SERVING CELL SELECTION FOR UPLINK FEEDBACK TRANSMISSION UNDER

CLEAR CHANNEL ASSESSMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to wireless communications and, more particularly, systems and methods for serving cell selection for uplink feedback transmission under clear channel assessment.

BACKGROUND

Some parts of the spectrum have become potentially available for license-assisted access to unlicensed operation, e.g. in 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band. For unlicensed operation in New Radio (NR), a contention-based channel access mechanism (e.g. Listen-Before-Talk) mechanism is adopted. Listen-before-talk (LBT) is designed for unlicensed spectrum co existence with other Radio Access Technologies (RATs). In this mechanism, a radio device (e.g. User Equipment (UE), Base Station (BS), etc.) applies LBT, which is more generally called a clear channel assessment (CCA)) or channel sensing, before any transmission. For instance, when a higher layer such as, for example the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, initiates a transmission, then the MAC layer requests the physical layer to initiate the LBT operation. The physical layer further sends an indicator to the MAC layer indicating the LBT outcome (i.e., success or failure).

During the LBT procedure, the transmitter performs energy detection over a certain detection time (e.g. 25 ps) and over a certain measurement bandwidth (e.g. 20 MHz) to determine if a channel is idle. This is done by comparing the measured energy (Em) to an energy detection threshold (Ed). As an example Ed=-72 dBm and Ed=-75 dBm for measurement bandwidth of 20 MHz and 10 MHz respectively. If the channel is determined to be occupied (e.g. when Em>Ed), the transmitter performs a back-off within a contention window before the next CCA attempt. The backoff can be done over random time period or fixed time period. For example in Frame Based Equipment (FBE) approach, channel sensing is performed by the radio node at fixed time instants. If the channel is busy, the radio node backs off for a fixed time period and senses the channel again after this period. In another example of the Load Based Equipment (LBE) approach, the channel sensing is performed by the radio node at any time instant and random back-off is used if the channel is found busy.

In case of CCA failure, the UE repeats its attempt until it succeeds with getting the access and performs the transmission.

As soon as the transmitter has grasped access to a channel (e.g. when Em<Ed,) the transmitter is only allowed to perform transmission up to a maximum time duration (namely, the maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT)). For Quality of Service (QoS) differentiation, a channel access priority based on the service type has been defined. For example, there are four LBT priority classes are defined for differentiation of contention window sizes (CWS) and MCOT between services.

The term multi-carrier operation, as used herein, can be either carrier aggregation (CA) or multi-connectivity (MuC) operation. The aggregated carriers in CA or MuC can belong to the same RAT or to different RATs. In CA, the UE is configured with two or more carriers, and the UE can have multiple serving cells. For example, the UE may be configured with a primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells).

The term dual connectivity (DC), as used herein, may refer to the operation mode wherein the UE is configured with two cell groups (CG). DC is, therefore, a special case of MuC operation that includes only two cell groups (CGs): a main cell group (MCG) and a secondary cell group (SCG). Each CG contains at least a special cell (SpCell) and it may also contain one or more secondary cell (SCell). Each CG is served or managed by SpCell, which in turn is operated, served or managed by a network node such as, for example, a gNodeB (gNB), eNodeB (eNB), etc.). Examples of SpCell are PCell, primary secondary cell (PSCell), etc. SCells in MCG and SCells in SCG are managed by PCell and PSCell respectively. PCell also manages the PSCell. Examples of DC are multi-RAT DC (MR-DC), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access-NR-DC (EN-DC), NR-Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access- DC (NE-DC), NR-DC, etc.

Timing Advance (TA) is a (negative) offset, at the UE, between the start of a received downlink subframe and a transmitted uplink subframe. This offset at the UE is necessary to ensure that the downlink and uplink subframes are synchronized at a base station. The TA may be signaled by the base station to the UE and used by the UE to adjust the timing of the UE's transmissions to the base station so that the transmitted signals can reach the base station at the desired time. A UE with the capability for multiple TAs for CA can simultaneously receive and/or transmit on multiple component carriers (CCs) corresponding to multiple serving cells with different TAs. The multiple serving cells may be grouped into multiple timing advance groups (TAGs). Each TAG contains at least one serving cell. In DC, MCG and SCG are associated with their own TAG, which are referred to as pTAG and spTAG, respectively. Each of MCG and SCG may additionally have a secondary TAG (sTAG).

The methods and techniques disclosed herein are applicable to any type of setup and/or change procedures involving at least two cells which requires the UE to send an uplink feedback signal in response to receiving one or more messages for setup and/or change procedures. Examples of the feedback signals are measurement reports (e.g. Channel State Information (CSI) reporting), random access transmission (e.g. due to Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order or expiry of time alignment timer (TAT)), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback such as acknowledgement (ACK), Non-Acknowledgment (NACK), etc.

The setup procedure comprises, for example, setting up and/or releasing one or more cells and/or setting up and/or releasing one or more signals (e.g. a beam, Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state, etc.) on different cells associated with the UE. Examples of setup procedures are: SCell activation, SCell deactivation, configuration of a serving cell (e.g. SCell), SCell addition, SCell release, direct activation of a serving cell or activation at configuration (e.g. direct SCell activation, direct SpCell activation, combined configuration and activation of serving cell e.g. PSCell addition, etc.), configuration or reconfiguration of special cell (SpCell) (e.g. PSCell addition or PSCell release etc.), cell group configuration for multi-connectivity (e.g. SCG configuration), cell group activation in multi-connectivity (e.g. SCG activation), TCI state activation, TCI state configuration, etc.

The change procedure comprises, for example, changing one or more cells of the UE. For example, one or more serving cells may be changed. The cell change may also be referred to as a cell reconfiguration or reconfiguration of the cell. Examples of cell change procedures are: change of SpCell (e.g. change of PCell, change ofPSCell etc.), change ofmultiple SpCells (e.g. change of PCell and PSCell), change of one or more SCells, handover with PSCell change, change of any combinations of one or more serving cells (e.g. change of one or more SpCell and one or more SCells), change of cell group in multi-connectivity (e.g. change in SCG etc.), conditional change of SpCell, e.g. conditional handover of PCell, conditional PSCell change, etc. The condition cell change (e.g. conditional Handover (HO), conditional SpCell change) is performed by the UE when one or more conditions are met. For example, the condition cell change may be performed when a signal level such as, for example, Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)) of target cell becomes larger than signal threshold.

Some of the above exemplary procedures listed above will now be described in more detail. For example, a PSCell addition procedure in NR may include the PSCell being added to setup the SpCell in secondary cell group (SCG) in multi-connectivity operation. Upon receiving PSCell addition command in time resource n, the UE transmits an upink (UL) signal (e.g. Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble) towards PSCell no later than in time resource n + Tconfigpsceii, where Tconfigpsceii is the total time to perform the PSCell addition. The UE may also send other UL signals (e.g. in PCell) during the PSCell addition e.g. HARQ feedback signal.

Another example procedure is a HO with PSCell change in NR. The HO with PSCell change implies that, upon receiving the cell change command (e.g. HO), the UE changes both the PCell and PSCell in DC. Upon completion of the HO with PSCell, the UE sends UL signals (e.g. PRACH preamble) in their respective new PCell and new PSCell. The PRACH reception in the new PCell and PSCell enables the network to know that the HO with PSCell has been successful. The UE may also send other UL signals (e.g. in old PCell) during the HO with PSCell change. These UL signals may include HARQ feedback signals, for example. Examples of scenarios for HO with PSCell are from EN-DC to EN-DC HO, from NE-DC to NE-DC HO, from NR-DC to NR-DC HO etc.

Another example procedure is a SCell activation in NR. The UE can be configured to activate one or multiple SCells (e.g. called as multiple SCell activation) using one or multiple SCell activation commands.

For example, upon receiving SCell activation command in time resource n, the UE transmits valid CSI report (e.g. CQI with non-zero CQI index) and applies actions related to the activation command for the SCell being activated no later than in time resource n+ T _ac t, seen, where T _ac t seen is the total time to perform the SCell activation. Upon completion of the SCell activation the UE sends CSI report The UE may also send other UL signals (e.g. in SpCell) the SCell activation. For example, the UE may send HARQ feedback signals.

In one example, the valid CSI report is sent on the SpCell. In another example the valid CSI report is sent on the SCell that is being activated. For example, the latter case applies when the SCell being activated also has an UL. In another example the latter case applies when the SCell being activated also has an UL but is also configured with certain type of UL channel such as, for example, Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). This may also be called as PUCCH SCell activation.

The SCell activation command may be sent for activating SCell which is already configured, e.g. MAC CE command. In another example the SCell activation command may be sent for both configuring and activating an SCell. This may also be called as direction SCell activation or a SCell activation at configuration or reconfiguration. The SCell activation command may be transmitted via RRC message.

A UE is configured by the network node with one active TCI (transmission configuration indication) state for PDCCH (physical downlink control channel) and PDSCH (physical downlink shared channel), respectively. The active TCI indicates for each of the channels which timing reference the UE shall assume for the downlink (DL) reception. The timing reference may be with respect to an Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) index associated with a particular Tx beam or with respect to a particular DL reference signal (DL- RS) resource configured by the network node and provided (i.e. transmitted) to the UE. An example DL-RS is a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

Implicitly, the active TCI state additionally indicates to the UE which UE receive (Rx) beam to use when receiving PDCCH and/or PDSCH, since it shall use the Rx beam that allows best conditions for receiving the SSB index or DL-RS resource associated with the TCI state. Note that the best UE RX beam for a given TCI state may change over time such as, for example, if the UE orientation changes. However, the best UE RX beam for a given TCI state also has to be relatively static at least over short time intervals.

