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WO2025237600A1 - Appareils, procédés et programmes informatiques pour réseaux lpwa - Google Patents

Appareils, procédés et programmes informatiques pour réseaux lpwa

Info

Publication number
WO2025237600A1
WO2025237600A1 PCT/EP2025/059890 EP2025059890W WO2025237600A1 WO 2025237600 A1 WO2025237600 A1 WO 2025237600A1 EP 2025059890 W EP2025059890 W EP 2025059890W WO 2025237600 A1 WO2025237600 A1 WO 2025237600A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lpwa
network
lpwa network
operational mode
previous
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/EP2025/059890
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Renato Barbosa ABREU
Sayed Ali MARANDI
Ali Karimidehkordi
Prajwal KESHAVAMURTHY
Nitin MANGALVEDHE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nokia Technologies Oy
Original Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nokia Technologies Oy filed Critical Nokia Technologies Oy
Publication of WO2025237600A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025237600A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/24—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
    • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/14—Reselecting a network or an air interface
    • H04W36/144—Reselecting a network or an air interface over a different radio air interface technology
    • H04W36/1446—Reselecting a network or an air interface over a different radio air interface technology wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

  • Examples of the disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for low power wide area, LPWA, network. Some examples relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for switching from an LPWA network to another (non-LPA) network.
  • An LPWA device (not least for example an Internet of Things, loT, device) may communicate with a LPWA network. However, in the event of an outage of the LPWA network, it may be desirable to switch from communicating with the LPWA network to communicating with another network, i.e. a non-LPWA network. In such a manner, the LPWA device may then be able to report the outage of the LPWA network to the non- LPWA network (i.e. so that remedial action might be taken to restore operation of the LPWA network) and/or the LPWA’s data (e.g. loT data such as sensor data) can be transmitted to the non-LPWA network.
  • loT data such as sensor data
  • in may be desirable to address or ameliorate the above issues. In some circumstances, in may be desirable to provide improved switching from an LPWA network to another network.
  • an apparatus comprising: means for operating in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; means for determining whether at least one condition has been met; and means for accessing a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • a method comprising: operating an apparatus in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; determining, at the apparatus, whether at least one condition has been met; and accessing, by the apparatus, a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • a chipset comprising processing circuitry configured to perform the above- mentioned method.
  • an apparatus a module, circuitry, a device and/or a system comprising means for performing the above-mentioned method.
  • a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.
  • an apparatus 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: operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; determine whether at least one condition has been met; and access a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes at least the following to be performed: operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; determine whether at least one condition has been met; and access a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • an access node for a non-low power wide area, LPWA, network comprising: means for receiving capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; means for determining configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non- LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and means for sending the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode.
  • a method comprising: receiving, at an access node for a non-low power wide area, LPWA, network, capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-
  • LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; determining, at the access node, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and sending, by the access node, the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode.
  • chipset comprising processing circuitry configured to perform the above- mentioned method.
  • an apparatus a module, circuitry, a device and/or a system comprising means for performing the above-mentioned method.
  • a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.
  • an access node for a non-low power wide area, LPWA, network comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the access node at least to: receive capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; determine configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and send the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes at least the following to be performed: receive capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; determine configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and send the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode.
  • determining whether at least one condition has been met comprises determining at least one of the following: an outage of the LPWA network; a radio link failure, RLF, of the LPWA network; an absence of detection of one or more signals from the LPWA network; an absence of detection of one or more channels from the LPWA network; one or more failures of one or more attempts to access the LPWA network; one or more failures of one or more attempts to transmit data to the LPWA network; a quality of service, QOS, requirement for data to be transmitted; or one or more measurements of one or more signals from the LPWA network.
  • signaling between the apparatus and the LPWA network in the first operational mode uses at least one of the following: the same at least one frame structure as used by the non-LPWA network, or the same at least one physical channel design of the non-LPWA network.
  • signaling between the apparatus and the non-LPWA network in the second operational mode uses at least one of the following: the same frame structure as used for signaling in the first operational mode, or the same at least one physical channel design as used for signaling in the first operational mode.
  • accessing the non-LPWA network and operating in the second operational mode is based at least in part on configuration information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode.
  • the configuration information is one of the following: pre-configured within the apparatus; or received from the LPWA network; or received from the non-LPWA network.
  • the configuration information comprises one or more resources for the apparatus to use to access and/or communicate with the non-LPWA network; and wherein a frequency domain of the one or more resources is within the first operating bandwidth.
  • the configuration information comprises an indication of a plurality resources for the apparatus to use to access and/or communicate with the non-LPWA network, and wherein the apparatus selects at least one of the plurality of resources at random for use in accessing and/or communicating with the non-LPWA network.
  • the apparatus further comprises at least one of the following: means for determining, during the second operational mode, a status of the LPWA network; or means for performing, during the second operational mode, one or more measurements of one or more signals received from the LPWA network.
  • the apparatus further comprises at least one of the following: means for reporting, to the non-LPWA, a status of the LPWA network; or means for reporting, to the non-LPWA, one or more measurements of one or more signals received from the LPWA network.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the non-LPWA network, at least one of the following: a small data transmission, SDT; loT data; machine type communication data; or sensor data.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the LPWA network or the non-LPWA network, capability information, wherein the capability information is indicative of at least one of the following: a capability for communicating with the non-LPWA network in the first operating band; a capability of the apparatus to operate in the second operational mode; one or more physical layer capabilities supported by the apparatus; one or more transmission and/or reception parameters supported by the apparatus; the first operating bandwidth; one or more subcarrier spacings supported by the apparatus; one or more modulation orders supported by the apparatus; one or more modulation and coding schemes, MCSs, supported by the apparatus; one or more bandwidths supported by the apparatus; one or more reference signal types supported by the apparatus; one or more control channel types supported by the apparatus; one or more transmission powers supported by the apparatus; whether radio resource control, RRC, is supported by the apparatus; or lower layer capabilities of the apparatus.
  • the capability information is indicative of at least one of the following: a capability for communicating with the non-LPWA network in the first operating band; a capability of the apparatus to operate in the second
  • the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information
  • the apparatus is configured to at least one of the following: use the LPWA network as a default network; or use the non-LPWA network as a fallback network in the event of an outage of the LPWA network.
  • the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the non-LPWA network and whilst in the second operational mode, an indication for the apparatus to switch to the first operational mode; and means for switching to the first operational mode, wherein the switching is triggered based at least in part on receiving the indication.
  • the apparatus further comprises: means for determining whether at least one second condition has been met; and means for switching to the first operational mode, wherein the switching is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one second condition has been met.
  • determining whether the at least one second condition has been met comprises determining at least one of the following: detection of one or more signals from the LPWA network; detection of one or more channels; accessing the LPWA network; receiving data or control information from the LPWA network; and one or more measurements of one or more signals from the LPWA network.
