METHOD, APPARATUS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND COMPUTER

PROGRAM

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method, an apparatus, a computer program product and a computer program.

Background

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication between two or more devices such as user terminals, machine-like terminals, base stations and/or other nodes by providing carriers between the communication devices. A communication system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and/or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided include two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

In a wireless system at least a part of communications between at least two stations occurs over wireless interfaces. Examples of wireless systems include public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). A local area wireless networking technology allowing devices to connect to a data network is known by the tradename Wi-Fi (or Wi-Fi). Wi-Fi is often used synonymously with WLAN. The wireless systems can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

A user can access a communication system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user is often referred to as user equipment (UE). A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users. The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station, for example a base station of a cell, and transmit and/or receive communications on the carrier.

A communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. An example of standardized communication system architectures is the long- term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. The LTE has been and is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The LTE employs the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) access. Further development of LTE are sometimes referred to as LTE Advanced (LTE-A). The current 3GPP standardization effort is directed to what is termed as the 5th Generation (5G) system. The 5G system is sometimes referred to as NR (new radio).

Summary

There is provided, in a first aspect, a method comprising: causing a device to determine whether a logical channel is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and causing the device to perform an operation relating toa logical channel prioritization function based on the determining.

The operation may include modifying at least one parameter of the logical channel prioritization function or modifying the logical channel prioritization function.

The method may comprise: causing a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and causing the device to update at least one variable of a logical channel prioritization function associated with the logical channel group or to update the logical channel prioritization function based on the determining. The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The updating may include abstaining from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The method may comprise: causing a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and causing the device to update variables of a logical channel prioritization function associated with logical channel groups based on the determining.

The updating may include abstaining from updating the variables when at least one logical channel group is restricted during a TTI.

The updating may include updating the variable when no logical channel group is restricted during a TTI. The method may comprise: causing the device to receive an indication of a selected mode to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function; and causing the device to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function according to the selected mode of operation.

There is provided, in a second aspect, an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: cause a device to determine whether a logical channel is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and cause the device to perform an operation relating to a logical channel prioritization based on the determining.

The operation may include modifying at least one parameter of the logical channel prioritization function or modifying the logical channel prioritization function.

The at least one processor may cause the apparatus to: cause a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and cause the device to update at least one variable of a logical channel prioritization function associated with the logical channel group or to update the logical channel prioritization function based on the determining.

The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The updating may include abstaining from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The at least one processor may cause the apparatus to: cause a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and cause the device to update variables of a logical channel prioritization function associated with logical channel groups based on the determining.

The updating may include abstaining from updating the variables when at least one logical channel group is restricted during a TTI.

The updating may include updating the variable when no logical channel group is restricted during a TTI.

The at least one processor may cause the apparatus to: cause the device to receive an indication of a selected mode to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function; and cause the device to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function according to the selected mode of operation.

There is provided, in a third aspect, an apparatus comprising: means for causing a device to determine whether a logical channel is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and means for causing the device to perform an operation relating to a logical channel prioritization function based on the determining.

The operation may include modifying at least one parameter of the logical channel prioritization function or modifying the logical channel prioritization function. The apparatus may comprise: means for causing a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and means for causing the device to update at least one variable of a logical channel prioritization function associated with the logical channel group or to update the logical channel prioritization function based on the determining.

The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The updating may include abstaining from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The updating may include updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The updating may include incrementing the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable. The apparatus may comprise: means for causing a device to determine whether a logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI; and means for causing the device to update variables of a logical channel prioritization function associated with logical channel groups based on the determining. The updating may include abstaining from updating the variables when at least one logical channel group is restricted during a TTI.

The updating may include updating the variable when no logical channel group is restricted during a TTI.

The apparatus may comprise: means for causing the device to receive an indication of a selected mode to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function; and means for causing the device to perform the operation relating to the logical channel prioritization function according to the selected mode of operation.

There is provided, in a fourth aspect, a computer program product for a computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of the method of the first aspect when said product is run on the computer.

