs115, and a core network130. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, a New Radio (NR) network, or a network operating in accordance with other systems and radio technologies, including future systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

The network entities105may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system100and may include devices in different forms or having different capabilities. In various examples, a network entity105may be referred to as a network element, a mobility element, a radio access network (RAN) node, or network equipment, among other nomenclature. In some examples, network entities105and UEs115may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links125(e.g., a radio frequency (RF) access link). For example, a network entity105may support a coverage area110(e.g., a geographic coverage area) over which the UEs115and the network entity105may establish one or more communication links125. The coverage area110may be an example of a geographic area over which a network entity105and a UE115may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies (RATs).

The UEs115may be dispersed throughout a coverage area110of the wireless communications system100, and each UE115may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UEs115may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs115are illustrated inFIG.1. The UEs115described herein may be capable of supporting communications with various types of devices, such as other UEs115or network entities105, as shown inFIG.1.

As described herein, a node of the wireless communications system100, which may be referred to as a network node, or a wireless node, may be a network entity105(e.g., any network entity described herein), a UE115(e.g., any UE described herein), a network controller, an apparatus, a device, a computing system, one or more components, or another suitable processing entity configured to perform any of the techniques described herein. For example, a node may be a UE115. As another example, a node may be a network entity105. As another example, a first node may be configured to communicate with a second node or a third node. In one aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE115, the second node may be a network entity105, and the third node may be a UE115. In another aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE115, the second node may be a network entity105, and the third node may be a network entity105. In yet other aspects of this example, the first, second, and third nodes may be different relative to these examples. Similarly, reference to a UE115, network entity105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like may include disclosure of the UE115, network entity105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like being a node. For example, disclosure that a UE115is configured to receive information from a network entity105also discloses that a first node is configured to receive information from a second node.

In some examples, network entities105may communicate with the core network130, or with one another, or both. For example, network entities105may communicate with the core network130via one or more backhaul communication links120(e.g., in accordance with an S1, N2, N3, or other interface protocol). In some examples, network entities105may communicate with one another via a backhaul communication link120(e.g., in accordance with an X2, Xn, or other interface protocol) either directly (e.g., directly between network entities105) or indirectly (e.g., via a core network130). In some examples, network entities105may communicate with one another via a midhaul communication link162(e.g., in accordance with a midhaul interface protocol) or a fronthaul communication link168(e.g., in accordance with a fronthaul interface protocol), or any combination thereof. The backhaul communication links120, midhaul communication links162, or fronthaul communication links168may be or include one or more wired links (e.g., an electrical link, an optical fiber link), one or more wireless links (e.g., a radio link, a wireless optical link), among other examples or various combinations thereof. A UE115may communicate with the core network130via a communication link155.

One or more of the network entities105described herein may include or may be referred to as a base station140(e.g., a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an NR base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB or a giga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a 5G NB, a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology). In some examples, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140) may be implemented in an aggregated (e.g., monolithic, standalone) base station architecture, which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single network entity105(e.g., a single RAN node, such as a base station140).

In some examples, a network entity105may be implemented in a disaggregated architecture (e.g., a disaggregated base station architecture, a disaggregated RAN architecture), which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more network entities105, such as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open RAN (O-RAN) (e.g., a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN) (e.g., a cloud RAN (C-RAN)). For example, a network entity105may include one or more of a central unit (CU)160, a distributed unit (DU)165, a radio unit (RU)170, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)175(e.g., a Near-Real Time RIC (Near-RT RIC), a Non-Real Time RIC (Non-RT RIC)), a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO)180system, or any combination thereof. An RU170may also be referred to as a radio head, a smart radio head, a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio unit (RRU), or a transmission reception point (TRP). One or more components of the network entities105in a disaggregated RAN architecture may be co-located, or one or more components of the network entities105may be located in distributed locations (e.g., separate physical locations). In some examples, one or more network entities105of a disaggregated RAN architecture may be implemented as virtual units (e.g., a virtual CU (VCU), a virtual DU (VDU), a virtual RU (VRU)).

The split of functionality between a CU160, a DU165, and an RU170is flexible and may support different functionalities depending on which functions (e.g., network layer functions, protocol layer functions, baseband functions, RF functions, and any combinations thereof) are performed at a CU160, a DU165, or an RU170. For example, a functional split of a protocol stack may be employed between a CU160and a DU165such that the CU160may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the DU165may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. In some examples, the CU160may host upper protocol layer (e.g., layer 3 (L3), layer 2 (L2)) functionality and signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC), service data adaption protocol (SDAP), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). The CU160may be connected to one or more DUs165or RUs170, and the one or more DUs165or RUs170may host lower protocol layers, such as layer 1 (L1) (e.g., physical (PHY) layer) or L2 (e.g., radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer) functionality and signaling, and may each be at least partially controlled by the CU160. Additionally, or alternatively, a functional split of the protocol stack may be employed between a DU165and an RU170such that the DU165may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the RU170may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. The DU165may support one or multiple different cells (e.g., via one or more RUs170). In some cases, a functional split between a CU160and a DU165, or between a DU165and an RU170may be within a protocol layer (e.g., some functions for a protocol layer may be performed by one of a CU160, a DU165, or an RU170, while other functions of the protocol layer are performed by a different one of the CU160, the DU165, or the RU170). A CU160may be functionally split further into CU control plane (CU-CP) and CU user plane (CU-UP) functions. A CU160may be connected to one or more DUs165via a midhaul communication link162(e.g., F1, F1-c, F1-u), and a DU165may be connected to one or more RUs170via a fronthaul communication link168(e.g., open fronthaul (FH) interface). In some examples, a midhaul communication link162or a fronthaul communication link168may be implemented in accordance with an interface (e.g., a channel) between layers of a protocol stack supported by respective network entities105that are in communication via such communication links.

In wireless communications systems (e.g., wireless communications system100), infrastructure and spectral resources for radio access may support wireless backhaul link capabilities to supplement wired backhaul connections, providing an IAB network architecture (e.g., to a core network130). In some cases, in an IAB network, one or more network entities105(e.g., IAB nodes104) may be partially controlled by each other. One or more IAB nodes104may be referred to as a donor entity or an IAB donor. One or more DUs165or one or more RUs170may be partially controlled by one or more CUs160associated with a donor network entity105(e.g., a donor base station140). The one or more donor network entities105(e.g., IAB donors) may be in communication with one or more additional network entities105(e.g., IAB nodes104) via supported access and backhaul links (e.g., backhaul communication links120). IAB nodes104may include an IAB mobile termination (IAB-MT) controlled (e.g., scheduled) by DUs165of a coupled IAB donor. An IAB-MT may include an independent set of antennas for relay of communications with UEs115, or may share the same antennas (e.g., of an RU170) of an IAB node104used for access via the DU165of the IAB node104(e.g., referred to as virtual IAB-MT (vIAB-MT)). In some examples, the IAB nodes104may include DUs165that support communication links with additional entities (e.g., IAB nodes104, UEs115) within the relay chain or configuration of the access network (e.g., downstream). In such cases, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., one or more IAB nodes104or components of IAB nodes104) may be configured to operate according to the techniques described herein.

