WO2025209683A1

WO2025209683A1 - Devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for cell mode determination

Info

Publication number: WO2025209683A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/052621
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniela Laselva; Mohamad SAYED HASSAN; Jarkko Tuomo Koskela
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-04-04
Filing date: 2025-02-03
Publication date: 2025-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-04
Also published as: GB2640189A

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for cell mode determination An example apparatus for a terminal device may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the apparatus at least to: receive second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; determine whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determine, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB1-less mode.

Description

DEVICES, METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CELL MODE DETERMINATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] Various example embodiments relate to devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for cell mode determination.

BACKGROUND

[002] System information block 1 (SIB1) includes information regarding the availability and scheduling of other SIBs with an indication whether one or more SIBs are only provided on-demand, and in that case, the configuration needed by a user equipment (UE) to perform a system information (SI) request. SIB1 is cell-specific SIB. Network energy saving (NES) is introduced for energy saving on a cell. ANES cell may operate in on-demand (OD) SIB1 mode, where the NES cell may not periodically broadcast the SIB1 but provide the SIB1 of the NES cell on-demand. For example, the UE in radio resource control (RRC) idle or RRC inactive state may request, from the NES cell, the transmission of the SIBl. For example, the NES cell may transmit SIB1 in response to uplink (UL) wake-up signal (WUS) from the UE.

SUMMARY

[003] A brief summary of exemplary embodiments is provided below to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various embodiments. It should be noted that this summary is not intended to identify key features of essential elements or define scopes of the embodiments, and its sole purpose is to introduce some concepts in a simplified form as a preamble for a more detailed description provided below.

[004] In a first aspect, disclosed is an apparatus for a terminal device. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the apparatus at least to: receive second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIBl, in the first cell; determine whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determine, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[005] In a second aspect, disclosed is an apparatus for a network device. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the apparatus at least to: transmit to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell.

[006] In a third aspect, disclosed is a method performed by an apparatus for a terminal device. The method may comprise: receiving second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; determining whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determining, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[007] In a fourth aspect, disclosed is a method performed by an apparatus for a network device. The method may comprise: transmitting to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell.

[008] In a fifth aspect, disclosed is an apparatus for a terminal device. The apparatus for the terminal device may comprise: means for receiving second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; means for determining whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and means for determining, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD- SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[009] In a sixth aspect, disclosed is an apparatus for a network device. The apparatus for the network device may comprise: means for transmitting to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB1 mode of the cell.

[0010] In a seventh aspect, a computer readable medium is disclosed. The computer readable medium may comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a terminal device, may cause the apparatus at least to: receive second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; determine whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on- demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determine, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0011] In an eighth aspect, a computer readable medium is disclosed. The computer readable medium may comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a network device, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB1 mode of the cell.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the example embodiments of the present disclosure will also be apparent from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of example embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Some example embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1A and FIG IB show an exemplary sequence diagram for cell mode determination.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 200 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating an example device 400 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an example device 500 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 600 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 700 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Throughout the drawings, same or similar reference numbers indicate same or similar elements. A repetitive description on the same elements would be omitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Herein below, some example embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known circuits, techniques and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the described concepts and features.

[0023] A cell (legacy cell or a NES cell) may transmit to a UE a master information block (MIB) to indicate whether SIB1 of the cell is present or absent. Legacy UEs (earlier than Release 19 UEs) might not be able to request for the OD-SIB1 or the legacy UEs might not support OD-SIB1 operation. Thus, in order to not to confuse the legacy UEs, the NES cell may be configured to broadcast MIB indicating “no SIB1 is present” (even if SIB1 is present). Thus, the legacy UEs may ignore the NES cell, since they cannot use it.

[0024] This may be problematic for Release 19 (R19) UEs, or UEs configured to operate according to newer releases than Release 18 (R18), for example, R19 or newer UEs with OD-SIB1 capability. If the UE (e.g. UE with OD-SIB1 capability or configured to support OD-SIB1 operation) receives the MIB indicating absence of the SIB1, i.e. no SIB1, the UE cannot distinguish the following cases: case 1 (legacy cell with no SIB1 present) where the cell does not operate in OD-SIB1 mode, i.e., the cell is in SIBl-less mode; and case 2 (NES cell in OD-SIB1 mode) where the cell, e.g. a NES cell, operates in OD-SIB1 mode.