There is provided, in an fifth aspect, a computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program code for controlling a process to execute a process, the process comprising the steps of the method of any one of the first aspects.

There is provided in, a sixth aspect, method comprising: causing one of a plurality of modes of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be selected; and causing an indication of the selected mode of operation to be transmitted. Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions.

The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group. The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a third mode of operation configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when any logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

There is provided, in a seventh aspect, a method, comprising: causing an indication of a selected mode of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be received; and causing the logical channel prioritization function to operate according to the selected mode of operation.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner. Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions.

The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group. The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation is configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable, when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

There is provided, in an eighth aspect, an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: cause one of a plurality of modes of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be selected; and causing an indication of the selected mode of operation to be transmitted.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions.

The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group. The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a third mode of operation configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when any logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

There is provided, in a ninth aspect, an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: cause an indication of a selected mode of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be received; and cause the logical channel prioritization function to operate according to the selected mode of operation.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions. The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation is configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable, when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a third mode of operation configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when any logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI. There is provided, in a tenth aspect, an apparatus comprising: means for causing one of a plurality of modes of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be selected; and means for causing an indication of the selected mode of operation to be transmitted. Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner. Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions. The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a third mode of operation configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when any logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

There is provided, in a eleventh aspect, an apparatus comprising: means for causing an indication of a selected mode of operation of a logical channel prioritization function to be received; and means for causing the logical channel prioritization function to operate according to the selected mode of operation.

Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner. Each mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation may be configured to update at least one variable of the logical channel prioritization function in a different manner based on logical channel group restrictions. The at least one variable may be associated with a logical channel group.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a first mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable regardless whether the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation is configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration. The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI.

The first mode of operation may be configured to decrement the at least one variable based on served data during the TTI.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a second mode of operation configured to update the at least one variable, when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is not restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, associated with the logical channel group and the TTI duration.

The second mode of operation may be configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI. The second mode of operation may be configured to update the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable when the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable is restricted during the TTI.

The second mode of operation may be configured to increment the at least one variable based on a scale factor associated with the logical channel group associated with the at least one variable.

The plurality of modes of operation may include at least a third mode of operation configured to abstain from updating the at least one variable when any logical channel group is restricted during a time transmission interval, TTI.

There is provided, in a twelfth aspect, a computer program product for a computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of the method any one of the sixth and seventh aspects when said product is run on the computer. There is provided, in a thirteenth aspect, a computer program embodied on a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program code for controlling a process to execute a process, the process comprising the steps of the method sixth and seventh aspect. Brief description of the drawing

Some embodiments will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the following examples and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a communication system;

Figure 2 illustrates a communication device;

Figure 3 illustrates a control apparatus;

Figure 4 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a control apparatus according to an embodiment;

Figure 5 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment;

Figure 6 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a user equipment operating a logical channel prioritization function according to a first mode of operation;

Figure 7 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a user equipment operating a logical channel prioritization function according to a second mode of operation;

Figure 8 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a user equipment operating a logical channel prioritization function according to a variant of the second mode of operation; and

Figure 9 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by a user equipment operating a logical channel prioritization function according to a third mode of operation.

Detailed description of the drawings

Before explaining in detail embodiments, certain general principles of a communication system, a mobile communication device and a control apparatus are briefly explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3 to assist in understanding the technology underlying the described invention.