For instance, an access network (AN) or RAN may include communications between access nodes (e.g., an IAB donor), IAB nodes104, and one or more UEs115. The IAB donor may facilitate connection between the core network130and the AN (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection to the core network130). That is, an IAB donor may refer to a RAN node with a wired or wireless connection to core network130. The IAB donor may include a CU160and at least one DU165(e.g., and RU170), in which case the CU160may communicate with the core network130via an interface (e.g., a backhaul link). IAB donor and IAB nodes104may communicate via an F1 interface according to a protocol that defines signaling messages (e.g., an F1 AP protocol). Additionally, or alternatively, the CU160may communicate with the core network via an interface, which may be an example of a portion of backhaul link, and may communicate with other CUs160(e.g., a CU160associated with an alternative IAB donor) via an Xn-C interface, which may be an example of a portion of a backhaul link.

An IAB node104may refer to a RAN node that provides IAB functionality (e.g., access for UEs115, wireless self-backhauling capabilities). A DU165may act as a distributed scheduling node towards child nodes associated with the IAB node104, and the IAB-MT may act as a scheduled node towards parent nodes associated with the IAB node104. That is, an IAB donor may be referred to as a parent node in communication with one or more child nodes (e.g., an IAB donor may relay transmissions for UEs through one or more other IAB nodes104). Additionally, or alternatively, an IAB node104may also be referred to as a parent node or a child node to other IAB nodes104, depending on the relay chain or configuration of the AN. Therefore, the IAB-MT entity of IAB nodes104may provide a Uu interface for a child IAB node104to receive signaling from a parent IAB node104, and the DU interface (e.g., DUs165) may provide a Uu interface for a parent IAB node104to signal to a child IAB node104or UE115.

For example, IAB node104may be referred to as a parent node that supports communications for a child IAB node, or referred to as a child IAB node associated with an IAB donor, or both. The IAB donor may include a CU160with a wired or wireless connection (e.g., a backhaul communication link120) to the core network130and may act as parent node to IAB nodes104. For example, the DU165of IAB donor may relay transmissions to UEs115through IAB nodes104, or may directly signal transmissions to a UE115, or both. The CU160of IAB donor may signal communication link establishment via an F1 interface to IAB nodes104, and the IAB nodes104may schedule transmissions (e.g., transmissions to the UEs115relayed from the IAB donor) through the DUs165. That is, data may be relayed to and from IAB nodes104via signaling via an NR Uu interface to MT of the IAB node104. Communications with IAB node104may be scheduled by a DU165of IAB donor and communications with IAB node104may be scheduled by DU165of IAB node104.

In the case of the techniques described herein applied in the context of a disaggregated RAN architecture, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture may be configured to support relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, some operations described as being performed by a UE115or a network entity105(e.g., a base station140) may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., IAB nodes104, DUs165, CUs160, RUs170, RIC175, SMO180).

A UE115may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. A UE115may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia/entertainment device (e.g., a radio, a MP3 player, or a video device), a camera, a gaming device, a navigation/positioning device (e.g., GNSS (global navigation satellite system) devices based on, for example, GPS (global positioning system), Beidou, GLONASS, or Galileo, or a terrestrial-based device) a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a netbook, a smartbook, a personal computer, a smart device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, smart clothing, smart glasses, virtual reality goggles, a smart wristband, smart jewelry (e.g., a smart ring, a smart bracelet)), a drone, a robot/robotic device, a vehicle, a vehicular device, a meter (e.g., parking meter, electric meter, gas meter, water meter), a monitor, a gas pump, an appliance (e.g., kitchen appliance, washing machine, dryer), a location tag, a medical/healthcare device, an implant, a sensor/actuator, a display, or any other suitable device configured to communicate via a wireless or wired medium. In some examples, a UE115may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115that may sometimes act as relays as well as the network entities105and the network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown inFIG.1.

The UEs115and the network entities105may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links125(e.g., an access link) using resources associated with one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of RF spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication links125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link125may include a portion of a RF spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP)) that is operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling that coordinates operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system100may support communication with a UE115using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE115may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) component carriers. Communication between a network entity105and other devices may refer to communication between the devices and any portion (e.g., entity, sub-entity) of a network entity105. For example, the terms “transmitting,” “receiving,” or “communicating,” when referring to a network entity105, may refer to any portion of a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, a CU160, a DU165, a RU170) of a RAN communicating with another device (e.g., directly or via one or more other network entities105).

In some examples, such as in a carrier aggregation configuration, a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute RF channel number (EARFCN)) and may be identified according to a channel raster for discovery by the UEs115. A carrier may be operated in a standalone mode, in which case initial acquisition and connection may be conducted by the UEs115via the carrier, or the carrier may be operated in a non-standalone mode, in which case a connection is anchored using a different carrier (e.g., of the same or a different radio access technology).

The communication links125shown in the wireless communications system100may include downlink transmissions (e.g., forward link transmissions) from a network entity105to a UE115, uplink transmissions (e.g., return link transmissions) from a UE115to a network entity105, or both, among other configurations of transmissions. Carriers may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in an FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode).

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the RF spectrum and, in some examples, the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wireless communications system100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a set of bandwidths for carriers of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). Devices of the wireless communications system100(e.g., the network entities105, the UEs115, or both) may have hardware configurations that support communications using a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communications using one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may include network entities105or UEs115that support concurrent communications using carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE115may be configured for operating using portions (e.g., a sub-band, a BWP) or all of a carrier bandwidth.

Signal waveforms transmitted via a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may refer to resources of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, in which case the symbol period and subcarrier spacing may be inversely related. The quantity of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both), such that a relatively higher quantity of resource elements (e.g., in a transmission duration) and a relatively higher order of a modulation scheme may correspond to a relatively higher rate of communication. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of an RF spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., a spatial layer, a beam), and the use of multiple spatial resources may increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE115.

One or more numerologies for a carrier may be supported, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier may be divided into one or more BWPs having the same or different numerologies. In some examples, a UE115may be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time and communications for the UE115may be restricted to one or more active BWPs.

The time intervals for the network entities105or the UEs115may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts=1/(Δfmax·Nf) seconds, for which Δfmaxmay represent a supported subcarrier spacing, and Nfmay represent a supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include multiple consecutively-numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a quantity of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable quantity of slots, and the quantity of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a quantity of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems100, a slot may further be divided into multiple mini-slots associated with one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may be associated with one or more (e.g., Nf) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation.

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system100and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., a quantity of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally, or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

Physical channels may be multiplexed for communication using a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed for signaling via a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for a physical control channel may be defined by a set of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of the UEs115. For example, one or more of the UEs115may monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or multiple control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate may refer to an amount of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets may include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs115and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE115.