Up to 8 TCI states can be configured for PDSCH via higher layer signaling (RRC signaling), but only one TCI state can be active at any time. In case several TCI states are configured by the network node, the network node indicates to the UE via DCI (downlink control signaling over PDCCH) which one of the pre-configured TCI states to activate for upcoming PDSCH reception(s).

The TCI state can be switched by the UE based on received command via MAC, DCI or RRC messages etc. Upon receiving a TCI state command the UE first sends HARQ feedback to the serving cell and switches active TCI state within certain delay.

Certain problems exist, however. For example, procedures involving setting up or change of multiple serving cells are being specified. Examples of such procedures are multiple SCell activation, multiple PUCCH SCell activation, HO with PSCell change, SCG activation, etc. The UE sends uplink feedback signal (UFS) as part of the setting up or change procedures. In some scenario (e.g. parallel SCell activation), the UE may have to send the UFS on multiple serving cells during an overlapping time. However, the UE has limited uplink resources (e.g. UE transmit power) and/or may be limited by regulatory constraints (e.g. UE power should not exceed specific absorption rate (SAR) limit). The UE behavior, when the UE cannot transmit UFS due to UL resource limit during setting up or change of multiple serving cells, is undefined. This may lead to performance degradation and premature termination of the ongoing procedures. Therefore, new rules and UE behaviour need to be specified to ensure that the UE can set up or change multiple serving cells within pre-defined time.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. For example, according to certain embodiments, methods and systems are provided that enable a UE that is under a power limitation to complete the multiple SCell activation or HO with PSCell change procedures, according to a well-defined priority.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a wireless device for uplink feedback transmission under CCA includes, during a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell and a second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink based on at least one CCA procedure. The wireless device determines that a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell and takes at least one action based on the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a network node for assisting with uplink feedback transmission under CCA includes transmitting, to a wireless device, information for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

According to certain embodiments, a wireless device for uplink feedback transmission under CCA is adapted to determine, during a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell and a second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink based on at least one CCA procedure. The wireless device is adapted to determine that a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell and take at least one action based on the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

According to certain embodiments, a network node for assisting with uplink feedback transmission under CCA is adapted to transmit, to a wireless device, information for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. For example, one technical advantage may be that certain embodiments enhance overall performance of procedures involving setting up or change of multiple serving cells. Performance of multiple SCell activation, multiple PUCCH SCell activation, HO with PSCell change etc., is enhanced since the UE can complete them within specified time. As another example, a technical advantage may be that certain embodiments enable a UE not to exceed its maximum allowed power when setting up or changing multiple serving cells. This in turn enables the UE to meet regulatory requirements such as, for example, preventing radio emission from exceeding an allowed level, preventing SAR from exceeding an allowed limit, etc.

As another example, a technical advantage may be that certain embodiments do not unnecessarily delay the setting up or change of serving cell subject to CCA.

Other advantages may be readily apparent to one having skill in the art. Certain embodiments may have none, some, or all of the recited advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments and their features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates an overview of an example method performed by a UE, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 2 illustrates an example wireless network, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 3 illustrates an example network node, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 4 illustrates an example wireless device, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 5 illustrate an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a virtualization environment in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 8 illustrates a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a method implemented in a communication system, according to one embodiment;

FIGURE 10 illustrates another method implemented in a communication system, according to one embodiment;

FIGURE 11 illustrates another method implemented in a communication system, according to one embodiment;

FIGURE 12 illustrates another method implemented in a communication system, according to one embodiment;

FIGURE 13 illustrates an example method by a wireless device, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 14 illustrates an example virtual apparatus, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 15 illustrates an example method by a network node, according to certain embodiments;

FIGURE 16 illustrates another example method by a network node, according to certain embodiments; and

FIGURE 17 illustrates another example virtual apparatus, according to certain embodiments.

DETIALED DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

In some embodiments, a more general term “network node” may be used and may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a UE (directly or via another node) and/or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, Master eNodeB (MeNB), a network node belonging to MCG or SCG, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), etc.), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), OSS, SON, positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC), MDT, test equipment (physical node or software), etc.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting term UE or wireless device may be used and may refer to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and/or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), Unified Serial Bus (USB) dongles, UE category Ml, UE category M2, ProximityServices UE (ProSe UE), vehicle-to-vehicle UE (V2V UE), vehicle-to-anything UE (V2X UE), etc.

Additionally, terminologies such as base station/gNB and UE should be considered non-limiting and do in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two; in general, “gNB” could be considered as device 1 and “UE” could be considered as device 2 and these two devices communicate with each other over some radio channel. And in the following the transmitter or receiver could be either gNB or UE.

The term radio access technology, or RAT, may refer to any RAT such as, for example Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), Evolved-UTRA (E-UTRA), narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT), WiFi, Bluetooth, next generation RAT, New Radio (NR), 4 ^th Generation (4G), 5 ^th Generation (5G), etc. Any of the equipment denoted by the term node, network node or radio network node may be capable of supporting a single or multiple RATs.

The term signal or radio signal used herein can be any physical signal or physical channel. Examples of DL physical signals are reference signal (RS) such as Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) signals in SS/PBCH block (SSB), discovery reference signal (DRS), Cell Reference Signal (CRS), Positioning Reference Signal (PRS), etc. RS may be periodic e.g. RS occasion carrying one or more RSs may occur with certain periodicity such as, for example, 20 ms, 40 ms, etc. The RS may also be aperiodic. Each SSB carries NR-PSS, NR-SSS and NR-PBCH in 4 successive symbols. One or multiple SSBs are transmit in one SSB burst which is repeated with certain periodicity such as, for example, 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. The UE is configured with information about SSB on cells of certain carrier frequency by one or more SS/PBCH block measurement timing configuration (SMTC) configurations. The SMTC configuration comprising parameters such as SMTC periodicity, SMTC occasion length in time or duration, SMTC time offset with regard to reference time (e.g. serving cell’s SFN), etc. Therefore, SMTC occasion may also occur with certain periodicity e.g. 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. Examples of UL physical signals are reference signal such as Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), DMRS, etc. The term physical channel refers to any channel carrying higher layer information such as, for example, data and control information. Examples of physical channels are Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), Narrowband PBCH (NPBCH), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), short Physical Uplink Control Channel (sPUCCH), short PDSCH (sPDSCH), short PUSCH (sPUSCH), machine PDCCH (MPDCCH), Narrowband PDCCH (NPDCCH), Narrowband PDSCH (NPDSCH), Evolved-PDDCH (E-PDCCH), Narrowband PUSCH (NPUSCH), etc.

The term multi-carrier operation used herein can be either a carrier aggregation (CA) or multi-connectivity (MuC) operation. The aggregated carriers in CA or MuC can belong to the same RAT or to different RATs.

The term uplink feedback signal (UFS) may comprise any uplink signal transmitted by the UE during setting up or change of a cell. The UFS can be any physical signal (e.g. SRS) or it can be any UL physical channel or it can be transmitted in any UL physical channel (e.g. HARQ feedback on PUCCH or PUSCH, CSI on PUCCH or PUSCH, etc.).

The term time resource used herein may correspond to any type of physical resource or radio resource expressed in terms of length of time. Examples of time resources are: symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, TTI, interleaving time, slot, sub-slot, mini-slot, etc.

The term clear channel assessment (CCA) used herein may correspond to any type of carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) procedure or mechanism which is performed by the device on a carrier before deciding to transmit signals on that carrier. The CCA is also interchangeably called CSMA scheme, channel assessment scheme, listen-before-talk (LBT), etc. The CCA-based operation is more generally called a contention-based operation. The transmission of signals on a carrier subjected to CCA is also called contention-based transmission. On the other hand, the transmission of signals on a carrier which is not subject to CCA is also called as contention free transmission. The contention-based operation is typically used for transmission on carriers of unlicensed frequency band and contention-free operation is typically used for transmission on carriers of licensed frequency band. But CCA mechanism may also be applied for operating on carriers belonging to licensed band for example to reduce interference. LBT or CCA can be performed, e.g., by UE (prior to UL transmission) and/or base station (prior to DL transmission).

UE measurements are performed by the UE on the serving cell as well as on one or more neighbour cells over one or more reference symbols or pilot sequences e.g. CRS, SSS, PSS, DRS, SSB, CSI-RS, Tracking Reference Signal (TRS), etc. The measurements are done on cells on an intra-frequency carrier, inter-frequency carrier(s) as well as on inter-RAT carriers(s) (depending upon the UE capability whether it supports that RAT). The measurements are also done on the carrier frequency such as, for example, received power on a carrier, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), etc. The measurements are done for various purposes. Some example measurement purposes are: mobility, positioning, self organizing network (SON), minimization of drive tests (MDT), operation and maintenance (O&M), network planning and optimization beam management, radio link monitoring, etc. Examples of measurements are Cell identification (aka PCI acquisition), Reference Symbol Received Power (RSRP), Reference Symbol Received Quality (RSRQ), cell global ID (CGI) acquisition, Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), SFN and frame time difference (SFTD), UE RX-TX time difference measurement, Radio Link Monitoring (RLM), which consists of Out of Synchronization (out of sync) detection and In Synchronization (in-sync) detection, Ll-RSRP for beam management etc. CSI measurements performed by the UE are used for scheduling, link adaptation etc. by network. Examples of CSI measurements or CSI reports are CQI, PMI, RI etc. They may be performed on reference signals like CRS, CSI-RS or DMRS. The measurements can be done with gaps or without gaps (if UE supports this capability).

According to certain embodiments, methods and systems are provided that enable a UE that is under a power limitation to complete multiple SCell activations or HO with PSCell change procedures, according to a defined priority.