In a wireless communication system 100, such as that shown in Figure 1 , wireless communication devices, for example, user equipments 102, 104, 105 are provided wireless access via at least one base station or similar wireless transmitting and/or receiving wireless infrastructure node or point. Such a node can be, for example, a base station or an eNodeB (eNB), or in a 5G system a Next Generation NodeB (gNB), or other wireless infrastructure node. These nodes will be generally referred to as base stations. Base stations are typically controlled by at least one appropriate controller apparatus, so as to enable operation thereof and management of mobile communication devices in communication with the base stations. The controller apparatus may be located in a radio access network (e.g. wireless communication system 00) or in a core network (CN) (not shown) and may be implemented as one central apparatus or its functionality may be distributed over several apparatus. The controller apparatus may be part of the base station and/or provided by a separate entity such as a Radio Network Controller. In Figure 1 control apparatus 108 and 109 are shown to control the respective macro level base stations 106 and 107. In some systems, the control apparatus may additionally or alternatively be provided in a radio network controller. Other examples of radio access system comprise those provided by base stations of systems that are based on technologies such as 5G or new radio, wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). A base station can provide coverage for an entire cell or similar radio service area.

In Figure 1 base stations 106 and 107 are shown as connected to a wider communications network 1 13 via gateway 1 12. A further gateway function may be provided to connect to another network. The smaller base stations 1 16, 1 18 and 120 may also be connected to the network 1 13, for example by a separate gateway function and/or via the controllers of the macro level stations. The base stations 1 16, 1 18 and 120 may be pico or femto level base stations or the like. In the example, stations 1 16 and 1 18 are connected via a gateway 1 1 1 whilst station 120 connects via the controller apparatus 108. In some embodiments, the smaller stations may not be provided.

A possible wireless communication device will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2 showing a schematic, partially sectioned view of a communication device 200. Such a communication device is often referred to as an endpoint device. An appropriate communication device may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. A communication device may be for example a mobile device, that is, a device not fixed to a particular location, or it may be a stationary device. The communication device may need human interaction for communication, or may not need human interaction for communication. The communication device 200 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 207 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Figure 2 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 206. The transceiver apparatus 206 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the wireless device.

A communication device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 201 , at least one memory 202 and other possible components 203 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The data processing, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 204. Furthermore, a wireless communication device may comprise appropriate connectors (either wired or wireless) to other devices and/or for connecting external accessories. The communication devices 102, 104, 105 may access the communication system based on various access techniques. An example of wireless communication systems are architectures standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A latest 3GPP based development is often referred to as the long term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. The various development stages of the 3GPP specifications are referred to as releases. More recent developments of the LTE are often referred to as LTE Advanced (LTE-A). Other examples of radio access system comprise those provided by base stations of systems that are based on technologies such as wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). A base station can provide coverage for an entire cell or similar radio service area.

Another example of a communications system is the 5G concept. Network architecture in 5G may be similar to that of the LTE-advanced. Changes to the network architecture may depend on one or more of the need to support various radio technologies, the need for finer QoS (quality of service) support, and some on-demand requirements for e.g. QoS levels to support QoE (quality of experience) from the user point of view. Network aware services and applications, and service and application aware networks may bring changes to the architecture. The base stations in 5G may be referred to as gNB.

Figure 3 shows an example of a control apparatus 300. The control apparatus may be integrated in a gNB. The control apparatus 300 can be arranged to provide control on communications in a service area of the system. The control apparatus 300 comprises at least one memory 301 , at least one data processing unit 302, 303 and an input/output interface 304. Via the interface the control apparatus 300 can be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the gNB. The receiver and/or the transmitter may be implemented as a radio front end or a remote radio head. For example the control apparatus 300 can be configured to execute an appropriate software code to provide the control functions.

Some of the following embodiments relate to the uplink grant scheduling and uplink quality of service management in 5G New Radio. Quality of service management may be a concern when data buffered for transmission in a user equipment's medium access control (MAC) is associated with radio bearers (logical channels) with different quality of service requirements. For example, some radio bearers may have a high quality of service requirement (e.g. ultra-reliable low latency communication) whereas others radio bearer may have a low quality of service requirement (e.g. best effort communication).