A network entity105may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, for example a macro cell, a small cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term “cell” may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a network entity105(e.g., using a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or others). In some examples, a cell also may refer to a coverage area110or a portion of a coverage area110(e.g., a sector) over which the logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., a structure, a subset of structure) to larger areas depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the network entity105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or exterior spaces between or overlapping with coverage areas110, among other examples.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower-powered network entity105(e.g., a lower-powered base station140), as compared with a macro cell, and a small cell may operate using the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider or may provide restricted access to the UEs115having an association with the small cell (e.g., the UEs115in a closed subscriber group (CSG), the UEs115associated with users in a home or office). A network entity105may support one or multiple cells and may also support communications via the one or more cells using one or multiple component carriers.

In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access for different types of devices.

In some examples, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving coverage area110. In some examples, different coverage areas110associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different coverage areas110may be supported by the same network entity105. In some other examples, the overlapping coverage areas110associated with different technologies may be supported by different network entities105. The wireless communications system100may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the network entities105provide coverage for various coverage areas110using the same or different radio access technologies.

The wireless communications system100may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, network entities105(e.g., base stations140) may have similar frame timings, and transmissions from different network entities105may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, network entities105may have different frame timings, and transmissions from different network entities105may, in some examples, not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.

Some UEs115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or low complexity devices and may provide for automated communication between machines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2M communication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with one another or a network entity105(e.g., a base station140) without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC may include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application program that uses the information or presents the information to humans interacting with the application program. Some UEs115may be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business charging. In an aspect, techniques disclosed herein may be applicable to MTC or IoT UEs. MTC or IoT UEs may include MTC/enhanced MTC (eMTC, also referred to as CAT-M, Cat M1) UEs, NB-IoT (also referred to as CAT NB1) UEs, as well as other types of UEs. eMTC and NB-IoT may refer to future technologies that may evolve from or may be based on these technologies. For example, eMTC may include FeMTC (further eMTC), eFeMTC (enhanced further eMTC), and mMTC (massive MTC), etc., and NB-IoT may include eNB-IoT (enhanced NB-IoT), and FeNB-IoT (further enhanced NB-IoT).

Some UEs115may be configured to employ operating modes that reduce power consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode that supports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but not transmission and reception concurrently). In some examples, half-duplex communications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other power conservation techniques for the UEs115include entering a power saving deep sleep mode when not engaging in active communications, operating using a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowband communications), or a combination of these techniques. For example, some UEs115may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol type that is associated with a defined portion or range (e.g., set of subcarriers or resource blocks (RBs)) within a carrier, within a guard-band of a carrier, or outside of a carrier.

The wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). The UEs115may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions. Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more services such as push-to-talk, video, or data. Support for ultra-reliable, low-latency functions may include prioritization of services, and such services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE115may be configured to support communicating directly with other UEs115via a device-to-device (D2D) communication link135(e.g., in accordance with a peer-to-peer (P2P), D2D, or sidelink protocol). In some examples, one or more UEs115of a group that are performing D2D communications may be within the coverage area110of a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170), which may support aspects of such D2D communications being configured by (e.g., scheduled by) the network entity105. In some examples, one or more UEs115of such a group may be outside the coverage area110of a network entity105or may be otherwise unable to or not configured to receive transmissions from a network entity105. In some examples, groups of the UEs115communicating via D2D communications may support a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE115transmits to each of the other UEs115in the group. In some examples, a network entity105may facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In some other examples, D2D communications may be carried out between the UEs115without an involvement of a network entity105.

In some systems, a D2D communication link135may be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UEs115). In some examples, vehicles may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, or some combination of these. A vehicle may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergencies, or any other information relevant to a V2X system. In some examples, vehicles in a V2X system may communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, or with the network via one or more network nodes (e.g., network entities105, base stations140, RUs170) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, or with both.

The core network130may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network130may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs115served by the network entities105(e.g., base stations140) associated with the core network130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services150for one or more network operators. The IP services150may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

The wireless communications system100may operate using one or more frequency bands, which may be in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, which may be referred to as clusters, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs115located indoors. Communications using UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to communications using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communications system100may also operate using a super high frequency (SHF) region, which may be in the range of 3 GHz to 30 GHz, also known as the centimeter band, or using an extremely high frequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz), also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may support millimeter wave (mmW) communications between the UEs115and the network entities105(e.g., base stations140, RUs170), and EHF antennas of the respective devices may be smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, such techniques may facilitate using antenna arrays within a device. The propagation of EHF transmissions, however, may be subject to even greater attenuation and shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions. The techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions that use one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions may differ by country or regulating body.

The wireless communications system100may utilize both licensed and unlicensed RF spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system100may employ License Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology using an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. While operating using unlicensed RF spectrum bands, devices such as the network entities105and the UEs115may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations using unlicensed bands may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating using a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations using unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

A network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) or a UE115may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a network entity105or a UE115may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a network entity105may be located at diverse geographic locations. A network entity105may include an antenna array with a set of rows and columns of antenna ports that the network entity105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE115. Likewise, a UE115may include one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally, or alternatively, an antenna panel may support RF beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

The network entities105or the UEs115may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, be transmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals may be received by the receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry information associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), for which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), for which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a network entity105, a UE115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating along particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antenna elements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device applying amplitude offsets, phase offsets, or both to signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device or receiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

A network entity105or a UE115may use beam sweeping techniques as part of beamforming operations. For example, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE115. Some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a network entity105multiple times along different directions. For example, the network entity105may transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions along different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a network entity105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE115) a beam direction for later transmission or reception by the network entity105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by transmitting device (e.g., a transmitting network entity105, a transmitting UE115) along a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a receiving network entity105or a receiving UE115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on a signal that was transmitted along one or more beam directions. For example, a UE115may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the network entity105along different directions and may report to the network entity105an indication of the signal that the UE115received with a highest signal quality or an otherwise acceptable signal quality.

In some examples, transmissions by a device (e.g., by a network entity105or a UE115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a network entity105to a UE115). The UE115may report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured set of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more sub-bands. The network entity105may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)), which may be precoded or unprecoded. The UE115may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted along one or more directions by a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170), a UE115may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times along different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE115) or for transmitting a signal along a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE115) may perform reception operations in accordance with multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from a receiving device (e.g., a network entity105), such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device may perform reception in accordance with multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets (e.g., different directional listening weight sets) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” according to different receive configurations or receive directions. In some examples, a receiving device may use a single receive configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receive configuration may be aligned along a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

The wireless communications system100may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or PDCP layer may be IP-based. An RLC layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate via logical channels. A MAC layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer also may implement error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, an RRC layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE115and a network entity105or a core network130supporting radio bearers for user plane data. A PHY layer may map transport channels to physical channels.