[0025] The UE should transmit the OD-SIB1 request only in case 2. However, as described, the UE might not be able to distinguish between these two cases, as the MIB transmitted by the NES cell may indicate “no SIB1” even if the NES cell has SIB1.

[0026] Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide solutions for cell mode determination. According to the example embodiments of the present disclosure, a UE receiving a MIB indicating absence of the SIB1 from a NES cell may distinguish whether the NES cell operates in SIBl-less mode or in OD-SIB1 mode, without the need to use spare bit in the MIB. [0027] FIG. 1A and FIG IB show an exemplary sequence diagram for cell mode determination. Referring to the FIG. 1A, a UE 110 may represent any terminal device in a network. In some embodiments, the UE 110 is R19 UE or a UE configured with newer release than R18. In some embodiments, the UE 110 is able to request OD-SIB1 from a NES cell. In some embodiments, the UE 110 is able to connect with the NES cell. In some embodiments, the UE 110 is a UE with OD-SIB1 capability.

[0028] The UE 110 is served by a cell 160 and/or a cell 180. The cell 160 is a cell A agreed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) which periodically transmits at least its own SIB1. The cell 180 is a NES cell or a cell Agoing to switch to NES cell. The NES cell may transmit SIB1 transmission in response to UL WUS from a UE. The cell 160 may act as anchor for the cell 180. In the example embodiments of the present disclosure, a cell A acting as the anchor for a NES cell at least means that the cell A provides at least part of OD-SIB1 request configuration of the NES cell.

[0029] Referring to the FIG. 1A, in some embodiments, the cell 180 may provide the cell 160 with information 182 with respect to OD-SIB1 mode of the cell 180. In some embodiments, the UE 110 may receive from the cell 160, first configuration information 162 indicating an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with the cell 180. In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may include resource configuration for requesting the OD-SIB1 from the cell 180. In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may be an UL WUS configuration. In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell 180 is able to operate in the OD-SIB1 mode.

[0030] In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may include a physical cell identity (PCI) of the cell 180 and/or an operating frequency of the cell 180. In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may further include activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell 180 and/or activation time window of the OD- SIB1 mode of the cell 180.

[0031] Receiving the first configuration information 162, in an operation 112, the UE 110 may store the first configuration information 162.

[0032] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the UE 110 may receive from the cell 180, the first configuration information 162 indicating the OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with the cell 180. Receiving the first configuration information 162, in an operation 112, the UE 110 may store the first configuration information 162. In some embodiments, when transmitting the first configuration information 162, the cell 180 is a cell A, and the cell 180 may then switch to a NES cell.

[0033] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the cell 180 may provide the cell 160 with information 184 with respect to the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell 180. And in some embodiments, different parts of the first configuration information 162 may be received separately. In some embodiments, the first configuration information 162 may include a first part 164 and a second part 166. The first part 164 may include the PCI and/or the operating frequency of the cell 180, and the second part 166 may include the activation timing and/or the activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell 180. In some embodiments, the UE 110 may receive the first part 164 from the cell 160 and receive the second part 166 from the cell 180.

[0034] Receiving the first part 164 and the second part 166, the UE 110 may store the first part 164 and the second part 166 as the first configuration information 162.

[0035] In some embodiments, the UE 110 may be in RRC idle or RRC inactive state or then enter into RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Referring to the FIG. IB, in some embodiments, if the cell 180 operates in the OD-SIB1 mode or the SIB 1 -less mode, the cell 180 may transmit to the UE 110, second configuration information 186 indicating absence of SIB1 i.e. no SIB1 in the cell 180. In some embodiments, the second configuration information 186 may be transmitted via the MIB. In some embodiment, the second configuration information 186 is or is comprised in the MIB.

[0036] In some embodiments, the second configuration information 186 may be broadcasted from the cell 180. For example, the cell 180 may broadcast the second configuration information 186 periodically.

