Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solution on cell off indication via DCI. In particular, a group common DCI format is used to indicate an activation/deactivation of the cell off for entering network energy saving mode. DCI in the group common DCI format may include separate bits for a first indication regarding the activation/deactivation of the cell off for entering network energy saving mode and a second indication regarding the activation/deactivation of cell DTX/DRX. Alternatively, the DCI may include common bits for the first and second indications with a flag to indicate which indication. In this way, the cell off for entering network energy saving mode can be indicated more efficiently.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a delay status report (DSR). In an aspect, a terminal device determines a criterion for one or more data units. The one or more data units are buffered and not submitted to a lower layer in a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP). Moreover, the terminal device triggers, based on said criterion, a DSR comprising a data volume of the one or more data units and a remaining time associated with the one or more data units. In this way, it is possible to improve the DSR reporting with enhanced efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of the resource selection for the transmission of a pending data unit. The method comprises in accordance with a determination that a data unit is not successfully transmitted using a resource associated with an original Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ, process, determining a set of allowed HARQ processes for transmitting the data unit based on at least one condition; selecting a further resource associated with a target HARQ process from the set of allowed HARQ process and transmitting the data unit using the further resource to the second apparatus. In this way, a scheme for conditional HARQ switching is proposed, such that the pending MAC PDU could be retransmitted rapidly. Meanwhile, the retransmission of the pending MAC PDU may not influence other scheduled traffics.

Abstract: Method, apparatuses, and computer program product for addressing random access responses with extended response windows. One method may include accessing, by a user equipment, a network by sending a random access channel preamble to a network element. The method may also include receiving, in response to the random access channel preamble, a random access response from the network element. The random access response provides an indication of which random access channel occasion in time within a span of one or a plurality of radio frames the random access response applies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable storage media of access resource selection for Small Data Transmission (SDT). The method comprises determining one or more resources used for a mobile terminated type SDT procedure; and performing the mobile terminated type SDT procedure to a second device based on the determined one or more resources. In this way, separate resources can be configured for mobile originated SDT (MO-SDT) and mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT). It is beneficial considering the MO-SDT and MT-SDT might have different assumption/thresholds of UL data available for transmission and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) threshold, hence impact the network response or further scheduling.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for restrictions for a radio access network based notification area (RNA) update procedure during a small data transmission (SDT) procedure. In example embodiments, the first device initiates the SDT procedure. Then, the first device restricts performing of the RNA update procedure during the SDT procedure.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of enhancing a report for random access channel (RACH). The method comprises in accordance with a determination that a random access attempt in a random access process for accessing a second device based on configuration information is performed, determining an entry for recording the random access attempt, the entry at least comprising fallback information indicating whether a change associated with the random access attempt has occurred; generating a report for the random access process at least based on the entry; and causing the report to be transmitted to the second device. In this way, with the UE RACH report, the network device may achieve a targeted optimization for the configuration for RA process, which may improve the efficiency of the RA process and decrease the cost due to a multiple of fallback.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium for beam information reporting. In example embodiments, the device obtains beam information via measurement. Moreover, the device sends a power headroom report, PHR, to a network node. The PHR comprises a bitmap indicating whether beam information for a plurality of serving cells is present.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and devices for transmission by selecting between uplink resources. According to a method implemented by a terminal device in a communication system, a configuration of a first resource is received from a network device, the first resource being a grant-free resource. An uplink grant is received from the network device, indicating a second resource for use in a transmission time interval. The terminal device determines, based on the configuration of the first resource, whether the first resource is available in the transmission time interval. In response to determining that the first resource is available and possibly in response to a predefined condition associated with a logical channel for the terminal device is met, the terminal device transmits uplink data to the network device using the first resource.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for selection of a channel access priority. In example embodiments, a subset of data units from a set of data units is selected for multiplexing into a data packet. The selecting is at least in part based on a channel access priority associated with each of the subset of data unit. The subset of data units is multiplexed into the data packet, and then the data packet is transmitted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose devices, methods and apparatuses for small data transmission (SDT). A terminal device receives, from a network device, an indication message indicating the terminal device to initiate a mobile terminated SDT (MT-SDT). Moreover, the terminal device indicates an access reason of a connection attempt to the network device based on an operation status of the connection attempt.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of blind user equipment (UE) specific timing advance group (TAG) indication. The method includes: determining, at a first apparatus, whether an association between at least one TAG associated with a SpCell of the first apparatus and respective one or more indices in an RAR is obtained from a second apparatus; and determining, based on the determination of the association, an applicability of the RAR for a random access procedure of the first apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of blind user equipment (UE) specific timing advance group (TAG) indication. The method comprises: determining, at a first apparatus, whether an association between at least one TAG associated with a SpCell of the first apparatus and respective one or more indices in an RAR is obtained from a second apparatus; and determining, based on the determination of the association, an applicability of the RAR for a random access procedure of the first apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, methods, and computer programs for facilitating the limited logical channel identification (LCID) space. A terminal device in a communication network may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory having computer program code stored thereon and configured, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform: receiving, from a network device, a mapping configuration of at least one Logical Channel Identification (LCID) value and/or at least one extended LCID (eLCID) value configured by the network device for at least one Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), wherein the mapping configuration specifies an association between the at least one MAC CE is associated with the at least one Logical Channel Identification (LCID) value and/or the at least one extended LCID (eLCID) value.