The UEs115and the network entities105may support retransmissions of data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback is one technique for increasing the likelihood that data is received correctly via a communication link (e.g., a communication link125, a D2D communication link135). HARQ may include a combination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer in poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal-to-noise conditions). In some examples, a device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, in which case the device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for data received via a previous symbol in the slot. In some other examples, the device may provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to some other time interval.

In some implementations, a relay device (which may be a UE115, a network entity105, or other wireless device) may be used to relay communications between a network entity105and a UE115in situations in which the network (e.g., one or more devices operating in the network, such as the network entity105) is operating in a network energy saving mode (which may also be referred to as an energy state mode) with reduced power consumption and a reduced coverage area. In such a situation, a UE115may have been in a coverage area of the network entity105before the network entered the network energy saving mode but, due to the reduction in the coverage area associated with the network energy saving mode, is now located outside of that reduced coverage area. Thus, the relay device may detect that the network (e.g., the network entity105or other wireless device of the network) has entered into the network energy saving mode with a reduced coverage area. The relay device may activate a relaying function for relaying communications between the network entity105and the UE115that is located outside of the reduced coverage area.

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system200may include a network entity105-a, which may be an example of one or more network entities as discussed in relation to other figures. The wireless communications system200also may include a relay device215, which may be an example of a relay device as discussed in relation to other figures. The wireless communications system200also may include a UE115-a, which may be an example of UEs discussed in relation to other figures.

In the course of operations, the wireless communications system200may engage in power saving operations that may be performed at one or more network devices. Significant amounts of power may be used to operate the wireless communications system200and, as such, network power saving operations may be employed to increase adoption and expansion of wireless communication networks.

Network power saving operations may employ different modes and operations to save power while maintaining network operation and the network may switch between different network energy saving modes according to the network input and the current traffic conditions. For example, with low amounts of traffic, the network entity105-amay not activate all antennas of the network entity. Additionally, or alternatively, different network energy saving modes may include adapting a bandwidth used for communications, a quantity of active antennas, one or more other communication parameters, or any combination thereof.

In some examples, a network energy saving mode may be a sleep mode or a mode associated with reduced power consumption. Such network energy saving sleep modes may be different from one another in terms of operation, triggering conditions or messages (e.g., a reduced amount of traffic, such as traffic falling beneath a threshold), or both. For example, some sleep modes may turn off the radio frequency chains while others may not. Further, different sleep modes may have different amounts of power consumption and may employ different transition times (e.g., time periods for transitioning into the sleep mode and out of the sleep mode).

In some examples, a semi-static approach for network operation may be employed in which different network energy saving modes may be employed, optionally on a periodic basis. A network energy saving mode (also referred to as an energy state mode) may refer to a mode of operation in which one or more power saving operations are performed by which the network saves energy. A network energy saving mode may also be a flexible mode that may employ different power savings operations that may further be dynamically indicated by the network (e.g., depending on the current traffic conditions). Yet another network energy saving mode may be a “legacy” mode which may be associated with only some or no power savings operations.

During the course of operation, as the network operates in the different network energy saving modes, different communication parameters associated with the network energy saving modes may be adjusted. For example, the network entity105-amay adjust a quantity of transmission antennas, reception antennas, transmit power, one or more other communication parameters, or any combination thereof, which may affect the coverage area associated with the network entity105-a. For example, the network entity105-amay operate in the first energy state mode220that may be associated with a first coverage area110-a. The network entity105-amay transition to the second energy state mode225that may be associated with a second coverage area110-b. As such, UEs115-athat are located within the first coverage area110-amay not be located within the second coverage area110-b, while the relay device215may be located within the second coverage area110-b. As such, and as described herein, the relay device215(which may be a network entity, a UE, a dedicated relay device, or other wireless communications device) may operate as a relay point to relay communications between the UEs115-aand the network entity105-a.

In some examples, the network entity105-amay assign one or more wireless devices (e.g., UEs, amplify-and-forward (AF) or decode-and-forward (DF) relays or repeaters, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) devices, reconfigurable intelligent metasurfaces (RISs), one or more other wireless devices, or any combination thereof to act as relays for devices (e.g., UEs115-a) in one or more network energy saving modes. Such devices may be referred to herein as relay devices, such as relay device215.

In some examples, the relay device215may be autonomously activated as relays depending on the network energy saving mode. For example, the relay device215may detect that the network or the network entity105-ahas transitioned to a network energy saving that is associated with one or more power saving operations, the second coverage area110-b(e.g., that is used as a result of the power saving operations), or both. The relay device215may then autonomously activate as a relay to relay communications between the network entity105-aand the UEs115-a.

In some examples, the network entity105-amay transmit an indication to the relay device215that the relay device215is to act as a relay, that the network is operating or will operate in a different network energy saving mode, or both. The network entity105-aNW may communicate such an indication through a direct link (e.g., through a backhaul link) or through a broadcast signal or a dedicated over the air (OTA) signal (e.g., which the relay device215may decode to receive the indication of the network energy saving mode change). In some examples, such an indication may be part of a system information message broadcast.

In some examples, activation of the relay device215to operate as a relay may be associated with the network energy saving mode indication or communication state change indication associated with the network energy saving mode change (e.g., once an energy state is indicated or identified in signaling, such as synchronization signal block (SSB) signaling, downlink control information (DCI), RRC signaling, medium access control control element (MAC-CE) signaling, other signaling, or any combination thereof). In some examples, an indication activating the relay device215as a relay may be transmitted in different types of signaling, including L1 signaling (e.g., DCI), L2 signaling (e.g., MAC-CE), L3 signaling (e.g., RRC), or any combination thereof.

In some examples, the network entity105-amay activate the relay device215to act as a relay in accordance with one or more communication parameters, such as a transmit power (e.g., specifying one or more power levels that the relay device215should use for communications with the UEs115-athat are out of coverage). Such a power indication may be indicated through L1 signaling (e.g., DCI), L2 signaling (e.g., MAC-CE), L3 signaling (e.g., RRC), or any combination thereof.

The network entity105-amay activate the relay device215to act as a relay in accordance with one or more beam parameters (e.g., specifying one or more beams that the relay device215is to use for communications with the UEs115-athat are out of coverage). Such a beam indication may be indicated through L1 signaling (e.g., DCI), L2 signaling (e.g., MAC-CE), L3 signaling (e.g., RRC), or any combination thereof. The one or more beams to be used by the relay device215may be determined based on positioning of the relay device215or of multiple relay devices215. For example, the network entity105-amay coordinate beam parameters for one or more relay devices215, such as by restricting the beams to be used for relay operations into one or more directions or disallowing use of some beams. Such coordination may be helpful for reducing, avoiding, or managing inter-cell interference.