An example scenario includes a UE being configured to perform setup and/or change procedures involving at least two cells (e.g. a first cell (cell 1) and a second cell (cell2)) over at least an overlapping time. At least one of the cells involved in the procedure is subject to CCA. Thus, the UE applies UL LBT to decide whether the UE can perform the procedure. For example, in a serving cell subject to LBT, a UE completes a procedure on the serving cell if LBT is successful. If the LBT is not successful, the UE completes the procedure on another serving cell that is not subject to LBT.

The cells may be existing serving cells of the UE or they may become serving cells of the UE after the procedure is completed depending on the type of procedure or operation. For example in case of multiple SCell activation, the cells on which the procedure (activation) is performed are serving cells of the UE before and after the procedure. In another example of handover or cell change with PSCell change, the cells on which the procedure (cell change) is performed may be non-serving cells of the UE before the procedure but they become serving cells of the UE after the procedure. Examples of serving cells are SpCell, SCell, etc.

The UE is configured to perform setup and/or change procedures on at least two cells by receiving a message or command from one or more network nodes (e.g. PCell, PSCell, SCell, etc) by any of the following mechanisms such as, for example:

1. a common/same message (e.g. two or more cells in one or more cell groups),

2. individual messages comprising one for each cell, 3. individual messages comprising one for all cells in cell group (e.g. one for cells in MCG and another for cells CG in DC),

4. individual messages comprising one for all cells in the same TAG (e.g. one for cells in pTAG and another one for cells in sTAG).

The message/command can be received via higher layer signaling (e.g. RRC) or lower layer signaling (e.g. MAC, DCI, etc.).

As part of the procedure, the UE is required to transmit UL feedback signal (UFS) on the at least two cells anytime during the procedure such as, for example before the procedure is completed and/or at the end of the procedure. In one example, the UFS can be an indication to the network that the UE has successfully completed the procedure such as, valid CSI such as CQI with non-zero CQI index for multiple SCell activation, PRACH transmission for cell change such as handover with PSCell change, etc. In another example, the UFS can be an indication to the network that the UE has not successfully completed the procedure on one or more cells such as, for example, invalid CSI such as CQI with CQI index=0 for multiple SCell activation. CSI may be estimated in any type of reference signal e.g. SSB, CSI-RS, DMRS etc.

According to an example embodiment, while the UE performs cell setup and/or cell change procedures on at least two cells where at least one cell is subject to CCA, if the UE cannot transmit uplink feedback signals on two or more cells due to transmission resource limitation (see examples below), then based on a priority rule the UE selects and transmits feedback signals on one or more selected cells. The priority rule can be pre-defined or configured. In one example, the rule can consider one or more CCA-related aspects such as, for example, results of CCA.

According to another example embodiment, the UE may adapt one or more procedures on down selected cell(s) based on one or more rules, which can be pre-defined or configured e.g. defer feedback signal transmission to later time resource, stop the ongoing procedure, suspend the ongoing procedure, etc. As used herein, down selected cell(s) refers to cell(s) that are not initially selected by the UE for transmission of feedback signals.

Examples of transmission resource are transmission power, processing resources (e.g. memory, processor etc), etc.

According to various particular embodiments, a few examples of priority rules based on CCA outcomes are: In one specific example of the priority rule, while activating multiple SCells (e.g. SCelll not subject to CCA and SCell2 subject to CCA) if the estimated required UE total transmission power exceeds a threshold (e.g. 23 dBm) then the UE first transmits the uplink feedback signal (UFS2) on the SCell subject to CCA (e.g. SCell2) if the CCA is successful (e.g. UL LBT is successful) and transmits the uplink feedback signal (UFS1) on the other SCell (e.g. SCelll) at a later time e.g. after ULF2 transmission; otherwise if CCA fails on SCell2 then the UE first transmits UFS 1 and UFS2 at a later time (e.g. when CCA is successful on SCell2).

In another specific example, if both SCell2 and SCelll operate on carrier frequencies subject to CCA, then the UE prioritizes (first transmits on) the SCell on the most loaded carrier frequency (e.g., with a higher CCA failure probability or with more CCA failures over some time period, T).

In another specific example, if both SCell2 and SCelll operate on carrier frequencies subject to CCA, where SCell2 operates under a dynamic channel access mode (a.k.a. LBE) and SCelll operates under semi-static channel access mode (a.k.a. FBE), the UE prioritizes UFS transmission for SCell2.

In another example, the UE may further consider the CCA result (e.g., whether CCA failed or succeeded for the UFS transmission(s) in question), such as, for example: if CCA is known and successful only for one of the SCells, then the one with successful CCA is prioritized for UFS transmission; or if CCA is known and successful for two or more SCells, the selection can be based on a rule and can be only among the SCells with successful CCA; or i6 if CCA is not known for some SCells but known for other SCells, the SCells with the known and successful CCA can be prioritized; or if CCA is not known for some SCells but known for other SCells, the SCells with the known and successful CCA can be prioritized, provided there is at least one SCell with successful CCA; if CCA is not known for at least one SCell or if there is no SCell with successful CCA, an SCell with unknown CCA result can be prioritized; and if such SCells are more than two, then a further selection can be done between these SCells, e.g., based on rules in other examples described herein (e.g., FBE/LBE, load, number of CCA failures/successes over time, or some other criteria, etc.).

In the above example, CCA is known if the results of the CCA (failure or success) is indicated by the UE physical layer to its higher layer (e.g. MAC layer) before the UE is scheduled for UFS transmission; otherwise the CCA is unknown (or not known). For example the CCA results may be indicated to the higher layer with some delay such that UFS cannot be transmitted within pre determined time.

In another example of the rule, in the above scenario, the UE may defer the transmission of UFSs for both cells e.g. in later time resources.

In another example of the priority rule, while activating multiple SCells (e.g. SCell 1 not subject to CCA and SCell2 subject to CCA) if the CCA is not successful on SCell2 (e.g. UL LBT is not successful) then in one example the UE may transmit both UFS 1 and UFS2 on the other SCell without any delay e.g. multiplex UFS1 and UFS2 on the same cell. In another example the UE may transmit UFS1 on SCelll and UFS2 on a cell different than SCelll and SCell2 but in different time resources due to UL power limitation. For example UFS2 may be sent via SpCell. According to certain embodiments, the UE configured to perform setup and/or change procedures involving at least two cells (e.g. cell 1 and cell2) determines that the UE will send or is expected to send a first UL feedback signal (UFS1) in celll and a second UL feedback signal (UFS2) in cell2 during at least partially overlapping time, and if the UE cannot transmit UFS 1 and UFS2 during at least partially overlapping time due to UL resource limitation then the UE determines a rule for transmitting uplink feedback signal (UFS) on one or more cells, and transmits the UFS (e.g. UFS1 and/or UFS2) according to the determined rule. The rule which may also be called as priority rule can be pre-defmed or configured by the network node (e.g. serving base station such as SpCell).

FIGURE 1 illustrates an overview of an example method 50 performed by a UE, according to certain embodiments. As depicted, the UE obtains configuration for a procedure to setup and/or change two or more cells, at step 52. At step 54, the UE performs the procedure based on the obtained configuration. At step 56, the UE determines if there are at least partially overlapping time resources for transmitting UFS for at least 2 cells. If it is determined that there are not partially overlapping time resources, the UE transmits UFS in respective time resources of the cells, at step 58. Otherwise, the method continues to step 60 where the UE determines if there is UL transmission resource limitation for transmitting UFS for at least two cells.

If at step 60 it is determined that there is not an UL transmission resource limitations, the method returns to step 58 and the UE transmits UFS in respective time resources of the cells. However, if at step 60 it is determined that there are UL transmission resource limitations, then the UE determines the rule for UFS transmission for two or more cells at step 62. The UE then transmits UFS in one or more cells in time resources based on the rule, at step 64.

The UE may be triggered to send UFSs (e.g. UFS1 and UFS2) during the procedure (e.g. HARQ feedback for received command) and/or towards the end of the procedure (e.g. when the procedure is expected to be completed such by sending PRACH, valid CSI etc). The time or moment when the UE sends UFS can be pre-defmed (e.g. based on pre-defmed requirements) or configured by the network node (e.g. receiving scheduling grant or explicit command for sending UFS). An example of pre-defmed requirement is time period or delay over which the UE performs the setup and/or change procedures from the moment the UE i8 received the message/command to execute the procedure such as, for example, delay over which the HO with PSCell change is done, Multiple SCell activation delay, etc.

Different mechanisms may be used to determine UL resource limitation(s), which may also be called an UL resource constraint, UL resource collision, UL resource bottleneck, etc. As examples, the UE may determine uplink resource limitation for one or more types of UL resources based on one or more of the following mechanisms or criteria or conditions:

1. UE transmit power limitation: In one example, the UL resource is UE transmit power. In this case, the UE determines the transmit power required for sending each UFS on different cells (e.g., a first Tx power (Ptxl) and a second Tx power (Ptx2) on cell 1 and cell2, respectively).

If the total UE transmit power for sending all the UFSs during at least partially overlapping time exceeds certain threshold (Pmax) then the UE assumes that the UL resource is limited. In one example, Pmax corresponds to a total UE power for transmission in all cell groups. In another example, Pmax corresponds to a total UE power per cell group.