In LTE, an eNodeB is indirectly responsible for uplink quality of service management. In order to fulfil this responsibility, the eNodeB receives information from a user equipment about the amount of data buffered for transmission. The user equipment typically reports to the eNodeB which radio bearers (logical channels) need uplink resources and an amount of resources they need using buffer status reports. The eNodeB can then allocate uplink resources to the user equipment based on quality of service requirements of the radio bearers (logical channels) and the buffer status reports. If the user equipment is connected to a number of packet data networks (PDNs), say IP multimedia subsystem (IMS), Internet and a virtual private network (VPN), there may be radio bearers (logical channels) configured in addition to the radio resource control (RRC) signaling bearers. Keeping the eNodeB informed of the status of a large number of radio bearers may require a considerable signaling overhead. Consequently, the LTE standards include the concept of logical channel groups (LCGs). The separation of radio bearers (logical channels) into different logical channel groups groups is based largely on the quality of service characteristics of the radio bearers (logical channels). Radio bearers with the same quality of service characteristics may belong to the same logical channel group.

Any radio bearer (logical channel) is mapped to one of four available logical channel group. The mapping of a radio bearer (logical channel) to a logical channel group is done at radio bearer setup time by the eNodeB based on the quality of service requirements of the radio bearer as indicated by a quality of service class identifier (QCI).

The introduction of the logical channel group has an impact on the buffer status reports which may still need to keep the eNodeB accurately informed about the buffer situation on the user equipment side. The user equipment reports an aggregated buffer status over all the radio bearers (logical channels) mapped to a logical channel group. The eNodeB knows the radio bearers (logical channels) contained in the logical channel group and their priorities. Although the eNodeB may not have the exact buffer status on an individual radio bearer (logical channel), provided that the quality of service requirements of the radio bearers (logical channels) in a logical channel group are similar, it may allocate uplink resources to the user equipment in a fair and appropriate fashion.

When the eNodeB allocates uplink resources to the user equipment, the uplink resources are handled by the user equipment via a logical channel prioritization (LCP) function. The logical channel prioritization function is discussed in more detail in section 5.4.3 of 3GPP TS36.321 as reproduced below:

"The Logical Channel Prioritization procedure is applied when a new transmission is performed.

RRC can control the scheduling of uplink data by giving each logical channel a priority where increasing priority values indicate lower priority levels. In addition, each logical channel is given a Prioritized Bit Rate (PBR) and a Bucket Size Duration (BSD). The UE shall maintain a variable Bj for each logical channel j. Bj shall be initialized to zero, and incremented by PBR of the logical channel j for each TTI (transmission time interval). However, the value of Bj can never exceed the bucket size and if the value of Bj is larger than the bucket size of logical channel j, it shall be set to the bucket size. The bucket size of a logical channel is equal to PBR x BSD, where PBR and BSD are configured by upper layers.

The UE shall perform the following Logical Channel Prioritization procedure when a new transmission is performed: - The UE shall allocate resources to the logical channels in the following steps:

- Step 1: All the logical channels with Bj > 0 are allocated resources in a decreasing priority order. If the PBR of a radio bearer is set to "infinity", the UE shall allocate resources for all the data that is available for transmission on the radio bearer before meeting the PBR of the lower priority radio bearer(s);

- Step 2: the UE shall decrement Bj by the total size of MAC SDUs (service data unit) served to logical channel j in Step 1.

NOTE: The value of Bj can be negative.

- Step 3: if any resources remain, all the logical channels are served in a strict decreasing priority order (regardless of the value of Bj) until either the data for that logical channel or the UL grant is exhausted, whichever comes first. Logical channels configured with equal priority should be served equally".

3GPP has decided that 5G NR may inherit the logical channel prioritization function from LTE. In addition, 3GPP has decided that 5G NR may implement new logical channel group restrictions (see RAN2#99).

Logical channel group restrictions is the process by which logical channels of a logical channel group are banned from using certain type of uplink resources allocated by the eNodeB (e.g. certain numerologies and/or time transmission interval (TTI)). The user equipment may be told which logical channel groups are affected by the restrictions based on existing PHY (physical) /RRC (radio resource control) parameters. These PHY/RRC parameters may be one or more of a sub-carrier spacing, a cell, a time (e.g. PUSCH transmission duration and K2) a transmission mode, and any other suitable parameter.