In some examples, one or more relay devices215may be used for relaying transmissions and the relay devices215may be deployed or activated such that they are placed at or near (e.g., within a threshold distance or within a threshold signal strength) the end of coverage of the network entity105-a. For example, the relay device215may be located at or near an edge of the second coverage area110-b.

In some examples, the relay device215may transmit an indication of the current network energy saving mode being employed by the network entity105-a. For example, the relay device215may transmit an indication of the second energy state mode225while acting as a relay and may transmit the indication through L1 signaling (e.g., DCI), L2 signaling (e.g., MAC-CE), L3 signaling (e.g., RRC), or any combination thereof). In some examples involving sidelink communications, the relay device215may transmit signaling such as sidelink control information (SCI), LTE-vehicle to everything (V2X) (PC5) MAC-CE signaling, PC5-RRC signaling, physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) groupcast signaling, PSSCH unicast signaling, dedicated relay operation signaling, sidelink SSB signaling, or any combination thereof. In this way, out of coverage devices, such as the UEs115-a, may be apprised of the current network energy saving mode.

In some examples, different devices may act as a relay device215based on an network energy saving mode. For example, if the network entity105-atransmits an indication of operation in the second energy state mode225, the relay device215may be activated as a relay, whereas if the network entity105-atransmits an indication of operation in the first energy state mode220, a UE115-amay be activated to serve as a relay device.

In some examples, the network entity105-amay activate one or more UEs to act as a relay to communicate with out of coverage devices. In some examples, the network entity105-amay do so in association with some network energy saving modes and not with other network energy saving modes. Activating one or more UEs as relays may allow additional flexibility, in that dedicated, stationary relay units may not be needed and UEs may be activated as relay devices on demand when needed (e.g., based on a level of traffic or whether the level of traffic exceeds or does not exceed a threshold). In some examples, the network entity105-amay activate one or more UEs as relays based on the network energy saving mode, the distance of the UE to the serving gNB, one or more other characteristics or parameters, or any combination thereof. The distance may be obtained through different techniques, including a positioning estimate, a reference signal received power (RSRP) estimate, receiving an indication of an explicit location (e.g., an absolute position or a position relative to the network entity105-a), or any combination thereof.

In some examples, the network entity105-amay transmit a configuration that the relay device215is to apply for communications with the out of coverage devices. The configuration may include one or more indications of power, beams, other parameters, or any combination thereof that the relay device215is to use for relay operations.

In some examples, the UE may be activated as a relay device215in an autonomous manner (e.g., subject to decoding or detecting the network energy saving mode or a transition between network energy saving modes, the distance between the network entity105-aand the relay device215, or both). In other examples, a UE receive a command from the network entity105-ato act as the relay device215. For example, if one or more conditions (e.g., the network entity105-ais using an network energy saving mode in which relaying may be appropriate, the distance between the network entity105-aand the UE, or both) are satisfied, the network entity105-amay activate the UE to act as the relay device215by transmitting an indication to the UE. Such an approach may allow the network entity105-ato control interference and adaptively activate UE relays depending on the density of available UEs. In some examples, conditions for activation (e.g., at the UE, the network entity105-a, other devices, or any combination thereof) may be configured or dynamically designated in signaling (e.g., L1 signaling (e.g., DCI), L2 signaling (e.g., MAC-CE), L3 signaling (e.g., RRC), or any combination thereof).

In some examples, the network entity105-amay determine or estimate a set of UEs that may act as relay devices215based on an network energy saving mode (e.g., a current network energy saving mode or a future network energy saving mode), the distances of the UEs from the network entity105-a, or both. As described herein, the network entity105-amay receive an indication of a distance of a UE or may estimate or calculate a distance of the UE. Additionally, or alternatively, the network entity105-amay employ other metrics to determine whether a UE is a candidate for relay operation (e.g., RSRP meeting or exceeding a threshold RSRP).

In some examples, the network entity105-amay request that one or more UEs signal availability to act as a relay for network operations associated with a current or future network energy saving mode. For example, the network entity105-amay request availability of the UEs115-ato act as relays based on the transition from the first energy state mode220to the second energy state mode225. The network entity105-amay then activate one or more (or none) of the UEs115-adepending on the availability responses and whether the individual UEs115-asatisfy a distance threshold for relay operation. In some examples, such a distance threshold may be specified or dynamically indicated by the network entity105-aor other network device.

In some examples, if a UE is acting as a relay device215and is serving another UE (e.g., one of the UEs115-a), the UE acting as the relay device215may receive instructions to continue relaying communications even if the network entity105-atransitions to another network energy saving mode, if a distance condition is not satisfied, or both.

In some examples, a UE acting as a relay device215may transmit (e.g., “advertise”) its capability or actual operation as a relay based on a current or future network energy saving mode and, optionally, satisfying a distance condition. In this way, other UEs (such as out of coverage UEs such as the UEs115-a) may prioritize or manage a relaying technique or strategy (e.g., by selecting between available relay devices215). In some examples, the UE acting as the relay device215may broadcast a current or future network energy saving mode in which the network entity105-ais operating as part of a SL-SSB transmission. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE acting as the relay device215may transmit a groupcast PSSCH to broadcast the current or future network energy saving mode. In other cases, the UE acting as the relay device215may transmit a SCI transmission (e.g., an SCI transmission that may not be decoded by all surrounding UEs). Further, the UE acting as the relay device215may transmit MAC-CE signaling, RRC signaling, or both, may be employed to transmit the indication of the current or future network energy saving mode. If, however, a UE that is out of coverage does not detect or receive a broadcast of an network energy saving mode, the UE may request an indication of the current or future network energy saving mode from the relay device215.

In this way, the network entity105-amay communicate with the UEs115-awhile still employing network energy saving modes to reduce power consumption by relaying communications through the relay device215, even though the UEs115-afall outside of the second coverage area110-bassociated with the second energy state mode225.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a process flow300that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The process flow300may implement various aspects of the present disclosure described herein. The elements described in the process flow300(e.g., a network entity105-b, a relay device215-a, and a UE115-b) may be examples of similarly-named elements described herein.

In the following description of the process flow300, the operations between the various entities or elements may be performed in different orders or at different times. Some operations may also be left out of the process flow300, or other operations may be added. Although the various entities or elements are shown performing the operations of the process flow300, some aspects of some operations may also be performed by other entities or elements of the process flow300or by entities or elements that are not depicted in the process flow, or any combination thereof.

At320, the relay device215-amay receive a control signal that may indicate the transition from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode. In some examples, the control signal may include one or more of a system information block, a master information block, or a message received over a backhaul link.

At325, the relay device215-amay receive a relay function activation message that may indicate that the relay device is to activate the relaying function.

At330, the relay device215-amay detect that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode and the second energy state mode may be associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode.

At335, the relay device215-amay transmit, to the network entity and based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay and that a distance between the relay device and the network entity satisfies a distance threshold. Additionally, or alternatively, the relay device215-amay transmit to the UE and based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay.