  • the LPWA network is at least one of the following: a narrowband network; an internet of things, loT, network; or a cellular loT network.
  • the at least first operating bandwidth comprises at least one of the following: a narrowband; an operating bandwidth of the apparatus; an operating bandwidth of the LPWA network; or an operating bandwidth of a cellular internet of things, loT, network.
  • the non-LPWA network is at least one of the following: a broadband network; a wideband network; or a radio access network, RAN.
  • the apparatus is, or is comprised in, at least one of the following: a user equipment, UE; an LPWA device; a narrowband, NB, device; an internet of things, loT, device; or a cellular loT device.
  • the access node further comprises means for receiving, from the apparatus, a report comprising information indicative of at least one of the following: a status of the LPWA network; or one or more measurements of one or more signals received by the apparatus from the LPWA network.
  • the access node further comprises means for transmitting, to the apparatus, an indication for the apparatus to switch to the first operational mode.
  • an apparatus comprising means for performing at least part of one or more methods described herein.
  • the description of a function and/or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and/or action.
  • Functions and/or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 2 shows another example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 3 shows another example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 4 shows another example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 5 shows another example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 6 shows another example of the subject matter described herein
  • FIG. 7 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; and FIG. 8 shows another example of the subject matter described herein.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a network 100 suitable for use with examples of the present disclosure.
  • the network (which may be referred to as NW) comprises a plurality of network entities (which may be referred to as NEs), including:
  • terminal apparatuses 110 which may be referred to as terminal nodes or User Equipment, UE
  • access apparatuses 120 which may be referred to as access nodes, gNodeBs, gNBs, or Base Stations, BSs),
  • core network apparatuses 130 which may be referred to as core nodes, core functions, core entities or core network entities).
  • the terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other.
  • the one or more core network nodes 130 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other.
  • the one or more access nodes 120 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other.
  • the network 100 in the example illustrates in FIG. 1 , comprises a radio telecommunications network in which at least some of the terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other using transmission/reception of radio waves.
  • the network 100 comprises a Radio Access Network, RAN, such as a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells 122 each served by an access node 120.
  • the access nodes 120 comprise cellular radio transceivers.
  • the terminal nodes 110 comprise cellular radio transceivers.
  • the network 100 is a New Radio, NR, network of the Third Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, and its fifth generation, 5G, New Radio, NR, technology.
  • the network 100 may be a network beyond 5G, for example a next generation (i.e. sixth generation, 6G) Radio Network that is currently under development (i.e. an evolution of the NR network and its 5G technology).
  • the interfaces between the terminal nodes 110 and the access nodes 120 are radio interfaces 124 (e.g., Uu interfaces).
  • the interfaces between the access nodes 120 and one or more core nodes 130 are backhaul interfaces 128 (e.g., S1 and/or Next Generation, NG, interfaces).
  • the access nodes 120 may be RAN nodes such as NG-RAN nodes.
  • NG-RAN nodes may be gNodeBs, gNBs, that provide NG user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE.
  • the gNBs connected by means of NG interfaces to a 5G Core (5GC), not least for example to an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, by means of an NG Control Plane, NG-C, interface and to a User Plane Function, UPF, by means of an NG User Plane, NG- U, interface.
  • the access nodes 120 may be interconnected with each other by means of Xn interfaces 126.
  • the cellular network 100 may be configured to operate in licensed frequency bands, or unlicensed frequency bands (not least such as: unlicensed bands that rely upon a transmitting device to sense the radio resources/medium before commencing transmission, such as via a Listen Before Talk, LBT, procedure; and a 60GHz unlicensed band where beamforming may be required to achieve required coverage).
  • unlicensed bands not least such as: unlicensed bands that rely upon a transmitting device to sense the radio resources/medium before commencing transmission, such as via a Listen Before Talk, LBT, procedure; and a 60GHz unlicensed band where beamforming may be required to achieve required coverage).
  • the access nodes 120 may be deployed in an NG standalone operation/scenario.
  • the access nodes 120 may be deployed in a NG non-standalone operation/scenario.
  • the access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Carrier Aggregation, CA, operation/scenario.
  • the access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Dual Connectivity, DC, operation/scenario, i.e., Multi Radio Access Technology - Dual Connectivity, MR-DC, or NR-DC.
  • the access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Multi Connectivity, MC, operation/scenario.
  • the access nodes 120 may be interconnected to each other by means of X2 or Xn interfaces, and connected to an Evolved Packet Core, EPC, by means of an S1 interface or to the 5GC by means of a NG interface.
  • EPC Evolved Packet Core
  • a terminal node 110 in addition to being capable of communicating (i.e. with other terminal nodes) via access nodes 120 of the network 100, may also be capable of and configured to communicate directly with one or more other terminal nodes.
  • the terminal node may be capable of and configured to perform device-to- device, D2D, communication - which may be referred to as Sidelink, SL, communication.
  • D2D/SL communication may use a PC5 interface.
  • PC5 refers to a reference point where the terminal node communicates directly with another terminal node over a direct channel (i.e. communication via an access node is not required).
  • D2D communications may be short-range, network-less, direct communications.
  • SL in New Radio (NR) is defined in 3GPP’s release 16 of 5G NR.
  • the core node 130 is shown as a single entity. In some examples the core node 130 could be distributed across a plurality of entities. For example, the core node 130 could be cloud based or distributed in any other suitable manner.
  • the core node/core entities may provide one or more functions, not least such as: User Plane Function UPF, Session Management Function SMF, Policy Control Function PCF, and Application Function AF.
  • An access node 120 may be implemented as a single network equipment, or have a split architecture that is disaggregated/distributed over two or more access nodes, such as a Central Unit, CU, a Distributed Unit, DU, a Remote Radio Head-end, RRH, using different functional-split architectures and different interfaces.
  • a split architecture that is disaggregated/distributed over two or more access nodes, such as a Central Unit, CU, a Distributed Unit, DU, a Remote Radio Head-end, RRH, using different functional-split architectures and different interfaces.
  • the terminal nodes 110 are network elements in the network that terminate the user side of the radio link. They are devices allowing access to network services. Terminal node 110 functionalities may be performed also by Mobile Termination, MT, part of an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, node.
  • the terminal nodes 110 may be referred to as User Equipment, UE, mobile equipment, mobile terminals, or mobile stations.
  • the term 'User Equipment’ may be used to designate mobile equipment comprising means, such as a smart card, for authentication/encryption etc. such as a Subscriber Identity Module, SIM.
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • a SIM/SIM card can be a memory chip, a module, or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM).
  • USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module
  • the term 'User Equipment’ can be used to designate a location/position tag, a hyper/smart, a hyper/smart sensor, or a mobile equipment comprising circuitry embedded as part of the user equipment for authentication/encryption such as a software SIM.
  • the cellular network 100 of FIG.1 can be considered to be a non-LPWA network.
  • the UE 110 of FIG.1 can be considered to be a non-LPWA device.