For example, Pmax,gl and Pmax,g2 may correspond to max allowed UE power levels for transmission in cell group 1 (e.g. MCG) and in cell group 2 (e.g. SCG), respectively. Therefore, the UE may not be able to transmit all UFSs over at least partially overlapping time. For example, the UE may not transmit in UL time resources which at least partially overlapping with each other in time. This also implies that the UE may not be able to transmit all UFSs over fully overlapping time. For example, UE may not transmit in UL time resources which fully overlap with each other in time. In one example: S Ptxi < Pmax (assuming linear or arithmetic scale); where i=l, 2,... ,N and N is total number of cells in which the UE is expected to send UFSs over at least partially overlapping time. The UE determines Ptxi for sending UFS in cell I based on a pre-defmed rule (e.g. based on estimated path loss between the UE and cell i, and DL transmit power in cell i, such as for example Ptxi = Pdli - path loss) or based on configuration received from the network node (e.g. power control command, change in UE power with regard to reference power level, etc.)· In one example, assume that Pmax = 26 dBm, and the UE estimates Ptxl = 23 dBm and Ptx2 = 23 dBm for cell 1 and cell2, respectively. In another example, assume that Pmax = 23 dBm, and the UE estimates Ptxl = 23 dBm and Ptx2 = 23 dBm for cell 1 and cell2 respectively. In this second example, the UE cannot send UFSs in both cell 1 and cell2 over partially or fully overlapping UL time resources. The UE determines or selects one of the cells based on a priority rule for sending UFS as described herein. The threshold Pmax may be determined based on one or more of the following mechanisms or rules: a. In one example, Pmax may correspond to the UE power class (Pmax, out) (i.e. maximum output power capability supported by the UE). b. In another example, Pmax may correspond to the maximum UE transmit power configured (Pcmax) in a cell by the network node via higher layer signaling (e.g. Pcmax < Pmax, out). c. In another example, Pmax may correspond to the maximum UE transmit power (Pe,max) allowed to meet one or more radio emission requirements (e.g., power of signals or emissions emitted outside the UE transmission bandwidth does not exceed certain level). Pe,max may be configured by the network node via higher layer signaling or determined by pre-defined rule (e.g. Pe,max < Pmax, out). d. In another example, Pmax may correspond to the maximum UE transmit power (Ps,max) allowed to meet one or more exposure related requirements (e.g., power of UE transmitted signal does not exceed certain exposure limit to human such as specific absorption rate (SAR)). Ps,max may be configured by the network node via higher layer signaling or determined by pre-defined rule or autonomously determined by the UE such as by sensing proximity of the UE with regard to human body (Ps,max < Pmax, out). UE battery power limitation: In another example, the UL resource limitation may be related to the UE battery power level. The battery power level can be the current battery power (when UE has to send UFSs) or it can be based on average battery power estimated over the last certain time period (e.g., last N1 number of time resources). If the UE determines that the transmit power required for sending UFSs on different cells exceed certain battery power level threshold (Pb,max), then the UE assumes that there is UL resource limitation; otherwise, the UE assumes there is no UL resource limitation (unless one or more other criteria are violated). The parameter Pb,max can be pre-defmed, determined by the UE autonomously or configured by the network node. As an example, Pb,max can be expressed in terms of XI % of maximum battery power, XI watts, X2 dBm, X4 dB below the maximum battery power, etc. If the total required transmit power to send all the UFSs in different cells exceed Pb,max„ then the UE cannot send UFSs in both cell 1 and cell2 over partially or fully overlapping UL time resources. In this case, the UE determines or selects one of the cells based on a priority rule for sending UFS as described herein. UE processing resource limitation: In another example, the UL resource limitation may be related to the amount of processing resources required by the UE for processing UFSs in the cells involved in the procedure (e.g., multiple SCell activation). Examples of processing resources are processors, memory or buffer size, processing rate (e.g. instructions processed per unit time), etc. If the UE determines that the processing resources (e.g. amount of memory) required for sending UFSs on different cells exceed certain processing resource threshold (Rp,max), then the UE assumes that there is UL resource limitation; otherwise, the UE assumes there is no UL resource limitation (unless one or more other criteria are violated). The parameter Rp,max can be pre-defmed, determined by the UE autonomously, or configured by the network node. As an example, Rp,max can be expressed in terms of Y1 % of maximum available processing resources (e.g. Yl% of total UE memory), Y2 processing resources (e.g. Kbytes of memory), etc. If the total required processing resources to send all the UFSs in different cells exceed Rp,max, then the UE cannot send UFSs in both cell 1 and cell2 over partially or fully overlapping UL time resources. In this case, the UE determines or selects one of the cells based on a priority rule for sending UFS as described later.

4. UE overheating prevention: In another example, any of UE transmit power limitation and UE processing resource limitation may be dynamically imposed by UE in order to avoid, or recover from, overheating of the UE’s modem. If UE determines that the temperature of the modem exceeds some value Tmax, e.g. Tmax = 90 centigrade, then the UE may for instance impose temporary restrictions on/reduction of Pmax such as, for example, by reducing Pmax by some fixed number (e.g. 3dB) or by some amount that depends on by how much the temperature exceeds the temperature threshold so as to reduce the heating from the power amplifiers. As consequence, the UE may not be able to transmit all UFSs over at least partially overlapping time. For example, the UE may not transmit in UL time resources which at least partially overlapping with each other in time. In another example, the UE may reduce the operating performance point (OPP) by decreasing voltage and clocking frequency to hardware accelerators, digital signal processors (DSP), and central processing units (CPU), in order to reduce the emitted heat from the chipset. As consequence, UE may not be able to carry out all the processing in parallel for transmitting all UFSs over at least partially overlapping time.

According to certain embodiments, upon determining or detecting UL resource limitation for transmitting UFSs on at least partially overlapping UL time resources (as described earlier), the UE selects or determines or obtains a rule for transmitting one or more UFSs on one or more cells involved in the configured procedure or operation. The rule may also be called as priority rule, mechanism, procedure, order etc. The rules may further depend on one or more conditions or criteria or scenarios. The rules may be pre-defmed or may be configured by the network node via RRC, for example.

Upon determining or obtaining the rule, the UE further proceeds to execute, complete, suspend, stop or delay the ongoing procedure involving multiple cells. Based on the rule, the UE may further decide whether to prioritize the completion of procedure for one or more cells while defer or delay the completion of procedure for the other one or more cells.

As general rule, the UE may select one or more cells for UFSs transmission based on at least the results or outcome of the CCA (e.g. UL LBT) on the cell(s) which are subject to CCA. The cell which is subject to CCA (e.g. cell on unlicensed band, etc.) the UE is allowed to transmit in that cell during the channel occupancy time provided that the CCA is successful in that cell provided that the CCA is successful in that cell; otherwise, the UE is not allowed to transmit in that cell. The channel occupancy time comprises, for example, L number of time resources after the UE has determined that the CCA is successful in the cell. In one example, the UE may determine the outcome of the CCA (e.g. whether the UL LBT is successful or not) in a particular time resource for sending the UFS in a cell subject to CCA. The particular time resource can be, for example, Z1 time resource before the UFS transmission, in the same slot where the UFS is to be transmitted, etc.

In one example, the UE autonomously determines whether the CCA is successful or failed. In another example, the UE determines whether the CCA is successful or failed based on information received from the network node. For example, the network node may perform CCA and inform the outcome (success or failure) to the UE. In another example, the UE determines whether the CCA is successful or failed based on combination of UE autonomous determination and based on information (e.g. via DCI or MAC-CE) about CCA outcome received from the network node. In this case, for example, if both UE and network determine that the CCA is successful, then the UE assumes that the CCA is successful; otherwise, the UE assumes that the CCA is not successful. In another example, if at least one of the UE and network determines that the CCA is successful, then the UE assumes that the CCA is successful; otherwise, the UE assumes that the CCA is not successful.

The rule for selecting one or more cells for UFSs transmission can be pre-defmed or configured by the network node. Specific examples of this rule are described below: In one example of the rule, the UE transmits the UFS on at least one cell (e.g. cell2) where the UL CCA is successful, and may not transmit UFS on another cell, which is not subject to CCA. The UE may further determine whether to transmit the UFS on a cell (e.g. celll) not subject to CCA at later time (e.g. deferred transmission) or does not transmit (e.g. stop or abandon transmission). In the former case (deferred transmission), the UE may further determine a time resource when the UE in going to transmit the UFS on the cell not subject to CCA and transmit in the determined time resource. The UE can determine the time resource for deferred UFS transmission based on a pre-defmed information or based on the configuration received from the network node. This is further elaborated with a specific example:

Assume that as part of setup or change procedure involving two cells (cell 1 and cell2), the UE needs to transmit or expected to transmit UFS 1 on celll (not subject to CCA) and UFS2 on cell2 (subject to CCA) in time resources K1 and K2, respectively, where K1 and K2 at least partially overlap in time with respect to each other. The UE determines that the transmission of UFS 1 and UFS2 in K1 and K2 exceeds the UE UL transmission resources (e.g., transmit power required for UFS1 and UFS2 in K1 and K2, respectively, exceeds Pmax). The UE further determines that the CCA is successful on cell2 such that the UE can transmit UFS2 in K2. In one example, the UE transmits UFS2 on cell2 in K2 and transmits UFS1 in time resource Kl+Ml, which occurs after K2. In another example, the UE transmits UFS2 on cell2 in K2 and does not transmit UFS1 (e.g. drop operation on celll). Parameters Ml can be pre-defmed or configured (e.g. via DCI, MAC-CE or RRC etc). In another aspect, if the CCA is not successful on the cell subject to CCA, then in one example the UE may transmit UFS on the cell not subject to CCA (e.g. celll). In this scenario, in another example the UE may also not transmit UFS on the cell not subject to CCA (e.g. celll). In another example of the rule, the UE transmits the UFS on at least on cell (e.g. celll) which is not subject to CCA and may not transmit UFS on another cell (e.g. cell2), which is subject to CCA and even if CCA is successful. The UE may further determine whether to transmit the UFS on a cell (e.g. cell2) subject to CCA at later time (e.g. deferred transmission) or does not transmit (e.g. stop or abandon transmission). In the former case (deferred transmission), the UE may further determine a time resource when the UE in going to transmit the UFS on the cell subject to CCA and transmits in the determined time resource. The UE can determine the time resource for deferred UFS transmission based on a pre-defmed information or based on the configuration received from the network node. This is further elaborated with specific example:

Assume that as part of setup or change procedure involving 2 cells (cell 1 and cell2), the UE needs to transmit or expected to transmit UFS 1 on celll (not subject to CCA) and UFS2 on cell2 (subject to CCA) in time resources K1 and K2, respectively, where K1 and K2 at least partially overlap in time with respect to each other. The UE determines that the transmission of UFS 1 and UFS2 in K1 and K2 exceeds the UE UL transmission resources (e.g., transmit power required for UFS1 and UFS2 in K1 and K2 respectively exceeds Pmax). The UE further determines that the CCA is successful on cell2 such that the UE can transmit UFS2 in K2. In one example, the UE transmits UFS1 on celll in K1 and transmits UFS2 in time resource K2+M2, which occurs after K1 and when CCA is successful on cell2. In another example, the UE transmits UFS 1 on cell 1 in K 1 and does not transmit UFS2 (e.g. drop operation on cell2). Parameters Ml can be pre-defmed or configured (e.g. via DCI, MAC-CE, RRC, etc.) and may further depend on when the CCA is successful. In another example of the rule, the UE defers UFS transmissions on all cells (involved in the setup or change operation) if the UE detects UL resource limitation (e.g. required transmit on UFSs power exceeds Pmax) for transmitting the UFSs all cells over at least overlapping time resources. In another example, the UE defers UFS transmissions on all cells (involved in the setup or change operation) if the UE detects that due to UL resource limitation the UE cannot transmit UFS on at least cell (e.g. cell2) subject to CCA (e.g., power required for UFS2 exceeds Pmax). In one example, the UE may defer until the CCA is successful on the cell subject to CCA and until the UL transmission resources do not exceed the available resources (e.g., Pmax). In yet another example, if the UE cannot transmit UFSs on all cells after the deferred time period, then the UE stops or discards or abandon the ongoing procedure. The UE determines resources for deferred transmission on UFSs based on a pre-defmed rule or information received from the network node. In another example of the rule, assume that the CCA is not successful on at least one cell which is subject to CCA. In this case, the UE cannot transmit UFS on the cell subject to CCA even if the UE has sufficient UL transmission resources for transmitting UFSs on all cells involved in the operation (e.g. multiple SCell activation). In one example, the UE transmits the UFS associated with the cell which experiences CCA failure on another cell that is not subject to CCA or on a cell which is subject to CCA but the CCA is successful. This is referred to herein as redirecting the UFS for a cell subject to CCA via another cell. In another example of the rule, if the UE cannot transmit UFS on all cells involved in the operation (e.g. multiple SCell activation) during the overlapping time resources due to insufficient UL transmission resources, then in one example, the UE transmits the UFS associated with at least one cell on another cell (e.g., UFS for SCelll is transmitted on SCell2, or on SpCell). In another example of the rule, the UE determines one or more cells on which the UE may transmit the UFS based on statistics of CCA results/outcome. The CCA statistics are obtained by the UE over certain time period (T) before or until the UE determines the one or more cell(s) for sending the ULFs. Examples of parameter (called herein as CCA statistical value) defining or related to CCA statistics are: R1 number of CCA failures detected over the last certain time period (T 1), R2 number of CCA success detected over the last certain time period (T2), probability of CCA failures (PI) estimated over the last certain time period (T3), probability of CCA success (P2) estimated over the last certain time period (T4) etc. PI can be expressed as ratio of CCA failures to the total number CCA attempts over T3. P2 can be expressed as ratio of CCA success to the total number CCA attempts over T3. The parameters R1 and R2 can be variable, counter, or any parameter which is incremented upon detecting any CCA failure and CCA success, respectively. In one example, the variable or the counter can be used only for counting CCA failure or success. In another example, the variable or the counter can also be used for other purpose in addition to counting CCA failure or success (e.g., for counting the number of PRACH transmission failures, PRACH transmission attempts, etc.). In this case, for example, a parameter (e.g. such as PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER) is incremented by 1 whenever the PRACH is retransmitted and is also incremented by 1 whenever the UE detects the CCA failure when sending the UFS (e.g. PRACH). The mechanism of the rule is further described with few examples: a. In one example of the priority rule, the UE compares the CCA statistical value with a threshold for a cell and based on the comparison determines (or prioritizes or selects) the cell on which the UE may first transmit UFS under UL transmission resource limitation. In this example, it is assumed that at least one cell (e.g. cell2) is subject to CCA and another cell (e.g. celll) is not subject to CCA. In one specific example, the UE determines that R1 exceeds a certain threshold (HI) for cell2. HI can be pre-defined or configured by the network node. Then, in the next transmission opportunities for celll and cell2, if the UE determines UL transmission resource limitation for sending UFSs on both cell 1 and cell2 during at least partially overlapping time resources and if CCA is successful on cell2, then the UE first transmits UFS2 on cell2 instead of cell Is. The UE may further transmit UFS1 on celll at a later time resource (deferred transmission) or it may abandon the transmission as described in previous examples. But if R1<H1, then in the next in the next transmission opportunities for celll and cell2, if the UE determines UL transmission resource limitation, then the UE may send UFS 1 on celll. The UE may further transmit UFS2 on cell2 at a later time resource (deferred transmission) or it may abandon the transmission as described in previous examples b. In another example of the priority rule, the UE compares the CCA statistical values with their thresholds for two or more cells and, based on the comparisons, determines (or prioritizes or selects) the cell on which the UE may transmit ULF under UL transmission resource limitation. In this example, it is assumed that at least two cells are subject to CCA such as, for example, both celll and cell2. The UE determines the cell on which the UE may transmit UFS based on the comparison of PI on celll and number of detected CCA failures (PE) on cell2. Assume that P 1 > P G over T 1. In this case, in the next UL transmission opportunities for sending UFSs for celll and cell2, the UE prioritizes UFS1 transmission on celll under UL transmission resource limitation. The UE may further transmit UFS2 on cell2 at a later time resource (deferred transmission) or it may abandon the transmission on cell2 as described in previous examples.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a wireless network, in accordance with some embodiments. Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIGURE 2. For simplicity, the wireless network of FIGURE 2 only depicts network 106, network nodes 160 and 160b, and wireless devices 110. In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node 160 and wireless device 110 are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network 106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.

Network node 160 and wireless device 110 comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together in order to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections.

FIGURE 3 illustrates an example network node 160, according to certain embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.

In FIGURE 3, network node 160 includes processing circuitry 170, device readable medium 180, interface 190, auxiliary equipment 184, power source 186, power circuitry 187, and antenna 162. Although network node 160 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIGURE 3 may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node 160 are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium 180 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node 160 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 160 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node 160 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 180 for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna 162 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 160 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 160. 3i

Processing circuitry 170 is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry 170 may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 170 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry 170 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 160 components, such as device readable medium 180, network node 160 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 170 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 180 or in memory within processing circuitry 170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 may include a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 172 and baseband processing circuitry 174 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry 170 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 180 or memory within processing circuitry 170. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 170 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry 170 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 170 alone or to other components of network node 160 but are enjoyed by network node 160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium 180 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 170. Device readable medium 180 may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 170 and, utilized by network node 160. Device readable medium 180 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry 170 and/or any data received via interface 190. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 170 and device readable medium 180 may be considered to be integrated.

Interface 190 is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node 160, network 106, and/or wireless devices 110. As illustrated, interface 190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 106 over a wired connection. Interface 190 also includes radio front end circuitry 192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna 162. Radio front end circuitry 192 comprises filters 198 and amplifiers 196. Radio front end circuitry 192 may be connected to antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 162 and processing circuitry 170. Radio front end circuitry 192 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or wireless devices via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 192 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 198 and/or amplifiers 196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 162 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 160 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 192, instead, processing circuitry 170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 162 without separate radio front end circuitry 192. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 172 may be considered a part of interface 190. In still other embodiments, interface 190 may include one or more ports or terminals 194, radio front end circuitry 192, and RF transceiver circuitry 172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface 190 may communicate with baseband processing circuitry 174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna 162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 162 may be coupled to radio front end circuitry 192 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna 162 may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 162 may be separate from network node 160 and may be connectable to network node 160 through an interface or port.

Antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna 162, interface 190, and/or processing circuitry 170 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Power circuitry 187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node 160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry 187 may receive power from power source 186. Power source 186 and/or power circuitry 187 may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node 160 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source 186 may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry 187 and/or network node 160. For example, network node 160 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry 187. As a further example, power source 186 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

Alternative embodiments of network node 160 may include additional components beyond those shown in FIGURE 3 that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node 160 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node 160 and to allow output of information from network node 160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node 160.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an example wireless device 110. According to certain embodiments. As used herein, wireless device refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term wireless device may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a wireless device may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a wireless device may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a wireless device include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A wireless device may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a wireless device may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another wireless device and/or a network node. The wireless device may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the wireless device may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, a wireless device may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A wireless device as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a wireless device as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device 110 includes antenna 111, interface 114, processing circuitry 120, device readable medium 130, user interface equipment 132, auxiliary equipment 134, power source 136 and power circuitry 137. Wireless device 110 may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by wireless device 110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within wireless device 110.

Antenna 111 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface 114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 111 may be separate from wireless device 110 and be connectable to wireless device 110 through an interface or port. Antenna 111, interface 114, and/or processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a wireless device. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another wireless device. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 111 may be considered an interface.