At340, the relay device215-amay activate a relaying function at the relay device based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. In some examples, the relaying function may be activated at the relay device based at least in part on a distance between the relay device and the network entity. In some examples, activating the relaying function at the relay device based at least in part on receiving the relay function activation message.

At345, the relay device215-amay receive, from the UE, a request for an indication of a current energy state mode.

At350, the relay device215-amay transmit an indication of the second energy state mode based at least in part on activating the relaying function. In some examples, the relay device215-amay transmit the indication of the second energy state mode in a sidelink synchronization signal block, a groupcast shared channel message, a sidelink control information message, a unicast medium access control control element, or a unicast radio resource control message. In some examples, the relay device215-amay transmit, to the UE, an indication of the second energy state mode.

At355, the relay device215-amay receive an indication of one or more relay operation parameters associated with the relay device, the one or more relay operation parameters including a power level, an indication of one or more beams, or both.

At360, the relay device215-amay communicate with the UE215-band the network entity105-bof the network to relay transmissions between the UE215-band the network entity105-bbased at least in part on activating the relaying function. In some examples, communicating with the UE, the network entity, or both may be based at least in part on the one or more relay operation parameters.

FIG.4shows a block diagram400of a device405that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device405may be an example of aspects of a relay device as described herein. The device405may include a receiver410, a transmitter415, and a communications manager420. The device405may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver410may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to relay operation with energy state modes). Information may be passed on to other components of the device405. The receiver410may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter415may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device405. For example, the transmitter415may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to relay operation with energy state modes). In some examples, the transmitter415may be co-located with a receiver410in a transceiver module. The transmitter415may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, a CPU, a graphics processing unit (GPU). an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager420may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both. For example, the communications manager420may receive information from the receiver410, send information to the transmitter415, or be integrated in combination with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager420may support wireless communication at a relay device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for activating a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based on activating the relaying function.

By including or configuring the communications manager420in accordance with examples as described herein, the device405(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled with the receiver410, the transmitter415, the communications manager420, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, or any combination thereof.

FIG.5shows a block diagram500of a device505that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device505may be an example of aspects of a device405or a relay device215as described herein. The device505may include a receiver510, a transmitter515, and a communications manager520. The device505may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver510may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to relay operation with energy state modes). Information may be passed on to other components of the device505. The receiver510may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter515may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device505. For example, the transmitter515may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to relay operation with energy state modes). In some examples, the transmitter515may be co-located with a receiver510in a transceiver module. The transmitter515may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device505, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager520may include an energy state mode component525, a relay function activation component530, a transmission relay component535, or any combination thereof. The communications manager520may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager520, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both. For example, the communications manager520may receive information from the receiver510, send information to the transmitter515, or be integrated in combination with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager520may support wireless communication at a relay device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy state mode component525may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The relay function activation component530may be configured as or otherwise support a means for activating a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The transmission relay component535may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based on activating the relaying function.

FIG.6shows a block diagram600of a communications manager620that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager620may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420, a communications manager520, or both, as described herein. The communications manager620, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager620may include an energy state mode component625, a relay function activation component630, a transmission relay component635, a control signaling component640, an energy state mode indication component645, a relay operation parameter component650, a relay availability component655, an energy state mode request component660, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager620may support wireless communication at a relay device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy state mode component625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The relay function activation component630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for activating a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The transmission relay component635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based on activating the relaying function.

In some examples, to support detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, the control signaling component640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a control signal indicating the transition from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode.

In some examples, the control signal includes one or more of a system information block, a master information block, or a message received over a backhaul link.

In some examples, the energy state mode indication component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting an indication of the second energy state mode based on activating the relaying function.

In some examples, the energy state mode indication component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the indication of the second energy state mode in a sidelink synchronization signal block, a groupcast shared channel message, a sidelink control information message, a unicast medium access control control element (MAC-CE), or a unicast radio resource control message.

In some examples, the relay operation parameter component650may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving an indication of one or more relay operation parameters associated with the relay device, the one or more relay operation parameters including a power level, an indication of one or more beams, or both. In some examples, the relay operation parameter component650may be configured as or otherwise support a means for where communicating with the UE, the network entity, or both is based on the one or more relay operation parameters.

In some examples, the relaying function is activated at the relay device based on a distance between the relay device and the network entity.

In some examples, the relay function activation component630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a relay function activation message that indicates that the relay device is to activate the relaying function. In some examples, the relay function activation component630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for where activating the relaying function at the relay device based on receiving the relay function activation message.

In some examples, the relay availability component655may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the network entity and based on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay and that a distance between the relay device and the network entity satisfies a distance threshold.

In some examples, the relay availability component655may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE and based on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay.

In some examples, the energy state mode request component660may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE, a request for an indication of a current energy state mode. In some examples, the energy state mode indication component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of the second energy state mode.

FIG.7shows a diagram of a system700including a device705that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device705may be an example of or include the components of a device405, a device505, or a relay device as described herein. The device705may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager720, an I/O controller710, a transceiver715, an antenna725, a memory730, code735, and a processor740. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus745).

The I/O controller710may manage input and output signals for the device705. The I/O controller710may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device705. In some cases, the I/O controller710may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller710may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. Additionally, or alternatively, the I/O controller710may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller710may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor740. In some cases, a user may interact with the device705via the I/O controller710or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller710.

In some cases, the device705may include a single antenna725. However, in some other cases, the device705may have more than one antenna725, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver715may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas725, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver715may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver715may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas725for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas725. The transceiver715, or the transceiver715and one or more antennas725, may be an example of a transmitter415, a transmitter515, a receiver410, a receiver510, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory730may include RAM and ROM. The memory730may store computer-readable, computer-executable code735including instructions that, when executed by the processor740, cause the device705to perform various functions described herein. The code735may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code735may not be directly executable by the processor740but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory730may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor740may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor740may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor740. The processor740may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory730) to cause the device705to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting relay operation with energy state modes). For example, the device705or a component of the device705may include a processor740and memory730coupled with or to the processor740, the processor740and memory730configured to perform various functions described herein.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager720may support wireless communication at a relay device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for activating a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based on activating the relaying function.

By including or configuring the communications manager720in accordance with examples as described herein, the device705may support techniques for improved communication reliability, reduced latency, improved user experience related to reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, improved coordination between devices, longer battery life, improved utilization of processing capability, or any combination thereof.

In some examples, the communications manager720may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver715, the one or more antennas725, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager720is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager720may be supported by or performed by the processor740, the memory730, the code735, or any combination thereof. For example, the code735may include instructions executable by the processor740to cause the device705to perform various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein, or the processor740and the memory730may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.8shows a block diagram800of a device805that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device805may be an example of aspects of a network entity105as described herein. The device805may include a receiver810, a transmitter815, and a communications manager820. The device805may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver810may provide a means for obtaining (e.g., receiving, determining, identifying) information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack). Information may be passed on to other components of the device805. In some examples, the receiver810may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the receiver810may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof.