  • LPWA enabled devices are a classification/category of devices or UEs that have lower: energy consumption, complexity, and cost as compared to non-LPWA devices for non-LPWA networks, for instance conventional cellular devices for cellular networks such as: conventional 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G devices ("normal UE”) and also 5G Reduced Capability, RedCap, devices (also known as RedCap NR devices).
  • non-LPWA devices have higher bandwidth and are not optimized for low power, wide area and low cost/complexity as compared to LPWA devices (e.g. an loT device operating in an LPWA network).
  • LPWA devices may be characterized as user equipment, UE, configured to be connected to a low-power wide-area cellular network for exchanging typically a small payload (e.g., of sensor data, machine type communication, etc.).
  • LPWA devices may be characterized as being devices that: are low complexity/cost, have low data rate, have long battery life, and which may operate in low coverage conditions (e.g., deep indoor, remote areas, etc.).
  • LPWA devices may be characterized as narrowband, NB, devices that have an NB operation (i.e. as compared to non LPWA devices which may be capable of a broadband, BB, or wideband, WB, operation).
  • An LPWA network/device is a generic term that encompasses, for instance, at least the following example networks/devices: loT networks/devices; Narrow Band loT, NB-loT, networks/devices; cellular loT networks/devices; Long-Term Evolution Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, type devices.
  • Cellular loT devices may have the capability of transecting Mobile-Originated, MO, and Mobile-Terminated, MT, data.
  • cellular loT devices may correspond to/serve as UE that can connect to a RAN.
  • the use cases for LPWA devices include not least: monitoring, sensing (e.g. utility meters such as smart meters), identification, tracking, logistics and supply chain management, transportation, manufacturing (factory automation), healthcare, energy, agriculture, transportation, smart cities, environment, and extreme conditions.
  • sensing e.g. utility meters such as smart meters
  • identification e.g. identification, tracking, logistics and supply chain management
  • transportation e.g. manufacturing
  • manufacturing factory automation
  • any one or more of the following: a device configured or optimized to communicate with an LPWA network, an LPWA UE, LPWA device, an loT device, an NB-loT device and a cellular NB-loT device may be referred to simply as UE 201 or LPWA UE (such a UE is to be contrasted with the conventional cellular "non-LPWA” UE 110 of FIG. 1 , i.e. a UE that is not capable of communicating with an LPWA network).
  • LPWA UE/device loT UE/device, NB-loT UE/device, cellular NB-loT UE/device and UE 201 may be used interchangeably.
  • the UE 201 can be used to designate a location/position tag, a hyper/smart, a hyper/smart sensor, or a mobile equipment comprising circuitry embedded as part of the user equipment for authentication/encryption such as a software SIM.
  • an access apparatus/access node i.e. to a non-LPWA network (e.g. a cellular network not least such as a 5G or 6G next generation RAN) may be referred to simply as BS 120.
  • a non-LPWA network e.g. a cellular network not least such as a 5G or 6G next generation RAN
  • loT devices may suffer communication outage, e.g. due to blockage or due to network outage.
  • the former may be caused by a channel fading, for example, caused by a vehicle parked next to the loT device and blocking/shadowing the loT’s signal during data transmission time.
  • the latter may be caused by multiple unexpected reasons, not least such as: integration/interoperability issues between different vendors equipment in RAN and/or core network, misconfigurations, software bugs, security issues, hardware incompatibility, poor backward compatibility, refarming, human error in network operation, overload, etc.
  • Certain conventional approaches addressed an outage of a cellular network for loT devices by enabling use of direct device-to-device, D2D, communication for transmitting in the event of a lack of network coverage.
  • These approaches enable loT devices to communicate with a sidelink UE-to-Network relay to eventually reach the network.
  • the communication between the loT device and the network via a UE-to- Network relay results in coverage extension and may require less battery consumption compared to the case where the device directly communicates with the network.
  • the use of a UE-to-Network relay requires an additional sidelink modem in the loT device which increases the loT device’s complexity and cost (which may not be feasible for large-scale deployment of cheap loT devices).
  • Another limitation with such approaches is that it assumes the neighboring UE device is an end target or that it has connectivity to exchange data to the network - which may not be the case.
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of: SSB, CORESET#0 and BWP configurations for 5G RedCap multiplexed with non-RedCap.
  • the elements of FIG. 2 that are italicized and in brackets is indicative of occasions that are used by 5G RedCap (i.e. occasions which are shared with 5G RedCap UEs).
  • the RedCap UE can share initial BWPs with non-RedCap UEs if BWPs are smaller than the maximum RedCap UE bandwidth. Otherwise, separate initial BWPs must be configured in SIB1 for the RedCap UE.
  • RedCap UEs are able to operate in-band and share the same slot structures and physical channels as incumbent broadband non-RedCap UEs (e.g. normal/conventional: 3G, 4G, or 5G UEs).
  • incumbent broadband non-RedCap UEs e.g. normal/conventional: 3G, 4G, or 5G UEs.
  • LPWA UE e.g. a 4G NB-loT device or a future 6G LPWA device
  • SSB shared allocation of SSB, CORESET and initial BWP - as was done for RedCap UE -
  • LPWA UEs may operate with a different slot structure, numerology, and physical channels (e.g. with narrower band, longer slots, lower carrier frequency) for the sake of coverage and low power.
  • Various examples of the present disclosure seek to address issues when there is an outage of an LPWA radio access network (which may be caused not least for example by: integration/interoperability issues between different vendors equipment in RAN and/or core network, misconfigurations, software bugs, security issues, hardware incompatibility, poor backward compatibility, refarming, human error in network operation, overload, etc.) leading to poor network availability for LPWA UEs.
  • LPWA network (which may use different physical channels, core features or may have different power requirements) might be in outage due to the issues discussed above.
  • various examples of the present disclosure enable the provision of a fallback procedure from an LPWA network (that has suffered an outage) to an available broadband/non-LPWA network, such that an LPWA UE can at least report the outage status of the LPWA network and/or forward at least part of the LPWA UE’s data/payload (e.g. loT data such as small payloads, of a few Bytes to a few kBytes, generated by sensors or MTC) through configured/allocated time-frequency resources that the LPWA UE can use to communicate with the non-LPWA network - such time-frequency resources are referred to herein as "fallback occasions”.
  • data/payload e.g. loT data such as small payloads, of a few Bytes to a few kBytes, generated by sensors or MTC
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a method 300 in accordance with an example of the subject matter described herein.
  • FIG. 4 shows an example of a signaling diagram for implementing the method 300.
  • FIG. 3 In the following description of the method of FIG. 3, reference will also be made to elements/features of FIG. 4.
  • the component blocks of FIG. 3 are functional and the functions, along with the further functions/functionalities described below, can be performed by a single physical entity (such as an apparatus as is described with reference to FIG. 7).
  • the functions described can also be implemented by a computer program (such as is described with reference to FIG. 8).