[0037] In some embodiments, the second configuration information 186 may be received after the first configuration information 162. In some embodiments, the second configuration information 186 may be received before the first configuration information [0038] In some embodiments, in an operation 114, the UE 110 may determine whether first configuration information has been received. Then, in an operation 116, the UE 110 may determine, based on whether the first configuration information 162 has been received and the second configuration information 186, whether the cell 180 operates in the OD-SIB1 mode or the SIBl-less mode.

[0039] If the UE 110 has received the first configuration information 162 (“Yes” prong of operation 114), in an operation 118, the UE 110 may determine that the cell 180 operates in the OD-SIB1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information 162 has been received.

[0040] Then, in an operation 120, the UE 110 may determine, based on determining that the cell 180 operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the UE 110 is allowed to trigger an OD- SIB1 request procedure with the cell 180. For example, the UE 110 may transmit to the cell 180 an UL WUS based on the OD-SIB 1 request configuration to request the SIB 1.

[0041] If the UE 110 has not received the first configuration information 162 (“No” prong of operation 114), in an operation 122, the UE 110 may determine that the cell 180 operates in the SIBl-less mode based on determining that the first configuration information 162 has not been received.

[0042] Then, in an operation 124, the UE 110 may determine, based on determining that the cell 180 operates in the SIBl-less mode, that the UE 110 is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB 1 request procedure with the cell 180.

[0043] Thus, according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE 110 can distinguish the above mentioned case 1 and case 2, and if the NES cell e.g. the cell 180 operates in the OD-SIB 1 mode, the UE 110 is aware which resources can be used for transmitting the SIB 1 request.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 200 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The example method 200 may be performed for example by an apparatus for a terminal device such as the UE 110 above mentioned.

[0045] Referring to the FIG. 2, the example method 200 may comprise: an operation 210 of receiving second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the first cell; an operation 220 of determining whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with the first cell; and an operation 230 of determining, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0046] In some embodiments, the example method 200 may comprise: determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information has been received; and determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode based on determining that the first configuration information has not been received.

[0047] In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise a first part and a second part, the first part may comprise a PCI of the first cell or an operating frequency of the first cell, and the second part may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell.

[0048] In some embodiments, the example method 200 may comprise: receiving the first configuration information from the first cell or a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell.

[0049] In some embodiments, the example method 200 may comprise: receiving the first part of the first configuration information from a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell; and receiving the second part of the first configuration information from the first cell.

[0050] In some embodiments, the example method 200 may comprise: determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the apparatus is allowed to trigger an OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell; and determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode, that the apparatus is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell.

[0051] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be broadcasted from the first cell. [0052] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be received after the first configuration information.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The example method 300 may be performed for example by an apparatus for a network device serving a cell such as the cell 180 above mentioned.

[0054] Referring to the FIG. 3, the example method 300 may comprise: an operation 310 of transmitting to a terminal device, at least a part of an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB1 mode of the cell.

[0055] In some embodiments, the example method 300 may comprise: transmitting to the terminal device, configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the cell, if the cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating an example device 400 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device, for example, may be at least part of an apparatus for a terminal device such as the UE 110 in the above examples.

[0057] As shown in the FIG. 4, the example device 400 may include at least one processor 410 and at least one memory 420 that may store instructions 430. The instructions 430, when executed by the at least one processor 410, may cause the device 400 at least to perform the example method 200 described above.

[0058] In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 410 in the example device 400 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Further, the at least one processor 410 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in the FIG. 4.

[0059] In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 420 in the example device 400 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a transitory memory and/or a non-transitory memory. The transitory memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM), a cache, and so on. The non- transitory memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM). Further, the at least memory 420 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above. [0060] Further, in various example embodiments, the example device 400 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one VO interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

[0061] In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example device 400, including the at least one processor 410 and the at least one memory 420, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

[0062] It is understood that the structure of the device on the side of the UE 110 is not limited to the above example device 400.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an example device 500 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device, for example, may be at least part of an apparatus for a network device serving a cell such as the cell 180 in the above examples.

[0064] As shown in the FIG. 5, the example device 500 may include at least one processor 510 and at least one memory 520 that may store instructions 530. The instructions 530, when executed by the at least one processor 510, may cause the device 500 at least to perform the example method 300 described above.