As illustrated, interface 114 comprises radio front end circuitry 112 and antenna 111. Radio front end circuitry 112 comprise one or more filters 118 and amplifiers 116. Radio front end circuitry 112 is connected to antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120 and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 111 and processing circuitry 120. Radio front end circuitry 112 may be coupled to or a part of antenna 111. In some embodiments, wireless device 110 may not include separate radio front end circuitry 112; rather, processing circuitry 120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be considered a part of interface 114. Radio front end circuitry 112 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or wireless devices via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 112 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of fdters 118 and/or amplifiers 116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 111 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

Processing circuitry 120 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other wireless device 110 components, such as device readable medium 130, wireless device 110 functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry 120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 130 or in memory within processing circuitry 120 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry 120 includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry 120 of wireless device 110 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry 124 and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122 and baseband processing circuitry 124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry 126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 122, baseband processing circuitry 124, and application processing circuitry 126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 122 may be a part of interface 114. RF transceiver circuitry 122 may condition RF signals for processing circuitry 120.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a wireless device may be provided by processing circuitry 120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium 130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 120 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry 120 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry 120 alone or to other components of wireless device 110, but are enjoyed by wireless device 110 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry 120 may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a wireless device. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry 120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry 120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by wireless device 110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Device readable medium 130 may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry 120. Device readable medium 130 may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non- transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 120. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 120 and device readable medium 130 may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment 132 may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with wireless device 110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment 132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to wireless device 110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment 132 installed in wireless device 110. For example, if wireless device 110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if wireless device 110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment 132 may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment 132 is configured to allow input of information into wireless device 110 and is connected to processing circuitry 120 to allow processing circuitry 120 to process the input information. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 132 is also configured to allow output of information from wireless device 110, and to allow processing circuitry 120 to output information from wireless device 110. User interface equipment 132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment 132, wireless device 110 may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment 134 is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by wireless devices. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment 134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source 136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used wireless device 110 may further comprise power circuitry 137 for delivering power from power source 136 to the various parts of wireless device 110 which need power from power source 136 to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 137 may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry 137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case wireless device 110 may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry 137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source 136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source 136. Power circuitry 137 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source 136 to make the power suitable for the respective components of wireless device 110 to which power is supplied.

FIGURE 5 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 200 may be any UE identified by the 3 ^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE 200, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, is one example of a wireless device configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3 ^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term wireless device and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIGURE 5 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a wireless device, and vice- versa.

In FIGURE 5, UE 200 includes processing circuitry 201 that is operatively coupled to input/output interface 205, radio frequency (RF) interface 209, network connection interface 211, memory 215 including random access memory (RAM) 217, read-only memory (ROM) 219, and storage medium 221 or the like, communication subsystem 231, power source 233, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium 221 includes operating system 223, application program 225, and data 227. In other embodiments, storage medium 221 may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in FIGURE 5, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

In FIGURE 5, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 201 may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 201 may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 205 may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE 200 may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface 205. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 200. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE 200 may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface 205 to allow a user to capture information into UE 200. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence- sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

In FIGURE 5, RF interface 209 may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 211 may be configured to provide a communication interface to network 243a. Network 243a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network 243a may comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface 211 may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface 211 may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM 217 may be configured to interface via bus 202 to processing circuitry 201 to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 219 may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry 201. For example, ROM 219 may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium 221 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium 221 may be configured to include operating system 223, application program 225 such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file 227. Storage medium 221 may store, for use by UE 200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

Storage medium 221 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro- DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium 221 may allow UE 200 to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium 221, which may comprise a device readable medium.

In FIGURE 5, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with network 243b using communication subsystem 231. Network 243 a and network 243b may be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 243b. For example, communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another wireless device, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.2, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter 233 and/or receiver 235 to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 233 and receiver 235 of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem 231 may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem 231 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network 243b may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network 243b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source 213 may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 200.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE 200 or partitioned across multiple components of UE 200. Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem 231 may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry 201 may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus 202. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry 201 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry 201 and communication subsystem 231. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments 300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes 330. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 320 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 320 are run in virtualization environment 300 which provides hardware 330 comprising processing circuitry 360 and memory 390. Memory 390 contains instructions 395 executable by processing circuitry 360 whereby application 320 is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment 300, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices 330 comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry 360, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 390-1 which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 395 or software executed by processing circuitry 360. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 370, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface 380. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media 390-2 having stored therein software 395 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry 360. Software 395 may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers 350 (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 340 as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines 340, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 350 or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 320 may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines 340, and the implementations may be made in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry 360 executes software 395 to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 350, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer 350 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine 340.

As shown in FIGURE 6, hardware 330 may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 330 may comprise antenna 3225 and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 330 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO) 3100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 320.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment. In the context of NFV, virtual machine 340 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines 340, and that part of hardware 330 that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines 340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines 340 on top of hardware networking infrastructure 330 and corresponds to application 320 in FIGURE 6.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units 3200 that each include one or more transmitters 3220 and one or more receivers 3210 may be coupled to one or more antennas 3225. Radio units 3200 may communicate directly with hardware nodes 330 via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signaling can be affected with the use of control system 3230 which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes 330 and radio units 3200.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments.

With reference to FIGURE 7, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network 410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 411, such as a radio access network, and core network 414. Access network 411 comprises a plurality of base stations 412a, 412b, 412c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 413a, 413b, 413c. Each base station 412a, 412b, 412c is connectable to core network 414 over a wired or wireless connection 415. A first UE 491 located in coverage area 413c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 412c. A second UE 492 in coverage area 413a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 412a. While a plurality of UEs 491, 492 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 412. Telecommunication network 410 is itself connected to host computer 430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer 430 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections 421 and 422 between telecommunication network 410 and host computer 430 may extend directly from core network 414 to host computer 430 or may go via an optional intermediate network 420. Intermediate network 420 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 420, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network 420 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of FIGURE 7 as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs 491, 492 and host computer 430. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 450. Host computer 430 and the connected UEs 491, 492 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 450, using access network 411, core network 414, any intermediate network 420 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection 450 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection 450 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station 412 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer 430 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 491. Similarly, base station 412 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 491 towards the host computer 430.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIGURE 8. In communication system 500, host computer 510 comprises hardware 515 including communication interface 516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500. Host computer 510 further comprises processing circuitry 518, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 518 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 510 further comprises software 511, which is stored in or accessible by host computer 510 and executable by processing circuitry 518. Software 511 includes host application 512. Host application 512 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 530 connecting via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510. In providing the service to the remote user, host application 512 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection 550.

Communication system 500 further includes base station 520 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 525 enabling it to communicate with host computer 510 and with UE 530. Hardware 525 may include communication interface 526 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system 500, as well as radio interface 527 for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection 570 with UE 530 located in a coverage area (not shown in FIGURE 8) served by base station 520. Communication interface 526 may be configured to facilitate connection 560 to host computer 510. Connection 560 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in FIGURE 8) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware 525 of base station 520 further includes processing circuitry 528, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station 520 further has software 521 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system 500 further includes UE 530 already referred to. Its hardware 535 may include radio interface 537 configured to set up and maintain wireless connection 570 with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE 530 is currently located. Hardware 535 of UE 530 further includes processing circuitry 538, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 530 further comprises software 531, which is stored in or accessible by UE 530 and executable by processing circuitry 538. Software 531 includes client application 532. Client application 532 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE 530, with the support of host computer 510. In host computer 510, an executing host application 512 may communicate with the executing client application 532 via OTT connection 550 terminating at UE 530 and host computer 510. In providing the service to the user, client application 532 may receive request data from host application 512 and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection 550 may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application 532 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer 510, base station 520 and UE 530 illustrated in FIGURE 8 may be similar or identical to host computer 430, one of base stations 412a, 412b, 412c and one of UEs 491, 492 of FIGURE 7, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in FIGURE 8 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 8, OTT connection 550 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer 510 and UE 530 via base station 520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE 530 or from the service provider operating host computer 510, or both. While OTT connection 550 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection 570 between UE 530 and base station 520 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE 530 using OTT connection 550, in which wireless connection 570 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, and/or extended battery lifetime.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 550 between host computer 510 and UE 530, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 550 may be implemented in software 511 and hardware 515 of host computer 510 or in software 531 and hardware 535 of UE 530, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection 550 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 511, 531 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 550 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc. ; the reconfiguring need not affect base station 520, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station 520. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer 510’s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software 511 and 531 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection 550 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIGURE 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 9 will be included in this section. In step 610, the host computer provides user data. In substep 611 (which may be optional) of step 610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step 630 (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 640 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

FIGURE 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 10 will be included in this section. In step 710 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 720, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 730 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

FIGURE 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 11 will be included in this section. In step 810 (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 820, the UE provides user data. In substep 821 (which may be optional) of step 820, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep 811 (which may be optional) of step 810, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep 830 (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step 840 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

FIGURE 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIGURE 12 will be included in this section. In step 910 (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step 920 (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step 930 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

FIGURE 13 depicts a method 1000 by a wireless device for uplink feedback transmission under clear channel assessment (CCA), according to certain embodiments. At step 1002, during a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell and a second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, the wireless device determines whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink based on at least one CCA procedure. At step 1004, the wireless device determines that a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell. At step 1006, the wireless device takes at least one action based on the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell includes determining that the first cell does not require a CCA procedure or a first CCA procedure associated on the first cell is successful.

In a particular embodiment, taking the at least one action comprises at least one of: transmitting a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell comprises at least one of: determining that a transmit power for sending a first uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power; and determining that a combined transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and a second uplink feedback signal exceed a maximum transmit power.