  • the method 300 may be performed by an apparatus 10, which may be embodied in a UE such as an LPWA capable UE, referred to herein as LPWA UE 201 .
  • a UE such as an LPWA capable UE, referred to herein as LPWA UE 201 .
  • the LPWA UE may be one or more of: a narrowband device; an loT device; or a cellular loT device.
  • the signaling chart of FIG. 4 can be considered to illustrate a plurality of methods, in the sense that FIG. 4 can be considered to illustrate one or more actions performed by/at a plurality of actors/entities, i.e. LPWA UE 201 , LPWA network 200 (or a node/access node thereof), or non-LPWA network 100 (or a node/access node thereof, not least such as a BS 120).
  • FIG. 4 can therefore be considered to illustrate a plurality of individual methods performed by each respective individual actor/entity of the plurality of the actors/entities.
  • the LPWA UE 201 operates in a first operational mode 302 in which it communicates with an LPWA network 200.
  • the LPWA network may be one more of: a narrowband network; an loT network; or a cellular loT network.
  • the LPWA UE may be configured to use the LPWA network as a default network.
  • the LPWA UE communicates with the LPWA network within at least a first operating bandwidth, which may be referred to as an LPWA bandwidth 306.
  • the LPWA bandwidth may be one or more of: a narrowband; an operating bandwidth of the LPWA UE; an operating bandwidth of the LPWA network (including each of a DL LPWA BWP and an UL LPWA BWP), or an operating bandwidth of a cellular loT network.
  • the LPWA UE determines whether a condition 304 has been met.
  • the determination of the condition may comprise determining whether there has been one or more of: an outage of the LPWA network; a radio link failure, RLF, of the LPWA network; an absence of detection of one or more signals from the LPWA network, e.g. non-detection of signals (such as synchronization signals [e.g. SSBs], or reference signals [e.g. for channel estimation, demodulation, or positioning]), for a certain period of time; an absence of detection of one or more channels, e.g. broadcast channels or control channels; one or more failures of one or more attempts to access the LPWA network, e.g. for a certain period of time; or one or more failures of one or more attempts to transmit data to the LPWA network, e.g. for a certain period of time.
  • signals such as synchronization signals [e.g. SSBs], or reference signals [e.g. for channel estimation, demodulation, or positioning]
  • the determination of the condition may comprise determining a quality of service, QOS, requirement for data (e.g. loT data) to be transmitted by the LPWA UE, i.e. whether a QOS requirement has been met; or one or more measurements, by the LPWA UE, of one or more signals from the LPWA network, such as whether a signal measurement crosses a threshold, e.g. Reference Signal Received Power, RSRP, and/or Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, values drop below a threshold.
  • QOS quality of service
  • RSRP Reference Signal Received Power
  • RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality
  • the LPWA UE accesses a non-LPWA network 100 and operates in a second operational mode 307.
  • the accessing of the non-LPWA is triggered based on determining whether the condition has been met in block 303.
  • the LPWA UE may be thereby effectively be configured to use the non-LPWA network as a fallback network in the event of an outage of the LPWA network, which may be the default network for the LPWA UE.
  • the first operational mode/LPWA mode 302 may be a default mode in which the LPWA UE communicates with a (default) LPWA network
  • the second operational mode/non-LPWA mode 307 may be referred to as a fallback, FB, mode 307 in which the LPWA UE communicates with a (fallback) non- LPWA network instead of the (default) LPWA network.
  • the non-LPWA network may be one or more of the following: a broadband network; a wideband network; or a RAN, e.g. a 5G RAN or next generation 6G RAN.
  • the LPWA UE communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the LPWA bandwidth 306.
  • signaling between the LPWA UE and the non-LPWA network may use a frame structure and/or a physical channel design of the non-LPWA network.
  • a frame structure and/or a physical channel design of a broadband network may be used for signaling between the LPWA UE and the LPWA network in the FB mode.
  • the accessing of the non-LPWA network and the operation in the FB mode may be based on configuration information (which may be referred to as fallback configuration information) that is configured to enable the LPWA UE to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the FB mode (and operate within the LPWA bandwidth as well as using the same frame structure and/or the same physical channel design of the non-LPWA network).
  • configuration information which may be referred to as fallback configuration information
  • the configuration information may be: pre-configured within the LPWA UE; received from the LPWA network; or received from the non-LPWA network.
  • the configuration information comprises one or more resources (which may be referred to as FB resources or FB occasions) for the apparatus to use to access and/or communicate with the non-LPWA network; and wherein a frequency domain of the one or more resources is within the first operating bandwidth.
  • resources which may be referred to as FB resources or FB occasions
  • the LPWA UE may selects one or more of the plurality of FB occasions at random for use in accessing and/or communicating with the non-LPWA network. This may be done to reduce the likelihood of collisions in instances where a plurality of LPWA UEs are attempting to access and communicate with the non-LPWA network via the same FB occasions.
  • the configuration information may also comprise information indicative of one or more FB conditions used in block 303.
  • the LPWA UE may determine a status of the LPWA network and/or perform one or more measurements (not least RSRP/RSRQ) of signals received from the LPWA network. The LPWA UE may then report, to the non- LPWA, the status of the LPWA network and/or the measurements.
  • the LPWA UE may transmit, to the non-LPWA network, one or more of: a small data transmission, SDT; loT data; machine type communication data; or sensor data (e.g. from a sensor contained in, or associated with, the LPWA UE).
  • a small data transmission SDT
  • loT data machine type communication data
  • sensor data e.g. from a sensor contained in, or associated with, the LPWA UE.
  • the LPWA UE may receive from the non- LPWA network, an indication for the LPWA UE to switch back to the LPWA mode. The receipt of the indication may thereby trigger the LPWA UEto switch to the LPWA mode.
  • the non-LPWA network may determine whether to send the indication based at least in part on a report, received from the LPWA UE, of a status of the LPWA network or measurements of signals from the LPWA network. Responsive to the report, the LPWA UE may prompt remedial action to be taken to address/resolve/ameliorate any issue that had affected the LPWA network’s service and/or caused an outage of the same.
  • the LPWA UE determines to switch back to the LPWA mode via means other than receiving such an indication from the non-LPWA network.
  • the LPWA UE may determine whether to switch back to the LPWA mode based on determining whether a second condition has been met, wherein the second condition may comprise: detection of one or more signals from the LPWA network, for example signals such as synchronization signals (e.g. SSBs) or reference signals (e.g. for channel estimation, demodulation, or positioning); detection of one or more channels from the LPWA network, e.g. broadcast channels or control channels; success in attempting access to the LPWA network; receiving data or control information from the LPWA network; and one or more measurements of one or more signals from the LPWA network.
