Abstract: Methods for providing a layer-2 data stack solution in a data plane and associated devices are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes (i) determining, among a plurality of data stack solutions that are selectable, which layer-2 data stack solution is selected and (ii) causing, according to the selected layer-2 data stack solution, the layer-2 micro controller to intervene with a data plane hardware module that is configured to implement a specific layer-2 data stack function. Each of the plurality of data stack solutions represents a distinctive intervening configuration of a layer-2 micro controller. The layer-2 micro controller is coupled to a number of data plane hardware modules that are configured to implement different layer-2 data stack functions. The intervening configuration of the layer-2 micro controller is indicative of a level of control of the layer-2 micro controller over the data plane hardware modules.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for uplink data transmission preparation and a baseband chip for packet preparation for uplink transmission are disclosed. In an example, a method for packet preparation for uplink transmission can include determining, by a user equipment, a quality of service identifier associated with a quality of service flow. The method can also include mapping, by the user equipment, the quality of service identifier to a group token level. The method can further include processing, by the user equipment, the quality of service flow in accordance with the group token level.

Abstract: Methods for managing a scheduling service includes (i) determining a score for each of multiple service grants from multiple cells based on a scoring function, wherein the scoring function includes one or more radio channel conditions associated with the multiple service grants; (ii) prioritizing the multiple service grants based on the determined scores; and (iii) assigning scheduling opportunities to the multiple service grants based on the determined scores of the multiple grant services from the multiple cells in a geometric decreasing manner. In the geometric decreasing manner, packets of a low priority service grant of the multiple service grants are transmitted once every two packets of a high priority service grant of the multiple service grants.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and method for random access are disclosed. In an example, a user equipment can include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to send a trigger message and unique identifier in a first message from the user equipment to a network node. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to receive an acknowledgement at the user equipment in a second message from the network node using the user equipment's unique identifier. Contention resolution for the user equipment can be concluded with only the first message and the second message.

Abstract: Introduced here are approaches to classifying traffic that comprises data packets. For each data packet, a classification engine implemented on a computing device can identify an appropriate class from amongst multiple classes using a lookup table implemented in a memory. The memory could be, for example, static random-access memory (SRAM) as further discussed below. Moreover, the classification engine may associate an identifier with each data packet that specifies the class into which the data packet has been assigned. For example, each data packet could have an identifier appended thereto (e.g., in the form of metadata). Then, the data packets can be placed into queues based on the identifiers. Each queue may be associated with a different identifier (and thus a different class).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for downlink data transmission and decoding are disclosed. In the method, a physical layer code block or a physical layer code block group is decoded. A medium access control (MAC) sub-packet corresponding to the decoded physical layer code block or the physical code block group is decoded without waiting for any subsequent physical layer code blocks to be decoded. The decoded MAC sub-packet is passed up a protocol stack.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and method for data plane management are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus for communication both uplink and downlink can include a plurality of downlink clusters, each downlink cluster including a downlink cluster processor configured to process three or more downlink data layers. The apparatus can also include a plurality of uplink clusters, each uplink cluster including an uplink cluster processor configured to process three or more uplink data layers. The apparatus can further include a controller configured to scale the plurality of downlink clusters and configured to scale the plurality of uplink clusters. Scaling the plurality of downlink clusters and the plurality of uplink clusters can include activating or deactivating one or more clusters of the plurality of downlink clusters, the plurality of uplink clusters, or both the plurality of downlink clusters and the plurality of uplink clusters.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for command and response descriptors handling are provided. In an example, a method for descriptor handling can include instantiating a command descriptor of a command regarding a packet at a first layer of a protocol stack by a microcontroller of a node. The method can also include passing a command pointer to the command descriptor to integrated circuits of the node from the microcontroller of the node. The method can further include looking up, by the integrated circuits, the command descriptor. The method can additionally include processing the command by the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving, at a first layer of a protocol stack, multiple code blocks from a base station, the multiple code blocks is a portion of a transport block and is associated with an error rate; transmitting, to a second layer of the protocol stack, the multiple code blocks; and determining, at the second layer and based on the error rate, whether to (1) store the multiple code blocks in memory or (2) process the multiple code blocks. A method for saving power in a physical (PHY) layer-to-medium access (MAC) layer interface and a network device, and a system are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing a Million Instructions per Second (MIPS) analysis for a data stack of a user equipment (UE) are disclosed. The method includes (i) receiving an input for a Monte Carlo simulation, the input including a requirement for one or more use cases, a processor specification, and a user-specified function; (ii) determining a traffic model, a number of packets to be run for each use case, and a seed value for the Monte Carlo simulation; (iii) performing the Monte Carlo simulation based on the input and the traffic model to generate a simulation result; and (iv) determining a recommended configuration of processor cores for the data stack based on the simulation result.