The transmitter815may provide a means for outputting (e.g., transmitting, providing, conveying, sending) information generated by other components of the device805. For example, the transmitter815may output information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack). In some examples, the transmitter815may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitter815may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter815and the receiver810may be co-located in a transceiver, which may include or be coupled with a modem.

The communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager820may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both. For example, the communications manager820may receive information from the receiver810, send information to the transmitter815, or be integrated in combination with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager820may support wireless communication at a network entity of a network in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE via the relay device based on the determining.

By including or configuring the communications manager820in accordance with examples as described herein, the device805(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled with the receiver810, the transmitter815, the communications manager820, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, or any combination thereof.

FIG.9shows a block diagram900of a device905that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of aspects of a device805or a network entity105as described herein. The device905may include a receiver910, a transmitter915, and a communications manager920. The device905may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver910may provide a means for obtaining (e.g., receiving, determining, identifying) information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack). Information may be passed on to other components of the device905. In some examples, the receiver910may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the receiver910may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof.

The transmitter915may provide a means for outputting (e.g., transmitting, providing, conveying, sending) information generated by other components of the device905. For example, the transmitter915may output information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack). In some examples, the transmitter915may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitter915may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter915and the receiver910may be co-located in a transceiver, which may include or be coupled with a modem.

The device905, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager920may include an energy state mode component925, a relay function activation component930, a transmission relay component935, or any combination thereof. The communications manager920may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager920, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both. For example, the communications manager920may receive information from the receiver910, send information to the transmitter915, or be integrated in combination with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager920may support wireless communication at a network entity of a network in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy state mode component925may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode. The relay function activation component930may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function. The transmission relay component935may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE via the relay device based on the determining.

FIG.10shows a block diagram1000of a communications manager1020that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1020may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820, a communications manager920, or both, as described herein. The communications manager1020, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein. For example, the communications manager1020may include an energy state mode component1025, a relay function activation component1030, a transmission relay component1035, a control signaling component1040, a relay operation parameter component1045, a relay availability component1050, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) which may include communications within a protocol layer of a protocol stack, communications associated with a logical channel of a protocol stack (e.g., between protocol layers of a protocol stack, within a device, component, or virtualized component associated with a network entity105, between devices, components, or virtualized components associated with a network entity105), or any combination thereof.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager1020may support wireless communication at a network entity of a network in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy state mode component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode. The relay function activation component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function. The transmission relay component1035may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE via the relay device based on the determining.

In some examples, the control signaling component1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a control signal indicating the transition from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode.

In some examples, the control signal includes one or more of a system information block, a master information block, or a message transmitted over a backhaul link.

In some examples, the relay operation parameter component1045may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting an indication of one or more relay operation parameters associated with the relay device, the one or more relay operation parameters including a power level, an indication of one or more beams, or both.

In some examples, the relaying function is activated at the relay device based on a distance between the relay device and the network entity.

In some examples, the relay function activation component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a relay function activation message that indicates that the relay device is to activate the relaying function. In some examples, the relay function activation component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for where the relay device activates the relaying function based on the relay function activation message.

In some examples, the relay availability component1050may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the relay device, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay and that a distance between the relay device and the network entity satisfies a distance threshold.

FIG.11shows a diagram of a system1100including a device1105that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device1105may be an example of or include the components of a device805, a device905, or a network entity105as described herein. The device1105may communicate with one or more network entities105, one or more UEs115, or any combination thereof, which may include communications over one or more wired interfaces, over one or more wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof.

The device1105may include components that support outputting and obtaining communications, such as a communications manager1120, a transceiver1110, an antenna1115, a memory1125, code1130, and a processor1135. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus1140).

The transceiver1110may support bi-directional communications via wired links, wireless links, or both as described herein. In some examples, the transceiver1110may include a wired transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wired transceiver. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the transceiver1110may include a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. In some examples, the device1105may include one or more antennas1115, which may be capable of transmitting or receiving wireless transmissions (e.g., concurrently). The transceiver1110may also include a modem to modulate signals, to provide the modulated signals for transmission (e.g., by one or more antennas1115, by a wired transmitter), to receive modulated signals (e.g., from one or more antennas1115, from a wired receiver), and to demodulate signals. In some implementations, the transceiver1110may include one or more interfaces, such as one or more interfaces coupled with the one or more antennas1115that are configured to support various receiving or obtaining operations, or one or more interfaces coupled with the one or more antennas1115that are configured to support various transmitting or outputting operations, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the transceiver1110may include or be configured for coupling with one or more processors or memory components that are operable to perform or support operations based on received or obtained information or signals, or to generate information or other signals for transmission or other outputting, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, the transceiver1110, or the transceiver1110and the one or more antennas1115, or the transceiver1110and the one or more antennas1115and one or more processors or memory components (for example, the processor1135, or the memory1125, or both), may be included in a chip or chip assembly that is installed in the device1105. In some examples, the transceiver may be operable to support communications via one or more communications links (e.g., a communication link125, a backhaul communication link120, a midhaul communication link162, a fronthaul communication link168).

The memory1125may include RAM and ROM. The memory1125may store computer-readable, computer-executable code1130including instructions that, when executed by the processor1135, cause the device1105to perform various functions described herein. The code1130may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code1130may not be directly executable by the processor1135but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1125may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor1135may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, a GPU, an FPGA, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor1135may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor1135. The processor1135may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1125) to cause the device1105to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting relay operation with energy state modes). For example, the device1105or a component of the device1105may include a processor1135and memory1125coupled with the processor1135, the processor1135and memory1125configured to perform various functions described herein. The processor1135may be an example of a cloud-computing platform (e.g., one or more physical nodes and supporting software such as operating systems, virtual machines, or container instances) that may host the functions (e.g., by executing code1130) to perform the functions of the device1105. The processor1135may be any one or more suitable processors capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more software programs stored in the device1105(such as within the memory1125). In some implementations, the processor1135may be a component of a processing system. A processing system may generally refer to a system or series of machines or components that receives inputs and processes the inputs to produce a set of outputs (which may be passed to other systems or components of, for example, the device1105). For example, a processing system of the device1105may refer to a system including the various other components or subcomponents of the device1105, such as the processor1135, or the transceiver1110, or the communications manager1120, or other components or combinations of components of the device1105. The processing system of the device1105may interface with other components of the device1105, and may process information received from other components (such as inputs or signals) or output information to other components. For example, a chip or modem of the device1105may include a processing system and one or more interfaces to output information, or to obtain information, or both. The one or more interfaces may be implemented as or otherwise include a first interface configured to output information and a second interface configured to obtain information, or a same interface configured to output information and to obtain information, among other implementations. In some implementations, the one or more interfaces may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip or modem and a transmitter, such that the device1105may transmit information output from the chip or modem. Additionally, or alternatively, in some implementations, the one or more interfaces may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip or modem and a receiver, such that the device1105may obtain information or signal inputs, and the information may be passed to the processing system. A person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that a first interface also may obtain information or signal inputs, and a second interface also may output information or signal outputs.