  • signals such as synchronization signals (e.g. SSBs) or reference signals (e.g. for channel estimation, demodulation, or positioning)
  • detection of one or more channels from the LPWA network e.g. broadcast channels or control channels
  • the LPWA UE may transmit, to the LPWA network or the non-LPWA network, capability information indicative of at least one of the following: a capability of the LPWA UE to communicate with the non-LPWA network in the LPWA band; a capability of the LPWA UE to operate in the FB mode; one or more physical layer capabilities supported by the LPWA UE; one or more transmission and/or reception parameters supported by the LPWA UE; the first operating bandwidth (i.e.
  • the LPWA bandwidth ; one or more subcarrier spacings supported by the LPWA UE; one or more modulation orders supported by the LPWA UE; one or more modulation and coding schemes, MCSs, supported by the LPWA UE; one or more bandwidths supported by the LPWA UE; one or more reference signal types supported by the LPWA UE; one or more control channel types supported by the LPWA UE; one or more transmission powers supported by the LPWA UE; whether radio resource control, RRC, is supported by the LPWA UE; or lower layer capabilities of the LPWA UE.
  • RRC radio resource control
  • the non-LPWA network may determine the above-discussed configuration information (i.e. the fallback configuration information that enables the LPWA UE to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the FB mode within the LPWA bandwidth as well as use the same frame structure and/or the same physical channel design of the non-LPWA network).
  • the non-LPWA network may then send the configuration information to the LPWA UE, i.e. either indirectly or directly.
  • the non-LPWA network may send the configuration information indirectly via the LPWA network, i.e. when the LPWA is operating in the LPWA mode.
  • the LPWA network may transmit the configuration information directly to the LPWA UE.
  • An LPWA UE is pre-configured (i.e. with a configuration that is built-in to the UE or input by a user, a manufacture, or pre-stored on a SIM card/memory card) or configured by its LPWA network (or indeed in some examples the non-LPWA network) with parameters for accessing the non-LPWA network (referred to herein as "fallback access parameters”) as well as conditions to operate in a fallback mode (i.e. wherein the LPWA device communicates with the non- LPWA network).
  • Such fallback access parameters and conditions may be provided to the LPWA UE via an LPWA SIB, or via RRC messaging (provided in an LPWA operating bandwidth of the LPWA UE) so that the LPWA UE might get knowledge about fallback occasions such as FB CORESET#0 and FB initial BWP.
  • the FB CORESET#0 can be for example a PDCCH resource in one RB allocation in an LPWA band.
  • the FB initial BWP can be a PRACH resource, a PUSCH and a PDSCH in one RB allocation in the LPWA band.
  • the LPWA UE may indicate its capability to support fallback procedure, and the LPWA UE informs the network about its supported fallback configurations.
  • the LPWA UE detects an outage of the LPWA network and performs a switching to a fallback mode of operation in which it uses the configured fallback occasions.
  • the fallback mode implements at least part of the baseband of non-LPWA device category, operating in a BWP that can be supported within the LPWA radio frequency, RF, bandwidth.
  • RF circuitry may be reused for both modes, while part of baseband implementation from non-LPWA should be additionally implemented for the fallback mode, such as a DL control processing and decoder for supporting receiving PDCCH, and an UL processing block and encoder to support transmitting PUSCH in an initial DL/UL bandwidth part for the fallback mode.
  • the fallback mode may not comprise a whole stack of a higher capability device, i.e. only mandatory features needed for enabling a transmission in fallback mode may be supported.
  • the LPWA UE may only transmit a small data packet during a RACH procedure with the non- LPWA (as a Small Data Transmission, SDT) then the LPWA UE may not get to an RRC connected mode.
  • the LPWA UE could then avoid implementing RLC, PDCP, as well as some parts of other layers (e.g. no HARQ support in MAC, or no RRC_connected state support in RRC).
  • the fallback mode (or circuitry) may behave as in idle/inactive state at least while the LPWA network is available.
  • the trigger to switch to the fallback mode of operation may depend on at least one of: a duration of the LPWA network outage (in this case the LPWA UE is configured to run an outage timer), a number of access or transmission attempts made by the UE during the outage, QoS requirement (e.g. priority and/or latency requirement of loT data), and energy availability at the LPWA UE device (e.g. such that only LPWA UEs with enough available energy switch to a fallback mode).
  • a duration of the LPWA network outage in this case the LPWA UE is configured to run an outage timer
  • QoS requirement e.g. priority and/or latency requirement of loT data
  • energy availability at the LPWA UE device e.g. such that only LPWA UEs with enough available energy switch to a fallback mode.
  • the LPWA UE may perform measurements to diagnose a status of the LPWA network coverage and may report to the network though a fallback occasion.
  • the LPWA UE may send the report about the LPWA outage.
  • the report may provide some information about the duration of outage, number of access/transmission attempts during the outage, if there was any lost data/costs because of outage, reason of outage, and information about the latest workable LWPA configuration.
  • the LPWA UE may be also configured to send at least part of the loT data. Sending the data may be subject to (pre)configured restrictions such as data size, QoS, energy availability in the UE, coverage level, etc.
  • FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of signaling and a procedure for supporting a fallback procedure wherein an LPWA UE can fallback to a non-LPWA network upon an outage of an LPWA network.
  • references to a "UE” refer to an "LPWA UE”, namely an LPWA enabled UE, i.e. a UE with LPWA capabilities that is able to communicate with an LPWA network within an LPWA bandwidth.
  • the signaling and procedure comprises the following steps.
  • Step 1 Request setup for fallback mode
  • the UE While operating in an LPWA mode (such operation in an LPWA mode corresponding to block 301 of FIG. 3), the UE may indicate its capability for operating in a fallback mode. This may include the UE indicating a feature set for fallback operation in the LPWA band, which informs, for example, about supported PHY capabilities such as subcarrier spacing, modulation order, MCS, bandwidth, supported reference signal types, supported control channel types, supported RRC and lower layer capabilities.
  • supported PHY capabilities such as subcarrier spacing, modulation order, MCS, bandwidth, supported reference signal types, supported control channel types, supported RRC and lower layer capabilities.
  • the UE may also request and obtain configuration for the fallback mode of operation.
  • This can include configuration of an initial context (which may include: UE identifiers, security configuration, cell identity) and a minimum RRC setup (which may include radio bearers configurations which are logical channels to carry data and control information) for performing a small data transmission, SDT, in fallback mode, at least if assuming that the fallback mode operates as an RRC inactive UE.
  • an initial context which may include: UE identifiers, security configuration, cell identity
  • a minimum RRC setup which may include radio bearers configurations which are logical channels to carry data and control information
  • the UE may request this setup directly to the non-LPWA network after activation of/switching to a fallback mode (not shown).
  • the UE may be configured by the LPWA network with configuration information, e.g. fallback access parameters, in order to get knowledge about fallback occasions such as time-frequency resources, power control, modulation and coding, temporary identifier, etc, for FB CORESET#0 and FB initial BWP (e.g., as shown and discussed further below with respect to FIG. 6).