In a particular embodiment, the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell is delayed, and taking the at least one action comprises: determining a time resource for transmitting a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell; and based on the time resource, transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, a first CCA procedure for the first cell is unsuccessful, a second CCA procedure for the second cell is unsuccessful, and taking the at least one action comprises: delaying a transmission of the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, taking the at least one action comprises: determining at least one time resource for transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal; and based on the at least one time resource, transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal.

In a particular embodiment, the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until the first CCA procedure for the first cell and/or the second CCA procedure for the second cell are successful.

In a particular embodiment, the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and/or the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

In a particular embodiment, determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell comprises: determining that a priority of sending the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of sending a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device determines, due to at least one uplink resource limitation, that the wireless device is unable to send the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell during a time period. The at least one uplink resource limitation comprises at least one of: a transmit power limitation, a battery power limitation associated with the wireless device, a processing resource limitation associated with the wireless device, a transmission resource limitation, and an overheating prevention limitation.

In a particular embodiment, determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure comprises: determining that a first CCA procedure on the first cell is successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is not successful; or determining that a first CCA procedure on the first cell is not successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is successful; or determining that the first setup or change procedure and/or the first cell does not require a CCA procedure and the second setup or change procedure and/or the second cell does require a CCA procedure.

In a particular embodiment, the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is determined to be higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell based on at least one of: a number of successful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or a number of successful CCA procedures in the second cell during a first time period; and a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the second cell during the first time period.

In various particular embodiments, the method may additionally or alternatively include one or more of the steps or features of the Group A and Group C Example Embodiments described below.

FIGURE 14 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus 1100 in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in FIGURE 2). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device 110 or network node 160 shown in FIGURE 2). Apparatus 1100 is operable to carry out the example method described with reference to FIGURE 13 and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of FIGURE 13 is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1100. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual Apparatus 1100 may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause first determining module 1110, second determining module 1120, taking action module 1130, and any other suitable units of apparatus 1100 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to certain embodiments, first determining module 1110 may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus 1100. For example, during a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell and a second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, first determining module 1110 may determine whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink based on at least one CCA procedure.

According to certain embodiments, second determining module 1120 may perform certain other of the determining functions of the apparatus 1100. For example, second determining module 1120 may determine that a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

According to certain embodiments, taking action module 1130 may perform certain of the taking action functions of the apparatus 1100. For example, taking action module 1130 may takes at least one action based on the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Optionally, in particular embodiments, virtual apparatus may additionally include one or more modules for performing any of the steps or providing any of the features in the Group A and Group C Example Embodiments described below.

As used herein, the term module or unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.

FIGURE 15 depicts a method 1200 by a network node for assisting with serving cell selection for uplink feedback transmission under clear channel assessment (CCA), according to certain embodiments. At step 1202, the network node transmits, to a wireless device, at least one priority rule for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

In various particular embodiments, the method may include one or more of any of the steps or features of the Group B and Group C Example Embodiments described below.

FIGURE 16 illustrates another method 1300 by a network node for assisting with uplink feedback transmission under CCA, according to certain embodiments. The method includes the network node transmitting, to a wireless device, information for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, at step 1302. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

In a particular embodiment, the information for determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell comprises: at least one priority rule indicating that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell when the first cell does not require a CCA procedure or when a first CCA procedure associated on the first cell is successful.

In a particular embodiment, the network node configures the wireless device to take at least one action based on a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell. The at least one action comprises at least one of: transmitting a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, the information for determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell comprises at least one of: at least one priority rule indicating that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell when a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power, and at least one priority rule indicating that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell when a combined transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and a second uplink feedback signal exceed a maximum transmit power.

In a particular embodiment, the information for determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell indicates that the wireless device is to take at least one action when the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell is delayed. The at least one action comprises at least one of: determining a time resource for transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell; and transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell based on the time resource.

In a particular embodiment, the information indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell when: a first CCA procedure for the first cell is unsuccessful, a second CCA procedure for the second cell is unsuccessful. The network node configures the wireless device to take at least one action based on a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell the at least one action comprising at least one of: delaying a transmission of the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action includes: configuring the wireless device to determine at least one time resource for transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal; and configuring the wireless device to transmit at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal based on the at least one time resource.

In a particular embodiment, configuring the wireless device to take at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to delay the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal until a first CCA procedure for the first cell and/or a second CCA procedure for the second cell are successful.

In a particular embodiment, configuring the wireless device to take at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to delay the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal until a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and/or the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

In a particular embodiment, the information indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell when: a priority of sending a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of sending a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

In a particular embodiment, the information indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell when, due to at least one uplink resource limitation, the wireless device is unable to send the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell during a time period. The at least one uplink resource limitation comprises at least one of: a transmit power limitation, a battery power limitation associated with the wireless device, a processing resource limitation associated with the wireless device, a transmission resource limitation, and an overheating prevention limitation.

In a particular embodiment, the information indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when: a first CCA procedure on the first cell is successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is not successful, or a first CCA procedure on the first cell is not successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is successful, or the first setup or change procedure and/or the first cell does not require a CCA procedure and the second setup or change procedure and/or the second cell does require a CCA procedure.

In a particular embodiment, the information comprises at least one priority rule for determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure based on at least one of: a number of successful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or a number of successful CCA procedures in the second cell during a first time period; and a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the second cell during a first time period.

In a particular embodiment, the network node receives, from the wireless device, at least one uplink feedback signal associated with at least one of the first setup or change procedure or the second setup or change procedure. The at least one uplink feedback signal indicates whether the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell was successful and/or whether the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell was successful.

FIGURE 17 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus 1400 in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in FIGURE 2). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device 110 or network node 160 shown in FIGURE 2). Apparatus 1400 is operable to carry out the example method described with reference to FIGURE 15 and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of FIGURE 15 is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1400. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual Apparatus 1400 may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include 6o digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause transmitting module 1410 any other suitable units of apparatus 1400 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to certain embodiments, transmitting module 1410 may perform certain of the transmitting functions of the apparatus 1400. For example, transmitting module 1410 may transmit, to a wireless device, at least one priority rule for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

As another example, transmitting module 1410 may transmit, toa wireless device, information for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell. The priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

Optionally, in particular embodiments, virtual apparatus may additionally include one or more modules for performing any of the steps or providing any of the features in the Group B and Group C Example Embodiments described below.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Group A Example Embodiments Example Embodiment Al. A method by a wireless device for serving cell selection for uplink feedback transmission under clear channel assessment (CCA), the method comprising: during a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell and a second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink based on at least one CCA procedure; determining that a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell; and taking at least one action based on the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment A2. The method of Example Embodiment Al, wherein taking the at least one action comprises performing at least one of: executing at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; completing at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; suspending at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; stopping at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; and delaying at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure.

Example Embodiment A3. The method of Example Embodiments Al to A2, wherein taking the at least one action comprises: transmitting a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell.

Example Embodiment A4. The method of Example Embodiment A3, wherein the first cell does not require a CCA procedure or a first CCA procedure associated on the first cell is successful.

Example Embodiment A5. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3 to A4, wherein a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment A6. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3 to A5, wherein taking the at least one action comprises: delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment A7. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein a second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is initially unsuccessful, and wherein the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal is delayed until the second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is successful.

Example Embodiment A8. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein a second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is unsuccessful, and the method further comprises transmitting the second uplink feedback signal on a third cell, wherein a third CCA procedure on the third cell is successful or the third cell is not subject to CCA.

Example Embodiment A9. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A6 to A8, wherein a combined transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment A 10. The method of Example Embodiment A9, further comprising transmitting the second uplink feedback signal on a third cell, wherein a third CCA procedure on the third cell is successful or the third cell is not subject to CCA.

Example Embodiment Al l. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A6 to A9, wherein the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal is delayed until a transmit power for sending the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment A12. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A6 to Al l, wherein taking the at least one action comprises: determining a time resource for transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell; and based on the time resource, transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment A13. The method of Example Embodiments A1 to A2, wherein taking the at least one action comprises: delaying a transmission of the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and delaying a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment A 14. The method of Example Embodiment A 13, wherein taking the at least one action comprises: determining at least one time resource for transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal; and based on the at least one time resource, transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal. Example Embodiment A 15. The method of any one of Example Embodiments

A13 to A14, wherein the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until a first CCA procedure for the first cell and/or a second CCA procedure for the second cell are successful.

Example Embodiment A 16. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A13 to A14, wherein the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and/or the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment A 17. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A 16, wherein determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell comprises: determining that a priority of sending the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of sending a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment A 18. The method of Example Embodiment A 17, further comprising determining, due to at least one uplink resource limitation, that the wireless device is unable to send the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell during a time period.

Example Embodiment A 19. The method of Example Embodiment A 18, wherein the at least one uplink resource limitation comprises at least one of: a transmit power limitation, a battery power limitation associated with the wireless device, a processing resource limitation associated with the wireless device, a transmission resource limitation, and an overheating prevention limitation.

Example Embodiment A20. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3 to A 19, wherein the step of determining that the priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell is based on at least one priority rule. Example Embodiment A21. The method of Example Embodiment A20, further comprising obtaining the at least one priority rule.

Example Embodiment A22. The method of Example Embodiment A21, wherein obtaining the at least one priority rule comprises receiving the at least one priority rule from a network node.

Example Embodiment A23. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A20 to A22, wherein at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when a first CCA procedure on the first cell is successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is not successful.