It will be understood that the restrictions may be indicated to the user equipment in various manners: explicit or implicit, static or dynamic. The restrictions may be indicated via RRC: semi-statically the network may configure which logical channel/ logical channel group will be restricted e.g. in pre-determined subframes (SF). As an example: in subframesl , 2, 3 logical channel group 1 may be restricted. The restrictions may be indicated via PHY parameters: e.g. some of the PHY parameters part of the uplink grant, for example PDCCH (physical downlink control channel) DCI (downlink control information) may convey the restriction to certain logical channel/ logical channel group more dynamically. As an example, the following fields could be used: cyclic shift for DMRS (demodulation reference signal), MCS (modulation and coding scheme) index, TPC (transmit power control) in the DCI. This is still open in 3gpp.

It will be noted that the uplink grant is given in a DCI format (DCI format 0/0A/0B/4A/4B, the latter being specific to enhanced LAA (licensed assisted access) operation), which is carried on the PDCCH. DCI format 0 contains following fields (see TS 36.212):

Hopping flag

Resource Block (RB) assignment value, from which the user equipment will get number of resource blocks and resource block start index (

bits provide the resource allocation in the uplink subframe as defined in section 8.1.1 of [3]))

Modulation and coding scheme (MCS) index (5 bits as defined in section

8.6 of [3])

New data indicator

TPC (transmit power control) command for current PUSCH transmission (2 bits as defined in section 5.1 .1 .1 of [3])

Cyclic shift for DMRS (demodulation reference signal) (integer (0..7), 3 bits as defined in section 5.5.2.1 .1 of [2])

CQI (channel quality information) request for aperiodic CQI reporting Some more information for TDD (time division duplexing) which is not included in FDD (frequency division duplexing DCI format 0. It will also be noted that the time delay consumed for the following scenarios are referred to as k1 and k2. • uplink grant/ physical hybrid-ARQ indicator channel (PHICH) to physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is K1 subframes (or K1 ms):

<downlink to uplink reserved resources;*:

A PUSCH of an uplink subframe (e.g. SF different n) may be scheduled by an uplink grant/PHICH transmitted/received through a downlink subframe configured in subframe #(n-K1 ).

• physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to physical hybrid-ARQ indicator channel (PHICH)/uplink grant is K2 subframes (or K2 ms):

<uplink to downlink reserved resources >: A PHICH/uplink grant corresponding to a PUSCH of an uplink subframe (e.g. SF different n) may be transmitted/received through a downlink subframe configured in subframe different (n+K2).

The logical channel groups restrictions may not apply to MAC control element for non- duplication case. The logical channel prioritization mechanism as well as the logical channel group restrictions may apply to the MAC layer (i.e. to the data at MAC layer, MAC PDUs). MAC PDUs can be of two types: user-plane data and control-plane. MAC Control Element (CE) is of the second type (C-Plane). More information can be find here: http://www.sharetechnote.com/html/LTE_Advanced_MAC.html. The agreement stated there says that MAC CE may not be restricted in the case of non-duplication (for reliability boosting duplication may be used).

An issue may arise when the logical channel prioritization function is enforced with logical channel group restrictions. Consider a scenario wherein a logical channel group LCGi is not restricted during a plurality of TTIs (e.g. 10 TTIs) whereas a logical channel group LCGj is restricted during the same plurality of TTIs. In this scenario, the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi is incremented by 10 x PBRi X TTI duration and decremented by the data served to the logical channel group LCGi. By contrast, the variable Bj associated with a logical channel group LCGj is incremented by 10 x PBRj X TTI duration for each TTI. In this way, the variable Bi may be decremented whereas the variable Bj may be incremented. This may lead to a situation the variable Bi is negative while the variable Bj is largely positive. In this situation, the logical channel group LCGi is less likely to be allocated uplink resources in the following plurality of TTIs than the logical channel group LCGj. The mechanism described in 3GPP TS36.321 is advantageous in that uplink resources is allocated to logical channel groups LCGi and LCGj fairly over time. The PBRi and PBRj associated with the logical channel groups LCGi and LCGj are served sequentially in time in different TTIs rather than at the same time in a same TTI. However, if sometimes it is desired to allocate the uplink resources to logical channel groups LCGi and LCGj fairly, other times it should be avoided. For example, the fair allocation of uplink resources to logical channel groups LCGi and LCGj may conflict with other requirements (e.g. quality of service requirements or quality of experience requirements).