  • configuration information e.g. fallback access parameters
  • the UE may be preconfigured with such configuration information (i.e. via being built-in, hard coded, user input, or pre-stored on a memory card), or the configuration information may be provided to the UE by the non-LPWA network, via the non-LPWA network, for example if a:
  • Synchronization Signal Block SSB
  • Master Information Block, MIB; and/or System Information Block SIB of the non-LPWA network can be provided within the LPWA band.
  • the configuration may also include conditions to operate in a fallback mode, for example, configuration of: a timer to determine for how long or how many attempts the UE may try to communicate in LPWA mode before switching to a fallback mode, a minimum coverage level or RSRP threshold for the UE to be able to operate in fallback mode, a QoS requirement associated to data (e.g. SDT or loT data) allowed for transmission in the fallback mode a timer to determine for how long or how many attempts the UE may try to communicate in the fallback mode before reverting back to the LPWA mode or to trigger an RLF.
  • a timer to determine for how long or how many attempts the UE may try to communicate in LPWA mode before switching to a fallback mode
  • a minimum coverage level or RSRP threshold for the UE to be able to operate in fallback mode
  • QoS requirement associated to data e.g. SDT or loT data
  • the configuration may indicate separate RACH resources to access in the fallback mode for preventing devices/UEs in outage contending with other devices/UEs in a same random access occasions. It may also indicate time-frequency resources for small data transmissions to allow the UE to report and transfer data while the fallback mode is in idle/inactive state.
  • the configuration may include restrictions such as: a maximum data size, a QoS of the data, a UE/device type, a UE identifier, a minimum energy availability in the UE, a minimum coverage level, etc, for the UE to be allowed to transmit in fallback mode.
  • the configuration may be defined by and provided by the non-LPWA network and forwarded through the LPWA network, e.g. via LPWA SIB, or RRC provided in the LPWA operating bandwidth.
  • Step 3 LPWA communication attempt
  • the UE may attempt to perform efficient low power communication, such as transmitting a packet in UL after acquiring time-frequency synchronization. As indicated in FIG. 5, the attempt does not succeed.
  • Step 4 UE detects outage of LPWA (this step corresponds to block 303 of FIG. 3)
  • the UE may detect an outage of the LPWA network based on, for example: not detecting one or more LPWA synchronization signals for a certain time, (wherein the LPWA synchronization signals can be narrow band primary synchronization signals and/or secondary synchronization signals); not detecting one or more LPWA broadcast channels for a certain time (wherein the one or more LPWA broadcast channels - can be a narrow band physical broadcast channel carrying MIB and/or channels carrying SIB) not being able to conclude LPWA RACH procedure after a number of attempts, not detecting certain LPWA control signals (e.g. paging, certain DCI types, certain SIB types, ACK/NACKs) for a certain time, and/or detecting unfeasible/ambiguous/invalid LPWA network configuration.
  • certain LPWA control signals e.g. paging, certain DCI types, certain SIB types, ACK/NACKs
  • Step 5 UE may gather further measurements for reporting LPWA status
  • the UE may form a report which may inform, for example, of one or more issues detected in step 4 which lead to/caused the determination of LPWA outage.
  • the UE may collect, for example:
  • Step 6 UE determines whether to perform a switching to fallback mode
  • the UE may determine to switch to the fallback mode of operation based on a switching criteria, e.g. possibly configured in step 2, such as: i. a length of an LPWA network outage, ii. a QoS requirement, e.g., priority and/or latency requirement of the loT data, and iii. an amount of energy availability at the UE, etc.
  • a switching criteria e.g. possibly configured in step 2
  • a switching criteria e.g. possibly configured in step 2
  • a switching criteria e.g. possibly configured in step 2
  • a switching criteria e.g. possibly configured in step 2
  • a switching criteria e.g. possibly configured in step 2
  • the UE may switch to the fallback mode if: the length of LPWA network outage is above a certain time threshold, the priority of the data is above certain priority threshold, and/or an amount of energy availability at the UE is above certain energy threshold then the UE may switch to the fallback mode.
  • the UE may not switch to the fallback mode.
  • the switching conditions/criteria may be configured by the network or autonomous determined at the UE.
  • the activation of the fallback mode may be based on an internal signal between an LPWA controller and a fallback mode controller (which may be up to UE implementation). This can be, for example, as a PHY layer conducted wake-up signal, or through higher layer (e.g. LPWA higher layer) by forwarding a configuration of the fallback mode configuration causing the fallback mode to be activated.
  • a fallback mode controller which may be up to UE implementation. This can be, for example, as a PHY layer conducted wake-up signal, or through higher layer (e.g. LPWA higher layer) by forwarding a configuration of the fallback mode configuration causing the fallback mode to be activated.
  • Step 8 Forwarding of fallback configuration Following activation of the fallback mode, the UE may provide the obtained configuration from step 2 to the fallback higher layer (e.g. an RRC layer which controls resources for lower layers, e.g. MAC and PHY, for enabling communication in between the UE and the non-LPWA network) such that fallback occasions, access parameters and conditions are known.
  • the fallback higher layer e.g. an RRC layer which controls resources for lower layers, e.g. MAC and PHY, for enabling communication in between the UE and the non-LPWA network
  • Step 9 UE attempts communication in fallback mode (this step, along with step 10 below, corresponds to block 305 of FIG. 3)
  • the UE may attempt to communicate while in idle/inactive state if small data transmission configuration is provided in step 2. Or alternatively, the UE may connect to transmit report and/or data and then be released to idle/inactive.
  • the UE may periodically perform LPWA measurements (e.g. RSRP, RSSI, SINR of LPWA DL control signals, a status of detection of LPWA SSB, and/or whether the UE detected a LPWA control signal or not) to determine whether it can return to the LPWA mode and deactivate the fallback mode.
  • LPWA measurements e.g. RSRP, RSSI, SINR of LPWA DL control signals, a status of detection of LPWA SSB, and/or whether the UE detected a LPWA control signal or not
  • the UE may: switch the fallback mode off after a few attempts or a timeout, or trigger RLF either in the fallback mode or in the LPWA mode.
  • the UE may determine success on a fallback communication attempt e.g. based on receiving ACK, MSG2/MSG4, MSGB, or establishing connection with the non-LPWA network.
  • Step 11 UE further report LPWA network status and/or forward the loT data
  • a data transmission, sent from the UE to the non-LPWA network may be subject to conditions, e.g. as configured in step 2, such as QoS restrictions, priority, maximum data size, etc. Step 12.
  • the non-LPWA network may determine if the issue is: only an issue on the UE side, or only an issue in a certain area, or a core network issue affecting multiple regions.
  • Step 13 Network performs reconfiguration for reestablishing LPWA network
  • the non-LPWA network may send an indication, e.g., using the paging channel (such as a PDCCH in a fallback occasion), to LPWA UE(s) to switch back to the LPWA mode.
  • the paging channel such as a PDCCH in a fallback occasion
  • Figure 3 illustrates and example of transmission occasions configured in DL and UL carriers including occasions for available non-LPWA signaling (gray), for LPWA signaling (green, denoted with “L”), and fallback signaling (orange, denoted with "FB”).