In some examples, a bus1140may support communications of (e.g., within) a protocol layer of a protocol stack. In some examples, a bus1140may support communications associated with a logical channel of a protocol stack (e.g., between protocol layers of a protocol stack), which may include communications performed within a component of the device1105, or between different components of the device1105that may be co-located or located in different locations (e.g., where the device1105may refer to a system in which one or more of the communications manager1120, the transceiver1110, the memory1125, the code1130, and the processor1135may be located in one of the different components or divided between different components).

In some examples, the communications manager1120may manage aspects of communications with a core network130(e.g., via one or more wired or wireless backhaul links). For example, the communications manager1120may manage the transfer of data communications for client devices, such as one or more UEs115. In some examples, the communications manager1120may manage communications with other network entities105, and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs115in cooperation with other network entities105. In some examples, the communications manager1120may support an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wireless communications network technology to provide communication between network entities105.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager1120may support wireless communication at a network entity of a network in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with a UE via the relay device based on the determining.

By including or configuring the communications manager1120in accordance with examples as described herein, the device1105may support techniques for improved communication reliability, reduced latency, improved user experience related to reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, improved coordination between devices, longer battery life, improved utilization of processing capability, or any combination thereof.

In some examples, the communications manager1120may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver1110, the one or more antennas1115(e.g., where applicable), or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager1120is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager1120may be supported by or performed by the transceiver1110, the processor1135, the memory1125, the code1130, or any combination thereof. For example, the code1130may include instructions executable by the processor1135to cause the device1105to perform various aspects of relay operation with energy state modes as described herein, or the processor1135and the memory1125may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.12shows a flowchart illustrating a method1200that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1200may be implemented by a relay device or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1200may be performed by a relay device as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. In some examples, a relay device may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the relay device to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the relay device may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1205, the method may include detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The operations of1205may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1205may be performed by an energy state mode component625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1210, the method may include activating a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The operations of1210may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1210may be performed by a relay function activation component630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1215, the method may include communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based on activating the relaying function. The operations of1215may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1215may be performed by a transmission relay component635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.13shows a flowchart illustrating a method1300that supports relay operation with energy state modes in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1300may be implemented by a network entity or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1300may be performed by a network entity as described with reference toFIGS.1through3and8through11. In some examples, a network entity may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the network entity to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the network entity may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1305, the method may include detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, where the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode. The operations of1305may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1305may be performed by an energy state mode component1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1310, the method may include determining, based on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function. The operations of1310may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1310may be performed by a relay function activation component1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1315, the method may include communicating with a UE via the relay device based on the determining. The operations of1315may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1315may be performed by a transmission relay component1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a relay device, comprising: detecting that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, wherein the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode; activating a relaying function at the relay device based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area; and communicating with a UE and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based at least in part on activating the relaying function.Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, wherein detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode comprises: receiving a control signal indicating the transition from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode.Aspect 3: The method of aspect 2, wherein the control signal comprises one or more of a system information block, a master information block, or a message received over a backhaul link.Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, further comprising: transmitting an indication of the second energy state mode based at least in part on activating the relaying function.Aspect 5: The method of aspect 4, further comprising: transmitting the indication of the second energy state mode in a sidelink synchronization signal block, a groupcast shared channel message, a sidelink control information message, a unicast medium access control control element, or a unicast radio resource control message.Aspect 6: The method of any of aspects 1 through 5, further comprising: receiving an indication of one or more relay operation parameters associated with the relay device, the one or more relay operation parameters comprising a power level, an indication of one or more beams, or both; wherein communicating with the UE, the network entity, or both is based at least in part on the one or more relay operation parameters.Aspect 7: The method of any of aspects 1 through 6, wherein the relaying function is activated at the relay device based at least in part on a distance between the relay device and the network entity.Aspect 8: The method of any of aspects 1 through 7, further comprising: receiving a relay function activation message that indicates that the relay device is to activate the relaying function; wherein activating the relaying function at the relay device based at least in part on receiving the relay function activation message.Aspect 9: The method of any of aspects 1 through 8, further comprising: transmitting, to the network entity and based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay and that a distance between the relay device and the network entity satisfies a distance threshold.Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 1 through 9, further comprising: transmitting, to the UE and based at least in part on detecting that the network has transitioned from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay.Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, further comprising: receiving, from the UE, a request for an indication of a current energy state mode; and transmitting, to the UE, an indication of the second energy state mode.Aspect 12: A method for wireless communication at a network entity of a network, comprising: detecting that the network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode, wherein the second energy state mode is associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area of the first energy state mode; determining, based at least in part on a location of a relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area, that the relay device has activated a relaying function; and communicating with a UE via the relay device based at least in part on the determining.Aspect 13: The method of aspect 12, further comprising: transmitting a control signal indicating the transition from the first energy state mode to the second energy state mode.Aspect 14: The method of aspect 13, wherein the control signal comprises one or more of a system information block, a master information block, or a message transmitted over a backhaul link.Aspect 15: The method of any of aspects 12 through 14, further comprising: transmitting an indication of one or more relay operation parameters associated with the relay device, the one or more relay operation parameters comprising a power level, an indication of one or more beams, or both.Aspect 16: The method of any of aspects 12 through 15, wherein the relaying function is activated at the relay device based at least in part on a distance between the relay device and the network entity.Aspect 17: The method of any of aspects 12 through 16, further comprising: transmitting a relay function activation message that indicates that the relay device is to activate the relaying function; wherein the relay device activates the relaying function based at least in part on the relay function activation message.Aspect 18: The method of any of aspects 12 through 17, further comprising: receiving, from the relay device, a relay availability message that indicates that the relay device is available to act as a relay and that a distance between the relay device and the network entity satisfies a distance threshold.Aspect 19: An apparatus for wireless communication at a relay device, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.Aspect 20: An apparatus for wireless communication at a relay device, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.Aspect 21: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a relay device, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.Aspect 22: An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity of a network, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 12 through 18.Aspect 23: An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity of a network, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 12 through 18.Aspect 24: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a network entity of a network, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 12 through 18.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Although aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communications systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, as well as other systems and radio technologies, including future systems and radio technologies, not explicitly mentioned herein.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, a GPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor but, in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented using hardware, software executed by a processor, or any combination thereof. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, or functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. If implemented using software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored as or transmitted using one or more instructions or code of a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one location to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, phase change memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc. Disks may reproduce data magnetically, and discs may reproduce data optically using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.” As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

The term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data stored in memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, obtaining, selecting, choosing, establishing, and other such similar actions.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label, or other subsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.