Therefore there may be a need for more flexibility in the allocation of uplink resources to logical channel groups at least in some situations. This need may be addressed by one or more of the following embodiments. Figure 4 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the control apparatus 300 of Figure 3 according to an embodiment.

In step 402, the control apparatus 300 selects one of a plurality of modes of operation of a logical channel prioritization function. For example, the plurality of modes of operation includes a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation and a third mode of operation. These first, second and third modes of operation are discussed below in reference to Figures 6 to 9. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments there may be more than three modes of operation or less than three modes of operation.

In step 404, the control apparatus 300 transmits an indication of the selected mode of operation to the user equipment 200. For example, the indication is transmitted via RRC configuration at the time of radio bearer setup and LCG parameter setting or via Layer 1 /Layer 2 parameter indication. Figure 5 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the user equipment 200 of Figure 2 according to an embodiment. In step 502, the user equipment 200 receives the indication of the selected mode of operation transmitted by the control apparatus 300 in step 404.

In step 504, the user equipment 200 operates the logical channel prioritization function according to the selected mode of operation.

Figure 6 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the user equipment 200 of Figure 2 operating the logical channel prioritization function according to the first mode of operation. The first mode of operation (also called legacy mode of operation) does not account for logical channel group restrictions. The variables B associated with restricted and non-restricted logical channel groups are both updated during logical channel group restrictions.

In step 602, the user equipment 200 determines whether a logical channel group LCGi is restricted during a TTI. If the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI the method goes to step 604. If the logical channel group LCGi is not restricted during the TTI, the method goes to step 606.

In step 604, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI.

In step 606, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI and decrements the variable Bi by a value equal to the amount of data served to the logical channel group LCGi. Thus, the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi is updated in each TTI regardless whether the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI. Although the steps 602, 604 and 606 have been described in reference to one TTI, it will be understood that these steps may repeated for each TTI (regardless whether the TTI is actually allocated for uplink transmission to the user equipment 200). Likewise, the steps 602, 604 and 606 have been described in reference to one logical channel group LCGi but it will be understood that these steps may be repeated for each logical channel group. In some embodiments, steps 602, 604 and 606 may be carried out for a plurality of TTIs and/or a plurality of groups of LCG. Thus is step 604 and step 606 would be with respect to a plurality of TTIs, in some embodiments.

As discussed above, an issue with the first mode of operation is the disproportionate increase of the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi when the logical channel group LCGi is restricted. This issue may be addressed by the second mode of operation and the third mode of operation.

Figure 7 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the user equipment 200 of Figure 2 operating the logical channel prioritization function according to the second mode of operation. The second mode of operation accounts for logical channel group restrictions for the restricted logical channel groups only (not for the non-restricted logical channel groups). The variables B associated with restricted logical channel groups are not updated whereas the variables B associated with non-restricted logical channel groups are updated during logical channel group restrictions.

In step 702, the user equipment 200 determines whether a logical channel group LCGi is restricted during a TTI. If the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI the method goes to step 704. If the logical channel group LCGi is not restricted during the TTI, the method goes to step 706.

In step 704, the user equipment 200 does not update the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi.

In step 706, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI and decrements the variable Bi by a value equal to the amount of data served to the logical channel group.Thus, the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi is updated in some TTIs depending whether the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI.