  • LPWA BWP may defined by narrow band and longer slots compared to non-LPWA BWP.
  • the signaling is performed using the same frame structure and physical channels design of a non-LPWA communication.
  • LPWA UEs are limited to narrow band RF and baseband (e.g., ⁇ 5MHz), therefore, for fitting the non-LPWA channels within LPWA band, some options may be:
  • pdcch-FB-ConfigSIB1 An additional parameter denoted as pdcch-FB-ConfigSIB1 is added in the L- SSB MIB, informing at least the FB CORESET#0, search space and PDCCH parameters, if assumed that an information from a previous L-SSB can be reused during a LPWA network outage.
  • a dedicated FB SSB occasion may be provided in the LPWA bandwidth with a MIB for configuring the FB CORESET#0.
  • a DL reference signal such as a FB TRS can be configured for assisting the UE in fallback mode to acquire time-frequency synchronization
  • the UE in fallback mode obtains the configuration of FB Initial DL BWP and FB Initial UL BWP so that the it has necessary information for performing initial attachment procedure.
  • the configuration may include RACH-FB- ConfigCommon for performing random access as well as configuration for small data transmission.
  • the UE may obtain configuration for an FB Active DL BWP to be used in connected state.
  • FIG. 6 shown an example of configuration of: SSB, CORESET#0 and BWP for fallback occasions in an LPWA band.
  • the occasions indicated via solid lines are non-LPWA occasions for use in a non-LPWA mode of operation outside of the LPWA band.
  • the occasions indicated via dotted lines are LPWA occasions for use in an LPWA mode of operation within the LPWA band.
  • the occasions indicated via dashed lines are extended non-LPWA occasions (referred to herein as Fallback, FB, occasions) for use in an FB mode of operation within the LPWA band.
  • fallback occasions may be denoted with a prefix "FB” and LPWA occasions may be denoted with a prefix "L”.
  • L-SSB should be always available for providing synchronization and minimal information for a UE to obtain fallback access configuration (wherein the L-SSB may be comprised by narrow band synchronization signals and a narrow band physical broadcast channel, which are transmitted in contiguous symbols or spread in time in non-contiguous symbols).
  • This option may also avoid complexity of implementing a redesigned SSB for fitting non- LPWA SSB in narrow LPWA band.
  • UE(s) may perform a random selection between fallback occasions in a (pre)configured fallback selection window.
  • the fallback mode may not comprise a whole stack of a higher capability device, i.e. only mandatory features needed for enabling a transmission in fallback mode may be supported. For example:
  • the fallback mode transmission may just implement UL for small data transmission in a 2-step or 4-step RA, in dedicated fallback occasions.
  • the fallback mode may just implement DL for control configuration, not for data.
  • examples of the present disclosures may provide a new signaling method for enabling an LPWA UE, such as a cellular loT device, to switching from its default low power network (e.g. if the LPWA UE is not able to connect to the low power network) to another network and back.
  • an LPWA UE such as a cellular loT device
  • FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 10 for performing the methods, processes, procedures and signaling described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 3 to 7.
  • the apparatus can perform the roles of an entity (such as: UE, BS or RAN node) in the illustrated and described methods.
  • the component blocks of FIG. 8 are functional and the functions described can be performed by a single physical entity, not least such as a UE or BS.
  • the apparatus comprises a controller 11 , which could be provided within a device/entity, not least such as a UE or BS.
  • the controller 11 can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above.
  • the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing.
  • module refers to a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts/components that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user.
  • controller 11 can be as controller circuitry.
  • the controller 11 can be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).
  • the controller 11 can be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions of a computer program 14 in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor 12 that can be stored on a computer readable storage medium 13, for example memory, or disk etc, to be executed by such a processor 12.
  • the processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 13.
  • the processor 12 can also comprise an output interface via which data and/or commands are output by the processor 12 and an input interface via which data and/or commands are input to the processor 12.
  • the apparatus can be coupled to or comprise one or more other components 15 (not least for example: a radio transceiver, sensors, input/output user interface elements and/or other modules/devices/components for inputting and outputting data/commands).
  • the memory 13 stores instructions such as a computer program 14 comprising such instructions (e.g. computer program instructions/code) that controls the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 12.
  • the instructions of the computer program 14, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 3 to 7.
  • the processor 12 by reading the memory 13 is able to load and execute the computer program 14.
  • the instructions may be comprised in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium.
  • 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).
  • the computer program instructions may be distributed over more than one computer program.
  • memory 13 is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which can be integrated/removable and/or can provide permanent/semi-permanent/ dynamic/cached storage.
  • processor 12 is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which can be integrated/removable.
  • the processor 12 can be a single core or multi-core processor.
  • the apparatus can include one or more components for effecting the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs.
  • each of the components described above can be one or more of any device, means or circuitry embodied in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to perform the corresponding functions of the respective components as described above.
  • the apparatus can, for example, be: a user equipment, base station or network node of a mobile cellular telecommunication system.
  • the apparatus can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above.
  • the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing.
  • the apparatus is embodied on a client device, a UE, a mobile cellular telephone, a hand held portable electronic device, a mobile communication device, a wearable computing device or a personal digital assistant, that can additionally provide one or more audio/text/video communication functions (for example telecommunication, video-communication, and/or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS)/ Multimedia Message Service (MMS)/emailing) functions), interactive/non-interactive viewing functions (for example web-browsing, navigation, TV/program viewing functions), music recording/playing functions (for example Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) or other format and/or (frequency modulation/amplitude modulation) radio broadcast recording/playing), downloading/sending of data functions, image capture function (for example using a (for example in-built) digital camera), and gaming functions, or any combination thereof.
  • audio/text/video communication functions for example telecommunication, video-communication, and/or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS)/ Multimedia Message
  • the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; determine whether at least one condition has been met; and access a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • the access node comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the access node at least to: receive capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; determine configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and send the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus.
  • the apparatus can be provided in an electronic device, for example, a mobile terminal, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that a mobile terminal is merely illustrative of an electronic device that would benefit from examples of implementations of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the same. While in certain implementation examples, the apparatus can be provided in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to: mobile communication devices, hand portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices and other types of electronic systems, can readily employ examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, devices can readily employ examples of the present disclosure regardless of their intent to provide mobility.
  • PDAs portable digital assistants
  • FIG. 9, illustrates a computer program 14 which may be conveyed via a delivery mechanism 20.
  • the delivery mechanism 20 can be any suitable delivery mechanism, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a solid-state memory, a record medium such as a Compact Disc Read- Only Memory (CD-ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the computer program 14.
  • the delivery mechanism can be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program.
  • An apparatus can receive, propagate or transmit the computer program as a computer data signal.
  • a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. LPWA UE 201 ), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: operating in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with a low power wide area, LPWA, network, and wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth; determining whether at least one condition has been met; and accessing a non-LPWA network and operating in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth, and wherein the accessing is triggered based at least in part on determining whether the at least one condition has been met.