Abstract: Methods for providing a layer-2 data stack solution in a data plane and associated devices are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes (i) determining, among a plurality of data stack solutions that are selectable, which layer-2 data stack solution is selected and (ii) causing, according to the selected layer-2 data stack solution, the layer-2 micro controller to intervene with a data plane hardware module that is configured to implement a specific layer-2 data stack function. Each of the plurality of data stack solutions represents a distinctive intervening configuration of a layer-2 micro controller. The layer-2 micro controller is coupled to a number of data plane hardware modules that are configured to implement different layer-2 data stack functions. The intervening configuration of the layer-2 micro controller is indicative of a level of control of the layer-2 micro controller over the data plane hardware modules.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving, at a first layer of a protocol stack, multiple code blocks from a base station, the multiple code blocks is a portion of a transport block and is associated with an error rate; transmitting, to a second layer of the protocol stack, the multiple code blocks; and determining, at the second layer and based on the error rate, whether to (1) store the multiple code blocks in memory or (2) process the multiple code blocks. A method for saving power in a physical (PHY) layer-to-medium access (MAC) layer interface and a network device, and a system are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for managing a scheduling service includes (i) determining a score for each of multiple service grants from multiple cells based on a scoring function, wherein the scoring function includes one or more radio channel conditions associated with the multiple service grants; (ii) prioritizing the multiple service grants based on the determined scores; and (iii) assigning scheduling opportunities to the multiple service grants based on the determined scores of the multiple grant services from the multiple cells in a geometric decreasing manner. In the geometric decreasing manner, packets of a low priority service grant of the multiple service grants are transmitted once every two packets of a high priority service grant of the multiple service grants.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and method for uplink data plane management are disclosed. In one example, a method for handover continuity can include buffering data packets at a user equipment based on a trigger event. The data packets can be mapped to first quality of service flows and associated with first radio resources at a source network node. The method can also include identifying second quality of service flows associated with second radio resources at a target network node. The method can further include remapping from the first quality of service flows to the second quality of service flows. The method can additionally include transmitting the buffered data packets from the user equipment toward the target node based on the remapping.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and method for data plane management are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus for communication both uplink and downlink can include a plurality of downlink clusters, each downlink cluster including a downlink cluster processor configured to process three or more downlink data layers. The apparatus can also include a plurality of uplink clusters, each uplink cluster including an uplink cluster processor configured to process three or more uplink data layers. The apparatus can further include a controller configured to scale the plurality of downlink clusters and configured to scale the plurality of uplink clusters. Scaling the plurality of downlink clusters and the plurality of uplink clusters can include activating or deactivating one or more clusters of the plurality of downlink clusters, the plurality of uplink clusters, or both the plurality of downlink clusters and the plurality of uplink clusters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for uplink data transmission scheduling are disclosed. In an example, the method can include obtaining, by at least one processor, a plurality of packets to be transmitted via uplink. The method can also include queueing, by the at least one processor, the plurality of packets according to logical channel prioritization. The method can further include receiving, by the at least one processor, a service grant after the queueing. The method can additionally include trimming, by the at least one processor, the plurality of packets according to a grant size of the service grant.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and method for random access are disclosed. In an example, a user equipment can include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to send a trigger message and unique identifier in a first message from the user equipment to a network node. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to receive an acknowledgement at the user equipment in a second message from the network node using the user equipment's unique identifier. Contention resolution for the user equipment can be concluded with only the first message and the second message.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for uplink data transmission preparation and a baseband chip for packet preparation for uplink transmission are disclosed. In an example, a method for packet preparation for uplink transmission can include determining, by a user equipment, a quality of service identifier associated with a quality of service flow. The method can also include mapping, by the user equipment, the quality of service identifier to a group token level. The method can further include processing, by the user equipment, the quality of service flow in accordance with the group token level.

Abstract: Introduced here are approaches to classifying traffic that comprises data packets. For each data packet, a classification engine implemented on a computing device can identify an appropriate class from amongst multiple classes using a lookup table implemented in a memory. The memory could be, for example, static random-access memory (SRAM) as further discussed below. Moreover, the classification engine may associate an identifier with each data packet that specifies the class into which the data packet has been assigned. For example, each data packet could have an identifier appended thereto (e.g., in the form of metadata). Then, the data packets can be placed into queues based on the identifiers. Each queue may be associated with a different identifier (and thus a different class).

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for grant-free uplink communication may be applicable to communication systems, such as wireless communication systems. In an example, a method for grant-free uplink communication can include requesting, by a user equipment, a plurality of instances of configured grants, each with at least one of a specific resource level, repetition, or period. The method can also include receiving, at the user equipment, a pre-allocation of the requested plurality of instances of the configured grants at the at least one of the specific resource level, repetition, or period. The method can further include transmitting, by the user equipment, data according to the pre-allocation. In some examples, the transmitting the data can include transmitting at varying data rates up to a level provided by the pre-allocation, depending on user equipment needs.