Although the steps 702, 704 and 706 have been described in reference to one TTI, it will be understood that these steps may repeated for each TTI (regardless whether the TTI is actually allocated for uplink transmission to the user equipment 200). Likewise, the steps 702, 704 and 706 have been described in reference to one logical channel group LCGi but it will be understood that these steps may be repeated for each logical channel group. In some embodiments, steps 702, 704 and 706 may be carried out for a plurality of TTIs and/or a plurality of groups of LCG. Thus is step 704 and step 706 would be with respect to a plurality of TTIs, in some embodiments. The second mode of operation may address the issue arising in the first mode of operation by preventing the increase of the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi when the logical channel group LCGi is restricted.

Figure 8 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the user equipment 200 of Figure 2 operating the logical channel prioritization function according to a variant of the second mode of operation.

In step 802, the user equipment 200 determines whether a logical channel group LCGi is restricted during a TTI. If the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI the method goes to step 804. If the logical channel group LCGi is not restricted during the TTI, the method goes to step 806.

In step 804, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI times a scaling factor associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The scaling factor may typically be comprised between 0 and 1. It will be understood that step 704 of the method of Figure 7 is obtained by setting the scaling factor to 0. In step 806, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI and decrements the variable Bi by a value equal to the amount of data served to the logical channel group LCGi.

In the variant of the second mode of operation, the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi is updated in all TTI depending on whether the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI.

Although the steps 802, 804 and 806 have been described in reference to one TTI, it will be understood that these steps may repeated for each TTI (regardless whether the TTI is actually allocated for uplink transmission to the user equipment). Likewise, the steps 802, 804 and 806 have been described in reference to one logical channel group LCGi but it will be understood that these steps may be repeated for each logical channel group. In some embodiments, steps 802, 804 and 806 may be carried out for a plurality of TTIs and/or a plurality of groups of LCG. Thus is step 804 and step 806 would be with respect to a plurality of TTIs, in some embodiments.

The variant of second mode of operation slows down the increase of the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi when the logical channel group LCGi is restricted. Figure 9 illustrates a diagram of a method performed by the user equipment 200 of Figure 2 operating the logical channel prioritization function according to a third mode of operation. The third mode of operation accounts for logical channel group restrictions for both the restricted logical channel groups and for the non-restricted logical channel groups. The variables B associated with restricted logical channel groups and non-restricted logical channel groups are both not updated during logical channel group restrictions.

In step 902, the user equipment 200 determines whether a logical channel group LCGi is restricted during a TTI. If the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI the method goes to step 904. If the logical channel group LCGi is not restricted during the TTI, the method goes to step 906.

In step 904, the user equipment 200 does not update any variable B associated with any logical channel group.

In step 906, the user equipment 200 updates the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi. The user equipment 200 increments the variable Bi by a value equal to the prioritized bit rate PBRi associated with the logical channel group LCGi times the duration of the TTI and decrements the variable Bi by a value equal to the amount of data served to the logical channel group LCGi. Thus, the variables B associated with the logical channel groups are not updated in some TTIs depending on whether the logical channel group LCGi is restricted during the TTI. Conversely, the variable Bi associated with the logical channel group LCGi is not updated in some TTIs depending whether any logical channel group associated is restricted during the TTI.

Although the steps 902 and 904 have been described in reference to one TTI, it will be understood that these steps may repeated for each TTI (regardless whether the TTI is actually allocated for uplink transmission to the user equipment). Likewise, the steps 902 and 904 have been described in reference to one logical channel group LCGi but it will be understood these steps may be repeated for each logical channel group. The third mode of operation may ensure that when one of the logical channel group is restricted all logical channel groups are treated equally (i.e. no variable B associated with any logical channel group is updated). The third mode of operation may ensure that when one of the logical channel group is restricted the variables B associated with logical channel groups that are non-restricted are not decremented.

The third mode of operation may prevent the increase of the variables B associated with logical channel groups when any logical channel group is restricted. The embodiments of this invention may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and/or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computer-executable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it. Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non- limiting examples.

Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate. The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this invention. However, various modifications and adaptions may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. Indeed there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.