[0065] In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 510 in the example device 500 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Further, the at least one processor 510 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in the FIG. 5.

[0066] In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 520 in the example device 500 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a transitory memory and/or a non-transitory memory. The transitory memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM), a cache, and so on. The non- transitory memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM). Further, the at least memory 520 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above. [0067] Further, in various example embodiments, the example device 500 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one VO interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

[0068] In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example device 500, including the at least one processor 510 and the at least one memory 520, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

[0069] It is understood that the structure of the device on the side of the network device is not limited to the above example device 500.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 600 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a terminal device such as the UE 110 in the above examples. [0071] As shown in the FIG. 6, the example apparatus 600 may comprise: means 610 for receiving second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the first cell; means 620 for determining whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with the first cell; and means 630 for determining, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0072] In some embodiments, the apparatus 600 may comprise means for, determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information has been received; and determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode based on determining that the first configuration information has not been received.

[0073] In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise a first part and a second part, the first part may comprise a PCI of the first cell or an operating frequency of the first cell, and the second part may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell.

[0074] In some embodiments, the apparatus 600 may comprise means for receiving the first configuration information from the first cell or a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell.

[0075] In some embodiments, the apparatus 600 may comprise means for receiving the first part of the first configuration information from a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell; and receiving the second part of the first configuration information from the first cell.

[0076] In some embodiments, the apparatus 600 may comprise means for, determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the apparatus is allowed to trigger an OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell; and determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode, that the apparatus is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell. [0077] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be broadcasted from the first cell.

[0078] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be received after the first configuration information.

[0079] In some example embodiments, examples of means in the example apparatus 600 may include circuitries. For example, an example of means 610 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 210 of the example method 200, an example of means 620 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 220 of the example method 200, and an example of means 630 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 230 of the example method 200.

[0080] The example apparatus 600 may further include means comprising circuitry configured to perform the example method 200. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 700 for cell mode determination according to the example embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a network device serving a cell such as the cell 180 in the above examples.

[0082] As shown in the FIG. 7, the example apparatus 700 may comprise: means 710 for transmitting to a terminal device, at least a part of an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB1 mode of the cell.

[0083] In some embodiments, the apparatus 700 may comprise means for transmitting to the terminal device, configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the cell, if the cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0084] In some example embodiments, examples of means in the example apparatus 700 may include circuitries. For example, an example of means 710 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 310 of the example method 300.

[0085] The example apparatus 700 may further include means comprising circuitry configured to perform the example method 300. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities.

[0086] The example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a terminal device such as the UE 110 in the above examples, may cause the apparatus at least to: receive second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the first cell; determine whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with the first cell; and determine, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0087] In some embodiments, the computer readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to: determine that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information has been received; and determine that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode based on determining that the first configuration information has not been received. [0088] In some embodiments, the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise a first part and a second part, the first part may comprise a PCI of the first cell or an operating frequency of the first cell, and the second part may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell.

[0089] In some embodiments, the computer readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to: receive the first configuration information from the first cell or a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell.

[0090] In some embodiments, the computer readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to: receive the first part of the first configuration information from a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell; and receiving the second part of the first configuration information from the first cell.

[0091] In some embodiments, the computer readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to: determine, based on determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the apparatus is allowed to trigger an OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell; and determine, based on determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode, that the apparatus is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell.

[0092] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be broadcasted from the first cell.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second configuration information may be received after the first configuration information.

[0094] The example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a network device serving a cell such as the cell 180 in the above examples, may cause the apparatus at least to: transmit to a terminal device, at least a part of an OD-SIB1 request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration may indicate that the cell is able to operate in OD-SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB1 request configuration may comprise at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the cell.