  • a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an access node 120 for a non-low power wide area, LPWA, network, cause the access node to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receive capability information of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a first operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with an LPWA network, wherein communication with the LPWA network is within at least a first operating bandwidth, wherein the capability information is indicative of a capability of the apparatus to operate in a second operational mode in which the apparatus communicates with the non-LPWA network, wherein communication with the non-LPWA network is within the at least first operating bandwidth; determine configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises information for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode, wherein the configuration information is determined based at least in part on the capability information; and send the configuration information to the apparatus for enabling the apparatus to access the non-LPWA network and operate in the second operational mode.
  • references to 'computer program’, 'computer-readable storage medium’, 'computer program product’, 'tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a 'controller’, 'computer’, 'processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single /multi- processor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann)/parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other devices.
  • References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed- function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.
  • circuitry can refer to one or more or all of the following:
  • circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.
  • circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to a particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.
  • FIGs. 3 to 7 can represent actions in a method, functionality performed by an apparatus, and/or sections of instructions/code in a computer program.
  • each block and combinations of blocks illustrated in FIGs. 3 to 7 as well as the further functionality described above can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and/or software including one or more computer program instructions.
  • one or more of the functions described above can be performed by a duly configured apparatus (such as an apparatus [as shown in FIG. 8] comprising means for performing the above described functionality).
  • a duly configured computer program such as a computer program [as shown in FIG. 9] comprising computer program instructions which embody the functions/functionality described above and which can be stored by a memory storage device and performed by a processor).
  • any such computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (i.e. hardware) to produce a machine, such that the instructions when performed on the programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions/functionality specified in the blocks.
  • These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the blocks.
  • the computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational actions to be performed on the programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which are performed on the programmable apparatus provide actions for implementing the functions/functionality specified in the blocks.
  • Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure can take the form of a method, an apparatus, or a computer program. Accordingly, various, but not necessarily all, examples can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.
  • the computer program instructions can be executed by the processor(s) to cause a series of operational block/steps/actions to be performed by the processor(s) to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the processor(s) provide block/steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.
  • the blocks support: combinations of means for performing the specified functions; combinations of actions for performing the specified functions; and computer program instructions/algorithm for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or actions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer program instructions.
  • modules, means or circuitry that provide the functionality for performing/applying the actions of the method.
  • the modules, means or circuitry can be implemented as hardware, or can be implemented as software or firmware to be performed by a computer processor.
  • firmware or software examples of the present disclosure can be provided as a computer program product including a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program instructions (i.e. the software or firmware) thereon for performing by the computer processor.
  • features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features can also be present in other examples whether described or not. Accordingly, features described in relation to one example/aspect of the disclosure can include any or all of the features described in relation to another example/aspect of the disclosure, and vice versa, to the extent that they are not mutually inconsistent.
  • the wording 'connect’, 'couple’ and 'communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected/coupled/in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e. so as to provide direct or indirect connection/coupling/communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and/or software components.
  • the term "determine/determining” can include, not least: evaluating, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, 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), retrieving/accessing (for example, retrieving/accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, “ determine/determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, inferring and the like.
  • a description of an action should also be considered to disclose enabling, and/or causing, and/or controlling that action.
  • a description of transmitting information should also be considered to disclose enabling, and/or causing, and/or controlling transmitting information.
  • a description of an apparatus transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one means or controller of the apparatus enabling, and/or causing, and/or controlling the apparatus to transmit the information.”
  • references to a parameter, or value of a parameter should be understood to refer to "data indicative of”, “data defining” or “data representative of” the relevant parameter/parameter value if not explicitly stated (unless the context demands otherwise).
  • the data may be in any way indicative of the relevant parameter/parameter value, and may be directly or indirectly indicative thereof.
  • references to "a/an/the” [feature, element, component, means ...] are used with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning and are to be interpreted as "at least one” [feature, element, component, means ...] unless explicitly stated otherwise. That is any reference to X comprising a/the Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use 'a’ or 'the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of 'at least one’ or 'one or more’ can be used to emphasise an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning.
  • the presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature (or combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features).
  • the equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way.
  • the equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.
  • the apparatus described can alternatively or in addition comprise an apparatus which in some other examples comprises a distributed system of apparatus, for example, a client/server apparatus system.
  • a distributed system of apparatus for example, a client/server apparatus system.
  • each apparatus forming a component and/or part of the system provides (or implements) one or more features which collectively implement an example of the present disclosure.
  • an apparatus is re-configured by an entity other than its initial manufacturer to implement an example of the present disclosure by being provided with additional software, for example by a user downloading such software, which when executed causes the apparatus to implement an example of the present disclosure (such implementation being either entirely by the apparatus or as part of a system of apparatus as mentioned hereinabove).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Selon certains exemples, la présente invention concerne un appareil (10, 201), comprenant : des moyens (11) pour fonctionner dans un premier mode de fonctionnement (302) dans lequel l'appareil communique avec un réseau étendu à faible puissance, LPWA, (200), la communication avec le réseau LPWA s'effectuant dans au moins une première largeur de bande de fonctionnement ; des moyens (11) pour déterminer si au moins une condition (304) est satisfaite ; et des moyens (11) pour accéder à un réseau non-LPWA (100) et fonctionner dans un second mode de fonctionnement (307) dans lequel l'appareil communique avec le réseau non-LPWA, la communication avec le réseau non-LPWA s'effectuant dans la ou les premières largeurs de bande de fonctionnement (306), et l'accès étant déclenché sur la base, au moins en partie, de la détermination de la satisfaction ou non de la ou des conditions.
PCT/EP2025/059890 2024-05-16 2025-04-10 Appareils, procédés et programmes informatiques pour réseaux lpwa Pending WO2025237600A1 (fr)

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GB2406967.6 2024-05-16

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Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4300310A1 (fr) * 2022-06-28 2024-01-03 Intel Corporation Placement opportuniste de calcul dans un réseau périphérique

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4300310A1 (fr) * 2022-06-28 2024-01-03 Intel Corporation Placement opportuniste de calcul dans un réseau périphérique

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"DRAFT Meeting Report for TSG CT WG1 meeting: 119", vol. CT WG1, no. Wroclaw, Poland; 20190826 - 20190830, 9 September 2019 (2019-09-09), XP051781031, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_ct/TSG_CT/TSGC_85_Newport_Beach/Docs/CP-192036.zip> [retrieved on 20190909] *
"NB_IoT_eMTC_enh Work Area Email Discussion - Phase 2", 2 December 2019 (2019-12-02), XP051834479, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://ftp.3gpp.org/tsg_ran/TSG_RAN/TSGR_86/Docs/RP-192877.zip NB_IoT_eMTC_enh email discussion phase 2 - all.docx> [retrieved on 20191202] *

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