Abstract: Mechanism on configured grant transmissions is provided. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, after transmitting a configured grant transmission to the network device, the terminal device receives a response to the configured grant transmission. In some embodiments, if the response comprises a timing advance command, the timer for validity of the configured grant transmission is stopped. Alternatively, if the response does not comprise a timing advance command, the timer for validity of the configured grant transmission is stopped and the resources for the configured grant transmission are released. In this way, the terminal device only needs to maintain one timer during the configured grant transmission procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method, device and computer readable medium for contention resolution in RACH. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal devices transmit random access requests in random access channels and the network device transmits the response to the random access requests on the downlink control channel addressed to the common identifier. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is one to multiple mapping for contention resolution radio network temporary identifier (CR-RNTI) and physical RACH (PRACH). In this way, the number of RNTIs is decreased and the overhead is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable storage media of procedure selection for SDT. The method comprises receiving, from a second device, information for a Small Data Transmission, SDT, procedure initiation, the information at least indicating at least one criterion for initiating a mobile terminated type SDT procedure; and determining the initiation of the mobile terminated type SDT procedure based on the information. In this way, separate conditions can be configured for MO-SDT and MT-SDT initiation. Furthermore, the MT-SDT initiation conditions can be different depending on whether there is UL data transmission since the transport Block Size (TBS) for random access message could be different.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to for conditionally skipping monitoring of downlink control channel in random access. A first apparatus receives, from a second apparatus, a command indicating the first apparatus to skip monitoring a downlink control channel between the second apparatus and the first apparatus for a time period. The first apparatus initiates an RA procedure towards the second apparatus. The time period at least partially overlaps with a time window associated with the RA procedure and an end of the time period is after an end of the time window. The first apparatus determines whether the RA procedure is successfully completed or contention resolution for the RA procedure is successful. Based on the determination, the first apparatus ignores or performs the command after the end of the time window.

Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable mediums for cell discontinuous transmission or reception. A terminal device may receive a cell configuration for discontinuous transmission or reception from a network device. The configuration may define a discontinuous transmission or reception pattern including an active period and a non-active period, a first periodicity for transmission or reception during the active period, and a second periodicity for transmission or reception during the non-active period. When the discontinuous transmission or reception is activated, the terminal device may perform reception or transmission of a signal or channel in the first periodicity during the active period, and perform reception or transmission of the signal or channel in the second periodicity during the non-active period.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of CG resource handling for SDT. The method comprises receiving, from a second device, information indicative of availability of one or more candidate beams for a subsequent transmission after an initial transmission of a small data transmission procedure; and determining, based on the information, a set of target resources the subsequent transmission. With the solution of the present disclosure, the network may not need to monitor all the beams configured to the UE after the successful reception of the initial CG-SDT transmission, which may simplify the implements of the network and therefore improve the system performance. Meanwhile, the resources configured for multiple beams, which has been released or suspended by a UE, can be used for other UEs to increase resource efficiency given that likely the initial serving beam may remain the strongest throughout the entire SDT procedure.