[0095] In some embodiments, the computer readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to: transmit to the terminal device, configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the cell, if the cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

[0096] As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements. [0097] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customerpremises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the above description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0098] The term “circuitry” throughout this disclosure may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable) (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions); and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to one or all uses of this term in this disclosure, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this disclosure, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0099] Another example embodiment may relate to computer program codes or instructions which may cause an apparatus to perform at least respective methods described above. Another example embodiment may be related to a computer readable medium having such computer program codes or instructions stored thereon. In some embodiments, such a computer readable medium may include at least one storage medium in various forms such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a RAM, a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, a ROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. The non-volatile memory may also include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

[00100] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Likewise, the word “connected”, as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

[00101] Moreover, conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” “for example,” “such as” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[00102] As used herein, the term "determine/determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), accessing (for example, accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, "determine/determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[00103] While some embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the apparatus, methods, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, while blocks are presented in a given arrangement, alternative embodiments may perform similar functionalities with different components and/or circuit topologies, and some blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. At least one of these blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. The order of these blocks may also be changed. Any suitable combination of the elements and actions of the some embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

[00104] Abbreviations used in the description and/or in the figures are defined as follows: 3 GPP TS 3rd Generation Partnership Project Technical

Specification

MIB master information block

NES network energy saving

OD on-demand PCI physical cell identity

R18 Release 18

R19 Release 19

RRC radio resource control

SI system information SIB system information block

UE user equipment

UL uplink

WUS wake-up signal

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for a terminal device, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; determine whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determine, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to: determine that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information has been received; and determine that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode based on determining that the first configuration information has not been received.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration comprises a first part and a second part, the first part comprises a physical cell identity, PCI, of the first cell or an operating frequency of the first cell, and the second part comprises at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD- SIB1 mode of the first cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to: receive the first configuration information from the first cell or a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to: receive the first part of the first configuration information from a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell; and receive the second part of the first configuration information from the first cell.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to: determine, based on determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the apparatus is allowed to trigger an OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell; and determine, based on determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode, that the apparatus is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second configuration information is broadcasted from the first cell.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second configuration information is received after the first configuration information.

9. An apparatus for a network device, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration indicates that the cell is able to operate in OD- SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB 1 request configuration comprises at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB 1 mode of the cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to: transmit to the terminal device, configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the cell, if the cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

11. A method performed by an apparatus for a terminal device, comprising: receiving second configuration information from a first cell, the second configuration information indicating absence of system information block 1, SIB1, in the first cell; determining whether first configuration information has been received, the first configuration information indicating an on-demand, OD, SIB1, request configuration associated with the first cell; and determining, based on whether the first configuration information has been received and the second configuration information, whether the first cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising: determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB 1 mode based on determining that the first configuration information has been received; and determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode based on determining that the first configuration information has not been received.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration comprises a first part and a second part, the first part comprises a physical cell identity, PCI, of the first cell or an operating frequency of the first cell, and the second part comprises at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD- SIB1 mode of the first cell or activation time window of the OD-SIB1 mode of the first cell.

14. The method of any of claims 11 to 13, comprising: receiving the first configuration information from the first cell or a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising: receiving the first part of the first configuration information from a second cell acting as anchor for the first cell; and receiving the second part of the first configuration information from the first cell.

16. The method of any of claims 11 to 15, comprising: determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the OD-SIB1 mode, that the apparatus is allowed to trigger an OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell; and determining, based on determining that the first cell operates in the SIB 1 -less mode, that the apparatus is not allowed to trigger the OD-SIB1 request procedure with the first cell.

17. The method of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the second configuration information is broadcasted from the first cell.

18. The method of any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the second configuration information is received after the first configuration information.

19. A method performed by an apparatus for a network device, comprising: transmitting to a terminal device, at least a part of an on-demand, OD, system information block 1, SIB1, request configuration associated with a cell served by the network device, wherein the OD-SIB1 request configuration indicates that the cell is able to operate in OD- SIB1 mode, and the part of the OD-SIB 1 request configuration comprises at least one of the following: activation timing of the OD-SIB 1 mode of the cell or activation time window of the OD- SIB 1 mode of the cell.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising: transmitting to the terminal device, configuration information indicating absence of SIB1 in the cell, if the cell operates in OD-SIB 1 mode or SIB 1 -less mode.

21. An apparatus for a terminal device, comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 11 to 18.

22. An apparatus for a network device, comprising means for performing the method of claim 19 or 20.

23. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a terminal device, cause the apparatus to at least perform the method of any of claims 11 to 18.

24. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus for a network device, cause the apparatus to at least perform the method of claim 19 or 20.