Example Embodiment A24 The method of any one of Example Embodiments A20 to A22, wherein at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when a first CCA procedure on the first cell is not successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is successful.

Example Embodiment A25. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A20 to A22, wherein at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when the first setup or change procedure and/or the first cell does not require a CCA procedure and the second setup or change procedure and/or the second cell does require a CCA procedure.

Example Embodiment A26. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A20 to A22, wherein at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure.

Example Embodiment A27. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A20 to A26, wherein the at least one priority rule is determined based on at least one of: a number of successful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or the second cell during a first time period; and a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or the second cell during a first time period.

Example Embodiment A27. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A27, wherein the uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell indicates that the first setup or change procedure was successful. Example Embodiment A28. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A27, wherein the uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell indicates that the first setup or change procedure was not successful.

Example Embodiment A29. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A28, wherein at least one of the first cell and the second cell are a serving cell before and/or after the setup or change procedures.

Example Embodiment A30. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A29, wherein at least one of the first cell and the second cell are a secondary serving cell before and/or after the setup or change procedures.

Example Embodiment A31. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A30, wherein at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is an activation procedure.

Example Embodiment A32. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A31, wherein at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is a reselection procedure.

Example Embodiment A33. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A 1 to A32, wherein the wireless device comprises a user equipment (UE).

Example Embodiment A34. A wireless device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A33.

Example Embodiment A35. A computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A 1 to A33.

Example Embodiment A36. A computer program product comprising computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A33.

Example Embodiment A37. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A33.

Group B Embodiments Example Embodiment B 1. A method by a network node device for assisting with serving cell selection for uplink feedback transmission under clear channel assessment (CCA), the method comprising: transmitting, to a wireless device, at least one priority rule for determining whether a priority of a first setup or change procedure associated with a first cell is higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with a second cell, the priority of at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure being at least partially based on a result of at least one CCA procedure for determining whether the wireless device can transmit on an uplink.

Example Embodiment B2. The method of Example Embodiment Bl, wherein the CCA procedure is performed by the wireless device during the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment B3. The method of any one of Example Embodiments Bl to B2, further comprising configuring the wireless device to take at least one action based on a priority of the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell being higher than a priority of the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Embodiment The method of Example Embodiment B3, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises configuring the wireless device to perform at least one of: execute at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; complete at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; suspend at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; stop at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure; and delay at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure.

Embodiment The method of Example Embodiments B4 to B4, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises configuring the wireless device to: transmit a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell.

Example Embodiment B6. The method of Example Embodiment B5, wherein the first cell does not require a CCA procedure or a first CCA procedure associated on the first cell is successful. Example Embodiment B7. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B5 to B6, wherein a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment B8. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B5 to B7, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to delay a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment B9. The method of Example Embodiment B8, wherein a second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is initially unsuccessful, and wherein the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal is delayed until the second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is successful.

Example Embodiment BIO. The method of Example Embodiment B8, wherein a second CCA procedure associated with the second cell is unsuccessful, and the method further comprises configuring the wireless device to transmit the second uplink feedback signal on a third cell, wherein a third CCA procedure on the third cell is successful or the third cell is not subject to CCA.

Example Embodiment B 11. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B8 to BIO, wherein a combined transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment B 12. The method of Example Embodiment Bl l, further comprising configuring the wireless device to transmit the second uplink feedback signal on a third cell, wherein a third CCA procedure on the third cell is successful or the third cell is not subject to CCA.

Example Embodiment B 13. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B8 to Bl l, wherein the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal is delayed until a transmit power for sending the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment B 14. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B8 to B13, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to determine a time resource for transmitting the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell; and configuring the wireless device to transmit the second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell based on the time resource.

Example Embodiment B 15. The method of Example Embodiments B3 to B4, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to delay a transmission of the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell; and configuring the wireless device to delay a transmission of a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment B 16. The method of Example Embodiment B15, wherein configuring the wireless device to take the at least one action comprises: configuring the wireless device to determine at least one time resource for transmitting at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal; and configuring the wireless device to transmit at least one of the first uplink feedback signal and the second uplink feedback signal based on the at least one time resource.

Example Embodiment B 17. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B15 to B 16, wherein the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until a first CCA procedure for the first cell and/or a second CCA procedure for the second cell are successful.

Example Embodiment B 18. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B15 to B 16, wherein the transmission of the first uplink feedback signal and/or the transmission of the second uplink feedback signal are delayed until a transmit power for sending the first uplink feedback signal and/or the second uplink feedback signal does not exceed a maximum transmit power.

Example Embodiment B 19. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B 18, further comprising configuring the wireless device to determine that a priority of sending a first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell is higher than a priority of sending a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell.

Example Embodiment B20. The method of Example Embodiment B19, further comprising configuring the wireless device to determine, due to at least one uplink resource limitation, whether the wireless device is unable to send the first uplink feedback signal for the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and a second uplink feedback signal for the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell during a time period.

Example Embodiment B21. The method of Example Embodiment B20, wherein the at least one uplink resource limitation comprises at least one of: a transmit power limitation, a battery power limitation associated with the wireless device, a processing resource limitation associated with the wireless device, a transmission resource limitation, and an overheating prevention limitation.

Example Embodiment B22.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B21 , wherein the at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when a first CCA procedure on the first cell is successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is not successful.

Example Embodiment B23 The method of any one of Example Embodiments B 1 to B22, wherein the at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when a first CCA procedure on the first cell is not successful and a second CCA procedure on the second cell is successful.

Example Embodiment B24. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B' to B22, wherein the at least one priority rule indicates that the priority of the first setup or change procedure is higher than the priority of the second setup or change procedure when the first setup or change procedure and/or the first cell does not require a CCA procedure and the second setup or change procedure and/or the second cell does require a CCA procedure.

Example Embodiment B25. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B24, wherein the at least one priority rule is determined based on at least one of: a number of successful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or the second cell during a first time period; and a number of unsuccessful CCA procedures in the first cell and/or the second cell during a first time period.

Example Embodiment B26. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B25, further comprising: based on the at least one priority rule, receiving, from the wireless device, at least one uplink feedback signal associated with at least one of the first setup or change procedure or the second setup or change procedure.

Example Embodiment B27.The method of Example Embodiment B26, wherein the at least one uplink feedback signal indicates that the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and/or that the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell was successful.

Example Embodiment B28.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B26 to B27, wherein the at least one uplink feedback signal indicates that the first setup or change procedure associated with the first cell and/or that the second setup or change procedure associated with the second cell was not successful.

Example Embodiment B29.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B28, wherein at least one of the first cell and the second cell are a serving cell before and/or after the setup or change procedures.

Example Embodiment B30.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B29, wherein at least one of the first cell and the second cell are a secondary serving cell before and/or after the setup or change procedures.

Example Embodiment B31. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B 1 to B30, wherein at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is an activation procedure.

Example Embodiment B32.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B31, wherein at least one of the first setup or change procedure and the second setup or change procedure is a reselection procedure.

Example Embodiment B33.The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B32, wherein the network node comprises a gNodeB (gNB).

Example Embodiment B34.A network node comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B33.

Example Embodiment B35. A computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B 1 to B33. Example Embodiment B36. A computer program product comprising computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B33.

Example Embodiment B37. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B33.

Group C Example Embodiments

Example Embodiment C 1. A wireless device comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example Embodiment C2. A network node comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments; power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example Embodiment C3. A wireless device, the wireless device comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the wireless device to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the wireless device that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example Embodiment C4. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device, wherein the cellular network comprises a network node having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the network node’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments. Embodiment The communication system of the pervious embodiment further including the network node.

Example Embodiment C6. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the network node.

Example Embodiment C7. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the wireless device comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example Embodiment C8. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device via a cellular network comprising the network node, wherein the network node performs any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment C9. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the network node, transmitting the user data.

Example Embodiment CIO. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the wireless device, executing a client application associated with the host application.

Example Embodiment Cl 1. A wireless device configured to communicate with a network node, the wireless device comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to performs the of the previous 3 embodiments.

Example Embodiment Cl 2. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device, wherein the wireless device comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the wireless device’s components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments. Example Embodiment Cl 3. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a network node configured to communicate with the wireless device.

Example Embodiment Cl 4. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the wireless device’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example Embodiment Cl 5. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device via a cellular network comprising the network node, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment Cl 6. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the wireless device, receiving the user data from the network node.

Example Embodiment Cl 7. A communication system including a host computer comprising: communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a wireless device to a network node, wherein the wireless device comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the wireless device’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment Cl 8. The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the wireless device.

Example Embodiment Cl 9. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the network node, wherein the network node comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the wireless device and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the wireless device to the network node.

Example Embodiment C20. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the wireless device’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

Example Embodiment C21. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the wireless device’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

Example Embodiment C22.A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the network node from the wireless device, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment C23. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the wireless device, providing the user data to the network node.

Example Embodiment C24. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising: at the wireless device, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

Example Embodiment C25. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising: at the wireless device, executing a client application; and at the wireless device, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application, wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.

Example Embodiment C26.A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a wireless device to a network node, wherein the network node comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the network node’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment C27. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the network node. Example Embodiment C28. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the network node.

Example Embodiment C29. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; the wireless device is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer.

Example Embodiment C30.A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the network node has received from the wireless device, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example Embodiment C31. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the network node receiving the user data from the wireless device.

Example Embodiment C32. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the network node, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Example Embodiment C33.The method of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the network node comprises a base station.

Example Embodiment C34.The method of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the wireless device comprises a user equipment (UE).

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems and apparatuses described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components. Additionally, operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed using any suitable logic comprising software, hardware, and/or other logic. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, alterations and permutations of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of the embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.